Course Title: Supply Chain Technology Adoption

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Supply Chain Technology Adoption

Credit Points: 12.00

Course Coordinator: Dr Sharon Maleki Far

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 9475

Course Coordinator Email: sharon.maleki@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: Melbourne City Campus

Course Coordinator Availability: Appointment via email

Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

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Course Description

Technological advancements and digital transformation are fundamentally reshaping supply chain operations, driving automation, efficiency, and competitiveness. This course explores how organisations can strategically evaluate, select, adopt, and integrate emerging supply chain technologies to enhance productivity, service delivery, and resilience. It equips students with the knowledge and skills needed for effective decision-making and leadership in technology adoption, enabling them to navigate digital transformation and drive organisational success. Students will gain a comprehensive understanding of the technology adoption lifecycle, from identifying strategic investment opportunities to overcoming adoption and implementation challenges and ensuring sustainable integration. The course also examines how technology-driven solutions optimise logistics and supply chain functions, fostering agility and sustainability in an increasingly digital and interconnected world.   Successful technology adoption extends beyond implementation; it requires robust change management and human-centred strategies. This course highlights the critical role of employees in the adoption process, emphasising empowerment, capability-building, and innovation-driven engagement. Students will explore behavioural norms, cultural shifts, and strategies for ensuring long-term, sustainable adoption. Given the complexity of supply chain transformations, the course also covers agile and adaptive project management methodologies, focusing on task sequencing, resource allocation, risk mitigation, and continuous improvement.   A key focus is the human factor in technology adoption. Students will analyse strategies for engaging stakeholders including Indigenous communities, fostering an innovation-ready culture, and managing organisational change. Additionally, the course delves into governance, risk, and ethical considerations that influence successful adoption. As supply chain automation evolves, it is essential to assess its broader social, environmental, and economic implications.   By the end of this course, students will develop a strategic understanding of leading supply chain technology adoption, balancing technological potential with organisational readiness, workforce enablement, and long-term impact.

Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

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You will achieve the following course learning outcomes (CLOs) upon successful completion of this course:

CLO1 Critically evaluate supply chain operations and technological advancements to enhance data-driven business decision-making and strategic planning.   CLO2 Expertly develop and communicate evaluations of supply chain technology adoption, ensuring the inclusion of diverse stakeholders, including Indigenous communities, to facilitate informed decision-making and the development of effective implementation strategies.   CLO3 Expertly apply project management tools to evaluate the feasibility, risks, and scalability of supply chain technology adoption initiatives.   CLO4 Critically analyse the sustainability and ethical implications of supply chain technology adoption, assessing the interaction between social, environmental, and technical systems.

Overview of Learning Activities

This course employs a highly structured approach to learning, incorporating a blend of individual and facilitator-guided activities to support your learning journey and prepare you for assessments. Throughout the course, you will receive ongoing feedback to enhance your understanding and performance.   The learning activities have been designed to develop key graduate capabilities by integrating authentic, industry-relevant experiences. You will be encouraged to critically examine developments in the logistics and supply chain profession, drawing on both industry insights and personal reflections.   Active engagement is essential for success in this course. You are expected to participate consistently, contribute to class and group discussions, and collaborate with peers by sharing drafts, resources, and constructive feedback. Social learning plays a crucial role in fostering teamwork and enabling you to achieve outcomes beyond what could be accomplished individually.   The weekly sessions are designed to supplement the course materials available on the RMIT Canvas site and the recommended readings, providing opportunities for real-time engagement and discussion. The discussions in these sessions are specifically designed using group work and problem-solving activities so that you may critically analyse topics covered throughout the course. The workshop setting also provides the opportunity for you to critically evaluate problems and develop confidence in your ability to apply theoretical issues to practical situations.

Overview of Learning Resources

A range of recordings, texts and articles will be referred to in class. You will be given a list of suggested readings and audio-visual recordings, but you are required to undertake further research throughout the duration of the course. Feedback will be provided throughout the semester in class and/or in online discussion forums through individual and group feedback on practical exercises and individual consultation. 

 RMIT Library provides extensive resources, services and study spaces. All RMIT students have access to scholarly resources including course related material, books, e-books, journals and databases.

Computers and printers are available at every Library. You can access the Internet and Library e-resources. You can also access the RMIT University wireless network in the Library.

Contact: Ask the Library for assistance and information on Library resources and services: http://www.rmit.edu.au/library. Study support is available for assistance with assignment preparation, academic writing, information literacy, referencing, maths and study skills.  Additional resources and/or sources to assist your learning will be identified by your course coordinator and will be made available to you as required during the teaching period.

Overview of Assessment

The assessment alignment list below shows the assessment tasks against the course learning outcomes (CLOs).

Assessment Task 1: 30%
Linked CLOs 1, 2, 4 

Assessment Task 2: 40%
Linked to CLOs 1, 2, 3, 4 

Assessment Task 3: 30%
Linked to CLOs 1, 2, 3, 4