NAME
Amberton University
Operations Management
MGT5203.E1
Teacher
June 13, 2011
MGT5203 Assignment 1 - Contributions to the Field of Management
What is operations management?
Operations management is the management of processes that create goods and/or services which is the core to any business. (Stevenson, 2012) Operations involves leading within several operational duties such as: service design, process selection, selection and management of technology, design of work systems, location planning, facilities planning, and quality improvement. There are many activities that should be a focus for Operations Managers and can help ensure process and productivity and help guide the manager into the best decision making scenarios possible. Functions involved within Operations Management are: forecasting, scheduling, inventory management, quality assurance, capacity planning, facility location, and motivation and training of employees. (Stevenson, 2012) Any activity directly correlated within providing services or generating goods is part of Operations Management. The job definitions for an Operation Manager differ by the type of business and the goods sold or serviced. Each may require different skill sets to understand the business but the overall leadership or management is what the primary focus point should be.
There are similarities between all types of operations and this can be seen within transformed resources. Transformed resources are the operations of materials, information and customers. Any business has all three to contend with but may face different priorities within the transformed resources that should be the focus. (Slack, Chambers, & Johnston, 2011) The line between differences between manufacturing and service are becoming a blur and losing the distinct importance.
Why is operations management important to the field of management?
Operations management
References: Rao, S. R. (2010, September 22). The importance of operations Management. citeMan. Retrieved from http://www.citeman.com/10630-the-importance-of-operations-management-2.html Slack, N., Chambers, S., & Johnston, R. (2011). Operations Management (4th ed.). [Kindle]. Retrieved from http://wps.pearsoned.co.uk/ema_uk_he_slack_opsman_4/17/4471/1144821.cw/ Stevenson, W. J. (2012). Operations Management (11th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Irwin. Wright, C. M., & Mechling, G. (2001, September 21). The importance of operations management problems in service organizations. The International Journal of Management Science, 77-87. Retrieved from http://paws.wcu.edu/gmechling/Wright_Mechling.pdf