LO1: Select and apply a range of operations techniques to the management of a business.

 Assignment Brief Academic Year 2024-25

Module code and title:

BAM7008 – International Logistics and Operation

 

 

Assignment No. and type:

CW1 – 3,000-word report

Assessment weighting:

100%

Submission time and date:

Before 2pm UK Time on Thursday 13 March 2025

Target feedback time and date:

1pm UK Time on Thursday 3 April 2025

Assignment task

Logistics and operations management contributes significantly to international business performance. The task in coursework 1 involves choosing a company that operates internationally and critically analysing their operations management. The company could be your own organisation. You will need to discuss with your tutor before finalising the topic.

Using a case study approach, you are required to:

  1. Identify three important operation management (OM) decision areas (e.g. quality, inventory management, layout, or process design etc.) in your chosen case company. Critically analyse the present activities of the firm on the chosen OM decision areas and suggest ways to improve performance.
  2. Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the company in such a way to show how both can be synergistically exploited to improve the performance.
  3. Critically analyse the operations and logistics strategies used by the organisation and recommend appropriate strategies for enhancing their operations in the international context.
  4. Apply operations management theories in your analysis and discussion. Note:
  • The business style report should include an executive summary, as well as an opening section that introduces the topic and provides information about the case study organisation. A summarising conclusion is also required, along with appropriate recommendations.
  • The report will be 3,000 words in length (not including the reference list and appendices). It should include answers to all the case questions (given above) and must make use of relevant module concepts on the aspects covered.
  • At Level 7, academic references are very important. It is recommended to use at least 20-30 academic references to support your coursework 1.

If you are registered with the Disability and Inclusion Services or have a disability, please contact your module leader to discuss how your reasonable adjustments will be applied to this assignment.

This assignment has been designed to provide you with an opportunity to demonstrate your achievement of the following module learning outcomes:

LO1: Select and apply a range of operations techniques to the management of a business.

LO2: Assess the implications of business decisions on the performance of a business operating in a competitive environment.

LO3: Critically analyse the theories of operations management

LO4: Critically evaluate a variety of operations and logistics strategies for use in an international context.

 

Practicalities: Referencing, presenting, and submitting your work

Please see your programme handbook for information on the standard referencing style, presentational requirements, and process for submitting your work.

Confidentiality

You are expected to take responsibility for maintaining and managing confidentiality issues in your work. You should maintain and respect confidentiality in relation to the protection of personal, technical and/or commercial information of a sensitive nature in your assessed work, whatever the format.

For further information and guidance, please see the relevant section in your programme handbook.

Academic integrity

Academic integrity means taking responsibility for your own work.

When you submit an assignment, you are making a declaration that it is your own work and that you have acknowledged the contribution of others and their ideas in its development (for example, by referencing them appropriately).

For further information and guidance, please see the University website: https://www.bnu.ac.uk/current- students/registry-helpdesk-and-academic-advice/academic-integrity-and-misconduct

 

0-39 (F)

Fail

Not successful

0, 1, 10, 20, 32, 35, 38

40-49 (D)

Marginal fail Below required standard

42, 45, 48

50-59 (C)

Pass Satisfactory 52, 55, 58

60-69 (B)

Pass Good/Very Good

62, 65, 68

70-79 (A)

Pass Excellent 72, 75, 78

80-100 (A+)

Pass Outstanding

82, 85, 88, 92, 95, 98,

100

Critical Analysis of

Some attempt is made

Attempted to critically

Some evidence of

A good critical analysis

Comprehensive critical

Exceptional critical

3 OM Decision

to appreciate OM

analyse 3 OM decision

critical analysis of 3 OM

of 3 OM decision areas

analysis of 3 OM

analysis of 3 OM

Areas & Ways to

decision areas in the

areas but lacks

decision areas,

in the case company,

decision areas in the

decision areas in the

Improve

case company.

supporting evidence

supported by the

supported by some

case company,

case company with

Performance. This

Arguments are

from the literature and

literature and /or OM

evidence from the

supported by strong

sophisticated

should include

baseless and weak.

practices of the case

theory. Some logical

literature to enhance the

evidence from the

application of relevant

evidence of

Dubious logic used to

company. The logical

recommendations to

discussion. Some sound

literature, to enhance the

theories. Outstanding

relevant theory

suggest ways to

link between OM areas

improve performance.

recommendations to

discussion. Sensible and

recommendations to

(35%)

improve performance.

and improved

 

improve performance.

logical, substantiated

improve performance.

 

 

performance is

 

 

recommendations to

 

 

 

satisfactory

 

 

improve performance.

 

Evaluation of

Strengths and

Strengths and

Strengths and

A good understanding

A comprehensive

Exceptional and well-

Strengths &

weaknesses are

weaknesses are

weaknesses are

of the strengths and

answer that shows a

articulated evaluation

Weaknesses of the

described but

described but

described. An ability to

weaknesses of the case

sound evaluation of the

of the strengths and

Company (20%)

discussion lacks

discussion lacks

use ideas which are

company considered,

strengths and

weaknesses of the

 

breadth. The student

evidence. Discussion

easily accessible. No

supported by evidence.

weaknesses of the

company, supported

 

fails to demonstrate a

narrow and possibly not

evidence of a student’s

 

company, supported by

by strong evidence

 

real understanding of all

well argued or

attempt to go beyond

 

evidence and

and appropriate

 

the issues involved.

supported.

the obvious. Discussion

 

appropriate examples.

examples.

 

 

 

accurate but shallow.

 

 

 

Critical Analysis of

Some attempt is made

Attempted to critically

Some evidence of

A good critical analysis

Comprehensive critical

Deeply insightful

Operations &

to discuss operations

analyse operations and

critical analysis of

of operations and

analysis of operations

critical analysis of

Logistics

and logistics strategies

logistics strategies but

operations and logistics

logistics strategies,

and logistics strategies

operations and

Strategies

used by the case study

lacks supporting

strategies of the case

supported by some

of the case company,

logistics strategies of

(30%)

company. Arguments

evidence from the

company, supported by

evidence from the

supported by strong

the case company,

 

are baseless and weak.

literature and practices

the literature and /or

literature to enhance the

evidence from the

supported by strong

 

Inappropriate strategies

of the case company.

relevant theory. Some

discussion. Some sound

literature, to enhance the

and substantial

 

suggested for improving

The logical link between

logical strategic

strategic

discussion. Sensible and

evidence from the

 

performance.

strategies and

recommendations to

recommendations to

logical, substantiated

literature. Outstanding,

 

 

recommendations for

improve performance.

improve performance.

strategic

sensible, logical and

 

 

improved performance

 

 

recommendations to

substantiated strategic

 

 

is satisfactory.

 

 

improve performance.

recommendations to

 

 

 

 

 

 

improve performance.

 

0-39 (F)

Fail

Not successful

0, 1, 10, 20, 32, 35, 38

40-49 (D)

Marginal fail Below required standard

42, 45, 48

50-59 (C)

Pass Satisfactory 52, 55, 58

60-69 (B)

Pass Good/Very Good

62, 65, 68

70-79 (A)

Pass Excellent 72, 75, 78

80-100 (A+)

Pass Outstanding

82, 85, 88, 92, 95, 98,

100

Structure,

Some structure is

Structure and

Good report structure

A good logical structure

A well-structured report,

An exceptionally well-

presentation &

evident but not

presentation of the

and presentation. Some

is evident. Presentation

where the arguments are

structured report, with

Referencing (15%)

effective. Presentation

report is satisfactory.

referencing is used to

of the report and

presented in a logical

strong evidence of

 

unsatisfactory or

Readability is

support discussion.

readability are very

order. Professional

coherence in the

 

grammar issues

acceptable, though

 

good. Good references

presentation with

presentation of

 

affecting readability.

some errors in

 

are used to support the

excellent readability.

arguments. An

 

Significant errors in

grammar. Harvard

 

discussion.

Wide range of high-

Outstanding

 

Harvard References.

reference format used

 

 

quality references to

professional

 

 

correctly; referencing is

 

 

support the discussion.

presentation with

 

 

limited.

 

 

 

excellent readability.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wide range of high-

 

 

 

 

 

 

quality references to

 

 

 

 

 

 

support the

 

 

 

 

 

 

discussion.

 

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