Global Operations Management (5 cr)

Objectives (course unit)

In this course, the participants will gain basic understanding of traditional and LEAN operations management by working on organizational development cases in small groups.

After completing the course, the participants will be able to:
• Describe an organizational development case as a process
• Create a plan on how to improve the processes of working life cases
• Identify operations management related trends, e.g. digitalization and corporate social responsibility

Content (course unit)

• Organizational development case in small groups
• Introduction to operations management
• Operations strategy
• Process design and efficiency
• Process monitoring and control
• Process improvement
• Current trends in operations management

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1-2) (course unit)

The student is able to name and explain the core concepts of process design and improvement,  operations management and  LEAN.  The student uses basic process design principles and operations management principles in a "cookbook" manner. The student is able to  give and receive feedback related to operations management ,  collaborates in a small group on operations management related tasks  and takes responsibility of own studies related to operations management.

Assessment criteria, good (3-4) (course unit)

The student can explain how to apply the core concepts of process design and improvement. The student is able to compare traditional and LEAN operations management principles, explain how to create operations strategy in a continuously changing environment and  how to apply process control. The student is able to apply the core concepts of process design and improvement on working life cases, plan and implement LEAN initiatives for working life cases, and plan and manage process improvement projects. The student is able to give and receive constructive feedback related to operations management,  develop collaborative actions in a small group concerning operations management related tasks and takes responsibility of own studies and group work related to operations management.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5) (course unit)

The student analyses systematically the need for process improvement by using appropriate tools and methods. The student uses additional and recent research papers to extend knowledge of operations management, operations strategy and LEAN management. The student applies the core concepts of process design and improvement in a systematic manner on working life cases, justifies the use of LEAN methods for working life cases and the use of process improvement methods for working life cases. The student is able to use feedback to grow professionally in the field of operations management,  develop creative and constructive working methods to solve operations management related tasks individually and in small groups and commits oneself to own studies and group work related to operations management beyond the ordinary level (3-4) requirements . 

Location and time

ZOOM meetings with the teachers
• All about the GOM course 23.9.2021
• CSR & LEAN 28.10.2021
• GOM themes & consultation 12.11.2021
• Exam & Final presentations 10.12.2021

Exam schedules

Exam & Final presentations 10.12.2021

Assessment methods and criteria

Individual learning diaries/assignments (weight 1/3)
Project work in small groups (weight 1/3)
Exam (weight 1/3)

Assessment scale

0-5

Teaching methods

Collaborative online teaching methods including:
- interactive online lessons
- group work
- presentations
- Individual assignments and collaborative learning
- Information searching, reading, writing, reflecting
- video calls in the small groups
- working on real cases

Learning materials

Martinsuo M. and Blomqvist M. 2010. Process Modeling for Improved Performance. Aalto University
Slack N., Brandon-Jones A. and Johnston R. 2016. Operations Management. Pearson Education
Modig N. and Åhlström P. 2012. This is Lean: Resolving the Efficiency Paradox

Student workload

135 hours: 4x4 h interactive online seminars, the rest (119h) individual and small group learning

Content scheduling

The course will run between 23.9. - 10.12.2021

ZOOM meetings with the teachers
• All about the GOM course 23.9.2021
• CSR & LEAN 28.10.2021
• GOM themes & consultation 12.11.2021
• Exam & Final presentations 10.12.2021
Individual tasks
• PROCESS CONCEPTS (DL 15 Feb 2021)
• EFFICIENCY CONCEPTS (DL 1 Mar 2021)
• CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
(DL 15 Mar 2021)
• HOW TO SUCCEED WITH LEAN? (DL 29
Mar 2021)

Development project in the small groups by
using LEAN SIX SIGMA framework
• DEFINE phase (DL tbd)
• MEASURE phase (DL tbd)
• ANALYSE phase (DL tbd)
• IMPROVE phase (DL tbd)
• CONTROL phase (DL tbd)

Assessment criteria - fail (0) (Not in use, Look at the Assessment criteria above)

The student fails to fullfill the requirements even at the lowest level

Assessment criteria - satisfactory (1-2) (Not in use, Look at the Assessment criteria above)

The student is able to name and explain the core concepts of process design and improvement, operations management and LEAN. The student uses basic process design principles and operations management principles in a "cookbook" manner. The student is able to give and receive feedback related to operations management , collaborates in a small group on operations management related tasks and takes responsibility of own studies related to operations management.

Assessment criteria - good (3-4) (Not in use, Look at the Assessment criteria above)

The student can explain how to apply the core concepts of process design and improvement. The student is able to compare traditional and LEAN operations management principles, explain how to create operations strategy in a continuously changing environment and how to apply process control. The student is able to apply the core concepts of process design and improvement on working life cases, plan and implement LEAN initiatives for working life cases, and plan and manage process improvement projects. The student is able to give and receive constructive feedback related to operations management, develop collaborative actions in a small group concerning operations management related tasks and takes responsibility of own studies and group work related to operations management.

Assessment criteria - excellent (5) (Not in use, Look at the Assessment criteria above)

The student analyses systematically the need for process improvement by using appropriate tools and methods. The student uses additional and recent research papers to extend knowledge of operations management, operations strategy and LEAN management. The student applies the core concepts of process design and improvement in a systematic manner on working life cases, justifies the use of LEAN methods for working life cases and the use of process improvement methods for working life cases. The student is able to use feedback to grow professionally in the field of operations management, develop creative and constructive working methods to solve operations management related tasks individually and in small groups and commits oneself to own studies and group work related to operations management beyond the ordinary level (3-4) requirements.