This assessment corresponds to the following Learning Outcomes:
Business Operations
LO1 - Demonstrate an understanding of the principles of business as it pertains to: Operations and Accounting. LO2 - Apply the principles of operations and accounting to business practice.
LO4 - Use operational and accounting information to make decisions supporting business efficiency and effectiveness. LO6 - Contribute in operational contexts to innovation within a business entity.
Managing Operations
LO1 - Define the nature of business entities, compare and evaluate a range of structures and describe how these impact on business performance.
LO2 - Understand and apply the principles of operations and accounting within a business entity.
LO3 - Understand the planning and control processes as related to operations management and accounting and apply through examples.
INSTRUCTIONS
Case Study Organisation to be researched: The Warehouse Group with a specific focus on one of its specific brands/divisions
1. Using the MIT Library and publicly available resources, thoroughly research The Warehouse Group with a specific focus on one of its specific brands/divisions as listed hereunder:
- THE WAREHOUSE
- WAREHOUSE STATIONERY
- NOEL LEEMING
- TORPEDO7
- THE WAREHOUSE GROUP FINANCIAL SERVICES
2. Please note that you are not permitted to interview staff from either The Warehouse Group or one of the brands/divisions. You may commence your research here
3. Introduce the general and specific organisation. What is their background? What is their purpose?
4. Describe their organisational structure (e.g. functional, divisional, hybrid), highlighting how ‘form follows function'. What type of organisation is it? How do the management roles look like?
5. Describe their business model. Who are their customers (segments)? What do they offer their customers? What value do they create for their customers? How do they create, produce and distribute their products and services? What's in it for them? Are they generating revenue for their firm? You may also use the following tool to analyse the products and services provided by your chosen case/brand/division (discuss in report and provide diagrammatic representations in the appendices): Boston Consulting Group Matrix (BCG Matrix)
6. Describe the system of the organisation: inputs, transformation processes, outputs, feedback (& control).
7. Discuss the overall current financial situation of the Group as a whole as well as the specific case/brand/division chosen by the team. Provide a brief historical context showing how the organisation has changed (financially/value) since it was created as well as an overview of the current assets, liabilities and the equity of the organisation (place detail in appendices and briefly discuss in report).
8. Based on their strategic goals, organisational structure and other operational and accounting information, how do you think they can improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the business?
9. Using Lean Principles, analyse what the organisation could potentially do to improve performance and become leaner. Briefly indicate the appropriateness of Lean Principles for an organisation such as The Warehouse Group and its brands/divisions. Also, provide some examples of potential waste the organisation may experience given its operations.
10. Develop a Balanced Scorecard for the organisation.
11. How does The Warehouse Group and your chosen case/brand/division try to innovate as part of their business model? What opportunities and challenges do they try to pursue/overcome?
12. Based on your research, develop two SMART goals for The Warehouse Group and the chosen case/brand/division to pursue over the next six months.
13. Write a summary and conclusions section based on your findings to round off the report.