Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Logo
Submitted to :-
Submitted by:-
Table of Contents
Acknowledgment................................................................................................................5
1.
INTRODUCTION......................................................................................................7
1.1.
HCL an overview....................................................................................................7
1.2.
HCL DNA:.............................................................................................................12
1.3.
Employer spotlight:..............................................................................................13
HCL in India:...................................................................................................................14
1.4.
About HCL............................................................................................................15
1.6.
VISION STATEMENT.........................................................................................16
1.7.
MISSION STATEMENT.....................................................................................16
1.8.
1.9.
OUR OBJECTIVE...............................................................................................17
CORE VALUES................................................................................................17
1.11.
FRONTLINE DIVISION................................................................................................19
2.
Literature Review.....................................................................................................20
2.1.1.
2.1.2.
Why is it important?.........................................................................................45
2.1.3.
2.1.4.
Who is involved?...............................................................................................46
2.1.5.
Principles............................................................................................................46
2.1.6.
2.2.
2.3.
2.4.
2.4.1.
2.5.
Processes................................................................................................................50
2.6.
2.7.
2.10.
Basic Steps.........................................................................................................56
2.11.
2.11.1.
Planning..........................................................................................................59
2.11.2.
Monitoring.....................................................................................................60
2.11.3.
Developing Employees.................................................................................60
2.11.4.
Rating.............................................................................................................61
2.11.5.
Rewarding......................................................................................................61
2.12.
2.13.
2.13.1.
Competency-Based........................................................................................63
2.13.2.
A Continuous Process....................................................................................64
2.13.3.
Operation planning.......................................................................................65
2.13.4.
2.13.5.
Interim review................................................................................................66
2.13.6.
Operation appraisal......................................................................................67
2.13.7.
3.
PROJECT.................................................................................................................69
3.1.
3.1.1.
3.2.
3.3.
3.4.
3.5.
3.6.
3.6.1.
Prior to filling the form please read carefully Instructions to the Appraiser
72
3.6.2.
3.6.2.1.
Appraisal procedure......................................................................................72
3.6.2.2.
4.
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY............................................................................76
Introduction............................................................................................. 77
What approach should I take - qualitative or quantitative?......................77
Can my dissertation be entirely literature-based?...................................79
What is case study research?...................................................................80
What's an empirical study?......................................................................80
What is secondary analysis?....................................................................81
Where do I find existing research data?...................................................81
Collecting you own data - primary research.............................................81
Will my research be inductive or deductive?...........................................85
What's all this about research design?.....................................................85
Summary................................................................................................. 86
Key Questions.......................................................................................... 87
4.1.
Research Design....................................................................................................89
4.2.
4.3.
4.3.1.
Planning.............................................................................................................91
4.3.2.
Monitoring.........................................................................................................92
4.3.3.
Developing Employees......................................................................................93
4.3.4.
Rating.................................................................................................................94
4.3.5.
4.3.6.
Analysis..............................................................................................................96
4.3.7.
Effectiveness......................................................................................................96
5.
5.1.
RECOMMENDATIONS.........................................................................................98
Recommendations.................................................................................................98
6.
CONCLUSION.........................................................................................................99
7.
BIBLIOGRAPHY..................................................................................................100
Acknowledgment
The project of this nature is arduous task stretching over a period of time, completing a
project like this one takes the effort and cooperation of many people.
Although this project report is being brought in my name, it bears an imprint of guidance
and cooperation of many individuals. Several persons with whom I integrated have
contributed significantly to the successful completion of the project study. In the
successful & trouble free completion of my final term project titled OPERATION
MANAGEMENT, I am graceful to Institute of Management and Technology, Ghaziabad
for helping us towards the completion of the project.
I extend my deepest and sincere thanks to my project guide, Mr. Ram Krishn and other
HR Executives HCL Info systems Ltd. for the unflinching support and guidance
throughout the project
I would also like to thank all the executives who shared their precious time and
experience with me.
Last but not the least, I extend my sincere thanks to all the staff members of HCL
Infosystems Ltd. for their cooperation.
Executive summary
Operation management is the process of bringing people in to the organization making
very sure that new entrants have the potential and willingness to contribute to
organizational success. In todays scenario without effective Operation management the
organization will meet the considerable resistance when introducing change. Without
organizational change and development survival become very uncertain so in order to
make the industry survive it is very important to adopt the different Operation
management practices in all organizations so as to understand the employees or workers
need and satisfy them. There should be effective people utilization in every industry. All
these practices in an organization will make the organization to grow at a faster speed.
The study will be empirical and primary research will be done by using the questionnaire
which will administer to sales, service and support function employee. The date will be
collected and assimilated by using statistical tool like median and date will be analyzed
by using Bar Chart. The analysis will be to find the effectiveness of current PMS.
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1.
HCL an overview
Born in 1976, HCL has a 3-decade rich history of inventions and innovations. In 1978,
HCL developed the first indigenous microcomputer at the same time as Apple and 3 years
before IBM's PC. During this period, India was a black box to the world and the world
was a black box to India. This microcomputer virtually gave birth to the Indian computer
industry. The 80's saw HCL developing know-how in many other technologies. HCL's indepth knowledge of Unix led to the development of a fine grained multi-processor Unix
in 1988, three years ahead of Sun and HP.
HCL's R&D was spun off as HCL Technologies in 1997 to mark their advent into the
software services arena. During the last eight years, HCL has strengthened its processes
and applied its know-how, developed over 30 years into multiple practices - semiconductor, operating systems, automobile, avionics, bio-medical engine HCL's R&D was
spun off as HCL Technologies in 1997 to mark their advent into the software services
arena. During the last eight years, HCL has strengthened its processes and applied its
know-how, developed over 30 years into multiple practices - semi-conductor, operating
systems, automobile, avionics, bio-medical engineering, wireless, telecom technologies,
and many more.
Today, HCL sells more PCs in India than any other brand, runs Northern Ireland's largest
BPO operation, and manages the network for Asia's largest stock exchange network apart
from designing zero visibility landing systems to land the world's most popular airplane.
1976
1977
1978
1983
1988
HP.
1990
Data Quest marks HCL No.1 amongst top ten computer giants.
1991
HCL Ltd. and Hewlett Packard, USA, partner to form HCL-Hewlett Packard Ltd.
Distribution alliances formed with Ericsson Switches and Nokia Cell phones.
1997
HCL Info systems are formed. HCL's R&D spun-off as HCL Technologies- marks
advent into software services. JV with Perot Systems, stake divested in 2003.
1999
Board of Directors.
2000
Large contracts won from Bankers Trust, KLA Tenor, Cisco, GTech, NEC among
others.
2001
JV with Deutsche Bank- DSL software formed. HCL BPO Incorporated. Acquired
British Telecom Apollos contact center in Belfast, Northern Ireland. HCL Info systems
become largest hardware company.
2002
Strong pursuit of nonlinear strategy to widen services portfolio; several JVs and
alliances formed. Strategic alliance forged with Jones Apparel Group, Inc. a fortune 500
Largest BPO order ever outsourced to an Indian BPO firm, won from British
Telecom. Landmark deals signed with Airbus and AMD. HCL manpower crosses the
20,000 mark..
2004
2005
HCL signs Software Development Agreement with Boeing for the 787 Dream
liner program.
Completes buy-out of JVs with Deutsche Bank and British Telecom Apollo
Contact Center.
Sets up a dedicated Offshore Design Center for leading Tier-1 Aerospace supplier,
Hamilton Sundstrand.
HCL Info systems launches sub Rs.10, 000 PC. Joins hands with AMD, Microsoft
to bridge the digital divide.
2006
HCL Info systems in partnership with Toshiba expand its retail presence in India
by unveiling 'shop Toshiba'.
10
HCL the leader in Desktops PCs unveils India's first segment specific range of
notebooks brand - 'HCL Laptops'.
HCL Info systems showcase Computer Solutions for the Rural Markets in India.
HCL Support wins the DQ Channels-2006 GOLD Award for Best After Sales
Service on a nationwide customer satisfaction survey conducted by IDC.
HCL AND ZEE - Dish TV team up to take DTH TV to its next level of growth in
India
HCL Info systems First in India to Launch the New Generation of High Operation
Server Platforms Powered by Intel Dual - Core Xenon 5000 Processor.
HCL Forms a Strategic Partnership with APPLE to provide Sales & Service
Support for iPods in India.
HCL is one of the leading global Technology and IT enterprises with annual revenues of
US$ 4 billion. The HCL Enterprise comprises two companies listed in India, HCL
Technologies (http://www.hcltech.com/) and HCL Info systems
(http://www.hclinfosystems.in/)
The 30 year old enterprise, founded in 1976, is one of India's original IT garage start ups.
Its range of offerings span R&D and Technology Services, Enterprise and Applications
Consulting, Remote Infrastructure Management, BPO services, IT Hardware, Systems
Integration and Distribution of Technology and Telecom products in India. The HCL
team comprises 45,000 professionals of diverse nationalities, operating across 17
countries including 360 points of presence in India. HCL has global partnerships with
several leading Fortune 1000 firms, including several IT and Technology major.
11
1.2.
HCL DNA:
Fueled by the entrepreneurial zeal of its founders, HCL developed the first indigenous
microcomputer in 1978, at the same time as Apple. Since then, HCL has had a 3-decade
rich history of inventions and innovations. Entrepreneur is the term that best describes the
HCL employees. The TIME magazine has referred to HCL as an "intellectual clean room
where its employees could imagine endless possibilities."
Ever since HCL entered into an alliance in 1970s, partnerships and HCL have been
inseparable. Bonds have been forged with partners to co-create value. Strong inorganic
growth is a testimony to the spirit of partnerships.
12
This entrepreneurial and win-win relationship driven culture continues to guide HCL in
all its endeavors.
1.3.
Employer spotlight:
13
HCL in India:
HCL has evolved from a dream of eight youngsters in 1977 to the country's top IT group
today. Our well-balanced portfolio of turnkey solutions across equipments, software and
services make our offerings end-to-end for all IT needs of the Indian customers. Our
recognitions speak of our dominant position in India. V&D100 2005, No. 1 Security
service provider in India by DQ Annual 2004, No.1 Infra service provider by CMP 2005,
and No.1 PC Brand recognize us as No.1 Network Management service provider in India
for the last 5 years in India.
HCL is known to be the harbinger of technology in the country. Our partnerships with
technology leaders like JDA, Oracle, SAP, KANA, Intel, and Microsoft go back to the
time when India was being recognized as a growing and strategic market. Along with
global capability, HCL has leveraged such relationships to create value for Indian
customers - the comprehensive integrated market surveillance solution for SEBI being
one such example.
Our services are backed by an extensive direct support infrastructure spread across 170
locations nationwide, which offer 24-x7 support offering for critical sites. With more than
70 SAP implementations till date, HCL has been rendering service to key Indian players
in Banking, Retail and Government.
We are committed to the Indian Market and will continue to invest more to further enrich
our end-to end IT offerings for this market. Our flexible engagement models, rich
heritage of technology solutions and over 29 years of leadership across service areas give
us a strategic advantage to meet the nation's IT needs.
14
1.4.
About HCL
HCL Enterprise is a leading Global Technology and IT enterprise that comprises two
companies listed in India - HCL Technologies & HCL Info systems. The 3-decade-old
enterprise, founded in 1976, is one of Indias original IT garage start-ups. Its range of
offerings span Product Engineering, Technology and Application Services, BPO,
Infrastructure Services, IT Hardware, Systems Integration, and distribution of ICT
products. The HCL team comprises approximately 42,000 professionals of diverse
nationalities, who operate from 16 countries including 300 points of presence in India.
HCL has global partnerships with several leading Fortune 1000 firms, including leading
IT and Technology firms. HCL Technologies is one of Indias leading global IT Services
companies, providing software-led IT solutions, remote infrastructure management
services and BPO. Having made a foray into the global IT landscape in 1999 after its
IPO, HCL Technologies focuses on Transformational Outsourcing, working with clients
in areas that impact and re-define the core of their business. The company leverages an
extensive global offshore infrastructure and its global network of offices in 16 countries
to deliver solutions across select verticals including Financial Services, Retail &
Consumer, Life Sciences Aerospace, Automotive, Semiconductors, Telecom and MPE
(Media Publishing & Entertainment). For the quarter ending 31st December 2006, HCL
Technologies, along with its subsidiaries had revenue (TTM) of US $ 1.155 billion (Rs.
5220 crore) and employed 38,317 professionals.
15
1.7.MISSION STATEMENT
To provide world class information technology solution and services to enable our
customers to serve their customer better.
We will deliver defect-free products, service and solutions to meet the requirements
of our external and internal customers the fist time, every time.
16
1.9.OUR OBJECTIVE
OUR MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVE
To fuel initiative and foster active by allowing individuals freedom of action and
innovation in attaining defined objectives.
To help HCL Infosystem people share in the companys success, which they make
possible to provide job security based on their Operation; to recognize their individual
achievements and to help them gain a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment from
their work.
1.10.
CORE VALUES
17
1.11.
HCL Insys aims to propel its course on to the high growth Path total Technology
Integration. Towards capturing two Ends of market spectrum - enterprise solution and
PCs.
HCL Insys has made significant strategic infrastructure investments in the professional
services Organization (PSO), the Support Services Organization (SSO) and its
manufacturing plant at Pondicherry. Thus it is the manufacturer of general purpose
computer and provides services in the areas of IT Consultancy, system integration,
Software Development and Training.
It makes true technology integration possible across multiple platforms, this was
possible because of the in-depth expertise in developing state-of-the-art indigenous
hardware solution; thorough understanding of networking technology.
As a part of this plan to market more and more technology integration services worldwide, HCL in sys has already taken a step in the direction of export by localizing its
service comprising software, hardware design and development, value added support
service networking abs repair services and overseas integration projects to meet the
demands of the global clients.
Companys continuous and consistent anticipation of the requirement of the IT Industry
has led it to undertake the acquisition of the business of HCL Info solutions limited (now
known as Frontline Division), HCL Peripherals Limited (now known the acquisition of
18
FRONTLINE DIVISION
Frontline Division, formerly HCL Info solution Ltd. (HCL Insol) started with the aim of
increasing market penetration by handing segments not covered by HCL Insys and
creating new niches. Today it specializes.
19
2. Literature Review
Finance
The heart of the financial dimension for most businesses is profit, though short-term
financial goals might entail sacrificing current profits to increase future capacity. For
example, a company might decide to reinvest all its profits into new and better machinery
to increase production capacity and efficiency, but the ultimate goal remains greater
profit. Managers must control the flow of money through the organization to ensure
short-term goals align with long-term goals.
Customers
Customers are the foundation of your business. Without the flow of their money through
your organization, everything grinds to a halt. Managers aim to maximize the flow of
customer money, but that doesnt always mean securing as many customers as possible. A
boutique hotel, for example, might focus on serving relatively few high-paying
customers, while a chain hotel focuses on the wide swath of people who are unwilling to
20
pay high prices. Though each business targets customers who have different needs,
meeting those needs is equally vital to their profitability.
Internal Processes
Optimization of internal processes leads to greater profitability and customer satisfaction.
For example, a manager might focus on developing efficient communications within an
organization to ensure orders travel quickly from the customer service department to the
production line. The manager further expedites the order by ensuring the production
department syncs with the shipping department to get the order to the customer quickly.
Fine-tuning the process to make it maximally efficient keeps operating costs low and
pleases customers, leading to greater profits.
Learning and Innovation
Technology progresses and so must businesses. An invention that improves a
manufacturing process, for example, might be a game changer that forces factories to
upgrade their processes or lag behind competitors. A good manager stays abreast of
technological shifts; a great manager anticipates and initiates change by encouraging her
organization to focus on learning and innovation. Practically, this can mean anything
from having a well-funded research-and-development team to paying for continuing
education for employees. An organization that surmounts cognitive limitations stays one
step ahead of its competitors.
21
services. Operations in some form has been around as long as human Endeavour itself
but, in modern manufacturing and service industry at least, it has changed dramatically
over time.
To some (especially those professionally involved in operations management!) operations
management involves everything an organization does. In this sense, every manager is an
operations manager.
Operations management definitions
There are many differing definitions of operations management; we have picked a range
for you to look at below. Depending on your specific area of operations management,
some may suit your role or understanding better, but overall they all make a similar point.
The efficient and effective implementation of the policies and tasks necessary to
satisfy an organizations customers, employees, and management (and
stockholders, if a publicly owned company)
The management of systems or processes that create goods and/or provide
services
"The on-going activities of designing, reviewing and using the operating system, to
achieve service outputs as determined by the organization for customers" (Wright, 1999)
Management of main business activity: the organizing and controlling of the
fundamental business activity of providing goods and services to customers
Operations management deals with the design and management of products, processes,
services and supply chains. It considers the acquisition, development, and utilisation of
resources that firms need to deliver the goods and services their clients want.
22
The purvey of operations management ranges from strategic to tactical and operational
levels. Representative strategic issues include determining the size and location of
manufacturing plants, deciding the structure of service or telecommunications networks,
and designing technology supply chains.
Tactical issues include plant layout and structure, project management methods, and
equipment selection and replacement. Operational issues include production scheduling
and control, inventory management, quality control and inspection, traffic and materials
handling, and equipment maintenance policies.
Operations management is an area of management concerned with overseeing,
designing, controlling the process of production and redesigning business operations in
the production of goods and/or services. It involves the responsibility of ensuring that
business operations are efficient in terms of using as few resources as needed, and
effective in terms of meeting customer requirements. It is concerned with managing the
process that converts inputs (in the form of materials, labor and energy) into outputs (in
the form of goods and/or services).
IOM would like to thank Derek Thomason FIOM, Unipart Expert Practices, for
sharing examples and information contained in this section for the benefit of IOM
members and those interested in learning more about what operations management
is.
So what does it means?
What exactly does this mean in real terms? What kinds of tasks, roles and responsibilities
do people working in operations management have?
Forecast demand
Market product
Adapt to comply with customer demand
23
24
Schedule suppliers
Managing stock (getting it in the right place at the right time)
Locating and procuring supplies
Pay suppliers
Creation of output
Managing budgets
Cost implications
Buy cost effective materials
Replenish inventories
Arrange for necessary equipment
Schedule material / staff / equipment to produce goods and services
Plan work order
Produce product
Produce goods
Converting supplied materials (adding value)
Quality control
Measure conformance / quality
Delivery
Customer satisfaction
25
was
the
predominant
industry
in
every
country
26
Economy based on manual labour was replaced by one dominated by industry and the
manufacture of machinery
The development of all-metal machine tools in the first two decades of the 19th century
facilitated the manufacture of more production machines powered by steam or wate
(James Watt, 1785)
Second Industrial Revolution (around 1850)
Development of steam-powered ships, railways, and later in the nineteenth century with
the internal combustion engine and electrical power generation
Introduction of Frederick W. Taylor's systematic approach to scientific management at
the beginning of the twentieth century (1911)
Henry Ford, father of the moving assembly line, brought the world into an age centred
around the mass production of goods (1920)
Post WWII
Leverage of management science techniques that were developed in the war
Growth in power of computers
Japanese Toyota Production System (TPS) based on three principles:
1. Quality
2. Continual Improvement
3. Elimination of waste
Late 1950s and early 1960s
27
28
29
30
Forecast demand
Process applications
Process renewals
Calculate no claims bonuses
Arrange repairs
Send out certificates / reminders
Send out claims forms
Providing healthcare
Managing operations
Obtaining finance
Project / programme Management
Recruiting and retaining staff
Sourcing and procuring supplies
Responding to emergencies
Scheduling patient operations
Controlling infection
Providing post operative care
Capacity planning (bed / theatre management)
Quality control / track and trace
31
Dispatch ambulance
Inform hospital of arrival
Inform stakeholders
Contact theatre team
Provide interim care stabilise patient
Prepare resource (theatre)
Kitting for operations
Resource planning (ITU / ward)
Plan diagnostics resources
Liaise with other department
Deploy ambulance
Government
Managing operations
HMRC
o Process tax forms
o Investigate errors
o Prosecute offenders
o Labour planning
Social Services
32
o Assessing risk
o Providing support services
Emergency Services
o Capacity planning
o Resource deployment
Central Government
o Generate new laws
o Influence people
o Process claimants
o Allocate resources according to need
o Educate and train people
Armed Forces
Managing operations
Training and development
Contingency planning
Capital investment and programme management
Logistics (soldiers and materials)
Supply chain management
Returns management
33
Deployment
Measurement and control
Manage budgets and costs
Stakeholder management
Manage people
Manage resources (equipment and materials)
Management of maintenance
OXFAM
Managing operations
Generate funds
Contingency planning
Material and labour planning
Forecast demand
Source and procure non-perishables
Response time management
What-if and scenario planning
Deploying aid (people and materials)
Transport to site of disaster
Enabling sustainability
34
35
37
38
39
Another language???
There are lots of words and terms used in operations management, many of which are
explained in full in the IOMs Knowledge Bank. Members can login to the members area
to find out what these terms mean in full.
World class
S&OP (Sales and Operations Planning)
Six Sigma
Lean vs agile
KPIs
Master scheduling
MRP
Processes
TPS (Toyota Production System)
Theory of constraints
Balanced scorecard
DRP
Kaizen
TPM
Change management
40
Continuous improvement
Planning and scheduling
ERP systems
41
and
controlling
the
process
of production and
redesigning business
Ford Motor car assembly line: the classical example of a manufacturing production
system.
Post office queue. Operations management studies both manufacturing and services.
According to the United States Department of Education, operations management is the
field concerned with managing and directing the physical and/or technical functions of
a firm or organization, particularly those relating to development, production, and
manufacturing. Operations management programs typically include instruction in
principles
of
general
production
[3]
with applied science. People skills, creativity, rational analysis, and knowledge
of technology are all required for success.
42
History
The history of production and operation systems began around 5000 B.C.
when Sumerian priests developed the ancient system of recording inventories, loans,
taxes, and business transactions. The next major historical application of operation
systems occurred in 4000 B.C. It was during this time that the Egyptians started
using planning, organization, and control in large projects such as the construction of the
pyramids. By 1100 B.C., labor was being specialized in China; by about 370
B.C., Xenophon described the advantages of dividing the various operations necessary
for the production of shoes among different individuals in ancient Greece .
In the Middle Ages, kings and queens ruled over large areas of land. Loyal noblemen
maintained large sections of the monarchs territory. This hierarchical organization in
which people were divided into classes based on social position and wealth became
known as the feudal system. In the feudal system, servants produced for themselves and
people of higher classes by using the rulers land and resources. Although a large part of
labor was employed in agriculture, artisans contributed to economic output and
formed guilds. The guild system, operating mainly between 1100 and 1500, consisted of
two types: merchant guilds, who bought and sold goods, and craft guilds, which made
goods. Although guilds were regulated as to the quality of work performed, the resulting
system was rather rigid, shoemakers, for example, were prohibited from tannin hides.
The industrial revolution was facilitated by two elements: interchangeability of parts and
division of labor. Division of labor has always been a feature from the beginning
of civilization, the extent to which the division is carried out varied considerably
depending on period and location. Compared to the Middle Ages, the Renaissance and
the Age of Discovery was characterized by a greater specialization in labor, one of
characteristics of growing European cities and trade. It was in the late eighteenth century
when Eli Whitney popularized the concept of interchangeability when he manufactured
10,000 muskets. Up to this point in history of manufacturing, each product (e.g. each
gun) was considered a special order, meaning that parts of a given gun were fitted only
for that particular gun and could not be used in other guns. Interchangeability of parts
43
allowed the mass production of parts independent of the final products in which they will
be used.
In 1883, Frederick W. Taylor introduced the stopwatch method for accurately measuring
the time to perform each single task of a complicated job. He developed the scientific
study of productivity and identifying how to coordinate different tasks to eliminate
wasting of time and increase the quality of work. The next generation of scientific study
occurred with the development of work sampling and predetermined motion time
systems (PMTS). Work sampling is used to measure the random variable associated with
the time of each task. PMTS allows the use of standard predetermined tables of the
smallest body movements (e.g. turning the left wrist by 90), and integrating them to
predict the time needed to perform a simple task. PMTS has gained substantial
importance due to the fact that it can predict work measurements without actually
observing the actual work. The foundation of PMTS was laid out by the research and
development of Frank B. and Lillian M. Gilbreth around 1912. The Gilbreths took
advantage of taking motion pictures at known time intervals while operators were
performing the given task.
The idea of the production line has been used multiple times in history prior to Henry
Ford: the Venetian Arsenal (1104), Smith pin manufacturing in the Wealth of
Nations (1776) or Brunel's Portsmouth Block Mills (1802). Ransom Olds was the first to
manufacture cars using the assembly line system, but Henry Ford developed the first auto
assembly system where a car chassis was moved through the assembly line by a conveyor
belt while workers added components to it until the car was completed. During World
War II, the growth of computing power led to further development of efficient
manufacturing methods and the use of advanced mathematical and statistical tools. This
was supported by the development of academic programs in industrial and systems
engineering disciplines, as well as fields of operations research and management science
(as multi-disciplinary fields of problem solving). While systems engineering concentrated
on the broad characteristics of the relationships between inputs and outputs of generic
systems, operations researchers concentrated on solving specific and focused problems.
The synergy of operations research and systems engineering allowed for the realization of
44
solving large scale and complex problems in the modern era. Recently, the development
of faster and smaller computers, intelligent systems, and the World Wide Web has opened
new opportunities for operations, manufacturing, production, and service systems.
Malakooti (2013) states that production and operation systems can be divided into five
phases:[6]
1. Empiricism (learning from experience)
2. Analysis (scientific management)
3. Synthesis (development of mathematical problem solving tools)
4. Isolated Systems with Single Objective (use of Integrated and Intelligent Systems,
and WWW)
5. Integrated Complex Systems with Multiple Objectives (development of
ecologically sound systems, environmentally sustainable systems, considering
individual preferences)
45
Industrial Revolution
Before
the First
industrial
revolution work
was
mainly
done
through
two
systems: domestic system and craft guilds. In the domestic system merchants took
materials to homes where artisans performed the necessary work, craft guilds on the other
hand were associations of artisans which passed work from one shop to another, for
example: leather was tanned by a tanner, passed to curriers, and finally arrived
at shoemakers and saddlers.
The beginning of the industrial revolution is usually associated with 18th century
English textile industry, with the invention of shuttle by John Kay in 1733, the spinning
jenny by James Hargreaves in 1765, the water frame by Richard Arkwright in 1769 and
the steam engine by James Watt in 1765. In 1851 at the Crystal Palace Exhibition the
term American system of manufacturing was used to describe the new approach that was
evolving in the United States of America which was based on two central
features: interchangeable parts and extensive use of mechanization to produce them.
Henry Ford was 39 years old when he founded the Ford Motor Company in 1903, with
$28,000 capital from twelves investors. The model T car was introduced in 1908,
however it was not until Ford implemented the assembly line concept, that his vision of
making a popular car affordable by every middle-class American citizen would be
realized. The first factory in which Henry Ford used the concept of the assembly
line was Highland Park (1913), he characterized the system as follows:
"The thing is to keep everything in motion and take the work to the man and not the man
to the work. That is the real principle of our production, and conveyors are only one of
many means to an end"
This became one the central ideas that led to mass production, one of the main elements
of the Second Industrial Revolution, along with emergence of the electrical industry and
petroleum.
46
of
Scientific
Management", in
which
he
characterized scientific
47
chart). Also in 1910 Hugo Diemer published the first industrial engineering book: Factory
Organization and Administration.
In 1913 Ford W. Harris published his "How Many parts to make at once" in which he
presented the idea of the economic order quantity model. He described the problem as
follows:
"Interest on capital tied up in wages, material and overhead sets a maximum limit to the
quantity of parts which can be profitably manufactured at one time; "set-up" costs on the
job fix the minimum. Experience has shown one manager a way to determine the
economical size of lots"
This paper inspired a large body of mathematical literature focusing on the problem
of production planning and inventory control.
In 1924 Walter Shewhart introduced the control chart through a technical memorandum
while working at Bell Labs, central to his method was the distinction between common
cause and special cause of variation. In 1931 Shewhart published his Economic Control
of Quality of Manufactured Product, the first systematic treatment of the subject
ofStatistical Process Control (SPC).
In the 1940s methods-time measurement (MTM) was developed by H.B. Maynard, JL
Schwab and GJ Stegemerten. MTM was the first of a series of predetermined motion
time systems, predetermined in the sense that estimates of time are not determined in loco
but are derived from an industry standard. This was explained by its originators in a book
they published in 1948 called "Method-Time Measurement".
Up to this point in history, optimization techniques were known for a very long time,
from the simple methods employed by F.W.Harris to the more elaborate techniques of
thecalculus of variations developed by Euler in 1733 or the multipliers employed
by Lagrange in 1811, and computers were slowly being developed, first as analog
computers by Sir William Thomson (1872) and James Thomson (1876) moving to the
eletromechanical computers of Konrad Zuse (1939 and 1941). During World War
48
first
by Kantorovich in
1939
working
for
the Soviet
government and latter on in 1947 with the simplex method of Dantzig. These methods are
known today as belonging to the field of operations research.
From this point on a curious development took place: while in the United States the
possibility of applying the computer to business operations led to the development of
management software architecture such as MRP and successive modifications, and ever
more sophisticated optimization techniques and manufacturing simulation software, in
post-war Japan a series of events at Toyota Motor led to the development of the Toyota
Production System (TPS) and Lean Manufacturing.
In 1943, in Japan, Taiichi Ohno arrived at Toyota Motor company. Toyota evolved a
unique manufacturing system centered on two complementary notions: just in
time (produce only what is needed) and autonomation (automation with a human touch).
Regarding JIT, Ohno was inspired by American supermarkets: workstations functioned
like a supermarket shelf where the customer can get products they need, at the time they
need and in the amount needed, the workstation (shelf) is then restocked. Autonomation
was developed by Toyoda Sakichi in Toyoda Spinning and Weaving: an automatically
activated loom that was also foolproof, that is automatically detected problems. In 1983
J.N Edwards published his "MRP and Kanban-American style" in which he described JIT
goals in terms of seven zeros: zero defects, zero (excess) lot size, zero setups, zero
breakdowns, zero handling, zero lead time and zero surging. This period also marks the
spread of Total Quality Management (TQM) in Japan, ideas initially developed by
American authors such as Deming, Juran and Armand V. Feigenbaum. TQM is a strategy
for implementing and managing quality improvement on an organizational basis, this
includes: participation, work culture, customer focus, supplier quality improvement and
integration of the quality system with business goals. [14] Schnonberger[18] identified seven
fundamentals principles essential to the Japanese approach:
49
software
architecture,
which
addresses,
besides
production
51
52
2.1.
2.1.1.
2.1.2.
Why is it important?
The Modernizing Government agenda sets challenging new Operation objectives for
organizations, from the delivery of high quality services that meet the needs of their
customers and stakeholders, to doing more within the constraints of available resources,
through to continuous improvement in how the organization itself operates. Operation
management underpins the operations and processes within a strategic change program
framework. Sound practices and targets, which are both flexible and reactive to change,
are needed to achieve Operation improvement.
The effective Operation of your organization depends on the contributions of activities at
all levels - from top management policy development through to efficiently run
operations.
53
2.1.3.
Managing Operation by cascading down from the top and building bottom-up
Using a mix of short and long term measures, and selecting measures that link
cause and effect
Measuring effectiveness (doing the right things) and efficiency (doing things
right) in parallel
2.1.4.
Who is involved?
Business managers are responsible for setting targets and managing Operation against
those targets; contract managers monitor service Operation from the customer viewpoint;
service providers supply Operation information.
2.1.5.
Principles
Operation management should be an integrated part of a business lifecycle helping an
organization to mature through evolving and changing Operation measures, from their
definition through to monitoring and review in addition, by including the IS/IT
component throughout this lifecycle, rather than just considering it as a 'downstream' cost
54
of provision, there should be enhanced benefits from an increased and more effective
contribution from any investment made in IS/IT.
You will need to ensure that you have adopted sound practices in commissioning and
acquiring IS/IT services to achieve Operation improvement. Operation management
identifies opportunities for maximizing improvements in managing service delivery in the
future. Operation management helps you to make decisions about investment routes,
affordability and setting investment priorities in the face of competing demands for
resources.
2.1.6.
2.2.
volume and value of service take-up, upward trends for inclusion, staff and users'
satisfaction.
4. Program level Operation management: Operation management at this level is focused
on the desired results of programs of change, to demonstrate what has been
accomplished. The measures used would include those stated in individual business
cases. Benefits management would help to determine if these are achieved.
5. Tactical or operational service level Operation management: here the management
focus is concerned with service delivery and outputs, using conventional service level
agreement approaches and related measures of aspects such as volumes and quality.
Although Operation measures and indicators may be different at each level, they will
need to be.
2.3.
Quantitative - to show what has been achieved and how much more is to be done.
Worthwhile - adding more value to the business than they cost to collect and use.
Economy - Minimizing the cost of resources used for an activity, having regard to
appropriate quality
Effectiveness - the extent to which objectives have been achieved, and the
relationship between the intended impacts and actual impacts of an activity.
56
2.4.
Do you determine the quality of a particular Operation metric using the SMART test
(Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Timely)?
The procedures and measures used in Operation management will depend, among other
factors, on the type of business process which is being measured. A business process is
assumed to be made up of a number of activities which transform inputs into outputs and
contribute to the realisation of outcomes. The customers for a process may be external
(for example, members of the public) or internal, within the same organisation or
elsewhere in the public sector.
2.4.1.
Whether the activities are primarily 'front-office' or 'back-office' - that is, the amount
of direct contact which the staff have with the customers or recipients of the process
Whether the process itself is the important feature of the activity - for example, in
delivering consultancy - or whether the activities are concerned primarily with the
generation of defined outputs
The extent to which the activity is customized or tailored to the needs of each
customer, as opposed to being routine and procedural
57
2.5.
Processes
You will need to review the effectiveness of your procedures for:
Improving Operation.
Research shows that most organizations have the components of Operation management
in place, but they are not always used to overall advantage. A possible five-step approach
that could help organizations in improving the Operation management of the IS/IT
contribution is outlined below, with suggested techniques.
Step 1: Identify your level of maturity in Operation management
Do an assessment; this will help to identify your organizations maturity and the
strengths and weaknesses.
Bottom-up measures of economy and efficiency are likely to be reasonably strong and
have good management. This may not be so well developed for effectiveness
measures
58
Key values for safety critical operational services are speed and integrity of
information. A different organization might place high value on information flows or
on single points of access to information at a contact/call centre.
Techniques: Value chain analysis; benchmarking with other organizations (which may
identify things you had not thought of)
Techniques: to become more outward looking and customer-focused, use the well
established balanced scorecard and EFQM techniques.
To answer questions about where IT makes a contribution, use Goals, Questions and
Metrics (GQM) to identify and define measures.
59
Step 4: Establish where you want to be and begin to build Operation management
into business processes and into the culture
The aim is to have target, measurement and review processes for those things that the
business considers important such as product, process, service and staff.
You will have lots of measures which need to be prioritised against your particular
perspective on effectiveness, efficiency and economy and against your values.
What is achievable?
Techniques: Process assessment; your own targets, looking at benchmarks from the
outside world.
60
61
62
2.6.
63
2.7.
all of
its subsystems (processes, departments, teams, employees, etc.) are working together in
an optimum fashion to achieve the results desired by the organization.
activities that achieve results and intervening to improve progress where needed. Note
that results themselves are also measures.
Note: these general activities are somewhat similar to several other major approaches in
organizations, e.g., strategic planning, management by objectives, Total Quality
Management, etc. Operation management brings focus on overall results, measuring
results, focused and ongoing feedback about results, and development plans to improve
results. The results measurements themselves are not the ultimate priority as much as
ongoing feedback and adjustments to meet results.
The steps in Operation management are also similar to those in a well-designed training
process, when the process can be integrated with the overall goals of the organi zation.
Trainers are focusing much more on results for Operation. Many trainers with this
priority now call themselves Operation consultants.
2.10.
Basic Steps
Various authors propose various steps for Operation management. The typical Operation
management process includes some or all of the following steps, whether in Operation
management of organizations, subsystems, processes, etc. Note that how the steps are
carried out can vary widely, depending on the focus of the Operation efforts and who is in
charge of carrying it out. For example, an economist might identify financial results, such
as return on investment, profit rate, etc. An industrial psychologist might identify more
human-based results, such as employee productivity.
The following steps are described more fully in the topics
Operation Appraisal
and
Development Plan,
Operation
Plan,
The steps are generally followed in sequence, but rarely followed in exact sequence.
Results from one step can be used to immediately update or modify earlier steps. For
example, the Operation plan itself may be updated as a result of lessons learned during
the ongoing observation, measurement and feedback step.
65
NOTE: The following steps occur in a wide context of many activities geared towards
Operation improvement in an organization, for example, activities such as management
development, planning, organizing and coordinating activities.
1. Review organizational goals to associate preferred organizational results in terms of
units of Operation, that is, quantity, quality, cost or timeliness (note that the result
itself is therefore a measure)
2. Specify desired results for the domain -- as guidance, focus on results needed by other
domains (e.g., products or services need by internal or external customers)
3. Ensure the domain's desired results directly contribute to the organization's results
4. Weight, or prioritize, the domain's desired results.
5. Identify first-level measures to evaluate if and how well the domain's desired
results
were achieved
6. Identify more specific measures for each first-level measure if necessary
7. Identify standards for evaluating how well the desired results were achieved (e.g.,
"below expectations", "meets expectations" and "exceeds expectations")
8. Document a Operation plan -- including desired results, measures and standards
9. Conduct ongoing observations and measurements to track Operation
10. Exchange ongoing feedback about Operation
11. Conduct a Operation appraisal (sometimes called Operation review)
12. If Operation meets the desired Operation standard, then reward for Operation (the
nature of the reward depends on the domain)
13. If Operation does not meet the desired Operation standards, then develop or update a
Operation development plan to address the Operation gap* (See Notes 1 and 2)
14. Repeat steps 9 to 13 until Operation is acceptable, standards are changed, the domain
is replaced, management decides to do nothing, etc.
66
Note 1: Inadequate Operation does not always indicate a problem on the part of the
domain. Operation standards may be unrealistic or the domain may have insufficient
resources. Similarly, the overall strategies or the organization, or its means to achieving
its top-level goals, may be unrealistic or without sufficient resources.
Note 2: When Operation management is applied to an employee or group of employees, a
development plan can be initiated in a variety of situations E.g.
a. When a Operation appraisal indicates Operation improvement is needed, that is, that
there is a "Operation gap"
b. To "benchmark" the status of improvement so far in a development effort
c. As part of a professional development for the employee or group of employees, in
which case there is not a Operation gap as much as an "growth gap
d. As part of succession planning to help an employee be eligible for a planned change
in role in the organization, in which case there also is not a Operation gap as much as
an "opportunity gap"
e. To "pilot", or test, the operation of a new Operation management system.
2.11.
67
Planning
Rewarding
good Operation.
The revisions made in 1995 to the Government wide Operation appraisal and awards
regulations support sound management principles. Great care was taken to ensure that the
requirements those regulations establish would complement and not conflict with the
kinds of activities and actions practiced in effective organizations as m after of course.
Additional background information on Operation management can be found in the
following
2.11.1.
Planning
68
The regulatory requirements for planning employees' Operation include establishing the
elements and standards of their Operation appraisal plans. Operation elements and
standards should be measurable, understandable, verifiable, equitable, and achievable.
Through critical elements, employees are held accountable as individuals for work
assignments or responsibilities. Employee Operation plans should be flexible so that they
can be adjusted for changing program objectives and work requirements. When used
effectively, these plans can be beneficial working documents that are discussed often, and
not merely paperwork that is filed in a drawer and seen only when ratings of record are
requirement
2.11.2.
Monitoring
2.11.3.
Developing Employees
encourages
good
Operation,
strengthens
job-related
skills
and
competencies, and helps employees keep up with changes in the workplace, such as the
introduction of new technology.
2.11.4.
Rating
From time to time, organizations find it useful to summarize employee Operation. This
can be helpful for looking at and comparing Operation over time or among various
employees. Organizations need to know who their best performers are.
Within the context of formal Operation appraisal requirements, rating means evaluating
employee or group Operation against the elements and standards in an employee's
70
Operation plan and assigning a summary rating of record. The rating of record is assigned
according to procedures included in the organization's appraisal program. It is based on
work performed during an entire appraisal period. The rating of record has a bearing on
various other personnel actions; such as granting within-grade pay increases and
determining additional retention service credit in a reduction in force.
Note: Although group Operation may have an impact on an employee's summary rating, a
rating of record is assigned only to an individual, not to a group.
2.11.5.
Rewarding
Good Operation is recognized without waiting for nominations for formal awards to be
solicited. Recognition is an ongoing, natural part of day-to-day experience. A lot of the
actions that reward good Operation like saying "Thank you" don't require a specific
regulatory authority. Nonetheless, awards regulations provide a broad range of forms that
more formal rewards can take, such as cash, time off, and many no monetary items. The
regulations also cover a variety of contributions that can be rewarded, from suggestions
to group accomplishments.
71
2.12.
In effective organizations, managers and employees have been practicing good Operation
management naturally all their lives, executing each key component process well. Goals
are set and work is planned routinely. Progress toward those goals is measured and
employees get feedback. High standards are set, but care is also taken to develop the
skills needed to reach them. Formal and informal rewards are used to recognize the
behavior and results that accomplish the mission. All five-component processes working
together and supporting each other achieve natural, effective Operation management.
2.13.
A good staff Operation management system normally consists of the following features:
Fair and open Objective -The system designed should aim to facilitate objective and
fair assessment by the management and encourage frank and constructive feedback
of appraises. These can be achieved through:
Permitting the appraise to have access to the entire report and to review the appraisal
before the appraisal interview; and
72
Adopting such an open system for staff Operation also supports the spirit of the Personal
Data (Privacy) Ordinance.
2.13.1.
Competency-Based
Competency refers to the knowledge, attributes, attitude and skills required to perform a
job effectively. There are two broad categories of competencies: core competencies and
functional competencies. Core competencies are the generic competencies associated
with effective Operation required by a group of job holders in a department across
different divisions/sections. An example is managerial competencies required for staff in
managerial positions. Functional competencies are the competencies specific to certain
job functions, such as computer programming skills for programmers in the Computer
Section and classroom skills for trainers in the Training Division of a department.
Competencies are reflected in a set of desirable behavior patterns which are observable,
measurable and can be tracked and monitored.
73
When core competency-based approach is adopted, departments need to ensure that the
competencies are developed properly by :
Upon implementation, there should be proper and adequate training for the staff on the
implementation of the Operation management system
Operation planning starts with a session between the appraising officer and the appraisee
to agree on the list of objectives/responsibilities for the coming appraisal period. The
74
agreed list will include the objectives of the section/unit and the broad areas of
responsibilities of the appraisees, that is key result areas (KRAs).
2.13.2.
A Continuous Process
Operation planning
Interim review
Operation appraisal
75
2.13.3.
Operation planning
Operation planning starts with a session between the appraising officer and the appraise
to agree on the list of objectives/responsibilities for the coming appraisal period. The
agreed list will include the objectives of the section/unit and the broad areas of
responsibilities of the appraises, that is key result areas (KRAs).
Staff development
Resource management
Project management
Specific, measurable, achievable and time bound targets will then be set on the basis of
the KRAs. The appraising officer should ensure that these targets are in alignment with
the overall departmental objectives and that they are clearly understood by the appraisee.
Depending on the nature of the job, appraising officers may alternatively agree with
appraises a list of key responsibilities with specific Operation results. This list provides
the appraisees and the appraising officers with the yardstick to objectively discuss,
76
monitor and assess Operation. The list should be kept under frequent review and be
revised whenever there are changes in the job.
2.13.4.
The Operation management system is a on-going process. After work targets and
standards have been decided and Operation objectives agreed upon, the appraising officer
should start the coaching and development process which threads through Operation
planning, regular feedback and guidance, interim reviews and Operation appraisal.
Coaching is about providing regular feedback to staff on their Operation. It aims at:
Providing advice and counseling to help improve Operation, and where appropriate,
take corrective action.
Through the coaching sessions, training needs should also be identified and followed.
2.13.5.
Interim review
An interim review is a scheduled, formal discussion between the appraising officer and
the
appraisee
to
review
the
latter's
progress
in
meeting
the
agreed
objectives/responsibilities. This usually takes place in the middle of the appraisal period.
77
An interim review should take the form of a structured session to provide an opportunity
for additional coaching, for problem solving, and for updating objectives/responsibilities.
Identify Operation results that are below, on or above target and determine
appropriate responses on corrective measures. Supervisors should use this occasion to
recognize and encourage good Operation. On the other hand, Operation below targets
is to be pointed out and guidance for improvement to be given;
Assess and follow up development or training need of staff to assist them in achieving
their objectives/responsibilities;
Ascertain whether there are potential problems that may affect the appraisers
Operation in the latter half of the reporting cycle and put in place preventive
measures; and
2.13.6.
Operation appraisal
Operation appraisal is the formal assessment on the appraisees Operation for the
appraisal period. It covers the following aspects:
How effectively the agreed objectives/responsibilities have been carried out and
targets met;
Whether the effectiveness has been adversely affected by any constraints or obstacles;
78
The strengths and weaknesses of the appraisee which affected or will affect the
officer's further development;
2.13.7.
And what sort of personal/career development and training actions should be taken.
The appraisee should be shown the assessment by the appraising and countersigning
officers before the appraisal interview.
Countersigning officers are encouraged to complete the appraisal form before the
appraisal interview is conducted; and
For training and career development proposals put forward in the appraisal, the grade
management must take the initiative to ensure any necessary follow up actions are taken
in a timely and appropriate manner. These proposals will also provide useful reference for
the supervisors to develop the staff's competencies. Common themes on training and
development identified should be consolidated for incorporation into the training and
development plans of the department and the grade.
To ensure consistency in assessment standards and fairness in Operation rating in staff
appraisals, heads of departments/grades may consider if an assessment panel should be
set up. An assessment panel is a management tool to help departments cross moderate
appraisal ratings.
79
3. PROJECT
80
Secondary objective
To identify which of the functional aspects/ Parameters are low and which dysfunctional
aspects/ Parameters are high in order to put some suggestion for increasing the former
and reducing the latter in other words to move from dysfunctional to functional Operation
assessment.
82
Much work is invested, on the front end, to improve a traditional employee appreciate
process, Infect managers can feel as if the new process is too time consuming ones the
function of developmental goal is in place however time to an administrator the system
decreases. Each of these steps to taken with the participation and cooperation of the
employee for best results.
Provide opportunity for broaden feedback. Use 360` Operation feedback system.
Develop administer a coaching and implement plan if the employee is not meeting
expectation
83
3.6.1.
Appraiser
Appraise the employee in related to the positions held during the period under
appraisal.
Do not evaluate on the basis of isolated incidents, but base your judgment on the
entire period under review.
Consider each independently, uninfluenced by the rating given for other factors.
This from will not be treated as complete and processed further until all selections are
filled up.
3.6.2.
84
Exemplary Operation - Far exceeds the requirement of job. Growth potential unlimited.
Very good: - Handle assignments with thoroughness and perfection, effective discharge
of responsibilities to the satisfaction of superiors completes assignment in time. With a
little more initiative could have performed better.
Good: - Just meets the normal requirements of the job, needs substantial improvement in
all areas of work to meet requirement of complete employee.
Not Up to the Expectation - Not likely to meet the requirements of complete employee.
85
Target for the period under review: In section 1 KRA/ assignment for the period under review should be stated. In some cases
it will be necessary for the objective to be amplified on a separate sheet and this
documents should be referenced on the form..
To the filled up by the appraisee at the end of the annual review year.
86
The objective is to provide an opportunity to the employee and the manager to discuss the
strengths that the individual brings to the job and examine the limitations, which may
require attention. The aim is to improve Operation and development of the individual.
Section 4 : Overall Operation / Potential Assessment
Space for other comments by the manager (if required for any issues with regard to
constraints to effective Operation and / or supporting actions to achieve target).
Training for improvement and career development the training plan for the employee for
the coming year should be discussed.
87
The training identification form has to be filled and returned to the HR department. In the
month of the April for the preparation of the training calendar for the forth coming year.
The manager should return the complete field form within ten days hence from the
completion of the Annual Review period to the HRD Dept. in order to attain consistency
of the appraisal standards and relevant follow up action.
88
4. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
This project requires a detailed understanding of the concept Operation
Management. Therefore, firstly we need to have a clear idea of what is Operation
Management, how it is managed in HCL Info systems, what are the different ways
in which the financing of Operation is done in the company.
The management of Operation Management involves managing inventories,
accounts receivable and payable and cash. Therefore one also needs to have a
sound knowledge about cash management, inventory management and
receivables management.
Then comes the financing of Operation Management requirement, i.e. how the
Operation Management is financed, what are the various sources through which it
is done. And, in the end, suggestions and recommendations on ways for better
management and control of Operation are provided.
89
Introduction
The way you approach your question will have a profound effect upon the way you
construct your dissertation, so this section discusses the types of research you might
undertake for your dissertation. The use of literature and case studies is considered and
the merits of primary research are debated and advice is given on the use of existing
research data. You may not be fond of statistics, but the potential relevance of a
quantitative approach should be considered and similarly, the idea of qualitative analysis
and conducting your own research may yield valuable data. The possibilities of using
quantitative and qualitative data are also discussed.
behaviour.
Think about the Research Methods modules you have taken so far. Think about the
different kinds of studies you have read for other modules. There is plenty of scope to use
the approaches and methods that you are most comfortable with. You need tojustify your
approach and methods and to cite appropriate literature to help you do this.
What if I want to find out about social trends, or the measurable effects of particular
policies?
You will probably want to use large datasets and undertake quantitative data analysis, and
you will be adopting a realist approach to the topic studied. Quantitative dissertations are
90
likely to be nearer to the lower end of the range of approved lengths for the dissertation
(e.g. if the length is to be 5,000-8,000 words, dissertations based on quantitative analysis
are likely to be closer to 5,000 words in length). They will also include tables and figures
giving your important findings. Remember that all tables must be carefully titled and
labelled and that sources of your data must be acknowledged.
What if I want to record people's views on an issue, and give them a 'voice'?
You will probably want to use in-depth qualitative data, and you may wish to adopt a
realist, a phenomenologist, or a constructionist approach to the topic. Qualitative
dissertations will include descriptive material, usually extracts from interviews,
conversations, documents or field notes, and are therefore likely to be nearer to the upper
limit of your word range (e.g. 8,000 words). The types of method suitable for a
dissertation could include content analysis, a small scale ethnographic study, small scale
in-depth qualitative interviewing.
Whether you choose qualitative or quantitative analysis will depend on several things:
Your
preferred
philosophical
approach
(realist,
phenomenologist
or
constructionist).
Your skills and abilities with methods of data collection (if needed) and analysis.
Your supervisor or research methods tutor may be able to give you detailed examples of
these or other ways to combine methods.
to
have
their
research
design
spelled
out
from
the
start.
But even if your dissertation is more empirically focused, it could still be entirely
92
literature-based. You might choose to conduct a review of a field of work. What does the
research literature in this field tell us about x? While all dissertations will include a
literature review, it is possible to produce a dissertation that is entirely based on a review
of the literature. If you do this, it is important to review the literature from an explicit
angle and identify some themes to make the review distinctive. You might, for example,
explore empirical debates in your chosen field across different countries or time periods.
What is case study research?
Whilst it is possible for dissertations to be entirely literature-based, the most common
form of dissertation takes the form of a case study. Here the focus of attention is on a
particular community, organisation or set of documents. The attraction of this kind of
dissertation is that it stems from empirical curiosity but is at the same time practical. You
may be interested in a wider question but a case study enables you to focus on a specific
example. A major challenge in case study dissertations is connecting your own primary
research or re-analysis with the broader theoretical themes and empirical concerns of the
existing literature.
What's an empirical study?
Most dissertations demand either primary or secondary research. In other words, you
usually have to analyse data that you have either collected yourself or data that is already
available. The reason for this is that the questions dissertations usually address take the
following form: Is x happening? Is x changing? Why is x happening? Why is x changing?
These
questions
demand
primary
or
secondary
analysis
of
data.
Case Study 9 Think hard before you decide to undertake empirical research: a
student's view
What is secondary analysis?
Secondary analysis is when you analyse data which was collected by another researcher.
It allows the researcher to explore areas of interest without having to go through the
process of collecting data themselves in the field. The problem with using fieldwork
methods in an undergraduate dissertation, however, is that they are costly in terms of time
93
(which is relatively scarce in your final year!) and possibly your own financial resources
too. You may choose, therefore, to undertake secondary research, analysing existing data.
Where do I find existing research data?
There are a range of documents that already contain research data that you can analyse.
You may, for example, be interested in exploring whether gender stereotypes in the media
are changing. This might entail content analysis of newspapers, magazines, video or other
media over different time periods. Here you would not be collecting your own data but
instead would be analyzing existing documents.
Collecting you own data - primary research
Quantitative data may also result from non-participant observations or other
measurements (e.g. in an experimental design). Also, sometimes data that are collected
through qualitative processes (participant observation, interviews) are coded and
quantified. Your research methods tutor can give you further information on these types
of data, but here are some common quantitative data collection methods and their
definitions:
A series of questions that the respondent answers on their own. Selfcompletion questionnaires are good for collecting data on relatively
Self-completion
questionnaires
Structured
interviews
94
are read out in the same way to all respondents. There will typically be
a fixed choice of answers for the respondents.
Watching people and recording systematically their behaviour. Prior to
Structured
observation
details what exactly the researcher should look for and how those
observations should be recorded.
If you are conducting a qualitative analysis you are likely to wish to use at least some
original material. This may be collected through in-depth interviews, participant
observation recordings and fieldnotes, non-participant observation, or some combination
of these. Below are some data collection methods that you might want to use for your
dissertation:
Focus groups A form of interviewing where there are several participants; there is an
emphasis in the questioning on a tightly defined topic; the accent is on
95
interaction within the group and the joint construction of meaning. The
moderator tries to provide a relatively free rein to the discussion.
This involves studying people in naturally occurring settings. The
Participant
your
project.
Bryman
(2004)
would
be
useful
starting
point.
96
97
Note: Research must be conducted in a sensible and ethical manner; data must be
analysed and presented in a rational manner. It is important that students do not expose
themselves or others to dangers or risks when conducting research. Students need the
approval of their dissertation supervisor before embarking on any type of fieldwork (see
the section on Research Ethics for more information).
Will my research be inductive or deductive?
In general, deductive research is theory-testing and inductive research is theorygenerating. Often people link deductive research with quantitative experiments or
surveys, and inductive research with qualitative interviews or ethnographic work. These
links are not hard and fast for instance, experimental research, designed to test a
particular theory through developing a hypothesis and creating an experimental design,
may use quantitative or qualitative data or a combination. If your research starts with a
theory and is driven by hypotheses that you are testing (e.g. that social class background
and social deprivation or privilege are likely to affect educational attainment), it is,
broadly speaking, deductive. However much research combines deductive and inductive
elements.
What's all this about research design?
Research design is vital to conducting a good piece of work. At the start of your research
you need to set down clearly:
approach
98
How you will access these sources of information (be they people, existing
datasets, biographical accounts, media articles or websites, official records).
The proposed outcome of this research (in your case, a dissertation) and the form
it will take.
You and your supervisor will discuss your design and decide whether the research is 'doable'. Your university may require you to produce a report (e.g. an 'interim framework
report' or a short 'research proposal') that specifies your research design. Other people
may have to look at the design to ascertain whether there are ethical issues that affect
your research.
Summary
99
its own challenges, and you may be called upon to compare theories in terms of
their applicability.
Once you have decided upon your approach, you can write out a research design,
i.e. how you are going to approach the project.
Now look a little at the research methods that you have studied. Apart from
matching your research to your general sense of objective/subjective reality, it is
important to ensure that you match your methodology to the problem you are
pursuing.
What kind of data do you need to answer your question/test your hypothesis?
How would you best be able to collect that data?
Again, consider time and feasibility of the exercise. The ability to manage your
time will be directly related to your ability to control the boundaries of the study
especially if it is closely linked to your workplace.
Now that you have got so far, try to write up your research proposal as far as you
can. Make sure that you identify where your proposal needs further work and, at
the same time, where you will have to put your maximum effort. It may be helpful
to draw a critical path so that you are clear which actions you need to take and in
what sequence. You will find it helpful to plot your research questions on the chart
on the next page and ensure that your plans for collecting data really answer the
question as well as avoiding ethical problems.
At this stage you must be really ruthless with yourself. How viable is it? What are
the threats to the study? Try some 'what if?' questions on yourself. It will be better
to go back to the drawing board now, than once the project is underway.
IMPORTANT: Whatever approach you settle on, you MUST be able to justify
its appropriateness to your topic and question.
100
Key Questions
Does the data required to answer your question already exist or will you have to
generate your own data?
Can you combine quantitative with qualitative methods? e.g. a survey which
includes interviews or a case study that looks at a situation from numerous angles.
What factors may limit the scope of your research? (time, resources, etc.)
Which method(s) best suit the questions and time you have available to do this
study?
Do you know the differences between types of data, and types of analysis?
Does your project have clear links between theory and practice?
101
4.1.Research Design
In general terms research methodology is the process of carrying out research in a
formalized and scientific way. It is one manner in which one proceeds with his research
design adopted. The research done is exploratory and analytical in nature. The major
emphasis in studies was on discovery of new ideas and insights. Research is done as
Did questionnaire survey with the sample size of 30.It was conducted for three main
departments-Sales, Support and Service?
Did analysis and prepared Column charts according to the questionnaire survey
response?
The assessment is then done to bring out what is the process being followed in HCL
Infosystems Ltd. regarding Operation management.
102
evidence,
in the form of a
hypothesis test,
has a certain degree of confidence, usually 95% to 99%, that the data does not support the
null hypothesis. It is possible for an experiment to fail to reject the null hypothesis.
H0 = the null hypothesis
103
Planning
In an effective organization, work is planned in advance. This includes setting Operation
expectation and goals for individual in order to channel effort towards achieving the
organizational objectives. Involvinng employee in planning process is essential to their
understanding of the goals of the organization, what needs to be done, why it needs to be
done, and expectation of accomplishing the goals.
The PMS in terms of planning in HCL fairs around average, where they need to put
planning system in a very scientific way. They need to design the entire planning session
taking into consideration the aspiration and need of the people whose Operation needs to
be planned.
104
4.3.2.
Monitoring
Designing effective feedback into a Operation management programme will improve
individual and team Operation and will make your organization more effective. With
effective feedback process, employees can see their progress and that motivates them to
reach their Operation goals effectively.
The PMS of HCL stand in between for monitoring, where they need to develop a
feedback channel into the system, which will capture the feedback in holistic way and
must be part of organizational culture.
105
4.3.3.
Developing Employees
Providing employees with training and development opportunities encourages the good
Operation, strengthen job related skills and competencies , and help employee keep up
with changes in the work place.
The Employee development in HCL is fairly better, where the feedback from PMS is
implemented by the way of training and development. Where the organization equips
people with the skill which will be required in future.
106
4.3.4.
Rating
Within the context of formal appraisal Operation requirement, rating means evaluating
the employee Operation against the element and standard in an employee Operation
appraisal plan and assigning a rating of record.
107
The rating of Operation appraisal system in HCL is satisfactory , ratings are more
objective for sales , which people in service and support dont view as more subjective.
108
4.3.5.
The PMS in HCL fairs in terms of action based Operation. HCL administers positive and
negative consequences with apt.
109
4.3.6.
Analysis
If we look at the following graph, which measures the effectiveness of PMS in HCL, we
find out that it is quite effective and are continually achieving the purpose of enhanced
Operation.
4.3.7.
Effectiveness
Sign of a good system is that, it achieves what it has been designed to achieve. The
principle of execution achieves the end with best means and delivers the best result.
110
The effectiveness score of HCL is fairly high where the employees seem to be happy with
current PMS system .HCL need to work for sales, where they need to design the new
PMS system.
The PMS of HCL is very effective on action based Operation and developing employees,
which clearly shows that as an organization HCL is highly progressive organization
which continually develop people and provides negative and positive feedback.
While, it need to work in the area of planning, monitoring and rating , where they have to
get into more systematic and have a separate session on planning , mid year review , and
need to teach appraiser how to provide rating objectively. They need to plan and devise
KRA sessions for each employee by taking an objective of getting all the KRA in Month ,
which need to discussed jointly and must be agreed between the Appraiser and Appraisee
111
112
5. RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1.Recommendations
1. Though the employees are free in all respects, there should be more Employee
Empowerment.
2. Employees should be encouraged to do work creatively and innovate to improve the
growth rate of organizations.
3. While posting employee in different departments their personal choices should also
be taken into consideration.
4. Executives must be given jobs where they are creative rather than following orders of
the boss and obeying them willingly.
5. The career growth of employees should be planned on the long-term basis.
6. The (candidates) not considered for promotion, should be informed about their
weaknesses so that they can work on it.
7. Separate session on planning the KRA should be taken up and must be discussed and
signed jointly between the appraiser and the appraisee.
113
8. HCL should introduce mid year review into the system and must rate the employee
and provide them with necessary training and development.
6. CONCLUSION
HCL Infosystems Ltd. though seems to be an open organization but has a conservative
approach towards its Operation management policies. There are many worker policies
provided for them. Besides this, their policies are quiet rigid.
There is no proper formation of grievance cell. Only basic amenities are being provided
to workers. Thus the strengths and weaknesses of the organization can be listed below.
Strengths
A strong desire for making an impact on others for the well being of the
organization.
A good teamwork.
Weaknesses
114
7. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Web sites
www.google.com
www.hrmguide.net
www.managementscience.org
www.londonexternal.ac.uk
www.hr.com
www.wikipedia.com
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operations_management
http://www.iomnet.org.uk/Home/WhatisOperationsManagement
115
116