The case study: Heidi Preston is a sole trader in handcrafted products. She is a creative artist who makes bespoke quilts that are used as bedding blankets, sofa covers, and ornate wall hangings. In addition to creating beautiful quilts, she also teaches classes to handicraft groups which are close to her home. Heidi wants to get more work as a tutor, but also wants to find new ways of promoting her business. She would like to publicise her talents via a website and if possible, deal with booking arrangements for teaching via the internet. At the moment this is always done by telephone. Present clients (usually the leader of a local craft group) makes an arrangement to pay by cash on the day or to send a cheque payment through the post. Heidi wants to appear much more professional and hopefully open up a wider market by providing information, bookings and payment options online. Promotion and online sales of her products is also an area that Heidi is interested in developing. A business approach/strategy is required. As she is a sole trader, she would be responsible for her own; social media marketing, keeping business accounts, providing an updated calendar of events, and keeping track of the communications between herself and all clients. Heidi realises that technology will play an important role in the business. She has read about Customer Relationship Management software and Enterprise Resource Management software, but just does not know what kind of digital business technology support she really needs. Heidi requires professional digital business advice before she can make any final decisions about investing funds in business software. Also, she has heard that she may be able to save money by using Open Source Software, but does not understand if there are any implications, so Heidi needs your advice about this too. Heidi has no technical experience and therefore requires a report that can be easily read and understood. You are the OIM consultant who is responsible for researching this business and providing a consultancy report.

Module Aims 1. Allow students to develop an in-depth understanding of the increasingly important field of operations and information management. 2. Provide students with an overview of the role and contribution of operations and information systems to a companys strategic position. 3. To provide concepts, techniques and models used for planning, managing and improving operations and information systems in contemporary organisations across a range of business sectors 4. To equip students with the capability to apply their knowledge of operations and information management within their business and management practice or further study.