SUSTAINABLE OPERATIONS - 2020/1

Module Overview

This module is delivered in partnership with Explore Worldwide and other industry partners and focuses upon sustainable operations within the tourism, hospitality and events industries. Operations management relates to the scoping planning, directing and controlling of the facilities, processes and people required to transform resources, knowledge and skills into products and services. The module therefore identifies the key aspects of tourism, hospitality and events operations management including, but not limited to: product development, process design, supply chain management, innovation, crisis management, and ethics in industry practice. Such principles are adopted across the spectrum of business operations in the tourism, hospitality and events industry and the contexts within which they operate and this module therefore provides a fundamental knowledge of such operations that underpin students’ knowledge of theory and application of sustainability.

Module provider

Hospitality, Tourism & Events Management

Module Leader

FONT Xavier (Hosp & Tour)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 6

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Semester 2

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

None.

Module content

The thematic areas that the module focuses on include: 

• Designing systems for Sustainable Operations Management


• Human resource management for sustainability


• Sustainable product Development


• Sustainable supply chain management


• Yield management


• Facilities management


• The impact of sustainability on operational quality control: health and safety, risks and crisis management


• Sustainability marketing and communication

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

In the event that a group project will not be suitable for re-assessment, an individual essay (2500 words) will be assigned.

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge and critical understanding of sustainable tourism operations.

The assessment methods are designed to encourage students to apply and further develop knowledge and skills by researching a practical case study. Furthermore, their ability to interpret academic and other secondary sources and apply theory to practice, as well as to report their findings in a creative and business-like manner will be tested.

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

• an individual essay submitted in week 5


• a group project (business plan for embedding principles of sustainability into operations) submitted in week 11

Module aims

• • provide students a theoretical and empirical understanding of how operations can be used to embed principles and practices of sustainabilitywithin industry. It will systematically develop a framework for understanding sustainable tourism/hospitality/events operations within the context of the wider industry, competitive advantage and strategic direction, and mission, values and ethics. It will provide an understanding of how operations management fits in with other management functions and can be harnessed to situate sustainability at the centre of industry practice. It will allow the students an insight into the key challenges facing industry engagement with sustainable tourism/hospitality/events both now and in the future.

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The key teaching and learning strategy is designed to encourage active, problem-based learning.  By drawing reference to a range of case study examples (including but not restricted to the industry case studies), the module will provide students with the opportunity to apply theory to practice through real world cases. Such an approach will encourage students to explore and critically evaluate theoretical perspectives.

The teaching and learning methods are based around classroom-based techniques including: lectures, class discussion and debates, presentations, case study analysis and role play scenarios, that are designed explicitly to develop students’ critical ability and comprehension of the issues addressed through active, engaged learning. Direct contact with students for this module will be in the form of 2 hour lectures followed by 1 hour tutorial sessions per week X 11 weeks. Once students have established a theoretical comprehension of the issues, these will be further developed through a ‘live’ situation (see assessment strategy). 

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: MAN3130

Programmes this module appears in

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2020/1 academic year.