Logistics and Supply Chain Management Business Design Project 1 is a course in the final year of the 4-year program, Bachelor of Business (Logistics & Supply Chain) Applied. It involves the development of a project from conception to implementation. So we are seeking real challenges that will run over 24 teaching weeks (2 semesters).

Students will apply design thinking principles and techniques to produce a project proposal that addresses a contemporary business challenge. They will engage with the creation, development and pitching of a proposal, which will form the foundation for its creative execution in Logistics and Supply Chain Management Business Design Project 2.

METHOD

Students are required to use the SCRUM methodology. They also undertake a theoretical examination of the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBoK) from the Project Management Institute.

OBJECTIVES

1. Apply design thinking principles and techniques to explore and critically review a contemporary business issue or opportunity.

2. Produce a project proposal to address a business issue or opportunity.

3. Collaboratively review, assess and endorse a project proposal and proposed solutions.

4. Communicate or pitch a project proposal to key stakeholders to gain support for adoption and implementation.

Learning activities involve:

1. Project design and planning, which includes:

• a commercial proposal
• a business requirements analysis
• a project execution plan

2. Project execution and delivery

• Provide documentation appropriate to Scrum project management methodology.

3. Project management theory

Project design and planning

Students will design their project based on the value their project will deliver to the client.

The first step is to prepare a proposal for the project. The proposal will be based on an initial brief prepared by the client and on a discussion that students will have with the client during the first week on the project.

The proposal will form the basis of an agreement students will have with the client about how the business value of the project will be determined, how requirements for the products the project will deliver are to be identified and described, how the project is to be conducted and how the products will be delivered. The client is required to sign off on the proposal before the project proceeds further.

Students will conduct an analysis of the client’s requirements and they will identify the value that they will deliver to the client. The outcome of the analysis will be a report detailing:

• an outline of the client’s business context and process and its needs for the value the project could deliver
• a high-level description of the solution the project could deliver
• a set of recommendations for implementing the project.

Students will prepare a high-level plan for the delivery of the project.

Execution

Students will use a project management methodology known as "Scrum" to deliver the project.

The Scrum methodology organises projects into sets of activities which occupy a fixed time. Scrum refers to the fixed time periods as "Sprints". Each sprint will occupy four weeks.

Students will meet with their group academic supervisor (lecturer) weekly to monitor their progress and to be guided in the way they carry out their work. The academic supervisor will assess their performance at the conclusion of each sprint.

At the end of the project, students will be expected to have delivered the solution(s) described in their business report to the client and have the client indicate satisfaction with delivery by signing off.

The most important practical activity is the design, planning and management of a project. The work in the project will be carried out for a client which may be a business or non-profit organisation.

The students are expected to deliver a completed project at the end of Business Design Project 2.