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MAN-20183 - Module Specification
Keele Business School
Faculty of Business, Law, Humanities & Social Sciences

For academic year: 2026/27 Last Updated: 17 March 2026

MAN-20183 - Sustainable Procurement and Supply Chains
Coordinator: Witold Bahr
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 5
Credits: 30
Study Hours: 300
School Office: 01782 733094

Programme/Approved Electives for 2026/27

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2026/27

The role of purchasing has become a key driver in facilitating the smooth flow of goods while optimising costs and meeting customer requirements. This module will explore various approaches to managing the purchasing function. Additionally, it will examine why many businesses have opted to contract out certain elements of their supply chains. The module will also address sustainability and supply risk management from a purchasing perspective. Case studies will be integrated into the teaching to illustrate how companies manage their purchasing, procurement, and global supply chains.

Aims
* To introduce the concepts of procurement, purchasing, and sourcing, highlighting their significance in supply chain management.
* To present theories and core conceptual models related to sourcing (e.g. 'make or buy' decisions, transactional costing, and supplier relationship management) and emphasise the strategic alignment of these functions for sustainability.
* To demonstrate the role of purchasing in managing supply risks and ensuring customer fulfilment.
* To explore and critically analyse current best practices in procurement, with a focus on sustainability.
* To foster critical thinking in managing international supply chains from a purchasing perspective.

Intended Learning Outcomes

critically describe and reflect on current "best practices" in procurement and sustainable practices.: 1
demonstrate a conceptual and critical understanding of the theories, principles, and practices of purchasing within the context of global business operations.: 2
critically apply purchasing principles and techniques to address complex supply chain challenges, including risk management and sustainability.: 1,2
express and justify an individual perspective on approaches to purchasing and sustainability.: 1,2
communicate complex information effectively and appropriately.: 1,2

Study hours

Interactive Lectures- 48 hrs
Guided reading and research 48 hrs
Independent research 120 hrs
Assessment preparation and delivery- 84 hrs

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Presentation weighted 30%
Individual video presentation
Students are required to select and research a topic from a list of contemporary issues in purchasing management and to create a video presentation. The presentation should be 10 minutes long and provide an individual analysis of the chosen topic, applying procurement and sustainability theories and supported by relevant examples. The video presentation should include a brief on-camera welcome at the start; the remaining content may be delivered on camera and/or via voiceover, provided that communication is clear and accessible. Reasonable adjustments will be agreed with the lecturer.

2: Report weighted 70%
Consultancy-style report
Students will complete an individual consultancy-style project based on a sustainable procurement and supply chain scenario. The assessment output is a 2,000-word report (±10%), supported by appendices (e.g., data tables, evaluation models, KPIs, assumptions, and references). The report should diagnose the key procurement and supply chain issues, evaluate and compare feasible options, and present justified recommendations, addressing supplier selection and relationship management, risk and resilience, sustainability and ethical impacts, and a practical implementation and monitoring approach.

The University undertakes a continuous review of its teaching and research provision to ensure programmes are of a high quality and changes may be made to modules where it is necessary and reasonable to do so. Please be aware that minor changes to modules, such as a change to an individual assessment, can occur up until enrolment, although we endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes. Details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/legalgovernancecompliance/governance/actcharterstatutesordinancesandregulations/studenttermsconditions/

Last Updated: 17 March 2026