Supply Chain and Operations Management Concentration
MBA graduates with a concentration in Supply Chain and
Operations Management can have a number of career opportunities
available to them. They are well prepared to work in industry as
supply chain analysts, project managers, logistics planners, or
as managers of manufacturing or service operations. Consulting
firms also value the analytical skills that are developed in the
area of supply chain management. This concentration can be
particularly valuable when combined with skills in marketing or
finance.
The MBA concentration in Supply Chain and Operations Management
at the McCombs School is focused on providing students with
decision-making skills that will enable them to be leaders in
today's information and technology intensive global market
environment. This flexible concentration takes a strategic and
application-oriented view of a firm’s operations. In addition to
the core course, electives are offered in supply chain
management, project management, operations strategy, service
management, and quality management. A practicum course is also
offered that affords students an opportunity to interact with
the industrial partners of the University of Texas Supply Chain
Consortium to solve real business problems.
Career Paths
Students concentrating in Supply Chain and Operations Management have a variety of rewarding career paths, which include the following:
Supply Chain Manager: Needs to be able to evaluate issues related to inventories, logistics, outsourcing, and channels of distribution. Analytical skills are extremely important for doing this. The courses that we strongly recommend provide a solid set of analytical tools and strategic frameworks for analyzing decisions in a supply chain setting.
Manufacturing Manager: Needs to be able to design and operate processes that support the value proposition of the firm. This requires many of the same skills as a supply chain manager, but with a slightly more tactical orientation.
Consultant: Needs to be well acquainted with a broad set of analytical tools and frameworks for identifying and assessing the trade-offs in major business decisions. The courses that we strongly recommend are useful for almost any type of consulting. Depending upon the particular type of consulting, other operations courses may also be recommended.
Students concentrating in business functions such as Finance, Marketing and General Management should strongly consider our elective courses, as a solid foundation in this area will complement the core skills for the following careers:
Marketing Manager: Needs to be able to assess the operational implications of marketing initiatives, new product introductions, etc. The courses that we strongly recommend emphasize the interactions between operations and marketing.
Financial Analyst: Will frequently need to evaluate capital investment opportunities. The courses that we strongly recommend provide analytical skills that are useful in estimating the value of such investments.
General Manager: Needs to understand how the role that operations plays within the overall strategy of the firm. The courses that we strongly recommend provide a high level perspective on processes related to creating and delivering physical and service products.
Concentration Requirements
Students are required to take five elective courses to fulfill the requirements of this concentration. A minimum of two courses should be from the Supply Chain and Operations Management area, as shown in the chart below. To gain in-depth exposure to a specific area within the Supply Chain and Operations Management concentration, students should consider additional courses as shown below. The remaining three or fewer electives should be chosen from various areas such as Finance, Marketing, Information Management and Accounting, as shown in the list below.
Recommended Sequences of Courses in Supply Chain and Operations Management Concentration
The remaining electives to complete the 5-course concentration requirements can be chosen from the following list:
FIN 394.1 Advanced Topics in Corporate Finance
FIN 397.1 Investment Theory & Practice
FIN 397.4 Financial Risk Management
MKT 382 Strategic Marketing
MKT 382 Customer Insights
IB 395 Global Strategy and Marketing
ACC 380D Advanced Topics in Financial Reporting
ACC 383K.2 Managerial Auditing and Control
ACC 387.4 Strategic Control System
MIS 380N.3 Business Process Excellence
MIS 381N.1 Information Technology Management
Contact Professor Steve Gilbert at steve.gilbert@mccombs.utexas.edu with any questions related to the Supply Chain and Operations Management concentration.
