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Operations Management

  • Module code: BD5201
  • Year: 2018/9
  • Level: 5
  • Credits: 30
  • Pre-requisites: None
  • Co-requisites: None

Summary

This module studies a range of operations management strategy and operational management processes to ensure that customer needs are satisfied. It aims to identify mistakes that can be made operationally and how they can be controlled effectively.

Aims

  • To enable students to understand the fundamental principles of operations management
  • To provide opportunities to apply operations concepts and techniques to practical situations using own organisation
  • To enable students to make judgements concerning the operational effectiveness of their own organisation
  • Provide students with an introduction to operations management skills to develop potential management capability in this area.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:

  • State the key fundamental principles of operations management design and apply to practical situations.
  • Apply key operations management concepts and techniques to a selected organisation or operations activity
  • Analyse a business strategy by linking it to key operational management tools and measures to demonstrate the role of operations to any organisation success. Identify areas of operational failure or weakness and propose appropriate improvement strategies.

Curriculum content

  • Introduction to operations management
  • Operations strategy
  • Operations design
  • Capacity planning and control
  • Inventory control
  • Supply chain management
  • Quality management strategies
  • Measuring and improving operational performance to gain continuous improvement.

Teaching and learning strategy

There will be 5 x 3 hour sessions, 2 x 7 hours sessions of teaching.  This will be supported by 3 hours of tutorial sessions and 3 hours of debriefing sessions around assessments.

Teaching sessions will be supported by regular Moodle postings which will include:

  • Scheme of work
  • PowerPoint lecture outlines
  • Case study material to evidence practical application of concepts
  • Website addresses
  • Assessment material.

Teaching sessions will introduce students to the core principles of operations management in order to provide a theoretical foundation for analysis and application of such principles within their own business.  As well as applying the concepts to their own organisation, students will be given case study scenarios to experience application of theory to practical situations.

It is essential students use the independent study time to prepare and follow-up the theory and its application that is covered in teaching sessions. This time is also for preparation and follow-up of assignment work. As a guideline students should spend 6 hours/week studying textbooks and on-line material and a minimum of 4 hours/week on their assignments.

Online materials will provide access to both theory and topics. They will also guide students in directed reading and in preparation of peer group web based discussions. Use of Moodle will aid reflection and will be supported by appropriate online contact with the module leader or tutor.

Breakdown of Teaching and Learning Hours

Definitive UNISTATS Category Indicative Description Hours
Scheduled learning and teaching 7 x 3 hour evening sessions + 2 x 7 hour full-day sessions 35
Guided independent study Academic research, preparation for class, assigned exercises and further reading 229
Study abroad / placement Workplace research and application; workplace mentor meetings 36
Total (number of credits x 10) 300

Assessment strategy

This module is assessed by two connected assignments to allow for interim feedback on the report.

Assessment 1: A description of the organisation and its business context

Aanalysis of strategic direction and its application to the operation.  This should identify operational strategy and how the organisation meets the customer needs.

State a problem area for Assessment 2 identifying the tools and theories that could be used to solve this problem.  This will form the basis of discussion during the draft tutorial.   (2000 words).

Assessment 2:    Identification and analysis of an operational problem with a proposed solution.  This will include analysis of operational areas covered in the teaching programme.  (2000 words).

Assessment feedback:  Pre-submission tutorials will be offered to all students to provide guidance and feedback for each assessment. Written feedback will be provided with the marked assignments. Debrief of the first part of the assignment will be combine the pre submission for the second part of the assessment.

Mapping of Learning Outcomes to Assessment Strategy (Indicative)

Learning Outcome Assessment Strategy
State the key fundamental principles of operations management design and apply to practical situation Report 1
Apply key operations management concepts and techniques to a selected organisation or operations activity Report 2
Analyse a business strategy by linking it to key operational management tools and measures to demonstrate the role of operations to any organisation success Report 1
Identify areas of operational failure or weakness and propose appropriate improvement strategies. Report 2

Elements of Assessment

Description of Assessment Definitive UNISTATS Categories Percentage
Report 1 Coursework Assessment 1 50%
Report 2 Coursework Assessment 2 50%
Total (to equal 100%) 100%

Achieving a pass

It IS NOT a requirement that any element of assessment is passed separately in order to achieve an overall pass for the module. A mark of 40% is required to pass.

Bibliography core texts

Hill, A. and Hill, T. (2011), Essential Operations Management, Palgrave Macmillan

Bibliography recommended reading

Slack N., Chambers S., Johnston R., Betts A., (2006) Operations and Process Management, principles and practice for strategic impact. Prentice Hall (2006) (CD also available from LRC)

Slack N., Chambers S., Johnston R.(1988) Operations Management 6th edition Prentice Hall 2010

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