20170906– 20180131

Background, aim and learning objectives:
The background to this course is a wish to provide students at the graduate school in Technology Management and Economics a profound understanding on issues related to research within operations and supply chain management. We have chosen to subtitle the course ¿ theories, perspectives, history, and current research topics – to give guidance about what we aim to accomplish.
Both operations management and supply chain management are emerging professions and research areas, which have strong theoretical and historical roots in a variety of disciplines; logistics, purchasing, distribution, transportation, manufacturing and production.
The two research areas show both similarities and differences and they are also somewhat interlinked. This is the reason for why we have chosen to integrate these two research areas into one course.
The aim of this course is manifold. First, the course aims to explore the history of the research areas; how they have developed over time, both in terms of theoretical concepts and practical context, and how they are historically interlinked. Another aim is to identify and create an understanding of key theoretical principles and concepts within the wider area of operations and supply chain management. The focus will be in particular on the problem area and explanatory power of a selection of theories, to understand their origin, fundamental assumptions, and use in problem solving. These theories span over intra to inter-organisational perspectives. The course should be regarded as a process in which participants are given opportunity to learn about historical roots of their academic discipline, key concepts and their fundamental assumptions, and encouraged to position their research in the wider context of operations and supply chain management.

After successfully completing this course, students have: 

1. Developed an understanding of contemporary frameworks and emerging themes within operations and supply chain management.
2. Developed an insight into a selection of theories from other disciplines that can be applied to define and analyse problems related to operations and supply chain management.
3. Understood the importance of the empirical context for the development and use of theoretical principles.
4. Developed an appreciation of the historical context and key concepts and approaches within operations and supply chain management, and their problem areas.

Contact and lecturers:
Associate professor Frida Lind frida.lind@chalmers.se
Associate Professor Magnus Persson magper@chalmers.se

More information:
Director of studies violeta.roso@chalmers.se