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Production management in New Zealand: is education relevant to practice?

Preference for Concept-Oriented Topics

Practitioners in production management showed a clear preference for concept-oriented topics over technique-oriented ones. This means they value understanding the underlying principles and concepts more than focusing solely on analytical techniques.

Discrepancy in Coverage

While there was some agreement between practitioners and academics regarding the practical relevance of certain topics, such as quality management, there was also a fair degree of disagreement. Academics tended to cover concepts more than analytical techniques, which didn't always align with practitioners' perceived educational needs.

Low Relevance of Highly Quantitative Topics

Topics that were deemed most irrelevant by practitioners were often highly quantitative and analytical. This suggests that practitioners prioritize practical, hands-on knowledge over theoretical or mathematical concepts.

Importance of People Skills

Consistent with previous studies, practitioners in production management emphasized the importance of people skills. They rated skills in managing people, problem-solving, and communication higher than technical or intellectual abilities.

Future Trends

Despite some topics being perceived as low in practical relevance, such as international operations, practitioners still recognized the significance of trends like information technology (IT) and the use of computers for the future of production management.