Business

Master of Science in Operations and Technology Management

The Master of Science in Operations and Technology Management is a postgraduate programme that prepares professionals for advanced practice in operations management, technology management, and supply chain optimisation. The programme provides interdisciplinary training linking operations, technology, innovation, and business strategy.

Core areas include operations management, technology management, supply chain management, project management, quality management, innovation management, research methods, and project. Students engage with both theoretical and practical work through coursework, case studies, and research.

The programme is offered by the University of Nairobi through the Department of Management Science and Project Planning. UoN is a public university offering the programme over two years through full-time, part-time, and e-learning study, combining operations management with technology management.

Students develop competencies in operations management, technology evaluation, supply chain management, project management, quality assurance, innovation management, and research. The programme includes coursework, examinations, and a supervised research project, preparing graduates for operations, technology, and management roles.

UoN charges approximately KES 707,000 total for the programme (~KES 353,500/year), based on the official fee structure for 12 units plus project. Entry requires at least an Upper Second Class Honours degree or equivalent from a recognised institution.

Graduates pursue careers as operations managers, technology managers, supply chain managers, project managers, quality assurance managers, management consultants, and business analysts across manufacturing, logistics, technology, consulting, and public sector organisations.

Skills Required

Operations Management and Optimisation
Technology Management and Evaluation
Supply Chain Management and Logistics
Project Management and Planning
Quality Management and Assurance
Innovation Management and Strategy
Business Process Improvement
Data Analysis and Decision Making
Research Methods in Management
Academic Writing and Project Research

Key Subjects

Operations Management and Optimisation
Technology Management and Evaluation
Supply Chain Management and Logistics
Project Management and Planning
Quality Management and Assurance
Innovation Management and Strategy
Business Process Improvement
Research Methods in Management
Data Analysis and Decision Making
Project Research

Certifications

KIM Professional Membership
PMI Project Management Professional (PMP)

Specializations

Operations Management

Focuses on operations management, covering operations, processes, optimisation, efficiency, and managing operations.

Technology Management

Examines technology management, covering technology, evaluation, adoption, innovation, and managing technology.

Supply Chain Management

Covers supply chain management, covering supply, chain, logistics, procurement, and managing supply chains.

Project Management

Focuses on project management, covering projects, planning, execution, delivery, and managing projects.

Quality Management

Examines quality management, covering quality, assurance, control, standards, and managing quality.

Innovation Management

Covers innovation management, covering innovation, strategy, change, creativity, and managing innovation.

Duration: 2 years
Public, up to: Ksh 351,250
Job market: High

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time, Part-time, Online
Attachment: 0 months
Average class: 25 students
Award: Masters

What you study

10 subjects

Operations Management and Optimisation
Technology Management and Evaluation
Supply Chain Management and Logistics
Project Management and Planning
Quality Management and Assurance
Innovation Management and Strategy
Business Process Improvement
Research Methods in Management
Data Analysis and Decision Making
Project Research

Modules

12 in the programme

Operations Management and Optimisation
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines operations, processes, optimisation, efficiency, and managing operations in organisations.
Technology Management and Evaluation
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers technology, evaluation, adoption, innovation, and managing technology in organisations.
Supply Chain Management and Logistics
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines supply, chain, logistics, procurement, and managing supply chains.
Research Methods in Management
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers research, design, methods, ethics, and conducting research in management, preparing students for their project.
Project Management and Planning
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines projects, planning, execution, delivery, and managing projects in operations and technology contexts.
Quality Management and Assurance
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers quality, assurance, control, standards, and managing quality in operations.
Innovation Management and Strategy
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Examines innovation, strategy, change, creativity, and managing innovation in organisations.
Business Process Improvement
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Covers processes, improvement, analysis, reengineering, and managing business process improvement.
Data Analysis and Decision Making
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines data, analysis, decision, models, and managing data-driven decision making in operations.
Strategic Management and Technology Policy
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Covers strategy, policy, technology, governance, and managing strategic technology decisions.
Digital Transformation and Emerging Technologies
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Examines digital, transformation, emerging, technologies, and managing digital transformation in operations.
Research Project
Year 2Semester 28 creditsCore
Original supervised research project on an operations and technology management topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and management knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Specialisations

Operations Management
Focuses on operations management, covering operations, processes, optimisation, efficiency, and managing operations.
Technology Management
Examines technology management, covering technology, evaluation, adoption, innovation, and managing technology.
Supply Chain Management
Covers supply chain management, covering supply, chain, logistics, procurement, and managing supply chains.
Project Management
Focuses on project management, covering projects, planning, execution, delivery, and managing projects.
Quality Management
Examines quality management, covering quality, assurance, control, standards, and managing quality.
Innovation Management
Covers innovation management, covering innovation, strategy, change, creativity, and managing innovation.

A day as a student

A typical day during the MSc in Operations and Technology Management programme combines lectures, case studies, group discussions, seminars, and independent study. Sessions cover operations management, technology management, supply chain management, and project management. Operations management sessions examine operations, processes, optimisation, efficiency, and managing operations. Technology management sessions cover technology, evaluation, adoption, innovation, and managing technology. Supply chain sessions cover supply, chain, logistics, procurement, and managing supply chains. Project management sessions cover projects, planning, execution, delivery, and managing projects. Quality management sessions cover quality, assurance, control, standards, and managing quality. Innovation management sessions cover innovation, strategy, change, creativity, and managing innovation. Research methods sessions cover research, design, methods, ethics, and conducting research. Case studies provide practical experience in analysing real-world operations and technology challenges. Seminars provide opportunities for presenting research findings and discussing current issues in operations and technology management. The programme culminates in a supervised research project on an operations and technology management topic.

The trade offs

In its favour

Programme uniquely combines operations management with technology management for the 4th industrial revolution.
Programme offered through full-time, part-time, and e-learning modes providing flexibility.
Graduates are eligible for KIM professional membership and PMI PMP certification.
High job market demand for operations and technology management professionals.

Against it

Only one university (UoN, public) confirmed offering this specific programme.
No private university confirmed offering this programme.
Programme fees are relatively high at KES 707,000 total (~KES 353,500/year).
Programme is specialised, limiting transferability to non-operations roles.

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 331 business courses

Public351k to 351k

351k at University of Nairobi351k at University of Nairobi

Annual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.

The fine print

UoN 351,250/yr (kenyaeducationguide: 702,500/2yr). Private unverified

HELB postgraduate loans are available for Kenyan students. University of Nairobi may offer scholarships for eligible students. KIM may offer professional development grants. Some employers may sponsor staff for postgraduate study.

Funding options

HELB Postgraduate Loan
University of Nairobi Scholarship
KIM Professional Development Grant

Scholarships

3 recorded

HELB Postgraduate Loan
LoanKsh 200,000Kenyan
Kenyan students pursuing postgraduate studies at recognised universities.
University of Nairobi Scholarship
ScholarshipKsh 200,000Kenyan
UoN may offer scholarships for eligible postgraduate students.
KIM Professional Development Grant
ScholarshipKsh 150,000Kenyan
KIM may offer professional development grants for members pursuing postgraduate study.

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade: N/A (Postgraduate)
Alternative entry: UoN accepts holders of at least an Upper Second Class Honours degree. Lower Second Class may be considered with at least two years of relevant work experience or a Postgraduate Diploma. Pass degree holders may be considered with at least five years of relevant work experience. Contact UoN for specific admission requirements.

How you are assessed

4 components

Coursework and Continuous Assessment
Coursework40% of the mark
Continuous assessment through coursework assignments, case study analyses, seminar presentations, group discussions, and class participation.
Written Examinations
Examination60% of the mark
Written examinations covering operations management, technology management, supply chain management, and project management.
Case Study Analysis
Project30% of the mark
Practical assessment through case study analysis of real-world operations and technology management challenges.
Research Project
Research100% of the mark
Original supervised research project on an operations and technology management topic, demonstrating mastery of research methods and management knowledge, assessed through written submission and oral defence.

Accreditation

The programme is accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). University of Nairobi (public) offers MSc in Operations and Technology Management through the Department of Management Science and Project Planning. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate training in operations and technology management. Graduates are eligible for KIM professional membership and PMI Project Management Professional certification.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
Academic accreditationRequired
Programme accredited by CUE. University of Nairobi (public) offers MSc in Operations and Technology Management through the Department of Management Science and Project Planning. The programme meets CUE standards for postgraduate training in operations and technology management. Graduates are eligible for KIM professional membership and PMI PMP certification.

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

6 roles

Operations Manager
High demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 500,000
Manages operations in organisations, overseeing processes, efficiency, quality, and managing operations.
Technology Manager
High demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 500,000
Manages technology in organisations, overseeing evaluation, adoption, innovation, and managing technology.
Supply Chain Manager
High demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 500,000
Manages supply chains, overseeing supply, logistics, procurement, and managing supply chain operations.
Project Manager
High demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 500,000
Manages projects, overseeing planning, execution, delivery, and managing projects in operations and technology.
Quality Assurance Manager
Moderate demandKsh 120,000 to Ksh 450,000
Manages quality assurance, overseeing quality, standards, control, and managing quality in operations.
Management Consultant
High demandKsh 150,000 to Ksh 600,000
Provides management consulting, overseeing analysis, strategy, improvement, and managing consulting engagements.

Graduate outcomes

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

ERP Systems
SoftwarePrimary
ERP systems for operations management, covering planning, inventory, production, and managing operations data.
Microsoft Project
Software
Microsoft Project for project management, covering planning, scheduling, tracking, and managing projects.
SPSS
Software
SPSS for statistical analysis of research data, covering statistics, analysis, research, and managing research data.
Supply Chain Management Software
Software
SCM software for supply chain management, covering supply, logistics, procurement, and managing supply chain data.

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Operations and technology management is just about IT.
The programme covers comprehensive operations management, supply chain, quality, innovation, and project management beyond just IT.
This programme is only for engineers.
Operations and technology management skills are valuable for business graduates, managers, consultants, and project managers beyond just engineers.
Technology management is about coding and programming.
Technology management focuses on evaluating, adopting, and managing technology for business value, not coding or programming.
Operations management is only for manufacturing.
Operations management applies to services, logistics, healthcare, public sector, and technology firms beyond just manufacturing.
Supply chain management is just about procurement.
Supply chain management covers comprehensive logistics, distribution, inventory, supplier relationships, and network optimisation beyond just procurement.
This qualification is only useful in large companies.
Operations and technology management skills are valuable for SMEs, startups, NGOs, and public sector organisations beyond just large companies.