Systems and Operations Management Assignment

Scenario
Perhaps the most dynamic aspects of systems and operations management is the development of supply chains. Good supply chain management can often create a source of considerable competitive advantage and, indeed,
many businesses owe their success to the novel use of supply chain management strategies.

This assignment asks you to relate your knowledge of supply chain principles to an organisation known to you. It also asks you to critically review how these principles work with other aspects of systems and operations
management to create competitive advantage.

The assignment requires you to research an organisation known to you. It can be the one that you work for or one that you have researched. In either case it is appreciated that you may not have in-depth knowledge of every
aspect of the supply chain in question. The primary aim of the assignment is to show your ability to apply academic theory to practice and for this reason, reasonable assumptions can be made. You may chose any organisation you wish but clearly, as the questions focus on supply chains the organisation should have one of these. Large
manufacturing organisations are a good choice because they have substantial use of both materials management and logistics. Large restaurant and hotel groups may also be appropriate.

Your Task
You are a specialist in supply chain management and have been asked to review the supply chain of a company known to you. You have been provided with three tasks as outlined below. Each of the tasks is to be addressed in a
report format.

Task 1
Critically review the approach to materials management of the subject organisation. You should review the structure of the supply chain – its approach to intermediaries for example – and consider how materials management produces competitive advantage for the organisation.
(This provides evidence for LO1, LO3, LO5) 40 marks
Task 2
Critically review the role of relationships in the organisation’s approach to materials management and logistics. You should consider such aspects as contractual arrangements and other informal agreements.
(This provides evidence for LO2, LO3, LO5) 30 marks

Task3
Critically review the role of emerging technologies in the subject organisation’s approach to supply chain. You should consider factors such as the application of information technology, materials planning and systems
development.
(This provides evidence for LO1, LO4) 30 marks

Guidelines
Please read all questions and information provided carefully. The answer should be made in appropriate length keeping in view the requirement of each question and total word counts allowed. In addition, your assignment should demonstrate the following qualities: A critical appreciation of relevant literature and its use to support an
argument, substantiate calculations and other aspects of the assignment. Taking ownership of the content, being prepared to debate and argue a personal position, and providing evidence of evaluative skills. A submission made up of extracts from published sources which are descriptive or simply just theoretical regurgitation is not acceptable. Your submission must have an interpretation and consideration of the challenges and issues of taking theory into practice.

Logical flow of ideas and treatment; appropriate selection of real world factors related to the companies under scrutiny. Evidence of additional personal research, and the ability to analyse material
from a variety of appropriate relevant perspectives. Presentation, structure, appropriateness of methodology, breaking into section headings/subheadings, tidiness.

Marks will be awarded for proper referencing and originality of work. Also note that plagiarism is a serious offence and your submission will be electronically checked. Your report must be handed in electronically no later than given date of submission