With the help of critical analytical frameworks (Critical Supply Chain Management, Global Commodity Chains, and Global Production Network) to Global Supply Chains (GSCs) analyse the strengths and weaknesses of mainstream supply chain management
Essay title:
With the help of critical analytical frameworks (Critical Supply Chain Management, Global Commodity Chains, and Global
Production Network) to Global Supply Chains (GSCs) analyse the strengths and weaknesses of mainstream supply chain
management
?Essay structure:
• Use Sections and Subtitles: Introduction, Main Body, Conclusions
• Use Paragraphs
• Logical train of thought
• Arguments & supporting arguments (& counter-arguments)
Arguments =? assertion =? assumptions
Writing style:
• write clearly
• avoid very long sentences
Guidelines on the content of the essay:
The essay should be based on identification of strengths and weaknesses of Supply Chain Management through these two
topics: 1. Mainstream (dominant, orthodox, most commonly accepted) views on GSCs: supply chain management and lean
management and 2. Critical (alternative) views on GSCs: power and supply chain management, global commodity chains (GCS),
and global production networks (GPNs)
Topic 1. Mainstream views on GSCs: supply chain management and lean management:
Drawing on the early work of Michael Porter on the notions of ‘value chain’ and ‘competitive advantage’ the lecture
focuses on how to conceptualise global supply chains from the discipline of business studies. This entails exploring the
fundamental notions of supply chain management and lean management, and detailing a number of core ideas and practices
concerning the management of supply chains emanating from the business literature.
Topic 2. Critical views on GSCs: power and supply chain management, global commodity chains (GCS), and global production
networks (GPNs):
This lecture considers more critical interpretations of global supply chains drawing from supply chain management analysis
of power developed by Andrew Cox and from the broader framework of global commodity chain (GCC) approach developed by Gary
Gereffi and the global production network (GPN) developed by Peter Dicken et al. These frameworks consider issues of power
relations among different actors in the chain, and the wider context that influences them, e.g. states, international
governmental and non governmental organisations, unions, etc… While emphasising some of the limitations of mainstream
views of supply chain management, a wider perspective on global supply chains may strengthen supply chain management as
business practice and academic research.
The main points to be covered in the essay are:
1. Explain the problems with Mainstream Supply chain management. (1. It is firm centric and does not look at other
important actors in the chain, 2.It is prescriptive and normative, 3. Little consideration of power relations and market
power, 4. No consideration of other actors and institutional environment, 5. Does it represent business like ‘it should
be’ or ‘business like it is’)
2. How do Critical Supply Chain Management, Global Commodity Chains and Global Product Networks challenge Mainstream
Supply Chain Management?
3. What do they add to the picture?
4. What are their limitations?
The sources which MUST be used:
Topic 1. Mainstream views on GSCs: supply chain management and lean management
1. Porter, M. 2004, Competitive advantage, New York:Free Press, Chapter 2, The Value Chain and the Competitive advantage.
2. Christopher, M. 2011, Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Harlow: Pearsons Education Limited, Chapter 5 ‘Creating
the responsive supply chain’
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