vcc.ca
OPMT 4110: Global Supply Network Strategy, Trade Policy, and Geopolitical Risk
Effective date
January 2027
Department
Global Supply Chain Management
School
Hospitality, Food Studies and Applied Business
Description
This course critically examines the legal, financial, and operational complexities of contracts and logistics within global supply chain environments. Students analyze contract structures, pricing mechanisms, negotiation strategy, dispute resolution frameworks, transportation law, trade documentation, insurance instruments, and regulatory compliance across jurisdictions. Emphasis is placed on risk allocation, Incoterms application, customs governance, and the strategic implications of international trade policy.
Through applied case analysis and scenario-based simulations, students evaluate the integration of purchasing, transportation network design, inventory strategy, warehousing systems, and customer service within global markets. The course develops the capacity to structure and negotiate agreements that balance cost, service, risk, and compliance while aligning logistics execution with enterprise strategy and international trade dynamics.
Credits
3.0
Year of study
4th Year Post-secondary
Prerequisites
OPMT 1110.
Corequisites
None
Course Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
- Analyze the structural, geopolitical, regulatory, and sustainability challenges inherent in global supply chain management
- Evaluate and design global sourcing and procurement strategies for goods and services
- Develop comprehensive global risk mitigation frameworks
- Analyze and evaluate global sourcing, logistics, procurement, and supply chain strategies
- Apply effective strategies for managing international logistics and customs compliance
- Measure and manage global logistics performance
- Evaluate outsourcing and offshoring strategies
- Assess the role of federal procurement and supply chain policy in advancing Indigenous economic participation
- Design and evaluate partnership models between Indigenous enterprises and industry supply chains (e.g., marine, aerospace, mining)
Prior Learning Assessment & Recognition (PLAR)
None
Hours
Lecture, Online, Seminar, Tutorial: 45
Total Hours: 45
Total Hours: 45
Instructional Strategies
Lectures, Case Studies, Groupwork.
Grading System
Letter Grade (A-F)
Passing grade
D
Evaluation Plan
|
Type |
Percentage |
Assessment activity |
|
Assignments |
10-20 |
Two or more individual or group applied case study assignments |
|
Project |
10-20 |
Indigenous business and supply chains project |
|
Midterm Exam |
10-20 |
|
|
Final Exam |
20-30 |
|
|
Project |
30-40 |
Global sourcing, logistics, procurement, and supply chain project. Includes presentation. |
Course topics
- Globalization and International Trade (incl. customs compliance); Supply Chain Strategy: Lean and Agile; Service Supply Chains; Systems and Networks; Global Transportation; Containerization and Unitization; Logistics Service Providers; Facilitating International Freight Flows; Incoterms Inventory Management (incl. export/import regulations), Planning and Control; Materials Handling and Warehousing; Outsourcing, Offshoring and Procurement; Data Flows and Digitization; Managing Vulnerability; Sustainability in Logistics and Supply Chain Management; Emerging Supply Chain Designs; Global Sourcing and Supplier Selection; Global Logistics and Transportation Challenges; Risk Management in Global Supply Chains; Federal Supply Chains and Indigenous Industries; Cultural and Ethical Considerations in Global Operations; Indigenous businesses and industry supply chains
Notes:
- Course contents and descriptions, offerings and schedules are subject to change without notice.
- Students are required to follow all College policies including ones that govern their educational experience at VCC. Policies are available on the VCC website at:
https://www.vcc.ca/about/governance--policies/policies/. - To find out if there are existing transfer agreements for this course, visit the BC Transfer Guide at https://www.bctransferguide.ca.