Joy is a Senior Accountant at Big Fish Ltd. The organisation is a manufacturing company that specialises in sporting and camping goods such as tents, fishing rods, and archery equipment. These items are produced using imported raw materials from a variety of suppliers, many of whom are based in low-cost countries. Joy is assessing the extent to which the organisation may be vulnerable to cost increases and fluctuating currency values. What is Joy completing?
Answer : C
This is a sensitivity analysis---checking how sensitive the organisation is to changes in finance caused by price rises or currency fluctuations. (See p.165)
According to Hays and Wheelwright, there are four stages of operations functions, reflecting how an organisation approaches its operational system.
Which of the following is Stage 4, the stage that organisations should aspire to achieve?
Answer : B
Externally Supportive is Stage 4, where an organisation's operations function is a strategic asset, driving competitive advantage.
The four stages in order:
1 Internally Neutral -- Focus on avoiding mistakes
2 Externally Neutral -- Keeping up with industry standards
3 Internally Supportive -- Aligning operations with business strategy
4 Externally Supportive -- Operations function is a competitive differentiator
This model is important for the exam, so memorise the stages! (See LO 2.2, p.99)
Gill runs the operations department of a manufacturing organisation in Wales. The department emulates best practices from competitors through benchmarking and has recently introduced Six Sigma to prevent operational problems. Which of the following best describes Gill's approach to operations function?
Answer : B
This aligns with externally neutral, which includes:
Benchmarking against competitors
Adopting best practices (Lean, Six Sigma, BPR, TQM)
Emulating successful industry models
(LO 2.1, See p.99)
The operations department of ABC Ltd has recently launched a new product. The product is manufactured within a large factory and then sent to retailers for sale. The department has a system in place which details the components required for the product and the quantities required to fulfil customer demand. The system works online and links to other areas of the business including HR and finance.
So far, several large orders have been placed for the product from different retailers. The Chief Operations Officer (COO) has decided to programme the completion of the orders based on when the orders were placed. The benefit of this strategy is that it will give each customer a similar lead time. Thus far no buffer stock has been created as products are only created when orders are received.
Three teams are required to make the product and the product flows from team one to team two to team three, each team adding a component to the product. Unfortunately, team two are short staffed and are completing their work at a slower rate than the other two teams. This is a huge consideration for the COO as it will impact upon the capacity of the organisation.
The retailers have all signed contracts with ABC Ltd and the COO is extremely happy that they are long term contracts. Contract 1 is with retailer X and the price is set for three years. Contract 2 is with retailer Y and is a five year contract where the price will be reviewed annually in line with CPI. Contract 3 has a variable pricing mechanism based on the volume of products ordered.
What production method is used by ABC?
Answer : B
The production method is First In, First Out (FIFO) because orders are processed based on when they were received. This method ensures fairness in lead times across different customers. (See LO 3.2)
LTL Ltd is a manufacturing organisation producing made-to-order equipment for the construction industry, such as bespoke windows and doors. The Head of Operations has received four large orders and is considering the sequencing of production. Which of the following should the company do?
Answer : C
Sequencing involves balancing logic, cost, and speed to optimise production. Prioritising orders purely by arrival time (Option A) or cost efficiency (Option B) might not be practical. Similarly, making sure all orders finish at the same time (Option D) isn't always necessary. (See p.183)
Rayan is the new CFO of an international banking organisation operating in London. He has been invited to a meeting of the top executives regarding corporate strategies and strategic resource planning. He believes that the organisation must be led by the strategy first, with resources then created to meet the requirement. Is this always the case?
Answer : D
The question asks if strategy must always come first. The correct answer is no because strategies can also be developed based on available resources. Corporate strategy often influences resource planning, but sometimes an organisation will assess its resources and build a strategy accordingly. (See p. 150)
Which of the following describes a Proprietary Network?
Answer : A
A Proprietary Network is a privately owned and controlled group.
Option B refers to a Social Network
Option C describes a Bureaucratic Network
Option D refers to an Asymmetric Network
Tip: Learn these definitions well, as they frequently appear in exam questions! (See LO 1.1)