Module Assessment
One
of the key aspects of any business (the business being considered in a broad
sense) is to provide services and/or products in line with customer
demands. Operations Management deals
with the design and management of delivery of these products and services
including processes and supply chains. The study of Operations Management
involves every level i.e. strategic, tactical and operational.
TASK:
Pick
an Organisation of your choice. You are an Operations Management Consultant. You
are required to undertake an individual research project and to prepare a
Management Report (4000 words+-10%) for the Board of Directors of the company. (You need to seek
prior approval for the chosen organisation from the module leader before
starting your research). HAND-IN: January 13th 2020 via
TURNITIN.
The
key aspects that need to be covered within the report are:
·
PART
A
i) Critically
evaluate the existing operations functions within the organisation and the role
of the operations manager within the organisation. (Note: I would expect you to
evaluate current practices and evaluate them in the light of standard practices
within the industry that the organisation is in and how well/badly does this
organisation align with the industry standards)
ii)
Draw a Process Chart for the organisation showing how customers are
processed through operations within the organisation. Critically discuss how
the Process Management should be
planned in the organization to achieve operational excellence. Support your
answer by illustrating:-
·
Process analysis and improvement
·
Customer service strategies
·
Inventory management
·
Scheduling operations
·
Purchasing and supplier
management
iii) Identify
if the organisation is implementing any Lean processes. If it is then
critically evaluate if what benefits it is bringing to the organisation and IF
NOT then critically evaluate how implementation of lean management could
benefit the organisation. (Extra credit would be provided for use of examples).
·
PART
B
i) Managing
Capacity is the most tricky part of operations management as it is
characterised by uncertainity. Using the organisation as an example you need to
critically evaluate whether: “Organisations should always attempt to match its
capacity to its forecast and known demand patterns or there might be situations
where this might not be needed”.
·
PART
C
i) Collate
all your finidings about the organisation and draw concrete conclusions and
draw some recommendations for the organisation, which can be from the
practitioner i.e. other organisations/industry or academic research.
You need to follow a REPORT FORMAT.
Report Structure, Layout and suggested
wordcount:
·
Cover Page: Your
Name and Student Number and the word count.
·
Executive Summary
·
Introduction
(setting the scene and purpose of the report) [350 words]
·
Operations
Management in the Organisation highlighting the key issues as well (Part A – i)
[750 words]
Further tips:
·
Structure within
the sections identified can contain further subheadings (such as Techniques,
Methods, Models, Tools, Strategies etc.)
·
You might want to
bring in examples from other industries.
·
The report MUST
have a proper reference list in the end of the report.
·
Try
to think outside the box.
Marking and
assessment criteria
·
Evidence of the
level of critical analysis of the issues faced by the organisation being
evaluated.
·
Understanding,
critical evaluation and application of appropriate techniques, methods, models
and tools to the issues discussed
·
Appropriateness and
justification of the conclusions drawn and recommendations made to address the
issues identified
·
Clarity and
coherence of report (with regard to structure of analysis, diagnosis, correctness of spelling and grammar,
appropriateness of language, accuracy of referencing including use of English
and Harvard Referencing scheme).
Recommended Reading & Required Reading |
Required reading ·
Slack, N., Brandon-James, A., and
Johnston, R., (2013), Operations Management, Pearson; London
·
Johnson, R., and Clark, G., (2012),
Service operations management: improving service delivery, FT Prentice
Hall; London Recommended reading
·
Cousins, P.,
Lamming, R., Lawson, B., and Squire, B., (2008), Strategic Supply Management: Principles, Theories and Practice, Prentice
Hall; London. ·
Fitzsimmons, J., and Fitzsimmons, M.,
(2010), Service Management: operations, strategy and information
technology, McGraw-Hill Higher Education; Boston MA.
·
Hollins, W., and Shinkins, S., (2006),
Managing service operations: design and Implementation, Sage Publications;
London.
Journals California Management Review Harvard Business Review International Journal of Production Economics International Journal of
Operations & Production Management
International Journal of Logistics Management International Journal of Physical Distribution
and Logistics Management International Journal of Production Economics International journal of Services and Operations
Management Journal of Operations Management Production and Operations Management |
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