Managing Business Operations

Semester 1 2018-19

INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENT

ASSIGNMENT BRIEF

This is an individual assignment worth 100% of the Module mark, word count
requirement: 3000.

❑ You must prepare and submit an original business report addressing the
tasks identified later in this section, and summarised below:
Your report must analyse and evaluate the operations management of an
organisation, or a business unit/division, and draw conclusions over the
extent to which its operational capability provides competitive advantage.

The Organisation
You should choose ONE of the suggested organisations listed below. Where
the organisation has different divisions or a disparate product/service offer,
you may have to select one specific area of the organisation for study (i.e. you
will need to define the scope to be covered in your report).

The Content of the Assignment

You are required to demonstrate your learning from the course material and
your own research by analysing and evaluating the operations management
of your chosen organisation (or business unit/division) in a report containing
the following sections.

1. A brief introduction to the organisation, including an overview of the

environment in which it operates and the pressures that its sector faces.
This will give the reader sufficient context to make sense of the report.

2. An analysis of the operations of the selected organisation – this might

consider (as appropriate to the organisation) issues such as – the nature
of the transformation process, the impact of the ‘4Vs’, performance
objectives and current performance, the types of operating process,

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 location and layout, capacity management, the scheduling and control of
resources, supply chain management, quality assurance or the application
of TQM principles, the use of human resources within the operations
function, the use of information technology to support the operations, the
application of ‘lean’ or ‘agile’ principles, etc.
This section is likely to represent the largest part of the Report.

3. The identification of the major strengths and weaknesses of the

operation – achieved performance against required performance and
your recommendations for further improvement. From your analysis,
you should also consider the extent to which the operations functions
support the broader business strategy of the organisation, and the extent
to which the organisation’s operational capability is used to create
competitive advantage.

NOTES

▪ Please remember that this is the Operations Management Assignment –

although it may be necessary to relate your analysis to marketing or other
business functions, your focus should remain on how business operations
are used to create competitive advantage (or not).
▪ A certain amount of data collection will be required. You should only use
secondary material (i.e. that available in the public domain) in your report.
You must not attempt to carry out any primary research on the
organisation. For each part of the task, try to provide real evidence – this
will allow you to be specific on the challenges facing the organisation.
▪ You should make appropriate reference to the theoretical concepts and
techniques covered in the Module to support your evaluation. Try to
maintain a balance between theory and practice. You must use at least
FIVE sources. You must include a reference list of sources used. Charts,
diagrams and other supporting material might well be given as appendices
to the report. These should be properly referenced in the text.
▪ The assignment must be structured and presented as a formal business
report.
▪ Do not make excessive use of abbreviations or acronyms. Although they
may be understood within an organisation, they are not acceptable when
work is prepared for general wider readership.
▪ The length of the assignment is 3000 words. The front cover, table of
content page, appendices and reference list are not included in this word
count. You do not need to include an Executive Summary.
▪ The report must contain a reference list. All sources cited must be
referenced in the report and the in-text citation is included in the word

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 count. The Harvard referencing system must be used. You must use at
least FIVE sources.
▪ We expect reports to be professionally presented. You should ask yourself
whether you would be happy to present your report to the directors of the
organisation.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

Criterion A and A+ B and B+ C and C+ D and D+ R –Resit (30- F-FAIL (0-

(Equally (70% and (60-69%) (50-59%) (40-49%) 39%) 29%)
Weighted) above)

Most key No use of

Assignment Insightful and theories are Selection of Inaccurate or theory.
Application of demonstrates appropriate included in the theory is inappropriate No mention
theory and integration selection of work in an appropriate but choice of of different
understanding and innovation in theory in key appropriate and indicates theory. OM
of operations the selection areas. straightforward limitations of Does not challenges
management and handling Has demonstrated manner. understanding. consider the and no
(OM) concepts of theory. an Has Significance of existence of illustrative
and challenges as Demonstrates awareness of demonstrated OM challenges different OM examples
demonstrated in clearly an different OM some awareness largely ignored. challenges. drawn from
the case company awareness of challenges and of different OM Is unable to Offers no the case, their
OM challenges examples drawn challenges and examine relevant illustrative wider research,
(50%) and illustrates from the case, some attempt to examples/ or examples drawn etc.
with examples their wider apply the uses hypothetical from the case,
drawn from research, etc. frameworks to examples. their wider
the case, their examples drawn research, etc.
wider research, from the case,
etc. their wider
research, etc.

Use of A wide range Able to critically Report shows Very limited Either no No mention
Literature, of sources appraise the evidence of range of sources, evidence of of literature
Structure and which have literature and student making an literature is literature being or theories.
clarity of been thoroughly theory gained attempt to presented consulted or Reliance on
argument analysed applied from variety of understand the uncritically, in a irrelevant to the web-based
and discussed. sources, case and the case purely descriptive assignment set. sources exceeds
(50%) Reliance on developing own questions, but, has way Reliance on prescribed
web-based ideas in the misinterpreted the Reliance on web-based parameters.
sources is process. questions. web-based sources exceeds Grammar,
within prescribed Reliance on Fairly clearly sources exceeds prescribed spelling and
parameters. web-based structured, prescribed parameters to a referencing
Very good writing sources is within though could be parameters to a great extent. errors.
style. prescribed improved by minor degree. Grammar No structure at
Grammar and parameters. some reordering Grammar and/or and/or spelling all.
spelling and Good writing style. / addition of spelling and/or and/or
referencing Grammar major points. referencing referencing
are accurate. and spelling and Evidence of contain errors. contain frequent
Very logical, referencing are findings and Rambling errors.
clear, tight accurate. conclusions discussion with Lacking
development Well structured, grounded in obscurities / structure,
of argument with clear line of theory/literature. some anomalies. confused,
throughout. argument Limited Unsubstantiated
Analytical evident but evidence of / invalid
and clear lacking vital findings and conclusions
conclusions points / or some conclusions based on
well-grounded extraneous supported by anecdote and
in theory and material. theory/literature. generalization
literature. Good development only.
shown in
summary of
arguments based
in theory/
literature.

HAND-IN DATE AND INSTRUCTIONS

Assignments must be submitted through the Moodle drop box

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Assignment formatting: Assignments must be presented in the following
format:

❑ Assignments must be word-processed in 11 point Arial font and 1.5 lines

spaced
❑ All pages must be numbered
❑ The assignment must be presented with a front cover showing the
programme title, module number and name, title of the assignment, word
count and submission date
❑ Margins must be as follows: Top: 1 inch, Bottom: 1 inch (2.5 cm), Left: 1.25
inches, Right: 1.25 inches (3.2 cm)

Assignment length: The length of an assignment is limited by a set number

of words or pages to contribute towards the development of writing skills and
to ensure all work is assessed equitably. We therefore require you to
complete your assignments within the number of words or pages specified in
the assignment brief. There is NO 10% leeway in the word count.
You will need to think carefully about how best to explain your case within the
permitted number of words, using, for example, an appropriate mix of text,
drawings, diagrams and tables, supplemented by information contained in
appendices.
Please also remember that a report can be enhanced or damaged through
layout; for example, placing all tables and drawings in appendices can
hamper the flow of discussion. Decisions therefore need to be made about the
most appropriate place to use tables etc. to support your case.
The specified count refers to the main body of the report and does not include
front cover, table of content page, reference list, bibliography or appendices.
Appendices themselves will not be marked. However, inappropriate use of
appendices will be taken into consideration when awarding the final mark.

Hand-in: You are required to submit your assignment report in electronic

form through the Turnitin drop box available on the Moodle site for the
Module.

For submission: Give the file(s) which you intend to upload a name
which begins with your student number, for example
‘12345678_U55038_Assignment’.

Extensions and late submission: Unauthorised late submission of work will

be penalised in accordance with the Programme Regulations. Any student
who wishes to seek an extension against the submission dates must make an
application on the basis of ‘Mitigating Circumstances’ (see PIP page).

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Feedback: We aim to give feedback within three working weeks of
assignment submission, but this is not guaranteed, as it depends on the
moderation process. Please note that all marks are provisional until approved
by the Examination Committee.

Minimum mark rule: For a pass, 40% must be obtained for your assignment
report.

LIST OF SUGGESTED ORGANISATIONS

Food and Drink

The Coca-Cola Company

Transport
DB Schenker Logistics

Retail
Walmart

Automotive
General Motors

Hotels
Marriott International

Note: It may be necessary to select a specific part of the organisation’s

operations for analysis where the organisation has a diverse portfolio of
activities. This selection may be by geographical region or may be based on a
specific and discrete part of the operation. For example, in the Food and Drink
category, you may choose to select the firm’s operations in UK, USA or any
other country; In the Transport category, you may analyse the operation as a
whole, or you may choose to select for ground handling operations, catering
services or maintenance. However, in this case, what is important is that you
set your analysis in the context of the organisation’s wider operations. If you
have any doubts, please seek guidance from your tutor!