This module aims to:

Provide students with an understanding of the characteristics of operations processes, the model of operations management, and the principles and role of supply chain management in organisations;

Provide students with the knowledge and skills required to critically examine how operations decisions affect the effectiveness of a supply chain;

Develop students’ ability to critically evaluate the link between operations and supply chain excellence and sustainability.

(LO1) Students will be able to assess the characteristics of operations processes, the model of operations management, and of the role that the discipline plays in corporate strategy.

(LO2) Students will demonstrate an understanding of the principles and role of supply chain management in organisations.

(LO3) Students will be able to critically examine how operations decisions affect the effectiveness of a supply chain and explain how supply chain management can be supported by appropriate technology.

(LO4) Students will be able to critically evaluate the link between operations and supply chain excellence and sustainability.

(LRE1) An excellent verbal and written communicator.
Students will have opportunities to develop communication skills through learning and assessment activities.

(LRE2) Commercially aware.
Students will develop an understanding of the commercial nature of organisations and will use this understanding to underpin both operational and strategic decision-making.

(LRE3) Ethically aware.
The teaching, learning, and assessment strategy ensures that all students are exposed to ideas of sustainable business practice and ethical awareness relating to operations and supply chain management.

(LRE4) Internationally aware.
Online delivery will enable a collaborative approach with other practitioners from diverse international backgrounds, enabling a rich understanding of the global environment and developing skills in cross-cultural working. The curriculum addresses global issues from an operations and supply chain management perspective.

(LRE5) Organised and able to work under pressure.
This will be evident in the students’ independent management of their assignments and ability to meet deadlines.

The module will primarily be delivered through a series of e-lectures, delivered through a variety of methods, covering key topics, theories and case examples. These will be supported by individual online task such as, case studies, blogs, collaborative tasks and discussion boards, which will be used to develop and apply learning. These activities will be moderated by the module instructor. Students will also be directed to key academic and practitioner readings to further develop their learning.

Unscheduled Directed Student Hours: 30 hours
Description: The asynchronous e-lecture and interactive class activity will equate to 5 hours per week over 6 weeks.
Attendance Recorded: Yes – tracked via the learning platform.

One scheduled synchronous seminar of one hour will be delivered in week 1, with the remaining two synchronous seminar hours scheduled during weeks 2 to 6. The dates and times of the seminars will be confirmed at the start of the module (if th ere are issues with time zones another session will be provided). Peer discussion and questions will be encouraged. These sessions will be recorded and moderated by the module instructor.

Scheduled Directed student hours: 3 hours
Description: The synchronous seminars will equate to 3 hours in total over 6 weeks.
Attendance Recorded: Yes – tracked via the learning platform.

Self-directed learning hours: 67 hours
Description: This will involve directed and independent reading, and independent research into operation and supply chain management theories and practices relevant to the module syllabus, aims and learning outcomes.

Operations Management including: Importance of operations management in all types of organisation, lean operations approaches, planning and control systems, measurement of operations performance, quality management, managing inventory and just-in-time systems, operations and service delivery.

Supply chain management including: ethics and supply chain abuses such as modern slavery and food fraud, supply chain technologies including Blockchain, supply chain collaboration.

Operations and Supply Chain challenges including: sustainability and the circular economy, managing risk and recovery – resilience, fragility and business continuity management; outsourcing and partnership relationships.