Operation Flashcards

1
Q

Drip pricing

A

means that a business advertises one price but in the process of a customer purchasing the service numerous additional charges and costs are added. The effect is that the nal price can be much higher than the price advertised. Drip pricing is an issue in respect of airline ticketing and travel products sold online.

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2
Q

Supply chain

A

refers to the range of suppliers a business has and the nature of its relationship with those suppliers.

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3
Q

Global web

A

refers to the network of suppliers a business has chosen on the basis of lowest overall cost, lowest risk and maximum certainty in quality and timing of supplies.

locatiion of different parts of the production process in different geo areas and diff countries

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4
Q

Carbon pricing

A

is the term used for putting a price on carbon.

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5
Q

Compliance costs

A

are the expenses associated with meeting the requirements of legal regulations, i.e. abiding by all laws.

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6
Q

Fiduciary

A

is a person in a position of financial trust with respect to others’ money.

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7
Q

Carbon footprint

A

refers to the amount of carbon produced and entering the environment from operations processes.

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8
Q

Capital-labour substitution

A

means that the machinery and technology displace people by doing the work they do

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9
Q

Materials

A

are the basic elements used in the production process and consist of two types: raw materials and intermediate goods.

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10
Q

Raw materials

A

are the essential substances in their unprocessed state

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11
Q

Intermediate goods

A

are goods manufactured and used in further manufacturing or processing

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12
Q

Key performance indicators (KPIs)

A

are specific criteria used to measure the efficiency and effectiveness of the business’s performance.

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13
Q

Customer relationship management (CRM)

A

refers to the systems that businesses use to maintain customer contact.

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14
Q

Critical path analysis (CPA)

A

is a scheduling method or technique that shows what tasks need to be done, how long they take and what order is necessary to complete those tasks.

  • much more precise in terms of timing
  • better for short term projects
  • both show things that can be done at the same time
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15
Q

Gantt chart

A

is a type of bar chart that shows both the scheduled and completed work over a period of time. It is often used in planning and tracking a project.

  • less complicated
  • set out more clearly
  • better for long term projects
  • shows the ‘when’ (date/month etc.)
  • both show things that can be done at the same time
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16
Q

Telecommute

A

is to ‘commute’, or travel to work, electronically. This means that home or another location becomes the worksite and work is delivered via email or the internet

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17
Q

Computer-aided design (CAD)

A

is a computerised design tool that allows businesses to create product possibilities from a series of input parameters

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18
Q

Computer-aided manufacturing (CAM)

A

is software that controls manufacturing processes

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19
Q

Skills audit

A

is a formal process used to determine the present level of skilling and any skill shortfalls that need to be made up either through recruitment or through training.

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20
Q

Process layout

A
  • Arranging machinery according to what they do, product moves from department to department
  • Allows for more flexibility & customization of the product –> more customisation
  • **manufacturing flow according to function
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21
Q

Process production

A

deals with high- variety, low-volume production

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22
Q

Product production

A

(mass production) is characterised by the manufacturing of a high volume of constant quality goods.

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23
Q

Product layout

A

is where the equipment arrangement relates to the sequence of tasks performed in manufacturing a product

arranging into stations that product can go through *assembly goods
low variation, economies of scale

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24
Q

Project production

A

deals with layout requirements for large-scale, bulky activities such as the construction of bridges, ships, aircraft or buildings

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25
Q

Fixed position layout

A

is an operational arrangement in which employees and equipment come to the product

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26
Q

Workstations

A

are the desk areas required by of ce workers, usually tted with access to a computer monitor, keyboard, telephone, mouse and mouse pad, storage, and close access to a printer, scanner and facsimile

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27
Q

Bottleneck

A

an aspect of the transformation process that slows down the overall processing speed or creates an impediment leading to a backlog of incompletely processed products.

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28
Q

Warranty

A

is a promise made by a business that they will correct any defects in the goods that they produce or in the services that they deliver

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29
Q

Mass customisation

A

a process that allows a standard, mass-produced item to be personally modi ed to speci c customer requirements

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30
Q

Product utility

A

defined as the usefulness and value that a product has from the consumer’s point of view

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31
Q

Explicit service

A

also called the tangible aspect of the service being provided, such as the application of time, expertise, skill and effort

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32
Q

Implicit service

A

based on a feeling and is therefore intangible. The implicit aspects of a service are the psychological wellbeing — the feeling of being looked after — that comes with the provision of the service

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33
Q

E-commerce

A

involves the buying and selling of goods and services via the internet

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34
Q

E-procurement

A

or the use of on-line systems to manage supply, allows suppliers direct access to the business’s level of supplies

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35
Q

B2B

A

refers to direct access from one business (the supplier) to another (the buyer), allowing the supplier to assess the needs of the buyer and meet them in a timely manner

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36
Q

B2C

A

the selling of goods and services to consumers over the internet, with payment usually by credit card

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37
Q

Logistics

A

a term broadly referring to distribution but includes transportation (including transportation modes),
the use of storage, warehousing and distribution centres, materials handling and packaging

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38
Q

Warehousing

A

defined as the use of warehouses for the storage, protection and, later, distribution of stock

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39
Q

Leading edge technology

A

the technology that is the most advanced or innovative at any point in time.

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40
Q

Established technology

A

technology that has been developed and widely used and is simply accepted without question

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41
Q

LIFO

A

method of pricing inventory assumes that the last goods purchased are also the first goods sold and therefore the cost of each unit sold is the last cost recorded

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42
Q

FIFO

A

method of pricing inventory assumes that the rst goods purchased are also the first goods sold and therefore the cost of each unit sold is the first cost recorded

43
Q

Six Sigma

A

a quality management approach that seeks to identify and remove the causes of problems in the operations processes, achieving virtually defect-free production

44
Q

Inertia

A

describes a psychological resistance to change

45
Q

Change agent

A

somebody who initiates change or facilitates the change process

46
Q

Kaizen

A

Japanese for ‘improvement’. It emphasises continuous improvement in all areas of a business, from the way the CEO manages to the way assembly line workers perform their jobs

47
Q

Operations

A

the activities of a business that acquire and combine inputs, changing them into finished goods and services

48
Q

strategic roles

A

long term goals (ex. next 10 years)

productivity, efficiency, effectiveness

49
Q

cost leadership

A
lowest cost of operations
competitive advantage (same or greater quality/value at lower prices)

*Drip pricing
small profit margin but high volume sales

strategy:
economies of scale (high standardization)
using technology (up to date)
controlling production costs

**hard to maintain

50
Q

Product differentiation

A
Quality
Delivery
Custom-design
New technology
Augmented features (add-ons or additional benefits, typically in electronics/motor vehicles e.g. spoiler, GPS)

**A differentiated product can command a higher premium price in the market as customers are attracted to the product and build up brand loyalty = better long term

51
Q

Sectors of the economy

A

o Primary (extracting): Provision of raw materials e.g. mining, fishing
o Secondary: Use inputs to change the shape of product e.g. dishwashers
o Tertiary: Provision of a service e.g. transportation, logistics
o Quaternary: Provision of intellectual activities e.g. teachers, government
Quinary Services

52
Q

G & S in different industries

A
goods
Tangible 
Capital intensive
Measurable
Difficult to modify
services
non-tangible
Labour intensive 
People-focused 
Hard to measure 
Easy to modify

Both:
• Use technology
• Deal with customers and suppliers

53
Q

Specialisation

A

where the business is separated into different functions, each of which is highly skilled at its specific task or role

54
Q

Interdependence

A

where the different parts of a business must rely on each other to perform their task or role.

55
Q

Finance + Operations interdependence

A

• The finance manager will create budgets and make funds available to purchase inputs, equipment, repairs

  • Budgets & makes funds available for inputs, equipment, repairs/ maintenance.
  • Minimizes production costs to maximize profit margins

Financial managers monitor use of inputs and outputs by the operations functions of busienss through working capital management (where there are controls on current assets and liabilities)

56
Q

Lean production

A

aims to eliminate waste at every stage of production. It involves analyzing each stage of the production process, detecting where inefficiencies occur and correcting them

57
Q

Perishable goods vs non-perishable goods

A

short life span, consumed quickly, relatively inexpensive, bought on a regular basis

more durable- Household and business goods

58
Q

Standardized goods vs customized goods

A

mass produced

vary according to the needs of customers (capital intensive)

59
Q

Intermediate goods

A

goods completed, having gone through one set of operational processes, and then becoming inputs into further processing. E.g. screws

60
Q

Globalisation influence

A

ACCESS -reaching new markets/their ifluence on operations, franchising, importing

61
Q

Globalization

A

The integration and interdependence of different countries and their economies
*Different currencies
hedging- reduce financial risk ( from appreication or depreciation)
Derivatives- Special contracts between global businesses

62
Q

Technology influence

A

reduce reliance on human labor, improve efficiency, improve logistics

CAD : Computer aided design allows architects/engineers to design more efficiently on computers. ***More effective visual representation, alterations can be made easily

CAM : Computer aided manufacture uses electronic data to manufacture/produce products *less errors (efficiency) + save time in exchanging data

63
Q

Quality expectations influence

A

customer expectations or quality of service

Products
Quality of design (concept, innovation, materials)
Fitness for purpose (how well it does what its made to do)
Durability / reliability ( how long the product lasts given a reasonable amount of use / without maintenance or repairs)

Services --> customer loyalty
Professionalism (cleanliness, courtesy)
Reliability (efficiency, competence)
Customization (how well needs are met through application of expertise
and experience)
64
Q

Cost based competition influence

A

cost advantages over competitors (determined thru breakeven point)

Strat: Outsourcing
o Using cheaper inputs
o Lowering quality (quality and price match)

Base cost of a product involves fixed and variable costs
Ways to cut costs include purchasing bulk inputs or updating technology

65
Q

Fixed costs

A

do not change regardless of the level of business activity e.g. rent, salaries, utilities, and insurance

66
Q

Variable costs

A

vary in direct relationship to the level of business activity (level of production) e.g. employee ‘on-costs’, commissions, and casual employees

67
Q

Government policies influence

A

monetary benefit such as a financial grant or tax concessions
tax (company, carbon pricing)
budget/fiscal policy
tariff/ quota

68
Q

Legal regulation influence

A

WHS act = safe operations
environment protection 1999 = minimize environment impact
compeition and consumer act 2010 = consumer protection
fair trading 1987

69
Q

Compliance costs

A

the expenses associated with meeting requirements of legal regulations

70
Q

Environmental sustainability influence

A

Conserving non-renwable resources: Practices that allow resources to be used today without compromising future access
switchign to renewable resoucres
***Significantly impacted by climate change awareness and the need to integrate long-term sustainable view of resource management.
ex. reduce and minimize waste; recycle water, glass, paper metals & reduce theircarbon footprint.

71
Q

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

A

Triple bottom line
open and accountable business actions based on respect for people, community, society and the broader environment. It involves businesses doing more than just complying with the laws and regulations

72
Q

Triple bottom line

A

3 ps
profit
people - social justice
planet - environment sustainability

73
Q

Transformed resources

A

materials: basic elements used in the production process, consisting of raw materials and intermediate goods

informations: knowledge gained from research, investigation and instruction, which result in increased understanding
internal: key Performance Indicators (KPI’s)
external (ABS, media reports) or internal (financial reports, production data)

customers: their choices shape inputs
* changed into finished products

74
Q

Transforming resources

A

HR: effectiveness of HR determines how successful transformation
Facilities: refers to plant (factory/office) and machinery used in operations process
*stay in business

75
Q

transformation process influences

A

Volume

  • Amount of good or service to be product
  • Volume flexibility = how fast transformation process can adjust to increases or decreases in demand.
  • Responsiveness to required changes in volume is essential to effectively managing lead times (time taken for order to be fulfilled)

Variety
- Number of different models/variations a product or service offers
- Greater the variation made, the more the operations processes need to allow for variation
• low variety will allow business to produce high-volume of a standardized product for cost)

Variation in demand
- How much of the product is needed increased demand requires more inputs from supplier, increased HR, machinery & energy consumption

Visibility (customer contact)
- Degree to which customers can witness the operations process
• Low visibility = manufacturing
• High visibility = service-based

76
Q

Lead times

A

the time it takes for an order to be fulfilled from the moment it is ordered

77
Q

Job, batch, flow

A

Job- suits those products and service that require customer requests. It is a highly flexible system but with low output. E.g. designer homes and cars. Costs per unit are high.

Batch- products are made in batches or groups. E.g. bakery. Suits businesses that have variations.

Flow- involves a continuous flow of inputs and outputs. It is often associated with assembly lines. Products have little variation. E.g. Fuel refineries. Costs per unit are low.

78
Q

Sequencing

A

the planning of activity that decided on the order in which the work is to be performed

79
Q

Scheduling

A

is a term used to indicate a detailed timetable of what work needs to be done

80
Q

Technology

A
  • Many products designed and assembled using CAD and CAM
  • Technology allows businesses to relocate dangerous or repetitive tasks away from employees
  • This has enabled more efficient production, although technology is expensive it is usually more cost effective long term.
81
Q

Office technology

A

computer, printer, electronic transfer of funds, modem etc.

82
Q

Manufacturing technology

A

robotics (used in engineering and specialized areas of research as well as assembly lines), CAD, CAM

83
Q

Task design

A
  • Breaking down a large task into smaller, manageable activities
  • Employees therefore able to perform and complete the task successfully.
  • Involves job analysis & can be done after conduction of a skills audit.
84
Q

Monitoring

A

systmeatic collection and analysis of infor as task progresses

  • Arranged around need to measure KPI’s such as lead times, defect rates, inventory turnover
85
Q

Control

A

comparing the actual vs planned standards

- Assessing KPIs (key performance indicators) against predetermined targets and taking corrective action if required

86
Q

Improvement

A
  • Refers to the reduction of any inefficiencies and wastage, poor work processes and the elimination of any bottlenecks

total quality management

87
Q

total quality management

A

making sure everyone knows quality expectation and fix if below standard

88
Q

Customer service

A

• Customer service is a service provided to customers before, during and after a purchase. Customer service is an intangible output that requires extensive contact with customers.
• Good customer service will increase consumer satisfaction.
• Customer service features include over phone/internet, in person, or written communication.
handling customer returns, answering questions and following up customer enquiries

89
Q

Businesses that provide superior customer service can

A

Charge an average of 10% more for the same goods and services
Grow twice as fast as their competitors
Increase their market share and profits

90
Q

Warranties

A

• A warranty is a quality assurance that a business stands by of the products they make and provide to the market.
• Under Australian law, all goods must: have a level of quality, be suitable for the job, match the promotion and be free from defects.
Businesses must comply with the Fair Trading Act 1987 (NSW), Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth).

warrantied can be expressed or implied
sutiable purpose 
free of defects and faults
match the product description
have a level of quality comparable to price and product description
91
Q

Performance objectives

A

(i) Quality
- Often determined by consumer expectations which are inform production standards.
- Objectives include: quality of design, quality of conformance, quality of service.

(ii) Speed
- Time taken for production and other operations processes to respond to market demand. It aims to satisfy customer demands as soon as possible.
- Speed goals include: reduced wait times, shorter lead times, faster processing times.

(iii) Dependability
- How long products are useful before they fail measured by warranty claims
- Consistency of service standards and reliability measured by number of complaints

(iv) Flexibility
- Refers to how quickly operations processes can adjust to changes in the market.
- Flexibility best achieved by increasing the capacity of production or for services, increasing the number of service providers.

(v) Customization
- Refers to creation of individualized products to meet specific customer needs.
- Production of many goods now based on mass customization (process allowing standard, mass-produced items to be customized e.g. cars)

(vi) Cost
- Minimization of expenses so operations processes ae conducted as cheap as possible.
- Can lower costs by acquiring new technologies, use inputs better and minimize wastage, reducing supplier/inventory/distribution costs

92
Q

New product or service design and development

A

identifying market opportunity –> maintain competitive edge **lengthy process and expensive
*new product is commerically viable

  • Two different approaches that determine product design and development:
    • Consumer preference
    • Changes and innovations in technology
-	Important factors in new product design and development include:
•	Supply chain management
•	Capacity management
•	Cost
•	Quality

*explicit or implicit service

93
Q

Supply chain management

A

**efficient and cost effective
high quality, cheap, reliable/ dependable

(i) Logistics
**reduce inventory, increase speed (less lead time) –> revemue (profits)
study, cost efficient, flows if material thro suppluy chain
(right time, place, price)
- Focuses on moving inputs, resources and outputs through supply chain as fast as possible.
Involves:
• Distribution and modes of transportation
• Storage, warehousing & distribution centers
• Materials handling & packaging

(ii) E- Commerce
- Enables businesses to source through online links to suppliers through business-to-business processes and also enables customers direct access to products through business-to-consumer processes
Pro: availability of info, speed (time saving) and cheaper access to global markets
Con: privacy and security issues, more likely to purchase unsatisfaction

(iii) Global sourcing
- Business seeks to find most cost-efficient location for manufacturing a product
Expansion of supply chains over national boundaries
cheaper, quicker than sourcing domestically

94
Q

rationalisation

A

decrease suppliers

trend

95
Q

supply chain *not buying inputs

A

vertically inetgrate - acquisition of same supplier as compeititor -> increase compeitiveness

96
Q

Outsourcing adv and disadv

A

adv:
can focus on core business activites (Not servicing, maintence, logistics)
less capital than vertical intelgration
doesnt need to mainainta employes by paying wages/ superannuatuion/ sick leabe
speed- if more efficient ( already have compeitibe advanatges)
flexiblity - can always switch supplier
less input from managmenr

disadv
more expensive
possible loss of jobs (reduandcy payments)
if supplier is unrealiable ( if business becaomes insolvent or ceases trading)
security and confidentiality issues

97
Q

Technology strat

A

leading edge - competitive adv

  • Technology that is most advanced or innovative at any point in time (so riskier)
  • Helps businesses create products quicker & to higher standard, with less waste and more efficiency. (

(i) Established
- Technology that has already been developed and is used without question. ‘proven’
e. g. IT for administration, robotics for complex manufacturing, barcoding & point-of-sale (POS) data for inventory management

98
Q

Inventory management

A

**how much stock? prevent dead stock, stock-out and minimise losses in theft/damage

LIFO last in first out
- Stock purchased most recently is sold first (used for goods with no use-by-date e.g. canned goods, machinery parts)

**bulky and non perishable
reduce profit

FIFO  first in first out
  • Oldest stock sold first (ideal for perishables)
  • perishableJIT just in time
  • Holding as minimal stock as possible and only bring in stock from suppliers as required
    • increases liquidity of working capital as less cash tied up in inventory
    • reduced costs of storing and securing stock
    **elimate inventories, reduce cost but risky
99
Q

adv and disadv of holding stock

A

Advantages
• Ensures customers served quickly & dependability of delivery
• Bulk purchases = cheaper
• Older stock can be sold at reduced price encourages cash flow
• Ensures sufficient back up stock

Disadvantages
• Capital intensive = dead cash
• Holding costs (storage, insurance)
• Risk of stockpiled goods passing use by date

100
Q

quality management

A

Quality management refers to processes a business undertakes to ensure consistency, reliability, safety and fit for purpose of a product.

(i) Control
- Reduces problems and defects through inspection at various points during production
- Pre-determined quality targets are set for all products to meet
- May require that labor be trained to apply these standards throughout working process

(ii) Assurance
- Involves use of a system to ensure set standards are achieved in production.
- Measurements are taken and assessed against standards.
- Aspects important to QA include:
• Fit for purpose
• Achieving right the first time (so re-working isn’t required)

(iii) Improvement
- Focuses on two aspects:
• Continuous improvement businesses ongoing commitment to improving its goods/services
Total quality management (TQM) managing the total business to deliver quality to customers; requires benchmarking, employee empowerment, a focus on the customer and continuous improvement.

101
Q

Distribution centre

A

not intended for long-term storage. Strategically located so as to minimize time to take supply stock to retail outlet. Requires managers to balance the cost of such centers with the time saved in logistics

102
Q

Overcoming resistance to change

A

Financial costs
¬ Main financial costs associated with change include purchasing new equipment, redundancy payments, retraining & reorganizing plant layout:

(i) Purchasing new equipment
- Purchase of equipment expensive however cost can be recovered through use (adds value in transformation processes) and depreciation.
- Can achieve
• Improved processing speeds & shorter lead times
• More consistency in production
• Higher overall quality of products
• Reduced waste and losses from equipment failure

(ii) Redundancy payments
- Money given to employees when they are forced out of work due to their job skills no longer being relevant. Payment depends on:
• Duration working for the company
• Level of pay they were on
• Amount of unused leave

(iii) Retraining
- May occur when job roles change requiring employees to acquire different work skills.
- Purchase of technology may also involve training or retraining on new software.

(iv) Reorganizing plant layout
- Requires extensive reorganisation of the layout within the facility; high costs can occur when reorganizing. (reorganising staff roles, introducint new tech)

Psychological resistance to change - inertia
- Internal stakeholders such as owners, managers and employees can become too comfortable in a stable environment major reason for resisting change
Strategies to overcome resistance include retraining programs, work teams & a flatter management structure.

103
Q

Global factors

A

(i) Global sourcing
* * low cost inputs
- Sourcing goods and services from across national boundaries
- Often to access cheap skilled labour, cheap materials, tax breaks and low trade tariffs.
- Global web = strategy where business sources inputs, labour and finance from the cheapest countries and distributing them to any nation that demands them.

(ii) Economies of scale
- Refers to cost advantages that can be gained by producing on a larger scale. It becomes a global factor when businesses sell to global markets

(iii) Scanning and learning
- Scanning the global environment and learning the best practices
- May come from management journals, conferences, industry and business associations

(iv) Research and development
**innovate new products or imporve existing = long term survival –> extend biz life cycle to renewal (^ profit)
BUT time consuming and costly
- Helps businesses create leading edge technology & innovative products and processes
- Global businesses often have extensive R&D facilities in many countries
Investment in R&D is investing in competitive advantage

**copyrights/ patents last 20 years

104
Q

ISO

A

(international organization for
standardization) 9000 series of quality certifications. These are voluntary but
many businesses comply with their requirements to enhance their domestic and
international competitiveness