A review of the modern operations management curricula for a new programme qualifi cation mix (PQM)

3The POM (production and operations management) function is lessunderstood than any other business function. In manufacturingindustries it is usually taken to be production management and bestleft to specialists (such as engineers). In some service organisations,the term is still not recognised. In addition to this, the persistent gapbetween what is being taught and what is relevant to the practitionerneeds to be addressed. The purpose of this article is to lead up toa revision and design of the POM function curricula and to promoteits core overriding value as the theme for a bachelor’s qualifi cationin higher education that meets the needs of South African industry.4The methodology used as part of this curriculum design processwas based on secondary research sources (current academic reportsand established syllabi) and two empirical surveys among a subsetof the population, namely industry leaders in South Africa. Theresultant qualifi cation design is presented as a conceptual draft aspart of the recommended new degree in POM to be submitted to theDOE (Department of Education) by a South African university. Theoverall implications of this article would put POM back at the top ofthe corporate agenda. A further study is recommended based on theapplication of the Collective Causal Mapping Methodology (CCMM)for creating (revising) course curricula (Hays, Bouzdine-Chameeva,Hill, Scavarda & Goldstein 2007)