Procurement and Contracts Course Descriptor

Course Summary

This course covers the aims and processes of procurement, contract negotiation and contract management. It identifies the main requirements to be assessed and managed in order to achieve successful contracts and contracting. Learners will explore how to identify the correct inputs, considerations and risks in order to achieve successful procurements, contracts and contract management. A focus of the course will be on supply chain management.

Course Aims

• Train learners to identify the sequences required to achieve successful outcomes.
• Train learners to identify the required criteria to ensure that contracts reflect needs and required solutions.
• Train learners to develop the necessary skills to influence and manage the buy-side and sell-side in order to achieve the agreed project outcomes.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of the course, learners will be able to:

Knowledge and Understanding

Subject Specific Skills

Transferable and Professional Skills

Teaching and Learning

This is an e-learning course, taught throughout the year. 

This course can be offered as a standalone short course.

Teaching and learning strategies for this course will include: 

• Online learning
• Online discussion groups
• Online assessment

Course information and supplementary materials will be available on the University’s Virtual Learning Environment (VLE).

Learners are required to attend and participate in all the formal and timetabled sessions for this course. Learners are also expected to manage their self-directed learning and independent study in support of the course.

The course learning and teaching hours will be structured as follows:

• Off-the-job learning and teaching (6 days x 7 hours) = 42 hours
• On-the-job learning (12 days x 7 hours) = 84 hours (e.g. 2 days per week for 6 weeks)
• Private study (4 hours per week) = 24 hours

Total = 150 hours

Workplace assignments (see below) will be completed as part of on-the-job learning.

Assessment

Formative

Learners will be formatively assessed during the course by means of set assignments. These will not count towards the final degree but will provide learners with developmental feedback.

Summative

Feedback

Learners will receive formal feedback in a variety of ways: written (via email or VLE correspondence) and indirectly through online discussion groups. Learners will also attend a formal meeting with their Academic Mentor (and for apprentices, including their Line Manager). These bi or tri-partite reviews will monitor and evaluate the learner’s progress.  

Feedback is provided on summative assessment and is made available to the student either via email, the VLE or another appropriate method.

Indicative Reading

Note: Comprehensive and current reading lists for courses are produced annually in the Course Syllabus or other documentation provided to learners; the indicative reading list provided below is used as part of the approval/modification process only.

Books 

Hofmann, E., Füger, E. and Beck, P. (2013). The Supply Chain Differentiation Guide : A Roadmap to Operational Excellence. Berlin, Heidelberg : Springer

Lindstrom, D. (2014). Procurement Project Management Success : Achieving a Higher Level of Effectiveness. Planatation, Florida, J. Ross Publishing

Cruz, C. and Marques, R.C. (2013). Infrastructure Public-private Partnerships Decision, Management and Development. Berlin, New York : Springer

Journals

Learners are encouraged to read material from relevant journals on procurement and contracts as directed by their course leader.

Electronics Resources

Learners are encouraged to consult relevant websites on procurement and contracts.

Indicative Topics

• Supply Chain management
• Procurement
• Contracts