Demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of the business functions and processes involved in managing business operations.

BA6NB01O BUSINESS OPERATIONS

Level 6

Summative Assessment 1

Submitting, feedback & grades online using VLE

Students should provide a completed assessment cover sheet with all essential details. This assessment should be submitted in electronic format via college systems on the VLE on or before the submission deadline. All late submissions will be capped to `PASS`. Students can view their feedback and grades by using the same submission link in the VLE.

Assessment aims:

This assessment covers Learning Outcomes 1, 2 and 3. A group presentation will be used to test your subject knowledge and presentation skills. It will demonstrate your analytical and evaluative understanding on business functions and processes, the relationship between business operations and strategic planning and supply chain management. It will also reflect your teamwork and time management skills. The first learning outcome asks students to critically analyse business functions, processes, and challenges involved in managing business operations.

Assessment Descriptions:

This assessment is a group PowerPoint presentation of 15-20 slides (Cover page, Table of contents, References, and Thank You page are not included within slide count) for a group of 3-4 students, 20 minutes duration on an agreed theme approved by the module leader. Students should note that there may be penalties for the assessment work that is over or under the permitted slide count.

No need for speaker notes.

Presentation Scenario:

You are 3 – 4 members in a new Team / Group. Assume you are all working as Trainee Research and Development (R & D) Officers in the R & D department for a UK-based manufacturing organisation. You are all in six months probationary period. Your Line Manager asked your group to prepare a presentation on the following four questions. Firstly, you need to choose a Group Leader. After that, you discuss within the group and select any UK-based manufacturing (not service) organisation for this study. In your presentation, you will need to use appropriate theories, critically analyse and evaluate relevant issues, find challenges, and recommend solutions considering contemporary facts. 

You need to demonstrate good knowledge and presentation skills to get a permanent position as an R & D Officer.

Assessment Questions:

All the answers should be in PowerPoint slides (15-20 slides maximum)

You must answer all the questions in your group presentation:

1. Demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of the business functions and processes involved in managing business operations.
2. Critically analyse the challenges involved in managing business operations. Identify and explain the appropriate approaches to overcome the challenges in improving operational efficiency. Provide examples to support your research.
3. Critically evaluate the relationship between business operations and strategic planning within the manufacturing industry, and how an alignment between them could improve operational performance and service quality. You are required to apply industry examples to support your research.
4. Research on different models, techniques and frameworks applicable to supply-chain management. Propose an appropriate model or framework (applicable to supply-chain management), for your chosen organisation to improve its operation.

You must give examples from your selected organisation!

Note: Each group member must include their name on their respective slides to clearly indicate individual contributions to the presentation.

Group Presentation Guidance:

Main Slide – The details of the Module, Student Name(s) and ID number(s)

Questions for presentation- Indicating the individual’s name and the question each one of them is presenting

References – Identification of literature and other sources used and referred to in the text. Ensure that all references are quoted at the end of any quotations, definitions and web-sourced materials. Use the Harvard referencing system for your reference.

*Do not provide appendices.

Presentation Guidelines:

You will be assigned to small groups of 3–4 persons, each group taking a specific organisation and/or topic to address the learning outcomes for the module.

As part of the group, you must plan a coordinated series of presentations (that together address the assessment requirement for the specific organisation and/or topic) that the members of the group will present individually. 

As a group, you are free to decide upon the nature of the presentations you give; but the presentations, with a maximum duration of 20 minutes, must provide a comprehensive and detailed overview of the specific organisation and/or topic.

You are also free to design your own template.

Please note that all the presentations must relate to a specific organisation and/or topic and address the assessment questions. You must present for approximately 4-5 minutes.  The presentation must provide a detailed account that draws authoritatively on the available academic literature.  You should attempt to draw on examples from across the global business environment as and where appropriate.  The titles and focus of your presentation must be checked and approved by the lecturer. At the end of the presentation, the assessor may ask questions (as a group and/or individually) to clarify points raised or to test your knowledge of the topic presented.

Tutorial sessions will be arranged during the module, during which you will have the opportunity to discuss the content of your presentation and briefing sheet.

The assessment criteria for the presentation include:

1. Appropriate choice of case study material
2. Ability to address the specific questions and discussion points.
3. Structure of the presentation
4. Depth and knowledge of the subject
5. The use and quality of visual aids
6. Ability to convey information accurately and succinctly
7. The delivery of the presentation

Important Note:

Marks will be awarded to each member of the group for both group work and for individual contributions and presentations. All group members must present; no marks will be awarded to group members who fail to attend and present as part of the group presentation.

Employability Skills

​This assessment 1 covers the following employability skills, which you could demonstrate on your CV and at job interviews if you successfully pass the assessment:

• Communication
• Writing (slide content)
• Speaking (individual delivery)
• Listening (Q&A, coordination within the group)
• Presenting
• Problem solving
• Decision making
• Planning and organisation skills
• Team working
• Leadership (e.g., group leader role, coordination)
• Interpersonal skills
• Confidence
• Time management
• Working under pressure and to deadlines
• Industry / commercial awareness
• Ability to learn and adapt
• Reflective lifelong learning
• Initiative and self-motivation

Integrity and accountability (academic integrity; named individual contributions).