Operational management
Operational management directs and controls the execution of work within the organisation’s plans and responsibilities. It can involve scheduling, staffing, stock, quality and resolving daily problems. The distinction from strategic management concerns the nature and level of decisions, not an absolute claim that operational work is unimportant or never requires judgment.
Worked example
A store manager adjusts the day’s staffing, investigates stock discrepancies and addresses service problems within agreed limits, escalating a capacity issue that requires a wider investment decision.
Common mistake
Calling every short-term action a strategy or assuming operational managers merely follow rules without making judgments.
Where it appears in your exams
| Qualification | Exam | Relationship | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACCA | BT | Direct | September 2026–June 2027 |
| ACCA | SBL | Supporting | September 2026–June 2027 |
| FIA | FBT | Direct | September 2026–June 2027 |