Opman Chapter 2

From time to time, various groups clamor for import restrictions or tariffs on foreign-produced goods, particularly automobiles. How might these be helpful? Harmful?

They would be helpful in the sense that they would give U.S. manufacturers time to step up the use of industrial robots and other measures, which would make them better able to compete in domestic and world markets. The higher profits possible from reduced competition or higher prices on foreign cars could be used for research and development costs. Possible pitfalls include higher prices and less choice, which U.S. consumers would have to endure, and the possibility that U.S. companies would not use this as an opportunity to improve, but merely as a crutch. From the Japanese standpoint, they would be penalized for doing what many would see as a good job.

List the key ways that organizations compete.

Business organizations compete with one another in a variety of ways. Key among these ways are price, quality, product differentiation, flexibility, and delivery time.

Explain the importance of identifying and differentiating order qualifiers and order winners.

Characteristics such as price, quality, delivery speed, delivery reliability all can be order qualifiers or order winners. It is important to determine the set of order qualifier and order winner characteristics so that companies can emphasize or de-emphasize a given characteristic based on its classification of importance. Marketing must play a major role in determining order qualifiers and order winners. In classifying order winners and order qualifiers, marketing and operations must work together to match the market needs with the operational capability of the firm.

Contrast the terms strategies and tactics.

Strategy is the basic approach used by an organization to achieve its goal. Tactics are the methods and actions that are taken to accomplish strategies and carry out operations.

Contrast organization strategy and operations strategy....