ES985 - Operations Strategy for Industry Assignment - IMA and PMA Discussion, The University of Warwick, UK

Job Title: Senior Teaching & Research Fellow

The PMA Task -

Compare the operations strategies for McDonalds, the in-module case study company, and a leading company in the 'construction' industry. Looking at the company of your choice at the organisational level, critically assess the various patterns of strategic decisions and operations strategies adopted that underpin the actions that set the role, the performance objectives and the operational activities of an operation. Such actions should be set in a way that give(s) maximum satisfaction to the customers or clients. Then, by use of the operations strategy matrix, compare and contrast the organisation of your choice with the case study company adopted for the in-module assessment.

A good academic answer will identify and critically appraise the various patterns of strategic decisions and criteria applied when formulating an operations strategy (i.e. operations strategy matrix and criteria within). A good answer will also demonstrate and consider the following learning outcomes for the PMA. You should, therefore:

a. define operations strategy and its importance in an industrial context linked to market requirement.

b. explain how operations strategy integrates, aligns and interacts with other strategies within the organisation of your choice (i.e. marketing strategy linked to marketing requirements)

c. describe the impact of operations strategy at different levels within the organisation (i.e. top-down and bottom-up)

d. recognise the need to measure the performance of the operations strategy and identify suitable areas for measurement (i.e. the content and process of operations strategy)

e. critically appraise and question the operations strategies of the organisation of your choice against the organisation adopted for the in-module assessment and draw conclusions from the information (i.e. the use of the operations strategy matrix)

f. select appropriate practices for implementing operations strategy in different market environments (i.e. first understand the 'line of fit' between market requirements and operations performance).

Business Report Structure - Need 3750 Words.

Report Presentation.

Standard University Front Sheet.

Table of Contents.

Introduction.

Main Body of Report - Critical evaluation and analysis of relevant theory and practice related to the PMA task - linked to real world examples.

Conclusion.

Recommendations.

References - use the Harvard style of referencing, not included in word count.

Appendix - not included in word count.

Textbook - Operations Strategy, Third Edition by Nigel Slack and Michael Lewis.