You are required to write a case study report, not exceeding 3,000 words, focusing on the impact of operations and supply chain management in an organisation’s quest for operational excellence.

Assessment Brief

Module title:                                           Operations and Supply Chain Management

Module code:                                          SCM5001

Assignment title:                                    Case Report – Drivers of Operational Excellence; Impact of effective operations and supply chain management

Assignment format:                             Case Report

Word/time limit:                                    3000 words

File type                                                  Word document

Percentage of final grade                     This assignment is worth 100% of your final grade for this module.

Submission deadline                             See module iLearn page for date of submission

Grade release                                       You will normally receive your provisional grade and feedback within 20 working days of the submission deadline

Useful terms:

Task summary:

You are required to write a case study report, not exceeding 3,000 words, focusing on the impact of operations and supply chain management in an organisation’s quest for operational excellence. You may select an appropriate case from your professional environment, or if this isn`t possible, one will be provided for you. Your report should include:

1. An evaluation of two key drivers of operational excellence.

2. An analysis and evaluation of effective delivery systems, using suitable models and frameworks.

3. Recommendations aimed at enhancing supply chain operational excellence This assessment will test your analytical abilities, your capability to apply theoretical concepts in a practical context and your capacity to suggest practical improvements within an organisational setting.

• Strategic relevance: Evaluate the relevance and practicality of the strategies you propose to enhance delivery and performance within the organisation. Your recommendations should be innovative showcasing your ability to think creatively and solve problems effectively. Focus on how these strategies can be realistically implemented to improve existing processes and overall operational efficiency. Ensure that your suggestions are not only original but also tailored to the specific needs and constraints of the organisation.

• Integration of project management techniques: Assess how effectively you utilise project management techniques to manage and implement process changes within the chosen organisation. Your evaluation should detail the practical steps and strategies you propose, demonstrating how they align with the complexity and specific challenges of the organisation. Highlight your ability to apply these project management principles in a way that is both actionable and suited to the organisational context.

General Assessment Criteria (20 marks applicable across all components)

• Professionalism and presentation: The case report should be professionally presented, well-organised and adherent to academic standards of writing.

• Research depth and integration: Evaluate the extent and depth of research undertaken. The student should demonstrate the ability to seek out and integrate information from a variety of academic and professional resources.

• Critical reflection: Critically reflect on what you have learned and how you have applied these insights to the case study. Your reflections should demonstrate a deep understanding of the discipline and an acute awareness of how theoretical concepts translate into practical applications. Highlight how these learnings have shaped your thinking and approach to operational excellence within the organisational context.

• Clarity and precision: Ensure that your writing is clear and your arguments are precisely articulated. Your explanations should follow a logical structure, making it easy for readers to understand and follow your line of reasoning. Focus on presenting your points coherently, ensuring each argument is well supported and effectively communicated.

• References: Ensure that you adhere to the correct AU Harvard referencing style throughout your assignment, both within the text and in the references section. This involves consistently applying the specified citation format to all sources you reference, helping to maintain academic integrity and allowing readers to verify your research.

Learning outcomes (LO)

By completing this assessment, you will have shown and be assessed on all five of the learning outcomes:

1. Evaluate the relevance of module concepts to specific organisational contexts.

2. Analyse the design of delivery systems and processes using appropriate models and frameworks.

3. Examine the performance of delivery systems and processes using appropriate models and frameworks.

4. Design appropriate strategies to enhance delivery, performance, and design.

5. Employ project management techniques to manage novel activity to realise benefits from process change in a complex environment.

Your marker will use a rubric/ marking matrix to grade your work, and you can access this by clicking on the submission portal.

You can find links to more useful information about the assignment and university policies below.

Word/time limit policy

Click here to view the Arden University word count/time limit policy