Operations Management (minor)

Operations management covers issues from operations strategy to efficient execution of operations, i.e., from configuring appropriate resources and processes into a production system that best contributes to the organisation’s goals and gives a competitive advantage to managing the production system in order to provide the best match with demand and supply. The minor in Operations Management builds on the generic principles on operations management and emphasizes the novel ways of encountering the challenges and utilising the opportunities related to creating and transforming technology-based business.

Because today's business is increasingly based on inter-organizational operations, a systemic understanding of inter-organizational exchange, product-service systems, and innovation processes is needed to implement inter-company collaboration. Also, graduate courses in operations management develop an understanding of how people develop and use technology to improve processes and what kind of structural changes it causes in organizations and business networks. Moreover, operations management courses develop capabilities for critical thinking and problem-solving skills needed to improve operational efficiency and effectiveness and analyze real-life business and management problems. 

Operations management advances sustainability through the wise use of resources. The sustainability impact of advance operations management knowledge begins with designing operations focusing on conserving natural resources and enabling circular economy. It continues by managing operations to improve productivity and incorporating responsible practices into industrial and business processes. In addition, operations management courses address the challenges and opportunities of global competition and develop an understanding of managing international operations effectively.

There are several fields of specialization in operations management, and students can select optional courses to emphasize their personal learning objectives. The students minoring in Operations Management can gain a thorough understanding of modern operations and service management practices and the underlying theories. They can learn the principles of

• Planning and controlling operations in multi-firm context;
• Configuring and managing resources and processes in inter-organisational relationships;
• Innovation and application of technology for redesigning and rethinking service and industrial operations;
• Managing value creation through large-scale, complex projects

Students intending to take the minor should have a basic understanding of the following areas and their terminology:

• Concepts and models used to measure financial performance of a firm (TU-A1100 Tuotantotalous 1).
• Concepts and theoretical frameworks that describe the design and operation of a production systems from strategy to daily operations (TU-C2020 Operaatioiden johtaminen).
• Concepts of project management and project business (TU-C3010 Projektien suunnittelu ja ohjaus).

The course codes given in parenthesis above refer to courses that perfectly provide the required basic understanding.

Minor in operations management develops understanding in operations management practices and the underlying theories and concepts. The specific learning objectives are:

1. Learn to leverage operations management concepts and tools to innovate for novel and competitive operations strategies, processes, product-service solutions, and projects.
2. Gain understanding on how application of technology in operations management and data analytics to improve operational efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability.
3. Gain a systemic viewpoint of sustainability and learn to incorporate sustainable practices into inter-organizational operations in local production networks and international supply chains.
    

Code: SCI3112

Extent: 20–25 ECTS

Curriculum: 2024–2026

Level: Advanced studies

Language of learning: English

Target group: All Aalto students

Teacher in charge: Lauri Saarinen

Administrative contact: Tarja Timonen

Organising department: Department of Industrial Engineering and Management

Organiser: School of Science

Prerequisites: TU-C2020 Operaatioiden johtaminen (Operations Management) or equivalent knowledge AND TU-C3010 Projektien suunnittelu ja ohjaus/TU-C3015 Introduction to Project Management.

Quotas and restrictions: -

Application process: -

Description of the minor

Operations management covers issues from operations strategy to efficient execution of operations, i.e., from configuring appropriate resources and processes into a production system that best contributes to the organisation’s goals and gives a competitive advantage to managing the production system in order to provide the best match with demand and supply. The minor in Operations Management builds on the generic principles on operations management and emphasizes the novel ways of encountering the challenges and utilising the opportunities related to creating and transforming technology-based business.

Because today's business is increasingly based on inter-organizational operations, a systemic understanding of inter-organizational exchange, product-service systems, and innovation processes is needed to implement inter-company collaboration. Also, graduate courses in operations management develop an understanding of how people develop and use technology to improve processes and what kind of structural changes it causes in organizations and business networks. Moreover, operations management courses develop capabilities for critical thinking and problem-solving skills needed to improve operational efficiency and effectiveness and analyze real-life business and management problems. 

Operations management advances sustainability through the wise use of resources. The sustainability impact of advance operations management knowledge begins with designing operations focusing on conserving natural resources and enabling circular economy. It continues by managing operations to improve productivity and incorporating responsible practices into industrial and business processes. In addition, operations management courses address the challenges and opportunities of global competition and develop an understanding of managing international operations effectively.

There are several fields of specialization in operations management, and students can select optional courses to emphasize their personal learning objectives. The students minoring in Operations Management can gain a thorough understanding of modern operations and service management practices and the underlying theories. They can learn the principles of

• Planning and controlling operations in multi-firm context;
• Configuring and managing resources and processes in inter-organisational relationships;
• Innovation and application of technology for redesigning and rethinking service and industrial operations;
• Managing value creation through large-scale, complex projects

Students intending to take the minor should have a basic understanding of the following areas and their terminology:

• Concepts and models used to measure financial performance of a firm (TU-A1100 Tuotantotalous 1).
• Concepts and theoretical frameworks that describe the design and operation of a production systems from strategy to daily operations (TU-C2020 Operaatioiden johtaminen).
• Concepts of project management and project business (TU-C3010 Projektien suunnittelu ja ohjaus).

The course codes given in parenthesis above refer to courses that perfectly provide the required basic understanding.

Intended learning outcomes 

Minor in operations management develops understanding in operations management practices and the underlying theories and concepts. The specific learning objectives are:
1.    Learn to leverage operations management concepts and tools to innovate for novel and competitive operations strategies, processes, product-service solutions, and projects.
2.    Gain understanding on how application of technology in operations management and data analytics to improve operational efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability.
3.    Gain a systemic viewpoint of sustainability and learn to incorporate sustainable practices into inter-organizational operations in local production networks and international supply chains.
 

You can find course descriptions in Sisu. In your study plan, choose the course and click the course code or search courses by code or name. Learning environments are found in MyCourses through search or after registration in "My own courses".

Content

*You may include TU-C2020 Operaatioiden johtaminen (Operations Management 5 cr) OR TU-C3010 Projektien suunnittelu ja ohjaus/TU-C3015 Introduction to Project Management in your minor, IF it is NOT already in your bachelor's degree. 

Code: SCI3112

Extent: 20–25 ECTS

Language of instruction: English

Level: Masters

Theme: Global business dynamics

Curriculum: 2022–2024

Target group: All Aalto students

Teacher in charge: Lauri Saarinen

Administrative contact: Tarja Timonen

Organising department: Department of Industrial Engineering and Management

Prerequisites: TU-C2020 Operaatioiden johtaminen (Operations Management) or equivalent knowledge AND TU-C3010 Projektien suunnittelu ja ohjaus (Project planning and control) or equivalent knowledge.

Quotas and restrictions: No quotas.

Application process: Open for all students of Aalto University.

 

Content and structure of the minor

Operations management covers issues from operations strategy to efficient execution of operations, i.e., from configuring appropriate resources and processes into a production system that best contributes to the organisation’s goals and gives a competitive advantage to managing the production system in order to provide the best match with demand and supply. The minor in Operations Management builds on the generic principles on operations management and emphasizes the novel ways of encountering the challenges and utilising the opportunities related to creating and transforming technology-based business.

Advanced production systems cross organisational borders and utilise external resource networks effectively in global scale. Business models have developed beyond the conventional manufacturing-focused forms into service systems and project or solution business. As technological, social or organisational innovations emerge, resources and processes in production systems should be vigorously re-configured for improved performance from the customers’, network partners’ and society’s perspective. Sustainability, effectiveness and efficiency are all important elements of performance. Consequently, the minor in Operations Management covers issues on operations strategy, management of operations in inter-organisational systems, as well as the life-cycle management of production systems and their offerings to clients. Industrial service systems, project business framework, and integration of digital technologies into operations are central contextual themes.

There are several fields of specialisation in operations management, and students can select optional courses to emphasize their personal learning objectives. The students minoring in Operations Management can gain a thorough understanding of modern operations and service management practices and the underlying theories. They can learn the principles of

• planning and controlling operations in multi-firm context;
• configuring and managing resources and processes in inter-organisational relationships;
• analysing the performance of and the risks related to modern production systems through the relevant life cycle; and
• managing value in production systems according to the requirements of the dynamic business environments.

All in all, managing operations means getting the right things done. Broad knowledge in the field is a solid foundation for general management duties and it gives capabilities to run a new venture, as well.

Students intending to take the minor should have a basic understanding of the following areas and their terminology:

• Concepts and models used to measure financial performance of a firm (TU-A1100 Tuotantotalous 1).
• Concepts and theoretical frameworks that describe the design and operation of a production systems from strategy to daily operations (TU-C2020 Operaatioiden johtaminen).
• Concepts of project management and project business (TU-C3010 Projektien suunnittelu ja ohjaus).

The course codes given in parenthesis above refer to courses that perfectly provide the required basic understanding.

Structure of the minor

Core courses (compulsory)

You may include TU-C2020 Operaatioiden johtaminen (Operations Management 5 cr) OR TU-C3010 Projektien suunnittelu ja ohjaus (Project planning and control, 5 cr) in your minor, IF it is NOT already in your bachelor's degree. 

Optional courses, select min 10 credits

Code:SCI3112

Extent: 20-25

Language: English

Organizing department: Industrial Engineering and Management

Teacher in charge: Kari Tanskanen

Administrative contact: Tarja Timonen

Target group: All master's students with sufficient prerequisite knowledge.

Application procedure: Open for all students of Aalto University.

Quotas and restrictions: No quotas.

Prerequisites: TU-C2020 Operaatioiden johtaminen (Operations Management) or equivalent knowledge AND TU-C3010 Projektien suunnittelu ja ohjaus (Project planning and control) or equivalent knowledge.

Content and structure of the minor

Objectives

Operations management covers issues from operations strategy to efficient execution of operations, i.e., from configuring appropriate resources and processes into a production system that best contributes to the organisation’s goals and gives a competitive advantage to managing the production system in order to provide the best match with demand and supply. The minor in Operations Management builds on the generic principles on operations management and emphasizes the novel ways of encountering the challenges and utilising the opportunities related to creating and transforming technology-based business.

Advanced production systems cross organisational borders and utilise external resource networks effectively in global scale. Business models have developed beyond the conventional manufacturing-focused forms into service systems and project or solution business. As technological, social or organisational innovations emerge, resources and processes in production systems should be vigorously re-configured for improved performance from the customers’, network partners’ and society’s perspective. Sustainability, effectiveness and efficiency are all important elements of performance. Consequently, the minor in Operations Management covers issues on operations strategy, management of operations in inter-organisational systems, as well as the life-cycle management of production systems and their offerings to clients. Industrial service systems, project business framework, and integration of digital technologies into operations are central contextual themes.

There are several fields of specialisation in operations management, and students can select optional courses to emphasize their personal learning objectives. The students minoring in Operations Management can gain a thorough understanding of modern operations and service management practices and the underlying theories. They can learn the principles of

• planning and controlling operations in multi-firm context;
• configuring and managing resources and processes in inter-organisational relationships;
• analysing the performance of and the risks related to modern production systems through the relevant life cycle; and
• managing value in production systems according to the requirements of the dynamic business environments.

All in all, managing operations means getting the right things done. Broad knowledge in the field is a solid foundation for general management duties and it gives capabilities to run a new venture, as well.

Students intending to take the minor should have a basic understanding of the following areas and their terminology:

• Concepts and models used to measure financial performance of a firm (TU-A1100 Tuotantotalous 1)
• Concepts and theoretical frameworks that describe the design and operation of a production systems from strategy to daily operations (TU-C2020 Operaatioiden johtaminen).
• Concepts of project management and project business (TU-C3010 Projektien suunnittelu ja ohjaus)

The course codes given in parenthesis above refer to courses that perfectly provide the required basic understanding.

Structure of the minor

Core courses (compulsory)

You may include TU-C2020 Operaatioiden johtaminen (Operations Management 5 cr) OR TU-C3010 Projektien suunnittelu ja ohjaus (Project planning and control, 5 cr) in your minor, IF it is NOT already in your bachelor's degree. 

Optional courses (Select as many courses as needed to fulfill the extent of the minor (20-25 cr):

Code: SCI3079

Extent: 20-25

Language: English

Organizing department: Industrial Engineering and Management

Teacher in charge: Kari Tanskanen

Administrative contact: Tarja Timonen

Target group: All master's students with sufficient prerequisite knowledge.

Application procedure: Open for all students of Aalto University.

Quotas and restrictions: No quotas.

Prerequisites: TU-C2020 Operaatioiden johtaminen (Operations Management) or equivalent knowledge OR TU-C3010 Projektien suunnittelu ja ohjaus (Project planning and control) or equivalent knowledge.

Content and structure of the minor

Objectives

Operations management covers issues from operations strategy to efficient execution of operations, i.e., from configuring appropriate resources and processes into a production system that best contributes to the organisation’s goals and gives a competitive advantage to managing the production system in order to provide the best match with demand and supply. The minor in Operations and Service Management builds on the generic principles on operations management and emphasizes the novel ways of encountering the challenges and utilising the opportunities related to creating and transforming technology-based business.
Advanced production systems cross organisational borders and utilise external resource networks effectively in global scale. Business models have developed beyond the conventional manufacturing-focused forms into service systems and project or solution business. As technological, social or organisational innovations emerge, resources and processes in production systems should be vigorously re-configured for improved performance from the customers’, network partners’ and society’s perspective. Sustainability, effectiveness and efficiency are all important elements of performance. Consequently, the minor in Operations and Service Management covers issues on operations strategy, management of operations in inter-organisational systems, as well as the life-cycle management of production systems and their offerings to clients. Industrial service systems, project business framework, and integration of digital technologies into operations are central contextual themes.

The students minoring in Operations and Service Management  will gain a thorough understanding of modern operations and service management practices and the underlying theories. They will learn the principles of

• planning and controlling operations in multi-firm context;
• configuring and managing resources and processes in inter-organisational relationships;
• analysing the performance of and the risks related to modern production systems through the relevant life cycle; and
• managing value in production systems according to the requirements of the dynamic business environments.

There are several fields of specialisation in operations management, and students can select courses from the list to meet their personal learning objectives. It is possible to focus on either services or projects, for example. On the other hand, it is also reasonable to select courses without an explicit specialisation within operations and service management. All in all, managing operations means getting the right things done. Broad knowledge in the field is a solid foundation for general management duties and it gives capabilities to run a new venture, as well.

Students intending to take the minor should have a basic understanding of the following areas and their terminology:

• Concepts and models used to measure financial performance of a firm (TU-A1100 Tuotantotalous 1)
• Concepts and theoretical frameworks that describe the design and operation of a production systems from strategy to daily operations (TU-C2020 Operaatioiden johtaminen).
• Concepts of project management and project business (TU-C3010 Projektien suunnittelu ja ohjaus)

The course codes given in parenthesis above refer to courses that perfectly provide the required basic understanding.

Structure of the minor

Choose TU-C2020 Operaatioiden johtaminen (Operations Management 5 cr) OR TU-C3010 Projektien suunnittelu ja ohjaus (Project planning and control, 5 cr) if either of these courses (or equivalent courses) is missing from bachelor's degree.

Choose 15-20 credits from the following list of 12 courses. Although minor students are primarily to take the 3-credit versions of courses, you may choose one 5-credit course. Please also consider any course-specific prerequisites and restrictions concerning the number of participants. Please note that despite the notation '3-5cr', only two versions of a such courses are available: one for 3 cr and another for 5 cr. Typically, the difference between a 3-credit version and a 5-credit version is a larger assignment. An exception to this is TU-E2000, offered as 3 cr and 6 cr versions.

Code: SCI3079

Extent: 20-25

Language: English

Teacher in charge: Kari Tanskanen

Target group: All master's students with sufficient prerequisite knowledge.

Application procedure: Open for all students of Aalto University.

Quotas and restrictions: No quotas.

Prerequisites: TU-C2020 Operaatioiden johtaminen (Operations Management) or equivalent knowledge OR TU-C3010 Projektien suunnittelu ja ohjaus (Project planning and control) or equivalent knowledge.

Content and structure of the minor

Objectives

Operations management covers issues from operations strategy to efficient execution of operations, i.e., from configuring appropriate resources and processes into a production system that best contributes to the organisation’s goals and gives a competitive advantage to managing the production system in order to provide the best match with demand and supply. The minor in Operations and Service Management builds on the generic principles on operations management and emphasizes the novel ways of encountering the challenges and utilising the opportunities related to creating and transforming technology-based business.
Advanced production systems cross organisational borders and utilise external resource networks effectively in global scale. Business models have developed beyond the conventional manufacturing-focused forms into service systems and project or solution business. As technological, social or organisational innovations emerge, resources and processes in production systems should be vigorously re-configured for improved performance from the customers’, network partners’ and society’s perspective. Sustainability, effectiveness and efficiency are all important elements of performance. Consequently, the minor in Operations and Service Management covers issues on operations strategy, management of operations in inter-organisational systems, as well as the life-cycle management of production systems and their offerings to clients. Industrial service systems, project business framework, and integration of digital technologies into operations are central contextual themes.

The students minoring in Operations and Service Management  will gain a thorough understanding of modern operations and service management practices and the underlying theories. They will learn the principles of

• planning and controlling operations in multi-firm context;
• configuring and managing resources and processes in inter-organisational relationships;
• analysing the performance of and the risks related to modern production systems through the relevant life cycle; and
• managing value in production systems according to the requirements of the dynamic business environments.

There are several fields of specialisation in operations management, and students can select courses from the list to meet their personal learning objectives. It is possible to focus on either services or projects, for example. On the other hand, it is also reasonable to select courses without an explicit specialisation within operations and service management. All in all, managing operations means getting the right things done. Broad knowledge in the field is a solid foundation for general management duties and it gives capabilities to run a new venture, as well.

Students intending to take the minor should have a basic understanding of the following areas and their terminology:

• Concepts and models used to measure financial performance of a firm (TU-A1100 Tuotantotalous 1)
• Concepts and theoretical frameworks that describe the design and operation of a production systems from strategy to daily operations (TU-C2020 Operaatioiden johtaminen).
• Concepts of project management and project business (TU-C3010 Projektien suunnittelu ja ohjaus)

The course codes given in parenthesis above refer to courses that perfectly provide the required basic understanding. A satisfactory substitute is TU-D2000 mentioned in the list below.

Structure of the minor

Choose TU-C2020 Operaatioiden johtaminen (Operations Management 5 cr) OR TU-C3010 Projektien suunnittelu ja ohjaus (Project planning and control, 5 cr) if either of these courses (or equivalent courses) is missing from bachelor's degree.

Choose 15-20 credits from the following list of 11 courses. Although minor students are primarily to take the 3-credit versions of courses, you may choose one 5-credit course. Please also consider any course-specific prerequisites and restrictions concerning the number of participants. Please note that despite the notation '3-5cr', only two versions of a such courses are available: one for 3 cr and another for 5 cr. Typically, the difference between a 3-credit version and a 5-credit version is a larger assignment. An exception to this is TU-E2000, offered as 3 cr and 6 cr versions.