Submission Deadline
Marks and Feedback
Before 10am on:
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20 working days after deadline (L4, 5 and 7)
15 working days after deadline (L6)
10 working days after deadline (block delivery)
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Unit title & code
Operations and Project Management, SHR039-6
Assignment number and title
Assignment 01: Operations Management Report
Assessment type
Written Report
Weighting of assessment
40%
Size or length of assessment
1,500 words
Unit learning outcomes
1. An in-depth knowledge and critical appreciation of Operations and Project Management tools and techniques for various business planning and decisions within organisations.
2. Effectively determine how Operations and Project Management can support the corporate strategic plan of an organisation, improve performance and implement change while using appropriate tools to support decisions and project planning.
What am I required to do in this assignment?
You need to choose an organisation with international operations for your individual report. The organisation should be from selected a provided list of pre-approved organisations (see the list of Pre-Approved Companies)
You will then need to write an individual Business Report focused on the following operations management questions:
Executive Summary
Title Page
Table of Contents
Introduction
Main Body Section 1) Critically assess the quality requirements of the organization, existing quality processes and other relevant factors
Main Body Section 2) Develop a considered Quality Management Plan using a Total Quality Management (TQM) framework
Main Body Section 3) Critically evaluate how TQM can contribute to the Operations strategy and the overall strategic objectives of the organisation
Conclusion
Reference List
– TQM: Read through the Quality Management Plan document / article on the BREO shell (Business School 1 folder) – TQM SME journal article in the same folder that may help with understanding
– Looking to identify specific TQM principles and apply to organisation in the form of a QMP
Executive Summary (not in the word-count)
Title Page (Not in word-count)
Table of Contents (Not in word-count)
Introduction
Q1 – Quality Requirements Discussion – (needed to establish requirements of operation)
– Oman Air – establishing quality requirements, focusing on service delivery, bring SERVQUAL as a lens to understand quality, bring in specific citations and information regarding Oman Air quality factors/concerns
– Citations about factual information on company, on quality requirements concept from textbook or other academic sources
Q2 – Quality Management Plan and TQM Discussion – (giving your considered recommendations to improve quality of operations)
– Oman Air – Focus on TQM principles of quality circles, involvement of staff at all levels, empowering staff regarding quality issues, Quality Management Plan looking at implementation of quality circles in route-basis or other organisational form, implementation of empowering staff, what does this mean? How would this be implemented?
– Citations about TQM itself from textbook or many academic sources, citations about the use of TQM in company already, if applicable from academic or (high quality) non-academic sources
Q3 – Critical Evaluation of TQM and Operations Strategy – (Connecting TQM with the overall strategy objectives and operations strategy)
– Oman Air – Highlight connection between TQM and Operations Strategy, highlight need for focus on Quality delivery (SERVQUAL) to remain competitive within industry, etc. and highlight connections between TQM implementation and overall strategic objectives
– Citations about TQM, Operations Strategy and the kind of strategic objectives you are discussing from academic sources
Conclusion
Reference List (Not in word-count)
Appendices (Not in word-count) – Are for supporting documents only, not for your own argument/discussion or anything that belongs in the main body
What do I need to do to pass? (Threshold Expectations from UIF)
In order to pass Assessment 1 you will need to:
• Use appropriate operations management theory and techniques to solve, to an acceptable level, a variety of operations management issues;
• Deliver an acceptable submission that addresses set operations management issues in a chosen company or given case study.
How do I produce high quality work that merits a good grade?
We will be filling this section in together in class on 17/09/2022 make sure you have downloaded/printed out the Assignment Brief and bring it to the session with you.
You will need to produce a high-quality individual report that adheres to Business Report conventions (e.g. an appropriate format, an executive summary, etc.) and that displays a professional level of presentation and polish.
You should critically analyse your chosen organisation using a combination of high-quality non-academic research and appropriate academic models and concepts from the literature, with a strong focus on Total Quality Management (TQM).
You should demonstrate a sound evaluation of your organisation’s quality requirements and operations strategy by giving logical recommendations based on your analysis and supported by strong evidence.
How does assignment relate to what we are doing in scheduled sessions?
The assignment focuses on key Operations Management concepts and models discussed in the scheduled sessions, namely operations strategy and the core Operations Management decision areas.
How will my assignment be marked?
Your assignment will be marked according to the threshold expectations and the criteria on the following page.
You can use them to evaluate your own work and consider your grade before you submit.
3rd Class – 40-49%
Lower 2nd – 50-59%
Upper 2nd – 60-69%
1st Class – 70%+
Use of academic concept, models, theories and literature 30%
Fair use of academic literature, fair use of course concepts, models and theories but lacking in depth and/or breadth in some areas.
Good use of academic literature in connection to problem set and good overall application of multiple course concepts, models and theories.
Very good use of academic literature in connection to problem set and very good overall application of multiple course concepts, models and theories.
Excellent use of academic literature in connection to problem set and excellent overall application of multiple course concepts, models and theories.
Strength of discussion
30%
Fair quality of discussion and argument but limited in scope or depth, limited input into recommendations of report.
Good quality of discussion and argument demonstrated with some input into recommendations of report.
Very good quality of discussion and argument with good input into recommendations of report.
Excellent quality of discussion and argument demonstrated, with clear input into recommendations of report.
Structure, presentation and referencing
10%
Fair structure and design. Report structure used by with minor errors and/or partial implementation. Referencing present but some errors.
Good structure and design. Report structure used by with minor errors and/or partial implementation. Referencing present but with minor errors.
Well-structured arguments and design with reasonable flow of the report. Formal report structure used. Mostly accurate referencing.
Well-structured arguments with good design of the sections with good flow of ideas. Formal report structure used. Accurate referencing.
TQM and operations strategy
30%
Attempted to critically understand and assess TQM and operations strategy, key points accurate but may be shallow and lacking in detail in areas.
Some evidence of critical understanding and assessment of TQM and operations strategy, key points accurate but may be shallow or lacking in detail in areas.
Good evidence of critical understanding and assessment of TQM and operations strategy, key points accurate but lacking in detail in some areas.
Excellent evidence of critical understanding and assessment of TQM and operations strategy, key points accurate and containing depth and detail.