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2014/2015  KAN-CIMMO1068U  Managing International Operations

English Title
Managing International Operations

Course information

Language English
Course ECTS 7.5 ECTS
Type Mandatory
Level Full Degree Master
Duration One Semester
Course period Spring
Timetable Course schedule will be posted at calendar.cbs.dk
Study board
Study Board for MSc in Economics and Business Administration
Course coordinator
  • Juliana Hsuan - Department of Operations Management (OM)
Main academic disciplines
  • Economics, macro economics and managerial economics
Last updated on 04-07-2014
Learning objectives
The course focuses upon typical problems in large companies and companies with direct, foreign investments. During a series of seminars, the complexity of the management of international affairs will be explored, analyzed and discussed. The course does not concentrate on a single issue, but discusses various themes and problems. Strategic as well as operational managerial activities will be analyzed.
  • Have a clear and overall understanding of Operations Management as a field of expertise as well as the different parts it consists of
  • Show knowledge of the theories, tools, concepts, and methodologies of Operations Management and their applications
  • Understand and analyse concrete issues of Operations Management in firms and suggest solutions to these issues
  • To define the scope and limitations of Operations Management in relation to related fields such as strategy, marketing, management accounting, project management
  • Critically apply and combine the theories, tools, concepts, and methodologies to solve concrete problems faced by companies
Examination
Managing International Operations:
Exam ECTS 7,5
Examination form Oral exam based on written product

In order to participate in the oral exam, the written product must be handed in before the oral exam; by the set deadline. The grade is based on an overall assessment of the written product and the individual oral performance.
Individual or group exam Group exam, max. 4 students in the group
The oral exam is individual
Size of written product Max. 10 pages
Please use the formal requirements for academic papers, which can be found on e-campus
Assignment type Synopsis
Duration
Written product to be submitted on specified date and time.
20 min. per student, including examiners' discussion of grade, and informing plus explaining the grade
Grading scale 7-step scale
Examiner(s) Internal examiner and external examiner
Exam period May/June, The exam form is ‘individual oral exam’ based on a written synopsis (individual or group). The group synopsis shall not exceed 4 students. The maximum length of synopsis is 10 pages. The synopsis must be submitted two weeks before the date of the exam. An internal examiner (the teacher) and an external examiner will be appointed as the censor for the oral exam.
Make-up exam/re-exam
Same examination form as the ordinary exam
Description of the exam procedure
The individual oral exam will cover both the synopsis itself and the theory applied. Students will be evaluated on the basis of the oral examination and the synopsis.
The students will be graded individually. The regular exam will be held in May/June. The synopsis due date and the date for the oral exam will be announced on e-campus. The make-up/re-exam takes place in June. If a student is ill during the regular oral exam, s/he will be able to re-use the group synopsis at the make-up/re-exam.
Course content and structure

In this course, "Management of Operations" is primarily seen as a question of management control as managerial technologies are mobilized to enable co-ordination across time and space in international firms. Thus, Managing International Operations is oriented towards examining the configurations of interrelations between strategy and organization, and the managerial technologies that make them work in a routinely manner.

The scope of operations management spans the entire set of internal and external processes in order to deliver customized solutions to their customers and consumers (b2b and/or b2c). Complexity increases when operations management is performed on a global level. The decision framework consists of certain global environmental variables such as product/process design, technology transfer, facility location, sourcing and infrastructure.

Some of the central issues of the course are:

-          The concepts global operations management
-          Structuring global operations process networks
-          Supply and demand chains
-          Design of inter-organizational relationships and business processes
-          Operations management information systems
-          Operations philosophies (JIT, TQM, BPR)
-          Product, process and service design
-          Capacity and inventory management
-          Logistics  and production strategies
-          Project management
-          Quality management approaches
-          Performance measurement of operations management

Teaching methods
The teaching mainly takes place in large classes. The lectures can be described as academic dialogues on central issues confronting managers in global practices. The purpose of the dialogue is to confront recent, pioneering theories with practical experiences. The course includes lectures, case discussions, workshops, and guest speakers from industries and academia.
Expected literature

Indicative literature.

Paton, S., Clegg, B., Hsuan, J. and Pilkington, A. (2011) Operations Management. 1st Edition, McGraw-Hill.
 
Additional literature - all accessible via CBS library

Last updated on 04-07-2014