8004OMGT Operations Management 2023 Term 2
Assessment 2 Instructions
Operations improvement plan
Summary
Following your analysis in the first assessment, it is now time to think about how to take the operations into a higher stage of the Hayes and Wheelwright Four Stage model and make operational improvements capable of delivering superior value to customers and respond to sustainability pressures.
Assessment 2 requires you to write a 3000-word report that critically analyses one process (or operation, or supply network) from your current or previous workplace, or an organisation you are familiar with. Based on your analysis, you will propose two recommendations for improvement. The context of this assessment could be different from, or the same as, the First Assessment.
Referencing is Australian Harvard (AGPS) and outlined in the AIB Style Guide.
Note: Insert this summary description in Smarthinking. Submit your assessment for writing feedback from Smarthinking.
Task
Specifically, you need to:
Clearly describe the selected process (or operation, or supply network) and its key characteristics so that the reader can clearly understand it. Please ensure you present a process (or supply network) map to support your discussion. If the process (or supply network)is large, you may focus on only a part of it, i.e., delimit the scope.
Critically analyse and evaluate the selected process (or operation, or supply network) using any two of the following topic areas:
Process design (Discussed in Week 3)
Supply chain management (Discussed in Week 4)
Lean synchronisation (Discussed in Week 4)
Operations transformation: industry 4.0 and digitalisation (Discussed in Week 5)
Risk and resilience (Discussed in Week 6)
In your analysis take into account sustainability pressures and challenges facing the process (operation or network).
Based on your analysis and evaluation above, propose and justify two recommendations—one for each selected topic area—that can help achieve its vision and take the operations to a higher stage of the Hayes and Wheelwright Four Stage model.
Keep in mind your recommendations need to complement each other and help the organisation respond to market pressures to integrate more sustainable practices in its operations.
Include a 500-word reflection at the end of your paper discussing lessons you learnt from completing this assessment. Include a discussion on how you would share this learning with your colleagues and ways you will apply relevant OM concepts and analysis tools in the workplace.
Requirements
The required word length for this assessment is 3000 words (+ 10% before penalty applies).
In terms of structure, presentation and style you are normally required to use:
AIB standard report format
AIB preferred Microsoft Word settings
author-date style referencing (which includes in-text citations and a reference list)
These requirements are detailed in the AIB Style Guide.
This assessment requires you to use a minimum of six (6) to twelve (12) credible academic sources in addition to your textbook. You may also use current company, industry, government and media sources to support your statements, but these will NOT count toward the minimum required credible academic sources for your assessment. Most web-based sources are not sufficiently rigorous and credible for academic assessments and will NOT count toward the minimum required credible academic sources for your assessment. For further guidance, refer to Scholarly, academic & peer-reviewed journals.
You must appropriately acknowledge all sources of information in your assessment with the AIB Harvard author-date referencing style – see the AIB Style Guide and Assessment Policy.
Assessment Resources
The purpose of the example/s is to stimulate your critical thinking. Comments indicate areas of strength and opportunities for improvement for you to consider. However, the example does not provide a model answer. You must follow the assessment instructions with regard to content.
Grading criteria and feedback
Your assessment will be marked according to the following grading criteria:
Criterion 1: Describe the selected operational management process (or operation or supply network) and key characteristics. Present a process or network map to support your description (20%).
Criterion 2: Advanced understanding of operations management principles, frameworks, and contemporary topics (30%).
Criterion 3: Application of principles, frameworks, and contemporary topics to develop well-justified, practical, and innovative recommendations (40%)
Criterion 4: Communication, structure, and language (5%)
Criterion 5: In-text citations and referencing (5%)