Overview

REGULATIONS FOR THE MASTER OF COMMERCE DEGREE IN SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT (BS26)

Duration 18 months
Minimum Credit load 270
Maximum Credit Load: 342
Maximum MBKs Credit Load 216
ZNQF Level 9
   

 

  1. INTRODUCTION
  • These regulations shall be read in conjunction with the Faculty of Commerce Regulations and the General Academic Regulations for Postgraduate Diplomas and Taught Masters degrees offered by the Midlands State University.
  • The degree shall be awarded to candidates who have successfully completed the programme and passed the examinations in accordance with Faculty Regulations.
  1. ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
  • To qualify for entry into the Master of Commerce degree in Supply Chain Management, an applicant should have 5 O Level passes including English Language and at least 2 A Level passes or a relevant Diploma,an Honours degree in either Logistics, Supply Chain Management, Procurement, Purchasing, Retailing, Marketing or other business management discipline and/or having a substantial or practical orientation in those fields.
  • Other undergraduate degrees can be considered at the discretion of the department, provided the applicant has at least three years practical experience in a position in which logistics, procurement, purchasing supply chain management, retailing or marketing play a prominent role.
  1. OBJECTIVES
  • The Master of Commerce degree in Supply Chain Management at Midlands State University seeks to give students an opportunity to develop and promote critical, analytical and creative thinking in the dynamic fields of logistics and supply chain management.
  • The programme aims to develop sound conceptual, technical, analytical and problem-solving skills that are required for success in the logistics and supply chain management profession.
  • The programme will be guided by Education 5.0 through collaboration with the private and public sectors, as a result, transform learners to be fully equipped with the appropriate knowledge performance delivery.
  1. PROGRAMME DELIVERY
  • Teaching and Learning Methods: via Lectures, tutorials, group work, dissertation, individual independent study with emphasis on practical aspects, community service, industrialisation and innovation. Programme to offer blended learning (Online classes and consultations).
  • Assessment Methods: Written and oral examinations, tests, dissertation, business research, consultancy work, presentations, term papers, continuous assessments
  • Programme Assessment: Coursework 40% and Written Examination 60%.
  1. LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of the study students should be able to: –

  • Design appropriate techniques to support the development and operation of supply chain systems through innovation and development of networks profitably and/or cost-effectively.
  • Demonstrate knowledge and attitude required in encouraging involvement in sustainable development of professional supply chain management in Zimbabwe and the international community.
  • Demonstrate ethical behaviour in the business environment and the importance of professional and personal development in the rapidly developing and complex field of logistics and supply chain management.  
  • Build networks and relationships that enhance exploitation of business opportunities, promote teamwork, professionalism and effective communication.  
  • Analyze business environments and create economic and effective networks and chains for competitive advantage in the globalized economy.
  1. CAREER PROSPECTS

Graduates in the Master of Commerce degree in Supply Chain Management can work for the following organisations: private sector firms, government departments or regional and international organisations, consultancy and non-governmental organisations.

  1. GENERAL PROVISIONS
  • Formal examinations will be administered at the end of each semester.
  • The programme shall be completed in a minimum of 18 months (three semesters) on a block release basis.
  1. PROGRAMME ASSESSMENT

For a student to be allowed to write examinations, the student must have:

  • Satisfactorily studied approved modules including submission of required written assignments, business research, presentations, and exhibits.
  • Attended compulsory classes.
  • Participated in prescribed seminars, tutorials and practical classes.
  • Formal examinations will normally be written papers, but in some cases the examiner may test the candidate orally.
  • Continuous assessment shall account for 40% of the overall assessment, while the final examination shall account for 60%of the overall assessment.
  1. SUPPLEMENTARY EXAMINATIONS
  • A student who fails and obtains a mark less than 50%, but not less than 40%, may, on the recommendation of the Board of Examiners, and subject to the approval of the Senate, be permitted to sit for a supplementary examination in the respective module(s) failed.
  • Overall assessment of the supplementary examination will not incorporate continuous assessment. Supplementary examinations shall be marked as “Pass” or “Fail” and theoverall maximum mark awarded in a supplementary examination shall be 50%.
  1. FAILURE TO SATISFY EXAMINERS

Refer to the General Academic Regulations.

  1. PROVISION FOR PROGRESSION
  • A student will retain credits for modules passed.
  • A student who after six semesters has not completed the requirements for the degree shall be required to apply for re-registration, which will only be permitted on receipt of a satisfactory motivation.
  • Students shall progress from Semester One to Semester Two at each Level after they have passed more than 50% of modules taken in a semester. In the case of repeat-level students, the Faculty Board of Examiners may, however, make a recommendation to withdraw or discontinue the student at this

Programme Structure

  1. PROGRAMME STRUCTURE

Level 1 Semester 1

CODE DESCRIPTION CREDITS

MSCM703 Procurement Theory and Practice 18

MSCM704 Research Methods 18

MSCM705 Statistics and Data Analysis 18

MSCM701 Supply Chain Management 18

MSCM702 Project Management and Evaluation 18

MSCM706 Sustainability Management 18

 

Level 1 Semester 2

MSCM708 Customs and Regional Trade 18

MSCM709 Transport Economics 18

MSCM710 Public Sector Procurement 18

MSCM707 Strategic Fleet Management 18

MSCM711 Value Chain Analysis 18

 

Level 2 Semester 1

MSCM802 Humanitarian Logistics 18

MSCM801 Supply Chain Risk Management 18

MSCM803 Dissertation/Research project 90

 

  1. MODULE SYNOPSES

 

MSCM701 Supply Chain Management

This module aims to give students an understanding of concepts in strategic supply chain management like supply chain drivers and strategic alignment and fit, value chain management, supply chain management and company strategy, customer value, planning demand and supply in a supply chain ,supply chain relationships, supply chain outsourcing in supply chains, management of international/global supply chains, and sourcing, managing service supply chains, performance measurement in supply chains, supply chain evaluation and contemporary issues in SCM. Key supply chain issues designed and consideration in the Zimbabwe economy.

MSCM702 Project Management and Evaluation

This module aims to give students an understanding of project planning techniques including critical path method (CPM)earned value management (EVM), resource and budgeting, project scheduling, linear programming, replacement of items, computer projects, assignment problems, problem identification, project control techniques, project performance management, team building, teamwork and team. leadership, project post audit and evaluation.

MSCM703 Procurement Theory and Practice

This module aims to give students detailed understanding of procurement as reflected in the following; procurement management, the changing role of purchasing and supply, procurement concepts, strategic procurement and supply chain management, outsourcing, quality management, inventory management, negotiations, price and total cost of ownership, procurement of commodities, capital procurement, service procurement, green procurement, international and global sourcing.

MSCM704 Research Methods

This module aims to give students an understanding of Research and its philosophies; Research Methodologies; Research Problem; Research Hypothesis; The Research Process; Guidelines on Writing a Research Dissertation; Ethical Issues in Research; Univariate and Multivariate Techniques using SPSS, NVIVO, STATA, E-Views, Minitab, Statistics, Epi-Info, Data Mining for Business Intelligence, Data Visualisation, Dimension Reduction. Application of concepts to research in supply chain management, enriching problem-solving skills. Topical research agendas in supply chain management in Zimbabwe and other developing countries. This module provides a foundation for business research in MSCM803 aligned to Zimbabwe’s developmental goals, priorities and policies.

MSCM705 Statistics and Data Analysis

This module aims to give students tools, skills and techniques in analysis, interpretation and application of numerical information. This covers methods that describe the characteristics of random variables, quantifying uncertainty, inferential statistics methods, forecasting and related topics plus financial calculations (GDP, GNP, CPI).

MSCM706 Sustainability

Defining sustainability. Profit, people and planet. Economic, social and environmental performance. Circular economy. Managing networks and supply chains. Evolution of sustainability principles. Costs and benefits for sustainable practices. Reverse and green logistics. Approaches to sustainability. Managing impacts: Sustainable Development Goals, Global sustainability agenda, suppliers and customers. Sustainability and value. Sustainability challenges and economic development in Zimbabwe. Climate change and sustainability for developing countries.

MSCM707 Strategic Fleet Management

This module aims to give students an understanding of best practices for private and public fleet management. It further looks at shop management for vehicles and equipment, fleet facilities in addition to specifics for procuring vehicles and equipment. Health and safety own- and third-party accident management, management of shipping documentation and customs procedures, training & development of staff. Fleet management and sustainability. Use of ICT. Asset management, routing, acquisition and disposal.

MSCM708 Customs and Regional Trade

This module aims to give students an understanding of the policy, principles and purpose of customs administration and international trade that impact on customs, including social expectations, emerging technologies and the global economy in the context of COMESA, PTA, UNCTD, WTO, SADC, GSP, EU. Industrial parks, Export Processing Zones, Special Economic Zones and the promotion of regional and International trade. Bonded warehouses, their various forms and functions.

MSCM709 Transport Economics and Planning

This module aims to give the students an understanding of basics of transport economics, with a closer look at transportation models, regulations, distribution planning, transport planning, network design, fleet management, freight and documentation, outsourcing, reverse logistics and fleet management. The various modes of transportation and their implications to costing, in addition, transport costing of cargo and passenger is looked at in the context of SADC, COMESA and beyond.

 

MSCM710 Public Sector Procurement Management

This module aims to give students an understanding of public sector procurement. To be included is the Zimbabwe Treasury and Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Act. Also, to look at are multi-lateral financial institutions and the donor world tender procedures.

MSCM711 Value Chain Analysis

This module aims to give students an understanding of value chain in the context of Porter’s value chain and competitive advantage. Primary and support activities in a value chain. Process diagrams, maps and flow charts, global and regional value chains, cost drivers of value chain analysis, sustainability and resilience as value creation model (VCM). Concepts of value, competitive strategies and value addition in Zimbabwe.

MSCM801 Supply Chain Risk Management

This module aims to give students an understanding of the nature of risks affecting supply chains, processes in managing risk in supply chains, risk mitigation strategies, risk analysis, risk control, sources of risk as the internal and external environments (STEEPLED) plus tools for assessing this risk.

MSCM802 Humanitarian Logistics

This module aims to give the student an understanding of History and status of Humanitarian Logistics (HL), Humanitarian Supply Chains (HSC), Collaboration and partnerships with business and government agencies, Disaster management cycle, role of IT, Long-term development as an aspect of sustainability in the humanitarian context. Exit strategies. Delivering the right assistance to the right beneficiaries at the right time versus skill and understanding of the supply chain. Last mile logistics.

MSCM803 Dissertation/Research project

Each student carries out business research on a topic in supply chain management. Research topics chosen must be aligned to Zimbabwe’s developmental goals, priorities and policies with an emphasis in promoting innovation in the provision of goods and services. Each student works under a supervisor appointed by the Department. Research topics must also be approved by the Department. Research for this module builds on skills acquired in MSCM704. The dissertation should have a minimum of 20 000 words