OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT - 2023/4

Module Overview

Operations management relates to the scoping, planning, directing and controlling of the facilities, processes and people required to transform resources into products and services.  The principles of operations management are used in every industry and every environment.  All organisations perform the functions of strategic planning, process design, supply chain management, forecasting and scheduling, work management, innovation and quality management.  The same skills are required whether operations managers are working in private manufacturing organisations, the public sector, service organisations or not for profit businesses.

Module provider

Surrey Business School

Module Leader

SOTUNDE Deji (SBS)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 4

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

Module Availability

Semester 1

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

None.

Module content

Indicative Content includes:-

• Introduction to Operations Management


• Winning Customers and Competing Effectively


• Operations Processes and Life Cycles


• Managing Inventory and Supply Chain Relationships


• Managing Capacity and Demand


• Managing Queuing and Customer Satisfaction


• Quality Management and Continuous Improvement


• Lean Production and Operations Strategy 

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

Not applicable

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate knowledge of relevant theories of operations management, a practical understanding of how these theories are used in a variety of business contexts and the ability to critically identify the key challenges facing operations managers today and in the future.

The summative assessment for this module consists of a two-hour multiple choice examination. This aims to allow students to demonstrate an understanding of the different operations management theoretical frameworks, tools and techniques.

Formative assessment and feedback

Students will be given formative feedback through completing exercises and workbooks provided via SurreyLearn before attending seminars and answering multiple choice questions from the online textbook resources. Video case studies will also be used in lectures and seminars in addition to discussion folders in SurreyLearn to help develop a deeper understanding of key concepts throughout the module.

Module aims

• Explore key challenges facing operations managers today and in the future
• Provide a theoretical and practical understanding of how operations management fits in with other management functions in today's business environment
• Consider key aspects of operations management in different sectors

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to encourage a deep approach to learning with an emphasis on collaborative learning using real-world operations management examples and in-class problem solving.  The module will specifically exploit the conjunction of manufacturing and service, to explore the challenges that arise comparing these two operations environments.  This links to the programme learning and teaching strategy.

The learning and teaching methods include lectures supported by seminar workbook exercises, video case studies and textbook written specifically for the subjects covered in the module.  The teaching and learning format are designed to give students the opportunity to understand operations management through the integration of theory and practical application.  Lectures will involve the explanation of theoretical concepts of operations management, online captured content, and further guided learning resources from the textbook which will allow students to test and apply their understanding in a variety of contexts.

In addition, there will be weekly seminars which will focus on reviewing operations management case examples and exercises designed to help develop a deeper understanding of the topics taught in the lectures.  This will be supported by guided study (provided through lecture notes, course textbook and SurreyLearn) and independent learning via the online resources for the module textbook and SurreyLearn discussion folders.  

Total student learning time (including live contact time, reading and self-study) – 150 hours.

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.

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: MAN1059

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 2023/4 academic year.