An Evaluation of Operations and Project Management at ASDA and HS2

This report offers a detailed analysis of operations and project management within ASDA, a major UK supermarket chain, and the HS2 project. It explores the implementation of operations management principles, including continuous improvement and lean principles, within ASDA, assessing their impact on the company's performance. The report also examines the importance of project management, covering the project life cycle, work breakdown structures, and the use of project methodologies within the HS2 project. Furthermore, it provides recommendations for improving operations management and the effectiveness of project implementation, emphasizing the importance of quality control and consumer satisfaction. The report includes an overview of company, the application of operations management, and its contribution to meeting ASDA's requirements. It also discusses the HS2 project, its stages, and the methods used to ensure scope, tenure, and quality.

Operations & Project
Management

INTRODUCTION
Operation & project management are the most essential part of companies, which helps to
gain long term success within specific sector. Both administration work effectively and drive
towards achieving common goal. The present report is based on ASDA, operating their business
across UK effectively. It explains concept of operations management Vs operation, over view of
company, review implementation of operations management principles in context of Firm and
also justifies operations management contribution in company to meets their requirements. This
study clarifies, Continuous improvement, lean principles, CI plan and define recommendations
based on continuous improvement principles. Furthermore, this report also explain importance of
project, target market, each stage of life cycle in relation to HS2 project. It justifies WBS, Gantt
chart, use of project methodologies within project and effectiveness of project life cycle.
Moreover, it explains the various methods used to assure scope, tenure and quality in project
implementation.
PART 1
Company overview
ASDA stands for associated dairies, it is considered as biggest supermarket in UK retail
sector. It is public limited organization, known as PLC, they offer range of fresh groceries, home,
George clothing and other products to its consumers. Company give online shopping facilities to
people that enhance experiences of purchasing in effective way. It was founded by Peter and
Fred Asquith in 1949. Firm is expected to open their biggest store in UK, that help to increase
their profit margin and market sales much better than before (Walsh, 2019). They came bottom
for in store as well as online shopping experiences. It is a British supermarket chain, selling
clothing, food, general merchandize and plaything at very cheat price. Asda become ancillary of
American retail giant Wal Mart, the biggest store in the world, since 1999. It placed at 2nd bigest
supermarket chain in Britain by market share, at that point it fell into third position. Besides their
core business, organization also provide number of additional services, including mobile phone
and financial services' provider that uses available EE network. Marketing promotion of this
company is commonly based solely on price just like their parent firm, Walmart, Asda encourage
itself under effective motto that is “Save money & Live better”.
Asda take decision to merge its business with Sainsbury's that would have provide
combined both supermarkets an estimated 30 percent share of UK grocery market, however

merge plan is blocked by markets authority and competition. Organization mission is to become
Britain best value retailer prodigious consumers needs always.
Operation vs operations management
Operation means decisions and actions taken by owner of business and stakeholders of
company that affect manufacturing, distribution, management and services required for firm to
function that needed use of assets and resources. In simple words, everything that occur within
large organization to keep its business earning money ad running effectively is referred to
collectively as business operations. A operation is efficiently organized activity that includes
number of skilled people doing different task and work within different departments, in order to
gain common goals & objectives. Product management, scheduling, inventory, supply chain,
forecasting, quality assurance and facilities planning, is included in operation categories. With
help of managing these operations effectively, organizations will be able to earn money and
generate revenue more than previous years (Wiengarten and et.al., 2017).
Operations management is the most essential administration of firm practices contribute
to maintain the high level of efficiency possible within wider business. It focuses on running
company efficiently and effectively, including material planning, maintenance and analysis of
production procedure. Operation manager plays vital role in operations management, as they
coordinate internal operations of business, accountable for driving not how service or product is
moved, but how it will be developed & produced. Operations management is responsible to
analyse each operation and evaluate their effectiveness in effective manner. It is considered as
branch of management, that deals with implementing, managing, designing ad controlling
manufacturing procedure for example, transforming inputs into output, using available resources
in order to give desired services and products to consumers.
Implementation of operations management principles within Asda
Operations management includes organizing, supervising and planning process and create
essential improvements for higher productivity & profitability. In recent time, it is considered as
multidisciplinary functional areas in Asda along with marketing and finance (Nduyu and
Magutu, 2018). Fundamentals of day to day work in operations management valuable expanding
a bit more, there are the 10 principles-
Reality-

It is the first principles of operations management, where operations manager focus on
main issue, instead of methods because not tool in itself present world solution without
understanding the cause of problem. They need to centring on overall issues, instead of just
techniques.
Company-
Within production facility, each and everything within operation is interrelated with each
other. All of these components have to be predictable and consistent, without it, the operations in
company will not be able to reach a result for profit.
Knowing competition-
Operations manager of Asda company has to follow this principle of operations
management. It is significance to analyse business competitors within market as well as
comprehension consumers, products and practices of competitive edge.
Accountability-
Being responsible is key within managing production operation, managers expected to be
capable to set metrics and rules while also checking on regular basis when these goals is being
met. Regular checking is the best way would employees put in essential efforts to complete
work.
Causality-
Issues are very similar to symptoms, in which these two things mostly have implicit
causes. In order to overcome themselves and business of problems forever, manager have to
remove underlying reason as well.
Quality control-
It is the most necessary within production operation, operation manager of Asda is
accountable to measure the quality of products, without quality control, consumers may be
dissatisfied with goods or services company manufacturing for them.
Humility-
Error & trial procedure is highly costly, which is why it is very essential for operations
manager in ASDA to understand that the have limitations. It will save time and cost and well as
help production in long run.
Success-

Success of ASDA will change over time, while there are several definitions of what
success may be within operations, but company always consider interest of its consumers. When
firm wish to be successful in retail market, they have to keep its target market happy and coming
back.
Change-
It refers to the action made by company in order to adopt new concept and solutions that
gives opportunity to grow more than before. There will always be new solutions and concepts, so
firm will not stick to one, but embrace alteration and manage for stability in long term.
Collaborating with consumers-
Operations manager understand preferences of consumers and what they use or purchase.
It will give through insight into what company can do to better its products and manage
production system accordingly.
Extent to which operations management of Asda meets requirements of company
Asda always wants to satisfy their consumers by offering quality products to them, in that
case operations management contribute at extreme level. They mainly focus on managing and
controlling the quality of goods and services provide by firm. Operations management origins is
connected with manufacturing procedure, they are accountable to assure higher profit margin and
efficiency improvement within product manufacturing operation (Jasti and Kodali, 2016). It
helps to oversee procedure of converting raw materials into services and products, operations
manager in this administration measure effectiveness of production department and work
practices of all the workers working in company since for so long. With the help of controlling
quality, operations management will help to meet requirements of ASDA and support them to
provide good quality of goods to its consumers. At the time of production planning, managers
identify how products will be manufacture, where manufacturing will take place and how it
facilities will be laid out.
Continuous improvement as philosophy and lean principles
Continuous improvement is practice of constantly improving and re-examining
procedures. It helps company to growth more and more within their sector and gain competitive
advantages for longer period (Pakdil, Harwood and Isin, 2020). Adopting continuous
improvement in ASDA means two things that is focus on progress and creating culture of

improvement. Constant improvement and development is accountability of every worker in firm,
that support to strengthen brand image within market place.
5 lean principles thinking build on each other and then start begin again to make
continuous cycle of development or improvement (Netland and Ferdows, 2016).
Define value-
Value is what people are attempt to pay for, this is dominant to find latent or actual needs
of consumers. By using quantitative and qualitative techniques firm can uncover what people
want, how they need service or goods to be delivered and price that people afford.
Map value stream-
It is the another lean principle, mapping and distinguishing value stream, the goal of
company is to use consumers value as remark point & determine all actions that contribute to
these values, value stream is created effectively when wastes will be removed.
Create flow-
After removing unnecessary things from value stream, following activity is to assure that
flow of leftover phase run efficiently without delays. Some strategies for assuring that value
Illustration 1: 5 Principles of Lean
(Source: Lean Principles, 2019)

adding actions flow easily include breaking down phases, levelling out work pressure,
reconfiguring production steps and training workers to be adaptive as well as multi skilled.
Establish Pull-
In production system, inventory is one of the largest wastes, pull based system goal is to
limited work and inventory procedure items while assuring that information and requisite
resources is available for easy flow of work.
Pursue perfection-
According to this lean principle, wastes will be prevented through achievement of first
four level like, determine value, mapping value stream and other. This step is most essential
among them all. It makes continuous procedure improvement and lean thinking part of
organizational culture.
By doing analysis, it has identified that lean six sigma emphasizes on preventing defects
with the motive to evolve high level of satisfaction among customers. In the context of HS2
project, lean six sigma is prominent which focuses on standardization of work and thereby helps
firm in gaining competitive advantage.
Continuous improvement plan based on review of operations management principles within
ASDA
Continuous improvement plan-
Identify improvement opportunity-
To gain success for longer within market place, ASDA identify the best opportunity for
itself. They have to determine issues in production system, evaluate the whole procedure
effectively. Poor quality of product is the main problem that need to improve and turn it into
opportunity.
Analyse-
Operation manager of ASDA, analyse origin cause of problem that help in decision-
making function.
Actions-
After identifying and analysing the cause of issue in production system, operation
manager take effective action in order to solve it as soon as possible. In order to improve quality
of products, manager reconsider the whole process and make plan in context of worker training.
Study results-

After analysing the whole situation operation manager confirm action taken to improve
poor quality as results increase productivity and profitability.
Standardize solution-
Through monitoring and measuring the effectiveness of improved level of performance
operation manager assure that quality is improved.
Plan for future-
It is based on situational analysis, future plan is based on requirement. For making
function smoother and easier, operations manager divide work load into team that help to run
each operation smoothly in current or further business environment.
Timeframe-
The completion period is based on how effectively work has been done it require a few
month.
Recommendations that improve operations function
In order to gain success and sustain business for longer, ASDA company are
recommended monitoring production procedure constantly because it helps to assure progress
and efficiency of work within manufacturing department.
Operation manager of company suggested take actions after analysing the situation, they
always think creatively and make changes that is beneficial for firm.
PART 2
Overview of HS2 project
High speed 2 is the biggest and most demanding transportation project in Europe, it refer
to planning high speed railway in UK. Parliament approved this plan for first section in 2017
with separation work being undertaken for stations and line. Government commissioned
independent review of HS2 project, Douglas Oakervee was accountable for review. After review
further steps is taken in order to complete this project on time (He, Liang and Fang, 2016). The
aim of HS2 project is to develop world-class advanced speed rail system to contribute economic
growth, in cities it connects and for UK. The aim of this project is to provide shift to low carbon
transport and give opportunities to better quality of life of society most in need. It will help to
connect London and Birmingham to Manchester, Leeds and East Midlands. HS2 limited is
organization accountable for promoting and developing UK new high speed rail network. It is
executive non-departmental public body, funded by grant in aid from national authority and

sponsored by administration for transport. HS 2 is predicted to carry more over than 300,000
traveller a day around 100 million years, when totally operational.
Business case
Importance of HS2 project-
This project is very important for UK, as it will give efficiency and high capacity services
between Leeds, London, East and west Midlands, Manchester and South Yorkshire. High speed
2 project significantly raise number of seats between Birmingham and London, with whole
network running smoothly up to 18 trains per hour. This statement define its importance and
benefits obtain by economy within nation after completion of this project. It is all about
improving connections between major cities and offering modern as well as efficient services
that people can rely on.
Target market-
The project target local and residential people of Birmingham and London, who are able
to do job and come out at home to purchase something. It creates opportunities for companies to
connect with each other, it will make areas served by project more attractive location for firm to
locate and grow.
Cost benefits analysis of HS2 project-
High speed project will have further benefits beyond railways, by getting lorries off
roads, releasing ability to change renaissance of rail freight and rescue carbon. Government find
out cost benefits of HS2 project by using cost benefits analysis that shows project is valuable in
term for money for taxpayers. Many potential benefits identified through cost benefits analysis,
one of the biggest benefits high speed 2 project is expected to yield is important time savings.
Overall time saving is estimated to yield benefits of 24.5 billion, of which is 18.7 million will
generally benefits firms.
Project life cycle in context of HS2 project
Initiation-
Initiation is the first stage of Project life cycle in which project manager will have to
identify HS 2 project need, opportunities, issue & brainstorm methods that team can meet this
need in systematic manner, solve any problem related to project and grab opportunity for
success. At this stage, manager set objective for HS2 project, determine deliverables and
feasibility for same. The objective of high speed 2 project operate in UK is to support in growth

of economy by connecting many cities together with the help of creating high speed rail network
that helps to make travel easy for residential people from one place to another due to certain
reasons. Furthermore, scope, deliverable project stakeholders and statement of work is developed
and identified in initial phase. Project manager sent it for approval from high authority, which s
essential step of this stage.
Planning-
After getting approval, project manager will move forward based on statement of work,
project initiation document and project case. HS 2 project is essential part of DFT work, it is run
in line with managing successful programmes & prince 2 methodology. Project manager will
break down the role and responsibilities into smaller tasks, build strong and effective team and
prepare good schedule for closing of HS2 project. They create project plan, workflow structure,
estimate budget, develop financial plan, measure risk and collect resources needed in this project.
Execution of project-
This step is turn project plan into action, after passing initiation and planning phase,
project manager come up to next one that is execution. They are accountable to evaluate work is
going on track or not, organize talented team members, manage timelines and the most important
thing is to make assure that work is done accordant to actual plan. Project manager of HS2
project continuously monitor quality of work, organize work flows and manage budget
efficiently.
Project closure-
It is the last phase of project life cycle, which give final results as success or failure of
project. Once team has completed work on HS2 project, project manager enter closure step. They
are responsible to provide final deliverable release resources of project and identified success of
work.
Work break down structure

Table 1Work breakdown structure