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Global Operations Strategy
Last Updated: 2026-02-05 16:39:11
Abstract
This course equips students aspiring to work in globally operating companies with a theoretical foundation and practical skills for the strategic configuration and coordination of global production networks.
Objective
Students will be able to analyze, plan, and design factory networks. 1. Students will be able to analyze the strengths and weaknesses of a company’s global factory network. 2. Students will be able to conduct a basic factory localization analysis and elaborate on the risks involved and the limitations of the chosen method. 3. Students will be familiar with key issues in managing global operations. 4. Students will develop an understanding of how companies' global operations relate to current global issues and challenges. 5. Students will be able to analyze a global productivity improvement program. 6. Additional skills: Students will acquire experience in teamwork, report writing, and presentation.
Content
The course "Global Operations Strategy" equips students with tools and knowledge that will help them successfully manage the global activities of multinational companies in their future careers. The world of business is changing at a rapid pace, and so is the international environment in which it is conducted, leading to a set of complex challenges which this course engages with. Where should factories be located in order to deliver high quality products quickly to customers at reasonable cost? Which products should a company make itself, and which should be outsourced? How can the productivity in a plant network be increased with the help of global improvement programs? Questions like these will be discussed in class from an academic perspective and will be illuminated by a number of leading industry practitioners. Furthermore, students will learn to view the global operations of companies in the context of current industry dynamics, a changing geopolitical landscape and pressing global challenges, such as climate change. To reinforce students’ learning, students will complete practically-oriented group case study work on the basis of which students’ performance will be assessed. The course design features academic lectures followed by industry perspectives, so that students can reflect on the presented academic concepts and synthesize them with the insights and experiences of industry leaders. In terms of teaching style, students can expect a blend of approaches, including lectures on key concepts, vivid class discussions, guest contributions by managers, as well as case study presentations by peers. Additionally, Q&A sessions and individual feedback sessions for case study groups will be arranged.
Resources
Lecture Notes
See Moodle
Literature
See Moodle
General Information
- Language
- English
- Levels
- DR , MSC , NDS
- Frequency
- Yearly recurring
Examination
- Type
- graded semester performance
Course Components
| Type | Title | Time & Place | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| lecture with exercise | Global Operations Strategy |
|
2 h weekly |
Offered In
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Mechanics, Materials, Structures (The courses listed in this category “Core Courses” are recommended. Alternative courses can be chosen in agreement with the tutor.)
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Doctorate Materials Science (Further information at: )
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