Prerequisites, content, and pedagogical characteristics of the introductory production/operations management course

Graduates of collegiate schools of business need to be well-grounded in the basic concepts and tools of production/operations management. Therefore, it is especially important for business programs to provide a solid introductory course in POM concepts and techniques for their students. This article reports the results of a recent study conducted among the AACSB-accredited schools of business having undergraduate programs in business administration. The results indicate that although a diversity of opinions continues to exist regarding the course, prerequisites, and available tools, most schools appear to agree that a basic understanding of computers and quantitative concepts and methods is needed for the study of POM. The research also reveals that several new and powerful tools applicable to the teaching of POM are available and are being used by some schools.