DEGREE: Global MBA

Module: Systems and Operations Management

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Assignment Title: A business case study: Critical Analysis of Systems and
Operations Management Concepts
Assignment Type: Essay
Word Limit: 3000 words (+/- 300)
Weighting: 100%
Issue Date: 06/07/2023
Submission Date: 09/10/2023
Feedback Date: 23/10/2023

Plagiarism:
When submitting work for assessment, students should be aware of the
Interactive/Canvas guidance and regulations in concerning plagiarism. All submissions
should be your own, original work. Please note that you must not submit the same
assignment for two different modules within your course.
You must submit an electronic copy of your work. Your submission will be
electronically checked.

Learner declaration

I certify that the work submitted for this assignment is my own and research
sources are fully acknowledged.

Student signature: Date:

Harvard Referencing:
The Harvard Referencing System must be used. The Wikipedia, UKEssays.com or
similar websites must not be used or referenced in your work.

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Learning Outcomes:

LO1- Critically appraise ways in which the operations and information system functions
contribute to an organisation’s competitiveness and strategic direction and critically assess
this contribution from systems, information, and business process perspectives.

LO2- Critically evaluate the key factors resulting in competitive advantage and robust,
leading-edge value chains.

LO3- Synthesise and evaluate complex information on IT related issues and suggest creative
and innovative solutions, using literature and undertaking research.

LO4- Critically evaluate the information required to establish and implement effective
operational decisions, with reference to change management and its impact on value chain
management.

Assessment Criteria: Weighting 100%

3000 words

Tasks (All tasks are equally weighted):

• Choose a business case of your choice with focus on analyzing the Case from a System
Perspective. Ensure that the Case has enough content. Feel free to design a case and
use it. Begin by first describing the chosen before proceeding with other tasks. (LO1)
• By using relevant authors and references: (LO2)
A. Apply the Theory of Constraints (TOC) using the five steps (see Vargas, Paula
et al (2017). TOC'S Five-Step Cycle: An Approach to Instant Results and Cultural
Change)
B. Critically identify and analyze the Supply Chain.
C. Analyze the Value Chain and identify areas where values can be improved.
D. Describe the Logistic processes in the Operations Management of the company
• Explain various components of an Operations Management System. Mention and
logically explain the system perspective of Operations management based on these
logics: (LO3)
A. Inputs
B. Processes
C. Outputs
D. Outcome
E. Impacts
• Deriving from your views in C above, develop a Strategic plan of (12-48 months) that
can help the Operations Management unit of the company to have a competitive
advantage and get to the level of impact in the society. What would be the parameters
for the competitive advantage for the firm? (LO3)
• Assume this firm, has phenomenally done well in one continent: Asia, Africa, or North
America. They want to expand their operations in Europe or elsewhere. As a business

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consultant, how will you help the firm to make initial plans such as identifying the
location and layout for its first hub or any other specific plans that you perceive to be
important ? Please justify your suggestions and plan. (LO3, LO4)

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GUIDANCE ON ASSESSMENT
All materials must be properly referenced under Harvard conventions. The length required is 3000 words with tasks equally weighted. The writing style should be formal academic /
Written assignment writing style with in-text referencing to support your comments and observations. Originality, quality of argument and good structure are required. The Written
assignment should demonstrate sound understanding and ability to apply knowledge and theory of Systems and Operations Management. Additional marks being awarded for
juxtaposition and insight of issues.
Grading Criteria

Generic Criteria 90 - 100 80 - 89 70 - 79 60 - 69 50 - 59 40 - 49 30 - 39 0 - 29

Knowledge of contexts, Exceptional and Excellent and highly Comprehensive critical Significant Sound understanding of Passable understanding Insufficient Very poor
concepts, technologies and remarkable critical sophisticated critical understanding of current issues understanding of current knowledge of current of knowledge of current understanding of demonstration of
processes understanding of current understanding of current and historical contexts much of issues and historical issues and historical issues and historical knowledge of the understanding of
The extent to which knowledge issues and historical issues and historical which is at, or informed by, the contexts, much of which is contexts, some of which contexts, some of which contextual, historical contextual, historical
is demonstrated: contexts demonstrating contexts demonstrating forefront of the discipline. at, or informed by, the is at, or informed by, the is at, or informed by, the or theoretical issues or theoretical issues
relevant contextual or knowledge at the forefront knowledge forefront of the discipline. forefront of the forefront of the that inform the that inform the
theoretical issues are identified, of the discipline at the forefront of the discipline. discipline. discipline. discipline.
defined and described discipline Comprehensive knowledge of
historical or contemporary Exceptional and highly techniques and processes, and a Significant knowledge of the
practices are identified, defined original understanding of An excellent and highly critical understanding of their techniques and processes
and described techniques methods and impressive understanding potential to advance scholarship applicable to understanding Sound knowledge of the Acceptable knowledge of
appropriate technologies, processes of techniques, materials in the discipline. research and advanced techniques and processes the techniques and Insufficient Very weak knowledge
methods and processes are
and processes scholarship in the discipline applicable to research processes applicable to knowledge of of technologies,
identified, defined and
described
and advanced scholarship research and advanced techniques methods and processes
in the discipline scholarship in the applicable to
discipline research and
advanced scholarship
Level 7

in the discipline.
Understanding through Exceptional and Excellent and highly Rigorous use of established Confident use of established Sound use of established Passable use of Insufficient use of Inability to use and
application of knowledge remarkable demonstration sophisticated methods of research combined methods of research methods of research to established methods of existing interpret existing
The degree to which of research methods which demonstration of research with the ability to generate new combined with the ability to develop and interpret research to develop and methodologies to research
research methods are generate highly developed methods leading to concepts or insights into existing recognise new concepts existing knowledge. interpret existing develop knowledge. methodologies
demonstrated: critical insights into impressive critical insights knowledge. using existing knowledge. knowledge.
existing knowledge into existing knowledge
relevant knowledge and Inability to fully
information is compared, Exceptional and Critical evaluation of current Critical evaluation of Evidence of critical understand or
contrasted, manipulated, remarkable critical Excellent and highly knowledge to evaluate Critical evaluation of current current knowledge and evaluation of current interpret relevant
translated and interpreted evaluation of existing sophisticated critical methodological practices and knowledge to analyse recognition of knowledge and knowledge and
knowledge and information knowledge leading directly evaluation of existing propose new hypotheses. methodological practices methodological practices. recognition of methodological Little or no ability to
is selected, analysed, to new hypotheses knowledge working and propose hypotheses methodological practices. practices. evaluate existing
synthesized and evaluated towards new hypotheses Sound judgements made knowledge
in order to generate Exceptional and Carefully considered Informed judgements made on complex research Passable judgements
creative ideas, solutions, remarkable judgements Excellent and highly judgements on highly complex on highly complex research problems showing made on complex Research problems
arguments or hypotheses made in relation to sophisticated judgements or ‘under-researched’ problems problems showing evidence evidence of systematic research problems are insufficiently Inability to define a
creative practice, current made in relation to showing evidence of systematic of systematic analysis and analysis and deduction showing evidence of complex and require research problem and
ideas, arguments and creative practice, current analysis and deduction and deduction and creative and creative processes to systematic analysis and mainly routine to generate solutions
hypotheses ideas, arguments and creative processes to resolve processes to resolve them resolve them. deduction and creative analytic and creative or hypotheses through
hypotheses them. research and practice

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 processes to resolve processes to resolve
them. them.
Application of technical Exceptional and Excellent and highly Evidence of a high level of Evidence of the critical and Evidence of the critical Evidence of the critical Inability to Very poor ability to
and professional skills remarkable critical and sophisticated critical and critical and evaluative skills in evaluative skills necessary and evaluative skills and evaluative skills demonstrate the apply appropriate
The degree to which: evaluative skills utilised evaluative skills utilised order to create original solutions to construct solutions to a necessary to identify necessary to identify critical and materials and media to
leading to highly original leading to impressive to a range of highly complex range of complex problems solutions to a range of solutions to a range of evaluative skills present ideas and
appropriate materials and solutions to very complex solutions to very complex problems. complex problems. varied problems. necessary to identify solutions
media are selected, tested problems problems solutions to
and utilised to realise and Application of advanced Application of advanced problems
present ideas and solutions Outstanding application of Highly impressive skills, techniques and processes skills, techniques and Application of advanced Application of advanced
appropriate technologies, advanced technical skills application of advanced that challenge knowledge and processes that contribute to skills techniques and skills techniques and Very poor judgement
methods and processes are that fundamentally technical skills that understanding of the discipline. knowledge and processes that sustain processes that sustain Insufficient ability to shown in choice of
demonstrated challenges current challenge current understanding of the independent learning in independent learning in demonstrate the methods and processes
transferable, professional understanding and understanding and Demonstration of a very high discipline. the discipline. the discipline. skills necessary for
practices practices level of professionalism, self- sustained
skills are effectively
management and independent Demonstration of a Clear demonstration of Acceptable independent learning Inability to manage
demonstrated
Exceptional and Excellent demonstration of learning competent level of professionalism, self- demonstration of self, meet deadlines,
self management and remarkable demonstration professionalism, self- professionalism, self- management and professionalism, self- work professionally
independent learning are of professionalism, self- management and management and independent learning management and Insufficient evidence and independently
demonstrated management and independent learning independent learning independent learning of professional and
independent learning transferable skills