Sheet 9
MANAGEMENT OF OPERATIONS
The procedure involved in the management of operations is to set up a target that follows along organizational objectives, create a plan to reach this target, implement this plan, evaluate its performance and revise the original target or plan accordingly. Through this process, operations will come to be performed more effectively and efficiently.
1 Setting up a Target
Each job has its own objective. This objective, however, is often expressed in very abstract terms. For a target to be set, this objective must be broken down into concrete activities. The target must clarify the direction and goal of the activity, outline the type of results that are expected, and set a deadline for the completion of this project. The target should also be understandable and attainable for everyone involved. The following points should be considered when setting such a target.
(1) Understand the organization's policy and the instructions from senior officials.
(2) Collect and analyze all the necessary material and information.
(3) Review the workforce(numbers and ability), financial resources and machinery involved.
(4) Set up a concrete and attainable target in consultation with other members of staff.
(5) Inform every member of staff of this target.
(6) Break down this target into a series of individual targets, where necessary.
2 How to Make a Plan
A plan should clarify concrete means and measures as to how to reach its target. Usually, the plans that first level supervisors are required to make are short term ones to implement targets based on the instructions or policies of senior executives. The following points should be considered when creating such a plan.
(1) Confirm the objective of the work, organizational policy and target already set up.
(2) Review all available means and measures to attain the target;
： Collect and analyze material and information(use the checklist 5W1H, where necessary),
： Listen to the opinions of all members of staff and other relevant parties,
： List up all affordable means to attain the target after considering the issue carefully from different perspectives.
(3) Select the best means and measures and make a detailed concrete schedule;
： Review these means & measures in terms of cost, urgency and feasibility and choose those which are best,
： Review points to be considered at each stage of its implementation, and make a concrete schedule.
