The primary purpose of this assessment task is to help students develop skills in the use of Operations Management principles, theories and models in the analysis of the current operations of a manufacturing enterprise described in a short case study. The assignment requires you to analyse the current situation. The objective is to identify and specify the problems that exist – DO NOT TRY TO ‘SOLVE’ THE CASE. The secondary purpose of this assignment is to give students the opportunity to further develop analysis and problem identification skills, as well as generic academic research and writing skills within the framework of a formal essay. The essay format is chosen for this assignment as it is the most suitable format in which to present a sustained argument. Description Assessment task 2 requires the writing of an academic essay. This essay should be an ‘argumentative essay’, and must therefore contain an argument that is used as the structuring element of the paper. The assignment is based on a short case study that describes a manufacturing organisation that is going through a process of growth and change. The purpose of the essay is to identify the operational issues within the case, and to identify root causes of the problems that are evident. Students are expected to engage in extensive research within the academic literature relating to operations management. Some research into the industry of interest would also be beneficial. Length: 1200 words (+/- 10%) Full details of the case and assignment requirements are available on the course website.

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