Operations and Information Management: Why it’s Important

Businesses are becoming increasingly complex, sometimes involving global supply chains, vast production operations, an array of different employees, and distribution throughout the world. Managing that and the vast amounts of information a business generates, and needs are two of the most vital business areas. Successful operations and information management systems can be crucial to a business’s success. Fail in these areas, and your business could be in trouble. In a competitive world, people with a thorough understanding of operations and/or information management are in heavy demand. For those wanting to enhance their employability, gaining skills in these areas can help boost your career opportunities.

Gaining the skills

If you are already working in a business, you may have already picked up some skills in operations and information management, but to develop them further, study is a good idea. No matter your current level of education, there are business courses where operations and information management are vital components.

It can be hard to find the time to attend university in a busy work life that may also include family commitments. However, that does not mean you should put off learning new skills. Instead, it is worth considering an online course. In recent years, online courses have developed considerably. Many of the world’s top universities now offer online courses that are just as valuable and challenging as their physical ones. One place where this can be seen clearly is Aston University’s online DBA, which fully uses all the different online teaching methods, including vodcasts, podcasts, video conferencing, online tasks and quizzes, and directed reading. Students enrolled in this course are paired with an academic supervisor who is a specialist in their chosen topic with a proven track record in research. Subjects covered include operations and information management, which allows these doctoral students the chance to develop their understanding under expert supervision.

Operations management

Operations management focuses on the control and management of the functions and operations of a business. It covers a wide range of activities to oversee the complete production journey of a product or service. From the input stage to the final stage, it covers organizing, planning, and supervising the production processes or service delivery, delivering the high quality the customer expects.

Effective operations management is vital for a business. It allows the day-to-day operations to run smoothly and ensures the delivery is on time, even through unexpected circumstances and difficulties. It must also maintain the quality of the product or service, so the customer gets what they expect and are more likely to become repeat customers. By boosting efficiency and supporting organization, an operations manager can cut costs and increase output, helping to increase the profitability of the business. As a result of these factors, good operations management is crucial to the reputation of a business and can help it reach its goals.

Becoming an operations manager is a high-level career, taking you into the senior positions of a company. It can lead the way to further promotions, with many operations managers becoming the chief operating officer (COO), working directly with the CEO in one of the most senior positions of a company.

Information management

Information management is the process businesses undertake to collect, store and organize data. The amount of data that businesses deal with daily is huge, covering everything from employment records to monitoring the success of marketing campaigns. Information management is also responsible for keeping the data that staff across the business needs readily available. This data is used to inform the decision-making process on all aspects of the business, meaning that those who work in information management will need to work effectively with staff from all departments of the company and at all levels. Information management is not just important for businesses. Schools and universities, libraries, and governments also rely on well-managed information systems to function effectively.

Information management is vital for businesses, and just as with operations management, skilled information managers can make the difference between a successful business and one that is struggling. Maintaining data and records, recording information on the company’s infrastructure and supply chains, and information on people, both the employees working for the business and their customers, are all vital for success. Without this information, businesses will not know how to reach their customers or what marketing methods will be most successful. Data is needed to track profits, see how they can be optimized, and identify less profitable areas of the business to determine how to improve them.

The complex nature of global business and the large amount of information generated each day in the internet age has made the role of the information manager more important than ever, providing excellent long-term employment prospects for those with information management qualifications.

Moving into operations or information management

Whether you are just starting out in your career or are already established, gaining qualifications in operations and information management will help you in your career advancement. Increasingly, these subjects are forming part of business degrees at all levels, reflecting the demand that businesses have for skilled employees in these areas.

If you are considering a degree or a postgraduate degree in business, it is worth checking to see what the courses cover in these areas. With the rise of online courses, it is no longer necessary to move to be near a university for an appropriate course or take a class at your local university, even if it is different from what you want. Instead, the universities of the world can be found at your fingertips, accessible from the comfort of your home.

Regardless of how you gain your qualifications, boosting your operations and information management qualifications will enhance your employability, so it is worth looking into your options. Acquiring these skills that are so important for businesses and other organizations can truly help your career take off.