Developing Strategy

Assignment 2 Advice

Q1 Read the case study carefully. Draw a fish bone diagram for the supply/purchasing of materials, asking why is there a problem.

If you wish to use the 6 headings below as a guide you can.

i. Machine (including technology)

ii. Method (including processes)

iii. Materials (including consumables and information)

iv. Management (including strategic and tactical)

v. Man (including human resources)

vi. Measurement (control)

Having completed the analysis pick one identified problem and move it to the "Head" of the fishbone and repeat the exercise (Why- Why).

Present 2 fishbone diagrams only (no additional writing needed)

Q2 Critically analyse means using academic sources to support your analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the Method. (about 1000 words)

Q3 is a critique of the method. Find academic references and use them to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the fishbone (why-why) diagram. (About 500 words)

Course Guide Version

Q1. St James Hospital and Lucas Engineering systems case study. Define the major issue that arises in the case study, put this issue at the head of the fishbone, and then create a fishbone analysis using the six classic categories defined in the literature. Once you have identified what you believe to be the major problem in this first fishbone analysis create a further new fishbone with that problem at the head, and conduct a second fishbone analysis utilising Why-Why analysis (the diagram does not constitute part of the work count).

Q2. Critically analyse and evaluate the problems and solutions you have identified in the second fishbone analysis.

Q3. Determine the limitations of the fishbone analysis technique and support your answer from the literature. Please provide complete academic referencing, (Word limit 1500 words)

Ref:Ishikawa system Limitations

Brainstorming

The common thread in TQM,

empowerment, re-engineering and

continuous improvement Robert Seaker

The Pennsylvania State University, University Park,

Pennsylvania, USA, and

Matthew A. Waller

Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA

Fishbone diagrams help to analyse problems such as "drill bit wobbling".

The purpose of fishbone diagrams is to help identify causes of the problem and

even causes of the causes. For example, the cause of a wobbling drill bit might

be that the bit is either bent or not adequately secured in the drill.

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