Description
COURSE OVERVIEW
Supply chain thinking encourages a system-wide view of the chain, focusing as much on the linkages between technologically separable segments as on the management of processes within those segments. An agricultural supply chain encompasses all the input supply, production, postharvest, storage, processing, marketing and distribution, food service, and consumption, including the external enabling environment.
Risk events are considered as events that are deviations from the expected future. They can also be called shocks. Risk events have a certain chance of occurring, so one cannot know whether, when and with what magnitude they will occur. Therefore, risk analysis involves making estimations about these factors, based on underlying assumptions.
Every process and activity in each agricultural value chain is exposed to uncertain factors and therefore involves risk. The key elements of a risk assessment are estimating the probability and impact of a risk event. Risks can affect various actors along the agricultural value chain to different extents. Risk and uncertainty are ubiquitous and varied in agriculture and in agricultural supply chains.
Risk can be measured by two variables, the probability that the event or hazard will occur, and its impact in the form of loss. Probability refers to the likelihood of a risk event occurring; it can be measured qualitatively, e.g., unlikely versus highly likely, or quantitatively, e.g., a 30% probability. Impact can also be termed severity, magnitude, or consequence.
Stakeholders in the agricultural supply chain need to face and address risks to increase the chance of achieving their objectives. This is called “risk management” and it comprises the following main steps: identification, analysis, control or treatment, and monitoring of risks.
COURSE OBJECTIVE(S)
On successful completion of this course, students are expected to have enhanced skills in:
- Understanding the nature of risks in the agricultural supply chain
- Applying their knowledge in identifying and assessing risks in the agricultural supply chain
- Carrying out an analysis of the various risks along the agricultural supply chain for the purposes of classification
- Analyzing mitigation strategies and developing a management approach to deal with the different categories of risk in the agricultural supply chain
- Evaluating the level of resilience in the agricultural supply chain
- Developing sustainable approaches to building resilience in the agricultural supply chain
LEARNING OUTCOMES
On completion of the Introduction to Supply Chain Management course the students should be able to:
- Discuss the vulnerability to risk of individual actors in the agricultural supply chain, and of the whole value chain.
- Comprehend and discuss the categories of major risks facing agricultural supply chains.
- Understand the risks affecting developing countries commodity supply chains involved in trade with major international markets.
- Assess the value chain risks to design agricultural risk management strategies.
- Discuss the adaptability and resilience of the chain and of the individual actors as core variables for sustainability and long-term competitiveness.
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