Ryan Fielding (E1712027)

B123 EMA 01

COVER PAGE

Ryan Fielding (E1712027)

B123 EMA 01

Ryan Fielding (E1712027)

B123 EMA 01

Task 1
Submit all the outputs from the activities for Sessions 7, 8, 9 and 10, which you will
have saved in your e-portfolio. This task does not count towards the word limit.
(20 marks)

Please see attached link for all my outputs on my e-portfolio;

http://ryanfielding.weebly.com/

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B123 EMA 01

Task 2
Word limit: approximately 1000 words.
For this task you will need to refer to Activity 10.4 and your areas for development
identified in TMA 01.

a.Write a statement in which you reflect on how the module as a whole has
helped you to address each of the development areas identified in TMA 01.
Wherever possible give examples of particular activities that you found useful.
(15 marks)

b.Write a short piece identifying the areas of your management practice you
would like to develop further having studied this module. Say why you have
identified each area.
(5 marks)

c.Develop a plan indicating how you intend to address each development area.
(20 marks)

My areas for development as identified in TMA 01

Ref; http://ryanfielding.weebly.com/ original document. 2015. Author Ryan fielding.

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B123 EMA 01

Looking back at my original posting I can conclude that I have developed

massively as a practitioner of management from that original post. Since that original
posting I have moved up slightly into a production controller position and I am no
longer classed as an administrator.
From what I can see as a basically I have developed 3 areas as per the original post
these were forecasting, planning and decision making. First of all lets look at how my
forecasting has developed. So prior to this study I was in an admin role where
majoritivly, my role wouldnt allow me access to certain systems that could enable me
to forecast better in terms of production planning. In terms of where I am now though
I now have to forecast say for example a job that requires to be sawed to length, then
turned then, milled then, washed then finally inspected. I now have to ensure my
forecasting is in place here this requires me having knowledge prior to all this of
material costs and machining costs which then enable us to actually produce then end
product. This ties me into my second key development area which was planning.
Much like forecasting where I have to ensure all relevant information is in place,
planning is similar in that I have to pre-determine manufacturing routes for jobs to be
produced on so my planning skills have increased exponentially as well. Finally this
takes me onto my decision making this starts off as simple as someone asking me a
question on a drawing for example prior to this study I would say that my confidence
was at a much lower stage than it is as now. But now I can actively seek out the
relevant information confidently say right here is what we are going to have to do.
A lot of this is having the knowledge behind me that has driven me to this stage.
The areas of my management practice I would like to develop further; firstly I
would say they differ to what I originally needed work on now I face a completely
new set of challenges and as such I must now work on new areas. So now I would like
to visit more leading and organising skills now. The reason for this is leadership is my
new job role is a must on a daily basis. I now have to deal with about 60 different
people and help them to work past any problems that they may come to face, which
can range from something engineering related to something personal all of which I
have to stay professional and control the situation in such a manner. Secondly I wish
to look at more of my own organising skills. The reasoning behind this is that because
I have so much to contend with from so many people, sometimes it can prove difficult
to remain organised correctly and as such I see this as an area for my own personal
development.
Develop a plan;
I am now faced with the challenge of developing a plan in order to address my
new future challenges. So to develop this new plan firstly I will have to quantify the
issue in terms of timescale and potential solutions. In terms of quantifying the
development issues I will firstly visit my first issue which is leadership.
My leadership as identified previously is currently one of my weaker skills. The
reason for this as far as I can see is that I have little experience personally in this area
so in order to plan my own development. I will have to look back at previous study
and combine what I have learnt with the practical application of the solution. I have
drawn these development areas from Fayols management process and as such I feel
that this would be the perfect area to start to draw up the solution from. Drawing back

Ryan Fielding (E1712027)

B123 EMA 01

to Fayols management process he would draw up the circle that shows all involved in
manufacturing process for example as I used in TMA 01. I could use a similar idea to
draw up a plan but it would be of no advantage is this context. So what I will do is
look to my managers to develop my leadership skills I will request time and courses
in order to become a more effective leader. I will first have to write a proposal to my
manager who will pass it onto the director who from there will decide if it is indeed
cost effective to develop the skills of one employee during such tough economic
times. If this is passed I will then be enrolled on a course to develop this skill and
hopefully this will provide a fairly quick solution to the problem.
The second are for development was my organisation skills. In order to draw
up a plan to improve these, I will have to start with research into how to improve
organisational skills within the workplace. I can go about this a few different ways, I
could look at the internet for skills advice websites, and other options include books,
or seeking assistance from better organised staff members within my workplace such
as colleagues or managers. Once I have completed the research I have to look at the
implementation stage from here I will have to action a drawn up solution. This will be
dictated of course by time currently at work we are starting to pick up in terms of
workload and as such I cannot see my manager allowing much time for personal
development within the workplace so this may cause me to have to do it in my own
time. If all positives come into play though I will then have a solution that should be
effective.
(985 words)

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B123 EMA 01

Task 3
For this task you will need to refer to Activity 10.5 and your areas for development
identified either in TMA 01 or in Task 2.

a.For each reading you identified in Activity 10.5 explain why you thought the
ideas it contained would be appropriate to assist your workplace understanding
and development.
(5 marks)

b.Give some examples of ways in which the ideas in the readings could apply
to issues or situations in your workplace and your management practice.
Explain the extent to which the ideas are useful for looking at your workplace.
(10 marks)

Reading 1 Better project management better patient outcome

Williams J. and Murphy, P. (2005) nursing management vol 36 no.1 pp 41-7
This reading relates to the production industry and highlights nurse managers
on project management is the application of knowledge, skills, tool and humans
resources, to organise, control and deliver a project on time. This is appropriate in the
assistance of my workplace understanding in terms of how it clearly shows each
section and the difficulties faced. This reading highlights to me all about project
management and program management. This make me think a lot about our
production management and more about how he has such a hard time of things with
the direct responsibility if over 60 staff. For example if someone is constantly ill this
can affect5 his Bradford score which is our monitoring system for sickness then this
causes the manager to act upon this to resolve the root causes.
Reading 2 managing organisational change: negotiating meaning and power
resistance relations.
Thomas R,Sergeant L, and Hardy C.(2011) organisation science vol22. no.1 pp 22-41
The reading is about theoretical development in the analysis of organisations
that have recently turned to an organisational becoming perspective. Basically it is a
study of the relationships between top and middle level managers and that relates to
generative dialogue and power resistance relations between the two. To put the into
relevance in my workplace I would see that as the interaction and relations between
our directors and our managers. This reading focuses on a telecommunications
company which is different to our company in many ways. But in terms of my
management practice it makes me think about the relationships between out
management team and more about how and why they act the ways they do.
Reading 3 subcontractor schedule method error
Stuarts Dossick. And Schunk T (2007) journal of construction engineering and
management, vol 133 no.3 262-265

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B123 EMA 01

Trade coordination and claims documentation is a challenge on any project,

particularly for specialty subcontractors. The writers introduce a schedule control
method initiated by the subcontractor, which facilitates coordination and
communication between a subcontractor and other project participants as well as
documentation to the prime contractor. A case study illustrates the preparation of
a trade-specific critical path method _CPM_ schedule, which is updated on a regular
basis. The writers also address the interrelationship between the CPM schedule,
internal reporting, schedule of values, and labour tracking. It is difficult to ensure that
all subcontractor produced documentation is complementary, but it is well worth the
effort when it comes to supporting a claim. Monthly schedule updates and narratives
communicate the conflicts, issues, and schedule constraints the subcontractor
experiences or anticipates on a project, thereby providing contractually required
notice to the prime contractor during the project. This increases the likelihood of
resolving issues during the project, while simultaneously protecting a subcontractors
position if change order requests are denied or if back charges are levied prompting a
subcontractor to enforce its rights, execute a claim, or proceed to litigation.
This refers more to the construction industry but we still have dealing with
external suppliers and have to have relevant subcontractor information in place and as
such we have to have the correct set up such as paying them to work and all relevant
PPE and permits etc. this makes me think about my workplace management more in
terms or everything been correct and present with subcontractors. If for example our
subcontractors didnt have the correct permit in place and became injured then the
company will be held liable and this could be as serious as jail time for that director.
(600 words)

c.Draw some conclusions about your workplace and/or your own work
practice in the light of the ideas in the readings.
(10 marks)

In terms of our workplace what isnt appropriate about it is the lack of care
taken by our design or drawing department. If we are sending out to specialised
subcontractors. Sometimes we send out grinding jobs to a local company but or
drawings can at times be unclear. In the past this has caused quite a ruckus when a job
is returned on a short lead time and it is returned in good condition, but wrong to what
toe customer spec may have said. This is often down to poor drawings. What this
reading highlights to me is the importance of getting it all right and all in place to
ensure it is correct. To address this issue we must work on the details on our drawings
in the future and we must ensure they are checked and double checked to solve this
issue moving forward. In terms of what all the reading tell me about our workplace ni
would add that in general we are good overall and we only achieve such success down
to such heavily enforced rules and regulations, but there are also gaps and if we are to
become world number one, these have to be addressed now and not left until too late
down the line as these issues often are.
(216 words)

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B123 EMA 01

d.Draw some conclusions about the usefulness of your readings in helping you
to increase your own knowledge, understanding and competence.
(15 marks)

To look at myself as a learner and a manager; I would say that from the
readings I could draw a few conclusions, the readings shows some highlights to me of
the things I do well and that my company does well and also what isnt done so well
by both as well. The readings are very in depth and have taught me a lot about very in
depth aspects of management practice. I think that this learning was all new to me as I
have come from an engineering background and none of this is something I have done
before. My readings encouraged me to see my workplace in a completely new light
and enabled me to look at managers and respect them more for why and how they
make decisions.
What I will do differently as a manager is that I will strive now for continuous
improvement. This will be in all areas ranging from my personal development to the
development of my team. The readings have shown me the way as such and I will
take from them everything I have learned and move forward withy further study. That
is as long as I pass this unit. My management practice has changed in two ways one
for them is that I understand much more of what more senior managers do and why
they do it. This also enables me to connect with them on a much higher intellectual
level; the other is because I understand more of what they are actually saying. The
second reason is that because I have developed to be a much more effective
practitioner of management. I have been promoted (as such) to a higher level within
our office.
(286 words)

References;
Reading 1 Better project management better patient outcome
Williams J. and Murphy, P. (2005) nursing management vol 36 no.1 pp 41-7
Reading 2 managing organisational change: negotiating meaning and power
resistance relations.
Thomas R,Sergeant L, and Hardy C.(2011) organisation science vol22. no.1 pp 22-41
Reading 3 subcontractor schedule method error
Stuarts Dossick. And Schunk T (2007) journal of construction engineering and
management, vol 133 no.3 262-265
OU study 2016 B123 sessions 7,8,9,10