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The Open University

Introduction to operations management

The Open University via OpenLearn

Overview

This free course, Introduction to operations management, will introduce you to the role of operations management in organisations, and gives you the opportunity to understand what an operations manager does. It looks at how the role might influence the short- and long-term success of the organisation. It is important to develop a clear understanding of the impact of good and bad operations management practice on the performance of an organisation as a whole.

Syllabus

  • Introduction
  • Learning outcomes
  • 1 What is the role of operations management?
  • 1 What is the role of operations management?
  • 2 The input–process–output model
  • 2 The input–process–output model
  • 2.1 Extensions to the input–process–output model
  • 2.2 Transformation processes
  • 3 What do operations managers really do?
  • 3 What do operations managers really do?
  • 4 Why is operations management important?
  • 4 Why is operations management important?
  • 4.1 The Hayes and Wheelwright four-stage model
  • 4.2 When operations are not managed well
  • 5 Are you an operations manager?
  • 5 Are you an operations manager?
  • Conclusion
  • References
  • Acknowledgements

Reviews

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