UBC Sauder | Café & Connections with Chris Ryan

Why It Matters

Integrating practical case studies into operations curricula equips graduates with actionable problem‑solving tools essential for navigating today’s volatile supply‑chain environment.

Key Takeaways

• Operations management is the “messy details” of running businesses.
• Asking “why” repeatedly (Five Whys) applies across all industries.
• Global trade shifts make supply‑chain expertise increasingly critical.
• Student‑led case studies bridge theory with real‑world entrepreneurial challenges.
• COVID‑era nail salon case illustrates scaling pitfalls for small firms.

Summary

The video features Aria, a master’s student, interviewing Chris Ryan, professor of operations and logistics at UBC Sauder, discussing how operations management and supply‑chain education remain vital amid evolving global trade.

Ryan defines operations management as “making it happen,” emphasizing the messy, day‑to‑day decisions that keep businesses running. He highlights the “Five Whys” technique from the Toyota Production System as a universal skill, and notes that supply‑chain mechanics are the backbone of modern international commerce.

He shares case studies drawn from former students, notably a nail‑salon founder who attempted to scale a single‑service concept and ultimately failed during the pandemic, illustrating the gap between small‑business operations and chain expansion. Ryan also mentions that master’s programs foster the most debate around these cases.

The discussion underscores the importance of embedding real‑world entrepreneurial examples into curricula, preparing graduates to navigate complex operational challenges and adapt to shifting trade dynamics, which is crucial for future business leaders.

Original Description

This week on Café & Connections, we sat down with Chris Ryan, Professor, Operations and Logistics Division, to talk about how real companies founded by former students have become the cases taught in today’s classrooms — and how current students sometimes find solutions the founders never considered. ☕

From global trade to everyday decision-making, it’s a conversation about how businesses actually make things happen.