Supply Chain Management Extension Certificate Program

Transcription

1 Faculty of Continuing Education & Extension Supply Chain Management Extension Certificate Program Final Assessment Paper

2 The Supply Chain Management Final Assessment is the final component in the Mount Royal University Supply Chain Management Extension Certificate Program. Learners are expected to complete a final paper incorporating Supply Chain Management fundamentals, practices and principals learned throughout the Supply Chain Management certificate courses. Outlined below are criteria for completing the Final Assessment paper. 1. Learners will develop a final assessment paper applying the Supply Chain Management tools and techniques that they have learned in the previous six core courses. The paper is to be no longer than 25 pages (including all support materials and/or Appendices, but excluding any Table of Content pages, title pages, Appendix title pages, reference and bibliography pages, or white spaces). All papers must use 12 point Times New Roman or Arial font-type and single line spacing for the main text. A larger size font for headings is encouraged and the use of 10 point font is acceptable in charts and tables. A maximum of 47 lines, including the paper page header and page number lines, on an 81/2 x 11 in page with 1-in. margins top, bottom, and both sides, is required. NOTE: For papers longer than 25 pages, marks will be deducted or the paper may even be returned to the learner who will be asked to follow the rewrite procedure (see item # 8 below). Once the paper meets the length requirement, it can then be re-submitted. 2. Learners, in consultation with their assigned Paper Advisor, will be required to choose a suitable company or organization to base their assessment on. The selected company must have sufficient scope and complexity that will allow the learner to demonstrate application of the required supply chain management components, as detailed on the Supply Chain Management Final Assessment Checklist attached with this package. It is expected that 85% of the points contained on the Supply Chain Management Final Assessment Checklist will be explored and discussed in the Learner s paper. It is recommended that the learner NOT select a service orientated company, as a service is likely to be more difficult to apply all of the supply chain management principles to. Some suggestions for selecting a company include: Manufacturers Supplier of Materials or Components Large Retailer with distribution centers or warehousing International Importer / Exporter of products 3. When and how the Supply Chain Management components are applied to a given business situation can vary significantly, depending on industry and company specific requirements. Thus, it is not possible to prescribe a template that must be used when writing this paper. However, the standard Business Case format will be used in the presentation and marking of the assessment paper. It is expected that the principles used throughout the MRU Supply Chain Management Extension Certificate Program will be incorporated in your paper, demonstrating your SUPPLY CHAIN FINAL ASSESSMENT 2 JANUARY 2015

3 understanding of how to apply the tools and knowledge you have attained to a real business situation. It is further expected that through the application of these various Supply Chain Management components, your paper will demonstrate the integration and interaction between the various components. 4. Upon registering, you will receive a Confirmation of Registration in the mail. This receipt will include IMPORTANT INFORMATION for contacting your designated Paper Advisor. No other details about the paper itself will be sent to you in the mail. 5. Withdrawal (from a course 4 business days prior to the start date) Withdrawals must be submitted in writing and may be submitted by ceregservices@mtroyal.ca fax: ; mail or in person: Registration Services, Room A101, Kerby Hall, 4825 Mount Royal Gate SW, Calgary, AB, T3E 6K6. Please quote: student ID number, CRN (Course Reference Number), course name, course start/end dates, full legal name, date of birth, address and phone number. All withdrawal refunds are subject to an administration fee of 10% of course tuition (max. $50). Refunds may take up to two weeks to process. Course Withdrawals (from a course in progress) A student may request in writing to the Continuing Education Registration office, or the Continuing Education program area, withdrawal from a course up until 67% (or 2/3 s) of the completion of that course in order to receive a "W" grade. Requests received by CE Registration must be passed on to the program area for approval first to ensure they are received before the 67% (or 2/3 s) completion point of the course. The program area will notify CE Registration in writing of their decision. Note: No refunds are associated with such withdrawal requests. If the request comes in after the 67% (or 2/3 s) completion point of the course, permission for the grade change will be at the discretion of the Program Director. 6. All other required information regarding paper criteria, grading system, and Frequently Asked Questions can be found in this Final Assessment Learner Information Guide document. The latest version of this document can always be found at Mount Royal University s Continuing Education web site at conted.mtroyal.ca/supplychain. Once you are on MRU s website, follow the links from "Certificates" to "Certificate Programs" and then click on the "Supply Chain Management" link under "Certificate Programs". Scroll down to find the Final Assessment course description link. You can then click on the Final Assessment paper criteria link. 7. Communication with your assigned paper advisor via or phone is strongly advised as early as possible. It is recommended you contact your Paper Advisor to discuss your choice of a company to be used in the assessment. A review of the SCM Final Assessment Checklist as it applies to your chosen company / organization with your paper advisor is strongly encouraged before proceeding any SUPPLY CHAIN FINAL ASSESSMENT 3 JANUARY 2015

4 further with your paper. You are also encouraged to contact your Paper Advisor if you have any questions about the paper itself. Please maximize the time with your Paper Advisor by preparing specific questions before hand and keeping conversations brief and on-topic. The Paper Advisor s time for discussions is limited, as their primary role is to assess and grade the paper. 8. Learners must receive a minimum of 70% (70 points out of a possible 100 points or at least a letter grade of B-) in the Final Assessment paper to successfully fulfill the course requirements. Please refer to the Final Assessment Grading System information given later in this document for details on how the marks are awarded. 9. Information regarding the paper requirements and the grading system are given later in this document. As indicated above, the latest version of this document can always be found on the MRU Continuing Education web site at: conted.mtroyal.ca/supplychain. Follow the links as described earlier. For further information or questions, please feel free to contact the MRU Supply Chain Management Program Coordinator at (403) or the Program Assistant at (403) The DEADLINE for completing the Final Assessment paper will always be listed on your course registration information. Papers are always due by 12 noon on this date. Paper Submission: Late submissions or failure to submit a Final Paper shall result in the student receiving a failing grade. Papers are submitted online. All papers are submitted through Blackboard. Please sign into black board ( ) and then select Supply Chain Final Assessment from your My Bb courses list. Go into the Content section and select Final Assessment Drop Box. Under Section 2: Assignment Materials you have the option to browse and upload your final paper from your computer (or a flash drive). Once you have selected a document it will show the name of the attached file, and still give you the option to remove or add additional documents if necessary. Your paper must be submitted as a PDF document. Always save a back up copy of your Final Assessment Paper. 11. A rewrite can only be requested if you have; 1) submitted a paper for grading, and 2) received a grade of less than 70%. A rewrite involves the learner rewriting the paper and then resubmitting it for marking, not necessarily by the original grader. A maximum of two rewrites can be requested. Individuals who are unsuccessful on the second rewrite will be required to wait a year prior to a re-take, or to take additional Supply Chain Management courses before applying to write again. The deadline to SUPPLY CHAIN FINAL ASSESSMENT 4 JANUARY 2015

5 apply for the rewrite will be 60 days after notification of the original paper grade. Only one rewrite can be requested per term. 12. Application to Graduate Form: Once your Final Assessment paper has been marked, students can expect to have their letter grade returned to them, along with a summary of what the paper did well, as well as, where there was room for improvement, within approximately 4 weeks of its submission. Once your paper has been marked, you will receive an that directs you to the submission history page to view your results and review the instructor feedback. If you achieved 70% (or a letter grade of B-) or more on your paper, an Application to Graduate form will be ed to you. In order to obtain your official Mount Royal Supply Chain Management Certificate, you are asked to complete this form and submit it (mail, , or fax) to the Program Assistant. OPTIONAL PREP COURSE: MRU offers a course in Calgary entitled Preparing for the Final Assessment, which is designed to provide additional support beyond what is offered in the Certificate courses. This course gives you the opportunity to work with an instructor who marks Final Assessment papers so you can obtain further insight into what is required to be successful. Note: This course has a separate fee and is offered as an optional course to help learners prepare for writing the Final Assessment paper and is not a requirement for the Supply Chain Management Certificate. To find out the course dates and fees for the current term, refer to the information given in the MRU Continuing Education Calendar or on their web site at: conted.mtroyal.ca/supplychain. Follow the links as described earlier. SUPPLY CHAIN FINAL ASSESSMENT 5 JANUARY 2015

6 SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT FINAL ASSESSMENT GRADING SYSTEM While the information presented here is intended as a guide only and is not totally prescriptive, a few recommendations may help you organize and plan your paper better. For the overall organization of your paper, it is recommended you use the section headings as given below (except of course for the Presentation and Organization heading) and organize the sections in the same order. It will also be helpful to include informative dialog that helps tie sections and items within sections together. Simply stapling together a number of pages containing copies of the various tools and techniques or outputs shows little evidence of how you are actually applying these to your project. Also, by keeping the point value of each section in mind, the number of pages for each section should be roughly proportional to the possible marks in a given section. For example, using this method of estimation, the Defining the Issue section would be somewhere in the region of 6 to 7 pages; while the Action and Implementation section would be 4-5 pages. Executive Summary 10 points In the context of this Final Assessment paper, the Executive Summary should serve as a stand-alone section, targeted to a busy executive or manager who is not necessarily directly involved in the project. This brief, comprehensive summary will be assessed on the basis of: accuracy, in that it accurately reflects the purpose and content of the paper; concise, with each sentence parlaying meaning and relevance, while being as brief as possible (<950 characters and spaces in total); coherent and readable, writing in clear and vigorous prose in the active voice; and, continuing applicability, highlighting results obtained and how being implemented. Here are some ideas that may be included as part of the Executive Summary: Company description Products & Processes in the Supply Chain Scope of the Assessment Overview of entire Supply Chain Brief description of each component Closing summary statement You are advised to write the Executive Summary AFTER you have completed all other sections of your paper and it should be placed at the beginning of your submitted document. This section should contain no new information but should summarize the entire final assessment paper for an executive level audience. Organization Background 5 points This section provides the context for the issue / organization being examined. It is necessary and important that the reader be given a feel for the type of organization and industry being examined, the marketplace in which that industry operates, and the overall business environment in which the discussion and analysis will take place. SUPPLY CHAIN FINAL ASSESSMENT 6 JANUARY 2015

7 Defining the Issue 15 points It is extremely important that the Learner clearly articulate what the real life problem / situation is to the reader. As this is a Supply Chain Management final course, it is mandatory that the immediate issue / situation, and other broader issues being examined, relate specifically to a strategic procurement, procurement, logistical, material, or SCM service related issue(s). The key concern(s), problem(s), decisions(s), challenge(s) or opportunity(ies) must be clearly articulated and detailed in order to ensure that the remainder of the paper is meaningful and actionable. This issue(s) / situation must clearly be strategic in importance to the organization, a source of major competitiveness or significant profitability / loss. The urgency of the situation must also be clearly articulated. Analyzing Case Data 20 points This is where a considerable part of the paper should be contained: causes and effects (i.e. fishbone diagrams); constraints and opportunities; and, quantitative and qualitative assessments. People, materials, methods, equipment, money, and other factors all lead up to effects that must be examined and determined to be valid or invalid. From there, constraints or opportunities which will impact the analysis need to be examined and factored in to possible courses of action. Decision Criteria 10 points It is imperative that criteria be clearly established against which all possible alternatives will be measured or compared against. These criteria provide the basis for evaluation and assessment. They can be classified as quantitative as well as qualitative. Such criteria may include: profit; cost; return on investment (ROI); market share; capacity; risk; and / or, cash flow, to name a few. Qualitative criteria may include: competitive advantage; customer satisfaction; employee morale; corporate image; ease of implementation; synergy; ethics; safety; and / or goodwill, to name a few. There may be other criteria that the Learner has determined are essential to the decision making process. Ensure that the criteria chosen are clearly articulated and described. Alternative Analysis and Evaluation 20 points Each alternative must be clearly identified. The key advantages and disadvantages of each alternative must be listed and thoroughly discussed. The compare and contrast (pro and con) assessments of each alternative must be done against the decision criteria previously listed and discussed. A matrix format may be used in order to more accurately compare each of the alternatives. If multiple decision criteria are being used, weighting of each of the criteria must be applied. It is also important to look at the short and long term results of each alternative, and to assess the best, the worst, and the SUPPLY CHAIN FINAL ASSESSMENT 7 JANUARY 2015

8 most likely outcomes for each alternative. Qualitative and quantitative analysis will be required. It will also be necessary for the student to use the various supply chain management tools and techniques learned throughout the certificate program to determine those possible outcomes. Action and Implementation Plan 10 points Based on the predicted outcomes and the comparative strengths and weaknesses of each alternative, the most logical conclusion and alternative should be the one selected by the student. However, a combination of alternatives may be the more reasonable approach, utilizing the strengths of various alternatives and eliminating, where possible, the weaknesses of the selected alternatives. It is to be remembered that this is a real life situation and that the solution being proposed may possibly be used by the Learner s employer. The proposed actions and implementation plan must minimize the disadvantages, while taking advantage of the strengths. The action plan must be specific and include: who, what, when, where, and how. A contingency plan would also be useful, in case things do not go as expected. The implementation plan should include a set of milestones and a schedule for everyone to measure their success against. Assumptions, Presentation & Organization 10 points It is important for the Learner to clearly identify all assumptions being made when they have been used, and to clearly articulate why real data was unavailable. This reflects real life where not all of the information is available to make the most accurate decision possible. If the assumptions are not exactly correct, the implementation plan and contingency plan must be flexible enough to be able to react to any necessary changes. All assumptions used must be reasonable and be as true-to-life as possible. The paper will be laid out according to the format detailed in Point # 1 of the first part of this guide. The paper is to be no longer than 25 pages (including all support materials and/or Appendices, but excluding any Table of Content pages, title pages, Appendix title pages, reference and bibliography pages, or white spaces). For papers longer than 25 pages, marks will be deducted or the paper may even be returned to the learner who will be asked to follow the rewrite procedure. All papers must use 12 point Times New Roman or Arial font-type and single line spacing for the main text. A larger size font for headings is encouraged and the use of 10 point font is acceptable in charts and tables. A maximum of 47 lines, including the paper page header and page number lines, on an 81/2 x 11 in page with 1-in. margins top, bottom, and both sides, is required. Title and Table of Content pages are encouraged. Appendices can be used, but should be clearly labeled and referenced from within the main text of the paper. Any references and resources used must be clearly identified within the main text of the paper, and appropriately listed at the end of the paper in reference and bibliography sections. (A Reference and Bibliography Examples section is provided in this guide, detailing examples of each of the above types of references and bibliography formats (American SUPPLY CHAIN FINAL ASSESSMENT 8 JANUARY 2015

9 Psychological Association (APA) style manual or the Modern Language Association of America (MLA) style manual.)) Additional instructor Comments It is important for the Learner to incorporate as many of the Supply Chain Management tools and techniques that they have learned throughout the certificate program as possible, as detailed on the attached checklist. However, it must be recognized that there may be certain portions of the program that are just not applicable to the Learner s specifically chosen project. This is why there is the requirement to have a minimum of 85% of the SCM Final Assessment Checklist items addressed in the paper. It is expected that initial discussions between the Learner and Paper Advisor will address this issue and will ensure that the scope of the paper is broad enough to incorporate as much of the checklist as possible. Total Points: 100 points As mentioned earlier, students are awarded a letter grade based on their performance on the Final Assessment paper. Students must achieve a 70% (70 points out of 100), or B- to receive a passing grade. Below is a table outlining the breakdown of each letter grade level. Letter Percentage Description Grade Grade A Excellent. Superior performance, showing A comprehensive understanding of subject matter. A B Good. Clearly above average performance with B knowledge of subject matter generally complete. B C Satisfactory. Basic understanding of subject matter. C C D Marginal performance- Generally insufficient preparation D for subsequent courses F 0 49 Fail. Assigned to students: a) who do not meet the academic requirements of the course, or b) who cease to continue in the course, but do not withdraw as per Mount Royal University policy. SUPPLY CHAIN FINAL ASSESSMENT 9 JANUARY 2015

10 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 1. Question (Q): Where do I find out about the details of the requirements for the Final Assessment? Answer (A): This document is the definitive source for all the Final Assessment information. The most current version of this document can be found on the Mount Royal University Continuing Education web site at: conted.mtroyal.ca/supplychain. Follow the links that were given earlier in this document for the Supply Chain Management course information area. You will also be given more details in various courses. If you are in the Calgary region, you might consider attending the course entitled Preparing for the Final Assessment. Refer to the details about this course that were given earlier. If you have any other questions regarding the Final Assessment, do not hesitate to ask (or ) any of your Supply Chain Management Certificate Program instructors or call the Mount Royal Supply Chain Management Program Coordinator's office at (403) or the Programs Assistant at (403) Q: When should I apply for registration in the Final Assessment course? A: You should apply after you have successfully completed your certificate courses. It is advised you time your application for the Final Assessment so that you can start the paper once you have finished all classroom courses. You must complete the paper by the stated deadline date for the term in which you are registered. 3. Q: How long after finishing my final classroom course do I have to apply for my Final Assessment? A: It is strongly recommended you apply to write your paper in the term immediately following your last course, but you must have completed all course requirements, including the Final Assessment Paper, within a three year period. 4. Q: What is the pass mark for the Final Assessment paper? A: The pass mark is 70 % (or a letter grade of B-). 5. Q: Do I get my Mount Royal University Supply Chain Management Certificate automatically after I pass the Final Assessment paper? A: No, there is an Application to Graduate form available specifically for applying for your official Mount Royal University Supply Chain Management Certificate. Only after you have successfully met all the requirements for the Certificate, SUPPLY CHAIN FINAL ASSESSMENT 10 JANUARY 2015

11 including completion of all nine courses AND passing the Final Assessment paper requirements, can you apply for the Certificate. If your mark on the Final Assessment paper is 70% (or letter grade of B-) or more, then a copy of the Application to Graduate form will be ed to you when your paper has been graded. 6. Q: Have Learners failed the Final Assessment? A: Yes, there are clearly defined requirements and if these are not met, the Learner will not be successful in passing the Final Assessment. 7. Q: What is the most common reason for failure of a paper or loss of marks? A: The most common reason for failure or loss of marks is because key required items, as suggested in the outline, have not been included. You are advised to use the number of points identified for each section as a guideline in determining the relative importance of that section. For example, writing only a paragraph for the Analyzing Case Data section will not be awarded 20 points or similarly, only a paragraph for the Decision Criteria section will not be worth 10 points. Another area where candidates lose marks is that they just regurgitate the Supply Chain Management theory and do not show how they have applied this theory to their chosen company / situation. Remember, the purpose of the paper is for the Learner to show evidence of how they would apply the Supply Chain Management theory that they learned in the courses to a specific project. 8. Q: What are my options if I fail (get less than 70% ) A: Learners may rewrite their paper at a reduced rate and attempt to obtain a passing grade. Learners must register in the semester directly following the original Final Assessment submission. Learners registering in a subsequent semester will need to pay the full amount for a resubmission. Learners are allowed one rewrite per term to a maximum of 2 rewrites. Individuals who are unsuccessful on the second rewrite will be required to wait a full year and may be required to re-take some, or all of the Supply Chain Management courses. 9. Q: Can I ask to be assigned to a specific Paper Advisor? A: No. Each Final Assessment Paper Advisor is assigned papers on a rotational basis (depending on how many Learners they have already been assigned and/or their availability). When their Final Assessment registration comes in, Learners are simply assigned to the next available Paper Advisor. SUPPLY CHAIN FINAL ASSESSMENT 11 JANUARY 2015

12 10. Q: How do I find out who has been assigned as my Paper Advisor? A: Upon registering for the Final Assessment course, a Confirmation of Registration receipt will be mailed to the address provided to the MRU registration service. This receipt will indicate payment in full has been received, and as well, the name of the assigned Paper Advisor and contact information of address and phone number. NOTE: This is the only document MRU provides advising who the Paper Advisor is and their contact information. 11. Q: Will the assigned Paper Advisor contact me or do I contact her/him first? A: The onus is on the Learner to make the first contact with the assigned Paper Advisor, and it is recommended that this be done as early as possible in the term. 12. Q: What is the role of my assigned Paper Advisor? A: As early as possible, it is strongly recommended Learners ask their assigned Paper Advisor for confirmation that the project that has been chosen will be a suitable project to document for the Final Assessment paper (see the Answers to other Questions given later for more details on what constitutes a suitable project). Also, as the work on the paper progresses, the Paper Advisor can be contacted via to answer any questions, as required. Note: The advisor does not approve the project per se; they will be able to counsel about the project the Learner is considering for the paper, and whether it will be suitable for the requirements of the paper, and if not, what possible changes can be made to deem it suitable. The final decision as to the direction that the Learner s paper takes is up to the Learner. 13. Q: Am I able to meet in person with my assigned Paper Advisor? A: No, since all necessary communication can easily be handled using , there is not a need for a face to face meeting. Also, MRU does not contract the Paper Advisor to do this, nor would it even be feasible for them to meet with all the Final Assessment Learners in a given term, especially those who live outside the Calgary area. 14. Q: How much consultation time do I get with my assigned Paper Advisor? A: MRU is not able to mandate any particular length of time any specific Paper Advisor is available, but our goal is to ensure that each Learner is able to obtain the help they require to complete the Final Assessment paper. It is important that the Learner maximize the time with their advisor by ensuring that they are well prepared before any contact and that they remain focused on the questions that SUPPLY CHAIN FINAL ASSESSMENT 12 JANUARY 2015

13 require answers. The assigned advisor will be able to guide each Learner through any difficulties that they may encounter in understanding the assignment. In preparation for the Final Assessment course, Learners are also encouraged to ask questions in EACH of the six core classes, as they are attended. 15. Q: Can I submit a draft of my paper to my Paper Advisor to see if I am on the right track? A: NO, that would be like pre-marking the paper before it is formally submitted. Learners are expected to submit only their final paper to the MRU Supply Chain Management Programs Coordinator at the address given earlier. If Learners need confirmation that they are on the right track, they should formulate specific questions to ask of the assigned advisor. 16. Q: May I submit my paper directly to my course advisor via or hard copy? A: NO, learners are required to submit a PDF copy of the Final Assessment paper to the Mount Royal University Supply Chain Management blackboard site for assessment. (Refer to the paper submission details given earlier in this document.) Mount Royal University must be able to record the fact that a specific Learner has submitted their Final Assessment paper on a specific day. If Learners are sending papers directly to their advisor, then MRU is not able to properly record these submissions. It may also be possible that the assigned Paper Advisor has been called out of town and is not available; hence a substitute Paper Advisor would be assigned for the marking. All papers must be submitted as a PDF. No other submissions will be accepted. 17. Q: May I submit my Final Assessment Paper earlier than the due date? A: YES, you certainly may. In fact Learners are encouraged to submit it early. It is always appreciated when a Learner submits their paper BEFORE the final due date, which avoids the end of term "crush"; however, paper results will not be available to the students until all papers have been submitted. This is to protect the integrity of the process so that no one can gain an unfair advantage during the process based on the feedback received from a prior submission. SUPPLY CHAIN FINAL ASSESSMENT 13 JANUARY 2015

14 18. Q: May I ask for an extension if I am having difficulty completing the paper by the due date? A: In the information given earlier, it was stated that Late submissions will not be accepted. Supply Chain Management is all about planning for and delivering on commitments and the completion of the Final Assessment paper is no different. It is expected that Learners will plan for and deliver their Final Assessment paper on or before the due date. Failure to submit a Final Paper shall result in the student receiving a failing grade. 19. Q: What is the turnaround time of my Final Assessment paper once I submit it for marking? A: This will always depend on a number of circumstances, including the immediate availability of your assigned Paper Advisor who may, for example, be called out of town with their job. In general, the turnaround time for marking and notification of marks is approximately four-six weeks after the due date. As mentioned above, grades will not be made available to the Learner until all submissions have been received. If the evaluation is not received within this time period, Learners are to call the Program Coordinator to inquire about the status of their paper. 20. Q: Does the paper grader give comments on areas that were missed or need improvement? A: Yes, a marking sheet is completed with space for the grader to make comments, as appropriate. 21. Q: What type of company is suitable for my Final Assessment? A: As indicated in the information found elsewhere in this document or discussed in the classroom courses, any company or organization from any number of possible industries are acceptable. The key criteria is that the selected company is complex enough to be able to illustrate a high level of knowledge through the application of the principles learned from each of the six classroom courses completed in preparation for this Final Assessment. The selected company and issue / situation needs to be succinct enough so that everything can be easily contained within the 25 page limit. Before starting on the Final Assessment paper, it is strongly advised to obtain confirmation from your Paper Advisor that the company and issue / situation that has been chosen is suitable for a paper. SUPPLY CHAIN FINAL ASSESSMENT 14 JANUARY 2015

15 22. Q: Must the company I choose for my paper be the company I work for? A: No. The company that has been selected should contain all of the Supply Chain elements as contained in the outline. Please note that the issue / situation can be fictitious, and that assumptions and realistic scenarios can be used if not all of the facts are known. If such is the case, it is emphasized that the assessment be in alignment with the supply chain principles as discussed in the course materials. 23. Q: What resources should I be using to assist me with the Final Assessment? A: You are advised to review the Learner Manuals, the text book and all notes from all the courses in the MRU Supply Chain Management Certificate Program. 24. Q: Do I have to show evidence of application of ALL the supply chain elements? A: Yes. Your assessment must identify and discuss the major Supply Chain components as described in the grading outline and SCM Final Assessment Checklist. The 85% minimum will be strictly applied. 25. Q: Are there certain components that are mandatory to include in my paper? A: Yes, all components are mandatory as follows; purchasing, strategic purchasing, planning and scheduling, inventory, warehousing, transportation management, and information technology that are essential for any project. But, the exact content and level of detail within each component will depend entirely on the project that is being documented. 26. Q: There were six (6) core supply chain courses in the certificate program. Why are there only five (5) sections to the Final Assessment Checklist? A: Recall that the first course in the Introduction to Supply Chain Management. The introduction course is a summary of the other five courses that followed. 27. Q: Are there sample Final Assessment papers that can be viewed? A: No, sample Final Assessment papers are generally not available for Learners to review. First of all, there is the problem that the information in most papers received and marked are confidential and therefore CANNOT be released. Also, it is felt that by releasing a "sample template", a number of Learners would simply use this as a "recipe" or "cookie cutter" template for the paper and NOT think about what is, or is not, appropriate for their particular business situations(s). All companies are unique and therefore require different treatment when responding to the requirements of the Final Assessment paper. Due to the SUPPLY CHAIN FINAL ASSESSMENT 15 JANUARY 2015

16 variety of companies that exist, we do not want anyone to be disillusioned into thinking that "one template fits all". 28. Q: What if I do hand in a paper that is over 25 pages? A: Marks will be deducted for papers that exceed 25 pages. In fact, if a paper exceeds the 25 page limit by a considerable amount, the paper may be returned to the Learner and they will be asked to revise the paper so that it meets the stated requirement of 25 pages. In this situation, the Learner will need to follow the "Paper Rewrite" procedure given in Item # 8 on Page 4 of this Final Assessment document in order to re-submit the paper for marking. 29. Q: Does my front cover title page, Table of Contents pages and Appendices title pages count within the 25 page limit? What about white space created when I start a new section on a new page? A: No, papers will not be penalized if these are the only pages above the 25 page limit. Also, any white space is not counted within the page limit. In fact, Learners are encouraged to start new sections on a new page as this improves readability and the professional appearance of the paper. 30. Q: Should I single space or double space the text lines in my paper? A: The text in your paper should be single spaced, except of course where there are required section breaks. 31. Q: Can you please clarify: Do the attachments I have in my Appendices count as part of the permitted 25 pages or is it 25 pages plus the pages in my Appendices? A: It may sound as if we are repeating ourselves here, but this specific question is very often asked! Just to emphasize again, if the page has content on it such as text, graphs, charts or diagrams, then it counts as a page within the limit of 25 pages, regardless of where the page is located in your paper. The only pages that do NOT count within the 25 pages are title pages, Table of Content pages, Appendix title pages or portions of pages that have white space due to section breaks. SUPPLY CHAIN FINAL ASSESSMENT 16 JANUARY 2015

17 32. Q: What is the basis for awarding the 10 marks for the Presentation and Organization section? A: When marks are awarded for this section, the paper grader looks at whether the paper is well organized as far as the various sections and the required process group areas are concerned. It was recommended earlier that the section headings and their order match the sections found in the Grading System information. Learners might also ask themselves: Can the key items or information be easily found or are they buried deep within various places throughout the paper? Are the sections and subsections clearly identified with understandable titles? Is everything readable (e.g. font size of charts, tables, etc.)? If there are appendices or attachments, are they clearly labeled and also referenced from within the text? In general, in previewing the package, does it present itself as being professionally assembled; that is, does it "look good"? 33. Q: If I need more room within the limit of 25 pages for the content, can I reduce the font size of the text and set the margins to the extreme edges of each page? A: No. The requirements for font size and readability have very clearly been defined. It is admitted that some Learners have tried this tactic to "squeeze" more content into the paper, but the 12 point font requirement (except for tables and charts which can have a font size as small as 10 pts.) exists and will be vigorously enforced. If these requirements are not met, marks will be lost. Also, if margins are set to the extreme edge of a page, marks will be lost in the "Presentation and Organization" section, because it results in a very poorly presented and crowded looking document. SUPPLY CHAIN FINAL ASSESSMENT 17 JANUARY 2015

18 SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT FINAL ASSESSMENT - CHECKLIST The checklist below shows the five Supply Chain Management Knowledge Areas and the additional summary and synopsis areas to be covered in the Final Assessment paper, to varying details depending upon the project / organization / issue being covered. Supply Chain Management Final Assessment Checklist EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Current Assessment Summary of Supply Chain Elements Challenges & Opportunities Recommended Action Plan SUPPLY CHAIN SYNOPSIS Business Description Products/Services scope in the Supply Chain Business Problems as it relates to the Supply Chain Overview of the Current Supply Chain Opportunities for Improvement Competitive Assessment Strategic Assessment Procurement Analysis Purchasing and Supplier Research Selection Decision Evaluation of Potential Sources of Supply for Materials Price Determination and Negotiations with Supplier Costing and Cost Analysis Strategic Planning Risk Management Strategic Procurement Analysis Factors Affecting Quantity and Delivery Decisions Classification of Purchases SUPPLY CHAIN FINAL ASSESSMENT 18 JANUARY 2015

19 Determining Order Quantities and Inventory Levels Requirements and Resource Planning Make or Buy Decisions Subcontracting/Outsourcing Purchasing/Supplier Relations Partnerships and Strategic Alliances Reasons for Global Purchasing Inventory Management Push vs. Pull Form or Inventory Distribution Channel Flow and Warehousing Inventory Storage Methods Inventory Control Inventory Planning Warehouse Planning and Analysis Planning & Scheduling Planning Horizon Supply Chain Visibility Planning Elements Resource Management, Optimization, Allocation Forecasting Method & Approach Forecast Error Benefits & Costs Information Technology Use of Information in the Supply Chain Information Flows Relationship Management Supply Chain System Components Role of E-Commerce in a Supply Chain SUPPLY CHAIN FINAL ASSESSMENT 19 JANUARY 2015