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Course & Unit Catalogues


MN52126: Principles of operations management

[Page last updated: 15 August 2024]

Academic Year: 2024/25
Owning Department/School: School of Management
Credits: 5 [equivalent to 10 CATS credits]
Notional Study Hours: 100
Level: Masters UG & PG (FHEQ level 7)
Period:
Semester 1
Assessment Summary: EXCB 100%
Assessment Detail:
  • Exam (EXCB 100%)
Supplementary Assessment:
Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Requisites:
Learning Outcomes:
  • Identify and analyse operations opportunities and challenges in organisations.
  • Critically evaluate performance in the context of operations.
  • Appreciate the potential of operations to address sustainability agendas of organisations, and sustainability imperatives of society generally.
  • Apply operations principles, tools and techniques in manufacturing, service, and non-profit contexts.
  • Critically evaluate general approaches to operations improvement, as well as specific improvement tools and techniques.
  • Analyse the methods and scope of operations planning and control, including resource planning and control systems.
  • Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of how environmental, and strategic factors inform the design of operations in terms of broad categories of process design, and
  • ...how the broad categories of operational design response may be articulated as detailed process and job designs.
  • Explain how the operations function works within broader operations networks and supply chains.



Synopsis: Gain conceptual, analytical and practical insights into the effective management of operations in private and public sector organisations. You will explore and apply the principles, tools and techniques used by operations managers in organisations from all over the world.

Content: The Operations Management unit provides a general introduction to Operations and Process Management and explains how the Operations function fits within the organisation overall. The unit also explores how actors outside the core Operations function have a role in, and engage in the management of processes. The unit will show students the broad organisational scope of Operations Management activity and will establish an understanding of the core concepts underlying the discipline. The unit is introductory in nature, and while focussed primarily on large organisations, also looks at small organisations and even the management of individual "human" processes. Given that in most organisations, it is the operations function which has the greatest potential to impact corporate sustainability objectives, the unit includes several dedicated sessions which explore sustainability and corporate social responsibility in the context of operations.

Course availability:

MN52126 is Compulsory on the following courses:

School of Management

Notes:

  • This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2024/25 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2025/26 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2024/25.
  • Courses and units are subject to change in accordance with normal University procedures.
  • Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.
  • Find out more about these and other important University terms and conditions here.