1 School Regulations – Assessment Policy
1.1 School Mandatory Statement accompanying all courseworks.
At all levels, the following statement should be incorporated into any piece of coursework submitted by a student:
“This piece of coursework is my own original work and has not been submitted elsewhere in fulfilment of the requirement of this or any other award.”
Summative Assessment (100%)
You are required to write a 3,000 word report on how the concepts of operations management apply to ONE SECTOR. Your report should draw on examples of internationally renowned organisations within your chosen sector in order to address the three sections below, with a critical assessment of the information gathered.
1. Select a sector (e.g. public or private, manufacturing or service) and critically discuss how the strategic direction of one organisation within that sector impacts the way in which its operations are managed.
2. Critically analyse only two areas of Operations Management from the list below, considering how they might be applied by the selected organisation within your chosen sector and their importance in contributing to success. Draw on practical examples of International organisations within that sector to illustrate your points and ensure that you provide reference sources for all examples conveyed:
• 4Vs of operations and 5 Performance Objectives
• Process Design, Layout and location
• Service Design
• Managing Quality in Operations
• Lean Management in Operations
• Capacity Management, and Planning and Control
• Sustainability/Green Supply Chain
• Technological developments (e.g. AI, Blockchain)
3. Identify and critically discuss current issues and challenges for sustainable operations management within your chosen sector.
3.1 Writing your report; additional points to enhance the rigour of submission
Report layout: a formal report structure should be employed in accordance with reporting conventions. To help you, an example of a report template has been provided for you (please refer to Appendix B).
Executive Summary: an executive summary is NOT the same as an introduction. They serve different purposes within a formal report. An executive summary is an abbreviated version of the whole report and provides a concise summary of the main points written within the report. It should cover the report’s main discussion and key findings, conclusions and if appropriate, recommendations. It may be written in the ‘past tense’ or present tense (e.g. Findings highlighted that ….). Although it is the last piece of the report to be written, the executive summary is the first item that the reader should see and is positioned before the contents page.
Further information is available from the LDC on what constitutes an executive summary and it is advised that students take heed of the guidance offered on how to construct an executive summary and what should be considered within a report introduction and conclusion section.
Please click into the link below for further guidance on this: What is an executive summary.docx (live.com)
Report Content: When undertaking an assignment which specifies a ‘critical discussion, analysis or critical Assessment’, you are expected to collect (and use) different sources of information from both text books and journal papers, to complete the assignment. It is important that you do not take all your information from one source as it is likely to be heavily biased.
Students are expected to demonstrate up-to-date research on the subject, and apply examples from a range of organisations across the sector to demonstrate your understanding of that subject.
A ‘critical Assessment’ requires you to analyse operations management principles and tools in terms of both benefits and challenges associated with the topic. Therefore, your assessment should encompass several arguments and/or perspectives.
You should undertake a keyword academic literature search and aim for a ‘balanced approach’ to your writing. You are expected to apply where appropriate, referenced examples of organisations which have implemented (or are currently using) the principles and tools to demonstrate your understanding. The evidence must come from findings which have been published in academic literature or sourced through available organisational documentation, with complete reference details given (using the Harvard referencing system) within the reference page. You must not rely on anecdotal evidence.
You should not spend too much time describing frameworks or theories you choose to use. While you must be explicit about those you are using, and must cite them appropriately; you can assume that your marker is familiar with them.
What the marker is looking for is evidence of your understanding through critical discussion of theory and sourced, applied organisational/ sectoral examples to underpin arguments conveyed.
You may also wish to reflect on weaknesses in the evidence reviewed and identify any research gaps in the literature which highlights opportunity for further research.
Conclusions and recommendations section: this should summarise evidence presented within the report and from the discussions evident, recommendations should (a) suggest a way forward for organisations as to how best they can successfully implement tools and approaches to achieve more sustainable operations and avoid any implementation challenges; and (b) suggest further research that needs to be undertaken to address gaps in academic knowledge in relation to the issues researched in the organisation / sector studied.
Referencing: To pass the report it is critical to underpin your discussion with reference sources from academically accepted references (sourced through the school library, Google Scholar or a similar acceptable site) as well as provide evidence from organisations within your chosen sector.
The reference page(s) is positioned before any appendices in your report.
3.2 Sections, percentage weighting and content guideline
Section Weighting content guidelines
Strategic direction of sectoral organisations and how OM contributes to these goals. 20% Brief explanation of sectoral organisation(s) chosen and discuss their strategic direction (underpinned by reference sources).
Critical discussion of how operations management strategies within those sectoral organisations contribute towards achieving their goals.
Arguments must be supported with academic sources appropriately referenced using the Harvard Referencing system.
Critical discussion of operations management area A 20% Engage with relevant academic literature to critically discuss why the selected operations management topic is important within the chosen organisation.
Draw on practical examples of International organisations to critically discuss the application of this OM topic and the degree of success achieved.
Evaluate the lessons learned from your research. Arguments should be underpinned by reference sources.
Critical discussion of operations management area B 20% Engage with relevant academic literature to critically discuss why the selected operations management topic is important within the chosen organisation.
Draw on practical examples of International organisations to critically discuss the application of this OM topic and the degree of success achieved.
Evaluate the lessons learned from your research. Arguments should be underpinned by reference sources.
Current issues 20% Discussion of current issues for the chosen sector and organisations in relation to sustainable operations management
Your discussion must be supported by evidence including academic literature, trade press and news sources.
Conclusions and Recommendations 10% A conclusion which summarises the important points from the main body of the report, overall lessons learned and includes a summary of recommendations for the sector
Report Presentation, layout,
and referencing 5%
5% Executive summary, professional report structure, layout and writing style is required.
Clear introduction which states the purpose of the report and outlines the main elements covered in the report.
Consistent and accurate application of the Harvard referencing style
Word length – 3,000 words (+/- 10%) (excluding reference list, & appendices).
3.3 Submission Deadline and instructions:
(i) The report must include the completed ‘Avoiding Academic Irregularity Checklist’ form which can be positioned at the back of your report, behind the
‘Reference page’, as an appendix. The checklist is located in Appendix A and you must sign (typed signature will suffice) this document to affirm agreement that you have taken all measures to avoid academic irregularity in the production of the presentation. Failure to incorporate the School mandatory statement, incorporated within the checklist form, will result in an automatic fail.
(ii) Include the word count on the front cover page (as well as providing standard front cover details (shown in Appendix B).
(iii) Provide an executive summary; this ‘summarises’ the main sections / findings of the report. (Take care to avoid providing an introduction of what the report sets out to do, or an overview of what the report entails (for further guidance on the differences between and introduction and an executive summary, please read further guidance offered within the coursework 2 remit in the section below).
(iv) Submit your 3,000-word report with the references pages immediately positioned after the report, followed by appendices.
Submission Deadline: no later than 12:00 hrs on 7th April 2023.
2 Marking Criteria
The overall marking criteria related to the module assessment is provided below:
Appendix A – Avoiding Academic Irregularity Checklist
“This piece of coursework is my own original work and has not been submitted elsewhere in fulfilment of the requirement of this or any other award”
Before you submit coursework, in accordance with University regulations, you should be able to confirm that the coursework that you are submitting is your own original work and that you have:
Put a cross the box on the right and side of the statement to confirm:
• Read and understood the guidance on plagiarism in the Module Handbook;
• Cleary referenced, both within the text and on the end reference page, all sources used in the work;
• Based your work on academic sources from academic search engines such as the American Business Index (ABI). Student
sources should not be used;
• Used inverted commas and the full reference details (including page numbers) for all text quoted from books, journals, web- based or other sources;
• Provided the sources for all data in tables and figures that are not my own work;
• Not made use of the work of any other student(s) past or present without acknowledgement. This includes any of my own work, that has been previously, or concurrently, submitted for assessment, either at this or any other educational institution,
including school;
• Not sought or used the services of any professional agencies such as ghost writers or other individuals, to produce this work;
• Retained all the material collected in the process of developing your coursework; and
• In addition, I understand that any false claim in respect of this work will result in disciplinary action in accordance with University regulations.
Student Name: Matric:
Date:
Appendix B – Coursework Report Cover Sheet
“Title of your Report”
[Give your report an appropriate title]
Module Title: International Operations
Management
Module Code: MM24239 – 2022/23B
Student Name: Student ID:
Date of Submission:
Word Count:
This must be included …
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Use single or 1.5 line spacing – no references generally required in this section as this abstract should be a summary of your key report findings, including conclusions and recommendations.
[This should also be assigned a separate page from the rest of your report].
[For a 3,000 word report the executive summary should be around ½ to 1 page maximum in length. Please refer to page 5 of this document for further guidance].
CONTENTS PAGE [example only]
Page No.
Executive Summary 2
1. Introduction 4
1.1 ………… 4
2. Section Heading [e.g. Contribution of OM to strategic goals] 5
2.1 ………. [e.g. Strategic direction of Organisation] 5
2.2 …………[e.g. OM strategies to achieve these goals] 6
3. Section Heading [e.g. The Role of Service Design in OM] 7
3.1 ………[e.g. Service design applied within Sony] 8
3.2 ………[e.g Lessons learned and degree of success achieved at Sony] 9
4. Section Heading [e.g. The role of lean within OM] 10
4.1 …[e.g. Lean operations within Lenovo] 10
4.2 …[e.g Lessons learned and degree of success achieved at Lenovo] 11
5. Section Heading
[e.g. Current issues affecting sustainability with the electronics sector] 12
6. Conclusion and Recommendations 14
References – [Always start references on a fresh new page]
List of Appendices – [again each appendix should commence on a new page]
Appendix One: Avoiding Academic Irregularity Checklist’ form
Appendix Two: Any supplementary data that you feel is pertinent to your report
This is a set of guidelines for a school’s assessment policy for a 3,000-word report on how the concepts of operations management apply to one sector. The report should draw on examples of internationally renowned organizations within the chosen sector and should address the following three sections:
Strategic Direction and Operations Management: Critically discuss how the strategic direction of one organization within the selected sector impacts the way in which its operations are managed.
Areas of Operations Management: Critically analyze only two areas of Operations Management from the list provided, considering how they might be applied by the selected organization within the chosen sector and their importance in contributing to success. Draw on practical examples of international organizations within that sector to illustrate your points and provide reference sources for all conveyed examples.
Sustainable Operations Management: Identify and critically discuss current issues and challenges for sustainable operations management within the chosen sector.
The report should be written in a formal report structure and include an executive summary that summarizes the report’s main discussion and key findings, conclusions, and recommendations. The report should also incorporate the statement that the piece of coursework is the student’s own original work and has not been submitted elsewhere in fulfillment of the requirement of this or any other award.
Students should demonstrate up-to-date research on the subject and apply examples from a range of organizations across the sector to demonstrate their understanding. The assessment requires students to analyze operations management principles and tools in terms of both benefits and challenges associated with the topic. Therefore, the assessment should encompass several arguments and/or perspectives. Students should aim for a balanced approach to their writing and provide evidence from findings published in academic literature or sourced through available organizational documentation, with complete reference details given using the Harvard referencing system. The conclusions and recommendations section should suggest a way forward for organizations to successfully implement tools and approaches to achieve more sustainable operations and avoid any implementation challenges and suggest further research that needs to be undertaken to address gaps in academic knowledge. The reference page(s) should be positioned before any appendices in the report.
