Required text

Slack, N., Brandon-Jones, A. & Johnston, R. (2016). Operations Management, 8th edition. Pearson Education Australia. ISBN: 9781292098678

Please note: Students should only attain the 8th edition of this textbook, which is the only edition this class will be taught from. Furthermore, this course relies heavily on the learning material provided in the textbook. It is highly advised that students attain the required textbook as soon as possible and familiarise themselves with the textbook material, especially before the start of each class session for sessions with specific allocated chapters (which will be made available in your class iLearn page). 

Where to purchase textbook?

The Coop Bookshop: The Coop Bookshop is our main retailer for textbooks and other related academic material. For information on textbook prices and online ordering, please refer to The Co-Op Bookshop webpage at  http://www.coop.com.au

eBook disclaimer for open book exams: As notebook computers, iPads, tablets, PDAs and similar are not allowed in the exam room, the eBook version available for this textbook which would require a student to bring in a notebook computer, iPad, tablet, PDA or a similar device in order to view it, will not be allowed in the exam room. Students are advised to only get the hard copy version of the required text.

Disclaimer: MGSM does not take responsibility for the stock levels of required textbooks from preferred retail outlets and other book retailers. While we advise our preferred book retail outlet, The Co-op Bookshop, of our maximum expected number of students purchasing specific required text each term, The Co-op Bookshop and other book retailers will make their own judgement in regard to their physical holding stock levels. To prevent disappointment if a textbook is out-of-stock, we highly advise students to order their textbooks as early as possible, or if the required textbook is currently out-of-stock, place an order with the book retailer as soon as possible so that these book retailers can monitor demand and supply, and adjust their stock orders accordingly.

Recommended journals

Highly recommended journals

• Harvard business review (HBR)
• Journal of operations management (JOM)
• Production and operations management (POM)
• Journal of Supply Chain Management (JSCM)
• Manufacturing & Service Operations Management (M&SOM)
• International journal of operations and production management (IJOPM)
• McKinsey quarterly

Other related journals

• Academy of management review
• California management review
• Decision sciences
• International journal of technology management
• International journal of service industry management

Access to Technology

Access to a personal computer and internet connection is required to access learning material/resources online on Macquarie University's online learning management system called iLearn.

iLearn - Your class online learning resources page

The class iLearn page for this unit is located at: https://ilearn.mq.edu.au/​. You must be enrolled in this class to see the class iLearn page.

Lecture slides

Lecture slides will be provided to students only in soft-copy format via the class iLearn page.

Unit note readings

Unit note readings are provided to students only in soft-copy format via the class iLearn page.

Unit objectives

The basic objectives of this unit are:

• To develop an appreciation of the key issues currently facing the manager of an operational functional area.
• To gain an insight into the appropriate means of applying process based concepts and operational tools and techniques.
• To develop an ability to interrelate the impact of developments made in the operations area with other functional areas and with overall corporate strategy.

Study requirements

It will be assumed that the assigned reading for each session has been done prior to class.  Class time will be spent ensuring that you have understood this material and exploring new developments and extensions to the basic concepts.

Class case discussions and project preparations will be used as methods for active participatory learning. The grade you obtain for them together with the participation grade will measure the effectiveness of the learning process. The primary output measures are written assignments, case study discussions and the final examination. Your understanding of the basic principles on which the unit is based will be measured by the final exam and your ability to apply them measured by the project, assignment and cases.

The mode of assessment will test your skills through a number of ways during this unit: situation investigation and analysis, report writing, verbal and written presentations, the ability to work effectively in teams, participation in class discussions, and examination. 

If you are unable to attend a class session or have to arrive late or leave early, please let me know before the session concerned as this will have an obvious impact on the planned syndicate work. If this situation occurs, you should also arrange with a fellow class member to collect any handouts and other information for you.

Formal assessment for this unit is designed to recognise both individual and team effort.  This is consciously done to reflect the business environment where effective teamwork is essential to the achievement of individual success. Please note that class “contribution” and not simply “participation” will be graded; there is a subtle but important difference between the two. After each session, notes will be made of those who made important contributions to the session, as well as other individuals who participated. All of you have significant work experience to contribute to the class: you are strongly encouraged to use that in order to make the class a more productive learning experience for us all!

Students are required to attend all classes. Please only attend the class you are enrolled in as reflected in your e-Student account. This unit will be presented over 10 sessions as follows (**The proposed program might be subject to some minor changes as the term progresses (TBA)).

Assessment tasks: Title of assessment tasks have changed, but core concept of each assessment remains the same.

**Two new HB Cases have been added, resulting in total of 5 HB cases and 2 large class exercises.

**Group Project requirement and content has been changed to reflect current issues in operations management.

Groups will be required to submit a report on one of the following:

1. Reimagining the future of supply chain management in the digital economy
2. Ethical procurement and sustainable business practices
3. Cyber security and vulnerability of SMEs in the supply chain
4. Feasibility of establishing an alternate dedicated container handling terminal in Northern NSW
5. Finance supply chain management and blockchains.

Unit schedule: 

** New topic added in Session 8, "Sustainability and Ethics"

(**The proposed class schedules might be subject to some minor changes in time and day, e.g., make-up classes, and students will be advised of these changes as soon as possible.)

Site Visit: It is the intention of the lecturer to plan a plant site visit during the Term to illustrate concepts learnt during this unit.  This is optional but has proven to be valuable for the students' learning experience.

• Leadership: Develop skills required of leaders with respect to the synthesis of a wide array of operations information in order to make well-informed and financially robust operational, tactical and strategic decisions.
• Global mindset: Assessment of the implications of strategic decisions from a whole of entity perspective, across a wide spectrum of stakeholders and diverse international contexts.
• Citizenship: Apply a true and fair view approach to operations activities where discretion exists related to accountability and ethical practices.
• Creating sustainable value: Adoption of a forward-looking perspective on the impact of decisions on the operations position vis-à-vis business, environmental and social sustainability.

The interactive environment of the classroom is central to the MGSM experience. Students are required to attend the full duration of all classes for the units in which they are enrolled. We recognise that exceptional circumstances may occur, such as unavoidable travel on behalf of your organization or the serious illness or injury of you or a close family member.

Special consideration may be given for a maximum of 20% non-attendance for such circumstances as long as lecturers are contacted in advance, and supporting documentation provided, to request exemption from attendance. Failure to abide by these conditions may result in automatic withdrawal, with academic and/or financial penalty. The full Student Attendance Policy is published in the MGSM Student Handbook at https://students.mgsm.edu.au/handbook.

These unit materials and the content of this unit are provided for educational purposes only and no decision should be made based on the material without obtaining independent professional advice relating to the particular circumstances involved.