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Are you aware of the domain of Operations Management?
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Do you have a fair idea about MBA (Master in Business Administration)? Yes, most of us are aware of the course which is taught in renowned IIMs and other Business schools and it consists of various fields like Sales, Marketing, and HR. And most of the commoners are limited to this info, however, there are various other domains in Management Studies which are generally not that popular compared to the others and ‘Operations Management’ is one among them.
Like a car cannot move without its wheel, this proverb holds 'true' for the Operations management as well, as it supports the entire background operations which is very crucial from the business point. A manufacturer has a warehouse full of finished goods and there is a big market demand, however, with failed operations, it will never reach the end consumers on time. This will only add to the loss of confidence among the consumers for the established brand and no organisation can take such a risk. In order to manage this entire verticle with finesse, hiring a professional skilled in operations, it becomes a priority for the companies.
But what it takes to be a part of operations? What degrees or course of study one needs to pursue? What kind of job one lands up with a degree in operations? This article will answer all these and clear the air!
According to the Wiki- “Operations management is an area of management concerned with designing and controlling the process of production and redesigning business operations in the production of goods or services. It involves the responsibility of ensuring that business operations are efficient in terms of using as few resources as needed and effective in terms of meeting customer requirements.”
The operations management forms the very linchpin around which the tangible business revolves. Due to its multidisciplinary nature, it is often misunderstood. There is a well laid out area of specialisation in MBA solely dedicated to Operations and all the leading business schools around the world has this in their curriculum.
Any organization has two associated functions- Input and Output to run it efficiently and operations make this transition from putting input to transforming them into output with planning, organizing and supervising in the contexts of production, manufacturing or the provision of services.
The entire focus of operations is on delivery and the entire background which leads up to delivery is under its domain. The inputs can range from the allocation of raw materials, equipment, human resources to technical advancements as well as logistics.
For Example- The operations team is responsible for acquiring goods or services from external sources, managing relations both internally and externally with those involved in processes, and improving a company’s sustainability with regard to its use of resources.
To understand more about the operations management, one has to know the two terms which are an integral part of operations: supply chain management and logistics. These two are the right and left arm of the operations.
Supply Chain Management takes care of the entire flow of goods and services post-production till the moment its benefit has been accessed by the end consumers. It is a tedious process due to the presence of many variables and the entire process being decentralized. This makes it difficult to maintain a perfect viscosity between the verticals is desirable.
Whereas Logistics is particularly concerned with the movement of the goods and services. While everything is getting superfast, it is also the priority of an organization to make its logistics perfect to meet the forever rising expectations of the end consumers.
The best example one can think of the various e-commerce sites, if we take the example of Amazon where various manufacturers sell their products, suddenly, the demand for Air Conditioners rise exponentially due to summer season and the stock available at the warehouse is limited, then it will be the prerogative of the operations team to find out the best possible solution so that the consumer expectations are met and everything runs smooth. The managers have to ensure that the supply is not obstructed and the transportation is cost-effective and manages the overall scenario.
Operations is a very practical and goal-oriented domain. A good facilitator who can maintain a very lucid connection across verticals internally as well as external communication with the vendors. Since these can be nerve-wracking, a person with a calm mindset and skilled in both the sub-domain of Supply chain and Logistics will be ideal for the job. It is the consummate organizational ability of these two that enhances the efficiency and productivity of the operations.
The operations manager should be well acquainted with the series of processes within a company in order to get the entire flow of the goods and services pretty seamless, and this process is directly related to supply chain management. Simultaneously, the coordination involved in setting up these processes in practice represents logistics; the combination of understanding and coordinating these two arms of operations play a central in becoming a successful operations manager.
How can you become an Operations Manager? With an MBA in Operations Management, or with prior experience in logistics and supply chain.
An MBA in operations management is a specialization in a related field, such as logistics or supply chain management, to make the students industry ready so that they can help an organization to grow with their requisite skills or to help those already in the industry to widen their knowledge base and push them in taking up business leadership role.
Aspirants and students who want to pursue or are pursuing an MBA in operations management should take into consideration the global trends, geography, financial and governmental regulations as well as political uncertainties that can impact the running of the business. Students ought to be aware of the risk management, understanding the inherent complexities of the industry, be prepared for the uncertain and to maneuver over such situations.
Emphasizing the importance of strategic thinking is also a cornerstone of many leading operations management programs along with swiftness in taking decisions because it is the very structure that actually enhances the consumer experience and the overall functioning of an organization. Graduates should deeply engage themselves in such a process to bring out more full-proof innovative ideas that will ensure that their organization stays ahead of its competition.
So are you planning to join the MBA in Operations Management in the next summer?
Like a car cannot move without its wheel, this proverb holds 'true' for the Operations management as well, as it supports the entire background operations which is very crucial from the business point. A manufacturer has a warehouse full of finished goods and there is a big market demand, however, with failed operations, it will never reach the end consumers on time. This will only add to the loss of confidence among the consumers for the established brand and no organisation can take such a risk. In order to manage this entire verticle with finesse, hiring a professional skilled in operations, it becomes a priority for the companies.
But what it takes to be a part of operations? What degrees or course of study one needs to pursue? What kind of job one lands up with a degree in operations? This article will answer all these and clear the air!
What is Operations Management?
According to the Wiki- “Operations management is an area of management concerned with designing and controlling the process of production and redesigning business operations in the production of goods or services. It involves the responsibility of ensuring that business operations are efficient in terms of using as few resources as needed and effective in terms of meeting customer requirements.”
The operations management forms the very linchpin around which the tangible business revolves. Due to its multidisciplinary nature, it is often misunderstood. There is a well laid out area of specialisation in MBA solely dedicated to Operations and all the leading business schools around the world has this in their curriculum.
What does the operation management involve?
Any organization has two associated functions- Input and Output to run it efficiently and operations make this transition from putting input to transforming them into output with planning, organizing and supervising in the contexts of production, manufacturing or the provision of services.
The entire focus of operations is on delivery and the entire background which leads up to delivery is under its domain. The inputs can range from the allocation of raw materials, equipment, human resources to technical advancements as well as logistics.
For Example- The operations team is responsible for acquiring goods or services from external sources, managing relations both internally and externally with those involved in processes, and improving a company’s sustainability with regard to its use of resources.
Two domains in Operations Management
To understand more about the operations management, one has to know the two terms which are an integral part of operations: supply chain management and logistics. These two are the right and left arm of the operations.
Supply Chain Management takes care of the entire flow of goods and services post-production till the moment its benefit has been accessed by the end consumers. It is a tedious process due to the presence of many variables and the entire process being decentralized. This makes it difficult to maintain a perfect viscosity between the verticals is desirable.
Whereas Logistics is particularly concerned with the movement of the goods and services. While everything is getting superfast, it is also the priority of an organization to make its logistics perfect to meet the forever rising expectations of the end consumers.
The best example one can think of the various e-commerce sites, if we take the example of Amazon where various manufacturers sell their products, suddenly, the demand for Air Conditioners rise exponentially due to summer season and the stock available at the warehouse is limited, then it will be the prerogative of the operations team to find out the best possible solution so that the consumer expectations are met and everything runs smooth. The managers have to ensure that the supply is not obstructed and the transportation is cost-effective and manages the overall scenario.
Do you possess the requisite skills?
Operations is a very practical and goal-oriented domain. A good facilitator who can maintain a very lucid connection across verticals internally as well as external communication with the vendors. Since these can be nerve-wracking, a person with a calm mindset and skilled in both the sub-domain of Supply chain and Logistics will be ideal for the job. It is the consummate organizational ability of these two that enhances the efficiency and productivity of the operations.
The operations manager should be well acquainted with the series of processes within a company in order to get the entire flow of the goods and services pretty seamless, and this process is directly related to supply chain management. Simultaneously, the coordination involved in setting up these processes in practice represents logistics; the combination of understanding and coordinating these two arms of operations play a central in becoming a successful operations manager.
MBA in Operations Management
How can you become an Operations Manager? With an MBA in Operations Management, or with prior experience in logistics and supply chain.
An MBA in operations management is a specialization in a related field, such as logistics or supply chain management, to make the students industry ready so that they can help an organization to grow with their requisite skills or to help those already in the industry to widen their knowledge base and push them in taking up business leadership role.
Aspirants and students who want to pursue or are pursuing an MBA in operations management should take into consideration the global trends, geography, financial and governmental regulations as well as political uncertainties that can impact the running of the business. Students ought to be aware of the risk management, understanding the inherent complexities of the industry, be prepared for the uncertain and to maneuver over such situations.
Emphasizing the importance of strategic thinking is also a cornerstone of many leading operations management programs along with swiftness in taking decisions because it is the very structure that actually enhances the consumer experience and the overall functioning of an organization. Graduates should deeply engage themselves in such a process to bring out more full-proof innovative ideas that will ensure that their organization stays ahead of its competition.
So are you planning to join the MBA in Operations Management in the next summer?
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