Operations Management:
Visit any two local (Aberdeen) establishments of your choice that have open public access (for example, a clothing store, restaurant, cinema, supermarket, automotive garage, health centre). During your visit, observe and record the operations evident in this establishment, including the physical layout and processes, staff activity or movement, technology and overall environment. In your coursework, you will compare, describe and analyse both operations.
How you structure your discussion and narrative is up to you, but as a minimum, your report should do the following:
1. Using the relevant operations management terminology and concepts, explain the strategic business focus that is evident in each of the organisations you visited, clearly providing theoretical explanations for your observations.
2. With the aid of an appropriate process analysis tool, such as process flowchart or process mapping, describe the operations of each organisation. Ensure that the following are clearly identified and analysed: inputs, core process types and outputs, flows, and physical layout types.
3. Identify and discuss key operations management tools and concepts that the managers of your case organisations need to understand in order to be able to analyse, understand and improve their operations, clearly explaining why your choices are relevant and how they can be used.
4. Based on your understanding of emerging operations management issues, recommend a sustainable strategy to the management of each organisation, taking into account the impact of your recommendations on all stakeholders (for example in terms of customer satisfaction, external & internal supply chain partnerships, employee relations and shareholder value).