BUSI4U2D2: Operations and Technology

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• To develop apprentices understanding of operations and technology management within organisations.
• To introduce key concepts, theories and methods in operations and technology management.
• To 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.
• To provide a thorough examination of several key technologies that affect operations and business models, thereby helping apprentices to become proficient in understanding the role of technology and business processes in an organisational setting.
• To develop the skills and concepts needed to ensure the ongoing contribution of a firm's operations to its competitive position.
• To develop links with the Business School research strategy by incorporating current research into the management of business and service operations, in particular the management of complex supply chains.

• Operations strategy and the link with other strategic levels
• Development processes for new products and services
• Process design and management
• Product Development and Innovation Cycles
• Process data description, quantitative and graphical
• Sustainability and the environmental impact of managing process
• Sustainability in Planning and Control
• Quality management and six-sigma
• Process hierarchies
• Technology Adoption Models

Subject-specific Knowledge:

• Critically assess different Technology and innovation management tools and techniques
• Critically evaluate the requirements of global ecological and social sustainability on business and other organisations
• Evaluate technologies and innovations and select appropriate strategies to manage them
• Identify and critically analyse technology and innovation management issues
• Identify the benefits and limitations of the application of process management tools and techniques in both services and manufacturing contexts
• Understand different technology adoption models and implementation processes
• Understand how to map and manage processes within an organization by using some of the taught techniques
• Understand the benefits and limitations of the different production systems and the applicability in services
• Understand the context of technology and operations management
• Understand the impact of demand variability on performance and apply techniques to mitigate it.

Subject-specific Skills:

• 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 organization
• Evaluate technologies and associated impact on operational processes and select appropriate strategies to manage and mitigate risk
• Demonstrate numerical and quantitative and qualitative skills including the use of models relevant to TM and business situations more generally.

Key Skills:

• Written communication; oral communication; planning, organising and time management; problem solving and analysis; using initiative; 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 supplementary material for the workshops typically consisting of directed reading and video content.
• The formative assessment serves to prepare apprentices for the summative presentation. Feedback will be given as appropriate.
• The summative assessment comprises an individual video-recorded presentation and accompanying mini-project, which is designed to test apprentices' understanding of relevant concepts and their ability to apply what they have learned through critical analysis of a particular organisation, focusing on the role of the managerial decision-making tools and the impact of new and emerging technologies.

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