TERM: FALL 2008

COURSE #:
OPNS 430

SECTION:
71,72,76

COURSE NAME:
OPNS Management

FIRST ASSIGNMENT: There is no written assignment for the first class.
Class 1: Introduction to operations and operations strategy                                       
Objective:       Characterize “operations management” and its link to corporate strategy to gain competitive advantage. Illustrate how to do a strategic operational audit.  Introduce the concept of “focus” and the link between processes and strategy. Discuss process types and their characteristics and the product process matrix. 

Required Reading:              MBPF: Chapters 1 & 2.
                                                The Goal (There will be an assignment in Class 7).
Optional Reading:               What is Strategy?
                                                The Focused Factory

Preparation Questions:

  1. In a business context, what is meant by operations? 
  2. What are the competitive priorities faced by a typical business (service or manufacturing)? 
  3. What role does Operations play in achieving these?

Case:      Shouldice Hospital Case
Consider the case a reading; we will discuss the following questions in class:

  1. Model Shouldice Hospital as a processing operation with products, attributes and resources.
  2. What are Shouldice's competitive priorities?  What kind of market have they chosen to focus on?  How does their operations strategy support their business strategy?

Case:      Wriston Manufacturing Case
Consider the case a reading; we will discuss the following questions in class:

  1. Why do overhead costs (Exhibit 2) vary so greatly from plant to plant in Wriston’s manufacturing network?
  2. Why have managers in the Heavy Equipment Division under-invested in the Detroit Plant?
  3. What should Richard Sullivan do with the Detroit Plant?  Justify your recommendation.

INSTRUCTOR:  Sarang Deo

CASEPACK - YES or NO?: Yes

IS ATTENDANCE AT FIRST CLASS MANDATORY – YES OR NO?: No
  1. TEXT - REQUIRED or RECOMMENDED? Required

 

AUTHOR: Anupindi, Chopra, Deshmukh, Van Mieghem and Zemel.

PUBLISHER: Prentice Hall

TITLE: Managing Business Process Flows (MBPF)

ED./DATE: 2nd edition, 2005.

2.  TEXT - REQUIRED or RECOMMENDED?: Required

AUTHOR: Goldratt and Cox

PUBLISHER: North River Press

TITLE: The Goal

ED./DATE: 2nd edition, 1992 (or later)