MGSC 418v5 Assignment 3 Option 2 Details April 2019
Assignment 3 Option 2: Research Paper You should plan to submit Assignment 3 after you complete Lesson 14. Your research paper should be single-spaced, and no more than 10–12 pages long (excluding graphics, title page, and references).
Conduct an in-depth exploration of a topic in supply chain management that has not been fully covered in this course. The AU library has many valuable resources for undertaking this research; the Web can also be a valuable resource. Possible topic areas for the paper include the following: • sourcing • procurement • reverse logistics • third-party logistics • multi-modal logistics • warehousing and distribution centres • SC risk management • SC security • international trade agreements • Six Sigma • ISO standards implementation • trust in the SC • incentive alignment • collaborative planning, forecasting, and replenishment (CPFR) • vendor-managed inventory (VMI) • service SC • SC reference models • e-commerce and supply chain management • SC software vendors/solutions • green SCM • sustainable SCM
If you choose this option, you will want to further narrow your research question to a particular topic within the area, or to a particular industry. Once you have your research topic narrowed down, contact your Academic Expert through the Student Support Centre to make sure it is appropriate.
MGSC 418v5 Assignment 3 Option 2 Details April 2019
Option 2: Research Paper Marking Guide
COMPONENT Weight
Writing (spelling, grammar, organization, and report structure) 10
Definition of the problem/question and clarity of research objectives
• Your paper should address one main question/problem, but you may have several research objectives. For instance, your topic may be “Green Supply Chain Management in Canadian Organizations,” while your research objectives may be aimed at assessing the state of green supply chain management in Canadian organizations and identifying main barriers to its implementation in Canada.
The grade in this area will be based on how clearly the problem/topic and research objectives are stated and addressed throughout the paper. In the previously stated example, the marker might ask the following questions in assigning this grade: Does the paper identify issues that are particular to the Canadian context (such as legal or cultural issues)? Does the paper stay focused on green supply chain management? Does the paper actually assess the state of green SCM?
10
Introduction
• Introduce your topic clearly, so you give your readers a good sense of what you are going to write about.
• Establish the topic’s importance. Ask yourself questions such as “Is this a little-researched topic?”, “Why study this topic?”, and “Does it have strong strategic, operational, or competitive implications for organizations?”
10
Comprehensive literature review
• Thoroughly review literature/research that reflects on your topic.
• Bring in concepts and theory from the course where appropriate.
25
Analysis/discussion
• Analyze the literature you have reviewed. It is not enough to simply tell the reader what the literature says; you need to assess what is being said and differentiate clearly between your own thoughts and those coming from the literature.
Identify gaps in the information (this signals new research areas), problems that are emerging, areas of growth and opportunity, etc.
• Where appropriate, bring in concepts and theory from the course to aid the analysis.
30
MGSC 418v5 Assignment 3 Option 2 Details April 2019
15 Conclusion
• Stress the main contributions from your paper (what should the reader take away from reading the paper or what new ideas does your paper bring forward?)
• Identify the implications of this contribution—what does it mean for organizations? If possible, also show what it may mean for researchers in the SCM area.
