Assessment task 3—Business report (Brisbane Outdoor Case)
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Objectives
This assessment task relates to course learning outcomes numbers 1 to 5.
Before starting this assessment read the marking criteria (below) and information about business report writing on the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) website:
http://moodle.cqu.edu.au/course/view.php?id=1497 (Choose the ‘Academic Communication’ option.)
The course website also provides useful information in regard to the development of this assessment item. In particular, you must read the Assignment Writing Requirements document at:
https://moodle.cqu.edu.au/mod/resource/view.php?id=316623
This document outlines course specific assignment requirements in some detail.
Purpose
The primary purpose of this assessment task is to help students develop skills in the use of OM principles, theories and models in the analysis of the current operations of a service industry organisation. The assignment requires you to analyse the current situation, identify the operational problems within the organisation, and develop a set of recommendations that, when implemented, will overcome the identified problems without creating new ones. In this assessment piece you are expected to provide a solution, recommendations and action plan.
The secondary purpose of this assignment is to give students the opportunity to further develop analysis and problem identification and problem solving skills, as well as skills in presenting an argument for change within the framework of a business report.
Description
Assessment task 3 requires the writing of a professional business report. The report should critically review the current situation, identify and analyse any problems that are in evidence, and demonstrate how those problems should be addressed. As a business report it should be concise, accurate and actionable. At the same time, the report should be founded on appropriate Operations Management principles and theories, and be supported by appropriate evidence and discussion from relevant academic literature.
Details
The assessment item is based on the case study titled Purchasing and Inventory at Brisbane Outdoor Power Centre. You should read, and carefully analyse, the case and respond to the issues presented at the end of the case study within the context of a short business report. The objective of the case study is to provide an operations management situation that can be studied and analysed. You will need to put yourself in the role of a management professional who is asked to identify the nature of the problem(s), why or how the problem(s) happened or evolved, and make recommendations that will resolve the situation.
As the Purchasing and Inventory Manager at Brisbane Outdoor’s Strathpine branch, you have been asked by the new CEO to prepare a report that addresses the following questions:
1. What are the current purchasing and inventory management processes being used by the company?
2. What are the comparative advantages and disadvantages of the currently used processes?
3. What supply-chain and inventory management concepts would help the company increase efficiency and reduce investment whilst maintaining adequate stock levels?
4. What recommendations would you make to Ms Green with respect to restructuring the purchasing and inventory functions of the company? (Please include a brief action plan showing how the recommendations, if approved, will be implemented.)
The report should be a confidential report for the CEO, presented as a suitably professional document.
It is expected that your discussion will refer to appropriate models and theories covered in this course, but your research should extend the theoretical discussion beyond the course material. The assessment criteria should give you a clear indication of what you need to include in this assignment. The report should include an effective introduction and conclusion; an executive summary of no more than one page to preface the report; and a table of contents to give guidance to the reader.
This assessment item involves researching your assigned topic to enhance your understanding of Operations Management concepts and utilisation of academic literature. If you are not familiar with the industry in question, some field and/or desk research would be advisable. Whilst you should AVOID using only textbooks, the prescribed textbook for the course must be cited in regard to broad operations management principles highlighted by the case. You are expected to present information and evidence from, and cite, at LEAST eight (8) relevant peer-reviewed, academic journal articles (minimum requirement). Refer to your recommended readings for examples of academic journals. While you can cite these articles, you must find at least eight (8) peer reviewed journal articles not listed in the course materials. The quality and number of citations will demonstrate the breadth and depth of the literature used to formulate your argument. Your marker is interested in the analysis that you have developed from YOUR review of the literature and how well you use the literature to respond to the topic.
AVOID presenting a descriptive account ONLY of your readings. What is required in this assessment is a critical evaluation of the evidence in the case and the academic literature as it relates to the specific details of the case study. Your marker is interested