Strategic Operations Management & Planning Training Course

This course equips participants with practical knowledge and skills required to design, manage, and optimize strategic operations within organizations. It focuses on operational planning, process optimization, resource management, performance improvement, and alignment of operations with organizational strategy. Participants will learn how to improve efficiency, reduce costs, enhance productivity, and ensure smooth execution of organizational goals through effective operations management.

Target Groups

• Operations managers and supervisors
• Project and program managers
• Supply chain and logistics officers
• Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) specialists
• Government planning and service delivery officers
• Manufacturing and service industry managers
• Business analysts and consultants
• NGO and donor-funded program staff
• Quality assurance and process improvement teams
• Students in business administration, operations, and management

Course Objectives

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Understand principles of strategic operations management
• Design and implement operational plans aligned with strategy
• Improve efficiency and productivity in organizational processes
• Optimize resource allocation and utilization
• Apply process improvement and lean management techniques
• Strengthen operational performance monitoring systems
• Reduce operational costs and inefficiencies
• Enhance service delivery and customer satisfaction
• Integrate technology into operations management
• Support continuous improvement and operational excellence

Course Modules

Module 1: Introduction to Strategic Operations Management

• Definition and scope of operations management
• Relationship between operations and organizational strategy
• Principles of operational efficiency
• Types of operational systems
• Overview of operations management frameworks

Module 2: Strategic Operations Planning

• Developing operational strategies
• Aligning operations with organizational goals
• Operational planning cycles
• Capacity planning and forecasting
• Resource allocation strategies

Module 3: Process Design and Optimization

• Process mapping and workflow analysis
• Identifying inefficiencies and bottlenecks
• Process redesign techniques
• Standard operating procedures (SOPs)
• Continuous process improvement

Module 4: Resource Management in Operations

• Human resource allocation in operations
• Equipment and asset management
• Financial resource planning
• Inventory and materials management
• Optimizing resource utilization

Module 5: Performance Management in Operations

• Operational KPIs and metrics
• Performance monitoring systems
• Benchmarking operational performance
• Balanced scorecard approach
• Reporting and feedback systems

Module 6: Lean Operations and Efficiency Improvement

• Lean management principles
• Waste identification and elimination
• Six Sigma basics in operations
• Just-in-time (JIT) systems
• Value stream mapping

Module 7: Quality Management in Operations

• Total Quality Management (TQM) principles
• Quality assurance and control systems
• Service and product quality standards
• Continuous quality improvement
• Customer satisfaction management

Module 8: Technology in Operations Management

• Digital tools for operations management
• Automation and workflow systems
• Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems
• Data analytics in operations
• Real-time operational monitoring

Module 9: Risk and Change Management in Operations

• Operational risk identification
• Business continuity in operations
• Managing operational disruptions
• Change management in operational systems
• Crisis response and recovery planning

Module 10: Emerging Trends in Operations Management

• AI and automation in operations
• Smart operations and Industry 4.0
• Sustainable operations management
• Remote and hybrid operations systems
• Future trends in operational excellence