This assignment requires you to compare and contrast TWO types of organisation (Preferred from UK), – ONE from the manufacturing sector and ONE from the service sector, selected from the table below.  You must select the manufacturer whose code corresponds to the last-but-one digit of your student number, and you must select the service-sector organisation whose code corresponds to the last digit of your student number.

Example:  A student whose student number ends in the digits ‘03’ would need to find

‘03’ in the table above, and would see they have to select ‘Furniture’ as

their manufacturer, and ‘Library’ as their service-sector organisation.

The Task        .  Specifically, you are required to:

1. Choose a core process from the operations function within each of your selected organisations, and explain how performance could be continuously improved through application of the PDCA In other words, customise the PDCA cycle to the context of the two selected processes, discussing each separately.

 (30% of marks)

1. For your chosen process in each organisation, identify and explain the quality management tools that could be applied at each phase of the PDCA cycle.

(35% of marks)

1. Identify and explore any similarities and differences between the issues you might expect your selected organisations would have to address in their application of the PDCA cycle as part of their ongoing management of quality.

(35% of marks)

Assessment   You will be assessed largely on your ability to discuss the application of academic

Criteria           theory about the PDCA cycle in the real-world context of your two selected organisations.  It follows, therefore, that a report focussed mainly on the description of quality management theory, but which does not adequately address the use of the PDCA cycle in practice would not be worthy of a high mark.

The weightings to be applied to each part of the task are shown in ‘The Task’ (see page 1), and the quality of work will be judged against the standard ‘Undergraduate Grading Criteria’ (see pages 3-5).

Guidance       The materials relating to the teaching sessions on Quality Management (lectured during January) encompass much of the learning required to undertake this assignment.  However, some additional reading of the academic literature that exists on the application of the PDCA cycle in real or case organisations is also advised.

You may consult your usual seminar tutor if you would like help understanding the

assignment brief, or if you have specific queries about the topic (i.e. about quality

management).  However, please note that no further guidance will be provided after

5:00pm, Fri. 21^st April.

Learning Outcomes Being Assessed

Subject Specific:

• Demonstrate an understanding of the role and major issues involved in managing quality within organisations.

• Select and apply appropriate operations and process management tools and techniques to the analysis and evaluation of business problems, with a view to improving performance.

Cognitive:

• Apply a range of structured qualitative techniques in the analysis and evaluation of common problems within the core, value-adding functions of a business.

• Demonstrate the ability to think critically about a subject, and the ability to interpret qualitative data in context, in order to support business planning and decision processes.

• Work in an organised and effective way on business issues, the nature of which may be unfamiliar, and which require the selection and use of appropriate tools and techniques, plus some initiative in how they are tackled.