Global Operations

Globalization of businesses has resulted in companies having to manage global networks of suppliers, integrators, contract manufacturers, logistics service providers, distributors, and service support operators in geographically dispersed locations. The customer network is also globally distributed. This course will focus on (1) how global and international companies can overcome the geographical, cultural, and organizational barriers, and leverage the strengths of the network together with the advances in technologies to create values, (2) how these companies should best structure their network, like in-sourcing or outsourcing, and off-shoring or on-shoring, to give the best competitive advantage, and (3) how operations can support the overall business strategies.. The course will be based on cases on innovative strategies and tactics used by global and international companies, including how they can do so in a sustainable way in emerging economies. Students taking the course are expected to have had at least one college course in operations management, and familiar with methodologies like queueing systems, newsvendor model, safety stocks, and process flow analysis, as these methodologies will not be taught in class, but they are used in analyzing global operations in class sessions, in assignments, and in exam.