Skip to main content
Unit outline_

SMBA6110: Operations Management

Semester 2 Early, 2020 [Normal day] - Castlereagh St, Sydney

Any business or organisation is concerned with delivering value to its customers or clients, and the 'operations' of a company are the direct processes that a company uses to create value. Operations Management is the task of managing these processes. There is tremendous variety in operations, whether this is handling phone calls at a call centre, manufacturing cardboard from recycled paper, running room service in a hotel or dealing with passengers in an airline. This unit is about the fundamentals of operations management, covering both service industries and manufacturing. The aim is to provide a set of frameworks and concepts that can be applied in any company. All managers, even if they do not work in an operations function, will gain from understanding operations terminology, being able to contribute to key operations debates, and being able to see the operations of the company in a strategic context.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Management Education
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
SMBA6001
Prohibitions
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Rod Lopez, rlopez@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Individual assignment
n/a
35% -
Due date: 07 Oct 2020 at 23:59
6 pages
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
In-semester test (Open book) Type C in-semester exam In-semester exam
n/a
30% Week 10
Due date: 14 Oct 2020 at 18:00
2 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Assignment group assignment Group assignment
In-class presentation on 16/9/2020, 23/9/2020. 30/9/2020
20% Week 10
Due date: 30 Sep 2020 at 22:00
20 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Participation Class participation
n/a
15% Weekly n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
group assignment = group assignment ?
Type C in-semester exam = Type C in-semester exam ?

Assessment summary

  • Class participation: Students are expected to participate actively in all class discussions and will be required to make a substantive contribution to case discussions.
  • Group assignment: Syndicate groups will be formed during the first day of classes. Each group will deliver a presentation to the class on a specific operations management topic, strictly in the service industry.
  • Individual assignment: Students will be required to write an individual report. The most important component of this report is the application of insights, concepts, tools, and techniques discussed in
    class to the student’s chosen organisation.
  • In-semester exam: This is an open book exam with both problem and essay questions.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an exceptional standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school. 

Distinction

75 - 84

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a very high standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

Credit

65 - 74

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a good standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

Pass

50 - 64

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an acceptable standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school. 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Directing the Operation Block teaching (4 hr)  
Week 02 Directing the Operation Block teaching (4 hr)  
Week 03 Designing the Operation Block teaching (4 hr)  
Week 04 Designing the Operation Block teaching (4 hr)  
Week 05 Designing the Operation Block teaching (4 hr)  
Week 06 Deliver Block teaching (4 hr)  
Week 07 Deliver Block teaching (4 hr)  
Week 08 Group presentations Block teaching (4 hr)  
Week 09 Group presentations Block teaching (4 hr)  
Week 10 Group presentations Block teaching (4 hr)  
Week 11 Individual assessment due Block teaching (1 hr)  
Week 12 Exam Block teaching (2 hr)  

Attendance and class requirements

Lecture recordings: Note that MBA classes held at the CBD Campus are not systematically recorded and 100% class attendance is expected for each unit of the MBA Program. There is an 80% minimum attendance and particularly for this unit, a participation and contribution assessment mark. If there are extenuating circumstances as to why you are not able to attend a particular class, please contact your unit coordinator as soon as possible, and also notify your group members (if the Unit has a group work component).

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

  • Nigel Slack, Alistair Brandon-Jones, and Robert Johnston: Operations Management, Pearson, 2016 (9th edition)

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. demonstrate knowledge of OM concepts, tools, and techniques, apply this knowledge to local and global business environments, and to your own functional area which you will learn to view as an 'operation'
  • LO2. think critically about the internal and external challenges facing the business and identify, select, and deploy the most appropriate OM tools and techniques in order to respond to these challenges in the most effective way
  • LO3. propose solutions to specific and broad operational business problems and develop improvement programs, and practice the development of an operational strategy in support of strategic business objectives set out by your organisation
  • LO4. demonstrate skills in articulating a detailed operations strategy in a logical, succinct, and professional matter, and communicate the strategy and associated plan in a simulated work environment where you can challenge your delivery approach (written and verbal), and your ability to sell an operational plan to executive leadership
  • LO5. work collaboratively to complete an operational plan with a group of individuals of diverse professional and industrial backgrounds, and work through a complex set of requirements by collaborating and consulting with your peers, and finally producing a high quality group presentation encompassing a broad range of contributions from peers and other sources.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

No changes have been made since this unit was last offered

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.