Module overview
In today's highly competitive environment, though, strategic operations capabilities must be in place in order for organisations to provide goods and services that meet and exceed customer requirements. Key issues such as cost, speed, quality, flexibility and constant innovation are all part of strategic operations.
Aims and Objectives
Learning Outcomes
Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- analyse organisations using standard benchmarking;
- explain the evolution, challenges and consequences of production methods;
- explain and apply quality management concepts;
- critically evaluate the role of operations within different business models.
Knowledge and Understanding
Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
- the strategic frameworks of operations management;
- explaining and applying a range of fundamental operational improvements.
- the main design factors and their alternatives which shape operations management;
- modelling organisations as systems and sub-systems;
Subject Specific Practical Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- synthesise from a range of operations management methods and apply within problem contexts.
- contribute solutions to the transformation of business processes in pursuit of greater efficiency;
Transferable and Generic Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- manage independent study and research using library and internet resources.
- present analytical findings effectively;
Syllabus
- Introduction; Strategic Operations Management
- Understanding Services Operations - concepts and definitions
- Process Choice and Layouts in Operations
- Making Improvements - Quality, Benchmarking and Business Process Reengineering
- Making Improvements – Process Mapping Using Work Study Strategically in Operations
- Managing Materials & Inventory; MRPI; MRPII; ERP and Just-in-Time
- Scheduling & Capacity Management
- Operations’ involvement in Innovation
Learning and Teaching
Teaching and learning methods
Classes are in the form of 12 x 2-hour lectures and 10 x1hour seminars. The inputs include group exercises, presentations, discussion of case studies and videos.
Type | Hours |
---|---|
Teaching | 34 |
Guided independent study | 116 |
Total study time | 150 |
Resources & Reading list
Textbooks
Slack N, Brandon-Jones A, and Johnston R (2013). Operations Management. Pearson.
Brown S. et al (2013). Strategic Operations Management. Routledge.
Assessment
Formative
This is how we’ll give you feedback as you are learning. It is not a formal test or exam.
Class discussions
- Assessment Type: Formative
- Feedback: Ongoing questions and answers during lectures and classes to test understanding of key areas. - Class discussions with lecturer and students - Oral feedback on class/in-session cases - Responses to questions by emails or in office hours - Critical conversations: preparing for the assignment
- Final Assessment: No
- Group Work: No
Summative
This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.
Method | Percentage contribution |
---|---|
Coursework | 100% |
Referral
This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.
Method | Percentage contribution |
---|---|
Coursework | 100% |
Repeat
An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.
Method | Percentage contribution |
---|---|
Coursework | 100% |
Repeat Information
Repeat type: Internal & External