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Module Catalogue

IB2B8-15 Operations Management

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

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Introductory description

This module is only open to WBS undergraduate students, and some students taking joint degrees with WBS and another department. Students from other departments cannot take this module. To find detailed availability and to apply for this module, log in to my.wbs.ac.uk using your normal IT login details and apply via the my.wbs module application system. Once you’ve secured a place on my.wbs you should apply via your home department’s usual process, which usually takes place via eVision. Note that you do not require the module leader’s permission to study a WBS module, so please do not contact them to request it.

Module web page

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.

  1. Introduction to operations management, and the role and strategic objectives of operations

  2. Operations strategy

  3. Design of services and products

  4. Process choice

  5. Operations layout and flow

  6. Design of operations networks

  7. People in operations

  8. The nature of planning and control

  9. Introduction to planning and control techniques

  10. Process improvement

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
  • Challenge the concepts and models presented on the module

Indicative reading list

Reading lists can be found in Talis

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 1 hour (7%)
Seminars 9 sessions of 1 hour (6%)
Online learning (independent) 10 sessions of 1 hour (7%)
Private study 48 hours (32%)
Assessment 73 hours (49%)
Total 150 hours

Private study description

Directed reading, preparation ahead of teaching sessions and 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 D3
Weighting Study time Eligible for self-certification
Assessment component
Group Work (15 CATS) 20% 15 hours No

Video presentation
Reassessment component
Individual Assignment Yes (extension)
Assessment component
Centrally-timetabled examination (on-campus) 80% 58 hours No

Exam

  • Students may use a calculator
  • Graph paper
  • Answerbook Pink (12 page)
Reassessment component is the same
Feedback on assessment

my.wbs

Past exam papers for IB2B8

Courses

This module is Core for:

  • Year 2 of UIBA-NN02 BSC International Management with Marketing
  • Year 2 of UIBA-NN01 BSC Management with Marketing
  • Year 2 of UIBA-NN03 BSC Management with Marketing (With Placement Year)
  • 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 Business
    • 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 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 N20N International Management with Digital Business
    • Year 2 of N20E Management (with Foundation Year)
    • Year 2 of N234 Management with Digital Business
  • UIBA-N220 Undergraduate International Management (with Foundation Year)
    • Year 3 of N220 International Management (with Foundation Year)
    • Year 3 of N221 International Management with Accounting (with Foundation Year)
    • Year 3 of N226 International Management with Chinese (with Foundation Year)
    • Year 3 of N223 International Management with Digital Business (with Foundation Year)
    • Year 3 of N224 International Management with Entrepreneurship (with Foundation Year)
    • Year 3 of N222 International Management with Finance (with Foundation Year)
    • Year 3 of N227 International Management with French (with Foundation Year)
    • Year 3 of N225 International Management with Marketing (with Foundation Year)
    • Year 3 of N228 International Management with Spanish (with Foundation Year)
    • Year 3 of N229 International Management with Strategy and Organisation (with Foundation Year)
  • UIBA-N20J Undergraduate Management (with Foundation Year and Placement Year/Undergraduate Partnership Programme)
    • Year 3 of N20J Management (Foundation Year and Placement)
    • Year 3 of N20K Management (Foundation Year and UPP)
    • Year 3 of N23H Management with Digital Business (with Foundation Year and Placement Year)
    • Year 3 of N23J Management with Entrepreneurship (with Foundation Year and Placement Year)
    • Year 3 of N23G Management with Finance (with Foundation Year and Placement Year)
    • Year 3 of N255 Management with Marketing (with Foundation Year and Placement Year)
  • 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 Business (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 N252 Management with Marketing
    • Year 3 of N254 Management with Marketing (with Foundation Year)
    • Year 3 of N23P Management with Strategy and Organisation (with Foundation Year)
  • UIBA-N20C Undergraduate Management (with Placement Year/Undergraduate Partnership Programme)
    • Year 2 of N20M International Management (with Finance)
    • Year 2 of N20B Management
    • Year 2 of N20D Management (Undergraduate Partnership Programme)
    • Year 2 of N20C Management (with Placement Year)
    • Year 2 of N20Q Management with Accounting (with Placement Year)
    • Year 2 of N236 Management with Digital Business (with Placement Year)
    • Year 2 of N235 Management with Entrepreneurship
    • Year 2 of N237 Management with Entrepreneurship (with Placement Year)
    • Year 2 of N232 Management with Finance
    • Year 2 of N233 Management with Finance (with Placement Year)
    • Year 2 of N253 Management with Marketing (with Placement Year)
    • Year 2 of N23L Management with Strategy and Organisation
    • Year 2 of N20R Management with Strategy and Organisation (with Placement Year)

This module is Optional for:

  • Year 2 of UECA-L1N3 BSc Economics and Management with Placement Year
  • Year 2 of UECA-L1N2 Undergraduate Economics and Management
  • Year 2 of UGEA-RN21 Undergraduate German and Business Studies
  • Year 2 of UIPA-L8N1 Undergraduate Global Sustainable Development and Business