BSO316SL – Operations Management for Competitive

Advantage

2022-23 Module Handbook

BSc (Honours) Operations and Logistics AND BSc

(Honours) Accounting and Finance

Module Leader: Prof. Sudath Amarasena

Other Module Staff: -

DLE link of the module: https://dle.plymouth.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=60079

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Contents
Welcome and Introduction ............................................................... 3
Teaching and Assessment Team ....................................................... 4
Module Aims ................................................................................ 4
Module Assessed Learning Outcomes ................................................ 4
Teaching and Learning Strategy ........................................................ 5
Scheme of Work ............................................................................ 5
Late Work/Extenuating Circumstances ............................................... 13
Sources of Guidance and Support .................................................... 14
Referencing Protocols and Academic Offences .................................... 14
Reading List; Recommended Texts/Support Materials ............................ 15
Module Feedback ......................................................................... 15

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 Welcome and Introduction

Welcome to BSO316SL - Operations Management for Competitive Advantage

delivered by NSBM in partnership with University of Plymouth.

This module brings a strategic and problem-focused view to operations management,

concentrating on spheres key to operations based competitive advantage, both in
goods and service-based industries.

The module gives a particular consideration to operations strategy, supply chain

management, lean thinking, performance measurement, quality management,
project management and topical developments.

The teaching begins by introducing role of operations and operations strategy. We

then investigate process section, quality management in operations and various
industry based operational activities such as capacity planning and project
management using CPM and PERT Method.

Finally, the teaching examines supply change management, linear programming

and operations challenges with related to day-to-day operation.

This module forms part of the programme which has been designed to equip you with
the skills and knowledge base required for your future career or other graduate
opportunities. It is also a platform from which you can undertake additional vocational
and academic qualifications.

This Module Handbook contains important information including:

• Who will be teaching and providing support to you
• Details of the module schedule and assessment including
feedback.

Note: The information in this Module Handbook should be read in conjunction with
the current edition of the NSBM Student Handbook along with the University of
Plymouth Student Handbook available here: https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/your-
university/governance/student-handbook. You should also be familiar with your
Programme Student Handbook and Quality Handbook available via your Programme
page on the University of Plymouth DLE.

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 Teaching and Assessment Team

Programme Leader: Mr. Gishan Abhayagunarathna

Location: NSBM Green University, Sri Lanka

Email: gishan.a@nsbm.ac.lk

Phone number: +94 11 5445158, +94 71 0811028

Module leader: Prof. Sudath Amarasena

Location: NSBM Green University, Sri Lanka

Email: sudath@sjp.ac.lk

Phone number: 0777216953

Administrative Officer: Dimuthu Ishara

Location: NSBM Green University, Sri Lanka
Email: dimuthu.i@nsbm.ac.lk
Phone number: +94 (11) 544 5000 (Ext: 1104)

Module Aims

The aims of the module are,

1. To provide participants with an informed approach to operations
management

2. To allow them contextualize problems in goods and service industry sectors.

3. To enable participants to present and implement feasible solutions to

develop operations based competitive advantage.

Module Assessed Learning Outcomes

At the end of the module the learner will be expected to be able to:
1. explain in detail the strategic role of operations to achieving competitive
advantage
2. describe in detail analytical and philosophical approaches to OM problems.

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 3. analyse operations management problems that arise in service and non-
service sectors
4. construct an argument about feasible OM strategies and offer appropriate
responses and solutions to OM problems
5. recognise and discuss topical issues in OM and communicate effectively with
OM specialists

Teaching and Learning Strategy

Knowledge and Understanding: Knowledge base.

Cognitive/intellectual skills: Analysis, Synthesis
Key/transferable skills: Problem Solving, Communication

SUMMARY OF TEACHING AND LEARNING [Use HESA KIS definitions}

Scheduled Activities Hours Comments/Additional Information
Lectures and 42 Interactive teaching and preparation for the
tutorials assessments
Guided 158 Fieldwork, reading, researching and writing
independent study coursework, self-testing and preparing for the
examination
Total 200 (NB: 1 credit = 10 hours of learning.
10 credits = 100 hours, etc)

Students are expected to take full responsibility for their learning, attend all
scheduled sessions, read appropriate indicated readings, and work on set
exercises (formative and summative assessment).

Based on previous experience; students who failed to attend sessions are likely to
be unsuccessful or show poor performance. Please ensure that you are engaging
with the content and learning activities relating to this module.

Scheme of Work

Module Contents:

Semester Week Week Beginning Provisional

Activities
Role of Operations 29th Jan 2023

Operations Strategy 29th Jan 2023

Process section 11th Feb 2023

Quality Management 19th Feb 2023

Capacity Planning 25th June 2023

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 Project Management -CPM and PERT 4th March 2023
Method
Supply Change Management 11th March 2023

Linear Programming 12th March 2023

18th March 2023
Operations Challenges
02th April 2023

Please consult the University staff to confirm your teaching schedule and associated
provisional activities. Please note that this schedule may be subject to alteration.
Please consult the University staff to confirm your teaching schedule.

This module will be assessed by:

Element of Module Component Link to Assessed Learning
Assessment Weighting Outcomes
Coursework 40% Report A written assignment to test all
learning outcomes, especially 2, 3, 5,

Written exam 60% Final A three hour examination to test

Examination learning outcomes 1, 3, 4 and 5.

Assessment Criteria

Exam: The exam accounts for 60% of the assessment. Three hours, closed book
exam will be conducted to assess this part.

Students who draw on relevant case studies and examples to illustrate their answers
will gain credit for this. Examples may be drawn from the case studies/articles
discussed during the module, your own knowledge or working experience. Some
questions may refer specifically to case organizations or industries discussed during
the module.

A practice exam paper will be made available to you before the exam. You are
encouraged to complete this paper as part of your revision.

The exam will take place during the end of the academic calendar and the date will
be confirmed by NSBM.

Coursework: (40%)

Group Assignment:

The objective of this assignment is to provide students with an opportunity to analyse

the technological advancement in operations and supply chain of manufacturing
organizations and to get an understating on how these theories are practiced in real
world.

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Students are required to analyse the operations and supply chain processes of a
manufacturing organization in Sri Lanka and to study the technological advancement
in their processes to gain a competitive advantage. Furthermore, you are required to
suggest some of the new technological applications which are more suitable to their
organization in order to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of their operations
and supply chain processes.

Group membership: Students are required to form 6 member groups for this
purpose. If the students are unable to form a group themselves, the module leader
at his discretion will form a group. If a student has failed to find a group to be a part
of, the module leader at his discretion will allocate the student to a group. Students
are given the freedom to select the organization in which they study. If the students
need a letter to go to the selected business organization, they can request the letter
from the module leader.

Disputes: The students are advised to resolve any internal conflict amongst
themselves. If there are any unresolved conflicts, the module leader will adjudicate
the issue and suggest an outcome that is best suited for the conflict situation. The
decision of the module leader is binding on all the members of the group.

Students must follow the following guidelines in writing the group report.

Contents of the report.

Title Page

See Annexure 1 for a model title page.

Table of Contents

Section 1 – Introduction.

This section should provide an introduction to the organization.

Section 2 – Operations and Supply Chain Processes

This section should provide the information regarding the operations and
supply chain processes of selected organizations.

Section 3 – Technological advancement of operations and supply chain

processes and Competitive Advantage

This section should provide information regarding new technological

applications in their operations and supply chain processes and competitive
advantage

Section 4 – Suggestion of new technologies

Suggestion of new technologies to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of

current processes.

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 Section 5 – Conclusion

This is the last section which provides the summary of the report.

References

Follow Harvard referencing style

Format of the report

The final report must be type written. The length of the report should not exceed 3000
words including all illustrations. Following specifications must be used in preparing
the report.

Font: Times New Roman

Margins: 25mm all around (all pages)
Headings: Font size 12 pt. bold, underlined. All headings from the Introduction to
Conclusions are numbered sequentially using 1, 2, 3, ... etc.
Text: Single column format, 1.5-line spacing, using 12 pt. font size. Under each
heading or sub-heading should be flush left and subsequent paragraph should have
six-space indentations.
Figures: (Charts, Pictures, Graph etc.) and Tables – Figure captions appear
centered below the figure, each should have a number in Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3, ...
etc.). Table captions appear centered above the table; each should have a number
in Roman numerals (i, ii, iii, ... etc.). Number of tables should be kept to a minimum.
Page numbering: Pages up to table of contents must be numbered in Roman
numerals and thereafter Arabic numerals must be used.

Method of Evaluation

Students are expected to make a presentation of the project. The maximum duration
of the presentation is 20 minutes including approximately 5 minutes question time.
No group is allowed to present their project more than the specified maximum time.
All the students of the group should present. Therefore, all the members of the group
must be ready to take part in the presentations. The contribution of the project to the
final marks of Operations Management and Competitive Advantage module is 40%

Deadline time and date – 30th March 2023 before 4.00 p.m. (Sri Lankan Time)

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The completed course work should be submitted to the DLE. You should read this
Module Handbook carefully to ensure that you are aware of all the deadlines that
apply to you.

Please also see the Assessment Flowchart within your student handbook.

Every effort will be made to return the assessed coursework with feedback in 20
working days via DLE.

Modified Assessment:

If a student with disability faces an issue with conducting the provided course work,
he/she can request for a changed course work in writing to the programme office
before 14 days of the course work submission deadline.

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Annexure 1:

Operations Management and Competitive Advantage

Group report

by

Name 1 (Index Number 1)

Name 2 (Index Number 2)

A Study on technological advancement in operations and supply

chain processes of (Company Name)

A group report submitted in partial fulfilment of requirements of the subject

Operations Management and Competitive Advantage conducted by the
NSBM
2023

Rubric for the project report is as follows.

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MARKING Report TOTAL MARKS 100
CRITERIA

Critical Excellent effort in Very good effort Good effort taken Fairly good effort Limited effort Very limited Very high
Perspective covering all the taken to elaborate to elaborate the taken to taken to effort taken to plagiarism
(e.g. inclusion of important and the required required details elaborate the elaborate the elaborate the percentage, with
important points, relevant details, details with only with some minor required details required details. required details. unnecessary/
exclude vague/ while elaborating minor mistakes. mistakes. with some Too much of Too much of irrelevant details.
unnecessary the selected topic. mistakes. irrelevant irrelevant
information) No unnecessary information. information.
information/
theories detailed.
20 15 13 10 8 5 3 0

Content Outstanding Excellent content. Very good Fairly good Limited Very limited No content.
content. Very Very insightful and content. content. Good explanation. content.
insightful and well-informed. Generally good and detailed. Some effort Very little or
well-informed. Clear and and well- Comprehensive. made, yet limited weak, unclear
Clear and comprehensive. informed. depth and explanation.
comprehensive. Comprehensive. understanding.
30 20 18 16 13 10 5 0

Analytical ability Outstanding Excellent analysis. Very good Fairly good Limited analysis. Very limited No analysis
analysis. Consistently very analysis. Mostly analysis. Fairly Lack of detailed analysis. Lack of
Comprehensive & detailed and sound and sound but with points. accurate or sound
insightful accurate wide detailed & some detail comparison.
surfacing of range of points. surfacing of lacking Can
points. Use of an Well balanced points with minor further improve
appropriate structure. improvements. the structure.

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 structure.

20 15 13 11 9 7 5 0

Conclusion Outstanding effort Excellent effort. Very good effort. Fairly good effort. Limited effort. Very limited No
to suggest Provided a range Generally good Some Few effort. Very few Recommendations.
recommendations. of different range of recommendations recommendations vague
Whether recommendations, recommendations are provided to are provided, yet recommendations
recommendations which are are provided, address with limited provided.
are practical/ practical. with practical highlighted depth and
realistic. sense. issues. impractical.
15 10 8 6 4 2 1 0

Structure Outstanding Excellent output. Very good output. Fairly good Limited good Very limited good Lacks finishing/
output. Format, Format, structure, Format, structure, output. Format, output. Format, output. Format, completeness.
structure, Referencing are Referencing are structure, structure, structure, Major issues in
Referencing are up to the above average. Referencing are Referencing are Referencing are referencing.
more than the expectations average. Minor below average. marginally ok.
expectations. improvements. Major improvements.
improvements.
15 10 8 6 4 2 1 0

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70%+ Distinctive level of knowledge, skill and understanding. Demonstrates an
authoritative grasp of relevant concepts and principles and the ability to communicate
them in relation to the assessment, without plagiarism or collusion. Indicates
originality in application of ideas and personal insights, reflecting depth and
confidence in understanding of the issues raised in the assessment.

60-69% Demonstrates a coherent grasp of the knowledge, skill and understanding

required by the assessment and the ability to communicate these effectively. Displays
some originality in interpreting relevant concepts and principles, although content /
argument may show weakness in some areas. Ideas and conclusions are expressed
clearly. Many aspects of the candidate’s work can be commended.

50-59% Shows an acceptable level of knowledge, skill and understanding, sufficient

to complete the assessment adequately. The work shows a satisfactory
understanding of the assessment requirements, but the content / argument may be
less well developed overall or focus on only one or two key areas. Demonstrates
clear expression of ideas and draws relevant, but perhaps rather factual, conclusions.

40-49% Evidence of basic competence to meet requirements of the assessment.

Evidence of basic acquaintance with relevant source material. Shows basic factual
knowledge over key areas, but content / argument rather weak and/or poor
conclusions.

0-39% The candidate’s work shows that the level of competence being sought has
not yet been achieved. The assessed work shows a less than acceptable grasp of
knowledge, skill and understanding of the requirements and communication of the
assessment.

Late Work/Extenuating Circumstances

If your participation in an examination or assessment has been affected by an

extenuating circumstance, then you can ask the University to take this into
consideration. You can submit a claim for extenuating circumstances to cover late
submission of work, non-submission of work or non-attendance at a time specific
assessment, such as an examination, test presentation or performance, or field class.

Information regarding the Extenuating Circumstances policy and how and where to
submit Extenuating Circumstance Claims are available
here:https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/student-life/your-studies/essential-
information/exams/exam-rules-and-regulations/extenuating-circumstances
Where there are no valid extenuating circumstances, the following regulations will
automatically apply:

• Work submitted after the deadline date/time but within 24 hours of

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 it, will be capped at the pass mark 40%.
• Work submitted 24 hours after the deadline will receive a mark of
zero.

Please send your duly completed extenuating circumstance form with evidence to
ec.plymouthsob@nsbm.lk as soon as possible. You may also keep your module
leader update on such circumstances.

Sources of Guidance and Support

Moodle

Moodle is the main repository for module resources and it is important that you visit
the module Moodle page regularly. Resources include:

• Announcements: for important notices

• Lectures Notes & Presentations: lecturers will use this section to

post lecture slides, and other relevant session documents

• Web resources: web-based links and electronic resources relating

• Coursework: coursework information & e-submission

Learning Support

We strongly encourage you to make use of the resources available for learning
support within the University. Many of the resources including referencing and study
skills are available online: https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/your-university/teaching-and-
learning/guidance-and-resources/student-support-services

Referencing Protocols and Academic Offences

When writing a report or an essay you are expected to fully reference the materials
you have used. The report or essay should be your own work, in your own words.

Plagiarism is an offence under the University regulations on examination and

assessment offences. It is important that you familiarise yourself with what constitutes
plagiarism, and academic offences. Further information can be found:

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https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/student-life/your-studies/essential-
information/regulations/plagiarism

Andhttps://www.plymouth.ac.uk/student-life/your-studies/essential-
information/exams/exam-rules-and-regulations/examination-offences

Reading List; Recommended Texts/Support Materials

• Richard Chase (Author), Nicholas Aquilano (Author), F.Robert

Jacobs (Editor) Operations Management for Competitive Advantage (2003)
• Roberta S. Russell, Bernard W. Taylor Operations and Supply Chain
Management, 9th Edition (2016)
• Slack, N. Chambers, S. & Johnston, R (2010) Operations Management, FT
Prentice Hall
• Verma, V. and Boyer, K.K. (2010) Operations & Supply Chain Management:
World Class Theory and Practice, South-Western Cengage Learning
• Krajewski, L.J. and Ritzman, LP (2013) Operations Management: Processes
and Supply Chains, Pearson Press.

Module Feedback

We value what our students say: you share your feedback we act upon it. Part of the
feedback process includes Module Evaluation. Please fill the module evaluation form
distributed to you and return it to School of Business Programme office.

Exams

The exam for this module will be conducted at the end of the Semester. The module leader
will confirm the format of assessment. You must check the timetable on the student portal
nearer the time to confirm the date of exam.

Referred Exams

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If you failed in any module(s), the most likely decision of the award assessment board is
that you will be referred in the failed module(s) over the summer. Referred exams will
normally be timetabled to take place during August. It is essential that you are available
during this time. If you miss an exam you will be awarded zero and may not be allowed to
continue your studies.

Referred exams will be capped at the maximum pass mark of 40%. If, however, you have
valid extenuating circumstances for non-attendance at the exam, you will be allowed to re-
sit as the same attempt and your mark will not be capped. If you have valid extenuating
circumstances for your second or third attempt, then you will be allowed to re-sit as the
same attempt, but your mark will be capped at the maximum pass mark of 40%.

[Note - Examination Papers and Referral Examination Papers will be moderated separately
by Moderator/External Examiner at a later date]

Referred Coursework

If you failed in any module(s), the most likely decision of the award assessment board is
that you will be referred in the failed module(s) over the summer. Referred coursework will
need to be completed as per the deadline set by Plymouth University which will be given to
you by NSBM.

Referred coursework will be capped at the maximum pass mark of 40%. If however you
have valid extenuating circumstances for non-submission of coursework, then you will be
allowed to re-submit as the same attempt and your mark will not be capped. If you have
valid extenuating circumstances for your second or third attempt, then you will be allowed
to re-sit as the same attempt, but your mark will be capped at the maximum pass mark of
40%.

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