Course content

The course is a further specialization within relevant subjects of Purchasing and Logistics Management and builds on subjects presented in the obligatory courses for this specialization in the 4th year of the programme. The course is organized as a series of seminars.

The choice of subjects for the seminars may vary from one year to another but will capture the importance of purchasing and supply management for organizations operating in a variety of technological environments, thereby allowing the students to directly relate the seminars to their technology specialization (computer science, energy and environmental engineering, marine technology and mechanical engineering).

Included is also a seminar series on research methods, tailored to what is relevant for the students in their projects and master thesis work. This seminar series is offered jointly to students taking TIØ4566 Strategic Supply Management and TIØ4547 Strategic Change Management.

Learning outcome

Position and function of the course in the study: The course is a compulsory specialization course in the fifth year of the MTIØT program. The course builds on the course TIØ4175 Purchasing- and Logistics Management and is compulsory for those students who wish to take the specialization Strategic Supply Management (SF).

The course contributes by giving the students in-depth understanding of scientific principles underlying their chosen specialty within the administrative area of Strategic purchasing and supply management, as described under point 4.2 in the complete learning objectives for the programme of study in Industrial Economics and Technology Management.

The course will provide knowledge about the following: General knowledge about purchasing management (including supplier management) and logistics management, with a special emphasis on strategic challenges in the supply chain; General knowledge about the importance of research for management practice, different research methods as well as research methodology

Specific and detailed knowledge about a selection of themes within the fields of purchasing management (including supplier management) and logistics management.

The themes will be of direct importance for the specialization project chosen by the students and also cover the technology specializations in the program (computer science, energy and environmental engineering, marine technology and mechanical engineering).

Typical examples of such themes are data security in software supply chains, use of AI in purchasing and supply management, purchasing strategies for clean technologies, circular supply chains in aquaculture industries, supplier innovations for sustainable shipbuilding, sourcing strategies for critical raw materials and many more.

The course will provide competences in: Relating research results published in scientific journals to the specialization project; Discussing and positioning articles published in scientific journals in relation to their theoretical background, research method and relevance for the specialization project.

Other important learning outcomes: The students will learn to present and discuss theoretical concepts within purchasing and supply management.

Learning methods and activities

The course is organised as a series of seminars. The student needs to participate in a minimum number of methodology and research seminars, but attendance to all is expected. Changes in the dates for seminars may occur and all possible timeslots and dates for this course may be used.

Required previous knowledge

TIØ4265 Strategic Management and TIØ4175 Purchasing and Logistics Management or the equivalent knowledge are required. MTIØT students taking TIØ4566 must also choose TIØ4561 Strategic Purchasing Supply Management, Specialization Project.

Course materials

Course materials are given at the start of the course.

Credit reductions