Operations Instructional Area Exam (PQ, CS)
A project is temporary, which means that it has a definite -beginning and end -outcome -process group -quality
Beginning and end. Projects are temporary, which means that they have a definite beginning and end. Projects include outcomes, quality, and process groups, but the definition of temporary does not relate to these terms.
Most employees should not attempt to repair a business's -printed signs -electrical equipment -training manuals -scratched desks
Electrical equipment. Only trained employees should attempt to repair electrical equipment because of the possibility of injury from electrical shock or damage to the equipment. The alternatives are items for which most employees can provide preventive maintenance or minor repairs.
Which of the following words best describes the relationship of the purchasing department to other departments in a company: -Interrelated --Independent -Unrelated -Unsupportive
Interrelated. When purchasing does its job well, other departments can function properly. Purchasing, in turn, depends on other departments for information and expertise so it can do its job well. Therefore, the firm's departments can be viewed as interdependent, or interrelated.
What do businesses need to maintain in order to produce goods and services for customers? -List of vendors -Schedule of accounts -Inventory of supplies -Copies of invoices
Inventory of supplies. All businesses need to maintain an inventory of supplies in order to produce goods and services for customers. Small businesses may only need office supplies while retailers also need supplies to wrap packages. Large manufacturing businesses need vast inventories of resources to produce products. Without an inventory of supplies, businesses will not be able to do even simple tasks. The result might be a loss of customers and a loss of income. Some businesses may need only one vendor rather than a list of vendors. Businesses do not need to maintain a schedule of accounts or copies of invoices to produce goods and services for customers.
What is a task that might occur at the end of a project? -Assessing team members' satisfaction -Analyzing possible problems -Communicating with stakeholders -Creating a schedule
Assessing team members' satisfaction. At the end of the project, team members can offer feedback about the project so that its success can be evaluated. Team members' satisfaction is an important aspect of the project's success. Creating a schedule, analyzing possible problems, and communicating with stakeholders all occur at the beginning or during the project, not at the end of the project.
An advertising agency can maintain computer data security by limiting access to certain information and by -backing up the computer information twice a year on disks or tapes -assigning each employee a unique password to access the computer system -hiring an independent technical consultant to monitor information -tracking the internet activity of each employee working for the agency
Assigning each employee a unique password to access the computer system. Advertising agencies store many types of confidential information on their computers, including client information and personnel data. By assigning each employee a unique password that s/he must enter to gain access to the advertising agency's computer system, it becomes more difficult for hackers or unauthorized people to retrieve important information. The agency should advise employees that they should not share their password with others. An advertising agency should back up the computer system more than twice a year. Frequent back-ups keep information current and are helpful when computer systems crash and data is lost. Tracking employee Internet usage does not protect or secure data. Hiring a consultant to monitor information does not necessarily ensure the security of the information.
An important reason why employees should follow instructions when using heavy machinery is to -eliminate ongoing problems -avoid serious injury -stop malfunctions from occurring -reduce production conflicts
Avoid serious injury. Machinery can be dangerous to operate, so it is important for businesses to ensure that the employees who operate the machinery follow instructions. If the machinery is not handled appropriately, employees could be seriously injured and the machinery could be damaged, which can be very costly to businesses. Following instructions will not eliminate all problems, stop all malfunctions from occurring, or reduce production conflicts.
Which of the following is necessary to the actual production of goods and services: -utility -capital resources -consumers -fiscal control
Capital resources. Capital resources are the money, machinery, equipment, and supplies used in production. They are only one type of resource used in production. Utility is usefulness added to a product. Utility enables products to meet the needs of the consumers who buy and use the product. Fiscal control is government use of price controls, licensing, wage control, tax rates, and other monetary methods by government to regulate business.
Protecting company information and intangibles often involves following the rules established to control access to -storage facilities -computer systems -inventory methods -cash registers
Computer systems. Company information is a type of intangible property that most businesses want to protect. Today, most of this information is stored on internal computer networks or systems. As a result, businesses establish rules to control access to computer systems to protect confidential or sensitive company information from being stolen or destroyed. Employees are expected to follow the rules, such as regularly changing passwords or not opening suspicious emails, to help protect the information. Protecting company information and intangibles does not involve following the rules established to control access to inventory methods, cash registers, or storage facilities. The inventory kept in storage facilities and the money in cash registers are tangibles rather than intangibles.
Employees should report noncompliance to the appropriate government agency when their employers fail to -manage their sales and profits effectively -follow health and safety regulations -set reasonable business objectives -develop communication procedures
Follow health and safety regulations. Governments develop health and safety regulations to protect the well-being of both employees and customers. When a business does not follow the regulations, employees should report the noncompliance to the government. By reporting the noncompliance, the government can step in to ensure that the business takes corrective action before an accident occurs and someone is injured. Communication procedures and business objectives are internal factors that affect the business rather than issues that government agencies oversee. As long as the business manages its sales and profits in an ethical and legal manner (effective or not), it is complying with the law.
One of the reasons that small businesses are more likely to be victims of thefts and other crimes than large businesses is that small businesses often have -more dishonest employees. -inadequate security precautions. -less police protection. -longer business hours.
Inadequate security precautions. Small businesses usually have fewer employees, and these employees may not be trained in security precautions. This makes the small business vulnerable to crime. There are no statistics to prove that the employees of a small business would be more dishonest than those of a large business. Longer than average business hours can make a business more likely to be targeted by criminals, but not all small businesses have longer business hours than large businesses. The same police protection is available to businesses of all sizes.
If you are tracking and managing progress, issues, and changes during a project, you are -communicating with key stakeholders. -ending the project. -monitoring and controlling the project. -starting the project.
Monitoring and controlling the project. Monitoring and controlling projects is an important aspect of project management. It includes tracking the project's progress, controlling issues, and managing changes. Tracking its progress, issues, and changes does not happen during the start of the project because at the beginning, there is nothing to track and manage. Communicating with key stakeholders is an important aspect of project management, but it does not include managing progress, issues, and changes. Finally, ending the project does not include tracking and managing progress, issues, and changes because that has already been completed by the end of the project.
Which of the following is an operations activity in business: -selecting media -analyzing investments -obtaining resources -contacting customers
Obtaining resources. Resources refer to any person or item that the business uses to accomplish an objective. Operations management is the process of planning, controlling, and monitoring the day-to-day activities required for the company to function. This includes obtaining and allocating the appropriate type and amount of resources to do the work, such as employees, equipment, and supplies. Contacting customers is a sales activity. Selecting media is a promotional activity. Analyzing investments is a financial activity.
A business's cashiers and sales personnel should be trained to protect the business from dishonest customers who attempt to carry out -internal theft -point-of-sale fraud -embezzlement -payroll fund
Point-of-sale fraud. Point-of-sale fraud includes any illegal schemes involving credit cards, checks, or cash which cheat a business out of money. Some examples would be customers who try to pay for goods with stolen credit cards, forged checks, or altered bills. Payroll fraud is a form of internal theft carried out by employees of the business who alter the payroll records in order to steal money for themselves or others. Embezzlement is the theft of valuables that have been entrusted to one's care.
Obtaining goods that will satisfy the needs and wants of a business's customers is a function of -marketing -selling -purchasing -advertising
Purchasing. Purchasing is a business function which involves the planning and procedures necessary to obtain goods and services for use in the business or for resale. Personal selling is planned, personalized communication designed to influence purchase behavior and to ensure satisfaction. Advertising is any paid form of nonpersonal presentation of goods, services, or ideas. Marketing is an organizational function and a set of processes for creating, communicating, and delivering value to customers and for managing customer relations in ways that benefit the organization and its stakeholders.
Employees who follow the manufacturer's instructions when operating business equipment are -lowering fixed costs -meeting grade specifications -improving productivity quotas -reducing the risk of damage
Reducing the risk of damage. Because business equipment is often expensive and dangerous to use, employees should follow the equipment manufacturer's directions when operating the equipment. By following directions, employees reduce the risk of injuring themselves and others, and they reduce the risk of damaging the equipment. It can be very costly to repair damaged equipment, so employers should train their employees to operate the equipment properly by following the manufacturer's directions. Following the manufacturer's instructions when operating equipment will not always improve productivity quotas (goals), meet various grade specifications, or lower fixed costs. Fixed costs are expenses that are not affected by changes in sales volume.
When a customer or an employee is involved in a minor accident on the business's premises, an employee of the business should immediately -report the accident to a supervisor or manager. -help the injured person move to a quiet area. -call the local medical emergency number. -offer to take the person home.
Report the accident to a supervisor or manager. Even though an injury is minor, a supervisor or manager should handle any sort of situation in which the business may be subject to lawsuits or liable for damages of any kind. A person with a minor injury would not be immobile and would not need to move unless s/he is causing a traffic problem. Medical emergency numbers are used only in cases of serious accidents or injuries. Offering to take the person to his/her home might be done later, if necessary, but it would not be an immediate step to take.
If you work for a business that wants to maintain client confidentiality, how should you dispose of old papers that include client information? -Blackout any identifiable information and throw the documents away -Shred the documents -Ask a coworker to destroy the papers for you -Recycle the documents
Shred the documents. Shredding the documents will make it more difficult to recover client information. Asking a coworker to destroy the documents does not ensure they will be destroyed. Blacking out information or recycling the documents makes it possible to recover the information.
Akua is in charge of supervising the entire process of getting products into the marketplace, otherwise known as the flow of goods. Akua's job title is most likely -Line Supervisor. -Inventory Manager. -Chief Financial Officer. -Supply Chain Manager.
Supply Chain Manager. A supply chain manager is in charge of supervising the entire process of getting goods into the marketplace, including coordinating with other companies and vendors. A line supervisor supervises a given team, or line, to ensure quality and productivity. A chief financial officer, or CFO, monitors all of a company's funds and assets. An inventory manager supervises and controls the number of finished products a company has in stock.
Your employer, The Work Group, does not allow nonemployees in its facility, nor does it permit nonemployees to use company equipment. Which of the following scenarios would comply with The Work Group's policy: -Taking your laptop home to finish a project -Allowing a friend to visit you at work to help you with a project after hours -Letting your brother do his homework on your laptop after work -Bringing a family member to see the office after work
Taking your laptop home to finish a project. The Work Group's policy is specific to nonemployees and does not say anything about employees using equipment after hours. Bringing a family member to the office, letting your brother use your laptop, and allowing a friend to visit you at the office after hours would all violate the company's policy.
Visual inspection is used to monitor inventory levels in many retail stores. For example, hardware stores often place stock cards on pegboards with stock numbers and descriptions for each item displayed. The stock cards specify the number of items to be kept in stock. The amount to reorder will most likely depend on -the physical inventory records of the store and the selling price of the merchandise. -the perpetual inventory records of the store. -the amount of shelf space in the store. -the difference between the number on hand and the specified number -to be stocked.
The difference between the number on hand and the specified number to be stocked. Although a visual inspection system is easy for stock clerks, a card system in small retail stores will assist the business in making quick decisions to reorder additional merchandise. Physical inventories are taken at least once each year but usually not often enough to assist in the reordering process. Perpetual inventory records may not be totally accurate due to mistakes during the receiving process or the checkout area. Shelf space is a factor in reordering goods only when storage or warehouse space is unavailable elsewhere. If demand for the product is high, the selling price will not influence the quality of goods reordered.
Who is responsible for making sure that a business is a healthy, hazard-free place to work that complies with government regulations? -The government -The employer -Local law enforcement -Employees
The employer. It is an employer's responsibility, not the local law enforcement's duty, to be sure his/her company is a safe and healthy place to work. Employees also have a responsibility to make sure they are behaving in ways that are safe and healthy. Employers must comply with all governmental health and safety regulations.
In which of the following situations is a business most likely to experience a security breach: -A small-business owner installs electronic locks and security windows in the company's warehouse. -A business employee uses a paper shredder to destroy business records that it no longer needs. -The last employee to leave a business facility after business hours fails to set the security alarm. -The technology coordinator regularly updates the antivirus software on all of the firm's computers.
The last employee to leave a business facility after business hours fails to set the security alarm. To protect their personal well-being, the well-being of coworkers and customers, and the business's property, employees need to follow their employers' security procedures. If the employee is the last person to leave the business facility, s/he needs to ensure that the doors are locked and the security alarm is set. If the security alarm is not set, it increases the risk of theft because it makes it easier for a thief to break into the building to steal money, inventory, or equipment. Installing electronic locks and security windows, updating antivirus software, and shredding unneeded documents are activities that reduce the risk of security breaches.
While Ken was heating up his lunch in the company's kitchen microwave oven, his food caught on fire. What is the most appropriate action for Ken to take? -Open the window for evacuation purposes -Leave the kitchen to report the fire to his supervisor -Use the kitchen fire extinguisher to put out the fire -Call 411 and request assistance from the fire department
Use the kitchen fire extinguisher to put out the fire. For safety purposes, most localities require that businesses have fire extinguishers placed throughout their facilities. Business facilities that have kitchens should keep fire extinguishers in a prominent space of the kitchen so that they are easily available to put out small fires that are contained in pans, microwaves, etc. In the situation presented, the fire is small and contained to a limited location, so Ken should be able to use the fire extinguisher to put it out. If Ken leaves to tell his supervisor about the fire, the fire may spread. Ken should leave the kitchen and follow the company's fire evacuation policies if the fire is spreading. The company's policies may involve leaving the kitchen to advise others to evacuate, opening a window, or calling 911 (rather than 411) to request assistance from the fire department after everyone has evacuated the building.
Which of the following is an example of an employee maintaining a safe work environment: -William follows his employer's rules when he is operating heavy equipment. -Kaylee trips over the computer wires that are lying on the floor of her office. -Anna fails to tell her supervisor that the caution light is blinking on the equipment. -Steve takes the elevator instead of the stairs during the practice fire drill.
William follows his employer's rules when he is operating heavy equipment. To prevent accidents in the workplace, businesses develop rules for employees to follow. Employees who follow the business's rules are less likely to be injured. Employees who follow safety rules when they operate equipment are taking steps to maintain a safe work environment. An employee who fails to report problems with equipment or computer wiring is not maintaining a safe work environment. Employees should follow procedures during fire drills. Employees should take the stairs when evacuating a building because elevators may malfunction or fill up with smoke. So problems can be fixed, employees should report workplace hazards (e.g., loose computer wires) to their supervisors or maintenance workers.
