Unless otherwise noted, each course is four credits .

OPM 560: Decision Modeling and Risk Analysis

Managers must present both quantitative evidence and qualitative rationale to support their recommendations and decisions. It has lead to an increased managerial interest in analytical decision-making tools. Decision Modeling and Risk Analysis is a hands-on graduate elective course designed to supplement other business courses by emphasizing decision-making and risk management using spreadsheet-based analysis.

Objectives: (i) To improve your decision-making and problem solving ability in an uncertain and complex environment; (ii) To make you proficient in the use of Microsoft Excel for building complex business models; (iii) To enable intelligent use of Excel for conducting what-if analysis and for finding the optimal solution; (iv) To go beyond using averages and scenarios to model uncertainty by conducting risk analysis using Monte Carlo Simulation technique.

Target Audience: This course should be of interest to students interested in a career in general consulting or as business analysts in the areas of finance, accounting, marketing, operations, supply chain management, or MIS.

Topics: (i) Advanced Spreadsheet Modeling; (ii) Decision Making Under Uncertainty and Risk Management: Monte Carlo Simulation and Decision Trees; (iii) Decision Making Under Certainty (Optimization): Linear, Integer, and Nonlinear Programming. The classes will be held in a computer lab so that working along with the Instructor you can get hands-on experience with the Excel-based software.

Prerequisites: Required courses in Finance, Marketing, and Statistics; Basic knowledge of Excel (edit and copy, draw charts, write formulas)

OPM 565: Supply Chain Management

This course intends to provide MBA students with an overview of the managerial aspects of Supply Chain Management. We will integrate the perspectives on supply chain management from operations, information systems, marketing, and finance in this course.

Objective: (i) To give you an understanding of key topics in management of supply chains, (ii) To equip you with theory and models to take important decisions in supply chains.

Target Audience: While a good understanding of supply chains is critical for a career in operations management, it is also important for general managers, analysts, and consultants. It will also be helpful for students intending to join industries like retail including apparel and grocery, distribution, transportation, logistics, and manufacturing.

Topics: Supply chain strategy, supply chain design, logistics (distribution, warehousing, and transportation), forecasting models and practice, inventory management, sourcing, supply chain coordination and contracts, supply chain finance, metrics, and supply chain software and technology. The course uses a mix of lectures, discussion of cases and readings, modeling using Excel in a computer lab, games and simulations, and plant tours. It uses several cases to illustrate real-world applications and to provide a platform for understanding the business issues of Supply Chain Management covered in the lecture.

Prerequisites: First-year MBA courses, Basic knowledge of Microsoft Excel

OPM 580: Business Processes and Outsourcing: Design, Technology, and Management

To successfully face the increased competition, firms need to reorganize their business around processes that are (i) aligned with the firm’s strategy and (ii) create value for their customers in the most cost effective way. Managers and consultants often face challenges that require a systematic analysis, design, and sourcing of business processes. Business Processes and Outsourcing is a graduate level elective course that develops an analytical framework using both quantitative and qualitative tools to better prepare students to meet the aforementioned managerial challenges.

Objectives: (i) To equip students with tools required for systematic business process reengineering.
(ii) To introduce students to process improvement tools such as six-sigma.
(iii) To familiarize students with strategic outsourcing decision drivers.
(iv) To enable students with the underlying economics that influences the intent and subsequently the nature of outsourcing relationships between clients and vendors.
(v) To introduce students to the role of business process outsourcing contracts to manage the vendors effectively. 

Target Audience: With the rapid rise in globalization, understanding process management and outsourcing decisions is valuable for managers working in most industries. The course discusses processes across different functional boundaries (e.g., financial services, healthcare, market research, insurance, manufacturing), therefore students will find this course useful irrespective of the industry they want to work in. The course will be particularly useful for students who want to build a career in corporate strategy and in consulting.

Topics: (i) Business process analysis and impact of variability. (ii) Business process reengineering.
(iii) Process improvement tools. (iv) Strategic framework of business process outsourcing decisions.
(v) Business process outsourcing contracts.

Prerequisites: Required courses in Operations, MIS, and Statistics.

OPM 581-9 - SPECIAL TOPICS IN OPM (2,4 cr.)

Particular topics within the area of operations management. Topics determined in advance. May be repeated for credit.

OPM 597 - INDEPENDENT STUDY (var. cr.)

In-depth study in particular area of interest, under direction of appropriate faculty.

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