Operational Management Techniques for Business Processes Improvement

Notes for students:

Notes for students:

1. Electronic copy of assignment must be submitted through the Turnitin software.

2. This assignment will be marked electronically and results available online through Grademark in Turnitin within 3 weeks of the submission date.

3. 10% of marks are awarded for satisfactory use of language and/or good presentation.

4. 5% of marks are awarded for satisfactory referencing and/or presentation of a bibliography where either is required. Note that all referenced work should be obtained from credible sources.

5. Students should ensure that they comply with Glyndwr University’s plagiarism policy.

6. Students should make correct use of the Harvard referencing method.

1.Propose and implement operational management techniques to maintain and improve core business processes

2.Critically evaluate the contribution made to business effectiveness through quality management practices & supply chain procedures.

 Would students please note that achievement of the learning outcomes for this assessment is demonstrated against the assessment criteria shown below (which are not necessarily weighted equally).  

All marks/grades remain indicative until they have been considered and confirmed by the Assessment Board

Critically discuss the operational management techniques of a company of your choice by answering the following questions:

1.Critically describe & analyse the value chain of your chosen organisation, (diagrams may be used). Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of each. (30% approx. 600 word)

2.Critically evaluate the contribution made to business effectiveness through supply chain procedures and quality management practises. (30% approx. 600 words)

3.Reflect on your findings from question 1 & 2 and suggest a proposal of operational management techniques for the company to implement to maintain and improve core business processes. (40% approx. 800 words)

1.When selecting your company make sure you have access to as much operational management information as possible. Discussions will take place in class. Please discuss with the lecturer if you are having trouble.

2.You are required to review the academic literature in order to discuss the possible weaknesses that may occur within the value chain and, then, consider how such weaknesses may affect the performance of your chosen company

3.You may not choose the following companies:

a.McDonalds

b.Starbucks

c.Pizzahut

4.Please note the word “critically”, which means you must base your report on a good many source and you must compare and contrast the assertions of several authors.

5.You must not copy from your sources.

6.You must reference your academic sources & organisational sources appropriately within the text, using the correct format.  

7.You must not depend only upon Internet sources (excluding journal articles) for your information.

You must check your work for language or typographical errors before submission.

Outstanding work of exceptional merit which is original in content or approach allowing a novel perspective, going beyond what is available in the literature.

Work, which is clearly articulated and well substantiated, based on extensive reading, and demonstrates an authoritative grasp of the concepts, methodology and content appropriate to the subject and to the assessed task. There is clear evidence of originality and insight and an ability to sustain an argument, to think analytically and/or critically and to synthesize material effectively.

Work which demonstrates a very good level of understanding of the concepts, methodology and content appropriate to the subject and which draws on a wide range of properly referenced sources. There is clear evidence of critical judgement in selecting, ordering and analyzing content. The work demonstrates some ability to synthesize material and to construct responses which reveal insight and may offer some occasional originality.

Work derived from a solid basis of reading and which demonstrates a grasp of relevant material and key concepts and an ability to structure and organize arguments. The performance may be rather routine, but the work will be accurate, clearly written and include some critical analysis and a modest degree of original insight. There will be no serious omissions or irrelevancies.

Competent and suitably organized work which demonstrates a reasonable level of understanding with minimal analysis and interpretation. It covers the basic subject matter adequately but is too descriptive and insufficiently analytical. There may be some misunderstanding of key concepts and limitations in the ability to select relevant material so that the work may be flawed by some omissions and irrelevancies. There will be some evidence of appropriate reading, but it may be too narrowly focused.

Work lacks evidence of knowledge relevant to the topic and/or significantly misuses terminology. There is either no evidence of literature being consulted or irrelevant to the assignment set. Inaccurate or inappropriate choice of theory. Unsubstantiated/invalid conclusions based on anecdote and generalization only, or no conclusions at all. Lacks critical thought, analysis, and reference to theory.