Insegnamento a.a. 2023-2024

30214 - SUSTAINABLE OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT

Department of Management and Technology

Course taught in English
Go to class group/s: 31
CLEACC (6 credits - II sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/08)
Course Director:
ALBERTO GRANDO

Classes: 31 (II sem.)
Instructors:
Class 31: ALBERTO GRANDO


Mission & Content Summary

MISSION

In the last 20 years, both service and manufacturing companies have been focusing more on the environmental and social outcomes of the goods and services they offer and the processes they manage. Nowadays, we are witnessing phenomena such as the increasing costs of energy and materials, which call for a more efficient use of production resources, as well as growing consumer awareness of environmental and social issues, which leads consumers to prefer companies that adopt sustainable practices, or national and international regulations aimed at preventing and controlling company’s environmental and social impact. The resulting challenges for enterprises include integrating environmental, social and economic concerns in their agenda. Operations and Supply Chain Management are increasingly connected to sustainability, since it influences a wide bundle of decisions that affect several environmental and social issues, such as new product development, product reuse or recycling, offshoring and outsourcing in newly developing countries, green logistics, etc. This course aims to illustrate how Operations and Supply Chain Management can be managed to properly deal with health, social and environmental issues and how to transform such a challenge into a source of competitive advantage.

CONTENT SUMMARY

The course focuses on specific topics related to the Triple Bottom Line and the Circular Economy paradigms, by linking sustainability concepts with the product life cycle, from its design, manufacturing, distribution and possible end-of-life recovery options. It is structured in 4 main modules:

  1. Megatrends and Corporate Sustainability.
  2. Sustainable Operations and Supply Chain Management: a reference framework.
  3. Triple Bottom Line and product Life Cycle Assesment
  4. Sustainable processes from Product Design to Closed-loop Supply Chain.
  5. Measuring KPIs in Sustainable Operations and Supply Chain Management.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILO)

KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING

At the end of the course student will be able to...
  • Recognize the major impact of current megatrends related to sustainability on the operations system.
  • Identify the main issues related to sustainable operations and supply chain management.
  • Measure the relevant KPIs in the perspective of Operations and Supply Chain management.
  • Explain the relationship between Life Cycle Assesment, Circular Economy and Triple Bottom Line in the perspective of the Operations and Supply Chain management.

APPLYING KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING

At the end of the course student will be able to...
  • Analyze the impact of Operations and Supply Chain Management choices on Triple Bottom Line.
  • Apply the appropriate tools and methodologies related to the Sustainable Operations and Supply Chain decision making process.
  • Measure and interpret the relevant KPIs in the sustainable operations processes.
  • Demonstrate organizational and teamwork abilities as well as effective presentation and communication skills.

Teaching methods

  • Face-to-face lectures
  • Guest speaker's talks (in class or in distance)
  • Company visits
  • Case studies /Incidents (traditional, online)
  • Group assignments

DETAILS

  • The learning experience of this course includes, in addition to face-to-face lectures, case discussions, group works, real examples and interactions with guest speakers from companies that are coping with these issues. Topics are analyzed moving from real-life case-histories, so as to make the students aware not only of the technicalities related to sustainability in Operations and Supply Chain Management, but also of the most valuable experiences of companies and of industries that are leading the process toward a more sustainable operating system.
  • Two group works are assigned during the course: students are expected to analyze each case/assignment within their working group and then prepare a power-point presentation summarizing their main findings. These presentations are used for the student assessment (see next paragraph) as well as a basis for a discussion of the cases in class, during which students are encouraged to bring their own views and to share insights, comments and conclusions. The active participation in class is  also considered for the overall student assessment.
  • Attendance: due to this teaching methodology, heavily based on interaction and class participation, attending is recommended.

Assessment methods

  Continuous assessment Partial exams General exam
  • Written individual exam (traditional/online)
    x
  • Group assignment (report, exercise, presentation, project work etc.)
x    
  • Active class participation (virtual, attendance)
x    
  • Peer evaluation
x    

ATTENDING STUDENTS

With the purpose of measuring the acquisition of the above-mentioned learning outcomes the student assessment is based on three main components:

  1. In-class participation (10% of the final grade) aimed at testing the student ability to interact in a multicultural environment and to think critically through contribution given to the class discussion.
  2. Two group assignments (30%  of the final grade - 15% each) designed for the purpose of verifying the student ability to:
    • Identify and analyze the main issues related to sustainable operations and supply chain management.
    • Apply the appropriate tools and methodologies learnt in class (design for environment principles, life cycle analysis, etc.). 
    • Use and evaluate the relevant data and KPIs.
    • Work on a team and organize and present effectively the relevant outcomes.
    • To properly consider the contribution of each team member to the Group work, Peer evaluation will be used to weight the Group work grades.
  3. Final written exam: 60%, based on a mix of multiple-choice and open questions related to the topics covered in class and to the reference book, which aims to assess the student’s learning level of the theoretical models and the main concepts, methods and tools shared in the course as well as the clarity of written communication.

 


NOT ATTENDING STUDENTS

Written exam, (100% of the finale grade) based on a mix of multiple-choice and open questions related to the reference book, which aims to assess the student’s learning level of the theoretical models and the main concepts, methods and tools detailed in the book as well as the ability to analyze some implications related to them and to use a clear communication style.


Teaching materials


ATTENDING STUDENTS

  • V. BELVEDERE, A. GRANDO, Sustainable Operations and Supply Chain Management, Wiley & Sons, 2017.
  • Case-studies discussed in class and some papers uploaded on the e-learning platform BBoard.

 


NOT ATTENDING STUDENTS

  • V. BELVEDERE, A. GRANDO, Sustainable Operations and Supply Chain Management, Wiley & Sons, 2017.
  • Some papers uploaded on the e-learning platform BBoard
Last change 12/12/2023 14:30