Higher National Certificate/Diploma in
Business
Assessment Brief
| Student Name/ID Number | |
| Unit Number and Title | Unit 4 – Management & Operations |
| Academic Year | 2018-2019 |
| Unit Assessor | Krishna Dara |
| Assignment Title | Management & Operations |
| Issue Date | 18/5/2018 |
| Submission Date | |
| IV Name & Date | Dr Z Mulenga 30/4/2018 |
| Submission Format |
| The submission is in the form of an individual written report. This should be written in a concise, formal business style using single spacing and font size 11 or12. You are required to make use of headings, paragraphs and subsections as appropriate, and all work must be supported with research and referenced using the Harvard referencing system. Please also provide a bibliography using the Harvard referencing system. The recommended word limit is 2,000–2,500 words, although you will not be penalised for exceeding the total word limit. |
| Unit Learning Outcomes |
| LO1 Explain the different types of organisations, including their size and scope LO2 Demonstrate the interrelationship of the various functions within an organisation and how they link to organisational structure LO3 Use contemporary examples to demonstrate both the positive and negative influence/impact the macro environment has on business operations. LO4 Determine the internal strengths and weaknesses of specific businesses and explain their interrelationship with external macro factors. |
| Assignment Brief and Guidance |
| A recent study published in the Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis (a rip-roaring read!) suggests that more than 50% of companies won’t survive to age 16, with the highest corporate mortality occurring in the fourth year. The Boston Consulting Group’s 2015 report,Die Another Day: What leaders Can Do About the Shrinking Life Expectancy of Corporations, involving 35,000, claims that today almost one-tenth of all public companies fail each year, a fourfold increase since mid-60s.. Since there is a one-in-three chance of not surviving the next five years falls within typical CEO tenures and investor time horizons, David chancellor (2016) suggests that there are many reasons why businesses fail. Failure can be rooted in bad management, misguided leadership, strategic failings, market changes or just plain bad luck but more often, a combination of all these. Scenario 1: You have just joined a new small medium organisation that is expanding very fast as its new Operations Management trainee with prospects of being appointed as one of its Operations Managers on completion of your training programme. During your HND training in operations Management at the College, you read the above article and you are now determined that the new SME does not fall casualty under your watch. You discussed the report with your CEO who was delighted at the insights you gave him from the gleanings you made from the journal. He then requested you to write a report and address members of the Board on the key issues with a view to focus their strategic direction better thereby avoiding falling victim in five years’ time and beyond. You are required to write a report paying particular attention to the details in the questions provided below: LO1 Differentiate between the role of a leader and the function of a manager P1 Define and compare the different roles and characteristics of a leader and a manager. M1 Analyse and differentiate between the role of a leader and function of a manager by effectively applying a range of theories and concepts. LO2 Apply the role of a leader and the function of a manager in given contexts P2 Examine examples of how the role of a leader and the function of a manager apply in different situational contexts.P3 Apply different theories and models of approach, including situational leadership, systems leadership and contingency. M2 Assess the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches to situations within the work environment. D1 Critically analyse and evaluate the different theories and approaches to leadership in given contexts. Submission Format: Your research should be referenced using the Harvard referencing system. Please also provide a bibliography using the Harvard referencing system. The recommended word limit is 1,500–2,000 words, including speaker notes, although you will not be penalised for exceeding the total word limit. _____________________________________________________________________________ Scenario 2: Continuous Improvements (CI) has become a common feature in modern business life since it was popularized by Japanese industry, where it is known as ‘Kaizen’. The goal is to improve processes and products over time, taking care to maintain improved performance levels while seeking out further opportunities for improvement. Introducing CI requires senior Management commitment which in turn means changing the culture of a company, resulting in members of the organization to be challenged to change their behavior and upgrade their work. Typical changes will include: Working in a smarter way does not involve working harder. Smart work involves spending time carrying out processes that create value for customers. The best people to identify ‘lean’ processes are those who are most involved in production activities. This simply refers to the removal of waste. If wasteful activities are removed, employees are able to work smarter. Implementation is the process of putting plans into action. Having a belief that CI is the way forward is good but the next step is to create the means to achieve it. To implement CI in a consistent way across the organisations’ departments, co-ordination is required from the top. In an organisation of your choice, you are required to provide a detailed concise explanation on the questions below: LO3 Demonstrate an appreciation of the role leaders and managers play in the operations function of an organisation. P4 Explain the key approaches to operations management and the role that leaders and managers play.P5 Explain the importance and value of operations management in achieving business objectivesM3 Evaluate how leaders and managers can improve efficiencies of operational management to successfully meet business objectives. LO4 Demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between leadership and management in a contemporary business environment P6 Assess the factors within the business environment that impact upon operational management and decision-making by leaders and managers.M4 Analyse how these different factors affect the business environment and wider community.D2 Critically evaluate application of operations management and factors that impact on the wider business environment. |
| Learning Outcomes and Assessment Criteria | ||
| Pass | Merit | Distinction |
| LO1 Differentiate between the role of a leader and the function of a manager | LO1 & 2 D1 Critically analyse and evaluate the different theories and approaches to leadership in given contexts. | |
| P1 Define and compare the different roles and characteristics of a leader and a manager. | M1 Analyse and differentiate between the role of a leader and function of a manager by effectively applying a range of theories and concepts. | |
| LO2 Apply the role of a leader and the function of a manager in given contexts | ||
| P2 Examine examples of how the role of a leader and the function of a manager apply in different situational contexts. P3 Apply different theories and models of approach, including situational leadership, systems leadership and contingency. | M2 Assess the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches to situations within the work environment. | |
| LO3 Demonstrate an appreciation of the role leaders and managers play in the operations function of an organisation | LO3 & 4 D2 Critically evaluate application of operations management and factors that impact on the wider business environment. | |
| P4 Explain the key approaches to operations management and the role that leaders and managers play. P5 Explain the importance and value of operations management in achieving business objectives. | M3 Evaluate how leaders and managers can improve efficiencies of operational management to successfully meet business objectives. | |
| LO4 Demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between leadership and management in a contemporary business environment | ||
| P6 Assess the factors within the business environment that impact upon operational management and decision-making by leaders and managers. | M4 Analyse how these different factors affect the business environment and wider community. |
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