Homework 1
Chapter 1
1. What are some career opportunities in the operations management discipline?
2. What are the three basic functions of a firm?
3. Identify the 5 strategic operations management decisions?
4. Mass customization and rapid product development were identified as challenges to
modern manufacturing operations. What is the relationship, if any, between these
challenges? Can you cite any examples?
5. What are the five reasons productivity is difficult to improve in the service sector?
6. Discuss the overlap amongst operations, marketing, and finance—the three functions basic
to all organizations—for small and medium enterprises.
Chapter 2
7. Identify and explain the four strategies that operations managers of international and
multinational firms use to approach global opportunities.
8. Identify the mission and strategy of your automobile repair garage. What are the
manifestations of the 10 strategic OM decisions at the garage? That is, how is each of the
10 decisions accomplished?
9. As a library or Internet assignment, identify the mission of a firm and the strategy that
supports that mission.
10. How does an OM strategy change during a product’s life cycle?
11. There are three primary ways to achieve competitive advantage. Provide an example of
each. Support your choices.
12. How must an operations strategy integrate with marketing and accounting?
13. Explain, citing appropriate examples, how flexibility saves time and stimulates response.
14. Read about Zara, the Spanish fashion retail company, and explain what is the best
descriptive of Zara’s strategy approach. Explain some key operations management
decisions that help Zara implement this strategy.
Chapter 4
15. Suppose you need to forecast the amount of relief aid needed following an earthquake.
Which type of forecast do you think is the most appropriate: qualitative or quantitative?
Why? Is collaborative planning, forecasting, and replenishment (CPFR) applicable in this
case?
Chapter 1
1. What are some career opportunities in the operations management discipline?
2. What are the three basic functions of a firm?
3. Identify the 5 strategic operations management decisions?
4. Mass customization and rapid product development were identified as challenges to
modern manufacturing operations. What is the relationship, if any, between these
challenges? Can you cite any examples?
5. What are the five reasons productivity is difficult to improve in the service sector?
6. Discuss the overlap amongst operations, marketing, and finance—the three functions basic
to all organizations—for small and medium enterprises.
Chapter 2
7. Identify and explain the four strategies that operations managers of international and
multinational firms use to approach global opportunities.
8. Identify the mission and strategy of your automobile repair garage. What are the
manifestations of the 10 strategic OM decisions at the garage? That is, how is each of the
10 decisions accomplished?
9. As a library or Internet assignment, identify the mission of a firm and the strategy that
supports that mission.
10. How does an OM strategy change during a product’s life cycle?
11. There are three primary ways to achieve competitive advantage. Provide an example of
each. Support your choices.
12. How must an operations strategy integrate with marketing and accounting?
13. Explain, citing appropriate examples, how flexibility saves time and stimulates response.
14. Read about Zara, the Spanish fashion retail company, and explain what is the best
descriptive of Zara’s strategy approach. Explain some key operations management
decisions that help Zara implement this strategy.
Chapter 4
15. Suppose you need to forecast the amount of relief aid needed following an earthquake.
Which type of forecast do you think is the most appropriate: qualitative or quantitative?
Why? Is collaborative planning, forecasting, and replenishment (CPFR) applicable in this
case?
