Operations Management is the systematic design, direction and control of the processes (“value streams”) that create value by transforming inputs into finished goods or services. Operations also play a critical strategic role by helping organizations learn, innovate and continually increase the value offered to customers while reducing waste.

This course is focused on the concepts and analytic methods that are useful in the design and management of a firm’s operations. The aim is to familiarize students with the problems and issues confronting operations managers, and to provide language, concepts, insights and tools to deal with these issues in order to gain competitive advantage through operations. Because the course deals with the management of “processes”, it applies to both for-profit and non-profit organizations, to both service and manufacturing organizations, and to virtually any functional area or industry.