Meet the Masters of Supply Chain Management

An excerpt from Poets and Quants:

BUILDING CONNECTIONS — VIRTUALLY

With the goal to create community despite it being an online program, Leuschner says Rutgers  is transitioning to provide more synchronous content that mixes flexibility with the need — and desire — for more engagement. 

The Rutgers faculty initially thought the type of student who was attracted to the Rutgers program was more interested in acquiring knowledge and skills rather than engaging in the experiential and networking part of the program. However, over time, they realized that their students were networking amongst themselves anyways.

“Whether they were in the same location or not, they still got to know each other. We’ve made considerable changes in terms of creating opportunities for networking meetings, discussions, and friendships,” Leuschner says. 

CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT

At Rutgers, the supply chain management program goes through a consistent review process largely thanks to its advisory board of alumni, which Leuschner calls “friends of the program.” They help act as a sounding board for ideas on how to improve the structure of the program. Plus, alumni have been integrated into teaching class material to help with real-world application, such as live case studies where students get practice with developing solutions.

“A dozen or so of our alumni are popping in just to check out what the topic of the week is and network with our current students,” says Leuschner.

Leuschner explains that Rutgers’ Master in Supply Chain Management is geared towards professionals to move up in their careers. “Our program enables supply chain management professionals to become leaders in their organizations.”

FLEXIBLE CURRICULUM

While some supply chain management master’s programs are more quantitatively focused or geared towards a specific sub-discipline in the field, Rutgers focuses on leadership and strategic thinking. “We don’t just put classes together at random; each class is related to each other. We don’t have required courses and electives because I believe that a supply chain management professional that would join our program knows what it takes to get them to the next step in their career. We provide one hundred percent free reign of our curriculum and they customize that to however they see fit.”

Leuschner believes that one of the highlights of this program is the flexibility. With the program designed to cater towards the needs of the working professional, he says that an on-campus program wouldn’t be possible for many of their students.

IDEAL CANDIDATES

There are a few ideal candidates for a supply chain management master’s, Leuschner says, specifically for the Rutgers program. First, there are the candidates who studied supply chain in their undergraduate degree and are fully dedicated to advancing in this field. Another is the person who comes from a different area in business who is looking for a career change. Those who are active duty military service members or veterans are also ideal students.

For those who are unsure if a supply chain management master’s degree is right for them, Rutgers also has a live open house for prospective students interested in the program, allowing them to get a taste of the course content and structure. “They can pop into classes, participate, and even do the case studies.”