Suez Canal Blockage: A Case Study of Global Supply Chain Disruption
This individual report examines the challenges faced by global supply chains as a result of the Suez Canal blockage and critically evaluates the factors that affected supply chain performance during the disruption. The assignment uses the Suez Canal blockage as a case study to explore the wider principles and practices of global supply chain management, with particular attention to supply chain disruption, risk management, resilience, logistics, supplier relationships and integrated supply chain performance. The report requires students to conduct preliminary research into the Suez Canal blockage and use relevant academic and practical sources to identify the major challenges created by the disruption. The case study focuses on the six-day stranding of the Ever Given and the resulting disruption to international supply chains and global trade. The assessment considers how a disruption at a strategically important global trade route can create wider consequences for organisations, logistics networks and supply chain operations. The analysis should identify the key factors that influenced supply chain performance and critically evaluate the effectiveness of the solutions implemented to resolve the disruption. Relevant global supply chain management theories, models and concepts should be clearly defined and applied to the case rather than simply described. The report should demonstrate an understanding of fundamental supply chain principles and consider how evolving trends and global issues can affect supply chain operations. The assignment also encourages consideration of important supply chain management areas covered within the unit, including risk management, resilience, outsourcing, supplier planning and selection, relationship management, supply chain integration, demand management, order management and customer service. These concepts should be connected to the Suez Canal blockage to provide a critical assessment of the challenges and possible approaches to improving supply chain resilience. The report must be presented in a formal and logically coherent report format and should provide evidence of critical reasoning through a wide range of relevant academic and practical sources. The conclusion should draw together the main findings, while recommendations should propose realistic approaches for addressing the supply chain issues identified in the case. The assessment is worth 30% of the overall unit mark and requires an individual report of 1,800 words, with a permitted variation of ±10%. The report is assessed across four main areas: use of theory and frameworks (25%), analysis and evaluation (30%), conclusions and recommendations (20%), and structure, presentation and referencing (25%). The marking criteria emphasise the application of relevant theoretical concepts, critical evaluation of academic and practical sources, a clear connection between theory and practice, realistic recommendations, logical structure, and appropriate in-text citations and referencing.
Read Model Answer →