...Learning Readiness Exercise 2 – Operations Management This operations management (OM) learning readiness exercise (LRE) was developed by Professor Lall with assistance by Najam Hassan, and it will be assessed by our AMBA 640 / AMBA 640 Hybrid Faculty Assistants: Ryan Ismail, Mona Ahmad, Bryan Berthot, Gina DiMaggio, Cami Fawzy, Najam Hassan, Bob Neumeister, Manny Singh and Richard Wagner. The purpose of this LRE is to assess your current knowledge of aspects of operations management and thus to determine who might benefit from extra help during the OM portions of the seminar. It is a required assignment. It is marked only PASS/FAIL, albeit with comments from your FA, and thus does not count toward your seminar GPA. The references for the operations management instruction in AMBA 640 / AMBA 640 Hybrid are as found in our syllabus. In addition, you will find specific helps for each OM assignment posted in your section classroom. Assignment Kindly answer the following questions, posting your answers to your assignments folder. Include your name within your file, which per our syllabus, should be in pdfformat. 1. Your OM experience a. I have prior experience in operations management. No b. I have managed operations managers. No c. I have used OM software. No Operations management is sometimes also known as production management and/or supply chain management and/or management...
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...8/20/2014 Discussion Activity #4 Instructions - AMBA 640 9044 Managing Projects, Operations, and Information Systems (2145) Discussion Activity #4 Instructions Basic Instructions: During Weeks 8 and 9, working in teams under the leadership of a student CIO and Assistant CIO, the section drafts an information systems management (ISM) plan for Acme Mexico City. In doing so, the section completes the work tasked as Assignment 4 in the Four Assignments Package to be found in Content/General Information. Additional Instructions: In view of our time constraints, this will be a draft ISM plan. Acme corporate headquarters will have standards, policies, and expectations with which Acme Mexico City (AMC) must comply. These may be hypothesized. Acme Mexico City will need to support both store-internal and -external IS needs Internal needs will include support of at least store Business processes and operations Decision mak ing by employees and managers Strategies to gain competitive advantage Human resource needs External needs will include at least: Reporting to Acme corporate Meeting Mexican and US government regulatory requirements Fulfilling supplier and customer expectations in this business sector in Mexico City Any format that logically and succinctly addresses that above needs may be used A sample IM (=ISM) plan for a health services organization follows below. It is deliberately for such an organization because: Health services is another important business sector supported...
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...AMBA 640 / AMBA 640 HYBRID COURSE MATERIALS ASSIGNMENTS Acme Mexico City and Application of World-Class Operations and Information Systems Management Techniques and Production Planning and Strategy for Toyota North America (Version 06/01/15) Background Information for Acme Mexico City Acme Home Improvements, Inc. was founded in 1982 in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. By mid 2015, the company had 125 stores along the US East Coast from Florida to Maine. Its annual sales are currently ~$5,400,000,000 with $280,000,000 net income. The average store is about 100,000 square feet with an additional 10,000 square feet of outside garden center. The stores typically carry 40,000 different products from 5,000 vendors worldwide. Major US competitors include Ace, Home Depot, Lowe's, and TruValue. All four operate already in Mexico. 1 In the interests of seeking greater profits and buffering against downturns in the US market, Acme has determined to follow these and other competitors to Canada and Mexico. In the latter, it has established, in accordance with Mexican law, a joint venture with local interests, known as Acme Home Improvements de México, SA de CV ("Acme de México" or "Acme Mexico City"). (SA de CV = Sociedad Anónima de Capital Variable, a Mexican corporate form.) There are five major product groups within each Acme store: plumbing and electrical supplies, building materials, hardware and tools, seasonal and garden/yard items, and paint, flooring and wall coverings. Each store...
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...AMC Toyota Production System (TPS) AMBA 640 Professor Breckon Executive Summary This paper will examine the use of Data analytics and Sustainable Supply Chain for Acme Mexico City. Introduction Acme Mexico City is facing a major decision with finding the appropriate number of employees that will be needed on the floor during any given point during the day to meet the needs of the customer and creating a supply chain that will meet the demands. Body Data analytics refers to qualitative and quantitative techniques and processes used to enhance productivity and business gain. Data is extracted and categorized to identify and analyze behavioral data and patterns, and techniques vary according to organizational requirements. (Technopedia) By adding data analytics to Acme Mexico City is would give them a competitive advantage and achieve an insights into consumer shopping patterns that directly affect the business. Data analytics would help facilitate Acme’s decision on how many part time customer service agents to have on the floor at any given time. However, there are limitations with the use of data analytics. Big data analytics is not only positive as it also offer some challenges. Data analytic technique requires powerful computers along with employees who are able to interpret the raw data. Data creates bigger haystacks. As we acquire more data, we have the ability to find many, many more statistically significant correlations. Most of these correlations are...
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...The Orion Shield Project Analysis- Week 2 by: Shanicka Sudler University of Maryland University College AMBA 640 Due Date: Tuesday, July 21st, 2015 The Orion Shield Project: Executive Summary “On the basis of data released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, part of the US Department of Commerce, they estimated in 2001 that the US public and private sectors combined spend some $2.3trn on projects every year, an amount equivalent to a quarter of America's GDP” (Wheatley, 2015). Now that we know that, we can fully understand how important project management is not just for small businesses but for the world. There are many variables that works together to make a project successful. Scientific Engineering Corporation (SEC) recently hired a new Project Manager, Gary Allison, for their organization. He was appointed to take on The Orion Shield Project. From the very beginning. Mr. Allison was set up to fail for many reasons. One of the projects assigned was the Orion Shield Project. The purpose of this paper is to identify and critically discuss the technical, ethical, legal, contractual and other project management related issues faced by the current Project Manager. As well as complete an evaluation on the job performance of the Project Manager. Introduction According to pmi.org as well as other scholarly readings, a project can be best defined as “temporary task or tasks that it has a defined beginning and end in time, and therefore defined scope and resources...
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...The Orion Shield Project Case Study An Analysis of What Went Wrong University of Maryland University College Author Note This paper was prepared for AMBA 640, Section 113, taught by Professor Executive Summary Project management is the application of knowledge, skills and techniques to execute projects effectively and efficiently as defined from the Project Management Institute (PMI, 2008). It is a calculated proficiency for organizations enabling them to tie project results to business goals and improve chances to compete in their respective markets. Project management processes fall into five competency groups which are initiating, planning, executing, monitoring and controlling and closing that ensures a project’s success. The Project Manager must possess certain skills to manage a process. A Project manager must also be able to manage time, quality and scope resourcefully. This paper will analyze the performance of Gary Allison, an engineer whose first project as a Project manager was to head up the Orion Shield Project. There were many issues that made this project a near failure. I will address the technical, ethical, legal, and contractual issues that affect his performance and critique his reactions to these matters. I will conclude my analysis with a reasonable deduction of what competencies Gary lacks that would make him a more effective project manager. Introduction The Orion Shield Project is the creation of tiles that are part of...
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...Orion Shield Project Analysis AMBA 640 Michael Muscenti Executive Summary The Orion Project was a doomed endeavor for Gary Allison from the start, as it was proposed via a fabrication that was schemed at the director level of SEC’s leadership. The fact that SEC’s senior leadership can operate so unethical leaves into the doubt the company’s integrity as a whole. Although SEC managed to pull off the contract, it left a strained relationship with its prime and damaged the moral of its employees. Gary’s lack of managerial experience and weak leadership abilities made him perfectly malleable towards Director Henry Larson’s schemes. Despite a solid education and engineering background, Gary was nonetheless naïve to the politics and cultural components involved in appeasing the stakeholders. He never followed his intuition, but instead allowed himself to be played by his bosses and micromanaged by STI. He disregarded the ethical and legal ramifications of his decisions and dismissed prioritizing the customer’s contractual protocols. Gary did not have a full understanding of the three constraints facing a project: time, cost, and scope. Gary was told upon promotion that most trained managers care most about time and cost. He assumed that his main focus should be on the scope. In actuality, all three constraints must be adhered to. The contract was poorly timed-managed, causing his team to work overtime while he failed to properly juggle his assigned duties. Cost overruns...
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...Jay Stevens Individual Assignment Week 2 Professor James Stewart MBA Fundamentals AMBA 640 University at Maryland University College Due: January, 15th 2013 Executive Summary Gary Allison began his career as a mechanical engineer in which he got his Ph. D in working for Scientiic Engineering Corporation (SEC). He worked as a project engineer for the last 14 years but was given the opportunity to become a project manager from his boss Henry Larsen. The project name was Orion Shield which Gary’s boss was very excited about, as he believed the project would “take him to the top”. Gary soon would find out that even though he was a very good engineer, he was a horrible project manager almost costing the success of the project and the company as a whole. Gary could have avoided this by improving his communication and by following the five project management groups. I believe that he would have been more successful as a project manager and might have enjoyed it much more than he did. Technical In the Orion Shield Project Gary faced a lot of technical issues that was one of the causes of him not being a good project manager. He has a technical background, as he was a very successful project engineer doing mechanical work for Scientific Engineering Corporation (SEC). With a lot of effort and his excellent communication skills Gary was offered a promotion, which he accepted but later regretted his decision. I believe that one of the many mistakes he made was that he was...
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...Case Study Apple-Merging Technology, Business, and Entertainment Marcus Burch University of Maryland, University College Author Note This paper was prepared for AMBA 640. Executive Summary In the case study of Apple-Merging Technology, Business, and Entertainment, Apple transformed itself from a computer company with limited success to a major digital company with almost limitless potential and outstanding success. Apple Inc. brings more than 35 years of mission management and problem solving ability to the digital environment. The computer and or digital industry is latent with slogans and catch phrases about its technology, innovations and proven commitment to development. Apple’s core products are the most revolutionary innovations of the digital age. The iPod, iPad, iPhone, and iOS App Store help usher in a change in the way we use and purchase products. These products spawned a new revolution in the marketing of electronics. Introduction The purpose of this case analysis is to critically analyze the case study, Apple-Merging Technology, Business, and Entertainment from Baltzan’s book Business Driven Information Systems 3E.(2012). The analysis will discuss the influence that the iPhone, iPad, iPod, and other Apple products have had over the last 10 years on the company and its competitors. Over the last 30 plus years Apple has transformed itself from a computer hardware or PC...
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...Sri Lanka | Diversified Holdings Initiation of coverage EQUITY RESEARCH 5 September 2013 CT Holdings PLC (CTHR) Cashing in on consumption growth CT Holdings (CTHR) is the fourth-largest Sri Lankan diversified company by market capitalization. The company holds controlling interests in Cargills (CSE ticker: CARG, CTHR’s 70%-owned food retail company), the country’s largest chain of supermarkets, as well as in several companies in the food processing, restaurant, real estate, entertainment and financial services sectors. We expect CTHR’s revenues from continuing operations to post an 11.1% CAGR over FY14E-FY16E and net margin to expand 40bps to 2.3% by FY16E. Rising disposable income should continue to boost consumer demand and benefit Sri Lanka’s modern food retail market, driving CTHR’s retail and wholesale distribution segment (84% of revenue in FY13) at an 8.8% CAGR over FY14EFY16E. We expect margins to benefit from higher food sales and economies of scale in food processing. However, high finance costs resulting from CTHR’s recent spate of acquisitions may pressure earnings. We arrive at a valuation range of LKR126-153 for CTHR, compared with the current share price of LKR140, as at 4 September 2013. Sri Lanka’s organized food retail penetration grew to 15% in 2012 from 10% in 2004. This growth was supported by rising disposable income (12.6% CAGR over 2010-2012) and a slowly increasing preference for shopping at modern retail outlets. However, penetration remains lower...
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...Orion Shield Project Analysis Emoke de Kun AMBA 640 Professor Larry Williams July 16, 2013 Table of Contents Executive Summary 3 Contractual Issues 4-5 Technical Issues 5-6 Ethical and Legal Issues 6-7 Project Management Issues 8 Conclusion 9 References 10 Executive Summary The purpose of this paper is to analyze the implications that Gary Larsen was faced with as project manager in the Orion Shield Project Case Study. Gary Larsen, who was chosen as project manager was faced with many hurdles and his inexperience as the project manager definitely had negative implications on the triple constraints of the project: scope, time and cost. In this paper, I will address the problems Gary Allison faced: contractual, legal, ethical, technical and project management. Henry Larsen chose Gary Allison to be project manager, knowing full well he did not have the knowledge, nor the know-how to be a project manager, especially of such a big project. I will address Henry Larsen’s unethical behavior and poor leadership skills as well. Henry Larsen tried to put all the blame on his project manager, but he as a sponsor was practically absent and let the project get totally out of control. My recommendation would be to have a project manager with experience and proper leadership skills who...
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...Week 8 Individual Assignment Critical Analysis of Apple Computers University of Maryland University College December 1, 2015 This paper was prepared for AMBA 640, Section 9040, taught by Professor Stewart. Executive Summary Apple, Inc. is one of the world’s most valuable and respected brands. People stand in line for hours and sometimes days, just to get their hands on the newest Apple device. How did Apple take over the technology business? What can we learn from their continued success? According to Forbes, Apple is worth over $741.8 billion (Forbes.com). Apple dominates the computer hardware and Smartphone industries by designing, manufacturing and marketing high quality products. Apple keeps up with the fast paced changes in technology, constantly offering updates and releasing new devices. The purpose of this analysis is to determine best practice and lessons learned to apply to enterprise information systems management. Through a thorough investigation of the organization, I was able to determine that Apple, Inc attributes a great deal of its success to its heavy reliance upon their customer relationship management (CRM) system. Apple puts its customers at its forefront and designs its practices and products around their wants and needs. Apple also depends on its enterprise resource planning tool, SAP. SAP is interfaced throughout multiple parts of the organization including order confirmations, shipment confirmations and inventory management, allowing Apple to function...
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...Apple Analysis Executive Summary In week 8 of AMBA 640, we will be analyzing the Apple case located in chapter one of Management Information Systems: Business Driven MIS Inc from an information systems management perspective. Our analysis will look at some of the common tools used to analyze competitive intelligence such as Porter’s Five Forces Model, the three generic strategies for choosing a business focus and the value chain analysis. We will also discuss why and how data, information, business intelligence and knowledge are important to Apple. This analysis will also include how Apple identified areas where it achieved a competitive advantage using management information systems and why competitive advantages are temporary. Introduction Apple was launched April 1, 1976 by Steve Jobs, Ronald Wayne and Steve Wozniak and is considered to be one of the most innovative technologies companies in the world. The company is responsible for products and services such as the Macintosh desktop and laptop computers, iTunes, iPod, iPhone, iTouch, iPad, Apple TV, and iCloud. Apple also develops its own software to run on its computers, its philosophy “has always been to create products that consumers find easy to use and marry innovative technology to work productivity and personal entertainment” (Mallin & Finkle, p.49, 2011). This accomplished company faces constant challenges from a competitive market to a technology lifecycle that is continuously being shortened and thus must...
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...Apple Analysis Executive Summary In week 8 of AMBA 640, we will be analyzing the Apple case located in chapter one of Management Information Systems: Business Driven MIS Inc from an information systems management perspective. Our analysis will look at some of the common tools used to analyze competitive intelligence such as Porter’s Five Forces Model, the three generic strategies for choosing a business focus and the value chain analysis. We will also discuss why and how data, information, business intelligence and knowledge are important to Apple. This analysis will also include how Apple identified areas where it achieved a competitive advantage using management information systems and why competitive advantages are temporary. Introduction Apple was launched April 1, 1976 by Steve Jobs, Ronald Wayne and Steve Wozniak and is considered to be one of the most innovative technologies companies in the world. The company is responsible for products and services such as the Macintosh desktop and laptop computers, iTunes, iPod, iPhone, iTouch, iPad, Apple TV, and iCloud. Apple also develops its own software to run on its computers, its philosophy “has always been to create products that consumers find easy to use and marry innovative technology to work productivity and personal entertainment” (Mallin & Finkle, p.49, 2011). This accomplished company faces constant challenges from a competitive market to a technology lifecycle that is continuously being shortened and thus must...
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...Executive Summary In week 8 of AMBA 640, we will be analyzing the Apple case located in chapter one of Management Information Systems: Business Driven MIS Inc from an information systems management perspective. Our analysis will look at some of the common tools used to analyze competitive intelligence such as Porter’s Five Forces Model, the three generic strategies for choosing a business focus and the value chain analysis. We will also discuss why and how data, information, business intelligence and knowledge are important to Apple. This analysis will also include how Apple identified areas where it achieved a competitive advantage using management information systems and why competitive advantages are temporary. Introduction Apple was launched April 1, 1976 by Steve Jobs, Ronald Wayne and Steve Wozniak and is considered to be one of the most innovative technologies companies in the world. The company is responsible for products and services such as the Macintosh desktop and laptop computers, iTunes, iPod, iPhone, iTouch, iPad, Apple TV, and iCloud. Apple also develops its own software to run on its computers, its philosophy “has always been to create products that consumers find easy to use and marry innovative technology to work productivity and personal entertainment” (Mallin & Finkle, p.49, 2011). This accomplished company faces constant challenges from a competitive market to a technology lifecycle that is continuously being shortened and thus must make...
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