Distance MSc in Operational Research - Performance Measurement

Credit Value: 3
Tutors: Farhad Shafti

Class description/introduction

The class is an intensive course on PM that picks up the basic concepts of operations management as being taught in the other modules and extends them to the areas of measurement of results in organisations. The class covers the main approaches and techniques in PM and due to the short duration relies heavily on the students' directed and independent reading.

Class aims

• To provide an overall view of the role and the place of PM in organisations
• To give insights that can help in evaluating the degree of effectiveness of a PM tool/system
• To introduce the most commonly used new tools in PM
• To discuss the main challenges in PM

Learning outcomes

Subject specific knowledge and skills

• Appreciating the new challenges and conditions of the business world and their effect on PM systems.
• Knowing as well as being capable of performing a range of PM techniques in a real situation.
• Getting familiarised with the most recent challenges in the field of PM
• Appreciating the importance of PM implementation and the associated difficulties and gaps.
• Being able to critically investigate the PM activities in organisations

Cognitive abilities and non-subject specific skills

• Adopting a critical view on managerial practices
• To discuss managerial challenges in organisations from a practical point of view
• Challenging presumptions in a business environment
• Getting benefit from journal papers and adding value to their findings

Content/Structure of class

• Introduction, the role of PM in organisations
• Traditional vs. new PM techniques/systems
• Knowing the basics of some of the new PM techniques/systems
• Implementation of PM and the recent challenges

Reading List

There are no recommended textbooks for this module. A detailed reading list, mostly e-based journal articles, will be provided.

Assessment

Four questions will be given. The questions are open ended with word limit. Each question is relevant to the subject and is attached with a reading list. The students will write the answers on their own time after referring to some of the material in the reading list. Students can take benefit of an optional offer. They can submit a draft answer for each question in about a week time after receiving the question (exact time will be announced in the class) and receive a feedback to improve their final answer.

Learning Outcomes

• Appreciating the new challenges and conditions of the business world and their effect on PM systems
• Knowing as well as being capable of performing a range of PM techniques in a real situation
• Getting familiarised with the most recent challenges in the field of PM
• Appreciating the importance of PM implementation and the associated difficulties and gaps
• Being able to critically investigate the PM activities in organisations
• Adopting a critical view on managerial practices
• To discuss managerial challenges in organisations from a practical point of view
• Challenging presumptions in a business environment
• Getting benefit from journal papers and adding value to their findings

management science DEPARTMENT OF MANAGEMENT SCIENCE
UNIVERSITY OF STRATHCLYDE Graham Hills BUILDING 40 GEORGE STREET G1 1QE
t:0141 548 3613/3141 f:0141 552 6686
contact-mansci@strath.ac.uk