Nelson College London

ASSIGNMENT BRIEF
Qualification

Unit number, Code and Title

Pearson BTEC Level 5 HND Diploma

Business

Unit 34, R/505/8181, Operations Management in

Business

Module Leader:

Lecturers:

Abimbola Taiwo

Ousman Kolley, Abimbola Taiwo

Distribution date

Submission deadline

W/C 22/09/14

7th December 2014

Assignment title

Learning Learning
Outcome outcome

L01

Operations Management in Business

Assessment
Criteria

Understand the
nature
1.1
and
importance of
operations
1.2
management
1.3

LO2

LO3

Understand the
link
2.1
between
operations
management 2.2
and
strategic
planning
2.3
Understand
how to
organise a
typical
production
process

3.1
3.2

3.3
LO4

Be able to
4.1
apply relevant
techniques to

In this assessment you will have the

Task
opportunity to present evidence that
no.
shows you are able to:
1
Explain why operations management is
important for organisations
Analyse the operations functions of a
selected organisation
Evaluate, by using a process model, the
operations management of a selected
organisation

Appraise the importance of the Three Es

2
to organisations
Assess the impact of the tension between
cost minimisation and quality
2
maximisation in
organisations
Evaluate the significance of the five
performance objectives that underpin
2
operations management to organisations
Assess how linear programming adds
value to a given production process

3
Evaluate critical path analysis and
network planning
Justify the need for operational planning 3
and control in a selected production
process
Produce a set of clearly defined
operational outcomes for a selected
organisation

Evidence
(Page no)

Nelson College London

the production
of an
4.2
operational
plan for an
organisation.
4.3

Produce a network plan indicating the

resultant critical path

4
Justify how quality management
techniques
are applied to improve operations in a
selected organisation

Learner declaration
I certify that the work submitted for this assignment is my own and research sources are fully
acknowledged.
Student signature:

Date:

INTRODUCTION
Operations management (OM) is the business function that plans, organizes, coordinates,
and controls the resources needed to produce a companys goods and services. Operations
management is a management function. It involves managing people, equipment, technology,
information, and many other resources. Operations management is the central core function of
every company. This is true whether the company is large or small, provides a physical good or
a service, and is for-profit or not-for-profit. Operations management is important. It is
concerned with creating the services and products upon which we all depend. And all
organizations produce some mixture of services and products, whether that organization is
large or small, manufacturing or service, for profit or not for profit, public or private. But more
than this, operations management is everywhere, it is not confined to the operations function.
All managers, whether they are called Operations or Marketing or Human Resources or
Finance, or whatever, manage processes and serve customers (internal or external). This
makes, at least part of their activities operations.
Scenario
Prt A Manger opened their first shop in the mid-1980s, in London. Now they have over 130
shops in UK, New York, Hong Kong and Tokyo. They say that their secret is to focus continually
on quality not just of their food, but in every aspect of their operations practice. They go to
extraordinary lengths to avoid the chemicals and preservatives common in most fast food,
say the company. Many food retailers focus on extending the shelf life of their food, but thats

Nelson College London

of no interest to us.
We maintain our edge by selling food that simply cant be beaten for freshness. At the end of
the day, we give whatever we havent sold to charity to help feed those who would otherwise
go hungry. When we were just starting out, a big supplier tried to sell us coleslaw that lasted
sixteen days. Can you imagine! Salad that lasts sixteen days? There and then we decided Pret
would stick to wholesome fresh food natural stuff. We have not changed that policy.
The first Prt A Manger shop had its own kitchen where fresh ingredients were delivered first
thing every morning, and food was prepared throughout the day.
Every Pret shop since has followed this model. The team members serving on the tills at
lunchtime will have been making sandwiches in the kitchen that morning.
The company rejected the idea of a huge centralized sandwich factory even though it could
significantly reduce costs. Prt also own and manage all their shops directly so that they can
ensure consistently high standards in all their shops. We are determined never to forget that
our hard-working people make all the difference. They are our heart and soul. When they
care, our business is sound. If they cease to care, our business goes down the drain. In a
retail sector where high staff turnover is normal, were pleased to say our people are much
more likely to stay around! We work hard at building great teams. We take our reward
schemes and career opportunities very seriously.
We dont work nights (generally), we wear jeans, we party! Customer feedback is regarded as
being particularly important at Pret. Examining customers comments for improvement ideas is
a key part of weekly management meetings, and of the daily team briefs in each shop.
Adapted from: Operations Management 6th ed - N. Slack, et al., (Pearson, 2010) BBS
Task 1 (L.O. 1: 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 and M1, D2)
Considering yourself as an operations manager at Prt A Manger, or any other organisation of
your choice, write an essay on the following:
1. Explain the importance of operational management to Prt A Mangers business
activities or any other organisation business activities.
2. Analyse the operations functions at Prt A Manager or any other organisation of your
choice.
3. Evaluate, by using a process model, the operations management of Prt A Manager or
any other organisation of your choice.
To achieve M1, you will find appropriate solutions in evaluating the operations management of
Prt A Manager or any other organisation of your choice.
To achieve D2 you will have demonstrated an effective approach to independent research as

Nelson College London

evidenced from the citations and reference list and study and will have met the deadline to
submit the tasks and achieve the unit assessment criteria.

Task 2 (LO2: 2.1, 2.2 2.3 and M2, D2)

As the newly appointed operations manager you are expected to produce a Microsoft Power
Point Presentation informing your team on the following:
4. Appraise the importance of the Three Es to organisations
5. Assess the impact of the tension between cost minimisation and quality maximisation in
organisations
6. Evaluate the significance of the five performance objectives that underpin operations
management to organisations
To achieve M2, you will apply appropriate methods/techniques in evaluating the significance of
the five performance objectives of any organisation of your choice in question 6.
To achieve D2 you will have demonstrated an effective approach to independent research as
evidenced from the citations and reference list and study and will have met the deadline to
submit the tasks and achieve the unit assessment criteria.
Task 3 (LO3: 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, and D2, D3)
As the operations manager at Prt A Manger or any other organisation of your choice you are
expected to write briefly on the followings in an essay form :
7. Assess how linear programming adds value to a given production process
8. Evaluate critical path analysis and network planning
9. Justify the need for operational planning and control in a selected production process
To achieve D2 you will have demonstrated an effective approach to independent research as
evidenced from the citations and reference list and study and will have met the deadline to
submit the tasks and achieve the unit assessment criteria.
To achieve D3, you will have to creatively justify the need for operational planning and control
in a selected production process in question 9.
Task 4 (LO4: 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 and D2)
You are expected to do a field work to any organisation of your choice. Carefully observe the
organisations business activities and produce a personal report on your findings on the
followings:
10. Produce a set of clearly defined operational outcomes.

Nelson College London

11. Produce a network plan and indicate the resultant critical path.
12. Explain how quality could be defined and maintained in the visited organisation
(Please note that the name of the organisation visited must be specified in your report.)
To achieve M3, your findings and research should be well presented and communicated within
the report.
To achieve D1 you will have to use critical reflection to produce a network plan and indicate the
resultant critical path in question 10.
To achieve D2 you will have demonstrated an effective approach to independent research as
evidenced from the citations and reference list and study and will have met the deadline to
submit the tasks and achieve the unit assessment criteria.

Evidence
checklist

Summary of evidence required by student

Task 1

Essay on the nature and importance of operations management

Task 2

Microsoft Power Point Presentation on the link between operations

management and strategic planning

Task 3

Essay on how to organise a typical production process

Task 4

Personal report on Organisation visit Be able to apply relevant

techniques to the production of an operational plan for an
organisation.

Evidence
presented

In addition to the above PASS criteria, this assignment gives you the opportunity to submit evidence in order to achieve the following
MERIT and DISTINCTION grades
Grade Descriptor
M1 Identify and apply
strategies to find appropriate
solutions
M2 Select / design and apply
appropriate methods /

Indicative characteristic/s

Contextualisation

Effective judgements have been made.

To achieve M1, you find appropriate solutions in explaining the link

An effective approach to study and research

between operations management and strategic planning P3

has been applied.

Appropriate learning methods/techniques have
been applied.

techniques
M3 Present and communicate Communication is appropriate for familiar and
appropriate findings
unfamiliar audiences and appropriate media
have been used.
D1 Use critical reflection to

Conclusions have been arrived at through

evaluate own work and

synthesis of ideas and have been justified.

To achieve M2, you will apply appropriate methods/techniques in

evaluating the significance of the five performance objectives of any
organisation of your choice in question 6.
To achieve M3, your findings and research should be well
presented and communicated within the report for question 10-12.

To achieve D1 you will have to use critical reflection to produce a

justify valid conclusions

network plan and indicate the resultant critical path in question 10.
Realistic improvements have been proposed

D2 Take responsibility for

against defined characteristics for success.

Activities have been managed.

managing and organising

New ideas have been generated

activities

Good referencing and arrangement (Harvard

To achieve D2 you will have demonstrated an effective approach to

independent

convergent /lateral /
creative thinking

Effective

as

evidenced

from

the

citations

and

reference list and study and will have met the deadline to submit

style)
D3 Demonstrate

research

the tasks and achieve the unit assessment criteria. (P1-P13)

thinking

unfamiliar contexts.

has

taken

place

in

To achieve D3, you will have to creatively justify the need for
operational planning and control in a selected production process
in question 9

Nelson College London

Achievement Summary
Qualification
Unit Number and
title

Criteria
Reference
LO 1

Pearson BTEC Level 5 HND

Diploma in Business
Unit 34, Operations
Management in Business

Assessor
name
Student
name

To achieve the criteria the evidence must show that

the student is able to:
Understand the nature and importance of

Achieved?
(tick)

Operations management
1.1

Explain why operations management is important for

organisations

1.2

Analyse the operations functions of a selected

1.3

organisation
Evaluate, by using a process model, the operations

LO 2

management of a selected organisation

Understand the link between operations management and

2.1

strategic planning
Appraise the importance of the Three Es to

2.2

organisations
Assess the impact of the tension between cost

2.3

minimisation and quality maximisation in organisations

Evaluate the significance of the five performance objectives

LO3
3.1

that underpin operations management to organisations

Understand how to organise a typical production process
Assess how linear programming adds value to a given

3.2
3.3

production process
Evaluate critical path analysis and network planning
Justify the need for operational planning and control in a

LO4

selected production process

Be able to apply relevant techniques to the production of an

4.1

operational plan for an organisation.

Produce a set of clearly defined operational outcomes for a

4.2
4.3

selected organisation
Produce a network plan indicating the resultant critical path
Justify how quality management techniques
are applied to improve operations in a selected
organisation

Higher Grade achievements (where applicable)

Grade descriptor

Achieved?

Grade descriptor

8 Assignment brief- Operations Management in Business

Achieved?

Nelson College London

(tick)
M1: Identify and apply strategies
to find appropriate solutions

(tick)

M2: Select/design and apply

appropriate methods/techniques

D1: Use critical

reflection to evaluate
own work and justify
valid conclusions
D2: Take responsibility
for managing and
organising activities

M3: Present and communicate

appropriate findings

D3: Demonstrate
convergent/lateral
/creative thinking

9 Assignment brief- Operations Management in Business

Nelson College London

Assignment Feedback
Formative Feedback: Assessor to Student

Action Plan

Summative feedback

Feedback: Student to Assessor

Assessor
Signature

Date

Student

Date

10 Assignment brief- Operations Management in Business

Nelson College London

Signature

11 Assignment brief- Operations Management in Business