Question 1

Competitive priorities are the means by which operations implements the firm's corporate strategies.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Competitive priorities are the means by which...

Question 2

The framework for carrying out all of an organization's functions is:
A) the competitive priority.
B) the corporate strategy.
C) the market analysis.
D) the organizational design.

Accepted Answer

The corporate strategy provides the framework for carrying out all of an organization's functions. It defines the organization's mission, vision, values, and goals, and it outlines the strategies that the organization will use to achieve its goals. The corporate strategy is the foundation for all other organizational decisions, including the design of the organization's structure, the allocation of resources, and the development of marketing and operational plans.

Question 3

A firm's core competencies should determine its core processes.

Accepted Answer

A firm's core competencies, which are its unique strengths and capabilities, should guide the development of its core processes. This ensures that a company's operations are aligned with its strategic goals and can help to create sustainable competitive advantages. If a company's core processes are not linked to its core competencies, it may struggle to differentiate itself from competitors and meet the needs of its target customers.

Question 4

A company realizes that recent layoffs at its primary company reflect potential falling demands for its customers' products, and hence for its own products. The company has engaged in:
A) flow strategy.
B) market segmentation.
C) mission statement redefinition.
D) environmental scanning.

Accepted Answer

Environmental scanning refers to the process of monitoring and analyzing the external environment for potential opportunities or threats that could affect the company's operations. In this case, the company has recognized the potential impact of recent layoffs in its customers' companies, indicating a need for environmental scanning to identify trends and changes that could affect its business.

Question 5

Flexibility is a possible competitive priority.

Accepted Answer

Flexibility can be a competitive priority as it allows companies to adjust quickly to changing customer demands, market conditions, and uncertainties in the supply chain. It can lead to increased customer satisfaction, lower costs, and improved responsiveness.

Question 6

Which of these business processes typically lies within the realm of operations?
A) complaint handling
B) customer relationship
C) help desks
D) waste management

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of these business processes typically lies...

Question 7

Which of the following is an example of a core competency?
A) facilities
B) top quality
C) low-cost operations
D) on-time delivery

Accepted Answer

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

Question 8

In response to social and political moves to discourage cigarette smoking, major cigarette manufacturers have had to diversify into other products. Identifying the pressures against smoking is an example of:
A) environmental scanning.
B) market segmentation.
C) flow strategy.
D) mission statement development.

Accepted Answer

Environmental scanning involves the monitoring and analysis of external factors that affect an organization, such as social and political moves to discourage cigarette smoking. Identifying these pressures is a key part of environmental scanning, which ultimately helps a company adapt to changes in its market environment. Market segmentation involves dividing a target audience into specific groups based on characteristics such as age or income, and flow strategy is a term typically used in logistics and supply chain management. Mission statement development is the process of creating a statement that defines an organization's purpose and goals. While these concepts may be important to a company's overall strategy, they are not directly related to identifying pressures against smoking.

Question 9

Admission to the prestigious school had become so competitive that a high GPA is no longer enough to separate one fresh-faced high school student from another. Today's outstanding candidate must also demonstrate their involvement in a myriad of extracurricular activities in order to be admitted. It seems that good grades are now:
A) a needs assessment.
B) order qualifiers.
C) order winners.
D) a mission statement.

Accepted Answer

Order qualifiers are the minimum requirements a candidate must meet in order to be considered for admission or to compete in a particular market. In this case, having a high GPA is the order qualifier, but it is no longer enough to stand out. Involvement in extracurricular activities has become an additional order qualifier, meaning that it is also necessary but not sufficient to secure admission.

Question 10

A firm once made purchasing decisions based on which supplier had the lowest cost. But once cash flow was healthy, purchasing decisions were made based on the fastest delivery of goods and services by firms. In this case, delivery speed is clearly the order qualifier.

Accepted Answer

In this scenario, delivery speed is the order winner, not the order qualifier. The order qualifier would be the basic criteria that permit the firm's products to be considered by customers (previously cost), while the order winner is the criterion that wins the orders (now delivery speed).

Question 11

The cumulative work of the processes of a firm is a(n) ________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The cumulative work of the processes of...

Question 12

Core competencies are:
A) product or service attributes that represent the needs of a particular market segment.
B) another name for competitive priorities.
C) various flow strategies.
D) the unique resources and strengths that management considers when formulating strategy.

Accepted Answer

Core competencies are the unique resources, strengths, and capabilities that a company possesses and considers when formulating its strategy. These competencies are often difficult for competitors to imitate and can provide a competitive advantage in the marketplace.

Question 13

One form of strategic alliance is the ________, in which two firms agree to cooperate to produce a product or service together.

Accepted Answer

The answer of One form of strategic alliance is the...

Question 14

You are interested in buying a laptop computer. Your list of considerations include the computer's speed in processing data, its weight, screen size, and price. You consider a number of different models, and narrow your list based on speed and monitor screen size, then finally select a model to buy based on its weight and price. In this decision, weight and price are examples of:
A) order qualifiers.
B) a needs assessment.
C) order winners.
D) a mission statement.

Accepted Answer

Weight and price are examples of order winners, which are specific product characteristics that differentiate the chosen model from its competitors and are important to the customer's purchasing decision. In this case, speed and monitor screen size were order qualifiers, which are minimum product requirements necessary to be considered by the customer.

Question 15

What are four core processes in a firm and how are they related?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What are four core processes in a...

Question 16

Price, quality, and the degree of customization are all examples of:
A) volume needs.
B) other needs.
C) product needs.
D) delivery system needs.

Accepted Answer

Price, quality, and customization are all related to the product itself and its features, making it a product need. Volume needs refer to the quantity of products required, other needs would encompass non-product related requirements, and delivery system needs relate to the logistics of getting the product to the customer.

Question 17

The first three cars I bought all fell apart around 50,000 miles. It was called planned obsolescence and no one seemed to care until companies entered the market that promised 70,000, then 80,000, and finally 100,000 mile warranties. What sets a great car apart from a good one now is not the quality, which is assumed, but performance, safety and fuel economy. A car that can achieve all three is highly sought after. In the automotive market, performance, safety and fuel economy are sterling examples of:
A) order winners.
B) a needs assessment.
C) order qualifiers.
D) a mission statement.

Accepted Answer

Performance, safety and fuel economy are characteristics that differentiate a product from its competitors and are considered order winners. Order qualifiers are characteristics that a product must have to even be considered by a customer, such as quality. A needs assessment is the process of identifying customer needs and wants. A mission statement is a statement of a company's goals and values.

Question 18

________ provide vital resources and inputs to core processes.

Accepted Answer

The answer of ________ provide vital resources and inputs to...

Question 19

Firm A wants to enter a foreign market and has a skill that is difficult to duplicate. Firm B desires this skill, so Firm A works with Firm B in an arrangement known as a joint venture.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Firm A wants to enter a foreign...

Question 20

The Gap, Inc. has targeted teenagers and young adults in need of casual clothes, and through its GapKids stores, the parents or guardians of infants through 12-year-olds. This is an example of:
A) market segmentation.
B) a collaborative effort between the company and its customers.
C) a needs assessment.
D) a mission statement.

Accepted Answer

The company's targeting of specific age groups and customer types is an example of market segmentation.

Quiz 1: Using Operations to Create Value

Competitive priorities are the means by which operations implements the firm's corporate strategies.

The framework for carrying out all of an organization's functions is:

A firm's core competencies should determine its core processes.

A company realizes that recent layoffs at its primary company reflect potential falling demands for its customers' products, and hence for its own products. The company has engaged in:

Flexibility is a possible competitive priority.

Which of these business processes typically lies within the realm of operations?

Which of the following is an example of a core competency?

In response to social and political moves to discourage cigarette smoking, major cigarette manufacturers have had to diversify into other products. Identifying the pressures against smoking is an example of:

A firm once made purchasing decisions based on which supplier had the lowest cost. But once cash flow was healthy, purchasing decisions were made based on the fastest delivery of goods and services by firms. In this case, delivery speed is clearly the order qualifier.

The cumulative work of the processes of a firm is a(n) ________.

Core competencies are:

One form of strategic alliance is the ________, in which two firms agree to cooperate to produce a product or service together.

What are four core processes in a firm and how are they related?

Price, quality, and the degree of customization are all examples of:

________ provide vital resources and inputs to core processes.

Firm A wants to enter a foreign market and has a skill that is difficult to duplicate. Firm B desires this skill, so Firm A works with Firm B in an arrangement known as a joint venture.

The Gap, Inc. has targeted teenagers and young adults in need of casual clothes, and through its GapKids stores, the parents or guardians of infants through 12-year-olds. This is an example of: