Review and Critique of Operations Management

This document provides a review and critique of operations management, focusing on Morrison, a leading supermarket in the UK. It discusses the principles and methodologies used by Morrison, such as Six Sigma and lean principles, and explores the continuous improvement plan. The document also includes a project case study and cost benefit analysis.

REVIEW AND CRITIQUE OF
OPERATIONS
MANAGEMENT

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................3
Project 2...........................................................................................................................................7
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................14
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................1

INTRODUCTION
Management is a process of arranging the activates of company to maintain the work
flow of company in each department and work towards achieving the company's objective.
Management arranges all essential resources to all department to work effectively in company.
On the other, Operation management is an essential process for any company (Noordzy,and
Whitfield, 2021). It assists company to maintain the work flow of company within organization.
It creates smooth work flow between production and management to provide with high quality
products and service to their customers.
The current report is based on Morrison which is public company started in 1899, 122
years ago to provide products and services with its operation in many segments. It is fourth
largest supermarket in United Kingdom. This report shows operation principles that is being
followed, implementing of operation, analysing the operation management of Morrison, lean
principle is being described and also improvement plan is prepared. Further, project life cycle is
being created and then critical reviews will be mentions.
MAIN BODY
Project 1
The current report is based on Morrison which is public company started in 1899, 122
years ago to provide products and services with its operation in many segments. It is fourth
largest supermarket in United Kingdom. Its headquarter is based on Bradford, West Yorkshire,
England. In 2016, Morrison have 494 supermarket stores in England with 110,000 employees in
company and having more than 11 million customers. They also offered loyalty card to
customers who are frequently visited their store that are provided with attractive offers on
products and discounts.
Operation Operation management
 It is an activity that carries a
performance work and involving the
practical application of principles for
producing goods and service.
 Operation activity is concerned with
converting raw material into finished
 This management deal with
supervision, planning and design of
business operation. The main objective
for the operation management is to
enhance the quality of business
operation.

goods or service to earn maximum of
profits.
 It is an important activity that carries
out by labours and other worker to
convert raw material into finished
goods.
 It is an activity that fulfil the market
demand by supplying goods to market.
 It emphasis on turning input into output
in efficient manner. Operation
management include the administration
of production, manufacturing and
provision of service.
 Management manages all the activities
that are related to production, logistic
and order activities which are followed
by company to fulfil the market
demand and maintain the flow of goods
in market.
To maintain the quality product by Morrison to remain in market of UK. They followed
various operation management principles like six sigma and lean principle by Morrison. This is
the methodologies which used to help business to improve the process of operation (Orgut, and
et.al., 2020).
Six Sigma: It is an operation methodology that is used by Morrison to improve the current
process, product or services by eliminate the defective products and discover easily. Morrison
major goal to implement the Six sigma is to streamline quality control in manufacturing of goods
and avoid the variation. The six sigma principle is to identify and eliminate the defective
products that cause variation in quality by process a sequence of steps around the set target of
Morrison. The five phrase of six sigma include: Define: Morrison identifies the problems of the market that is not covered by other
competitor, customer demand and need that is willing to take from market. This process
is being analysed and set while customers experience is determined according to
customer expectation. Measures: This stage of Six sigma Morrison measures the current performance of
process, product and service to know the actual results from market by customer
perspective. Morrison analyses the solution of actual performance of company working
according to customer needs and not on unreliable information’s (Borecki, 2020).

 Analyse: This phrase shows product and services are being used to analyse by using
company data and measured those data to identify sources of variation to know the reason
of problem arises in company. Improve: This process changes necessary modification in process, product or service
which are being analyse to create effective designed and tests methods for better
improvement. Morrison's work on New design and tests to achieved desired effect that
reduce the variations of product and service to eliminate them. Control: Here changes are implemented, process is being update by Morrison's support
system and company's control process and products to ensure new methods are fully
implemented in correct manner and identifies the performance of company is either good
or bad.
Lean principle: It has 5 main principles that improve the workplace and efficiency of people in
company which include: Define value: It defines the customer values which is important for to know the
customer’s values that are willing to pay the actual amount and know the latent need of
customers. Map the value stream: This step identifies all the steps in steam value for each product
and eliminate the possible who are not giving values (Morcillo-Bellido, and Duran-Heras,
A, 2020). Create flow: making of value crating step in proper sequence for the smooth flow
towards company customers. Establish pull: Introducing of flow for customer to pull values and next upstream
activity.
 Pursue perfection: It is a repetitive step that continue until an idol reached with perfect
value.
The operation management of Morrison help company to achieve the objectives through
attaining the customer satisfaction level and meet the market demand through proper flow of
products in market. It helps to maintain the work standardization in product that leads to
maintain the quality of product according to company's standards. It also works for continuous
improvement of products by producing goods with high quality with price effective. Operation
management also consist the flow of goods in market through logistics and transportation by

which sales and revenue of company can be achieved. It also directs company to changes its
policies according to market standards prices are set according to customers’ expectations.
Continuous improvement through lean principles shows that company need to improve
their products and service continuously until company attain the customer expectations. It assists
company to improve the quality of work of company for better products manufacturing, it also
reduces the error or defect in the product of process (Zhang, and Sharifnia, 2020). Lean
principle help company to reduce the cost of production and improve the flow of work with
reducing in lead time taken. It also encourages the employee morale towards company. The
market demand and expectation from companies can be met through continuous improvement in
product offers to customers.
Continuous improvement plan involves the following steps:1. Map: After selecting the process to improve, identifying the current steps to see the
process as whole and know the areas to improvement.2. Analyse the process: Analysing each step that is identified the cause of problem and to
understand the problem to solve it.
3. Redesign the process: redesigning the process to eliminate the problem that is being
arises and identified. It is important to understand the old process of company and their
problems that faced due to certain reasons.4. Assign resources: operational manager and their team help to adopt the new changes in
management and production process to avoid the losses and benefits of new changes.
Roles and responsibilities are being assign to employee for an effective working in
operations.5. Develop and implement plan: This stage implements the detail plan which is developed
by operational manager of Morrison. Tasks are assign to each of employee working in
operational to make it effective with time and date of task that will start and finish the
process. It increases the effectiveness of project that is being working on (Jana, 2021).6. Communication and executive: Operational manager communicate with all the members
for the final discussion to reduce the chance of failure. After communications, execution
of plan is being made for the improving the process and products of company to improve
overall process of company.

7. Monitor and Optimize: Improvement process in a continuous process, company need to
ensure the performance of employee of new process by monitoring its results. Optimizing
the problems that can be arisen and continents process ensure company to make changes
according to situations.
To improve the operation function through continuous improvement plan Morrison can
be followed are:
1. Customers demand and expectations should be analysed properly to know the changes in
need and wants of customers in market. To fulfil the demand and expectation of
customers, Morrison can lead the market in retail industry through offering quality
products in effective prices (Bashira, and et.al., 2020).
2. Employees training and development process should be effective that help company to
produce products with cost effective and enhance the profit margin of company. It also
increases the employee morale towards company and increase the employee satisfaction
through training and development of employee at time of new changes are adopted.
Project 2
The project is given in case Shows the large manufacturing company having 1250
employees. To change the program of organization, induction and personal development plan is
being prepared for achieving the company’s objective. The major issues in the organizations that
need to be prepared a plan on the issues which are reducing the movement of staff from premises
during the lunch break which brings issues in local areas and helping staff to build the healthy
life style of employees considering as a part of CSR activities and to reduce the employee
absenteeism.
The project life cycle plan includes the main 4 stages which define the plan from initial to
end of plan. This stages shows the steps through which company makes the plan and attain the
company's objectives. These stages include: Project initiation: This stages shows the problems is being arises in company which
create problem for company. Problem from local areas by employees' movement are
being seen by company that affect the company working and shows the reputation of
company. Another major issues which is being seen employee working healthy lifestyle
which is being arises with high employee absenteeism.

 Project Planning: After the problem arises in company that, project program member
had start finding the solution of the problem that are arises in company. It allows
company to solve the problems to make the work more productive and discipline is being
maintained, and living healthy lifestyle by employee that can reduce the employee
absenteeism and feels motivated (Sawathsangson and Bunchpattanasakd, 2020). Project execution: this stages shows the executing the planed structure by project
program to ensure the changes that is being followed by every employee of company.
Monitoring the changes that are being implemented by company I order to increase the
productivity and satisfaction level of employees. However, project execution shows the
implementation of plan to achieve the objectives.
 Project Closure: The last stage of the project that shows the monitor and controlling of
the plan that is made to achieve the current objective of company to resolve the issues
regarding employee of company. Monitoring and controlling of plan is very important in
order to follow it for long terms (Taghipour, and et.al., 2020).
Cost benefit analysis: It is a systematic process that business uses to analyse which
decision should be made and used. The cost benefit that is gained from the action after
subtracting the total cost associated with plan.
Particulars Cost
Increase in productivity $500
Reduction in absenteeism $350
Labour cost ($200)
Providing healthy lifestyle ($150)
CSR ($100)
Total $400
The above tables show the cost benefit from achieving the objective that gives $400 of
benefit to company. The total cost is being reduced from the company in order to gain the benefit
from the same. Thus, major benefits can be seen through increase in productivity of labour that
boost project working through regulating rules on discipline at work and during lunch break. It

also decreases the absenteeism of employee through motivating employee lifestyle as a pat of
CSR and increase the morale of employee towards company.
Work breakdown structure

Gantt Chart
Task Mode Task Name Duration Start Finish Predecessors
Auto
Scheduled Initiation stage 8 days Mon 3/15/21 Wed 3/24/21
Auto
Scheduled
Finding current project
goal 3 days Mon 3/15/21 Wed 3/17/21
Auto
Scheduled
Evaluating project
deliveries 2 days Thu 3/18/21 Fri 3/19/21 2
Auto
Scheduled
Determining required
budget 2 days Mon 3/22/21 Tue 3/23/21 3
Auto
Scheduled
Final approval from
project planner 1 day Wed 3/24/21 Wed 3/24/21 4
Auto
Scheduled Project Planning 16 days Thu 3/25/21 Thu 4/15/21
Auto
Scheduled Set up WBS 1 day Thu 3/25/21 Thu 3/25/21 5
Auto
Scheduled
Designing methods to
overcome problems 3 days Fri 3/26/21 Tue 3/30/21 7
Auto
Scheduled
Improving cost corporate
responsibilities 3 days Wed 3/31/21 Fri 4/2/21 8
Auto
Scheduled
Increasing employee
motivation methods 3 days Mon 4/5/21 Wed 4/7/21 9
Auto
Scheduled
Plaining methods to
reduce the employee
absenteeism
3 days Thu 4/8/21 Mon 4/12/21 10
Auto
Scheduled Analysing risk 3 days Tue 4/13/21 Thu 4/15/21 11,9,10
Auto
Scheduled Execution of project 6 days Fri 4/16/21 Fri 4/23/21
Auto
Scheduled Executing project plan 2 days Fri 4/16/21 Mon 4/19/21 12
Auto
Scheduled Measuring execution 2 days Tue 4/20/21 Wed 4/21/21 14
Auto
Scheduled
Compliance with
technique relating to
employee’s absenteeism
2 days Thu 4/22/21 Fri 4/23/21 15
Auto
Scheduled Project closure 15 days Mon 4/26/21 Fri 5/14/21
Auto
Scheduled Monitoring all stages 5 days Mon 4/26/21 Fri 4/30/21 16
Auto
Scheduled Approving final approval 3 days Mon 5/3/21 Wed 5/5/21 18
Auto
Scheduled
Undertaking of
administrative and financial
3 days Thu 5/6/21 Mon 5/10/21 19

closure
Auto
Scheduled Accomplishment of project 4 days Tue 5/11/21 Fri 5/14/21 20

Rationale: to increase the productivity of company, it is important to analyse the employee
discipline in work culture that shows the employee professionalism and behaviour towards the
other. The movement of employees during the break creating an issue fort the local area. Also
this project is important because it enhances the employee healthy life as a part of company’s
CSR and to reduce the employee absenteeism through motivating the employee and makes
employee satisfy for towards company (Madhani, 2020).
Leadership methods: The company is following the democratic leadership style where every
employee are motivated to put their review and suggestion for the project to make it better. It
enhances the employee and morale and motivate them towards company to work and with
increase in working g performance. It shows creativity of employees and help the company to
make an effective decision. This leadership style is mostly used by company to feel the employee
important for the company and to increase the company working efficiency (Islam, and Evans,
2020).
Project methodology: It is a method that is being used by company when company began to look
effective ways that shows the business benefits and organize ether work in structure manner. In
this, communication and collaboration is the key criteria that help company to increase the
productivity and work relationship among the employees. There is various method that are used
in project methodology (Mu and Gao, T2020).
Prince2: The project in control environment 2 shows the set of process-driven method and
documentation oriented approach that allow driving several project in private sector. It is
developed by UK government for the project management methodology and is being used
internationally. This method is help in more effective in project and enhance the career
progression. In the present project it will help to reduce the movement of employees during the
lunch time and minimize the issues that are suffers the local areas. The project manager also
finds easy to find out the reason of absenteeism from the company and increase the CSR
activities by developing the healthy lifestyle among the employees (Farag, and et.al., 2020).

CPM: Critical path method is another met5hod is being used by project manager in company and
explore the most critical tasks of the project by knowing the possible activity sequence and
estimating the time taken by each sequence. It shows the time taken by task to complete the
work. In this project, the company need to analysed the critical path way to reduce the
absenteeism of employees and make the reducing the movement if staff.
5. The effectiveness of PLC can be shows through methods and theories that are:
Planning: This stage shows the idea that is being found by company through innovation that
make the company’s employee more productive and follows the company rules. This stage
includes the diffusion of innovation theory. It shows the outlining the technology and other
advancement spread across from introduction to wider adoption. This theory shows that how new
ideas and parties are adopted over a long period of time. It has a following stage:
Innovator: This people want first to try the innovation in market. They are interested in new
ideas and willing to take risk and often first to develop the ideas.
Early Adopter: They represent the opinion leaders. They work as a leader’s role and embrace
change opportunities. They already aware about the changes needed and comfortable to adopt
new ideas (Wolniak, 2020).
Early majority: this people are rarely a leader and do not adopt a new idea and wait for
innovative work to get success.
Late majority: This are difficult to change and adopt innovation only after the majority of
innovator used the process.
Laggards: They are very traditional and very conservative. They are typically to adopt the
changes Soemitro, and Suprayitno, 2020.)
Implementing: This stage shows the implementing of an idea that has being develop by leaders
and company in order to achieve the company’s objectives. This stage includes the team work
theory which is being used by company. this theory states that, team work is a best way to
complete the task. It is very powerful about connecting the group of people towards the same
direction to achieve the common goal. It shows the teamwork of company to complete the work.
Monitoring and control: This stages shows the monitoring and controlling of performance of
employees and working of company to achieve the goal. It shows the monitoring of new idea
towards company working and controlling the performance of employees towards the task
performed.

It can be different from small and large business they have different working culture,
investment and include different cost that are available by different source and different scale of
working. This stages are taken according to size and resources available to companies.
CONCLUSION
The above report conclude that operation is an important activity that help company to
manage the production, logistic and other process through which goods and services are being
deliver. Operation management help to maintain the quality and demand of goods in market. The
principle which is follower by company through six sigma and lean principles while analyse the
operation manage the requirements. Further improvement plan is being made from operation
management principles. While second project to shows the project life cycle and their stages
which help to attain the company objectives. This can be measure through various methods like
WBS. Gantt chart and cost benefit analysis. lastly project methodologies show the methods that
are implemented to project to achieve the ultimate objectives and PLC applications shows the
different methods, theories and concept that shows the planning. Implementing and controlling
by the company in order to achieve goal.

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