Assessment Unpacking Video by Module Leader : https://youtu.be/cKQqHihkVMcSection 2 Assignment Guidance: https://youtu.be/Gw9tG1cKVrM
Assessment 5BU017
Assessment Unpacking Video by Module Leader : https://youtu.be/cKQqHihkVMcSection 2 Assignment Guidance: https://youtu.be/Gw9tG1cKVrM
Select an organisation whose global supply/ value management issues are of interest to you and compose an analytical report. Ensure that you are able to gather relevant information to complete this task. The organization you choose must be different to those examined in the weekly sessions(e.g. Avoiding Apple, Samsung, Ikea, Toyota, KFC, Starbucks, Coca-Cola, McDonald's etc.). Choosing these prohibited companies will adversely affect your grade. Also,EMAIL SUBMISSIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED NOR GRADED.
The assessment will now be sectioned into two parts;
Operations and Supply Chain Management (2000 Words)
For your case organisation;
What does operations management mean for this organisation? You should consider factors such as the4Vs, the five operations performance objectives, the operations strategy and/or any other factors you consider relevant to your analysis.
How do theprocess (es) and layout (s) of the organisationenable it to deliver goods and/or services to its customers? (How do they do what they do with the resources they have?).
How do theoperations of the organisation influence the way the supply chain is structured?
Whatperformance objective(s)are reflected in the operations and supply chain of your case organisation?
In addressing the questions, please use appropriate Operations and Supply Management theories, concepts and frameworks. Well-referenced photographs and diagrams can be used to provide evidence of the layouts, the supply chain, and so on.
Project Management
Section Two: Project Management (1000 words):
The second part of the assessment follows through from section one. Students will be required to identify, scope, and plan a project for their case organisation using relevant project management tools and methods. The chosen project will be aimed at restructuring an aspect of the case organisations operations or supply chain to enhance the performance of their operations.
Construct and justify a project plan for a business scenario in relation to your case organisation. The aim here is to construct a project aimed at improving the operations or supply chain in light of the issues you may have identified in Section One.
Discuss the project objectives and the impact on the operations and supply chain of the organisation.
Describe the elements of your project processes and plan (using relevant project management tools or frameworks).
Evaluate the challenges in implementing the project plan.
Critique how the project outcomes can be evaluated
References: Must be in Harvard style. You should use theCite-me-rightLinks to an external site.referencing convention.
Report Structure
You should produce a report (3000 words maximum excluding diagrams, appendices and references) answering the questions above. The suggested format is:
Title Page
Table of Content
Executive summary
Introduction and background to the chosen organisation.
Illustrate the organisation's Supply Chain.
Organisations Upstream Supply Chain.
Relevance of operations management for case organisation (Apply the 4Vs).
Operations processes and layouts of the organisation enable it to deliver goods and/or services to its customers.
Organisations Downstream Supply Chain.
Discuss potential issues with the operations and supply chain of the case organisation.
Construct a project aimed at improving the aspect of the operations or supply chain of your case organisation.
References & Appendices.
Assessment Guide- Introduction (400 words)
Title Page
Table of Content(Doesnt count towards the word count)
Executive Summary(Doesnt count towards the word count; This should be written last; In 150 words or less, state the objective of the report, issues, and recommendations discussed).The objective of the report, what was done in the report, and the conclusion.
Report Introduction
Start bychoosing an appropriate organisationthat either produces a product or renders a service. If they produce a variety of independent products and render independent services, focus on one of the products or services.
Justify the choice of organisation andwhy their supply chain is of interest. You can discuss what makes their product or service unique i.e.order winners and order qualifiers.
Describe the organisation's supply chain strategy e.g. Lean, agile, etc. Assessment Guide- The Supply Chain Diagram
Figure 1.0: Supply Chain Diagram
Illustrate the supply chain of the case organisation with the aid of adiagram. The Upstream,
Operations, and Downstream sections of the supply chainmustbe indicated.
The organisations involved in the upstream, operations, downstream, inbound, and
outbound logisticsmustbe identified.
Assessment Guide- Upstream Supply Chain
(400 words)
Body of the Report- Operations and Supply Chain Management Section
- Upstream
Upstream Supply Chain
Start by describing the activities of the upstream of the supply chain i.e. What are theraw materials or input resources? Who supplies them? From where? Who are the inbound logistics companies for each input resource?[This is should used if the upstream is outsourced]
You should then discuss the upstreamperformance objectivesi.e. cost, speed, quality, flexibility, & dependability and relate these to the following;
Sourcing and procurement strategy & methods- Do they use a centralised or decentralised strategy? What method of sourcing and procurement is adopted by the organisation? What performance objective is achieved?
Is the upstreamvertically integrated? Are thereoffshoringactivities in the sourcing and procurement of input resources? Supplier Relationships & Inbound Logistics- What relationship does the organisation facilitate
with its suppliers and logistics companies?[Transactional; Contractual, & Long-Term Partnerships
Who are theselogistics companiesand how do they contribute to the upstream performance
objective? What are thelogistics managementapproaches used by the organisation?
Upstream Performance Objectives- Have you applied theperformance objectivesthroughout the upstream section? Have you supported your conclusions withacademic references?[You might not find research on the organisation you are considering, so use studies that have examined similar organisations or in similar contexts] ves(This list does not cover all the aspects you can explore regarding the operations and supply chain of your chosen case organisation. It's essential to provide additional references to support your analysis.)
Assessment Guide- Operations & Downstream (800 words)
Body of the Report- Operations (400 Words)
You could approach completing this section in two ways. Chooseoneof the following approaches:
APPROACH ONE
Start by describing the transformation process of converting input resources into a product or how they are used to render a service. This is the operations of the organisation. Then describe the structure of the operations using the4Vs Typology. Identify theperformance objectivesachieved with each 'V' applied and link/ compare to the upstream supply chain. The 4Vs Typology
Identify theprocess typeand theprocess layoutof the facility used to produce the product or render the service. Again link this to theperformance objectives. Process Type and Layout (1) Process Type and Layout (2)
APPROACH TWO
Start by describing the transformation process of converting input resources into a product or how they are used to render a service. This is the operations of the organisation. Then discuss the planning and control activities of the operations:Loading; Sequencing; Scheduling Discuss how the case organisation responds to orders:Make to stock; Make to order; Resource to Order.Again link this to theperformance objectives. Discuss thedecoupling point [Push and Pull Phillosophies] of the operations process and explain how this helps the organisation deliver its products to final consumers.
Body of the Report- Downstream (400 Words)
Retailersand relationship with case organisation
Wholesalersand relationship with case organisation
What company is responsible foroutbound logistics? company name, case organisation's relationship with the company
Are there any instances ofFranchising?
Are there any instances ofVertical Integrations?
Theinseparability of the downstreamand operations (e.g. services)
Identify and discuss theperformance objectives achievedin the downstream andcompare and synthesisethis with operations and the upstream sections.
(This list is not exhaustive of the things you can discuss in the operations and supply chain for your case organisation - additional reading must be evidenced)
Assessment Guide- Improving the Supply Chain (400 words)
Body of the Report- Recommendation to Improve the Supply Chain
This section is dedicated to examining and critiquing a single aspect of the supply chain that requires
improvement or where poor practices are identified.The use of references is imperative in this section.
You may choose to focus on various topics within the supply chain of the case organization, with an
emphasis on highlighting ONE specific areafor analysis. Here are examples of topics you could
consider:
Inventory Management:Efficient inventory management is crucial for ensuring streamlined operations and meeting customer demand. By implementing effective inventory control measures, businesses can minimise costs, and stockouts, reduce excess inventory, and improve overall efficiency. Capacity Management:Capacity management plays a pivotal role in optimising resources and meeting fluctuating demand. By strategically balancing capacity with demand forecasts, businesses can enhance productivity, minimise bottlenecks, and improve customer satisfaction. Lean Management:Lean management focuses on maximising value while minimising waste within processes. By streamlining operations, eliminating unnecessary steps, and empowering employees to continuously improve, businesses can achieve greater efficiency, quality, and customer satisfaction. In your discussions onone of the aforementioned concepts, it's essential to provide justification for why
improvements are needed in these areas of the supply chain.Back up your assessments with
evidence from academic sources/ references. Additionally, emphasise the new performance objectives
such as Cost, Speed, Quality, Flexibility, Dependability, and Sustainabilitythat will be attained through
your recommendations or reviews. Seize this opportunity topropose a projectthat will aid the case
organisation in achieving these objectives within their supply chain.
(This list is not exhaustive of the things you can discuss in the operations and supply chain for your case organisation - additional reading must be evidenced)
Assessment Guide- Project Planning & Conclusion (1000 words)
Project Planning Section(800 Words)
Begin by introducing your project and explicitly outlining its impact on the supply chain. Clearly articulate how the project will enhance a specific aspect of the supply chain or address existing issues within it. It's crucial to not only describe what the project aims to achieve but also to provide a brief overview of what the project entails.
For example:"Our project aims todevelop an MRP system[The Project]for inventory tracking system in our
warehouse facilities[What the Project will do]. By utilising advanced tracking technology and
automated data collection processes, this initiative aims to improve inventory accuracy and
reduce stockouts. With this project, we seek to streamline inventory management processes and
enhance overall operational efficiency within the supply chain." After this, use the following tools
to plan the project;
Triple Constraints [Fig. 2]:Utilise the triple constraints to delineate the project's cost or budget, the quality or deliverables expected, and the timeframe for project completion. Ensure that you substantiate the values entered into the triple constraint diagram by providing justifications. Stakeholder Mapping/Matrix [Fig. 3]:Begin by compiling a stakeholder register listing all individuals or groups involved in the project. For each stakeholder, identify their respective roles and categorise them as either Primary vs Secondary Stakeholders or Direct vs Indirect Stakeholders. Additionally, assess their level of power and interest in the project, categorising them as having either High or Low Power or Interest.
Using this information, create a stakeholder matrix and place each stakeholder in the appropriate quadrant, which typically includes Monitor, Manage Closely, Keep Informed, and Keep Satisfied categories. Subsequently, elucidate your strategy for managing each stakeholder group effectively. Work Breakdown [Fig. 4]:Create a hierarchical Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) to visually represent every activity entailed in the project. Within the WBS, delineate the principal activities, work packages, and tasks as required for a comprehensive breakdown. Ensure clarity by providing detailed descriptions for each activity, work package, and task. Utilise concise and informative labels or numbering to accurately capture the essence of each component.
Following the completion of the WBS, provide a succinct summary outlining the key components and overarching structure of the breakdown. This summary should offer a clear overview of the project's scope and the tasks necessary for its completion. Gantt Chart [Fig. 5]:In creating the Gantt Chart, it's crucial to reflect the tasks outlined in the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) accurately. Begin by identifying all tasks from the WBS and allocating appropriate timeframes, sequencing tasks logically based on dependencies, and determining task durations. Assign resources to each task as needed, and identify key project milestones to track progress effectively. In the commentary, discuss how to reflect actual progress and communicate with stakeholders to ensure alignment throughout the project lifecycle. Risk Planning [Fig. 6]:Identify risk types (Known Known, Known Unknown, Unknown Unknown, Known Unknown Risks) and categorise them based on probability and impact (High, Medium, Low). Focus on high-probability, high-impact risks for your assessment. In the commentary, discuss how to mitigate these risks through proactive measures like avoidance, transfer, reduction, or acceptance. Regularly review and update risk management plans to adapt to project changes.
Project Control and Measurement Tools: Monitoring Report, Variance Analysis, CPI, SPI
Summary & Conclusion(200 Words)
To write the conclusion and summary of your assessment report, begin by restating the objective, which is to evaluate and enhance the supply chain through project planning. Summarise the key findings, including areas like inventory management, risk planning, and stakeholder mapping. Discuss the specific supply chain issues reviewed in the report. Introduce the recommended project to improve supply chain efficiency and effectiveness, outlining its objectives and strategies briefly. Support your recommendations with academic references and case examples showing the impact of similar projects. Conclude by emphasising the significance of your findings and recommendations for organisational success and continuous improvement.
References
(This doesnt count towards the word count;Minimum of 10 references, however, you should always aim to reference every bold claim made in your report)
