OPM537 BASS1B Topic 1 Quiz

What is the definition of operations management?

• The process of managing human resources

• The process of creating goods and services by transforming inputs into outputs

• The process of marketing goods and services

• The process of managing finances and accounting

What are the essential functions in organizing to produce goods and services?

• Sales, finance/accounting, customer service

• Research and development, production/operations, finance/accounting

• Marketing, human resources, sales

• Marketing, production/operations, finance/accounting

What is the supply chain?

• A chain of supply stores

• A global network of organizations and activities that supply a firm with goods and services

• A chain of production facilities

• A chain of marketing agencies

What is the objective of improving productivity?

• To increase the number of inputs

• To decrease the ratio of outputs to inputs

• To increase the ratio of outputs to inputs

• To decrease the number of outputs

What are the key variables for improved labor productivity?

• Quality control, marketing, sales

• Capital investment, technology, management

• Research and development, production, finance

• Basic education, diet, social overhead

What is the main challenge in maintaining and enhancing skills in the midst of rapidly changing technology and knowledge?

• Recruiting new employees

• Applying knowledge and technologies

• Ensuring labor and capital are effectively used

• Training and motivating employees

What are some of the new challenges in operations management?

• Global focus, supply-chain partnering, sustainability

• Local focus, individual production, cost reduction

• Traditional methods, manual labor, isolation

• Limited resources, lack of technology, low productivity

What are the challenges facing operations managers in terms of ethics, social responsibility, and sustainability?

• Cutting corners, ignoring regulations, prioritizing profits over people

• Developing safe, high-quality products, training employees, honoring commitments

• Maximizing profits, ignoring environmental impact, exploiting labor

• Increasing production, reducing costs, expanding globally

What are some of the improvements made at Taco Bell to increase productivity?

• Reduced menu items, increased employee training, decreased automation

• Ignored menu changes, reduced supplier collaboration, increased labor costs

• Increased menu items, reduced employee training, expanded floor space

• Revised menu, designed meals for easy preparation, shifted some preparation to suppliers

What was the result of the operations improvements at Starbucks in terms of productivity?

• Increased yearly revenue per outlet by $250,000 to $1,000,000 in seven years

• Decreased yearly revenue per outlet by $250,000 to $1,000,000 in seven years

• No change in yearly revenue per outlet

• Closed down outlets due to lack of productivity