6-10 Pages Operation Management Paper

OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT

52-620-325

Professor Vitt

Rutgers University

Research Project Requirements

“The Adoption of Operations Management Concepts and Their

Impact on Corporate Performance:

Ignore the Concepts and Fail

Vs.

Embrace the Concepts and Prosper”

Professor Vitt Operations Management

Research Project Requirements 52-620-325

Page 1

OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT

Research Project Requirements

1.0 Scope:

The purpose of the Research Project is to provide you the opportunity to thoroughly understand

how a particular Operations Management concept has either significantly helped an organization

or as a result of the management’s ignorance of the topic, significantly damaged the

organization.

2.0 Requirements:

You may select any Operations Management topic from the course that you will use as your

basis of your research and any corporation that you have an interest in studying. The corporation

may be a Multi-National conglomerate or a local business where you may have worked. You are

to formulate an argument in either the positive, or negative, based on the performance of the

company’s management in relation to the course topic chosen. You will be required to turn in a

brief Abstract that identifies the concept and company chosen as well as your argument by the

date shown on the Syllabus. Sample Abstracts are shown in the Appendix. You will then be

required to turn in the actual Research Project as defined in Section 3.0 by the date shown in the

Syllabus.

3.0 Research Project Format:

The format and structure of the Research Project shall be in accordance with the current

American Psychological Association, APA, structure. If you are not familiar with this format,

then that will be the beginning phase of your research. Please refer to the sample APA paper on

Sakai for guidance and additional information. Points will be deducted if the format does not

adhere to the APA structure.

The length of the Research Paper shall be a minimum of six to a maximum of ten pages of text.

Charts, photos, figures, data tables, etc. are encouraged in order to support your argument and are

pages over and above the required pages of text.

You will be required to obtain four to six references and shall identify them at the end of the

paper.

Professor Vitt Operations Management

Research Project Requirements 52-620-325

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4.0 Research Content:

As you listen and learn during the class lectures or as you proactively review the various topics

in this course in advance, select a concept, tool, technique or topic that you feel a connection

with based on your personal interests and/or experiences. Once you have selected a topic,

identify a company that has either made significant accomplishments as a result of successfully

embracing and implementing the theory and concept discipline or identify a company that, as a

result of ignoring these basic fundamental concepts, has left the company in jeopardy, up to and

including bankruptcy. The positive or negative impact to the company does not necessarily need

to be in strictly financial terms, although in some roundabout way it eventually will lead back to

a financial impact. By not observing the concepts and using the tools and techniques presented

in this course, companies may have their reputation damaged, product quality diminished,

management integrity questioned and more which ultimately impact the shareholders. Other

companies have fully embraced the contributions of Operations Management and appreciate the

concepts and techniques. As a result, their businesses have flourished and have achieved

remarkable success in inventory reduction, cycle time reduction, cost improvement, Supply

Chain excellence, profitability and more. Your objective is to analyze the selected company’s

performance in relation to the course topic selected and draw a conclusion. Develop your

argument by providing supporting research material and data drawn from such areas as Annual

Reports, periodicals, current news articles, on-line research, etc. You are required to use at least

four references and correctly annotate their reference. It is also highly recommended that you

use current companies and events in your Research Project that are shaping the business

landscape.

It is recommended that you include in your project an explanation as to how the Operations

concept / topic is supposed to be used effectively by organizations. Then proceed to introduce

your selected company and the argument that you will make. I am interested in reading about

your knowledge and understanding of the selected Operations concept and to ensure you

thoroughly understand what that impact had, and why, on the organization.

5.0 Deliverables:

1. Research Project Abstract using the format in the APPENDIX. You are required to

submit your Abstract on a single page. Refer to the Course Syllabus for the Abstract due

date.

2. Research Project using the APA format as described in Section 3.0, herein. You are

required to submit the original Research Project. Refer to the Course Syllabus for the

Project due date.

Professor Vitt Operations Management

Research Project Requirements 52-620-325

Page 3

APPENDIX

The following are typical abstract examples, two positive and two negative. You are only to turn

in one Abstract that is either a Positive Argument or a Negative Argument and only focused on

one concept and one company.

Abstract Example Arguments for the Positive:

As a result of Management’s constant strive for process improvement and their ability to

maintain an open mind, the following companies have flourished by successfully implementing

the Course Topic shown and as a result, significantly improved their bottom line, product quality

or corporate image.

Course Topic: Corporation: Argument:

Cellular Layouts Dell Innovative assembly techniques and layouts have

enabled the company to be flexible in their process

capability thus enabling the company to be the industry

leader in cycle time.

Six Sigma Motorola By focusing on eliminating process variation in both the

assembly process and design process, Motorola has

achieved world-class excellence in quality and is

viewed as the benchmark for Six Sigma.

Abstract Example Arguments for the Negative:

As a result of Management ignoring the Course Topic shown, their company has run into trouble

and has experienced a significant impact to their bottom line by reduced Sales or Gross Margin,

a tarnished image or an adverse impact to the quality and reliability of their product.

Course Topic: Corporation: Argument:

Forecasting GMC Lack of accurate forecasting an attention to buyer

behavior patterns resulted in excessive inventory that

almost put the company out of business.

Supply Chain Boeing Insufficient management and oversight of the supply

chain has lead to multiple delays of the 787 test flight

and as a result has tarnished the company’s image and

integrity of the product.