Imagine you are an operations analyst in a well-known organisation within either the service or manufacturing industry. Your operations manager has assigned you to produce a report recommending improvements

Jamez

15 Aug 2025 • 8 min read

Assignment Brief

Academic Year 2024-25

BM563 Operations and Service Management

Module code and title:	BM563 Operations and Service Management	Module leader:
Assignment No. and type:	CW1: Written Assignment	Assessment weighting:	100%
Submission time and date:		Target feedback time and date:	3 weeks after submission deadline

Assignment task

Imagine you are an operations analyst in a well-known organisation within either the service or manufacturing industry. Your operations manager has assigned you to produce a report recommending improvements to the existing operations management practice within the company. Your mission is to critically evaluate the current practice, explore how digital technology can enhance it, and assess the role of supporting functions in ensuring operational success.

Task Requirements

Briefly provide an overview of the organisation you have chosen and then identify a specific Operations Management Practice you will focus on within that organisation. Also, explain the theories, concepts, and principles underpinning this practice.
Conduct a critical analysis of the chosen operations practice in terms of efficiency. While conducting the analysis, consider the application of alternative operations management techniques - capacity, quality and supply chain management - within that identified practice.
Evaluate the integration of digital technology into that practice of the chosen organisation, including benefits and drawbacks. Also, consider focusing on the potential use of digital technology in supply chain management.
Identify and evaluate the various supporting functions linked to the chosen operations management practice and their contribution to the overall operational success.
From all the above analyses, recommend a range of practical operations management techniques for improving the organisation`s success.

Additional notes:

Ensure the work is supported with evidence from secondary research (including academic theory and company research). The word count is 2,500 (+/- 10%)

If you are registered with the Disability and Inclusion Services or have a disability, please contact your Course Coordinator to discuss how your reasonable adjustments will be applied to this assignment.

This assignment has been designed to provide you with an opportunity to demonstrate your achievement of the following module learning outcomes:

LO1: Appraise the theories, concepts and principles of practice from the area of Operations Management and their application to the service and manufacturing industries.

LO2: Evaluate the application of alternative Operations Management Techniques – Capacity, Quality and Supply Chain Management.

LO3: Evaluate the potential use of digital technology for supply chain management.

LO4: Apply a range of Operations techniques to the management of a business.

LO5: Evaluate how supporting functions interact with operations and aid their success.

Practicalities: Referencing, presenting and submitting your work

Please see your programme handbook for information on the required referencing style, any presentational requirements and the process for submitting your work.

Please reference your work according to the Harvard style. A guide to Harvard referencing can be found on LSST Connect clicking on this link or as defined in Cite them Right Online https://www.citethemrightonline.com/category-list?docid=CTRHarvard
Please note the use of a cover sheet is required for this assignment to include student ID number, title of the report and word count.
You are required to use Arial 12 and 1.5 line spacing and submit your work in Word or PDF format.
This assignment should be submitted electronically using the relevant submission point in the Upload My Assignment section of LSST Connect.
Please note that work submitted up to 10 working days beyond the submission date will be considered a late submission. Late submissions will be marked, and the actual mark recorded but will be capped at the pass mark (typically 40%), provided that the work is of a passing standard. Work submitted after this period will not be marked and will be treated as a non- submission.
You can submit your work as many times as you like before the submission date. If you do submit your work more than once, your earlier submission will be replaced by the most recent version.
Once you have submitted your work, you will receive a digital receipt as proof of submission, which will be sent to your LSST e-mail address. Please keep this receipt for future reference, along with the original electronic copy of your assignment.

Confidentiality

You should maintain and respect confidentiality in relation to the protection of personal, technical and/or commercial information of a sensitive nature in your assessed work.

For further information and guidance, please see your programme handbook.

Academic integrity

Academic integrity means taking responsibility for your own work.

When you submit an assignment, you are making a declaration that it is your own work and that you have acknowledged the contribution of others and their ideas in its development (for example, by referencing them appropriately).

For further information and guidance, please see the University website: https://www.bnu.ac.uk/current- students/registry-helpdesk-and-academic-advice/academic-integrity-and-misconduct

Criteria

0-34 (F) –

Fail

Not successful

35-39 E –

Marginal fail Below required standard

40-49 (D)

Pass Satisfactory

50-59 (C)

Pass Good

60-69 (B)

Pass Very Good

70-79 (A)

Pass Excellent

80-100 (A+)

Pass Outstanding

Knowledge and Understanding of Operations Management

20%

This should include evidence of:

Depth knowledge and understanding of operations management
Evidence of theories, concepts, principles underpinning the chosen practice.
Company research integrated into the work

The work demonstrates limited and/or substantially inaccurate knowledge and understanding of operations management as well as the theories, concepts, and principles underpinning the current and chosen operational practices within the organisation.

There is little or no evidence of wider reading or company research.

The work demonstrates insufficient knowledge and understanding of operations management as well as the theories, concepts and principles underpinning the current and chosen operational practices within the organisation.

There is limited or no company research and / or wider reading lacks evidence.

The work demonstrates basic knowledge and understanding of operations management as well as theories, concepts and principles underpinning the current and chosen operational practices within the organisation.

Wider reading is relevant, and company research is only partially integrated.

The work demonstrates sound knowledge and understanding of operations management as well as theories, concepts and principles underpinning the current and chosen operational practices within the organisation.

Limited company research and wider reading are largely evident but have clearly enhanced the work.

The work demonstrates refined knowledge and understanding of operations management, as well as the theories, concepts, and principles underpinning the current and chosen operational practices within the organisation.

Company research is evident, and reading shows a range of sources being used and applied, some of which are independently selected.

The work demonstrates highly accomplished knowledge and understanding of operations management, as well as the theories, concepts, and principles underpinning the current and chosen operational practices within the organisation.

Application of wider independent reading and company research is evident throughout the work.

The work demonstrates exceptional knowledge and understanding of operations management as well as the theories, concepts, and principles underpinning the current and chosen operational practices within the organisation.

Application of extensive independent reading and company research is evident throughout the work.

Criteria

0-34 (F) –

Fail

Not successful

35-39 E –

Marginal fail Below required standard

40-49 (D)

Pass Satisfactory

50-59 (C)

Pass Good

60-69 (B)

Pass Very Good

70-79 (A)

Pass Excellent

80-100 (A+)

Pass Outstanding

Analysis and Criticality 30%

This should include evidence of:

Critical analysis of the chosen operations practice in terms of efficiency.
Analysis of alternative operations management techniques relevant to the identified practice.
Evidence of range of practical operations management techniques for improving the organisation`s operational success.
Integrated secondary research to support the analysis

The work demonstrates a limited or no analysis of the chosen organisation and chosen operations practice impacts and efficiencies.

Limited or no application of alternative operations management techniques.

Not clear and effective practical recommendation of operations management techniques for improving organisation’s operational success

Used little or no range of research sources.

The work demonstrates insufficient analysis of the chosen organisation and chosen operations practice impacts and efficiencies.

Insufficient application of alternative operations management techniques.

Often not clear and effective practical recommendation of operations management techniques for improving organisation’s operational success.

Used limited range of research sources.

The work demonstrates sufficient analysis of the chosen organisation and chosen operations practice impacts and efficiencies.

Sufficient application of alternative operations management techniques.

Predominantly efficient and effective practical recommendation of operations management techniques for improving organisation’s operational success.

Used sufficient range of research sources.

The work demonstrates well- developed analysis of the chosen organisation and chosen operations practice impacts and efficiencies.

Sound application of alternative operations management techniques.

Effective and efficient practical recommendation of operations management techniques for improving organisation’s operational success.

Used sound range of research sources.

The work demonstrates sophisticated analysis of the chosen organisation and chosen operations practice impacts and efficiencies.

Capable and effective application of alternative operations management techniques.

Consistently effective and efficient practical recommendation of operations management techniques for improving organisation’s operational success.

Used sophisticated range of research sources.

The work demonstrates highly accomplished analysis of the chosen organisation and chosen operations practice impacts and efficiencies.

Convincing application of alternative operations management techniques.

Highly consistent, effective and efficient practical recommendation of operations management techniques for improving organisation’s operational success.

Used a highly accomplished range of research sources.

The work demonstrates exceptionally accomplished analysis of the chosen organisation and chosen operations practice impacts and efficiencies.

Exceptionally refined application of alternative operations management techniques.

Exceptionally consistent, effective and efficient practical recommendation of operations management techniques for improving organisation’s operational success.

Used exceptional range of research sources.

Application and practice

Evaluation of Digital Technology

20%

This should include evidence of:

Evaluation of integration of digital technology into the chosen operations management practice.
Evaluation of potential use of digital technology in supply chain management.

Evaluation of supporting functions

20%

This should include evidence of:

Evaluation of supporting functions linked to the chosen operations management practice and its overall operational success.

The work demonstrates a limited or no ability to select, evaluate, and apply the use of digital technology in chosen operations management practice.

Little or no evidence of potential use of digital technology in supply chain management.

The work demonstrates limited or no ability to select, evaluate, and apply the various supporting functions linked to the chosen operations management practice and their overall operational success.

The work demonstrates insufficient ability to select, evaluate, and apply the use of digital technology in chosen operations management practice.

Limited evidence of potential use of digital technology in supply chain management

The work demonstrates insufficient ability to select, evaluate, and apply the various supporting functions linked to the chosen operations management practice and their overall operational success

The work demonstrates sufficient ability to select, evaluate, and apply the use of digital technology in chosen operations management practice.

Sufficient evidence of potential use of digital technology in supply chain management

The work demonstrates sufficient ability to select, evaluate, and apply the various supporting functions linked to the chosen operations management practice and their overall operational success

The work demonstrates consistent ability to select, evaluate, and apply the use of digital technology in chosen operations management practice.

Consistent and informed evidence of potential use of digital technology in supply chain management

The work demonstrates consistent and informed ability to select, evaluate, and apply the various supporting functions linked to the chosen operations management practice and their overall operational success

The work demonstrates a capable and effective ability to select, evaluate, and apply the use of digital technology in chosen operations management practice.

Sophisticated evidence of potential use of digital technology in supply chain management

The work demonstrates capable and effective ability to select, evaluate, and apply the various supporting functions linked to the chosen operations management practice and their overall operational success

The work demonstrates highly accomplished ability to select, evaluate, and apply the use of digital technology in chosen operations management practice.

Convincing evidence of potential use of digital technology in supply chain management

The work demonstrates highly accomplished ability to select, evaluate, and apply the various supporting functions linked to the chosen operations management practice and their overall operational success

The work demonstrates exceptionally accomplished ability to select, evaluate, and apply the use of digital technology in chosen operations management practice.

Exceptionally refined evidence of potential use of digital technology in supply chain management

The work demonstrates exceptionally accomplished ability to select, evaluate, and apply the various supporting functions linked to the chosen operations management practice and their overall operational success

BM563 Operations and Service Management

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