I teach a logistics and logistics strategy course at Syracuse University – Whitman School of Management. My course covers transportation, inventory, distribution center design and operations, and importing/exporting. While I use other simulations for specific topics, SCM Globe is unique in its comprehensive coverage of all course areas: transportation, distribution, and inventory, and their impact on a company’s P&L statement (see simulation example below).
I use SCM Globe as my take-home final exam. I can no longer use essay tests because students often use AI to do essays for them. So, students demonstrate their knowledge about supply chains and logistics in realistic simulations. Their grade is directly tied to the profitability ranking they achieve in their simulations, incentivizing significant effort and engagement.
To address the learning curve, I introduce the simulation earlier in the semester. SCM Globe generates a P&L report from simulation results, demonstrating the financial consequences of supply chain design decisions (see P&L example below). This direct link between choices and financial outcomes is invaluable for student learning.
This simulation-based final offers several advantages. First, it prevents cheating. Students must actively engage with the simulation; there are no shortcuts. Second, the numerous variables and permutations ensure unique solutions, making identical submissions highly suspicious. Third, achieving a good score requires substantial effort, often five to six hours or more.
I set constraints based on the simulation defaults to detect manipulated results. Students can run the simulation as many times as they like before submitting their final, most profitable solution. I then rank the submissions by profitability and assign grades based on a normal distribution, with only the top third receiving an A or A-.
While course quizzes assess terminology and concepts, the simulation forces students to apply this knowledge to practical supply chain design. This experiential learning is far more effective than rote memorization. Most students prefer this format to a traditional final exam. The take-home nature eliminates exam anxiety, allows students to work at their own pace, and removes the complexities of exam accommodations.
Gary La Point, PhD
Syracuse University – Whitman School of Management