KEY INFORMATION FOR LEARNERS
Each task in this assessment brief has been developed to enable you to evidence achievement of the learning outcomes and assessment criteria for CMI 515: Creating and Delivering Operational Plans. Each of the assessment criteria must gain a pass outcome for you to successfully achieve the unit.
Preparation for the assessment
Before you begin the assessment brief please read the CMI 515 unit specifications thoroughly as only the content related to the achievement of the assessment criteria will be assessed.
Research the topics being assessed. Suggested reading/web resources are provided on the CMI 515 unit specification. Your tutor may signpost you to relevant resources. Additionally, you may access excellent online resources at ManagementDirect https://members.md.cmi.org.uk. Please note that if you have a customised site the link will differ, please contact your Centre for clarification.
If you are enrolled on the Trailblazer Apprenticeship programme, you are encouraged to review the Apprenticeship Standard for Operations/Departmental Manager.
Completing the assessment brief
The assessment brief contains a series of tasks which are clearly referenced to the relevant assessment criteria and indicative content.
Refer to the Assessment Guidance Table at the end of the assessment brief which outlines the requirements for a Pass or Refer.
Evidence must be provided in the evidence booklet. Additional work based evidence such as plans or documentation (which has been referred to within the main text) should be included at the end of the booklet marked ‘Work Based Evidence’. Appendices are not a requirement of this assessment brief. If appendices are included these will not be marked or moderated by the CMI.
Work based evidence must be accompanied by a supporting statement in the learner evidence box, to explain the link to the assessment criteria. Work based evidence (where required by the task) must not exceed SIX (6) pages. Files embedded in the booklet must not exceed 10MB.
The evidence booklet must be completed in a professional manner (e.g. applying business conventions for writing formal reports) and by using Microsoft Word, Rich Text Format or another compatible software programme and not in a PDF format.
An appropriate referencing system (such as Harvard Referencing) must be used to ensure the original source(s) of quotations or models can be verified.
Finally, you must sign the Learner Authenticity statement (an electronic signature is accepted).
Introduction Assessment by CMI 515
Being equipped with the knowledge, skills and behaviours to create and deliver operational plans in a variety of organisational settings is essential if an individual and their organisation are to succeed.
Assessment brief CMI 515 has been designed to enable learners to evidence their ability to translate organisational objectives into operational plans. Learners will evidence their understanding of the strategic direction of an organisation and how they can contribute to the strategic planning process. They will review the knowledge and skills needed to create and deliver operational plans, including the setting of key performance indicators, how to monitor quality and outcomes against plans and how to report effectively on findings.
ASSESSMENT TASKS AND WORD COUNT
Assessment brief CMI 515 features the following assessment tasks. Further detail is provided against each assessment task within the brief.
LO1 Understand the principles of operational planning in an organisation
AC 1.1 Assess the relationship between an organisation’s strategic objectives and operational planning
AC 1.2 Evaluate the use of approaches to operational planning
LO2 Know how to create an operational plan in line with organisational objectives
2.1 Examine the impact of legal and organisational factors on an operational plan
2.2 Assess the ethical requirements that influence an operational plan
2.3 Create an operational plan in line with organisational objectives
LO3 Know how to manage and lead the delivery of an operational plan
3.1 Assess methods of managing and leading the delivery of an operational plan
3.2 Examine techniques for problem solving and decision making
LO4 Know how to monitor and measure the outcome of operational planning
4.1 Evaluate methods to monitor progress and measure the outcomes of operational plans
Guidance for completion of Task 1
- The account should include subheadings. You may choose to include tables and diagrams (as appropriate).
- Your discussion should be underpinned with relevant theoretical principles.
- You may include good practice examples from an organisation you know well or have researched.
- Please refer to the indicative content for each assessment criteria (AC) outlined in the unit specification.
OPERATIONAL PLANNING IN LINE WITH ORGANISATIONAL OBJECTIVES
To create an operational plan, it must achieve operational objectives, that the manager understands the impact of organisational and legal factors and ethical requirements on operational planning.
SCENARIO
You are the manager of a busy department within a large organisation. Your team consists of full time and part time staff with different working patterns.
There are a wide range of customers who access services. Your team is required to handle confidential and sensitive information. There are three ways the team interacts with customers – digital, face to face and via the telephone.
Three organisational objectives have been developed by the senior management team. These are to:
- reduce the number of complaints by 5%
- to increase the number of customers using the service
- implement new ways of working with customers
TASK 2a
There are THREE (3) options for answering this task. You only need to select ONE (1) option.
You are required to create an operational plan in line with organisational objectives (AC2.3).
Option 1: Present a copy of an operational plan you have already created for one area of work in line with organisational objectives. The operational plan must be for a minimum of three months, and either:
Include the document(s) in the Work Based Evidence section of this assessment booklet, or
Provide your documentation as separate document(s) outside of this assessment booklet.
NB: Where separate documents are provided they must not exceed 10MB in size and must be saved as PDF documents.
Option 2: Use the CMI template to create an operational plan for a minimum of three months. The operational plan must be based on one work area in an organisation you know or have researched. The operational plan must be in line with organisational objectives.
Option 3: Create an operational plan based on the scenario above. The operational plan must be for a minimum of three months and it must be in line with organisational objectives. The operational plan should be completed using the CMI template.
OPTION 1: WORK BASED EVIDENCE
IF YOU CHOOSE THIS OPTION COPY AND PASTE THIS EVIDENCE TABLE INTO THE EVIDENCE BOOKLET. DO NOT PRESENT ANY EVIDENCE IN THE ASSIGNMENT BRIEF.
Description of work based evidence:
Please briefly describe the type of work-based evidence that is being presented to meet the requirements of this task.
Summary:
Please provide a summary statement of how this work-based evidence meets the requirements of this task.
Guidance for completion of Task 2a
- This may be based on the scenario given above or an area of responsibility in an organisation you know well or have researched.
- The operational plan must show a clear link to organisational objectives and be based on one area of work.
- If required, the CMI template can be adapted or extended.
- The plan may be presented in a format of your choice or using the CMI template provided.
- Please refer to the indicative content for each assessment criteria (AC) outlined in the unit specification.
TASK 2b
For the operational plan presented for Task 2a, write an account which:
- Examines the impact of legal and organisational factors on the operational plan (AC2.1)
- Assesses the ethical requirements that influence the operational plan (AC2.2)
Guidance for completion of Task 2b
- You are encouraged to consider the use of well-chosen examples from an organisation you know well or have researched.
- You are not required to include every piece of legislation, organisational policy and procedure in your account. You should focus on those you feel are essential to operational planning.
- Refer to the indicative content for each assessment criteria (AC) outlined in the unit specification.
TASK 3
For the operational plan presented for Task 2a, you are required to write an account of how the operational plan may be monitored and managed. The account must:
Assess methods of managing and leading the delivery of an operational plan (AC3.1)
Examine techniques for problem solving and decision making (AC3.2)
iii. Evaluate methods to monitor progress and measure the outcomes of operational plans (AC4.1)