Trinity Business School

INTRODUCTION TO OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT

2023/24

MODULE CODE: BUU22560

MODULE NAME: INTRODUCTION TO OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT

ECTS: 5

Lecturer: Ann Whyte

E-mail: to follow
Office Hours: By appointment on Friday in advance of lectures.

MODULE DESCRIPTION
Operations management relates to the transformations of materials, people, and information for
the production of goods and the delivery of services. Operations is often considered to be
complex and difficult to understand. Operations can seem transparent with people or equipment
working and operation actions being visibly undertaken. However, there are many non-visible
elements to operations that are less obvious and can pose challenges, e.g.
• What makes it work as it does?
• Could operations be more efficient?
• Could operations be more sustainable?
• If changes are implemented will the results be the same?
• Are the any changes or risks that could disrupt operations, e.g. market, environmental,
internal, etc.?
• How can operations decisions affect the organisation?
• Can operations be improved? If so, how?
This module introduces Operations Management as the act of combining people and technology
in an organisation to produce goods and to deliver services now and in the future with a focus on
‘Getting Things Done’. It presents the challenges of climate change and its impact on businesses
and what operations can do to address these challenges.

LEARNING AND TEACHING APPROACH

This course will be delivered as a series of lectures and tutorials that will be supported by
materials on Blackboard. Students will have access to short online self-assessment tasks to gauge
progress and understanding of key topics. Students will be able to engage in class discussions in
both lectures and tutorials to develop understanding of core theories and key concepts of
operations management. Students are expected to read/engage with all course materials and
attend all lectures and tutorials. Lectures will cover key theories and concept with some class
simulations and case study discussions. Tutorials will offer smaller group discussions to enhance
learning, understanding, and engagement with the topic.

MODULE-LEVEL LEARNING OUTCOMES

1. Understand the roles and responsibilities within operations management.
2. Identify the significance of operations management to businesses and organisations.
3. Define and understand key operations management theories and concepts.
4. Identify and understand how operations both depends on and impacts the environment
and society.
5. Development of teamwork, leadership, and presentation skills.
6. Identify and understand the application of operations management key concepts, tools,
and frameworks in real world scenarios.

RELATION TO DEGREE
This module positions Operations Management as a relevant, important, and exciting part of
managerial responsibility. In the world of business, the ability to Get Things done is fundamental
to delivering on high level objectives. This module shares the current understanding of how
delivery can be achieved in an effective, efficient, sustainable, ethical and socially responsible
way.

WORKLOAD
Content Indicative Number of Hours
Lecturing and tutorial hours 28
Preparation for lectures and tutorials 20
Assignments and Assignment Preparation 37
Reading of assigned materials and active 40
reflection on lecture and course content and
linkage to personal experiences
Total 125
TEXTBOOKS AND REQUIRED RESOURCES

Required core course textbook:

Slack, N. Brandon-Jones, A. 2022. Operations Management. Pearson Education Limited.

As this is an introductory course, we will no cover the entire content of the textbook. Instead we
will delve into specific chapters relevant to the content of the course. There are some copies of
this edition of the textbook, as well as older editions in the college library. You can also read this
book on the online library.
Additional reading and other materials will be added to Blackboard.

Student preparation for the module

Access materials on blackboard weekly and read, listen, engage as required. Attend weekly
lectures and any scheduled tutorials.

COURSE COMMUNICATION

Please log into the module page weekly to Blackboard to access materials for that week and to
check for any relevant announcements.
Please note that all course related email communication must be sent from your official TCD
email address. Emails sent from other addresses will not be attended to.

ASSESSMENT

Assessment for this module will be as follows:

Continuous Assessment- Group Work- 35%

Final Assessment – Exam- 65%

Reassesment: Students who do not obtain an overall pass mark for this module will have the
opportunity to be reassessed by a supplemental assessment (weigthed at 100%).

Confirmation of examination venues and other details will be provided during the term.
 MODULE SCHEDULE

Term
Module Date & Lecture & readings
Week/TC Venue
D Week
Theme 1- Introduction to Operations Management
Reading:
• Slack, N,. Brandon-Jones, A. 2022. Operations Management (10th
1/22 26 Jan 2024
16:00-18:00 Edition). Pearson. (Chapter 1)
•
Please Note- No Tutorial scheduled

Theme 2- Sustainability and Performance in Operations

Reading:
• Slack, N,. Brandon-Jones, A. 2022. Operations Management (10th
Edition). Pearson. (Chapter 2)
• Kaplan, R.S., Norton, D.R. 2005. The Balanced Scorecard:
2 Feb Measures That Drive Performance. (cover story). Harvard Business
2024 Review, 83(7/8)
2/23 16:00-18:00
• Keeble, J. et al. 2003. Using Indicators to Measure Sustainability
Performance at a Corporate and Project Level. Journal of Business
Ethics, 44

Please Note- No Tutorial

Theme 3- Product and Service Innovation for Sustainability

Reading:
• Slack, N,. Brandon-Jones, A. 2022. Operations Management (10th
Edition). Pearson. (Chapter 4)
9 Feb • Heskett et al. 2008. Putting the Service-Profit Chain to Work.
3/24 2024 Harvard Business Reivew, 86(7/8), 118-129
16:00-18:00
• Tushman, M. Nadler, D. 1986. Organizing for Innovation. California
Management Review, XXVIII(3)

Please Note- Tutorial scheduled- time and date tbc

Theme 4- Product and Service Innovation for Sustainability

Reading:
• Slack, N,. Brandon-Jones, A. 2022. Operations Management (10th
16 Feb Edition). Pearson. (Chapter 6 and 1)
4/25 2024
16:00-18:00 • Hammer, M., Stanton, S. 1999. How Process Enterprises Really
Work. Harvard Business Review, 77(6), 108-118
• Hall, J.M., Johnson, M.E. 2009. When Should A Process Be Art Not
Science? Harvard Business Review, 87(3), 58-65
 • Planning, P. 2015. Business Model Innovation in a Circular
Economy Reasons for Non-Acceptance of Circular Businss Models.
Open Journal of Busienss Model Innovation

Please Note- Tutorial scheduled- time and date tbc

Theme 5- People in Operations and Workplace Wellbeing

Reading:
23 Feb • Slack, N,. Brandon-Jones, A. 2022. Operations Management (10th
5/26 2024 Edition). Pearson. (Chapter 9)
16:00-18:00

Please Note- Tutorial scheduled- time and date tbc

Theme 6 Designing the Operation: Layout and Look

Reading:
1 March • Slack, N,. Brandon-Jones, A. 2022. Operations Management (10th
6/27 2024 Edition). Pearson. (Chapter 7)
16:00-18:00

Please Note- Tutorial scheduled- time and date tbc

Study Week
8 March
7/28 2024 Please Note- No Lecture
Please Note- No Tutorial

Theme 7 Operations Improvement

Reading:
• Slack, N,. Brandon-Jones, A. 2022. Operations Management (10th
Edition). Pearson. (Chapter 16)
• Piercy, N., Rich, N. 2015. The relationship between lean operations
15 March
8/29 2024
and sustainable operations. International Journal of Operations &
16:00-18:00 Production Management, 35(2), 282-315

Please Note- Tutorial Scheduled- time and date tbc. Group Assesssment
in Tutorial- group work assessment will take place over two weeks of
tutorials in class. This is worth 35% of the final grade for this module

Theme 8- Quality Management, Sustianability and the Service

Encounter
Reading:
22 March • Slack, N,. Brandon-Jones, A. 2022. Operations Management (10th
9/30 2024 Edition). Pearson. (Chapter 17)
16:00-18:00
• Kleindorfer, P.R., Singhal, K., VanWassenhove, L.N. 2005.
Sustainable Operations Management. Production and Operations
Management, 14 (4), 482-492
 Please Note- Tutorial Scheduled- time and date tbc. Group Assessment in
Tutorial- group work assessment will take place over two weeks of tutorials
in class. This is worth 35% of the final grade for this module.

College Holiday
29 March
10/31 2024 Please Note- No Lecture
Please Note- No Tutorial

Theme 9- Sustainable Operations

Reading:
• Paksoy, T. and Deveci, M. (2023) Smart and Sustainable Operations and
Supply Chain Management in Industry 4.0. First edition. CRC Press.
Available at: https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003180302. (Chapter 1-
5 April ignore any equations, pay particular attention to the case study and
11/32 2024 the tables that look at smart and sustainable operations versus
16:00-18:00
traditional operations)
• Haanaes, K., Michael, D., Jurgen, J., Rangan, S. 2013. Making
Sustianability Profitable. Harvard Business Review, March.

Please Note- Tutorial scheduled- time and date tbc

Theme 10- Managing Risk and Recovery

Reading:
12 April • Slack, N,. Brandon-Jones, A. 2022. Operations Management (10th
12/33 2024 Edition). Pearson. (Chapter 18)
16:00-18:00

Please Note- Tutorial scheduled- time and date tbc

End April,
Early May, Final Exam - 65%- Multiple Choice Questions
TBC

Additional materials will be added to Blackboard

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE:

Ann Whyte has developed and lectures on a number of Masters and undergraduate courses
covering a broad variety of sustainability and business related topics for Dublin City University,
Glasgow Caledonian University, and the Institute of Sustianability Studies in addition to Trinity
College Dublin. She is a Sustainability Consultant experienced in conducting and supervising
environmental-related research. Formerly a data networking manager, she is involved in national
and international projects with the voluntary sector, public sector and European Commission
promoting and valuing older people, intergenerational integration, migrant integration, sustainable
digital learning, sustainable transport, sustainable business teaching models, circular economy,
and sustainable development. Ann’s specialty topics for teaching include Sustainable Transport
and Logistics, Sustainable Development, Environmental Management, Sustainable Waste,
Sustainable Water, Sustainable Energy, Business and Biodiversity, Introduction to Environmental
Legal Frameworks, Business and Sustainability, Carbon Capture and Climate Change, Resource
Management, Sustianable Operations, and Research Methodology