operations manager v's functional manager

ammiem

can anyone eplain the difference between an operations manager and a functional manager to me??

miju

Two seconds on Google

Functional - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Functional_manager

Operations - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operations_management

ammiem

ya i already looked that up. ive spent ages reading up in it. they seem like the same thing to me. both deal with the day to day runnings of the company as opposed to a project manager

Stheno

ammiem wrote: »

ya i already looked that up. ive spent ages reading up in it. they seem like the same thing to me. both deal with the day to day runnings of the company as opposed to a project manager

What's the context for you though? Operations managers do not just deal with day to day operations, they can be involved in development etc. according to that link.

I'd class a functional manager as team manager, and an operations manager as more senior possibly managing multiple teams/functions?

ammiem

im just trying to differentiate between operations, functions and projects. i understand projects are temporary, unique endevours undertaken within an organisation but what parts of the org are considered operations and which functions? for example, human resources, research and development, manufacturing etc, how do you know which category they fall in

Stheno

ammiem wrote: »

im just trying to differentiate between operations, functions and projects. i understand projects are temporary, unique endevours undertaken within an organisation but what parts of the org are considered operations and which functions? for example, human resources, research and development, manufacturing etc, how do you know which category they fall in

Hmm it's not really that black and white. All the areas that you've called out are functional units of an organisation and could be involved in the overall operations of the company, as functions they are providing distinct inputs to operations if that makes sense?

ammiem

ok i think i understand. so most areas could be functions or operations but functions are the administrative and monitoring work and operations would be more actually getting the work done or product made. is that right??

Stheno

ammiem wrote: »

ok i think i understand. so most areas could be functions or operations but functions are the administrative and monitoring work and operations would be more actually getting the work done or product made. is that right??

Ish. Think of functions as all of the specialist areas in an organisation. So HR, Finance, Marketing, Manufacturing, Shipping etc etc. they all have different skills doing different jobs.

They will all feed into overall operations of the company, HR will hire/fire and make sure people are paid, Finance will deal with invoicing and suppliers and keep the company afloat, Marketing will attempt to entice customers to buy products, which manufacturing make, and shipping deliver to the products.

Does that help?

Voltex

Maybe operations management is the tactical implementation of a strategic management plan.

ammiem

it does thank you. i think i understand it now. i understand it enough to answer questions on it in an exam anyway! thanks again:)

Stheno

ammiem wrote: »

it does thank you. i think i understand it now. i understand it enough to answer questions on it in an exam anyway! thanks again:)

Is this for a college course? If it is, do you not have lecturers who can explain these things?

ammiem

well its an online course and i havnt been able to get in contact with my advisor for the past week and my exams next wednesday! so ive given up on him and taken to the internet with my questions!

Stheno

ammiem wrote: »

well its an online course and i havnt been able to get in contact with my advisor for the past week and my exams next wednesday! so ive given up on him and taken to the internet with my questions!

Not good!

ammiem

tell me about it. i wouldnt mind but i paid alot of money for the course and ive a job waiting for me as long as i get over 90%. if i fail im totally getting my money back!

Stheno

Good luck with it, hope the explanation helped

Voltex

ammiem wrote: »

tell me about it. i wouldnt mind but i paid alot of money for the course and ive a job waiting for me as long as i get over 90%. if i fail im totally getting my money back!

Msc Ops mgmt DCU?