MBA Operations Management Syllabus 2026: Subjects, Semester-wise Syllabus, PDF, Books

By Abhijeet Chatterjee
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Created:
January 28, 2026

In today’s fast-paced and highly competitive business landscape, operations management stands as the backbone of organizational success. It focuses on designing, overseeing, and optimizing processes to deliver products and services efficiently, cost-effectively, and with superior quality. Pursuing an MBA in Operations Management equips aspiring professionals with the strategic tools to manage supply chains, streamline production, implement lean methodologies, harness data analytics, and drive sustainable growth across industries like manufacturing, e-commerce, logistics, and services.

The MBA Operations Management syllabus for 2026 blends core business fundamentals in the initial semesters, such as managerial economics, financial accounting, marketing management, and organisational behaviour, with specialised subjects in later terms, including supply chain management, project management, total quality management, operations research, inventory control, and emerging areas like digital operations and global logistics. This structured approach ensures graduates can tackle real-world challenges, from process optimisation to strategic decision-making in dynamic environments.

This comprehensive blog breaks down the semester-wise syllabus, key subjects, recommended books, and downloadable PDF resources (where available from top institutions like IIMs and leading universities). Whether you’re preparing for entrance exams like CAT/XAT or planning your specialisation, this guide offers valuable insights to help you excel in one of the most in-demand MBA streams of 2026.

Table of Contents

MBA Operations Management: Course Overview

The MBA in Operations Management is a specialized postgraduate program that prepares professionals to excel in planning, controlling, and improving business processes across manufacturing, services, logistics, supply chains, and digital operations. In an era of globalization, e-commerce boom, and Industry 4.0 technologies, this specialization is highly sought after for its focus on efficiency, cost reduction, quality assurance, and strategic decision-making using tools like data analytics, Six Sigma, and ERP systems.

Aspect	Details
Course Types	Primarily full-time 2-year MBA/PGDM (with Operations specialization or focus); also available as Executive MBA, Online/Distance MBA, or integrated programs in select institutes.
Entrance Exams	CAT (for IIMs and most top B-schools), XAT (XLRI, SPJIMR, etc.), SNAP (Symbiosis), CMAT, MAT, GMAT (for select/private/global-oriented programs), and institute-specific tests.
Duration	2 years (4 semesters); some executive formats are 1–1.5 years.
Fees	Vary widely: ₹15–28 lakhs for top IIMs and premier private colleges (e.g., IIM Mumbai ~₹21 lakhs); ₹5–15 lakhs for mid-tier institutes; lower for government/university-affiliated programs (₹1–5 lakhs in some cases).
Top MBA Colleges	IIM Bangalore, IIM Calcutta, IIM Mumbai (strong in Operations & Supply Chain), XLRI Jamshedpur, SPJIMR Mumbai, IIM Lucknow, MDI Gurgaon, Symbiosis Institute of Operations Management (SIOM) Nashik, SCMHRD Pune, NIT Trichy/IIT Delhi equivalents.
Eligibility	Bachelor’s degree in any discipline with minimum 50% aggregate (45% for reserved categories); final-year students can apply; many top institutes prefer 1–3 years of work experience, especially for specialised Operations programs.

MBA Operations Management Syllabus 2026 Semester-wise Subject Breakdown

The MBA Operations Management syllabus for 2026 offers a robust framework that integrates foundational management concepts with specialised knowledge in operations and supply chain. Spanning two years across four semesters, the program begins with core subjects in management, economics, and accounting to build a strong base, transitioning to advanced topics like logistics, procurement, and global supply chains in later semesters.

It emphasises practical skills through project work, research methodologies, and electives, enabling students to address real-world challenges in efficiency, quality, and innovation.

MBA Operations Management Syllabus Year 1

Semester	MBA Operations Management Subjects	Key Objectives	Main Topics
I	Management Concepts	Understand core management principles and applications	– Management nature, functions, levels, skills, responsibilities – Planning, MBO, decision making – Organizing, delegation, structure trends – Communication, innovation, creativity – Comparative styles, diversity, benchmarking
I	Managerial Economics	Apply economic concepts to business decisions	– Demand analysis, elasticity, forecasting – Production/cost functions, risk/uncertainty – Market structures, pricing, discrimination – National income, business cycles, policies – Liberalization, globalization, FDI
I	Accounting for Managers	Prepare, analyze financial statements; use costing tools	– Financial accounting basics, final accounts – Depreciation, ratio analysis – Funds/cash flow statements – Marginal costing, break-even, CVP applications – Cost sheet, standard costing, variances (material/labor)
I	Business Environment	Analyze domestic/global business factors	– Business dynamics, ethics, governance – Economic systems, resources, environment – Infrastructure, productivity issues – Global trends, MNCs – Foreign capital, FDI trends
I	Research Methodology	Conduct research and analyze data	– Research types, design, hypotheses – Data collection, sampling, errors – Probability, hypothesis tests, distributions – Correlation/regression, ANOVA, factor analysis – Report writing, SPSS intro
I	Organisational Behaviour	Manage human behavior for organizational success	– OB concepts, perception, personality, motivation – Stress, attitudes, values – Groups, leadership, power/politics – Structure, culture, change – Trends: vision, gender, competencies
I	Business Law	Understand key commercial laws	– Contract Act: offer, acceptance, remedies – Partnership/Sales of Goods Acts – Negotiable Instruments, Insurance – Companies Act: formation, directors, meetings – Factory/Industrial Disputes/Minimum Wages Acts
II	Financial Management	Manage finance sources, decisions, and capital	– Goals, cost of capital – Capital budgeting (NPV, IRR, payback) – Leverage, capital structure theories – Dividend policies/models – Working capital management
II	Marketing Management	Apply marketing concepts and mix	– Concepts, environment, segmentation – Product decisions, life cycle – Pricing strategies – Channels, retailing – Promotion, advertising, sales
II	Human Resources Management	Manage people effectively	– HR functions, planning, recruitment – Training, appraisal, career development – Compensation, motivation, QWL – Unions, bargaining, participation
II	Operations Research	Use quantitative techniques for decisions	– Linear programming, simplex – Transportation/assignment, inventory models – CPM/PERT, crashing – Game theory, queuing
II	Strategic Management	Formulate and implement strategies	– Concepts, environment/SWOT analysis – Strategy choice, generic strategies – Functional strategies – Implementation, evaluation/control
II	Business Ethics	Apply ethics and governance principles	– Ethics concepts, dilemmas, programs – Workplace values, CSR – Corporate governance, trends – Indian ethos, Gandhian principles
II	Operations Management	Improve productivity and processes	– Process planning, layout, capacity – Inventory, forecasting – Aggregate planning, MRP – Work study, quality control – Maintenance, reliability

MBA Operations Management Syllabus Year 2

Semester	MBA Operations Management Subjects	Key Objectives	Main Topics
III	Production and Operations Management	Manage production processes and quality	– Transformation process, product design – Process types, location/layout – Aggregate planning, PPC – Quality tools, TQM, Six Sigma – Work study, maintenance/TPM
III	Logistics Management	Handle logistics and transportation	– Integrated logistics, warehousing – Inventory, material handling, packaging – Transportation modes, economics – Containerization, reverse logistics – Outsourcing (3PL/4PL), IT applications
III	Supply Chain Management	Design and coordinate supply chains	– Drivers, strategies, network design – Forecasting, inventory planning – Transportation, sourcing – Coordination, bullwhip effect, VMI – Collaboration, performance metrics
III	Materials and Stores Management	Control materials and inventory	– Stock policies, ABC analysis – Forecasting, levels, JIT/Kanban – Storage/layout, handling – Security, disposal, environmental issues – Performance measurement
III	Information System in Supply Chain	Use IT for supply chain efficiency	– IT role, ERP, data mining – Infrastructure, DSS – E-business, integration – Master planning, design
III	Elective – I	Specialized topic (varies by university)	– Common: Lean Operations, Analytics, etc. (details depend on institution)
III	Elective – II	Specialized topic (varies by university)	– Common: Sustainable Supply Chain, etc.
IV	Project Management in Supply Chain	Manage supply chain projects	– Life cycle, selection, organization – Planning, budgeting, scheduling (PERT/CPM) – Resource allocation, control – Auditing, termination
IV	Innovations and R&D Management	Foster innovation and R&D	– Innovation types/models, strategy – R&D classification, performance – Financial evaluation, resource allocation – Organization, commercialization
IV	Procurement and Quality Management	Manage procurement and quality	– Quality control, vendor evaluation – Assurance, Six Sigma – Outsourcing benefits/risks – E-procurement
IV	Customer Relationship Management	Build and manage customer relations	– CRM concepts, loyalty, SLAs – Marketing/service applications – Automation, analytics – Implementation, ethics
IV	Global Supply Chain Management	Handle international supply chains	– Global forces, risks/strategies – Issues: import/export, alliances – Performance, green indicators – Wastivity reduction
IV	Project Work	Apply concepts in real-world project	– Independent research/project in operations/supply chain
IV	Elective – III	Specialized topic (varies by university)	– Common: Blockchain/AI in Supply Chain, etc.
IV	Elective – IV	Specialized topic (varies by university)	– Common: Risk Management, E-commerce Logistics, etc.

MBA in Operations Syllabus PDF

Below is the MBA in Operations Management syllabus in a downloadable PDF format for your reference.

MBA Operations and Management Syllabus

MBA Operations Management Subjects

The MBA in Operations Management specialization focuses on equipping students with the skills to design, oversee, and optimise business processes for maximum efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and quality. It blends core management principles with specialized topics like supply chain coordination, production planning, quality assurance, and data-driven decision-making. This program prepares graduates to handle complex operational challenges in manufacturing, services, logistics, and global supply networks.

Subject	Brief Description
Operations Management	Fundamentals of planning, organizing, and controlling production/service processes.
Supply Chain Management	End-to-end management of sourcing, logistics, inventory, and distribution networks.
Project Management	Tools and techniques for initiating, executing, and closing projects efficiently.
Operations Research	Quantitative methods, optimization, and modeling for decision-making.
Total Quality Management (TQM)	Principles of quality control, continuous improvement, and standards like Six Sigma.
Inventory Management	Strategies for stock control, demand forecasting, and reducing holding costs.
Logistics & Transportation	Management of material flow, warehousing, and global transportation systems.
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)	Integration of business processes using systems like SAP for operational synergy.

MBA Operations Management Books and Study Materials

The MBA Operations Management books are of utmost importance due to the course’s technical nature. Below is the list of the best and most popular MBA Operations Management subject books:

Sl. No.	Subject/Area	Book Title (with Author)	Publisher/Edition Notes
1	Management Concepts & Organisational Behaviour	Principles of Management (Koontz, Weihrich, et al.)	Tata McGraw-Hill (latest editions)
2	Managerial Economics	Managerial Economics (Geetika, Ghosh & Choudhury)	Tata McGraw-Hill
3	Accounting for Managers	Accounting for Managers (Jelsy Joseph Kuppapally) or Financial Accounting for Management (Ambrish Gupta)	PHI Learning / Pearson
4	Business Environment & Ethics	Business Environment (Namita Gopal) or Business Ethics (various)	Tata McGraw-Hill
5	Research Methodology	Research Methodology: Methods and Techniques (C.R. Kothari)	New Age International / Wiley
6	Business Law	Legal Aspects of Business (Daniel Albuquerque) or Company Law (Kappor & Dhamija)	Oxford / Taxmann
7	Financial Management	Financial Management (Prasanna Chandra) or Basic Financial Management (Khan & Jain)	Tata McGraw-Hill
8	Marketing & HR Management	Marketing Management (Philip Kotler) / Human Resource Management (Aswathappa)	Pearson / Tata McGraw-Hill
9	Operations Research	Operations Research (R. Panneerselvam) or Quantitative Techniques in Management (N.D. Vohra)	Prentice Hall / Tata McGraw-Hill
10	Strategic Management	Strategic Management and Business Policy (Azhar Kazmi) or Concepts in Strategic Management (Fred R. David)	Pearson
11	Operations Management	Production and Operations Management (R. Panneerselvam) or Operations Management (William J. Stevenson / Heizer & Render)	Prentice Hall / Pearson
12	Logistics Management	Logistics Management (Ailawadi & Singh) or Logistics & Supply Chain Management (Sultan Chand)	Prentice Hall / Sultan Chand
13	Supply Chain Management	Supply Chain Management: Strategy, Planning, and Operation (Sunil Chopra & Peter Meindl)	Pearson (latest edition)
14	Materials & Stores Management	Materials Management (various) or Purchasing & Supply Management (Dobler & Burt)	Various Indian publishers
15	Information Systems in SCM	Supply Chain Management (with IT focus) or ERP-related texts	Various
16	Project Management	Project Management: A Managerial Approach (Jack R. Meredith & Samuel J. Mantel)	Wiley
17	Procurement & Quality Management	Procurement & Supply Management or Quality Management texts (e.g., Six Sigma references)	Various
18	Customer Relationship Management	Customer Relationship Management (Alok Kumar Rai or Kaushik Mukherjee)	Prentice Hall
19	Global Supply Chain Management	Global Logistics & Supply Chain Management (various) or Chopra & Meindl (advanced chapters)	Pearson

FAQs

1. What is MBA in Operations and Supply Chain Management?

This 2-year postgraduate program focuses on optimizing business processes, production, logistics, procurement, and global supply chains. It combines core management subjects (like finance, marketing, HR) in the first year with specialized topics (logistics, SCM, project management) in the second year to build efficiency-driven leaders.

2. What are the key subjects in the first year?

The first year covers foundational courses: Management Concepts, Managerial Economics, Accounting for Managers, Business Environment, Research Methodology, Organisational Behaviour, Business Law (Semester I), followed by Financial Management, Marketing Management, HRM, Operations Research, Strategic Management, Business Ethics, and Operations Management (Semester II).

3. What specialized subjects are taught in the second year?

The second year emphasises operations expertise: Production & Operations Management, Logistics Management, Supply Chain Management, Materials & Stores Management, Information Systems in SCM (Semester III), plus Project Management, Innovations & R&D, Procurement & Quality, CRM, Global SCM, Project Work, and electives (Semester IV).

4. What is the career scope after this MBA?

Graduates pursue roles like Supply Chain Manager, Logistics Manager, Operations Analyst, Procurement Specialist, Project Manager, or Consultant in manufacturing, e-commerce, retail, logistics firms, and consulting. High demand exists in India due to growth in e-commerce, manufacturing, and global trade.

5. What is the average salary after completing this program?

Freshers can expect ₹6–12 LPA, while experienced professionals earn ₹12–25+ LPA (depending on company, location, and role). Top recruiters include Amazon, Flipkart, Deloitte, Accenture, Tata, Reliance, and global firms, with higher packages in supply chain and operations roles.

6. Is this MBA suitable for freshers or only for experienced candidates?

It suits both fresh graduates (with strong entrance scores) and working professionals. Freshers gain broad exposure, while those with experience (especially in manufacturing/logistics) advance faster to managerial roles. Many programs offer internships/project work for practical exposure.

7. What entrance exams are required for admission in India?

Common exams include CAT (for IIMs/top institutes), MAT, XAT, CMAT, or state-level tests. Some universities accept direct admissions or their own tests. Check specific college requirements, as top programs prioritize high percentiles in national exams like CAT.

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Written by Abhijeet Chatterjee

Abhijeet Chatterjee is a professional Content and Copy specialist with over five years of experience in crafting compelling content around the Edtech domain. His portfolio includes notable work for companies such as PhysicsWallah, Roar Media, Jagran Josh, etc. Academically, Abhijeet holds a Master's in Mass Communication, where he was awarded a gold medal for his outstanding performance. He has also qualified for the UGC NET in Mass Communication, demonstrating his expertise and a deep understanding of the field. His academic foundation is built on a Bachelor's degree in English Literature. Beyond his professional work, Abhijeet is an avid writer and a cinephile. His personal interests include scriptwriting, film criticism, and reading novels.

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