IGESSIGESS (Institute for Global Economics and Social Sciences)

Managing the flow of goods, people, money and information across national borders has become the new challenge for operations managers. So what if you are requested to evaluate and improve the operations management at a local company going global, how would you go about doing it? The traditional operations management answer is to focus on cost and speed issues; but in the 21st century, operations managers must also effectively respond to the challenges presented by globalization, sustainability, ethical conduct, effective communication, and system design. Doing this calls for operations managers to excel in the business, technical, and interpersonal aspects of their work as they actively support the mission and vision of their organization. In addressing these issues, the main objective of this course is to leverage the principles learned in the Introduction to Operations Management course and the tools/methods learned in Operations Management I course, to develop a PROJECT, selected by the students, that is applicable in the real world.

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

・TEAMWORK: Understand the skills necessary to cooperate and coordinate an international Project.
・PROJECT MANAGEMENT: Design and implement project-based operations management activities within a company and/or across national boarders. In this connection, students will learn how to draft a Plan Design Matrix and related documents.
・MANAGEMENT: Appreciate the emerging challenges faced by operations managers in a global economy.

英語 / English

Active Learning is the main teaching approach for this course. Active learning requires the students to take the lead in the learning process with the instructor acting as a facilitator. Some examples of active learning are pair-discussion, group work, case studies, simulations, presentations, reaction paper, experiential learning, etc. In this course, particular attention is paid to an experiential learning approach where students plan and do, then check and reflect on their Projects. This will be particularly the case in the second half of the semester.

あり / Yes

なし / No

※各回の授業形態は予定です。教員の指示に従ってください。

Week 1：Course Introduction

・Syllabus
・Project Management Case Studies
・Project Instructions

Week 2：Project Team

・Team Formation
・What is brainstorming?
・Project Theme Brainstorming

Week 3：Project Theme

・Theme Discussion and Selection
・Introduction to PDM (project design matrix)
・Background Research

Week 4：Project Design Matrix (1)

・Background Research　-> Narrative Summary
・Outputs -> What is an Indicator?
・Statement of Work -> Activities

Week 5：Project Design Matrix (2)

・Background Research -> Indicators, Means of Verification, Assumptions
・PowerPoint Slide Format+ Alternative Software

Week 6：Workshop

Project Design Matrix Presentations
・Presentation Skills
・Root Cause Analysis

Week 7：Project "PLAN"

・Work Breakdown Structure
・CPM/PERT Flow Chart
・Critical Path Analysis

Week 8：PLAN (2)

・Evaluation and Monitoring
・Staffing and Resources
・Revise PDM

Week 9：PLAN (3)

・What is a GANTT Chart?
・Plan of Operation (PO)
・5W1H of GANTT Chart

Week 10：Workshop

Project Mid-term Presentation
・Mondai Ishiki
・Data Collection

Week 11：Project "DO"

・Simulation and/or Field Work Progress Report
・Kaizen Discussion

Week 12：DO (2)

・Simulation and/or Field Work Data Collection
・Kaizen Discussion

Week 13：Project "CHECK"

・Preliminary Impact Report
・Data Analysis
・Kaizen Discussion

Week 14：Project "ACTION"

・Final Project Report Presentation
・Kaizen: Reflection Discussion

・CLASS PREPARATION: An active learning approach requires students to prepare the readings and assignments BEFORE class. Students are fore-warned they should allocate time outside the classroom to gather data, prepare reports and etc.
・GROUPWORK: Students should expect to allocate time outside of class to meet with their team members to discuss/prepare assignments.
・Preparatory study and review time for this class are 3-5 hours for each session

The readings for this course will either be available on-line, through the library and/or handouts.

Joel D. Wisner. 2016 Operations Management: A Supply Chain Process Approach. Sage ISBN 9781483383064

Students will be graded based on the following criterions:

15% Class participation
15% Group work
10% Project Theme Presentation and Report
10% Project Design Matrix Presentation and Mid-term Report
50% Final Project Report

Late submission of assignments will result in a lowering of a student's grade.

Inclusion of more supplemental reading materials. More time for break-out sessions held on-line.

Students are expected to bring to class a computer and/or smart phone to access the Internet.

Students (or teams) should try to meet with the teacher at least once during the semester. Office hours will be announced at the first class.

If course is held on-line, this could be done through video conferencing (e.g., ZOOM, WebEX, etc.)

Operations Management I or teacher's permission

Please note that the teaching approach may vary according to which threat level we are at: at level 1, this course will be held on campus, though at level 2, it will be held online.