Research Proposal on "Operations Strategy Supply Chain Management"

Quoted Instructions for "Operations Strategy Supply Chain Management" Assignment:

Topic - Operations Strategy - Supply Chain Automation for Imperial Tobacco Canada

Please Note the following:

Dave ***** wrote the proposal of this research paper, please ensure that he writes this paper for consistency.

Please follow the instructions on the structure and content of the paper

Structure and Content

1) Executive Summary (5 points)

Having read the executive summary, the reader will know:

*****¢ Why the report is needed *****“ the situation

*****¢ What the objectives and perspective(s) are (issues or criteria may be included)

*****¢ How the problem was investigated *****“ the methodology

*****¢ What is recommended to resolve the situation *****“ the plan of action.Nothing that follows in the body of the presentation should be a surprise to the reader. The executive summary can be considered analogous to the abstract of an academic paper.

2) Introduction and Description of the Organization (5 points)

Provide the reader with the context necessary to understand what follows. Trends in technology, demographics, regulation, or consumption might be mentioned. Maps or organizational charts may be useful. Summaries of products or services, markets, and the competitive landscape may be mentioned. Originality is not a requirement in this section. Text written for previous papers, organization documents, marketing materials, and such are fine to draw from*****”with appropriate referencing, of course (1). Occasionally there may be situations or organizations that are so unique that more than a couple of pages may be required.

3) Assumptions and Scope (5 points)

Assumptions provide context for the analysis. Any factors outside the analysis that could impact its applicability and resulting recommendations should be listed here. Government policy, mergers, demographics, weather, funding streams, competitive activity, and medical trends are examples of assumption areas.

If something in the situation is unclear or contradictory, state an interpretation here as an assumption. If you know it to be true (or false), it is not an assumption.

Somewhere between zero and five assumptions should suffice. A bulleted list is fine. Justification in the paper is not required, but any assumptions should be necessary, realistic, and consistent with other information in the paper.

Scope provides focus for the analysis. Are all services and markets included or only a subset? What time horizon is appropriate? Is design included or only assembly? Scope defines what is clearly inside and what is clearly outside the analysis.

In a paper this short, a tighter scope is often advantageous in that it generally allows for greater depth in the analysis.

4) Major Issues (5 points)

Issues are addressed in the analysis and recommendations section of the paper. What are they and why are they important? They should already have been identified, at least in a general way, in your preliminary proposal.

Issues may be problems or opportunities. Select two to five, the resolution of which will have the most impact on the organization. Write a paragraph or two of explanation as required, but state each issue succinctly first.

If applicable, consider issues from several perspectives. Examples of perspectives include:

*****¢ Managers and Funders *****“ what the situation looks like from the administration of the organization, from the top down (e.g., strategy, facilities, growth, costs, staffing, etc.)

*****¢ Customers and Suppliers *****“ what the situation looks like from the outside looking in (e.g., order winners and qualifiers)

*****¢ Employees and Service Recipients *****“ what the situation looks like from the operation of the organization, from the bottom up (quality, responsiveness, workload)

*****¢ Community and Competition *****“ trans-organizational issues, or what the situation looks like across the contextual landscape (e.g., privacy, market share, access, ethics, regulations, etc.)

5) Objectives (5 points)

Objectives are the results your recommendations are designed to positively influence. They are the key result areas of the organization or operation under study. Thus, objectives often transcend issues and survive the implementation of recommendations as ongoing organizational concerns.

The quality of the recommendations is determined by their impact on these key results areas. Any recommendation, not just those in your paper, will be evaluated against these desired outcomes. The preferred recommendation (or set of recommendations) is the one that best satisfies these objectives.

The form of outcomes must be SMART:

Specific *****“ an observable behaviour or outcome which is linked to a rate, percentage, or frequency

Measurable *****“ usually a numeric indicator of progress toward the objective

Achievable *****“ will reasonable effort, properly directed, produce the desired result?

Relevant *****“ do those charged with the objective have the necessary knowledge, authority, and skill?

Time bound *****“ start, finish, or milestone date(s)

A balanced set of objectives:

*****¢ are mutually exclusive

*****¢ collectively represent operational success

*****¢ reflect the interests of all major stakeholders

*****¢ are weighted according to their relative importance.

Examples of operations objectives might be ROI, quality, inventory turns, or throughput. Managerial objectives might be cost, staff turnover, occupancy, or certification. From a consumer perspective, objectives might be price, availability, or lead time.

There should be no hint of assumptions or recommendations in objectives. Issues are explored in the analysis; recommendations are assessed against the objectives. A bulleted list of no more than six items is fine.

6) Analysis (30 points)

This is where you will apply rigorous analysis to the issues you have raised. Arguments are based on data that has been developed and an*****d. Here you will demonstrate your critical thinking ability, creativity, and insight as well as the appropriate use of the ideas provided in the texts. Strong papers evaluate several (three to five) courses of action, contrast and compare perspectives, identify chains of causality, and consider costs and benefits.

Every issue identified should be carefully explored in light of the qualitative and quantitative data generated. Ensure that you cite your sources (2). Label opinion as such. Tables, diagrams, or graphs may be used to display data; follow each with a statement of the conclusion to be drawn from it.

This is likely to be the major portion of the paper, so logical ordering and clarity are important. Make the rigour of the investigation evident, but avoid overwhelming your reader with pages of unrelieved, dense text.

First, state the analytical frameworks you will use to investigate the issues. These frameworks must draw upon and incorporate appropriate concepts and techniques from the course which are relevant to the issues at hand. Some or all of these frameworks will have been identified in your preliminary proposal. Non-OPMT tools such as cost/benefit or ROI may also be used.

Second, use the frameworks to describe the issues in quantitative terms. Statements as to the quality and limitations of the data are appropriate. Graphs, diagrams, and tables are appropriate here. Summarize the relevant points that may be drawn from each. Spreadsheets usually are best put in an appendix so as not to interrupt the flow.

Third, summarize and draw logical conclusions from what has been presented in the second step.

Analysis is not an exercise in expressing opinion, no matter how informed. This paper is not an editorial*****”it is a scholarly undertaking. It is an investigation into an issue, based on data, at a deep enough level that the reader knows that the paper has gotten to the heart of the matter. Each of the recommendations must be thoroughly supported by this analysis. More than half the effort of your paper should go into the analysis and recommendations.

7) Recommendations and Plan of Action (20 points)

This is the statement of how to address the issues. Often, several different approaches may be taken to address an issue as clarified in the analysis. Multiple choices, carefully differentiated, generally increase the satisfaction of the chosen alternative.

Are the recommendations provided corrective (fix the leak in the roof), adaptive (put a bucket under the leak) or reactive (move out)? Each type may be appropriate given the circumstances and the objectives. Justify your choice.

Outline the specific steps to be taken for implementation, when and how they will be completed, and by whom. Include cost/benefit calculations, timelines, tables of responsibility, and sequencing as appropriate.

Edit your collective recommendations by asking yourself these questions:

*****¢ Do these steps collectively address all the issues?

*****¢ Do they positively influence the objectives?

*****¢ Are they justified by the conclusions of the analysis?

State each recommendation as the first sentence of a paragraph beginning with "I recommend..." or "It is my recommendation...." Be decisive, declarative, and definitive. Avoid using weasel words such as 'could,' 'might,' or 'perhaps.'

The rest of the paragraph is supportive explanation: key data, impact on objectives, and alternatives considered. Previous exposition need not be repeated, but may be incorporated by reference. Avoid multiple recommendations in a single statement.

If there are contingencies or uncertainties beyond the scope of the analysis, address them in *****If..., then...***** statements. Avoid recommendations suggesting further study; no credit will be given for them. Use diagrams, flow charts, and so on, as required (e.g., a Gantt chart of an implementation plan).

Often, fewer recommendations have more impact than many. The reader should be left convinced that the recommendations represent the best course of action.

The action plan will specify who will do what by when in the implementation of the recommendations. Include sequencing and costs.

8) Conclusion (5 points)

The conclusion does three things.

First, it highlights the major conclusions of the paper and their significance. It pulls the paper*****s arguments together and defines their impacts; that is, it states what the paper has demonstrated. The overall impact of the recommendations on the objectives should be stated and balanced against the cost of implementation.

Second, it points out the limitations of the paper. Additional issues may have surfaced or areas for further investigation have become apparent. A review of the assumptions and scope chosen may prompt some specific cautions. The methodology of the analysis or the extent of the recommendations in a paper of this length may have introduced some limitations. What additional data would strengthen the analysis? Are there directions for further research?

Third, it should provide closure, leaving the reader satisfied that the paper explored a situation that led to a meaningful conclusion. Many times, readers will skim the executive summary and conclusion to determine whether or not to read the entire paper. Make sure that the conclusion leads the reader to confidence in the paper*****s scope, methods, and recommendations.

Aim for one to three paragraphs.

The proposal wil be sent via email. *****