Demonstrate an understanding of operations management and factors affecting the design of products and processes within an organisation

What am I required to do in this assignment?

Your assessment task is comprised of two main parts.

Part 1: Assessment Checkpoint No. 1 in Week 5 (wrt 21-10-24) (worth 15% of the overall assessment):

Checkpoint Task: Students will present one of the three operational management simulation scenarios during the assessment checkpoint session. The presentation should be 5 minutes long and will be carried out in week 5. Students are required to attend the checkpoint session and submit a brief project plan outlining their initial approach to working on the selected case scenario to cover the following items:

·         Overview of the simulated project, objectives, and deliverables.

·         Presentation of potential challenges and risks in the project.

·         Introduction to available operation management tools and techniques that can be used to address the challenges.

Students can consult ChatGPT to explore potential problems the selected industry may face and include ChatGPT prompts in their presentation slides. Once done, students shall critically analyse those potential problems through secondary research and investigate how the operation management tools can resolve the underlying problems. After the session, one member from each group shall upload their slides on the BREO submission link.

NOTE: Please follow the guidance on using ChatGPT in your assessments. A Guide to Referencing - lrweb.beds.ac.uk | University of Bedfordshire

!!Engagement Requirement: Students may choose one of the Operation Management Simulation Scenarios below. Your attendance and engagement with the checkpoint activity are compulsory. The checkpoint aims to ensure active engagement with the unit delivery and skills development to prepare you for the real-world business environment.

Part 2: Summative final report (weight: 85%)

Following the checkpoint activity in Week 5, students must work individually to produce an evidence-based report (without using any AI tools) and critically analyse the proposed operation management problems from a theoretical and practical perspective to develop their case study and provide suitable recommendations.

2.1 Scenario Analysis (Weight: 50%)

The main report should include the following elements:

·         Project scope and deliverables

·         Stakeholder analysis and engagement plan

·         Operation Management Strategies

·         Risk assessment and mitigation plan

2.2 Project Evaluation and Lessons Learned (Weight: 20%)

In this part of the assessment, students are required to assess the proposed project`s success by critically analysing its performance against initial objectives and outcomes based on theoretical and practical evidence and propose recommendations for future improvement. Finally, identify the key lessons learned while developing the report.

2.3 Process log (15%)

Complete the process log documenting the various steps you have taken in your learning process, skills development, research, and application of the feedback from the checkpoint activity. Process logs will help you identify gaps in your learning and seek help where needed. The template for process logs is in your BREO shells under the Assessment & Feedback page.

Additional Information:

·         Please submit your Process Log as an appendix to your main report.

·         Please refrain from including PowerPoint slides in the main report to avoid plagiarism. There is a separate link for slides submission on BREO.

Operation Management Simulation Scenarios:

Scenario 1: "Communication plan with Stakeholders and IT integration"

The project focuses on organising a comprehensive communication and coordination plan for the efficient supply of essential products across urban, suburban, and rural areas within three neighbouring regions of a country. It is focused on strengthening domestic supply chains using  AI-driven projects that leverage enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems to streamline communication, coordination, and quality management across different regions.

The goal is to address logistical challenges posed by varied geographic locations and improve cooperation between regional stakeholders to ensure product availability and timely delivery. The ERP system will serve as the backbone for connecting IT departments, business units, and regulators while ensuring compliance with regional regulations. It also aims to improve supply chain visibility and optimise operations, ensuring quality standards throughout the process.

• Project length: 1 year
• Estimated Supply: 1000 products across 3 regions
• Supply Chain Budget: £8 million
• Key Stakeholders: IT Department, Business Units, Regional Regulators, Local Partners

Challenges:

1. The ERP system will integrate key stakeholders to ensure seamless communication and efficient coordination between IT, logistics, and regional business units.
2. The focus is on working with local partners to comply with regional standards and regulations. The system will ensure compliance with regional laws and logistical requirements.
3. Managing capacity, transportation, and safety across diverse geographic locations, focusing on product safety and timely delivery.
4. Ensuring that packaging meets each region`s language and regulatory requirements, enhancing customer trust and regulatory compliance.

Scenario 2: "Event Planning for an International Conference and IT Integration"

Description: To organise an international summit to bring political leaders, diplomats, and industry experts from various countries. The summit aims to address global challenges and foster cooperation between nations. The event includes keynote addresses, panel discussions, workshops, and networking sessions.

·         Summit Dates: 4 days in a prestigious venue

·         Estimated Attendance: 1,000 delegates from 50 countries

·         Summit Budget: £8 million

·         Key Stakeholders: Organizing Committee, IT Department, Business Units, Government Representatives, International Delegates

Challenges:

·         Communication, coordination, and operation management are the key aspects to be linked with the IT system for smooth working and information dissemination

·         Coordinating with diplomatic missions and obtaining visas for delegates from countries with strict entry requirements.

·         Ensuring capacity management for smooth travel, accommodation, and security logistics for international delegates.

·         Planning and executing multilingual interpretation services for participants from different linguistic backgrounds.

Scenario 3: "Potential Stakeholders for a Global Gala Festival "

Description: Students are assigned to organise a global gala event and propose strategies to manage various categories of stakeholders for a successful outcome. The project aims to address the communication, coordination and quality management as well as the challenges faced in ensuring the timely management of the project execution.

·         Festival Days: 3 days in London

·         Estimated Attendance: 3000 guests from around the globe

·         Festival Budget: £6 million

·         Key Stakeholders: Organizing Committee, Government Representatives, International guests, IT Business units, stakeholders.

Challenges:

·         Project risk impacting the project planning process.

·         Ensuring capacity management for smooth logistics, safety and security for customers and tourists.

·         Planning and executing multilingual interpretation services for participants from different linguistic backgrounds.

·         Ensuring operation management and IT system for communication with the event planners and security system.

·         Balancing the need for minimal disruption to the existing city`s daily routine disruption while executing the festival plan.

What do I need to do to pass? How do I achieve a good grade?

To meet the Threshold Expectations, students should answer, "What do I need to do to pass?”. During the checkpoint session, you should check your understanding of the threshold statements and what you must do to surpass them.

The assessment marking criteria listed below show how your work is assessed. The unit’s learning outcomes and the assessment task inform the assessment criteria. Carefully reading the assessment criteria should help you understand the aspects used to judge your progress and achievement of the learning outcomes and offer guidance on “how do I achieve a good grade?”.

In order to pass Assessment 1, you will need to:

• Evidence of research related to unit syllabus
• Formulate a plan for the project by developing aims and objectives and designing an outline analysis method.
• Conduct independent secondary research to identify and evaluate relevant issues related to the business scenario using referenced academic literature with relevance to the research question.

How do I produce high quality work that merits a good grade?

Please make sure to make use of academic skills support services provided to you at the University of Bedfordshire, some of which are listed below:

1.       Referencing support

https://lrweb.beds.ac.uk/a-guide-to-referencing/

2.       Academic study and assessment writing skills:

https://lrweb.beds.ac.uk/studyhub

3.       Graduate Competencies

Within the University of Bedfordshire, graduate competencies refer to the skills, knowledge, attributes, and abilities that individuals are expected to possess upon completing their education at the graduate level that will prepare them for the future world of work. Demonstrate an understanding of operations management and factors affecting the design of products and processes within an organisation. The concepts will help you develop an understanding of the operations and project management issues in a business context. These competencies will be integrated across your course and units.

The table below indicates graduate competencies gained relevant to this assessment.

What am I required to do in this assignment?

Your assessment task is comprised of two main parts.

Part 1: Assessment Checkpoint No. 1 in Week 5 (wrt 21-10-24) (worth 15% of the overall assessment):

Checkpoint Task: Students will present one of the three operational management simulation scenarios during the assessment checkpoint session. The presentation should be 5 minutes long and will be carried out in week 5. Students are required to attend the checkpoint session and submit a brief project plan outlining their initial approach to working on the selected case scenario to cover the following items:

·         Overview of the simulated project, objectives, and deliverables.

·         Presentation of potential challenges and risks in the project.

·         Introduction to available operation management tools and techniques that can be used to address the challenges.

Students can consult ChatGPT to explore potential problems the selected industry may face and include ChatGPT prompts in their presentation slides. Once done, students shall critically analyse those potential problems through secondary research and investigate how the operation management tools can resolve the underlying problems. After the session, one member from each group shall upload their slides on the BREO submission link.

NOTE: Please follow the guidance on using ChatGPT in your assessments. A Guide to Referencing - lrweb.beds.ac.uk | University of Bedfordshire

!!Engagement Requirement: Students may choose one of the Operation Management Simulation Scenarios below. Your attendance and engagement with the checkpoint activity are compulsory. The checkpoint aims to ensure active engagement with the unit delivery and skills development to prepare you for the real-world business environment.

Part 2: Summative final report (weight: 85%)

Following the checkpoint activity in Week 5, students must work individually to produce an evidence-based report (without using any AI tools) and critically analyse the proposed operation management problems from a theoretical and practical perspective to develop their case study and provide suitable recommendations.

2.1 Scenario Analysis (Weight: 50%)

The main report should include the following elements:

·         Project scope and deliverables

·         Stakeholder analysis and engagement plan

·         Operation Management Strategies

·         Risk assessment and mitigation plan

2.2 Project Evaluation and Lessons Learned (Weight: 20%)

In this part of the assessment, students are required to assess the proposed project`s success by critically analysing its performance against initial objectives and outcomes based on theoretical and practical evidence and propose recommendations for future improvement. Finally, identify the key lessons learned while developing the report.

2.3 Process log (15%)

Complete the process log documenting the various steps you have taken in your learning process, skills development, research, and application of the feedback from the checkpoint activity. Process logs will help you identify gaps in your learning and seek help where needed. The template for process logs is in your BREO shells under the Assessment & Feedback page.

Additional Information:

·         Please submit your Process Log as an appendix to your main report.

·         Please refrain from including PowerPoint slides in the main report to avoid plagiarism. There is a separate link for slides submission on BREO.

Operation Management Simulation Scenarios:

Scenario 1: "Communication plan with Stakeholders and IT integration"

The project focuses on organising a comprehensive communication and coordination plan for the efficient supply of essential products across urban, suburban, and rural areas within three neighbouring regions of a country. It is focused on strengthening domestic supply chains using  AI-driven projects that leverage enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems to streamline communication, coordination, and quality management across different regions.

The goal is to address logistical challenges posed by varied geographic locations and improve cooperation between regional stakeholders to ensure product availability and timely delivery. The ERP system will serve as the backbone for connecting IT departments, business units, and regulators while ensuring compliance with regional regulations. It also aims to improve supply chain visibility and optimise operations, ensuring quality standards throughout the process.

• Project length: 1 year
• Estimated Supply: 1000 products across 3 regions
• Supply Chain Budget: £8 million
• Key Stakeholders: IT Department, Business Units, Regional Regulators, Local Partners

Challenges:

1. The ERP system will integrate key stakeholders to ensure seamless communication and efficient coordination between IT, logistics, and regional business units.
2. The focus is on working with local partners to comply with regional standards and regulations. The system will ensure compliance with regional laws and logistical requirements.
3. Managing capacity, transportation, and safety across diverse geographic locations, focusing on product safety and timely delivery.
4. Ensuring that packaging meets each region`s language and regulatory requirements, enhancing customer trust and regulatory compliance.

Scenario 2: "Event Planning for an International Conference and IT Integration"

Description: To organise an international summit to bring political leaders, diplomats, and industry experts from various countries. The summit aims to address global challenges and foster cooperation between nations. The event includes keynote addresses, panel discussions, workshops, and networking sessions.

·         Summit Dates: 4 days in a prestigious venue

·         Estimated Attendance: 1,000 delegates from 50 countries

·         Summit Budget: £8 million

·         Key Stakeholders: Organizing Committee, IT Department, Business Units, Government Representatives, International Delegates

Challenges:

·         Communication, coordination, and operation management are the key aspects to be linked with the IT system for smooth working and information dissemination

·         Coordinating with diplomatic missions and obtaining visas for delegates from countries with strict entry requirements.

·         Ensuring capacity management for smooth travel, accommodation, and security logistics for international delegates.

·         Planning and executing multilingual interpretation services for participants from different linguistic backgrounds.

Scenario 3: "Potential Stakeholders for a Global Gala Festival "

Description: Students are assigned to organise a global gala event and propose strategies to manage various categories of stakeholders for a successful outcome. The project aims to address the communication, coordination and quality management as well as the challenges faced in ensuring the timely management of the project execution.

·         Festival Days: 3 days in London

·         Estimated Attendance: 3000 guests from around the globe

·         Festival Budget: £6 million

·         Key Stakeholders: Organizing Committee, Government Representatives, International guests, IT Business units, stakeholders.

Challenges:

·         Project risk impacting the project planning process.

·         Ensuring capacity management for smooth logistics, safety and security for customers and tourists.

·         Planning and executing multilingual interpretation services for participants from different linguistic backgrounds.

·         Ensuring operation management and IT system for communication with the event planners and security system.

·         Balancing the need for minimal disruption to the existing city`s daily routine disruption while executing the festival plan.

What do I need to do to pass? How do I achieve a good grade?

To meet the Threshold Expectations, students should answer, "What do I need to do to pass?”. During the checkpoint session, you should check your understanding of the threshold statements and what you must do to surpass them.

The assessment marking criteria listed below show how your work is assessed. The unit’s learning outcomes and the assessment task inform the assessment criteria. Carefully reading the assessment criteria should help you understand the aspects used to judge your progress and achievement of the learning outcomes and offer guidance on “how do I achieve a good grade?”.

In order to pass Assessment 1, you will need to:

•             Evidence of research related to unit syllabus

•             Formulate a plan for the project by developing aims and objectives and designing an outline analysis method.

•             Conduct independent secondary research to identify and evaluate relevant issues related to the business scenario using referenced academic literature with relevance to the research question.

How do I produce high quality work that merits a good grade?

Please make sure to make use of academic skills support services provided to you at the University of Bedfordshire, some of which are listed below:

1.       Referencing support

https://lrweb.beds.ac.uk/a-guide-to-referencing/

2.       Academic study and assessment writing skills:

https://lrweb.beds.ac.uk/studyhub

3.       Graduate Competencies

Within the University of Bedfordshire, graduate competencies refer to the skills, knowledge, attributes, and abilities that individuals are expected to possess upon completing their education at the graduate level that will prepare them for the future world of work. The concepts will help you develop an understanding of the operations and project management issues in a business context. These competencies will be integrated across your course and units.

The table below indicates graduate competencies gained relevant to this assessment.

What should I be aware of when preparing my and how and where should I submit my work?

When submitting work for assessment, you must ensure that it is all your own work. Failure to do this could result in sanctions, including removal from your course. The Academic Integrity Resource (AIR) has been designed to introduce you to academic integrity and how to demonstrate this during your studies.

The University provides access to Studiosity, which connects students with a team of writing specialists to help them with writing and core skills - anytime, anywhere. Studiosity provides you with two online services: Writing Feedback and Connect Live.  Their Writing Feedback gives feedback on referencing, choice of language, structure and spelling/grammar within 24 hours. If you are unsure how to use the feedback to enhance your work before making a final submission, you can arrange to discuss this with a member of the Study Hub team. Connect Live also offers live support in areas such as basic English, maths and stats, science and generic study skills. Both services are available 24/7, 365 days a year, and you can access them for FREE via BREO.

Course teams to specify the extent to which generative AI is to be used. A student site, this link, on BREO for more detailed information on AI.