Feedback Tutorial Letter
Business Operations BOP611S
Assignment number 1: April 2016
Dear Students,
Let me congratulate you in completing your assignment number 1 for Business Operations in the first semester. In general, your performance in this assignment has been good; we are particularly impressed by the way you made use of sources to expand your answers. I would like to however caution you on how you make use of sources you consult for references. Please avoid using direct quotes from these sources, without citing as this is classified as plagiarism. Plagiarism is an unethical behaviour that can result in you losing marks. Please avoid this by all means. Instead, try summarising other people’s work in your own words and then acknowledge the source.
We would also like to commend those who made efforts to seek assistance from tutor-markers where they did not understand, this is the way to go in distance education. Furthermore, we would like to urge you to continue attending face-to-face tutorials as you get opportunity to interact with others and solve problems that otherwise they wouldn’t be able to solve on their own. Finally, let me conclude by wish you all the best for Assignment 2.
I have highlighted issues pertaining to your assignment number 1 below, please go through and make sure you understand, it may be of vital importance for your preparation for Assignment 2 and the exam.
Question 1
Define the term ‘operations management’ and describe what you understand it to mean (5 marks)
Operations management is the planning, organising, leading, and controlling of the processes that transform. Operations managers manage all the processes and activities leading to the production of goods and services. It managed the process that transforms inputs into outputs. The following
are some of the areas in which operations managers are involved students are allowed to use any of the following examples
• Quality management-
The management process that assist in intergrating the control and assurarance activities such as the planning and implementation of quality, creating an organisational culture and organisational
environment conducive for the promotion of quality
• Factory design
Facility layout and design is an impotant component of a business overall operations, both in terms of maximizing the effectiveness of the production process and meeting the needs of employees.
• Human resource management-
The human resourse deals with managing people that are working in the organisation. The
department tipical areas of responsibility involves training, labour relations, health, safety, salaries etc.
• Project management
Aim to support the business through executing and intergrating strategic goals that will align the business operations with internal and external customers
• Inventory management
The process of overseeing the constant flow of units and out of an existing inventory, the process of controlling the inventory from becoming too high.
• Process design
The determination of the workflow, the equipment needed for the implementation of the process.
Question 2
Discuss some of the operations at NUST where you are studying currently. (10 marks)
This is an application question and we have observe that, most of you didn’t understant the question. However, students may state some of the following examples regarding operations management at an academic institution:
The core operations of NUST is providing the highest quality of higher education to students who choose to enrol and who are admitted to the insititution. NUST designes programmes that are in line with the developmental need of the country. They then deliver these programmes in the form of teaching that takes place in lecture buildings and this is offered by qualified faculty. With input such as course material, presentations and other learning tools, lecturers provide information that when received and understood by students, brings transformation i.e knowledge and competency developed. The output is qualified and skilled graduates who are awarded degrees in recognition
of their competency. There are different departments that support this core operation of curriculum development, teaching and research such
as:-• Human Resource management – supporting the managers and staff memebers with both operational and strategic matters such as recruitment, training and development , salaries, health and safety matters etc.They ensure that the right staff (lecturers and administrators) are recruited in order for the core funtion of the institution to be carried out effectively.
• Marketing and Communication – responsible for informing the public about the courses on offer and other news from the insititution.
• Student Affairs (SRC, Student Development, counselling, health, residences, etc.)
• Finance- ivolves the payments of institution fees, processing claims etc.they manage the finances of the institution and allocate funds to different activities – payment of utilities, maintenance of buildings,
• Examinations office. – to ensure that the examination process run smoothly, sorting out time table clashes if any, making sure special requirements are met, and liasing with external examining bodies.
Also note that the above examples are not the only examples to be used there are a variety of many operations at the university one can used.
Question 3
Write the job description of an operations manager employed in a bank (10 marks)
This is another application question. Nevertheless, students could present an approximation of the following:
• Minimum qualification = higher degree and/or professional qualification
• Capable of strategic leadership
• Belief in promoting the development of subordinates
• Able to build and maintain relationships
• Good decision-making skills
• Has a strategic approach to work/tasks/problems
• Entrepreneurial thinking
• Competency in Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint software
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English
• Sound numeracy skills
• Presentation skills at senior management level
• Able to understand and interpret management accounts
• Proficient at operating at senior management level
• High level of personal motivation
• Cross-functional awareness (integrated approach to operations)
• Concerned with quality.
Question 4
Look at the following multiple questions and answer the correct answer by only providing the correct letter next to the question number. (10 marks)
1. Which of the following statements describes the concept value added?
b) Additional value of a commodity over the cost of commodities used to produce it from the previous stage of production.
c) Additional value in the price of a product in comparrisson with competitive products. d) Additional value added to a product when training staff to work smarter.
e) None of the above.
Answer - B
2. ________________ allows organisations to minimize costs and involves bulk buying, movement and bulk storage of raw materials and finished goods.
a) Economies of scale. b) Product availability. c) Risk management. d) Uncertainty.
Answer – A
3. The ‘kai’ part of the term ‘kaizen’ refers to:
a) Spontaneous b) Continuous c) Impeded d) Structured e) Organised. Answer- B
4. There are four key process types from which management can choose. Which ONE of the following is NOT such a process type?
a) Job process. b) Product process. c) Batch process
d) Continuous flow process.
Answer- B
5. In the course of operations management process design and aggregate planning are _______ term and _______ term forecasts, respectively.
a) Short/medium b) Long/short c) Long/medium d) Short/short e) Medium/long. Answer - C
6. The _______ the turnover of inventory, the ______ the performance of inventory policies.
a) Higher/lower b) Lower/higher
c) Lower/lower d) Higher/higher e) C & D are correct.
Answer - E
7. There are a number of reasons for the occurrence of economies of scale in capacity planning. Which ONE of the following is NOT one of the reasons?
a) Learning by employees. b) Fixed cost allocation.
c) Purchasing cost would decrease. d) Sales cost would increase.
Answer- D
8. There are four most popular strategies that operations managers can follow in balancing demand and capacity. Which one of these is known as a mixed strategy?
a) Maintaining a level workforce b) Producing at a steady output rate c) Matching demand for each period d) Combining all or some of these
Answer- D
9. _______________ is the ability of an organisation to make scientific continuous change where the culture is one of striving to improve daily.
a) Standardisation. b) Kaizen.
c) Benchmarking. d) Kanban.
Answer- B
10. There are three spheres of quality. Which one of the following is NOT a quality sphere?
a) Quality assurance. b) Quality measurement. c) Quality management. d) Quality control. Answer- B Question 5
A) Discuss inventory waste (5 marks)
Inventory waste is not the inventory held to ensure production that will satisfy customer orders, but inventory that is held in excess to required inventories. The excess inventory, of which buffer stock
is an example, will have a negative effect on cost, lead-time, quality and flexibility (as discussed in Chapter 2). The more reliable the system becomes, the less excess inventory will be carried. It will happen as a result of business performance improvements through BPR or TQM.
B) Describe SHEQ management and identify the advantages and challenges that it holds. (10 marks)
SHEQ is a combination and integration of ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 standards. The benefits of SHEQ Management comprises of the following.
Employees only need to learn one management system.
There are savings on registration and internal management costs.
Operational efficiency can be increased and costs lowered.
It is possible to make quality, environment and health and safety part of what every employee does every day.
It is possible to make quality, environment and health and safety part of the way in which the business is operated.
A foundation is created for a sustainability management system (SMS).
There are fewer business risks.
Spur product or service innovation is encouraged.
Wishing all the best with the upcoming exams! Ms. D. Ekandjo
