Operations and Project Management

This report discusses the principles of operations management and continuous improvement. It includes a case study of Marks and Spencer and Sunshine Drinks, analyzing their operations and project management. The report also provides recommendations for improving operations function and implementing project methodologies.

Operations and
Project Management

INTRODUCTION
Operations management is defined as responsibility for directing, overseeing and
controlling operations of business. This includes manufacturing, accounting, maintenance,
productions, software support. Project management is defined as application of tools,
knowledge, skills and techniques for meeting requirements of project. These both are
important function of organisation for achievement of goals and objectives. The given report
is based on two sections and two companies. The first chosen organisation is Marks and
Spencer which was founded at United Kingdom that deals in retail sector. The second
organisation is Sunshine Drinks which manufactures and sell fruit drinks. The aim of report is
to explain about operations management principles and concept of continuous improvement.
It also highlights about product life cycle and their application.
PART 1
1. Introduction to your chosen organisation
The chosen organisation is Marks and Spencer which was founded in 1884 at United
Kingdom. This is retail multinational firm founded by Thomas Spencer and Michael Marks.
It deals in food, clothing and home products at high quality. There are 1463 locations where it
is operating their business and providing goods and services to consumers. It is serving its
goods and services worldwide with high quality. There are various brands of Marks and
Spencer such as autograph, classic, per una and others which are serving at international
market. The key people of this organisation are Steve Rowe chief executive and Archie
Norman as chairman. It has more than 960 stores out of which 615 sells food product to
consumers.
2. Explanation of operation vs operations management
Operations
Operations are defined as business activities which helps firm to convert raw materials into
finished goods and services and selling to consumer for earning profits. These procedures are used
for creating products and services where they market them to their consumers and delivering final
goods. The business activities of organisation are different from each other. The manufacture
activities mainly consist of buying materials and converting them into actual goods and services.
Operation Management
It is defined as administration of firm practices for creation of high level of efficiency
in organisation. This focus on conversion of raw materials into finished goods in better
manner for maximizing profit of organisation. It is mainly concerned with organizing,
planning and supervising the production, manufacturing various services. This management
is responsible for directing, controlling and overseeing various operations of business. The
example of operation management is manufacturing, accounting, production maintenance,
software support. With help of these minimum resources should be used for manufacturing
along with quality achievement and creating best services.

3. Conduct a review and critique of the implementation of operations management principles
within your chosen organization
There are various operation management principles which help in achievement of
goals and objectives. These principles can by use by any organisation for better achievement
of goals and objectives. They are as follows:
Organisation- The process of manufacturing is interconnected to each other for goal
achievement. Marks and Spencer should make elements to be organised in effective and
efficient manner. This can help in better result for business to target consumers.
Accountability- Marks and Spencer should follow this principle and implement in
their business for better outcomes. They need to set rules and regulation in firm so that set
goal and objectives can be achieved. This helps in carrying responsibility for subordinates
and checking performance on regular basis.
Causality- Through this principles, Marks and Spencer can identify problems and
their causes. With finding of cause they can solve issues which can arise again and again.
Managed Person- The employees are regarded as main assets of organisation who
helps in achievement of goals and objectives. This can help Marks and Spencer to deal with
problems.
Humility- Through implementation of this principle, Marks and Spencer can save
cost and move with trial and error process to detect problems and issues.
Success- The success of organisation depends upon customer satisfaction so Marks
and Spencer should implement success in their business.
Change- It is dynamic in nature as business operates in changing environment which
needs to be changed accordingly. This can help respective organisation to apply new theories
and solutions for arise problems.
Reality- It is very important principles where Marks and Spencer should focus on
problems rather than techniques. As there is no tool made which can provide universal
solution to given problems.
4. Analyze the extent to which the operations management of the organisation in the case
study meets the requirements of the organisation.
It is very important for organisation to implement operation management in their
business in order to get success and growth. This can help respective organisation to carry out
work in effective and efficient manner so that goal can be achieved. The operation
management provides guideline to carry out each and every work in sequence manner. There
are various requirement of every business running in competitive market which can be
fulfilled with help of operation management. Thus, this can lead to grow business in changing
world with proper utilization of resources and implementing in practical situation.

5. Discuss continuous improvement as a philosophy and describe the Lean principles
Continuous improvement is also called as continual improvement process which is
ongoing effort for improving goods, products, services and processes. It is type of method in
order to identify opportunities for reduction of waste and work. This is used by all types of
organisation for improving their products and maintains quality to serve their consumers in
better and effective manner. This is the good philosophy which helps in achievement of
business goals and objectives. This is informal and formal set of practices guidelines. It is
advisable for Marks and Spencer to follow such practices in their business for better results.
There are various benefits of continuous improvement such as streamline workflows,
reduction of project costs and prevent overages. In order to cut time and cost and improve
quality continuous improvement is used.
There are some lean principles which should be followed by Marks and Spencer that
are as follows:
Value- This is defined through needs and requirement of consumer for particular
products. Here, Marks and Spencer can use such principles in their business for better
achievement of goal and objectives. This includes timeline for delivery and manufacturing,
price point, requirement or expectation. If respective organisation can value goods and
products then they can easily sustain and grow in market.
Value Stream- This is another principles where particular product carry steps from
raw materials into finished goods and delivering to consumers. It is related with design,
procurement, administration, customer service, delivery, production. The map is prepared for
flow of materials and product with help of process. The respective organisation should focus
on goal achievement of results.
Flow- In this principle, process should be flow smoothly without delays, bottlenecks
and interruptions. Each and every activity should be carried in effective and efficient manner
so that goals can be achieved in better and effective manner.
Pull- With proper flow and time to time market, production can be improved. As per
these principles goods should be manufactured through proper system and should not build in
advance.
Perfection- It is the last step where lean manufacturing is developed in business. This
can help them to achieve goals and objectives in better and effective manner so that profits
can be maximized and growth and sustainability can be maintained.
6. Prepare a continuous improvement plan based on your review and critique of operations
management principles within your organisation
The continuous improvement plan for Marks and Spencer are as follows:
Procedure Continuous Improvement Plan
Identify The organisation should identify challenges and process of business
with helps of success and organised people.

Analyse They should identify main root cause of problem through reality
world.
Take Actions The plan should be implemented in correct way for better results.
Study Results Action should be confirmed through plans.
Standardize Results The performance level should be improved in better and effective
manner.
Plan for Future It is very important to plan for future in order to achieve results in
better manner.
7. Using continuous improvement principles, make at least two justified recommendations
which could improve the operations function detailed in the case study.
There are various principles of continuous improvement which are applied by Marks
and Spencer. In order to improve operation functions of business, recommendation are given
for better results. The ideas of employees are valuable though it should be improved in better
and effective manner. It is recommended to organisation to listen to ideas of employees but
they should not implement it thoroughly and make proper analysis of each and every thing.
The organisation should not provide full ownership to their employees as they are main
performer for business and its activities. In order to improve operation functions it is very
much important for Marks and Spencer to involve their employees but not in ownership.
PART 2
A
1. A business case: This will explain the importance of the new product, its target market and
cost benefit analysis of the project.
The new product which Sunshine Drinks Company is going to produce in market is
soft diet drink which is especially for gym going people. This can help them to maintain their
body fit and healthy. As it is new drink in market which helps gym going people. The target
market of new product is gym users or gym going people. In order to make such project cost
required is $150.
2. Project plan: Explanation of each stage of life cycle in relation to your Project.
The product life cycle of new project is as follows:
Project Initiation- In this stage, Sunshine Drinks Company should analyse market and their
need and requirement in better and effective manner. This can help them for proper analysis.
Project planning- It is second step where proper planning should be done regarding location,
place, area, budget, target consumers and other for better project execution.
Project execution- In this stage, the planning made is executed in market for their consumers
which can help them to know about new products and market.
Project closure- It is last stage where project comes to closure stage. In this stage, the product
comes in market for their consumers.

3. Prepare a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) for developing of a new product.
4. Produce a Gant Chart based on the WBS above clearly depicting critical path and project
completion time frame.
5. Provide theoretical and conceptual arguments to justify the use of project methodologies,
tools and leadership required within the given project
B
1. Review and critique the effectiveness of the PLC in application to your project using the
appropriate theories models and concepts used in the project management.
This PLC application helps respective organisation in proper implementation of
project in market. This can help them in better and effective manner so that goal and
objectives can be achieved.
2. Why designing and implementing PLC is important to execute the project successfully
As PLC helps in providing proper guideline for project to carry each and every
activities in proper sequence. This can assist business in result achievement. The designing
helps to know about stages required for proper project and implementation aid in goal
achievement of project.
3. How cost saving techniques could be incorporated in PLC
4. What different techniques could be used to ensure quality, scope and tenure in the project
implementation?
5. Critically analyse how different theories, concepts and models could be used between large
and small-scale projects.
6. Critically evaluate the PLC you have prepared within practical and theoretical frameworks.
CONCLUSION
From above report, it can be concluded that operation and project management are
important for business to achieve success and growth. There are different principles which
should be used in respective organisation so that improvement can be done. For new product,
product development life cycle should be used in better and effective manner.
REFERENCES
Books and Journals

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