BSBMGT608: Assessment 1 - Manage Innovation and Improvement

This document presents a comprehensive solution to Assessment Task 1 for the BSBMGT608 unit, focusing on managing innovation and continuous improvement. It begins by defining the relationships between continuous improvement, innovation, and organizational learning, followed by an analysis of process improvements in cake baking. The assignment then explores supply chain mapping using a chocolate bar as an example. Key performance indicators (KPIs) are identified for increasing market share, and a problem analysis tool is applied to address a personal issue, offering a practical solution. Further, the document outlines the student's strengths and weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, providing a SWOT analysis for career development. Organizational performance improvement strategies are discussed, emphasizing the importance of innovation and training. The assignment also covers the characteristics of a learning organization, detailing how a company fosters knowledge sharing and continuous learning. Finally, it explores strategies for quantifying benefits, using free trials and increasing risk tolerance within an organization. The solution provides practical examples and references to support the concepts discussed.

Running head: BSBMGT608
BSBMGT608 Manage innovation and continuous improvements
Name
Student number
Resident campus
Tutor
Unit

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Assessment task 1
Question 1
a)
According to Granerud and Rocha (2011 p.2030), a continuous improvement (CI) is an
ongoing way of improving processes, services or products. Innovation is a way of producing
or introducing something new. Organizational learning, on the other hand, is a process of
transferring, retaining and creating knowledge within an organization (Knipfer, Kump,
Wessel and Cress, 2013 p.30). In an organizational context, organizational learning creates
knowledge in employees that help them to innovate new ideas or products. Innovation is
linked positively in quality, efficiency, market share, competitiveness and quality. Therefore,
it is through innovation that the company can continuously improve the new innovated
processes, ideas or services.
b)

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Improved Ovens: Improvement of ovens can be an effective way of increasing productivity
as well as time and quality. Traditionally, ovens were wood- fired and they emitted soot on
the oven. In addition, the oven lacked proper ventilation and insulation and therefore end up
consuming average of more than 0.5 kg of wood per 1 kilogram of the baked wheat floor
(Salthammer, Schripp, Wientzek and Wensing, 2014 p. 205-211). If the oven still used in
cake baking is manual, the company should adopt direct heating ovens that are heated by
fuels in the chamber and indirect heating ovens that have a separate firebox or heater. These
ovens are effective, long lasting and can lower fuel consumption prices since they are made
up of steel that can withstand high temperatures.
Mix up large amounts – Mixing up large amounts of batter and bake can be an effective
way of saving time and flour. In addition, by increasing the number of slicers will also fasten
the operations.

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Question 2
Choose a product or service in your organization and map its supply chain. If you are
not currently working, map the supply chain for the production of a chocolate bar. You
may create a flow chart or describe the elements.

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Question 3
a)
The appropriate type of measuring the objective is a key performance indicator (KPI).
Using a monitor report, KPIs can be set to determine the market share for a photocopy
increase from 20% to 30%. Photocopy papers needed will be determined by the selection of
appropriate KPI. For example, the cost performance index (CPI) may be used to monitor
whether the objective is attainable. For the KPI to be effective, it must be monitored and
reported if there is real-time change.
b)
Problem: The problem that I experience every day is the lack of sleep (Insomnia). The
problem has persisted for some time as I normally sleep less than eight hours a day which is
not medically recommended (Paruthi et al 2016, p. 785). The problem has resulted in some
side effects such as headaches and fever.
Tool: The best tool for tracking the cause of the problem is through the preparation of
reports on sleeping hours and identification of habits that are associated with sleep
disruptions. Although treating mental and physical issue is the first step to consider, it may
not cure insomnia. Looking at daily habits is an effective way of coming up with a solution to
this problem but not through treatment. For example, by using alcohol to fall asleep or
sleeping pills might disrupt the sleep further. Other habits that can also affect the sleep
include not getting enough exercise, eating heavy meals or sugary foods, napping and having
an irregular sleep schedule. Therefore, combining reports on habits and sleep patterns is an
effective tool.

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Solution: keeping track of time to sleep and levels of fatigue is an appropriate solution to the
problem. The tracking will be a tool of monitoring sleeping patterns to make effective
changes of good night rest. Therapy is also a solution. Through cognitive behavioral therapy,
that involves self-monitoring, the creation of a conducive environment for sleep and mental
strategies like developing a positive mind toward sleep might help to improve the quality of
sleep (Morin et al., 2009 p.2005).
Question 4
My objective in undertaking the study is to pursue my management skills to land a dream job
in a young senior management position.
Strengths
- My ability to speaking more than
two languages
- My first aid skills
- My personality is outgoing
- Am well organized
- Am well educated
- I can speak in public conformable
- I have leadership abilities
- Proficient in computer packages
such as MS Word and MS Excel
- Excellent typing speed of 90 words
per minute.
- Knowledge of database creation
Weakness
- Minimum experience in accounting
- I have little marketing skills and
therefore unable to influence market
changes.
- I am egotistical
- I take long to adapt to change or
sometimes I may resist change at all.
- My abilities to combine and using
crystal reports are low.
- Sometimes I may find myself shying
on some social situation.

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- Ability to work in teams
Opportunities
- Leadership and training
development possess an opportunity
of making me eligible for
promotion.
- Several companies have expanded
and opened new branches in my area
hence creating an opportunity for
employment.
- The Internet has opened the
opportunity for finding customers
and job vacancies regarding my
expertise.
- Aging population creating an
opportunity for the young generation
Threats
- Change in law may make it hard for
me to find my dream job
- Inflation or economic instability.
- Competition in the Job market may
reduce the chances of landing the
dream job
- With technology advancement such
as robots could lead to low demand
for the workforce hence reducing the
chances of being successful in the
job.
- Laws might negatively change

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Question 5
Organizational performance improvement strategies is an important measure of the
business process as it helps business organizations to develop a special competition
advantage over the competitors. For an organization to remain competitive, it must consider
innovation as a top priority. Innovation involves having broad perspectives, seeing a thing in
diverse angles, being flexible and taking the risk (Jiménez-Jiménez and Sanz-Valle, 2011
p.408-417). In addition, the promotion of innovation in the organization may be one way of
encouraging employees to become idea champion. Training and development in the
organization develop problem-solving skills, job performances and creativity, employee’s
flexibility and abilities to adapt to change. When employees are well trained, they are likely
to be innovative and come up with creative ideas of coming up with better strategies or
differentiated products as compared to competitors. In addition, training and development
also create a conducive environment that builds and change employee’s commitment and
sense of ownership. Training and development also achieve a balance between necessary
innovation and the firm’s current performances. Innovation sometimes can result in
management challenges although it is the only a way of sustaining success in the
organization. Therefore, leaders must demonstrate supportive behaviors and have positive
attitudes towards innovation in order to encourage employee’s participation in training and
development programs.
Question 6
My company is a learning organization. Managers and supervisors involve the
workforce in challenging projects or tasks in order for them to learn new things. Furthermore,
the involvement of staff in new projects ensures the learning process is enhanced in the
organization as employees are able to learn new ways of undertaking similar projects in the

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future. Organizational learning is a process and it involves the process of generating,
collecting, interpreting and disseminating new information (García-Morales, Jiménez-
Barrionuevo and Gutiérrez-Gutiérrez, 2012 p.1040). The process further involves
experimentation of developing new services or products, accessing the technological trends,
gathering information to keep track of competition, customer analysis to identify needs,
wants and problems and training or educating employees. Apart from employee involvement
in projects, the organization also builds a shared vision that is created through interactions of
employees in the organization. The company support of shared vision rather than personal
vision has facilitated to high contribution and changed the relationships as the organization
has turned its performances in a learning mechanism. The company also learns from the past
and conducts employee performance evaluations to determine the key areas that need
learning and training. Once performance areas have been identified, the concerns employees
are trained on how they can be productive.
Question 7
a)
To obtain assistance in quantifying benefits I might consider contacting external
consultants, sub-contractors, managers, technological suppliers, public relation and marketing
staff, financial staff, technical staff, procurement staff and business development staff.
Managers contribute by having a good understanding and experience in the industry. External
consultants, subcontractors and technicians have specialized knowledge and experience in
diverse fields. Financial staff can provide support on the development of proposals and might
also help in the identification of mechanisms such as financing options and tax arrangements.
In addition, finical staff also helps in overcoming external and internal financial barriers such
as budgets and operating capital. Public relation and marketing staff can provide on product

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attributes and conduct presentation of proposals to other staff and management. In addition,
public relations and marketing staff also can provide advice on ways of raising the proposal
profile, behavioral change in the organization and assist in building a relationship with both
external and internal stakeholders.
b)
A free trial is a win-win for customers and the company. The offering of a free trial is
beneficial for the company as it gives a change of showing the potential customers the
services or products the company is offering. In addition, customers are able to try the
products before purchasing them without any risk. This develops confidence in customers
about the products and therefore they are likely to facilitate more sales.
Providing a free trial also may be offered when the company wants to increases the
base of potential customers. Once the consumers rely on the products and services from the
free trials, they will be converted from trailers to paying customers. Furthermore, some
customers who may feel satisfied with the products may spread the news of the products to
peers or friends hence increasing the markets.
When the organization wants to collect feedbacks, it may use free trials. Furthermore,
feedbacks are used in assessing product preference and tastes. Through the free trials, even
trailers may find themselves giving out insights to the products to determine its effectiveness.
When a company also wants to offer incentives, it may use free trials. Incentives such as
discounts may persuade customers about the new product hence facilitating sales.

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c)
In order to increase risk tolerance and failure acceptance, I will suggest to my manager to
create an organizational culture that makes people feel comfortable with their achievements
and failures. The culture should further abandon traditional ideas regarding personal
competition. In addition, the culture of intelligent risk-taking should be adopted in order to
prompt sustainable innovation. It is hard to invest without risk-taking and therefore the only
way the company can be in a position of making change is through exploring, venturing and
trying new approaches.
The manager should also consider providing training and development programs to
employees in order to increase risk tolerance and failure acceptance. Once employees are
well prepared about the risks they are likely to adapt to a changing the environment and be
prepared for any rising concerns. Research conducted by Nelissen and van Selm (2008 p.306-
316) showed that effective communication with training and development activities is helpful
for employees to innovate, tolerate risks and also accept failure. The study also emphasized
that managers who provide effective training to their employees normally receive little
change resistance and employees accepts any tasks delegated to them.
The manager should also consider preparing the mindsets of employees to accept the
outcomes of the project. When employees mind are well prepared they will develop a
mentality of accepting failure. According to Gunkel, Schlaegel, Rossteutscher and Wolff
2015 p.394-408) the empowerment of employees and preparation of employee mindset is one
way of handling change and therefore managers should be committed to supporting
employees if innovation or change results to negative outcomes.

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Question 8
Background: include organization context, the reason why work is needed, project
relevance, timely.
Project definition
Purpose: description of result desires of the project.
Objectives: specific outcomes to be achieved, measurements of outcomes, SMART
objectives outlined.
Scope: boundaries of the project.
Deliverable: Description of deliverables (tangible or intangible items like services, products
and reports). The date for deliverable expectation.
Constraints and assumptions: things that might influence schedule or deliverables. An
external variable cannot be controlled.
Business case
Timescale and costs: breakdown of project costs and timescales required for project
completion.
Costs benefit analysis: expected returns balanced against the project.
Risk analysis: identify risks, prevention, and monitoring and avoidance methods.
Organizational structure/chat:
Schedule: Grant chat