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MAN-20205 - Module Specification
Keele Business School
Faculty of Business, Law, Humanities & Social Sciences

For academic year: 2026/27 Last Updated: 17 March 2026

MAN-20205 - Contemporary Business Operations
Coordinator: Witold Bahr
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 5
Credits: 30
Study Hours: 300
School Office: 01782 733094

Programme/Approved Electives for 2026/27

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

no

Barred Combinations

no

Description for 2026/27

In the second year, you will focus on the practical applications of operations and project management within organisations. This includes a thorough examination of operational strategies, quality management approaches, and the application of project management techniques. By concentrating on these key areas, you will learn how to enhance business efficiency, maintain high-quality standards, and successfully manage and execute projects in complex operational environments. This foundation prepares you for critical roles in business operations and management.

Aims
This module aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of operations and project management principles, focusing on enhancing business efficiency and effectiveness. It explores key operational strategies, quality management approaches, and their application in complex organisational environments to drive continuous improvement. The module covers operational planning, resource management, and project execution processes, evaluating their impact on organisational success. It also assesses various project management techniques and tools within time, cost, and quality constraints, while developing practical skills to manage and improve business operations and execute complex projects.

Intended Learning Outcomes

apply operational strategies and project management techniques to solve problems within organisational contexts, considering factors such as cost, quality, and resource constraints.: 1,2
evaluate different quality management approaches and operational frameworks, and critically assess their relevance and impact on business performance and project outcomes.: 1
analyse operational processes and project plans using appropriate tools and methodologies, identifying areas for improvement and suggesting strategies to optimise efficiency and effectiveness.: 2
exhibit competence in managing projects from initiation to completion, utilising project management software and tools to plan, track, and assess progress within defined time, cost, and quality parameters.: 2

Study hours

Lecture and tutorial - 48 hrs
Guided reading and research - 48 hrs
Independent research - 120
Assessment preparation and delivery- 84 hrs

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Group Assessment weighted 30%
Video presentation
This is a group assignment. Working in groups of 5–7, you will produce a 10-minute training video on an operations management tool or technique selected from the list provided in the assessment brief. Your video should explain the chosen tool clearly, demonstrate how it is used, and apply it to a relevant scenario to show how it supports operational or project decision-making. The group should include a brief on-camera welcome at the start; the remaining content may be delivered on camera and/or via voiceover, as agreed by the group, provided communication is clear and accessible. This assessment receives a group mark, with adjustments where contribution is demonstrably uneven. Reasonable adjustments will be agreed with the lecturer.

2: Report weighted 70%
Operations Management Report
This is an individual assignment. Students will act as operations management consultants and produce a 2,000-word (+/-10%) report proposing an innovative strategy to improve the operational performance of a FTSE 100 company of their choice. The report should set out a coherent strategic operations plan that enhances one or more areas of operations (for example, resource management, process optimisation, supply chain efficiency, or quality control). Recommendations must be grounded in operations management theory and evidence, while demonstrating creativity and professional judgement. The strategy must (1) propose forward-thinking operational improvements to enhance efficiency, cost, quality, responsiveness, or risk management; (2) integrate sustainability and ethics, including responsible resource use and ethical supply chain considerations; and (3) apply appropriate operations management tools (e.g., Lean, Six Sigma, Gantt charts, SWOT, KPIs) to analyse the current situation and justify the feasibility and likely impact of the recommendations.

The University undertakes a continuous review of its teaching and research provision to ensure programmes are of a high quality and changes may be made to modules where it is necessary and reasonable to do so. Please be aware that minor changes to modules, such as a change to an individual assessment, can occur up until enrolment, although we endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes. Details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/legalgovernancecompliance/governance/actcharterstatutesordinancesandregulations/studenttermsconditions/

Last Updated: 17 March 2026