MBAO 430 Technology & Operations Management
Operations Management is a broad and multi-dimensional area. Drawing on the skills and knowledge of a variety of management disciplines --accounting, finance, organizational behavior, marketing --operations management answers the 'how' question for a firm. How will the product be manufactured or delivered? Where? By whom? What level of service is offered? How is performance measured? Operations management is both an art and a science, marrying quantitative and analytical skills with cognitive problem solving and human relations capabilities. Operations Management encompasses the process whereby goods & services are created and delivered, associated systems and tools, and the people who make it all happen. At the most basic level, the operations function is turning inputs (resources in the form of materials, people, or even knowledge) into outputs (a finished good or delivered service). As operations functions utilize the bulk of a firm's resources, efficiency is a key concern for operations managers. Other aspects include measurement, control, and quality. This course will draw upon your previous coursework in a variety of disciplines and apply those skills and theories to operations management decisions.