OPM 591: Strategic Procurement
Contents
During the last decades, the value sourced from suppliers and innovation stemming from the supply base have increased substantially in many industries. Consequently, purchasing’s role has shifted from a clerical support role in the corporate hierarchy to a truly strategic and proactive role that drives growth, innovation, and value creation. Today, most organizations consider the management of their suppliers as a key strategic issue. Given its potential to contribute significantly to firm performance, the procurement function receives strong top management attention. This module provides a broad survey of modern procurement theory and practice from a strategic perspective. Topics include the design and implementation of procurement strategies, processes, organizational structures, and performance measurement systems, as well as the management of supplier portfolios, buyer-supplier relationships, and supplier innovation to meet firms’ strategic supply needs. The module consists of regular lectures and exercise classes in which extended and short cases will be discussed. High-caliber guest speakers will serve as a rich source of practical insights.
Learning outcomes
This course is recommended for anyone seeking an introduction to procurement and, more generally, a better understanding of upstream supply chain operations. The main intended learning outcome is to obtain the basic knowledge that enables further steps in procurement research and practice. Based on current theories and a broad coverage of topics, participants will learn how to analyze, structure, and tackle strategic problems surrounding the procurement function. Participants will obtain:
- the fundamental knowledge that enables further steps in purchasing and supply management research and practice
- the ability to analyze, structure, and tackle strategic problems surrounding the procurement function,
- an overview on structured approaches and tools applicable in practice.
Necessary prerequisites
–
Recommended prerequisites
Basic knowledge in supply chain and/
| Forms of teaching and learning | Contact hours | Independent study time |
|---|---|---|
| Lecture | 2 SWS | 8 SWS |
| Exercise class | 2 SWS | 5 SWS |
| ECTS credits | 6 |
| Graded | yes |
| Workload | 180h |
| Language | English |
| Form of assessment | Written exam (90 min) |
| Restricted admission | no |
| Further information | – |
Examiner Performing lecturer |  | Prof. Dr. Christoph Bode Prof. Dr. Christoph Bode |
| Frequency of offering | Fall semester |
| Duration of module | 1 semester |
| Range of application | M.Sc. MMM, M.Sc. WiPäd, M.Sc. VWL, M.Sc. Wirt. Inf., M.Sc. Wirt. Math., MAKUWI |
| Preliminary course work | – |
| Program-specific Competency Goals | CG 1, CG 2, CG 3 |
| Literature | There is no mandatory textbook. All relevant course materials will be provided. Auxiliary readings:
|
| Course outline | Module 1: Introduction to strategic procurement Module 2: Procurement strategy and strategic alignment Module 3: Operating model of procurement Module 4: Category management Module 5: Strategic supplier management |