B.Sc. Operations and Technology Management (Special) Degree Programme

The field of Operations and Technology Management is concerned with the design, management, and improvement of operating systems and processes. When taking into consideration the challenges confronted by firms competing in today’s demanding environment, the focus of the field has broadened to include the multiple activities comprising a firm’s “operating core”:

• the multi-function, multi-firm system that includes basic research, design, engineering, product and process development and production of goods and services within individual operating units;
• the networks of information and material flows that tie operating units together and the systems that support these networks;
• the distribution and delivery of goods and services to customers.

Thus operations managers need to focus on value creation on a global scale through innovative product and process design, project management as well as on value capture through effective supply chain management.

The B.Sc. in Operations and Technology Management (Special) Degree Programme moulds students into thriving Operations and Technology managers with excellent problem solving skills, analytical thinking, communication and the implementation of cutting edge management principles and technologies. These skills are vital in dealing with operational problems faced by managers in manufacturing, services and public organizations in the corporate world. Enhanced with these skills, Operations and Technology Management graduates will be in a superior position to acquire employment and perform up to the expectation of all stakeholders so that their contribution to the national development is assured.

Hence, this degree programme covers philosophies, issues, theories and implementation of management principles, in particular, pertaining to Operations and Technology Management. Students are expected to go through an internship programme in addition to class room learning at the university to gather much needed exposure to the industry. In addition to the class room activities factory visit, study trips, workshops, seminars, out-bound-training, and guest lectures are arranged for students to obtain an overall view of core activities as well as latest industrial pursuits.

The Graduate Profile

The B.Sc. in Operations and Technology Management (Special) Degree Programme fulfils the requirements of the Level 6 of Sri Lanka Qualification Framework (SLQF-2015) with 121 credits of teaching and learning workload. In line with the above mentioned aims of the degree programme, the graduate profile of the degree programme is illustrated in Figure 1 which is in consistence with the main domains of learning introduced by the SLQF-2015.

Aims of the Degree Programme

In consistence with the Subject Benchmark Statement in Management developed by the Quality Assurance and Accreditation Council of Sri Lanka, the main aims of the B.Sc. Operations and Technology Management (Special) Degree Programme are:

• To produce a knowledgeable, well accomplished, skilled and contended student with the appropriate attitudes to face the challenges in achieving excellence with factual thinking, creativity, innovation, and research with appropriate entrepreneurial ability of national and international relevance in the field of Operations and Technology Management.
• To produce readily employable graduates with appropriate managerial knowledge in the field of Operations and Technology Management together with required skills and attitudes.
• To develop a range of transferable skills in students that will be of value for employment and also entrepreneurial pursuits.
• To provide students with analytical skills and an ability to develop simplified frameworks for studying the real world.
• To provide training within an intellectually sound physical and social environment to achieve excellence in Operations and Technology Management skills.
• To develop a student to achieve the status of a leading consultant and a provider of advanced consultancy services to the public and the private sector for improving productivity and quality of goods and services.
• Contribute to the government policy making process and national development in building a production based economy in Sri Lanka.

Programme Learning Outcomes

In order to create a graduate with adequate knowledge, skills, attitudes, and mind-set in the field of Operations and Technology Management, the programme is designed to achieve 12 specific programme learning outcomes (PLO). Thus, at the successful completion of the B.Sc. in Operations and Technology Management (special) degree programme, a student should be able to:

• Express sufficient subject and theoretical knowledge in the core area, Operations and Technology Management.
• Demonstrate adequate practical knowledge and application in the areas in sub-areas such as, operations systems design, operations planning and controlling, supply chain management, quality management, and technology management.
• Employ communication skills to convey own views and attitudes to help themselves in social interactions.
• Practice teamwork and leadership skills in working with peers for projects, training programmes, and various assignments.
• Apply creativity and problem-solving skills in both theoretical and practical scenarios.
• Use managerial and entrepreneurship skills not only limiting to the subject knowledge to search for employment opportunities, but also to be innovative in creating new business opportunities.
• Demonstrate information usage and management skills during the leaning process as well as in working environment.
• Apply networking and social skills not only in the university, but also at working places for an effective involvement in assigned responsibilities.
• Demonstrate adaptability and flexibility to various changes in the practices of Operations and Technology Management and show the ability to absorb new trends.
• Demonstrate good attitudes, values and professionalism in practicing knowledge gained from the degree programme and utilize them for the achievement of organizational excellence.
• Create vision for life in searching for career opportunities and during the progression of career path.
• Choose self-updating and lifelong learning strategies in personal development with a vibrant set of goals.

Programme Curriculum

The curriculum of the B.Sc in Operations and Technology Management (Special) degree is designed to fulfil SLQF Level 6 with 120 credits which includes both an internship training programme and a research study. The programme covers four academic years of learning. An academic year consists of two semesters. Evaluations are based on both continuous assessments and semester end examinations.

Teaching and Learning Methods

The first year of the programme is common to a majority of the degree programmes in the faculty and the courses are taught following a common structure. These courses include lectures, assignments, and practical sessions (if relevant). Due to the large intake (around 1200 a batch) the faculty divides the students into nine groups and conducts parallel sessions for 4-5 groups. In order to maintain the consistency in teaching and learning process in the common programme, a coordinator is appointed for each subject by the corresponding department and subject meetings are conducted throughout the semester in a periodically. From the second year onward, department offers courses related to the Operations Management, Technology Management, and Decision Sciences disciplines while acquiring the services from other departments for all other supportive and skill based disciplines. Course materials for all academic years are made available in the faculty’s Learning Management System (LMS) and for certain courses, continuous assessments and mid semester examinations are also conducted through the LMS. Apart from the teaching and assignment workload hours, students are expected to allocate a required amount of time for each course to cover the corresponding amount of notional hours. These requirements and the other relevant information are available in course outlines.

Assessment Methods and Strategies

The assessments of all taught courses have two components namely, continuous assessments and end semester examination. The nature of the continuous assessment depends on the course and may include mid-semester examinations, group assignments, individual assignments, in-class-quizzes, etc. A percentage of twenty-five to forty of the final assessment would be allocated to the continuous assessments while the remainder will be allocated to the end semester examinations. A grade point will be assigned for the final score and the weighted average of the grade points (GPA) is used to assess the performance of a student following the degree programme.

Download Student Handbook for more information…