DSC3202 Purchasing and Materials Management

Taken in SEM 1 AY15/16

Professor: Keith B. Carter
Module overview: 
Learning techniques and how to quantify purchasing.
Some concepts learnt include:
- ROI (Return on investment)
- Techniques in negotiation
- Using software such as qlikview & dashboards
- VRR (Vendor reliability)
- Quality management

Refer here to the module outline for more detailed breakdown:
http://bba.nus.edu/docs/Modules%20Outlines%20for%20Sem%201%20AY2013-2014/DCS/DSC3202-Carter(I%201213_2014)%20v04.pdf

Review: 
Felt that I did not learn many solid concepts in this module, as most of the concepts learnt were already learnt in Managerial Accounting or Operations Management.

However, this module was good in the sense it allowed you to practice application - we had lessons on negotiating, using the applications and our final presentation was at either P&G or Xiaomi (Using real life situations).

Final presentation was frustrating because there was little information given and everything was pretty hypothetical. Glad that our prof in the end liked our presentation because he was impressed we came up with a formula. We managed to make it to the decision sciences competition, but did not win top 3.

Another frustrating thing was that we did not know the break down of marks for the individual assignments and group projects - hence we put in a lot of effort for a palm oil assignment which was worth 8%, which ended up the same as an individual assignment the beama assignment which we each rushed our within 2 hours.

Another thing was that sometimes the prof would give you 4 weeks notice for the assignment, and other times he would give you 1 week's notice.

There is also 2 bonus assignments - 1 which was before the term even started. I missed out on this one because I did not check the ivle announcements.

As for the mid term quiz, it was made up of MCQs and Short answer questions - he will ask you to do it on an internet application and the TA & prof will make sure you do not switch screens. The test was pretty reasonable, cheat sheet was allowed.

Webcast: Only available when there are guest speakers
Textbook: None

Grading:
Individual Assessment: 20%
Class Participation: 10%
Midterm (With cheatsheet) : 20%
Group project: 20% (Divided amongst group projects)
Final group presentation: 30%

Expected Grade: A-
Final Grade: B+