Critique operations strategy and resource management and propose recommendations for improvement

1. Module overview

Introduction

This module provides you with the opportunity to appraise the complexity of sustainably managing operational activities for a global business. This covers topics relating to operational strategy, the organisational structure, logistics and supply chain management, project management and quality management.

Module summary content and aims

Global operations are critical to the success of international businesses by sustainably trading internationally. Operations cover all aspects of a business and interact across multiple functions. The insights gained from the module allow you to understand the need for the management of resources, optimising the supply chain, procurement, logistics, quality systems, and project management.

Expectations

Specific expectations students can have of tutors:

·       Constructive formative feedback on one assignment draft per assessment

·       Lecture slides made available on blackboard prior to lecture

·       Assessment marks and summative feedback given within fifteen working days from the assessment submission deadline

Specific expectations tutors will have of students:

·       Attend all teaching and activity sessions and arrive punctually

·       Complete the weekly exercises from your tutor ahead of class

·       Behave professionally in classes and avoid disruption to class and other students

·       Inform tutor via email beforehand when not able to attend any classes

·       Participate and communicate professionally in class and with tutors

·       Attempt all assessments by submission deadline and communicate with the tutor if there are any extenuating circumstances to explore extensions requests and/or mitigation claims

Learning outcomes to be assessed

1.    Critique operations strategy and resource management and propose recommendations for improvement

2.    Appraise the challenges in achieving sustainability in global operations and formulate a strategic organisational framework

3.    Design appropriate recommendations for managing operational activities 

4.    Evaluate and reflect on the role of project management in delivering successful operations

5.    Plan for and justify the application of sustainability factors in determining supply chain management decisions

6.    Relate the value of quality assurance to achieving sustainable global operations

Indicative Contact Hours

Assessment and feedback

Summative assessment grid

 Assessment brief – formative assessments and learning outcomes

For guidance on online submission of assignments, including how to submit and how to access online feedback, please refer to the UWL Blackboard student-help pages at: uwl.ac.uk/current- students/online-learning-tools

2.2.1 .Assessment 1

Assessment task: Oral Assignment – 20-minute group presentation on global sustainable operations for a specific business

Weighting: 40%

Submission Details: TurnItIn by Midnight, end of Week 

The presentation should be no more than 15 PowerPoint slides, excluding appendices.

Students will submit one piece of work per team on global sustainable operations. This will require the use of technology to simulate remote delivery of the presentation on campus.

Each team will agree to investigate an international organisation with your tutor. Prepare a group presentation that

1.    Reviews a business to identify key operational activities

2.    Create a set of recommendations to improve the operational management activity

3.    Develop a project business case to deliver the recommendations

4.    Evaluates the requirements needed to successfully deliver the project outcomes

Your presentation should consider the following topics:

Ø    Operation strategy in relation to the business strategy

Ø    Corporate sustainability and ESG

Ø    Projects and influencing stakeholders

This is an academic piece of work, you are expected to conduct extensive up to date research, critically evaluating the chosen organisation along with Harvard referencing.

Assessment Structure:

This presentation should offer a clear summary of your learning from the research.

Your presentation agenda should cover the following items:

1.    Organisation background

2.    Nature of the business and sector

3.    Critique of the operational improvement challenges

4.    Evaluation of the ESG requirements

5.    Business case to support the operational improvements

6.    Assessment of project options

7.    Recommended project approach

Formative assessment is used to give students qualitative feedback on their work during the development process, before the submission date. Marks or grades are not provided as part of the feedback at the formative stage. Formative feedback will involve one-to-one sessions with the allocated student groups.

2.2.2 .Assessment 2

Assessment task: Written Assignment – 2,500-word report

Weighting: 60%

Submission Details: TurnItIn by Midnight, end of Week 14

The A2 is a 2,500-word individual written assignment that provides 60% of the mark. This assessment requires students to provide an audit report on Supply Chain Management for a chosen multinational corporation. Students should confirm their choice of a company with their lecturer before proceeding with their work. Students should use the library resources as part of their research activity to include recent articles on their chosen company.

Students will need to appraise the operational strategy relating to sustainability and deliver recommendations on the operational sustainability changes required for the organisation.

This report will need to include a detailed assessment of the company’s operational strategy and supply chain sustainability using the ISO9001 Quality Management System standard.

The report should provide a performance evaluation of each area within the business:

1.    Operational strategy

2.    Leadership

3.    Planning

4.    Support

Employability Skills

This assessment covers the following employability skills, which you could demonstrate on your CV and at job interviews if you successfully pass the assessment:

1.    Communication

a.    Writing

b.    Speaking

c.     Presenting

2.    Project management

3.    Team Working

4.    Problem-solving

5.    Research skills

6.    Leadership

7.    Industry/commercial aware

8.    Confidence

9.    Global/cultural awareness

10. Integrity and accountability

11. Decision making

12. Ability to learn and adapt

Learning materials

The reading list for this module is available on Blackboard in the module area and online by searching uwl.rl.talis.com. This shows real-time availability of books in the library and provides direct links to digital items, recommended by your lecturer.

Remember to log into Blackboard daily to receive all the latest news and support available at your module sites!

Subject guides (subject-guides-libguides) are also available to help you find relevant information for assignments, with contact details of the Subject Librarian for your School.

Essential text: Operations Management, Slack N, Pearson Education (2022), 10th Edition

Recommended texts:

Inventory and Production Management in Supply Chains, Silver et al, Routledge (2021), 4th Edition

Quality Management Reconsidered for the Digital Economy, Beckford J, Routledge 2022, 5th Edition

ISE Project Management: the managerial process, Larson, Erik W, McGraw-Hill 2020, 8th Edition

Remember, all your work must have Academic Integrity; it must be an honest and fair submission, complying with all the requirements of the assessment, that properly references and credits any other people’s work you have used. Failure to meet these standards of behaviour and practice is academic misconduct, which can result in penalties being applied under the Academic Offences Regulations

3.Things you need to know

Our Expectations

You are expected to behave in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct, and treat others with kindness and respect whether at university or online. It’s important to consider your safety and the safety of others around you, especially how to stay safe online and ensure your communications are secure and appropriate, visit uwl.ac.uk/current-students/studying-campus for information and advice.

Teaching at UWL during the academic year 2022–23 will be conducted using our blended learning framework, “UWL Flex”. This is a tried and tested model that helps you maximise your learning by providing you with materials to:

1)        engage with before class (“Investigate”) so you can maximise your hands-on learning during your taught session

2)        Help you demonstrate and check your understanding by applying your prior learning during class (“Apply”)

3)        Help you enhance your knowledge and skills by reflecting on or consolidating your learning after class (“Consolidate”)

Whether you are engaging with teaching and learning activities onsite or via the UWL Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), Blackboard, we expect the same level of commitment and engagement from you. If you are unable to attend scheduled onsite or online activities, or complete activities in the time frames set out, you should let your tutors know.

You should aim to meet assessment deadlines; if you are concerned that you will not be able to complete your assessments on time, you should talk to your tutors. Your engagement, whether online or onsite, will be tracked and if we see that you are not engaging, we will get in contact with you.

Please remember that your course team is here to support you so if you are having problems, let us know so we can work with you to find solutions and get you back on track as soon as possible. Give yourself the best possible chance to succeed by engaging with the full range of learning and teaching activities available to you.

All students should refer to the Attendance and Engagement Monitoring Policy particularly if you are on a course leading to professional registration, or you are on a student visa. 

Getting Support

Graduating from UWL will open up a world of opportunities for you, but we understand that the journey to get there is not always easy – especially when you are combining studying with work, caring for others, or dealing with illness. That is why we offer lots of support to help you meet your full potential.

3.2. Personal Tutors, Module Leaders, Subject Librarians, and Course Leaders

Your Personal Tutor can help if you’re worried about your studies, need academic advice, or want to find the best way for you to succeed.

Your Module Leader can help if you’re struggling with work, don’t think you can meet a deadline,

or there was something you didn’t understand or want to know more about.

Your Subject Librarian can help you with finding, evaluating, reading, and referencing sources. They offer drop-ins and workshops throughout the year.

Your Course Leader can help with any questions about the course you’re studying, such as any course-specific requirements or options.

3.2.2 . Study Support Team

The Study Support Team helps you enhance your academic writing and study skills through one- to-one support opportunities and workshops throughout the academic year. This support consists of:

·       Study Skills Support

·       English Language Support

·       Maths and Statistics Support

·       Peer Mentoring Scheme

·       Online Resources

To book a one-to-one appointment or a workshop, you can

visit uwlacademicsupport.targetconnect.net. For more information or to register for weekly updates email Study.Support@uwl.ac.uk or you can visit the website to find out more about the support offered by the Study Support Team at uwl.ac.uk/studysupport 

3.2.3 . Student Services

In addition to the study support listed above, you can get support from Student Services with:

·       Student Advice, including:

o   Funding your Studies, Financial Hardship, Scholarships and Bursaries

o   Housing rights and Accommodation

o   Immigration

·       Student Welfare (guidance for personal or emotional problems)

·       Counselling

·       Disability and Mental Health (support on your course and around the University)

·       Faith

·       Careers, Employability, and Placements

·       Volunteering

Book your 1-2-1 appointment with any of these areas at studenthub.uwl.ac.uk. Not sure which service you need? Contact Student Services for more information at studentservices@uwl.ac.uk or call 020 8231 2345.You can find Student Services at:

·       Ealing – The Street at St Mary’s Road

·       Brentford – 2nd Floor at Paragon House

·       Reading – Drop-in sessions are available at Fountain House

·       Oxford – An advice point is available at Ruskin College

We also offer online resources to help you make the best of your time at University or tell us about anything that’s not right:

·       Togetherall (togetherall.com) is a safe, online community where people support each other anonymously to improve mental health and wellbeing.

·       Report + Support (reportandsupport.uwl.ac.uk) is an online platform to report or seek support with instances of bullying, harassment, discrimination, assault etc. Any reports can be made anonymously. 

3.2.4 .Meeting Deadlines

You should always try your best to submit your work on time. If you submit coursework late, within 10 calendar days of the deadline, then the maximum mark you will be able to get for that work will be the pass mark. Anything submitted after this would be counted as a non-submission.

We understand that there may be times when you experience circumstances outside of your control that mean you are not able to submit on time. It’s a good idea to talk your Module Leader if you’re not going to be able to submit on time so that they can support you and make you aware of any services that can help.

Where exceptional circumstances mean you’ll be submitting your coursework late, you can request an extension before your deadline. An extension means that the penalty for submitting up to 10 calendar days late will not apply.

If your circumstances are so serious that you are not able to submit at all or are unable to attend an in-person assessment like an exam or in-class test, then you can request mitigation for the assessment. Mitigation means that you can submit work at the next available attempt instead.

If you request an extension or mitigation before the deadline you can choose to self-certify, meaning that you do not have to provide evidence, so long as you provide a valid reason for the request. You can only self-certify three assessments per academic year. If you have used all your self-certification opportunities, or requested mitigation after the deadline, you will need to provide evidence of your exceptional circumstances for your request to be granted.

If you need help making an extension or mitigation request, you can get in touch with the Students’ Union Advice Team who will be able to support you through the process 

Making an Impact

3.3.1. When there’s an issue

If something’s negatively impacting your experience at university, you should raise this informally with your Module Leader or Course Leader.

If the issue is affecting several students, you could talk to your Course Rep about it, and they can either raise your concerns with your Module Leader or Course Leader on the group’s behalf, or at the Course Committees which take place each semester.

If the course team are unable to address your concerns to your satisfaction, the Students’ Union Advice Team can help you to raise a complaint, following the process outlined in the Student Handbook.

The University aims to ensure that any issues are resolved informally as quickly as possible to have minimum impact on your studies.

3.3.2 .Module Evaluation Surveys