Operations and Project Management: Review and Critique of Principles, Continuous Improvement Plan, and PLC Application

This report discusses the implementation of operation management principles in the context of Next Plc, a UK-based multinational organization. It includes a review and critique of different principles, preparation of a continuous improvement plan, and application of each stage of PLC in a project. The report also reviews the effectiveness of PLC application with appropriate theories, models, and concepts.

Operation and Project
Management

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................3
TASK...............................................................................................................................................3
P1. Review and critique of implementation of different principles of operation management in
context of organisation ...............................................................................................................3
P2. Preparation of continuous improvement plan based on review of operation management
principles in context of organisation ..........................................................................................7
P3. Application of each stage of PLC in context of project that require support to different
documentation for completion of project ...................................................................................9
P4. Review and critique of effectiveness of PLC application into a project with appropriate
theories, models and concepts .................................................................................................11
CONCLUSION .............................................................................................................................12
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................13

INTRODUCTION
Operation management can be described administration of practice of business that helps to
create higher level of efficiency within an organisation. It is related to conversion of material as
well as labour into goods and service efficiently for purpose of maximisation of profit of
company (Alani, 2022). Project management can be described as process of leading work of a
team that assist for attainment of goals of organisation in a given constraint. It includes different
types of information used for purpose of documentation of project documentation. This project
report includes information related to Next Plc which is a UK based organisation established by
Joseph Hemsworth in the year 1864. It is one of multinational organisation which is providing
different product like clothing, footwear as well as home product to their customers in different
countries. In this report, discussion is conducted of implementation of operation management
principles in context of organisation. It prepares continuous improvement plan that is based on
principle of operation management. It consists application of stages of PLC in context of a
project along with supporting documentation for completion of a project. Moreover, it reviews
and critique effectiveness of PLC for application of a project along with different theories,
concepts and models.
TASK
P1. Review and critique of implementation of different principles of operation management in
context of organisation
Overview of Organisation
Next Plc is one of UK based organisation which is providing their business at international
level as its business is not limited to one country. It is an organisation which is providing their
products and service in different country. It is offering different types of products and service to
their customers including home product, clothing and footwear (Banerjee, Ray, and Ghosh,
2019). It is having different stores in different country and has 700 stores under their brand
name. It is one of largest clothing retailer in UK. It is a large organisation which is having
numbers of skilled employees working in different countries. It has around 44193 employees
working for growth and success of company. It is serving in different areas like in UK, Asia,
Middle East and Europe and had their stores in different location. It was established by Joseph
Hepworth in UK in the year 1864 and its head quarter is existed in England, UK.

Explanation of operation and operation management
Operation in business can be described as activities in which business engage on regular
basis for purpose of increasing and enhancing values of enterprise as well as profit. These
activities are undertaken for purpose of generating revenue in order to identify expenses as well
as earning profit for business owners (Hai, Xiaojian, and Bin, 2019). Employees in an
organisation are attaining goals of business with performing different function like
manufacturing, marketing, accounting and other functions.
Operation management on the other hand can be defined as administration of different
business practices for purpose of creating efficiency within an organisation. It is related to
conversion of material as well as labour into finished products and services in an efficient
manner for purpose of maximisation of profit of business. It is a practice adopted by company
for purpose of balancing cost with a goal of increasing cost along with revenue in order to
enhance operating profit of company.
The Principle of operation management:
Operation management refers to management of day to day operations of business in
order to achieve organisational objectives and goals. In a manufacturing concern, it refers to all
those processing stages through which raw material is converted into the finished goods (Ji,
2017). The main objective of operational management is effective and efficient utilisation of
labour, resources, material, plant and machinery etc., So that the company will be able to match
their demand of the products and services by maintaining proper supply.
The following are principles of operations management which are helpful for any business.
Reality: As the name suggests, company must focus on overall problems faced by
organisation as individual rather than just focus on equipment, tools and techniques used by them
because there is no tool in whole universe which provides solution of every problem faced by
internal management of the company. Next plc focus on their workforce by attracting,
developing and retaining them at all three levels of business that is at top level, middle level and
low level management. Next plc creates a healthy environment and atmosphere where all
individual members are welcomed, gets proper support and cooperation from fellow team
members and staffs.

Organization: In a manufacturing concern, all processes involved in it are
interconnected to each other. Therefore, all elements much be consistent with each other so that
the desired output can be achieved in a timely manner (Li, and Ma, 2019). Next plc factories are
equipped with filters that helps in reducing erosion and chemicals used in production process are
biologically decomposable that makes plant and factories of next plc environmental friendly.
There is a regular maintenance check-up in next plc of all processes involved in manufacturing
so that any defect can be identified initially and proper measures can be implemented
immediately.
Accountability: It is responsibility of management team to be accountable and
responsible for work they are assigning to their subordinates. It can be done by making rules and
deadlines for work they are delegating to workers so that workers put necessary efforts to
complete their task on time. Next plc provides proper training at initial stage of joining of new
workers. Further they implement proper supervision and monitoring over them. Next plc has a
separate training department which provides regular on job training to workers so that their
efficiency will improve on regular basis.
Six sigma methodology
Six sigma methodology defines techniques and methods to evaluate every step of
process. It also provides methods which improves efficiencies and effectiveness in business
structure and also improves prime quality of process (Ma, Wu, and Shang, 2021). It can be
applicable in every process and in each kind of industry. DMAIC is one of methodologies in six
sigmas which denotes define, measure, analyse, improve and control. NEXT Plc is known as
multinational retailing company which follows six sigma methodologies.
Define: It is first process followed in six sigma methodologies which begins with
customer centric approach. This business problem is always defined by customer point of view.
NEXT Plc target customers with age between 20-46 and they are identical about quality,
convenience, price and choice. Recently sales decrease by 5% due to change in customers
shopping behaviour throughout industry (Marzuki and Junaedy, 2017). Once problem has been
deducted goals are settled accordingly with the available resources.
Measure: Measure is known as second phase which evaluates tools requires to correct
that problem in numeric terms which will help to achieve organisational outcome for that
specific problem. As recently NEXT Plc sales is decreasing due to competitors are attracting

customers with new mid-year sales, Next also discounts but less, for this NEXT is been targeting
a huge base and n keep sales which will not only increase customer base but also make profit.
Analyze: After measuring it analyze strategy by bringing into market to know is it
effective or efficient. If organisation will achieve what they were willing to from strategies and
resources applied by company. Qualify success rate into own point of view in numeric terms for
easy profit count.
Improve: This process indicates way industry reacts by dropping anything new. If NEXT
Plc launches mid-year sales it will build growth of organisation and earned profit will increase
then before as quality of NEXT Plc products always reaches to heights. The customers will be
happy with change they always wanted to see in its idol clothing brand (Ming, Hu, and Zheng,
2021).
Control: This is known as final phase which determines objective of previous phases by
rechecking measurement system of profit or if process is capable to overcome problem of
company. If back all process is done correctly company implements that and bring into industry.
The strategies are to be enough effective so that company can again make a top position in
market and compete with rivalry.
Lean principles
Lean manufacturing can be described as production process that is based on ideology for
purpose of maximisation of productivity which helps to minimising wastage in process of
manufacturing operation. It provides different benefits to an organisation as it reduces operation
cost and also improve product quality. There are different principles in lean manufacturing which
is adopted by Next Plc for purpose of reducing wastage. Explanation of these principles in
context of company is mentioned below:
Value: Values can be defined as needs of customers related to a specific product. It can
be including price, meeting of expectation of customers, timeline for delivery of products and
other things (Nunes, Smith, and Tourinho, 2018). It is important for managers of Next Plc to
understand which values of product is to be consider by customers.
Value Stream: Value stream is another important thing which is can be require after
determination of value goals. It consists different thing related to a specific product that is related
to a raw material as well as delivering of final product of customers. It is a map that identify
different actions to be taken for purpose of development of products and service with a process.

It is essential for managers of Next Plc to consider this principle for purpose f development of
process for production of products and service.
Flow: It is another principle which is required by managers of next Plc that ensure
smooth flow of operation process without any interruption or delay. It is important for managers
of company to ensure delivery of product on time as it can create problems for company and
competitor can take benefit of this situation.
Pull: It is another principle which is followed by company for purpose of improving flow
of products and service (Quade, Wynn, and Dawson, 2021). It helps managers of Next Plc to
deliver products and service just in time and also help to manage inventory in effective manner.
Perfection: It is a last principle of lean management which is most important is last to
make improvement in lean thinking. In order to improve production process of Next Plc, it is
important for managers to make contributes efforts which helps them to get perfection.
P2. Preparation of continuous improvement plan based on review of operation management
principles in context of organisation
Continuous improvement plan
It is not possible for any organisation that all the operations of the management are
conducted in the business in proper manner because some deviations are compulsorily exist. It is
important for the management of Next plc to evaluate these deviations and makes considerable
improvement in these to protect their organisation from the negative impact of these issues
(Queiroz and Macadar, 2020). The small deviation can make huge differences in the operations
of organisation. The managers of Next plc try to track the deviation in their business and also
make efforts to improve them.
SOURCES PRINCIPLES OUTCOME
Cost Develop s chain of huge
supplier
The management of Next plc
conduct a business of fashionable
garments under which the raw
material plays important role in cost
of the production. The management
develop chain of many supplier so
that they dominate the price of raw

material.
Quality Lean manufacturing It is very important for the
management of Next plc to
maintain the quality of their
products because the customers are
more potential and sensitive towards
the quality of the clothes (Shijun and
Jianhua, 2018). The management of
Next plc uses new and advanced
technology to monitor the quality of
the goods. All the products has to
fulfil the set standards to sell in the
market.
Safety Fundamentals It is very important for the
management of Next plc to develop
different safety measures in their
workplace so that the safety of the
employees from the hazardous
situation can be possible and they
work in the organisation without any
fear of loss.
Delivery Organisation It is essential for the management
of Next plc to verify the
effectiveness of information delivery
in the organisation (Takakura,
Yajima, and Hashizume, 2019). The
managers working to develop
effective communication channels in
the organisation to so that the
policies can be understand by

employees effectively.
According to administration body of organisation, it is important for a person to perform
different operation as well as its plan of action for company which assist them for purpose
evaluation as well as analysation of different faculty of business that allow them to identify
different problems of company (Unzueta Aranguren, and Eguren Egiguren, 2021). In order to
overcome of these problems, managers needs to develop a continuous improvement plan that
allow them to offer quality products as well as service to customers. There are different types of
elements to be included in this plan which are mentioned above that assist managers to improve
efficiency of company. Next Plc is an organisation which is adopting lean manufacturing as well
as six sigma approach in their business that assist them to improve quality of service of
company.
P3. Application of each stage of PLC in context of project that require support to different
documentation for completion of project
In order to develop a project, there are different types of elements to be includes by
company which allow them to successfully provide them products and service in market in order
to get some profit. There are different types of services provided by an organisation to their
customers in order to enhance their experience and also to retain them for long period of time.
There are different types of stages to be included in project life cycle of a project. These stages
of PLC in context of company is mentioned below:
Initiation stage: It is one of starting stage of project in which managers of midland
organisation is estimating cost of adoption of CSR and providing training and development to
employees to avoid movement. It is an organisation which is adopting it for purpose of
improving their image in minds of their customers and also to reduce movement of employees in
their organisation (Vladimirovna, Vladimirovna and Yuryevna, 2019). For this, managers are
developing a campaign in which effective training and development opportunities is provided to
employees. It is important for goodwill of company in market also improving their calculation in
market within upcoming months.
Planning stage: It is the next stage in project life cycle stage in which different policies
and schemes are planned for purpose of execution of project. It is one of stage in which
managers are speculate planning with using different schedule, legal procedure which allow

them to develop a statement. Midland organisation is one that is targeting its employees for
reducing movement of staff and also to develop a healthy life style for them. Managers of
midland organisation is planning different activities require for purpose of attainment of goals of
this project. For this, they are setting a time frame required for completion of project. In order to
attainment of goals of this project, managers are also selecting suitable leading style which allow
managers to effective handling team. For completion of this project, estimated time require for
completion of project is three months.
Execution stage: It is one of stage in which managers of company is actually
implementing different types of strategies made by them in previous stage for purpose of
attainment of goals and objectives of company. In this, creativity ideas for purpose of
improvement in employees and their performance are converting into action (Xu, 2021).
Managers of Midland organisation in this executing action strategies as well as planning
conducted by management of company. Development of different policies as well as execution
of different activities related to project can be implemented within upcoming three months.
Different types of leadership and management styles are used by managers for purpose of
providing direction and co-ordination to efforts of employees. In this, different types of
responsibilities are occur on different members and for successful execution of project, it is
essential for every members to fulfil their duties and responsibilities in effective manner.
Closure stage: It is the last stage of project life cycle in which different employees and
workers who are actively participating in execution process of company will provide different
types of documents in company. In this stage, managers are midland managers are putting
forward different documents. It is a process which require time for purpose of actual execution of
process. It create different types of opportunities for managers as well as subordinates that results
in increasing goodwill for company along with their performance.
Gantt chart: It is one of tool used for execution of project that is reflected as a horizontal
bar for purpose of execution of task. It is a model that was introduced by Henry Gantt in the year
1915 that is based on a relationship among duty as well as schedule that is concerned with
execution of project. It is a chart that is used for purpose of visual communication where
horizontal axis is reflection of period of time whereas vertical axis is showing task to be
completion by different person. In order to actually execute project and estimation of time for
completion of project, managers require Gantt Chart.

Business Case
Midland organisation is introducing new campaign in their organisation for purpose of
reducing movement of staff and also to develop healthy life style fr them for fulfilling corporate
social responsibilities. It can be done for purpose of improving efficiency and performance of
employees and also to retain them for long term in company (Yuan, Gong, and Peng, 2017). In
this, managers of company can be attainment goals of this project with providing training and
development of employees along with creation of positive environment. In order to protect
execution of this project, managers are maintaining protection information and data related to
ensuring action of subordinates and workers that provide them profitable situation.
Goals: Main objectives of Midland organisation is to enhance satisfaction of employees
with organisation in order to control movement time of staff and improving their lifestyle. It
allow company to improve performance of employees along with increasing profit for business.
Solution: In order to solve problem faced by Midland organisation, managers are
analysing performance of employees, ensuring training and development opportunities for them.
These helps them to improve satisfaction of employees which is important for them to adopt
advance tools.
Cost: Cost is another factor that play important role in execution of a project. There are
different types of cost that is associated with different things like purchase of hardware, software
and other things.
Benefits: It provide various benefits to company as it helps them for purpose of
improving satisfaction of employees as company is focusing on corporate social responsibility
and working for improving healthy lifestyle of employees (Zhang and Hu, 2021). It is important
as it improve capacity of an organisation to develop and sales products and service of company.
Work break down structure: It is another tools used by managers of company which
allow them to divide whole work into small parts. Managers of Midland organisation is using
this tool that allow them to divide work in different part.
P4. Review and critique of effectiveness of PLC application into a project with appropriate
theories, models and concepts
Employees campaign is one of project which is taking into consideration by managers of
midland for purpose of improving satisfaction of employees and fulfilling their duties provide
them. Fir this managers is focusing on providing healthy life style to employees and also

reducing movement of employees in lunch time. It will create positive impact over performance
and quality of work of employees. Success of a project can be depended on different types of
theories used by them which is mentioned below:
Initiation stage: Midland organisation is using democratic leadership in which leader is
asked for suggestion to employees and involving them in decision making process. It helps them
to effectively making decision and also allow them to ask for valuable suggestion from
employees.
Planning phase: Planning phase is another stage in which leaders are using situational
leadership in which leaders can take decision on basis of different scenario. In this, plan is
changed according to situation which provide flexibility.
Execution phase: It is another stage in which leader are using servant leadership in
which focus of leader is on subordinate development. It is one of style in which leader is
focusing on development of subordinates for purpose of effectiveness of a business.
Closure phase: It is last stage in which leaders of midland organisation as adopted team
leadership in which leader is focuses on work to be completed in above stage in order to identify
problem and making improvement.
CONCLUSION
From above mentioned project report included that Operation management is playing
important role in an organisation which allow them for completion of operation of company in
effective manner. There are different types of principle to be included in management like six
sigma, lean manufacturing, inventory management and other things. In order to overcome of
problems occur in an organisation, managers can also develop improvement plan. In order to
execute a project in business, managers of company can implement project life cycle.

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