The focus of the course is strategic issues of operations as well as design and control of operating systems. Topics include both concepts and decision support models from such specialized areas as inventory management, quality management, production and capacity planning, forecasting, project management, and production control. Topics also include the history of management as well as current trends in the discipline. An advanced survey of theory and research concerning the behavior of people in organizations. Topics include personality, communication, perception, group dynamics, stress, change and organizational culture.
Class is taught extensively using experiential exercises and cases.
An understanding of the processes affecting the behavior of employees is stressed. Emphasis will be placed on directed exercises demonstrating the implementation of concepts learned from the class material. The development of creative thinking skills and creative approaches to decision making as they relate to innovation and the recognition of opportunity. Issues revelant to both entrepreneurial ventures and established businesses will be covered. Maximum 4 hours.