esade

COURSE CONTRIBUTION TO PROGRAM

Course Learning Objectives

CONTENT

Methodology

Assessment criteria

Class attendance and participation (individual) 20%
Write-up assignments (group / individual) 40%
Final project (in group with individual assessment) 40%

Class Preparation and Participation
Most of the sessions are based on case discussion. Each case should be read independently prior to the class in which it will be discussed. Only after having done these, you could become to have common language with your instructor and your classmates during the case discussion. It is a courtesy to all to come prepared.
In addition, you should discuss each case with your group members and finish all the case write-ups. More information is shown in the following part "Write-up Assignments?.
Active participation is an essential component and precious experience, especially in a problem-solving oriented course like this. For this reason, the classroom should be considered a laboratory in which you can test your ability to present your analyses and recommendations clearly, to convince your peers of the correctness of your approach to complex problems, and to illustrate your ability to achieve the desired results through the implementation of that approach.

Write-Up Assignments
The goal of the write-up is to take a whole picture and a clear understanding on the central questions of the teaching material, support your opinion with the evidence you can find in the reading, and note any issues or potential problems. It is up to you to choose any format to demonstrate your opinion, but it must be logically consistent and effectively structured.
The write-up may include an overview of the case. The analysis, the major part of the write-up, could be based on, but not limited to, the discussion questions that are included in the course package. It is highly appreciated if proper tools are used. If you make assumptions in the analysis, please state them explicitly in the write-up.
Regarding the group write-up assignments, every student should be in a team with three members (ideally, one from each partnering schools). Each team must finish and submit the write-up assignments prior to the class.
Attentions: 1) Each write-up should be submitted before the beginning of the class in which the case will be discussed. 2) The minimum length of each write-up is 1-page (1.5 lines space, 11 size font) and please refrain from extending your opinions over 4-page (including all the submitted materials). 3) Each member of a team will get the same grade in the assessment of group write-up assignments.
The grading criteria for write-up assessments include the proper analysis, insightful implications and recommendations and clarity and brevity of written work.

Final Project
You and your team members are required to analyze the operations and/or supply chains management of three companies in the same sector. Ideally, the three companies are based on U.S., E.U. and China, respectively. It will be good to see that they are competing with each other, and they operate differently, and build competitive advantages differently. Here list some examples:
GAP, Zara, versus Lining
G.M., Peugeot, versus BYD
FedEx, DHL, versus S.F.
Please concentrate on studying one interesting operational topic, using the three cases. The topic may be manufacturing methods, inventory management, supply chain integration, product design, sourcing strategy, IT management, service management, operations strategies, business model, and operations innovation.
Your team will be required to submit an executive report (up to 10 pages at one-inch margins, 1.5 line spacing, and 11 size font, including all the submitted materials). Please hand in the hardcopy of the report to the course teaching assistant in two weeks after the last section, and at the same time email the assistant the softcopy of the report. Your team can state the role and the work of each team member in the report, which helps in assessing the individual contribution of team members. Without the statement, each team member will get the same grade in the assessment of final project.
The grading criteria for final project include the depth of analysis, the insightfulness and constructiveness, the reflection on current practices and the clarity and brevity of written work.

Bibliography

Timetable and sections