Edexcel Level 7

BTEC Postgraduate Advanced Diploma Management

Studies

ASSESSMENT ACTIVITY :

UNIT No: 19

UNIT NAME: Quality and Systems Management

ASSESSOR: LOUISE BOULTER

DEADLINE: 4 FEBRUARY 2011
SUBMISSION FORMAT: LIVECAMPUS

AIM

This unit focuses on the effective and efficient strategic planning and control of operational
systems to improve their effectiveness and efficiency. Learners will develop an understanding
of the design and monitoring of systems and processes and how they can be monitored and
improved.

This unit enables learners to study the development and evolution of quality and quality models
and how they relate to management. Learners will be able to focus on important quality
aspects within their own organisation and on improving organisational performance. As a result
of studying this unit, learners will be able to contribute to business excellence within their own
organisation.

SUMMARY OF LEARNING OUTCOMES

To achieve this unit a learner must:

1 Evaluate the strategic objectives of operations management within the organisation
2 Design and monitor appropriate systems to ensure quality of product and services
3 Improve organisational performance.
SCENARIO

Select an organisation (small, medium or Large) and discuss the contribution that operations
management could make or does make to the success of a business. You must choose a real business,
although it may no longer be trading. Select a focussed business unit (such as Virgin Trains), and avoid
conglomerates with multiple products, processes and markets (such as the Virgin Group). Or
alternatively, the organisation can be one that you have worked at or are currently working for.
Conduct in-depth research into the various aspects of that organisation including:

1. It’s Operations, Strategic and Operation’s Objective

2. Resources, systems and tools used in the operations
3. The auditing activities of the company,
4. Cultural aspects prevail in the organisation,
5. Monitoring activities and the Issues faced in operations
6. Appropriate ways to solve the issues and Implement the change to ensure quality

Based on the research, you should be able to answer the following question in appropriate details.
Answer should be supported by appropriate theories and models related to the topic.
TASKS

Task 1:
Evaluate the strategic objectives of operations management within the organization
a) Identify and explain the role and importance of effective operations management.
b) Identify and discuss the strategic objectives of your chosen Organization
c) Identify the performance operations objectives of your selected company and
analyze how successful the operations are in meeting strategic objectives of a
company. Your discussion should be focused on Quality, Cost, Speed, Flexibility
and/or Dependability
Task 2:
Design and monitor appropriate systems to ensure quality of product and services

a) Define resources, tools and systems required to support business process to improve

the quality of products and services

b) Define quality audit systems/practice to manage and monitor quality to standards

specified by the organization and process operated. Also suggest ways as to how quality
audit systems can be implemented in an organization.
c) Highlight the ways to introduce quality culture in your organization to ensure
continuous monitoring and development of the process.
Task 3:

Improve organizational performance

a) In your selected organization and identify problems and opportunities for improvement.
b) Recommend improvements which align with the organization’s objectives and goals and
which result in a reduction in the variation between what customers and other
stakeholders want and what products, processes and services deliver.
c) Evaluate the wider implications of your proposed changes within your selected
organization
d) Develop an Implementation Plan for the evaluated recommendations and evaluate the
possible changes within an organization.
ASSESSMENT CRITERIA FOR A PASS

All criteria identified in the assignment are met along with appropriate academic writing.

Outcomes Assessment criteria for pass

To achieve each outcome a learner must
demonstrate
the ability to:
1 Evaluate the strategic  identify and explain the role and
objectives of operations importance of effective operations
management within the management
organisation  analyse the strategic objectives of the
organisation
 evaluate the success of operations
objectives in meeting organisational
objectives
2 Design and monitor  define resources, tools and systems
appropriate systems to required to support business process
ensure quality of product and  define and implement quality audit
services systems/practice to manage and monitor
quality to standards specified by the
organisation and process operated
 embed a quality culture to ensure
continuous monitoring and development of
the process
3 Improve organisational  monitor systems and work activities and
performance identify problems and opportunities for
improvement
 recommend improvements which align
with the organisation’s objectives and goals
and which result in a reduction in the
variation between what customers and
other stakeholders want and what
products, processes and services deliver
 evaluate the wider implications of
proposed changes within the organisation
 plan, implement and evaluate changes
within an organisation
Important Instructions:

1. Total number of words should be between 3600 to 4400.

2. Your answer needs to be supported by appropriate theories and academic sources
where required.
3. This assignment has to be submitted online at the assignment submission area
4. Last date of Submission is 4 February 2011 until 23:55. No extension will be given in last
date of submission except in special circumstances. Only the Director of Studies or
Course Manager can extend the date in such circumstances.
5. If you fail this assignment, you can’t re-work on the same assignment but have to work
on the new assignment with the new session in which case all new dates will apply.
6. If you are referred in the assignment (failed in 2 or 3 of the outcomes) you will get
opportunity to resubmit the same assignment with reworked parts
7. Plagiarism allowed is 0% however referenced material should be used appropriately in
proportion with the length of assignment.
8. Reference System to be used is Harvard Reference System. There is a comprehensive
document on Harvard Reference system on EThames Livecampus. A number of good
documents can also be found on internet. Wikipedia references are not allowed in these
assignments.
9. All assignments are accepted online only and no hardcopy is accepted. A submission link
will be available on Livecampus on appropriate date and time. Please note; do not wait
for the last minute to submit your work on-line as you may fail to so and in such
circumstances, no second chance will be given.