Operations Management Analysis and Recommendations: Markeaton Park

This report provides an in-depth analysis of the operations management practices at Markeaton Park, a popular recreational area in Derby. The report begins with an introduction to operations management and then delves into a detailed examination of the park's current state. Section 1 discusses important considerations for the park's management, including input, transformation processes, and output. It also includes a value chain analysis, identifying primary and supporting activities and their impact on stakeholders (visitors and employees). The report evaluates the effectiveness of the capacity planning strategy employed by the park's managers, focusing on adjustments made to meet visitor demand. Furthermore, it assesses the effectiveness of Markeaton Park's layout, highlighting key features and incorporating data from a field research questionnaire administered to employees. Section 2 offers recommendations for improvement based on the analysis, and a skill development section reflects on the learning experiences gained from the project.

Applied Operations
Management
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CONTENTS
Contents...........................................................................................................................................2
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
SECTION 1.....................................................................................................................................3
a) discuss things important to consider........................................................................................3
b. Value chain analysis and impacts of different stakeholders....................................................4
c. Identification and brief discussion on effectiveness of capacity planning strategy followed
by managers of Markeaton Park..................................................................................................5
d) Effectiveness of Markeaton Park layout.................................................................................5
SECTION 2.....................................................................................................................................8
SKILL DEVELOPMENT.............................................................................................................10
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................10
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INTRODUCTION
Operation management is defined as the administration of business practices which help in
brining higher level of efficiency that is possible within the organisation. It is concerned with
setting up control over the area where business require improvement so that errors or lack of
efficiency can be removed to bring best possible outcome with maximum profit (Reid and
Sanders, 2015). The current report is based on Markeaton park which is one of the well-known
parks which is more popular and being visited by number of people as it organises around 100’s
of event that are related with sports and other entertainment practices. The current report
involves a detailed description regarding the things in park that are required to be consider for
improvement, value chain model, importance of capacity strategy for park and effectiveness of
Markeaton park layout (Hitt, Xu and Carnes, 2016). After this in section two it contains
recommendation for overcoming issues and at last a skill development section that are being
experienced after completing project.
SECTION 1
a) discuss things important to consider
Markeaton park provides range of facilities like sporting facilities, recreation, art exhibition,
workshops, outdoor theatre and cinema program. All of, these are main factor that act as a
attraction point for calling people to visit such place (Oates and Yates, 2016). But despite of all
this there are certain challenges that management of park current is facing or may face in future
also. So, in order to tackle with those issues, it is required o perform certain changes in current
operations to deal with current and upcoming issues that may affect its profitability. This can be
better understood using following points,
Input: - As it want to attract people of all age group to the park, for this it is required to
make certain changes like, it must focuses toward improving the area of park that make it easier
for the old age or some disabled people to move smoothly (Kay, 2016). This mainly includes
ramps at certain places where their remains stairs so that they can move effectively or
constructing several sitting areas. Other than this, in order to enhance its attraction factor for
people it is essential to make the park greener and appealing by improving the horticulture. For
this, different categories plants and trees must be implant within the park that are unique and
harder to find so that it become more attractive to the people. Other than this more lighting must
be done to the park for keeping it visible even in night appropriately.
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Transformational process: - For transforming the parks, management must focus toward
hiring the worker for constructing the ramps and seats in different areas of park (Herrando and
et. al., 2019). Other than this, from different nurseries plants will be purchased and after its
supply these would be implant within a section of the garden for attracting visitors’ attention and
more gardeners will be hire who make a regular care to these sections. Other than this with the
help of electricians more lights will be imposed in garden areas so that people can walk around it
even night without any fear.
Output: - After making these transformation, more old age people can be invited to the
park for their leisure time where garden plants will become more attractive factor for them. Other
than this, with the help of lighting lesser light will also be organised in order to show the beauty
of new planted area (Wilkinson, Eaton, Colhoun and Drewitt, 2018). This show help in
increasing number of visit and at the same time increase its revenue.
b. Value chain analysis and impacts of different stakeholders
Value chain analysis termed as a framework to segregate numerous business activities
into primary addition to supporting. The value chain analysis for the Markeaton Park includes
two types of activities. One is primary activity that is related to creating together with delivering
commodities to people (Bawa, Abdullahi, Bukar and Adaya, 2017). In case with the Park, it is
required to manage inbound logistics through improving the park through setting various ramps
at particular locations and stairs inside the area. Further, all the required operations will be
executed by human resources to deliver best experiences to visitors. In context to outbound
logistics, the managers of the park are required to deliver effective services in the park such as
yoga sessions, organising range of events and other social care services. The marketing and sale
for tickets of entries in the park are made through art exhibitions and many other marketing
techniques. In terms of services, the park managers are required to host distinct events and
valuable offerings to all groups of people. The next is supporting activity that helps in assistance
to primary activities for the purpose of accomplishing competitive advantages. It includes
infrastructure of the park in which entire management structure is needed to work in effective
ways to drive it forward. The next is human resource management in which the management
professionals execute activities for recruiting, hiring, compensating correct people such as
guards, maintenance team and so on to become successful (Wotton, Stanbury, Douse and Eaton,
2016). Addition to this, technology development is also a supporting activity in which effective
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technologies are used for managing entire workings. In case with Markeaton Park, managers
must set fitness equipment such as GT fit and various multigenerational swings that will allows
people from all ages to enjoy the amenities of park.
The two stakeholders which are involved with Markeaton Park are visitors and
employees. With the changes both types of stakeholders will be impacted positively. In context
to visitors, they will be impacted in improving their experiences with various newly established
amenities in the park (Ikedi, Okoroh and Dean, 2016). In context to employees, new techniques
will reduce burden to focus on managing natural resources of the park that will impact positively
on them.
c. Identification and brief discussion on effectiveness of capacity planning strategy followed by
managers of Markeaton Park
Capacity planning strategy is mentioned to the tactic that helps in identification of
required aspects for meeting demands for services as well as products as enrolled by facility. In
case with Markeaton Park, the managers opted capacity planning strategy that helped in making
plans for upcoming resources in context to demand along with growth of the park. One of
capacity planning strategy that managers of the park followed is adjustment strategy in which
they made various adjustments in the area of park in accordance with prevalent demand of
visitors (Pipek and et. al., 2018). For instance, the managers added craft village, different
workshops, park run activities, outdoor theatre along with cinema programmes, idea of rose
garden and variants of social care services that facilitates in satisfying unmet demand of visitor
sin effective manner.
d) Effectiveness of Markeaton Park layout
The Markeaton park is a premier park of Derby and is well managed which is the main
reason behind its attraction among people and millions of visit each year. The means feature of
its layout that are consider to be effective are mentioned below:
 It spread within 85hectare and offer range of recreational practices and sports facilities by
dividing the area separately which make it more comfortable people to enjoy.
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 The southern half of park consists of short mown grass and mature trees, bordered with
Woodland and belts of tress which form up a fine view to keep the visitors hold they’re
for long.
 It maintains a vast parking area that provide appropriate space to car get adjust without
any kind of accidental issues (Baytaşoğlu and Gözler, 2018).
 Its central area is considered to be main historic interest part, including the site used for
craft unit along with café, number of walled garden and ornament garment garden which
attract people.
 It is also divided in some sections like Mundy play centre which involve range of play
equipment’s, courts, picnic area etc. Craft village that i8nvolev several craft units, main
park that perform sports facilities etc.
Despite of all this, for collecting the information as per present condition has been
gathered by field researcher where information is collected from around 30 employees
working there with the help of a structure questionnaire which is presented below:
Questionnaire
Q1 According to you, in which season maximum people visit the park?
a) Summer
b) Winter
c) Autumn
Q2 Do you think that constructive plan of A-38 affect the visits of people within Markeaton
park?
a) Yes
b) No
Q3 What are the several causes due to which this major construction will affect the vistors ?
a) Main rail connection with route
b) Main way of reaching park
c) More facilities at this lane
Q4 Which is the most attractive area within the Markeaton park that call up maximum number
of visitors throughout the year?
a) Mundy play centre
b) Craft village
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c) Main park
Q5 As per your perception, what changes Markeaton park is required to bring for increasing
its number of visitors?
a) Improve Horticulture
b) Add activities for adult group
c) Improve infrastructure
Data interpretation
Theme 1: Season when maximum people visit the park
Q1 According to you, in which season maximum people visit the park? Frequency
a) Summer 15
b) Winter 7
c) Autumn 8
Theme 2: Constructive plan of A-38 affect the visits of people within Markeaton park
Q2 Do you think that constructive plan of A-38 affect the visits of people
within Markeaton park?
Frequency
a) Yes 20
b) No 10
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Theme 3: Several causes due to which this major construction will affect the victors
Q3 What are the several causes due to which this major construction will
affect the victors ?
Frequency
a) Main rail connection with route 12
b) Main way of reaching park 8
c) More facilities at this lane 10
Theme 4: The most attractive area within the Markeaton park that call up maximum number
of visitors throughout the year
Q4 Which is the most attractive area within the Markeaton park that
call up maximum number of visitors throughout the year?
Frequency
a) Mundy play centre 8
b) Craft village 7
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c) Main park 15
Theme 5: Changes Markeaton park is required to bring for increasing its number of visitors
Q5 As per your perception, what changes Markeaton park is required to
bring for increasing its number of visitors?
Frequency
a) Improve Horticulture 15
b) Add activities for adult group 8
c) Improve infrastructure 7
Data Interpretation: -
From the above gathered information with the help of field research it has been found
that majority of visits in park is mainly found during summer season as majority of activities
performed by targeting children, hence they visit during their summer vacations. The main point
of attraction for them is main park where number of recreational and sports practices performed.
But as the A-38 lane is going to be under construction, it has been assumed by the employees of
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park that it will hugely affect the visit of people as majority of visits come from that path only, as
it is a main route. Hence, for avoid this risk it has been suggested by employees that management
must focuses toward improving its horticulture and then adding some other sports practices
targeting adult and must improve its infrastructure.
SECTION 2
By performing the investigation about the Markeaton park, it has been found that it requires
to bring improvement within certain areas for enhancing the level of visitors and revenue
generations. For this following recommendation are suggested,
 The Markeaton park must focuses toward promoting the health and well-being of the
people with the help of organising several different coordinated and enhanced programs
(Tracada and Varone, 2018). In this the physicians and nutrient experts can be called to
provide suggestion while on going activities in order to promote healthy and well being
of people that influence them to visit the park while these events are organised.
 For ensuring the convenience of people visit park, there must be a clear hierarchy of
routes coupled with good informative signage so that they can visit different areas build
up within park. These direction or route map signages will also help in increasing the
awareness of people regarding several different services that it offers but are not much
famous.
 It must also develop a park visitor receptions area so that the users can visit their and
interact with the staff who have thorough knowledge of everything in the park so that
querier can be resolved of the visitors and also they get idea regarding the number of
activities they can perform there to get a good experience throughout their leisure time
(Depiver, Mallik, Amalu and Harmanto, 2019).
 In order to increase the visitors after the construction at A38 started, Markeaton park
must focuses toward developing a clear sense of direction for people so that they can get
idea about the existence of park when they are moving nearby. For this it can make use of
certain good design posters at several different locations, use public art that involve
interpretive feature by providing message and clear map that guide people to visit park.
 A group of gardener must be hire to plug off all the waste and implant new trees and
other small plants so that view can be improved and then full attention must be provided
for regular care.
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 In order to get understanding regarding the manner people access park and improvement
demanded by visitors, the staff members can ask the visitors to fill up the feedback so
that changes can be made accordingly for providing better services.
 In order to increase park visibility, the Markeaton park must focuses toward performing
inline promotions that will be performed effectively within tight budget and also help in
spreading information to larger number of people (Brown, 2018). This in turn help in
increasing the number of visit and revenue of the park.
 For attracting people of all age group the Markeaton park must focuses toward organising
several event programs for adults and at starting it must offer them tickets at discount
which help in attracting more and more people that not only fulfil its plan of targeting
people of all age group but also in generating revenue. For this event like new year,
Halloween party or Christmas celebration can be organised.
 The Markeaton park can create a section in the park for physical activities to promote
fitness among people. For this it can place certain instruments for exercising so that by
income can be enhanced (Brown, 2018). Other than this dance sessions will also work
wonder in increasing income.
 It can also arrange summer camps for children’s which in turn help in increasing the
revenue that can be reinvest in the park for improving its infrastructure and other
facilities.
SKILL DEVELOPMENT
While performing work over this module I went through so many tasks as well as challenges
that supported in developing my skills which further support me in future within personal as well
as professional manner. For performing this project effectively first of all I went for a secondary
study in order to gather the information which is already present so that I can perform the current
project. For this I make use of internet for gathering information through online sources about
the several services it provides and other features that are attractive for visitor. While performing
so I become able to develop my researcher skills as I go through several practices that a help in
determining the manner in which data must be collected and analysed to present with the more
meaningful manner. Other than this I also learnt about skills like writing skills, time
management, reading skills etc while working over this which all support me in [performing my
future projects effectively. After conducting this secondary investigation, as per the requirement
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of project I went for the field investigation with my group where I interact with the employees of
the Markeaton park in order to collect primary information about it. While interacting with them
I become able to develop my communication skills. This is so because in order to collect
efficient information in have to influence them to provide true data by interacting them
effectively. This development of communication skills will not only support me in performing
my future academic tasks effectively but also support me in performing well within my future
job and taking my career to best level.
CONCLUSION
From the above performed study, it can be summarised that for maintaining the growth
and profitability, management plays a significant role as it help in keeping the things align as a
per the requirement n ad demand of people who demand for service. From this study it has been
found that Markeaton park is operating well and getting millions of visit each year that build up a
strong source of revenue, but as the main lane A-38 through which majority of people visit the
park is going to be blocked for sometime due to under construction work that may influence its
visit. Therefore, to deal with it Markeaton park is required to improve its services so that it
remains more focused toward attracting visitors from another two ways of reaching the park and
maintain its revenue.
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