Assignment 1 (Group of 3)
A. Title: Procurement Process in Small or Micro Enterprises.
B. Submission-Due Date and Time:
-- By 17 April, 2016 (midnight)- (online submission only):
-- Refer to penalty clause for late submission
C. Marks: 20% of course mark
D. Length: As a guide- an assignment of less than 1500 words is unlikely to meet the requirements but no more than 2,500 words (strictly) inclusive of text, table, and figures.
Aim: This assignment is aimed at consolidating your understanding of procurement process in small or micro businesses in the light of the study materials of this course.
E. Prescribed Research Articles: Download, print (pdf copy) and carefully read (i) Chopra & Sodhi (2004).
F: Requirements:
Using the following suggested headings and sub headings, write a research paper on the procurement practices of two business organisations operating in Victoria, Australia.
I. Introduction
II. Comparative Profiles of the Organisations:
   a. Brief description of two businesses (Type of organisation, product, market etc).
   b. Identify the position of the organisations in the supply chain of at least two major     products they purchased (at least one product from overseas).
III. Comparative (compare the similarities and/or differences) Procurement Processes:
 Discussion should follow the items listed from start to end at "Exhibit 2.3 - captioned        "Procure to Pay" at p. 51 of your text book. Elaborate the item of " Supplier Identification/selection" process in your selected organisation in the light of applicable items of Exhibit 2.10 captioned "Fedex Sourcing Process" (p. 84).
IV. Stress Testing Of Organisational Procurement Process.
Explore a total of four categories of risks such as Disruptions, Delays, Systems or Information Processing listed under “What if Scenarios”  in  Chopra  and Sodhi (2004,p.57).
For each risk category, you should identify at least two factors such as Supplier-Related and Customer-Related.    
For each risk category, you should relate it back to one of your organisations.  Hence, if there are 4 risk categories and 3 organisations, then one organization would have to be analysed based on 2 risk categories.
Discuss the alternative ways to eliminate, reduce or manage the two risks for each category.  Ensure such risk mitigation strategies are relevant to your micro organisations.  .
Refer to the Table “Assessing the Impactof Various Mitigation Strategies” at page 55 for further guidance. Describe the above factors for each organisation first, before presenting your comparative analysis.
V. Conclusion
-Reference
- Enclosures: Proceedings of group meetings (Appendix B-proforma will be available via "My RMIT") and other (if any).  
(Do not enclose copies of any article with your assignment)
TIPS for ASS 1:
--Select business organisations with physical location in your city of current residence (For example, students in Melbourne campus are required to research on businesses operating in and around Melbourne, However, discuss with your lecturer if you desire to do something different ).
--In order to make it easy for you, choose very small or micro organisations and organisations that buy goods. You may experience difficulties in obtaining data from larger organisations and organisations based on services only.
-Select organisations in which you will have someone in the managerial capacity will agree to talk to you and provide necessary information. Please try not to use information from company websites or use as minimal as possible. Information supplied via public domain may not reflect reality.

ABOVE ALL I AM HERE TO ASSIST YOU SO JUST ASK ME IN CASE YOU NEED ANY CLARIFICATION OR ASSISTANCE
 
 
Assignment 2 (Group of 3)
1.      Title: Chose a suitable title for your paper that reflects the contents.
B, Marks: 30% of your total mark (20% Written Report, 10% Presentation).
C. Submission-Due Date and Time:
-- By 17 April, 2016 (midnight)- (online submission only):
-- Refer to penalty clause for late submission
1.      Length: As a guide an assignment of less than 2000 words is unlikely to meet the requirements but no more than 3,000 words.
2.      Requirements:
Write a research paper on the relevant aspects to the situations of the cases and research articles you studied as well as your findings in Assignment 1.
Follow the following process: - Select at least three case studies from your text that had either similarities or differences or both with the purchase situations you studied in your organizations for Assignment 1.
·         Select and obtain copy of at least one research article by each member of the group (i.e. for a three members group you need to obtain at least three research articles published in reputed academic journals).
·         You may obtain recent relevant journals from RMIT Library’s e-journals.
·         Articles referred in Lecture notes or discussed in the class are NOT TO BE CHOSEN. Make sure that your research articles were published in an academic journal (not a trade journal). If unsure, consult your Lecturer.
·         Obtain the articles as early as possible. It is suggested that you obtain the articles while you are doing your assignment 1. In case of difficulties please consult the Lecturer.
It is suggested that the research articles that you will be studying should have the following sections:
--Literature survey (sometimes this also may be found in the introduction or background).
--Methodology used for research.
--Findings and conclusions of the studies.
The body of the paper should, among other things, contain the following:
{Follow this headings and sub-headings in presenting your assignment as feedback sheet (Rubric) will be designed with the items mentioned in here).
I.. Introduction
II. A comparative analysis {compare and contrast; similarities or differences or both on the three (or more)} research articles in terms of their
a. Literature survey
b. Methodology used for research
c. Findings and conclusions of the studies
III. Implications of the above studies to your selected cases
IV. Implications of the above studies in all the organisations you studied for your Assignment 1.
V. Conclusion
References
- Proceedings of group meetings (Appendix B-proforma will be available via "My RMIT") and other (if any).
- Other Appendices (if any)
DO NOT ENCLOSE COPY OF RESEARCH ARTICLES.
===================
TIPS FOR ASSIGNMENTS
--For both assignments, you have to work in a group of 3 (three) students. The group proposal (as per Appendix A- Proforma will be available via Learning Hub) has to be submitted to the Lecturer by the 3rd TUTORIAL session.
--One of the aims of group assignment is to practice teamwork, planning and co- ordination. Another aim is to develop confidence in leading group discussions. Each member of group is expected to equally participate in the group (intellectual) work.
--It is important that group members meet on regular basis (at least one meeting a week is recommended) to discuss the progress and the ways to overcome any problem they faced. If any problem is not solved by the group, it may be discussed in the tutorial.
--Please ensure that your assignments are word-processed or at least typed, and well presented. This enhances your work and makes it better for markers to assess.
--Maximum lengths will be strictly enforced. You must provide a computerized word-count on the Assignment Coversheet or face a penalty. Any part of the assignment beyond the maximum length will not be marked and your answer may be marked as incomplete at that point.
--Use spell check and grammar check but do not solely rely on it.
--You must clearly acknowledge your sources, or else face the consequences of plagiarism. Please note that, a consistent citation/bibliographical method must be used in referencing any outside materials used in the assignments. If you are not sure, ask the Lecturer.
--For hardcopy, your assignments must be written on A4-size paper and stapled diagonally on the top left-hand corner. No folders, files or ring binding will be accepted. Make sure you have the correct cover sheet on it.
Students are strongly advised to back up their assignment on external device (USB) and in 2 copies on the hard drive, as they are typing it and to printout drafts as they go along. This means that if it is accidentally deleted in the final typing or the computer breaks down, a backup or earlier draft is available for submitting on time. Expect that something could go very wrong when you are writing your assignment so start early in order that any emergencies can be met within the time limit.
Plan your work schedule with problems in mind. It is your responsibility to have your assignment in the right place at the right time in the right format to be submitted.
----Assignments will be marked in accordance with the requirements and other aspects mentioned for the Assignments preparation and submission
----Feedback will be provided in the marked assignments.
----Marked assignments will normally be returned to students within 3 (three) working weeks from submission of respective assignments.