Operations Management Flashcards
How can Operations Management be described through the Transformation Process Model?
An Operation takes input resources and, through one or more processes, transforms them into outputs
Transforming inputs (labour, facilities) Transformed inputs (materials, info, customers) Output (products, services)
What are the Four Vs of Operations?
Volume (of units produced)
Variety (of inputs or outputs)
Variation in demand (seasonal)
Visibility (degree to which business operations are visible to the customer)
What are the Support Activities in Porter’s Value Chain?
Firm Infrastructure (planning, finance, control)
HR Mgmt
Technology Development
Procurement
What are the four stages of Reck and Long’s model on the Evolution of the Purchasing Function?
Passive - a clerical function
Independent - importance of negotiation with suppliers recognised
Supportive - purchasing should support wider organisational goals
Integrative - purchasing fully integrated into business activities. Direct communicative links with management, product design. Suppliers viewed as partners
Cousins Strategic Wheel shows that firms need to balance which interconnected issues?
Centre: Corporate and Supply Strategy
Outside: Organisation Structure Performance Measures Portfolio of Relationships Skills and Competences Cost/Benefit Analysis
What is an advantage of Delegated sourcing?
May provide expertise that a firm doesn’t have
Typically a Supply Chain is formed to ‘push’ a product to the market. Products produced by demand networks are…
… ‘pulled’ into existence in response to demand signals. Competitive advantage is gained by:
Alignment (shared incentives)
Agility (adjust output volume to demand)
Adaptability (adjust structure to demand)
Define Sustainability
Concerned with ensuring a better quality of life for everyone, whilst meeting four objectives:
Social progress for everyone
Environmental protection
Prudent use of natural resources
High but stable levels of economic growth
