Course code GSBS 6610 Trim 1, 2010
Course titleOperations and Supply Management

Instructions on Assessment 1 Individual Written Essay

The aim of this assignment is to provide and opportunity for the critical analysis of a contemporary and important Operations and Supply Management issue facing organisations in order to assess and evaluate the strategic implications of the issue for organisations in the development and execution of their operations and supply management strategy.

The essay is designed in two equally weighted parts. Referencing should be in the form of the official NGSB referencing style (Harvard method) (see the student manual on Blackboard, Learning support and other sources that I have shown you about referencing). The Harvard method uses the author’s name and the date of publication. References are listed at the end of the text in alphabetical order by author’s name. The general format of a journal reference is shown below:

Oloruntoba, R. (2005) A wave of disaster and waves of relief: issues, strategies and challenges Disaster Prevention and Management: an International Journal 12 (5), p.33-66.

Author’s name and initials are listed first, followed by the year of publication in brackets. Then there is the title of the article and the journal where the article appears which is in italics or underlined. Finally, state the volume and issue number in brackets along with pages where the article can be located. For further information, please access the Learning Support/Academic development websites and student manuals which address frequently asked questions in relation to the Harvard referencing style.See student manual and other relevant university sources for how to reference conference papers, books etc.

Learning Outcomes/Objectives
This assessment will fully or partially satisfy the following learning objectives as stated in the course outline:

At the end of the course the student will be able to:
1. Demonstrate a clear understanding that by better matching supply with demand, a business is able to gain a significant competitive advantage over their rivals;

2. Critically discuss, evaluate and apply strategies, concepts, tools and techniques from operations and supply chain management to the workplace and to case studies to improve business and supply chain practices and performance;

3. Explain that there are no right answers in management;

4. Produce written essays using academic standards, style and structure appropriate to the purpose and audience;

5. Demonstrate effective contributions to group tasks and processes by defining work targets, planning activities in consultation and debating Operations and Supply management ideas, concepts and perspectives in the tutorial discussion; and

6. Demonstrate an integrative understanding of the role of Operations and Supply chain Management within a business.#p#分頁標題#e#

Assessment details Part A

Select a contemporary, important and significant operations and supply management issue with international and global ramification of your choice for research and analysis. The issue must have current relevance and be of personal interest to form the basis of the study.

Having selected an issue and defined it within your essay; critically review at least 5 relevant academic literature associated with this contemporary operations management issue. You must go beyond the general reading recommended for the module and make use of specialist journal articles relating to the chosen issue. The outcome of this review of literature should be a set of findings detailing some key points, concepts, factors or developments relating to the contemporary key issue.

Part B

Use the findings from the review of the literature in part A above and apply them to an organisation of your choice to evaluate and analyse the impact of the contemporary issue upon the organisation’s operations and supply management activities. Use journals, books, websites, company information (well referenced) to illustrate the context and peculiarity of the chosen organisation and to support your evaluation and analysis. Primary data is not expected from students.

The outcome from your analysis and evaluation of the organisation should be a set of Operations and Supply Management implications relating to the contemporary issue as regards the continued development of the chosen organisation’s Operations and Supply Management strategies.

Layout of the essay

The essay should be presented in 2500 words, plus or minus 250 words (+/-10%). Excessive word length will be penalised by deducting marks based on over-length criteria. The essay should be split into two (2) parts excluding appendices. Please proof read your work before submitting. Structure your work logically, using tables, figures, paragraphs, headings as appropriate. References should be accurate and comprehensive.

Recommended reading

The reading required to undertake this essay depends on the contemporary issue that you have selected. There must be evidence in the references that the reading goes beyond the general reading recommended in the reading list in Blackboard, in the course outline and in short loans section of the Blackboard site. It is expected that specialist website, texts, conference papers and journal articles are used. It is expected that websites will be used extensively.

Please turn over

Assessment Criteria

The first column indicates the generic assessment criteria used generally within the NGSB, the second column indicates the broad criteria when marking your essay and the last table indicates a more specific criteria that will be used. Please ensure you meet these criteria in your work to secure the max possible marks.

Mark Generic criteria Essay criteria
(0-25%) Minimal awareness of subject area. Lack of clarity. Inarticulate and/or irrelevant communication of knowledge Almost no relevant material presented. Lacks coherence and structure.#p#分頁標題#e#
(26-34%) Minimal awareness of subject area. General lack of clarity. Inarticulate and/or irrelevant communication of knowledge Largely but not completely irrelevant material presented. Lacks coherence and/or structure.
(35-39%) Knowledge is limited and/or superficial. Some awareness of concepts and critical appreciation are apparent, but the ability to conceptualise and/or apply theory is restricted Some relevant material presented and some effort made to construct an answer but insufficient to be awarded a pass.
(40-49%) Knowledge is adequate but narrowly focused or without in-depth analysis. In the most part description rather than analysis, argument or logical reasoning is used. A clear understanding of the key issues is demonstrated but insufficient focus is evident in the essay presented Significant omissions and inclusion of irrelevant material. Poor presentation and inaccuracy in analysis, however some elements of an accurate response presented.
(50-59%) Knowledge base is up to date and relevant to an appropriate breadth and depth. A significant ability to apply OSM theory, concepts and ideas while illustrating their inter- relationships clearly. Clear evidence of independent thought. Presentation of work is fluent, focused and accurate Good comprehensive response notable for content and synthesis rather than originality. Based on more than factual recall of one piece of work. Shows good understanding of topic. Good presentation
(60-69%) Knowledge base is up to date and relevant to an appropriate breadth and depth. A significant ability to apply theoretical concepts, ideas and expose their inter-relationships. Clear evidence of originality and independence thought. Presentation of work is fluent, coherent and accurate. Strong piece of work, good evidence of thorough research. Logical, coherent structure that is well presented.
(70 to100%) Exceptional evidence of research and scholarship demonstrated in the work. Sustained ability to confront the current limits of knowledge in an area, or dealing with practical and applied real world contexts where the demands of theory and practice may conflict, while highlighting trade-offs as appropriate. Foreshadows the future and resolution of the OSM issue Excellent presentation of work totally focussed on the question. Demonstrates knowledge, insight and originality. Appropriate and logical arguments with excellent examples are put forward when appropriate.Omits no essential information. Evidence of reading over and above those recommended by staff. Synthesis and integration of material from several sources. Logical and precise presentation that is well structured and flows. Relevant references included with appropriate choice of words. Contains only minimal and insignificant errors of fact, grammar, lexis, structure and implications.

The following specific criteria will also be applied to the essay in line with the assessment details described in Parts A and B above

Part A Definition of the contemporary Operations and Supply Management issue set within a global/international context. This must highlight the significance, relevance and topical importance of the issue under analysis from both an operations and supply management perspective as well as from a wider, broader implications perspective 15%#p#分頁標題#e#
Critical review, analysis and examination of the relevant academic literature pertaining to the selected issue and evidence of in-depth understanding of its significance 35%
Part B Clear evidence of secondary data having been collected, reviewed and analysed appropriately in the context of the operational activities of the selected organisation and then used to assess, analyse and evaluate the contemporary operations and supply management issue. 15%
Appropriate application of relevant literature based findings from part A in the analysis and evaluation of the selected issue to the chosen organisation’s operations and supply management activities. 15%
Evidence of reasoned conclusions showing logical, evidence-based ‘cause and effect’ drawn from the organisational analysis/evaluation in the form of a set of coherent and logical ‘operations and supply management’ implications related to on-going or contemporary operations and supply management strategies. 20%