Operations Management

Instructors: Anna Saez de Tejada Cuenca

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4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

41 reviews

Intermediate level

Recommended experience

8 hours to complete

4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

41 reviews

Intermediate level

Recommended experience

8 hours to complete

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Assessments

4 assignments

Taught in English

Flexible schedule

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There are 4 modules in this course

Tailored for operational and administrative professionals with a foundational understanding of process management and decision-making in business environments, this course invites you to discover the point where business dreams become operational. It explores how key operational decisions are linked to organizational strategy, teaches you to identify and design critical processes, and helps you master the management of flows, service times, and inventories to turn operations into tangible results. By the end of the course, participants will be able to connect everyday operational tasks to the organization’s goals, ensuring efficient workflows and tangible improvements in day-to-day activities.

Welcome to the introductory operations module! In this module, we will discover aspects of how operations work, what are the key decisions to be made and how they relate to the organization's strategy. By the end of the course, participants will be able to apply a framework for operations management in their own company or department.

What's included

9 videos10 readings1 assignment

9 videosTotal 30 minutes

Welcome to IESE Business School: A Remarkable Story2 minutes
Introduction to What are Operations1 minute
What are operations and what does their management involve?3 minutes
The triple promise6 minutes
Examples of the triple promise3 minutes
Operations compass7 minutes
Structure of operations - Part 1 3 minutes
Structure of operations - Part 22 minutes
Conclusion of the module Introduction to Operations Management2 minutes

10 readingsTotal 46 minutes

Discover the course structure5 minutes
Meet the professors behind this course10 minutes
🧠 Remember2 minutes
🧠 Remember5 minutes
💡 Consider3 minutes
The triple promise and the operations compass3 minutes
💡 Think for a minute5 minutes
🧠 Remember5 minutes
🧠 Remember3 minutes
📌 Take away 5 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 30 minutes

Test: The Operations Compass30 minutes

This module will allow you to identify the critical processes of a company, understand which activities add value, and decide the right sizing of the resources needed to operate.

What's included

5 videos5 readings1 assignment

5 videosTotal 16 minutes

Introduction to Process Analysis1 minute
The elements of a process7 minutes
Fundamental process variables2 minutes
Fundamental process variables - Interpretation5 minutes
Conclusion of the module Process Analysis1 minute

5 readingsTotal 24 minutes

💡 Reflect10 minutes
🧠 Remember3 minutes
💡 Consider3 minutes
🧠 Remember3 minutes
📌 Take away 5 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 30 minutes

Test: Key Operational Metrics30 minutes

In this module, you will understand how capacity, demand patterns and, above all, the priority we give products and customers affect times.

What's included

16 videos17 readings1 assignment

16 videosTotal 87 minutes

Introduction to the module Flow and Queue Management4 minutes
Throughput time7 minutes
Analysis of throughput time3 minutes
The seven components of throughput time5 minutes
Simulation - Situation 05 minutes
Simulation - Situation 15 minutes
Simulation - Situation 25 minutes
Simulation - Situation 35 minutes
The Utilization Law14 minutes
Advantages of aggregation8 minutes
Hybrid systems5 minutes
Method 1 - Times6 minutes
Method 2 - WIP or queues2 minutes
Method 3 - Build-up curves (Input/Output)7 minutes
Little's Law5 minutes
Conclusion of the module Flow and Queue Management 2 minutes

17 readingsTotal 76 minutes

💡 Consider10 minutes
The impact of variability - Introduction2 minutes
Analysis of Situation 0 5 minutes
Analysis of Situation 15 minutes
Analysis of Situation 25 minutes
Analysis of Situation 35 minutes
🧠 Remember!3 minutes
Queue system design - Introduction5 minutes
💡 Consider10 minutes
💡 Consider3 minutes
🧠 Remember3 minutes
Addendum: Measurement of waiting times and queues - Introduction1 minute
Method 1. Conclusions - Times5 minutes
Method 2. Conclusions - WIP or queues2 minutes
Method 3 Conclusions - Build-up curves (Input/Output)5 minutes
🧠 Remember2 minutes
📌 Take away5 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 30 minutes

Test: Exploring Impacts on Work-in-Progress, Queues, and Working Capital30 minutes

In this module, you will learn what inventories are, as well as some of the key aspects involved in managing them efficiently.

What's included

9 videos7 readings1 assignment

9 videosTotal 38 minutes

Introduction to the module Inventory Management2 minutes
Queues and inventories: same phenomenon, different solutions2 minutes
Impact and cost of inventories2 minutes
Types of inventory7 minutes
Operating functions of inventories9 minutes
Key decisions in inventory management4 minutes
Factors that impact batch size5 minutes
Factors that affect safety inventory4 minutes
Conclusion of the module Inventory Management2 minutes

7 readingsTotal 20 minutes

🧠 Remember3 minutes
🧠 Remember2 minutes
🧠 Remember! 2 minutes
🧠 Remember5 minutes
🧠 Remember2 minutes
💡 Reflect1 minute
📌 Take away 5 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 30 minutes

Test: Inventories30 minutes

Instructors

Instructor ratings

(12 ratings)

Anna Saez de Tejada Cuenca

IESE Business School

1 Course6,317 learners

Offered by

IESE Business School

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Reviewed on Feb 10, 2026

I learned a lot from this subject, and Coursera really helped me gain more knowledge and understand many new things.

Reviewed on Jun 18, 2026

I enjoyed and my operational knowledge lifted up due to the Course and the methodology used to deliver the subject.

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