Introduction to Business Operations

Code

BUSI2109

School

Nottingham University Business School China

Level

2

Credits

10

Semesters

Spring China

Summary

The scope and importance of operations management in both service and manufacturing businesses. IT and Knowledge management to support operations. Competitive operations; strategies for success in manufacturing operations, the links with other business functions. Planning the provision; forecasting and planning, including location and layout of facilities, in the context of the globalised economy, and infrastructure development. Managing the supply chain; competitive advantage through the supply chain, models of the extended and virtual enterprise. Logistics and distribution issues. Timely provision of products and services; methods and techniques used to schedule and control business and manufacturing operations, including inventory and materials management. Achieving quality and freedom from waste; quality management, improvement techniques, cultural issues, measurement of quality performance, service quality. The content will be explored using a variety of management games.

Re-assessment format is decided by the school.

Target Students

FAM, IBM, IBE, IBC, IBL, IBEu and students from other divisions. There is a limited number of places on this module. Students are reminded that enrolments which are not agreed by the Offering School in advance may be cancelled without notice.

Classes

• One 2-hour seminar each week for 2 weeks
• One 2-hour lecture each week for 11 weeks

Assessment

• 100% Exam 1 (1-hour-30-minute): One 1.5 hour examination

Assessed by end of spring semester

Educational Aims

Learning Outcomes

A. Knowledge and understanding-
This module develops a knowledge and understanding of:

• The management of resources and operations.
• The development, management and exploitation of information systems and their impact upon organizations.
• The comprehensive use of relevant communication and information technologies for application in business and management.
• The development of appropriate business policies and strategies to meet stakeholder needs within a changing environment.
• The scope and importance of operations in business management.
• The chief techniques of business operations management.

B. Intellectual skills-
This module develops:

• Effective quantitative problem solving and decision making skills.
• The ability to create, evaluate and access a range of options, together with the capacity to apply ideas and knowledge to a range of business and other situations.
• The ability to choose and apply appropriate operations management techniques for the solution of business problems.

C. Professional practical skills-
This module develops:

• Numeracy and quantitative skills including data analysis, interpretation and extrapolation.
• Qualitative skills including the ability to work with case studies.
• The effective use of communication and information technology (CIT) skills for business applications.

D. Transferable (key) skills-
This module develops:

• Effective oral and written communication skills in a range of traditional and electronic media.
• Effective self-management in terms of time, planning and behaviour, motivation, self-starting, individual initiative and enterprise.

Conveners

• Dr Chandra Ade Irawan