P/OM as a Career

In an attempt to understand student attitudes better towards P/OM (production and operations management) classes and P/OM careers, a pre‐and post‐class survey was administered to students enrolled in a required MBA‐level P/OM class. Findings indicate that students do not fully understand P/OM issues or how the P/OM functional area relates strategically to other organisational areas. Students had almost no interest in P/OM careers,and before participating in the strategically‐focused class, students had little desire to include a P/OM class in their core MBA course requirements. Results of this study may explain general attitudes towards P/OM as well as the declining number of students choosing P/OM as a major. Suggestions for changing these attitudes are discussed.