- Academic Registry
Course & Unit Catalogues


MN52122: Operations strategy

[Page last updated: 23 October 2023]

Academic Year: 2023/24
Owning Department/School: School of Management
Credits: 5 [equivalent to 10 CATS credits]
Notional Study Hours: 100
Level: Masters UG & PG (FHEQ level 7)
Period:
Semester 2
Assessment Summary: CWRI 100%
Assessment Detail:
  • Report Individual (CWRI 100%)
Supplementary Assessment:
Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Requisites:
Learning Outcomes: Upon completion of this unit, students will be able to:
  • Demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of the linkages between operations, other functional strategies and corporate strategy.
  • Explore the key content areas that shape operations strategy - including the pivotal role of individual leadership behaviours.
  • Develop and apply several analytical and co-ordination tools and frameworks likely to be encountered in practice.
  • Identify the challenges that managers face and be able to participate in or advise on operations strategy decisions.



Synopsis: Explore how organisational strategy shapes and is shaped by operational capabilities through a variety of models and analytical frameworks. You will learn about a range of issues including: - make versus buy - technology - capacity planning - global footprints - functional leadership - environmental and ethical concerns You will analyse and discuss a range of service, manufacturing, for-profit and not-for-profit organisations.

Content: The following topics/areas will feature in the core unit content:
  • Introduction to the (paradoxical?) theory and practice of operations strategy
  • Classic alignment/deployment and alternative models
  • The `make/do' versus `buy' decision and supply markets/structures
  • Short, medium and long-term capacity strategy (the economies and diseconomies of scale)
  • Technology strategy
  • Operations Leadership


Course availability:

MN52122 is Compulsory on the following courses:

School of Management

MN52122 is Optional on the following courses:

School of Management

Notes:

  • This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2023/24 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2024/25 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2023/24.
  • Courses and units are subject to change in accordance with normal University procedures.
  • Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.
  • Find out more about these and other important University terms and conditions here.