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2010/1 Module Catalogue
 Module Code: MANM098 Module Title: OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT
Module Provider: School of Management Short Name: MA304
Level: M Module Co-ordinator: JONES PL Prof (SoM)
Number of credits: 15 Number of ECTS credits: 7.5
 
Module Availability

Spring

Assessment Pattern

Group Assignment (3000 words)  50%
Examination (2 hours)                     50%

Module Overview

Operations management relates to the scoping, planning, direction and control of facilities, processes and people required to transform resources into products and services.  The principles of operations management are used in every industry and every environment.  All organizations perform the functions of strategic planning, process design, supply chain management, forecasting and scheduling, work management, innovation and quality management. 

 

Prerequisites/Co-requisites
None
Module Aims

The aim of this module is to provide students with both a theoretical and practical understanding of how operations can be managed strategically in the light of external and internal conditions and requirements.  The module will systematically develop a framework for understanding operations management within the context of a firm’s competitive strategy, specifically by comparing and contrasting manufacturing and service operations.

 

 

 

 

 

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module the students will be able to:  
Think both strategically and practically about operations management(K)(C)(P) 
Understand the differences between operations management and strategic operations management (K)(C)(P) 

Understand how to develop an operational strategy(K)(C)(P) 

Understand the key issues in terms of capacity, supply chain management, innovation, and quality issues in the manufacturing and service environment(K)(C)(P)  

Recognise the importance of managing organisational resources, especially human resources(K)(C)(P)

Use operations management techniques and apply skills (P)(T)  

Understand future issues affecting strategy and operations(K)(C)(P)  

 

 Learn how to evaluate operational strategies(C)(P)  

Learning outcomes are categorised as:

 

·         Subject knowledge and understanding (K)

 

·         Cognitive skills (C)

 

·         Practical/professional skills (P)

 

·         Transferable skills (T)

 

·         Other

 

 

 

Module Content

Introduction and overview of key aspects of operations management  
Types of operations and transformation processes  
Developing an operations strategy  
Supply chain  
Managing demand and capacity  
Work design and organisation  
Innovation  
Quality management 

Methods of Teaching/Learning

The teaching and learning strategy is designed to encourage a deep approach to learning with an emphasis on collaborative learning through the use of working teams and real world problem solving.  The module will specifically exploit the conjunction of manufacturing and service in order to explore the issues that arise comparing these two environments. 

The teaching and learning methods include self/team examination exercises, role play, and video case studies.  The teaching and learning format is designed to emphasise methodology and to give students the opportunity to gain experience through the integration of theory and application.  Lectures will involve the explanation of theoretical concepts of operations management and ULearn support will provide students to test and apply their understanding in a variety of contexts. 

Selected Texts/Journals

 Selected texts/ Journals 

Jones, P. and Robinson, P.(2008) Operations Management (3rd ed.): Customised Textbook, Pearson: Harlow  

Recommended 

Slack, N., Chambers, S. and Johnston, R. (2004) Operations Management (4th Edition), Prentice Hall: Harlow

 Johnston, R. and Clark, G. (2003) Service Operations Management, Prentice Hall:Harlow  

Supporting 

Heizer, J. and Render, B. (2004) Operations Management (7th Edition),  Pearson Education: Upper Saddle River, NJ

 Brown, S., Lamming, R., Bessant, J. and Jones, P. (2004) Strategic Operations Management (2nd Edition), Elsevier: Oxford

 Lowson, R.H. (2002) Strategic Operations Management, Routledge: London

 Other Indicative Reading

 Journal of Operations Management 
 I
nternational Journal of Operations and Production Management 
International Journal of Service Industry Management 
International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management 
Journal of Product Innovation Management 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last Updated

July 7th 2009