Undergraduate supply chain management courses: content, coverage, assessment and gaps

Abstract

Purpose This paper aims to provide the results of a survey of supply chain management (SCM) courses in higher education. This research is unique because it represents the first large-scale study of undergraduate SCM course syllabi taught at universities. Design/methodology/approach The unit of analysis is an SCM syllabus. Content analysis was performed on each syllabus to identify the actual course coverage including requirements, pedagogy and content emphasis. This aggregated information was used to compare historical research findings in this area, with the current skills identified as important for career success. This data provides the input for a gap analysis between offerings in higher education and those needs identified by practitioners. Findings Data gathering efforts yielded a sample of 109 undergraduate courses representing 79 schools across North America. The aggregate number of topics covered in undergraduate courses totaled 120. The primary evaluation techniques include exams, projects and homework. Details regarding content and assessment techniques are provided along with a gap analysis between the coverage of supply chain courses and the needs identified by previous academic research. Originality/value This study is the first large-scale content analysis of undergraduate SCM course syllabi. The goal is to use this data as a means of continuous improvement in the quality and value of the educational experience on a longitudinal basis. The findings are designed to foster information sharing and provide data for benchmarking efforts in the development of SCM courses and curricula in academia, as well as training, development and recruitment efforts by professionals in the field of SCM.

A Decision Support Framework for Curriculum Planning in Undergraduate Supply Chain Management Program: An Integrated Approach

“…Employers look for well-rounded graduates and expect educational curriculum to be relevant to contemporary techniques and business issues [4]. Empirical studies also suggest that SCM competencies are positively related to SCM performance and competitiveness [43].…”

“…To this end, SCM competency is used as the curriculum evaluation criteria in this study. We list the SCM competency framework, as shown in Table 1, based on the works of Jordan and Bak [46]; Derwik and Hellström [47]; and Birou et al [4].…”

“…e importance of a robust SCM system has been further strengthened due to the COVID-19 pandemic situation [3]. However, the SCM profession is facing a global talent shortage crisis, which has attracted a tremendous amount of attention from both scholars and practitioners [4,5]. Talent development is an integral part of university's mission, and a university education is essential for SCM professionals [6,7].…”

“…On the other hand, academic program design has been criticized for not responding to rapid social and technological development [10]. Gaps have also been identified between the designed curriculum plan and the needs of supply chain hiring managers [4,11]. Despite these concerns, there has not been major progress in changing the curriculum planning process [9].…”

Curriculum Review and Education 5.0 in Higher Education in Zimbabwe: A Review of Textiles and Clothing-related Programs

“…In support, Zhong and Mitra (2020) add that content should be focused on the role of the merchandiser and merchandising function together with the measures of performance required by the textile and clothing businesses. With internationalization, the aspects of global trade and sourcing become imminent for graduates to gain knowledge on global sourcing strategies and the identification and analysis of major strategic decisions used in global sourcing as impacted by global trade dynamics (Birou, Lutz, and Walden, 2022). This elaborates that knowledge of global sourcing in the curriculum would help graduates make informed decisions on fiber choices, better understand trade-offs users may make between different raw materials, and become more aware of product performance, requirements, and design compliance Textiles and Clothing-related Programs issues.…”