Course syllabus for Economy of transport and distribution

Course syllabus adopted 2024-02-15 by Head of Programme (or corresponding).

Overview

  • Swedish nameTransport- och distributionsekonomi
  • CodeTEK717
  • Credits7.5 Credits
  • OwnerTSILO
  • Education cycleFirst-cycle
  • Main field of studyShipping and Marine Technology
  • DepartmentTECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT AND ECONOMICS
  • GradingTH - Pass with distinction (5), Pass with credit (4), Pass (3), Fail

Course round 1

  • Teaching language English
  • Application code 81133
  • Maximum participants60 (at least 10% of the seats are reserved for exchange students)
  • Open for exchange studentsYes
  • Only students with the course round in the programme overview.

Credit distribution

0123 Written and oral assignments, part A 4 c
Grading: TH		4 c
0223 Project, part B 3.5 c
Grading: TH		3.5 c

In programmes

Examiner

Go to coursepage (Opens in new tab)

Eligibility

General entry requirements for bachelor's level (first cycle)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Specific entry requirements

The same as for the programme that owns the course.
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Course specific prerequisites

Knowledge and skills corresponding to the learning outcomes of the following courses:

TEK706 Basic logistics 
TEK375 Managerial economics

Aim

The purpose of the course is to acquire a deeper understanding for the interplay between demand and supply for transport within the macro and micro economic environment. To achieve this purpose, the course focuses on various components that affect the costs for distribution and logistics and the relationships between these costs and the price of logistics services. In addition, the course studies the significant issues that affect the economics of logistics systems such as environment, technological change and trends in shipper preferences.

Learning outcomes (after completion of the course the student should be able to)

- Explain and analyse the cost structures within the different transport modes during logistics operations
- Describe the main physical, financial and information properties in distribution systems.
- Evaluate the effects of new logistics concepts with regards to the efficiency of a distribution system.
- Explain the relationship between cost and price in transportation and logistics.
- Divide transport costs in fixed and variable costs. 
- Understand resource utilisation from a financial perspective.

Content

- Activities and costs of transportation
- The actors of the transportation and distribution channels, process control and new trends in transportation
- Distribution structures and their individual characteristics
- The construction of distribution structures in a network, integration and complexity
- Resource utilisation and pricing in transportation

Organisation

1. Lectures and seminars 2. Assignments 3. Cases 4. Guest lectures 

Literature

See course homepage.

Examination including compulsory elements

The course assessment is based on three parts:

1- Theory: An average of continuous assessment (computer-based quizzes) done throughout the course period. This part gives a maximum of 50 points and a minimum of 40% (20 points) needs to be achieved to pass the theory part of the course.

2- Group project: A case project which is to be solved in two parts and in groups. Case Part I gives 25 points and Case Part II gives 25 points. A minimum of 40% (10 points) needs to be achieved from each part to pass the case part of the course.

3- Mandatory attendance at guest lectures and other mandatory tasks.

* Re-exams will be offered to those who fail the theory part of the course. Students need to contact the examiner if they would like to apply for a re-exam. Failing the case part will require retaking the course.

Grading thresholds for final grade (based on the total points):
40p = 3
60p = 4
80p = 5

The course examiner may assess individual students in other ways than what is stated above if there are special reasons for doing so, for example if a student has a decision from Chalmers on educational support due to disability.