Operations Management: Is There a Disconnect Between College Textbook Content and Employer Needs?

Abstract

The authors sought to determine the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) employers seek when recruiting operations management personnel and whether sufficient emphasis is being afforded to these areas in introductory operations management courses. Eighty-three job postings were obtained from online employment sites and analyzed to determine the relevant KSAs sought by employers. Ten textbooks, with publication dates ranging from 2004 to 2010, were randomly selected and examined to determine if a uniform body of knowledge existed. Eight knowledge areas common to all the textbooks emerged. Additionally, topics not afforded similar textbook coverage occurred more frequently in the advertisements.

Keywords:

• curriculum content
• operations management
• textbooks