Influences on Operations Management Flashcards
Operations influences acronym
- Only Operations
- In Influences
- Greenland Globalisation
- They Technology
- Quietly Quality expectations
- Chew Cost-based competition
- Gum Government policies
- Leaves Legal regulation
- Every Environmental sustainability
- Christmas Corporate social responsibility
What is globalisation
Refers to the removal of barriers of trade between nations
How might globalisation act as a threat
Other global businesses might more effectively apply cost leadership and might undercut domestic businesses and dominate.
What are the two main drivers of globalisation
- The removal of trade barriers
- Improvements in communication and technology
What has globalistaion allowed businesses to do
- Sell their goods globally
- Purchasing supplies globally
How has globalisation resulted in massive economies of scale advantages for businesses
Through allowing businesses to sell their products all over the world, increasing market and produce massive production runs ,thereby enjoying low per unit costs
Why might businesses choose to outource globally
- They can’t acquire goods domestically
- Price of purchasing inputs is less
- Quality of inputs is higher
What is a strategy for outsourcing globally
Global web strategy
What is a global web strategy
meaning having different parts of production process in different geographical areas
What are advantages of a global web strategy
- Abundance of raw materials
- Favourable movements in exchange rate
- Lower labour cost
How has globalisation impacted Apple
- Globalisation allows Apple to outsource production of the iPhone to other businesses overseas –> mainly Foxconn in China
- Outsourcing to large production companies allows Apple to reduce production costs
- Also lose control over quality of production and business practice e.g. Apple attracted negative publicity for string of suicides at Foxconn Shenzhen facility
What is technology
Technology may be defined as the design, construction and/or application of innovative devices, methods and machinery.
What aspects of business can technology improve
- Quality
- Speed
- Dependability
- Flexibility
- Customisation
- Cost
How does technology impact Apple
- Global smartphone market is innovative and subject to rapid change
- Apple must invest heavily in R&D to compete in market
- If Apple fails to innovate their competitors may surpass them
What is quality in business
Quality refers to how well designed, made and functional goods are and the overall degree of competence with which services are organised and delivered
What are the main quality expectations associated with goods
- Quality of design
- Fitness for purpose
- Durability
What are the main quality expectations associated with services
- Professionalism of the service provider
- Reliability of the service provider
- Level of customisation
Can high quality be a point of product differentiation
Yes
How has Apple been impacted by quality expectations
- iPhone designed and marketed as a premium product
- 2013 choice to replace iPhone 5 with 5c essentially the same phone with a plastic back were not received well as it did not meet customer’s quality expectations
- iPhone 5s was far more successful
What does cost-based-competition involve
Determining breakeven point (the level where costs equals revenues) and then applying strategies to create cost advantages over competitors.
When does cost-based-competiton occur
When a business competes with its rivals by establishing prices for its output based on costs of production
What are fixed costs
Costs that do not change regardless of production level e.g. rent or buildings