In: Operations Management
I want answers to the following questions regarding "Operations Strategy in a Global Environment":
The word count is less than 100 words for each question. I just want basic concepts of the following questions.
1. How does a corporation expect to accomplish its missions as
well as objectives?
2. What is the concept of an exceptional competitive
advantage?
3. Explain some cases of social and moral problems faced by global
operations managers?
4. How can the supply chain boost global operations?
Answer1. 01. Mission statements guide the company forward
Mission statements are an incredibly important navigational tool when you are thinking about the future of your company.By identifying the purpose of your work, you can better understand the goals your company should be committed to accomplishing. Once those goals are set, you and your team can develop a sound strategy. By having this strong foundation, you can build your organization from the ground up and ensure its stability through the challenges ahead.The mission statement is the bedrock of any organization. Make sure it’s as strong as it needs to be.
02. Mission statements focus your energy and attention
The mission statement shouldn’t just be your beginning. It
should stay with you through every decision.The simplicity of the
mission statement requires you to isolate only the most important
part of your company’s purpose. By developing a mission statement,
you must evaluate every option and decide what will best suit your
company and its future. By talking through your decision process
with the mission statement, you can help your team work through
problems and ideas.The mission statement opens this communication
and can refocus a team that has been pulled apart in too many
directions.
03. Mission statements spark new ideas
While you are discussing and considering your mission statement, it may open you up to new ideas.While it is important to have a solid foundation, the mission statement can also shift your perspective on your work. It can cause you to look at your company with a fresh set of eyes.
SERVING AS INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS:
04. Mission statements shape company culture
Mission statements not only dictate how an organization as a whole should act, but also how individual employees think about their jobs.Company culture is a crucial aspect of employee happiness. Remove some of the uncertainty in their jobs by clearly explaining your company’s purpose and your organizational values. Employees will know before beginning at your organization exactly what is expected of them. They can customize their work to fit your mission and get effective results across different departments.Your mission statement will also attract job seekers whose values align with your own. It is just one more recruiting tool at your disposal.
05. Mission statements establish consistency
As you grow your company, you will start establishing many different departments and hiring new employees.Every step in growing your company runs the risk of losing your focus and your unique culture. Mission statements can stop this mission-creep in its tracks. Everyone knows the mission statement. Everyone has something to refer to when making an important decision. Mission statements can make sure that each individual facet of your organization is working in concert.To establish this consistency, mission statements should be as clear as possible. Make sure that there is no room for incorrect interpretation.
ESTABLISHING YOUR COMPANY’S IMAGE:
06. Mission statements send out a powerful message to the public
Mission statements aren’t merely a form of important internal communication. They’re one of the strongest messages you can send to the public.Consumers and clients will find the mission statement to be an effective encapsulation of your values. If you believe your mission statement does not represent these values or does not reach the audience you intended, it’s time to reevaluate it.The statement should convey your company’s passion and vision in a way that intrigues or reassures the general public. When you look back at the introductory examples of mission statements, you’ll notice that they encompass broad ideals and goals. Google’s mission statement doesn’t mention its product. Instead, it focuses on its intention.This idea leads to the last and most important purpose of a mission statement:
07. Mission statements drive action
Mission statements are oriented around actions.It may be the intention of your company to create an outstanding product, but that isn’t enough. What is your mission? How is your product going to make consumers’ lives better? Mission statements are a way of making this clear. They cut through the noise and get straight to the heart of your company’s passion and vision. Exciting, energetic mission statements show the public your company’s dedication and determination. They form a vital aspect of your communications.You should be mindful of your mission statement during every step of building your company. It determines your beginning, it determines your growth, and it determines your future.
Answer2. Competitive advantages are conditions that allow a company or country to produce a good or service of equal value at a lower price or in a more desirable fashion. These conditions allow the productive entity to generate more sales or superior margins compared to its market rivals.
Answer3.
Globalization
globalization as “a process of interaction and integration among the people, companies, and governments of different nations.” It is driven by a reduction in trade barriers, advancements in information technology, and transportation technology. Operation managers face competition from the company across the street, as well as, from across the country and across the world. This falls on the operations manager as he or she is the one who “engages in the four functions of planning, organizing, leading, and controlling to ensure that the product or service remains competitive in the market. The operations manager must tap into their creative skills as innovation will be a key factor of success as will knowledge about international business and the myriad cultures of the businesses around the globe.
Sustainability
“method of evaluating whether a business can maintain existing practices without putting future resources at risk.” When discussing the concept of sustainability, it is often referred to as the Three Pillars of Sustainability which are social, environmental, and economic. Operations managers must concern themselves with the outcomes of each of the pillars including how their work affects safety, welfare, communities, the environment and economic sustainability.Effective operations managers must implement best practices with a concern for all three pillars of sustainability. They also need to initiate and verify corrective action when any outcome of one of the three pillars becomes jeopardized.
Ethical Conduct
Ethics is defined as a subset of business ethics that is “meant to ensure that the production function and/or activities are not damaging to either the consumer or the society.” In particular organizations should consider the effects new technologies, defective services, animal testing and business deals have on people, safety, and the environment.Unethical behavior has significantly contributed to the demise of successful corporations like Enron, Tyco, and many varied firms doing business on Wall Street. Being ethical across all business functions such as accounting, human resource management, marketing and sales, and production are clearly within the purview of the operations manager. Unethical behavior, regardless of its origin, becomes a stain on the company as a whole.
Effective Communication
Being consistent and effective when communicating can be difficult anyone in any position within an organization. The challenge for the operations manager is to be able to communicate effectively with all internal and external stakeholders. Whether they are talking to someone on the factory floor, or in the boardroom, they must be able to effectively communicate their message as well as process the messages being directed to them. Mastering oral, written, and non-verbal communication is integral to making day-to-day operations run smoothly. Effective and efficient communication is also necessary for building employee morale and deepening trust with management. Operations managers who take the time to be self-reflective, the initiative to be authentic, and the effort to work on their communication skills are bound to be both productive and successful. The development of these skills are frequently the most requested of upper level management of their new and mid-level managers and required to be successful in any company.
System Design
Producing quality goods and services in demanded quantities in acceptable time frames.” Designing the system, planning the system, and managing the system present a wide variety of challenges to even the most savvy operations managers.As operations managers work in multidisciplinary environments, they must be aware of and effectively respond to the challenges presented by globalization, sustainability, ethical conduct, effective communication, and system design. Doing this calls for operations managers to excel in the business, technical, and interpersonal aspects of their work as they actively support the mission and vision of their organization.
Answer4.
1. Improve your distribution network.
The main goal is to improve your distribution network, which you can do through a holistic approach or a cluster view. In a holistic approach, you review essential parts in your distribution network and try to figure out how the parts work in sync. For example, look at your purchasing software and see how it works with your delivery system. Does it communicate well with production foreman or warehouse managers? If it’s not as efficient as you’d like it to be, you can identify where changes need to be made. Unlike a holistic approach, a cluster view groups charts, graphs, and other details together to help you keep an eye on the process for a specific function in the company.
2. Devise a distribution strategy.
A distribution strategy is integral to an effective framework for supplier management. It allows a business to have a better idea of what it takes to shorten delivery times, reduce goods decay, and improve customer service. Supplier management and the broader field of supplier chain management help a company plant the seeds of long-term financial stability. When formulating your distribution strategy, keep an eye on things like warehouses, cross-docks, production facilities, and customers, along with the location, number, and network missions of suppliers. Set an overall goal for your distribution and implement tactics that are in sync with your overall strategy. For example, if you want your company to receive an industry award for timely delivery, figure out all key stakeholders (delivery teams, production supervisors, etc.) to partner with and essential processes to improve.
3. Monitor cash flows.
Cash flow monitoring is a fundamental tool that various organizations use to improve supplier management. It is important to track payment terms and conditions with several groups within the supply chain, forging an efficient plan to understand the technology used for monetary transfers. Said simply, companies must clearly understand how to pay suppliers and logistics companies, how often to pay them, payment tools, and any expenses that get passed to customers. Payment technology, in the context of supplier management, refers to equipment used to pay vendor bills, like point-of-sale machinery, the electronic pad the warehouse staff signs when receiving goods and shipment tracking software.
4. Establish information conduits.
Information conduits are channels businesses use to share important data, like tracking information, with key partners. To establish proper information conduits, make sure data is distributed promptly and properly to pertinent recipients. For example, if your factory foreman needs more materials, this information should be conveyed to purchasing managers as well as store room supervisors and delivery personnel.
5. Track your inventory.
By utilizing tracking software or internal spreadsheets you design, you can monitor the whereabouts of your inventory. This will help you know how much of your product you have, how much you need, as well as if anything happens to it (damage, decay, theft, etc). It is important your staff knows how this system works so they can effectively log information, as well as participate in routine inventory assessments. Other things to consider are the location and quantity of inventory, including finished goods, work-in-progress items, and raw materials.Supplier management plays an integral role in your company’s overall commercial strategy. You can improve supply chain performance by keeping tabs on what business partners do, ensuring everyone collaborates effectively, and tracking your company’s assets.