Retail is one of the most dynamic and customer-focused sectors of the global economy, connecting manufacturers, brands, and consumers through physical stores, e-commerce platforms, and omnichannel experiences. Successful retail organizations do much more than sell products—they create engaging customer experiences, manage inventory efficiently, optimize supply chains, leverage technology, analyze consumer behavior, and build profitable operations that adapt to changing market conditions.
Retail Operations & Management is a practical, executive-oriented course designed to provide Junior MBA students with a comprehensive understanding of how successful retail businesses are designed, operated, and scaled. Rather than focusing solely on merchandising or sales techniques, the course emphasizes strategic operations, customer experience management, inventory control, store management, omnichannel integration, financial performance, artificial intelligence, digital transformation, leadership, and continuous improvement.
Students will explore retail strategy, store operations, merchandising, customer service, pricing, inventory management, workforce leadership, logistics integration, digital retail technologies, sustainability, data analytics, and executive decision-making. Throughout the course, emphasis is placed on practical business application, preparing future leaders to build customer-centered retail organizations capable of sustained growth and operational excellence.
Course Objectives
By the conclusion of this course, students will be able to:
• Understand the strategic role of retail within modern business ecosystems.
• Recognize how retail operations create value for customers and organizations.
• Design customer-centered retail experiences across physical and digital channels.
• Manage inventory, merchandising, pricing, and store operations effectively.
• Understand workforce leadership and operational performance in retail environments.
• Integrate technology and artificial intelligence into retail management.
• Build resilient and efficient omnichannel retail systems.
• Apply data-driven decision-making to improve retail performance.
• Incorporate sustainability into retail strategy and operations.
• Lead retail organizations that achieve long-term profitability through operational excellence and customer satisfaction.
