Individual Assignment (40 marks) Individual assignments will allow individual students to analyze a theme (or chapter) found within the 10 decision areas of operations management. Students are allowed to choose the same organization, but they must write the report on their own without collaboration. However, students are encouraged to find an organization that they can interview the Operations Manager to gain insights into real life experiences.

Aims: To identify an organization and compare a theme (or chapter) from operations management and link the theme to the organizations operations strategy/business strategy.

Steps needed to complete this assignment:

I. Research the literature on business strategy, operations strategy and the selected theme/chapter and write the relevant chapters Literature Review. Build up citations and reference list in APA format. II. Develop about 5 to 7 questions about the theme/chapter and interview an organization. III. Create an appendix on specific details of the interview (name of interviewee/interviewer, date/time/place, mode of interview) and the transcript (question/answers). A likely report structure would be: Chapter 1: Introduction Defines Operations Management and introduces the reader to the areas of discussion within the report. Chapter 2: Literature Review a comprehensive and recent research of relevant theory on business strategy, operations strategy and the theme chosen in Operations Management. Chapter 3: Background of organization a brief description of the organization and its operations. Chapter 4: Description of the organizations operations management decision area and how this theme supports operations strategy and ultimately business strategy. Chapter 5: Recommendations regarding the operations management area of research. Chapter 6: Possible organizational barriers - that could prevent your recommendation from being implemented. Chapter 7: Personal reflection an account of your personal experience and learning because of doing this assignment. Chapter 8: Conclusion Why operations are a key functional area within an organization?