• Home
• Study
• Study Information
• Module Information

Purchasing and Supply Chain Management

Module description

In today’s global business environment, firms compete through complex supply chains rather than as isolated entities. Purchasing & Supply Chain Management (PSCM) is crucial for cost efficiency, supplier collaboration, risk management, and sustainability. This module provides a structured approach to PSCM, equipping students with both theoretical knowledge and practical industry applications, focusing on value creation, strategic sourcing, and supply chain resilience.

Through lectures, case studies, and interactive exercises, students will analyse procurement decisions, risk mitigation strategies, and supplier management, exploring challenges faced by companies as well as public sector complexities. The module integrates cutting-edge research on low-carbon procurement and closed-loop supply chains.

Designed for students from diverse backgrounds, it balances academic research with industry best practices and aligns with Chartered Institute for Purchasing & Supply (CIPS) standards. By the end, students will be equipped to drive sustainable and competitive supply chain strategies.

Module aims - intentions of the module

This module equips students with the strategic knowledge and skills required for careers in Purchasing & Supply Chain Management (PSCM), preparing them for leadership roles such as Chief Procurement Officers (CPOs). It explores the evolution of procurement from a tactical function to a key driver of business value, sustainability, and innovation. Students will develop analytical and decision-making skills to address critical supply chain challenges, including risk management, supplier collaboration, ethical sourcing, and sustainability. The module integrates research-informed teaching, industry case studies, and professional standards from the Chartered Institute for Purchasing & Supply (CIPS), ensuring students gain both theoretical and practical expertise to enhance employability in procurement, operations, and supply chain strategy.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Critically analyse the evolution of Purchasing and Supply Chain Management into a strategic enabler, focusing on cost efficiency, supplier collaboration, and sustainability.
• 2. Evaluate supply strategies and network models through industry cases, assessing their impact on delivery, innovation, and performance.
• 3. Appraise the role of sustainability and emerging trends (e.g., servitization, through-life management, green practices) in shaping business strategy and competitiveness.

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 4. Critically evaluate how globalization and innovation drive supply chain efficiency and competitiveness through technology, outcome-based models, and process improvements.
• 5. Apply theories and frameworks to sourcing, partnerships, and risk management, developing strategies for resilience and risk mitigation.

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 6. Demonstrate written communication skills, ability to study independently, and secondary (i.e. desk-based, online search) research skills.

Syllabus plan

NB: The exact title, ordering and specific content of these lectures may vary according to annual updates to the syllabus and emergence of new developments in the field:

• Introduction to Purchasing & Supply Management
• Supply Chain Management: exploring hard and soft supply dynamics
• Competing as supply chains and networks
• Understanding the 'make or buy' decision: the rise of outsourcing
• Supplier assessment, evaluation & development
• Responsiveness: the importance of Lean and Agile
• Strategy, sourcing and supply chain configuration
• Technology and the supply chain: ‘RFID’, AI, 3D printing, e-commerce and the e-hub
• New product development and the supplier
• The ‘green’ supply chain: low carbon procurement, ‘CSR’ and sustainability
• Supply chain risk management and supply chain resilience
• Product-service innovation and service-based supply chains 

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Re-assessment notes

Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.

Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final module mark of less than 50%0 you will be required to sit a further assessment. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of referral will count for 100% of the final mark and will be capped at 50%. 

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

The readings for this module comprise a textbook accompanied by additional journal readings. The core textbook for this module is:

• Johnsen, T. E., Howard, M. and Miemczyk, J. (2018). Purchasing & Supply Chain Management: A Sustainability Perspective. Routledge: UK

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

The 3-Day Web based and electronic resources:

• Car Programme: www.3daycar.com
• Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply: http://www.cips.org/
• Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport: http://www.ciltuk.org.uk/pages/home

Indicative learning resources - Other resources

• In order to instil further industrial relevance, the module will include a selection of cases from the tutor’s own research on automotive, aerospace, marine, third-party logistics, ICT, services, sustainability and low carbon procurement.

Key words search

Purchasing, Procurement, Logistics, risk, Supply Chain Management, Sustainability.