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Unit information: Operations Management in 2020/21

Please note: you are viewing unit and programme information for a past academic year. Please see the current academic year for up to date information.

Unit name Operations Management
Unit code EFIM30014
Credit points 20
Level of study H/6
Teaching block(s) Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12)
Unit director Professor. Wang
Open unit status Not open
Pre-requisites

EFIM10008 Mathematical and Statistical Methods 1 or EFIM10014 Quantitative Analysis in Management

Co-requisites

N/A

School/department School of Management - Business School
Faculty Faculty of Social Sciences and Law

Description including Unit Aims

This unit deals with the key operations strategy, operational and project management functions in a work setting. The core theme is the relevant knowledge and management skills necessary to effectively and efficiently develop strategies for the delivery of high quality services and/or goods in complex and dynamic environments. Students will examine the strategic importance of operations; apply operations ideas in manufacturing, service, and non-profit contexts; and identify the link between operations and business strategies.

As well as examining the topic theoretically and critically, it is anticipated that the unit will provide students with practical skills to deal with tasks, issues, and decisions associated to how to produce services and products – thus, enhancing their employability. The unit will seek to combine the core elements involved in operations strategy and the management of operations and projects with demonstrations of ‘best practice’ from a number of different commercial and public sector settings, in a global context. In this way, learning outcomes will be enhanced and more easily transferred to the workplace.

Intended Learning Outcomes

1) Have an awareness of a range of factors that shape the discipline of operations strategy and management and be able to explore and comment upon the viability of the subject and its broader applicability to organisations and management.

2) Understand the benefits for the study of operations strategy and management using a multidisciplinary approach.

3) Cognitive skills of critical thinking, analysis and synthesis. This includes the capability to critique both practice and theory through their comparison using real-world cases.

4) Effective problem solving and decision making using appropriate quantitative and qualitative skills including identifying, formulating and solving business problems. The ability to create, evaluate and assess a range of options together with the capacity to apply ideas and knowledge to a range of situations.

5) Effective communication, oral and in writing, using a range of media which are widely used in business, for example, the preparation and presentation of business reports.

6) Effective self-management in terms of time, planning and behaviour, motivation, self-starting, individual initiative and enterprise.

7) Abilities to conduct research into business and management issues, either individually or as part of a team for projects/coursework/presentations. This requires familiarity with a range of business data, research sources and appropriate methodologies and for such to inform the overall learning process

Teaching Information

Teaching will be delivered through a combination of synchronous and asynchronous sessions including lectures, tutorials, drop-in sessions, discussion boards and other online learning opportunities

Assessment Information

Formative: group presentation. Summative: 3000 word Individual assignement (which will incorporate the feedback from the group presentation) - 100%

Reading and References

Slack N, and Brandon-Jones A (2019), Operations Management, 9th edition, FT Prentice Hall

Slack N, and Brandon-Jones A (2018), Operations and Process Management: Principles and Practice for Strategic Impact, 5th edition, FT, Prentice Hall

Slack, N., and Lewis, M., 2017. Operations strategy. Pearson Education. 5th edition

Johnston, R., Clark, G., and Shulver, M. 2012. Service operations management: improving service delivery. Pearson Education. 4th edition

Hill, A. and Hill, T., 2017. Essential operations management. 2nd edition, Macmillan International Higher Education.

Lysons, K. and Farrington, B. (2012) Purchasing and Supply Chain Management, 8th edition, Prentice Hall, Pearson, Harlow

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