BUSI4O610: Operations and Technology (EBS)

• None

• None

• None

• Develop students understanding of operations management and supporting technology within organisations and at the interface with supply chain partners.
• Introduce key concepts, theories and methods in operations management.
• Explore the issues and variables that govern operations management decisions, and present a number of tools and methods for understanding and managing costs, speed, flexibility, dependability and sustainability.
• Provide an examination of key technologies that affect operations and business models, thereby helping students to become proficient in understanding the role of technology and business processes in an organizational setting.

• Operations strategy and the link with other strategic levels
• Development processes for new products and services
• Process design and management
• Process data description, quantitative and graphical
• Sustainability and the environmental impact of managing process
• Principles of lean operations
• Planning and Control
• Process hierarchies
• Applied technologies in operations management

Subject-specific Knowledge:

• By the end of the module students should be able to:
• Understand the context of technology and operations management;
• Identify the benefits and limitations of the application of process management tools and techniques in both services and manufacturing contexts;
• Understand the benefits and limitations of the different production systems and the applicability in services;
• Identify performance metrics and use them to improve process and organizational performance;
• Understand the impact of demand variability on performance and apply techniques to mitigate it;
• Understand the application of different technologies (e.g. Industry 4.0) and their impact on operational processes and performance
• Understand how to map and manage processes within an organisation by using some of the taught techniques;
• Critically evaluate the requirements of global ecological and social sustainability on business and other organisations.

Subject-specific Skills:

• Upon successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
• Analyse process related variables
• Plan operations-related activities
• Reflect on current experiences and knowledge on operations management
• Analyse operations within the context of the supply network
• Critically analyse the relationship and challenges of adopting new technologies within an organsiation
• Evaluate technologies and associated impact on operational processes and select appropriate strategies to manage and mitigate risk

Key Skills:

• Written communication
• Planning, organising and time management
• Problem solving and analysis
• Using initiative
• Teamworking
• Computer literacy

• Learning outcomes are met through classroom-based workshops, supported by online resources. The workshops consist of a combination of taught input, groupwork, case studies and discussion. Online resources provide preparatory material for the workshops typically consisting of directed reading and video content. The emphasis throughout will be on integrating theory with practice.
• The formative assessment consists of classroom-based exercises involving individual and group analyses and presentations on specific business situations/problems relevant to the learning outcomes of the module.
• The individual written summative assignment (in the form of a project) will test students' understanding of relevant concepts and their ability to apply what they have learned through criticial analysis of a particular organisation, focusing on the role of the managerial decision making tools and the impact of new and emerging technologies. The summative group presentation (for which all group members will be awarded the same mark) will, additionally test students' teamworking skills.

Classroom-based exercises involving individual and group analyses and presentations on specific business situations/problems relevant to the learning outcomes of the module. Oral and written feedback will be given on a group and/or individual basis as appropriate.

If you have a question about Durham's modular degree programmes, please visit our Help page. If you have a question about modular programmes that is not covered by the Help page, or a query about the on-line Postgraduate Module Handbook, please contact us.

Prospective Students: If you have a query about a specific module or degree programme, please Ask Us.

Current Students: Please contact your department.