Resources

Essential Information

Offered:

  • SP1, 2008
  • SP2, 2008
  • SP3, 2008

Core Unit for:

  • N/A

Elective Unit for:

Assessment:

  • Assignment 40%
  • Examination 60%

Pre-Requisites:

UNIT 305: OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT


Overview

This unit examines the principles of operations management and demonstrates how they must link together to achieve the operations objectives of the organisation as a whole. The 'operations' themselves are the means by which an organisation supplies its customers with the goods or services they require. Skills are developed in the areas of product and service design, controlling and scheduling outputs, reliability, and quality management.

Aims

After studying this unit you should be able to:

  • explain the role of operations management in the strategic management of organisations and supply chains
  • identify the components of the operations management function in different types and sizes of organisation, and demonstrate how these relate to operations management decisions along the value chain
  • explain product, process and service design and the role of technology in this area
  • understand and critically explain the concepts of work design, human resources and quality management, and the measurement of operational performance
  • judiciously apply the principles and quantitative methodologies of forecasting and capacity planning, facility location and distribution systems
  • judiciously apply the principles and quantitative methodologies to assist decision-making in operations process planning, scheduling and inventory management
  • understand and apply risk management and maintenance management principles
  • apply operational frameworks that are appropriate to your own industry and promote the competitive position of your own organisation.

Topics

  • Operations management and the value chain
  • Operations strategy in a global economy
  • Management of technology and processes
  • Quality management
  • Forecasting and capacity planning
  • Location and layout
  • Managing operations in the supply chain
  • Production planning and scheduling
  • Job design and operational performance
  • Maintenance management

Unit Chair & Study Guide Author

Milé Terziovski
BEng (Hons), MEng (Hons), Grad.Dip.Mgmt, MBA, PhD, MQSA, MAIM

Dr Milé Terziovski is an Associate Professor of Innovation and Entrepreneurship in the Department of Management and Marketing at the University of Melbourne. He is also the Executive Director of the Centre for Global Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CGIE), (incorporating the Euro-Australian Cooperation Centre) at the University of Melbourne. Dr Terziovski worked as a professional engineer for Rio Tinto over a period of 17 years in production, maintenance and project management prior to obtaining his PhD from the Melbourne Business School. He worked at Monash University for a period of four years prior to returning to the University of Melbourne in 2000.

Dr Terziovski teaches innovation and entrepreneurship at postgraduate and undergraduate levels. He has published more than 50 articles in prestigious international refereed journals such as the Journal of Operations Management, Journal of Business Research and the European Journal of Operations Research (EJOR). Dr Terziovski chaired the Innovation and Entrepreneurship track at the European Academy of Management Conference (EURAM 2006). His latest book Building Innovation Capability in Organisations: An International Cross-case Perspective was published by the Imperial College Press in London in 2007.