LEARNING GUIDE

OPERATIONAL MANAGEMENT

BMA 2641

COMPILED BY: RAMUDINGANE K

: N.G. RAMAVHONA

© RESERVED 2021

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CONTENTS

1. Facilitator’s details 3

2. Module description 3

3. Module objectives 3

4. Prescribed Textbooks 4

5. Module content 4

6. Assessment 7

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1. FACILITATORS’ DETAILS

1.1. MR K RAMUDINGANE
Mobile Office Complex, Block A, Office A2

1.2. MRS N.G. Ramavhona

Mobile Office Complex, Block A, Office A2

2. MODULE DESCRIPTION
Operations Management concerns itself with the management of resources and
activities that produce and deliver goods and services for customers. Efficient and
effective operations management provides businesses with competitive advantages,
as they are more able to adapt to customer needs and requirements.
This module gives a general overview of management principles and the general
management activities needed by the operational and first-time manager in the
workplace today. These principles are very crucial for the sustainability of an
organization,

3. MODULE OBJECTIVES
 Define and understand the scope of operations management.
 Understand the new workplace environment and the changing role of the
operational and first-time manager.
 Understand operational planning, operational decision-making and problem-
solving, organizing operational resources, operational control and leadership.
Identify and explain the different types of process structures (and their
improvement) for manufacturers and service providers.
 Understand and explain the employment relations in the workplace.
 Understand and describe the organizational culture, diversity management,
business ethics, corporate social responsibility, organizational politics and
change management in the workplace.

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4. PRESCRIBED TEXT BOOK/S
 Rossouw, D., de Beer, A. (2018). Focus on operational Management: A generic
Approach. Fourth Edition. Juta.

Additional text book

Several textbooks, periodicals and business newspapers are available in
The library on the first floor.
The textbooks can be found at 658 (Dewey classification number) on the
Library shelves.

5. MODULE CONTENT

Module 1: Introduction to operational management

1. Aim: To gain an overview of operation management as a functional area of
business Management.

2. Compulsory study: Rossouw, D., de Beer, A. (2018). Focus on operational

Management: A generic Approach. Fourth Edition. Juta. Chapter 1 and 2

3. Learning outcomes:
After completion of this module, you should be able to:
1. Define and discuss Management concepts and list the various resources of
an organization
2. Analyze the major challenges of managing in the new economy and apply the
drivers of competitive advantage to an organization
3. Distinguish between levels of management tasks and various managerial
skills required at different levels of management
4. Explain how management tasks have evolved in today’s business
environment
5. Understand and explain the changing role of the operational manager

Module 2: Operational Planning, organizing, Leading and control.

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1. Aim: To understand Operational planning, organizing operational resources,
Leading and operational control.
2. Compulsory study: Rossouw, D., de Beer, A. (2018). Focus on operational
Management: A generic Approach. Fourth Edition. Juta. Chapter 3, 4, 5 and 7

3. Learning outcomes:
After completion of this module, you should be able to:
1. Define planning, organizing, control, performance standard, quality, quality
control, standard costs, unit costs, preventive control. Concurrent control and
post-control, leadership
2. Identify the benefits of planning on operational level, apply the operational
planning process within the workplace
3. Explain the steps in the action planning method, compare single-use plans
with standing plans.
4. Explain the importance, value of application of the following: Budgets,
Schedules, Gantt chart, PERT schedule.
5. Explain the importance and value of control, describe the relationship
between planning and control, explain the steps of control process and apply
them in your work, formulate performance standards, discuss the connection
between leading and leadership and give practical suggestions for effective
leadership
6. Interpret the difference between policy, procedures and rules.
7. Explain the steps in the organizing process, apply the principles of organizing
and discuss the four different forms of authority.
8. Explain the relationship between authority, responsibility, accountability and
delegation.
9. Distinguish between the five forms of departmentalization, discuss the
principles of co-ordination, differentiate between line, the line and staff, the
task and the project operational structures
10. Describe three contemporary structures which could be found in
organizations today, describe the different types of groups, define what a
team is and briefly describe each type of team.

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11. Write down the requirement that performance standards should meet and
explain how an operational manager evaluates actual performance and how
any corrections should be made also explain what should be done to
minimize resistance to control among staff.
12. Explain the achievements an operation manager should take in consideration
when observing and measuring actual performance.
13. Explain Motivation using Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and explain the
communication process with the aid of sketch, different schools of thought
regarding conflict and the potential causes of conflict
14. Discuss the value of good leadership and the effect thereof on operational
management.

Module 3: Operational decision making and problem solving.

1. Aim: To understand Operational decision making and problem solving,

Employment relations in the workplace and Contemporary issues.

2. Compulsory study: Rossouw, D., de Beer, A. (2018). Focus on operational

Management: A generic Approach. Fourth Edition. Juta. Chapter 6, 8 and 9

3. Learning outcomes:

After completion of this module, you should be able to:

1. Define operational decision making, differentiate between the three
decision making conditions and apply the steps of the rational decision-
making process at an operational level
2. Discuss points that can help operational manager to make more
enlightened decisions or choices, differentiate between the different
decision-making styles, between the different types of problems and
solutions to problems.
3. Describe and apply the various techniques of problem solving and decide
upon the best problem-solving techniques.
4. Explain the tripartite relationship and discuss the role of each role player,
distinguish between the workplace procedures of disciplining the
workforce and grievance handling.

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 5. Understand and explain disciplinary procedure, distinguish between
procedural and substantive fairness in cases of dismissal.
6. Understand issues related to the commission for Conciliation, Mediation
and Arbitration.
7. Understand and explain all other relevant Labour Legislation
8. Understand all contemporary issues.

Blooms Taxonomy Level BMA Standard (1st Year)

1 Remembering 30
2 Understanding 25
3 Applying 15
4 Analysing 15
5 Evaluating 10
6 Creating 5

6. ASSESSMENT
The assessment of the subject consists of two components: (1) the semester mark and
(2) the exam.

Semester Mark 60%

Exam 40%
TOTAL 100%

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Semester Mark Composition

Component Weight
Test 1 33%
Test 2 33%
Group Assignment 34%
Total 100%

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