IB247-15 Improving Process Performance

Department: Warwick Business School
Level: Undergraduate Level 2
Module leader: Giovanni Radaelli
Credit value: 15
Module duration: 10 weeks
Assessment: 100% exam
Study location: University of Warwick main campus, Coventry

Introductory description

N/A.

Module aims

To provide start-of-art definitions and models to describe the main components of an process.
To provide start-of-art models, concepts and tools to define and measure the performances of a process.
To provide start-of-art models, concepts and tools to prioritize areas of improvements in a process.
To provide start-of-art languages and techniques of process mapping to describe the flow of activities in a process.
To provide start-of-art models, concepts and tools to analyse and diagnose the shortcomings of a process.
To provide start-of-art models, concepts and tools to design process improvement solutions.
To describe and analyse alternative methodologies of (and approaches to) process improvement, e.g. oriented to radical innovation or to incremental changes.
To show and support the application of the models, concepts, tools and languages in practice, e.g. through games, experiments and case studies.
To enable interactive discussions about the use and limitations of the models, concepts, tools and languages in multiple contexts of application, e.g. through comment sections, discussion forums.
To facilitate collaborative discussions and applications of the models, concepts, tools and languages among students, e.g. through group work and discussion forums.

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.

Week 1: Definition of process, performance and types of improvement (Online Lecture).
Week 1: Development of Key Performance Indicators (Seminar).
Week 2: Prioritization of Performance Factors (Online Lecture and Seminar).
Week 3: Process Mapping (Online Lecture and Seminar).
Week 4: Process Analysis and Process Diagnosis (Online Lecture and Seminar).
Week 5: Review of First Half.
Week 6: Total Quality Management (Online Lecture and Seminar).
Week 7: Business Process Re-Engineering (Online Lecture and Seminar).
Week 8: Lean (Online Lecture and Seminar).
Week 9: Six Sigma (Online Lecture and Seminar).
Week 10: Benchmarking (Online Lecture and Seminar).

Learning outcomes

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

Define key concepts of process improvement, such as performance, benchmarking, just-in-time.
Gain an ability to apply and critically evaluate a number of process improvement tools and techniques for analysing and improving operations.

Indicative reading list

Core text:

Slack, N., Brandon-Jones, A., Johnson, R. (2016) Operations Management (eight edition), London, UK: Pearson.
Additional reading:
Deming, W.E. (2001). Out of the crisis. MIT Press
Dumas, M., La Rosa, M., Mendling, J., & Reijers, H. A. (2013). Fundamentals of business process management . Heidelberg: Springer.
Garvin, D.A. (1986). "Competing on the Eight Dimensions of Quality". Harvard Business Review, November 1987 Issue.
Hill, A. & T. Hill (2012) Operations Management (3rd ed.) Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
Liker, J. (2004), The Toyota Way: 14 management principles from the world's greatest manufacturer, McGraw-Hill Professional.
Slack, N. (1994). "The Importance-Performance Matrix as a Determinant of Improvement Priority". International Journal of Operations & Production Management 14(5), 59-75.
Womack, J.P., Jones, D.T. and Roos, D. (2007), The machine that changed the world, Simon and Schuster.

Subject specific skills

Understand the use and limitations of key models, tools and languages of process improvement, e.g. the importance-performance matrix.
Apply the models, concepts, tools and languages of process improvement in real- life case scenarios.
Compare and contrast the different models, tools and languages, to understand which are more appropriate in different circumstances.
Select an appropriate approach of process improvement (or combination of), based on their advantages, limitations and costs of models, tools and concepts.

Transferable skills

Work in groups to prepare and present case studies.
Develop analytic skills through case study analysis.
Conduct independent research using primary and secondary data.
Demonstrate oral and written communication skills.

Study time

Type	Required
Lectures	10 sessions of 1 hour (13%)
Seminars	9 sessions of 1 hour (12%)
Online learning (scheduled sessions)	10 sessions of 1 hour (13%)
Private study	48 hours (62%)
Total	77 hours

Private study description

Private Study.

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 B1

	Weighting	Study time	Eligible for self-certification
Online Examination	100%	73 hours	No
Exam ~Platforms - AEP Online examination: No Answerbook required

Feedback on assessment

Feedback via My.WBS

Past exam papers for IB247

Courses

This module is Optional for:

UIBA-MN34 Law and Business Four Year (Qualifying Degree)
- Year 3 of MN34 Law and Business Studies Four Year (Qualifying Degree)
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UECA-3 Undergraduate Economics 3 Year Variants
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UECA-LM1D Undergraduate Economics, Politics and International Studies
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UPHA-L1CA Undergraduate Economics, Psychology and Philosophy
- Year 2 of L1CA Economics, Psychology and Philosophy
- Year 2 of L1CC Economics, Psychology and Philosophy (Behavioural Economics Pathway)
- Year 2 of L1CD Economics, Psychology and Philosophy (Economics with Philosophy Pathway)
- Year 2 of L1CE Economics, Psychology and Philosophy (Philosophy and Psychology Pathway)
- Year 3 of L1CA Economics, Psychology and Philosophy
- Year 3 of L1CC Economics, Psychology and Philosophy (Behavioural Economics Pathway)
- Year 3 of L1CD Economics, Psychology and Philosophy (Economics with Philosophy Pathway)
- Year 3 of L1CE Economics, Psychology and Philosophy (Philosophy and Psychology Pathway)
UPHA-L1CB Undergraduate Economics, Psychology and Philosophy (with Intercalated Year)
- Year 4 of L1CG Economics, Psychology and Philosophy (Behavioural Economics Pathway) (with Intercalated Year)
- Year 4 of L1CH Economics, Psychology and Philosophy (Economics with Philosophy Pathway) (with Intercalated Year)
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- Year 2 of MN37 Law and Business Studies (Qualifying Degree) with Intercalated Year
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Year 3 of UMAA-GL11 Undergraduate Mathematics and Economics

This module is Unusual option for:

UPHA-L1CA Undergraduate Economics, Psychology and Philosophy
- Year 2 of L1CA Economics, Psychology and Philosophy
- Year 3 of L1CA Economics, Psychology and Philosophy
Year 3 of UPHA-V7ML Undergraduate Philosophy, Politics and Economics

This module is Option list G for:

Year 2 of UPHA-V7ML Undergraduate Philosophy, Politics and Economics