Question

define in your own words the phrases (1) "operational efficiency", (2) "operational effectiveness", (3) operations strategy, and (4) operational sustainability Use examples to illustrate each definition, from your own organization or one with which you are familiar.

Then, you will define the concept of (5) "quality" as used in your organization

Finally, you are to define (6) "Six Sigma," and assess its applicability and value, if any, in your organization or one with which you are familiar.

Answer 1

1. Operational efficiency- is the ability of a company to deliver high-quality goods and services in the most cost-effective ways. It involves the strategies and techniques adopted by the company to provide their customers high quality products and services with minimal waste. Example- Optimization of work process in publishing process for publishing journals.
2. Operational effectiveness- the practices adopted by companies to effectively utilize the inputs to produce goods and services with minimal defects. In other words, operational effectiveness refers the best practice adopted by the company to produce goods and services with reduced defects faster than before. Example- Team huddle conducted for 15 mins every day to discuss challenges and best practices to perform the tasks of the Journal Manager.
3. Operations strategy- refers to strategic positioning of the company. It is creating a unique value proposition to the methods and procedures to produce high quality goods and services to their customers. Example- The redundant steps in the process of publishing the journals were eliminated using Six Sigma methodologies.
4. Operational sustainability- refers to analyzing if a company can sustain its existing practices in the long-run. It is evaluating, refining and sustaining the existing practices in the day-to-day operations of the business. Example- sustainable production methods such as reduced errors in journals were adopted for long-term growth in the business.
5. Quality- refers to standards of something that is used to measure significant variations, defects and deficiencies. It is the measure of excellence which is used as standards. Example- Customers such as authors, editors, reviewers and publishers (in-house stakeholders) consider reduced errors and on-time schedules to be quality parameters for the journals.