MBA7192 - Operations and Global Supply Chain Management

Objectives:

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
Assess and evaluate the role of operations and global supply chain management/strategy in the modern business context.
Demonstrate understanding of product and process design and critically appraise its connection with operations and global supply chains, competitive performance indicators and business economics.
Explain, justify and apply planning and control techniques for the operations and supply chain management functions.
Explain, evaluate and select techniques for operations and supply chain improvement and failure prevention, securing corporate social responsibility and sustainability.

Content:

Operations and Supply Chain Management is a field of study and business activity that plays an important role in securing long-term profitability, performance excellence and competitive advantage. The course incorporates studies of operations management and strategy, which allow managers to direct, design and manage product and services delivery, establish effective and efficient processes and supply and distribution networks, incorporating resources, information/technology and people perspectives. Operations and supply chain management are also focused on quality assurance/control and continuous improvement, with the help of operations methods/techniques and evidence-based business decision-making, which allow businesses and organisations to achieve world class performance.

This module is designed to provide students with a contemporary and comprehensive understanding of key aspects of operations management and strategy from an international business perspective and its content covers four major areas of operations strategy and management:
i) Directing: via understanding the nature and role of operations management in the modern business environment - political, economic, social and technological factors, defining operations strategy within the context of services and manufacturing;
ii) Designing: product/services and processes, national and international supply and distribution networks design;
iii) Managing: through planning and control of supply and demand (capacity, inventory, supply chain and relationship management, business ethics, forecasting, lean operations and project management);
iv) Improving: measurement of performance, Total Quality Management and other QA systems and their applications in operations and global supply chain management; tools and techniques for continuous improvement and corporate social responsibilities.

Learning and Teaching Information:

The module will be delivered via a series of weekly 2.5 hour sessions comprising whole-group interactive lecture and seminar covering fundamental theories and applications. Lectures and seminars will be supported by in-depth applied workshops.

Questions / team exercises / case studies will be set at each lecture for students to complete before the associated small group workshop. Students will be provided with, and / or directed to, relevant reading and additional questions / exercises to support their progress through the module material.

Lectures/Seminars
Hours: 25
Intended Group size: Cohort

Workshops/Tutorials
Hours: 5
Intended group size: Cohort or variable size groups

Guided independent study
Hours: 170

Further details relating to assessment
Case study report: Mini-case studies will be offered to students during seminars / workshops and formative feedback will be provided to prepare them for end of the module summative assessment (big case-study).

Assessment:

001 Report; 4,000 words; end of term 1 100%

Fact File

Module Coordinator - Professor Denis Kobzev
Level - 7
Credit Value - 20
Pre-Requisites - NONE
Semester(s) Offered - 7T1

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