Course Overview
This course introduces students to current issues in sustainable operations management. These issues include waste and energy minimization, globalization of operations, and closed loop value cycles. Students examine the influence of sustainability on the major operations management decisions and processes including Product/Service Design, Production and Service Delivery, Supply Chain Management, and Facilities Management. The course explores the frameworks, standards, and methodologies used to align business operations with sustainability principles.
Prerequisite(s)
- Acceptance into the Sustainable Business Advanced Certificate, Sustainable Business Leadership Advanced Diploma, or Bachelor of Business Administration program.
Credits
4.0
Registration requirements
Departmental approval is required to register for this course. You must have approval from the department to register. Students accepted into a program can register directly.
Domestic fees
$897.00
International fees are typically 3.4 times the domestic tuition. Exact cost will be calculated upon completion of registration.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, the student will be able to:
- Describe the key operations decisions and how sustainability affects those decisions.
- Define and contrast the approaches that businesses take to sustainability.
- Analyze how sustainability principles can be used to gain competitive advantage.
- Describe the economics of environmental protection: decentralized policies, command and control policies, market-based policies.
- Discuss the key elements of a measurement system and their use to define performance.
- Apply current management frameworks (including EMS/ISO14000, LEED and C2C) to the design of operational processes.
- Describe the role of projects (and project management) in executing operations strategy.
- Apply the concepts of eco-effectiveness to the value cycle.
- Analyze the role of sustainability principles in key operational areas (including design, processes, supply chain and facilities)
- Apply process improvement methodologies to improve eco-efficiency.
- Apply design principles to improve eco-effectiveness.
- Design the key elements of a Sustainable Operations Plan.
Effective as of Fall 2020
Related Programs
Sustainable Business Operations (OPMT 5120) is offered as a part of the following programs:
- Indicates programs accepting international students.
- Indicates programs eligible for students to apply for Post-graduation Work Permit (PGWP).
School of Business + Media
- Bachelor of Business Administration
Bachelor of Business Administration Full-time/Part-time
- Sustainable Business
Advanced Certificate Part-time
- Sustainable Business Leadership
Advanced Diploma Full-time
- Sustainable Business Leadership
Advanced Diploma Part-time
Course Offerings
Fall 2026
Below are two offerings of OPMT 5120 for the Fall 2026 term.
CRN 48259
Dates
Sep 02 - Dec 09 Loading
- CRN 48259
- $897.00 Domestic fees
Class meeting times
Duration
15 weeks
Instructor
TBD
Course outline
Course outline TBD — see Learning Outcomes in the interim.
Important information
- Reserved for Sustainable Business Leadership (SBL) and BBA students. SBL students are pre-approved to register. BBA students please email sbl@bcit.ca with your ID for departmental approval. If you are not enrolled in either of these programs at BCIT and are seeking special permission to register, please email sbl@bcit.ca Course includes a combination of live online (MS Teams) and work-at-your-own pace online learning each week.
Confirmation
Required
To proceed with registration and add this course to the cart, please confirm:
No approval yet? Request approval You must have approval from the department to register. Students accepted into a program can register directly.
Status
CRN 47079
Dates
Sep 09 - Dec 09 Loading
- CRN 47079
- $897.00 Domestic fees
Class meeting times
Duration
14 weeks
Instructor
Richard Vurdela
Course outline
Course outline TBD — see Learning Outcomes in the interim.
Important information
- No Class: September 30 (Day of Truth & Reconciliation) and November 11 (Remembrance Day) This course is open only to students in the Sustainable Business Leadership (SBL) and Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) programs. • SBL students: You are pre-approved to register. • BBA students: Please email sbl@bcit.ca with your student ID to request departmental approval. • All others: If you are not in either program and wish to request special permission, please email sbl@bcit.ca. Each week includes a mix of: • 2 hours live online instruction (MS Teams) • 2 hours asynchronous online learning with active instructor involvement (students will receive guidance, support, and/or feedback during this time)
Confirmation
Required
To proceed with registration and add this course to the cart, please confirm:
No approval yet? Request approval You must have approval from the department to register. Students accepted into a program can register directly.
Status
Programs and courses are subject to change without notice. Find out more about BCIT course cancellations.