Course overview
Turning processes into measurable performance
The University of Edinburgh Business School’s Operations Improvement is an engaging 12-week online short course that gives you a solid, practical grounding in modern operational improvement techniques, and the confidence to move from technical problem-solver to strategic operations leader. You’ll work through three connected themes — Design, Control and Improvement — with a clear focus on how data and digitisation are reshaping operations across supply chains and service networks. Along the way, you’ll learn from the expert teaching provided by the course lead, sharpen your thinking through interactive case discussions and peer debate, and develop an operational improvement project and plan which can be directly applied to your organisation.
What you’ll learn
You’ll learn how to look at an organisation as a set of transformation processes — the real work that turns inputs into value for customers — and then identify where performance is being lost and why. Starting with Design, you’ll explore how operations, services and products are shaped, and how the choices made at design stage drive cost, speed, quality and risk later on. You’ll then move into Control, focusing on planning, operational strategy, supply chains and lean thinking — the disciplines that keep performance stable once the system is running. Finally, you’ll tackle Improvement, where quality management and continuous improvement take centre stage, helping you raise standards without adding complexity.
Why operations improvement matters now for business
Businesses are under pressure from every angle: customers expect faster service and fewer errors, regulators and stakeholders demand stronger governance, and supply chains are more interdependent than ever. In that context, ‘working harder’ is not a strategy. What matters is having a repeatable way to design robust processes, control performance day to day, and improve based on evidence.
This course helps you build that capability. You’ll be able to make a stronger business case for change, choose improvement methods that fit the problem, and translate operational data into decisions leaders can trust. That’s how operations become a driver of growth, resilience and customer experience.
Who should attend
This course is designed for ambitious operations professionals looking to transition into, or advance within, roles focused on efficiency, strategic planning, and process optimisation. The ideal participant is generally a mid-career professional seeking to bridge the gap between technical expertise and strategic business management — whether you work in manufacturing, services, public sector, or a complex multi-partner environment. The course is also appropriate for general managers/directors looking to improve their knowledge in this very important discipline.
How you’ll learn
This is an MBA online course delivered over 12 weeks, with approximately 100 hours of study combining video lectures, focused exercises and online live sessions. Participants will be joining the existing Online MBA cohort, which provides an excellent opportunity for networking and idea exchange. Guest speakers add fresh, real-world viewpoints, while faculty-led live tutorial peer discussion helps you test ideas against other industries, sectors and operating models. The pace is designed to work alongside a full-time role but assumes steady weekly engagement.
Online tutorials are typically scheduled every 2 weeks on weekdays from 12–2pm, most often on Tuesdays or Wednesdays, with final scheduling confirmed within eight weeks of the course start date. During each tutorial, you’ll have the opportunity to review the learning thus far and also work on specific cases or exercises with your fellow students.
Assessment and certification
The learning is anchored by a formal assignment designed to be genuinely useful: you’ll choose a real operational process you know, map the current state and a future state, use data to analyse performance, and develop structured, credible recommendations. You’ll finish by setting out both the qualitative and quantitative benefits — giving you a piece of work you can take back to your organisation and build on.
On successful completion, you will receive a certificate from the University of Edinburgh Business School and gain 10 credits (Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework), equivalent to 5 credits (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System), which can be put towards the University of Edinburgh MBA or Online MBA.
Course impact
By the end of the course, you’ll be able to diagnose processes with a sharper eye, pinpoint improvement opportunities across organisational networks, and explain how data can be used to drive operational gains — not just report them. You’ll leave with a working understanding of widely used improvement approaches, including Lean and Six Sigma, service design, process models, Balanced Scorecards, Business Excellence frameworks, quality systems such as ISO standards, and Operational Risk Management. Most importantly, you’ll have a structured method for turning operational insight into a practical improvement project and plan that stands up to scrutiny and supports strategic objectives back in your workplace.
Learn how one participant from the Executive MBA Operations Improvement module was able to deliver real cost savings with his team, by applying the learning from a custom version of the course in his organisation: Skyrora – Operations Improvement training
Course lead - Professor of Operations Management
The delivering Professor is an experienced industrialist/academic who has published over 250 articles, book chapters and reports as well as presented widely on his topics to both academic and practitioner audiences internationally. His multiple publications include two co-authored books: Managing Quality (2026); Essential Guide to Operations Management (2023).
His research interests are operations management improvement strategies; quality management; sports operations management; strategic organisational change; leadership.
Course dates
14th September 2026 – 11th December 2026.
Course fees
£2000
Application terms
Applications are accepted until 5pm UK time on Tuesday 18 August 2026.
Our participants typically hold a 2:1 honours degree or higher. We do, however, take a holistic view of every application. If your academic background does not meet these specific criteria, your application may still be considered if supported by a good professional track record.
Successful applicants must also evidence a minimum of three years’ management experience.
Before applying, please ensure you have gathered all the required supporting documents, including a CV and your sponsor letter (if applicable). For further details, please see the application form.
Cancellation requests must be received by 9am UK time on Wednesday 9 September to qualify for a full refund. After this date, a refund will no longer be possible.
For more information about this course, please email us: executive@business-school.ed.ac.uk