Getting a better grade in operations management

getting a better grade in
operations management
I could say that the best rule for getting a better grade is
to be good. I mean really, really good! But, there are
plenty of us who, while fairly good, don’t get as good a
grade as we really deserve. So, if you are studying operations
management, and you want a really good grade,
try following these simple steps:
Step 1 Practice, practice, practice. Use the Key questions
and the Problems and applications to check your understanding.
Use the Study plan feature in MyOMLab and
practice to master the topics which you find difficult.
Step 2 Remember a few key models, and apply them
wherever you can. Use the diagrams and models to
describe some of the examples that are contained within
the chapter. You can also use the revision pod casts on
MyOMLab.
Step 3 Remember to use both quantitative and qualitative
analysis. You’ll get more credit for appropriately mixing
your methods: use a quantitative model to answer a
quantitative question and vice versa, but qualify this
with a few well chosen sentences. Both the chapters of
the book, and the exercises on MyOMLab, incorporate
qualitative and quantitative material.
Step 4 There’s always a strategic objective behind any
operational issue. Ask yourself, ‘Would a similar operation
with a different strategy do things differently?’
Look at the Short cases, Case studies, and Operations in
practice pieces in the book.
Step 5 Research widely around the topic. Use websites
that you trust – we’ve listed some good websites at the
end of each chapter and on MyOMLab. You’ll get more
credit for using references that come from genuine
academic sources.
Step 6 Use your own experience. Every day, you’re
experiencing an opportunity to apply the principles
of operations management. Why is the queue at the
airport check-in desk so long? What goes on behind
the ‘hole in the wall’ of your bank’s ATM machines?
Use the videos on MyOMLab to look further at
operations in practice.
Step 7 Always answer the question. Think ‘What is
really being asked here? What topic or topics does this
question cover?’ Find the relevant chapter or chapters,
and search the Key questions at the beginning of each
chapter and the Summary at the end of each chapter to
get you started.
Step 8 Take account of the three tiers of accumulating
marks for your answers.
(a) First, demonstrate your knowledge and understanding.
Make full use of the text and MyOMLab
to find out where you need to improve.
(b) Second, show that you know how to illustrate and
apply the topic. The Short cases, Case studies and
‘Operations in practice’ sections, combined with
those on MyOMLab, give you hundreds of different
examples.
(c) Third, show that you can discuss and analyse the
issues critically. Use the Critical commentaries
within the text to understand some of the alternative
viewpoints.
Generally, if you can do (a) you will pass; if you can do
(a) and (b) you will pass well, and if you can do all
three, you will pass with flying colours!
Step 9 Remember not only what the issue is about, but
also understand why! Read the text and apply your
knowledge on MyOMLab until you really understand
why the concepts and techniques of operations management
are important, and what they contribute to an
organisation’s success. Your new-found knowledge will
stick in your memory, allow you to develop ideas, and
enable you to get better grades.
Step 10 Start now! Don’t wait until two weeks before an
assignment is due. Log on (www.myomlab.com), read
on

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