Operations Management Essays

Operations Management Essays Operations Management Essay Operations Management Essay Sunderland Business School Level: MModule: Operations Management Module Code: PGBM03Module Leader: Tom Cuthbertson Issue Date: 26th July 2011Return Date: 16th August 2011 Contribution to Module Assessment 100% This is an individual assignment. Work submitted must adhere to the University policy on Cheating, Collusion and Plagiarism. Introduction If Marketings function is to identify the needs of customers, then it is Operations Management which has the role of providing the required products or services in a way that satisfies the criteria imposed by the market. Efficient operation of this function is therefore important if the organisation is to be successful. An understanding of the main operational tasks is an essential starting point in this process. Assignment Select an organisation, or a department of an organisation, of which you have experience and critically assess the operational methods and strategies adopted to provide the product(s) in a way that give(s) maximum satisfaction to the customers or clients. A good answer will identify the criteria applied by the customer in assessing satisfaction i. e. the order-winning and order-qualifying criteria. You should a)define the principal operations tasks to satisfy these criteria b)analyse the process strategies and procedures employed to ensure that these tasks are carried out as effectively as possible. The organisation may not have an operations/production department defined in such terms, but it will still produce something for the use of somebody. The report, excluding appendices, should be not more than 3000 words in length. For your guidance, it will consist of: a)an introduction in which you say who the organisation is and what your and your department’ s contribution is to the organisation. )An accurate description of who the customers are they may be external or internal and what they expect from the output in terms of the broad market criteria discussed in the recommended text (Slack). From this, using the models in the text, you should be able to identify what the operations objectives are. This should then suggest the sort of process that ought to be operating. (The different process types and their ability to meet the range of operations objectives are explained at length in the module material). )You should then describe the process in these terms and explain how and why it helps or hinders in the achievement of the operations objectives i. e. its ability to supply a product which meets the customer’s needs. This is the essential analysis that shows your ability to apply the module content to your experience. d)Having analysed the process, describe what changes you feel ought to be made – if any – and explain why these are necessary in terms of improving the ability to meet the operations objectives. You may like to give some guidance on the feasibility of the changes, how they ought to be implemented, a cost benefit etc. etc. , where these are possible. Assessment Your work will be assessed against the following criteria: 1. Knowledge – Your work should show a knowledge of the module content. 2. Understanding – Your report should demonstrate an understanding of operations management. 3. Insight – Your report should show an ability to analyse the operation in the light of the module content and your own reading. 4. Clarity – Your report should be well structured and clearly presented. You should include a short list of references to support your observations and assertions. This assignment is intended to give you an opportunity to show that you are apable of applying your knowledge of operations management, not only in describing the issues faced by the organisation, but also in explaining them and justifying your proposed actions to improve them. You are invited to review all the models and concepts that we have discussed. Tom CuthbertsonModerated by Dr Tie Xu Module Leader PGBM03 Operations Management – Assignment Business Report Structure – 3000 words +/- 10% Size 12 font, spacing 1. 5, include word count. Report Presentation Front Sheet – Nam e / Student Number / Programme / Module / Date Table of Contents Introduction Main Body of Report – Analysis of theory and practice related to this organisation or company Conclusion and Recommendations References 10 to 20 Appendix – not included in word count Use Turnitin and submit Turnitin report with your hard copy of assignment. Typical distribution of word count could be; 500 words Introduction 2000 Main body analysis 500 Conclusion and Recommendations PGBM 03 Module Assessment Grading Criteria First Class (70 – 100%) A creative and original response to the assignment brief. Critically reflecting on perceived theory and experiences. Wide and appropriate use of sources (theory and practice) based on reading and experiences. Report written fluently, with evidence of a highly developed capacity to structure work systematically and argue logically. Merit (60 – 69%) Comprehensive knowledge of concepts and theories. Appropriate application of theory and experience to the assignment brief. Ability to inter-relate concepts and ideas. Some originality in approach and awareness of scope and limitations. Report systematically structured and coherent. (50-59%) Evidence of knowledge of concepts and theories. Attempts to relate and balance theory and practice. Main issues addressed appropriately. Mainstream texts and lecture notes used. Work presented in a structured form but arguments weak in places. (40-49%) Evidence of uncritical knowledge of main concepts and theories. Limited attempts to relate theory and practice relaying on personal opinion or assertions. Limited evidence of reading. Presentation and structure weak in several places. Fail (0 – 39%) Some knowledge of main concepts and theory but major omissions and / or misunderstandings. Style and structure weak and overly descriptive. Considerable limitations in ability to perceive the relationship of theory and practice. Limited reading.