Reference no: EM133570571 , Length: word count:2000
Assessment - Operations Plan
Assignment Tasks
This assessment will require students to develop a detailed Operations Plan for an operation relating to a product or service to be delivered across national borders. The main assignment tasks are the following:
1. Identify a product or service company (or other organization) with which you are familiar. Provide a brief description of the company.
2. Describe, In general, the key operations in this company and how these operations relate to the company's strategy, its competitive priorities, and the key performance indicators used by the company
3. Using the operations model presented in Unit 5003 Modules A, B, and C, define in detail one of these operations, clearly identifying the transforming and transformed resources, the transformation process, and the outputs and outcomes of the operation
4. Provide a critical review of this key operation and its management that might underpin its future improvement and contribution to the company's competitive priorities
5. Present this in an Operations Plan for this operation (based on your analysis and review) which highlights the resources and key management decisions that might need to be made to secure improvement in the operation.
Developing an Operational Plan
Operational planning takes the broad strategies and objectives outlined in the Strategic Plan, turns them into specific tasks and allocates the people and other resources of the organisation to get them done. It addresses the question - 'What do we need to do to make it all happen and know we are on track?' It provides the staff and volunteers in the organisation with their day to day and week to week tasks, lets them know where they are going and gives them a measure of what they are expected to achieve.
It makes sense that the people who are most directly responsible for ensuring that the outcomes are achieved are included in the development of the workplans. Specific activities are nominated that are necessary to achieve the strategies and goals set by the board or management committee. Specific staff, timelines and resources are allocated to these activities which then form the basis for reporting and evaluation.
Assignment task requires a description of the allocation of resources, a timeline, and the performance indicators against which the plan will be measured and assessed. This will Involve a description of:
- Allocation of Human Resources (Who is responsible?)
- Allocation of Financial Resources (How much budget?)
- Setting Timelines (When does this happen?)
- Setting Performance Indicators (What are we aiming to achieve?)
a. Quality of Argument: The submission should demonstrate an understanding of relevant facts and Issues as well as appropriate Operations Management theory, models and frameworks. It should be logical, objective In style, with any recommendations being cost-conscious, Unfounded generalisations should be avoided
b. Submission Structure: The submission should adequately address the required tasks detailed above; be well-structured with an introduction and conclusion; and be systematic in presenting arguments and relevant issues
c. Style and Communication: The submission should be well-written in a balanced, academic style with accurate spelling, grammar, and punctuation. It should be concise and precise.
d. Referencing: Sources should be acknowledged and consistently referenced using the standard APA citation style. Required minimum 15 academic journals/peer reviewed articles.