An Analysis of Operations and Project Management at Norton Motorcycle

This report provides a detailed analysis of operations and project management principles within the context of Norton Motorcycle Company. It begins with an introduction to operations management and its relevance, then explores the application of key principles such as Six Sigma, Lean principles, and the importance of collaboration and change within the organization. The report then delves into the formulation of a continuous improvement plan, outlining strategies to enhance product quality, address operational inefficiencies, and improve coordination between departments. Furthermore, it examines the application of the project life cycle, including initiation, planning, execution, and termination stages, with a focus on launching a new sports bike project. Finally, the report reviews and critiques the effectiveness of the project life cycle within Norton Motorcycle, drawing conclusions on its strengths and weaknesses and providing recommendations for improvement. The report offers a comprehensive overview of operational strategies and their impact on project success.

OPERATIONS AND PROJECT
MANAGEMENT

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
P1 Brief explanation regarding operation management principle used within organization.......3
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................5
P2 Formulation of continuous improvement plan. .....................................................................5
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................9
P3 About application of stages of project life cycle....................................................................9
TASK 4..........................................................................................................................................11
P4 Review & critique effectiveness of project life cycle within the organization.....................11
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................13
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................14

INTRODUCTION
Operation management is part of management approach which is implemented by
manager for manage their business operations in effective manner in order to attain competitive
business advantage by improving performance and quality of products. For understand the
relevance of operation & project management Norton Motorcycle Company has been take. It is
Birmingham based organization which parent company is TVS. This organization run business
since 1898 it is famous for manufacturing bike within the UK. This report includes,principle of
operation management , relevance of continuous improvement plan. And use of project life cycle
in order to implement new project within the organization.
P1 Brief explanation regarding operation management principle used within organization.
Operations: The term operations is define as activities and business actions which help
in run business organizations. It includes all the activity which is related with production, and
distribution of products.
Operation management: It is systematic procedure of planning, organizing &
controlling of production or manufacturing or distribution services of business organization.
The main purpose of this approach is to cover organization input into output in effective manner.
Manager of Norton Motorcycle Company (Correa-Florez, Gerossier, Michiorri and Kariniotakis,
2018).
Principle of operation management:
Six Sigma: This principle is focused on the base is that organization for improve its
operation effective need to implement Six Sigma which is based on the concept is that
organization need to focus on requirement of customer and on the basis of that they need to cut
throat activities which are not relevant for them this will useful in remove variations.
Lean principle: This principle is related with define how effectively organization able to
produce their products, for this purpose they need to recognize value of their customer, map their
perception and demand as well as create a flow for formulation of product on the basis of
demand of customer and established a pull to give their 100 % in order to improve operations
with changes of time period.

Reality: Management department of Norton Motorcycle Company , use this method in order to
focus on reason of arriving of problem they analysing cause not only technique which are the
reason of low quality of production.
Organization: Business organizations reed to focus on that every department and
activity of planning , production and distribution of goods are related with each other , thus
management department need to formulate strategies which help in easily interrelate activities of
all business departments.
Humility: Operation management is generally based on improvising performance of
business operations activity by eliminating human errors, Thus organization on the basis of
finding errors of human being needs to change their policies.
Success: There are different definition and meaning regarding with success, however an
organization is valued at successful when they are able to complete and fulfill all the requirement
of customers by making the happily and satisfied.
Accountability: It is essential to implement this principle during the time of running
business operation as each department and manager must be liable regarding the work and for
fulfilling their responsibility. This principle help in find out the real culprit of failure of business
operations and control issue related with internal coherence within the Norton Motorcycle
Company .
Collaboration with customers: Management department need to follow the principle is
that they on the basis of finding requirement customers, formulate policies for build strong
connection with them to maintain long term sustainability in the market environment.
Change: The term change is relevant and essential for every organization, thus management
department of Norton Motorcycle Company, focus on analysing change in market environment
and on the basis of that they mould a their products to maintain interest of their target market
customers within the organization (Hai, Xiaojian, Ke and Bin, 2019).
For implementation of all these principle management department of Norton Motorcycle
Company m require to follow some steps which are define below:
Identify operation efficiency: Organization needs to recognize efficiency level of
organization which help in run business operations in smoothly manner. Management
department of Norton Motorcycle Company on the basis of measuring each department 's level
of effective able to implement principle of operation management within the organization.

Finding out defects: It is essential for organization to find out reason of failure of
project operations with the help of finding out case of arrival of defect management department
formulate strategies to implement principle of operation management.
Integrate functions of organization: Every business enterprises specially manufacturing
organizations needs to integrate each function of department. Which will helpful in order to
communicate and coordinate each activity of department on the basis of that manager of Norton
Motorcycle Company able to formulate policies regarding with integration of their relevant
function of organizing and running business operations (Li, 2019, May).
Proper planning: For successfully implementation of principle of operation
management , organization require to formulate plan and strategies in such a manner that they
are help in achieving target although help in attaining long term goal or objective of
organization. With the help of formulation of effective business plan manager of Norton
Motorcycle Company able to provide guild-line regarding how project is achieve and provide
right direction related with the operations. As this organization face issue related with quality
due to the lack of implementing effective business plan.
TASK 2
P2 Formulation of continuous improvement plan.
Continuous improvement plan: This is consider as plan which define or design activities to
enhance quality of product and service or procedure of implementation of theses item by taking
essential action regarding improvement of system of organization. It is part of operation
management which useful in reduce chance of failure of quality of product.
Different types of plan is formulated on the work of industries as each organization is
established and work in different industries thus strategy regarding improvement is differ on the
basis of type of industry in which organization run.
Continuous improvement plan includes how strategy formulated and on the basis of that it
implemented as well as performance is evaluate and commitment is given which includes
complies of goals.
Operation
management
Department of
improvement
Start date End date Techniques of
control and

issue monitoring
Increment in
expenditure
The main reason
of increasing
overhead within
the organization
is that production
department not
able to work
effective to
control cost
require for
implementation
of products
(Nataliia,
Dmytro, and
Igor, 2018).
15/03/2021 20/03/2021 In order to reduce
overhead rate ,
manager of
Norton
Motorcycle
Company need to
implement KPI
tool and six sigma
principle these are
useful in order to
set level of
expenditure on
the basis of
setting limit
organization able
to mitigate this
issue.
Products quality Quality
formulation of
sports bike and
other feature
products which
includes parts of
bike, car or sports
cat has been
reduce as
organization not
able to
manufacture best
21/03/2021 4/04/2021 By implementing
benchmarking
tool organization
able to set fixed
benchmark of
manufacturing of
bike or other parts
of car or sports
vehicle. Theses
benchmark help
in increase sales
rate as well as

quality of product
due to lack of
effective work of
manufacturing
department.
improve quality
of business
performance.
Issue regarding
with cooperation
Generally lack of
coordination issue
arise between
marketing
department of
organization.
5/04/2021 15/04/2021 In Norton
Motorcycle
Company , almost
each department
is face issue
regarding with
communication
and cooperation
due to lack of
coordination , this
organization not
able to provide
effective quality
of materials, by
using effective
tool of
communication,
through prove
training, and
games as well as
use of social
media
management
department of
Norton
Motorcycle

Company able to
solve their issue
regarding with
lack of
coordination.
Timing issue Finance
department not
able to prepare
financial
statement at given
time period as
well as
manufacturing
department also
not able to
manufacture bike
at the time of
fulfil order of
client.
16/04/2021 25/04/2021 Manufacturing
department not
able to wok
within given time
period thus they
face issue related
with timing.
Quality of work
decline due to the
not completion of
work at specific
time period. By
implementation
of management
by objective
technique
manager of
Norton
Motorcycle
Company able to
overcome issue
related with time.
Management department of Norton Motorcycle Company in order to successfully
implementation of plan they follow these steps:

 Plan: For improve business performance manager need to require formulate different
types of plan for different sectors of organization. On the basis of formulation of policies
and plan regarding with manufacturing they able to improve performance and well as by
implementation of plan related with marketing department , Norton Motorcycle Company
able to build strong connection with their customers. Thus plan has been formulated for
each department of business organization.
 Do: In order to implement plan manager require to took action and fulfill each of
requirement and activities which are mention in project plan, these activities are essential
to run as on the basis of that manager able to maintain continuous improvement plan
actions.
 Check: Manager evaluate and measurer each activity of the purpose of finding out that
whether they are able to comply all the work which mention in the plan or not. These are
helpful in check any error arise during the time of implementing or running any activity
and department on the basis of that apply relevant application for completion of their
work (Shou, Wang, Wu, and Wang, 2020).
 Act: By evaluating performance and measure criteria manager of Norton Motorcycle
Company analysis that each work and plan is implemented in effective manner ad
organization operate their work smoothly they took relevant and desired action if
manager is not able to work effective as on the basis of that they formulate policies as
well as strategies to attain goal of organization.
Norton Motorcycle Company suffers from many issue regarding with quality thus on the basis
of implementation of continuous improvement plan they able to enhance quality they are able to
generally enhance quality plan and improve business action of organization.
TASK 3
P3 About application of stages of project life cycle
Project Life cycle: This strategy is used by manager for implement their project. It is
consider various stages of project life cycle which define below:
Overview of project: Organization need to formulate a project in which they design or
want to launch new type of sport bike in make.

Initiation: This is consider as first stage in which idea regarding the project has been
developed. For the purpose of solving relevant business problem.
Planning: In this stage various short as well as long term plan has been formulated in
order to define relevant or execute essential business plan. Theses consider how to design project
m target market customer, relevant strategies use to attract customers etc.
Execution: This is the 3rd stage of project life cycle in this phase after completion of all
the essential requirement, manager able to effective execute project by applying effective tool of
strategy and with the help of manufacturing and other department of organization.
Termination: This is consider as the last stage in which manager on the basis of
measurement of performance and finding out error or defect arise at the time of execution of
project, they overcome limitation and close the project after completion of each objective of the
project.
Project Portfolio of Norton Motorcycle Company
Name of the project: Launching new sport bike
Line of the project: Elizabeth Line
Project Description: New project has been launched in order to increase probability rate
by build strong goodwill within market.
Budget: Manager of Norton Motorcycle Company for formulation of budget require to
implement financial document which showcase and define all the numerical value of profit as
well as loss and on the basis of that they evaluate marketing environment and decide to formate
budget. According to this in order to launch new sport bike in the market of UK they require
50000 budget for e successfully implement their project plan (Thomas, Deblecker. and
Ioakimidis, 2018).
Aim: Main objective of launching or applying this project is to overcome issue arises
related with monetary problem which Norton Motorcycle Company face due to high rate of
competition and implementing poor marketing strategies. They only the basis of launching new
bike in the market.
Risk management: In order to mitigate risk regarding failure of project, they need to use
effective tool of project management and by implementation of operation management
techniques manager able to evaluate their performance ans well as analysis risk and formulate

strategies for mitigate risk by implementing risk register and work breakdown structure in the
organization.
Manager of Norton Motorcycle Company have many option they also use effective
communication and marketing strategies as will as they launch new plan for this purpose they
implement and use effective tool of communication with the use of these tools and technique
manager able to mitigate risk regarding failure of their project.
Phase 1: Project concept and initiation
The cost of collection has increased by 7% in the last 2 years. The Chief Executive Officer will
assign the task to one of its heads (possibly a head of the meeting), who will then find a
reasonable manager. Once a PM is detected, this person will be able to access the next steps.
These are, identifying the unpleasantness of the job, setting goals, making a group and recording
the main things in a business contract.
Phase 2: Project Planning
This is the main stage where you really need to explain. In the engagement phase, you need to
plan every part of the campaign, week after week (or even every day). A step-by-step report is a
statement that clearly defines what the campaign is responsible for carrying out. Also identify
limitations, such as general expectations of the task. The results are goals that need to be
improved during the campaign. Performance can be complemented by testing or shaping a
finished item.
Phase 3: Project Launch or Execution
This is where everything will come true. All the specifications identified in the previous phase
are currently being implemented. Regularly, or in some cases the same. The task force - run by
the engagement partners - is currently producing substantial results: a point-by-point view that
outlines the improvements the campaign is bringing or what will be achieved offered to the
customer at a later date.
Stage 4: project implementation and control

It is, of course, not a special step, but an ongoing one of management commitment. rack effort
and cost is one of the important (but generally hateful) specifications of PM. Add once or twice
for this regularly.
Stage 5: Closing the project
The closure of the business is the final stage in the business life cycle. These are the last weeks
or months when the final result of the activity is defined and delivered to the customer. The task
administrator will usually create a final report with own expenditure estimates. There were also
some post mortem associations (also known as understanding how to perform exercises) to
evaluate what worked positively and what went wrong in the act, fundamentally for learning for
the next. benefits.
TASK 4
P4 Review & critique effectiveness of project life cycle within the organization.
Project life cycle: It is consider as process of management which define 5 stage these are
helpful in completion of project. As the name state, project life cycle is a process of running
project t which summarised all the activities required from starting to completion of each
project. As every project is started with development of an idea and complete when the desired
target or object is fulfilled.
With the formulation of project life cycle manager able to find out these stages. Every
project is pass from these stages. In case of Norton Motorcycle Company , this organization is
now thinking to implement their sports motorcycle with implementation of their race quality .
For this purpose management department of Norton Motorcycle Company use to revenue
project life cycle. Fallowing are the relevant stage of a projects life cycle which define below:
 Project initiation: This is consider as the first stage of project life cycle in which
manager find out requirement regarding with implementation of a project. This phase is
generally started when manager face any kind of difficulties during the time of operating
business. In order to find solution manager create project (Wetter, van Treeck., Helsen,
Maccarini, Saelens, Robinson and Schweiger, 2019).

 Thus it is also known as project solving stage. Manager of Norton Motorcycle Company
found issue when their selling rate has been decline and quality of motor cycle decline
customers feedback and rate of their complain has been increase these directly effect on
the image as well as profitability rate of organization, thus manager formulate plan
regarding with implement manufacturing procedure by using new product and tools as
well as launch new bike to attract their customers.
 Project planning: In this phase plan regarding with formulation of project or starting of
a project has been developed. In this stage manager found answer regarding each
question which includes, why the project has been implemented as well as the benefit ,
success rate, risk of implementation of project, cost required top execution of project,
time and resource required for implementation and running this project all these question
answer is to be found by manager. In case of Norton Motorcycle Company , they for
formulate policy regarding with improve manufacture process by control cost ad swell as
launch new sports motor cycle. Manager select design of motor cycle as well as
 Project execution: It is consider as essential stage of project life cycle in this project is
implemented and execute within the organization. In this stage project activities are
implemented by employee and they work according to the guideline and instruction given
within the project planning stage. In context with Norton Motorcycle Company , they are
decided to launch new bike thus manufacturing department on the basis of design
structure of bike engaged in manufacture sports bike and they also change process of
manufacturing by implementing and launching new bike. It is consider as one of the
most complex procedure as rate of arising error in this stage of project life cycle (Yuan,
Li, Zheng. and Skibniewski, 2018).
 Project monitoring: In this stage manager evaluate the overall work of project they
observe whether organization able to achieve their target or not by using different types
of technique of performance measurement. This includes 360 degree analysis. Manager
of Norton Motorcycle Company, by using environment scanning technique able to
analysis their customers reaction and perception of them towards the newly launch bike
in the market, they also recognize competitors strategies and their reaction and check
goodwill rate of organization, on the basis of that manager able to monitor project

activities. On the basis of evaluate marketing demand manager of Norton Motorcycle
Company able to understand success rate of their project.
 Project closure: This is the last stage of execution of project at this stage manager
implement relevant strategies for the purpose of changing or mitigate risk of arising error
in project activity, then they evaluate and close the project. Every project is formulate to
complete a fixed define target, and when the objective is achieved then manager close
that particular project. In the case of Norton Motorcycle Company , they launch new bike
and after that manager execute changing policies and on the basis of finding success rate
of launching new sport bike in market they are close the project.
CONCLUSION
From the above analysis it has been concluded that operation and project management
both approach are essential for business organizations. As on the basis of applying relevant
principle of operation management which includes, lean, six sigma, reality, humanity and
organizing al these are help in improve performance of organization by controlling cost and
improve quality of products and services. Manager before launching any product use project life
cycle through which they can easily understands the overall phase and stage on which project has
been execute. On the basis of that manager use continuous improvement plan in order to reduce
variation or deviation between started target and actual target as well as theses plan also help in
improve performance and quality of projects for achieving goals of organization.

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