Course coordinator
Dr Michael Hollewand
Course overview
- Study period
- Summer Semester, 2024 (06/01/2025 - 01/02/2025)
- Study level
- Postgraduate Coursework
- Location
- Brisbane City
- Attendance mode
- Intensive
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Business School
The objective of this course is to develop the student's understanding of operations and process design within an organisation, and how they relate to the organisation's corporate objectives and business development and sustainability. Students should gain an understanding of the major theoretical issues and concepts relating to the discipline of operations and core business process design, as well as an understanding of the practical application of these concepts.
This course introduces MBA students to organisational operations by introducing the basic concepts of operations management, with a focus on strategic issues.
A conceptual, and contemporary approach is used to examine an organisation’s operational processes to determine their appropriateness. The processes are then examined in more detail, subjected to measurement to determine whether they are producing output of adequate quality, and then evaluated for improvement. Topics covered include supply chain integration and management, yield management, Six Sigma, Lean management, Data collection and statistical analysis.
The course utilises material that is conceptual and strategic, and tailored to meet the needs of MBA students who will benefit more from discussions and examples than heavy quantitative presentations. Having said that, students are expected to support recommendations made in operations with sound arguments and convincing evidence. Examples featuring services organisations and international companies are used to engage and prepare students for operations in the global economy.
On completion of the course students will be able to:
- Deliver superior managerial performance with significant business impact
- Apply what is learned to an organisation's performance in international as well as domestic markets, using operations and supply chain management techniques to create value.
- Transform their organisation’s operations to a seamless project-process oriented system
- Discover the keys to making operations visible by improving visibility and reducing clutter
- Formulate practical ideas, models and tools that will help examine and evaluate their process management techniques
UQ Business School is a proud supporter and Advanced Signatory of the United Nations Principles for Responsible Management Education (UN PRME). As part of the largest global collaboration between business schools and the UN, the school emphasises its role in empowering students to drive societal transformation through the Sustainable Development Goals. The SDGs highlight that a thriving economy relies on a healthy environment, aiming to balance economic growth, social well-being, and environmental protection for a sustainable future.
Course requirements
Recommended prerequisites
We recommend completing the following courses before enrolling in this one:
MGTS7801 and 7803
Incompatible
You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:
MGTS7060 or 7807
Restrictions
GCBA, GDipBA, MBA
Course contact
Course staff
Lecturer
Dr Michael Hollewand
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Additional timetable information
Please note: Teaching staff do not have access to the timetabling system to help with class allocation. Therefore, should you need help with your timetable and/or allocation of classes, please ensure you email business.mytimetable@uq.edu.au from your UQ student email account with the following details:
- Full Name
- Student ID
- Course Code
Aims and outcomes
This course aims to develop a students' understanding of operations and process design within differing types of organisations, ranging from service-based organisations to manufacturing-based organisations. In doing so, students will learn that operational objectives lie at the core of what an organisation does, and that efficient and effective organisational processes are needed to support an organisation's aims and objectives. Further, this course aims to provide students with the necessary tools and techniques to gather data, evaluate and measure the effectiveness of an organisation's operations, and provide mechanisms for ongoing performance reporting and accountability.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Demonstrate a comprehensive working knowledge of operations management and application systems and practices, and apply operations management process tools and frameworks to improve core business processes.
LO2.
Understand why quality is core to successful operations, and how operational practices contribute to the production of quality products in both service and manufacturing environments.
LO3.
Identify the core business processes along an organisation's supply chain and the interactions that will lead to high quality outcomes in a computer-based environment.
LO4.
Appraise the use of operations design modelling and analytical tools to recommend solutions to operational problems.
LO5.
Apply theoretical principles to a real-world case study.
LO6.
Work collaboratively and professionally in a student team on an assigned case study and in seminar group activities.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Presentation |
Team Case Study Presentation and Report
|
30% (10% Presentation, 20% Report) |
14/01/2025 - 31/01/2025
Dates will depend on the number of groups which depends on the class size |
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation | Individual Operational Audit Report | 40% |
28/01/2025 1:00 pm |
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Tutorial/ Problem Set |
Individual Take-Home Assessment
|
30% |
1/02/2025 - 2/02/2025
This assessment item will become available at 1pm on Saturday and must be submitted by 1pm on Sunday |
Assessment details
Team Case Study Presentation and Report
- Team or group-based
- In-person
- Mode
- Oral, Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Presentation
- Weight
- 30% (10% Presentation, 20% Report)
- Due date
14/01/2025 - 31/01/2025
Dates will depend on the number of groups which depends on the class size
- Other conditions
- Peer assessed.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06
Task description
In the first seminar, teams will be allocated to work together throughout the course.
The participants of each team will work together on a case study to identify the operational issues, and formulate a strategy for moving forward.
The overall objective of the case study is to prepare a 1,500 word board report on the operations of the case assigned to the team.
The team will present their solutions to the class. A total of 30 minutes will be allocated for each presentation including a class discussion. Teams should allocate 10 to 15 minutes within the time allocated for discussion with the lecturer and class. The presentation schedule will be communicated at the first seminar.
The team will then write up the Case Study Report, incorporating feedback from the presentation. The style of the report should be as if being submitted to the Board of Directors of the Case Study entity.
The study must concentrate on the operational aspects of the operation considered. While there may be marketing, organisational or strategic issues involved, for example, it would not be appropriate to devote all the analysis to development of marketing plans, organisational proposals or strategic plans. The aim of the exercise is not only to demonstrate an understanding of how the operation supports or hinders the attainment of the organisation's objectives but more importantly to identify any outstanding operational problems and make recommendations for improvement.
The final report should include the following:
- an Executive Summary;
- a brief description of the business or organisational objectives and context including its method of obtaining competitive advantage;
- an analysis of the operational issues and challenges involved;
- identification of the problems involved, including problems already dealt with;
- identification of any outstanding problems;
- recommendations and implementation plans to address these problems.
As a team assessment item, it is important team members have the opportunity to provide a peer evaluation with this assessment. Team members will be given the opportunity to provide feedback on the contributions made by other team members. Consequently, an individual team member's assessment may increase or decrease as a result of the evaluation of their contribution to the team by their peers. Further details will be provided in the class by the Course Coordinator during Seminar One.
Further details will be provided in the case study briefing available in Seminar One.
AI Statement
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT) are emerging tools that may support students in completing this assessment task. Students may appropriately use AI and/or MT in completing this assessment task. Students must clearly reference any use of AI or MT in each instance.
A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Please Note: The presentation will be recorded for marking purposes per UQ Policy.
Submission guidelines
Report submitted to TurnItIn in Blackboard Assessment link one week after presentation. Presentation must be emailed to the lecturer immediately after the presentation in class.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
Extensions or deferrals are not available for this presentation due to the intensive nature of the course. An extension may be available for the submitted material only.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
10% Late Penalty applies to submitted material only. Late submissions are not accepted for in-class presentations. Failure to present at the scheduled time will result in a mark of zero for the presentation portion of this assessment.
Individual Operational Audit Report
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation
- Weight
- 40%
- Due date
28/01/2025 1:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L05
Task description
The overall objective of the Operational Audit is to prepare a 1,500 to 2,000 word Operational Audit report on an aspect of the operations of an organisation selected by the student.
The study must primarily concentrate on the operational aspects of the operation identified. While there may be marketing organisational or strategic issues involved, it would not be appropriate to devote all the analysis to the development of marketing, organisational or strategic plans.
This task requires consideration of one or more of the analytical frameworks or methodologies addressed in the course to examine the organisation's operations and to support the conclusions reached and any recommendations proposed.
The aim of the assignment is not only to demonstrate an understanding of how the operation supports or hinders the attainment of the organisation's objectives, but also to identify any outstanding operational problems, and make recommendations for improvement, focussed at Board level.
Further information will be supplied in the assignment guideline.
AI Statement
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT) are emerging tools that may support students in completing this assessment task. Students may appropriately use AI and/or MT in completing this assessment task. Students must clearly reference any use of AI or MT in each instance.
A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Submitted through TurnItIn in the Blackboard Assessment link.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Individual Take-Home Assessment
- Online
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Tutorial/ Problem Set
- Weight
- 30%
- Due date
1/02/2025 - 2/02/2025
This assessment item will become available at 1pm on Saturday and must be submitted by 1pm on Sunday
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L05
Task description
This assessment is a take-home assessment of 24 hours in duration. However, it is expected that the assessment will take approximately two to three hours to complete. The assessment takes the form of several problem-solving (requiring mathematical calculations and interpretation of results) and short essay questions focussed upon a single cohesive case study addressing operational management issues. The assessment is to be completed individually. More details will be provided during seminars.
AI Statement
This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Submitted via TurnItIn in Blackboard. Late penalties will apply. No deferred assessment is provided for; rather, extensions in line with UQ policy will be provided where applicable.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Cut off Percent | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) | 0 - 29 |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 2 (Fail) | 30 - 46 |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) | 47 - 49 |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes |
| 4 (Pass) | 50 - 64 |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 5 (Credit) | 65 - 74 |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 6 (Distinction) | 75 - 84 |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 7 (High Distinction) | 85 - 100 |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
Additional course grading information
Grades will be allocated according to University-wide standards of criterion-based assessment.
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Week 1 |
Seminar |
Day 1 - Friday - 10/01/2025 Session 1: 9:00AM to 12:30PM - Course Introduction; Operations and Supply Chain Strategy for Competitiveness Session 2: 1:30PM to 5:00PM - Projects and Project Management Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06 |
Seminar |
Day 2 - Saturday - 11/01/2025 Session 1: 9:00AM to 12:30PM - Product Design; Transformation; Process Design and Planning Session 2: 1:30PM to 5:00PM - Monitoring and Controlling Processes. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06 |
|
Week 2 |
Seminar |
Day 3 - Tuesday - 14/01/2025 Session 1: 9:00AM to 12:30PM - Capacity Planning and Scheduling; Benihana Simulation Session 2: 1:30PM to 5:00PM - Process Measurement and Improvement with Six Sigma; Process Modelling Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06 |
Seminar |
Day 4 - Wednesday - 15/01/2025 Session 1: 9:00AM to 12:30PM - Process Improvement Lean and the Focus on Value; Agile Session 2: 1:30PM to 5:00PM - Supply Chain Strategy, Design, and Management Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06 |
|
Week 3 |
Seminar |
Day 5 - Thursday - 23/01/2025 Session 1: 9:00AM to 12:30PM - Supply Chain Planning and Analytics; Blockchain Session 2: 1:30PM to 5:00PM - Outsourcing; Insourcing; Global Sourcing and Operations; Service Process Automation Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06 |
Seminar |
Day 6 - Friday 24/01/2025 Session 1: 9:00AM to 12:30PM - Corporate Social Responsibility; Sustainability; Regulatory Compliance in Operations Session 2: 1:30PM to 5:00PM - Course Conclusion; Guidance for the Take Home Assessment Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06 |
Additional learning activity information
Seminars take place each day at the UQ City Venue, running from 09:00 am until 5:00 pm.
A one hour lunch break is taken from 12:30pm to 1:30pm.
In addition, there will be a short break in each of the morning and afternoon sessions.
Sustainable Development Goals
This course integrates the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through lectures and assessment.
Goal 8: Decent work and economic growth
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments - Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.