MBA - Area Focus Electives- Technology & Operations Management

Required Course

• Operations Management  
   

Electives

FRONT-LINE OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT

Although many graduates pursue careers in staff functions, Operations Management provides an excellent foundation for a general management career long-term. Leading companies such as General Electric, Allied Signal and Honda preach the power of execution over strategy in driving company performance. Front-line operations managers ensure that the processes of operating the business perform flawlessly day in and day out while continuously improving quarter to quarter and year to year. Whether the operations include manufacturing plants, call centers, retail stores or distribution centers, front-line operations managers must understand a common set of tools for process management and improvement as well as the key skills for managing front-line employees. This selection of courses should prove most useful to students pursuing careers in operations-intensive industries or in small business — where the front-line manager and general manager are often one and the same.

Primary Courses 

• Developing New Products and Services  
• Operations Strategy  
• Leading Strategic Change  
• Negotiations  
• General Managers Taking Action  
• General Management and Operational Effectiveness *

Related Courses  

• Corporate Communication  
• Growing the Smaller Enterprise  
• Small Enterprise Finance  
• System Design and Business Dynamics  
• Managing Teams  
• Business to Business Marketing  
   

SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT

Managing the extended enterprise continues to grow in importance, while the complexity of the task simultaneously increases. Automotive companies like Ford have outsourced large portions of the vehicle content traditionally produced in-house. Service companies, such as Capital One have formed supply chain management groups to bring professionalism to what was once a highly decentralized process. Dell has created a clear strategic advantage by fundamentally rethinking the computer industry supply chain. Even IBM has reorganized to combine manufacturing, purchasing and planning into a single group, “Integrated Supply Management.” In these companies, the typical operations career involves structuring and managing an extended enterprise rather than the more traditional management of front-line employees. Given the complexity and importance of managing the extended enterprise, consulting firms also extend considerable effort helping clients manage the transition. This selection of courses offers a foundation for individuals interested in the operations side of any large-scale, global business or in consulting to executives in such companies. 

Primary Courses  

• General Management and Operational Effectiveness *
• Operations Strategy  
• Supply Chain Management  
• Business to Business Marketing  
• Financial Statement Analysis and Corporate Valuation  
• Management of Economic Growth and Society  
• Negotiations  
• The Practice of General Management  

Related Courses 

• Emerging Information Technologies Seminar  
• Introduction to Business Law  
• Management Decision Models  
• Systems Design & Business Dynamics  
   

BUSINESS OPERATIONS CONSULTING

Many students see consulting as a continuation of their education and a natural path towards general management. Although the recent economic downturn dampened the double digit growth rate among the leading consulting firms, the industry remains a major employer of MBAs who can help businesses improve their performance. Business operations consulting remains an important value-added discipline at all of the leading consulting firms. In addition, many large companies have active internal consulting groups which deal with corporate and divisional operational issues and serve as training ground for future general managers. This career track provides foundational knowledge in performance analysis and consulting processes and skills, as well as exposure to some of the key issues addressed in the area of performance improvement and business operations strategy design. For further appreciation of some of the key topics in business operations consulting, the interested student should also consider courses from the career track in supply chain management.

Primary Courses

• General Management and Operational Effectiveness *
• Operations Strategy  
• System Design and Business Dynamics  
• Management Decision Models  
• The Practice of General Management  
• The Consulting Process *

Related Courses

• Supply Chain Management  
• Managing Turnarounds & Workouts  
• Innovation  
• Darden Consulting and Darden Venturing Projects
• Post Merger Integration  
• Networked Business Seminar  
• Managing Teams  

* Courses offered in the First and Second Year. All other courses are offered only in the Second Year.

Please note: courses are subject to change each year. Consult the course directory for the most up-to-date course offerings.