BUSI4490 Managing Contemporary Operations:
Fundamentals and Challenges
10 Credits Level 4 Semester 1 2024/25
V2
This Outline should be read in conjunction with the Student Handbook.
Details of Module Convenor and Teaching Staff
Module Convenor: Murtaza Faruquee
Location: C10 (Si Yuan Building, Jubilee Campus)
Email Address: [Link]@[Link]
Telephone No: Contactable via Teams (only working hours)
Availability Statement: Face-to-face by appointment (default option), though Online if
required.
Meeting booking link: Book time with Murtaza Faruquee
Teacher: Dr Anne Touboulic
Associate Professor in Operations Management
Location: C02 (Si Yuan Building, Jubilee Campus)
Email Address: [Link]@[Link]
Availability Statement: Face to face by appointment (default option), though Online if
required.
Seminar tutor: TBA
Details of External Examiner
Name: Atanu Chaudhuri
Position: Professor in Technology & Operations Management
Institution: Durham University
Pre-requisites
None
Co-requisites
None
Anti-requisites
None
Breakdown of Student Learning Hours
10 credit modules are expected to comprise a minimum of 100 hours of work. However,
students may need to undertake more hours that this in order to absorb all the material
fully. Remember your time will be spread over: attending lectures; reading, thinking,
practicing questions and revision.
The proximate breakdown is as follows
Lecture preparation 22 hours
Lecture attendance 22 hours
Reading/visit 20 hours
Seminar attendance 02 hours
Exam preparation 30 hours
Seminar preparation 04 hours
Total 100 hours
Method of Assessment
Type Weight Length Assessed In
Online Exam (Take Home 70% 24 hours Autumn
Exam Moodle (remote))
Coursework 30% 3000 words Autumn
Default Reassessment Method
Take Home Exam: The exam format is to be the same as the exam format within the
Semester 1 Assessment Period. Scheduled, 'Re-sit' period, August 2025 (dates to be
confirmed)
Individual Assessment (3000 words)
Method of Delivery/ Frequency of Class
Type Length Number
Lecture 2 hours 11
Seminar 1 hour 2
Lecture Timetable Slot/ Lecture Engagement Timetable Slot
Friday 02 PM to 04 pm (14.00-16.00) at JC Exchange C03
If you need to, make sure you have had lunch/snack beforehand.
There will be a short break in the middle of our session, though there will not be time to collect or eat
lunch.
Note: Your active participation and attention will be required throughout the
lecture.
Outline Syllabus
Uni Wk Date Title and Description
2 1 4 Oct Fundamentals of Operations Management
2024 We will cover a brief Module overview followed by an introduction to
Operations Management (OM), its application to manufacturing and
services, and how businesses compete on a range of indicators. We
describe how Operations Management contributes to the strategic
direction. This session will also cover a quick run-through of historic
OM practices.
3 2 11 Oct Sustainability and OM
2024 Sustainability is a major concern for OM, and this session will be an
early introduction to how every aspect of operations management
has a connection with bigger sustainable and ethical standards. This
will help in developing a critical perspective and exploring the topics
of the following sessions through a sustainability lens.
4 3 18 Oct Process Design
2024 We explore manufacturing and service process types using the
criteria of volume and variety, as well as how organisations manage
for variation and degree of customer contact. Developments and
challenges are introduced, including mass customisation. We will
discuss how SDG 12 and technologies redefining process designing.
Business processes are defined and discussed in preparation for the
first case study and seminar session.
5 4 25 Oct Process Analysis
2024 In this session, we will work through the terminology of process
analysis and apply the basic tools and techniques used in managing
processes, in part, through an exercise in class. We will identify
bottlenecks and make changes to the process to improve the
performance in terms of both efficiency and effectiveness. We will
introduce a range of performance measures, and introduce Little’s
Law. We will explore how to analyse existing processes and align
those with more sustainable OM practices.
6 5 28-29 Seminar 1
Oct Key reading: Gloucestershire refill shops fighting to keep
2024 sustainability accessible - BBC News
Seminar activity will be based on this news article, which is a 15
minutes reading. Please make sure you read and understand this
before your seminar session.
6 5 1 Nov Planning and Control
2024 In this session, we will explore the core understanding of planning
and control and how they are different. The operational planning and
control are associated with a larger context of supply chain
management, and this session will set the stage to understand that
context and its impact on OM decision making. Moreover, controlling
businesses from applying unsustainable practices will be discussed in
this session.
7 6 8 Nov Capacity and inventory
2024 Capacity and inventory are two interlinked concepts that play a
critical role in OM of any organisation. This session will cover how
capacity is measured and how to deal with demand fluctuation.
Then, we will focus on inventory and why businesses should keep
inventory as opposed to just-in-time practices. Advanced
technologies are rapidly changing capacity and inventory practices,
and we will examine some such examples.
8 7 15 Services Management
Nov Service operations management is often unique and fundamentally
2024 different from product management. In this session, we will explore
service design, quality, and innovation in detail. We will understand
the drivers of service excellence and appreciate the importance of
managing service encounters to achieve internal and external
customer satisfaction. We will explore technology-driven service
operations (like chatbot AI) and the implications of SDG 12 in
Service.
9 8 18-19 Seminar 2
Nov Video case: Inside an NHS in crisis: every day like a 'horrific
2024 board game'
Seminar activity will be based on this video report, which is a 13-
minutes long. Please make sure you watch this before your seminar
session.
10 8 22 Resilience
Nov This session will explore a number of models for understanding
2024 resilience. Rapid (desired or accidental) changes in the business
environment make OM practices vulnerable. We will explore how
disruptions are tackled, how to recover, and how to protect against
future damages. Resilience is a key tool to understand as this
requires a combination of people and technologies to survive and
excel. We will critically assess the balance between people and
technologies, and why it is important for resilient OM.
10 9 29 Technology and data-driven operations management
Nov In this session, we will broadly discuss the role of industry 4.0
2024 technologies in OM and how advanced technologies are reshaping
the future of OM. We will aim to understand the importance of
automation and data-driven decision-making. Moreover, we will
critically assess the concepts of digital ethics and cyber security for
OM.
11 10 6 Dec Practising operations management tools and techniques
2024 At this stage, we will reflect on some iconic OM practices from well-
known business cases and examples to understand and evaluate the
practicality and importance of OM tools and concepts. We will also
put ourselves in the shoes of Operations managers and time to
understand their motives and decision process.
12 11 13 REVISION –
Dec Review of module, past exams and Q&A session.
2024
Small-group Teaching Arrangements
There are two seminars, as listed above.
For details of the times, dates and locations of your seminars/tutorials, please consult
your Individual Student Teaching Timetable. It is important that you only attend the
seminar slot you have been allocated. Registers will be taken and no additional students
will be permitted to join the seminar.
Exam Assessment Format
The exam will be an online ‘take-home’, with a time limit of 24 hours. The question
paper is made visible at the start of the 24-hour period.
A sample/model answer guideline along with the marking rubric will be available at due
course
Full details of coursework or other non-exam assessment
There are three pieces of the coursework.
1. Select a business as your coursework topic. The selection process and related
details will be shared in the week 3 lecture.
2. A formative short essay of 500 words, reflecting on the selected business case.
To be submitted by 3 pm on Monday, 04th November 2024. Submission will
be electronically to Moodle. Further details will be given in due course.
3. A summative group 3000-word reflection on the given case related to the
subjects covered in the module. Further details will be given in due course.
Deadline details below. A visit to the business location (based on the selected
business as case) to study their operations will be required. This will be at your
own time and expense. Time has been allocated within the module for you to do
this. This will facilitate and guide your group coursework.
Deadline Date for Submission of Coursework
Your coursework needs to be submitted electronically to Moodle. See the Student
Services website for further details of this process. The deadline for coursework
submission is 3 pm on Thursday, 17th December 2024. Late submission will attract a
mark penalty unless an extension has been approved by Student Services. Please
familiarise yourself with the extenuating circumstances policy and the process for
submitting a claim.
Coursework Submission Requirements:
A maximum word count will be set by the module convenor and must be adhered to.
The penalty for exceeding this limit is a five mark deduction.
• The actual word count of the assignment must be stated by the student on the
first page (cover sheet) of the assignment.
• The overall word count does include citations and quotations.
• The overall word count does not include the references or bibliography at the end
of the coursework.
• The word count does not include figures and tables.
• Appendices may or may not be included in the word count as specified by the
Module Convenor. For this module the following applies: Appendices are not
included in the overall word count.
Students should prepare and submit their coursework assessments in
the following format:
Font: Verdana 11 point
Spacing: 1.5 spaced
Margins: Normal (2.5cm)
Referencing: Harvard citation style
Module Aims
To give students an appreciation of the importance of operations to business success
and the role of operations management. To provide students with the knowledge and
understanding of the key operations management variables inter-relate in a business. To
provide them with examples of current best practice and associated initiatives and to
critique their applicability in different contexts. To recognise the challenges of
implementing changes associated with OM initiatives.
Learning Objectives and Outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
This module develops a knowledge and understanding of:
• The management of the supply chain
• The management of resources
• The management of operations
• The management of quality systems
Intellectual skills
This module develops:
• Being able to think critically and be creative: manage the creative processes in
self and others; organise thoughts, analyse, synthesise and critically appraise.
This includes the capability to identify assumptions, evaluate statements in terms
of evidence, detect false logic or reasoning, identify implicit values, define terms
adequately and generalise appropriately
• Being able to solve complex problems and make decisions: establish criteria,
using appropriate decision-making techniques including identifying, formulating
and solving business problems; and the ability to create, identify and evaluate
options; the ability to implement and review decisions
• Using information and knowledge effectively in order to abstract meaning from
information and to share knowledge, including the use of quantitative skills
• Being able to learn and use specialised statistical software.
Professional practical skills
This module develops:
• The ability to conduct research and enquiry into business and management
issues either individually or as part of a team through research design, the
collection and analysis of qualitative data, synthesis and reporting
Transferable (key) skills
This module develops:
• Effective communication: networking, listening, oral and written communication
of complex ideas and arguments, using a range of media, including the
preparation of business reports
• High personal effectiveness: critical self-awareness, self-reflection and self-
management; time management; conflict resolution, displaying commercial
acumen, the ability to continue to learn through reflection on practice and
experience
Past Examination Papers
Logon to [Link] and search for past
examination papers for this module. (Help for this site can be found in this user guide.
You may need to copy these addresses into your browser rather than clicking on the
links.)
There will be a model/guideline on ideal answers available on the Moodle page in due
course.
Module Details on Moodle
Moodle ([Link]) contains the definitive module outline (including all
assessment details), and assessment feedback and review pages. You can see
information on previous student performance and Student Evaluation of Module (SEM)
feedback on the module (if available). For most modules, Moodle also contains module
forums, module news and announcements, and a module home page that provides
access to online materials.
Accessibility/Disability
If you have accessibility, disability or extenuating circumstance issues then please follow
the guidance available from:
Disability Support Services
Extenuating Circumstances
Reading List
This module has an online reading list which provides quick and easy access to a range
of digital and print resources. You can access the reading list by clicking on the link on
the Moodle page. You'll find your reading list:
in your Moodle module - as a link in the Module Resources block, which will take you
directly to the reading list;
OR
by searching [Link] for your module code, module title or lecturer's
name
