REFLECTION PAPER OF OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT COURSE

REFLECTION PAPER

GUIDANCE

DUE: May 1, 2017 10:00 AM   NO LATE!!!

1 PAGE FOR SINGLE SPACE

SEE DOCUMENT BELOW BEFORE YOU DO THIS PAPER!!!

This paper should be your thoughtful reflections on your learning throughout the course. Refer to the course objectives in the syllabus, and consider all of the course activities including classroom discussions, computer lab activities, independent readings, and assignments. Some questions and issues for you to consider addressing include: what have you learned? What are the important ideas, tools, and techniques you are carrying away from this course? How do you think what you have learned may be useful to you in the future? More specifically:

Did the use of POM and any other computer technology add value?

Did the course make use of, and develop, your analytical/critical thinking skills?

Did you find the course academically challenging?

Did you learn about the role of operations management in the overall management of manufacturing as well as service organizations?

Having completed the course, do you have a better understanding of how business processes and activities connect with each other, together contributing to the overall goal of the organization?

Can you suggest a way to improve the in-class team exercises?

Make this Reflection Paper a well-organized and thoughtful composition—like a report you would prepare as a manager for your superior. You may also include any other thoughts you wish to share with me about this course and my administration of it. What worked for you? What didn’t? What’s in the course material that you liked, and why? What’s in the course that you did not like, and why? What would better integrate the things we covered? What specific tools and techniques would you like to have seen covered that we did not detail, and why?

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

• To understand the role of Operations Management and operations managers.

• To understand the use of Operations Management concepts in other business areas such as Marketing and Finance/Accounting.

• To understand that ethical and environmental considerations are intrinsic to decision-making by operations managers.

• To learn to apply operations analysis and design techniques such as Linear Programming, Project Management and Scheduling.

• To understand the use of operations planning and control systems including Aggregate Planning, Material Requirements Planning / Enterprise Resource Planning and independent demand inventory models.

• To understand the critical elements of operations improvement strategies such as Statistical Process Control, Theory of Constraints, Just-In-Time production systems and Total Quality Management.

• To understand the concepts of Supply Chain Management as extended Operations Management between organizations in the domestic and global context.

METHODOLOGY:

Lecture, classroom discussion, independent study, problem solving exercises, and a two-phase team project will constitute the primary delivery modes of course content. Students are expected to come to class prepared to ask questions, and to have questions asked of them.

TIPS AND SUGGESTIONS FOR SUCCESS:

• Following the first class session, immediately access and register yourself on MyOMLab.

• Following the first class session, immediately install the POM & Excel OM software found on MyOMLab.

• Take primary responsibility for your own learning.

• Keep up with the reading and homework assignments—avoid cramming for exams.

• Be positive and focused in class, and attend all classes.

• Ask questions about concepts and problems that are not clear to you.

• Avoid distractions; turn off cell phones.

• E-mail me outside of class as necessary and I’ll do my best to help you.

• Bring your textbook and your PC to class sessions.

• Try to look at the material during the week, not just once per week – this is a challenge with a weekly class.