operation and management

operation and management

Question:

Choose an organization that you have been a customer of, are familiar with, or one you would like to research. Write a management report that analyses the operations strategy under the following questions:

1.    From the perspective of the supply chain manager, describe the wider supply network of which this organisation is part. Describe the components that comprises this network and describe the flows, both physical and informational, between these components.
A diagram of the wider supply network should be offered.
10 marks

2.    a. From the perspective of the operations manager, with the use of appropriate symbols, draw a process map of the operation to illustrate the steps/activities that make up the operation with clear indication of the process flow. Symbols used must be clearly defined.

b. Provide a narrative for the diagram including vital details such as time taken to complete each step and how important each step is to the entire operation (i.e. value added or non-value added?).
30 marks

3.    a. Using a product/service or a family of products/services produced by your chosen organisation, define the concept, package and process of such product(s)/service(s).

b. Analyse the operations within this organization using the Four V’s. What are the order winning and the order qualifying factors?
30 Marks

4.    Identify any potential wastes (‘muda’) within that operation and suggest possible changes that can be made to improve the operation performance. Is there anything you would do differently if you were the operations manager?
Draw a new process map that incorporates your suggested improvement.
30 marks

The recommended word length is 2500 words (not including appendices and list of references, which should be in Harvard format) and your answer should be written in the style of a management report.

You are expected to apply Operations and Systems theories and concepts to your chosen organisation in order to answer the questions posed. Use of diagrams and supporting examples from your chosen case is vital.

Provide a little background information about the organisation as an appendix to your report.

A discussion board will be set up through the module blackboard site. Please post your questions there (rather than sending emails) and your queries will be answered there. Before you post a query, please check to ensure that the query has not been sent by someone else (and thus answered) already. All questions should be posted by 03/03/2015 and any queries after this date will not be answered.

Submission deadline: 10/03/2015

Word limit: 2500

•    Please preserve anonymity by using your university number, not your name.
•    This coursework counts for 40% of the assessment in this module.

Referencing

Your coursework should clearly distinguish between your original words and ideas, and those of others. When referring to the work of others, from books, journals or any other source (including the internet), it is essential that you make this clear by acknowledging your source and referencing correctly.  Failure to reference correctly will lose you marks and may constitute plagiarism or collusion.   Unless specified otherwise by the module organiser, Norwich Business School uses the Harvard system of referencing.

University Policy on Plagiarism and Collusion

It is important that all students familiarise themselves with the rules and regulations regarding plagiarism and collusion.  Understanding these rules will help you to avoid plagiarism, and to maintain the quality of your academic work.

The current rules and regulations can be found at:
http://www.uea.ac.uk/services/students/let_service/let_plagiarism_aware/plagiarism_students

The link contains the following sections:
•    Understanding Plagiarism
•    Key Academic Skills
•    UEA’s policy on Plagiarism and Collusion

Individual study skills support and advice on referencing is also provided by the Learning Enhancement Service at the Dean of Students Office.

You may be requested to provide a digital copy of your coursework (after an initial examination of the hard copy by the coursework assessors) for use with plagiarism detection software. Instances where plagiarism is suspected will be investigated by the NBS Plagiarism Officer. Students who are found to have plagiarised will be penalised.

In proven cases offenders will be punished and the punishment may extend to degree failure, temporary suspension or expulsion from further study if the case comes before a Discipline Committee of the University.

Word limits

Where the assessment criteria for an item of coursework includes a requirement to write to a specified word length, the word count should be stated accurately on the front sheet.  In such circumstances marks may be allocated or not awarded depending upon the achievement of this criterion.
The word length for coursework, written assignments, projects, reports and dissertations shall include the text only. The expected word length for coursework, written assignments, projects, reports and dissertations will not include appendices, footnotes, endnotes, bibliographies, graphs, charts, diagrams, tables and their labels.
There shall be no deduction of marks or other penalty where an item of coursework otherwise does not meet the expected word length. However, it is important to remember that failing to provide sufficient material, producing material that lacks focus or including material that is irrelevant will probably result in a lower mark on the basis of the lack of academic merit of the work submitted.
Coursework Deadlines
Work for assessment should be submitted to the relevant Learning and Teaching Service Hub. Please ensure that you know the specific location of the submission box in advance of your first deadline.  During semesters, an out-of-hours drop box will be available in the Library, for hard-copy submissions up to midnight, Monday to Thursday.
All coursework must be submitted by 3.00 pm on the specified date.  Failure to submit on time without an approved extension will result in a penalty for late submission.

Work submitted after the published deadline must be submitted at the reception desk of the relevant Hub, during office hours (8.00 am – 6.00 pm Monday to Friday). Students will receive a date/time receipt for any such submission.
Please note that the deadline represents the last time that a piece of work can be submitted, and not a target.  You are advised to plan ahead, and submit work well in advance of the deadline.  This will help to ensure that any last minute delays do not result in late submission.

Extensions to coursework deadlines

In exceptional circumstances, a request for an extension to a deadline for the submission of work for assessment may be submitted.  Requests for Coursework Extensions should be submitted to the appropriate Learning and Teaching Service Hub, prior to the deadline, on a University Extension Request Form, together with appropriate supporting evidence.
Extension requests can be submitted on the following grounds:
•    Medical (subject to a doctor’s note)
•    Serious personal issues (subject to supporting evidence)

Extension requests will not be considered for the following:
•    Poor time management
•    Transport or parking delays
•    IT problems (unless evidence can be provided from an IT technician)
•    Medical or personal circumstances that are not accompanied by supporting evidence

You should plan your work so that minor delays do not prevent submission on time.  In all cases, you should ensure that you make regular backup copies of all coursework in progress.

Where extenuating circumstances prevented you from applying for an extension in advance of the deadline, work submitted after the deadline should be accompanied by a completed University Extension Request Form. Allowance will be given for acceptable extenuating circumstances and in such cases penalties for late submission will not be applied.

Extension requests will be considered by the appropriate Learning and Teaching Service Manager in those instances where acceptable extenuating circumstances exist and the request is submitted before the deadline. The designated member of academic staff in the School will consider all other requests.
Penalties for late submission

If you submit coursework after the published deadline, without an approved extension, the following penalties will apply:

Work submitted    Marks deducted
on the day following the due date    10 marks
on either the 2nd or 3rd day after the due date    20 marks
on the 4th day after the due date and before the 20th day after the due date.
all the marks the work merits if submitted on time (i.e. no marks awarded)
After 20 working days    work will not be marked and a mark of zero will be entered

Saturdays and Sundays will not be taken into account for the purposes of calculation of marks deducted.

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