University of Brighton
Brighton Business School
Brighton Business School
MSc Logistics and Supply Chain Management
Course Handbook
September 2012
Welcome from Professor Aidan Berry, Dean of Brighton Business School
I am very pleased to have this opportunity to welcome you to our MSc Retail Management & MSc International Retail Management courses. As Dean of the Brighton Business School I am proud of our recent success in positioning the Business School a leading local and regional provider of management courses within a successful university. The University of Brighton improved its ranking by 21 places in the 2008 RAE and the Business School was in the upper quartile of Business Schools in terms of the percentage of 4* (world leading) research.
Our mission statement clearly sets out the underpinning teaching and learning philosophy that will be governing your study whilst on the course.
“Brighton Business School is a professional business school that aims to be a leading provider of exciting and relevant management and professional education that makes a positive difference to current managers and potential leaders of the future, which is underpinned by appropriate research and which adds value to individuals, employers and society at large.”
The strength of the postgraduate programmes within the Business School context lies in the connections with business, the public service and professional bodies, a growing research base and staff capability to make significant organisational impact through teaching that is grounded in theory and practice. The Brighton Business School considers it a priority to add sustainable value to its stakeholders through well designed and high quality teaching and learning provision. I hope that you will prosper as a student on our MSc Retail Management & MSc International Retail Management courses course both with regards to your professional and personal development but also that you will also be able to build on the learning and networks in the future, long after the completion of the course.
Professor Aidan Berry
Dean of Brighton Business School
PREFACE
The purpose of this course handbook is to provide you with key information about your course, including administrative and academic procedures, and to give you some practical advice on how to make the most of your studies and to explain what to do if you experience any difficulties. Please read the handbook very carefully and keep it at hand for future reference.
Other key documents that you should be familiar with are:
· the University of Brighton Student Handbook;
· the University of Brighton Plagiarism Awareness Pack;
· the Brighton Business School Referencing Handbook;
· the University of Brighton General Examination and Assessment Regulations (GEAR).
Copies of all these documents are accessible in electronic format on the University’s student intranet, Studentcentral (see 7.6 below), via your Course Area. You will also be provided with paper copies of the University Student Handbook and the University Plagiarism Awareness Pack.
Because of increasing incidents of cases of plagiarism both in this university and others, you are strongly urged to carefully read the Plagiarism Awareness Pack. Penalties for plagiarism can be very harsh and ignorance is no defence! The University has access to special software which can detect plagiarism and we will be using this at random throughout the year at all levels, so you have been warned.
If you would like to see any other items included in your course handbook please contact your course administrator and, whilst we cannot promise to change things straight away, we will do our best to improve the handbook in future years.
CONTENTS
1. COURSE LEADER INTRODUCTION
2. BRIGHTON BUSINESS SCHOOL
3. COURSE MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION
3.1 Course management team, course board and examination board
3.2 Communications between staff and students
3.3 Where to turn for advice and guidance
3.4 Student representation and feedback
3.5 Annual academic health process
4. COURSE STRUCTURE AND CONTENT
4.1 The programme calendar
4.2 Course aims
4.3 Teaching & learning methods
4.4 Course structure & content
4.5 English language support programme
4.6 Careers support
5. COURSE ASSESSMENT
5.1 Nature of assessment
5.2 Coursework marking guidelines
5.3 Coursework presentation
5.4 Referencing your work
5.5 Coursework word limit and word ranges
5.6 Coursework submission
5.7 Late coursework
5.8 Coursework extensions
5.9 Return of coursework
5.10 Examination timetables
5.11 Examination past papers
5.12 Use of dictionaries in examinations
5.13 Examination results
5.14 Mitigating circumstances
5.15 Plagiarism, collusion and cheating in examinations
5.16 Appealing the decision of an examination board
6. COURSE SPECIFIC REGULATIONS
6.1 Compensation within modules (qualified pass)
6.2 Compensated credits
6.3 Referral rules
6.4 Requirement for Award (MSc & PG Dip)
6.5 Criteria for the award of distinction & merit
6.6 Deferrals
6.7 Intercalation
6.8 Registration period
7. LIBRARY, COMPUTING AND MEDIA SERVICES
7.1 The library service
7.2 Library services to part-time students
7.3 The Online Library
7.4 Computing services for students based at Moulsecoomb
7.5 Media Centres
7.6 Studentcentral
7.7 ASK Study Guide
7.8 Useful web addresses
8. STUDENT SERVICES
9. STUDENT ENTITLEMENTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
9.1 Student Charter
9.2 Brighton Business School – attendance & engagement policy
9.3 Disability statement
9.4 Fire evacuation
9.5 Observing copyright laws
APPENDIX
Submitting Assignments through Studentcentral
1. COURSE LEADER INTRODUCTION
Welcome to the MSc Logistics and Supply Chain Management programme. We hope that you find the experience challenging and rewarding. This student handbook has been designed and written to give you information on the people who are involved in leading, teaching and administering the course, the procedures, regulations and student representation. The handbook also gives you the details of the course structure, as well as general advice and regulations affecting all postgraduate business students. The MSc in Logistics and Supply Chain Management is one of a number of postgraduate master’s awards that are managed within the Postgraduate Programme in Management (PPM).
The MSc in Logistics and Supply Chain Management has been designed for people who are seeking careers in: Purchasing, Manufacturing Management, Logistics, Sales and Operations Planning, Supply Chain Management, Consulting and e-business.
Logistics is concerned with the movement and storage of raw materials, components and finished goods, and with information flows that link the organisations in a supply system. The goods that are distributed to customers at the retail end of the supply chain are created in complex networks of interconnected businesses. Success in the marketplace depends on managing these business-to-business relationships through activities like purchasing and e-business, and the term supply chain management refers to the ‘end-to-end’ management of material flows within a supply system.
Logistics and Supply Chain Management are the core business disciplines that help firms to compete by simultaneously improving customer service and reducing cost. Effective supply chain operations are supported by information systems, like Enterprise Resource Planning (e.g. SAP) which generate forecasts and orders to guide day-to-day decision making.
This course is intended for new and recent graduates, and, for people with significant relevant work experience who are qualified to degree level. Examples of relevant first degrees include business, accountancy, engineering, economics, computing and social sciences.
The dissertation provides students with an opportunity to enhance their careers by developing a specialist theme, or, by working on real business problems. The course includes the option of a work placement. Student projects have included problem solving activities in the following organisations: EDF Energy, Edwards Vacuum, Schenker Logistics, Xerox, Unilever, Elekta and Rolls Royce Motor Cars.
We aim to provide a stimulating educational environment to help you achieve your learning objectives. We also hope you will enjoy contributing, through interaction with other students and staff, to the programme.
The MSc course offers you an educational experience, which builds on our resources to provide a coherent and innovative course that emphasises academic knowledge, theory and practice.
These main ambitions are realised in two ways. Firstly, we offer a programme that encourages you to explore the Logistics and Supply Chain Management 'universe' from a critical perspective. This can be accomplished through a variety of learning methods. Secondly, we build on staff subject knowledge and teaching expertise and, in partnership with you, aim to develop insights, knowledge, ideas and solutions. The degree aims to build on your experience (for example previous education and work) and staff interests (for example research and consultancy).
Finally, through the dissertation or work placement in particular, we aim to respond to your interests. We aim to create a degree that is flexible and stimulating and hope that you will enjoy the programme.
2. BRIGHTON BUSINESS SCHOOL
Your school is Brighton Business School. The Acting Dean of Brighton Business School is Professor Aidan Berry. More information about the work of the School may be found on the school web site at: www.brighton.ac.uk/bbs
The Business School’s contact details are:
Brighton Business School
University of Brighton
Mithras House
Lewes Road
BRIGHTON
BN2 4AT
Tel: (01273) 600900 (Switchboard)
Fax: (01273) 642980
The Academic year dates for the School are:
AUTUMN TERM
24 September 2012 –14 December 2012
SPRING TERM
7 January 2013 – 22 March 2013
SUMMER TERM
15 April 2013 – 7 June 2013
3. COURSE MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION
3.1 Course management team, course board and examination board
3.2 Communications between staff and students
3.3 Where to turn for advice and guidance
3.4 Student representation and feedback
3.5 Annual academic health process
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3.1 Course management team, course board and examination board
3.1.1 Course management team
Responsibility for the day-to-day running of your course lies with the course management team, comprising your course leader, your course administrator, and the members of staff teaching on the course. Their contact details are as follows:
Responsibility / Staff / Room no / Tel no / E-mail addressCourse Leader and module tutor for:
OPM42 - Operations Management for Logistics
OPM43/49 - Logistics & Supply Chain Consulting/Management
MNM55 - Business Research methods / Peter McCullen / M123 / 642133 /
Module tutor
OPM42 – Operations management for Logistics / Gary Priddis / M131 / 642225 /
Course Administrator / Julie Watson / M159 / 642948 /
ML304 -Moving to Masters Module tutor / Vicky Richard and Colin Harris / M103
M129 / 642139
642027 /
Module tutor
HRM39 – Managing Organisational Behaviour / Barry Lee-Scherer
Keith Mattacks / M118 / 642196
642130 /
Module tutor
MNM55 – Business Research methods / Colin Harris / M129 / 642027 /
Module Tutor
ITM04 – Enterprise Systems & E-procurement / Clare Millington / M145 / 642548 /
Module Tutor
ITM04 – Enterprise Systems & E-procurement OPM46 – Strategic Purchasing / Ozlem Bak / M131 / 642344 /
Module Tutor
FAM03 – Accounting for managers / Sue Endean
Paul Grant / M147
M127 / 642587
642575 /
Module Tutor
QNM02 – Forecasting & Modelling / Kevin Turner / M145 / 642145 /
Profiles of academic staff may be found on the School website at:
http://www.brighton.ac.uk/bbs/contact/academic.php
3.1.2 Course board
Each course within the School has a course board. The responsibilities of course boards include:
• ensuring the smooth operation of the course;
• reviewing syllabus content, teaching methods, assessment and resources and generally monitoring the course in operation;
• supervising the administration of the assessment procedures in accordance with the assessment regulations and the aims of the course;
• liaising with the Examination Board and advising when necessary;
• maintaining effective feedback arrangements between the lecturers and the course members;
• planning and recommending policy with regard to the operation of the course;
• exercising such other functions as may be requested by the School Board.
The membership of course boards is as follows:
Course Leader
Student Representative(s)
Course Administrator(s)
Module Leaders
Information Adviser (or nominee)
Programme Leader
Assistant Head (Postgraduate)
Each course board will normally meet two or three times a year to hear reports on the progress of each year of the relevant course. The board will discuss both students' and tutors’ reports and take action where appropriate. If an issue arises which is clearly beyond the scope of the course board and requires further consideration, then it will be referred to the School Board. Copies of the minutes of course boards will normally be published on the school area on studentcentral within three weeks of each board on the “My School: Brighton Business School” area.
3.1.3 Examination boards
Each course within the School is allocated to an examination board, which considers each student’s overall performance and makes decisions on awards and progression.
3.2 Communications between staff and students
Effective communication between staff and students is very important, and the School facilitates this in a range of ways.
3.2.1 We contact you
· By e-mail – using your University e-mail address (see 3.2.6 below)
· Through Studentcentral
· Through the student notice boards
· Through the postgraduate student mailboxes
· By mobile phone
The notice-boards, plasma screen and student mailboxes are all in Mithras House, close to the postgraduate office in M159. Through them you will be told about changes in timetables, cancellations and re-locations, the membership of groups, notes about examinations and essays, internal and external mail. Changes are frequent at the start of the academic year so please check them daily. It is your own responsibility to keep up with any announced changes.
You must complete the personal information form sent out with your induction material and return it to the Postgraduate Office. If you change your personal details (address, name etc) you must change this on-line in Studentcentral.
3.2.2 You contact us
· By e-mail. E-mail addresses of all staff are readily available.
· By knocking on the doors of academic and administrative staff
· By calling us by phone
· Important messages and official documents can be handed in to the Postgraduate Office (M159)
3.2.3 Postgraduate office
The Postgraduate Office is located in Room M159 and is staffed by Julie Watson and her team of course administrators. They have responsibility for all initial enquiries: for most queries you should see them first (what to do, where to go, requests for freely available handouts, information sheets, etc).