The challenges of succeeding in competitive environments require firms to efficiently and effectively manage their operating core. This core includes activities broadly defined as analysis, design, redesign, and management of processes to support the operations side of manufacturing, service management, and supply chain management. Networks of information and material flows must be managed from sources of supply through transformations of resources into goods and services for customer deliveries through distribution systems. The Operations and Technology Management (OTM) major is designed to prepare students to contribute to process management and process improvement in this domain. Students learn how to analyze activities involved in managing production or service operations in order to design, improve or completely reengineer the processes needed to efficiently bring about desired outputs. In addition to careers in manufacturing or service industries, with their process orientation, majors are prepared for positions with management consulting companies. Hallmarks of the major are emphases on contexts such as service operations management, technology management, manufacturing, and logistics, as well as problem solving methodologies such as business analytics.
Students choosing this major may find the Specialization in Supply Chain Management particularly attractive due to complementary coursework and overlapping job opportunities.
Related Student Organizations
National Organization for Business and Engineering
Explore Study Abroad
Studying abroad is an excellent way to gain international experience that enhances your business education. Many students also consider a summer program or a short program embedded in a course. Students are encouraged to visit the Study Abroad section to learn more about study abroad opportunities and to meet with their academic advisor to discuss course planning. Students can take a maximum of two courses in their major abroad, and it is recommended that students complete OTM 300 prior to studying abroad. Other than OTM 300 and OTM 365, few OTM courses are offered abroad. More common course options abroad include core and breadth courses.
A: Students must be admitted to the Wisconsin School of Business in order to declare a major in OTM. Please visit our Admissions page for information about admissions. Students indicate their intended major when they apply to the business school. If they are admitted, the major(s) indicated will be declared for them. Students may change their major by completing a Business Major Declaration Form. Turn completed forms in to the front desk in 3150 Grainger Hall.
A: Admitted business students may cancel their declared OTM major by completing a Business Major Declaration Form. Turn completed forms in to the front desk in 3150 Grainger Hall.
A: Students interested in operations and logistics commonly consider industrial and systems engineering as a parallel plan. Students are encouraged to contact the Cross College Advising Service (http://www.ccas.wisc.edu/) or the appropriate school/college for advising related to these or other majors.
A: Please see the following link for information on how to run a DARS report
A: Admitted business students may select up to a maximum of three business majors. Students also have the option of selecting one additional major in the College of Letters & Science (L&S). To declare an additional major in L&S, students should meet with an advisor for the L&S major and complete the L&S Major Declaration Form. Students should turn in the completed and signed form to 3150 Grainger Hall.
OTM majors are encouraged to consider the specialization in Supply Chain Management. Timely degree completion with multiple majors will depend on an individual student’s situation.
The following requirements must be met in order to complete a major in Operations and Technology Management. For detailed course descriptions, please consult the Course Guide.
Please be aware of stated prerequisites for major courses (including business core courses) that need to be completed before taking the course. Specific prerequisites can be found using the Course Guide.
Students must be admitted to the Wisconsin School of Business to complete a major in Operations and Technology Management.
Click on course to view sample syllabus (most recent copy)
In addition to OTM 300, complete three OTM core courses
Choose three elective courses: two may be from the following list of OTM Core Electives plus an additional elective course (may also be from this list) chosen in concert with the OTM faculty advisor, Tim McClurg.
Wisconsin School of Business courses on the OTM Core electives list cannot be used to satisfy the Wisconsin School of Business breadth requirement.
OTM Suggested Core Elective Courses
OTM 351 Principles and Techniques of Quality Management, 3 cr
OTM 365 Contemporary Topics, 3 cr
OTM 410 Operations Research I, 3 cr
OTM 411 Operations Research II , 3 cr
OTM 451 Service Operations Management, 3 cr
OTM 578 Facilities Location Models, 3 cr
OTM 654 Production Planning and Control, 3 cr
INFO SYS 365 Contemporary Topics, 3 cr
INFO SYS 371 Technology of Computer-Based Business Systems, 3 cr
INFO SYS 422 Computer-Based Data Management, 3 cr
INFO SYS 424 Analysis and Design of Computer Based Systems, 3 cr
INFO SYS/ISyE/OTM 671 E-Business - Technologies, Strategies, and Applications, 3 cr
INFO SYS/ISyE/OTM 672 E-Business Transformations - Design, Analysis and Justification, 3 cr
ACCT 310 Cost Management Systems, 3 cr
COMP SCI 302 Introduction to Programming, 3 cr
MKTG/OTM 421 Fundamentals of Supply Chain Management, 3 cr
MKTG 423 Procurement and Supply Management, 3 cr
ISyE 510 Facilities Planning, 3 cr
ISyE/ME 512 Inspection, Quality Control and Reliability, 3 cr
ISyE 515 Engineering Management of Continuous Process Improvement, 3 cr
ISyE/ME 549 Product Design, 3 cr
All products and services - from cars to surgeries – are delivered by organized systems. It’s the job of operations managers (or similar titles) to make sure these activities occur when they are planned, in the right way, in the right quantity, and with the right quality. Operations Management is the central activity in organizing business processes that transform inputs - such as labor, equipment, facilities, materials, energy, and information - into goods and services for customers. To make this all happen, the operations function is responsible for critical activities such as materials management, resource planning, purchasing, scheduling and quality.
Production management is concerned with the design, operations and improvement of processes used to manufacture goods valued by end users.
Possible Job Responsibilities
- Design and build production systems
- Ensure that product specification, quality standards, deadlines and deliveries are met as contracted
- Assists in determining what products to create, update, develop and source
Essential Skills
- Analytical and problem-solving
- Planning and organizational
- Communication
- Leadership qualities
- Decision-making
- Team-orientation
- Technical
Service Operations Management is concerned with the design, operations, and improvement of processes used to produce and deliver services to end customers.
Possible Job Responsibilities
- Work closely with vendors and company’s sourcing team to execute, maintain and improve upon sourcing related processes
- Maintain and update information related to vendors, deadlines and deliveries ensuring that they are completed as contracted
- Train frontline service personnel to ensure that service is provided error-free, fast, and economically
Essential Skills
- Analytical and problem-solving
- Planning and organizational
- Communication
- Leadership
- Decision-making
- Team-orientation
- Technical
Technology Management allows an organization to manage its technological fundamentals to create a competitive advantage.
Possible Job Responsibilities
- Work with users to understand business processes and reporting needs and translate them into technical specs and solutions
- Facilitate system design, validation, and training sessions
- Assess impact of new software releases, system upgrades, and patches
- Provide cost vs. return on IT projects, software and hardware
Essential Skills
- Technical
- Analytical and problem-solving
- Planning and organizational
- Leadership
- Decision-making
- Team-orientation
- Communication
- Technical
Supply Chain Management focuses on the movement of products and information along the value chain. Key tasks are focused on integrating marketing, sourcing, production, and logistics – not only within the firm but also with business partners and customers.
The Grainger Center for Supply Chain Management offers undergraduates an opportunity to be accepted into their specialization program. Their curriculum coincides with the courses you already are taking as part of your major area of study.
Possible Job Responsibilities
- Coordinate and integrate physical, informational and financial flows
- Manage and execute the replenishment of new and existing products with suppliers in support of inventory objectives and customer service expectations
- Expeditiously address all supplier issues affecting delivery and service
- Monitor demand and expedite and de-expedite orders based on customer demands/forecasts
- Reduce transaction costs by monitoring damage-in-transit, freight cost, product issues, and returns
Essential Skills
- Analytical and problem-solving
- Planning and organizational
- Leadership
- Decision-making
- Team-orientation
- Communication
- Technical
Meet the academic and career advisors for OTM.
Lisa Collins, Career Advisor, lcollins@bus.wisc.edu
Please see your Student Center for academic advisor contact information.
Please visit the advising page for information on advising and appointments.