Operations managers have some responsibility for all the activities in the organization which contribute to the effective production of products and services. And while the exact nature of the operations function’s responsibilities will, to some extent, depend on the way the organization has chosen to define the boundaries of the function, there are some general classes of activities that apply to all types of operation.
Understanding the operation’s strategic performance objectives. The first responsibility of any operations management team is to understand what it is trying to achieve. This means understanding how to judge the performance of the operation at different levels, from broad and strategic to more operational performance objectives. This is discussed. Developing an operations strategy for the organization. Operations management involves hundreds of minute-by-minute decisions, so it is vital that there is a set of general principles which can guide decision-making towards the organization’s longer-term goals. This is an operations strategy.
Designing the operation’s products, services and processes. Design is the activity of determining the physical form, shape and composition of products, services and processes. It is a crucial part of operations managers’ activities.
Planning and controlling the operation. Planning and control is the activity of deciding what the operations resources should be doing, then making sure that they really are doing it. various planning and control activities.
Improving the performance of the operation. The continuing responsibility of all operations managers is to improve the performance of their operation.
The social responsibilities of operations management. It is increasingly recognized by many businesses that operations managers have a set of broad societal responsibilities and concerns beyond their direct activities. The general term for these aspects of business responsibility is ‘corporate social responsibility’ or CSR. It should be of particular interest to operations managers, because their activities can have a direct and significant effect on society.