QS Global 200 Business Schools Report 2012 - International ...

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 Business 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 Business;
Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore;
S P Jain Institute of Management and
Research.
NUS Business School at National University of
Singapore and Melbourne Business 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 Business School;
Cranfield School of Management;
Warwick Business School;
Manchester Business School;
Judge Business School;
Saïd Business School.
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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
Business School and IE Business 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.
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