The main objectives of this course in Operations Managements (OM) are:

• To apply in real cases in both manufacturing and service organizations the most important OM concepts, principles, techniques and tools.
• To comprehend how OM can be used as a core function in gaining competitive advantage.
• To understand why and how OM promotes competition trough innovation and process change management and implementation.
• To understand how operations management interfaces, overlaps and impacts all other business functions.
• To develop analytical skills to face operational decisions.
• To help students analyze processes for improving quality and efficiency.
• To provide students with methodologies for analyzing and managing the value chain.

The course is designed to provide a solid base of knowledge in terms of concepts, principles and tools in the field of Operations Management. The course is organized in three main sections:

• Understanding what operations are
• Learning to design operations
• Managing and controlling operations

The learning outcomes are:

• To understand that operations management is a key managerial function impacting the whole of an organization with the objective of improving efficiency, competitiveness and customer satisfaction.
• To provide students with a methodology for facing up to operations management issues and problems, and analyzing and discussing real case studies.
• To offer students mathematical techniques for quantitative approaches to problem solving such as Statistical models, Forecasting, Linear Programming, and Queuing Theory.
• To make students aware of the impact of IT on global competition, in terms of e-business, virtual working systems, outsourcing, and the management of the value chain.

It will be according to University policy and Final grades will be based on the following items: Class Participation (10%) Homework sets (10%) Case Study papers (20%) Midterm (30%) and Final Exam (30%)

Assessment Guidelines for assigning main letter grades: A, B, C,D, and F are the following:

A:  Work of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course.

B:  This is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.

There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluate theory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture and reference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.

C:  This is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.

D:  This level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.

Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included. In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.

F: This work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.

Class attendance is mandatory. If a student misses more then 5 lectures he/she will be penalized with a 10% mark down in the final grade. Missing more than 5 lectures (without appropriate justifications) will result in an incomplete grade.