MG104      Half Unit
Operations Management

This information is for the 2025/26 session.

Course Convenor

Availability

Operations management is a vital function within every organisation. It is concerned with the processes that transform inputs into goods and services. This course offers an engaging introduction to the key concepts and techniques of operations management and emphasises their widespread application in the real world. 

The course covers a range of topics related to manufacturing and service operations such as operations strategy, sustainability, process design and analysis, supply chains, inventory management, lean operations, and quality control. 

15 hours of lectures and 8 hours of classes in the Winter Term.

This course has a reading week in Week 6 of Winter Term.

In its Ethics Code, LSE upholds a commitment to intellectual freedom. This means we will protect the freedom of expression of our students and staff and the right to engage in healthy debate in the classroom.

Students are expected to prepare answers to set questions on a weekly basis, and they will receive teacher and peer feedback during the classes. One formative assessment will be set in WT.

A selection of essential readings is provided below. For further details, please refer to the full reading list for the course.

• Sadun, R., Bloom, N., and Van Reenen, J. (2017). “Why do we undervalue competent management? Neither great leadership nor brilliant strategy matters without operational excellence”. Harvard Business Review, 95(5), pp. 120–127.
• Whelan, T. and Fink, C. (2016). “The comprehensive business case for sustainability”, Harvard Business Review, (21 October).
• Frei, F. (2006). “Breaking the trade-off between efficiency and service”. Harvard Business Review, 88(11), pp. 93–101.
• Fisher, M. L. (1997). “What is the right supply chain for your product?” Harvard Business Review, 75(2), pp. 105–116.
• Lee, H. L., Padmanabhan, V., and Whang, S. (1997). “The bullwhip effect in supply chains”. Sloan Management Review, 38(3), pp. 93–102.

Course participation (15%)

Quiz (15%)

Report (70%)

Students who do not attempt all quizzes will receive a mark of 0 for the missed quiz(zes) and will receive an overall average mark based on their score in the attempted quiz(zes) and a zero for the missed one(s). Students who fail to attempt any of the quizzes will be awarded a ‘Zero Incomplete’ for the whole course and cannot be awarded the degree until they submit the work at resit. 

The participation grade will be based on contribution to weekly class discussions, which require engagement with lectures and readings, and independent preparation such as forming evidence-based viewpoints and researching real-life examples. 

For detailed assessment information, including all deadlines and timings, please see the relevant course Moodle page. Assessment timings will be available at the start of each term.