Overview
Operations is an exciting, challenging, and important topic. It encompasses most of what people do in organizations, how they do it, and the value it produces. The effective and efficient management of these operations is critical to organizational success.
This course is designed to introduce students to the dimensions and techniques of operations management, whether in service, manufacturing, health care or government. The overall goal is to provide students with the ability to provide additional value to their organization’s core operations.
Lessons start with a survey of current theory and practice. Then, through discussions and exercises, students explore extensions to, and applications of, the theory in actual situations. Case studies and a final paper provide experience and feedback in applications thinking.
Technological change, diminishing trade barriers, and electronic information exchange are requiring an increasing global awareness. In OPMT, the careful selection of materials and exercises and the diverse backgrounds of coaches and students support the development of this broad perspective.
Outline
The course is divided into eight lessons.
- Lesson 1 - Introduction: Operations Management, Performance, and Strategy
- Lesson 2 - Design 1: Innovation and Operations Design
- Lesson 3 - Design 2: Operations Facilities, Technologies, and People
- Lesson 4 - Deliver 1: Planning, Control, and Capacity Management
- Lesson 5 - Deliver 2: Supply Chain and Inventory Management
- Lesson 6 - Deliver 3: Planning and Control Systems
- Lesson 7 - Develop 1: Operations Improvement, Lean Operations, and Quality Management
- Lesson 8 - Develop 2: Risk Management, Project Management, and the Future of Operations Management
Learning outcomes
By the end of this course, students should be able to
- identify performance issues and opportunities in a variety of operational settings,
- use appropriate quantitative tools and techniques to assess the situation,
- make recommendations that both address the situation and further the objectives of the operation, and
- effectively package and present the analysis.
Materials
Digital course materials
Links to the following course materials will be made available in the course:
Slack, N., Brandon-Jones, A., & Burgess, N. (2026). Operations management (11th ed.). Pearson Education.
Other Materials
All other course materials will be accessed online.
Evaluation
Your grades will be based on completion of two case exercises, a major individual assignment, and your participation in weekly discussions.
| Activity | Weight |
| Collaboration | |
| Weekly Discussions & Weekly Summaries (Weeks 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, and 8) | 40% |
| Week 3 Case Study | 10% |
| Week 6 Case Study | 10% |
| Individual | |
| Major Individual Assignment - Preliminary Proposal | 2% |
| Major Individual Assignment - Final Paper | 38% |
| Total | 100% |
To receive a passing grade in this course, you must meet these minimum standards:
- receive an average of 60 percent on the collaboration components (i.e., 36 out of the 60 marks available for participation in the Case Studies and Weekly Discussions)
- receive at least 60 percent (i.e., 24 out of 40 marks) on the Major Individual Assignment.