Introduction to Operations Management
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Questions and Answers

What is the main objective behind understanding the five performance objectives in operations?

  • To minimize costs in production only
  • To enhance customer service
  • To increase profit margins directly
  • To categorize operations and improve decision-making (correct)

How is operations strategy distinguished from general strategy?

  • Operations strategy is evolved from general strategy
  • Operations strategy focuses solely on production costs
  • Operations strategy ignores market demands
  • Operations strategy is concerned with the management of processes (correct)

What are order winners primarily used for in operations management?

  • To reduce the cost of production
  • To enhance supplier relationships
  • To win over customers in a competitive market (correct)
  • To qualify a product for market entry

Which of the following is NOT part of the course outline for the operations management class?

<p>Market Research Techniques (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is emphasized regarding attendance in the operations management course?

<p>Attendance is compulsory and punctuality is essential (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why is feedback considered important in the context of this operations management course?

<p>It enhances the overall learning environment and teaching quality (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which topic is taught by a guest lecturer in the operations management course?

<p>Green Supply Chains (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the aim of the operations management course?

<p>To provide a general understanding of business operations in various sectors (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following performance objectives is primarily concerned with delivering products/services on time?

<p>Dependability (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the performance objective of flexibility allow an operation to do?

<p>Change the product/service, mix, volume, or delivery (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why is quality considered an important performance objective in a differentiation strategy?

<p>It is easy to judge and aligns with customer expectations. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of the performance objective of speed?

<p>To produce products/services quickly and reduce risk. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How is cost optimization characterized in relation to the performance objectives?

<p>By reducing costs without compromising quality, speed, flexibility, or dependability. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of learning operations management principles in this course?

<p>To support strategic decision making using key principles. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following skills should students demonstrate after completing the course?

<p>Understanding the impact of ethical practices on operations. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes effective operations from ineffective ones according to the learning outcomes?

<p>Identifying and adopting effective management practices. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of assessment has the greatest weight in the course evaluation?

<p>Open Book Exam. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does the course encourage student engagement with industry practices?

<p>By recording reflective teaching cases with professionals. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes a critical component of operations improvement emphasized in the course?

<p>Evaluating the merits of different approaches to improvement. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is one expected outcome for students after studying the operations management module?

<p>They will be able to design, plan, and control operations. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In what manner is the course structure designed to facilitate student learning?

<p>Through a mix of multiple assessment types including bonus content. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What aspect does the operations function NOT support within an organization?

<p>Driving business strategy (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which stage of the Hayes & Wheelwright model focuses on correcting the worst problems?

<p>Stage 1: Internally neutral (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary characteristic of order-winning factors?

<p>They provide a competitive benefit in the market. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does a market perspective focus on regarding operations?

<p>Meeting the requirements of the market position (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which concept emphasizes strategic involvement at various organizational levels?

<p>Hayes &amp; Wheelwright model (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In the context of operations management, what does the order qualifier signify?

<p>It is an essential requirement to compete. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What dimension does NOT belong to the 4Vs framework?

<p>Velocity (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes operations as a 'driver' of strategy?

<p>Operations plays a central role in shaping the strategic plan. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of visibility in the 4Vs framework?

<p>To increase customer involvement in processes (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements is true regarding the operations function's responsibilities?

<p>It should align with and support overall business strategies. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of 'continuous improvement' in operations strategy?

<p>It involves gradual enhancement of processes and practices. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which factor is considered less important in the context of performance management?

<p>Less important factors (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What best describes the relationship between operations resources and competitive factors?

<p>Competitive factors determine the usage of operations resources. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which stage of operations strategy is characterized by being 'as good as competitors'?

<p>Stage 3: Internally supportive (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Operations

The ability of a business to successfully deliver goods or services to its customers.

Operations Strategy

A long-term plan outlining how a business will manage its operations to achieve its strategic goals.

5 Performance Objectives

A framework for evaluating and comparing different operational performance objectives.

Order Winners

Characteristics that differentiate a product or service from competitors.

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Order Qualifiers

Basic requirements that a product or service must meet to be considered by a customer.

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Flexibility

The ability of a business to adapt to changes in customer demand and market conditions.

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Dependability

The consistency and reliability of a business in meeting its commitments.',

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Lean

Focuses on eliminating waste in operations and improving efficiency.

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Flexibility in Operations

The ability to respond to changes in customer demands, such as changes in products, volume, or delivery.

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Dependability in Operations

The consistency and reliability of an operation in meeting deadlines for deliveries, process times, and other commitments.

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Speed in Operations

The speed at which a business's operation produces goods or services.

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Quality in Operations

The degree to which a product or service meets customer expectations.

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Productivity in Operations

The ratio of output to input in an operation, aiming to maximize value creation from resources.

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What is Operations Management?

Operations management focuses on how organizations design, plan, control, and improve the processes that create goods and services.

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Effective vs Ineffective Operations

A well-managed operation emphasizes efficiency, quality, responsiveness, and flexibility to meet customer needs consistently.

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Operations Improvement

Operations improvement involves analyzing and refining processes to achieve better performance in areas like productivity, quality, and cost.

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Sustainable Operations

Ethical and sustainable practices are important in operations. This includes minimizing environmental impact, ensuring ethical sourcing, and promoting fair labor practices.

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Recommended Textbook

The textbook 'Operations Management' by Slack, Brandon-Jones, and Johnston provides a foundation for understanding key operations concepts.

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Mini Teaching Cases

Mini teaching cases offer practical insights from real-world operations managers.

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Course Assessment

The course assessment includes multiple-choice questions (worth 20%) and an open-book exam (worth 80%).

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Cost

The cost associated with producing a good or providing a service.

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Speed

The rate at which a business can produce goods or services.

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Volume

The volume of goods or services that a business can produce.

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Variety

The variety of goods or services that a business can offer.

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Variation

The degree of change in the demand for goods or services.

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Visibility

The ability of a business to be seen by its customers and potential customers.

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Quality

The overall quality of a product or service.

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4Vs

A framework for evaluating and comparing the performance of different operations strategies.

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Less Important Factors

A performance objective that is less critical than order qualifiers and order winners.

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Strategic Involvement

The level of involvement of the operations function in the overall business strategy.

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Study Notes

Course Introduction

  • The course is titled "Introduction to Operations Management and Strategy"
  • The lecturer is Dr Chris M. Smith, a senior lecturer at Alliance Manchester Business School
  • Attendance is compulsory
  • Students must report their attendance and engagement truthfully
  • Failure to do so will be considered a disciplinary offense
  • Disciplinary procedures apply to all students involved in fraudulent attendance recording

Learning Outcomes

  • Understand the course structure and expectations
  • Understand the course assessment structure and expectations
  • Understand five performance objectives for Operations and 4Vs to categorize operations
  • Understand the difference between Operations Strategy and Strategy
  • Understand the importance of Operations and how to turn it into a competitive advantage
  • Understand the difference between order winners and order qualifiers

Course Outline

  • The course outline includes specific dates and topics, along with the lecturer assigned to each topic
  • Specific dates for lectures are provided (September 25th, 2024 to November 27th, 2024)
  • Topics include Introduction to Operations Management, Layout and Flow of Operations, Lean, Guest lecture - Green Supply Chains, Supply Chain Management, Reading week, Matching Supply and Demand, Inventory Management, Quality Management each week, and a revision session

Contact Details

  • The lecturer's name is Dr. Chris Smith
  • Office number: 3.068
  • Office hours are by appointment
  • Email: [email protected]
  • Course outline is available

Expectations

  • Attendance is mandatory
  • Punctuality is essential
  • Active participation and respect for other students is expected

Assessment

  • Multiple-choice questions (MCQs) worth 20%
    • Four MCQs are available per week.
    • Available for one week, live sessions on the day of instruction, 8 am.
  • Open book exam worth 80%
    • Will be launched during the January exam period.
  • Specific dates and time slots for live MCQs are provided for each weeks' MCQ sessions.

Bonus Content (Not assessed)

  • Reflective teaching cases recorded during the pandemic with operation management and supply chain professionals.
  • Cases will be released as they become relevant to the course content.

Resources

  • Course outline
  • Mini teaching cases
  • Course text: Operations Management by Slack, Brandon-Jones, and Johnston (2016), Seventh Edition
  • Supplementary materials posted on the learning platform (BB)
  • Resources available through Blackwell's, Amazon, University Library, etc.
  • Undergraduate office

Operations

  • What are operations?
  • Operations transformation process: transformed resources (Materials, Information, Customers), input resources (Facilities, Staff), and output products and services
  • Classifying Operations (4 Vs):
    • Volume
    • Variety
    • Variation in demand
    • Visibility

Performance Objectives

  • The operations function is assessed using performance measures.
  • Core performance objectives include Quality, Speed, Dependability, Flexibility, and Cost
  • Each objective is further described, including examples and their importance.
  • The relationship between performance objectives and business strategy is highlighted.

Quality

  • Quality is the idea that the product/service consistently meets customers' expectations.
  • High quality is easy to see and judge.
  • Cost reduction is achieved when getting things wrong can be avoided.
  • Plays an important part in differentiation strategy.

Speed

  • The operation produces the product or service quickly.
  • Essential for business strategy.
  • Speed reduces inventory and related risks.

Dependability

  • Process operates on time, including deliveries and time for processes.
  • Dependability impacts time and costs.
  • Quality is intimately linked with dependability, most visible in service operations.

Flexibility

  • Ability to change the operation, including product/service mix, volume, or delivery.
  • Critical for responding to unpredictable demand.

Cost

  • Cost is a universal objective and is imperative for cost strategies
  • Strategies frequently aim at reducing costs while maintaining desired levels of quality, speed, dependability, and flexibility, through a focus on optimisation.
  • Productivity is a strong proxy for cost achievement.
  • Relative performance objectives highlight differences in these objectives between different businesses.

Order Winners and Order Qualifiers

  • Qualifiers: factors necessary to meet a minimum level of performance, without which the organization cannot compete.
  • Winners: factors that differentiate and out-perform a competitor's offering by providing a benefit advantage.

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Introduction to Operations Management and Strategy PDF

Description

Explore the fundamentals of Operations Management and Strategy with Dr. Chris M. Smith. This quiz covers course expectations, assessment structures, and key objectives including performance metrics and strategic differences. Join to understand how to leverage operations for competitive advantage.

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