Managing Operational Improvement

Aims of this Unit

As a practising manager it is important to understand the implications of having appropriate frameworks, methodologies, principles and philosophies strategies and tools for execution of effective operations management including operational improvements.

This unit aims provide principles that underpin contemporary operations management focussing specifically on operational strategies and improvements in a digitalised, turbulent and at times disruptive environments. The unit provides participants with a detailed explanation of how Industry 4.0 is reshaping operations strategy practices and processes to improve operational performance. This unit also explores how organisations are nested in industry/ sectors and how contextual and other factors can pose challenges for organisations seeking to build new capabilities and aspiring towards operational excellence. Additionally, the unit emphasises how strategic alignment of operations is pivotal to an organisation's long-term and sustainable advantage.

Knowledge and Understanding

This unit is designed to provide students with an understanding of:
• Contemporary operations management theories and linkages between operations strategy design, implementation and delivery
• Global challenges and forces of change impacting organisations and their ability to remain competitive
• The impacts of Industry 4.0, digitalisation and technological advancements and how these are reshaping the nature of operations within industry/sector contexts
• The contribution of strategy to operations performance and the key characteristics of an effective digital strategy
• The strategic fit between quality management and other approaches to an operation's strategy
• Cross- disciplinary approaches practices including human-centred, behavioural, learning and knowledge management perspectives
• Emergent themes and trends on operational performance and improvement

Learning Outcomes

Following completion of this course, participants should be able to:
1. Understand holistic Operations Management theory and its practical application for sustainable organisational improvement
2. Analyse organisations in terms of Operations systems, practices and processes to improve the quality of management
3. Evaluate digital Operations Strategy methodologies to improve performance of an organisation's internal focus (people) and external focus (suppliers - customers)
4. Understand the design, implementation and delivery of strategy and the process of monitoring, control and risk management
5. Demonstrate a high order of skill in analysis, critical thinking and professional application Graduate Attributes