INTRODUCTION
This question bank is designed for business students preparing for the OM
300 Exam 1 (Chilcutt. It contains unique, multiple-choice questions with
verified answers and detailed rationales, covering the full exam blueprint:
foundations of operations management (definitions, primary functions,
supply chain, operations activities, productivity), productivity and
competitiveness (single-factor and multifactor productivity, competitive
advantage, differentiation, cost leadership, response), strategic decisions
and quality management (10 strategic OM decisions, mission, strategy,
SWOT analysis, goods vs. services, process strategies, product life cycle),
forecasting and demand management (qualitative and quantitative
methods, time horizons, naive approach, moving averages, weighted
moving averages, exponential smoothing, time-series components,
forecasting process, forecasting realities), project management and
operations strategy (critical path, slack, Gantt charts, crashing, project
phases, project manager responsibilities), quality management and lean
operations (TQM, Six Sigma, Pareto charts, fishbone diagrams, check
sheets, scatter diagrams, flowcharts, SPC charts, ISO 14001, Triple
Bottom Line, stakeholders, seven wastes, JIT, kanban, kaizen, jidoka,
Toyota Production System), and supply chain and global operations (core
competencies, outsourcing, inventory management, types of inventory,
holding costs, setup costs, safety stock, pull systems).
,SECTION 1: FOUNDATIONS OF OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT
Question 1
Which of the following best defines operations management?
A) Managing financial resources of a firm
B) Managing systems that create goods and/or provide services
C) Managing the marketing process of a product
D) Supervising employees on a production line
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Operations management is the set of activities that create
value in the form of goods and services by transforming inputs into
outputs. It focuses on designing, operating, and improving the
systems that deliver a firm's primary products and services.
Question 2
Which of the following is NOT considered to be one of the three primary
functions that all organizations perform?
A) Marketing
B) Finance/Accounting
C) Research and Development
D) Production/Operations
Correct Answer: C
,Rationale: The three primary functions of all organizations are
marketing (generates demand), finance/accounting (tracks success
and finances), and production/operations (creates the product).
Research and development is a supporting function, not one of the
three primary functions.
Question 3
A global network of organizations and activities that supply a firm with
goods and services is referred to as:
A) A supply chain
B) Production
C) Business functions
D) Operations management
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The supply chain is a global network of organizations and
activities that supply a firm with goods and services. Members of
the supply chain collaborate to achieve high levels of customer
satisfaction, efficiency, and competitive advantage.
Question 4
Which of the following activities at a commercial bank is NOT an
operations activity?
, A) Auditing
B) Maintenance
C) Check clearing
D) Security
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Auditing is a finance/accounting activity, not an
operations activity. Operations activities at a bank include check
clearing, maintenance, and security.
Question 5
The three phases involved in the management of large projects are:
A) Planning, scheduling, and controlling
B) Scheduling, operating, and evaluating
C) Scheduling, designing, and operating
D) Planning, scheduling, and evaluating
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The three phases of project management are planning
(goal setting and team organization), scheduling (relating activities
to each other), and controlling (monitoring resources, costs, quality,
and budgets).