Operations Management for Non-Operations Managers
About the Course:
Operations management plays a key role in how organisations perform by shaping how work is planned, carried out, and improved. Although operations managers focus on this area, non-operations managers also impact results through their choices about people, processes, resources, and priorities. This course, Operations Management for Non-Operations Managers, offers practical insights into how operations function and how you can help improve efficiency, quality, and reliability.
The course focuses on developing an operational mindset instead of just teaching technical tools. You will see how your decisions can influence costs, service, quality, and the customer experience, and learn how to work more effectively with operations teams.
Course Objectives:
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
- Understand the role and scope of operations management.
- Recognise how operational processes support business strategy.
- Identify key drivers of efficiency, quality, and reliability.
- Understand trade-offs between cost, speed, and service.
- Make decisions that positively influence operational performance.
Who is the Target Audience?
This course is intended for:
- Business and functional managers outside operations.
- Team leaders and department heads.
- Project, product, and program managers.
- Sales, marketing, and support managers.
- Executives seeking operational awareness.
- Anyone influencing processes or service delivery without an operations background.
Basic Knowledge:
- There are no prerequisites for the course.
Introduction to Operations Management
- What operations management is (and what it is not)
- Why operations matter for organizational success
- The role of non-operational managers in operations
Understanding Processes and Workflows
- End-to-end process thinking
- Inputs, outputs, and handoffs
- Identifying bottlenecks and inefficiencies
Managing Capacity, Demand, and Resources
- Understanding demand variability
- Capacity constraints and utilization
- Balancing workloads and priorities
Quality and Consistency in Operations
- What quality mean in operations
- Preventing errors and rework
- Standardization vs. flexibility
Operational Trade-Offs and Decision-Making
- Cost, speed, quality, and service trade-offs
- Short-term fixes vs. long-term improvements
- Making operationally sound decisions
Continuous Improvement and Collaboration
- Basics of continuous improvement (non-technical)
- Working effectively with operations teams
- Supporting operational change initiatives
Key Takeaways and Practical Application
- Operational thinking for non-operational managers
- Common operational mistakes to avoid
- Applying operational insights in daily work