What syllabus points to include in question? (1 Viewer)

[swagmeister]

I have to do an assignment on operations, a business report with 2 case studies. The question is:

Discuss operations strategies that are used to support the strategic role of operations management.

So I have seen wording in HSC questions, sometimes it might say strategies that are used to respond to influences, or strategies used in processes etc. Here it is strategies that are used to support the role of operations management - but what strategies would I use, would I just use the one's from the 'operations strategies' part of the syllabus or should I be talking about other stuff (e.g. lean production, efficiency)?

currently my plan for it is:

-Exec Summary

Strategic role of operations management:
-Strategic role of operations management theory
-Intro & Strategic role of operations management for CS1
-Intro & Strategic role of operations management for CS2

Operations strategies (each one including theory as well as application to CS1 and CS2):
Performance Objectives
Supply Chain Management
Outsourcing
Technology
Inventory Management
Quality Management
Overcoming resistance to change

Contribution of above operations strategies to business success supporting strategic role - CS1 and CS2 (however this will be mentioned throughout)
Conclusion

anyone have any thoughts?

 

[Katsumi]

Typically safer to stick to syllabus content but you can still earn marks for diversifying. In my opinion just go by the syllabus. Suggesting you do a section like

3.0 Operations Strategies

Where you briefly introduce operations strategies. Then state "In total there are 7 operations strategies"

And put a mindmap with the following
Performance Objectives
Supply Chain Management
Outsourcing
Technology
Inventory Management
Quality Management
Overcoming resistance to change

Then select 2-3 in the interest of time, and expand on them, if you can do a full content driven explaination of each in relevance to both case studies and still pull 19-20 in the essay within 50-70 minutes that is quite amazing. As for linking them to the role, the role of operations management is pretty much cost leadership and product differentiation in order to achieve operational excellence and a competitive advantage. So just explain how your said strategies effect the role. I was additionally always a huge fan of introducing my case studies within my executive summary, i start a second paragraph and would state something like "The pivotal significance of operations strategies to support the strategic role of operations and thus achieve business goals is evident through..."

Additionally, things like "efficiency" and "effectiveness" are relevant to the entire year 12 business syllabus, so you could always say that a strategy can be used to increase business efficiency in one way or another

All up you seem to have a pretty good idea of what to write, so just go for it

 

[swagmeister]

Typically safer to stick to syllabus content but you can still earn marks for diversifying. In my opinion just go by the syllabus. Suggesting you do a section like

3.0 Operations Strategies

Where you briefly introduce operations strategies. Then state "In total there are 7 operations strategies"

And put a mindmap with the following
Performance Objectives
Supply Chain Management
Outsourcing
Technology
Inventory Management
Quality Management
Overcoming resistance to change

Then select 2-3 in the interest of time, and expand on them, if you can do a full content driven explaination of each in relevance to both case studies and still pull 19-20 in the essay within 50-70 minutes that is quite amazing. As for linking them to the role, the role of operations management is pretty much cost leadership and product differentiation in order to achieve operational excellence and a competitive advantage. So just explain how your said strategies effect the role. I was additionally always a huge fan of introducing my case studies within my executive summary, i start a second paragraph and would state something like "The pivotal significance of operations strategies to support the strategic role of operations and thus achieve business goals is evident through..."

Additionally, things like "efficiency" and "effectiveness" are relevant to the entire year 12 business syllabus, so you could always say that a strategy can be used to increase business efficiency in one way or another

All up you seem to have a pretty good idea of what to write, so just go for it

Thanks heaps!

It is a take home assignment so no time limit however there is a 1400 word limit which is going to make it tough.