Strategic Operations Management and Project Management Skills Report

This report delves into the critical aspects of strategic operations management and project management skills, providing a detailed analysis of key concepts. It begins with a reflective analysis of project management skills, emphasizing their importance in team leadership, goal setting, and resource utilization. The report then transitions to outlining operational challenges faced by successful operations managers, such as meeting project objectives, managing resources, and adhering to deadlines. It explores various strategies to address these challenges, including effective communication, negotiation skills, problem-solving techniques, and risk management. The report emphasizes the importance of project planning, cost control, and quality management in achieving successful project outcomes. The content also discusses the impact of team dynamics, organizational structures, and the role of project managers in fostering a productive and collaborative environment. It includes a focus on risk management, cost control, and quality management. The report draws on the provided assignment brief and references to offer a comprehensive overview of the subject matter.

Strategic Operations
Management and
Operational Research

TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART A..............................................................................................................................1
Project management skill...............................................................................................1
Measuring efforts...........................................................................................................6
PART B..............................................................................................................................7
Introduction.....................................................................................................................7
Outlining operational challenges that successful operations manager would face.......7
Enumerating ways to address the main issues...........................................................10
Conclusion...................................................................................................................14
REFERENCES................................................................................................................15
APPENDIX.......................................................................................................................18

PART A
Project management is considered as practice to initiate, execute, plan, control and
closing the team’s work to attain specific objective and successful criteria at specified
duration. The first challenge is to attain all objectives of project within the stated
constraints. The main responsibility of a project manager is to parent firm, client and
team members. The characteristics of project manager are related to personality which
has ability for leading and motivating. It must have willingness for delegation, sceptical
and perceptive. It must understand methods of project management and ways to
applies the same in real scenario. The project is replicated as one-time task which
generates specific outcome or output. Generally, this comprises developing project plan
which has goals and objectives to attain, determining tasks and quantifying the
requirements of the resources and identifying timeliness and budget for completion.
Apart from this, it consists of managing the project implementation plan while operating
regular controls for ensuring objective and accurate information related to performance
plan, and mechanisms for purpose of implementing action of recovery where it is
necessary.
Project management skill
In my opinion, project management is very important as it helps in managing
large team by dividing task as per precision of each team member. Further, it assists in
defining clear goals and objectives for the team through which they work in desired
manner to attain the same. It enables to deliver project in successful manner with
systematic expectations set around that what could be delivered at what time and its
methodology (Heldman, 2018). However, I have other thought that project is doomed if
there is presence of vague budget estimate along with unrealistic deadlines and
expectations regarding delivery. The most important thing I have articulated that this
skill leads to maximize utilization of resources like implication of right project
management methodology. Furthermore, it is enormous pressure on various project
members to adhere the guidelines of the project, budgets and quality control, deadline
and compliance standards. It is very important to determine, manage and controlling
quality which has been delivered.
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I have elaborated the benefits of project management skills such as
understanding different objectives and deliverables. This satisfies the requirements of
stakeholders of project and effective application of project resources. Thus, greater
likelihood helps to attain the desired outcomes. The projects which are completed in the
business are integrated on general basis with broader processes of business and
systems. The integration forms the project aspects along with their management. I have
found that, use of project management methods helps to business for gaining control for
running projects and ensuring to keep on track within budget. The deliverables of
project are required to be managed on effective basis so that track has been not lost.
The appropriate project management ensures about task delivery on time and
performed as per specifications of the clients. This is all related to offering value which
helps clients for accomplishing the objectives. In the present scenario, it is very
significant to understand that each client sets strategic objectives with project. Project
management ensures about clear objectives which are enough for completing the
project, monitoring plans, setting processes for dealing with risk, creating budget and
leading the successful team (Carvalho and Rabechini Junior, 2015). This skill of project
management motivates team and keeping systematic check, raises productivity and
happy clients.
According to my learning, project management skill is very important as it is
combination very significant tasks such as negotiation, leadership and many more are
elaborated in detailed aspect. There is formation of team of skilled professionals and
are leaded with best possible aspect with presence of impeccable qualities of
leadership. The project leadership is not considered as single dimensional but initiate
with range of various styles. The vision, mission and goals of organization are highly
essential but very important for communicating it to team members into concise and
clear manner (Pollack and Adler, 2016). With reference to sound communication and
interpersonal skills articulates requirements, thoughts, deliverables and expectations to
vendors, team members and stakeholders.
I have improved my skills of project management with context to negotiation as
this is process which engages activities required for resolving various types of disputed
through conducting the consultation among involved parties to reach specific
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consensus. It might happen at any time with life cycle of project management as it could
be either non formal or formal. The formal negotiation comprises different issues related
to agreeing with contracts as whereas information negotiation considers discussions for
purpose of resolving conflict among team members (Ramazani and Jergeas, 2015). I
think that every project manager must have excellent skills related to negotiation as
some of sub categorized skills are implied in areas like contract management,
stakeholder management, conflict management and requirement management.
Through this, project manager can able to manage its work in required manner and able
to reduce the chances of conflict among different parties.
I have classified the procedure of negotiation within three phases such as
discussing, reviewing, proposing and planning. Planning is replicated as preparation of
different relevant information required for discussion. The other phase is referred as
setting scene for perspective of discussion and I have explored different key issues.
Further proposing stage is referred as to develop proposal as mode to solve the issue at
hand. This might include bargaining related to trade-offs prior to agreement attained and
entire information is disseminated all throughout the company.
In my opinion, problem solving skill is very important in project management.as in
every project there is problem where some could be avoidable and some could not be
uncontrollable and unavoidable like scope-creep, unforeseen risks because of
negligence in execution or planning. The effective project management should have
systematic approach for solving problems at specified duration. I have correlated
decision making with respect to critical thinking which gives positive outcomes. In
simpler terms, it is a thought process which leads to accurate and deep understanding
(de Carvalho, Patah and de Souza Bido, 2015). It implies logical reasoning that
engages numerous distinctive skills enables for distinct fact through opinion and
evaluating accuracy and relevance of data presented. The implication of critical thinking
for undertaking decision related to effectual aspect. The project management engages
high complexity, risks and unknown for actual activity but presence of similar thought
process.
The agile critical thinking has been performed with framework to apply critical
thinking for making decision within organizational setting. I have laid structure and
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series of tools and steps developed for promoting effective critical thinking of teams with
factors instead of logic play as huge role in decisions which are made. The agility of
critical thinking framework has been implied through assessing the situation which
incorporated tool that helps for accurate and deep understanding related to
stakeholders, corporate culture along with other relevant fields of project (Hermano and
Martín-Cruz, 2019). Furthermore, I have considered the evidence which had gathered
tool that help to recognize the assumptions, numerous perspectives, evaluating and
collecting information, accounting bias, risk and persuasion and tracing the logic,
drawing the conclusion, and evaluating alternatives which makes sense and observes
for different unintended consequences. In this aspect, I acted which gathers tools that
had ensure me about feedback loops work, considering the metrics and corrections
which might be fully warranted and to make them. Thus, agility is built within every
prompted stage such as through new information originated coming to light or alteration
within the situation.
I think that scheduling of the project is replicated as core task in project
management skill as this helps for delivering the things in successful manner. Apart
from this, management of budget is most relevant aspect as this activity oversees and
manages the expense of the project along with preparing related to financial risks. It is
responsibility of project manager as it involves various aspects such as managing
budget but preparing and planning for potential of risks. Risks could set project back
and even in need of different unexpected expenses. I have laid special emphasis on
cost control because it is highly familiar with revenue or profit margin. The ability for
purpose of maintaining the organized approach to tasks and staying aware about every
cost is not easy (Cebeci, 2019). For purpose of establishing the suitable amount of
controlling over the budget, it must exercise strict supervision of cost. In simpler words, I
am highly conscious about allocation of funds at every time and requirement to alter to
attain the set budget. I think that project manager must not be caught to going over
budget unexpectedly.
As per my understanding, systematic planning for whole project is very essential
as this ensures that team has appropriate expectations related to requirements which
should be attained and how work is done. This also helps for visualizing the time frame
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such that this could mentally forms for activity ahead it. I feel that, absence of skilled
project manager it could be mutual for setting over ambitious deadlines and improper
estimate of budget that is essential for team and to attain the task. It leads to later
issues as it is suddenly because of approaching date and still team is very far for
completing the work or project runs out from money and at present state, team has
absence of resources for continuing the aspect. However, there is requirement for
analysing the availability of the resources and set as systematic deadline with actual
expectations (Wawira and Susan, 2019). The schedule has been developed which
offers space for dealing with all unanticipated problems. Planning consists to establish
attainable milestones such that team could work towards and allows the client for
keeping systematic record of the progress. Further, I think that it is very common that
some activities do not take long time as compared to expected on initial basis and
taking the setbacks within account is the task which distinguishes the inexperienced
through different professional project managers. It could be stated that proper
management of time, planning beforehand and forming a schedule who works for team.
The ultimate aspect is cost management, as this could not manage the simple
costs, it will lead to hard time for handling the complex projects. The ability for
controlling the budget signified about ability to determine the sources of cost for
beginning with. Simultaneously, quality control is essential task in project management
as this is key to quality outcome as each step is not relevant where client is not happy
with final thing. It is mutual for every team members within enormous amounts of
pressure with context to attain the finished time of the project (Zhang et.al., 2019). I
think that, it had created help for various people to generate less than exceptional work
with consideration of capability. This ensure about stress of team and for under
pressure through overbearing workloads, but it is best line that is required for doing
each aspect as per capability. Henceforth, the dedicated project management signifies
not only with project with presence of enough amount of resources and time, but also
the results gets tested through quality at every development stage prior to move
forward. The project manager should properly inspire the teams to show pride in work
as there is desired to work harder and feel obligated for performing at its best.
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I have articulated the most essential aspect in project management is to manage
the risk where one will work on highly complex, unique and transformative endeavours
that are essential for management of the risk. It enables to control risk as to accomplish
competitive edge. In the similar aspect, project management helps to ensure mitigation
of the risk before it becomes big issue. There is requirement to be prepared for anything
which might arise and ensure that each aspect is on systematic course. The
management of risk is not only significant but also vital for success of the project. There
is presence of temptation to ignore dealing with it, turning blind eye and hope for the
best. In actual aspect, it always ends with bad, one could not avoid challenges required
to face and head on and even handled on prior basis it gets worse (Picciotto, 2019). It is
clear procedure to determine, manage and mitigate risk as it prevents for transforming
within actual problems at first place.
Measuring efforts
While performing the activities in project management, I have assured about
quality control which turns negative for the organization. The rejected product is very
costly to the firm as this incurred the entire production cost but could not be sold where
manufacturer has absence of desire to be associated with context to substandard
product. These rejected products could be re-worked but, in some projects, they must
be fully scrapped, as it is either ways to incur more costs. In similar aspect, I have
gained different experience that it does not even prevent all waste of resources with
presence of faulty products (Donada et.al., 2019). The procedure to inspect service or
cost and does not encourage workers in positively for highly responsible about quality.
Simultaneously, project scheduling also gives benefits but on the contrary it might cost
to company as deadline could aggregate focus and pressure as well. If deadline is very
tight or arise the unforeseen issues, it puts stress on the team. If team is under stress,
then there is high potential for increment in error. In this context, the team would be
rushing for meeting the deadline and this happens to team members might miss
important details, worse and cut corners for finishing on time.
Apart from this, these tight deadlines raise the stress level and when stress level
is elevated than conflicts could occur. In my opinion, team which has fighting members
within themselves then this is major weak point of team. With this context, product
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would suffer, all individual team members look very bad and as scheduler this will be
equally worsen the aspect. Similarly, this schedule serves as model of tasks and
activities expected for happening in entire project. The milestones which are implied for
tracking progress of the work, forecasting the performance of the team and viewing the
obtained results to date. As there are various expected tasks and captured milestones,
the schedule transforms within overload document which is very difficult to comprehend
and read. On the contrary, I feel that when it is not sufficient and maintained in poor
aspect, without adequate tracking of the progress could be done with attempt for
defining each task and performance measure would be failed and does not bring
positive result essential for decision making in efficient aspect.
According to me, negotiation has also given negative impact as it is initiating
point is process of resolution of dispute such as effectiveness is limited in some
situations. For instance, with the ideal negotiation result must be capable to extract win-
win strategy that would work for everyone, so some parties could enter negotiation with
the hope to make suffer to other party. Even, this might agree on lose-lose situation as
well. The parties which enter in negotiation in worse faith are only single potential
limitation that might occur.
PART B
Introduction
Operations management is helpful in improving overall productivity for attaining
better results. Present report deals with selecting a job advert of Operations manager
position in London, UK from an online recruitment agency. Moreover, operational
challenges that would be faced by successful candidate are outlined in effective
manner. In relation to this, various issues being identified are addressed and how
Operations manager can enhance business operations by resolving them. Thus, overall
operations can be improved by addressing problems or issues in due course.
Outlining operational challenges that successful operations manager would face
The business operations are to be conducted in a manner so that company may
be able to attain desired benefits. It is needed that management should be competitive
enough to thrive to accomplish favourable results. In addition to this, Operations
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Manager is entrusted to manage activities that form the part of production of goods and
services (Gibson and Parkman, 2018). Managing operations, embracing design,
properly initiating plans, control, improvement in performance and formulating
operations strategy are duties of Operations Manager. The job advert posted on online
recruitment agency platform namely Indeed has provided the position of Operations
Manager in Splend Company which is basically car hire platform firm based in Australia
having branch in London as well. There are various operational challenges that
successful candidates would face and are listed below-Globalization-
It can be referred to exposure of businesses globally including integration of
people and governments of various nations. Operations manager face stiff competition
from company in and across the globe (Moutinho and Vargas-Sanchez, 2018). It means
that company in competition with other firm will need to improve upon its quality of
products and services while lowering prices. This falls under the purview of Operations
manager who engages in planning, organizing, leading and controlling for ensuring that
commodities remain competitive in the market. Creative skills must be tap in by
Operations manager to get knowledge about global business and cultures.Sustainability-
Business operations sustainability implies method of assessing whether
company can maintain prevailing practices by not putting future resources at any risk.
Three pillars of sustainability involve social, economic and environmental. It is the
challenge for Operations manager for concerning with outcomes of these pillars to
ascertain how their work might affect welfare, communities, safety and economic
sustainability up to a certain extent (Reid and Sanders, 2015). Operations manager
need to initiate and identify corrective action when any result of pillars fails. It means
that Operations manager has a challenge to make business sustainable in a way so that
it can reap benefits from the market.Ethics-
The ethics in business means that production of commodities and services are
neither harming customer nor society. Unethical behaviour has paralysed businesses
such as Enron, Tyco and many other firms. Ethical conduct is required across functions
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like marketing & sales, accounting, production and HR management under the constant
purview of Operations manager (Vidgen, Shaw and Grant, 2017). This means that
Operations manager is responsible for maintaining business ethics in company’s
operations and process for getting better results.Communication-
Consistent and constant communication to any position in the organization is vital
for its success. It helps to eradicate overlapping and duplication of work. Operations
manager has a challenge of making effective communication with internal and external
stakeholders. It is required either when Operations manager is attending a meeting in
boardroom or talking with external stakeholders, communication is necessary for proper
direction and attaining appropriate results (Yawar and Seuring, 2017). For building
employee morale, Operations manager is also responsible for increasing productivity.
Self-reflective, authentic and smart efforts for working on communication skills tend to
make Operations manager successful in management.System Design-
The relationship between system design and operations management pose main
theme that firms should develop systems for producing top quality items and services in
accordance to demands during time (Laari et.al., 2016). This is challenge for Operations
manager to design system, plan it and manage the same quite effectually. In relation to
this, personnel must be excelling in technical and interpersonal aspects of his work to
support firm in attaining mission and vision. This calls for Operations manager to
become self-reliant for producing better results.Cash flow-
The cash receipts and cash payments are important part of daily working capital
of company. In the absence of adequate working capital, operations cannot be
performed in a better manner (Wang et.al., 2015). Outstanding bills, unexpected
payments or liquidity crunch can be serious problem for maintaining of operations at a
greater pace. Operations manager is entrusted to make aware of the facts so that
business may be able to function and operate properly. Furthermore, maintaining and
balancing cash flows at regular interval of time should be made so that inadequacy of
cash may be overcome being the responsibility of management.
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Hiring right staff-
The employees are those who perform all duties in accordance to work assigned
to them. It is required that right staff is available at right time and at right place.
Productivity gets affected and efficiency lowers down, if hired staff is unproductive or
lack of essential skills. This means that hiring process should be so that meets or fit the
requirements of enterprise (Sánchez, 2015). As the organization grows rapidly and
operations tend to increase, right kind of person at the workplace is essentially needed
to perform necessary tasks. In the absence of right staff, Operations manager suffers to
achieve stated productivity leading to unattainable goals.
Enumerating ways to address the main issues
The operations management is one of the integral parts of the company which
helps in attaining business objectives in the best manner possible (Storey and Song,
2017). It can be ascertained that there are various issues and challenges, which need to
be tackled in a manner so that obstacles may be removed and objectives, are
accomplished. In absence of proper operations, mission and vision will remain
untouched. In relation to this, ways to address major issues highlighted are discussed
below-Resolving issue of Globalization-
Globalization is affecting businesses up to a major extent. Free flow of goods and
services in international trade has strengthened companies to make money through
globalization. Operations manager being responsible for handling business operations
should make plans and initiate those in a way which benefits firm in the international
market. Planning, organizing, leading and controlling business functions are in the hand
of this manager. This will enhance operations and business processes will get
embraced in righteous manner (Fernie and Sparks, 2018). Moreover, it is required that
organization’s Operations manager should judge the approach of their rivals to alleviate
competition in the best manner possible.
In addition to this, business will be able to attain desired operations in effective
manner and customers will be benefited worldwide from the top-quality products.
Innovation is the key to make usage of globalization in a better way and thus,
management can attain desired benefits. Business process can be improved by
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