Course syllabus

Aim

The main aim of this course is to give the students a broad basis in the area of quality and operations management, and in this way serve as a basis for continuing studies on a master’s level in Quality and Operations Management. Having completed the course the students will have acquired:

  • knowledge of the foundations of Quality and Operations Management 
  • an introduction to tools and approaches useful in improving organisational processes and products 
  • practice of self-directed studies and communication of their individual conclusions and their rationale  

 

Content

The eight weeks of the course are devoted to eight different topics:

  1. Introduction to master’s program in Quality and Operations Management.
  2. Quality Management
  3. Product Development Dilemmas
  4. Operations Management
  5. Design for Quality
  6. Service Operations Management
  7. Change Management and Improvement Processes
  8. Professional roles

 

Prerequisites

Prospective students need to be registered on the Master’s Program in Quality and Operations Management, thus fulfilling the entry requirements for the program. 

 

Organization

Each week of the course consists of lectures and/or seminars, guest lecture/study visits and group work. The theme changes each week and the totality of the course reflects the main content of the master’s program in Quality and Operations Management. The course homepage is used as the main communication tool – please check frequently. 

 

Examination

The examination in this course consists of the following elements:

  • Active participation in all compulsory activities (indicated in the course schedule as well as in the schedule for the introductory week) 
  • Active participation in group work, group meetings and presentations, all group assignments need to be graded “pass”. If a group fails on any assignment the teacher will require supplementary work. 
  • Hand in a learning log 
  • Individual written exam graded as follows: fail (less than 40% correct), 3 (between 40 and 59% correct), 4 (between 60 and 79% correct), and 5 (80% correct or more). The exam covers all parts of the course except for the first and last weeks. The form of the exam might be slightly different due to the Covid-19 pandemic. 
  • Passed quiz and active attendance at a literature seminar (in total six seminars) will eventually generate up to six bonus points on the written exam. These bonus points can only be used to receive higher grades, not to pass the exam and only on this year’s exam and its corresponding two re-exams.  

 

Literature

The articles are available through the Chalmers library’s website under e-journals if nothing else is stated by the lecturer at the start of a week. Lecture handouts are also seen as part of the literature (available on the course homepage). The following books are part of the literature and will be used in subsequent courses in the master’s program:

  • Gremyr, I., Bergqvist, B., Elg, M. (2020). Quality Management: An introduction. Studentlitteratur, Lund.
  • Holweg, M., Davies, J., Meyer, A. Lawson, B., Schmenner, R. (2018), Process Theory: The Principles of Operations Management, Oxford University Press, UK. Available as e-book via Chalmers’ library.
  • Wheelwright, S.C. & Clark, K.B. (1992). Revolutionizing Product Development. Free Press. 

 

Learning log

The learning log is a reflective paper that aims to engage you in the process of self-evaluation where you identify your goals and development through the course as well as your strengths, weaknesses and personal interests. Emphasis should be put on reflecting upon your learning in relation to what you envision to be your future professional role (professional roles will be in focus the last study week). The goal is for you to: 

  • Understand the variety of professional roles in Quality and Operations Management 
  • Reflect on own career plans 

 

Literature: Gremyr, I., Bergqvist, B., Elg, M. (2019). Quality Management: An introduction. Chapter 6. 

 

Objective with the assignment: 

  • Self-assessment and reflection of own learning relative to your interests and future career plans. 
  • Make a personal sense of selected topics in the course 
  • Reflective and personal. Academically rigorous. 
  • Length: max 300 words + a diagram/figure. 

 

Task: 

In relation to the course content, you should refer to concepts, ideas and thoughts put forward in the class discussion and the reading material. You do not have to refer to the literature or other material: this is your personal paper! The reflective paper should be structured around each of the three questions: 

1. What did you learn about yourself? 

2. What may you as a professional within QOM see as the most critical and/or interesting things to work with? 

3. Have you developed new appreciations during the course? New scepticism? 

Format: 

  • Name 
  • Title of reflection 
  • Body of text 
  • At least one figure/diagram/table that summarizes your key ideas. 
  • Submission: via course homepage latest October 28 

 

Absence

Upon missing a compulsory activity, the following apply:  

  • All absences need to be reported to and approved by the responsible teacher (cc to the course assistant) prior to the occasion. Thus, we expect you to notify us beforehand if you are to be absent.  
  • In case of absences from any one of these activities, the student has to complete a supplementary assignment. These assignments should be completed one week after the activity took place. No grades will be reported until all supplementary assignments have been completed. 

 

Main Teachers

AH: Andreas Hellström, Senior Lecturer, andreas.hellstrom@chalmers.se, 031 772 81 88 

EE: Erik Eriksson, Researcher, erik.eriksson@chalmers.se, 031-772 68 61       

IG: Ida Gremyr, Professor, ida.gremyr@chalmers.se, 031 -772 81 82 

LT: Lars Trygg, Associate Professor, lars.trygg@chalmers.se, 031 – 772 12 07 

PB: Petra Bosch, Professor, petra.bosch@chalmers.se, 031 – 772 19 45 

SM: Stina Månsson, PhD student, stina.mansson@chalmers.se, 031- 772 63 95