Purchasing Management

All organizations depend on input from suppliers to produce products and services and purchasing is increasingly recognized as a key business driver. This course gives an introduction to purchasing management and students will gain an understanding of the role purchasing has in organizations.

Important topics include:

• The role of purchasing in the value chain
• The purchasing process
• Purchasing and supply strategy
• Managing the supplier base
• Purchasing and innovation
• Purchasing and corporate social responsibility

Knowledge:

• Have an understanding of the key concepts within purchasing: definitions, trends and challenges
• Have an understanding of the differences in the operational, tactical and strategic levels involved in purchasing management
• Develop an understand of the purchasing process and relevant supply chain strategies

Skills:

• Be able to master core terminology within purchasing management
• Be able to compare, critique and apply key purchasing models
• Be able to discuss and position empirical work in theories on purchasing management

Competence:

• Have an understanding of modern purchasing management and its role in the value chain
• Through the project report, student will obtain training in analyzing purchasing issues within a real organization.

Lectures, case discussions, group assignments and writing seminars.