Patio Swings Intermodal Shipping Competition: An Inquiry‐Based Partial Information Exercise

Abstract

Rather than providing all the required information as classroom exercises typically do, this international purchase and intermodal transportation competitive in‐class exercise intentionally holds back selected supply chain details. This inquiry‐based learning (IBL) approach simulates a real‐world Distribution Requirements Planning scenario by requiring students to identify what information they need and seek out those details from the instructor while competing with fellow student groups. In this 20‐30 minute exercise students are challenged to identify the all the necessary supply chain activities required to effectively ship patio swings from a supplier in China to a national retail chain in time for a spring sale. Generating the benefits of improved critical thinking in a fraction of the time required for traditional IBL, the approach is best described as a Partial Information Exercise. A student survey (n = 310) found that students strongly supported the inquiry approach, it generated significantly increased interest in global supply chain management roles and responsibilities, and over 91% of participants recommended the exercise continue to be part of the introductory operations and supply chain management course.

Meningkatkan Efisiensi Rantai Pasok melalui Penyedia Logistik, Transportasi Intermoda, Teknologi Informasi, dan Regulasi Pemerintah

“…Studi lain menyatakan transportasi antarmoda dan emisi CO2, meninjau dan menilai dampak transportasi antarmoda terhadap emisi CO2 (Laaziz, 2017). Studi lain juga menyatakan patio mengayunkan kompetisi pengiriman antarmoda, menggunakan latihan informasi parsial berbasis penyelidikan untuk mensimulasikan skenario perencanaan persyaratan distribusi dunia nyata (Snider, Southin and Cole, 2019).…”

An inquiry‐based, partial information exercise for teaching inventory management

“…The other two phases (conceptualization and discussion) are more applicable in the context of a research project rather than a short classroom exercise. As a distinction between this type of exercise and IBL research projects, Snider et al (2019) use the term "Partial Information Exercise" to describe activities such as ours.…”

“…Many published articles have discussed the use and value of incorporating course projects sponsored by external partner organizations into operations and supply chain management courses (see, for example, Fawcett et al, 2020;Hutt, 2008;Jin et al, 2018;Schoenherr, 2015); however, there is a relatively limited literature of IBL classroom activities applied to operations and supply chain management deci-sion environments. Our exercise is most similar to that of Snider et al (2019), who developed an in-class exercise that requires students to make distribution requirements planning decisions for an importer. Students must determine how many intermodal containers to order, the dispatch dates for these containers to meet delivery deadlines, and the additional labor capacity necessary to process the containers at the distribution center upon receipt.…”

“…The last group to finish earns no extra points and just receives the grade they earn on the assignment. Other exercise authors such as Snider et al (2019) have suggested the value of introducing competition between the students to increase their participation and motivation.…”

“…We invited students to answer some survey questions after completing the exercise to capture their feedback. The survey was structured after that used by Snider et al (2019). The survey results from the three courses where we have utilized the exercise are provided in Table 1.…”