Operations Management Principles and Practices

This assignment examines the role of operations management in improving business performance. It highlights the importance of adopting operation management principles for productivity and profitability. The text also discusses the benefits of a continuous improvement plan in reducing waste and enhancing operational efficiency. Additionally, it explores how different stages of the Product Life Cycle (PLC) can help organizations expand their business and improve profit ratios.

OPERATIONS AND PROJECT
MANAGEMENT

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
PART 1............................................................................................................................................3
1. An introduction to your chosen organisation..........................................................................3
2. An explanation of operation vs operations management........................................................3
3. Review and Critique implementation of Operations Management Principles........................4
4. Analyse the extent to which Principles of Operations Management meets the Requirements
.....................................................................................................................................................5
5. Discuss continuous improvement and lean principles............................................................6
6. Prepare a continuous improvement plan based on your review and critique of operations
management principles................................................................................................................7
7. Using continuous improvement principles, make at least two justified recommendations
which could improve the operations function.............................................................................8
PART 2............................................................................................................................................9
(a) Project Life Cycle..................................................................................................................9
(b)Review and critique the effectiveness of the PLC ...............................................................12
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................13
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................14

INTRODUCTION
Project Management can be defined as a process which consist with different particulars
like planning, initiating, controlling and executing a project (Becker, Kugeler and Rosemann,
2013). In present time, it is required for every single business organisation to have an effective
project management department that aid in meeting the different range of objectives as per the
desired requirements. Firms, that are being chosen within present report are Sunshine Drinks
along with the Marks and Spencer. On the other hand, report is also going to be enclosed with
effectiveness of operations managements’ principle that are going to be implied within the
concept of continuous improvement. Away with this, within the second section, firm which has
been chosen i.e. Sunshine Drinks which is looking forward to merchandise fruit based drinks.
This has helped them in reaching to an all new level. Along with this, in the last assignment is
going to show project life cycle process and it is also going to be enclosed with the application of
PLC as well within a project.
PART 1
1. An introduction to your chosen organisation
Marks and Spencer (M&S), famous clothing and a multinational retailer offering
customers with clothes, luxury food based products and more was found in the year of 1884.
Along with this, Michael Marks and Thomas Spencer are the two owners who has helped this
organisation to become a well-known brand in all over the world. M&S in present time is

working approximately at 1460 different stations in all over the world (Haber, Accenture Global
Services Ltd, 2017). On the other hand, approximately 80,800 staff members are performing
their different range of tasks so that company’s goals could easily be attained right on time.
2. An explanation of operation vs operations management
Operation Management can be defined as executing, planning, monitoring and controlling
company’s operations. This is being considered as one of a crucial approach that aid a business
organization like Marks and Spencer to keep on attaining different range of goals and objectives
related to manufacturing or more in reaching to new heights. Along with this, operations are
being defined as the activities which are performed by a company, where raw materials are being
converted or changed into a whole new product. This may also include a range of things like
storage of stocks and transportation (Ingason and Shepherd, 2014).
3. Review and Critique implementation of Operations Management Principles
If it is talked about Marks and Spencer, then it is pretty much required for the business
organisation to focus upon different range of operations management principles in order to
manage the overall supply of products and services in much effective and efficient manner.
Considering all the principles of operations management, continuous improvement might take
place in both inventory stocks and supply chain management of Marks and Spencer. In present
context, there are a range of principles comprehended beneath:
 Accountability- Basically, this principle is directly connecting with the managers of
Marks and Spencer, that directly manages or develop different range of rules and
regulations within the business company. This helps in managing the manpower within
Marks and Spencer. Things like setting targets, training given to staff, may aid in
managing the supply chain of products along with the management of stock as well.
Applying this operations management principle within Marks and Spencer, will put
positive impact upon overall production process of the business organisation. On the
other hand, it can also impact negatively upon working capacity of employees of Marks
and Spencer.
 Organisation- This principle of operations management says that, a company’s different
department needs to stay interconnected with each other in order to improvise overall
supply chain of Marks and Spencer and maintain the stocks. With the help of this, it can

be said that a company’s response in regards to change among customers’ needs could
easily be adopted (shift of interest).
 Change- With the help of this, Marks and Spencer’s managers may easily grab a good
within the market and including this, inventory stock can easily be managed right on time
(Kerzner and Kerzner, 2017). It is required for M&S to adopt different range of standard
practices in order to reduce different range of costs which are linked with supply chain of
this company.
 Causality- Every single business organisation like Marks and Spencer, faces problems
related to their own inventory stocks. Along with this, it can be said that a company like
M&S’s managers are required to make alterations as per the requirements and this could
directly help Marks and Spencer to manage the need of customers in different areas.
 Lean production – This can also be considered as one of a crucial function of
Operations management within a business organisation. In context to M&S, this could
impact positively at the time when company is looking forward to attain a specific goal.
On the other hand, if it is taken otherwise it can also be said that M&S would require to
make alterations within the organisational structure, where staff could get demotivated as
well.
 Flexible Specialisation – Another principle which might impact upon overall
performance level of Marks and Spencer, because if it is thought in a negative sense,
company would require to hire a special team for developing a unique strategy or for any
other purpose. On the other side, this function could give Marks and Spencer with high
range of benefits for a longer time frame.
 Scientific management - The concept or theory of Scientific Management is about the
progress of science to substitute the approximation principal or hypothesis of the
awareness and education of workmen. Considering Marks and Spencer in a positive
aspects, this type of management delivers steady improvements within specified time
frame.
4. Analyse the extent to which Principles of Operations Management meets the Requirements
Considering the above mentioned principles of operations management, it can be said that
Marks and Spencer would require to meet a range of requirements and this can also be done
through focusing upon operation management. In present context, some of extent linked with

principles of operations managements in order to meet the requirements of Marks and Spencer
are given beneath:
 As M&S wants to adopt innovative technology for efficient inventory management and
makes the supply chain process in regular and a smooth form. For this company adopt the
principle of change so as to adopt innovative tools and techniques for effective inventory
and supply chain management (Kerzner, 2017). This will allow the company to maintain
efficiency in its business operations and therefore leads to overall reduced inventory cost
for the company.
 It is being found that, Marks and Spencer is looking forward to expand its business
through improving the consistency within the business operations. It can easily be done
through managing all the departmental activities where interconnection among them is
much needed.
 On the other hand, if Marks and Spencer wants to attain a good position within the
business market, company may require to follow all the rules and regulations needs to be
followed by staff members of M&S. This may aid M&S in managing the logistics of the
company, which will directly put positive impact upon themselves.
Therefore, Principles of Operation management meets the requirements of Marks and
Spencer in adopting the recent technology and attains maximum efficiency in business
operations.
5. Discuss continuous improvement and lean principles
Continuous improvement can be defined as a process or a practice, which helps an
organisation in making necessary alterations among company’s operations which may aid in
pulling out favourable outcomes (Kundu and et. al., 2015). It can be said that, without continuous
improvement a company like Marks and Spencer cannot sustain within the market for a longer
period of time. Along with this, it is being found that developing a product or service of Marks
and Spencer considering innovation as one of a crucial approach, company may effectively gain
many competitive advantages.
Lean Principles-
Lean principles could be considered as a process which could help a company in
performing operations with a cost cutting approach without compromising with the quality of
products and services. Basically, Marks and Spencer would require to reduce all the extra

wastages, which are being performed at the time of manufacturing products. Along with this, it
can be said that there are five lean principles like value, value stream, flow, pull and perfection,
that aid in minimising all the waste materials and these are comprehended beneath:
 Identify Value- Marks and Spencer’s product and services along with the values are
needed for managers of this company to understand. With the help of this, pricing of the
product, customer’s needs and more could easily perform well within the Marks and
Spencer.
 Map Value Stream- Just after identifying different range of values it is required for
manager of Marks and Spencer to map their own conditions of products and then create
values for their products through using a much effective and efficient approach in order
to eliminate the extra activities and process. With the help of this, M&S’s could easily
grab a good position within the market as they will directly reduce wastages considering
waste processes (Leach, 2014).
 Create Flow- Just when overall raw materials are going to be reduced than through this,
overall business activities could effectively manage supply chain of different products
and services. On the other hand, it is much needed to create flow of production process.
Through this, overall flow of products and services among different nations where Marks
and Spencer in performing its operations.
 Establish Pull- It can be said that, just after maintaining effective flow of production it
becomes easy for the manager at Marks and Spencer to provide goods as per the
customer needs along with the requirements as well. It also leads to overall reduced
inventory cost as the product can be made available according to the requirements of the
customer.
 Perfection- Under this stage manager at M&S reviews and controls the whole process by
adopting certain changes if any deviations are found. This way manager can eliminate the
extra waste and maintains perfection and efficiency in their business activities.
6. Prepare a continuous improvement plan based on your review and critique of operations
management principles
Continuous improvement plan
Basis Current Methodologies Proposed Methodologies

Delivery In present context, Marks and
Spencer’s accountability
principle is not fulfilled which
impacts upon overall working
of staff members while
performing different types of
tasks.
In order to improve the supply
chain management, it can be
said that it will be required for
Marks and Spencer to consider
accountability principle within
every single tasks.
Quality Marks and Spencer did not
used organisation operations
management principle which
impacted upon company’s
performance level along with
the quality of products and
services as well (Lientz and
Rea, 2016).
Considering this principle,
supply chain management of
Marks and Spencer will
directly improve in specified
time frame. On the other hand,
it can be said that it is much
needed for Marks and Spencer
to make connections among
different departments of the
company.
Cost Marks and Spencer, did not
adopted change principle
which means, the overall cost
of different range of products
offered by them was not at all
being changed by them, which
impacted upon overall
performance level as well.
In order to reduce the overall
cost of business operations it is
necessary for the business
organisation like Marks and
Spencer to effectively imply
all the changes considering the
change principle and adopts
the innovative technology and
adopts standardised practices
for in their manufacturing and
supply chain process and
reduced overall cost of the
company.

PDCA MODEL: This is a model which helps in implementing the new innovative ideas in
a effective controlled way. It is used in the business organizations for controlling and
continuous improvement of process of product and services. PDCA stands for plan-do-
check -act. It tell the organization to plan the effective action and aimed at improvement,
do and carry out the effective changes, check plans and results and take action on it and
adopt it.
7. Using continuous improvement principles, make at least two justified recommendations which
could improve the operations function
Considering the above mentioned report, it is being analyzed that for a business organization
like Marks and Spencer, it is pretty much required to follow both management principles along
with the continuous improvement plan. With the help of this, M&S could effectively gain a good
reputation within the business market and may improvise supply chain management as well and
a good range of plans and procedures could effectively be managed as well at the same time. In
present context, some of recommendations that are being given and these are:
 It is required for Marks and Spencer’s managers to keep on adopting a range of updated
technology. With the help of this, company will directly start maintaining both supply
chain management and inventory stocks as well.
 In order to reduce inventory’s cost, this is basically recommended to Marks and Spencer
that, company should adopt both just in time and lean production approach in order to
maintain the stock within the inventory storage (Maylor and Turner, 2017). Through this,
reduction can be done of overall cost of keeping inventory and attains maximum
efficiency in business operations.

Work breakdown structure : This is being considered as a key project that basically
considers deliverable that organizes the team's work into manageable sections. The Project
Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) defines the work breakdown structure as a
"deliverable oriented hierarchical decomposition of the work to be executed by the project
team.". Considering this structure, it can be said that Marks and Spencer could reach to an all
new level.
PART 2
(a) Project Life Cycle
If it is talked about, Sunshine Drinks company is being considered as a manufacturer who
is selling fruit based drinks to its customers. On the other hand, company has kept its focus on
enhancing the profit margins through focusing upon a whole new approach fusion* in which a
combination takes place of different range of drinks within a new variety of energy drinks. In
order to conduct it, a proper stages of project life cycle and project activities are completed

within an effective time frame (McArthur, 2015). The stages of the project for the new product is
described as follows-
 Business Case
Sunshine Drinks are effectively selling out their fruit based drinks which have decided to
introduce energy based drinks with the use of natural ingredients to target health conscious
customers.
 Project Initiation- this is been considered as first stage where new projects
identification takes place including the needs of it. Basically, project manager is the one
who go through the business environment and bring out different types of opportunities
and including the risk that are involved in the project. In present context, Sunshine drinks
company's manager is going to formulate the overall plan which is linked with energy
drinks fusion which will help them in targeting the customers as per their needs and
requirements (Lientz and Rea, 2016).
Target Market
Once a project has been identified project manager go through the target market and sets
different range of segments depending upon the services or the products which has been
provided or offered by them. In present scenario, Sunshine drinks company e is going to you
forget the customers that are looking forward to stay fit from the age in between 12 to 45. With
the help of this, company may become able to successfully execute the plan for the project where
all the things Lake customers requirements, needs of the company from pricing and other things
are being settled.
Cost Benefit Analysis
It is an approach used by the project managers to make proper decisions by analyzing the
cost against the benefits received from undertaking the project. Cost for this new project includes
funds for resource, tools and technology and requires qualified human resource for the
development of new product. Benefits received are enhancement of profits and able to capture
larger market share. Therefore this is a benefited project for the company.
 Project Planning- After the initiation of the project by the manager at Sunshine Drink
company, it comes to project planning where project manager plans appropriate strategies
for executing and completing the project activities within a definite time period. Manager

plans for the effective resources and properly acquire them to accomplish their targets
effectively (Maylor and Turner, 2017).
Gantt Chart

 Project Execution- vital most stage of product life cycle that helps in in running the
project or for execution of it takes place. Under this, project manager of sunshine drinks
company assigns task to employees as per their on capabilities which helps them in
understanding the roles and responsibilities within the company while performing the
project. With the help of this all the needs and requirements of customers and the
company gets fulfilled (McArthur, 2015).
 Project Closure- last stage in which comma sunshine Drinks company’s project manager
goes through the whole project and its execution. This helps and pulling out all the risks
which were presented within the project, it also helps in identifying where the whole

project has came across from the desired position. With the help of this, project manager
can make alterations as per the requirements in order to meet the desired position.
Henceforth, these are some of the stages which are required for the project manager of
sunshine drinks company to understand and employee all the stages accordingly in order
to execute the overall project of fusion of energy drinks.
(b)Review and critique the effectiveness of the PLC
Project Life Cycle consist with four different stages which may help Sunshine drinks
company to reach to an all new level with their new product. In present context, Waterfall model
has been utilized in order to identify the effectiveness of PLC these are given underneath :-
 Requirement- this is been considered as initial stage which helps a a project manager in
finding out raw materials, resources and many other things so that project execution
could take place. Under this, Six Sigma approach has been utilised by the project
manager in project to meet all the requirements of the project (Nicholas and Steyn, 2017).
 Design- planning takes place under this 2nd phase, where all the resources and strategies
are framed effectively so that the new product can be effectively be developed. Including
this method Sunshine drinks company adopt the lean principles so as to minimize
wastage in their production process and achieves maximum efficiency.
 Development- at the time of implementing this stage, project manager of sunshine
drinks company has used Total Quality Management as an effective tool to ensure quality
and scope of the project is at a appropriate manner (Shaheen, 2014).
 Testing and Maintenance- Last stage which, helps the manager of the Sunshine Drinks
company to find any deviations if they exist and modify the project plan. Strategic
leadership is effectively applied to make the leaders take effective decision regarding
successfully v developing the new product.
This led to the effective use of PLC for the new product of Sunshine Drinks company to
capture the larger market share and improve its profit margins.
The PLC model is very important and effective tool for the business organization that is Marks
and Spencer, as its effectiveness is that it is used and applied in many areas such as renovation of
buildings, while introducing the new product & services in market and whole new profitable
market. and more. As every project has four stages has also has their own effectiveness and
impotence in every project.

CONCLUSION
With the help of above mentioned report, it can be said that project management
department of a business organization may easily help in managing the operations in much
effective and efficient manner. Along with this, it has also been summarized that a manager
would also require to adopt a range of operation management principles in order to manage
overall productivity and profitability as well of a business company. On the other hand, it is said
to be that continuous improvement plan could help a business organization in performing well all
the activities and this helps in reducing all the wastage as well. On the other hand, an
organisation if looking forward to expand the business, different stages of PLC allows it to
enhance profit ratios of the company.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Becker, J., Kugeler, M. and Rosemann, M. eds., 2013. Process management: a guide for the
design of business processes. Springer Science & Business Media.
Haber, B., Accenture Global Services Ltd, 2017. Test operation and reporting system. U.S.
Patent 9,576,252.
Ingason, H.T. and Shepherd, M.M., 2014. Mapping the future for project management as a
discipline–For more focused research efforts. Procedia-Social and Behavioral
Sciences, 119. pp.288-294.
Kerzner, H. and Kerzner, H.R., 2017. Project management: a systems approach to planning,
scheduling, and controlling. John Wiley & Sons.
Kerzner, H., 2017. Project management metrics, KPIs, and dashboards: a guide to measuring
and monitoring project performance. John Wiley & Sons.
Kundu and et. al., 2015. A journey from normative to behavioral operations in supply chain
management: A review using Latent Semantic Analysis. Expert Systems with
Applications.42(2). pp.796-809.
Leach, L.P., 2014. Critical chain project management. Artech House.
Lientz, B. and Rea, K., 2016. Breakthrough technology project management. Routledge.
Maylor, H. and Turner, N., 2017. Understand, reduce, respond: project complexity management
theory and practice. International Journal of Operations & Production
Management.37(8). pp.1076-1093.
McArthur, J.J., 2015. A building information management (BIM) framework and supporting case
study for existing building operations, maintenance and sustainability. Procedia
Engineering.118. pp.1104-1111.
Nicholas, J.M. and Steyn, H., 2017. Project management for engineering, business and
technology. Routledge.
Shaheen, K.M., InterDigital Technology Corp, 2014. Method and apparatus for resource
management in handover operation. U.S. Patent 8,817,741.
Webb, A., 2017. Project management for successful product innovation. Routledge.