Assessment Information – What you need to do
This assessment is an individual assignment requiring you to develop a report by selecting one
research question:
1. While a key objective of a supply chain is to minimise total cost, how does modern slavery affect technical operations and the supply chain? Critically evaluate this issue in a given organisation or sector (e.g. Textile, Pharmaceuticals, Motor Vehicles and Parts, telecom, Commercial Banks or other hi-tech sectors etc.). This report needs to be supported by the taught theories and seminar articles in this module along with primary/secondary data to assess modern slavery including the pros and cons and discuss how your organisation/sector can tackle the negative impacts on its supply chain. Remarkably, your focus must be on a given topic such as Supply Chain Performance, Inventory Management, Demand Planning, ERP, Logistics, Quality management to explore this research in-depth.
2. The supply chain is increasingly considered as a vital determinant of competitive advantage while productivity growth in the United Kingdom has slowed in recent years. What are the barriers to UK manufacturing productivity and how to address barriers to productivity in supply chains? Critically evaluate this problem in a given organisation or sector (e.g. Textile, Pharmaceuticals, Motor Vehicles and Parts, telecom, Commercial Banks or other hi-tech sectors etc.). This report needs to be supported by the taught theories and seminar articles in this module along with primary/secondary data to assess the productivity puzzle for the UK and discuss how your organisation/sector can address productivity barriers and improve the productivity of operations and supply chain.
Criteria for Assessment – How you will be marked
The criteria for marking the assessment relate to four main components which are as follows:
• Introduction and Literature review (16%)
• Situation Analysis (30%)
• Finding and Discussions (30%)
• Referencing and Conclusion (10%)
• Presentation (7%)
• Coherence (7%)
Please, have a look at the marking rubric for more detailed information (separate document)
Further information on University mark descriptors can be found here.
This assignment is designed to assess the following learning outcomes:
1. To demonstrate a systematic and critical understanding of strategic objectives of operations and supply chain.
2. To develop systematic knowledge and critical understanding of service organisations and new product/service development process
3. To understand process-flow analysis through the process thinking to analyse and improve processes
4. To interpret and critically evaluate knowledge, concepts and ideas of product or service quality
5. To develop a critical awareness of capacity planning decisions related to the production of goods and services and explain
6. To develop knowledge and understanding of inventory management to critically analyse its effects on all business functions including operations, accounting, information, marketing and finance.
