Operations Management
Level 6
Learning outcome 1: Critically analyse the nature and importance of operations management
1.1 Explain why operations management is important for organisations
1.2 Analyse the operations functions of a selected organisation
1.3 Evaluate the operations management process of a selected organisation using relevant models
Learning outcome 2: Evaluate 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
2.3 Evaluate the significance of the five performance objectives that underpin operations management
Learning outcome 3: Assess how to organise a typical production process
3.1 Assess how linear programming adds value production processes
3.2 Evaluate critical path analysis and network planning
3.3 Analyse the need for operational planning and control in a selected production process
Learning outcome 4: 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 an organisation
4.2 Produce a network plan indicating a critical path
4.3 Assess how quality management techniques are applied to improve operations in organisations
Case Scenario
You have been shortlisted as a candidate to participate in a new TV programme in which contestants are pitched against each other to gain the favours of a John Smith, a billionaire businessman with ventures in fields ranging from banking, to property management as well as retail. At the end of the programme, one contestant will be offered a job in one of the new venture of the businessman, while the others will return home.
Task 1
Instructions
100 of candidates have applied to partake in the TV programme, but only 9 will be selected for the show. The producers want a serious TV programme and they only want to put high calibre candidates as potential winners for the programme.
As such they have asked all the candidates to record a 3 to 4 minutes' web-cam video of themselves explaining the link between Strategic Planning and Operations Management. In particular, you should:
1. Explain how Operation Management fit within Strategic Management and why Operation Management is so important
2. Consider the value of the Three E's to an organisation
3. Assess the impact of the tension between cost minimisation and quality maximisation by providing examples
4. Assess how quality management techniques are applied to improve operations in organisations
5. Evaluate the significance of the five performance objectives of operations management
Task 2 - Flip Chart Presentation
Instructions
The producers of the show were happy with your video and decided to put you through to the show. And you did relatively well throughout the episodes. As the show progressed, it became apparent that John Smith had an appetite for business and almost limitless funds. John Smith made a fortune by launching new companies to compete against existing successful organisations or by purchasing and improving stagnating or failing organisation.
In one episode you have been assigned the task of selecting an organisation, analyse its operational functions and evaluate it before making your conclusions. You should then either propose to purchase the existing company to improve it or to launch a new competitor. Either way, you should then propose new operational outcomes as well as produce a network plan indicating critical path(s).
You should present this to John Smith (played by your Lecturer) in a 15 minutes' pitch in the boardroom (your fellow students will be board members).
Task 3 - Reflections
Instructions
During your time serving as a board member you witnessed other pitches as John Smith believes that observing others allows for better self-evaluation. After the show, you have been asked by a popular business magazine to write a 500 words article about what went well and what could have been done better regarding your proposed operational outcomes and your proposed network plan & critical path(s). The article should reinforce the need for operational planning and how it adds values.
Attachment:- Operations Management.rar