This is a two part assignment; Part A: Group Assignment Proposal (5%): Due by 3rd April 2015. Part B: Group Assignment Report (20%) Due on 25th May 2015. Students are to study the Supply Chain Management practices of their chosen company. Your study will need to include consideration to the following;

1. Develop a conceptual Value Chain model,

2. Highlight the observed deficiencies with your company's model compared to the best practices suggested by your research, and,

3. Develop a revised Vale Chain Management Plan that can address the gaps and set the organisation on the path to apply best practices in its Value Chain Management. The Assignment is in two parts. Follow the instructions below to meet these deliverables above. These instructions form Part A and Part B below.

Part A: Group Assignment Proposal

1) Select one of the following Australian top organisations as the basis for your assignment: 1. Rio Tinto Group 2. Coles Group 3. Origin Energy 4. Singtel Optus P/L

2) Goal: Write a proposal which outlines how you will develop your Task B Group Assignment Report. Proposal to be 1,000 to 1,500 words (max). You are to explain how you will establish a clear and concise conceptual Value Chain model for your chosen company, and state briefly what this may consist of. Include the following in your discussion: a) Perform a literature review - Research the literature and document the company's best practice models in its Supply Chain to develop a conceptual Value Chain model of the key factors or theories that may be suitable to your company. b) Distil and document the best practices you discover in its Supply Chain management. This section must include selection/nomination of core literature relevant to your chosen company. Please note that you have the flexibility of reviewing your discussion(s)/argument(s) as you proceed with your next task for Task B: Group Assignment Report.

Part B: Group Assignment Report

1) Study the Lecture Material and the following Reader and Reference Material. Future Value Chain 2020 - Building Strategies for the New Decade, Capgemini, 2011 Global Logistics - New directions in Supply Chain Management, Fifth Edition, Donald Waters, Kogan Page Limited, : - Ch. 1 Trends in the supply chain, and - Ch. 12 Outsourcing: the result of global supply chains? Process-based Strategic Planning, Grunig and Kuhn, Third Edition, Springer, 2005.: - Ch. 9 Defining the strategic businesses - Ch. 10 Assessing relevant industries with the help of competitive intensity models - Ch. 12 The corporate strategy development process - Ch. 13 Generic Business Strategies - Ch. 15 Specifying business strategies at the level of resources 2. Goal: Write a report which reviews and evaluates a conceptual Value Chain model for your chosen company. a) Use the selected best practice model (conceptual model) and use a research methodology as the basis to review the current Value Chain Management Practices in your chosen company. b) Highlight the value chain areas that are deficient in your chosen company and demonstrate the gaps. c) Develop a revised Value Chain Management Plan of your chosen company. d) Evaluate your Value Chain Management Plan vs. the best practices developed in Part A, and the feedback received from your tutor and or from the company/industry reports or Supply Chain Managers or Executives. 4. For this assignment you will need to do background research on the Organisation, its value chain (e.g. start with their logistics and procurement) and you will need to research the value chain options, benefits and risks. Check their annual reports or industry write-ups to start you off.