BA4145 STRATEGIC SOURCING

Course Code:3124145
METU Credit (Theoretical-Laboratory hours/week):3 (3.00 - 0.00)
ECTS Credit:6.0
Department:Business Administration
Language of Instruction:English
Level of Study:Undergraduate
Course Coordinator:
Offered Semester:Fall Semesters.

Course Objectives

As a result of increasing competition and faster economical, organisational and technical changes, firms increasingly outsource parts of their development, production and delivery processes to specialised external suppliers. Firms not only in manufacturing industries (e.g., Philips, Toyota, Unilever) but also in service industries (e.g. Turkish Airlines, Akbank) buy raw materials, components, sub-systems and services from suppliers for a value that is more than two-thirds of their total sales. This implies that managing suppliers – and the underlying purchasing process – is of crucial importance to the success of the firm: regarding costs and prices, but also regarding quality and delivery performance, and increasingly also with respect to innovation, risk management, and sustainability.

The objective of this course is to provide the students with the key concepts regarding purchasing and supply management, and prepare them for future careers as purchasing managers/buyers who are equipped with the necessary knowledge to manage not only tactical and operational, but also strategic aspects of purchasing. 


Course Content

The objective of this course is to provide the students with the key concepts regarding purchasing and supply management, prepare them for future careers as purchasing managers/buyers, and help them understand the impact of purchasing on other business functions. Upon completing this course students can: (i) define tactical and strategic contributions of purchasing (i.e. cost reduction, risk management, innovation, sustainability), (ii) analyse buyer-supplier relationships and purchase characteristics, and develop supply management strategies that fit to these, and (iii) understand and implement negotiation tactics, and (iv) assess supplier and purchasing performance.


Course Learning Outcomes

Upon completing this course, students can:

  • Define tactical, operational, and strategic contributions of purchasing.
  • Analyse buyer-supplier relationships and purchase characteristics, and develop supply management strategies that fit to these.
  • Assess supplier and purchasing performance.
  • Apply the knowledge learned to practice.

Program Outcomes Matrix

Level of Contribution
#Program Outcomes0123
1They attain advanced level of knowledge in the functional areas of business administration such as strategic management, marketing, accounting, finance, organization management, human resources, and operations management.
2They are capable of identifying and analyzing legal, environmental and social factors, which influence the basic functional areas of the business administration.
3They understand and implement rational, systematic and scientific approaches effectively in problem solving and decision-making processes.
4They are capable of applying, analyzing, synthesizing and evaluating the knowledge they have in diverse fields efficiently
5They are capable of transferring information by using efficient verbal and written communication techniques.
6They are capable of performing professional communication effectively also in English.
7They know the methods of performing efficient teamwork.
8They are capable of following the contemporary techniques, scientific and technological developments in their fields and are able to conduct research and studies in order to develop their business administration related knowledge, skills, and competences.
9They are knowledgeable in the areas of professional ethics and responsibility.
10They are capable of utilizing their knowledge and skills efficiently in global and multicultural contexts.
11They are knowledgeable in the issues of environment, social responsibility, social justice, quality and cultural values
12They have a creative, innovative and critical perspective.

0: No Contribution 1: Little Contribution 2: Partial Contribution 3: Full Contribution