Managing What Matters: Operations, Ethics, and Social Good

This course introduces students to the principles and practices of operations management, with an emphasis on the social, ethical, and environmental dimensions of organizational decision-making. Students will explore how organizations design and improve systems to deliver products, services, and experiences—and how these operational choices affect workers, communities, and ecosystems.

Topics include process mapping, capacity planning, lean systems, quality management, and performance metrics, all examined through a critical lens that considers both traditional goals (efficiency, quality, cost) and broader values like sustainability, and well-being. Students will work in teams to analyze real or hypothetical operations challenges and propose thoughtful, systems-oriented solutions that reflect both technical skill and ethical awareness.

Anticipated Credit Equivalencies:

4 - Operations Management