Case study

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Final assignment: case study

Due date: 5pm, Friday 23rd October 2020 Percentage of overall grade: 26%

Submission method: Moodle Document type: Microsoft Word only

Purpose

The purpose of this assignment is to apply the concepts covered in class as well as the information and details from your own research to a business scenario. This assignment has, therefore, both a theoretical and a practical component.

Instructions

An analysis of the Pfizer case study forms the basis for this assessment task. Read the case study and write a brief essay to answer the following question:

How does Pfizer manage supply chain complexity?

You may consider the following questions in your essay:

 What makes Pfizer’s supply chain a complex supply chain?  Which technological tools has Pfizer implemented?  How does the implemented technological tools enable Pfizer to address supply chain complexity?  How does the implemented technological tools support the flows of goods and information?  What are the benefits of the implemented technological tools for Pfizer?

Since the essay is expected to build a coherent and logical argument, listing the above questions and providing answers is NOT appropriate.

You should integrate as many course concepts as possible into your discussion but ensure that you remain focused on the main question (How does Pfizer manage supply chain complexity?). The use of diagram(s) that support your argument is encouraged and will be rewarded, in particular diagrams that you have developed yourself (e.g. a diagram that shows how Pfizer’s supply chain works or a diagram that illustrates how technology supports Pfizer’s supply chain operations). Please place your diagram(s) close to the relevant text and make sure that your essay text discusses them to show their relevance (e.g. “Figure 1 shows that…”).

MGSYS101-20B Digital Business and Supply Chain Management

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You are required to complete this assessment task on your own. Please use a 12-point font and a 1.5 spacing. The word count is 1,000 words (+/-10%) from the first word of the introduction to the last word of the conclusion (i.e. excluding diagrams and the list of references). Please include your essay’s actual word count on the cover page of your assignment.

All sources must be properly acknowledged by using the APA referencing style. The University of Waikato Library has put together a selection of resources to help you (http://www.waikato.ac.nz/library/study/referencing/ styles/apa). Your list of references should include a minimum of:

- 6 references taken from the material used in class (e.g. slides, readings, case studies, videos); - 1 academic article; - 2 Internet sources (other than the academic article); - The Pfizer case study.

The case study should be referenced as follows: - In text: (Dupin, 2013) or Dupin (2013) explains… - List of references: Dupin, C. (2013). Nurturing a healthy supply chain. American Shipper, January, 6-10.

The lecture slides should be referenced as follows: In-text:

- (Jefferies, 2020) or According to Jefferies (2020)… OR

- (L’Hermitte, 2020) or According to L’Hermitte (2020)…

List of references: - Jefferies, D. (2020). Number and title of the specific lecture in italics [PowerPoint slides].

https://elearn.waikato.ac.nz/. OR

- L’Hermitte, C. (2020). Number and title of the specific lecture in italics [PowerPoint slides]. https://elearn.waikato.ac.nz/.

Lecture slides from previous lecturers or semesters cannot be used. Please make sure that you include the correct session number and title in your references. When using more than one lecture of Dannie or Cecile, add a lower case letter (a, b, c, etc.) immediately after the year to differentiate the references:

- (Jefferies, 2020a) or According to Jefferies (2020a)… - Jefferies, D. (2020a). Number and title of the specific lecture in italics [PowerPoint slides].

https://elearn.waikato.ac.nz/.

The full marking criteria are presented in the table below. Please ensure that you submit your essay by the due date as late submission penalties apply (as per the paper outline).

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Marking criteria

0 → 40 50 → 70 80 → 100

Clarity and quality of writing

Rambling, some irrelevancies and

grammatical errors, incomplete and/or illogical

statements

Reasonably succinct and logical, simple and

understandable, mostly error-free

Succinct and poignant, clear and grammatically correct,

logical and coherent statements

Understanding of concepts

Limited evidence of conceptual understanding, description often incorrect

Reasonable coverage of concepts, description not

completely correct

Complete comprehension of concepts, description

correct and precise

Depth of argument, justification and

illustration

List of points or sweeping statements without

justification, no/little evidence provided to

support conclusions, not linked to practice or

illustrated by examples

To varying depth relevant and reasoned argument, justified through practice

and/or examples, conclusions generally

supported

Conclusions supported by high-quality and in-depth analysis, comprehensive justification illustrated through appropriate

evidence and illuminating examples

Structure, organisation and

integration

No meaningful integration, points and statements are

not brought together to address question(s)

Generally organised to facilitate understanding,

partially integrated

Logical structure used to facilitate understanding, points and statements

effectively linked together, fully integrated

Research and conformance to

referencing standards

Inadequate evidence of research, insufficient

number of references, sources poorly

acknowledged, incorrect referencing style

Some research, inadequate variety/quality of

references, sources in the main acknowledged

properly, inconsistent application of the APA

referencing style

Appropriate level of research, various and high-

quality references, all sources properly

acknowledged, good use of APA referencing style