QSO 321 Module Four Assignment Guidelines and Rubric
Overview
In this assignment, you will apply what you have learned about key concepts regarding operations management. You are encouraged to leverage your work and instructor feedback on this assignment in your course project, which is due in Module Seven.
Scenario
You are the chief supply chain officer at NationaliTeas, a large international corporation that manufactures and sells tea worldwide. Its mission is to “Make the world more awake through rejuvenating and refreshing beverages and sustainable practices that uplift workers, communities, and souls.” You have recently hired the company’s first project manager and assigned their first project: Revise workflows in use related to packaging at one of your tea factories to be more sustainable and leaner. As this is their first project, you will be helping them complete the task.
Directions
Read the Project Charter for Workflow Improvement, then review the Process Workflow for Tea Production graphic. These documents are linked below under Supporting Materials. A text-only version is available: Process Workflow for Tea Production Text-Only Version. Based on these documents, recommend removing a total of four steps from the process flowchart that can help make the process more efficient and sustainable. Explain the implications of the proposed changes and then help the NationaliTeas team address existing items in the Issue Log located in the project charter.
Specifically, you must address the following rubric criteria:
- Lean Manufacturing: Evaluate the process flowchart to identify steps that do not add value based on the principles of lean manufacturing. Explain why you selected each step.
- Sustainability: Evaluate the process flowchart and identify steps that should be removed or changed to improve environmental sustainability. Explain why you selected each step.
- Process Changes: Explain the implications, both positive and negative, of removing or changing the steps from the process flowchart you identified in the previous two bullet points. Also, explain how those changes would help alignment to the triple bottom line (TBL).
- Issue Log: Analyze all entries in the Issue Log from a project manager’s perspective. Explain the recommended course of action based on the project charter, noting the impact of the issue on scope, planning communications, and resourcing.
- Operations Management Techniques: Discuss how operations management techniques, including project management and lean manufacturing, can add value to the organization, NationaliTeas.
What to Submit
Submit this assignment as a 350- to 500-word Microsoft Word document. Sources should be cited according to APA style.
Supporting Materials
The following resources support your work on the project:
- Project Charter for Workflow Improvement
- Process Workflow for Tea Production
- Process Workflow for Tea Production Text-Only Version
Module Four Assignment Rubric
CriteriaExceeds Expectations (100%)Meets Expectations (85%)Partially Meets Expectations (55%)Does Not Meet Expectations (0%)ValueLean ManufacturingExceeds expectations in an exceptionally clear, insightful, sophisticated, or creative mannerIdentifies steps in the process flowchart that do not add value based on the principles of lean manufacturingShows progress toward meeting expectations, but with errors or omissions; areas for improvement may include identifying more appropriate steps to remove or change based on lean manufacturing principles and product needsDoes not attempt criterion20SustainabilityExceeds expectations in an exceptionally clear, insightful, sophisticated, or creative mannerIdentifies steps from the process flowchart that should be removed or changed to improve environmental sustainability basedShows progress toward meeting expectations, but with errors or omissions; areas for improvement may include identifying more appropriate steps to remove or change based on environmentally friendly practices such as reducing waste or conserving water or energyDoes not attempt criterion20Process ChangesExceeds expectations in an exceptionally clear, insightful, sophisticated, or creative mannerExplains the implications, both positive and negative, of removing or changing the identified steps from the process flowchart and how they would help alignment to the TBLShows progress toward meeting expectations, but with errors or omissions; areas for improvement may include adding additional relevant details and examples to support the explanations or greater focus on alignment to the TBLDoes not attempt criterion20Issue LogExceeds expectations in an exceptionally clear, insightful, sophisticated, or creative mannerExplains the recommended course of action for each item listed in the Issue Log, noting the impact of the issue on scope, planning communications, and resourcing based on the identified changes to the process flowchart and the project charterShows progress toward meeting expectations, but with errors or omissions; areas for improvement may include applying project management concepts to justify the next steps a project manager should take when facing the issues in the Issue LogDoes not attempt criterion20Operations Management TechniquesExceeds expectations in an exceptionally clear, insightful, sophisticated, or creative mannerDiscusses how operations management techniques, including project management and lean manufacturing, can add value to the organizationShows progress toward meeting expectations, but with errors or omissions; areas for improvement may include adding further examples or explanations that support how operational management techniques can support the organizationDoes not attempt criterion10Clear CommunicationExceeds expectations with an intentional use of language that promotes a thorough understandingConsistently and effectively communicates in an organized way to a specific audienceShows progress toward meeting expectations, but communication is inconsistent or ineffective in a way that negatively impacts understandingShows no evidence of consistent, effective, or organized communication5Citations and AttributionsUses citations for ideas requiring attribution, with few or no minor errorsUses citations for ideas requiring attribution, with consistent minor errorsUses citations for ideas requiring attribution, with major errorsDoes not use citations for ideas requiring attribution5Total:100%