This module aims to:

Provide students with a well-rounded understanding of contemporary scholarly debates on research methodologies and their applications in the OSCM context;

Develop skills in academic research by critically reflecting on underlying assumptions, theoretical positions and methodological conventions in contemporary OSCM research;

Develop skills communicating complex ideas.

(LO1) Students will be able to demonstrate an in-depth understanding of some of the key contemporary academic debates in the field of operations and supply chain management on research methodologies and their applications in the OSCM context.

(LO2) Students will be able to demonstrate a critical awareness of some of the underlying themes that cross-cut the field of operations and supply chain management.

(LO3) Students will be able to identify and explain theoretical assumptions and methodological conventions that animate contemporary research in operations and supply chain management.

(LO4) Students will be able to demonstrate an ability to undertake independent research, acquire and analyse data and information and evaluate their relevance to develop academic judgements on the quality of research in operations and supply chain management.

(LO5) Students will be able to demonstrate an ability to communicate research ideas effectively and concisely.

(LO6) Students will be able to position their emerging or incipient research ideas within the contemporary academic debates pertaining to an in-depth understanding of some of the key contemporary academic debates in the field of operations and supply chain management.

(S1) Lifelong learning (critical thinking, problem solving and decision-making skills)
Students will be challenged to engage critically with contemporary academic debates in the field of operations and supply chain management. They will do this by gathering and synthesising information, analysing alternative perspectives and options and presenting a considered opinion or course of action in their course assessment.

(S2) Communication
Students will also be able to communicate orally how their own research interests are informed by, or may contribute to contemporary academic debate in operations and supply chain management. This will be assessed by a presentation.

(S3) Ethical awareness
Students will enhance their ethical awareness by reflecting how research including their own is consistent with the principles of research ethics, integrity and open science and learning how to resolve issues and navigate challenges through completing coursework.

(S4) Organisation Skills
Students will develop their organizational skills by engaging with a significant amount of academic material in a condensed time period. In doing so, they will organise and prioritise reading to ensure that they can contribute generatively to class discussions. This will help students develop their abilities to synthesise complex information to form judgements under intense time pressure.

(S5) Digital skills
Students will have opportunities to improve their digital skills. Students will demonstrate skills in the use of software applications and digital methods including word processing, visual presentations, and using the internet and other digital platforms for information searches in the course of researching and presenting coursework.

(S6) International awareness
International issues will be covered in class work.

8 x 3-hour workshops (24 hours)
3-hour presentation and discussion session (3 hours)
Self-directed learning x 173 hours

The module will cover topics that may change from year to year, reflecting the ongoing progress in latest of operations and supply chain management research.

Students are expected to actively participate in a number of workshops corresponding to each topic covered. Students will be expected to reflect on how the workshops connect to, inform, or challenge their incipient research ideas including research strategy, design and method.