BSBMGT402 – Implement operational plan

Practice Guide for learners

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ABOUT THIS BOOKLET

This booklet has been designed for students undertaking face to face mode of study where you are required to make sure you complete the questions as a part of self-study during the course of the learning process.

The questions that are included in this booklet are not a part of the formal assessments and there is no marking system allocated for this booklet. It is designed to provide you with practice and prepare you for final your assessment.

Your assessor will check the booklet to ensure that you are ready for the formal assessments.

 This booklet might not be suitable for students taking other modes of study e.g. online or work based.

Please read all the information given to you when you receive this assessment booklet. If you do not understand any part of this booklet, please inform your assessor/trainer.

The assessment booklet contains:

Practice task: This part contains the information to successfully complete the practice task. In task, students will find the following information: 


• Task instructions.
• Questions

Information on resources required, where applicable

Practice task for learners.

• You must ensure you answer the question satisfactorily
• In case you have written the incorrect answer for any question, please write it on another sheet of paper and attach with the booklet before submitting to the assessor.
• Read all the questions carefully and answer all questions.

Q1: Research the following problem solving theories.

1. Edward DeBono’s six thinking hats

This approach gets you to view an issue from six different perspectives, whether you are working alone or in a team. This approach helps you the issues without presenting the argument on what is right or wrong. When you reach the point of making a decision using this technique you will have a wealth of insights. Below are the hats

1. Blue Hat (The Conductor’s Hat) on this first hat the focus is to be control of thinking process and to effectively manage the decision-making process.get summaries and draw conclusions.
2. Green Hat (The Creative Hat) this hat embodies the ability to use creativity where you explore an array of ideas and possibilities.
3. Red Hat (Hat for The Heart) this hat epitomizes instincts and feelings where one can express their feelings without necessarily justifying them rationally.
4. Yellow Hat (The Optimists’ Hat ) wearing this hat you try to be as optimistic a possible and you see things in a positive light, you set your sight on the benefits you will get.
5. Black Hat (The Judge’s Hat) when you are wearing this hat you employ caution and you carefully assess the risks. You will elaborate why you have reservations on an issue.
6. White Hat (The Factual Hat) This hat symbolizes information seeking and fact finding. You will endeavour to find any missing piece of information and you will know where to get it.
7. The seven step process

Step 1: Identify The Problem =to identify the problem you need to ask a very important question, are things the way they ought to be? This question aids us in finding the measure against which we will weigh how things are and how deviant they are from the normal.

Step 2: Analyse the Problem – at this point you ask this very crucial question, what juncture is the issue? This will help to understand the urgency of the problem, there are three stages here namely the emergent stage, the mature stage and the crisis stage

Step 3: Describe The Problem: you must be able to put the problem down in writing in form of a statement worth not more than 12 words.in thi approach the problem becomes crystal clear.

Step 4 Establish Root Causes: try to identify what or who is responsible for the problem at hand and establish whether there can be a permanent solution to deter recurrence of the problem.

Step 5: Develop Alternate Solutions- it is very key to develop an array of viable solutions to a particular problem, then rank them in terms of their effectiveness, cost and value and availability of resources.

Step 6 Implementation of Solutions:  create an execution plan, by creat8ng timelines and framework in the event something goes wrong, by having alternative measures in place.

Step 7 Weigh The Results: track your progress and identify whether you have achieved your target and to what extent this has happened

3.  The five step process

Step 1 Identify the Problem: Deeply search the situation, put a statement of the problem on paper and try to get an answer.

Step 2 Generate Potential Solutions: make a list of possible solutions by using the various methods such as brainstorming, Means End analysis identified all the possible solutions and root cause analysis among others.

Step 3 Choose one Solution: once you have the possible solutions use your decision making skills to get one way to go.

Step 4 Solution Implementation: now a viable and practical solution that was chosen must be put to work at the earliest opportunity.

Step 5 Evaluate Outcomes: this is the final part where now you have to do an analysis to understand whether the goals set are achieved and to what extent.

• Critical thinking techniques
• Identify the problem at hand
• Gather the requisite data, opinions and arguments.
• Analyse and evaluate the data.
• Make a decision from the data.
• Present the soultion

Q2: What is a KPI and how should they be written?

KPI is an acronym for key performance indicators, this is a quantitative gauge for performance over time with specified objectives.

to write a perfect KPI you will need the following:

1. Define the strategic objectives.
2. Determine success.
3. Define measurement parameter.
4. Write your SMART KPIs

Q3: Who should write KPIs, why?

KPIs should be written by leaders and managers. The justification for this is because managers have a deeper understanding of the companies or organizations goals and they are better placed since they lead their groups. 

Q4: Who should decide what coaching an employee needs, why?

A direct supervisor of an employee is the most suitable person to establish the level and amount and what type of coaching an employee needs since they work together and can easily identify areas of weakness that need strengthening.

Q5: Who is responsible for recruitment in an organisation?

The person responsible is The Human Resource Manager.

Q6: Are they always the best people to do this, why, why not?

They are the best placed to do this since they are adequately trained to do the task.

Q7: What is the difference between a mentor and a coach?

The difference between a coach and a mentor is the approach, where a mentor focuses on building relationship and a coach’s method is more structured approach

Q8: Who should a manager consult with before beginning any major changes in a workplace?

A manager should consult with all the stakeholders in the organization who directly are involved in the business that is the customers, employees, owners and customers  

Q9: What steps should be taken by an organisation before they purchase new assets?

1. Identify the assets to purchase.
2. Value the business to get the correct pricing
3. Negotiate an appropriate purchasing price.
4. Issue a letter of Intent to purchase
5. Complete Due diligence and acquire necessary information.
6. Get the needed financing.
7. Close the Transaction.

Q10: What can management do to identify and correct unsatisfactory performance by staff members?

A Management should use a KPI in order to establish whether employees are meeting their targets and establish areas of weaknesses and recommend training, coaching or mentorship programs to help employees.

Q11: Who is responsible for ensuring an operational plan is completed within the correct timeframe and with the desired result?

An operations manager is directly responsible in ensuring an operations manager Is fully implemented.

Q12: What steps can be taken to correct an operational plan that has been hit by an unforeseen problem?

1. Identify The Problem
2. Generate potential solutions
3. Choose one solution.
4. Implement solutions
5. Evaluate results.

Q13: Why is it necessary to always be aware of your budget position when making any decision regarding an operational plan?

To operate you will need finances so it is very important to know your financial situation in order to limit your operations within the available budget to avoid financial troubles.

Q14: At a minimum who should be consulted before changing an operational plan?

At the least the employees should be consulted since it is them who are expected to execute tye plans