Managing Global Operations

This course addresses branding and financial concerns on a global stage. Beginning with an investigation of how product branding is managed in today’s internet age, the course provides several authentic examples to illustrate key concepts. It then turns to the topics of competing for the global customer and managing the twin challenges of managing liquidity and risk.

Private

Faculty

Prof. Filipe Caro

Prof. Filipe Caro

Professor

Dr. Filipe Caro joined the UCLA Anderson School of Management in 2005. His main research interests are related to decisions made under uncertainty with a strong emphasis on practical applications. In his PhD dissertation at MIT, he developed analytical models with demand learning for the dynamic assortment problem faced by fast-fashion retailers. This led to an ongoing collaboration with the Spanish apparel retailer Zara that made him a Franz Edelman Laureate in 2009. On the theoretical side, his work on product and price competition with satiation effects won the first prize in the 2010 INFORMS Junior Faculty Paper competition.

Some of his current research projects include carbon allocation in supply chains; coordination of pricing and inventory decisions; forecasting; and exploration versus exploitation problems.

Prior to receiving his PhD, Professor Caro worked as an instructor in the Industrial Engineering Department of the University of Chile. He taught courses in optimization, dynamic programming and stochastic processes and also worked on research projects involving natural resources, mostly in the forestry and copper industries. He continues to collaborate on a permanent basis with his colleagues in Chile.

At UCLA Anderson, Professor Caro teaches the MBA core course on operations and technology management and doctoral level courses on stochastic models in operations management. In 2007, he was awarded the George Robbins Assistant Professor Award that distinguishes excellence in teaching at the UCLA Anderson School.

Recognitions

2014 ENRE Best Publication Award in Natural Resources.

2013 Eric and “E” Juline Faculty Excellence in Research Award.

2013 ecch Production & Operations Management Award and New Case Writer Award.

2012 EURO Excellence in Practice Award, Finalist

2012 MSOM Meritorious Service Award

2010 MSOM Meritorious Service Award

2010 INFORMS Junior Faculty Interest Group Paper Competition, First Prize

2010 Revenue Management and Pricing Practice Award, Finalist

2009 Franz Edelman Laureate

2008 Deloitte Consulting Award for Management Field Study Achievement

2007 Robbins Assistant Professor Teaching Award

Education

Ph.D. in operations management, 2005, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Ind. Eng. In industrial engineering, (Profesional Title) 1999, University of Chile
B.Sc. in industrial engineering, 1998, University of Chile

Interests

Retailing, supply chain management, bandit problems, approximate dynamic programming, natural resources

Course Learning Objectives:

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

  • Describe how a particular company achieves both “fit” and “focus” as it pursues its business activities.
  • Analyze a particular company to determine how its choices with regard to management, design, sourcing/manufacturing, distribution, merchandising, and store operations align with the company’s strategy.

Syllabus

Module Components:

Video Lectures:

  • Key Concepts of Global Strategy and its Execution
  • Zara Case Study – A lesson in Execution

Readings:

  • Strategic Thinking & Strategy Structure towards Implementation
  • Ensuring Growth through Focus
  • Mixing Business Strategy with “Social Responsibility”

Case Study:

  • Simpler Shoes (Continued Part 2)

Quiz:

  • Managing Global Operations

Support

Please email [email protected] for any support required with respect to the program, course or platform.