Insegnamento a.a. 2026-2027

The aims of this course are:

1. To explore operations and supply chain sustainability-related challenges and tradeoffs to be managed, also according to the principles of circularity;

2. To analyse real life supply chains and their sustainable strategies, with particular emphasis on customer service, environmental and social impacts and ethics;

3. To demonstrate how the main theories and practices of sustainable operations and supply chain management can be successfully integrated to achieve sustainable development for the needs of today’s and tomorrow’s economy and society towards the achievement of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

• Demonstrate a systematic understanding of the process of formulating a sustainable supply chain strategy, ensuring that it is compatible with wider corporate strategy
• Critically comprehend the drivers of sustainable operations and supply chain management to originally develop innovative collaborative practices with supply chain partners and discuss their significance in relation to examples from industry

• Systematically make informed judgements about how management practices, environmental and social factors can influence sustainable operations and supply chain management strategies
• Originally construct and deliver effective reporting and reflection to demonstrate a critical understanding of current sustainable supply chain strategies and practices

• Lectures
• Guest speaker's talks (in class or in distance)
• Collaborative Works / Assignments

Given the aims and the learning outcomes, this course will be delivered through a combination of:

• Lectures, i.e. theoretical sessions to provide students with the subject knowledge. Sufficient time will be allocated for small group discussions of case study material and real companies’ experiences (LO1, LO2)
• Tutorials, i.e. practical sessions during which students will have the opportunity to apply the acquired knowledge to solve case studies, industrial problems, and interactive exercises (LO2, LO3, LO4)
• Seminars, i.e. masterclasses delivered by external guests (including top managers from companies to provide students with strong connections to the real-life applications of what has been learnt during the course) (LO1, LO2, LO3)

This kind of approach is suitable for the purposes of this course since it allows for the acquisition of theoretical knowledge and practical application of concepts. It also allows for a deep learning attitude by students (good assimilation of concepts), more inclusivity and it gives the possibility to arrange regularly and optimally formative assessment sessions. Students will be facilitated to achieve all Learning Outcomes and to reach a sufficient depth of learning that is required at a Masters Level.

For the first two exam sessions, the assessment consists of:

• Written exam (50% of the final grade), based on course topics (lectures, case discussions and selected readings).

It is made up of open questions and short statements/cases to be discussed. The written exam is aimed at assessing the students' systematic understanding of the process of formulating a sustainable supply chain strategy consistent with the wider corporate strategy (LO1), as well as their critical comprehension of the main drivers of sustainable operations and supply chain management and of their significance in relation to examples from industry (LO2). Through the statements and short cases to be discussed, the exam also verifies the students' ability to make informed judgements about how management practices and environmental and social factors influence sustainable operations and supply chain strategies (LO3).

• Two group Project Works (50% of the final grade, 25% + 25%), to be submitted by the specified deadlines.

In each Project Work, students work in groups to analyse a real-life supply chain / assignment and develop and present their findings in the form of a written report and presentation. The Project Works require students to apply the knowledge, tools and methodologies acquired during the course to real situations, and are therefore aimed at verifying the students' ability to make informed judgements about how management practices and environmental and social factors affect sustainable operations and supply chain strategies (LO3), and to originally construct and deliver effective reporting and reflection that demonstrates a critical understanding of current sustainable supply chain strategies and practices (LO4). In carrying out the Project Works, students also have the opportunity to demonstrate organizational and teamwork abilities, as well as effective presentation and communication skills.

From the third exam session onwards (and for students who do not submit the Project Works by the deadline, do not sit the written exam in the first two sessions, or wish to retake the exam), the assessment consists of:

• Written exam (100% of the final grade), covering the course topics and the additional material (papers provided to students every week).

The exam is made up of open questions, short exercises and statements/cases to be discussed, and is designed to assess all the intended learning outcomes: the systematic understanding of how a sustainable supply chain strategy is formulated consistently with corporate strategy (LO1); the critical comprehension of the drivers of sustainable operations and supply chain management and of their significance in relation to examples from industry (LO2); the ability to make informed judgements about how management practices and environmental and social factors influence sustainable strategies (LO3); and the ability to construct effective reporting and critical reflection on current sustainable supply chain strategies and practices (LO4).

Written exams will be conducted in person, in accordance with the CdS regulations.

The assessment of non-attending students is based on a single final written exam (100% of the final grade), covering the course topics and the additional material (papers provided to students every week).

The exam is made up of open questions, short exercises and statements/short cases to be discussed. It is designed to verify the achievement of all the intended learning outcomes: the systematic understanding of the process of formulating a sustainable supply chain strategy consistent with the wider corporate strategy (LO1); the critical comprehension of the drivers of sustainable operations and supply chain management and of their significance in relation to examples from industry (LO2); and, through the short cases and statements to be discussed and the applied exercises, the ability to make informed judgements about how management practices and environmental and social factors influence sustainable operations and supply chain strategies (LO3), as well as the ability to construct effective reporting and critical reflection on current sustainable supply chain strategies and practices (LO4).

Written exams will be conducted in person, in accordance with the CdS regulations.

The teaching material consists of:

(i) set of slides supporting the theoretical lectures;

(ii) practical exercises and case study materials;

(iii) selected references (selection of papers and chapters of relevant books, videos, etc.),

(iv).Text of the assignments, deadlines, references and all required material to carry out the group works.

All materials for attending and non-attending students will be accessible through the BBoard platform throughout the semester.

The teaching material consists of:

(i) set of slides supporting the theoretical lectures;

(ii) practical exercises and case study materials;

(iii) selected references (selection of papers and chapters of relevant books, videos, etc.).

All materials for attending and non-attending students will be accessible through the BBoard platform throughout the semester.