50 16. Operations management Source: <strong>QS</strong> <strong>Global</strong> <strong>200</strong> <strong>Business</strong> <strong>Schools</strong> <strong>Report</strong> <strong>2012</strong> (TopMBA.com)
Operations management An MBA specialization in operations management looks at the underlying concepts of the production and operations function of an organization, and are generally divided into two areas – the study of service operations, and manufacturing or production operations. This may encompass study in the following areas: design-related activities that form the function of a particular operation; the planning and control activities necessary to run the operation; and/or improving the way a particular operation performs its function. Operations management is often an attractive specialization for MBA students interested in following management careers in engineering, manufacturing, and logistics. Professor Miguel Angel Heras, director of ESADE’s department of operations management and innovation explains that careers in this field can be broken down to simple key processes that are vital to many organizations. “These processes are made up of interrelated, sequential activities through which the components and actors required (raw materials, labor, capital, information, the client, and such) are transformed into products. The key is the value added through the process as perceived by the customer, i.e. the end product has a greater value than the elements pre-process.” Nitin Pangarkar, associate professor and academic director of the MBA program at NUS <strong>Business</strong> School adds that business management skills in operations management will be vital for some employers. “Some firms might have strategies built around specific strengths. For instance, operations are one of Walmart’s greatest strengths and, clearly, they would like to employ managers who have a good understanding of key issues in that area.” The US appears to be leading the way in operations management. Compared with other regions, there are higher numbers of US business schools in this rating, with 27 featuring. Europe does comparatively well with 15 business schools featuring in the rating. Again, this is reflective of the advancement of business in the developed markets of the US and Europe. By contrast, the emerging markets of Asia, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East feature fewer business schools. Of the three regions, Asia-Pacific has the most, with six business schools featuring in the rating. Once again, Indian business schools are particularly prominent, with four highlighted: Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad; Indian School of <strong>Business</strong>; Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore; S P Jain Institute of Management and Research. NUS <strong>Business</strong> School at National University of Singapore and Melbourne <strong>Business</strong> School make up the other two business schools from the Asia-Pacific region. In Europe, UK business schools once again lead the way in operations management with a total of six out of 15 European business schools situated in the UK: London <strong>Business</strong> School; Cranfield School of Management; Warwick <strong>Business</strong> School; Manchester <strong>Business</strong> School; Judge <strong>Business</strong> School; Saïd <strong>Business</strong> School. s s s s s s s s s s INSEAD, France is the highest rated European business school and has done consistently well, holding its position in fifth place for two years running. Judge <strong>Business</strong> School and IE <strong>Business</strong> School have shown the most improvements, moving up seven and six places respectively. For two years in a row, MIT: Sloan has retained the title as the top MBA program specializing in operations management, according to employers. Three other US business schools, Harvard, Wharton, and Stanford feature prominently, and in line with MIT scored 100 in the employer index score. 51