Programmi insegnamenti - Divisione Didattica

Università Bocconi
COURSE 2021-2022 A.Y.

30214 - SUSTAINABLE OPERATIONS

MANAGEMENT

CLEAM, CLEF, CLEACC, BESS-CLES, BIEF, BIEM, BIG, BEMACS

Department of Management and Technology

Course taught in English

Student consultation hours

CLEAM (6 credits - II sem. - OP | SECS-P/08) - CLEF (6 credits - II sem. -

OP | SECS-P/08) - CLEACC (6 credits - II sem. - OP | SECS-P/08) - BESS-
CLES (6 credits - II sem. - OP | SECS-P/08) - BIEF (6 credits - II sem. - OP
| SECS-P/08) - BIEM (6 credits - II sem. - OP | SECS-P/08) - BIG (6 credits
- II sem. - OP | SECS-P/08) - BEMACS (6 credits - II sem. - OP | SECS-
P/08)

Course Director:

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 Programmi insegnamenti - Divisione Didattica

ALBERTO GRANDO

Classes: 31 (II sem.)

Instructors:
Class 31: ALBERTO GRANDO

Mission & Content Summary

MISSION

In the last 20 years, both service and manufacturing companies have been focusing more on
the environmental and social outcomes of the goods and services they offer and the processes
they manage. Nowadays, we are witnessing phenomena such as the increasing costs of energy
and materials, which call for a more efficient use of production resources, as well as growing
consumer awareness of environmental and social issues, which leads consumers to prefer
companies that adopt sustainable practices, or national and international regulations aimed at
preventing and controlling company’s environmental and social impact. The resulting
challenges for enterprises include integrating environmental, social and safety concerns in their
agenda. Operations and Supply Chain Management is increasingly connected to sustainability,
since it influences a wide bundle of decisions that affect several environmental and social
issues, such as new product development, product reuse or recycling, offshoring and
outsourcing in newly developing countries, green logistics, etc. This course aims to illustrate
how Operations and Supply Chain Management can be managed to properly deal with health,
social and environmental issues and how to transform such a challenge into a source of
competitive advantage.

CONTENT SUMMARY

The course focuses on specific topics related to the Triple Bottom Line and the Circular
Economy paradigms, by linking sustainability concepts with the product life cycle, from its
design, manufacturing, distribution and possible end-of-life recovery options. It is structured in 4
main modules:

1. Megatrends and Corporate Sustainability.

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 Programmi insegnamenti - Divisione Didattica

2. Sustainable Operations and Supply Chain Management: a reference

framework.
3. Triple Bottom Line and product Life Cycle: from Product Design to Closed-
loop Supply Chain.
4. Measuring KPIs in Sustainable Operations and Supply Chain Management.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILO)

KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING

At the end of the course student will be able to...

Recognize the major impact of current megatrends related to sustainability on the

operations system.
Identify the main issues related to sustainable operations and supply chain
management.
Measure the relevant KPIs in the perspective of Operations and Supply Chain
management.
Explain the relationship between Product Life Cycle, Circular Economy and Triple
Bottom Line in the perspective of the Operations and Supply Chain management.

APPLYING KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING

At the end of the course student will be able to...

Analyze the impact of Operations Management choices on Triple Bottom Line.

Apply the appropriate tools and methodologies related to the Sustainable Operations
and Supply Chain decision making process.
Measure and interpret the relevant KPIs in the sustainable operations processes.
Demonstrate organizational and teamwork abilities as well as effective presentation and
communication skills.

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 Programmi insegnamenti - Divisione Didattica

Teaching methods

Face-to-face lectures
face-to-face lectures
Online lectures
synchronous
Guest speaker's talks (in class or in distance)
in-class
Company visits
Case studies /Incidents (traditional, online)
traditional case studies
online case studies
Group assignments
case analysis
report

DETAILS

The learning experience of this course includes, in addition to face-to-face lectures, case
discussions, group works, real examples and interactions with guest speakers from
companies that are coping with these issues. Topics are analyzed moving from real-life
case-histories, so as to make the students aware not only of the technicalities related to
sustainability in Operations and Supply Chain Management, but also of the most
valuable experiences of companies and of industries that are leading the process toward
a more sustainable operating system.
Three group works are assigned during the course: students are expected to analyze
each case/assignment within their working group and then prepare a power-point
presentation summarizing their main findings. These presentations are used for the
student assessment (see next paragraph) as well as a basis for a discussion of the
cases in class, during which students are encouraged to bring their own views and to
share insights, comments and conclusions. The active participation in class is also
considered for the overall student assessment.
Attendance: due to this teaching methodology, heavily based on interaction and class
participation, attending is recommended.

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 Programmi insegnamenti - Divisione Didattica

Assessment methods

Continuous Partial exams General exam

assessment
Written individual exam x
(traditional/online)
Group assignment x
(report, exercise,
presentation, project
work etc.)
Active class x
participation (virtual,
attendance)
Peer evaluation x

ATTENDING STUDENTS

With the purpose of measuring the acquisition of the above-mentioned learning outcomes the
student assessment is based on three main components:

1. If possible, given the constraints Covid-related, in-class participation (10%

of the final grade) aimed at testing the student ability to interact in a
multicultural environment and to think critically through contribution given to
the class discussion.
2. Three group assignments (30% of the final grade - 10% each) designed for
the purpose of verifying the student ability to:
Identify and analyze the main issues related to sustainable
operations and supply chain management.
Apply the appropriate tools and methodologies learnt in class (design
for environment principles, life cycle analysis, etc.).
Use and evaluate the relevant data and KPIs.
Work on a team and organize and present effectively the relevant
outcomes.
To properly consider the contribution of each team member to the
Group work, Peer evaluation will be used to weight the Group work
grades.
3. Final written exam: 60% (or 70% if class participation will be not measured)
of the final grade, based on a mix of multiple-choice and open questions
related to the topics covered in class and to the reference book, which aims
to assess the student’s learning level of the theoretical models and the

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 Programmi insegnamenti - Divisione Didattica

main concepts, methods and tools shared in the course as well as the
clarity of written communication.

NOT ATTENDING STUDENTS

Written exam, (100% of the finale grade) based on a mix of multiple-choice and open questions
related to the reference book, which aims to assess the student’s learning level of the
theoretical models and the main concepts, methods and tools detailed in the book as well as the
ability to analyze some implications related to them and to use a clear communication style.

Teaching materials

ATTENDING STUDENTS

V. BELVEDERE, A. GRANDO, Sustainable Operations and Supply Chain Management,

Wiley & Sons, 2017.
Case-studies discussed in class and uploaded on the e-learning platform.

NOT ATTENDING STUDENTS

V. BELVEDERE, A. GRANDO, Sustainable Operations and Supply Chain Management,

Wiley & Sons, 2017.

Exam textbooks & Online Articles (check availability at the Library)

Last change 14/12/2021 17:58

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