Homework: Evaluating Performance
Learning Outcome:
• Apply appropriate performance measures and quality tools that are utilized within the context of supply chain management.
This journal is different than many journals you may have encountered during your time at university. In fact, it is better to think of it as an interview than a journal.
Part of learning about business is networking. This interview is to get you motivated and networking with business professionals in your local area. If you want, you can also set-up an online interview using Google Hangouts; however, you should make an effort in your local area if at all possible for this experiential learning opportunity to conduct a face-to-face interview.
You will conduct a 30-minute interview with a business professional who has experience with quality tools and performance measures.
During the interview, ask permission to submit their first name, last name, and email address as elements of your interview summary, in case your professor wants to check in with them on their thoughts of the interview.
As the person conducting the interview, you should dress professionally for the interview, and be prepared with some initial research of the person you are interviewing (review their LinkedIn profile) as well as, their organization (online research, corporate website, etc.). The point is to show up as a business professional, and to be properly prepared and engaged for the interview. You will be asking the questions, and you should be prepared to be an active listener and to ask pertinent follow-on questions.
The three main question sets you are to ask, allowing about 10 minutes of discussion each, are:
Question I: Voice Matrix
As a part of quality management, and process management, it is important that each group of employees have "a voice' in the process. Does your organization use the concept of a Voice Matrix to collect stakeholder input via Excel, or another spreadsheet or database? What does your organization do with employee feedback? Why is it important for all stakeholders to have representation within a quality culture?
Question II: Employee Categories
How are your employees categorized within the organization? Is this the responsibility of human resources, leadership, or both in partnership? How does the employee category connect to an operational mission? How does categorization improve areas such as organizational work or customer interaction?
Question III: Standards
What standards does your organization set related to the mission? What standards are set for teams within the organization? If you could improve a particular standard that you work with frequently, what would it be, and how would you improve it?
To successfully complete this interview, review the rubric prior to the interview and ensure you complete all required elements. However, in general, you will be composing 2-pages of meeting minute format summary of the interview, highlighting who you selected to interview, their contact information, the three responses, any other follow-on questions or key points, and then close with a summary and your reflection on what you learned in relation to the course topics.
Format your homework according to the following formatting requirements:
i) The answer should be typed, using Times New Roman font (size 12), double spaced, with one-inch margins on all sides.
ii) The response also includes a cover page containing the title of the homework, the student's name, the course title, and the date. The cover page is not included in the required page length.
iii) Also include a reference page. The Citations and references must follow APA format. The reference page is not included in the required page length.