Business Analytics and Operations Management
Profile
The Business Analytics and Operations Management (A&O) competence profile focuses on the management of complex processes in industrial production, the financial sector, and in service and retail companies using quantitative methods. To this end, existing or potential future processes and associated data are systematically structured, analyzed and recorded using formal models.
The aim is to use computer-aided methods to solve these models and derive suitable alternative courses of action. In this way, existing processes and procedures can be improved and new processes be designed. Furthermore, the planning and control of such processes play an important role. The courses are based on international standards in the field of Analytics and operations management, taking both corporate practice and the current state of research into account. They impart subject and methodological knowledge from a critical-constructive perspective.
Subject knowledge relates to a range of business management issues relating to service processes, ranging from intralogistics and process chains to supply chains. This involves understanding organizational design options as well as spatial, temporal and quantitative structures, analyzing associated data and recognizing technical-economic relationships. On the basis of these, proposed solutions are developed, usually with the help of mathematical methods. These must then be evaluated.
Regarding methods, students are instructed in the critical examination of procedures currently established in practice, with the significant improvement of these concepts through the application of scientific findings in mind, leading to a focus on the application and generation of new management tools. The methods portfolio includes mathematical modeling, classical data analysis and optimization algorithms as well as machine learning, matheuristics and agent-based modeling.
The thought structures and methods taught are in demand by service, trading and production companies, management consultancies as well as research-oriented institutions, as ever larger volumes of data have to be analyzed and used as a basis for developing forecasts and deriving business management decisions. A&O thus offers excellent opportunities for a successful professional career in a wide range of industries and business sectors.
Is this Competence Profile a Good Fit?
This competence profile is a good choice for students interested in the following areas:
- Analyzing, modeling, and solving problems in procurement, production, logistics, and distribution planning in companies and supply chains as well as in financial markets.
- Systematic analysis of data and decision contexts and creation of forecasts
- Formal modeling of business optimization tasks
- Applying and developing algorithms for data analysis and optimization
- Independently developing solutions
Professorships Taking Part in the Competence Profile
In the competence profile Business Analytics and Operations Management, students can choose lectures and seminars from these professorships. The final thesis can only be completed at one of these professorships. It should be noted that not all courses offered by a professorships will belong to a specific competence profile. A detailed overview can be found at the end of the module handbook.
- Applied Economics
- Business & Information Systems Engineering
- Digital Transformation
- Finance
- Macroeconomics
- Management Science
- Methods
- Microeconomics
- Production Management and Logistics
- Management Accounting and Controlling
- Business Informatics
Spokespersons for the Competence Profile
Career Prospects
Examples for careers that would be suited to graduates with this competency profile include:
- Data, operations research or business analyst
- Logistics, procurement, factory planning, production planning and control
- Supply chain management
- Project management
- Revenue management
- Finance and risk management
- Service operations management
- Management consulting