Unit 187: Operations and Project Management Review and Critique

This report provides a comprehensive review and critique of operations management principles as implemented within Tesco, a major British retail organization. The report begins with an introduction to Tesco, followed by an explanation of the difference between operation and operations management. It then critically examines Tesco's application of operations management principles, including reality, humility, organization, accountability, change, success, and quality control. The analysis extends to how Tesco addresses challenges like customer expectations and cost efficiency. Furthermore, the report delves into continuous improvement as a philosophy, explaining Lean principles such as identifying value, value stream mapping, workflow, and the 'pull' system. A significant portion of the report is dedicated to a continuous improvement plan, utilizing the PDCA cycle (Plan, Do, Check, Act) to propose justified recommendations for enhancing Tesco's operations. The report emphasizes the importance of adapting to changing customer needs, incorporating new technologies, and adopting Six Sigma principles to improve customer satisfaction and operational performance. The report concludes with a summary of findings and recommendations.

ID
Unit Number and Title Unit 187 –
Operations and
Project Management
Title Review and Critique
of Operations
Management (Part
1

Table of Content
Part 1: Business Report
1. An introduction to chosen organization p
2. An explanation of operation vs operations management p
3. A review and critique of the implementation of operations
management principles within the chosen organization p
4. An analysis of the extent to which the operations management of
the organisation in the case study meets the requirements of the
organization p
5. Discussion of continuous improvement as a philosophy and
describe the Lean principles p
6. A continuous improvement plan, including your justified
recommendations for improvement, based on your review and
critique of operations management principles within your
organization p
7. Conclusion p
References p
2

1. An introduction to chosen organization
Tesco is a super retail store British manufacturing organization in the UK. It
was founded in 1914 by the Jack Cohen. It is the huge trade retailer which has
headquarter in the England. It deals in the various products such as books, clothing
garments, items of toys , fiscal services, electronic goods, grocery items, software
and tele communication networks. It has expanded the branches across the
branches of the country(Banerjee, Ray, and Ghosh, 2020). It is registered in the
London Stock Exchange. The organization has expanded its product line and deals
in the diversity of the products. The organization is known as the third big retailing
brand in the context of profit and the fifth largest brand in terms of the revenue.
2. An explanation of operation vs operations management
Operation is the term which is related to the production of goods and services.
It means to utilize the all activities and tasks for carrying out the manufacturing
process. It is essential in every company to earn the profit. It includes the analysis of
many activities such as the produt quality and its specifications, fulfill the demand
and the needs of the customers and the optimum utilization of the raw materials and
produce the products according to the tastes and preferences of the customers. The
operation manager has to perform many functions like to control the cost and to
maximize the sales of the product which impacts on the production department.
Operation management is referring to the process of managing the
operational activities of the business to achieve the efficiency and effectiveness in
business operations. It controls, track or monitor the all the tasks and functions which
will be carrying out to measure the performance of the company(Chelangat, and
Abebe, 2021). It includes the management of the inventory, logistics and the supply
chain management. The company always try to enjoy the advantage of the cost
efficiency it means to production of the goods on the larger scale to reduce the per
unit cost of the product. Company wants to earn the more net operating profit by
reducing the direct or direct expenses of the operations. The main purpose of the
management of the operations is to earn the maximum profit by increasing the sales
of the product.
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Operations Operations Management
 It includes the daily operation
activities of the businesses like
improvement in the product and
management of inventory.
 It includes to fulfil the needs of the
customer.
 It is about the all over process of
managing the functions of the
Tesco that helps them to increase
the quality of the product.
 It includes to bring the new
changes or innovations in the
goods.
3. A review and critique of the implementation of
operations management principles within the chosen
organization
Operation management is the integral part of the business. It supports the
organization to work with the full capacity. Tesco is the well-known company and is
the largest manufacturer of the consumer products. They focus on the transfer of
quality products to the customers at reasonable price. The company make policies to
deliver the right product in speedy manner and manage the work flow. It uses the
suitable cost effective technique to manufacture the best goods at the minimum price
(Conley, 2019). Thus the company used the several operation management
principles that support to supervise all the tasks by using the specific methods. In
this company Tesco has the objective to provide the organic and healthy goods to its
customers. It can be attained by cutting down the cost of the products.
 Reality: In this principle the operation manager needs to concentrate on the
problems rather than the tools or techniques. The manager need to find out
the pros and cons of the alternatives and select the best option. It means to
solve the issues of the customers and keep them in the first priority.
 Humility: This principle has a vast role for the benefits of the employees. It is
essential to build the cordial relationship with the employees. The company is
required to create a positive environment for the workers so that they can
work with the full efficiency and the motivation.
 Organization: In this principle the functions of the workers and the divisions
are interlinked. It is estimated that by doing tasks in coordination helps to gain
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the favorable result. Tesco should maintain the consistency in the methods
adopting for running the company.
 Accountability: It refers to follow the all norms, guidelines and the policies
that sets the standard (Agan, and Zheng, 2019). It means managers of the
operation has the responsibility to supervise all the roles of the staff and
check that the standards meet with the objectives. This will support to know
the mistakes incurring at the initial stage.
 Change: The principle of change states that workers in the company should
accept the regular changes in the market. Tesco uses this principle to allow
changes in the goods and services according to the tastes and preferences of
the customers. It assist to fulfill the demand of the customers.
 Success: Every company run the operations to get the long term success in
the future. The profitability of the business is determined in terms of the
revenue, income, customer satisfaction and concentrate on the curiosity of the
customers.
 Quality control: The company should produce the highest quality products
and to ensure the quality of the goods should be enhanced or improved. It
means to abide the set of quality criteria and assurance that particular
requirements of the commodity or services is proved(Harris, 2020).
4. An analysis of the extent to which the operations
management of the organization in the case study meets
The operation management principles is helps the company to attain the
targets of the organization. Tesco has to face several challenges while entering in to
new market.
 The first that customer consider in the product is the quality. Company
always try to manufacture healthy products because customers cannot
comprise with their health and the main aim of the organization is to make
long term relations with the customers.
 Tesco used the cost efficiency technique which means to generate more
output from the input raw materials of the company. The producing of the
goods in the bulk quantity helps to reduce the per unit cost of product. It aids
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to develop the loyalty with the customers towards their product and services
(Hu, Youn, and Wang, 2019).
 This principles helps the manager to conduct the market research which gives
them idea to understand the competitors strategy, identify the new market
conditions and changes in the customer demand. In this situation customer
develops new variations in the goods by adding new features or attributes in
the product.
5. Discussion of continuous improvement as a philosophy
and describe the Lean principles
Continuous improvement is a process of developing the ideas and identify the
ways to work in the proper way. The improvement in plans is necessary to correct
the negative image of the company. Thus it is not the one time process it is the
continuous efforts which is put by the operation manager for maintaining the quality
over the products. It helps in the success, growth and development of the Tesco.
Lean principles
Lean method is the procedure to supervise, and monitor the wastage of
resources. The methods is used by the company to lower the production cost and fix
a minimum cost for the products.
Identify the value: It denotes the purpose of the customers to buy the goods.
Consumers wants that value of the products should from the price and give them
the full satisfaction (LIU, and XIAO, 2020).
Route of value stream: It is the term which focuses on the necessary factors
that provide value to the consumers. Company should consider on all the important
matters like cost, quantity, value, characteristics and the functions of the goods. The
process means to observe the unessential elements which can not meet the
customers needs.
Work flow: According to this it states that the company resources,
equipment, staffs should be arranged in the proper manner. It helps to prevent from
the wastage of the idle time and helps in utilizing the right talent workforce in the
organization. Tesco ensure that there should be proper training provided to
employees so that they can accomplish the goals by putting their best efforts in the
organization.
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Pull: It provides direction on the accurate management of the inventory. It
means there should no chances of the overstock or under stock situation in the
organization. Excess storage of stocks can raise the risk of the obsolete inventory,
damage, theft or spoilage (Ten, and Tang, 2018).
6. A continuous improvement plan, including your justified
recommendations for improvement, based on your review
and critique of operations management principles within
your organization
The plan of continuous improvement is utilized to resolve the issues regarding
the hurdles arising in the quality from the manufacturing process. It can be possible
by using the PDCA method (Zhao, 2021).
Plan: It means to identify the right chances or opportunity for the company. It
means to make the plan of the activities, resources required in the company and
build the rules for running the operations of the company. It showcase the values
and the mission of the project.
Do : It is the step to execute the plan. It is bifurcated in to three sections first
is to provide training to the team group second is the process of implementation and
the third is to execute the document for future use. It is launched for the short term
purpose. It is related with bringing of fresh ideas and innovations in the organisation.
Check: This is related with track and monitor the progress in efficient way. It
means to check them at least twice in a time. The manager of the company requisite
to bring the activities in the supervision to reduce the expectations of the error. It
means to differentiate the actual performance with the predicted to find out the
variations if any occurs (Wang, and Hu, 2021).
Act: It is the last step to take preventive action after the ancient errors is
found and solved. It shows the outcome of the practises which is performed in the
company. It is also known as the adjust process where the tasks can be improved.
There is investigation of the roots and reevaluating the risk. This phase includes to
provide the good instructions and alter the process.
The recommendations which is essential in the continuous improvement plan is
discussed as
below:
 The Tesco enterprise must focus on the ongoing changing needs of the
customers and dynamic changes incurring in the organisation.
 The company acquire new technologies and update the oldest methods and
frame the new strategies in the office place.
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 It is necessary for the organisation to adopt the six sigma principles and it aids
to modify the existing goods and services to give them higher satisfaction to
the customers. It uses the DMAIC tools which means define, measure,
analyse and control to enhance the performance of the company(Wolniak,
2018).
7. Conclusion
From the above report it has been concluded that the importance of operation
management is to render the goods and services at right time, quality and place.
There is some minor difference between the operation and operations management.
Operational management is the process of all the activities which is needed to carry
out the operations of the business. This report discuss the inventory management,
cost control, production direction and designing of goods and services. It is related to
regular operations to earn the revenue. The principles of lean management and six
sigma is used to reduce the wastage of resources (Yang, 2022). It ensures the
quality of the product. It involves the recommendations to the manager that how can
an organization overcome with the problems of the operations. This report also
discuss the implementation of this methods and approach is applying in the Tesco
company.
References
Banerjee, K., Ray, S.K. and Ghosh, S.K., 2020. Integrated Solid Waste Management
Under Japan International Co-operation Agency Project in Municipalities of
West Bengal. In Sustainable Waste Management: Policies and Case
Studies (pp. 187-201). Springer, Singapore.
Chelangat, C. and Abebe, A., 2021. Reservoir operation for optimal water use of
Kabalega reservoir in Uganda. International Journal of Energy and Water
Resources, 5(3). pp.311-321.
Conley, G., 2019. Application of Microcomputers in the Management of A Beef Cow
Operation. In Beef Cattle Science Handbook (pp. 652-656). CRC Press.
Gan, H. and Zheng, C., 2019, June. Operation optimization of electric vehicle based
on demand side management. In 2019 34rd Youth Academic Annual
Conference of Chinese Association of Automation (YAC) (pp. 100-105).
IEEE.
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Harris, T., 2020. Simulation of Aftertreatment Thermal Management Strategies for
Low-Load Operation (No. 2020-01-0359). SAE Technical Paper.
Hu, C., Youn, B.D. and Wang, P., 2019. Time-dependent reliability analysis in
operation: prognostics and health management. In Engineering Design
Under Uncertainty and Health Prognostics (pp. 233-301). Springer, Cham.
LIU, H. and XIAO, Y., 2020. Bus Operation and Management During Epidemic
Control and Prevention. Urban Transp, 18. pp.42-45+.
Ten, C.W. and Tang, Y., 2018. Electric power: distribution emergency operation.
CRC Press.
Wang, C. and Hu, F., 2021. Study on Intensive Management and Operation Mode of
College Sports Field-A Case Study of Five Municipal Universities in
Shanghai. World Scientific Research Journal, 7(12). pp.419-429.
Wolniak, R., 2018. Basic concepts of operation management and its control.
Wydawnictwo Politechniki Śląskiej.
Yang, W., 2022, January. Research on Risk Intelligent Assessment Method of IT
Operation and Maintenance Based on Cloud Computing. In 2022 IEEE 2nd
International Conference on Power, Electronics and Computer Applications
(ICPECA) (pp. 900-903). IEEE.
Zhao, L., 2021. Research on Financial Management and Asset Operation of
Japanese Non-governmental Charitable Organizations.
Table of Content
Part 2: Project Portfolio
9

Project Title p
An overview of the case study you have been given p
An explanation of each stage of the PLC that applies to your
selected project, including supporting documentation for each
stage (e.g., business case, the project plan, cost-benefit analysis
and work breakdown structure):
 Project initiation p
 Project planning p
 Project execution p
 Project closure p
Analysis of the project methodologies and tools used p
Review and critically evaluate the effectiveness of the PLC in
application to your project using the appropriate theories models
and concepts p
Project Title
10

The projection title is depended upon the on site food catering services that
are provided by the organization to the workers. They consists 1250 workers. This
project helps to solve the issues or problems of their workers absenteeism,
disturbance and the conjunction take place in the company. It may occur continuous
movement of the employees.
An overview of the case study you have been given
the above case study that is based on an business firm that deals with the
issues that are related to the congestion, disturbance in the company that contain
1250 employees. It's main aim or objective is to reduce the congestion and constant
motion in the company at the time of lunch and sometime after lunch it also
happened (Ivanova and et al., 2018). It impact on the company efficiency and fails to
complete the targeted outcomes from the corporation. It affects the image or
reputation of the business in the marketplace and their routine of the healthy lifestyle
as continuous motion outside the office area for the purpose of consuming the food
items to a high junk food consumption. Therefore, it impact on the employee's
lifestyle for long run time period. The research of the suitable plan will aids in
decreasing the workers absenteeism in the business enterprises. The organization
requires to implement and consider or bring the various suitable policies, concepts,
ideas and their changes receptively which can help in minimize the absenteeism of
the workers. It will also aids in maximizing the efficiency of the workers and making
the healthy lifestyle for the workers of the company.
An explanation of each stage of the PLC that applies to
your selected project, including supporting documentation
for each stage (e.g., business case, the project plan, cost-
benefit analysis and work breakdown structure):
 Project initiation
This is the step of the initiating the project. It comprises the newly initiative
idea, opinion, thoughts, notification to accomplish the targets and the aims as well. It
has the beginning point and completing point. The business corporation build a plan
that is crucial to the firm for living (Young Illies and Stachowski, 2020). In this stage
the company estimated the every single factor that can assist to the company during
the achieving of the projection in order to providing the raw material, estimating the
budget, determining the cost, setting up the time. In this stage the organization
develop and decide the number of task and allot to the employees for the purpose of
doing the work on time with full efficiency in perfect manner. It aids to provide the
appropriate direction to the members of the company that relate with the project.
 Project planning
It is formulated after the initiation stages. It assists in developing the idea of
the projection and its task (Kasemsap, 2018). These tasks includes fixing up the
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human resources, roles of the employees, responsibilities of the workers and the
department as well. The organization includes estimation of the budgets. For making
the budget the project manager uses the quantitative and qualitative method for
reducing the risk. It has come under the blueprint. The firm utilize the six sigma tool
for the purpose of maintaining the worker efficiency in the practices. Cromwell should
be able to manage the techniques and methods to oversea the cost, timely working,
minimizing the wastage and by enhancing the efficiency.
 Project execution
This is the phase of the implementation of the projection. It is formulated after
the planning. It comprises the plan that has to put into the work done. In other words,
the institution or team has developed the idea in manner of the completing the
phases as well as steps. The project manager coordinates with the team member
whenever they requires. It has done due to compete with the deadlines, achieve the
targets and goals. The business enterprise needs to monitor the practices as well as
their actions. These are depended on monthly, weekly, yearly. It assists in providing
the exact appropriate direction and the counsel to workers of the business firm for
the purpose of completing the targets or tasks. The business corporation furnish the
counsel to their team and monitor them for helping in achieving the goals.
 Project closure
It is the last and final phase of the project life cycle. The project comprises the
element of the origin to element of the ending point. It contains transportation of the
report of the project to the manager of the organization. The project outcomes of the
business firm can be come in favor or unfavorably. The projection has ended or
completed of the authorities that relates with the project like workers, managers who
can connect with high level of the management. In this stage, the members of the
team and the project manager furnish the feedback (Niknazar and Bourgault, 2018).
If the project owner or the company receive the feedback in favor that mean the
projection will able to provide satisfaction to their clients. If the business enterprise is
able to achieve the success , maintain the efficiency of the work. This stage is all
about to provide the satisfaction to the clients.
Analysis of the project methodologies and tools used
Methodologies of the project
The project methodology is one includes the group of principles and activities
that aids to business enterprises in managing and developing the projects for
assuring the optimal performance of the project.
These methodologies utilized in executing, initiating and planning. These are
discussed below:
 Waterfall methodology: This is a consecutive procedure of the growth and
the evolution that looks like a waterfall in all the several steps of the
projections. Each method accomplishes itself then other phase takes
initiation. Thus, the achievements of this method based upon the activity or
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efficiency of the last phase is formulated to ensure that the further step
furnish the results with full efficiency (Nissen and et al., 2018). Th tasks are
accomplished in appropriate manner according to the sequence of the steps
so that the chances of the risk might be occur and project has been done as
it was prepared or planned. It is demerit of this methodology is that there are
less scope of adaption because this methodology search or consider that it
is hard to do essential requirements or changes in prepared projects.
 Agile methodology: It depends upon small upgrade of projection work that
are related to the fixed testings and the adaption on the frequently basis. The
primary principle of this methodology is that it is very united, fast and
approachable as compared to the another methodology that are exist in
project management. It refers to the highly data compulsive and easy to
adapt any changes that are related to the data that have possibility to occur
in future. This is the best methodology for any projection. It suits the most to
implement the project effectively in proper time period.
Project tools
It has been used through the management for the purpose of the initiating
and completing the project. These tools involves network diagram, projection
assessment and the technique of the review and the documentation of the project.
These kind of tools aids to the company to manage an impelling check on the
projection and the transformation that occur during the developing projects in whole
procedure. These tools also helps the administration to provide the review and do
the changes that are required. Whenever there is requirement of do any changes in
the project and evolution. The tools aids to give a look on all areas where the project
are not able to estimate the work then the project manager take the required actions
by these tools (Oswald, Köhler and Schmitt, 2018).
Review and critically evaluate the effectiveness of the PLC
in application to your project using the appropriate
theories models and concepts
The Project life cycle consists the step that flows on sequence basis and the
process are crucial for the progress of the projection for its windup. It is primarily
arrangements of all the required or crucial procedure which are needed by the owner
of the project for the purpose of initiation and completion successfully. The steps of
the PLC is planning, initiation, execution, feedback and closure of the projection. It
plays essential part as it is discussed in above case study of developing an on site
occupation for the workers in business firm and upkeep of a healthy lifestyle. It aids
company to examine and determine the deviant, if any that might be occur in the
projection while its accomplishment. The deliverables of lifestyle that are related to
their health achieved by the company (Thirasakthana and Kiattisin, 2018). The
methodologies and models of the projection such as agile, waterfall methodology are
used by the corporation to give assurance that the projection is backed up through
13

the techniques, models and the methods that are needed to complete the project
successfully. The efficiency of the project can be examined with the help of concept.
It's key performance indicates the project. It is all about the satisfaction of the
employee and the internal procedure quality that can be judged easily whether the
desired objectives are achieved successfully or not.
References
Ivanova, A.V., Rafailov, M.K., Matveev, S.M. and Sibiryatkina, I.V., 2018. Project
management in the forestry complex of Russia. In Innovation Management
and Education Excellence through Vision 2020 (pp. 3771-3777).
Kasemsap, K., 2018. The roles of information technology and knowledge
management in project management metrics. In Global business expansion:
Concepts, methodologies, tools, and applications (pp. 1191-1221). IGI
Global.
Niknazar, P. and Bourgault, M., 2018. Analysis of axioms and assumptions of data
envelopment analysis: application for efficiency measurement in project
management contexts. International Journal of Productivity and Quality
Management, 23(4), pp.446-472.
Nissen, V., Kuhl, J., Kräft, H., Seifert, H., Reiter, J. and Eidmann, J., 2018. ProMAT
—a project management assessment tool for virtual consulting. In Digital
Transformation of the Consulting Industry (pp. 351-369). Springer, Cham.
Oswald, A., Köhler, J. and Schmitt, R., 2018. Project management at the edge of
chaos: Social techniques for complex systems. Springer.
Thirasakthana, M. and Kiattisin, S., 2018, December. Identifying standard testing
time for estimation improvement in IT project management. In 2018 3rd
Technology Innovation Management and Engineering Science International
Conference (TIMES-iCON) (pp. 1-5). IEEE.
Young Illies, M. and Stachowski, A.A., 2020. Improving students’ teamwork
experience: Evaluating a project management application. Scholarship of
Teaching and Learning in Psychology, 6(1), p.46.
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