A prominent dilemma among management students is about choosing the right stream to specialize in their business education. The plethora of options and the diverse job roles can be misleading or confusing. Management students can choose from varied streams, the popular ones being marketing, finance, human resource management, information technology and operations. Among these choices, the most confusing one is often operations. Not only because it seems very technical and boring to non-science background students but also because operations managers are often overlooked due to them being in the background of a business organization, unlike, say, marketing professionals, who are seen in constant chase for increasing sales, and being involved with creative advertisements.

The truth is that the field of operations is at the core of business management, along with finance and marketing, because no product or service can exist without some operations. Unlike popular belief, this area is open to all business professionals even if they do not have a science or engineering background. ‘Operations’ is all about value addition to inputs and converting them efficiently to the desired output. It deals with both goods and services, and given the present scenario of the globalized world, it has a central role to play in managing logistics, supply chains, project management methods and the like. Other than that, operations managers play a central role in managing inventories, dealing with production, optimization of business methodologies and of course, quality control of goods and services.

Operations management concepts can be applied to all types of organizations, be it a restaurant, banking sector, manufacturing, software development, and even formula one racing!

Career Options after MBA in Operations

A prominent dilemma among management students is about choosing the right stream to specialize in their business education. The plethora of options and the diverse job roles can be misleading or confusing. Management students can choose from varied streams, the popular ones being marketing, finance, human resource management, information technology and operations. Among these choices, the most confusing one is often operations. Not only because it seems very technical and boring to non-science background students but also because operations managers are often overlooked due to them being in the background of a business organization, unlike, say, marketing professionals, who are seen in constant chase for increasing sales, and being involved with creative advertisements.

The truth is that the field of operations is at the core of business management, along with finance and marketing, because no product or service can exist without some operations. Unlike popular belief, this area is open to all business professionals even if they do not have a science or engineering background. ‘Operations’ is all about value addition to inputs and converting them efficiently to the desired output. It deals with both goods and services, and given the present scenario of the globalized world, it has a central role to play in managing logistics, supply chains, project management methods and the like. Other than that, operations managers play a central role in managing inventories, dealing with production, optimization of business methodologies and of course, quality control of goods and services.

Operations management concepts can be applied to all types of organizations, be it a restaurant, banking sector, manufacturing, software development, and even formula one racing!
At the entry level, an operations manager may find himself at the lower rungs of the ladder, working as demand planner, supply chain analyst, business analyst, freight manager, plant operations manager in various FMCG, manufacturing, IT, banking, hospitality, logistics and other industries. The topmost one could be the chief operating officer (COO), the operations equivalent of a Chief Executive Officer. Sure, the COO may not be the public face of a company, but do not be mistaken, as they are the brain of an organization and their importance cannot be under emphasised. Giants like Toyota, Amazon, FedEx, McDonalds all depend on effective operations for their brand image. For those who have a background in mathematics, science, and engineering, there can be no doubt about the number of opportunities in the market as operations managers.

The path to operations can be taken both via master’s degree in engineering or management. Engineering graduates may take courses like industrial engineering, production management, operations research while an MBA in operations management is preferred for those on the management path. Institutes like the IITs, NITIE Mumbai constitute the topmost niche for these courses while the IIMs are preferred for management aspirants. Apart from these, many other institutes provide operations specialization, helping future managers realize their dreams. A whole gamut of companies may find the need for operations managers. KPMG, JP Morgan Chase, Ernst and Young, Flipkart, Amazon, Accenture, LNT, and the list goes on.

To increase their competency, aspiring operations managers can enrol themselves in various operations management courses. A prominent coursework is the Six sigma certification, which has various levels and provides specialization in process improvement techniques. Other course are also beneficial, especially related to logistics, supply chain management, like Certified Global Logistics Manager (CGLM), Certified International Supply Chain Professional (CISCP), Certified Logistics & Supply Chain Professional (L&SCP), courses on project management, business analytics and process management, product design and development, sustainability on EdX, udemy and Coursera are also helpful in developing the operations mindset.

Given the post-COVID world, the role of supply chain and logistics has increased rapidly, which is one of the core areas of operations management. In India, the start-up ecosystem is being cultivated at a rapid pace, and undoubtedly operation plays the key role in the core activities of a start-up ecosystem. Forbes suggests that smaller businesses have to optimize their inputs due to multiple constraints and require a focus on efficiency. To achieve a coordinated effort in maximizing potential of the business along with reduced costs and customer satisfaction, operations is indeed the key to this daunting task. As it is said, operations managers may not always grab the headlines and run the world, but they surely do make the world run!

The path to operations can be taken both via master’s degree in engineering or management. Engineering graduates may take courses like industrial engineering, production management, operations research while an MBA in operations management is preferred for those on the management path. Institutes like the IITs, NITIE Mumbai constitute the topmost niche for these courses while the IIMs are preferred for management aspirants. Apart from these, many other institutes provide operations specialization, helping future managers realize their dreams. A whole gamut of companies may find the need for operations managers. KPMG, JP Morgan Chase, Ernst and Young, Flipkart, Amazon, Accenture, LNT, and the list goes on.

To increase their competency, aspiring operations managers can enrol themselves in various operations management courses. A prominent coursework is the Six sigma certification, which has various levels and provides specialization in process improvement techniques. Other course are also beneficial, especially related to logistics, supply chain management, like Certified Global Logistics Manager (CGLM), Certified International Supply Chain Professional (CISCP), Certified Logistics & Supply Chain Professional (L&SCP), courses on project management, business analytics and process management, product design and development, sustainability on EdX, udemy and Coursera are also helpful in developing the operations mindset.

Given the post-COVID world, the role of supply chain and logistics has increased rapidly, which is one of the core areas of operations management. In India, the start-up ecosystem is being cultivated at a rapid pace, and undoubtedly operation plays the key role in the core activities of a start-up ecosystem. Forbes suggests that smaller businesses have to optimize their inputs due to multiple constraints and require a focus on efficiency. To achieve a coordinated effort in maximizing potential of the business along with reduced costs and customer satisfaction, operations is indeed the key to this daunting task. As it is said, operations managers may not always grab the headlines and run the world, but they surely do make the world run!