A.C. Gilbert Company: Innovation and Continuous Improvement Strategies

Desklib provides past papers and solved assignments. This report analyzes A.C. Gilbert's business processes.

BSBMGT608 Manage innovation and continuous improvement
Assessment 1: Review programs, systems and processes
You must provide/submit ONE Report (5 – 7 pages)
 Your report must include:
1. Key Systems and processes used by A.C Gilbert
2. Review strategy for the three processes
3. Monitoring performance
4. Analyse the variance
5. Trends relevant to the organization
6. Advise from specialists
Suggested report format
1. Introduction
 Briefly introduce the assignment details.
 Explain the purpose of this task
 Provide a brief overview/background of A.C. Gilbert
2. Key systems and process used by A.C.Gilbert (refer to student work book pages 17-18).Briefly explain what you
mean by the following and how they are followed in A.C. Gilbert
a. Supply Chain (supply chains represent the procurement, production and distribution activities of an
organisation - Within a supply chain, these activities are viewed as linked and reliant on one another to
produce the final outcome –what does A.C. Gilbert supply chain include? Explain)
b. Operational system (Write a note on the operational systems, if any, used by ACG)
c. Product and service delivery (What methods did they use to get the products delivered?)
2. Analysis of the key systems and review strategy
Analyse the three key systems and processes and develop the elements of your review strategy. Applying your
knowledge of quality management and continuous improvement theory, develop performance and
sustainability measures, assessment tools and techniques that you would use to evaluate the effectiveness of
the three key systems and processes.
In your report, include if applicable:
2a. lists of key result areas (KRAs)
2b. lists of key performance indicators (KPIs)
2c. a description of performance review processes
2d. a sample service level agreement.
ADLM Inn_CI_Task 1 template

2a&2b KRAs and KPIs(provide a minimum of three KPIs for each KRAs from the case study)
KRAs (from case
study)
KPIs (examples provided below)
from case study
(Actions taken by Jack Wrather)
Assessment tools and
techniques (Which one of the
following tools and techniques would
you use?)
Performance and
sustainability measures (how
will you measure and sustain the
performance?)
Customers
 quality standards –
maintain current quality
standards and exceed
market expectations

 balanced scorecards
 key performance indicators
(KPIs)
 performance reviews
 Service level agreements
 customer complaints, reduced
defects
Financials
 sales budgets – achieve
increase on previous year
sales/$20 million by 1963


 cost control, increase in revenue
People
 staff retention – retrain
engineers/production staff
to meet new production
requirements due to
increase in range


 employee engagement,
professional development, etc.
Processes
1. Introducing
new toy lines
 production times – meet
key retail sales periods.
1. 50 toy lines to be introduced
(3 every month)
1. I will use Balanced Scorecards to
check if this was working.
 Productivity, decreased
downtime,
1. Provide more training to staff on
new designs and production lines /
get weekly report


2c. Performance review process of the three systems
Explain, in detail with relevant information from the case study using diagrams, tables, flow charts, any one of the processes you
will use to review the performance of the three systems. E.g.process maps / SWOT analysis/benchmarking/check
sheets/graphs and charts.
ADLM Inn_CI_Task 1 template

2cExample of using a Balanced scorecard for reviewing AC Gilbert Performance between 1961-1967
BALANCED SCORECARD
AC Gilbert production
KRA TARGET WEIGHTING ACHIEVEMENT
Customers
 quality standards –
Financials
 achieve increase on
previous year sales/$20
million by 1963
People
 staff retention – retrain
engineers/production staff

Processes
 production times – meet
key retail sales periods.
2dA sample service level agreement(provide a sample service level agreement - student handbook page –37) For example, a delivery organisation may have SLAs in place to advise customers that they can expect all deliveries to
be made within 24 hours of order.
3. Effectiveness and Improvements. (Using the data provided for results up to 1966, for each of the three key systems) -
Analyse the table above and write your reflections in 3-5 paragraphs
3a. Describe how each of your measures, assessment tools and techniques would monitor performance. Include
specific examples or hypothetical cases to test the effectiveness of the elements of your review strategy.
3b. Write an evaluation of the effectiveness of your review strategy
3c. Suggest improvements to your strategy
ADLM Inn_CI_Task 1 template

4. Using the data provided for results up to 1966, analyse the variances from plans and targets for the key result
areas (KRAs). Include discussion on performance with regards to:
a. quality – design/manufacturing
b. sales
c. profit
d. supply chain performance (delivery)
e. business growth – staff and management performance and/or turnover.
4. Analyse the variances from plans and targets for the key result areas (KRAs) Using
the data provided for results up to 1966, include discussion on performance with regards to: You can use graphs/charts as well.
Performance areas Planned Achieved (actuals) Reasons for
variance
f. quality –
design/manufacturin
g
g. sales
h. profit
i. supply chain
performance
(delivery)
j. business growth –
staff and
management
performance and/or
turnover.
5. Analyse trends relevant to the organization. (What trends did A. C. Gilbert fail to identify in the late
1950s? Consider the strengths and weaknesses of the A. C. Gilbert Company prior to 1960. Analyse the following in your report)
Areas Strengths Weaknesses Missed
opportunities
Suggested
improvements (What
do you recommend that
they shouldhave done)
a. market share
 experienced
personnel
 established
quality products
and standards
 small but
profitable
 specialised
products – limited
range
 focus on past
successes, not
future growth
 poor
 changing trends
 recognise changing
demands and trends
earlier
ADLM Inn_CI_Task 1 template

Areas Strengths Weaknesses Missed
opportunities
Suggested
improvements (What
do you recommend that
they shouldhave done)
 good reputation
in the
marketplace
management –
crisis
management
 lack of training
and planning prior
to introducing
large-scale
change
b. reputation High in the
market
They do not
focus on
product
variances
Need
variation
New designer
c. stability High in the
market
Need
improvisation
N ew marketing
strategy
d. profit high Increase in
sales
e. sales medium Product
variety
New designer
and knowledge
of market
f. ability to adapt
to change
High Not proper
infrastructure
New
technological
expert
g. customer
service
standards
medium Do not have
idea of
market
New analyst of
business
h. innovation
i. employee
performance
j. production and
manufacturing
6. Advice from specialists (Imagine the company did not close in 1967 and has somehow managed to continue operations
until today. Discuss the possible use of advice from specialists. What specialists could be consulted to advise on and identify new
technology or electronic commerce opportunities) Page 49
ADLM Inn_CI_Task 1 template

Sources What type of advice?
a. Internal– engineers, production
staff, manufacturing staff, sales
personnel, human resources
personnel
Proper technique for the companies
b. External– marketing consultants,
advertising experts, engineers or
designers, IT consultants.
e.g. Social media marketing
7. Conclusion
Provide a brief summary of the report and what next from here
ADLM Inn_CI_Task 1 template