What is business operations?
Business operations focuses on the processes that help an organisation to run smoothly. Professionals who work in business operations are responsible for:
- Creating cost-effective solutions
- Ensuring that production and distribution processes run smoothly
- Align operations with a business’s vision and objectives
- Implementing and managing quality assurance programs
- Overseeing organisational change
- Managing stakeholders and people
Transitioning from administration to operations management
If you have a background in administrations, business operations is a career change you may want to consider. Those who take the initiative to convert and upgrade their skills to be valuable in a new role are the most successful at making the transition. It can seem as though the options are somewhat limited for those in an administration role. However, this is frankly not the case. One pathway many choose is a business operations career and the potential to progress into the role of operations manager.
Even if you come from a different professional background, many life skills and lived experiences can translate well into business operations.
What is an operations manager or administrator?
The role of operations manager is broad and varied. Some duties differ depending on the field, but the overall tasks remain the same. In a day-to-day scenario, operations managers are involved in the administrative and organisational support of a business. Their job is to ensure that operations are running efficiently, allowing other areas of the business to perform at peak potential.
An operations administrator’s job description will include things like:
- Planning, delegating and coordinating the operations of staff
- Formulating policies to be followed by staff
- Assisting with roles in human resources
- Overseeing the day-to-day operations of their team
- Finding and allocating business resources
The role is diverse and isn’t considered a purely “administrative” role, but instead pulls from all departments from admin and management to purchasing and human resources.
What is the Difference Between Operations and Administration?
What skills does an operations administrator or manager need?
There are many skills needed for this role. If you have an administration background, you will likely have some of these skills, even if they are at a foundation level. You may have also developed these skills through administrative tasks in your field, volunteer work, parenting or stakeholder management.
Some of the most valuable skills are:
- Critical thinking. In a busy and fast-paced environment, you need to identify weaknesses and strengths in all situations quickly but effectively. You must ensure that problems are solved in a way that won’t disrupt productivity. The ability to think on your feet can be learned over time as confidence and industry knowledge is developed.
- Time management. As an operations administrator or manager, you must be across the schedules of yourself and your team members. You must manage time wisely and support your team to best manage their time. You will need to be effective at time management in areas like setting and running meetings, delegating tasks and ensuring punctuality.
- Interpersonal communication. You will need to communicate with a wide range of people, so being able to adjust the way you communicate to suit each person is imperative. Short courses with role-playing scenarios are helpful to develop your interpersonal skills. Finding a mentor in this area is also a smart career move.
- Budgeting and financial resource management. In a role like this, you may need to manage some financial resources of your company by setting budgets, managing expenses and negotiating supplier contracts. You will need to understand how your company manages and receives money and where money needs to be spent. An understanding of how to interpret financial accounts will be required in higher management positions.
- People management. A vital role in your job may be motivating people to be the best they can be. You’ll be helping direct staff in their careers and develop skills to better the way they do their job. Depending on whether your organisation has someone in the role of a human resources, you may be required to hold performance reviews and be a mediator when needed.
Your Career in Business Management
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BUSINESS MANAGEMENT CAREER PAGE
Do you need to get a diploma to work in operations?
If you think you could use some upskilling or help in developing industry knowledge, completing a qualification will give you the confidence and know-how you need to give yourself a leg up. The Diploma of Business (Operations) (BSB50120) offers you a wide range of business-related subjects to help you into a business operations career.
Some of the units on offer include, but are not limited to:
- Business resources
- Lead communication in the workplace
- Manage meetings
- Develop critical thinking in others
- Business operational plans
Is business operations right for me?
Deciding on a career pathway for yourself can be challenging. A career in business operations may be right for you if:
- You’ve come from an administration background and are searching for your next challenge
- You have a foundation of skills and knowledge that you can build on to become an operations manager or administrator
- You have a keen interest in operations and business management
A perfect place to start is with the right advice from career professionals. If you believe business operations may be the next best step for you, or if you want advice about your career, chat with one of our learning consulants on 1300 907 870.
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