Module
Operations Management
Module description
Summary
Operations management is concerned with managing processes, and how organisations create value in the production of goods and services. This field of study is applicable in manufacturing and the service sector, from small retailers and professionals to banks and insurance companies, hospitals and utilities. We study how firms achieve competitive success through improving the processes involved in delivering products and services, and reducing costs through increased efficiencies. The module covers operations strategy, process design, production planning and capacity management, project management, process and value stream mapping, lean production, inventory management, and decision making.
Additional Information
Internationalisation
Diversity is encouraged and celebrated through the analysis of a wide range of global case studies and examples. Operations plays a key role in identifying how the traditional distinction between countries being ‘developed’ or ‘less developed’ is being replaced by ‘innovation rich’ vs. ‘innovation poor’ countries.
Sustainability
Sustainable supply chain frameworks and management philosophies are an essential feature of operations management through the provision of modern and eco-efficient customer solutions.
External Engagement
The lecturing team draws on theoretical frameworks, mathematical approaches and industrial practice from the perspective of their extensive theoretical and practical experience. Teaching is based on lecturers’ published research as well as their involvement with operations management practice.
Employability
You develop your skills in analytical thinking, critical evaluation, relationship-building and team-work, communication and influence, planning, controlling, measuring and organising.
Full module specification
| Module title: | Operations Management |
|---|---|
| Module code: | BEM2007 |
| Module level: | 2 |
| Academic year: | 2023/4 |
| Module lecturers: |
|
| Module credit: | 15 |
| ECTS value: | 7.5 |
| Pre-requisites: | None |
| Co-requisites: | None |
| Duration of module: |
Duration (weeks) - term 1: 12 |
Module aims
The aim of this module is to introduce you to a broad range of operations management concepts, within the context of systems theory. In addition to introductory sessions which explore the characteristics of operations management strategy and systems, a number of broad areas provide the framework for study:
- Operations strategy - including product/service, process design
- Project management – including decision making under uncertainty, and breakeven analysis
- Planning and control - including capacity and supply chain management, JIT/lean
- Inventory management
ILO: Module-specific skills
- 1. understand the major theories, concepts and practices of operations management;
- 2. analyse the effectiveness of operations management practices in a wide range of organisations and sectors (manufacturing, service and public sector).
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
- 3. demonstrate an understanding of theoretical principles through their application to organisational problems;
- 4. analyse and challenge organisational practices using systems concepts.
ILO: Personal and key skills
- 5. undertake research to gather secondary evidence from both library and internet resources;
- 6. engage in debates to challenge academic enquiry and business practice.
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | 120 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activity | 12 | Whole group lectures |
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activity | 10 | Fortnightly workshops |
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activity | 8 | Online blended learning content |
| Guided Independent Study | 60 | Pre and post session guided reading |
| Guided Independent Study | 60 | Revision for MCQ test and examination |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Case study analyses and operations problems | In 5 x two-hour tutorial sessions, in groups of 40 to 50 students | 1-6 | Oral feedback provided by tutor in tutorial session |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | 80 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MCQ | 20 | 30 questions, written examination format -1 hour | 1-5 | Online result |
| Examination | 80 | 2 hours | 1-6 | Report posted on ELE |
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Examination (80% | Examination (80%, 2 hours) | 1-6 | August/September Reassessment Period |
| MCQ test (20%) | MCQ test (20%, 1 hour) | 1-5 | August/September Reassessment Period |
Syllabus plan
- Introduction to Operations Management: Transformation model & Operations Performance
- Operations strategy, Process design, Process mapping
- Project Management: Project Network Diagrams, Gantt Charts
- Decision Making Under Uncertainty
- Breakeven Analysis
- Inventory Management
- Lean Production, Value Stream Mapping
- Just in Time, Theory of Constraints
- Planning and Capacity Management
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Basic reading:
- Slack, N., Brandon-Jones, A. and Johnston, R. (2016) Operations Management, 8th edition, Pearson. ISBN 978 292 09867 8
Additional material from learned journals and specific papers will be provided on ELE.
Module has an active ELE page?
Yes
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
ELE – http://vle.exeter.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=214
Origin date
01/09/2006
Last revision date
09/09/2021