Applying Operations Management in practice: case studies

This week’s topics

Applying Operations Management in practice: case studies

1. Case analysis
2. Linking theory to practice
3. Evaluating evidence

What you will be able to do

• 1.3 Analyse the ways in which operations management can be used to create customer value and competitive advantage.
• 2.2 Evaluate the importance of ‘process’ and ‘product’ innovation as it applies to tourism and hospitality businesses.
• 3.1 Assess the importance of external environmental factors in the context of operations management in the tourism and hospitality industry.
• 3.2 Compare and contrast the operational activities of different businesses operating in the tourism and hospitality industry.
• 3.3 Evaluate the existing and potential impacts of the virtual marketplace on the pattern of operational activities in the tourism and hospitality industry.
• 4.3 Analyse how effective management and control systems can lead to competitive advantage for visitor attractions.

Activity

Case-study workshop: apply the unit’s concepts to a real or realistic case and evaluate the outcome.

Study materials

Videos

• Porter's Value Chain Analysis Explained | How Businesses Create Competitive Advantage · YouTube · Mister Simplify · 13 min · for registered students
• Smart Hospitality: The Human-AI Partnership · YouTube · eCornell · 59 min · for registered students

Further resources

• Writing Guide with Handbook, ch. 8.5: Writing an analytical report · PDF · OpenStax, textbook chapter; pp. 254–267 · for registered students
• Five Misunderstandings About Case-Study Research · Reading · Arxiv, article · for registered students
• Operations Management (Fanshawe), ch. 2: Operations Strategy & Competitiveness · Reading · Other, textbook chapter; PDF pp. 53–84 · for registered students