Purpose of this Assignment
To provide learners with an understanding of the role and importance of operations management (OM) in the efficient and effective production of goods and services.
Scenario:
WH Smith is a major, well-known and publically-quoted book retailer and newsagent in the UK. Recently it was reported how Kate Swann, the former CEO for the last 10 years, has turned the
company around from £135m losses to £106m profit in a decade.
(source: www.theguardian.com/business/blog/2013/jan/23/wh-smith-kate-swann-profit, accessed 1 October 2013)
(Also see copy attached)
This is an example of how the principles of operations management can be used to reactivate a firm. How did she do it?
Using the above as a starting point, together with other information sources, which you should research yourself, on WH Smith, you are asked to address the Tasks below regarding operations
management.
Task 1 (this meets LO 1, ACs 1.1, 1.2,1.3 and 1.4)
Based on the Scenario, produce a document explaining the nature and importance of Operation Management and its key elements.
Your document for this Task must include the following elements (among others as you wish):
1.1 Explain the importance of Operational Management to WH Smith
1.2 Explain the need to produce safely; on time; to cost; to quality and within the law in WH Smith.
1.3 Explain the link between operations management and strategic planning as it concerns WH Smith.
1.4 Produce a systems diagram to illustrate a typical business of WH Smith.
Task 2 (this meets LO 2 ACs 2.1, 2.2 and 2.3)
Based on the Scenario, produce a document explaining the relationship between OM and strategic planning.
Your document for this Task must include the following elements (among others as you wish):
2.1 Explain the ‘Three Es’ (economy, efficiency and effectiveness) in WH Smith
2.2 Explain the tension between cost minimisation and quality maximization at WH Smith
2.3 Evaluate the significance of the five performance objectives that underpin operations management of WH Smith.
Task 3 (this meets LO3 ACs 3.1,3.2 and 3.3)
Base on the Scenario, produce a document explaining how to organis a typical production process.
Your document for this Task must include the following elements (among others as you wish):
3.1 Explain linear programming using any WH Smith operations
3.2 Evaluate critical path analysis and network planning using any WH Smith operations
3.3 Explain the need for operational planning and control using any WH Smith operations
Task 4 (this meets LO4 ACs 4.1,4.2 and 4.3)
Base on the Scenario, apply relevant techniques to the production of an operational plan for a typical business.
Your document for this Task must include the following elements (among others as you wish):
4.1 Produce a set of clearly defined operational outcomes using any WH Smith operations.
4.2 Produce a network plan and indicate the resultant critical path using any WH Smith operations.
4.3 Explain how quality could be defined and maintained using any WH Smith operations.
Learning Outcomes and Assessment Criteria
In order to Pass this unit, the evidence that the learner presents for assessment needs to demonstrate that they can meet all the Learning Outcomes for the unit.
The Assessment Criteria determine the standard required to Pass this unit.
The Assessment Criteria will act as a guide to help you put into context your answers to fulfill the Learning Outcomes.
Learning Outcome Assessment Criteria
LO 1Understand the nature and importance of operational management 1.1 explain the importance of operational management
1.2 explain the need to produce safely; on time; to cost; to quality and within the law
1.3 explain the link between operations management and strategic planning
1.4 produce a systems diagram to illustrate a typical business
LO2 Understand the link between operations management and strategic planning 2.1 explain the ‘Three Es’ (economy, efficiency and effectiveness)
2.2 explain the tension between cost minimisation and quality maximisation
2.3 evaluate the significance of the five performance objectives that underpin operations management
LO3 Understand how to organise a typical production process 3.1 explain linear programming
3.2 evaluate critical path analysis and network planning
3.3 explain the need for operational planning and control
LO4 Be able to apply relevant techniques to the production of an operational plan for a typical business 4.1 produce a set of clearly defined operational outcomes
4.2 produce a network plan and indicate the resultant critical path
4.3 explain how quality could be defined and maintained.
INSTRUCTIONS AND INFORMATION FOR LEARNERS
This assessment and the Tasks above are designed to assess your achievement of all four of the Learning Outcomes and associated Assessment Criteria for a Pass in the ‘Operations
Management in Business’ unit of the qualification you are undertaking.
Your tutor/ deliverer will advise you when you should start work on the assignment, the date when you must hand in your completed work and when you can expect to get your mark
and feedback on your work. Guidance on this subject is provided on page 1 of this assignment brief.
You should make sure that you plan your work carefully, to ensure that you cover all four learning outcomes of the assignment, and complete it within the time limit specified.
Your statements in answer should be prefixed with the Task title or number, Assessment Criterion or number or at least the Learning Outcome or Learning Outcome number. This will
help you keep on track and should ensure you address each of the required assessment criteria.
The Assessment Decisions are Refer/ Pass/ Merit/ Distinction. (Further information on the Criteria for these grades is set out below in this Brief.) There are no percentages or official
wordcounts. By way of guidance only for this particular assignment, it is recommended that you write at least 2500 words, and weight your efforts to demonstrate that you have met each of
the Assessment Criteria and Learning Outcomes for the Unit effectively or sufficiently. However, you are free to write more or less, if you believe that in doing so you are meeting the
Assessment Criteria and Learning Outcomes.
You must make sure that you acknowledge any sources you have used to complete this assignment, listing reference material and websites used.
The assignment result will be published on BITE’s Moodle online education materials platform, normally within 6 weeks of the submission date.
If your assignment is assessed as Referred, you will be notified with an indication of the areas to be addressed. You may resubmit an assignment, or submit a new assignment, on a
further two occasions during your period of registration as an Institute learner with Edexcel.
If there is anything in these instructions or in the assignment itself which you do not understand, please seek guidance from your tutor/ deliverer.
Merit Grade
Descriptors Indicative characteristics
For learners to achieve a Merit they must: Learners must demonstrate that:
Identify and apply
strategies to find
appropriate solutions
An effective approach to assignment planning, study and research is in evidence
Evaluations and judgements, using evidence, have been made
Problems with a number of variables have been considered
Select/design and apply
appropriate methods/techniques
A range of relevant theories have been included
Relevant theories and techniques have been applied to the case study
A range of different sources of information have been used
The selection of methods/techniques of analysis and use of source material have been justified
Information/ data has been synthesised and processed
Present and communicate
appropriate findings
The written assessment is coherent, shows logical development and a sound understanding of theories, concepts and research evidence
The written assessment demonstrates that an appropriate structure and approach has been used
The written assignment demonstrates a writing style appropriate for audiences both familiar and unfamiliar with the subject.
The written work is clearly written and technical language has been accurately used
Distinction Grade
Distinction descriptors Indicative characteristics
For learners to achieve a
Distinction they must: Learners must demonstrate that:
Use critical reflection to evaluate own work and justify valid conclusions.
Conclusions have been arrived at through synthesis of ideas and evaluation of research evidence and have been justified
The validity of results has been evaluated using defined criteria
Realistic and informed recommendations have been proposed against defined characteristics for success
Take responsibility for managing and organising activities.
The written assignment shows excellent planning, is organised coherently and is clearly expressed
Independence of thought and gathering of research material has been demonstrated
Material used has been clearly understood and well organised
The importance of individual and group behaviour in organisations and its management has been recognised and addressed
Demonstrate convergent/lateral/creative thinking.
There is evidence of self-generated ideas with evaluation
Convergent and lateral thinking are evident in the written assignment
Creative thinking is evidenced with unfamiliar material.
Problem-solving is in evidence
Innovation and creative thought are in evidence
Receptiveness to new ideas is evident
Ideas have been generated, evaluated and informed decisions/ recommendations are made.
Case Study: WHSmith
WH Smith: Kate Swann turns £135m losses into £106m profit in a decade
One of the UK’s most highly regarded – and highly paid – retailers achieved success by going against the grain
WH Smith chief executive Kate Swann favours the old retail adage: sales are vanity, profits are sanity. Photograph: PA
When Kate Swann arrived at WH Smith in 2003, there was a widely held view that the chain’s days were numbered.
A decade on, she has turned losses of £135m into a profit of probably £106m this year, and shares that were languishing at 250p are now changing hands at 650p. Swann is now one of the UK’s
most highly regarded – and highly paid – retailers.
Yet she has achieved this remarkable feat by breaking many of the “rules” of running a successful high street retail business. When Swann announced she was pulling out of selling music and DVDs
because the profit margins were thin and getting thinner, rivals thought she had taken leave of her senses – she was instantly kissing goodbye to about 30% of Smith’s turnover. On a same-store
basis on the high street, WHS now sells roughly £65 of goods for every £100 of custom seven years ago.
The demise of Zavvi and HMV in the face of online competition shows it was a brave – and correct – decision.
Swann favours the old retail adage: sales are vanity, profits are sanity. By focusing on profitable sales and cutting costs relentlessly, she has boosted profit margins – according to analyst Nick
Bubb by an almost incredible 15 percentage points.
While other retailers have been pouring resources into the digital world, Smith’s big online strategy is its Funky Pigeon card site. Instead, Swann plans to open more shops, even though they are,
to be frank, deeply unpleasant places to shop, stuffed with stock and screaming promotional banners.
While the supermarkets have to tread carefully in the products they offer and have been targeted for displaying sweets at the checkout, Smith’s has sold stationery aimed at teenagers and
young women adorned with the Playboy bunny motif and Swann’s checkout assistants attempt to force-feed the nation giant bars of Galaxy and chocolate oranges.
Her secret? Maybe it’s the low profile. While many rivals enjoy the limelight, holding forth on the woes of the economy, the lack of women in the boardroom and political issues such as the in-out
debate, Swann says nothing. She doesn’t give interviews. On Wednesday, at Smith’s AGM, a shareholder stood to offer thanks for her transformation. Asked to respond, she merely said: “Thank
you, let’s move on.”
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