Global Scope of MBA in Operations Management

Every product you use daily, be it your smartphone, laptop, or even the packaged food on your table, reaches you through a complex process of global supply chains. And it’s planned and executed by a team of professionals skilled in operations management.

Operations management is a multidisciplinary field that focuses on designing, innovating, managing, and improving existing business processes to boost the productivity and profitability of a company. Everything from process optimisation, quality control, logistics, and supply chain falls under its purview.

No wonder that skilled professionals in this domain are in high demand, both locally and globally. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for business operations specialists is projected to grow 3% between 2024 and 2034. Almost 36,300 new jobs will be generated in that period.

With the right preparation, you can make the most out of this opportunity. And that’s where an MBA in Operations Management becomes a good choice. It prepares you with both the technical expertise and strategic perspective needed to land an operations role in the competitive job market.

In this guide, we will dive deep into the full scope of MBA in operations management and discuss the career opportunities after MBA in operations management abroad.

Nowadays, almost all businesses operate beyond borders. However, doing so is no easy feat. With geopolitical issues, pandemic-like situations, and sustainability goals, global supply chains are trickier than ever.

That’s why every industry (be it manufacturing, e-commerce, or IT services) wants skilled managers on board to design resilient systems and navigate disruptions for them. Inadvertently making an MBA in Operations Management the most career-secure program amongst aspirants.

Amazon, Flipkart, IBM, Walmart, and Accenture are among the top global recruiters for MBA in Operations Management graduates.

Efficient operations maintain quality, ensure timely delivery, and reduce costs. Thus, it helps a company stay relevant as well as competitive. In simpler terms, it keeps everything humming and running like a well-oiled clock.

And to achieve this, this domain focuses on the four vital areas of a business:

• Supply Chain: This term is given to the movement of goods, starting from the supplier and ending in the hands of the consumers. Companies ensure that every link in this chain is optimised for improved efficiency at reduced costs, and able to withstand any disruption resiliently.
• Logistics: Streamlined logistics include storage, transportation, and distribution of these goods in the most optimised way possible.
• Quality Management: This area ensures that the products and services meet both the company standards and customer expectations. ‘Six Sigma’ and ‘Lean Management’ are two management methods followed industry-wide to achieve such optimum quality.
• Process Optimisation: All businesses run on established processes to improve workflows, increase efficiency, and reduce waste. And with every challenge or disruption, these processes are fine-tuned again and again to get optimum results.

Have a look at the main skills developed through an operations management MBA in India:

• Analytical Thinking: Operations managers need to analyse quality metrics, timelines, costs, and supply chain performance constantly. Therefore, MBA programs in operations management focus on sharpening every student’s data analysis ability. They teach how to use models and tools to identify any inefficiencies and make evidence-backed decisions.
• Project Management: The right MBA training equips future managers with appropriate frameworks to manage huge projects, control costs, and ensure timely execution. It teaches how to coordinate seamlessly across several countries, vendors, and their respective regulations.
• Decision Making: The best MBA for operations management teaches its students structured approaches to problem-solving, scenario planning, and risk assessment. All so that they can make the right decisions during disruptions (like logistical bottlenecks, supply shortages, or sudden demand spikes) without ever compromising quality.
• Leadership: MBA graduates in this field learn not only process management, but also develop people management skills. Considering the fact that operation overlaps with all business units like HR, finance, procurement, sales, and marketing, these skills are highly relevant. All these play a crucial role in preparing the students for future senior roles.

An interested student can pursue other specialisations in MBA as per their interest. For example:

• Finance: This stream is about managing a company’s capital most efficiently to ensure its good financial health.
• Marketing: It focuses on creating demand for a service/product and shaping perceptions of the customer.
• HR: This field is concerned with managing talent along with workplace culture.

However, if a student wishes to see their strategies at work in real-life scenarios, an MBA in Operations Management with international placement opportunities is the best bet for them.

Let’s explain it with an example. The finance department decides the allocated budget, HR brings in the best resources, and Marketing brings in the orders. But it is operations (the ‘execution arm’ of the company) that takes in all these inputs and ensures they are coordinated in the best possible manner for the smooth running of the company.

Operations management is no longer a local skill. It’s truly global as businesses operate in interconnected markets where design, manufacturing, and distribution often span multiple continents.

Earlier, every business process like supply, manufacturing, and distribution used to happen within the confines of the same country and legislation. However, globalization has blurred the borders, resulting in the lengthening of supply chains. Now, they are:

• Multi-country operations, where raw materials often come from Africa, assembly in Asia, and distribution in North America.
• Under pressure of disruptions from currency fluctuations, political tensions, or even natural disasters. According to Resilinc’s 2024 supply chain data, global supply chain disruptions increased by 38% in 2024, as compared to the previous year.
• Rely on tactics like inventory planning, supplier diversification, tracking tools, and so on to ensure resilience.

No wonder the demand for operations managers is not just limited to the domestic markets. It is a global skillset. To further elaborate on this point, we will take the example of Apple products.

Apple designs in the USA, manufactures its products in China, and has suppliers throughout Asia. Thus, it would be safe to assume that its global distribution network would collapse without seamless coordination of operations supported by highly skilled managers.

So, the global scope of an MBA in Operations Management degree is vast, and companies like Unilever, Toyota, Apple, and Amazon keep hiring specialists to manage their highly complex operations network.

Similarly, the growth of digital platforms and e-commerce has also increased the demand for operations management professionals worldwide. Companies now look for skilled managers adept in cultural nuances, logistics, and international regulations. Because a single supply chain manager might be working in parallel with vendors in Africa and retailers in the USA, they need to be adept at balancing speed and cost with compliance standards without compromising on any aspect.

A single degree in operations management has the power to open many doors for deserving candidates globally, too. They just need to extend their hands and take their pick from the best specializations in Operations Management for international careers.

Let’s have a look at some of the best career options after MBA operations:

• Operations Manager: This person administers production efficiency, resource allocation, and day-to-day functioning of the organisation.
• Supply Chain Manager: Under this profile, the employee manages production, procurement, distribution, and sourcing across regions and continents.
• Logistics Head: Oversees transportation, warehousing, and delivery to make sure that all company goods reach their respective markets on time.
• Quality Assurance Manager: This job role ensures process improvements and global quality standards compliance.
• Project Manager: Here, the employee gets both multinational stakeholders and global teams to supervise cross-functional projects.

Global market trends for Operations Management professionals keep evolving with increasing digitalisation and globalisation. These two factors reshape the industry and give rise to new, exciting roles in this domain. A few examples of such emerging roles are as follows:

• Business Process Analyst: It’s a type of job where the professional uses digital tools and data analytics to optimise business supply chains.
• Global Sourcing Manager: This professional optimises timelines, quality, and costs by liaising with vendors across continents.
• Sustainability Operations Expert: It’s a modern job role that ensures that the operations of their company are compliant with ESG (Environmental, Social & Governance) goals. As per the State of the Sustainability Profession 2024 report published by Trellis, 74% of organizations have increased their sustainability teams in recent years.

All these operations roles are relevant in all industries. You can find an operations role in IT & technology, manufacturing, retail, e-commerce, healthcare, and consulting, too.

For example, the manufacturing sector is always hiring experts in quality control and lean production, while the healthcare industry is in constant lookout for logistics professionals to manage hospital equipment and source medicines.

It’s safe to say that the high-paying jobs after MBA in Operations Management worldwide are almost guaranteed.

To give their career a head start, students need to choose carefully among the many operations MBA programs offered in India. Because the right program in operations management grants them all the solid requisites needed for a successful career.

The four ways in which a good course prepares its students are as follows:

• Academic Foundation: This specialised course gives them a clear understanding of global strategy, supply chain, and operations. Plus, it also provides its students with exposure to international business models, simulations, and case studies.
• Practical Exposure: Good B-schools with this program also provide their students with opportunities for live projects and internships with the MNCs. Students even get to participate in cross-border projects and global exchange programs.
• Skill Development: Best programs focus on fostering the essential leadership, analytical, and negotiation skills in their students. They also aim at building adaptability and cultural intelligence within the aspiring candidates.
• Networking Advantage: This is one of the biggest advantages of pursuing MBA in operations management. The students get access to valuable alumni networks across geographies and industries. Such direct connections put students at the forefront of global placements.

In a nutshell, the opportunities are limitless, and international placements after MBA in Operations Management are almost guaranteed. All a student needs is dedication and a good institution to study the MBA in operations management course, which helps them combine theory with real-world problems.

That’s where MIT School of Distance Education (MITSDE) comes in. We follow an industry-relevant curriculum with a flexible learning approach to prepare you for international roles in operational management. Enroll now!