Leading Business Strategy Through Operational Excellence

Organizations create products or services that are demanded by a market. An automobile manufacturer produces cars that consumers drive; a restaurant produces food that customers eat; a consulting firm produces recommendations that clients consider; a hospital provides care that patients require. A firm’s operations are the processes, resources, and capabilities that together produce its goods and services. In the best organizations, excellent operations do not just “happen”—they are carefully designed to align with, and enable, the overall strategy of the firm.

In this program, you will learn how to understand and analyze the operations of your firm, and how to design effective operations strategies that align with your organization's strategic goals.

• Using the fundamental tools and concepts from this program, you will be able to think rigorously and effectively about how to manage your organization’s operations to match supply and demand.
• Leveraging a framework taught in this program, you will be able to link your firm's operational choices to its overall strategic vision.
• You will learn how to analyze and design effective operations strategies.

Managing an organization’s operations effectively is key to meeting market demand and competing successfully in the market. As a result, a fundamental understanding of operations is crucial for all managers, be it in manufacturing or services, for-profit firms or non-profit organizations, start-ups or large, established firms. This program lays the groundwork for just such an understanding and introduces the most essential principles of the science—and art—of leading business strategy through operational excellence.

Virtual Program Format

Are you ready to gain substantial insights into how to align operations processes with your organization's business strategies? Enhance your contributions to your organization and increase value for your stakeholders by understanding the opportunities and challenges in operations management. This "live virtual" program is filled with stimulating activities, engaging games to illustrate concepts, and challenging case studies. These will be coupled with faculty research presentations and group discussions, demonstrating queueing theory and constraints, and covering capacity expansion, specialization, and strategy alignment. You’ll leave with a strong foundation in operations management, understanding issues your operations processes are likely to face, what the key methods for evaluating options to address these challenges are, and how to optimize your operational activities to align most effectively with your firm’s strategy.

This live-streaming virtual course consists of:

• Six 2-hour live-streamed class sessions (held twice a week over a three-week period)
• Two informative and fun simulation games--one about inventory management in a supply chain, and the other about sourcing options and choices
• Pre-session readings and questions to address to familiarize yourself with the session topic(s)
• Robust live, online class discussions with your instructor and other participants, who come from across the health care industry

Classes will be held using Zoom video-conferencing, which creates a virtual classroom where you can see the professor and presentation screen, as well as seeing the other participants. Similarly, the professor can see all of the students who engage online during the group session. You’ll be able to communicate with both the professor and your peers through this platform.