Question 1

The process of legally and ethically studying how other firms do something in a high quality way and then imitating or improving on their methods is known as industrial espionage.

Accepted Answer

This process is known as benchmarking, not industrial espionage. Benchmarking involves comparing one's business processes and performance metrics to industry bests or best practices from other companies, while industrial espionage involves illegal or unethical spying to obtain trade secrets.

Question 2

What is statistical process control?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is statistical process control?...

Question 3

________ is the process of legally and ethically studying how other firms do something in a high-quality way and then either imitating or improving on their methods.

Accepted Answer

Benchmarking is the process where a company compares its processes and performance metrics to industry bests or best practices from other companies. This involves looking at how other firms achieve high performance levels and then either copying or enhancing those methods.

Question 4

The importance of information management depends on the type of strategy and organization design the firm uses.

Accepted Answer

The importance of information management varies with the firm's strategy and organizational design because different strategies and structures require different types of information, levels of information flow, and methods of information processing to support decision-making and coordination effectively.

Question 5

________ is a family of mathematically based tools for monitoring and controlling quality.

Accepted Answer

Statistical Process Control (SPC) is the correct answer because it specifically refers to the use of statistical methods to monitor and control a process to ensure that it operates at its full potential to produce conforming product. Total Quality Management (TQM), Operations Management, and Just-in-Time Management are broader concepts that encompass various strategies and practices for improving quality and efficiency, but they are not specifically defined as mathematically based tools for monitoring and controlling quality.

Question 6

Explain benchmarking.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Explain benchmarking....

Question 7

What is an information system?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is an information system?...

Question 8

When data are in a form that is valuable to a manager in making decisions and performing related tasks, it is called ________.

Accepted Answer

Information is data that has been processed or organized in a manner that is valuable to a manager for decision-making and performing tasks. Reports, statistics, and analysis are forms or methods of presenting data and information, but the term that directly refers to data in a valuable form for decision-making is "information."

Question 9

Which of the following is an essential component of total quality management?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following is an essential...

Question 10

Why did some Korean firms initially face difficulties competing in Europe?

Accepted Answer

Korean firms initially faced difficulties competing in Europe due to a poor reputation for quality, which made European consumers hesitant to trust and purchase their products.

Question 11

What organization has been working to develop and refine an international set of quality guidelines?

Accepted Answer

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is responsible for developing and refining an international set of quality guidelines, including the well-known ISO 9000 family of quality management standards.

Question 12

The starting point in improving productivity is often to invest more in research and development.

Accepted Answer

Investing in research and development (R&D) is crucial for innovation, creating new products, improving processes, and enhancing efficiency, all of which are fundamental for improving productivity.

Question 13

Xerox sent a team of managers to Japan to study Canon copiers there. They found the copier was of higher quality than Xerox's copiers. Xerox then attempted to imitate Canon's methods. This is an example of ________.

Accepted Answer

Benchmarking involves comparing one's business processes and performance metrics to industry bests or best practices from other companies. In this case, Xerox is analyzing Canon's copiers and methods to improve their own products, which is a classic example of benchmarking.

Question 14

What is an information system? How are international operations managers using integrated information systems to more effectively manage their information?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is an information system? How are...

Question 15

A(n) ________ is a methodology created by a firm to gather, assemble, and provide data in a form or forms useful to managers.

Accepted Answer

An information system is designed to collect, organize, and distribute data in formats that are useful to managers, aiding in decision-making and operational activities.

Question 16

What are the guidelines that provide the basis for quality certification called?

Accepted Answer

ISO 9000 is the set of guidelines that provide the basis for quality certification. WTO standards are international trade rules, ISO 1000 does not exist, and TQM standards are a quality management philosophy, but not specifically related to certification guidelines.

Question 17

The American Society for Quality Control developed and refined an international set of quality guidelines which are now called ISO 9000:2000.

Accepted Answer

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) developed the ISO 9000:2000 series of quality management standards, not the American Society for Quality Control.

Question 18

What is TQM? What are the components necessary for successful TQM?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is TQM? What are the components...

Question 19

Perrier takes samples of finished products and measures their actual content to assess if the contents measure within the appropriate range. This is an example of ________.

Accepted Answer

Statistical process control (SPC) involves monitoring and controlling a process through statistical analysis to ensure that it operates at its full potential to produce conforming product. Perrier measuring the actual content of their finished products to ensure they are within the appropriate range is a direct application of SPC, as it uses statistical methods to monitor and control the quality of the production process.

Quiz 17: International Operations Management