Operations Management
Overview
This unit introduces students to a variety of quantitative and qualitative operations management tools to equip them with the knowledge and skills required to make informed decisions in order to improve organizational performance. Effective operations management is a key to managing a successful business as it involves ensuring that business processes are efficiently designed using the optimal amount of resources required to satisfy customer requirements. In this unit students will learn about operations management which involves designing, reviewing, monitoring and controlling production processes that convert inputs, such as labour and raw materials into outputs, such as services and goods.
Requisites
08-June-2025
02-November-2025
08-February-2026
Learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
- Articulate the role, objectives and processes of operations management and how operations management is applied in businesses
- Analyse a business problem to provide operations management solutions to optimise internal systems including production scheduling and supply chain management
- Utilise a range of analytical tools such as inventory control models to satisfy competing internal and external demands and make business decisions
Teaching methods
Hawthorn
| Type | Hours per week | Number of weeks | Total (number of hours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| On-campus Class |
2.00 | 12 weeks | 24 |
| Online Lecture (asynchronous) |
1.00 | 12 weeks | 12 |
| Unspecified Activities Independent Learning |
9.50 | 12 weeks | 114 |
| TOTAL | 150 |
Swinburne Online
| Type | Hours per week | Number of weeks | Total (number of hours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online Directed Online Learning and Independent Learning | 12.50 | 12 weeks | 150 |
| TOTAL | 150 |
Assessment
| Type | Task | Weighting | ULO's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assignment | Individual | 35-45% | 1,2 |
| Assessment | Group | 25-45% | 1,3 |
| Test | Individual | 20-30% | 1 |
| Assignment | Individual | 35-45% | 1,2 |
| Assessment | Group | 25-45% | 1 ,3 |
| Test | Individual | 20-30% | 1 |
Content
- Introduction to operations management
- Basics of statistics including descriptive statistics and probability distributions
- Process design
- Managing operations including inventory systems
- Quantitative models
Study resources
Reading materials
A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.