This course introduces the key concepts of supply chain management. Students will improve their ability to understand the interconnectedness of business units and organizations within the supply chain. Supply chain management deals with the management of materials, information and financial flows in a network consisting of suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, and customers. The coordination and integration of these flows within and across companies are critical in effective supply chain management. The course addresses questions about the sourcing of materials; the channels of distribution; the relationships with suppliers and customers; the use of information from end consumers; the coordination of information flows and the ways in which incentive systems can be arranged so that the overall performance of the chain is optimised.