Initial Posting

Go to McGraw-Hill Practice Operations to view the scenario.

1. Click the "McGraw-Hill Connect" tab in the course navigation menu.
2. Click the McGraw-Hill Practice Operations link.

Students are to complete Module 5, The New Branch (Scenario) in Practice Operations. Based on their observations in this scenario, and upon a careful review of the available literature, the student is to consider him or herself to be the Production Manager of Kibby and Strand, the company in the scenario.

Formulate a scheduling methodology evaluation matrix for managing Kibby and Strand production based on incoming contracts. Specifically, the matrix should consider each of the scheduling methodologies discussed in Chapters 5, 6, and Table 16.3 on page 702 of the textbook, and evaluate their utility based on how Kibby and Strand runs its operations. Also prepare a Gantt chart demonstrating how the methodology of choice would sequence five pending contracts. You can come up with the contract due dates. Next, prepare a memo to the COO explaining the production scheduling methodology youre recommending along with justification. Basically youre asking the COO to approve your recommendation.

This matrix, Gantt chart, and memo should be prepared as a single Microsoft Word document, and then attached to the unit discussion thread. There is no minimum or maximum in terms of the word count; however, the response should explicitly address all required components of this discussion assignment. The document should be prepared consistent with the APA writing style and reflect higher level cognitive processing (analysis, synthesis and or evaluation).

Instruction Guidance: It would be prudent to consider content covered in chapters 5 and 6 of the textbook; however, there are many other useful resources available on the Internet and in the literature to support the construction of your action plan.

This plan should be prepared as a Microsoft Word document, and then attached to the unit discussion thread. There is no minimum or maximum in terms of the word count; however, the response should explicitly address all required components of this discussion assignment. The document should be prepared consistent with the APA writing style and reflect higher level cognitive processing (analysis, synthesis and or evaluation).