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Faculty
René Leo E. Ordoñez, Southern Oregon University

Course Coordinator
ISUP Secretariat

Prerequisite/progression of the course

Understanding of basic statistical concepts, algebra, and computer application (mainly Excel).

Course content, structure and teaching

A combination of lecture, problem-solving and case-analysis oriented course requiring students to apply contemporary operations management techniques and tools to realistic situations. Computer-based operations management models are utilized as decision-making tools.

Topics covered include:

• Overview of operations management
• Forecasting
• Product Reliability
• Cost-volume-profit analysis
• Learning Curves
• Statistical Process Control and Quality
• Inventory Management
• Project Management

Learning Objectives

Upon the successful completion of this course, a student should:

• Understand the strategic importance of operations and operations management,
• Understand how operations can provide a competitive advantage in the marketplace,
• Appreciate the relationship between operations and other functional areas in business, such as Marketing, Finance, Accounting, etc.,
• Be cognizant of the issues related to designing and managing operations and the techniques for doing so.
• Learn the variety of quantitative and technology-based models and tools applicable to various OM decision making problems and situations.

By the end of this course some of the following skills and competencies should be further enhanced:

• Critical and creative thinking, and decision making: The students will gain the ability to recognize, define, and analyze problems, to generate new and original alternatives for solving problems, and to effectively choose from among those alternatives when making decisions.
• Through case analysis and presentations, the students will improve their ability to:
  • make formal and informal oral presentations and to listen effectively,
  • to present views in writing with appropriate content, language, organization, and grammar/syntax.
  • to understand and practice group dynamics, work effectively with people, negotiate, and resolve conflict.
• Technical skills: Ability to solve problems and communicate using appropriate hardware, software, and technology.

Teaching methods

The course will be a combination of lectures, case analysis and case presentations. Lectures will focus on discussing the mechanics of and the quantitative approaches to the various OM quantitative decision-making tools. Computer software, mainly Excel, will be used in solving OM-based problems. Situational and applied cases, where the OM decision-making tools can be applied, will be explored in the class. In addition to lectures and cases, students will be expected to read the assigned material and work on the assigned cases and problems outside of class.

Excel-based operations research/management science decision models used on operations management will be used as a class supplement. Digitized lectures (e.g. digitally recorded computer-based lectures and demos) on OM concepts and problems will also be made available to students to further enhance learning. These materials are found on the Web at www.sou.edu/business/ordonez/ba380web

Examination

Final exam: 4-hour written exam (open book).

Exam aids: Dictionaries, calculators and textbook allowed.

Re-take exam: 24-hour written exam.

Recommended literature

Operations Management, Ninth Edition (2007), by William J Stevenson
ISBN: 13-978-0-07-319583-4 (890 pages)

Last updated by ISUP Secretariat 29/01/2010