Operations and Project Management: A Case Study of Barker and Stonehouse

This report discusses the implementation of operation management principles within Barker and Stonehouse, a furniture manufacturing firm in the UK. It also covers the concept of continuous improvement and analyzes the extent to which the operations management of the organization meets its requirements. Additionally, it includes a project management plan for on-site catering service for Midland Pump Manufacturing company.

Operations and Project
management

TABLE OF CONTENT
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................4
MAIN BODY..................................................................................................................................4
An introduction to chosen organization.......................................................................................4
An explanation of operation vs operations management.............................................................4
Critique of the implementation of operations management principles within organization.......5
An analysis of the extent to which the operations management of the organization in the case
study meets the requirements of the organization.......................................................................6
Discussion of continuous improvement as a philosophy and describing the Lean principles.....7
A continuous improvement plan, including your justified recommendations for improvement
within organization......................................................................................................................8
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................9
Part 2..............................................................................................................................................10
Project management plan:..........................................................................................................10
ON-SITE CATERING SERVICE.................................................................................................10

Overview of case study:.............................................................................................................10
Product life cycle:......................................................................................................................10
Analysis of methodologies and tools.........................................................................................17
Critical evaluation of effectiveness of PLC in application with the project..............................18
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................1

INTRODUCTION
Operation management is one of the most common but important term in every business
organization, this may include project management process in which allow firm to manage their
operation in effective manner. This study is based on Barker and Stonehouse, this company is
one of the finest furniture manufacturing firm in the UK dealing in customizable furniture
industry (Wolniak, 2020). This report will discuss effectiveness of operation management
principles and concept of continuous improvement in an operational context. At last this report
will discuss project life cycle (PLC) and its key stages for management of project and application
of PLC on chosen case study.
MAIN BODY
An introduction to chosen organization
Barker and Stonehouse is one of the finest furniture brand in the UK dealing in
customizable range of furniture products, this company manage their operation in effective
manner by applying operation management and project management plan. Barker and
Stonehouse provide customizable products allowing consumer to choose their desired concept
for furniture including design, colour and even shape. This company have critical manufacturing
equipment allowing them to fulfil every demand of consumer, this brand carefully manage their
demand of consumer because they consider this as tough project and operation. Barker and
Stonehouse have strong customer base allowing them to stay stable even in highly competitive
market, this company reduce operational workload by apply key principles of project
management, product of Barker and Stonehouse is approved with Project Life cycle Process
allowing firm to craft every product according to the demand (Guo and Zhang, 2022). Each
product of Barker and Stonehouse went through PLC allowing firm to capture all weak points,
this company consider customizing their product design and concept keeping them competitive
in the market. However, this company still need effective operation management plan allowing
them to fulfil every requirement, considering operation and project management principles.
An explanation of operation vs operations management.
Business operations simply refers as an activity which helps the organization to increase
their value of the enterprises and earn a definite amount of profit. The business performance can
be improved in effective manner by the appropriate usage of the activities and planning which
supports to generate the sufficient revenues to cover the expenses and earn a profit for the

owners of the business. Whereas, operation management simply defines as business practices to
create the highest level of efficiency possible within the organization where they are concerned
with converting materials and labor into goods and services from where the efficient amount of
profit can be obtained (Araz, Choi, Olson and et.al., 2020). The operations and operational
management differs from each other where operations are responsible for balancing an optimal
output from different inputs whereas operational management is a multidisciplinary area because
there are various resources in an operation.
However, operation are responsible for producing goods and products and delivering the
services to the clients and customers from where they can improve their organizational growth
and development in definite manner. To run any company or an organization it becomes
important for the management to understand the concepts of operations and operational
management from where the effective outcome can be achieved. Operational functions includes
managing the process of production to delivering the services where the company needs to plan,
organize, lead and control the activities in definite order (Mangla, Kusi-Sarpong and et.al.,
2020). Thus, the organization Barker and Stone house who is British furniture retailer which is
situated at United Kingdom has enforced and understand the significance of the operational
management at their business enterprise. The company Barker and Stone house has followed and
practices all the operational functions at their business and perform the activities which results
them in successful manner. The company creates and do the proper operational planning in
relation with budgeting, product designing, quality control, forecasting and even appropriate
supply chain management which overall leads the organization to obtain profitable outcome.
Critique of the implementation of operations management principles within organization
Operational management process involves the proper planning from where the company
can perform the work activity in definite manner and can acquire the definite amount of results
and outcome. However, the company Barker and Stone house implements ad follow the
operational process by the support of Taylor's theory of scientific management where it helps
them to do the operations in definite manner. The Taylor's theory focuses on the belief where
people work hard as they are not efficient as optimizing the way the work was done. The theory
has four principles of scientific management where it highlights:
 Develop science for each element
 Train, teach and develop the work

 Cooperation
 Divide work and responsibilities
These above mentioned principles states different meaning where first principle express
that employee of the company should gather the objective data on work, perform experiments
and standardize policies and procedures based on results of experiments. The company's
operational management delivers the extra wages to the employees and carefully examines and
test to ensure the way they are working by their abilities at all times (Hani, 2021). Providing the
extra wages is a benefit for the company as the employee will put more efforts and hard work to
perform the work effectively. However, the second principle refers where the organization
Barker and Stone house puts their focus on selecting, training, teaching and developing the
workers. The company understands and provides the effective training and development sessions
for the improvement areas of the employees and workers where they can enhance their skills and
abilities in definite manner and can enable them to grow their professional career as well.
Providing the training programs is a strength for the organization, but they also limit and
bounded with the time which can be a kind of limitation for the company to deliver the training's
on weekly basis. Furthermore, the third principle is cooperation with the workers where the
organization gives the opportunities to the employee to perform the tasks as a team where all
employees can interact with each other in definite manner and can deliver the results effectively
(Kurt and Aymelek, 2022). However, due to language differences employees of the company
cannot be able to connect with each other in wider manner which limits the cooperation. The
fourth principle explains that divide the work and responsibilities where the Barker and Stone
house company implement this form of strategy and principle at their workplace which helps the
employees to understand their work and duties in definite manner.
An analysis of the extent to which the operations management of the organization in the case
study meets the requirements of the organization
As per the case study, it has been evaluated that Barker and Stone house has made the
appropriate objectives in regard with the operational functions which helps them to put their best
efforts and hard work and can achieve their set goals (Corsiglia and Hunter, 2018). Operational
management of the organization includes the cost reduction, quality areas and even productivity
level where the organization already set the objectives for the better development of the
company. Cost reduction term simply defines whereas product prices should be reduced for the

higher productivity of the company because if the products prices and costs are lower down then
only the customers of the Barker and Stone house will make a purchase and increases the
company's profitability.
The company's objective is to deliver the products at affordable ranges and also has set
the pricing of the goods from lowest to highest as well from where different kinds of customers
can purchase accordingly (Abu-Qulah and Almhairah, 2021). However, company also keeps
their focus on quality of the products and items where they can also improve the customer scale
and can influence them to make the purchase. The company's productivity can be enhanced in
definite manner by understanding and implementing the appropriate forms of objectives where
they can achieve the targets in successful manner. Thus, according to the research, it has been
evaluated that the company's operational management are able to meet the requirements in
definite manner as their main purpose is to satisfy the customers and employees as well as they
are the key stakeholders for them who enables the organizational growth and development.
Discussion of continuous improvement as a philosophy and describing the Lean principles
Lean production simply means a methodology which focuses on eliminating waste and
improves the efficiency, reduces waste and enhances the productivity level. There are different
kinds of methods of the lean production which includes Kaizen, JIT, Kanban, Andon and such
more. However, at the Barker and Stone house they implement Kaizen method at the workplace
which simply means continuous improvement process where the company can overall progress
and gains the productivity within a firm (Acevedo-Urquiaga and et.al., 2021). The Kaizen
process focuses on reducing and overcoming the waste and puts their efforts in the continuous
form of improvement where the employee can build up their target activities and can deliver the
profitable outcome and results. The Barker and Stone house follow this method because it is not
enough effective for them to increase the productivity level of the organization. Thus, the
company needs to adopt the continuous improvement plan whereby applying the six sigma
method and determining its effectiveness.
Define: The company Barker and Stone house is required to keep their focus on higher amount
of absenteeism and CSR activities and should encourage the employee for adopting the healthy
lifestyle.
Measure: The management of the company could measure the improvement by tracking the
performance of the employee and can understand the weak areas as well.

Analyze: By doing the performance management of the employee will help and support the
organization to analyze the further areas of improvement and can put different strategies.
Improve: The company needs to improve their focus on employee retention and absenteeism
where they can create a good and positive culture for them which results the company in
beneficial manner.
Control: The issue can be control by creating a proper continuous improvement plan which
overall supports the organization to obtain the profitable outcome.
A continuous improvement plan, including your justified recommendations for improvement
within organization
There are different kinds of improvement plan, the company Barker and Stone house has to
implement within the company to enhance their productivity level. Here, mentioning some
continuous improvement methods below:
Kaizen: This method focuses on improvement process in regard with team work, personal
discipline, improved morale, quality circle and such more.
Advantage
 Strengthening of team work
 Improve leadership quality
Disadvantage
 Additional training
TQM: It stands for total quality management where organization can build long-term success by
providing the appropriate satisfaction to customers.
Advantage
 Lower cost
 Build reputation
Disadvantage
 Resistance to change
Bench-marking: It is a process where practice of comparing business and performance metrics
to industry bests and other companies.
Advantage
 Reduce costs be increasing efficiency
Disadvantage
 Foster mediocrity
SCM: Supply chain management is the process of flow of goods and services where the
procurement of raw materials to the delivery of the product.
Advantage
 Cost efficiency
Disadvantage

 Lack of coordination among departments
ERP: Enterprise resource planning is to increase organizational efficiency of an organization by
managing and improving company resources.
Advantage
 Allows storing data and analysis
Disadvantage
 Security Risks
Value engineering: A method to improve value of goods and its services.
Advantage
 Increase productivity
Disadvantage
 Failing to use professional guidance for reducing time and costs can lead to failure.
However, it has been recommanded that Barker and Stonehouse company should use TQM form
of method at the workplace from where they can obtain the profitable outcome and results as it
delivers the appropriate satisfaction to customers and employees as well.
CONCLUSION
This report has discussed operation and project management concept and its importance
in the business organization. Later this report has discussed effectiveness of operation
management principles including comparison of operation vs operation management and
discussed implementation of operation management principles within chosen organization. Later
this report has discussed analysis of operation management including case study and key
requirement of the organization. At last this report has discussed continuous improvement
process as an organizational philosophy and described lean principles, focusing on continuous
improvement plan including justified recommendations for improvement and management of
operation.

Part 2
Project management plan:
ON-SITE CATERING SERVICE
Overview of case study:
On-site catering service is one of the biggest challenge for every organization, firm who have
manufacturing unit need to provide food service to each and every employee and worker. This
case is related to Midland Pump Manufacturing company facing issue of providing on site
catering service to worker (Armenia and et.al., 2019). This company is facing loss of working
hours as worker are consuming these time, this issue arrive because there is no space for worker
to eat their food, lack of space is one of the biggest issue impacting firm's performance. On site
catering service will be installed at workstation which require complete project, these may
include:
Product life cycle:
Product life cycle is one of the most important process in every business organization,
this company to start something new or to bring major change in their existing process (Stanitsas,
Kirytopoulos and Leopoulos, 2021). PLC include certain stage which allow firm to carefully
start a project and complete it with proper procedure, Milland Pump Manufacturing company
need PLC to start on site catering service, this will allow firm to reduce congestion in the
workstation, there are certain stage to be followed, these are;
Project initiation:
This is first and critical stage where firm need to provide business case including key details of
project or product company wants to introduce, this may include important area of business case,
these are:
Name of the company:
Midland pump manufacturing company. Vision: Midland pump manufacturing company have vision to provide professional
service to both consumer and worker. Mission:Midland pump manufacturing company have mission to rule over industry and
provide growth opportunity to worker.
Concept of new project:

On site catering service is one of the new project introduced by the company to reduce
congestion in the workstation and stop worker to waste time. This project will include two major
objectives, these are:
 Reducing the movement of staff from the premises during the lunch break which is
currently creating congestion issues in the local area Helping staff to develop a healthy lifestyle which the organization believes is part of their
CSR and will also reduce staff absenteeism.
Key resource:
Budget: Budget play vital role which allow firm to introduce new project and manage their
working, for the completion of this project company will introduce small budget and cash flow
plan, this may include:
Project budget
Catering area and shade $1000
Food and raw material $5000
Equipment and kitchen set $2000
Other $1000
Total $9000
Benefit and risk: Reduce congestion: When company will introduce this project, first thing will occur is
reduction on congestion which means there will be no over load in the area allowing each
worker to eat peacefully in food station (Zhen and et.al., 2019). Company will enjoy
worker productivity as well because there will be less time consumed.
 Might fail: This project of on site catering service is effective enough but might fail
because firm is not ready to manage worker's behaviour, they will no follow rules of food
station impacting performance of this plan. This project have higher chance of failure
which making it riskier in the process.
Project planning:
This is second but most important stage in PLC allowing firm to plan each and every
process to make project successful, this area may include key planning process including budget

planning, workforce planning and planning of certain other procedure to make this project
happen in real. Project planning require resource planning as well which means company need to
perform careful research including risk management and mitigation.
Preparation of the work breakdown structure-
There will be mainly Four tasks which will be performed as below-
Resource planning:
Cooking food in house.
Project
execution.
Project planning. Project Closure.Project
initiation.
 Brief
Description
 Background
 Goals
 Scope
 Impact on the
business system
 Stakeholders
 Roles and
Responsibilities
 Milestones
 Budget:
 Constraints,
Assumption
 Success
Measurements
 Scope planning
 Preparation of
the work
breakdown
structure
 Project schedule
development
 Resource
planning
 Budget planning
 Procurement
planning
 Risk
management
 Quality planning
 Communication
planning
 Project
deliverables
 Change requests
 Performance data
 Issue log
 Documentation
updates
 Deliverables to the
stakeholders
 Documentation to
the organization
 Cancelling supplier
contracts
 Releasing staff and
equipment’s
 Informing
stakeholders about
closure

Performer Task Specialization
Project strategist Preparing strategies for the
tasks
Project management
Budget manager Preparing and managing
budget
Masters in Finance.
Project executor Managing different areas of
the business
Project management
Other team members Coordinating project manager Basic knowledge of event
management
Risk management:
A proper plan is to be made for reducing the potential threat of the issues and challenges
which are commonly faced by the business in order to establish these changes in their business
environment successful. Effective KPIs may be used by the business in order to control their
quality of output and enhance their services in the industry.
Budget planning:
Particulars Budgeted cost (amount in £)
Project planning and research cost 9000
Documentation and stationary cost 6000
Cost of hiring specialists 5000
Cost of raw material 1100
Cook hiring cost 8000
Serving and utensil cost 1755
Cooking plant installation cost 2500
Project evaluation cost 1600

Data management cost 1900
Total budgeted cost £36855
Communication planning:
Communication will be evaluated properly and everyone will work collaboratively
towards the overall development of the business in the industry. This will be helpful in applying
different aspects of change properly which is necessary for gaining benefit.
Project execution:
All the pre-planned activities will be executed under this stage which will be useful in
understanding the different aspects which are crucial for the business to enhance their
performance in the industry.
Project deliverables:
Tangible outputs of the project must be evaluated properly for increasing the overall
success of the business. Progress of the project should be timely followed in order to increase the
consistency of the work of the business.
Performance data:
The changes in the overall performance of the company to initiate changes in their
business environment will be tracked with the help of this practice which is useful for the
business to grow in the industry. Reports need to be made which will be useful for finding the
mistakes and problems which may frequently arise for the business o control their quality of
output.
Issue log:
An issue log may be maintained by the business which can provide appropriate support to
the organization for increasing their quality of output. The bugs and challenges may be identified
with the help of these practices which may have a positive influence on the overall success of the
business. It will be beneficial in preparing effective strategies and mitigating the risks which will
be able to provide better assistance to the business.
Project closure:

Projects are systematically closed at this stage of the life-cycle which takes place at the
end of the financial year. There are different activities which needs to be performed during this
process which are as follows:
 Deliverables to the stakeholders of the business
 Preparing documentation of the business
 Cancelling the supplier contracts specifically
 Informing the stakeholders about closure of the business
 Releasing all the staff and equipment
Post implementation review-
An appropriate review of the previous work will be carried out under this practices which
is useful in order to grow and enhance the overall success of the business in the industry. This
will be beneficial for the business to conduct these practices and enhancing the overakll successs
of the business to achieve better results in the industry.
Building a case
Project name- “Cooking In-House food for employees”.
Vision, Objectives- To complete the project under the predetermined time limit for enhancing
the overall quality of output.
Mission- To enhance the corporate social responsibility of the company with the ability to
achieve appropriate quality of output.
New idea- In this project, healthy food options will be provided to the employees for reducing
their outing in the lunch time. In this project a good combination of both WBS and Gantt chart
has been used in order to succeed it to the fullest extent.
Opportunity- With the help of proper planning and execution, the company may be able to fulfil
their CSR and enhance the quality of output which has been achieved by him in the industry.
Resources- Raw material, chefs, utensils etc. are specific resources which are necessary for the
business to grow in the industry.
Project plan- A Gantt chart has been presented here for providing knowledge about different
aspects which are crucial for the business which represents different stages that are to pe
completed in this project significantly. All the stages are included in this gantt chart that is
showing the time frame which is targeted by the business significantly.

Risk and potential benefits- Fluctuations in the prices of the products may have a negative
influence on the overall productivity of the projects as it can create instability in the business
environment.
Cash flow work- Cash flow of the business might be managed by the finance department on a
monthly basis in according to gain better advantage.
Conclusion and Recommendation- It can be understood from the above report that all the
activities can be executed appropriately for gaining higher success in the business.

Analysis of methodologies and tools
Project methodologies:

There are different types of methodologies that are used to manage a project
appropriately such as Agile, Waterfall and Prince. For this particular project, Agile methodology
has been used which is an appropriate approach which is useful in order to grow and enhance
their services. This is a highly flexible approach for improving the overall success of the business
to manage their project. This is an affordable approach where sheer emphasis is given to cost
reduction and other crucial aspects of the business. There are further several disadvantages of
this method as well which includes that this method requires appropriate knowledge of the
concepts and aspects which has a significant influence on the overall productivity of the project
management. The results are not that absolute in comparison with the Waterfall methodology.
Project management tools:
The tools which are used for project management are useful in enhancing the overall
success of the business to achieve better results in developing a positive output in the industry.
These tools provide better assistance for allocating the resources and finding better agility in
completing tasks on time in the business environment. It is useful in gaining information about
the different practices which are an integral part of the business environment. This method is a
bit rigid to handle by the people.
Project leadership:
It is referred to as the art of managing the team successfully with the help of different
strategies and approaches which are crucial for application. It plays a significant role in
improving the overall performance of the business in managing different tasks with
appropriateness. This is useful in the overall completion of the project by eliminating the
possibility of risks. It can increase the mental pressure among candidates which may have a
negative influence on their success.
Critical evaluation of effectiveness of PLC in application with the project
Performance management
The management of performance of a business with the help of several KPIs is an
effective task which is useful for the business to grow and gain better advantage in the industry.
This is beneficial in reducing confusion among the participants which is an essential part of the

overall management of the project. It promotes better use of the resources which is are developed
by the business for the project. It might be depended on assumptions which may sometimes lead
towards negative results that are unfavourable to the business.

REFERENCES
Books and journals
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Acevedo-Urquiaga, A.J., and et.al., 2021. A model with a collaborative approach for the
operational management of the supply chain. International Journal of Industrial
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management of facilities.
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into project management: The case of construction industry. Journal of Cleaner
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Zhen and et.al., 2019. Operation management of green ports and shipping networks: overview
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