Operations Management Applied Research Project

MPM792 Operations Management, T1 2021 Assignment 2: Individual Assignment Operations Management Applied Research Project Value: 60% Due Date: No later than 31 May 2021 8.00 pm (AEST) via CloudDeakin. This is an individual assignment. The purpose of this assignment is to refine your research skills by you identifying your own operations management topic, finding supporting literature, analysing data, recommending the best approach to managing the issue and making suggestions regarding how it could be implemented and reporting the results. You should select an area in which you have some experience, knowledge and/or interest. You also will have an opportunity to deepen your knowledge on certain aspect of operations management by choosing an operations management topic that suits your own interest and will help your own career prospects. This assignment comprises a mini literature review on the current issues on operations strategy and operations management of firms operating in a specific industry. All work and data submitted by you will be treated in the strictest confidence. At least 8 separate research reference sources would be expected to obtain better than a pass mark. It is expected that this report will be of a high professional standard. To obtain a grade higher than a credit , you must have no layout, grammar, spelling or referencing errors. The work should be relevant, contain the latest research and contain a high level of original thought and input. You are encouraged to work on a current operations management problem or issue within your existing industry. Alternatively, you can choose the specific company or industry which suits your interests, including (but not limited to) electronic, automotive, banking, building, food, hospitality, retail and distribution, finance, consulting, and health care. Select an operations ma nagement issue with which you have had experience (or in which you are particularly interested) that fits into one of the following four categories: 1. Measuri ng and improving supply chain management . 2. Measuring and improving customer service quality and satisfaction. 3. Measuring and improving Offshoring and/or Outsourcing decision making 4. Measuring capacity and improving capacity planning decisions Format your report, using references, as an academic business report using the structure described in the report format section . Learning Outcome Details This assessment is underpinned by the following Unit Learning Outcomes and Graduate Learning Outc omes: Unit Learning Outcome (ULO) Graduate Learning Outcome (GLO) ULO1 Evaluate the nature and importance of operations within organisations. GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities GLO2: Communication GLO4: Critical thinking ULO2 Understand the key decision issues associated with operations management and how these link to overall organisational strategies and global supply/value chains. GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities GLO2: Communication GLO4: Critical thinking GLO8: Global citizenship ULO3 Apply operations management principles to different organisations in both manufacturing and service contexts. GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities GLO2: Communication GLO4: Critical thinking GLO5: Problem solving ULO4 Analyse operations within service and manufacturing firms and apply methods to improve them. GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities GLO2: Communication GLO3: Digital literacy GLO4: Critical thinking GLO5: Problem solving ULO5 Work effectively as an individual researcher and in a task-focused virtual team. GLO5: Problem solving GLO6: Self-management Details of the linkages between the assessment, ULO, GLOs and the rubric are presented later in this document. Report Format This assignment must be written in an academic business report format of a maximum of 4000 words. You should write between 3,000 and 4,000 words. The Executive Summary, TOC, Reference Pages and Appendices are excluded from the word count. The criteria for marking along with rubric is included at the end of this document. 1. Executive summary and Table of Contents (200-400 words) a concise and authoritative summary that includes clear statement about purpose of the research, main findings and recommendations (5 % of marks) 2. Introduction ( 200 400 words) - focused introduction to the problem or situation (5 % of marks ) 3. Problem analysis (800-1000 words) - comprehensive analysis of the problem, the strategy, process or topic using appropriate data and frameworks; evidence of engagement with appropriate literature (20 % of marks ) 4. Current performance analysis (800- 1000 words) - make use of appropriate comparative benchmarks and consider the forces affecting the issue you are examining to examine the impact of the problem ( 20% of marks) 5. Recommended solution (10 00-1500 ) identify, select and justify your preferred solution with (a brief) consideration of how it could be implemented . You may wish to consider the major operations management techniques currently used by the company for the process, and how successful they are . Provide a comprehensive argument for your recommended solution and its implementation using appropriate data and support from appropriate literature (30 % of marks ) 6. Summary and conclusion (200- 400 words) discuss what a successful outcome would be and provide a concise summary of the main findings and your recommendations (10 % of marks ) 7. References - make sure you made good use of the literature to support your arguments, considering the appropriateness of your literature sources (10% of marks) Criteria for Evaluating the Quality of Your Work Your mark in this assessment is based on how well you have satisfactorily achieved the underpinning ULOs and GLOs. The rubric will be used to assess the overall quality of your work. Your work will be assessed against each of the questions in this assignment. The links between these questions and the ULOs/GLOs are described below. 1. Problem analysis (800 -1000 words) - comprehensive analysis of the problem, the strategy, process or topic using appropriate data and frameworks; evidence of engagement with appropriate literature (20%) ULO1 (Evaluate the nature and importance of operations within organisations): You will be assessed on your ability to explain the problem on the basis of its impact on the organisation, as well as the actual details of the problem process. ULO2 (Understand the key operations management decision issues): You will be assessed on your ability to explain why this is an important operations management activity and identify the specific operations process involved, in terms of the types of operations management activities discussed in the unit. GLO1 (Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities): You will be assessed on your ability to explain the problem in terms of operations management perspectives, using the language presented in the unit. GLO2 (Communication): You will be assessed on your ability to present a clear, succinct and cogent argument. GLO4 (Critical thinking ): You will be assessed on your ability to correctly identify the cause and differentiate this from the symptom of the problem. GLO8 (Global citizenship ): You will be assessed on your ability to demonstrate how this is either a standard or unique problem for this industry. 2. Current performance analysis (800-1000 words) - make use of appropriate comparative benchmarks and consider the forces affecting the issue you are examining to examine the impact of the problem (20%) ULO4 (Analyse operations within service and manufacturing firms and apply methods to improve them): Your answer will be assessed for thoroughness, use of data, comparison with expected performance and presentation of findings. GLO1 (Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities): You will be assessed on the demonstrated understanding of the particular operations management activity that you analyse in your answer to this question. GLO2 (Communication): You will be assessed on your ability to present your analysis, findings and conclusion clearly. GLO3 (Digital literacy): You will be assessed on the quality and thoroughness of your analysis of how well the process currently performs. GLO4 (Critical thinking): You will be assessed on your abil ity to correctly frame the problem analysis. GLO5 (Problem solving): You will be assessed on the organisation of your analysis and use of external sources to provide a reference points against which the performance is assessed . 3. Recommended solution (1000-1500) identify, select and justify your preferred solution with (a brief) consideration of how it could be implemented. You may wish to consider the major operations management techniques currently used by the company for the process, and how successful they are. Provide a comprehensive argument for your recommend solution and its implementation using appropriate data and support from appropriate literature (30%) ULO3 (Apply operations management principles): You will be assesse d on your ability to respond to the analysis that you have conducted in the previous answer and utilise operations management approaches to produce a recommendation. GLO1 (Discipline -specific knowledge and capabilities): You will be assessed on your demons trated understanding of the area of operations management which applies to the performance issue that you have identified. GLO2 (Communication): You will be assessed on your ability to explain how your recommendation responds to the performance shortfall/opportunity you identified . GLO4 (Critical thinking): You will be assessed on your ability to demonstrate that your recommendation provides a valuable solution. GLO5 (Problem solving): You will be assessed on the organisation of your approach to arguing yo ur recommendation. 4. Summary and Conclusion (200- 400 words) - discuss what a successful outcome would be and provide a concise summary of the main findings and your recommendations (10 % of marks) ULO5 (Work effectively as an individual researcher): You will be assessed on your ability to provide a balanced and informed summary of the problem/opportunity and your recommendations, demonstrating a good grasp of the theory and a well -organised project. GLO5 (Problem solving): You will be assessed on your ability to demonstrate that you have fully understood and provided a viable solution to the problem. GLO6 (Self- management ): You will be assessed on your ability to present a conclusion which convinces the reader and inspires confidence in your recommendation. Marking Rubric: Criteria Unacceptable Requires Further Development Satisfactory Good Very Good Exe mplar y 1. Executive Summary (Weight 5) No Exec Summary or very poor attempt. (Range 0 -------- -1. 4) Does not summarise the main points in the report. (Range 1. 5 --- --- -- -2 .4) Some attempt at summarising the main points, but misses important information or contains unimportant information. (Range 2. 5--- --- -- -2. 9) Good summary of the main findings, with only a little extra or missing information. (Range 3.0--- --- -- -3. 4) Clearly summaries the important results in the report. (Range 3.5 -------- -3 .9) Excellent summary of key findings and recommendation(s). Clearly presented with concise and fluent wording. (Range 4.0 -------- -5) 1. Score 0.7 2.0 2.7 3.2 3.7 4.5 2. Introduction (Weight 5) No Introduction or very poor attempt. (Range 0 -------- -1. 4) Does not introduce the situation adequately (Range 1. 5 --- --- -- -2 .4) Passable description but does not set the scene adequately for the next section (Range 2. 5-------- -2 .9) Good description of the conditions which prepare the reader for the analysis following (Range 3.0--- --- -- -3. 4) Very insightful description leading smoothly into the problem analysis (Range 3.5 -------- -3 .9) Use of industry literature to set the broader industry level scene as well (Range 4.0 -------- -5) 2. Score 0.7 2.0 2.7 3.2 3.7 4.5 3. Problem analysis (Weight 20) Linked to ULO 1 & 2 and GL0 1, 2, 4 and 8 Demonstrates no ability to clearly and succinctly define the operations challenge or identify relevant contextual factors. (Range 0--- --- --- 5.9) Demonstrates a limited ability to clearly and succinctly define the selected operations challenge, including identifying relevant contextual factors. (Range 6 --- ------ 9.9) Demonstrates a satisfactory ability to construct a clear and succinct statement about the operations challenge with some evidence of relevant contextual factors and reference to relevant literature. (Range 10------ --- 11. 9) Demonstrates a good ability to in dependently define a clear and succinct problem(s) with evidence of relevant contextual factors and reference to relevant literature. (Range 12.0--- --- --- 13.9) Demonstrates a very good ability to independently and expertly define a clear and succinct problem(s) with evidence of relevant contextual factors and well - --i ntegrated literature references. (Range 14-------- -1 5.9) Demonstrates an exceedingly high ability to expertly construct a clear, succinct and insightful statement about a problem(s) with evidence of all relevant contextual factors and numerous well - -- integrated literature and references. (Range 16.0 --- --- -- -2 0.0) 3. Score 3 7.5 11 13 15 18 4. Current Performance Analysis (Weight 20) Linked to ULO 4 and GL0 1 5 No evidence of comparative benchmarks. No logical examination of the operations requirements to solve the challenge. (Range 0 --- --- -- -5 .09) Examination of feasible benchmarks is partially lacking. Incomplete consideration of appropriate operational requirements and techniques to solve the challenge. (Range 6--- --- -- -9 .9) Some consideration of benchmarks. Reasonable discussion of operational requirements, but misses some points in the discussion and fails to fully examine the range of options. (Range 10 --- --- -- -1 1.9) Good consideration of comparative benchmarks. Provides suitable evaluations of operational requirements/ techniques and clear discussion of the potential for improvement. (Range 12.0--- --- -- -1 3.9) Very good evaluation of comparative benchmarks. Comprehensive evaluation of operational requirements/ techniques and clear identification of the types of changes that are required. (Range 14--- --- --- 15.9) Excellent evaluation of comparative benchmarks. Evaluation of operational requirements/techniques contains an authoritative, expert, insightful explanation. Logically and clearly leads onto the selection and justification of the recommended solution section to follow. (Range 16------- --20) 4. Score 3 7.5 11 13 15 18 Criteria Unacceptable Requires Further Development Satisfactory Good Very Good Exe mplar y 5. Recommended solution (Weight 30) Linked to ULO 3 and GL0 1, 2, 4 and 5 Specific recommendation(s) fail to take into account the complexities of the issues. Other options are not considered. Recommendations are weak. (Range 0-------- -8 .9) S pecific recommendation(s) take into account a very limited view of the complexities of an issue. Other points of view are not consistently acknowledged. (Range 9--- --- -- -1 4.9) S pecific recommendation(s) accurately take into account the issues. Other points of view are sometimes acknowledged and integrated where appropriate. (Range 15 --- ------1 7.9) S pecific recommendation(s) are expertly presented and accurately take into account the complexities of issues. Other points of view are often acknowledged and integrated where appropriate. (Range 18.0 ------ -- -2 0.9) S pecific recommendation(s) are presented expertly, authoritatively and imaginatively, accurately taking into account the complexities of the issue. Limits of position are acknowledged. Other points of view are synthesised within position. (Range 21--- --- -- -2 3.9) S pecific recommendation(s) are presented expertly, authoritatively and highly imaginatively, accurately taking into account the complexities of the issue. Limits of position are acknowledged. Other points of view are expertly synthesised within position. (Range 24--- --- -- -3 0) 5. Score 4.5 12 16.5 19.5 22.5 27 6. Summary and conclusion (Weight 10) Linked to ULO 5 and GL0 5 - 6 Cursory statement (Range 0--- --- --- 2.9) Provide a brief description of the findings (Range 3.0------ --- 4.9) Introduced the principal findings, with appropriate priority and direction for action (Range 5.0------ --- 5.9) Connected the findings with the original problem to demonstrate why the recommendations were desirable (Range 6.0------ --- 6.9) Provided a balanced and compelling argument for change based on the recommendations, and drawing attention to the key aspects of the findings (Range 7.0--- --- --- 7.9) Providing a compelling argument, drawing attention to the key aspects of the findings and making use of the literature to support the case. (Range 8.0------ ---10) 6. Score 1.5 4 5.5 6.5 7.5 9 7. References (Weight 10) Fails to use literature or presents information from inappropriate sources representing very limited points of view or approaches. (Range 0--- --- -- -3. 9) Often presents complex information from inappropriate sources representing limited points of view or approaches. Does not synthesise information and/or demonstrate an advanced, integrated understanding in any area. (Range 3-------- -4. 9) Presents information from relevant sources representing various points of view or approaches, and consolidates and synthesizes information. (Range 5-------- -5 .9) Presents complex information from relevant sources representing various points of view or approaches, and does a good job of consolidating and synthesising information. (Range 6 --------- 6.9) Synthesises information and knowledge from a range of relevant sources representing various points of view, approaches or cultural contexts, and does a very good job of consolidating and synthesising information. (Range 7- -- - -- - -- 7.9) Synthesises complex information and knowledge from a broad range of relevant sources representing various points of view, approaches or cultural contexts, and does an excellent job of consolidating and synthesising information. (Range 8 ------ ---1 0) 7. Score 1.5 4.0 5.5 6.5 7.5 9 Criteria Unacceptable Requires Further Development Satisfactory Good Very Good Exemplary Overall Score 0------29 30------49 50------59 60------69 70------79 80100 Grade N N P C D HD Fail Failed marginally Pass Credit Distinction High Distinction