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?

Market Research Techniques Signup and view all the answers

What is emphasized regarding attendance in the operations management course?

Attendance is compulsory and punctuality is essential Signup and view all the answers

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

It enhances the overall learning environment and teaching quality Signup and view all the answers

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

Green Supply Chains Signup and view all the answers

What is the aim of the operations management course?

To provide a general understanding of business operations in various sectors Signup and view all the answers

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

Dependability Signup and view all the answers

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

Change the product/service, mix, volume, or delivery Signup and view all the answers

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

It is easy to judge and aligns with customer expectations. Signup and view all the answers

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

To produce products/services quickly and reduce risk. Signup and view all the answers

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

By reducing costs without compromising quality, speed, flexibility, or dependability. Signup and view all the answers

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

To support strategic decision making using key principles. Signup and view all the answers

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

Understanding the impact of ethical practices on operations. Signup and view all the answers

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

Identifying and adopting effective management practices. Signup and view all the answers

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

Open Book Exam. Signup and view all the answers

How does the course encourage student engagement with industry practices?

By recording reflective teaching cases with professionals. Signup and view all the answers

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

Evaluating the merits of different approaches to improvement. Signup and view all the answers

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

They will be able to design, plan, and control operations. Signup and view all the answers

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

Through a mix of multiple assessment types including bonus content. Signup and view all the answers

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

Driving business strategy Signup and view all the answers

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

Stage 1: Internally neutral Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary characteristic of order-winning factors?

They provide a competitive benefit in the market. Signup and view all the answers

What does a market perspective focus on regarding operations?

Meeting the requirements of the market position Signup and view all the answers

Which concept emphasizes strategic involvement at various organizational levels?

Hayes & Wheelwright model Signup and view all the answers

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

It is an essential requirement to compete. Signup and view all the answers

What dimension does NOT belong to the 4Vs framework?

Velocity Signup and view all the answers

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

Operations plays a central role in shaping the strategic plan. Signup and view all the answers

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

To increase customer involvement in processes Signup and view all the answers

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

It should align with and support overall business strategies. Signup and view all the answers

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

It involves gradual enhancement of processes and practices. Signup and view all the answers

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

Less important factors Signup and view all the answers

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

Competitive factors determine the usage of operations resources. Signup and view all the answers

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

Stage 3: Internally supportive Signup and view all the answers

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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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.