Purpose of this assessment activity

This activity will assess your skills and knowledge in managing innovation and continuous improvement.  You must present your activity in hard copy. Students are required to submit examples of documentation showing your active participation in managing innovation and continuous improvement.  The activity must include answers to all parts of the task and contain adequate information to address all required criteria.

Performance Evidence

Evidence of the ability to:

• analyse and evaluate systems and performance in key areas of the organisation and identify opportunities for improvement, seeking advice from experts as appropriate
• promote the value of creativity, innovation and sustainability and recognise successes
• support the testing and trialling of new ideas and undertake risk management and cost-benefit analysis for options
• plan for and implement improvements using organisation’s processes for approvals, project management and change management
• facilitate effective contributions to and communications about continuous improvement and innovation
• capture insights, experiences and ideas for improvements and incorporate them into the organisation’s knowledge management systems and future planning.

Knowledge Evidence

To complete the unit requirements safely and effectively, the individual must:

• outline cost-benefit analysis methods
• describe creativity and innovation theories and concepts
• list organisational learning principles
• identify quality management and continuous improvement theories
• describe relevant risk management concepts
• outline relevant sustainability practices.

Scenario

This assessment MUST be based on the organization where you work. It includes a total of 3 reports and an implementation plan as outlined below.

ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS

Include Table of Contents

Part 1 – Analysis, Evaluation and Review of Current systems (Report)

Write an initial report (approx. 2 pages) that identifies, evaluates and reviews the current programs, systems and processes for continuous improvement at the organisation you have chosen.

Your report must include an analysis, evaluation & review of:

1. Relevant supply chains.
2. Monitoring systems
3. Performance measures
4. Performance reports
5. Trends
6. A discussion of when it would be appropriate to consult outside experts (the pros and cons of external consultants relative to the organisation)

Part 2 – Ideas for improvement (with your team) (Report)

Using the evaluation from part 1, create a 2^nd report (min 2 pages) of ideas for improvement. This must include:

1. A summary of ideas
2. A description of methods that you have used, with your team, to develop and improve business systems (at least 3 methods must be described in detail) and to foster a creative climate in your workplace
3. A description of 3 innovation ideas which have come up as a result of b)
4. A conclusion which outlines your recommendation for 1 (one) innovation/continuous improvement idea for the organisation and the reasons why.

Part 3 – Plan for Innovation/Improvement (Implementation Plan)

Create a plan for the implementation of your innovation (from Part 2 d)) (should be no more than 3 months for full implementation) Your plan, (2 pages’ min), must include:

1. A summary of your plan and innovation
2. Your objectives (at least 3)
3. Your timeline (must be detailed and contain exact dates)
4. Your budget (with attached quotes- at least 2 for 2 items)
5. A Cost Benefit Analysis
6. Your Contingency plan and mitigation strategy
7. Your review of systems after implementation (summary)

Part 4 – Report on Implementation of plan (Report)

Write a report of the actual implementation of the innovation plan from Part 3

You must provide:

1. Sign off and evidence of authorisation to conduct implementation (before implementation)
2. Your review report (report should be approximately 500 Words) on the implementation outcomes including:
   • Brief summary of outcomes

• Things that went well (x 4)
• Things that could be improved (x4)

1. Sign off and Authorisation evidence after implementation with acknowledgement of review evident
2. Evidence of your work at your workplace