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
4. The Clarendon Lectures in Management Studies by Tima Bansal - Lecture 3

What you will be able to do

• 1.2 Analyse the operations functions of a selected organisation.
• 1.3 Evaluate the operations management process of a selected organisation using relevant models.
• 2.2 Assess the impact of the tension between cost minimisation and quality maximisation.
• 2.3 Evaluate the significance of the five performance objectives that underpin operations management to organisation.
• 3.1 Assess the importance of process mapping and flowcharting.
• 3.2 Analyse the concept of lean operations and waste reduction
• 3.3 Analyse the concept and importance of process reengineering
• 4.1 Analyse the applicability of Total Quality Management (TQM) in a selected organisation.
• 4.2 Assess how quality management techniques are applied to improve operations in a selected organisation.

Activity

Start with this week’s video, then: Case-study workshop: apply the unit’s concepts to a real or realistic case and evaluate the outcome.

Study materials

Videos

• The Clarendon Lectures in Management Studies by Tima Bansal - Lecture 3 · YouTube · Saïd Business School, University of Oxford · 64 min · for registered students

Further resources

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