Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 1, 2026 (23/02/2026 - 20/06/2026)
- Study level
- Postgraduate Coursework
- Location
- Gatton
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- Gatton
- Coordinating unit
- Agriculture and Food Sustainability School
Investigates theory and practice of value chain formation, management & performance in enhancing competitiveness in a particular market.
Value Chain Management has become a much-discussed topic within the business sector as companies attempt to redefine their strategies in a dynamic and uncertain global competitive market. Three main themes dominate the discussion on value chain management:
- Theme 1 - how do the members of a value chainﾠunderstand, create, deliver and share value as defined by consumers,
- Theme 2 - how do the members of a value chain coordinate their activities to improve their efficiency through the elimination of waste and avoidance of duplication, and
- Theme 3 - what is the optimal configuration and governance structure of a value chain so that its competitiveness is enhanced in a particular market?
This course sets out to explore these themes from a theoretical perspective, and the major issues of value chain management are discussed using the context of current agribusiness management practice.
At the School of Agriculture and Food Sustainability, we are committed to creating an inclusive and empowering learning environment for all students. We value and respect the diverse range of experiences our students bring to their education, and we believe that this diversity is crucial for fostering a rich culture of knowledge-sharing and meaningful exploration. We hold students and staff accountable for actively contributing to establishing a respectful and supportive learning environment.
Bullying, harassment, and discrimination in any form are strictly against our principles and against UQ Policy, and will not be tolerated. If you have any concerns about your experience in this course, we encourage you to tell a member of the course teaching team. Your well-being and a positive learning atmosphere are of utmost importance to us.
Course requirements
Incompatible
You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:
MGTS7960
Jointly taught details
This course is jointly-taught with:
- Another instance of the same course
This course shares content with AGRC7050 External, with activities and assessment that may vary (Online modules) to suit the mode and campus of study.
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Additional timetable information
The weekly three-hour scheduled learning activities include lecture-cum-workshop series (2 hours) and tutorials (1 hour). Lecture sessions are designed to be delivered in hybrid mode (simultaneous on-campus and online via Zoom). These sessions will not be timetabled for external students, but they can attend the lectures scheduled for internal students via live Zoom. Students can complete the tutorial activities online or in class per their enrolment mode. Dedicated online drop-in sessions will be available, upon request, to external students who wish to discuss their learning progress with the course staff. The drop-in session dates and times will be available on the course BB site, and these additional sessions will not be recorded.
If you have any concerns regarding your official timetable or course allocations, or there are no suitable class times available, contact Faculty of Science Timetable science.mytimetable@uq.edu.au for advice.
If you have any questions about missing class activities, please contact your course coordinator.
Aims and outcomes
This course aims to provide you with an opportunity to:
1. Critically reflect on the theory behind the formation and management of agribusiness value chains.
2. Apply theory to analyse value chain management practices of an agribusiness chain.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Evaluate drivers of change in the agribusiness sector and how they influence value chain formation/management.
LO2.
Discuss underlying principles behind value chain management.
LO3.
Evaluate the theoretical concepts underpinning formation, operation and performance of coordinated value chains and their practical application in agribusiness.
LO4.
Critically analyse and report on value chain management practices and communicate findings with critical reasoning.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation | Consultancy Proposal | 20% |
16/03/2026 2:00 pm |
| Project | Value Chain Analysis - Report | 40% |
11/05/2026 2:00 pm |
| Presentation |
Presentation followed by QA - Value Chain Analysis and Management
|
40% |
The presentation will be scheduled on lecture days and during contact hours in week 12 & 13, with the possibility of extending beyond the regular contact hours. 18/05/2026 - 29/05/2026 Submission of PowerPoint slides due 5pm 29/05/2026 |
A hurdle is an assessment requirement that must be satisfied in order to receive a specific grade for the course. Check the assessment details for more information about hurdle requirements.
Assessment details
Consultancy Proposal
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation
- Weight
- 20%
- Due date
16/03/2026 2:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L03
Task description
This assessment task is designed to simulate a professional consultancy application for an international development partner undertaking a value chain development project in a low- or middle-income country. Students are required to assume the role of a prospective agribusiness consultant responding to a project opportunity in their home country or a country with which they are familiar. Students will then develop a 1,500-word consultancy proposal outlining how they would analyse the value chain of their preferred commodity. The proposal should be written in a professional consultancy style and framed as a response to an international development partner’s Terms of Reference (ToR) for the consultant. The proposal should also include an analytical framework (for example, to understand consumer/market perspectives, value chain mapping, value creating or waste reduction opportunities and to pre‑plan data sources and analytical methods), which would guide the detailed analysis of the value chain in later tasks.
The task aims to develop students’ capacity to apply value chain concepts and analytical frameworks in a realistic, policy- and development-oriented context, consistent with professional expectations in international agribusiness and development practice. This proposal forms the foundation for successive assessment tasks in the course. Careful selection and thoughtful design of this proposal are therefore essential for successful progression through the course. More detailed instructions, assessment criteria and submission requirements will be provided on the course Blackboard site. If unsure, students can discuss with the lecturer or the teaching staff to confirm the appropriateness of their preferred industry and commodity for this assignment.
This task has been designed to be challenging, authentic and complex. Whilst students may use AI and/or MT technologies, successful completion of assessment in this course will require students to critically engage in specific contexts and tasks for which artificial intelligence will provide only limited support and guidance.
A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct. To pass this assessment, students will be required to demonstrate detailed comprehension of their written submission independent of AI and MT tools. The use of AI or MT must be referenced appropriately. Please see assessment guidelines in blackboard course site for specific instructions.
A useful link: https://guides.library.uq.edu.au/referencing/ai-tools-assignments.
Submission guidelines
You must submit your Assessment task, in Blackboard, via the Turnitin link by the submission deadline. You should also retain an electronic copy of every piece of assessment you submit.
Legal Declaration:
By submitting your work via this website, you formally declare that (1) it is your own original work, and no part of the work has been copied from any other source or person except where due acknowledgement is made; (2) no part of the work has been previously submitted for assessment in this or any other institution; and (3) you have read the Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and understand its implications.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Submission of an Extension of Assessment Due Date (EADD) should be completed online through your My Requests tab via my.UQ Dashboard, in accordance with the University's Assessment Procedure (located in the Policies and Procedures section of this course profile) which outlines the requirements for requesting extensions to assessment due dates. Extensions require the correct evidence/documentation to support the requested length of time of the extension.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
For example, a report worth a maximum of 40 marks, submitted 28 hours late will attract a penalty of 8 marks, calculated as 2 periods of 24 hours x 10% x 40 marks.
Assessment deadlines are firm and must be met. Late submission without permission or non-submission of assessable work will result in penalties being applied. Late submission of assessment will only be granted for documented medical reasons, accident, bereavement, jury service and other circumstances allowed in the UQ Policies and Procedures Library (PPL).
Value Chain Analysis - Report
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Project
- Weight
- 40%
- Due date
11/05/2026 2:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L03, L04
Task description
This assessment task builds directly on the Consultancy Proposal submitted earlier in the course. Students are required to retain the same agrifood industry and commodity, value chain focus and approach approved in the previous assessment. The task simulates the delivery of a professional consultancy report prepared for an international development partner seeking evidence-based insights to inform value chain development interventions.
Students will translate their proposed analytical focus and approach into a 4000-word value chain analysis report, consistent with expectations for postgraduate-level consultancy work in agribusiness and international development. The report should examine the existing and potential structure, process, functions and interventions required to develop the commodity value chains for the industry or an agribusiness within the industry. You must include a 500-word Artificial Intelligence (AI) Reflection, as Annex, explaining tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Grammarly) and prompts used, outlining AI related disclosure and providing critique of AI use for the purpose of this assignment.
The report must be based on secondary data and information sources, including (but not limited to) academic literature, industry reports, government publications, donor and development partner reports, market analyses, and reputable grey literature. Students are prohibited from doing primary data collection as primary data is not required for this assessment.
The analysis should demonstrate a systematic and critical application of value chain concepts, frameworks and assessment, with clear links to development objectives relevant to the country and sector context. More detailed instructions, assessment criteria and submission requirements will be provided on the course Blackboard site.
This task has been designed to be challenging, authentic and complex. Whilst students may use AI and/or MT technologies, successful completion of assessment in this course will require students to critically engage in specific contexts and tasks for which artificial intelligence will provide only limited support and guidance. A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
To pass this assessment, students will be required to demonstrate detailed comprehension of their written submission independent of AI and MT tools. The use of AI or MT must be referenced appropriately. Please see assessment guidelines in blackboard course site for specific instructions.
A useful link: https://guides.library.uq.edu.au/referencing/ai-tools-assignments.
Submission guidelines
You must submit your Assessment task, in Blackboard, via the Turnitin link by the submission deadline. You should also retain an electronic copy of every piece of assessment you submit.
Legal Declaration
By submitting your work via this website, you formally declare that (1) it is your own original work, and no part of the work has been copied from any other source or person except where due acknowledgement is made; (2) no part of the work has been previously submitted for assessment in this or any other institution; and (3) you have read the Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and understand its implications.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Assessment deadlines are firm and must be met. Late submission without permission or non-submission of assessable work will result in penalties being applied. Late submission of assessment will only be granted for documented medical reasons, accident, bereavement, jury service and other circumstances allowed in the UQ Policies and Procedures Library (PPL).
Submission of an Extension of Assessment Due Date (EADD) should be completed online through your My Requests tab via my.UQ Dashboard before the due date of the assessment item.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
For example, a report worth a maximum of 40 marks, submitted 28 hours late will attract a penalty of 8 marks, calculated as 2 periods of 24 hours x 10% x 40 marks.
Assessment deadlines are firm and must be met. Late submission without permission or non-submission of assessable work will result in penalties being applied. Late submission of assessment will only be granted for documented medical reasons, accident, bereavement, jury service and other circumstances allowed in the UQ Policies and Procedures Library (PPL).
Presentation followed by QA - Value Chain Analysis and Management
- Hurdle
- Identity Verified
- In-person
- Mode
- Oral
- Category
- Presentation
- Weight
- 40%
- Due date
The presentation will be scheduled on lecture days and during contact hours in week 12 & 13, with the possibility of extending beyond the regular contact hours. 18/05/2026 - 29/05/2026
Submission of PowerPoint slides due 5pm 29/05/2026
- Other conditions
- Secure.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03
Task description
Students are required to make a 10-minute oral presentation on their value chain analysis report (10 marks), followed by a Q&A session on principles and practices of value chain management and analysis (30 marks), contents covered during the semester. The presentation and follow-up Q&A will be recorded and marked by at least two examiners.
The final version of your presentation slides (which will be assessed as a part of the oral presentation) should be submitted through Turnitin in the course blackboard site. Students will then give the oral presentation during the scheduled presentation time. The presentation will be scheduled on lecture days and during contact hours, with the possibility of extending beyond the regular contact hours. The presentation schedules, guidelines and marking criteria will be posted on the Blackboard site.
This is an identity-verified assessment task; therefore, this task is to be completed in person (in class by in-person students and online via Zoom by external students). Have your student ID for your scheduled presentation.
This task has been designed to be challenging, authentic and complex. Whilst students may use AI and/or MT technologies, successful completion of assessment in this course will require students to critically engage in specific contexts and tasks for which artificial intelligence will provide only limited support and guidance.
A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
To pass this assessment, students will be required to demonstrate detailed comprehension of their written submission independent of AI and MT tools. The use of AI or MT must be referenced appropriately. Please see assessment guidelines in blackboard course site for specific instructions.
Hurdle requirements
Refer to Additional course grading for more informationSubmission guidelines
You must submit your PowerPoint slides in Blackboard, via the Turnitin link by the submission deadline. You should also retain an electronic copy of every piece of assessment you submit.
Legal Declaration
By submitting your work via this website, you formally declare that (1) it is your own original work, and no part of the work has been copied from any other source or person except where due acknowledgement is made; (2) no part of the work has been previously submitted for assessment in this or any other institution; and (3) you have read the Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and understand its implications.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Submission of an Extension of Assessment Due Date (EADD) should be completed online through your My Requests tab via my.UQ Dashboard, in accordance with the University's Assessment Procedure (located in the Policies and Procedures section of this course profile) which outlines the requirements for requesting extensions to assessment due dates. Extensions require the correct evidence/documentation to support the requested length of time of the extension.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
For example, a report worth a maximum of 40 marks, submitted 28 hours late will attract a penalty of 8 marks, calculated as 2 periods of 24 hours x 10% x 40 marks.
Assessment deadlines are firm and must be met. Late submission without permission or non-submission of assessable work will result in penalties being applied. Late submission of assessment will only be granted for documented medical reasons, accident, bereavement, jury service and other circumstances allowed in the UQ Policies and Procedures Library (PPL).
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: 0 - 34% |
| 2 (Fail) |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: 35% - 46% |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes Course grade description: 47 - 49% OR failure to meet course hurdle requirement |
| 4 (Pass) |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: 50% - 64% |
| 5 (Credit) |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: 65% - 74% |
| 6 (Distinction) |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: 75% - 84% |
| 7 (High Distinction) |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: 85% - 100% |
Additional course grading information
Course Grading Rules and Assessment Hurdles:
- Students are required to pass Assessment 3 (Presentation followed by QA - Value Chain Analysis and Management ) in order to pass this course, in addition to an overall pass mark in the course.
If a student obtains an overall percentage greater than the cut-offs set to achieve a 4 or higher for the course based on marks from a combination of progressive assessment and the student does NOT score a passing mark in Assessment 3 (Presentation followed by QA - Value Chain Analysis and Management ), they are unable to achieve a grade higher than a 3 (failing grade) for the course.
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Should you fail a course with a grade of 3, you may be eligible for supplementary assessment. Refer to my.UQ for information on supplementary assessment and how to apply.
Supplementary assessment provides an additional opportunity to demonstrate you have achieved all the required learning outcomes for a course.
If you apply and are granted supplementary assessment, the type of supplementary assessment set will consider which learning outcome(s) have not been met.
Supplementary assessment can take any form (such as a written report, oral presentation, examination or other appropriate assessment) and may test specific learning outcomes tailored to the individual student, or all learning outcomes.
To receive a passing grade of 3S4, you must obtain a mark of 50% or more on the supplementary assessment.
Additional assessment information
Please note the following when writing assignments
You must not re-use past work from previous assessments in your assignments.
Academic Integrity and Plagiarism
All reported work must be done by the individual student. Assignments that look and sound alike will be reported as plagiarism – a serious offence at UQ. Please note the university’s policy on academic integrity and plagiarism which can be accessed at Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy.
TurnItIn Assignments
Assignments that are required to be submitted through TurnItIn, must only be uploaded to the assessment specific Turnitin link on the relevant course Blackboard site. If you submit any version of your assessment item to any alternative Turnitin link, this is considered cheating and you will be held liable for this action.
Results
Unless specifically indicated by the course coordinator, every attempt will be made to have the results for progressive assessment available within 3 weeks of submission. For items of assessment submitted in the last 2 weeks of the semester, the results will not be available until grades release day. Results and feedback availability will be advised to you by email or announced via the course Blackboard site.
Feedback in this course
Feedback will be provided after each assessment item. Students are encouraged to contact the course coordinator to receive specific feedback during the semester as they progress through the modules and the assessment tasks, particularly for the case study presentation and final report.ﾠ
Feedback about the course is welcome, as any information on how students find this learning experience is constructive. Please use the evaluation form provided to you at the end of semester - or if you are enrolled internally, a course evaluation process will occur in the last few weeks of semester.
Re-mark Applications – refer to the University's Re-mark Policy to check your eligibility.
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.
Other course materials
If we've listed something under further requirement, you'll need to provide your own.
Required
| Item | Description | Further Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| AGRC7050 Blackboard Site | Blackboard is the main method of communication for this course. | |
| AGRC7050 Course Profile | Provides details of specifications, rationale, aims and structure of the course. It also informs you of the assessment for this course, including weighting and due dates. |
Additional learning resources information
Students will be directed to the relevant readings associated with each module via the course Blackboard site.
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Multiple weeks From Week 1 To Week 11 |
Lecture |
Lecture-cum-Workshop Series The weekly three-hour scheduled learning activities include lecture-cum-workshop series (2 hours) and tutorials (1 hour). Lecture and workshop sessions are designed to be delivered in hybrid mode (simultaneous on-campus and online via Zoom). These sessions will not be timetabled for external students, but they can attend the sessions scheduled for in-person students via live Zoom. Lecture-cum-workshop sessions are recorded and available through the course Blackboard site after the scheduled lecture hours. These sessions focus on foundational and advanced knowledge and understanding of the course contents. They are delivered using multiple teaching-learning methods, including PowerPoint presentations, interactive quizzes, case studies, case/problem-based learning, flip learning, panel discussion, group discussion, and guest presentation. Please refer to the full timetable in the course Blackboard site. Sub-activity: Course overview; Changing nature of agribusiness and value chain (VC) approach in agricultural development Value chain management (VCM): underlying principles, practices and concepts Value chain analysis - process and dimensions Consumer Value and value creation Value chain case study from developing country contexts Value chain analysis - methods and data for secondary analysis Value chain case study: application of VCM principles and practices in developed economy context Value chain management: achieving competitiveness, indicators and metrics, credibility and triangulation Value chain management: building and sustaining relationships Inclusive Value Chains: power, governance Enabling roles of policies and barriers and drivers of implementing value chain strategies Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Multiple weeks From Week 2 To Week 11 |
Tutorial |
Tutorial series The tutorial sessions are designed to allow group work, follow-up discussions of lecture contents, formative feedback and assignment preparation. Students attend these sessions as per their enrolment mode. In Person students attend the tutorial sessions in-person, whereas external students can complete the tutorials online (via synchronized Zoom sessions with in-person students) or offline (via Discussion Board). Depending on the enrolment mode, tutorial activities involve independent task completion, workshops, group discussions, guest insights, formative assessments, student presentations, role play, mini-case analysis, peer review and preparation for assignments and the final presentation and QA. Week 3 and Week 7 tutorials are set for formative checkpoints in which students submit a one-page outline of the proposal for quick feedback (Week 3) and share a draft section of the report for peer and tutor comments (Week 7). Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L04 |
Additional learning activity information
Guest lecture and workshop sessions are integral part of this course that aims to bring industry insights into the classroom. Depending on the availability and practicality, the guest lecture/workshop delivery mode would remain flexible, and their schedules could change with short notice, which will be announced via the course blackboard site.
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments for Students Policy and Procedure
- AI for Assessment Guide
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.