Managing Contemporary Operations: Fundamentals and Challenges
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| BUSI4490 | Business | 4 | 10 | Autumn UK |
- Code
- BUSI4490
- School
- Business
- Level
- 4
- Credits
- 10
- Semesters
- Autumn UK
Summary
This module provides a general introduction to the management of operations. This includes an introduction to the core concepts, theory and challenges within operations management with many examples of good practice. These examples take the form of short videos, a number of cases, and visits up to three different companies (where possible).
Delivery is by a combination of videos and accompanying slides prepared beforehand to be viewed before class followed by in class teaching. In class teaching is also a combination of reviewing material posted online, together with its further development. Developments in understanding appropriate pedagogy will determine the balance of preparatory and in class teaching.
Students will be working in teams for assessed coursework, with a final individual exam.
Core concepts and theory include;
• The transformation module, and an introduction to Performance Objectives/Competitive Priorities, and Structural/Infrastructural requirements
• An introduction to understanding the business environment, using marketing models, such as the ‘4Ps’ and other well regarded business models
• Operations for products and services, and how they differ
• Understanding processes; Little's Law
• Introduction to Lean theory
• Introduction to quality and services management
• Introduction to understanding about resilience
• Challenges in contemporary operations management
This material will be developed and expanded on in the teaching within modules covering more specialist areas.
Target Students
Available for MSc Industrial Engineering and Operations Management OR MSc Logistics Supply Chain Management OR MSc Supply Chain and Operations Management OR MSc Information Systems and Operations Management students OR MSc Food Production Management students OR MSc Exchange students.
Classes
- One 1-hour seminar each week for 2 weeks
- One 2-hour lecture each week for 11 weeks
Total Contact Hours = 22 hours (11x2 hours lectures), and 2 x 1 hour seminars, with 20 hours coursework prep, general reading 20 hours, and exam preparation 30 hours.
Assessment
- 30% Coursework: 1 x group coursework (3000 words). Reassessment of this module will be 100% individual assessment.
- 70% Take home exam (24-hour): Take home exam. Reassessment of this module will be 100% individual assessment.
Assessed by end of autumn semester
Educational Aims
To give students an appreciation of the importance of operations to business success and the role of operations management. To provide students with the knowledge and understanding of the key operations management variables inter-relate in the wider business. To provide them with examples of current best practice and associated initiatives and to critique their applicability in different contexts. To recognise the challenges that come with externally generated issues, together with the challenges with implementing changes associated with OM initiatives.Learning Outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
This module develops a knowledge and understanding of:
• The management of the supply chain
• The management of resources
• The management of operations
• The management of quality systems
Intellectual Skills
This module develops:
• Being able to think critically and be creative: manage the creative processes in self and others; organise thoughts, analyse, synthesise and critically appraise. This includes the capability to identify assumptions, evaluate statements in terms of evidence, detect false logic or reasoning, identify implicit values, define terms adequately and generalise appropriately
• Being able to solve complex problems and make decisions: establish criteria, using appropriate decision-making techniques including identifying, formulating and solving business problems; and the ability to create, identify and evaluate options; the ability to implement and review decisions
• Using information and knowledge effectively in order to abstract meaning from information and to share knowledge, including the use of quantitative skills
• Other: Being able to learn and use specialised statistical software.
Professional Practical Skills
This module develops:
• The ability to conduct research and enquiry into business and management issues either individually or as part of a team through research design, the collection and analysis of qualitative data, synthesis and reporting
Transferable (key) Skills
This module develops:
• Effective communication: networking, listening, oral and written communication of complex ideas and arguments, using a range of media, including the preparation of business reports
• High personal effectiveness: critical self-awareness, self-reflection and self-management; time management; conflict resolution, displaying commercial acumen, the ability to continue to learn through reflection on practice and experience