Gérard Cachon

Current Courses (Fall 2024)

• OIDD1010 - Introduction To Oidd

  OIDD 101 explores a variety of common quantitative modeling problems that arise frequently in business settings, and discusses how they can be formally modeled and solved with a combination of business insight and computer-based tools. The key topics covered include capacity management, service operations, inventory control, structured decision making, constrained optimization and simulation. This course teaches how to model complex business situations and how to master tools to improve business performance. The goal is to provide a set of foundational skills useful for future coursework atWharton as well as providing an overview of problems and techniques that characterize disciplines that comprise Operations and Information Management.

  OIDD1010001 ( Syllabus )

  OIDD1010003 ( Syllabus )

• OIDD6150 - Operations Strategy

  Operations strategy is about organizing people and resources to gain a competitive advantage in the delivery of products (both goods and services) to customers. This course approaches this challenge primarily from two perspectives: 1) how should a firm design their products so that they can be profitably offered; 2) how can a firm best organize and acquire resources to deliver its portfolio of products to customers. To be able to make intelligent decisions regarding these high-level choices, this course also provides a foundation of analytical methods. These methods give students a conceptual framework for understanding the linkage between how a firm manages its supply and how well that supply matches the firm's resulting demand. Specific course topics include designing service systems, managing inventory and product variety, capacity planning, approaches to sourcing and supplier management, constructing global supply chains, managing sustainability initiatives, and revenue management. This course emphasizes both quantitative tools and qualitative frameworks. Neither is more important than the other.

  OIDD6150001 ( Syllabus )

  OIDD6150003 ( Syllabus )

• OIDD9400 - Operations Mgmt

  Concepts, models, and theories relevant to the management of the processes required to provide goods or services to consumers in both the public and private sectors. Includes production, inventory and distribution functions, scheduling of service or manufacturing activities, facility capacity planning and design, location analysis, product design and choice of technology. The methodological basis for the course includes management science, economic theory,organization theory, and management information system theory.

  OIDD9400001 ( Syllabus )

All Courses

• OIDD1010 - Introduction To Oidd

  OIDD 101 explores a variety of common quantitative modeling problems that arise frequently in business settings, and discusses how they can be formally modeled and solved with a combination of business insight and computer-based tools. The key topics covered include capacity management, service operations, inventory control, structured decision making, constrained optimization and simulation. This course teaches how to model complex business situations and how to master tools to improve business performance. The goal is to provide a set of foundational skills useful for future coursework atWharton as well as providing an overview of problems and techniques that characterize disciplines that comprise Operations and Information Management.

• OIDD6150 - Operations Strategy

  Operations strategy is about organizing people and resources to gain a competitive advantage in the delivery of products (both goods and services) to customers. This course approaches this challenge primarily from two perspectives: 1) how should a firm design their products so that they can be profitably offered; 2) how can a firm best organize and acquire resources to deliver its portfolio of products to customers. To be able to make intelligent decisions regarding these high-level choices, this course also provides a foundation of analytical methods. These methods give students a conceptual framework for understanding the linkage between how a firm manages its supply and how well that supply matches the firm's resulting demand. Specific course topics include designing service systems, managing inventory and product variety, capacity planning, approaches to sourcing and supplier management, constructing global supply chains, managing sustainability initiatives, and revenue management. This course emphasizes both quantitative tools and qualitative frameworks. Neither is more important than the other.

• OIDD9400 - Operations Mgmt

  Concepts, models, and theories relevant to the management of the processes required to provide goods or services to consumers in both the public and private sectors. Includes production, inventory and distribution functions, scheduling of service or manufacturing activities, facility capacity planning and design, location analysis, product design and choice of technology. The methodological basis for the course includes management science, economic theory,organization theory, and management information system theory.

• INFORMS Fellow, 2015
• Rapaport Award for Excellence in Teaching the Undergraduate Core, 2013
• “Tough, but I’ll thank you in 5 years”, 2012
• Manufacturing and Service Operations Management Society Fellow, 2011
• Penn Fellow: One of six mid-career Penn faculty chosen for this leadership development program, 2011
• M&SOM Best Paper Award Finalist 2010 for “In Search of the Bullwhip Effect”, 2010
• “Tough, But I’ll Thank You in 5 Years Award”, 2009
• MSOM Society Service award, 2008
• Miller-Sherrerd teaching award: Awarded to the 8 professors with the highest core teaching evaluations, 2004
• MSOM Meritorious Service award, 2004
• Tough, But I’ll Thank You in 5 Years” Award, given by the Wharton Graduate Students Association, 2002
• ‘Fuqua School of Business’ Daimler-Chrysler Teaching Award for Innovation and Excellence in an Elective Course, 1999

Knowledge at Wharton

• Do Long Waiting Times for Voting Put Democracy on the Line?, Knowledge at Wharton - 6/26/2020
• Amazon Under Fire: Is Antitrust Action Likely?, Knowledge at Wharton - 4/9/2018
• Frustrated by Surge Pricing? Here’s How It Benefits You in the Long Run, Knowledge at Wharton - 1/5/2016
• The Silver Lining in Bad Weather: Higher Productivity, Knowledge at Wharton - 1/29/2015
• As China Changes, So Do Global Supply Chains, Knowledge at Wharton - 7/22/2013
• Chinese Supply Chains Reach an ‘Inflection Point’ – and Multinationals Recast Strategies, Knowledge at Wharton - 7/17/2013
• A ‘Carrots and Sticks’ Approach to Dealing with Skipped Reservations, Knowledge at Wharton - 6/5/2013
• Skipped Out on Your Restaurant Reservation? That Will Be $200, Please, Knowledge at Wharton - 6/5/2013
• Preventing More Tragedies in Bangladesh, Knowledge at Wharton - 5/15/2013
• Is the Death of the PC Imminent?, Knowledge at Wharton - 4/23/2013