Management School – Undergraduate Coursework Specification 2022-23

Module Code: MGT253 Coursework Codes: X,W
Module Title: Principles of Operations Management
Date Available: 26th of February 2022
Submission details: Friday 21st of April 2023, 12pm (noon)

Your submission consists of two files: a MS Excel spreadsheet with the results of your simulation; and a MS Word file with your report.
Electronic submission only through Blackboard. There will be two submission points, one for the MS Excel file and the other one for your report.
You can submit your assignment multiple times to the submission link on the module Blackboard site. Each time you submit you will receive a
Similarity Report. You can check this and improve your referencing before the final deadline.
After 3 submissions you will need to wait 24hrs before you receive a new report.
Please note: each new submission replaces any previous submission. It is not possible to retrieve a previous submission.
Your final submission must be made before the deadline to avoid late penalties.

You should note that the time of submission is taken from once the document has been successfully uploaded and confirmed – this may take more than
five minutes during busy periods. Late penalties will be applied to any work submitted from 12.01pm on add full date onwards. Details of how to
calculate a late penalty can be found in your programme Handbook. It is your responsibility to ensure the correct document/file has uploaded
successfully.


When submitting students must:
1. Include a completed cover sheet (available from Blackboard). Only for the simulation report (MS Word document).
2. Use ‘Student Number, MGTXXX-X’ (e.g. 18203206-MGT253-X) as the Excel file name and also as the Assignment Title in Turnitin.
3. Use ‘Student Number, MGTXXX-W’ (e.g. 18203206-MGT253-W) as the MS Word document name and also as the Assignment Title in
Turnitin.
Contribution to Final Mark for Module: 30%
Maximum Word Length: xxx
Unless otherwise specified, the word count is for the main body of the text and ignores the reference list and appendices. If you exceed the word length
you will be penalised. For details see the Management School Handbooks.
Please note that SUMS does not have a word count tolerance - it is a stated maximum as outlined above.
Requirements:
The Theory of Constraints, introduced and popularised by the book The Goal. A Process of Ongoing Improvement. by Eliyahu Goldratt and Jeff Cox, is
a body of knowledge that deals with all the obstacles that limit or constraint the organisation’s ability to achieve its goals.
In this work you will use a spreadsheet to conduct a simulation to represent and evaluate the impact of bottlenecks in an industrial setting.
This work will be explained and an example, inspired by Goldratt’s book, will be presented during tutorial sessions 1 to 3 (weeks 25 [3], 26 [5], and 29
[7], and 26 [4], 28[6], and 30 [8], depending on your tutorial group) and must be finished and submitted as an individual work by the end of Week 33
(Friday 21st of April 2023).
The submission consists of the MS Excel file containing the simulation exercises, and a short essay answering the questions indicated in the statement
of the problem.



The essay should also include:
A short description of the experiment.
A thorough reflection about the impact of bottlenecks on a company’s processes. You should show that you clearly understand what a bottleneck
is in an industrial process, and how can a manager avoid and/or correct them. Your reflection should link what you observed in the simulation
experiment with real life situations in industrial and service settings.
The report must include some graphic support.
Further details of the exercise are provided in the document associated to this specification form.
.

Assessment criteria <40%
(Fail)
40-44%
(Pass)
45-49%
(3rd class)
50-59%
(2.2 )
60-69%
(2.1)
70-79 %
(1st class)
80 % and above
(1st class)
Spreadsheet (40%)
Determined by the points allocated to each component of the simulation exercise (MS Excel file). Points are allocated exclusively depending on the accuracy of the formulas used and
the consistency of the results. The numerical results, being random, cannot be evaluated.
Analysis and discussion of the
results (35%)
No attempt made
to present an
analysis of the
results. No attempt
for answering the
questions that
appear in the
statement of the
problem.
A mere and
superficial
description of the
results without
analysis. Minor
attempt to answering
the specific
questions in the
statement.
Shows an attempt
for analysing the
numerical results
of the simulation.
The answers to the
questions are
somehow correct
but lack depth.
Provides a more
detailed analysis of
the numerical results
of the simulation.
The answers to the
questions are
generally correct.
Clear and detailed
analysis of the
numerical results of the
simulation. The
answers to the
questions are correct.
In depth analysis of
the simulation results.
Use of graphical and
statistical tools to
support the discussion
and the answers to the
questions.
Shows a serious
attempt to deploy
critical analysis.
Excellent and well-
grounded analysis of
the simulation results.
Use of graphical and
statistical tools to
support the discussion.
The answer to all the
questions is correct and
reflects a high level of
critical analysis.
Use of academic literature
(15%)
No attempt is made
to link the exercise
with the academic
literature.
Provides a definition of the bottleneck in
process design, but the link with the exercise
is loose.
Shows a good
understanding of the
concept of
bottleneck and
establishes a link
with the results of
the simulation. The
discussion is
somehow grounded
in academic
literature.
Shows a very good
understanding of the
concept of bottleneck
and establishes a link
with the results of the
simulation. The
discussion is grounded
in academic literature.
No practical examples
are provided
Provides a more
detailed discussion of
the concept and impact
of bottlenecks in
service and industrial
processes and finds
clear links with the
results of the
simulation. Good use
of sources in academic
literature. Provides
practical examples.
Provides a critical
discussion of the
concept and impact of
bottlenecks in service
and industrial
processes and finds
clear links with the
results of the
simulation. Excellent
use of sources in
academic literature
provides practical
examples.
Presentation, structure, and
style of the report (10%).
Poorly formatted
document. Poor
grammar and
spelling errors.
A better organised document. Some grammar
and spelling errors.
Well organised document. Minor grammar and
spell errors.
Very well organised
document with
literature and graphical
support..
Excellent written and
very well organised
document with
literature and graphical
support.
Referencing: you must reference your work correctly using the Harvard method. Failure to do so will result in the deduction of marks and possible
proceedings under the University's Regulations as to the Use of Unfair Means
Independence of working:
You are reminded of the University's Regulations on the Use of Unfair Means and academic integrity which are outlined in the School's Handbooks. If
there is a suspicion that your work is not your own and that you have used unfair means or there is suspicion of a breach of academic integrity in writing
this assessment then you may be referred to our unfair means officers to consider your work. Therefore, you are advised to ensure that you undertake the
relevant guidance on the module site or programme level sites that you have access too. If you cannot access these, please contact the Student
Experience Office.
Other Submission Details: Please check that these instructions are appropriate for your coursework and amend/delete if required
● Use the standard Management School cover sheet
● Have the word count given on the cover sheet
● Be presented with 2.5cm margins all round
● Use Times New Roman or Arial, 11 or 12 point for the main body text
● Use 1.5 line spacing
● Have all pages numbered except the first
● Be properly spell checked
● Be made attractive with suitable use of headings, paragraphs and sections
● Be properly referenced to the Management School version of Harvard referencing
Resit:
The resit coursework will have the same structure. A different case will be provided. The submission conditions and assessment criteria are the ones
described in this document.
Other matters: