FACULTY OF MANAGEMENT SCIENCES

DEPARTMENT OF LOGISTICS & SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT

MODULE : BUSINESS MANAGEMENT 1.2

SUBJECT CODES : BBMAY1A & ABBMY1A

ASSESSMENT 2 : Group Assignment

DUE DATE : 01/09/2024

EXAMINER : Dr. S Govuzela, Dr. F Venter, RM Mashitja, M Matla, A

Shabangu.

INTERNAL MODERATOR : S. Ngomane

INSTRUCTIONS

ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS.

Reading Material:
Refer to the chapters on Operations Management and Logistics Management from your
prescribed textbook as indicated in your study guide. (Chapter 9 & 10).
Review any lecture notes or additional materials provided by your lecturer.
Case Study A Analysis:
Choose a company (e.g., a local business, a well-known multinational corporation, or a
hypothetical company provided by the instructor).
Required: Conduct research on the company's operations management practices.
Assignment Title: Introduction to Operations Management and Logistics
Management.

Assignment Objective:
To understand the basic concepts of operations and logistics management and how it
applies to real-world business scenarios.

Assignment Tasks: Refer to the below sections and complete all the questions.

Section 1: Case Study Overview

Question 1.1
Provide a brief introduction to the chosen company. (3)
Question 1.2
Describe the products or services offered by the company you have chosen. (3)
Question 1.3
Explain the role of operations management in your company of choice. (5)

Section 2: Operations Strategy

Question 2
Explain the four overlapping activities in reconciling supply and demand. (4)

Section 3: Product designs and operations designs

Question 3
Describe the product and operational design of the company you have chosen. (6)

Section 4: Total Quality Management

Question 4.1
Explain the role of total quality management (TQM) practices in your company of choice.
(4)
Question 4.2
Describe any of the quality dimensions of total quality management (TQM) that is applicable
to your company of choice. (5)
 CASE STUDY B
Required: Refer to the below sections related to the following case study and
complete all the questions.

THE RIGHT DATA IS CRITICAL TO CLEAN ‘LINE OF SIGHT’ INTO THE

ENTIRE SUPPLY CHAIN

‘Line of sight’ in the supply chain has taken on a new meaning in the age of
artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). Rather than simply tracking
stock movements and using this data to attempt to influence the end consumer
to buy a product, there is now a massive investment in trying to ‘own’ the retailer
from a data perspective.

The focus has shifted to tracking everything retailers sell and who they sell to,
preferably in real time. However, while this may work at a formal retail level, in
the main market, there are challenges that often obscure ‘line of sight’ due to
missing data.
Addressing this ‘missing link’ and obtaining the right data throughout the supply
chain is the key in gaining clear ‘line of sight’ and realising the true value of data.

Extracted from:
Source: Strydom, J. 2022.Principles of Business Management. Oxford
University Press Southern Africa. South Africa: Cape town

Section 6: Logistics practices

Question 6.1
Define logistics management. (3)
Question 6.2
What is Artificial intelligence (AI) and explain what benefit it holds for logistics managers. (5)

Question 6.3
How can Artificial intelligence (AI) manage supply chain data and help mangers make better
informed decisions. (5)
Section 7: Challenges and Recommendations
Identify any three current challenges faced by the company in its operations management.
(3)
Provide any recommendations for improvement. (4)

Assignment Total: 50 marks

Formatting instructions & Final submission date:

Use Arial, 12-point font, and 1.5 spacing in your text.
Include headings for each section.
Submission Date 26 August – 1 September 2024
NB: Late submissions will not be graded.

Include a cover page with your group name, student numbers, subject code, and date.
The following information must be on the cover page:
1. Subject
2. Subject Code,
3. Your Course
4. Your Initials and Surname FOR ALL 12 GROUP MEMBERS who contributed to
the group assignment. The name of the student who did not contribute to the
group assignment must not appear on the cover sheet.
5. Student Numbers, FOR ALL 12 GROUP MEMBERS
6. Group number
7. Your Lecturer’s Initials and Surname,
8. Your E-Mail addresses
9. Cell Phone Numbers
10. Date of which the assignment must be submitted.

Grading Criteria:
Understanding of operations management concepts (30%)
Depth of analysis in the chosen company (30%)
Clarity and organization of the assignment (20%)
Quality and relevance of recommendations (10%)
Proper introduction and conclusion and references (10%)

Criteria Excellent (A) Good (B) Satisfactory Needs Poor (F)

(C) Improvement
(90-100 %) (70-80%) s (D) (0-50%)
(60-70%)
(50-60%)
Understanding Understanding Shows a good Displays a Demonstrates Shows little to
of concepts of Concepts understanding basic limited no
Demonstrates a of operations understanding understanding understanding
thorough management of operations of operations of operations
understanding concepts with management management management
of operations minor gaps. concepts but concepts. concepts
management lacks depth in
concepts and some areas.
their
application.
Depth of Depth of Offers good Provides Analysis is Little to no
Analysis Analysis analysis with adequate superficial, with analysis; lacks
Provides relevant analysis, but limited examples and
indepth analysis examples and lacks detail and examples and case study
with clear, case study depth in certain case study details.
insightful details, though areas details.
examples and some areas
case study could be
details. expanded
Clarity and Clarity and Assignment is Organization is Assignment Assignment is
Organization Organization mostly adequate, but lacks clear poorly
Assignment is wellorganized, some sections organization, organized, with
well-organized, with minor are unclear or with confusing little to no
with clear issues in poorly flow and structure or
headings and flow or structured structure. clarity.
logical flow. structure.
Quality of Quality of Offers good Recommendati Provides Little to no
Recommendati Recommendati recommendati ons are recommendatio recommendatio
ons ons Provides ons that are adequate but ns, but they are ns, or
insightful, mostly lack depth or impractical or recommendatio
practical, and practical and strong support. poorly ns are
 well-supported well-supported supported. irrelevant and
recommendatio unsupported.
ns for
improvement.
Introduction Introduction Offers a good Introduction Introduction Lacks a clear
and Conclusion and Conclusion introduction and conclusion and conclusion introduction
Provides a and are present but are unclear or and/or
compelling conclusion, may be weak or insufficient conclusion
introduction and though they lack detail
a clear, concise could be more
conclusion that
engaging or
summarizes
detailed...
key points.
Grammar and Grammar and Contains few Several Numerous Frequent
Spelling Spelling Writing grammar and grammar and grammar and grammar and
is free of spelling errors spelling errors spelling errors spelling errors
grammar and that do not are present, but that interfere that make the
spelling errors. detract from the the meaning is with assignment
overall still clear. understanding. difficult to
message. understand.
Criteria Excellent (A) Good (B) Satisfactory Needs Poor (F)
(C) Improvement
(90-100 %) (70-80%) s (D) (0-50%)
(60-70%)
(50-60%)
Adherence to Adherence to Mostly follows Some Many Does not
Instructions Instructions instructions, instructions instructions follow
Follows all with minor are followed, are not instructions
instructions deviations. but there are followed. regarding
regarding noticeable formatting,
formatting, deviations. length, or
length, and submission.
submission
requirements.

Grading Scale:

A (90-100%): Excellent understanding and application of operations management

concepts, thorough analysis, clear organization, insightful recommendations, correct
citations, and error-free writing.

B (80-89%): Good understanding and application of concepts, good analysis, mostly

clear organization, practical recommendations, mostly correct citations, and few writing
errors.
C (70-79%): Basic understanding and application of concepts, adequate analysis,
some organizational issues, adequate recommendations, some citation errors, and several
writing errors.

D (60-69%): Limited understanding and application of concepts, superficial analysis,

unclear organization, impractical recommendations, many citation errors, and numerous
writing errors.

F (0-59%): Little to no understanding and application of concepts, little to no analysis, poor

organization, irrelevant or unsupported recommendations, lack of correct citations, and
frequent writing errors.

NB: This rubric provides a clear framework for evaluating student performance on
the assignment and ensures consistency in grading. Feel free to adjust any criteria
or descriptions to better fit your specific needs. Lecturers may use their own
discretion.