A review of the modern operations management curricula for a new programme qualifi cation mix (PQM)

3The POM (production and operations management) function is less understood than any other business function. In manufacturing industries it is usually taken to be production management and best left to specialists (such as engineers). In some service organisations, the term is still not recognised. In addition to this, the persistent gap between what is being taught and what is relevant to the practitioner needs to be addressed. The purpose of this article is to lead up to a revision and design of the POM function curricula and to promote its core overriding value as the theme for a bachelor’s qualifi cation in higher education that meets the needs of South African industry. 4The methodology used as part of this curriculum design process was based on secondary research sources (current academic reports and established syllabi) and two empirical surveys among a subset of the population, namely industry leaders in South Africa. The resultant qualifi cation design is presented as a conceptual draft as part of the recommended new degree in POM to be submitted to the DOE (Department of Education) by a South African university. The overall implications of this article would put POM back at the top of the corporate agenda. A further study is recommended based on the application of the Collective Causal Mapping Methodology (CCMM) for creating (revising) course curricula (Hays, Bouzdine-Chameeva, Hill, Scavarda & Goldstein 2007).