MSCI 231 Group Coursework Assignment 2022/2023
You are required to write a joint report of no more than 3,000 words. This means that you have to
present your analysis and discussion in a concise manner. Use tables, bullet points and figures wherever
possible to lay out your arguments systematically and unambiguously. The marks available for each
part of the assignment are given, but should only be used as a guide when planning your answer; we
reserve the right to modify the weightings slightly.
Overview
Select and study one ‘operation’ of any type – this could be within manufacturing or service industries
whether local or international. Write a comprehensive report which incorporates the four components
listed below under ‘Your Task’. You cannot choose the operations that have been discussed in the
course (e.g., Stagecoach and Greggs).
For this assignment you must collect data, through either primary or secondary research. The data may,
for example, be based on your own observations or perceptions of the operation as a customer (primary
research) or on secondary sources, such as company websites, press reports or sector specific media.
You must include the name and address of the head office of the operation you decide to study in
your report, even if the operation is derived from an internet source. Remember also, the sources
of your data should be clearly acknowledged via the normal academic referencing protocols. Use a
consistent method of referencing, preferably the Harvard system. You are referred to the Lancaster
University Library pages regarding plagiarism. If you have to make any assumptions, based on
unavailable evidence, you must make this clear in the text.
When researching a business directly, you should endeavour not to obstruct staff or management in
their work. You should politely ask permission for access, bearing in mind at all times that you are
ambassadors for Lancaster University and are representing a rich heritage of excellent previous
University/business relationships.
Your Task
Write a report, which will:
1. Describe the operation:
Identify the overall transformation process (i.e., transformed resources, transforming resources,
and type(s) of transformation taking place) and draw a flowchart to represent this
transformation process.
Characterise the output of the operation in terms of the 4Vs. This should include comparisons
with at least one other operation, e.g., if you have decided to study a fast food outlet, you could
say that it is a high volume operation when compared to a full-service restaurant.
Describe the current operations strategy and performance objectives.
[25% of the marks]
2. Assess the operation: Use appropriate concepts and techniques from the module to decide how
well the operation is designed and managed, in order to achieve its objectives. Use evidence based
quantitative and/or qualitative analysis. You should analyse and assess three separate areas that
have been discussed in the module, choosing any three from the following topics: inventory
management, capacity planning, supply chain management, demand forecasting, material
requirements planning (MRP), lean practices, project planning and control, quality management,
and risk assessment and control.
[50% of the marks]
1
2
3. Improve the operation:
Use appropriate concepts and techniques from the course to suggest ways in which the operation
could be improved in relation to the areas analysed in part (2) of your task.
Describe how these suggestions could be implemented. You should identify any barriers to the
implementation and propose possible ways to overcome those barriers, in the light of earlier
finding.
[25% of the marks]
Groups
1) You should undertake the work in groups of three or four if you are not a visiting student. Visiting
students should complete this coursework as an individual assessment.
2) It is your joint responsibility to ensure that the group operates effectively. Please see the group work
code of conduct at Attachment 2.
Format
1) You should prepare the report in a style suitable for a general audience of consultants, managers
and academics who have no specific knowledge of operations management.
2) You are strongly advised to organise your report according to the tasks you have been asked to
tackle. You are also strongly advised to follow the guidelines on report writing given in Attachment
1.
3) The report should be integrated and coherent, even if different parts are written primarily by
different members of your group.
Submission
1) You should submit one electronic copy by 12:00 noon on Monday 23 January 2023.
2) Please remember to put the number of your group at the start of the report. The submission filename
should be “MSCI231_Group#” (replace # with your group number).
3) The electronic copy of your report in Microsoft Word format should be submitted via the
MSCI231 coursework section of Moodle. This will be checked for collusion and plagiarism. Please
submit only one electronic copy, through one group member’s account (it doesn’t matter
which one).
4) Late work will be penalised according to the department code of practice. Any request for an
extension beyond the deadline must be made by completing the required form. Please contact
Helena Greenwood if you need to seek an extension.
Assessment
This is a group piece of work worth 50% of the MSCI231 course mark:
1) Please see Attachment 3 for the school marking guide that will be applied to this work.
2) Equal marks will be given to the members of a group unless there are exceptional conditions. You
should clearly say if you believe there have been exceptional conditions at the start of your report.
Please see the department’s code of practice on assessed group work at Attachment 2.
3) The decision of the examiners is final and by submitting coursework you are deemed to have
accepted their judgement.
3
Attachment 1: Report Writing Guidance
Report Structure
You should have a clear and logical structure for your report. You should include:
1) A short introduction that describes the problem you are tackling and the layout of the remainder
of the report.
2) A series of sections that follows the development of your theme or argument. It would be
reasonable to follow the parts of the analysis you have been asked to carry out in arranging these
sections. You should provide clear headings and sub-headings.
3) A short conclusion that summarises your analysis.
4) A set of references clearly and fully identifying the sources you have drawn on.
Writing and illustration
You should write in a way that is clear, concise and appropriate for the readership. Avoid language
that is unreasonably complex, but also avoid language that is too informal for a report of this kind.
You should use tables and charts wherever this is appropriate to communicating your analysis. You
should not include gra
tuitous graphics which do not support your analysis and which might infringe
copyright or other provisions.
Preparation and editing
You should expect to go through several stages in preparing the report. You need a plan for writing
drafts, revising the text, editing and formatting, printing and submitting the report. This is important in
a group report where you may need to bring together individual contributions from several members.
You will need to work out how best to use the restricted word limit you are working to.
Use of the work of others
It is essential that you avoid plagiarism. Some basic guidelines are these:
1) Whenever you quote someone else literally (in their own words) you must enclose their words in
quotation marks and give a reference at the end of that quotation. You must add a reference to
every distinct quotation from a given source. Quotations should not be longer than a paragraph
and generally be shorter: only quote a whole paragraph if you need to.
2) Whenever you use someone else’s findings, ideas or terminology add a reference to the work in
which you found it. Use your own words to express someone else’s findings or ideas, and if you
make a change to the substance of the finding or idea you should say so.
3) As a rule you should re-draw any figures you copy from other sources, acknowledging them fully
and editing them so that they are appropriate to your report. The only situation in which it is
acceptable to cut-and-paste someone else’s diagram or picture into your own work is where the
form of that diagram cannot be redrawn (such as a photograph) or where the form is relevant to a
point you want to make (for example where some aspect is illegible or ambiguous). Pictures are
normally protected by copyright so you should not reproduce them without careful thought.
4) Use a well-known referencing convention, use it comprehensively and consistently, and check
that your references are complete. You are strongly advised to use the Harvard convention.
Formatting and word length
1) You are strongly advised to use Times New Roman font, size 11, at least 1.15 spacing. Page
margins should be at least 25.4mm.
2) Figures must be as legible as the main text, be labelled, and be referred to in the accompanying
text.
3) You may exceed this word limit by up to 10% if you have compelling reasons to do so. The word
limit applies to the whole report, including references and any material you choose to consign to
an appendix. Generally, you should not need to use appendices or footnotes.
4
Attachment 2: Department of Management Science
Extract from code of practice for assessed group work
Group conduct
Every group member should provide to other group members a reliable means of contact
(phone, email, mobile, etc.) at the start of the groupwork. Every group member is responsible
for keeping in touch with other group members, helping to organise group meetings,
attending group meetings, sharing out work and carrying out allocated work to jointly agreed
deadlines. If any group member cannot attend a meeting or carry out agreed work, this must
be for a good reason and other group members must be properly informed in advance of the
meeting if at all possible.
Problems within a group
If a group is suffering from difficulties owing to the behaviour of one or more of its members,
it should first try to resolve them internally. If this cannot be done swiftly and satisfactorily,
group members should contact the course leader, explaining the nature of the difficulties, and
make an appointment to see him/her as soon as possible. Alternatively, if the course leader
observes problems within a group, (s)he may ask to see the students. The course leader may
decide whether to see the students all together or to see one or more of them separately. The
course leader will make notes of such meetings and the notes will be distributed to the
students and kept on their files.
There are a number of actions a course leader may decide to take, including:
a request to the group to make further efforts to resolve their problems internally
asking for full details in writing from all students
issuing a warning to one or more students
making a further appointment with one or more of the students
penalising an offending student by a specified number of marks
asking an offending student to carry out extra work
removing an offending student from a group
In all cases, the course leader will make clear in writing what action will be taken regarding
assessment, including any possible compensation for non-offending students.
Students have the right of appeal to the Head of Department for the module, whose decision
will be final.
Assessment of group work
The normal expectation is that the course leader will assign the same group work mark to
every member of a well-functioning group. If (s)he decides to give different marks within a
group, the reasons will be clearly stated.
5
Attachment 3: LUMS Grade Descriptors
Result Broad
descriptor
Grade Aggregation
score
Primary level descriptors for attainment of
intended learning outcomes
Pass Excellent A+
A
A–
24
21
18
Exemplary range and depth of attainment of
intended learning outcomes, secured by
discriminating command of a comprehensive
range of relevant materials and analyses, and by
deployment of considered judgement relating to
key issues, concepts and procedures
Pass Good B+
B
B–
17
16
15
Conclusive attainment of virtually all intended
learning outcomes, clearly grounded on a close
familiarity with a wide range of supporting
evidence, constructively utilised to reveal
appreciable depth of understanding
Pass Satisfactory C+
C
C–
14
13
12
Clear attainment of most of the intended learning
outcomes, some more securely grasped than
others, resting on a circumscribed range of
evidence and displaying a variable depth of
understanding
Pass Weak D+
D
D–
11
10
9
Acceptable attainment of intended learning
outcomes, displaying a qualified familiarity with
a minimally sufficient range of relevant
materials, and a grasp of the analytical issues and
concepts which is generally reasonable, albeit
insecure
Fail Marginal
fail
F1 7 Attainment deficient in respect of specific
intended learning outcomes, with mixed evidence
as to the depth of knowledge and weak
deployment of arguments or deficient
manipulations
Fail Fail F2 4 Attainment of intended learning outcomes
appreciably deficient in critical respects, lacking
secure basis in relevant factual and analytical
dimensions
Fail Poor fail F3 2 Attainment of intended learning outcomes
appreciably deficient in respect of nearly all
intended learning outcomes, with irrelevant use
of materials and incomplete and flawed
explanation
Fail Very poor
fail
F4 0 No convincing evidence of attainment of any
intended learning outcomes, such treatment of
the subject asis in evidence being directionless
and fragmentary