BA 357: Operations Management – Ecampus Version

Credits: 4
Instructor’s name: Randal Smith, MBA
Instructor’s email: randal.smith@bus.oregonstate.edu

PREREQS: BA 275 or BA 276 and junior standing. Completion of BA 302 for College of Business
students and a working knowledge of Excel applications is strongly recommended.

Course Content:
Operations are the processes and systems by which an organization transforms inputs (e.g., labor,
material, and supplies) into products and services for its customers. Operations managers and
personnel are responsible for selecting, designing, running, and improving the processes and
systems to accomplish this production or service efficiently for their organization. While the focus of
the course is on operations activities that produce value for external customers, operations
management and concepts are essential to all parts of an organization; including, for example,
finance, marketing, purchasing, and logistics.

This course begins with an overview of the strategic importance of operations activities in today’s
competitive business environment. We will then examine the ground floor management of
operations, which start with the process. Specific aspects of process management will consider
strategy, analysis, quality, performance, capacity planning and lean systems. Following an in depth
study of process management, our attention will turn to Supply Chain design and integration, which
includes inventory, site and resource planning and management. Specific experiential activities,
exercises and assignments will serve to solidify the concepts of operations management. Special
emphasis will be placed on the human element of operations management, quality and what it takes
to be a successful manger of operations in large and small enterprises.

Purpose of the Course:

This course introduces the student to the different operations management functions and associated
methodology within an organization. Operations usually refer to the part of the company where the
primary creation of value for a customer occurs. No matter what occupation or business functional
area you choose to work in, it is essential that you acquire a basic understanding of how your
organization produces its products and services for its customers. The ideas concepts and tools
introduced in this course and their application to a particular business situation can directly affect how
successful you are in your future business career.

Learning Objectives:
Students completing BA 357 should be able to:
1. Express an understanding of the concepts of Operations Management.
2. Apply key tools and strategies used by operations management professionals and know how
these tools and strategies impact other functions in an organization.
3. Understand how to select which of these tools and concepts to use, taking into account the
effects of cost, quality level, product life cycle stage, competitive priorities, and other
organizational and external influences and constraints.
4. Select and execute the most appropriate operations management solution for a given business
situation.

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Learning Resources:
Required text:
Operations Management: Processes and Supply Chains, Eleventh Edition, Krajewski, Malhotra, &
Ritzman, Pearson/Prentice-Hall, 2016. ISBN-9780133885583 (Less Expensive, E-text with MyOMLab
access code)
-Or- (not both)

Alternative Loose Leaf Edition with required MyOMLab access code, ISBN 9780133885583 (This
option is more expensive, but provides the student with a paper copy of the material.)

Note: All students will be required to complete MyOMLab homework for 8% of their grade, therefore
an access code is required for all students.

Other materials and references:

Powerpoint, video clips, web links, grade information, and other supplemental material will be
provided through Canvas at http://oregonstate.instructure.com

NOTE to prospective students: Both text options listed above are available at the OSU Bookstore
(http://www.osubookstore.com or 800-595-0357) The MyOMLab access code and text book purchasing
options are also available directly from Pearson at http://www.mypearsonstore.com

Evaluation of Student Performance:

This course requires that you take 2 exams under the supervision of an approved proctor. Proctoring
guidelines and registration for proctored exams are available online through the Ecampus testing and
proctoring website at http://ecampus.oregonstate.edu/services/proctoring/. It is important to submit
your proctoring request as early as possible to avoid delays.

Exams:
There will be two exams, a midterm (100 points) and a final (non-cumulative 100 points). The
Proctor will allow you one hour and fifty minutes for each exam. Exams will cover the lecture material,
the reading assignments and homework, and any other material and exercises covered in the course.
Exams allow the use of a note sheet that you will create (double sided 8.5 by 11 inch paper, printed,
typed or copied), a calculator and scratch paper. The notes and scratch paper will be destroyed by
the proctor after your exam.

Quizzes:
There will be five quizzes given online (Canvas) during the term worth 20 points each. Each quiz will
check student understanding of the reading material, lecture content, and homework since the
previous quiz. The overall total points for these quizzes will be 100 points. Students will be given two
attempts to complete the quiz by the specified deadline. No makeup or extensions will be granted
on any quiz.

Experiential Assignments:
There will be two spreadsheet assignments in the second half of the course. Each will be worth 50
points for a total of 100 points, and due at a specified time (see course calendar.) These
assignments will be Excel based and worth 50 points each. These assignments will be completed in
groups of up to four people, which you will choose. If you need to complete the assignment
individually, please send me an email making that request and stating the reason that you need to
work alone.

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 Homework:
Homework will be graded and is worth 8% of each student’s grade. Problems selected from the
homework with their data slightly altered are occasionally included as part of the quizzes and exams.
Homework will be completed using the MyOMLab.com software which can be purchased along with
the textbook (Operations Management: Processes and Value Chains, 11th Edition, Krajewski,
Malhotra, & Ritzman) through the OSU bookstore. These materials can also be purchased through
the Pearson web site directly. The website is: www.mypearsonstore.com There are 8 homework
assignments, each will be worth 5 points, which will be awarded only if the student achieves a score
of 80% by the specified due date in the course calendar. Scores lower than 80% or late
submissions will receive a score of zero. The assignment settings will allow you three chances at
each question.

Accuracy and Organization:

In the business world, managers expect that their employees will check their work. It is critical for
operations decisions that the data used in making them is accurate.

Therefore, students are expected to check their work for numerical accuracy and to include the
proper units for their results. This is easier if students take a neat and organized approach in solving
problems.

Discussion Board Participation:

Students are required to participate in the 6 graded discussion boards as indicated in the course
calendar. Refer to the Communications section given below for appropriate protocol and expected
behavior in using the discussion boards. Students will receive up to 10 points per discussion board
depending on the quality, timeliness and quantity of their posts. The total points for discussion board
participation are 60 points. Discussion Board grades will be posted for each discussion board after it
closes.

Final grades will be based on the following distribution (500 points possible):
Homework 40 points
Quizzes 100 points
Discussion Boards 60 points
Experiential assignments: 100 points
Midterm exam 100 points
Final exam (Not Cumulative) 100 points

Grades will be assigned based on the following scale using your total points earned divided
by 500:

A > 93% C 73 - 77%

A minus 90 - 93% C minus 70 - 73%
B plus 87 - 90% D plus 67 - 70%
B 83 - 87% D 63 - 67%
B minus 80 - 83% D minus 60 - 63%
C plus 77 - 80% F < 60%

Grading:
During the course your progress will be reported in the Canvas gradebook based on your points
earned to date against the total points possible at that time. After the final grades are posted, no
requests for grade changes will be accepted per current university policy.

Course Policies:
Exam Policies — No makeup exams will be offered. Students are expected to complete the exam
during the scheduled window of time with an Ecampus proctor. Arranged through Ecampus at
http://ecampus.oregonstate.edu/services/proctoring/

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 Incompletes — Take this course only if you plan to finish it in a timely manner (during this term). An "I" or
incomplete is assigned only when there is a strong and compelling case for doing so (e.g., serious health
reasons, military commitment). Incompletes are not assigned for any reason unless the individual has
completed over 70% of the course tasks (e.g., all work assignments and the midterm). Please note that
students receiving incompletes are subject to assignment weight reduction (and consequently may not be
eligible for A or A- grades) because some of their work will be submitted late.
Course Content: Materials posted in Canvas are designed to supplement the material in the text and will
include topics not covered by the text. PowerPoint files will be posted in Canvas. There will also be
occasional spreadsheet examples, video clips, and some demonstration exercises. Review of all course
material is expected and strongly encouraged. Students who do not read the course content and
other supplemental references should not expect to do well in the course.
Reading and Homework Assignments: Not all of the reading assignment content or homework
problems will be discussed in the course material or supplemental references, but they will be covered on
the exams and quizzes. Content or homework not discussed in the course material should be self
explanatory; but if you are having difficulty understanding the material or solving a homework problem, be
sure to ask for clarification in the discussion boards, or by asking questions via e-mail.
You are expected to do the homework associated with the reading assignment so that you can gain the
most benefit from the course material. The homework is designed to give you practice in key methods
and prepare you for quiz and exam problems.
Work in business operations is inherently a social and collaborative effort with each person depending on
the contribution of others. To this end it is expected that students will work with each other when they get
stuck on homework assignments. However, each student must ultimately be responsible for their
education and try first to do the homework themselves without looking at the solution beforehand. As a
general guideline, if you work unsuccessfully on a problem for more than 20 minutes, it would be wise to
stop and seek some help through the discussion board. The instructor will monitor the discussion board
and if students are not able to resolve homework difficulties, the instructor will post a reply during review
times. Students are also encouraged to post responses to questions from their fellow students in the
discussion board.

Statement Regarding Students with Disabilities:

Disability Accommodation: Accommodations are collaborative efforts between students, faculty
and Disability Access Services (DAS). Students with accommodations approved through DAS are
responsible for contacting the faculty member in charge of the course prior to or during the first
week of the term to discuss accommodations. Students who believe they are eligible for
accommodations but who have not yet obtained approval through DAS should contact DAS
immediately at 541-737-4098.

Expectations for Student Conduct:

Student conduct is governed by the university’s policies, as explained in the Office of Student Conduct:
information and regulations.

Academic Dishonesty: According to OSU student conduct regulations, academic dishonesty is

defined as an intentional act of deception in which a student seeks to claim credit for the work or
effort of another person or uses unauthorized materials or fabricated information in any academic
work. Refer to the OSU Student Conduct code (576-015-0020) for a comprehensive definition of
academic dishonesty. Here is a link to Oregon State University’s student conduct
description: http://studentlife.oregonstate.edu/studentconduct/offenses-0. All cases of suspected
academic dishonesty will be handled in strict accordance with OSU policy and College of Business
policy.

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COB Code of Honor:

A code of honor represents the moral commitments of those abiding to it. While each person lives by
his or her personal code, the establishment of collective values creates a universal goal to which we
can aspire. It is through the pursuit of these professional attributes that we reduce the possibility of
immoral actions ourselves.

In order to uphold our personal character and the organization that we proudly call our own, we take
this oath.

Integrity
The quality of being honest and having strong moral principles, integrity stands as the
backbone of character and is essential for success.

Respect
Respect for others and yourself is a commitment to the fair treatment of and the fair
competition with others. Through respect we embolden the character of others and ourselves.

Responsibility
We are held accountable for our words and actions as professionals to embed a steadfast
commitment to honor in our decisions.

Conduct in this online classroom — Students are expected to conduct themselves in the course (e.g.,
on discussion boards, email postings) in compliance with the university's regulations regarding civility.
Students will be expected to treat all others with the same respect as they would want afforded
themselves. Disrespectful behavior to others (such as harassing behavior, personal insults, and
inappropriate language) or disruptive behaviors in the course (such as persistent and unreasonable
demands for time and attention both in and out of the classroom) is unacceptable and can result in
sanctions as defined by Oregon Administrative Rules Division 015 Student Conduct Regulations.
Communications:
Ground Rules for Online Communication & Participation:
 Online threaded discussions are public messages, and all writings in this area will be viewable
by the entire class or assigned group members. If you prefer that only the instructor sees your
communication, send it to me by email, and be sure to identify yourself and the class.
 Posting of personal contact information is discouraged (e.g. telephone numbers, address,
personal website address).
 Online Instructor Response Policy: I will check email periodically Monday through Friday and
will respond to course-related questions within 24 hours, unless I am travelling. I may
occasionally check email on the weekend, but this is not guaranteed.
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  Observation of "Netiquette": All your online communications need to be composed with
fairness, honesty and tact. Spelling and grammar are very important in an online course. What
you put into an online course reflects on your level of professionalism. Here are a couple of
references that discuss
o writing online: http://goto.intwg.com/
o netiquette: http://www.albion.com/netiquette/corerules.html.
 Please check the Announcements area and the course syllabus before you ask general course
"housekeeping" questions (i.e. how do I submit assignment 2?) If you don't see your answer
there, then please contact me. For other questions, first check the Student Assistance resources
listed below.

Guidelines for a productive and effective online classroom:

 The discussion board is your space to interact with your colleagues related to current topics or
responses to your colleague’s statements. It is expected that each student will participate in a
mature and respectful fashion.
 Participate actively in the discussions, having completed the readings and thought about the
issues.
 Pay close attention to what your classmates write in their online comments. Ask clarifying
questions, when appropriate. These questions are meant to probe and shed new light, not to
minimize or devalue comments.
 Think through and reread your comments before you post them.
 Assume the best of others in the class and expect the best from them.
 Value the diversity of the class. Recognize and value the experiences, abilities, and knowledge
each person brings to class.
 Disagree with ideas, but do not make personal attacks. Do not demean or embarrass others. Do
not make sexist, racist, homophobic, or victim-blaming comments at all.
 Be open to be challenged or confronted on your ideas or prejudices.
♦ Student Assistance:
Technical Assistance: If you experience computer difficulties, need help downloading a browser or plug-
in, assistance logging into the course, or if you experience any errors or problems while in your online
course, contact the OSU Help Desk for assistance. You can call (541) 737-3474, email
osuhelpdesk@oregonstate.edu or visit the OSU Computer Helpdesk online.

Tutoring: Please refer to availability of online tutoring subjects, free to Ecampus students, as described
in the tutoring section of the Ecampus website.

Contacting the instructor: Please use the course discussion board for general questions so that other
students may be able to help you regarding difficulty with a particular topic or homework problem. I will
monitor the discussion and will occasionally post a reply. For personal questions regarding grades and
individual course progress, please contact me directly via e-mail at: Randal.smith@bus.oregonstate.edu

Course Evaluation:
OSU Student Evaluation of Teaching — Course evaluation results are extremely important and are
used to help me improve this course and the learning experience of future students. Results from the
multiple choice questions are tabulated anonymously and go directly to instructors and department
heads. Student comments on the open-ended questions are compiled and confidentially forwarded to
each instructor, per OSU procedures. The online Student Evaluation of Teaching form will be available
toward the end of each term, and you will be sent instructions by Ecampus on completion of the form.
You will login to “Student Online Services” to respond to the online questionnaire. The results on the form
are anonymous and are not tabulated until after grades are posted.