UoPeople Online Syllabus Repository (OSR)

MBA

BUS 5116 Operations Management

BUS 5116: Operations Management

Credits: 3

Prerequisites: None.

Recommended: None.

Course Description: An organization’s competitive position relies on effective management of its complex production and operational processes in order to match market requirements. The course emphasizes organizational analysis and the role of the manager in navigating the challenges of organizations in dynamic environments. It introduces analytical tools, methods and techniques for analyzing and improving these processes and for recognizing opportunities, risks and tradeoffs associated with pursuing strategies for optimizing quality and customer service. It explores the relationship and implications of operations to other functional areas and stakeholders of the organization, and introduces strategies for informed decisions that maximize the design and management of operations in developing as well as mature manufacturing and service industries.

Required Textbook and Materials: UoPeople courses use open educational resources (OER) and other materials specifically donated to the University with free permissions for educational use. Therefore, students are not required to purchase any textbooks or sign up for any websites that have a cost associated with them. The main required textbooks for this course are listed below, and can be readily accessed using the provided links. There may be additional required/recommended readings, supplemental materials, or other resources and websites necessary for lessons; these will be provided for you in the course's General Information and Forums area, and throughout the term via the weekly course Unit areas and the Learning Guides.

Crowther, D & Aras, G. (2008). Corporate Social Responsibility. Bookboon.com. Available for download here.
Knowles, G. (2011). Quality Management. Bookboon.com. Available for download here.
Lu, D. (2011). Fundamentals of Supply Chain Management. Bookboon.com. Available for download here.
James, T. (2011). Operations Strategy. Bookboon.com. Available for download here.
Ritson, N. (2013). Strategic Management. Bookboon.com. Available for download here.
Quinn, S. (2010). Management Basics. Bookboon.com. Available for download here.
Sneller, L. (2014). A Guide to ERP: Benefits, Implementation, and Trends. Bookboon.com. Available for download here.

Software Requirements/Installation: No special requirements.

Learning Objectives and Outcomes:

By the end of this course students will be able to:

Apply analytical skills and problem-solving tools to the analysis of the operations problems.
Examine the strategic role of operations management in creating and enhancing a firm’s competitive advantages.
Evaluate the economic, environmental and social implications of the operations and function in an ethical manner with all the stakeholders of an organization.
Explain technology applications that increase efficiency and competitiveness within the operations context.
Demonstrate efficient teamwork and collaboration skills.

Course Schedule and Topics: This course will cover the following topics in eight learning sessions, with one Unit per week.

Week 1: Unit 1 - Introduction to Operations Management and Strategy

Week 2: Unit 2 - Process Selection and Product Design

Week 3: Unit 3 - Production and Capacity Planning

Week 4: Unit 4 - Supply Chain Management

Week 5: Unit 5 - Methods and Tools for Efficient and Competitive Operations

Week 6: Unit 6 - Quality Management

Week 7: Unit 7 - Responsible Operations

Week 8: Unit 8 - Managing and Leading Operations

Learning Guide: The following is an outline of how this course will be conducted, with suggested best practices for students.

Unit 1: Introduction to Operations Management and Strategy

Introduce yourself to your classmates in the Course Forum
Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignments
Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment, and rate in the Discussion Forum)
Complete and submit the Written Assignment

Unit 2: Process Selection and Product Design

Peer assess Unit 1 Written Assignment
Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignments
Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment, and rate in the Discussion Forum)
Complete and submit Part I of the Group Project

Unit 3: Production and Capacity Planning

Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignments
Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment, and rate in the Discussion Forum)
Complete and submit Part II of the Group Project

Unit 4: Supply Chain Management

Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignments
Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment, and rate in the Discussion Forum)
Complete and submit the Written Assignment
Continuing working on the group project

Unit 5: Methods and Tools for Efficient and Competitive Operations

Peer assess Unit 4 Written Assignment
Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignments
Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment, and rate in the Discussion Forum)
Complete and submit Part III of the Group Project

Unit 6: Quality Management

Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignments
Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment, and rate in the Discussion Forum)
Complete and submit the Portfolio Activity
Complete and submit the final group presentation

Unit 7: Responsible Operations

Peer assess Unit 6 Written Assignment
Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignments
Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment, and rate in the Discussion Forum)
Complete and submit the Written Assignment

Unit 8: Managing and Leading Operations

Peer assess Unit 7 Written Assignment
Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignments
Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment, and rate in the Discussion Forum)
Respond to the Portfolio Activity
Complete and submit the Course Evaluation

Course Requirements:

Discussion Assignments & Response Posts/Ratings
All units in this course require that you complete a Discussion Assignment. You are required to develop and post a substantive response to the Discussion Assignment in the Discussion Forum. A substantive response is one that fully answers the question that has been posed by the instructor. In addition, you must extend the discussion by responding to at least three (3) of your peers’ postings in the Discussion Forum and by rating their posts. Instructions for proper posting and rating are provided inside the Discussion Forum for each week. Discussion Forums are only active for each current and relevant learning week, so it is not possible to contribute to the forum once the learning week has come to an end. Failure to participate in the Discussion Assignment by posting in the Discussion Forum and responding to peers as required may result in failure of the course.

Written Assignments & Assessment Forms
Some units in this course require that you complete a Written Assignment, which may come in different formats (case study, research paper, etc.). You are required to submit your assignments by the indicated deadlines and, in addition, to peer assess three (3) of your classmates’ assignments according to the instructions found in the Assessment Form, which is provided to you during the following week. During this peer assessment period, you are expected to provide details in the feedback section of the Assessment Form, indicating why you awarded the grade that you did to your peer. Please note that each assignment grade is comprised of a combination of your submission (90%) and your peer assessments (10%). Failure to submit Written Assignments and/or Assessment Forms may result in failure of the course.

Group Activities
During this course, you will be required to complete work as part of a small group. Group work is an important component of your coursework Group work allows you to deepen relationships with classmates and gain a more thorough understanding of the topics presented in this course. Further, group work mimics the business environment in which projects are often conducted in small teams across different departments. You will be randomly assigned to your groups and are expected to work with your teammates throughout the term for all group activities.

Portfolio Activities
Portfolio Activities are tools for self-reflection and evaluation within the context of the course. These activities are designed as a means to document and reflect upon your learning process and critical thinking skills. Ideally, you will draw from your experiences inside and outside of the classroom, as well as what you’ve learned in other courses, to showcase your overall growth and examine ways in which you can continue to develop and sharpen your professional goals. Portfolio Activities may be useful to you as part of your Capstone experience.

Course Forum
The Course Forum is the place to raise issues and questions relating to the course. It is regularly monitored by the instructors and is a good place to meet fellow students taking the same course. While it is not required to participate in the Course Forum, it is highly recommended.

Course Policies:

Grading Components and Weights
Each graded component of the course will contribute some percentage to the final grading scale, as indicated here:

Discussion Assignments	25%
Written Assignments	30%
Group Project	25%
Portfolio Activity	20%
TOTAL	100%

Grading Scale
This course will follow the standard 100-point grading scale defined by the University of the People, as indicated here:

Letter Grade	Grade Scale	Grade Points
A+	98-100	4.00
A	93-97	4.00
A-	90-92	3.67
B+	88-89	3.33
B	83-87	3.00
B-	80-82	2.67
C+	78-79	2.33
C	73-77	2.00
C-	70-72	0.00
D+	68-69	0.00
D	63-67	0.00
D-	60-62	0.00
F	Under 60	0.00
CR	N/A	N/A
NC	N/A	N/A
NF	N/A	N/A
W	N/A	N/A

Grade Appeal
If you believe that the final grade you received for a course is erroneous, unjust, or unfair, please contact your course instructor. This must be done within seven days of the posted final grade. For more information on this topic, please review the Grade Appeal Procedure in the University Catalog.

Participation
Non-participation is characterized by lack of assignment submissions, inadequate contributions to the Discussion Forums, and/or lack of peer feedback to Discussion/Written Assignments. Also, please note the following important points about course participation:

Assignments must be submitted on or before the specified deadline. A course timeline is provided in the course schedule, and the instructor will specify deadlines for each assignment.
Any student showing non-participation for two weeks (consecutive or non-consecutive) is likely to automatically fail the course.
Occasionally there may be a legitimate reason for submitting an assignment late. Most of the time, late assignments will not be accepted and there will be no make-up assignments.
All students are obligated to inform their instructor in advance of any known absences which may result in their non-participation.

Academic Honesty and Integrity
When you submit any work that requires research and writing, it is essential to cite and reference all source material. Failure to properly acknowledge your sources is known as “plagiarism” – which is effectively passing off an individual’s words or ideas as your own. University of the People adheres to a strict policy of academic honesty and integrity. Failure to comply with these guidelines may result in sanctions by the University, including dismissal from the University or course failure. For more information on this topic, please review the Academic Integrity Policy in the University Catalog.

Any materials cited in this course should be referenced using the style guidelines established by the American Psychological Association (APA). The APA format is widely used in colleges and universities across the world and is one of several style and citation formats required for publication in professional and academic journals. Purdue University’s Online Writing LAB (OWL) is a free website that provides excellent information and resources for understanding and using the APA format and style. The OWL website can be accessed here: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/purdue_owl.html

Code of Conduct
University of the People expects that students conduct themselves in a respectful, collaborative, and honest manner at all times. Harassment, threatening behavior, or deliberate embarrassment of others will not be permitted. Any conduct that interferes with the quality of the educational experience is not allowed and may result in disciplinary action, such as course failure, probation, suspension, or dismissal. For more information on this topic, please review the Code of Conduct Policy in the University Catalog.