BE1401 BUSINESS OPERATIONS & PROCESSES

(SEMESTER 1 AY 2018)

COURSE OBJECTIVE & SCOPE

The operations function in an organization is responsible for the design and management of
systems concerned with the production of goods and services. Operations account for a
significant percentage of the value added and cost in any business. With increased
competition, firms face constant pressure to deliver timely and high quality product and services.
Leading edge companies have met these challenges by enhancing their competitiveness in
business operations. Even a small advantage in operations can be the difference between
winners & losers in a competitive marketplace.

The main objectives of this broad spectrum course are i) to gain an appreciation of the
Operations function and ii) to understand the fundamental concepts and techniques necessary
for designing, managing and improving operations and processes in both manufacturing and
service industries. Analyzing and continuously improving enterprise wide processes is
critically important for achieving world class performance in business operations. Hence the
course will adopt a "process management" viewpoint while addressing a variety of strategic
and tactical issues. Topics covered in the course include Operations Strategy, Process
Analysis & Improvement, Quality Management, Applications of Linear Programming in
Operations, Inventory Management and Supply Chain Management.

The course will use a mix of lectures, case studies, and problem solving exercises, to introduce
the students to the latest tools, techniques, issues and strategies in operations management.

COURSE SCHEDULE

Week Dates TOPICS Readings

#
Process analysis
1 Course introduction / Process Analysis 1 (Little’s Cachon: Chap. 1 & 2
Law and Applications)
2 Process Analysis 2 (Capacity and Bottlenecks) Cachon: Chap. 3 & 4
3 Process Analysis 3 (Set-up and Interruptions) Cachon : Chap. 7
4 Queues and Service Systems Cachon : Chap. 16
Quantitative tools
5 Project Management Chap. 2 of Krajewski
6 Quiz #1/Applications of Linear Programming in Lecture notes
Operations
7 LP Applications (contd.)/Linear Programming- Lecture notes
Practicum
Recess Week
8 Forecasting Cachon: Chap. 15
(the “seasonal

1
 forecasting method”
excluded)
Inventory and supply chain management
10 Inventory Management 2: Newsvendor Model Cachon : Chap. 13
(omit 13.5)
11 Quiz #2 + Supply Chain Management Class Notes

12 Quality Management (e-Learning)

13 Group Presentations
Final Examination

COURSE ASSESSMENT
Class Participation : 10%
Group Assignment1 : 20%
Quizes : 20%
Final examination : 50%
Total 100%

COURSE MATERIALS

Stongly recommended textbook/materials

Most of the assigned reading materials and class notes will be provided online on NTULearn
(http://ntulearn.ntu.edu.sg). The main textbooks for the course are:

1. Operations Management, 1st Edition by Gerard Cachon and Christian Terwiesch, 2017,
McGraw-Hill, ISBN: 978-1-259-25544-1

2. Introduction to Management Science, 5th Edition by Frederick Hillier and Mark Hillier
(available as a digital version with the main text).

3. Operations Management: Processes and Supply Chains, by Lee Krajewski, Larry

Ritzman and Manoj Malhotra. Hardcopies available from NTU Library

4. The course will use components of Technology Enabled Learning from McGraw-Hill
Connect’s Learn Smart modules associated with the text Operations Management by
Cachon and Terwiesch. This e-tool facilitates students’ learning at their own pace,
both prior to and after the seminar. Prior to the seminar, the students are introduced to
the concepts covered in the seminar. After the seminar, the students assimilate
concepts at a deeper level and sharpen their analytical toolkit by doing quantitative
exercises.

1
Group assignment must be submitted thru Turnitin and will be checked for plagiarism.

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 ASSESSMENT PLAN (As per AACSB Assurance of Learning (AOL) Requirement)

Academic Year : 2018/19 Semester : 1 Programme : BBUS

Course : BE1401 Business Operations & Processes

Instructors : Chen Chien-Ming
Course
: 13 sessions x 4h each = 52h
Duration

Learning Assessment
Course Learning Objective
Goal Method/Rubric
Students should gain knowledge of fundamental
Acquiring
concepts and techniques necessary for designing Quiz, Final
knowledge
and managing business operations and knowledge Examination
(AK)
of current issues and strategies for managing global
business operations.
Problem Students should be able to develop analytical
Solving and thinking, problem solving skills, and decision
Group
Decision making skills and apply these to real life situations
Assignment
Making
(PSDM)

ASSESSMENT METHODS

1. Final Examination

Course Learning
Learning Goal
Objective
Students should gain
knowledge of fundamental
concepts and techniques
necessary for designing and
managing business
operations and knowledge
of current issues and
strategies for managing
Acquiring
global business operations.
knowledge(AK)
Assessment Method
Examination/Quiz
The examination/quiz contains
questions that
i) test application of fundamental
concepts and analysis techniques
to specific problems in operations
ii) test deeper problem solving and
analytical thinking skills through
more challenging analytical
questions and
iii) test understanding of current
issues and strategies for
managing global operations
through essay-type as well as
open ended managerial questions
posed in a particular, practical
operations context.

Assessment Rubric for Examination/Quiz

3
(To assess AK )

Learning Performance Levels

objectives Above Expectations Met Expectations Below
(A+,A,A-) (B+, B, B-) Expectation
(C-F)
Knowledge of Able to very clearly Able to address most Unable to write
fundamental articulate and write points relevant to even somewhat
concepts and about concepts and managing a specific clearly the key
techniques. strategies and methods operations related issue points and issues
Knowledge of to manage specific in a practical context. in managing
current issues operations related However, the ability to specific
and strategies issues in a practical illustrate, articulate and operations in a
for managing context. write the points clearly practical context.
global business can be improved
operations. further.
Writing Skills.
(AK)

2. Group Assignment

Course Learning Assessment

Learning Goal Rubric
Objective Method
Develop analytical
thinking, problem solving
skills, decision making
skills and report writing
skills.
Develop ability to analyze
business related problems
and analyze and evaluate Assessment
alternative solutions. Rubric for
Problem Solving and
Group Assignment Group
Decision Making Students are expected to
Assignment (see
structure business
below)
problems as decision
models and (where
appropriate) solve models
using the relevant
software and interpret the
computer-generated
solutions to address key
issues

4
Assessment Rubric for Group Assignment

(to assess problem solving and decision making skills)

Performance Levels

Traits Above Expectations Met Expectations Below Expectation

(A+,A,A-) (B+, B, B-) (C-F)

Demonstrates Presents and discusses Presents and discusses Steps taken in

logic solution(s) in solutions(s) that are problem-solving lack
coherent and logical mostly correct and logic, and unable to
way; flow is effective demonstrate logical explain rationale for
thinking; may miss steps taken in
few steps, or omit a problem-solving
minor point in
explanation of
rationale for step
taken in problem-
solving
Identifies Identifies a set of Identifies and Does not identify
alternative options feasible options that discusses a set of alternatives or discuss
demonstrates feasible alternatives
creativity and ability
to integrate
knowledge
Selects an option Strong link between Relatively adequate No link or tenuous
that is consistent analysis and the link between analysis link between
with the option selected and the option evaluation and option
evaluation selected selected
Integrates the Appreciates the Appreciates the Does not seem able to
issues in the possible possible appreciate how this
project to other interrelatedness interrelatedness situation might be
business between this situation between this situation related to others
situations, stated and others, including and others stated in
or unstated those not stated in the the scenario
scenario