Assessment - Project
This assessment project is to be completed in addition to the learning and assessment activities you complete in class. The project is designed to assess the knowledge and skills you have to manage an operational plan.
If you are not sure about any aspect of the assessment or would like to discuss your particular needs, please speak to your trainer. Your trainer will tell you the date you need to submit your assignment.
All parts of the project will be given to you at the same time. You need to complete all parts and submit them together by the due date. This will be in the last week of classes for the unit.
The checklist and scope of submission table will identify the records that you are required to prepare and submit (as a single submission).
Your assignment must be typed (in 12 point type on A4 paper) and attached to the front page of this assessment document, which you need to complete as an Assessment Cover Page.
Background Information
You have been employed by Canterbury Renovations, which is a start-up cabinet making business. Your role is to help develop and implement strategic plans that support the direction and aspirations of the business.
Your assessor will provide you with Canterbury Renovations case study information
Task 1
You are to obtain a copy of the business plan from your employer (who will be role-played by your assessor), and read it carefully. Once understood, you are to arrange a time to meet with your employer (your assessor) to identify company goals and aspirations, and to clarify the business plan where required.
Next, you are to develop a detailed operational plan that ensures the objectives and strategies outlined are met by work teams. As a minimum, your operational plan must outline:
- Strategies
- Performance criteria
- Timeframes
- Budgets
- Responsibilities
- Resources
It is important that you also include details on how the plan will be implemented, monitored and reviewed!
Along with your operational plan, you are to develop and provide all relevant policies and procedures relating to:
- recruitment (including induction and staff development)
- acquiring physical resources / services
- protecting organisational intellectual property
It is important that you:
- Detail any specific resource requirements
- Include a detailed consultation process
- Include KPI's to measure organisational performance
- Include contingency plans at appropriate stages
- Include strategies for the recruitment / or induction or employees
- Include relevant forecasts or budgets as required
- Detail each strategy with an assigned priority, a timeframe, responsible parties and measurable performance indicators
Once developed, you are to arrange a meeting with your assessor, who will role-play your supervisor. The purpose of this meeting is to explain and gain approval for the implementation of your plan. You must be well prepared for this meeting, as your supervisor will be asking you detailed questions, and reasons for your proposal.
Task 1 Checklist and scope of submission
Submit:
- Detailed operational plan
- Supporting policies and procedures
Task 2
Following Task 1, you are to prepare for and implement your operational plan in part. Your implementation will encompass running a meeting for your team in which you:
- Explain and discuss the operational plan in detail
- Allocate responsibilities for at least 2 different strategies outlined within the plan
- Instruct / mentor each person to whom you have allocated a responsibility to, to ensure they understand and are empowered to perform their allocated task
- Ensure each staff member are trained in the following strategies - as appropriate to their allocated responsibility / strategy
o recruitment
o resource allocation
o intellectual property
It is important that you are prepared for this session, ensuring you:
- prepare for the session to ensure everything is covered
- develop and provide relevant documentation / supporting materials to your team Your assessor will observe you running the meeting.
Meeting Context
- Each meeting will consist of yourself (running the meeting), and at least 2 other people, who will role-play the employees. Other people may include trainers or students from your course
Things to consider whilst performing this task:
- Be organised - prepare and plan for the session thoroughly.
- Know your position
- Know your company
- Arrange access to all required documentation for this process
- Be prepared to ask questions
- Be prepared to be asked questions
Things to consider whilst role-playing an employee:
- Be prepared
- Act professionally throughout the process
- Be prepared to ask questions when you require more information
- Answer all questions to the best of your ability
- Make sure that by the end of the session, you are fully aware of the strategy you have been allocated, along with the actions you would need to perform to achieve this.
Remember, you will be required to both run the meeting, and role-play an employee (during another students assessment), so be sure to perform at your best at all times.
Task 2 Checklist and scope of submission
- Submit your meeting plan and copies of documentation provided to employees
- Your assessor will observe you running the meeting and complete observation checklist
Task 3
For this assessment, you are to interview your assessor and gather the required data to review the implementation of your operational plan. To perform this task satisfactorily, you must be prepared, as your assessor will only provide you with answers to questions asked.
In performing this task, you should:
- Consider your operational plan developed in Task 1
- Identify the type of information required to determine the effectiveness of each strategy
- Assess the profitability and productivity outcomes of each strategy
- Identify areas of underperformance
- Identify improvements that are appropriate to ensure the viability of the operational plan
Once you have gathered this information, you are to provide a written report that:
- comments on the effectiveness of the plans implementation
- reviews the financial outcome (in terms of viability, profitability and productivity) of each strategy
- outlines the areas of underperformance, along with recommendations for improvements
- includes an amended version of your operational plan, with the changes highlighted
- outlines in detail how the changes will be implemented
You are to submit the detailed report as outlined above