POST GRADUATE PROGRAM IN MANAGEMENT 2013-14 TERM: IV

Title of the course: Operations Strategy

Credits: 2

Name of the faculty member: R Raghavendra Ravi

Email: Vf-rraghavendra@iimidr.ac.in

Faculty block: NA Phone & Mobile numbers: 09384822676

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

For a business to succeed,it needs a sound business strategy. In implementation of the chosen business strategy, each of the functions need to make appropriate strategic choices and implement their "functional strategy". Hence Operations managers have to formulate and implement "Operations Strategy" In the absence of such clear headed Operations strategy formulation and implementation, .Business will not achieve its objectives.

Both Operations Managers and Business heads / managers need to understand the criticality of Operations Strategy to the success of their business.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

The following would be the learning objectives for this course: 1) To understand and appreciate the value of Strategic Thought in Operations. 2) To understand as to how Operations properly configured and deployed can constitute a competitive advantage. 3) To understand the levers available to an Operations manager to implement operations strategy.

4) To understand the role operations managers can play in Business Strategy Formulation.

PEDAGOGY / TEACHING METHOD:

Lectures, Case Studies, Presentations by students and written assignments.

EVALUATION Weightage ( %)

Class participation 15

Individual assignments 20

Group assignments 20

... ... ...

Mid-term examination

End-term examination 45

Total 100

LIST OF TEXT BOOK:

1. Operations Strategy by Nigel Slack and Michael Lewis, 2nd Edition, published by Pearson Education.

2. And Chapter 10 of Supply Chain Management by Prof Janat Shah Published by Pearson Education.

LIST OF ADDITIONAL BOOKS / READINGS: NIL

SCHEDULE OF SESSIONS:

Module I: Introduction

Module Objective: To Introduce the idea of Operations Strategy & Explore its contents

Session 1: Introduction to Operations Strategy

Objective: To introduce the topic

Readings

Topic: What is Operations Strategy? Readings: 1. Chapter 1 of the book 2. The Focused Factory, Wickham Skinner 3. The Productivity Paradox, Wickham Skinner Caselet: Singapore Airlines (Page 6 and 7 - identify Strategic and Operational decisions

Session 2: Exploring content of Operations Strategy

Objective:

Readings

4. Competing through Manufacturing, Steven C Wheelwright and Robert H Hayes 5. What is Strategy? Michael Porter - Debate specifically "Operational efficiency is not strategy" Case: "Dresding Medical" - Identify Changes in the business and how Operations need to respond to those changes.

Module II: Operations Performance

Module Objective: How should we look at performance in Operations? Nature of Trade offs and competitive priorities

Session 3: Operations Performance

Objective: To understand performance in Operations area

Readings

Chapter 2 of the book Case:. "Calls Us" Banking Services. How choices of Operations Strategy can impact performance.

MODULE III DECISION AREAS IN OPERATIONS STRATEGY

Module Objective: To explore important Decision Areas in Operations Strategy

Session 4: Capacity Strategy

Objective: Capacity is a complex aspect. To understand complexities in creating capacity.

Readings

Chapter 3 of the book Case: . Eli Lilly and Company: The Flexible Facility Decision (1993). - 9-694-074 Revised April 21st, 1994 By Professor Gary Pisano and Research Associate Sharon Rossi.

Session 5: Supply Network Strategy

Readings Chapter 4 of the book Cases:. Supply Chain Management, Hong Kong Style, Pages 451-452, Operations Management, Eleventh Edn. - the nature of supply chain ." Aztec Component Supplies" - Creating a supply network - the dynamics of engaging with suppliers. Session 6: Presentation by Students: Topics to be given separately – essentially summarizing seminal articles in Operations Strategy Session 7 Process Technology Strategy Reading Chapter 5 of the book Case: .Bonkers Chocolate Factory - Dynamics of making Process Technology Choices. Session 8 Improvement Strategy - Directions for improvement also need to be carefully chosen - this serves as the link between Strategy and its implementation. Reading Chapter 6 of the book Case." Kayston Pyrol"

MODULE IV: Restructuring the Supply Chain Module Objective: A brief look at how Supply Chain can be restructured to improve Operations Session 9 Reading: Chapter 10 of Supply Chain Management by Prof Janat Shah MODULE V: Summary, Wrap up and any Overflows To summarize the entire course and to accommodate any overflows from the previous sessions Session 10. A quick review of the course and accommodate any overflows from the previous sessions.