Management

The primary purpose of the term project is to have you explore, in modest depth, the operations function of a business of your choosing in order to connect real-world business operations with textbook theory and principles.

On completion of the project you should:

Understand how a product or service is designed, produced and delivered to the customers.
Have explored the spectrum of operations management activities conducted by the business.

In order to achieve these goals, you are expected to select a business or organization and complete the following activities. In general, you can choose from (1) a widely-known company where you can find information regarding the company from the company’s website, newsletters, media articles and reports, business cases, etc.; or (2) a local company that you or one of your team members have access to, you may learn about the company from your work or conduct interviews to find out.

1) Research, discover and document current operations. By asking questions and/or gathering available information (for example, operations charts, bills of material, master production schedules, service blueprints, job descriptions, facility blueprints, office layouts, organization charts, operation plans, policy statements, appointment schedules, mission statements, product/service catalogs, photographs, verbal explanations, or similar materials), you will determine how the business performs its operations activities. Specifically, you will discover and identify the business’ various inputs, its value adding transformation processes, and its outputs.

2) Analyze and describe the organization’s operations management practices, procedures, and policies. Carefully and in depth, describe how operations management strategy, design and operating functions are performed by your chosen business. Analysis should include at least two of the following topics: