There are three parts to this assignment, which accounts for 100% of this course’s assessment.
Assume you are an advisor to a manufacturing business. Choose a manufacturing1 organisation that produces a product that you are familiar with. Use the Internet or any other source (attempt to visit the company if possible) to provide background information about the product, establish the nature of its demand (e.g. high/ low volume, high/ low variety, seasonal) and define the production process.
Part 1:
Analysis: Describe their operations using diagrams as appropriate. Identify areas not addressed.
Critically review these operations using the concepts covered in the course. What are the strengths and weaknesses of their operations, tactically and strategically? What are the critical issues that need to be addressed and can feasibly be addressed and why are they critical. Identify one or two issues that should be priorities and explain why.
(wordcount: minimum of 800 words)
Part 2:
Literature review: This will address one or two of the critical issues identified in part 1. Select one or two of these issues and, using appropriate literatures, conduct a critical evaluation of the implementation challenges, in other words, how should the solution be introduced / managed ensuring that the risks are prevented or mitigated. The conclusion should include key lessons learnt with justification. This section should draw upon a minimum of 15 papers sourced from academic (peer reviewed) journals. It should focus upon issues that are specifically operational and covered in the course. However, this should extend beyond the material presented in the course (i.e. should add to course material) to reveal deeper engagement with the topic.
(wordcount: ~1,500)
Part 3:
Proposal: What would you suggest are possible options for improving their operations? Which
would you recommend and why? Consider their feasibility. How would they go about implementing your recommendation? Summarise anticipated difficulties and explain how these could be overcome. State any assumptions made. This should be informed by the lessons learnt from part 2.
Mark allocation: part 1 (35%), part 2 (30%), part 3 (30%). Up to 5% will be awarded for level of integration – cohesion between all parts.
Please ensure that any material used is appropriately acknowledged (see plagiarism statement below).
Presentation
The assignment should be presented in a word-processed report format. The report will adopt the following structure – please follow the order of the sections:
Executive summary: (maximum of half an A4 page) which presents key points and argument.
Remember that busy Executives often do not have time to read the body of the report. Will be on its own page at front.
Part 1:
-what is this study about and organisational context
-a short paragraph outlining methods used
-brief description of the product (images can be useful)
Part 2:
Critical review of literatures: a very brief introduction to what this is about, the main body of the review (using sub-headings as appropriate), with a short conclusion revealing what the key lessons are that will inform your proposal. This review will be organised according to topic (i.e. not by author).
Part 3:
a.Proposal: this should consider options, recommendations and implementation approach,summarising anticipated difficulties and explain how these could be overcome. State any assumptions made.
b.Conclusion: key points learnt from this study (i.e. what have you learnt?)
c.References: should follow a standard referencing style (e.g. Harvard)
Appendices (as appropriate)
This report requires both description and explanation, with the quality of explanation leading to a better mark.
Based on the format presented above, the report structure (headings) will be one that is appropriate to your specific case. Images, diagrams and tables should be located within the text next to where they are being referenced, with a caption number, which is referenced in the text, and a brief explanation of what the key message is from the image / diagram / table. The body of the report should be self-contained without need to reference appendices. Avoid long paragraphs. Appendices, which should be referenced in the body of the text, will provide detail about content in the body and thus answer any questions about general statements made in the body.
The maximum length is 3,500 words, excluding appendices (if required) and the Executive Summary. Aim to be succinct. Use images, diagrams and tables as appropriate.
Submission date:
TO BE ANNOUNCED
Refer to LEARN for details about submission procedure and late submission
Plagiarism
NOT ACCEPTED – if in doubt go to:
https://www.ed.ac.uk/academic-services/students/conduct/academic-misconduct/plagiarism
Guidelines and link are also available on LEARN
