General Information
Target Audience
Operations Management Strategy (Ops Strat) is a multidisciplinary course for students aspiring to leadership positions where thinking strategically, making sound decisions with limited data and devising and executing solid implementation plans spells the difference between average and outstanding executive ability. Ops Strat integrates the concepts, tools and practices of operations with competitive strategy, customer focus, innovation, change management and other goals such as sustainability — linchpins of firms’ competitiveness.
Specifically, students will learn how an effective operations strategy creates an integrated set of operational capabilities that, as evidenced by diverse firms across multiple industries become a formidable source of competitive advantage that competitors must try to emulate (but will be unable to achieve). During the Pandemic, we have witnessed how organizations with high levels of agility and operational flexibility have been able to sustain and even build value during times of extreme stress, and we will examine this in our discussions.
Furthermore, students will examine the role and measurement plays in successfully executing strategy in light of changing circumstances.
Course Format
The course is conducted in six sessions on consecutive Friday mornings. Interactive discussion is a key component of the course and the Class Participation score will reflect each student’s individual contribution to the class.
Course Mission
Operations Management Strategy’s mission is for the course to be a powerful learning experience, one that enables students to achieve major gains in their ability to recognize, understand and make decisions about operations-critical issues and opportunities.
Course Scope
The course builds on the concepts, terminology and tools in the core operations course, focusing on the trade-offs involved in strategic issues that play a defining role in how a firm competes.
Classes involve discussion of operations’ role in specific businesses and the challenges faced by the firms being studied, including underlying factors, the pros and cons of available options and implementation considerations.
Evaluation and Grade Breakdown
| Component | Due Date | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Class Participation | Ongoing | 15% |
| Group Case Write-Ups | 3 Submissions | 15% |
| Group Case Presentation | 1 Evaluation | 10% |
| Final (Take-Home Case) | 1 Week After Course Ends | 60% |
Required Resources
Course materials will be available through Quercus links.