Module Title
Module Code
Semester of Delivery
Mandatory/Elective/Option
Level
Credit Points
Business Process Analysis
25-6006-00L
See Module Information Table
See Module Information Table
6
20
Assessment Mode Weighting
CWEX100
Pre-requisites
Co-requisites
Class Contact Hours
Average Weekly
1.5
Directed Learning
Average Weekly
5
Module Leader
Faculty
Module Banding
Approval Status
Peter Long
Organisation and Management
A
Validated
Rationale
The experience of many manufacturing and service industries is that managing business
activities as processes has brought about improvements in efficiency and quality. The
process focused approach, which views processes as central elements in systems for
providing goods and services to meet customer demands, coupled with the available
technology, drives the quest for improving the way things are done. Before making any
change in operating procedures it is advisable to evaluate the proposal by modelling the
modified system. This Module examines methods, techniques and models which are
available for assessing the value to the organisation of making changes to their business
processes.
Summary of Aims
The Module aims to introduce students to a variety of approaches to modelling processes
by examining situations where change has been deemed appropriate and encouraging a
systematic assessment of the value of such proposed changes.
Anticipated Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the Module the student will:



have gained a critical understanding of the concepts of Business Process
management and the role that process improvement can play in successful
management,
be able to analyse business processes using a range of methods and to evaluate
the outcome of improvement policies,
have developed and applied models for supporting decisions in respect of process
change,
Assessment and Feedback Strategy
Assessment will be through a piece of individual project-based coursework (50%) and an
examination (50%).
Coursework will test the




clarity of the description of the project situation
appraisal of the choice of method
application of the chosen methods
the validity of conclusions and recommendations for action
The examination will assess the


criticality of understanding and ability to apply a range of process analysis methods,
reflectivity on the role and impact of analysis within an organisation.
Students will be given formative feedback during case study and practical sessions.
Feedback will also be given on the assessed coursework.
Module Assessment Criteria
see attached grids
Teaching and Learning Strategy and Methods
The Module will combine lectures, case study and practical sessions.
Indicative Content
Business processes in manufacturing and service organisations
Business process performance and improvement
Analysis of process and customer flow
Analysis of capacity management and process and layout design; static and
dynamic scheduling
Analysis of process variability
Learning Materials
Hammer M & Champy J (1993), Re-engineering the Organisation, Nicholas Brealey
Publishing
Harrington H J (1993), Business Process Improvement, McGraw Hill
Armistead C and Rowland P (1996), Managing Business Processes - BPR and Beyond,
Wiley,
Born G (1994), Process Management to Quality Management, Wiley
Module Assessment Criteria
For the coursework (50%)
Learning
Outcome
Assessment Criterion
(where assessed)
Level descriptors
fail
PASS
2.2
2
clarity of the description
of the project situation
situation unclear and poor
description of the
managerial challenges
satisfactorily clear description
of the situation and the
managerial challenges
situation well described with comprehensive
good appreciation of the
description of the key
managerial challenges
issues and background
the background and the
managerial issues fully
described within a clear
theoretical framework
2
appraisal of the choice
of method
little or no consideration of
the appropriateness of the
chosen methods
methods described
appropriately
some argument for the use
of chosen methods
appropriate justification
and selection of methods
methods fully justified on
the basis of the challenge
and the background
3
application of the
chosen methods
methods applied
inappropriately
adequate range of methods
and satisfactory application.
good range of methods
reasonably well applied
methods significantly
accurately applied
all methods applied
accurately and
competently
3
the validity of
conclusions and
recommendations for
action
conclusions invalid or
unclear, recommendations
poorly linked to the analysis
conclusions are largely valid,
some recommendations for
action
recommendations emerge
logically from the analysis
and are well argued
clear development from
the analysis with clear
recommendations
strong argument for the
recommended actions
based on valid conclusions
from the analysis
2.1
First
For the examination (50%)
Learning
Outcome
Assessment Criterion
(where assessed)
Level descriptors
fail
PASS
2.2
2.1
First
1
criticality of
understanding and
ability to apply a range
of process analysis
methods,
little or no evidence of
understanding the basis for
choice or application
rationale is articulated,
methods are generally
correctly applied
good argument for choice
and application is relevant
theoretical frameworks
are used in appraising the
choice and application of
suitable methods.
choice is critically
appraised against relevant
theoretical frameworks and
methods are correctly
applied
5
reflectivity on the role
and impact of analysis
within an organisation.
little or no consideration of
the wider issues or
reference to theory or
practical examples
wider issues are taken into
account to a limited extent
wider issues are taken into
account to a satisfactory
extent
relevant reference to
theory and practice in
evaluating the outcomes
outcome of application is
comprehensively evaluated
against theoretical
frameworks and practical
examples