Part 1
You are to write a 1000 word – four page paper (not including Title Page, Abstract, nor Bibliography) – APA format (title page, abstract, double space, and citation page). The paper needs to define business process, describe the BPM discipline, discuss what is ‘the supply chain’ in business and compare/contrast to Michael Porter business ‘value chain’. Explain how applying information technology can support and drive innovation in these core business processes (look for examples – Search internet, business journals, BPM journals . Finally select a company you are interested in learning about and chose one of their Core Supply Chain Processes: Supplier Relationship; Process / New Product or Service Development ; Order Fulfillment or Customer Relationship) you will be documenting and analyzing during the term.
Here is a recommended outline:
I. Introduction – Open paper with what are processes, what is BPM and then introduce the concept of companies supply chains (what is the supply chain)
II. Supply Chain and Value Chain Compare and Contrast – discuss a companies supply chain and value chain (Michael Porter- Corporate Strategy) – why are processes critical to ensure organization effective and efficient performance – bring up competitive advantage (Michael Porter) opportunities.
III. Information Technology – Bring up what has dramatically change in the past 20 years – ERP, Information Systems, CRMs, Mobile Apps, Process Re-engineering – all due to the emergence of broad and inexpensive, and productivity driven enabling information technology into processes.
IV Introduce the Company you will be looking into and select the ‘Core’ Supply Chain processes you will be studying during the term. Will it be Supplier Relationship? New Product Development? Order Fulfillment? or Customer Relationship? See Module Power Point Slides on Supply Chain Core Processes. Do not say you will study the supply chain. This is too broad of an undertaking.
I was thinking about writing it on Amazon for either order fulfillment or customer relationship
V. Conclude – summarize what you have discussed.
Part 2
Research your process from Phase 1 Term Project. What does research means? It means looking for articles that describe the process, or the process improvement that have been undertaken in the past. Look up articles describing the process. Look up ‘generic’ best practice process that can be applied to your company process. Make sure you turn in a list of all aticles and sources you found in your research.
For example, type ‘Company’ Order Fulfillment Process if you are focusing on that process. Look for articles and go to Google ‘Images’ – see what you find.
Documented the process – that is, flow chart process. You can do it by hand using correct flow charting symbols or use, BPM Notation, Arena Simulation Software, or Microsoft Visio. You must use correct symbols, must have a start and finish symbols. It must be comprehensive, detailed.
You can document by hand – but it must be clean – buy a flowchart template from a school supply store.
This is a process discovery effort. This process should not be 4 steps, but more in the area of up to 20-40 steps. Ask questions, I am here to help you.
Rubric:
Research 20% (Articles, Images, Benchmark Process) – submit citation page.
Flow Chart 60% (Comprehensive, start symbol, correct symbols, decision points) – submit flowchart
Clean and Readable – 20% (correct symbols)
Part 3
Write a process document – template included – describing step by step, along with roles and files/information needed to describe your process from Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the term project. Delete content guidelines. Should be a brief Introduction specific to purpose of process and table, followed by flowchart figure of Phase II.
Remember, all process in companies are flow charted and documented in a specific template. Use the template, cut and past flowchart from Phase II into document. Do not altered or use a different template. Use the given, corporate template.
Part 4
You are to write an essay – APA Forma – about 1000 words (four pages double spaced) – describing process improvement and tools we have discussed – Quality and Performance, TOC, and Sustainability – Ensure you discuss each one of them, from definition of terms, to description of topic. Then you are to described how you analyzed your process from term project, applied one or more of the process improvement tools, and how you can improve it.
You are to turn in the new updated process here – this is 25% of the grade. Submit flowchart process that you have improved. Highlight the area you have changed to improve process.
Rubric:
40% – turn in Assignment complete – all questions answered in recommended format.
10% – Grammar and Spelling and APA Format (Title Page, Abstract, Content Double Space, Bibliography at end)
15% – Use book content – definition of terms, discussion – to support your answers (show me you have read)
10% – Use minimum two outside sources – information about topic of question – to support your answers.
25% – Updated Process Flow Chart with highlight of improvement.
5% – Bibliography – Do not cite URL (web cite).
