1 MGT 3501 OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT Fall 2007 Professor Beril Toktay [email protected] Office: COM 446 404-385-0104 Office Hours: Thursday 3pm – 4pm or by appointment TA: Jeremy Hutchison-Krupat [email protected] Office: COM 462B 404-385-4886 Office Hours: Thursday 11am – 12pm or by appointment Course Description Operations management (OM) is defined as the design, operation, and improvement of the systems that create and deliver the firm’s primary products and services. Understanding the role of the operations function and its impact on the competitiveness of the firm is an important part of any manager's training. Operational issues include designing, acquiring, operating, and maintaining facilities and processes; purchasing raw materials; controlling and maintaining inventories; and providing the proper labor needed to produce a good or service so that customer expectations are met. This course in operations management is intended to be a survey of operating practices and models in both manufacturing and service oriented firms. It is intended to provide managers in all functional areas with sufficient knowledge to make informed, "total business decisions" and to introduce standard terms and concepts for communications with operating personnel. In such a course, it should be recognized that breadth of subject matter, not depth of topic, is our goal. Course Objectives: • Build an understanding of how Operations Management fits into the organization. • Provide a knowledge base for conversing with operations personnel. • Build both quantitative and qualitative analysis skills, especially those needed for managing important business tradeoffs. • Provide common sense modeling concepts, which can be used to help managers evaluate various problems that arise in practice.2 • Introduce real-world applications and their connection with Operations Management. • Understand and appreciate the role of uncertainty in an organization. Course Text: Operations Management for Competitive Advantage, 11th Edition, by Chase, Jacobs, and Aquilano, 2005, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill/Irwin. Any USED previous edition is fine too, but the chapter numbers will be different, so you’ll need to keep track of that. We will do a simulation called Littlefield simulation, which you will purchase when the time comes. Class materials will be posted on http://www.prism.gatech.edu/~bt71/mgt3501/course-page.htm. I will also put a link to this page in WebCT, so you can always find it easily. Prerequisite: MGT 2251 Introduction to Management Science (or MSCI 2400) Grading Policy: Grading for the course will be based on two midterms, a final, and two mini-case writeups. Participation can make a difference if you are borderline between two grades, to boost your grade up. The distribution of the grading is as follows: Midterms: 20% each Final Exam: 40% Mini-case writeups: 10% each The target assignment for letter grades will be as follows: A 90 - 100 points; B 80 - 89.99 points; C 70 - 79.99 points; D 60 - 69.99 points; F Below 59.99 points Final cumulated scores of the class will be analyzed to determine if an adjustment or curve is necessary. However, a curve will only help you. Therefore, if you have a 90% or more you will get an A in the class – I won’t curve to raise the minimum requirements for grades, only lower them if necessary. Exam Policy: Makeup exams will not be given. Students missing a scheduled exam due to an official Georgia Institute of Technology event must prearrange an alternate time to take the Exam. Other excused absences (for health reasons, etc.) must be documented, and the grade missed will be the average of the other exam scores. All other cases3 will receive a grade of zero for the missed exam. The midterms are non-comprehensive and the final is comprehensive. All exams are closed book, individual efforts. You may bring one two-sided (8 ½ x 11 inches) original hand-written or typed note and formula sheet to each midterm and three sheets to the final. You need to have your desks clear of all items (cellphone, clothes, books, notebooks, papers, etc.) during the test. You are expected to have your own calculator for each exam!! Honor Code: The Honor Code applies to exams and case write-ups. You are responsible for the information contained in the Georgia Institute of Technology Honor Code (available at http://www.honor.gatech.edu/.). I take the Honor Code very seriously. If I suspect a violation, here is the process I will follow, called the Faculty Resolution option, per Georgia Tech guidelines: I will discuss the matter with the student(s) involved. One of three outcomes can occur. 1. Student does not take responsibility, no suspicion remains --> end of story 2. Student does not take responsibility, but suspicion remains --> refer to Dean of Students 3. Student takes responsibility --> Recommend a sanction consisting of change in disciplinary standing (reprimand, warning, probation, suspension or expulsion) and a grade impact and inform Dean of Students. This is called the faculty resolution. In this case, the student will be formally notified of the proposed faculty resolution by e-mail to their Georgia Tech e-mail account. The student may request to have the allegations reviewed by a hearing panel. If the student does not make this request within six (6) working days after the date the e-mail notification of the resolution is sent, the resolution will be implemented and considered notice of a final disciplinary action with no right to appeal. If the student accepts responsibility for a violation and has a prior disciplinary history or the Faculty Resolution recommends suspension or expulsion, the matter will be referred to the Honor Committee (HC) for sanctioning. The HC will seriously consider the Faculty Resolution grade impact recommendations. The student may specifically waive their right to go before a hearing panel and accept an administrative resolution proposed by the Office of Student Integrity. If the student accepts the administrative resolution, the decision goes into effect immediately with no right of appeal. Homework: To help you understand the material and prepare the exams,