Active Learning in Supply Chain Management Course

Abstract

This paper presents an active learning approach implemented in the Supply Chain Management (SCM) course. In this course, the fundamentals of supply chain and logistics, drivers of supply chain performance and analytical tools necessary to develop solutions for a variety of supply chain design problems are covered through class lectures and case study discussions. In the past few years, due to the growth in the needs of organizations for “Lean” principles, the course was modified to satisfy this requirement more efficiently. For this purpose a hands on experience workshop, TimeWise simulation game, was utilized where the students could physically simulate the implementation of lean principles in a supply chain network. Through this simulation, students explored the impact of various lean tools such as Kanban, pull and just-in-time production systems, and flow management in a dynamic supply chain. In addition, this game empowers the learners with a better understanding of the fundamental concepts of a collaborative supply chain such as demand management, inventory management, role of information system and coordination, transportation, finance and accounting. The implemented simulation game could enhance material retention and foster critical thinking among the students by increasing visibility and illustrating the concerns of any supply chain. Moreover, several directed presentations by speakers invited from diverse industries and ISM (Institute of Supply Chain Management) were arranged to expose the students to some real case studies. To assess the effectiveness of the course modules and applied pedagogical methods, and measure learning satisfaction, a survey is conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of each instructional tool, students’ perception of knowledge and satisfaction in this course and the results are analyzed.