Report: Research assignment

Report (Hand in Date: Tuesday 7th Nov. 2017, by 2pm). Word Count: 2000 words maximum. You are required to conduct research into an organisation that offers a product, a service or both. To meet the objectives of this assignment you will need to gain access to an operation and it is advised that you collect primary data that will assist in addressing the following tasks: A. What is the capacity of the organisation and does it change over time? You can help support this answer by identifying the level of the various capacity constraints of the organisation. [Numerical/graphic analysis will again be beneficial in this section and, if done well, should be rewarded - see assignment lecture 02B]. B. What is the level of demand from customers and how does it change over time? [Use diagrams to help explain your findings - see assignment lecture 02B]. C. Based on the findings of Parts A and B, identify and discuss which capacity strategy would the most suitable for this part of the organisation? It may be the capacity strategy that they currently follow. If not you can compare this to the capacity strategy that they currently follow. You should explain your findings by analysing your field data (primary research findings) using appropriate academic theory, tools or models to justify your conclusions. [See lectures 01B and 02B]. Each part is equally weighed. DO NOT CARRY OUT DATA COLLECTION WITH ANOTHER STUDENT. THIS REPORT IS TO BE YOUR OWN WORK. Key References: * James, P., Rowland-Jones, R. and O’Brien, L. (eds.) (2009) Operations and Business Systems Management. Harlow: Pearson. * Slack, N., Brandon-Jones, A. & Johnston, R., (2013) Operations Management. 7th ed. Harlow: Pearson. Your work should be word processed in 12 point typeface (preferably Arial) with either 1 1/2 or double spacing, with line spaces between paragraphs. For Part A you may wish to use diagrams to show how the capacity changes over a particular time period. For Part B you may wish to do similar, but this time looking at how demand changes over time [See examples in Lecture 02B]. Remember that capacity constraints can apply to numbers of staff, equipment, technology and the amount of resources (such as space and money) available to the organisation. For Part C, you need to choose which capacity strategy is best suited to this organisation (based on your findings for Parts A and B). Part C is your opportunity to express your thoughts on the appropriateness of the capacity strategy used. Do the capacity strategies used support or possibly hinder the success of the operation? There are three equally weighted parts to the assignment, give them equal consideration. Methods: Please consider what is the best way to collect the information and data required? From whom do you need the information - a range of people or a select few? Why is this methodology in preference to other means of data collection?