Abstract
Purpose – This paper describes the development and teaching of graduate courses providing indepth experiential learning employing commercial supply chain management software. The benefits of teaching such courses are described, the challenges in offering such courses are identified, and some solutions to overcome the challenges are offered.
Methodology/approach – The experiences of the authors in developing and teaching supply chain management courses utilizing commercial software provide a basis for discussing the benefits and challenges associated with teaching students the management of modern supply chains using commercial decision support software.
Findings – Incorporating commercial software in university programs presents a myriad of challenges and therefore is rarely done. However, providing students with in-depth knowledge of commercial logistics and supply chain management software improves their understanding of supply chain issues and provides a key differentiator in the marketplace. Modeling real world supply chains using commercial software enhances student’s education by providing relevant experiential exposure to real-world problems and decision support tools.
Originality/value – The observations of the authors in developing and teaching courses in supply chain management utilizing commercial software afford a unique viewpoint and roadmap for others regarding teaching supply chain management in academic environments.
| Original language | American English |
|---|---|
| Journal | The International Journal of Logistics Management |
| Volume | 21 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Aug 16 2010 |
Keywords
- Teaching
- commercial software
- education
- supply chain management
- decision support
- logistics
- Experimental learning
- Eduation
- Computer software
Disciplines
- Economics
- Operations and Supply Chain Management
- Business