BSBMGT608

Manage innovation and

continuous improvement
Instructor Workbook
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Table of Contents

Table of Contents.............................................................................................................................2
Candidate Details.............................................................................................................................3
Assessment – BSBMGT608: Manage innovation and continuous improvement...........................3
Competency Record to be completed by Assessor........................................................................4
Activities...........................................................................................................................................5
Activity 1A......................................................................................................................................5
Activity 1B......................................................................................................................................6
Activity 1C......................................................................................................................................7
Activity 1D.....................................................................................................................................8
Activity 1E......................................................................................................................................9
Activity 1F....................................................................................................................................10
Activity 2A....................................................................................................................................11
Activity 2B....................................................................................................................................12
Activity 2C....................................................................................................................................13
Activity 2D...................................................................................................................................14
Activity 2E....................................................................................................................................15
Activity 2F....................................................................................................................................16
Activity 3A....................................................................................................................................17
Activity 3B....................................................................................................................................18
Activity 3C....................................................................................................................................19
Activity 3D...................................................................................................................................20
Activity 3E....................................................................................................................................21
Activity 3F....................................................................................................................................22
Activity 3G...................................................................................................................................23
Skills and Knowledge Activity.......................................................................................................24
Major Activity..............................................................................................................................26
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Candidate Details
Assessment – BSBMGT608: Manage innovation and continuous improvement
The learners must complete the following activities and hand them into you for marking. This forms
part of the learner’s assessment for BSBMGT608: Manage innovation and continuous improvement.
The initial activities are formative – the Major Activity is summative but all should show the learner’s
knowledge of the unit. The activities should be completed in a suitable environment, whether that is
a classroom, training environment or an appropriate workplace location.

Name: _____________________________________________________________

Address: _____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

Email: _____________________________________________________________

Employer: _____________________________________________________________

Declaration

I declare that no part of this assessment has been copied from another person’s work with the
exception of where I have listed or referenced documents or work and that no part of this
assessment has been written for me by another person.

Signed: ____________________________________________________________

Date: ____________________________________________________________

If activities have been completed as part of a small group or in pairs, details of the learners
involved should be provided below:

This activity workbook has been completed by the following persons and we acknowledge that it
was a fair team effort where everyone contributed equally to the work completed. We declare that
no part of this assessment has been copied from another person’s work with the exception of where
we have listed or referenced documents or work and that no part of this assessment has been
written for us by another person.

Learner 1: ____________________________________________________________

Signed: ____________________________________________________________

Learner 2: ____________________________________________________________

Signed: ____________________________________________________________

Learner 3: ____________________________________________________________

Signed: ____________________________________________________________
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Competency Record to be completed by Assessor

Learner Name: _______________________________________________________

Date of Assessment: _______________________________________________________

The learner has been assessed as competent in the elements and performance criteria and the
evidence has been presented as:

Assessor Initials

Authentic

Valid

Reliable

Current

Sufficient

Learner is deemed: COMPETENT NOT YET COMPETENT (Please circle)

If not yet competent, date for re-assessment: ____________________________________

Comments from Trainer/Assessor:

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

Assessor Signature: ________________________________________________________

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Activities
Activity 1A
Estimated Time 20 Minutes
Objective To provide you with the opportunity to describe different methods of analysing
and evaluating the performance and sustainability of your key systems and
processes.
Activity Describe five different methods of analysing and evaluating the performance
and sustainability of your key systems and processes.

Learners may choose from the following methods.

 Benchmarking – This will involve the comparison of your business against

others, either in the same, or related industries. You should consider the
respective strengths and weakness of any systems and processes that have
been implemented. The levels of performance should be measured over a
defined time period
 Financial analysis - You can measure debts, liquidity and net profit margins as
a means of ascertaining the impact of key systems and processes
 Questionnaires and interviews – You can question customers and employees
for perspectives on the performance of your business. They might provide
feedback on suitable means of improving efficiency or satisfying specific needs
 Mystery shopping visits – If you want a realistic perspective of everyday
operations in your business premises then it would be worth carrying out
mystery shopping visits. You’ll find numerous market research companies
offering mystery shopping services and guaranteeing the production of
detailed business reports
 Social media monitoring – You may build a presence on various social media
networks and follow the profiles of your business customers for feedback on
performance
 Business meetings – You should ask your employees to regular meetings and
encourage them to provide perspectives on business efficiency and
performance. They might identify causes for concerns and solutions that
hadn’t previously been considered
 Quantitative employee analysis – You can gain a variety of valuable insights
while carrying out quantitative research into the performance of your
employees. Consider the impact that changes of system process have had on
levels of productivity. Take account of sales, contribution, and profit directly
attributable to the work of each employee.
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Activity 1B
Estimated Time 15 Minutes
Objective To provide you with the opportunity to outline the stages of the supply chain.
Activity Outline the stages of the supply chain process relative to your business.

Individual answers may vary, depending the nature of individual businesses.

However, they are likely to involve details of product manufacture and
distribution.
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Activity 1C
Estimated Time 20 Minutes
Objective To provide you with the opportunity to identify and describe performance
measures within your organisation.
Activity Describe the use of three methods which may be used to measure performance
within your organisation.

Individual answers may vary. However, the learners may reference three of the
following performance measurement methods.

 SWOT analysis
 Process mapping
 Measurement by objectives
 Forced ranking
 Brainstorming
 Trend analysis

See pages 21 – 22 for further information about the use of these performance
measurements.
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Activity 1D
Estimated Time 20 Minutes
Objective To provide you with the opportunity to outline the analytical steps that you
should follow when considering the amount of variation from the plans and key
result areas of your organisation.
Activity What are the analytical steps that you should follow when considering the
amount of variation from the plans and key result areas of your organisation?

Learners should reference the following steps:

 Identification of the key performance indicators for a particular aspect of

your business
 Consideration of the best means of comparing your business results (you
might use benchmarking or compare results from two defined periods)
 Accumulation of key data and formulation of reports based upon the
parameters that have been decided
 Preparation of reports in accordance with organisational standards
 Comparison of results against they established key result areas
 Analysis of variance from the plans
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Activity 1E
Estimated Time 10 Minutes
Objective To provide you with the opportunity to describe/identify sources of trends and
types of trend analysis.
Activity Describe three sources of information about trends specific to your business.

Individual answers are likely to vary. However, learners may mention the use of
the following information sources:

 Business magazines and newspapers

 Business events
 Internal business data
 Customer information

Name the three types of trend analysis.

 Past trend analysis

 Internal trend analysis
 External trend analysis
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Activity 1F
Estimated Time 15 Minutes
Objective To provide you with the opportunity to identify specialists, who can identify
technology and electronic commerce opportunities.
Activity Name three types of digital specialists and outline the services that they
provide.

Individual learners may mention different types of digital specialists. However,

they may include the following service descriptions.

 Business strategy consultants – They will work in combination with

members of senior management to identify opportunities and develop
strategies for the short and long term
 Information technology consultants – They will provide assistance in the
establishment of business networks and harness the latest tools for
enhanced data management and communication
 SEO experts – They will assist in the development of strategies for
enhanced organic and paid search rankings
 Digital marketing specialists – They will provide advice on the use of social
media and digital advertising streams appropriate to the business.
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Activity 2A
Estimated Time 20 Minutes
Objective To provide you with the opportunity to identify continuous improvement
strategies.
Activity Name three continuous improvement strategies and outline the ways that they
apply to your business.

Learners may reference three of the following strategies. Descriptions should be

included of the ways in which these strategies apply to the learner’s specific
businesses.

 Kaizen – A Japanese business method which emphasises the importance

of change for the good. It involves the identification of process that can be
improved and highlights strategies which can be gradually implemented.
Workers are expected to focus on productivity, effectiveness, safety, and
minimisation of waste
 Total quality management – The aim of total quality management is to
organise employees and business process for guaranteed customer
satisfaction. It involves the implementation of strategies for enhanced
production and delivery of goods and services. It is important to
understand that different elements of the business chain are inter-linked
and should be optimised for total quality
 Lean manufacturing – Managers who implement this method are required
to carry out route cause analysis and identify the reasons for waste. The
causes may include poor stock rotation, delays in production, product
defects and inability to capitalise on worker’s skills. The professional
practices of Kanban or Just in time may be implemented to reduce the
amount of waste
 ISO 9000 – Referring to an internationally recognised set of quality
standards. ISO 9000 certification depends on the inspection of business
procedures, maintenance of business records, training of employees and
appropriate interaction with customers
 Six Sigma – A method of improvement which relies upon the development
of strategies based upon comprehensive business data. Those business
people who assume responsibility for six sigma leadership must take
account of the various business processes and understand the ways of
measuring required standards.
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Activity 2B
Estimated Time 20 Minutes
Objective To provide you with the opportunity to identify work groups in your business,
and how to promote interaction within them.
Activity What are the types of work groups that exist within your business?

Learners may refer to the following work groups.

 Project groups
 Cross-functional groups
 Self-directed work groups

How could you promote interaction within and between the work groups?

Reference may be made to the following strategies.

 Holding regular meetings and inviting the opinions of all members of the
workforce
 Rewarding different forms of interaction
 Encouraging staff members to recognise each other’s efforts and pay
complements when appropriate
 Creating an open office environment, where interaction is an everyday
part of business
 Integrate informal spaces for relaxation and the encouragement of
conversations between co-workers
 Integrating wireless technology and encouraging employees to work in
different areas of the business environment
 Setting positive co-working examples for employees to follow
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Activity 2C
Estimated Time 20 Minutes
Objective To provide you with the opportunity to identify methods of promoting
innovation.
Activity What methods does your business use to inspire and reward the generation of
new ideas?

Answers will vary, depending on learner’s organisations. However, they may

reference the following ways of inspiring ideas.

 Consider your products and services from the customer’s perspective. You
may identify the potential for improvement
 Encourage employees to practice innovative techniques and take
reasonable risks
 Conduct market research and capitalise on key business trends
 Analyse and learn from rival businesses
 Promote change within your business policies
 Create suitably stimulating professional environments
 Ask for employee feedback regarding the effectiveness of business
strategies
 Recognise and reward employees for their contributions
 Organise informal meetings and encourage the relaxed discussion of
business improvements
 Provide training on idea generation techniques, including lateral thinking
and brainstorming
 Show that you are willing to follow up on the employee’s ideas.

The following methods of reward may also be mentioned.

 Prizes specifically chosen and exchanged by co-workers

 Rewards for people who show entrepreneurial behaviour on an ongoing
basis
 Organising trips and informal celebrations for innovative workers
 Personalised gifts based upon the interests of innovative employees
 Presentation of unique business trophies for display in the workplace.
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Activity 2D
Estimated Time 15 Minutes
Objective To provide you with the opportunity to identify how to trial innovative ideas.
Activity Outline three ways of trialling innovative ideas.

Individual answers may vary. However, learners may refer to three of the
following methods.

 Inviting a sample of your target audience to trial new products/services

and provide feedback on performance
 Discussing ideas with trusted co-workers, family, and friends
 Attending business events and giving presentations about your ideas
 Discussing your ideas via online forums (this would be a good solution for
those of you who want some anonymity)
 Developing prototypes and attempt to source funds via crowdfunding
websites
 Approaching local business investors
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Activity 2E
Estimated Time 20 Minutes
Objective To provide you with the opportunity to identify the steps for risk assessment.
Activity Which five steps should you follow when carrying out a risk assessment?

Learners should specify these five steps

 Identify and consider the nature of different risks

 Rank the risks in terms of likelihood and potential impact
 Account for the trigger events which lead to negative scenarios
 Allocate responsibility for the identification of different risks
 Develop contingency plans and outline the best methods of prevention.
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Activity 2F
Estimated Time 20 Minutes
Objective To provide you with the opportunity to identify how to approve innovations
through agreed organisational processes.
Activity Outline the steps that should be taken for the approval of innovations within
your organisation. You may use a flow chart, if so desired.

Individual answers will vary, depending on organisations. However, learners may

mention the allocation of decision making authority, development of new
products and services for testing, agreements regarding full scale manufacturing,
and continuous improvement strategies.
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Activity 3A
Estimated Time 25 Minutes
Objective To provide you with the opportunity to identify which continuous improvement
frameworks are used by your business.
Activity Which continuous improvement frameworks are used by your business? How
are these frameworks implemented and what effect do they have?

Learners may reference the following continuous improvement frameworks.

 Kaizen – A Japanese business method which emphasises the importance

of change for the good. It involves the identification of process that can be
improved and highlights strategies which can be gradually implemented.
Workers are expected to focus on productivity, effectiveness, safety, and
minimisation of waste
 Total quality management – The aim of total quality management is to
organise employees and business process for guaranteed customer
satisfaction. It involves the implementation of strategies for enhanced
production and delivery of goods and services. It is important to
understand that different elements of the business chain are inter-linked
and should be optimised for total quality
 Lean manufacturing – Managers who implement this method are required
to carry out route cause analysis and identify the reasons for waste. The
causes may include poor stock rotation, delays in production, product
defects and inability to capitalise on worker’s skills. The professional
practices of Kanban or Just in time may be implemented to reduce the
amount of waste
 ISO 9000 – Referring to an internationally recognised set of quality
standards. ISO 9000 certification depends on the inspection of business
procedures, maintenance of business records, training of employees and
appropriate interaction with customers
 Six Sigma – A method of improvement which relies upon the development
of strategies based upon comprehensive business data. Those business
people who assume responsibility for six sigma leadership must take
account of the various business processes and understand the ways of
measuring required standards.
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Activity 3B
Estimated Time 15 Minutes
Objective To provide you with the opportunity to name positive consequence and
negative consequences of business change.
Activity Name three positive consequence and three negative consequences of business
change.

Learners may choose positive consequences from the following.

 Rewards and increased responsibility for those who are able to

successfully adapt to change
 Increased earnings in accordance with the development of the business
 Reduction in the amount of time required to complete business tasks
 Greater commitment and satisfaction as a result of positive change

They may also specify three of these negative consequences.

 Confusion upon the initial implementation of change

 Disruption and increased anxiety about job security
 Difficulty adapting to procedural changes
 Reduced responsibility and earning potential
 Emotional trauma
 Forced relocation
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Activity 3C
Estimated Time 15 Minutes
Objective To provide you with the opportunity to identify communication methods for
change implementation.
Activity What communication methods does your organisation use to manage the
implementation of change?

Learners may choose different forms of communication. However, businesses will

typically use the following methods.

 Bulletin boards
 Change booklets and manuals
 Business newsletters
 Demonstrations
 Formal group meetings
 Emails
 Faxes
 Focus groups
 Intranet messages
 One on one discussions
 Videos
 Webcasts
 Workshops
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Activity 3D
Estimated Time 15 Minutes
Objective To provide you with the opportunity to complete a contingency plan template.
Activity Apply the following contingency plan template to a variety of negative events
which may impact your business.

Type of Likelihood Potential Appropriate Staff Resources

event impact response members required
involved

Learners should demonstrate an awareness of various risks and appropriate

means of response, specific to their businesses.
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Activity 3E
Estimated Time 25 Minutes
Objective To provide you with the opportunity to identify why failures should be followed
up, and how resolve them.
Activity Why is it important to follow up promptly upon failure?

Individual answers may vary. However, learners may include the following details.

It may be possible to restore a positive mindset and maintain relatively high levels
of productivity if the right action is taken. Negative perceptions and personal
impacts will be limited as issues are rapidly identified and resolved. There will be a
considerable amount of information regarding the reasons for business failure
which could be used to inform future decisions.

What methods can be used to identify and resolve the different forms of
failure?

Learners may reference the use of root cause analysis, fishbone diagrams and
Catwoe. Additional methods may be used in some organisations.
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Activity 3F
Estimated Time 20 Minutes
Objective To provide you with the opportunity to identify your organisation’s preferred
methods of collecting information about the impact of innovation.
Activity What are your organisation’s preferred methods of collecting information about
the impact of innovation? How are these methods used?

Learners may refer to the following methods of data collection.

 Performance reviews
 Peer appraisals
 Dashboards
 Financial records
 Marketing research
 Employee monitoring
 Customer research
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Activity 3G
Estimated Time 15 Minutes
Objective To provide you with an opportunity to list potential benefits and potential costs
of business innovations and improvements.
Activity List three potential benefits and three potential costs of business innovations
and improvements.

Individual answers are liable to vary. However, learners may reference the
following costs.

 Research and development

 Purchase of equipment and technology
 Staff training
 Marketing
 Prototypes and service tests

They may also refer to the following benefits.

 Business differentiation
 Increased market share
 Minimised production cost
 Improvements in workplace health and safety
 Reduced environmental impact
 Enhanced quality of goods and services
 Increased profitability
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Skills and Knowledge Activity

Estimated Time 1 Hour and 30 Minutes
Objective To provide you with an opportunity to demonstrate your knowledge of the
foundation skills, knowledge evidence and performance evidence.
Activity Complete the following individually and attach your completed work to your
workbook.

The answers to the following questions will enable you to demonstrate your
knowledge of:

 Learning
 Reading
 Writing
 Oral Communication
 Numeracy
 Navigating the world of work
 Interacting with others
 Getting the work done
 Cost-benefit analysis methods
 Creativity and innovation theories and concepts
 Organisational learning principles
 Quality management and continuous improvement theories
 Relevant risk management concepts
 Relevant sustainability practices

Answer each question in as much detail as possible, considering your

organisational requirements for each one.

All answers will vary depending on the learner and the organisation they work for
but the learner should be able to answer each question competently.

1. Complete a SWOT analysis and process map specific to your organisation.

Provide details which should be taken into account when developing
strategies for innovation.

Learners should demonstrate the ability to create SWOT analysis and process
maps. They should have a good understanding of the various issues which are
likely to have an impact on innovation.

2. Which sources would you use when attempting to identify trends relevant
to your business? How should such information be stored and presented
when outlining innovative ideas?

Learners may reference a variety of sources, including magazines, networking

sessions and financial accounts. They should demonstrate awareness of
effective data management and methods of presentation.

3. Provide details of the digital channels used in the promotion of your

business. Are there any other forms of digital marketing which may prove
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effective?

Learners should be aware of the various digital channels used for promotion.
They may refer to the use of social media, development of mobile content and
online stores. Additional suggestions should be made for increased market
reach.

4. Select and research a well-known business entrepreneur. Provide details of

five key strategies which have played a part in the success of this figure.

Individual answers may vary, depending on the chosen entrepreneurs.

However, the learners should demonstrate an understanding of the reasons
for success.

5. How does your organisation grant approval for the implementation of

innovative ideas? Are there any steps that could be taken to improve the
speed and efficiency of the approval process?

Learners should be aware of the different stages of the approval process. They
should also identify ways of overcoming decision-making bottlenecks.

6. What methods could be used to limit the negative impacts of change within
your organisation?

Learners may refer to the creation and implementation of transition plans and
change management strategies. They may highlight the importance of
developing reasonable time-frames and maintaining positive streams of
communication.

7. What methods may your business use to record information about the
success or failure of innovative strategies? How should this information be
stored?

Learners may refer to the use of dashboards, employee monitoring systems

and financial analysis. They should include details of the various means of
storage.
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Major Activity
Estimated Time 1 Hour and 30 Minutes
Objective To provide you with an opportunity to demonstrate your knowledge of the
entire unit.
Activity This is a major activity – you should let the learner’s know whether they will
complete it during class or in their own time.

They must individually, answer the following questions in full to show their
competency of each element;
1. Review programs, systems and processes
2. Develop options for continuous improvement
3. Implement innovative processes

1. What methods does your business use in order to measure the performance
and sustainability of key systems and processes? Could you recommend any
alternatives?

Learners should be aware of the specific methods used to measure

performance and sustainability within their companies. They may mention the
use of key performance indicators, financial analysis, benchmarking and
business meetings.

2. Is your business’s supply chain process effective/ineffective? Are there are

any steps that could be taken for improvement?

Learners should identify the positive and negative aspects of the supply chain
relevant to their organisations. They may also include details of improvement
such as the implementation of stock rotation strategies and use of
outsourcing companies.

3. Which methods does your business use to communicate and promote a

culture of innovation? How is innovation recognised and rewarded?

Learner should highlight the various means of communication used in the

promotion of innovation. They may include details of business meetings,
digital communications and other methods. The means of recognising and
rewarding innovation should also be included.

4. What methods can you use to identify the potential success or failure of an
innovative idea? How should you prepare for failures and respond if they
happen?

Learners should be aware of the different ways of researching and trialling

new ideas. They may include details of contingency planning and additional
safeguards which may be implemented in case of failure. Details of analysis
and appropriate follow-up action should also be included.
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5. Which continuous improvement strategies are followed within your

business? How are these improvement strategies evaluated and
communicated to key business groups.

Learners may refer to the use of continuous improvement frameworks such as

Kaizen and Lean manufacturing. They may also highlight the ways in which
improvements are recognised and rewards are issued within particular
organisations. Reference should be made to the appropriate means of
evaluation and communication.