SCM 300 Exam 3 Questions with Correct Answers (Grade A+)
Question 1: Business Process
Answer: a standardized set of activities that accomplish a specific task, such as processing a customer's
order
Question 2: Relationship between business processes and supply chain
Answer: >>Made up of a series of interconnected and interdependent processes >>Productivity-Managing
Inputs and Outputs at a smaller scale
Question 3: Three requirements of a good process
Answer: good intentions, reproducible results, measurable and manageable
Question 4: Common reasons for bad processes
Answer: Never was good, used to be good, limitations
Question 5: Cow Path Theory
Answer: Demonstrates bad process; >>A story told by consultants to other consultants and their clients to
explain how their processes got so bad >>A story about a cow who got a job to go drink water >>Shows a
lack of communication and ambiguity in bad processes >>EXAMPLE: Computer Silicon Wafers - Baskets
Question 6: Three benefits of excellent business process
Answer: Manage from a distance, large customer base, key to franchising
Question 7: Difference between block diagram and business process flow chart
Answer: >>Shows step by step process without determent and only with one shape. Nothing in layout
allows anything to change, important because it can show how many things can go wrong at previous steps
that eventually hurts the production. >>Has different shapes that mean different things. Allows process to be
customized depending on specific questions from client/order.
Question 8: scope
Answer: Define process requirements and boundaries
Page 1
, Question 9: Scope Inflation
Answer: Work goes beyond the minimum required to get the job done. Negative results
Question 10: Swim Lane Flowchart
Answer: A(n) ________ shows processing steps grouped according to which company department is
responsible for performing them.
Question 11: Value of flowcharts for the organization
Answer: Quality control tool Information technology: capture and store information Resource management
(requirements): employees and managers (skills, training), materials and capital equipment, money
Operational considerations: testing potential failure points in process, waiting line management
Departmental concerns: marketing, finance, and accounting and IT
Question 12: Value of Process improvement and Project Management on Careers - In-class examples
Answer: >>Vital to corporate careers, no matter the major >>Resume Builder >>Corporate careers -
Politics, Leverage, Capital Projects are vital to move forward
Question 13: Attributes of a good consultant
Answer: 1.Data collection, data analysis 2.Be creative 3.Have a long-term vision: consider human nature
4.Understand group/ team dynamics for CLIENTS and your TEAMS 5.Understand business imperatives:
can you explain change and the benefits of change
Question 14: Common consulting errors
Answer: At Beginning -assume things -developing solutions too soon -listening to the client's pre-fabricated
solutions During the Project -utilizing poor surveys - single opportunity -poorly managed scope inflation
-sticking to a dead end scope -trying to maintain happiness
Question 15: BPI Business Process Improvement
Answer: -performed in teams of employees that include process expert (process owner), people can be
involved directly/inderectly
Question 16: Desired state vs. present state
Answer: Desired state: interview - identify objectives, goals and metrics Present state: data collection,
interviews, and observations
Page 2
Question 1: Business Process
Answer: a standardized set of activities that accomplish a specific task, such as processing a customer's
order
Question 2: Relationship between business processes and supply chain
Answer: >>Made up of a series of interconnected and interdependent processes >>Productivity-Managing
Inputs and Outputs at a smaller scale
Question 3: Three requirements of a good process
Answer: good intentions, reproducible results, measurable and manageable
Question 4: Common reasons for bad processes
Answer: Never was good, used to be good, limitations
Question 5: Cow Path Theory
Answer: Demonstrates bad process; >>A story told by consultants to other consultants and their clients to
explain how their processes got so bad >>A story about a cow who got a job to go drink water >>Shows a
lack of communication and ambiguity in bad processes >>EXAMPLE: Computer Silicon Wafers - Baskets
Question 6: Three benefits of excellent business process
Answer: Manage from a distance, large customer base, key to franchising
Question 7: Difference between block diagram and business process flow chart
Answer: >>Shows step by step process without determent and only with one shape. Nothing in layout
allows anything to change, important because it can show how many things can go wrong at previous steps
that eventually hurts the production. >>Has different shapes that mean different things. Allows process to be
customized depending on specific questions from client/order.
Question 8: scope
Answer: Define process requirements and boundaries
Page 1
, Question 9: Scope Inflation
Answer: Work goes beyond the minimum required to get the job done. Negative results
Question 10: Swim Lane Flowchart
Answer: A(n) ________ shows processing steps grouped according to which company department is
responsible for performing them.
Question 11: Value of flowcharts for the organization
Answer: Quality control tool Information technology: capture and store information Resource management
(requirements): employees and managers (skills, training), materials and capital equipment, money
Operational considerations: testing potential failure points in process, waiting line management
Departmental concerns: marketing, finance, and accounting and IT
Question 12: Value of Process improvement and Project Management on Careers - In-class examples
Answer: >>Vital to corporate careers, no matter the major >>Resume Builder >>Corporate careers -
Politics, Leverage, Capital Projects are vital to move forward
Question 13: Attributes of a good consultant
Answer: 1.Data collection, data analysis 2.Be creative 3.Have a long-term vision: consider human nature
4.Understand group/ team dynamics for CLIENTS and your TEAMS 5.Understand business imperatives:
can you explain change and the benefits of change
Question 14: Common consulting errors
Answer: At Beginning -assume things -developing solutions too soon -listening to the client's pre-fabricated
solutions During the Project -utilizing poor surveys - single opportunity -poorly managed scope inflation
-sticking to a dead end scope -trying to maintain happiness
Question 15: BPI Business Process Improvement
Answer: -performed in teams of employees that include process expert (process owner), people can be
involved directly/inderectly
Question 16: Desired state vs. present state
Answer: Desired state: interview - identify objectives, goals and metrics Present state: data collection,
interviews, and observations
Page 2
