PART A

Section 1 – Conduct research on innovation and continuous improvement. As you undertake your research, explore the various themes and respond to the questions below (remember to provide one paragraph for each and do not copy & paste answers).

1. Explain cost-benefit analysis methods applicable to continuous improvement. (KE1)
2. Describe creativity and innovation concepts and discuss why they are important for business (KE2)
3. List and describe the principles associated with organisational learning. (KE3)
4. Identify quality management and continuous improvement theories and concepts. (KE4)
5. Describe risk management concepts relevant to continuous improvement. (KE5)
6. Outline sustainability practices relevant to continuous improvement. (KE6)

Section 2 – Using the ART & PASTA case study that has been provided (or your own experience in a business of your choice and use instead of Art & Pasta), please answer the following questions:
1. Analyse and evaluate some of the innovative and continuous improvement systems that are in place in the case study ART & PASTA (or your chosen organisation). In your answer, you should discuss supply chains, operational delivery systems and product/service delivery systems (PC1.2)
2. Provide strategies to monitor and evaluate the innovative and continuous improvement systems recognised in Section 2, Question 1? (PC1.1)
3. What would be the relevant performance measures and assessment tools and techniques for the business (and its various departments and outlets). For each measure and tool, evaluate their effectiveness. (PC1.3)
4. Referring to the performance reports in ART & PASTA (or your chosen organisation), analyse any variances to the plans in place for the key result areas of the business. (PC1.4)
5. Identify the changing trends that are happening in the industry and discuss what impact will any of these trends have on ART & PASTA (or your chosen organisation). (PC1.5)
6. When reviewing programs, systems and processes of ART & PASTA (or your chosen organisation), there may be technology and electronic commerce opportunities. Identify at least two opportunities and seek advice from 3rd Party Specialists. This advice can be in the form of online reviews and similar content gathered from reputable organisations literature and websites. (PC1.6)
7. “Continuous Improvement is key to business success.”Discuss this statement and show 3 ways continuous improvement can be used to improve business success at ART & PASTA (or your chosen organisation) (PC2.1)8. How does the organisation get stakeholders to understand strategies for improving performance improvement and implementing innovations as ways to improve their competitiveness?
9. List some ways this and other organisations can:
a. Foster a climate that supports creative thinking? (PC 2.2, 2.3)b. Promote interaction within and between work groups to improve organisation-wide learning? (PC 2.2)
10. Discuss how ART & PASTA (or your chosen organisation) can (or did): (PC2.3)a. Encourage new ideasb. Test new ideasc. Recognise when new ideas succeed