Logistics Management at Central Queensland University - Case Study Example

Name : xxxxxx Tutor : xxxxxxx Title : LOGISTIC MANAGEMENT Institution : xxxxxxx @2009 Logistic Management Introduction Logistics is a term that has been used in many contexts to refer to the process adopted in the flow of people and information from one place to yet another. Normally such a flow is meant to enhance the importance of being in the right place at the right time. With regard to being in the right place at the right time, logistics management thus fosters both place and time utility. Place utility refers to the value attached to an item on the basis of being where it is needed. Time utility on the other hand refers to the value created by making one self or various resources available just when needed. The value of logistics is common to all institutions including educational institutions where proper time management points to how people and resources should flow in order to create their utility both in place and time. The Central Queensland University is an international university with five different campuses in various regions including Brisbane, Mackay, Bundaberg, Emerald a Gladstone. The university offers the best to both international and domestic students with regard to the programmes offered and the available facilities. Being in the right place at the right time is thus a very vital aspect of successful time management within an educational institution. This paper examines the role of logistics in an educational institution in this regard the Central Queensland University with reference to time and place utility. Logistics Management at the Central Queensland University In an academic institution, the use of various facilities makes it possible for individuals and related resources to be at the right place within the right time. With regard to the Central Queensland University, a number of facilities have been put in place to foster both time and place utility. This university offers the best facilities to foster international studies. In line with being in the right place, the university offers a number of lecture rooms where students guided by the time table can avail themselves for lectures. To foster the probability that the students will be available in their classes on time as per the guidance of their timetables, the university has hired enough lectures that are committed to innovative teaching. The university has timetables for all the courses being offered. Each of the time tables point to the time and location of the lecture alongside the name of the respective lecturer that is meant to teach the course (Central Queensland University 2009). The figure below points to a certain time table for the corporate accounting course Corporate Accounting - ACCT19061 CQU central class Class Day Starting Time Ending time Venue Lecturer Notes 3468 LE01 Monday 08.30 10.30 BN-M/201 Diane Pinder 3469 TU01 Monday 10.30 12.30 BN-M/201 Diane Pinder T309 Class Timetable (Central Queensland University 2009). The lectures are also under guidance of a time table that indicates to them when and where they are needed to be in class. The Lecturers’ timetable may be different from the student time table since it points the various classes that they are meant to lecture .The students time table points out the various lectures to attend, the venue and the time. The above example is a student’s time table. This makes it possible for the both the students and the lectures to attain their main objective of being in the right place at the right time. With such guidance, it is not possible for the students to be in a lecture room and not be taught (Central Queensland University 2009). To further reinforce the role of the time table, a lecture on attending a lecture has to ensure the full attendance of all the students. This is done with the use of a roll call sheet that points to the number of students meant to attend the lecture and the number of those present. Such a tool makes it possible for the students who may boycott their lectures on various reasons to be held accountable for poor time management that points to being in the wrong place at the wrong time. To further enhance the objective of being in class on time for both lecturers and the students, the university has incorporated various forms of technology for enhancing the teaching and learning process during every lecture (Bowersox 2002). There exists a high level technology that fosters the use of Audio-Visual facilities such that the learners are able to easily comprehend what the lecture may wish to pass across. This is a technology that has been highly credited for effectively reducing the errors bound to be made with direct communication (Central Queensland University 2009). The Library within the Central Queensland University is yet another vital facility that fosters both time and place utility. Being in this library implies that a student is able to access various forms of human Knowledge that may be required to handle the course requirements. The Library at Brisbane is located within the fist floor of the campus building along 108 Margaret Street. The library is ideally situated in close proximity with a number of other vital facilities including the bookshop and the computer laboratories. This makes it possible for the students to use very minimal time and energy when they need to relocate from either of the facilities to yet another. This library provides the students and the teaching staff with a large variety of resources to enable them navigate through their research and study. The figure below points to the Brisbane Library at the Central Queensland University. Library Services( Central Queensland University 2009). For the library to serve the purpose for which it was created, it has always had to adhere to a strict time table that point to its hours of operation. The table beneath points to the opening and closing hours of the Brisbane Library at the Central Queensland University. Second Term 2009- Vacation Second Week (period 26/10/2009 to 1/11/2009) Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday 9.00am 9.00 am 9.00 am 9.00 am 9.00am Closed Closed 5.00pm 5.00pm 5.00pm 5.00pm 5.00pm closed closed The library is closed on public holidays including Christmas and New Year. This is an electronic Library that offers a wide range of all the research related knowledge. To further enable the various users to effectively make use of the Library facilities, the university offers a wide range of library lessons where students in their respective courses are taught on how to handle their Library studies and research (Shawkey & Hart 2003). There is thus a time table that outlines when the various students can attend their library classes in line with the name of the respective lecturer to handle a particular course in Library use. The table below points to the Central Queens land university Brisbane library class time table. According to this timetable, library classes are held at different times for different courses (Offenbacher 2007). This implies that students pursuing different courses are meant to receive classes that would point to the guidance of conducting the type of study and research common to a certain course in the Library. This is a very sophisticated type of Library designed with the use of the latest technology to offer the best services to its many users. Library Services (Central Queensland University 2009). For new students to have an easy time with regard to the location of the various facilities within the university there is a plasma television screen within the ground floor of the campus building that offers very vital information to the students on their entry in to the university. This makes it possible for the students to save time and make it to the right place when they are needed to (Central Queensland University 2009).In a number of other educational institutions where such facilities do not exists, students and new members of staff spend a good part of their time trying to figure out the exact locality of the place there are destined to and majority end up getting their right bearing when time is over. This puts them at the right place but at the wrong time. The purpose for being in that place would in this regard not be fulfilled since if it is a lecture for instance, the student or the tutor may get to the right place when the time allocated for the destined activity has elapsed. This is a very sad occurrence that limits the significance of the time table (Schonsleben 2007). With regard to the bookshop, the university offers a wide collection of books and related resources that both the staff and the students can choose from. Other than the purchase of items related to the different courses, the bookshop at the university also offers photocopying; scanning alongside printing making it possible for both the staff and the students to get enough copies of relevant course material. The type of photocopying services offered is however limited to only to course related pamphlets and it is not possible for students or members of the staff to get whole copies of any published book from the shelves of the bookshop (Central Queensland University 2009). This is in line with the need to protect intellectual property rights of the author. Getting entire copies of any book in print or as a photocopy is an offense of intellectual property and can only be done with permission from the author of the book. The books stocked in the book shop can thus only be purchased. The University has also subscribed online such that it is possible for its members to purchase books on line. Books that are purchased online are far much easier to read. In this regard a student or a member of staff does not need to get to the exact location of the bookshop in order to make a purchase. Logistic management in an educational institution typically revolves around the processes involved in the movement of people and various resources. Utility which points to the usefulness of an individual or a certain resource is only established when the individual or the specific resource is made available on time and at the right destination. A lecturer would only be useful if he or she makes it to class on time and meets the needs of the students by imparting knowledge in to them. Time utility is superior to place utility in an educational institution though the two are almost inseparable. The central Queensland University has put in place various facilities and policies that can foster the aspect of ideal time management with regard to being in the right place at the right time (Waters 1999).Other than the facilities the policies put in place are measures that can constantly remind the partisans of their various responsibilities. A student for instance is expected to be in class at the right time for the course instructions. The course instructor on the other hand is not only expected to be in class on the right time but also deliver effectively to the students. The university thus uses a number of measures to evaluate the utility created by both the student and the course instructor by being in the right place at the right time. The academic performance of the students in their various courses is a parameter that is highly recognized for the evaluation of the level of utility created by being in the university (Rushton et al 2006). Poor performance is an aspect that is bound to implicate that either the lecturer or the students are not creating any utility while in the university. The possibility that a student or a lecturer would be at the right place and at the right time but not for the right purpose is thus ascertained through the performance of the students in their academic work (Christopher 2005). For students to effectively shift from one venue to another, the university has made it possible for the classes for each particular course offered to be conducted at a central location. For students pursuing arts for instance, their entire core courses are destined to be taught within the Arts Complex. This makes it possible for the arts students and lectures to have an easy time relocating from one lecture to another. The ease of relocation created by the ideal positioning of classrooms as per the courses offered greatly fosters time management as both students and lecturers would be able to make it within the shortest time possible to their next lecture. The information technology infrastructure within the Central Queensland University is yet another facility that has greatly fostered logistic management (Central Queensland University 2009). This is a very efficient tool for both data and information management. The information technology system within this university makes it possible for students and members of staff to maintain their data in ideal computer accounts that can be accessed any where within the University with ease (Gourdin 2001). The computer network system is highly enhanced with internet connectivity. This makes it possible for the users within the University to easily access various forms of information and data without necessarily moving to different locations. The university offers plenty of internet services with enough connectivity that can be tapped to individual laptops. The university has various computer labs for general use with photocopying and scanning facilities. The type of information technology adopted by the university makes it possible for both students and members of staff to gain access to various forms of knowledge and at the same time fosters the management and flow of data. Conclusion Logistic management is an aspect that is vital to various institutions. Educational institutions have identified the role of logistics management especially with regard to the creation of both time and place utility. For an institution like the Central Queensland University, a number of policies and facilities have been put in place to foster these two types of utilities. Being in the right place at the right time is vital to the realization of both time and place utility. Lecturers and students in this university have ideally being provided with what it takes to effectively manage their time and attain the expected goal. Ideal facilities put in place by the university include effective Library services, an ideal bookshop with online services, time tables and computer services. References Bowersox, et al 2002, Supply Chain Logistics Management, McGraw-Hill, California. Central Queensland University 2009, Library Services, Viewed 22nd Nov. 2009,< http://content.cqu.edu.au/FCWViewer/view.do?page=6893>. Central Queensland University 2009, T309 Class Timetable, Viewed 22nd Nov. 2009, < https://aicportal.cqu.edu.au/mycqu/TimetableResult.asp>. Central Queensland University 2009, University Facilities, Viewed 22nd Nov. 2009, . Christopher, M 2005, Logistics and Supply Chain Management: Creating Value-Adding Networks, Prentice Hall, New Jersey. Gourdin, K 2001, Global Logistics Management: A Competitive Advantage for the New Millennium, Wiley –Blackwell, California. Offenbacher, H 2007, Strategic Logistics Management - Decision-Making in Times of Great Uncertainty, GRIN Verlag, Sydney. Rushton, et al, 2006, The Handbook of Logistics and Distribution Management, Kogan Page Publishers, California. Schonsleben, P 2007, Integral Logistics Management: Operations and Supply Chain Management in Comprehensive Value-Added Networks, CRC Press, Washington. Shawkey, P & Hart, C 2003, Logistics' Contributions to Better Health in Developing Countries: Programmes That Deliver, Ashgate Publishing, Washington. Waters, D 1999, Global Logistics and Distribution Planning: Strategies for Management, Kogan Page, California. Read More