The Role of Operations Management amidst the Pandemic
It could be argued that operations management evolved from production management and quickly
became an accepted phrase that refers to the process of managing the operations and resources in the
creation of goods and services. This business function has proved to be useful even in the distant past
wherein they proposed to break down the work into subtasks that allowed them to achieve more efficiency
in their work. As it continued to evolve alongside technology, the role of operations management has
become more prominent today. Even during this time of pandemic, operations management plays a
significant part in maintaining the balance and keeping organizations and businesses from falling apart.
It is an undeniable fact that the pandemic has brought tremendous loss on a global scale and caused
unprecedented challenges to the different industries and sectors which include education, food, health,
commerce, public service, transportation, and many others. However, companies and businesses are still
operating amidst pandemic and this is where operations management comes in. This area of management
entails planning, organizing, and controlling resources for the production of goods and delivery of services.
These resources would include the people, machines, equipment, tools, money, information, technology,
and other necessary resources which would be utilized in creating those goods and services. It enables
companies to manage those resources with great efficiency and make use of them in the most effective way
which helps businesses sustain their lifespan.
Operations management makes it possible for organizations and businesses to survive amidst
pandemic. The health sector, which is one of the highly affected sectors during this situation is striving to
get past these hurdles. Operations management ensures that appropriate health instruments and personal
protective equipment are delivered as soon as possible to aid the healthcare professionals in carrying out
their tasks while following the proper health guidelines. Furthermore, the number of healthcare workers
would also be an issue during this circumstance, for instance, understaffing due to the increasing number
of infected workers. Through an effective operations management, the organization would know how to
manage such issue and strategize to overcome them while minimizing any loss. With the help of this
business function, operations would be able to run smoothly as much as possible in this situation.
This pandemic has also overwhelmed the world of business which brought a dramatic loss to
entrepreneurs worldwide. However, with their resiliency, they constantly endeavor in order to overcome
the impact of this pandemic. Navigating through this situation is also possible through operations
management as this is the core function of every organization. This function allows companies to be more
flexible because in this trying situation, the needs of the people have changed drastically and they should
reevaluate how they are going to use their remaining resources to provide maximum results. They also rise
to the challenge by turning these threats and weaknesses into an opportunity for growth through optimizing
the use of technology.
Indeed, operations management actively plays a significant role in keeping the balance in the
society amidst this pandemic. This function is indisputably an essential existence in any organization and
business as it helps in maximizing the resources in order to achieve its objectives.