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To achieve the data quantity and quality required by increasingly demanding science drivers astronomical facilities have grown in size and complexity. This trend not only creates new challenges for technological aspects, but also creates the need for an advanced operations management approach to effectively and efficiently operate and maintain these large facilities throughout their life-cycle. In the context of astronomical observatories, operations management usually involves processes that are related to science operations, maintenance management, obsolescence, upgrades, enhancement, quality assurance, planning, and performance monitoring, among others. Starting with the experience acquired at the ALMA observatory, this paper presents the authors' thoughts on new factors and on apparent differences with respect to operations management of traditional large observatory facilities; and how these new challenges could be addressed via best practices and what the related key concepts are. The methodology used is to first identify those areas that contribute to increased complexity or more stringent operational constraints, in order to elaborate on possible resolution strategies. Rather than aiming at delivering turnkey solutions, this paper is intended to explore the interest within the community to gather and validate related operations management concepts and "best practices" in a collaborative manner.
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