BUAD306: INTRO TO SERVICE & OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT
Winter 2024
About BUAD306
Operations Management (OM) focuses on the design of production and service processes and supporting business strategies to deliver goods and services that meet business goals and satisfy customer needs while generating profitability. Successful OM aims to improve profitability by utilizing analytical approaches/techniquesto achieve increased efficiencies, higher productivity, reduced costs and improved quality.
During this session, you will learn about OM concepts and planning tools/ mathematics that are used in all successful businesses. Some of these topics include Forecasting, Decision Theory, Capacity Planning, Supply Chain Management, Project Management, and Quality Control.
Upon successfully completing this class, you will have a solid understanding of the OM function, mathematical techniques used to make effective OM decisions and the importance of integrating OM with other core business functions such as Marketing, Finance, Human Resources, etc.
As someone with over 35 years of corporate, start-up and small business experience, I reinforce the OM curriculum with actual operational examples— and regularly call on students to share their own business experiences. I will also ask students to think through discussion scenarios as a consumer, an employee and as a manager. This enables students to achieve a broad view of the impact of OM on all stakeholders.
I have high expectations of students— and strongly recommend that you watch class lectures in a timely manner, read assigned textbook chapters, and complete related homework problems. I firmly believe that putting in a professional level of effort will enable you to not only succeed in the course but in your current job and future career.
General Course Information
Text:
• REQUIRED: Production/Operations Management, Custom Text, 14th Ed., Stevenson (Electronic version automatically delivered by Bookstore via Canvas; see announcement for access.)
• OPTIONAL: Murphy Course Pack (Fall ‘24 version is OK)
Office Hours via Zoom (by appointment on Tues/Weds/Thurs; schedule via email):
• Sign up via link on course Canvas homepage; if you are unable to meet during available times, email to schedule an appointment.
Class Meeting Time:
• Online (asynchronous);students must complete course modules and supporting work per schedule in syllabus and on Canvas.
Canvas / Emails
Canvas will be used as the “hub” for all coursework. Announcements, syllabus, practice problems, PowerPoint slides, Yellowdig discussions, homework solutions and other important course materials can be found on the course Canvas page. You are required to check it daily.
In some cases, I may email students with information/materials orschedule changes. Please read these messages ASAP and be sure to follow instructions if provided.
HAVE READY FOR LECTURES:
• PPT Slides/Course Pack
• Calculator
• Notes/Qs from Readings
• Completed homework problems (as requested)
Viewing Lecture Recordings
• This course operates in an asynchronous manner. Lectures and coursework are provided on Canvas and review/completion must be completed by students per the class schedule in this syllabus (and on Canvas).
• Students are required to watch the lectures as shown on the syllabus schedule; it is NOT recommended that you wait and bunch them together; doing so will impact your ability to complete assignments and other work. If you have any issues with accessing recordings, please notify me ASAP.
Want to Succeed in Winter BUAD306?
Follow Instructions: Itis expected that all students will read assignments and course communications carefully and follow all instructions. This will ensure that your complete work properly and work can be graded quickly. Failure to read instructions may impact your grade— so please take the time to do so!
Take Notes: Students are highly encouraged to watch lectures and take notes in a notebook or on corresponding pages of the course pack; this will facilitate learning and retention and will help with exam preparation.
Complete Homework Problems: Numerous HW problems (from the textbook) are assigned to ensure thatstudents have ample opportunity to understand the mathematics taught in the course. These homework problems are not graded— but students are expected to complete them to prepare for assignments which are submitted/graded. Failure to complete homework problems will definitely impact your performance in the class. You should complete HW problems within 24-48 hours after learning math concepts in class; this will help with retention of information.