Supply Chain Management

Course Overview
The Master of Science in Supply Chain Management programme (90 ECTS, Level 9) has been designed with the specific intention of responding to an increasingly global, specialised, digital and technology-enabled business environment - one that requires an efficient and effective end to end deliverables.

This programme aims to accommodate a wide audience of learners from a broad spectrum of industries whose specific learning requirements lie in the area of supply chain management (either business, or technically focused). The DBS Master of Science in Supply Chain Management programme aims to produce individuals with the specialised skills and attributes necessary to meet the demands of the modern-day supply chain management environment. Learners will understand the core principles of supply chain management, as well as procurement and inventory management at leadership level; they will be equipped with operations management and analytics expertise; possess an integrated understanding of global logistics; critically evaluate sustainable supply chains and inform business decision making in an ethical context. They will acquire the knowledge, theory and skills of supply chain management in addition to an industry specialism of interest drawing from modules in the fields of Marketing, Human Resource Management, Information Systems, Project Management, Finance, or Cloud Computing. Moreover, they will develop advanced critical thinking, writing and research skills through the completion of the Research Methods modules along with the completion of a Capstone Module (choice of Dissertation, Applied Research Project, or Placement).

The specific programme objectives are as follows:
• Imbue a critical analysis of the current and emerging theories of supply chain management, informed by up-to-date research and activity in the supply chain management field.
• Accrue a critical, strategic, and global perspective (incorporating multiple viewpoints) for the supply chain management field.
• Develop practical skills in procurement and inventory management in supply chain logistics and operations including problem-identification and solving.
• Develop an in-depth appreciation of supply chain analytics in the form of modern data-driven metrics to business operations and how these can be generated and used.
• Develop in learners the competencies to be a successful leader in the supply chain environment.
• Create critical awareness of sustainability and ethical processes that are directly complementary and relevant to the contemporary workplace and future of work.
• Identify and develop autonomous learning skills for the graduates of tomorrow who can work both independently and collaboratively.
• Provide the learner with a comprehensive platform for career development, innovation, and further study.

Structure
Stage one of full time provides the learner with both extensive knowledge and critical understanding of the supply chain management infrastructure and landscape. The skills developed help lay the foundations and context for the advanced skills developed later in the programme. Core level skills and practical application of supply chain theories, tools and technologies are instilled through the stage one modules, which include Global Supply Chain and ogistics Management, Supply Chain Procurement Strategies, Global Finance for Supply Chain Management, and Supply Chain Operations.

Semester two (FT) builds on this by covering advanced modules in which the knowledge, understanding and skills acquired in the first semester can be employed in a more analytical manner. Semester two modules offer Negotiation for Successful Supply Chain Leadership, Analytics and Enterprise Systems for Supply Chain Management, Supply Chain Sustainability, and Conducting Research for Supply Chain Management.

Learners will then complete an elective capstone (30 ECTS) of either a Consulting Report for Supply Chain Management, Dissertation or Placement. Depending on the elective option chosen, this will include a robust piece of industry research underpinned by academic theory, primary and secondary data collection and applied in a coherent and industry-focused research report and artefact or traditional dissertation. The Consulting Report for Supply Chain Management, Dissertation or Placement will bring together and synthesise learning from other modules, combining research and technical skills to investigate, design, produce and critically evaluate an area of research interest.

The Master of Science in Supply Chain Management is a 1 year full-time/two-year part-time programme consisting of eight taught modules, four 10 ECTS modules, four 5 ECTS, and a 30 ECTS Capstone (Dissertation, Consulting Report for Supply Chain Management, or a Placement).

This programme is offered as a part-time delivery with a recommended learning path that allows completion within a minimum two-year period. It is similar to the full-time programme and is divided into four stages rather than three. In stage one of the part-time delivery, students will follow similar aims to the full-time programme. In stage one they will complete the modules Global Supply and Logistics Management, Supply Chain Procurement Strategies and Global Finance for Supply Chain Management. In stage two of the programme, students will study Supply Chain Operations, Negotiation for Successful Supply Chain Leadership and Analytics and Enterprise Systems for Supply Chain Management. Stage three of the part-time delivery has just two modules: Supply Chain Sustainability and Conducting Research for Supply Chain Management. Finally in stage four of the programme students will complete either their Dissertation, Supply Chain Management Consulting Report or Placement.

This is a multimodal programme. Learners are therefore timetabled to be in class or online. They will also have mandatory on demand content as contact hours that they can do in their own time and place.

Teaching and Assessment
The programme will be structured in a blended format consisting of synchronous online and on-demand delivery.

The blended online delivery allows for the most appropriate mode of delivery to be applied to different parts of the syllabus. Typically, the more theoretical content would be delivered through the on-demand mode, with the discursive aspects of the syllabus more inclined to be delivered in the synchronous online mode. Although, such discursive topics can also be considered in an in-class setting. The more practical and assessment-driven parts of the syllabus can also be reserved for the in-class time. Instruction on using the tools and technologies for data analytics can be delivered in class. Formative assessment exercises can be set in any mode to allow the learners to assess progress. Peer review of these formative assessments can help drive this development, which can take place through asynchronous discussion boards or in-class or online discussions. The blended approach will also avail of directed e-learning objects, such as annotated case studies, videos and reading.

Core Modules
• Global Supply Chain and Logistics Management 10 ETCS
• Supply Chain Procurement Strategies 5 ETCS
• Global Finance for Supply Chain Management 5 ETCS
• Supply Chain Operations 5 ETCS
• Negotiation for Successful Supply Chain Leadership 5 ETCS
• Analytics and Enterprise Systems for Supply Chain Management 10 ETCS
• Conducting Research for Supply Chain Management 10 ETCS

Capstone Electives - Choose one:
• Consulting Report for Supply Chain Management 30 ETCS
• Dissertation 30 ETCS
• Placement 30 ETCS

Minimum Entry Requirements
This programme is aimed at learners with a Level 8 honours bachelor’s primary undergraduate degree, or Higher Diploma, in a cognate area (e.g. computer science, IT, science, mathematics, statistics, finance, economics, business (including quantitative methods), engineering, maths and management information systems), who wish to specialise in the field of supply chain management with a view to entering the industry, or those with a Level 8 honours bachelor’s primary undergraduate degree, or Higher Diploma, in a non-cognate area plus three to five years’ experience of logistics or supply chain management and who require a qualification in this area in order to progress professionally. These will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. Learners will need to have achieved a minimum second class second division award (2.2 classification) in their honours Bachelor’s Level 8 degree.

We are now accepting applications for programmes taking place in 2024.

Full-time: 1 year
Part-time: 2 Years

Delivery
This is a multimodal programme. Learners are therefore timetabled to be in class or online. They will also have mandatory on demand content as contact hours that they can do in their own time and place.

Next Intake:
January 2024
April 2024
September 2024

Career Opportunities
Many international companies are choosing Ireland as the ideal location for their supply chain functions, according to Careerwise Ireland (2021). In Ireland, specifically, there are currently 488 supply chain vacancies ranging from mid-senior to executive level. Job titles range from Supply Chain Manager, Sourcing Specialist, and Planner to Operations Insight Specialist, Supply Chain Systems Analyst, and Supply Chain Director.

Graduates from the MSc in Supply Chain Management programme have the potential to excel in roles such as:
• Supply Chain Manager
• Procurement Officer
• Excellence Manager

In addition, this programme will prepare graduates for further study for example a PhD in Supply Chain Management.