OMGT1053: Strategic Supply Chain

Assessment Task Details

Assignment 1 – Group Qualitative Investigation

Form a group of not more than FOUR (4) students. That is, you can have either 2, 3 or maximum 4 members in your group.

Read the file “OMGT1053_assignment_1_qualitative_investigation.pdf” on Canvas for detailed description of the task. Write a report to discuss the investigation of the assigned topic from both a theoretical and practical perspective, present the findings of the analysis, make recommendations based on the findings, and reach a conclusion. Students are also required to create a 3-to-4-minute presentation video file for their investigation of the assigned topic.

There is no prescribed presentation format for both the report and the video. Nevertheless, some formats are suggested as guidance. Students are expected to organise their video files and structure their reports in a professional and competent manner as if they were presenting the outcome of their investigation to the senior management of a big company.

For the presentation video (must be in MP4 format), creativity and content are both important. Instead of using merely PowerPoint slides, which are mainly static and boring to the audience, students can use a mixture of presenter shots, pictures, summary tables, figures, charts, video clips, animation, interviews, debate, or even drama to present the content. In any case, a professional presentation up to the standard of formal business presentation is expected. All group members should participate in the presentation.

For a professional business report, the following are usually included:

1. In addition to the Report Cover (a page that properly provides the course number and title, assignment number, title of the case, student numbers, student names, and submission date), the report should include the following:
   • Executive Summary (Summarise the topic of the investigation, the findings – both the theoretical overview of the function and the actual practices of the case company, and the conclusions of the study in one page.)
   • Table of Contents (List the sections and subsections with corresponding page numbers on a separate page.)
   • List of Figures (List the figure numbers and captions with corresponding page numbers on a separate page whenever figures are used in the report. DO NOT include the figures per se.)
   • List of Tables (List the table numbers and captions with corresponding page numbers on a separate page whenever tables are used in the report. DO NOT include the tables per se.)
   • Introduction (Tell the reader what this investigation study is all about and why it is )
   • Objective (State the purpose of the case )
   • Theoretical Analysis (Present an in-depth analysis of the resource or function from a theoretical )

• Real-World Example (Briefly introduce the company focusing on what they do with the resource or in the function under investigation.)
• Discussion (Demonstrate using adequate evidence that the points discussed in (g) can be witnessed in the company identified as an In this regard, comparison table (theories versus practices), figures, charts, etc., should be used as liberal as possible to aid the discussion.)
• Issues identified (Identify the issues encountered by the case company in leveraging the supply chain function, if any, and how these issues are resolved or overcome by the firm to achieve )
• Conclusion (Summarise the study and give insight based on the analysis and the )
• References (List the references used in the report in strict Harvard )
• Appendices (Show any additional information about the case company that will be useful for the reader to see how the firm leverages the supply chain function in question to gain its competitive )

1. Use summary tables, charts, and figures where appropriate to aid your analysis and discussion. The figures and tables should be inserted in the sections and subsections immediately after they are mentioned instead of in the List of Figures and List of Tables.
2. The report should be 3,000-3,500 words in
3. The assessment of the assignment will be based mainly on the comprehensiveness of the analysis, plausibility, and feasibility of the recommendations as presented in the report. The more effort students invested in analysing the case and writing the report the higher the marks will be.

Assignment 2 – Group Quantitative Case Analysis

The same group working for Assignment 1 will continue to work together for Assignment 2 unless prohibited by circumstances.

Read the file “OMGT1053_assignment_2_quantitative_case_analysis.pdf” on Canvas. Develop an Excel workbook with multiple worksheets, each representing a supply network design for the case company under various scenarios optimised using Solver. Write a business report summarising the case, the objectives of the study, the issues identified, and your analysis of the different network options under consideration, together with recommendations made and the conclusion reached. Answer each of the case questions separately in a separate section at the end of the report. Show the mathematical formulation of the problem and the Solver setups of the optimisation models in the appendix.

The following should be noted:

1. A formal business report is
2. In addition to the Covering Page (a page that properly provides the course number and title, assignment number, title of the case, student number, student name, and submission date), the report should include the following:
   • Executive Summary (Summarise the case, the findings of analysis, and the recommendations in one page.)
   • Table of Contents (List the sections and subsections with corresponding page numbers on a separate page.)
   • List of Figures (List the figure numbers and captions, if any, with corresponding page numbers on a separate page.)
   • List of Tables (List the table numbers and captions, if any, with corresponding page numbers on a separate page.)
   • Summary of the Case (Use your own words to give a brief summary of the case in half a page.)
   • Objectives (State the purposes of the study and what needs to be investigated in half a page.)
   • Issues Identified (Analyse the information provided in the case to identify the issues faced by the company in half a page.)
   • Network Option Analysis (Analyse in one page the network options under consideration using the information provided in the case. Optimised configurations for the scenarios specified need to be worked out respectively. MS Solver will be needed to find the optimised solution in each scenario.

Summary of findings of the scenario analyses should also be presented. NOTE: Only summaries of the analyses are needed in this section. Details of the analyses should be given in the Answers to the Case Questions section. Use summary tables to show the configurations and costs.)

• Recommendations (Recommend the best option to adopt based on the outcome of the analysis in half a page.)
• Conclusions (Summarise the study and give insight in half a page.)
• Answers to the Case Questions (Answer the case questions one by one in separate subsection with the question number clearly stated. DO NOT MERGE EVERYTHING into a big paragraph or essay. Marks will be deducted if answers to the case questions are not provided separately as required. Make full use of the information in the case and the model as a tool to help answer the questions. Assessment is based on how thorough the case analysis, whether the model has been appropriately used, and how relevant the answers to the case questions are.)
• References (List the references used in the report in strict Harvard referencing style.) (m) Appendices (Show the mathematical formulation of the problem and the Solver )

1. Use summary tables, charts, and figures where appropriate to aid your analysis and discussion. The figures and tables should be inserted in the sections and subsections immediately after they are mentioned instead of in the List of Figures and List of Tables.
2. All the Solver setups must be clearly shown in the appendices to the report. Use screen captures of the Solver dialogue box to aid explanation where appropriate.
3. The suggested word length of the report is 3,000 to 3,500 words. You need to learn to write concisely yet comprehensively. Make sure all the required tasks are completed, or marks would be deducted.
4. The assessment of the assignment will be based mainly on the accuracy of the logic and the comprehensiveness of the analysis as presented in the report. The more effort students invested in analysing the case and writing the report the higher the marks will be. Only getting the correct answer in a spreadsheet will certainly not be good enough

Assignment 3 – Individual Quantitative and Qualitative Case Study 

Read the file “OMGT1053_assignment_3_quantitative_and_qualitative_case_study.pdf” on Canvas. Develop an Excel workbook with multiple worksheets, each showing the working and the solution to one of the quantitative questions or tasks of the assignment. To answer the qualitative task questions, a simple report should suffice.

Although a formal report is not required, the following should be noted:

1. In addition to the Report Cover (a page that gives the title of the report, the course code, the assignment number, the submission date, and the details of the authors, such as names and student IDs), the report should include the following:
   • Solution to the Specified Task with all the steps and calculations clearly
   • Answers to the Case Questions (Answer each of the qualitative questions on a new )
   • References (List the references used in the report in strict Harvard )
   • Appendices (Optional. Show any additional information that you wish to provide but is too lengthy for the answer.)
2. Use summary tables, charts, and figures where appropriate to aid your analysis and discussion. The figures and tables should be inserted in the sections and subsections immediately after they are
3. The report should be 1,500-2,000 words in
4. The assessment of the assignment will be based mainly on the accuracy of the quantitative analysis, comprehensiveness of the qualitative analysis, and appropriateness of the recommendations as presented in the report. The more effort students invested in analysing the case and writing the report the higher the marks will be.

Summary of Assessment Requirements

The OMGT1053 course comprised three major assessment tasks designed to build both qualitative and quantitative analytical skills in strategic supply chain management. Each assignment required students to integrate theoretical understanding with practical application to real-world business scenarios.

Assignment 1 – Group Qualitative Investigation

Students, in groups of up to four, were required to investigate an assigned topic related to supply chain management from both a theoretical and practical perspective.
The key tasks included:

• Writing a 3,000–3,500-word professional business report

• Developing a 3–4-minute presentation video summarizing the findings

• Discussing theoretical foundations, real-world applications, identified issues, and recommendations

• Presenting the investigation as if to senior corporate management

• Ensuring all group members actively participated in both the report and presentation

The report structure included:

• Executive Summary, Introduction, Objectives

• Theoretical Analysis and Real-World Case

• Discussion and Issues Identified

• Conclusions and Recommendations

• Harvard-style References and Appendices

Assignment 2 – Group Quantitative Case Analysis

The same group continued to work together to complete a quantitative analysis of a supply network design. Using Excel and Solver, students modelled different scenarios for an assigned company to determine the optimal supply chain configuration.

Key elements included:

• Developing an Excel workbook with Solver-based optimization

• Writing a professional 3,000–3,500-word report

• Providing summary tables, network option analysis, and recommendations

• Demonstrating mathematical formulation and Solver setups in appendices

• Presenting concise answers to case questions in clearly labeled sections

The assessment emphasized analytical accuracy, logical structure, and the feasibility of recommendations based on quantitative evidence.

Assignment 3 – Individual Quantitative and Qualitative Case Study

This was an individual task, blending both qualitative and quantitative analysis. Students prepared a concise report and Excel workbook demonstrating individual understanding of both theoretical concepts and practical data interpretation.

Key tasks included:

• Solving quantitative problems step-by-step in Excel

• Providing qualitative answers in report form (1,500–2,000 words)

• Presenting findings with charts, tables, and concise explanations

• Applying Harvard referencing

• Focusing on accuracy, clarity, and comprehensive analysis

Together, these three assignments progressively developed the student’s ability to analyze, model, and optimize supply chains both theoretically and practically.

Mentor’s Step-by-Step Guidance and Approach

The academic mentor adopted a structured and iterative mentoring process, guiding the student group (and later the individual) through each phase of the assessments. The mentoring emphasized conceptual clarity, applied analysis, professional presentation, and reflective learning.

Step 1: Understanding the Task and Forming the Framework

The mentor began by helping the students interpret the assignment instructions carefully.
For Assignment 1, this involved identifying:

• The main topic or supply chain function under investigation (e.g., procurement, logistics, or sustainability)

• The scope of the qualitative study, balancing theory with case-based evidence

• The report and presentation structure for professional submission

Students were guided to create an outline with key headings Introduction, Theoretical Framework, Case Analysis, Discussion, Issues, and Conclusion. The mentor also explained the importance of role allocation within the group to ensure equitable participation in writing, research, and presentation preparation.

Step 2: Theoretical Foundation and Literature Review

Once the structure was clear, the mentor guided students in reviewing relevant literature on strategic supply chain management. This included exploring theories such as:

• The SCOR model (Supply Chain Operations Reference)

• Lean and Agile supply chain strategies

• Porter’s Value Chain Analysis

• Sustainability and risk management frameworks

The mentor emphasized using peer-reviewed academic sources and industry reports to establish a strong theoretical foundation. This formed the basis of the Theoretical Analysis section in Assignment 1 and later informed the conceptual rationale for modeling in Assignment 2.

Step 3: Case Selection and Data Gathering

Next, the mentor guided students in identifying a relevant real-world company for the practical application. Students were encouraged to select firms with publicly available data, such as Apple, Amazon, Toyota, or Unilever, depending on their topic.

The mentor demonstrated how to:

• Extract case-specific information from annual reports, industry analyses, and supply chain reviews

• Connect theoretical frameworks to the company’s operational strategies

• Present findings using summary tables, charts, and figures

This approach ensured that students could clearly show the link between theory and practice, as required in both the Discussion and Issues Identified sections.

Step 4: Structuring the Report and Presentation

After gathering content, the mentor provided detailed guidance on report formatting and presentation standards.
For the report, the mentor focused on:

• Writing a compelling Executive Summary

• Maintaining a logical flow between theory, case analysis, and recommendations

• Ensuring proper Harvard referencing and professional formatting

For the video presentation, the mentor encouraged creative delivery methods. Instead of relying solely on slides, students incorporated:

• Narrated visual summaries

• Interview-style discussions between team members

• Graphical representations of findings
  This practice simulated a corporate boardroom presentation, enhancing professional communication skills.

Step 5: Quantitative Analysis and Solver Application (Assignment 2)

The second assignment introduced quantitative modeling. The mentor provided hands-on training in developing Excel-based optimization models. The process involved:

1. Defining the problem – understanding the supply network design challenge.

2. Formulating the mathematical model – setting up objective functions and constraints.

3. Implementing Solver – running scenario-based optimizations.

4. Interpreting results – summarizing optimal configurations and costs.

The mentor emphasized accuracy in formulas, clear presentation of Solver screenshots, and consistency between the Excel workbook and the report.
Students learned how to translate mathematical results into managerial insights, leading to effective recommendations in the Network Option Analysis and Recommendations sections.

Step 6: Integrating Quantitative and Qualitative Perspectives (Assignment 3)

In the individual task, the mentor guided students to combine both quantitative problem-solving and qualitative evaluation.
The process included:

• Solving numerical tasks using structured calculations and tabulated summaries

• Writing concise analytical responses to qualitative questions

• Using graphs and visualizations to support interpretations

• Cross-referencing findings with academic theory

Through continuous feedback, the mentor ensured each student developed independent analytical ability, bridging the gap between conceptual understanding and practical application.

Step 7: Refinement, Review, and Final Submission

The mentor’s final stage involved reviewing drafts and ensuring coherence across sections. Key feedback areas included:

• Clarity and flow of arguments

• Alignment between theoretical discussion and empirical findings

• Proper integration of visuals, charts, and data

• Professional tone, structure, and referencing accuracy

For group submissions, the mentor verified that all members contributed equally. For individual work, the focus was on personal analytical depth and problem-solving accuracy.

Final Outcome and Learning Achievements

Through the mentor-guided process, the student successfully completed all three assignments with comprehensive understanding and demonstrated strong academic and analytical growth.

Outcomes Achieved

• Developed a professionally structured report integrating theory and real-world practices.

• Produced a creative and engaging video presentation communicating findings effectively.

• Built and optimized quantitative models using Excel Solver, demonstrating applied decision-making skills.

• Presented data-driven recommendations and conclusions with clarity and justification.

• Enhanced proficiency in Harvard referencing, report formatting, and corporate-style writing.

Learning Objectives Covered

1. Conceptual Understanding:

   • Gained deep knowledge of strategic supply chain frameworks and theories.

2. Analytical Skills:

   • Acquired quantitative modeling and optimization techniques using Solver.

3. Practical Application:

   • Applied theory to real-world corporate supply chain problems.

4. Collaboration and Communication:

   • Developed teamwork, professional writing, and presentation abilities.

5. Critical Thinking and Problem Solving:

   • Identified complex supply chain issues and recommended data-backed solutions.

6. Professional Competency:

   • Learned to present findings as if reporting to senior management in a business context.

Conclusion

The academic mentor’s structured guidance helped transform the assessment process into a comprehensive learning journey. Students progressed from understanding qualitative analysis in Assignment 1 to mastering quantitative optimization in Assignment 2, and finally integrating both skill sets in Assignment 3. The outcome demonstrated not only mastery of supply chain strategy but also readiness for real-world managerial decision-making in complex business environments.

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