Strategic Sourcing Course | IIT Madras Prof. Arshinder Kaur | 12-Week PG Program
Course Details
| Exam Registration | 197 |
|---|---|
| Course Status | Ongoing |
| Course Type | Elective |
| Language | English |
| Duration | 12 weeks |
| Categories | Management Studies, Operations |
| Credit Points | 3 |
| Level | Postgraduate |
| Start Date | 19 Jan 2026 |
| End Date | 10 Apr 2026 |
| Enrollment Ends | 02 Feb 2026 |
| Exam Registration Ends | 20 Feb 2026 |
| Exam Date | 18 Apr 2026 IST |
| NCrF Level | 4.5 — 8.0 |
Master Strategic Sourcing: A 12-Week Postgraduate Course by IIT Madras
In today's hyper-competitive global marketplace, procurement is no longer just a back-office function. It is a critical strategic lever for achieving cost leadership, innovation, and sustainable competitive advantage. Strategic Sourcing represents the evolution from transactional purchasing to a holistic, data-driven process aligned with core business objectives. For professionals and postgraduates aiming to master this transformation, a new, in-depth course led by a distinguished expert from IIT Madras offers a unparalleled learning opportunity.
About the Course Instructor: Prof. Arshinder Kaur
This course is meticulously designed and delivered by Prof. Arshinder Kaur of IIT Madras, a renowned authority in operations and supply chain management. With over 15 years of academic excellence, her credentials are exceptional:
- Award-Winning Research: Her PhD thesis on 'Supply Chain Coordination' was a Highly Commended Award Winner of the 2008 Emerald/EFMD Outstanding Doctoral Research Award.
- Prolific Publications: Author of more than 40 research articles in top-tier international journals including Omega, International Journal of Production Economics, and Journal of Cleaner Production.
- Industry & Global Expertise: Has conducted training for major corporations (Daimler, HAL, Areva) and held prestigious visiting fellowships at universities in Germany and the University of Technology Sydney, Australia.
- Recognized Authority: Serves as an Assessor for the Australian Research Council (ARC), underscoring her international academic standing.
Course Overview: What You Will Learn
This 12-week postgraduate-level course is structured to provide a comprehensive understanding of modern strategic sourcing. It is ideal for MBA students and professionals supported by industries involved in procurement and sourcing.
Key Learning Objectives:
- Understand the dramatic shift from traditional purchasing to world-class supply management.
- Master strategic decisions related to outsourcing, supplier selection, evaluation, and development.
- Gain insights into pricing strategies, strategic cost management, and designing effective supplier contracts.
- Learn to leverage technology, electronic exchanges, and global markets in the sourcing process.
Detailed 12-Week Course Layout
| Week | Topic |
|---|---|
| Week 1 | Introduction, Imperatives and Evolution of Strategic Sourcing |
| Week 2 | Supply Process and Need Identification |
| Week 3 | Sourcing Strategy: Organizational Design |
| Week 4 | Strategic Sourcing Framework: Spend Analysis & Devising Strategy |
| Week 5 | Technology in Sourcing, Reverse Auctions and Bidding |
| Week 6 | Strategic Cost Management |
| Week 7 | Sustainability in Sourcing |
| Week 8 | Negotiation Strategies |
| Week 9 | Contracts and Compensation Arrangements |
| Week 10 | Supplier Selection, Evaluation Process and Outsourcing |
| Week 11 | Multi-Criteria Decision Making for Supplier Evaluation |
| Week 12 | Global Supply Management and Supply Risk |
Who Should Enroll?
Intended Audience: This course is primarily designed for MBA students and postgraduate scholars in Management and Operations. It is equally valuable for early to mid-career professionals in procurement, supply chain, operations, and general management who seek to build or enhance their strategic sourcing capabilities.
Industry Support: The curriculum is highly relevant and supported by all companies engaged in procurement and sourcing activities, making it directly applicable to real-world challenges.
Recommended Textbooks
To complement the lectures, the course references two seminal textbooks in the field:
- Purchasing and Supply Management by Johnson, Leenders, and Flynn (14th Edition).
- World Class Supply Management: The Key to Supply Chain Management by Burt, Dobler, and Starling (7th Edition).
Embark on this 12-week journey to transform your understanding of procurement. Under the expert guidance of Prof. Arshinder Kaur from IIT Madras, you will gain the strategic insights and practical frameworks needed to drive value, innovation, and resilience through world-class strategic sourcing.
Enroll Now →