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Reflect

1. The document is a reflective essay by a student named Nguyen Thi Ngoc Minh about their experience taking an Operations Management course taught in English by a foreign professor at the National Economics University Business School. 2. The student discusses several tools and frameworks learned in the course, including decision matrices, Ishikawa diagrams, flowcharts, swimlane diagrams, dashboards, and Gantt charts. 3. The student also describes a practical visit their group took to a fresh vegetable farm to apply their learning, which required a long and difficult journey in the winter weather but provided insights into improving the farm's operations.

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15 views5 pages

Reflect

1. The document is a reflective essay by a student named Nguyen Thi Ngoc Minh about their experience taking an Operations Management course taught in English by a foreign professor at the National Economics University Business School. 2. The student discusses several tools and frameworks learned in the course, including decision matrices, Ishikawa diagrams, flowcharts, swimlane diagrams, dashboards, and Gantt charts. 3. The student also describes a practical visit their group took to a fresh vegetable farm to apply their learning, which required a long and difficult journey in the winter weather but provided insights into improving the farm's operations.

Uploaded by

nnmink.04
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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NATIONAL ECONOMICS UNIVERSITY

BUSINESS SCHOOL

OPERATIONAL MANAGEMENT
INDIVIDUAL REFLECTIVE ESSAY

Instructor: Prof. Soren Kirchner


Student: Nguyen Thi Ngoc Minh. ID: 11224270
Class: E-BDB 4. Group 5

Ha Noi, December 2023


Being a sophomore student in Business School, I was so excited to learn Operation
Management - a course taught in English by a foreign professor. I found great joy in
observing that this professor not only possesses a wealth of knowledge but also exudes a
delightful sense of humor. Their penchant for sharing intriguing anecdotes and witty jokes
adds a vibrant and lively dynamic to the class group atmosphere, making the learning
experience even more enjoyable. I feel very surprised with Pro.Soren's new teaching
method. But on the first day of entering the class, with the laziness or tardiness that used
to exist, I was startled by this new teacher. Then suddenly he scolded me: “ Unacceptable”
then softly told me to sit in the back of the class. But the other teacher didn’t get mad at
the students late for the class like this before. The first lesson for me is to remember to go
to the class on time and be quick.
WHAT I HAVE LEARNED
To the best of my knowledge, Operations management (OM) is the administration
of business practices to create the highest level of efficiency possible and maximize profit
within an organization. It is concerned with manufacturing, converting materials and labor
into goods and services as efficiently as possible to maximize the profit of an organization.
Studying Operations Management enables us to engage in the evaluation, design, and
implementation of business processes. It involves the management of logistical processes
and supply chains, as well as the ability to make strategic decisions that contribute to the
overall efficiency and effectiveness of an organization. Acquiring knowledge in Operations
Management equips me with essential skills required for future employment. These include
organizational skills, problem-solving ability, a detail-oriented approach, decision-making
proficiency, and expertise in process improvement. These competencies not only enhance
my professional capabilities but also contribute to my overall readiness for a successful
career.
A decision matrix functions as a tool for assessing and ranking a range of choices
according to specific criteria. Its purpose is to facilitate decision-making by defining a set
of weighted criteria and assessing each option against these factors. This tool proves
particularly useful in situations where a selection must be made from a list of options. By
employing a decision matrix, a degree of objectivity is introduced into challenging
decision-making processes. It is especially effective when there is a need to distill a
selection from similar options or when considering and comparing multiple alternatives.
During the classroom sessions,, I applied this framework to diverse situations, gaining
proficiency in assessing elements such as risk, cost, and feasibility. This expertise became
crucial in our group assignment, where we analyzed the operations of a fresh vegetable
farm. I identified key decision points, such as optimizing delivery routes and reducing
waste, and employed the matrix to assess various alternative solutions.
About the Ishikawa model, created by Kaoru Ishikawa in the 1960s, was initially
designed to streamline quality control processes in the shipbuilding industry. The model is
visually represented by an Ishikawa diagram, which illustrates the root causes of a

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particular event. This diagram is frequently utilized in manufacturing and product
development to map out the various stages of a process, pinpoint potential quality control
issues, and identify the resources needed at specific stages. By using the Ishikawa diagram,
we identified factors negatively impacting the company's development and pinpointed the
most significant issue: Low productivity. Once we identified the root problem, I could
propose potential solutions, such as workforce training and the implementation of
technology and machinery to enhance productivity.
A flowchart is a type of diagram that represents a process, showing the steps as
boxes of various kinds, and their order by connecting the boxes with arrows. It’s used to
design and document simple processes or programs. The first structured method for
documenting process flow, the “flow process chart”, was introduced by Frank and Lillian
Gilbreth in 1921. As a visual representation of data flow, flowcharts are useful in writing
a program or algorithm and explaining it to others or collaborating with them on it. More
specifically, flowcharts can demonstrate the way code is organized, visualize the execution
of code within a program, show the structure of a website or application, understand how
users navigate a website or program. A flow chart is a tool that helps me have a clearer
understanding of the production process of an enterprise. Besides, it also highlights several
key areas for bottleneck elimination and process improvement, for example, the farm could
reduce the time it takes to receive orders by automating the ordering process
A swimlane diagram is a type of flowchart that outlines who does what in a given
process. Based on the analogy of lanes in a pool, a swimlane diagram places process steps
within the horizontal or vertical “swimlanes” of a particular department, workgroup or
employee, thus ensuring clarity and accountability. Highlighting connections and
communications between these lanes, it can serve as an indicator of waste, redundancy,
and inefficiency in a process. A typical swimlane diagram usually relies on a series of
standard shapes and symbols. Start/end points signal the beginning and end, respectively,
of a process flow, these items are characterized by a rectangle with rounded corners. The
decision shape is visually represented by a diamond, it marks a question or decision that
needs to be made. Activity shape as a rectangle portraying an action or task. Input or Output
refers to any information that is entered or produced from the process flow, these items are
rendered through parallelograms. Document represents any document needed in the
process flow and is shaped like a rectangle with a wavy line at the bottom side. After
learning the swimlane diagram, I can outline a certain process from start to finish by
dividing it into specific sections. This involves clearly communicating and emphasizing
the allocation of process steps or sub-processes to specific actors within an organization
thus helping everyone involved know who is doing what. Moreover, I can provide a formal
model of integrating processes between teams and departments, which results in clearer,
more organized workflows on an ongoing basis and accounts for evolving circumstances.
A dashboard is a table containing processed data visualized in the form of charts,
aiding managers in quickly grasping information. As soon as input data is updated, the
dashboard automatically adjusts in real-time. This enables managers to promptly assess the

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situation and make timely decisions. There are various types of dashboard such as line, pie,
bar, which is used in suitable situation. In my future professional engagements, I anticipate
that utilizing an executive dashboard will allow me to efficiently oversee multiple KPIs
and metrics simultaneously, saving considerable time and effort. The presentation of data
in a visually accessible format, as opposed to managing scattered numerical values, is
expected to simplify the reporting process, eliminating the necessity to aggregate or search
for information from the beginning.
Another invaluable tool was the Gantt chart, which provided a visual timeline for
project planning and execution. I utilized this tool to plan our farm visit, outline tasks,
deadlines, and set the timeline for the automation plan and training program. The Gantt
chart ensured efficient time management and collaboration within our group, contributing
to the success of our project.
The Operational Management course has provided me with essential tools and
frameworks to analyze and improve operational processes. The acquired knowledge has
not only deepened my comprehension of organizational efficiency but has also given me
the ability to make meaningful contributions to practical projects. Looking ahead, I intend
to consistently apply these valuable insights, embracing a mindset of continuous
improvement, and actively contributing to the success of any organization I engage with.

ABOUT MY JOURNEY WITH MY TEAMMATES


During the OM course, one of our team members helped us contact an acquaintance
so we had a practical visit to Gtech Vietnam Joint Stock Company located in a remote and
poorly marked location, which added another layer of hardship. Navigating through the
cold winter weather, driving for more than 13km, and having to walk a considerable
distance through a challenging terrain left me quite fatigued on this journey. However,
visiting the farm provided me with a relaxing time in a fresh and wholesome environment.
The local residents were also very friendly and eager to help, providing us with directions
and assistance. Upon arrival, I realized that this is indeed a large farm, equipped with
greenhouses to prevent insects and protect seasonal crops from storms and harsh winds.
With the advantage of a spacious area, the company being a prominent fresh vegetable
enterprise produces a wide variety of fresh vegetables to meet the diverse needs of
consumers.
Apart from the external challenges, the intricacies inherent in Operational
Management posed substantial obstacles. Wrestling with unfamiliar concepts and
terminology resulted in misunderstandings and, unintentionally, misinformation in our
project report. Though initially disheartening, these mistakes acted as a catalyst for more
profound learning for me also my peers.

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In conclusion, the journey of learning operational management proved to be both
rewarding and challenging. While I relished the acquisition of new knowledge and skills,
I encountered difficulties such as Integrating into the team, understanding the perspectives
of teammates, and overcoming knowledge gaps. Despite these challenges, these
experiences have equipped me with the ability to apply operational management principles
and make meaningful contributions to businesses. This has fueled my excitement to
continue learning and growing in this field, to become mastered in Operation Management.

REFERENCES:
1. Ishikawa, K. (1990). Introduction to quality control. Prentice Hall.
2. Collopy, F., & Hollingsworth, D. (2003). Flow charts: A visual approach to process
analysis and improvement. Butterworth-Heinemann.
3. Gantt, H. L. (1910-1915). Gantt charts: A graphical method for representing the
progress of work. In Papers on the Science of Management (pp. 118-127). Harper
& Brothers.
4. Haunschild, P. R., & Rheingans, G. (2019). The use of cause-and-effect diagrams
in problem-solving. International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management,
36(2), 272-289.
5. Saaty, T. L., & Vargas, L. G. (2021). *Decision Making with the Analytic Hierarchy
Process (AHP): An Overview of the Method and Its Applications. International
Series in Operations Research & Management Science.

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