Description

Operations Management is an introductory course that focuses on the strategic importance of activities collectively known as "operations" and the methods used to perform such activities. The course is designed to assist you in developing the professional competence and skills to:

• understand the role of operations management (OM)

• understand the relation between OM and other functions within an organization

• analyze OM decision issues in the context of overall organizational objectives, and

• understand the scope and challenges faced in production systems.

A guiding principle for this course is the introduction of the concepts and practices of operations management to non-specialists. The course is intended to give you a solid grasp of the essential tools and techniques on a broad range of subjects, with emphasis on a whole-system approach, an essential principle in operations management.

This understanding can serve as a powerful tool in breaking down the barriers that frequently exist between those who manage financial data and those who are involved in the production of goods or services. Your professional role will acquire an added dimension when placed within a broader organizational context.

Structure

For study purposes, OM1 is presented in 10 modules. The course is delivered over a 12-week period. Each module should take between 15 and 20 hours (or one week) to complete.

Materials

Textbook and CD

The textbook for this course is William J. Stevenson and Mehran Hojati, Operations Management, Fourth Canadian Edition (Toronto, McGraw-Hill Ryerson, 2011).

McGraw Hill CONNECT web portal

The publisher's student website is at www.mcgraw-hillconnect.com. It is a website provided by the publisher for student use in conjunction with the text. Go to the CONNECT website, click Operations Management, 4th Edition, then Student Edition. From the Student Edition page, you can link to the following resources you will use as you study and review this course:

• Glossary — searchable for words and phrases

• Data Sets — data that go with the Excel templates

• Excel Templates — to use as you work through review and assignment questions

• Additional Content — supplements to chapters for which supplements are not provided in the textbook

• Web Links — links to websites that are related to the study of OM

• Operations Management Centre (OMC)

• Interactive OM — includes various chapter-by-chapter interactive exercises

When you select a specific chapter online, you will see a menu of other resources you can use for your study and review, such as quizzes, key terms, a study outline, and so on. Choose a chapter and check out the resources that are available for that chapter.

Operations Management Centre (OMC)

The Operations Management Centre (OM Centre or OMC) — which you can link to from the CONNECT — provides additional resources, including links to company tours, Internet-published articles, and OM publications and organizations. The site contains selected articles from Business Week magazine that are available exclusively to the users of the site. You will be referred to many of these articles by direct links to the OMC. To find an article quickly from the long list of articles, use the keystroke Ctrl + F and enter one or more keywords from the article's title.

Before you begin working on the lessons, be sure to browse through the OMC to get acquainted with its contents.

Assessments

• Participation in a group study and weekly assignments

• First term assignment

• Second term assignment

• Final examination

This assessment plan may change.  If changes are made, they will be reflected in the introduction of the course content for the course assessment.  You must complete all assignments to receive a passing grade.

Schedule

(LU reserves the right to make changes to this schedule)

Update Aug 13 2012