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ASSIGNMENT BRIEF

Qualification Unit number, Code and Title

Pearson BTEC Level 5 HND Diploma Business

Unit 34, R/505/8181, Operations Management inBusiness

Module Leader: Lecturers:

Hakeem Kazeem

Distribution date Submission deadline

W/C – 22/09/14 7th December 2014

Assignment title Operations Management in Business

Learning Outcome

Learning outcome

Assessment Criteria

In this assessment you will have the opportunity to present evidence that shows you are able to:

Task no.

Evidence(Page no)

L01

Understand the natureand importance ofoperationsmanagement

1.1 Explain why operations management isimportant for organisations

1

1.2 Analyse the operations functions of a selected organisation

1

1.3Evaluate, by using a process model, theoperations management of a selectedorganisation

1

LO2

Understand the linkbetween operationsmanagement andstrategic planning

2.1 Appraise the importance of the ‘Three Es’ to organisations

2

2.2Assess the impact of the tension between cost minimisation and quality maximisation inorganisations

2

2.3Evaluate the significance of the fiveperformance objectives that underpinoperations management to organisations

2

LO3

Understand how toorganise a typicalproduction process

3.1 Assess how linear programming adds value to a given production process

3

3.2Evaluate critical path analysis and network planning

3

3.3

Justify the need for operational planning and control in a selected production process

3

LO4Be able to apply relevant

4.1Produce a set of clearly defined operational outcomes for a selected organisation

4

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techniques to the production of an operational plan for an organisation.

4.2 Produce a network plan indicating theresultant critical path

4

4.3

Justify how quality management techniquesare applied to improve operations in a selected organisation

4

Learner declaration

I certify that the work submitted for this assignment is my own and research sources are fully acknowledged.

Student signature: Date:

INTRODUCTION

Operations management (OM) is the business function that plans, organizes, coordinates,

and controls the resources needed to produce a company’s goods and services. Operations

management is a management function. It involves managing people, equipment, technology,

information, and many other resources. Operations management is the central core function of

every company. This is true whether the company is large or small, provides a physical good or

a service, and is for-profit or not-for-profit. Operations management is important. It is

concerned with creating the services and products upon which we all depend. And all

organizations produce some mixture of services and products, whether that organization is

large or small, manufacturing or service, for profit or not for profit, public or private. But more

than this, operations management is everywhere, it is not confined to the operations function.

All managers, whether they are called Operations or Marketing or Human Resources or Finance,

or whatever, manage processes and serve customers (internal or external). This makes, at

least part of their activities ‘operations’.

Scenario

Prêt A Manger opened their first shop in the mid-1980s, in London. Now they have over 130

shops in UK, New York, Hong Kong and Tokyo. They say that their secret is to focus continually

on quality – not just of their food, but in every aspect of their operations practice. They go to

extraordinary lengths to avoid the chemicals and preservatives common in most ‘fast’ food,

say the company. ‘Many food retailers focus on extending the shelf life of their food, but that’s

of no interest to us.

We maintain our edge by selling food that simply can’t be beaten for freshness. At the end of

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the day, we give whatever we haven’t sold to charity to help feed those who would otherwise

go hungry. When we were just starting out, a big supplier tried to sell us coleslaw that lasted

sixteen days. Can you imagine! Salad that lasts sixteen days? There and then we decided Pret

would stick to wholesome fresh food – natural stuff. We have not changed that policy.’

The first Prêt A Manger shop had its own kitchen where fresh ingredients were delivered first

thing every morning, and food was prepared throughout the day.

Every Pret shop since has followed this model. The team members serving on the tills at

lunchtime will have been making sandwiches in the kitchen that morning.

The company rejected the idea of a huge centralized sandwich factory even though it could

significantly reduce costs. Prêt also own and manage all their shops directly so that they can

ensure consistently high standards in all their shops. ‘We are determined never to forget that

our hard-working people make all the difference. They are our heart and soul. When they care,

our business is sound. If they cease to care, our business goes down the drain. In a retail

sector where high staff turnover is normal, we’re pleased to say our people are much more

likely to stay around! We work hard at building great teams. We take our reward schemes and

career opportunities very seriously.

We don’t work nights (generally), we wear jeans, we party!’ Customer feedback is regarded as

being particularly important at Pret. Examining customers’ comments for improvement ideas is

a key part of weekly management meetings, and of the daily team briefs in each shop.

Adapted from: Operations Management 6th ed - N. Slack, et al., (Pearson, 2010) BBS

Task 1 (L.O. 1: 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 and M1, D2)

Considering yourself as an operations manager at Prêt A Manger, or any other organisation of

your choice, write an essay on the following:

1. Explain the importance of operational management to Prêt A Manger’s business

activities or any other organisation business activities.

2. Analyse the operations functions at Prêt A Manager or any other organisation of your

choice.

3. Evaluate, by using a process model, the operations management of Prêt A Manager or

any other organisation of your choice.

To achieve M1, you will find appropriate solutions in evaluating the operations management of

Prêt A Manager or any other organisation of your choice.

To achieve D2 you will have demonstrated an effective approach to independent research as

evidenced from the citations and reference list and study and will have met the deadline to

submit the tasks and achieve the unit assessment criteria.

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Task 2 (LO2: 2.1, 2.2 2.3 and M2, D2)

As the newly appointed operations manager you are expected to produce a Microsoft Power

Point Presentation informing your team on the following:

4. Appraise the importance of the ‘Three Es’ to organisations

5. Assess the impact of the tension between cost minimisation and quality maximisation in

organisations

6. Evaluate the significance of the five performance objectives that underpin operations

management to organisations

To achieve M2, you will apply appropriate methods/techniques in evaluating the significance of

the five performance objectives of any organisation of your choice in question 6.

To achieve D2 you will have demonstrated an effective approach to independent research as

evidenced from the citations and reference list and study and will have met the deadline to

submit the tasks and achieve the unit assessment criteria.

Task 3 (LO3: 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, and D2, D3)

As the operations manager at Prêt A Manger or any other organisation of your choice you are

expected to write briefly on the followings in an essay form :

7. Assess how linear programming adds value to a given production process

8. Evaluate critical path analysis and network planning

9. Justify the need for operational planning and control in a selected production process

To achieve D2 you will have demonstrated an effective approach to independent research as

evidenced from the citations and reference list and study and will have met the deadline to

submit the tasks and achieve the unit assessment criteria.

To achieve D3, you will have to creatively justify the need for operational planning and control

in a selected production process in question 9.

Task 4 (LO4: 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 and D2)

You are expected to do a field work to any organisation of your choice. Carefully observe the

organisation’s business activities and produce a personal report on your findings on the

followings:

10. Produce a set of clearly defined operational outcomes.

11. Produce a network plan and indicate the resultant critical path.

12. Explain how quality could be defined and maintained in the visited organisation

(Please note that the name of the organisation visited must be specified in your report.)

To achieve M3, your findings and research should be well presented and communicated within

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the report.

To achieve D1 you will have to use critical reflection to produce a network plan and indicate the

resultant critical path in question 10.

To achieve D2 you will have demonstrated an effective approach to independent research as

evidenced from the citations and reference list and study and will have met the deadline to

submit the tasks and achieve the unit assessment criteria.

Evidence checklist Summary of evidence required by student

Evidence presented

Task 1 Essay on the nature and importance of operations management

Task 2Microsoft Power Point Presentation on the link between operations management and strategic planning

Task 3 Essay on how to organise a typical production process

Task 4Personal report on Organisation visit Be able to apply relevant techniques to the production of an operational plan for an organisation.

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In addition to the above PASS criteria, this assignment gives you the opportunity to submit evidence in order to achieve the following

MERIT and DISTINCTION grades

Grade Descriptor Indicative characteristic/s Contextualisation

M1 Identify and apply

strategies to find appropriate

solutions

Effective judgements have been made.

An effective approach to study and research

has been applied.

To achieve M1, you find appropriate solutions in explaining the link

between operations management and strategic planning P3

M2 Select / design and apply

appropriate methods /

techniques

Appropriate learning methods/techniques have

been applied.

To achieve M2, you will apply appropriate methods/techniques in

evaluating the significance of the five performance objectives of any

organisation of your choice in question 6.

M3 Present and communicate

appropriate findings

Communication is appropriate for familiar and

unfamiliar audiences and appropriate media

have been used.

To achieve M3, your findings and research should be well

presented and communicated within the report for question 10-12.

D1 Use critical reflection to

evaluate own work and

justify valid conclusions

Conclusions have been arrived at through

synthesis of ideas and have been justified.

Realistic improvements have been proposed

against defined characteristics for success.

To achieve D1 you will have to use critical reflection to produce a

network plan and indicate the resultant critical path in question 10.

D2 Take responsibility for

managing and organising

activities

Activities have been managed.

New ideas have been generated

Good referencing and arrangement (Harvard

style)

To achieve D2 you will have demonstrated an effective approach

to independent research as evidenced from the citations and

reference list and study and will have met the deadline to submit

the tasks and achieve the unit assessment criteria. (P1-P13)

D3 Demonstrate

convergent /lateral / creative

Effective thinking has taken place in

unfamiliar contexts.

To achieve D3, you will have to creatively justify the need for

operational planning and control in a selected production process

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thinking in question 9

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Achievement Summary

QualificationPearson BTEC Level 5 HND Diploma in Business Assessor

name

Unit Number and title

Unit 34, Operations Management in Business

Student name

Criteria Reference

To achieve the criteria the evidence must show that the student is able to:

Achieved?(tick)

LO 1 Understand the nature and importance of

Operations management

1.1Explain why operations management is important for

organisations

1.2 Analyse the operations functions of a selected

organisation

1.3 Evaluate, by using a process model, the operations

management of a selected organisation

LO 2 Understand the link between operations management and

strategic planning

2.1 Appraise the importance of the ‘Three Es’ to

organisations

2.2 Assess the impact of the tension between cost

minimisation and quality maximisation in organisations

2.3 Evaluate the significance of the five performance objectives

that underpin operations management to organisations

LO3 Understand how to organise a typical production process

3.1 Assess how linear programming adds value to a given

production process

3.2 Evaluate critical path analysis and network planning

3.3 Justify the need for operational planning and control in a

selected production process

LO4 Be able to apply relevant techniques to the production of an

operational plan for an organisation.

4.1 Produce a set of clearly defined operational outcomes for a

selected organisation

4.2 Produce a network plan indicating the resultant critical path

4.3 Justify how quality management techniques

are applied to improve operations in a selected

organisation

9 Assignment brief- Operations Management in Business

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Higher Grade achievements (where applicable)

Grade descriptor Achieved?(tick)

Grade descriptor Achieved?(tick)

M1: Identify and apply strategies to find appropriate solutions

D1: Use critical reflection to evaluate own work and justify valid conclusions

M2: Select/design and apply appropriate methods/techniques

D2: Take responsibility for managing and organising activities

M3: Present and communicate appropriate findings

D3: Demonstrate convergent/lateral /creative thinking

10 Assignment brief- Operations Management in Business

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Assignment Feedback

Formative Feedback: Assessor to Student

Action Plan

Summative feedback

Feedback: Student to Assessor

Assessor Signature

Date

Student Signature

Date

11 Assignment brief- Operations Management in Business