...J. Service Science & Management, 2009, 2: 255-264 doi:10.4236/jssm.2009.24030 Published Online December 2009 (www.SciRP.org/journal/jssm) 255 Service System Decoupling for Mass Customization: A Case Study in Catering Services Jue CHEN1, Yunhong HAO2 1 The tourism school, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou, China; 2School of Business Administration, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou, China. Email: chenjue8@yahoo.com Received April 17, 2009; revised June 19, 2009; accepted July 28, 2009. ABSTRACT The paper examines the key issues on system decoupling in service operations of mass customization by conducting a case study in catering services. It firstly justifies the effectiveness of applying concept of mass customization into service system decoupling to deal with the operation dilemma and then reveals the nature of decoupling decisions for mass customization purpose after discussions on the importance of modularization and the role of technologies including IT in the decoupling process. Based on these analyses, a Judgment-Matrix-based model on how to make the decoupling decisions in balancing the multiple operation objectives is then proposed and further research directions are finally suggested. Keywords: Mass Customization, System Decoupling, Customer Contact, Modularization 1. Introduction System decoupling is an effective approach to cope with the influences caused by customer contact by dividing the service system into two components: back-stage...
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...Service Operations Management (SOM) **Some of my notes are taken from previous MSE/STS notes & Google so don’t worry if you can’t find it in your 6P/RR ** PROBLEM 1 Services Producing Industries: * Wholesale and Retail Trade * Transport and Storage * Accommodation and F&B Services * Information and Communications * Finance & Insurance * Business Services * Other services industries Business Excellence Framework and Awards: Companies known for service excellence: E.g. MacDonalds, Ritz Carlton, CPF, NLB, OCBC, SIA Quality Award (SQA): | Organization’s attainment of world-class standards of performance excellence | People Excellence Award (PEA) | The PE Award recognizes and celebrates organisations whose outstanding people management capability has contributed significantly to business excellence. | Innovation Award (I-Award) | The I-Award recognizes and celebrates organisations whose outstanding innovation capability development approach has contributed significantly to business excellence. | Service Excellence Award | The Service Excellence Award is the highest accolade for service excellence. It recognizes the best of the best with a total approach to developing their service capability to enhance service leadership, service agility, customer delight, and customer experience.Benefits: * Organization will be able to use Service Excellence Award logo on all its materials as marketing tool. (Leveraging on the service...
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...Operations and Supply Management: Goods and Services Similarities and Differences between Goods and Services The similarities between good and services are that goods and services provide value to the customer, and they can both be made to fit what a customer wants or needs. The delivery of both goods and services require a process to get to final delivery, so operations management is a critically important skill for both (Collier, 2007). According to Jacobs, there are five things that differentiate goods from services. They are, first, a service is an intangible process that cannot be weighed or measured, but a good has a physical presence that can be. Second, a service must be delivered via interaction with a customer whereas a product is manufactured somewhere away from the customer. Third, how a service is delivered varies as this is dependent on the customer, the service provider and the situation, but the production of goods has no variability. Fourth, the process of delivering a service is dependent on time and can’t be stored, and fifth, services are evaluated as a package of features that include the facility, goods involved in the process, and explicit and implicit services (Jacobs, pp. 11-12). Collier goes on to name a few more differences, namely the demand for services is more difficult to predict and service management skills are vital to the successful delivery of a service. Operations Management and Production Differences for Goods and Services ...
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...COLLEGE Programme: AAPBS LEVEL-5- Certificate in Business Mgmt Studies. Unit: Operations Management in Business Unit code: M- QCF level: 5 Credit Value: 15 Tutor: Sabrina Akbar Email- Sabrina.akbar@londonchurchillcollege.co.uk Date Set: 08/02/2012 Learner’s name and statement of authenticity Learner’s Name: …………….. Learner’s ID: Date handed-in: I certify that the work submitted for this assignment is my own. Where the work of others has been used to support my work then credit has been acknowledged. Signature: ……………………. Date: …………… 1. Introduction: Operations management is concerned about overseeing, redesigning and designing business operation in service or production of goods, efficient use of resources and effectively meeting of customer requirements. Operations management also cover the process which converts inputs into outputs like inputting raw materials or energy and labor and getting goods and services. It considers the utilization, development and acquisition of resources that organizations need to deliver services and goods their customers want. The works and jobs responsibility of operation management starts from strategic planning and ends at operational and technical levels. Operation management use various technology and ideas to reduce production and operating cost and increase productivity, improve customer services, increase product quality and improve flexibility to fulfill customer demands and...
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...design are interrelated. The process design means ‘the process by which some functional requirement of people is satisfied through the shaping or configuration of the resources and/or activities that compose a product, or a service, or the transformation process that produces them’. Slack et al., (2010, pp.86) All operation managers are designers of the products and operation management is an activity that manage resource which is devoted for production and delivery of products and services. Additionally (Slack et al, 2008) lecture notes of I G Perera. ‘It is about the way in which organisations produce goods and services.’ The below assignment will show how IKEA’ operations management has made IKEA to one of the most successful furniture retailer in the world. The assignment is divided into three parts. The first part will analyze the elements of IKEA and operation management. The second part will identify the main V’s used by IKEA and design process. The third part will identify how IKEA has met customer needs and will explain how the business objectives of IKEA is met. At the end, recommendations for IKEA will be provided and a conclusion is drawn. Every organization has a part for the operations functions as all organization produce products or services. Research has noted that most important element in IKEA furniture’s is that they are self-assembled. A view of the IKEA furniture is outlined in Why You Love That IKEA Table, Even If It’s Crooked, by Shankar Vedantan ( February...
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...Welcome to OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT Operations Management is important, exciting, challenging, and everywhere your look! Important, because it’s concerned with creating all of the products and services upon which we depend. Exciting, because it’s at the centre of so many of the changes affecting the world of business. Challenging, because the solutions that we find need to work globally and responsibly within society and the environment. And everywhere, because every service and product that you use – the cereal you eat at breakfast, the chair you sit on, and the radio station you listen to while you eat – is the result of an operation or process. Our aim in writing Operations Management is to give you a comprehensive understanding of the issues and techniques of operations management, and to help you get a great final result in your course. Here’s how you might make the most of the text: ● Get ahead with the latest developments – from the up-to-the-minute Operations in practice features in every chapter to the focus on corporate social responsibility in the final chapter – these put you at the cutting edge. ● Use the Worked examples and Problems and applications to improve your use of key quantitative and qualitative techniques, and work your way to better grades in your assignments and exams. ● Follow up on the recommended readings at the end of each chapter. They’re specially selected to enhance your learning and give you an edge in your course...
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...Operations Management… By D.B.S. Saurabh Marwah(201401017), Dingnan Ouyang(201400084), Boyang Yu(201400104) Students – Asia Pacific International College Literature review 1 Literature review of Operations management Saurabh Marwah, Dingnang, Boyang Asia Pacific International College Research Topic: The impact of total supply chain management on organization performance? Literature review 2 Introduction Operations management is an important part for all the organizations to run themselves successfully or in a professional manner. It refers to decisions and responsibilities of managing the resources dedicated to the production and service delivery. Managers are the people who are responsible managing the resources that make up the operations function. There are other functions also which are not core to the organizations which are for the smooth running of the organizations such as accounting, IT, human resources. Being an operations manager contains a lot of responsibilities and activates in the organization, which contribute to give good service. * Strategic objective: Operations managers must clearly understand the goals of the organization and develop vision in order to achieve them, which also involve translating the goals into implications. * Operations strategy: There are numerous decision-making involved with operations, it is important that operations manager should have a set of guidelines that are connected with organization’s...
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...Operations management can be defined as the planning, scheduling, and control of the activities that transform inputs into finished goods and services. In other words, it is ‘a field of study that focuses on the effective planning , scheduling, use, and control of a manufacturing or service organisation through the study of concepts from design engineering, industrial engineering, and management information systems, quality management, production management, accounting, and other functions as the affect the operation. Operations management concerns making the most efficient use of whatever resources an organisation to provide the finished goods or services that its customer need on time and cost effective manner. Operations management is related with the strategy of the organisation. In this coursework, we will demonstrate the relationship between the operations management and the strategy of the organisation with the help of a corporate entity. The corporate entity chosen is McDonald's Corporation. McDonald's Corporation is the world's largest chain of fast-food restaurants. The business began in 1940, with a restaurant opened by siblings Dick and Mac McDonald in San Bernardino, California. Today McDonald's restaurants are found in 120 countries and around the world and serve nearly 54 million customers each day. Product Planning Organisations exist to provide products and services which can be purchased by other organisations or an individual. Therefore planning of products...
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...Introduction to Operation Management 1. Define operations management. Operations management is the business function that is responsible for managing and coordinating the resources needed to produce a company’s products and services. Without operations management there would be no products or services to sell. 2. Explain the role of operations management in business. The role of operations management is to transform organizational inputs—human resources, facilities, materials, technology, and information—into a company’s finished goods or services. 3. Describe decisions that operations managers make. Operations management is responsible for a wide range of decisions, ranging from strategic decisions, such as designing the unique features of a product and process, to tactical decisions, such as planning worker schedules. 4. Describe the differences between service and manufacturing operations. Organizations can be divided into manufacturing and service operations, which differ in the tangibility of the product and the degree of customer contact. Manufacturing and service operations have very different operational requirements. 5. Identify major historical developments in operations management. A number of historical milestones have shaped operations management into what it is today. Some of the more significant of these are the Industrial Revolution, scientific management, the human relations movement, management science, and...
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...Question 1 : What is the difference between operations management and process management? Operation Management How the company manages its operation, shall be the key answer to it. In fact, Operation Management is one of the topmost important factor for a company’s success. Having said that, OM helps the organization to recognize “what are” the process, people, decisions, responsibilities and “how” the available resources can be utilized and maximized to deliver the goods or satisfactory services to the clients. Process Management A type of management that deals directly with the organization’s ways of aligning the series of activities involved in any of its operational process, with the aim to clearly define how the entire process is performing. One of the example of process management is “Business Process Management (BPM) . The main purpose of process management is to minimize errors due to human and reduces miscommunication and increase productivity. In your opinion why might it be necessary to have the two terms? Having this as a simple illustration, a client company (DEF) requires its supplier company (ABC) to send its ordered goods from KL to Penang in half a day time. As an Operation Manager of ABC company, Mr. Kuak plans what are needed for the delivery of the goods. He needs to get a driver in a pink of health and choose one of its best truck that’s capable to drive long distance. Where as, Mr. Lan the process manager, decides how the driving journey be conducted...
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... Your Answer: The operations function Correct Answer: The accounting and finance function No this is a core function 2. Incorrect Most operations produce a mixture of both products and services. Which of the following businesses is closest to producing “pure” services? Your Answer: Steel company Correct Answer: Counsellor/therapist No this would normally been seen as primarily production of goods although there is still an element of service. 3. Incorrect Operations can be classified according to their volume and variety of production as well as the degree of variation and visibility. Which of the following operations would be classified as high volume, low variety? Your Answer: A family doctor Correct Answer: A fast food restaurant No, there will be a great deal of variety in this role. 4. Incorrect Which of the following activities is not a direct responsibility of operations management? Your Answer: Developing an operations strategy for the operation Correct Answer: Determining the exact mix of products and services that customers will want No this is a direct responsibility of operations management. 5. Incorrect Operations can be classified according to the degree of variation in demand and visibility of the operation as well as their volume and variety of production. Which of the following operations would be classified as high...
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...USING TEAMS IN PRODUCTION AND OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT CONTEMPORARY BUSINESS MAY 13, 2012 Facts In this case study, I have been asked to research a leading manufacturer or a major retail or restaurant business. Analyze the company’s production and operations management system and evaluate the use of teams in its production and operations management. 1. Describe a major global corporation: (1) a leading manufacturer or (2) a major retail or restaurant business. Describe the type of business, market share, financials, size, and global presence; 2. Describe the company’s production or operations management; 3. Describe and evaluate the company’s use of teams in production and operations management; 4. Analyze and evaluate the company’s ability to adjust to a major economic, environmental, or natural crisis (such as the real estate crash, financial crisis, nuclear meltdown, hurricane, flood, oil spill, etc.) and communicate effectively with their employees and customers about issues caused by the crisis. Analysis Describe a major global corporation: (1) a leading manufacturer or (2) a major retail or restaurant business. Describe the type of business, market share, financials, size, and global presence. In this scenario, I am going to address the above mentioned topic, regarding describing a major global restaurant business. The restaurant business that I am going to discuss is the McDonalds Corporation. McDonalds for the past decade has lead the fast food industry...
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...Programme OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT ASSIGNMENT OCTOBER 2010 – SEPTEMBER 2011 Sections: Page 1 Course Overview 2 2 Assignment topics 4 3 Writing up your assignment (Individual or Group) 7 4 Guide to approaching case studies 12 Class title Operations Management Credits 10 Class aims Operations Management refers to those activities which are more or less directly concerned with the creation and delivery of goods and services. The course is intended to give you a theoretical framework for thinking about operations in both manufacturing and service contexts and to describe some practical applications of operations management. In the course we will address key aspects of design, planning and control of operations systems, and to provide an understanding of the operations function in a global context. Learning outcomes Subject specific knowledge and skills including: • Understand the history of Operations Management as a subject and consider the challenges facing Operations in future with particular reference to service operations, value adding and sustainable competition. • Understand the need for an Operations Strategy to operate with a Business Strategy • Describe Operational strategies in terms of Fit, Sustainability and Risk • Assess the choices and trade-offs inherent in developing an operations strategy (assessment of alternative strategies) • Describe the nature of operations as an...
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...quality and service. As time passed, HEI began supplying more than just radio parts, adding items such as fuses, transformers, computers, and electrical testing equipment. The expansion of the product line had been coupled with an increase in the number and type of customers the company served. Although the traditional repair shops still remained a part of the company's market, technical schools, universities, and well-known corporations in the Silicon Valley were added to the list of customers. Today HEI operates the Palo Alto facility with the same dedication to supplying quality products through catalogue sales that it had when it was first founded. Customer service remains the top priority. HEI stocks and sells over 22,000 different items. Most customers receive their orders within 48 hours, and all components are warranted for a full year. Statement of the Problem: The HEI wanted to expand the business including the Web-based purchasing which the board felt that it is needed to offer on-line purchasing to its customers in order to maintain its competitive position in the market. Objective: This study explored the perceptions about Hightone Electronics, Inc. The study tried to assess the expansion activity of the company. To further discuss the idea of expanding the company to Web-based purchasing in order to maintain the competitive position in the market. To assist the board and the management in understanding that Internet-based operations management is critical...
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...OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT ABSTRACT In the present business world there has been a significant concentration on service based industries. This paper presents the way one of the world’s second biggest employer INDIAN RAILWAYS has been operating and together analyzing its various issues/ problems, and its relationship to operations practice in the organization. Though there have been many issues subjected to operations management practice, in the interest of word limitation a few issues relating to the concepts below has been discussed throughout. Consequently, incorporating some of the Operations Management theory like process(es) structure, quality dimensions, TQM, capacity planning, impact analysis, and improvement concepts. The study is based on the comparison of theories with actual practice, evaluating the applicability of these theories in real time progression of the organization, consideration of its impact on quality and customer focus. Finally, a proposal as to how the practice (es) could be enhanced. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS 2 1 INTRODUCTION 4 1.1 Definition 4 1...
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