Assessment 1 Information
Subject Code: MBA503
Subject Name: Operations Management and Decision-Making Models
Assessment Title: Operational Strategy
Assessment Type: Length: Individual report
1500 words (+/- 10% allowable range)
Weighting: 30%
Total Marks:
Submission: 100
Online
Due Date: Week 5
Your task
Using the most recent year’s (2022) award winners and then choosing between either Senex Energy, Downer Group or Sanford Ltd of the Australasian Reporting Awards – Sustainability section, you are required to prepare a 1500-word report explaining how your chosen company’s operational strategies, supply and logistics systems and strategic decisions have supported the company to achieve its desired business outcomes.
Assessment Description.
In this individual assessment, students will be given an opportunity to explain operational strategies and demonstrate the skills needed to build effective supply and logistics systems that support desired business outcomes by applying strategies integrating ethical, social and global considerations, which will benefit organisational performance.
Assessment Instructions
The Australasian Reporting Awards celebrate and acknowledge excellence in preparing annual reports. The awards are held annually, with companies from Australia, New Zealand and the Asia Pacific area being eligible to apply. The company chosen by students must be either Senex Energy, Downer Group or Sanford Ltd. The link to the relevant section of the awards is http://www.arawards.com.au/SustainabilityAward.
When you selected the company you will discuss, firstly perform significant research into their activities in terms of supply chains, operations and logistic systems. You may have selected a company with multiple divisions that perform a variety of activities and which have different supply chains and operations. In that case you may select a division and further research their supply chain, operations and logistical systems. In the introduction you will further explain the chosen scope of your paper and provide an overview about the specific division or supply chain. Then you will need to perform significant research into the characteristics of your chosen supply chain or division: you may find information in Industry papers, company websites, business magazines etc.. Furthermore, reflecting on the assessment requirements you need to describe the supply chain, then the economic, environmental and social impacts and lastly the operational and management approaches. Considering these three topics for your report you are required to demonstrate you competency in describing and applying the concepts as well as critically evaluating their effectiveness.
The assessment needs to include the following headings:
1. INTRODUCTION - (150 words) – Provide an overview of the company.
2. REPORT – Address the following questions under each of the headings:
? Supply Chain – How has the company built an effective supply chain and/or logistics system which supports the company’s operational and sustainability processes. (300 words)
? Economic, environmental and social impacts – What are the critical factors (ethical, social or global) impacting the company in relation to sustainability and organisational performance. (450 words)
? Operational/ management approaches – What are the key operational/management matters the company has needed to address in the year covered by the report. (450 words)
3. CONCLUSION (150 words).
4. REFERENCE LIST (following Kaplan Harvard Referencing Style) • The primary source of information with this assessment is the chosen company’s annual report. This information needs to be augmented by a minimum of 10 academic references.
• Please refer to the assessment marking guide to assist you in completing all the assessment criteria.
Assessment Submission
This file must be submitted as a ‘Word’ file to avoid any technical issues that may occur from incorrect file format upload. Uploaded files with a virus will not be considered as a legitimate submission. MyKBS will notify you if there is an issue with the submitted file. In this case, you must contact your workshop facilitator via email and provide a brief description of the problem and a screenshot of the MyKBS error message. You are also encouraged to submit your work well before the deadline to avoid any possible delay involving the Turnitin similarity report or any other technical difficulties.
Late assignment submission penalties
Penalties will be imposed on late assignment submissions in accordance with Kaplan Business School “late assignment submission penalties” policy.
Number of days Penalty
1* - 9 days 5% per day for each calendar day late deducted from the total marks available
10 - 14 days 50% deducted from the total marks available.
After 14 days Assignments that are submitted more than 14 calendar days after the due date will not be accepted, and the student will receive a mark of zero for the assignment(s).
Note Notwithstanding the above penalty rules, assignments will also be given a mark of zero if they are submitted after assignments have been returned to students
*Assignments submitted at any stage within the first 24 hours after the deadline will be considered to be one day late and therefore subject to the associated penalty
For more information, please read the full policy via https://www.kbs.edu.au/about-us/school-policies
Important Study Information
Academic Integrity Policy
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What is academic integrity and misconduct?
What are the penalties for academic misconduct?
What are the late penalties?
How can I appeal my grade?
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Word Limits for Written Assessments
Submissions that exceed the word limit by more than 10% will cease to be marked from the point at which that limit is exceeded.
Study Assistance
Students may seek study assistance from their local Academic Learning Advisor or refer to the resources on the MyKBS Academic Success Centre page. Click here for this information.
MBA503 Assessment 1 Marking Rubric - Operational Strategy Report 30%
Marking
Criteria (__/100) F (Fail)
0 – 49% P (Pass) 50 – 64% C (Credit) 65 – 74% D (Distinction) 75 – 84% HD (High Distinction) 85 -100%
Introduction and conclusion
__/10 marks Either the introduction and/or the conclusion is missing. If present poorly written, with grammatical and spelling errors detracting from what is written. Your introduction and conclusion are present but not well written, vague and unstructured. Some effort at indicating what will be
covered in the paper included but not clear. The conclusion, also
present but vague and reiterates
points made in the paper, without highlighting key points Your intro is effectively written. It provides an overview of the
direction of the paper but is not
compelling. The reader has an idea of what to expect. The
conclusion recaps the main points, summarising the central and significant points. Your intro is engagingly written. It
provides an overview of the direction
of the paper and gives the reader an idea of what to expect without
engaging. The conclusion recaps the
main points, summarising the central and significant points. Both could have more impact on the reader Your intro is compellingly and
engagingly written. Provides a
precise and succinct, overview of the direction of the paper –
engaging the reader. The
conclusion recaps the critical points, summarising the central and significant points.
Supply Chain
__/20 marks Your analysis of the supply chain is poorly written. Errors in the writing make the report
hard to understand. Few, if any, connections made
between the supply chain and operations of the organisation. Your analysis of the supply chain is developing, but grammatical and spelling errors detract from the document. Vague connections
supply chain /logistics and impact on the operational practice of the company. A basic understanding
of the concepts communicated but
not developed Your analysis of the supply chain is adequate. Connections
apparent between supply chain
/logistics and impact on the operational and sustainability practice of the company.
Comments and observations are indicating an understanding of the concepts. Your analysis of the supply chain is sufficient and detailed connections made between supply chain
/logistics and impact on the
operational and sustainability
practice of the company. Some
insightful comments made indicating a notable understanding of the concepts. Your analysis of the supply chain is convincing, credible and compelling connections made between supply
chain /logistics and impact on the operational and sustainability
practice of the company—insightful, discerning and perceptive comments, indicating
comprehensive understanding.
Economic environmental and social impacts
__/25 marks Key areas inadequately covered. Understanding of the critical factors not clear.
Underdeveloped or nonexistent development of the linkages. Some of the key areas covered – others missed. Some explanation of critical factors but could be
more convincingly developed.
Grammar and/or spelling errors are detracting from the development of the ideas. Some discussion re the economic, environmental and social impacts.
Linkages with operational and sustainability evident, but explicitly explained—good understanding of the critical factors evident – but
under-developed. Position evident but not strongly presented. Your discussion provides a clear
position regarding the economic,
environmental, and social impacts of the company. Critical factors well explained some insightful
commentary included. Advanced
conceptual understanding evident. Some commentary could be better developed. Your discussion around impacts is detailed, considered, and well-
developed position re the impacts of
economic, environmental and social impacts on the company –
performance and sustainability. Astute commentary included re critical factors. Advanced
conceptual understanding evident.
Operational/ management approaches
__/25 marks Limited explanation of the key operational / management
issues. Lists issues but little or no development. Your explanation is basic, but not developed of key concepts.
Limited development of linkages between company context and operational / management
concepts. Issues with written English impacting the flow of the report Your explanation covers key concepts. Understanding the impacts on operational /
management matters explained
clearly. Concepts could be better developed. Your explanation is in-depth coverage of the key operational / management matters of the
company. Explanation of the impact demonstrated a full and detailed understanding of central issues. Your explanation is comprehensive and in-depth, covering the key
operational / management matters
of the company. Explanation of the impact demonstrated a full and detailed understanding of central issues.
Use of
sources/supportive evidence __/10 marks Your research lacks focus and/or you have chosen
unsuitable or bogus sources, which do not link to the required assessment task. You have demonstrated a basic level of research, supported by a reasonable selection of primary and/or secondary sources. You have demonstrated substantial research, supported by a reasonable selection of primary and secondary sources. You have demonstrated substantial research supported by an
appropriate selection and range of primary and secondary sources. You have demonstrated extensive research supported by an
appropriate selection and range of primary and secondary sources.
In-text citations and referencing
__/10 marks Neither in-text referencing nor reference list adheres to
Kaplan Harvard Referencing Style. In-text referencing or the resultant reference list adheres to Kaplan
Harvard Referencing Style, with some errors. Both in-text referencing and the
resultant reference list adhere to
Kaplan Harvard Referencing Style, with some errors. Both in-text referencing and the
resultant reference list adhere to
Kaplan Harvard Referencing Style, with only occasional minor errors. Both in-text referencing and the resultant reference list adhere strictly to Kaplan Harvard
Referencing Style, with no errors.
Feedback and grades will be released via MyKBS
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