Operations Strategy (U03775)

? Credit Points : 20 ? SCQF Level : 10 ? Acronym : MSE-3-OPS

This course provides students with an understanding of the content of organisation's operations strategy and the processes by which they are developed and implemented.

The course is divided into six blocks: Introduction to Operations Strategy, Information Technology Strategy, Logistics Strategy, Quality Strategy, the Development & Implementation of Operations Strategy.

The lectures will address the wide range of topics involved in operations management from a strategic perspective. The course will relate the development and implementation of Operations Strategy with current debates in management theory and practice. Finally, the course-work project and associated presentations will provide an opportunity for students to analyse and discuss the issues in a case study of their own choice.

Entry Requirements

? Pre-requisites : Entry to Business Studies Honours

Subject Areas

Home subject area

Business Studies, (Management School and Economics, Schedule H)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : 3rd year

? Delivery Period : Semester 2 (Blocks 3-4)

? Contact Teaching Time : 20 hour(s) per week for 10 weeks

First Class Information

Date	Start	End	Room	Area	Additional Information
08/01/2008	11:00	13:00	Room 2.13, Old Infirmary (Geography)	Central

All of the following classes

Type	Day	Start	End	Area
Lecture	Tuesday	11:10	13:00	Central

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and Understanding:
On completion of the course students should:
a) be able to describe the key operations strategy concepts covered;
b) be able to discuss critically the practical use of the techniques covered, taking into account organisational context;
c) be able to explain the relationship between operations strategy with other functional strategies and overall business policy in the context of the strategic goals and objectives of the organisation;
d) be able to relate theoretical debates about the choices available to operations managers to the practical development and implementation of operations strategy.
Cognitive Skills
On completion of the course students should:
a) demonstrate that they can, describe the operations of an organization and carry-out a critical analysis of these operations using concepts covered in the course lectures.

Key Skills
On completion of the assessed course project students should:
a) demonstrate their ability to plan and complete a study of a real-world organisation, including selecting and approaching an organisation, undertaking interviews, writing their study as a concise report and presenting their findings in class.

Assessment Information

By one assignment (50%) and a degree examination (50%).

The format of the examination will be for students to answer two essay questions from a paper with five questions in two hours.

The report will be a maximum of 2500 words supported by a single page summary and any appendices. It will involve the critical analysis of operations strategy in an organisation chosen by the student.