How can JFC design learning and development initiatives that are effective and are tailored to employee learning styles?
Assessment Information – What you need to do
This is an individual assignment (do not work in pairs or groups).
Individual HR solution based on Case Study – COVID-19 Junkway Food Company (JFC) Case Study
In order to address the question, you are expected to read widely and offer a considered, critical analysis of the key debates which demonstrates your ability to express the issues fully.
At the end of a critical emergency board meeting which you are attending as company’s Human Resource Director, the CEO has asked you to write to the relevant people in the organisation, providing answers to one (1) out of the following 3 questions based on the discussions at the meeting:
Redundancy:
Provide a response to the Finance Manager- What Human Resource Management (HRM) practices can be used as strategic alternatives to compulsory redundancies? Present recommendations to JFC regarding compulsory redundancies and alternatives
Provide a response to the Finance Manager – If JFC is to undertake redundancies does the company need to consult and with whom should they consult? Provide recommendations regarding the support JFC should provide to employees who are made redundant during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Reward Management:
Provide a response to the Marketing Manager – How can JFC improve employee performance using performance-related pay (PRP)? Should PRP be implemented at JFC taking into consideration the COVID-19 pandemic’s effect on the general economy and on JFC?
Provide a response to the Marketing Manager – What is the difference between the real living age and the government’s national living wage, and which should JFC use as a basis to pay its staff? Should JFC remove the transportation allowance if either the real living wage or an annual increase in pay through the national living wage is implemented? Provide recommendations.
Learning and Development:
Provide a response to the Chief Operating Officer (COO) – How can JFC design learning and development initiatives that are effective and are tailored to employee learning styles? How can such learning and development delivered to non-catering staff be tailored to learning styles in situations where the staff work remotely from home due to COVID-19?
Provide a response to the COO – Provide a justification and recommendations for investing in one out of the three shortlisted learning and development initiatives taking into consideration the effectiveness of the initiative using an online or blended format:
Coaching and mentoring and how can this be delivered using an online or blended format?
Job rotation, secondment and shadowing and how can this be delivered using an online or blended format?
Off-the job learning using external expert instructors and formal education courses and how can this be delivered using an online or blended format?
You are expected to provide an academic answer to one of the questions above that critically analyses relevant academic theory and uses academic references. Please note that a good case study answer goes beyond mere description of HRM practices to evidence-based critical analysis of the academic literature and organisational practices.
Criteria for Assessment – How you will be marked
The assessment will demonstrate your ability to:
Analyse a case-study
Comprehend and apply relevant models and theories to explain the issues raised
Offer realistic and practical solutions to organisational problems
Develop a logical argument, referring to evidence in support of it
Demonstrate the ability to critically interpret, synthesize and analyse the information presented as well as relevant models and theories
This assignment is designed to assess the following learning outcomes:
To demonstrate an understanding of the role of HRM in contemporary organisations. (Essay and Other Coursework)
To demonstrate an understanding of the key literature in the area. (Essay and Other Coursework)
To understand and explain the values and assumptions that underlie different approaches to HRM. (Essay and Other Coursework)
To make effective use of appropriate literature to locate specific HRM initiatives in key functional areas. (Essay and Other Coursework)
To analyse the effects of these initiatives from the points of view of different organisational actors. (Essay and Other Coursework)
To trace the outcomes of HRM for organisations and employees and to evaluate the benefits and tensions associated with HRM policies within organisations. (Essay and Other Coursework)
To analyse case studies using relevant theories and empirical evidence. (Other Coursework)
To demonstrate the ability to offer written and verbal argument that offers a critique of contemporary HRM practices. (Essay and Other Coursework)
To understand how legal and ethical issues impact upon HRM. (Essay and Other Coursework)
To understand how HRM is applied in different organisational contexts. (Essay and Other Coursework)
Assessment Details
The word count is 2000 words.
There will be a penalty of a deduction of 10% of the mark for work exceeding the word limit by 10% or more.
The word limit includes tables, figures, quotations and citations, but excludes the references list and appendices.
apply decision analysis techniques to the decision problem facing Catanza Technologies and advise the company on their outcome options and recommended course/s of action.
Assessment Task: Apply decision analysis techniques
Format: Report
Word length: 3000-3500
Task description: – Complete your assessment based on the Catanza Technologies Case Study provided below.
Question 1
You have been engaged as a consultant to Catanza executive to consider
the information presented. You are asked to apply decision analysis techniques to the
decision problem facing Catanza Technologies and advise the company on
their outcome options and recommended course/s of action. Clearly state any assumptions
you have made.
**Your discussion should include: –
• A brief overview of the key facts and your approach to the problem.
• A clear statement of assumptions about the information provided and your analysis.
• A decision tree of potential decision paths and events including Probabilities, Net Present Value calculations and Expected Values.
• The application of at least one other decision-making technique,
for example, SMART Analysis.
• Recommended course of action.
Question 2
Discuss in detail the strengths and limitations of your analysis in the context of the problem faced by Catanza Technologies. Your discussion of limitations should include consideration of potential biases, heuristics or other considerations that may have been used or applied by Catanza and its staff.
**This question constitutes: –
Strengths of analysis
Limitations of analysis
Additional information (which would have helped)
Make specific recommendations for other information or investigations that would be needed to improve your analysis.
***Assessment Submission Requirements: –
Produce a report addressing the 2 questions – text, illustrations, diagrams and calculations –
supported by reference to the sources of information and theoretical frameworks of
understanding. The main steps: –
Prepare a Decision Tree
Populate the Decision tree with the probabilities
Set up an Excel spreadsheet for the cash flows for the options.
There are 8 options, 4 for Electric wire (EW) model and 4 for the GPS model
4 options EW model
Production ready by Jul 2020 – Good Market
Production ready by Jul 2020 – Poor Market
Production ready by Jan 2021 – Good Market
Production ready by Jan 2021 – Poor Market
4 options GPS MODEL
Production ready by Jan 2021 – Good Market
Production ready by Jan 2021 – Poor Market
Production ready by Jan 2022 – Good Market
Production ready by Jan 2022- Poor Market
The Assessment structure must be as follows: –
Title Page
Executive Summary
Table of Contents
Introduction
Background
Environment Overview
Products and Markets
Past Performance
Comments on current strategies
Methodology
Decision Trees
Net Present Value
Rollback method
The application of at decision-
making technique: – SMART Analysis
Scenario Planning
List your Assumptions
Findings and Analysis of Results
Alternatives available and respective payoffs
Recommended option/s
Strengths of analysis
Limitations of analysis
Conclusion
Recommendations
References
Appendices
1.Decision Tree
2.NPV Calculations
3.SMART Analysis
- etc
Catanza Technologies Case Study
(Written as at January 2019)
Read the case study which follows and answer the 2 questions at the conclusion.
Catanza Technologies was founded in Brisbane in 2002 at Eagle Farm as a specialist in
industrial sensor technology. In 2008, they expanded into industrial robots, however this
sector fell into decline leading-up to the departure of automotive manufacturers from
Australia by 2017. In 2014 they launched a commercial grade robotic floor cleaner which has
had a steady growth in revenues and market share.
The company’s turnover by product type is shown below:
Product 2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
Industrial
Sensors 16.2 12.8 19.4
16.9
17.2
Industrial
Robots 8.2 6.4
4.9
4.7
5.1
Robotic Floor
Cleaner 0.4 0.8
1.3
1.9
2.6
The company is now (January 2019) considering the development of commercial robotic lawn management tools and equipment and, as a first step, a detailed plan has been put forward to produce a commercial grade robotic lawnmower (code named the RLM19). Market research was conducted in 2015-2016 and this revealed that commercial customers make their decisions in this market on the basis of mowing area per day based on running time per charge and battery charging time, maximum height of cut, precision of navigation, ease of programming, adaptability to uneven surfaces, hill-climbing ability, obstacle sensing and avoidance, price, safety and anti-theft.
Taking this market research information into account, the company is now seeking to develop a production prototype based on one of two different approaches. Electric wire (EW) perimeter or GPS and sensing navigation (GPS). For the EW model, a wire is placed around the perimeter of the area to be mown and then connected to an electrical source. This mower is programmed not to cross the wire. Because of the need to lay wire and the battery life the EW model will have a mowing area of about 3000 square metres per day. The GPS model would use sensors to detect garden edges and also GPS and mapping data to navigate without use of the wire. This enables them to be more versatile and suited to larger areas of up to 12000 square metres per day.
The market research and development of the designs so far have already cost $1.65 million.
If a decision to continue is made, it is hoped that a successful prototype can be developed by December 2019.
For the EW prototype, the company’s chief engineer, Scott Shorten, has estimated that there is a 75% chance that the December target could be achieved for the EW model with a further investment of $1.75m. If the target is not achieved, the company will review the situation in January 2020.
It could decide to abandon the entire project or to allow further work on the
prototype. Shorten estimates that modification of an unsuccessful prototype would cost
around $0.8 million and the modifications would take an additional six months to implement. He is, however, sure that all problems would be overcome by end June 2020.
For the GPS prototype, Shorten estimates that there is a 60% chance that the December
target could be achieved for the GPS model with a further investment of $3.3m. If the target
is not achieved, the company will review the situation in January 2020. It could decide to
abandon the entire project or to allow further work on the prototype. Shorten estimates that modification of an unsuccessful prototype would cost around $1.9 million and the
modifications would take an additional year to implement. He is, however, sure that all
problems would be overcome by end December 2020.
Following the development of a successful prototype, manufacturing would be conducted in
partner facilities in China. The manufacturing facilities require a six-month lead-time for
retooling and component sourcing for the EW and twelve months for the GPS solution.
If a successful EW prototype was developed by Dec 2019, production could commence in
July 2020. However, if the prototype development for the EW solution took until June 2020,
then production could commence in Jan 2021. Shorten estimates the retooling and
production line set-up costs for the EW solution to be $1.25m. EW units are expected to sell
for between $3500 and $4500.
If a successful GPS prototype was developed by Dec 2019, production could commence in
Jan 2021. However, if the prototype development for the GPS solution took until December
2020, then production would not commence until Jan 2022. Shorten estimates the retooling
and production line set-up costs for the GPS solution to be $2.7m. GPS units are expected to
sell for between $14000 and $16000.
Sales of the RLM19 would be supported by a major advertising and marketing campaign at
trade shows, direct to grounds maintenance contractors, councils and other owners of golf
courses, airfields and playing fields. This would be conducted especially in the first few
months after its launch, demonstrating the major cost saving benefits. In order to estimate
the sales that would result, extensive use has been made of market research, economic and
industry-wide data. A key threat is the development of competitive products by leading
mower manufacturers and new entrants with robotics and electric motor technologies.
To simplify the problem, the management team has decided to estimate sales under two
different market conditions: Good, and Poor. These conditions can be assumed to prevail
through the entire life of the product. The probabilities of these conditions prevailing are
thought to depend to some extent on how quickly the product can be launched since an early launch will give Catanza an edge over potential competitors.
The Marketing Department has estimated the following probabilities:
Market Conditions Prevailing Good Poor
Month Production Commences
July 2020
0.8 0.2
January 2021
0.65 0.35
January 2022
0.5
0.5
It has been decided to use a 6-year planning horizon (i.e. up to December 2025) since
technological developments would probably mean that a new model would be required for
the market for later years. The tables below show the estimated net cash flows which will
occur during the years of the product’s life.
EW – Good EW – Poor
GPS – Good
GPS - Poor1st Year
$6m $2m $10m $4m
2nd Year
$9m
$4m
$16m
$7m
3rd Year
$12m $6m
$18m
$9m
4th Year
$16m $7m
$22m $11m
5th Year **
$18m $9m
$26m
$13m
** If required
In the event of the either prototype development being cancelled it can be expected that the intellectual property associated with the research output will have no residual value.
The company’s cost of capital is estimated to be 8%. For simplicity, it can be assumed that all cash flows occur at the end of the year. Also, the effect of factors like taxation and
development grants should be ignored.
Discuss in very brief about the bobo dull experiment.
The learning event is the removal of sutures on a patient with hip hemiarthroplasy
Write in third person and this is a level 6 writting
The relevant theory in evaluating the first learning event is social learning theory( SLT) by Bandura 1977 and the second learning theory is Kolb’s experiential learning theory (ELT) Kolb 1984.
The student completed the Honey and Mumford questionnaire which suggest the student learning style is that of a reflector, this should also be discussed.
In the four stages of social learning theory make sure that you discuss what Bandura says the attention, retention, motor reproduction and motivation stages are and then what the student was taught at each stage, you also need to include some critical analysis of bandura work, there need to be less discussion of the second theory e.g the difference between the two thories brief overview, do not spent as many time on the second theory as you will in the first theory (kolb’s) and does need to include critical analysis.
Reference list should consist of 95% of theory and not how to remove sutures as this will show the student read widely and this essay is not about what you learn but the theory that under pin that learning.
Do not forget to include some critical analysis of learning style.
In the end a development / action plan(appendix) needs to be related to the student future as a registrant rather than the skill and these should also have two paregraph at the end of the essay detailing your future development as a registrant.
Make sure you include a couple of paragragh about your future development as a registrant.
It also need to discuss if the practice assessor was able to ascertain the student learning style and if not why not.
Complete the action plan, the plan is uploaded
Discuss in very brief about the bobo dull experiment.
Identify the gap or existing challenge in the implementation of diversity and inclusion.
Training and Educating women in Maritime Industry
It is possible to increase the opportunities for women in maritime operations via education and skill in the field. Reform would be necessary to reduce the everyday biases experienced by female workers in the marine sector. There is little doubt that efforts to increase the number of women working in the maritime business are ongoing, despite the many obstacles. Shipping and seafaring have been more varied in race, class, and nationality from the beginning of marine travel (Doe, 2019). Sailors are employed by a broad range of private enterprises and organizations in the global market. The male gender still dominates the international marine community since many seafaring vocations are still reserved for males.
This may be done by increasing educational and training possibilities for women who want to work in marine operations. Discrimination against women in the maritime sector may be lessened by changing the business’s culture. Despite the rise in the percentage of female workers, initiatives to diversify the workforce may improve prospects for women in the shipping sector even further. In this highly specialized and worldwide business, sailors are employed by many organizations and individuals. Consequently, the international marine community is highly biased in favor of men, who occupy many maritime vocations (Arulnayagam, 2020). There is a lot of hope since more and more women are studying and training to be marine pilots, the people in charge of guiding ships at sea.
All the previous studies on shipping industry acknowledge that the industry lacks diversity and inclusion since it has been male dominated since the eighteenth century (Kitada, 2020), the literatures have not identified the factors that influence the perceptions diversity and inclusion in the shipping industry as well as the factors that hinder the implementation of diversity and inclusion in the industry. This research will determine the factors in order to fill the gap left by the previous studies on the study of maritime industry.
Project Objectives
The purpose of the research was to determine:
Factors influencing the perception of gender diversity and inclusion
Identify the gap or existing challenge in the implementation of diversity and inclusion.
Conduct qualitative and quantitative research at regional and management on the perception of gender diversity and inclusion within shipping organizations.
What are COVID-19 policies issued to contain the spread of the virus in the United States?
Introduction
COVID-19, the millennium’s main world health disaster, was first detected in Wuhan, China in December of 2019. Within three months, this highly infectious sickness had spread to practically every country on the planet. At the time of writing, COVID-19 instances have been documented in 235 countries, affecting over 35 million individuals worldwide and resulting in over one million deaths (Allain-Dupré et al., 2020). In some countries that have had evident success in managing earlier outbreaks, the number of cases is on the rise, and the number of infections is on the rise as well. To halt the spread of this deadly disease, governments throughout the world have been forced to implement draconian measures such as quarantines, lockdowns, social isolation, and movement limitations (McCartan et al., 2021). The consequences of the Conoronavirus and associated public health initiatives extend beyond psychological health by compromising people’s freedom to do and be. Because of these problems, evaluating personal consequences connected with well-being is challenging.
Studies have been conduced to investigate the consequences of COVID-19 policies such as lockdown, which resulted in closure of schools and businesses. McCartan et al. (2021)study found that COVID-19 prevention policies caused economic distress, which increased anxiety and depression among United States residents. The study found that about 6 to 10 percent of low income individuals expressed depression symptoms during lockdown period. Many ‘waves’ of COVID19 infections, hospitalizations, deaths, and limits and attempts to reduce transmission have occurred throughout 2020 and into 2021. Peaks in mental suffering have been linked to peaks in COVID19 mortality and eras when pandemic control efforts were most strict. During the early stages of the crisis, in March-April 2020, mental distress was very severe, before lessening dramatically in the European summer, corresponding with a drop in COVID19 cases and a loosening of the ‘lockdown (Allain-Dupré et al., 2020). The results indicated that anxiety and depression rates in 2020 were higher than in previous years when compared to pre-pandemic estimates.
Research Questions
⦁ What are COVID-19 policies issued to contain the spread of the virus in the United States?
⦁ What are effects of COVID-19 Lockdown Policies on people’s mental health and depression?
What is the relationship between reliability and customer satisfaction?
Relation between Service Quality and Customer Satisfaction
Many researchers believe that customer satisfaction and quality perceptions are distinct because quality is an attitude, while quality is an emotional state (a transaction-specific measure). This explanation helps to clarify some of the differences between the definitions of satisfaction and quality. Although quality judgment is based on specific aspects, such as attributes or cues, the aspects that lead to satisfaction judgment can be unrelated to quality. Conversely, Osman and Sentosa (2013) assert that quality perceptions do not require a prior relationship with the provider or service; on the other hand, customer experience directly affects fulfillment. Although satisfaction is affected by many cognitive and emotional processes, Rust and Oliver indicate that quality has fewer conceptual precursors, but fulfillment is shaped by many cognitive and emotional processes. Defining service quality as “a judgment about a service’s overall excellence or superiority” assumes that only clients judge the quality (Schneider & White, 2004, p. 53). In 1997, Oliver defined satisfaction as “a judgment that a product or service feature, or the product or service itself, provided (or is providing) a pleasure level of consumption-related fulfillment, including levels of under-or over-fulfillment” (cited in Slack and Singh, 2020, p. 545). Based on Oliver’s (1997) definition, satisfaction relates to judging how a particular service influences consumers’ emotional state and experience (cited in Slack and Singh, 2020). On the other hand, service quality is linked to judging service products and has no connection to an experimental process. While exploring the relationship between service quality and customer satisfaction, Slack and Singh (2020) introduce other concepts, such as customer perception and customer expectation. The authors assert that service quality is essential to customers’ perception since it antecedes customers’ satisfaction. Several scholars have postulated the definition of perception. In particular, Strydom et al. (2000) state that customer perception entails an organization’s process to receive, organize, and assign meaning to stimuli or information that customers detect using five senses, giving meaning to their surroundings. Hill et al. (2017) viewed perception as the outcome of multiple consumers’ observations, indicating that consumers perceive a given service in terms of quality and the level of satisfaction they can derive from them. Notably, perception is also a dynamic phenomenon capable of changing the receipt of many delivered services. Client perception influences service quality in terms of its impact on consumer behavior. Ajzen (2015) examined consumers’ behavioral changes using the theory of planned behavior (TPB). The theory is the most cited by scholars to explain the behavioral change process. It explains the behavioral change in terms of the cognitive approach, centering on an individual’s beliefs and attitudes (Conner, 2020). Regarding customer satisfaction, the concept of customer perception becomes relevant; essentially, it concerns clients’ attitudes and the belief system that a given commodity or service will satisfy their needs or meet their expectations. Thus, Hill et al. (2017) state that organizations must target consumers’ behavioral change and, thus, make them prefer their service or product over those offered by the competition to change consumers. Dutta and Dutta (2009) assert that it is important for service providers to comprehend how their target clients perceive their services as of quality and embrace euphoric feelings. A firm can offer the best services but consumers’ perception matters; if consumers’ perception about them is negative regarding service quality, all the effort they put in will be in vain. Service providers are responsible for researching and understanding variables that impact customer perception, including satisfaction and quality. This enables a service provider to gain a more competitive edge. Several factors (internal and external) affect customers’ perception, such as social, cultural, economic, and psychological factors (Tyagi, 2018). As such, Tyagi (2018) indicates that these factors influence consumers’ buying behavior and how consumers perceive a service or product. Therefore, it is essential to measure consumers’ perception to evaluate customers’ future behavior depending on how they perceive a given product or service. Under the circumstance of the existence of a gap between expectation and perception in which perception is valued below expectation after comparing whether a service or product exceeds clients’ expectations, the outcome is dissatisfaction after receiving the service. Customer expectation describes consumers’ wants or desires. Consumers’ expectations determine what an organization offers. Mostly, customers’ expectations are different from what they expect from reality. The most important thing to remember is customers’ expectations rather than reality concerning service or product performance (Fida et al., 2020). In this regard, Williams (2000) indicates that consumers’ driving force is the need to satisfy their needs and expectation of excellent service. Thus, when a given service satisfies the majority of their wants and improves life’s quality, they will seek more services from a service provider. Rita et al. (2019) posit that customers often demand better and faster services and are thus loyal to that organization providing the greatest service. No enterprise survives without customer loyalty and satisfaction; similarly, no one can generate profits without satisfying customers’ needs.
Conclusion
Most of these studies showed that companies that focus more on service quality acquire many customers than their competitors and, thus, gain a greater competitive advantage. Applying valuable factors like service quality, customer loyalty, and customer satisfaction is necessary since they relate with each other. The findings from past research emphasize that when a firm improves its service quality; its customer satisfaction levels and customer loyalty are also elevated. However, some studies, like Supriyanto et al. (2021), mention that the findings of the impact of service quality on customer satisfaction are still confusing for the majority of scholars examining unpredictable variables that could affect the links among variables of these studies and service quality impact on customer loyalty and customer satisfaction. This paper adds to theoretical ideas surrounding the topic and contributes to developing companies operating in the service industry in regard to implementing programs targeting customer satisfaction. Particularly, the findings of studies highlighted in this paper as well as this paper’s conclusion offer valuable information regarding how service industry firms improve organization performance as well as empower their staff by providing them employment satisfaction, thus increasing their loyalty to their employment.
1.3 Conceptual Model
Several topics that were identified in the literature review were found to be relevant to the research paper. Among them are concept of service, customer satisfaction and service quality dimension. As seen in figure 1 each of these notions has a role to play in customers satisfaction, who are ultimately responsible for improving the service quality. The conceptual model that illustrates how the ideas that have been identified are related to one another:
1.4 Research Definition
The topic that has been highlighted for this research study on the service quality having an impact on the customer satisfaction. It will be discussed in this section the problem statement and related research questions in order to specify the precise area of focus for the study.
The following problem statement is fundamental to the research paper aiming to answer:
“Which service quality dimension has the greatest impact on customer satisfaction at Renaissance?”
⦁ What is the relationship between reliability and customer satisfaction?
⦁ What is the relationship between empathy and customer satisfaction?
⦁ What is the relationship between responsiveness and customer satisfaction?
⦁ What is the relationship between assurance and customer satisfaction?
⦁ What is the relationship between tangibles and customer satisfaction?
produce TWO Project Logs, which are designed to help you gradually build up a portfolio which can be used to evidence your innovative thinking, research and strategic decisions within the context of your innovation.
Word Limit – 4000 Words
You are required to produce TWO Project Logs, which are designed to help you gradually build up a portfolio which can be used to evidence your innovative thinking, research and strategic decisions within the context of your innovation.
Project Log 1 A short introduction to the market contexts within which you would like to base your project. For example: which sector/industry? what products/services? what kinds of problem/issue that consumers have with the existing products or services? Why are you personally interested in this?
Produce an introduction to your proposed innovation. Explain how you have use specific creative thinking technique(s) to generate your innovation idea.
Provide a clear explanation of how your innovation works. For a product innovation that involves the use of any technologies, explain the technologies involved supported by all the technical and schematic details. For a service innovation, explain service processes involved, if relevant, supported by all the technical details and schematics of technologies involved. Remember that you can attach the extra technical and schematic details, diagrams, sketching in the appendices.
Produce a literature-informed explanation of a blue ocean strategy that can be used to achieve a new value curve for your chosen industry/market. Illustrate your Blue Ocean strategy on the Strategic Canvas. Explain why you have chosen the value factors used in your strategic canvas. Consider how your strategy produces a genuine Blue Ocean strategy, and justify your decision.
Project Log 2 Using the Essential Reading on Business Model and Value Proposition, produce a literature-informed discussion on the business model of your proposed innovation. Consider and justify how your business model will involve innovative strategic decisions on:
Customer Segments
Customer Relationships
Exceptional Buyer Utility
Channels
Revenue Streams and Strategic Pricing
Key Resources
Key Activities
Key Partnership
Cost Structure
You are also required to submit all the typed-up completed planning templates, which you have been given hard copies in class and electronic copies on. You will attach these as appendices at the back of your portfolio.
To do well, you must demonstrate a deep understanding of the relevant academic concepts and apply them accurately in your work. You are strongly encouraged to incorporate as many relevant materials as possible which may include: chapters of books, journal articles, internet sources, statistics, newspaper articles, images, drawings, diagrams and anything that you find useful in your project.
Anything attached in the Appendices is NOT part of the word count.
Submission Instructions:
Please make sure that you Page Number your work accurately.
Save your work into two MS WORD files: (1) Two Project Logs; and (2) Appendices.
Systematically make informed judgements about how legislation and management practices can limit the economic and social impact of logistics operations.
Strategies for Sustainable Business Logistics
Length:
3,000 words
Submission Date:
Refer to the Assignments tab for details.
Assignment Brief
In this item of assessment you are required to submit an individual report in which you evaluate specific aspects of an industry in depth, reporting on the level of sustainability seen in the present day and making recommendations for future improvements.
For the January 2022 instance of the module, the industry under study is the ready-made garment industry: you can select any part of the supply network that produces garments, or footwear, or materials such as the fibres are made into garments. Your work will be a 3,000 word report, submitted via Canvas. This assignment is worth 40% of the total grade for the module.
Background:
The ready-made garment industry forms an important part of the economy of some nations. It’s a vast, global undertaking… but its operation has accompanied by concerns and even scandals. From factory disasters and sweatshop conditions to forced labour where cotton is grown; from toxic emissions to the wasteful practices of retailers and consumers… our consumption of garments has a significant impact on society and the natural world.
There is a need for a better understanding of the impacts resulting from the production of garments. Only when this is done on the basis of evidence and good science can policymakers decide upon what parts of the industry to promote, develop and subsidise – and which to tax and discourage.
Your job, in this assignment, is to choose any one part of the supply network for garments and conduct a quantitative analysis, putting this a report to share your findings. For your quantitative analysis, select an appropriate methodology such as measuring the water footprint, measuring the carbon footprint, etc. It is a key requirement of this assignment that you present original work in which you make calculations on the basis of evidence.
Additional Guidance:The garment industry as a whole is far too complex for meaningful analysis. Instead, you should focus your attention upon a single facet of the industry where you can offer insights. For example, you might choose to report on the production of fibres, on logistics operations, tanning or dyeing etc. …any aspect you like! Discuss your choice with your tutor if in doubt.
The aim is to produce a worked example, using reasonable assumptions, to assess the environmental harm arising from the production (or harvesting, or processing) of the item(s) you have chosen. This may be a calculation of contrbution to climate change, or some other quantifiable mode of harm such as water use, worker safety, toxic emissions etc.
You should provide an overview of the organisations (or types of organisation) that work in the supply network for your chosen item, define appropriate boundaries for your study and discuss the practices that take place, presenting evidence and reasoning such that you quantify the impacts of supply chain activities.
Conduct original analysis using appropriate tools and methodologies. You might, for example, apply a life cycle assessment methodology such as PAS2050, using published conversion factors as a basis for your calculations, e.g. estimating carbon footprint based on the weight of an item, the distance and the modes of transport employed. Use the academic literature to find additional evidence of quantified economic, environmental and/or social harm.
Having reported this information, propose and justify a new strategy for the supply network: ideally a creative solution that changes such factors as the business model, the configuration of the supply network or the specification of key products of services. Cite the sources that gave you information about the sector as a whole, and about your chosen commodity. Use evidence to construct reasoned arguments that lead to workable solutions.
A good piece of work will be attractively styled and logically structured, with a good standard of written English. If you are in any doubt about your writing skills, please take advice from the Skills TeamLinks to an external site..
Do not cut and paste phrases or paragraphs from published sources without citing your sources. You should seek to use your own words to explain concepts and theories, while acknowledging the work of other scholars.
Suggested Structure:
A recommended structure for your report follows. You can depart from these recommendations if you wish, but be sure to structure your report logically, and to cover all requested elements. Use numbered sections, with decimals for subsections.
Ideally, your report will include the following:
A brief Introduction to the report, stating its purpose. (Do not expend too many words on descriptive writing and context-setting – but be sure to justify the material or component that you have chosen to study.)
Application of a tool or methodology to evaluate the sources of harm arising within the supply network for your selected material or component type.
Interpretation and discussion of the results of your analysis.
Recommendations for how the supply network can be improved, reducing or eliminating the sources of harm that you have identified. Identify any policies that should be enacted to ensure compliance, perhaps by the companies purchasing the item(s) or by government.
Include a brief conclusion to the report.
Add a list of Harvard references. Ideally, you will have cited 15+ sources within the text. This section does not count towards your word limit for the assignment.
Module Learning Outcomes and Grading Descriptors Guidance
Addressing Module Learning Outcomes 3 & 4
This assignment tests whether you have achieved the learning outcomes of the module:
LO3 Systematically make informed judgements about how legislation and management practices can limit the economic and social impact of logistics operations.
LO4 Critically evaluate the sustainability of selected logistics operations from contemporary case studies and also through personal reflection.
Independently develop a research problem guided by gaps in existing knowledge and an organisational issue, and determine appropriate research strategies
Learning Outcomes Assessed by this Assignment:
- Independently develop a research problem guided by gaps in existing knowledge and an
organisational issue, and determine appropriate research strategies - Demonstrate critical rigour in analysis of literature and data by making effective use of
multiple and critical sources of data/information/knowledge - Derive new insights based on critical review of the literature and findings of management
and organisational practice - Operate at the interface between theory and practice to derive valid and reliable
conclusions - Demonstrate skills depending on research methods chosen but these can include:
interviewing, questionnaire design and administration, focus group management (including
diary management), project management, information search, text analysis, content
analysis, statistical techniques - Communicate the research outcomes in a manner that demonstrates clarity of
organisational thinking, logical argument and practical recommendations for further
research and for practice
Assignment Guidelines:
Your dissertation should include the following: - Title page – Please use the non-anonymous cover page on Aula
- Acknowledgement – This is your opportunity to thank people that supported you on the
course. - Abstract – This should not be more than 1 page. Your abstract should provide a summary
of your dissertation and should include a description of your research, how the research
was conducted, the main findings of the research and the overall implications of your
research findings - Table of Content – In addition to including all chapters, sections, sub-sections, it should also
include the list of figures, tables and abbreviations if any - Introduction chapter –This should include research question and your research aims and
objectives. In addition, this should include a clear justification of your research in the
context of the literature. You should clearly answer the question, Why is it important to
conduct the research? The justification should be clearly argued on the bases of theory (the
literature) and business. - Literature review chapter – This should be a critical and very comprehensive review of
relevant, current literature with a focus on your research aim and objectives. This will
inform the questions in your questionnaire and interview guide. - Methodology chapter (refer to Research Onion in Saunders et al, 2016) – Research
design relates to the research opinion (philosophies, approaches, strategies, choices, time
horizon). You are expected to make strong justifications in support of your chosen research
design. Data collection relates to the last phase of the research onion (techniques and
procedures). Identify how specifically the data will be collected (i.e. questionnaire, focus
group, etc…). You are expected to provide the advantages and disadvantages of the various
data collection methods and select the most appropriate data collection method(s). Your
chosen method Research design and Data collection must clearly align to your research aim
and objectives. If secondary data collection is used: where it is collected, a description of
variables (sample) used in the analysis and the econometric model if any, needs to be
clearly discussed and justified with supporting references. Where primary data is
conducted, a copy of your questionnaire or semi/unstructured interview questions should
be presented as part of the appendices. The sample need to be clearly justified with
supporting references. Your ethics certificate MUST be added to the appendices, ethics
must be approved before collecting primary data. - Findings chapter – This chapter presents the results of the analyses, usually in order by
research question, and any results of further analyses (that is, analyses that were not
proposed but which were carried out).The data should be clearly presented in tables and
charts if it’s a quantitative study and direct quotes if it’s a qualitative study. - Discussion chapter – this is where the findings should be clearly discussed in the context of
the literature review and research objectives. Discuss the implications of the results by
aligning your results with supporting theoretical arguments and very relevant current
literature findings already discussed in your literature review chapter. You should clearly
answer the question, did your findings provide support or vary from existing theoretical
arguments? In addition, recommendations, the limitations of the study and implications
for further research should be discussed. - Reference list – Make sure you follow the APA Referencing Style
- Appendices – This should include the research instruments like questionnaire and interview
guide. It should also include your ethics certificate and meeting diary. In some cases a sample of
your interview transcript can be needed
Layout
Your work should be a word document in accordance with the following:
Font style, Arial, font size 12
1.5 line spacing.
The page orientation should be ‘portrait’
Margins on both sides of the page should be no less than 2.5 cm
Pages should be numbered
You should use a fully completed non-anonymous cover sheet
Week 11 Presentation:
You are required to deliver a 20 minutes presentation of your dissertation. Your supervisor will have
an additional 10 minutes to ask you questions on your presentation. You should refer to the slides
on the ‘Guidelines of Week 11 Presentations’ on Moodle for more details on the presentation
The objectives of your Week 11 presentation are to demonstrate: - Your experience as an independent learner and the research and work you have carried out
to produce your Dissertation. - Your research aim and objectives, a summary of your literature, your analysis, findings and
conclusions of the work you have carried out and how you have evidenced this in your
Dissertation. - Your ability to answer questions from your supervisor on the content, facts or figures used
in your Dissertation.
Acknowledge limitations, identify shortcomings in your approach demonstrating awareness of the methodological processes and identifying how you might improve the approach taken if the work was to be repeated.
Results (1000) Identify emerging themes from the results of each study.
Remember to Summarise and synthesise:
➢ Give an overview of the main points of each source and combine them into a coherent whole – think ‘themes’ (you could use a table here to help you if you wish).
• Analyse and interpret:
➢ Don’t just paraphrase the authors – add your own interpretations where possible, discussing the significance of the findings in relation to the literature as a whole.
• Critically evaluate:
➢ Mention the strengths and weaknesses of your sources.
• Write in well-structured paragraphs:
➢ Use transitions and topic sentences to draw connections,
comparisons and contrasts.
The results should then inform your discussion
The ‘Discussion’ (approx. 1800 words)
• Your review aims to inform practice so this section should be the
‘so what?’.
• Address the issues identified in the Introduction and literature
review/background.
• You must pull the whole review together in this section and NOT
simply re-state what you have said previously. Relate back to
what was known at the outset and what you know now.
• Explain unexpected findings and results that do not support the
commonly held beliefs.
• Use ‘narrative synthesis’.
• Don’t go off topic – answer your research question!
The ‘Conclusion’ (approx. 300 words)
• The summing up of your review.
• Needs to be succinct and not include any new information!
• Should provide a summary of the key points.
The ‘Recommendations’ (approx. 300
words)
• Are there any clear recommendations for practice?
• Is there any need for further research, and what type e.g. RCTs?
• Acknowledge limitations, identify shortcomings in your approach
demonstrating awareness of the methodological processes and
identifying how you might improve the approach taken if the work was to be repeated.
