OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT
ONLINE SHORT COURSE
Power your organisation to outperform competitors. Plan for the future with connected, modern operations solutions.
8 weeks, excluding orientation.
8–10 hours of self-paced learning per week, entirely online.
Email: uctonline@getsmarter.com
Call: +27 21 100 6781
ABOUT THIS COURSE
What does it take to build a thriving business in an era defined by technological innovation, supply chain constraints, and growing consumer expectations? Perhaps it’s the ability to forecast and stay ahead of digital and customer trends, to find new ways of managing labour and production assets, or make a full-on investment in sustainable practices that will ensure success. What is certain is that an organisation’s ability to meet its goals hinges on its multifaceted operations management function. And just as consumer needs evolve with the times, so should the processes and strategies involved in running an efficient, profitable business in both the manufacturing and service sectors.
On the eight-week Operations Management online short course from the University of Cape Town (UCT), you’ll learn to improve core operational capabilities with access to cutting-edge concepts, techniques, and insights. With a focus on systems and lean thinking approaches, you’ll gain the ability to anticipate and solve operational issues that arise in an ever-changing economy. In addition, you’ll discover how to use key performance indicators (KPIs) to analyse and improve processes and better manage quality, capacity, inventory, waste, and risk. Finally, with guidance from expert UCT faculty, you’ll discover updated strategies, technologies, and forecasting techniques to streamline your operations now and in the future.
WHAT THIS COURSE COVERS
This online course uncovers the role of the operations manager in contributing to an organisation’s stability and success, especially as the business world becomes increasingly complex. Over eight weeks, you’ll unpack the 10 principles that operations managers should follow when making short- and long-term decisions that affect goods production, customer service, and market share. You’ll find out how to benchmark and define effective operations processes using key performance indicators, and how organisational design can be used to better manage and motivate teams. Next, you’ll embrace the commercial aspect of operations as you learn to interpret financial information and practice using an operations budget and demand forecast. You’ll explore demand patterns and how they relate to planning and scheduling in the manufacturing and service industries. In addition, you’ll learn when and how to use lean thinking strategies for everything from inventory and waste management to quality improvement. Finally, you’ll discover how to navigate risk from the perspective of an operations manager, guided by UCT experts.
A POWERFUL COLLABORATION
Since 2007, the University of Cape Town (UCT) has partnered with digital learning experts GetSmarter to take its renowned education online. This move is driven by UCT’s goal to broaden access to the research and information developed at Africa’s leading university, and make it available to those previously excluded due to geographical constraints. UCT’s scope extends to all areas of sub-Saharan Africa, providing both the institution and its future students with opportunities for further growth.
ABOUT UCT
Founded in 1829, UCT has a proud tradition of academic excellence and effecting social change and development through its pioneering scholarship, faculty, and students. UCT’s reputation for excellence is underpinned by its distinctive research, led by its distinguished faculty, many of whom are leaders in their field.
ABOUT GETSMARTER
GetSmarter, part of edX, helps working professionals gain verifiable skills from leading global universities and institutions to thrive in an ever-changing work environment.
Technology meets academic rigour in GetSmarter’s people-mediated model, which enables lifelong learners across the globe to obtain industry-relevant skills that are certified by the world’s most reputable academic institutions.
As a student of this course, you will also gain unlimited access to edX’s Career Engagement Network at no extra cost. This platform will provide you with valuable career resources and events to support your professional journey. You can look forward to benefits including rich content, career templates, webinars, workshops, career fairs, networking events, panel discussions, and exclusive recruitment opportunities to connect you with potential employers.
WHAT YOU’LL LEARN
You’ll be welcomed to the course and begin connecting with fellow students, while exploring the navigation and tools of your Online Campus. Be alerted to key milestones in the learning path, and review how your results will be calculated and distributed.
You’ll be required to complete your student profile, confirm your email address for the delivery of your digital certificate, and submit a digital copy of your passport/identity document.
Please note that module titles and their contents are subject to change during course development.
Explore the fundamentals of operations management.
- Define operations management
- Recognise the role of operations in relation to the functions of a company
- Identify operational inputs, outputs, processes, and feedback
- Interpret the role of the operations manager
- Identify the key principles of operations management
- Outline the impact that various external pressures have on decision-making in operations management
Delve into the relationship between key performance indicators (KPIs) and how to define effective operations processes.
- Describe how KPIs and benchmarks fit within the transformation model
- Articulate the role of KPIs and the importance of benchmarking
- Analyse a process flow based on key characteristics of various process types
- Evaluate a process flow diagram to improve an operation
Consider ways to strategically manage resources to achieve organisational goals.
- Discuss the importance of organisational design to meet business objectives
- Determine the facility layout, equipment, and support needs of work teams to meet strategic goals
- Apply the fundamentals of organisational design to departmentalisation and defining jobs
- Articulate the importance of strategic recruitment, selection, onboarding, and ongoing training processes to achieve operational success
- Investigate how operations management motivates and engages employees for productive work
Learn how to use financial information and demand forecasting in operations.
- Recognise the elements of financial analysis and forecasting that are relevant to operations management
- Discuss the importance of the finance function for operations management
- Interpret a demand forecast
- Determine whether an operation can meet the demand forecast based on the operational budget
Discover how to use demand patterns and production planning strategies to complete a Master Production Schedule.
- Recognise the roles and tasks of production planning and scheduling
- Identify the demand patterns used for production planning
- Discuss planning issues that are specific to service and manufacturing industries
- Use demand patterns and production planning strategies to complete a Master Production Schedule
Examine the importance of managing inventory and waste.
- Indicate the importance of the economic order quantity to facilitate inventory and waste management
- Identify the basic principles of lean thinking
- Articulate the role of technology in improving inventory and waste management
- Analyse factors that contribute to effective supply chain management
- Assess the efficacy of various lean techniques to manage inventory and waste
Encounter lean options for managing quality.
- Identify the dimensions of quality from industry and customer perspectives
- Indicate how lean thinking in systems and programmes contribute to improved quality
- Determine the quality of a process
- Analyse a process to deduce the most appropriate improvement strategy
- Debate whether the goals of quality improvement are realistic given the challenges on the shop floor or in the service sector
Explore risk from the perspective of an operations manager.
- Describe risk in the context of operations management
- Explain the difference between operational and enterprise risk management
- Determine the type and degree of risk to an operation
- Analyse the strengths and weaknesses of an operational risk management plan
WHO SHOULD TAKE THIS COURSE
The operations function comprises various roles and responsibilities, all of which require insight into financial forecasting, staff capacity management, waste management, quality management, and strategy and risk. As a result, this online short course will appeal to both existing and junior operations management professionals who’d like to gain a more extensive understanding of the function. Experienced operational employees can use this course to keep up with the latest advancements in the industry, such as digitalisation, sustainability, automation, and e-commerce operations. Adjacent industry professionals and those interested in exploring new prospects will gain the confidence to make a career change. In addition, the course content will benefit professionals in the manufacturing and service sectors.
THIS COURSE IS FOR YOU IF YOU WANT TO:
DEVELOP A LEAN THINKING APPROACH
Reduce waste in all operations to optimise production, prioritise customers, and streamline your business processes.
FIND A NEW CAREER PATH
Unlock opportunities in the operations industry with access to cutting-edge concepts, strategies, and faculty insights.
EVOLVE WITH THE MARKETPLACE
Anticipate and solve operational challenges that exist in a continuously evolving business world.
VALIDATE YOUR KNOWLEDGE
Earn a certificate of completion from UCT and receive 24/7 support throughout your learning journey.
About the Certificate
Earn a certificate of completion from the University of Cape Town, Africa’s leading university, as recognition of your newly developed skills.
Assessment is continuous and based on a series of practical assignments completed online. In order to be issued with a digital certificate, you’ll need to meet the requirements outlined in the course handbook. The handbook will be made available to you as soon as you begin the course.
Your digital certificate will be issued in your legal name and issued upon successful completion of the course, as per the stipulated requirements. Please note, due to additional administrative requirements, at times UCT course certificate issuance may be delayed by several weeks/months.
Who You’ll Learn From
This subject matter expert from UCT guides the course design and appears in a number of course videos, along with a variety of industry professionals.
YOUR COURSE CONVENOR
Jacques Rousseau
Chair, Commerce Faculty Ethics in Research Committee and Lecturer, Section for Applied Management, School of Management Studies, UCT
Jacques Rousseau is co-author of Critical Thinking, Science, and Pseudoscience: Why We Can’t Trust Our Brains (Springer, 2016). His extensive experience in governance and ethical oversight includes three elected terms on UCT’s Council (2012 to present), as well as various other committees that are responsible for planning and executing strategic change at the university. He regularly contributes to national debates on political developments and ethical controversies in the public sphere through op-eds, columns, and television or radio interviews.
How You’ll Learn
Every course is broken down into manageable, weekly modules, designed to accelerate your learning process through diverse learning activities:
- Work through your downloadable and online instructional material
- Interact with your peers and learning facilitators through weekly class-wide forums and reviewed small group discussions
- Enjoy a wide range of interactive content, including video lectures, infographics, live polls, and more
- Investigate rich, real-world case studies
- Apply what you learn each week to quizzes and ongoing project submissions, culminating in the ability to design and improve your organisation’s core operational capabilities
YOUR SUCCESS TEAM
GetSmarter, with whom UCT is collaborating to deliver this online course, provides a personalised approach to online education that ensures you’re supported throughout your learning journey.
HEAD TUTOR
A subject expert who’ll guide you through content-related challenges.
SUCCESS ADVISOR
Your one-on-one support available during university hours (8am–5pm SAST) to resolve technical and administrative challenges.
GLOBAL SUCCESS TEAM
Available 24/7 to solve your tech-related and administrative queries and concerns.
The 2026 focus is on "Agentic Transformation". Leading companies are now increasing tech budgets by over 10% annually to scale AI systems that autonomously plan and act across workflows.
McKinsey (Accessed May 2026).
TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS
Basic Requirements
In order to complete this course, you’ll need a current email account and access to a computer and the internet, as well as a PDF Reader. You may need to view Microsoft PowerPoint presentations, and read and create documents in Microsoft Word or Excel.
Browser Requirements
We recommend that you use Google Chrome as your internet browser when accessing the Online Campus. Although this is not a requirement, we have found that this browser performs best for ease of access to course material. This browser can be downloaded here.
Additional Requirements
Certain courses may require additional software and resources. These additional software and resource requirements will be communicated to you upon registration and/or at the beginning of the course. Please note that Google, Vimeo, and YouTube may be used in our course delivery, and if these services are blocked in your jurisdiction, you may have difficulty in accessing course content. Please check with an Enrolment Advisor before registering for this course if you have any concerns about this affecting your experience with the Online Campus.
