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IB2B8-15 Operations Management

Department
Warwick Business School
Level
Undergraduate Level 2
Module leader
Giovanni Radaelli
Credit value
15
Module duration
10 weeks
Assessment
20% coursework, 80% exam
Study location
University of Warwick main campus, Coventry
Introductory description

N/A

Module aims

Operations Management is the activity of managing the resources which are devoted to production and delivery of products and services. The module aims to provide an introduction to the decisions managers need to make about the design and management of operations. It provides conceptual, analytical and practical insights into the effective management of operations in manufacturing and service companies in both private and public sector organisations.

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

  • Introduction to operations management: key definition and models
  • Performance measurement in operations management
  • Design of operations (process design)
  • Capacity Management
  • Pull/Push & Inventory Management
  • Queuing and Psychology of Waiting
  • Operations improvement
  • Sustainable Operations
Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

  • Identify and define the main components of an operation
  • Understand the organisational and strategic context within which operations managers function
  • Understand, apply and evaluate models for the design and management of processes
  • Understand, apply and evaluate fundamental concepts of operations planning and control
  • Understand, apply and evaluate principles and methods of operations improvement
  • Analyse case studies to propose potential business solutions as they relate to Operations Management
  • Understand and evaluate the role of sustainability and responsibility for operations management
  • Challenge the concepts and models presented on the module
Indicative reading list

The core text is: Slack, Brandon-Jones and Johnston (2019) Operations Management 9th Edition, Pearsons
The main journal articles used on the course come from:

  • International Journal of Operations and Production Management
  • International Journal of Service Industry Management
  • Production and Operations Management Journal
  • Journal of Operations Management "
Subject specific skills

Demonstrate an awareness of practical managerial issues in Operations Management, as well as some generic solutions, for example:

Interpret broader strategic aims as operations strategies.

Recognise problematic volume / variety profiles.

Recognise problematic process and layout decisions.

Recognise product / service and process misalignment.

Understand the likely consequences of and common solutions to process imbalance.

Recognise various demand seasonalities as well as appropriate responses to these.

Transferable skills

Demonstrate problem solving skills developed through analysing business problems in case studies

Demonstrate ability to be innovative and creative

Study time

Type Required
Lectures 10 sessions of 2 hours (13%)
Seminars 9 sessions of 1 hour (6%)
Private study 48 hours (32%)
Assessment 73 hours (49%)
Total 150 hours
Private study description

preparation

Costs

No further costs have been identified for this module.

You do not need to pass all assessment components to pass the module.

Assessment group D
Weighting Study time
Group Work (15 CATS) 20% 15 hours

Video presentation

Online Examination 80% 58 hours

Exam

~Platforms - AEP

Feedback on assessment

my.wbs

Past exam papers for IB2B8

Courses

This module is Core for:

  • UIBA-N20B BSc in Management
    • Year 2 of N20B Management
    • Year 2 of N20B Management
    • Year 2 of N23K Management with Accounting
    • Year 2 of N234 Management with Digital Innovation
    • Year 2 of N235 Management with Entrepreneurship
    • Year 2 of N232 Management with Finance
    • Year 2 of N252 Management with Marketing
    • Year 2 of N23L Management with Strategy and Organisation
  • UIBA-N20F Undergraduate International Management
    • Year 2 of N20F International Management
    • Year 2 of N20F International Management
    • Year 2 of N20S International Management (with Accounting)
    • Year 2 of N20T International Management (with Chinese)
    • Year 2 of N20N International Management (with Digital Innovation)
    • Year 2 of N20P International Management (with Entrepreneurship)
    • Year 2 of N20M International Management (with Finance)
    • Year 2 of N20U International Management (with French)
    • Year 2 of N20L International Management (with Marketing)
    • Year 2 of N20V International Management (with Spanish)
    • Year 2 of N20W International Management (with Strategy and Organisation)
    • Year 2 of N20E Management (with Foundation Year)
    • Year 2 of N234 Management with Digital Innovation
  • UIBA-N20E Undergraduate Management (with Foundation Year)
    • Year 3 of N20E Management (with Foundation Year)
    • Year 3 of N23N Management with Accounting (with Foundation Year and Placement Year)
    • Year 3 of N23M Management with Accounting (with Foundation Year)
    • Year 3 of N23E Management with Digital Innovation (with Foundation Year)
    • Year 3 of N23F Management with Entrepreneurship (with Foundation Year)
    • Year 3 of N23D Management with Finance (with Foundation Year)
    • Year 3 of N254 Management with Marketing (with Foundation Year)
    • Year 3 of N23P Management with Strategy and Organisation (with Foundation Year)

This module is Optional for:

  • Year 2 of UGEA-RN21 Undergraduate German and Business Studies
  • Year 2 of UIPA-L8N1 Undergraduate Global Sustainable Development and Business
  • Year 2 of UIBA-N1RA Undergraduate International Business with French
  • Year 2 of UIBA-N1RB Undergraduate International Business with German
  • Year 2 of UIBA-N1RC Undergraduate International Business with Italian
  • Year 2 of UIBA-N1RD Undergraduate International Business with Spanish
  • Year 2 of UIBA-MN3A Undergraduate Law and Business Studies