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[Dane Red]

Essay 1- Explain the impact of 2 influences on the strategic role of operations.

Introduction

The strategic role of operations is how the key business functions work interdependently to achieve the business’s goal such as profit maximisation which involves the use of cost leadership where you have the lowest cost of production than competitors in the market, creating a competitive advantage and product differentiation where goods and services from a business are changed to stand out and attract more customers in a market. The strategic role of operations is impacted by operation influences as it can affect a business’s ability to achieve cost leadership and influence product differentiation for a business.

McDonalds the world’s leading food service organisation and global outdoor, lifestyle and sports company Kathmandu are businesses that respectively demonstrate how operation influences impact the strategic role of operations.

Quality Expectations

Quality expectations refers to the expectations that a consumer has about the quality of a product or service. Quality expectations impacts the strategic role of operations as it affects the business’s ability to achieve cost leadership as it can determine the production costs and features of a good or service. Furthermore, it also affects product differentiation as depending on the expectation of quality the consumer has it will affect the quality and features of the product/service.

McDonalds demonstrates this in effect as statistics from 2011, state that after receiving negative feedback regarding their coffee, McDonalds change the product to meet customer expectation which resulted in them selling 220 million cups of coffee per year. As a result, this showcases how quality expectations impact strategic role of operations as due to the product not living up to customer expectations, McDonalds had to change the quality of the product in order to meet expectations and in the process, change the production costs which as a result affects McDonalds’ ability to achieve cost leadership. Therefore, through McDonalds it showcases how quality expectations impacts the strategic role of operations as, it can affect the business’s ability to achieve cost leadership through what the consumer expects of the product and how the quality expectations of the consumer influences product differentiation.

Corporate Social Responsibility

Corporate social responsibility is where a business goes beyond their compliance costs and aims to become environmentally friendly and ethical. Corporate social responsibility impacts the strategic role of operations as it affects the business’s ability to achieve cost leadership as it can leads to waste minimisation in the production process. Moreover, it also affects product differentiation as it can lead to products being more eco-friendly.

Kathmandu demonstrates the impact of their influence as they recycle 9.3 million bottles into gear. Hence showcasing how corporate social responsibility impacts the strategic role of operations as due to Kathmandu recycling gear, it leads to waste minimisation in the production process which reduces production costs which affects Kathmandu’s ability to achieve cost leadership as well as leading them to changing their products to be more eco-friendly. Therefore, Kathmandu displays how corporate social responsibility impacts the strategic role of operations as it can lead to business partaking in waste minimisation in the production process thus affecting their ability to achieve cost leadership as well as making them more inclined to incorporate eco-friendly and ethical changes to their product.

Conclusion

In conclusion, operation influence impacts the strategic role of operations through quality expectations and corporate social responsibility affecting cost leadership and product differentiation as evident by how they have affected McDonalds and Kathmandu in their ability to achieve cost leadership and how it has influenced their product differentiation.

 

[jimmysmith560]

Here is what I think:

Introduction

The strategic role of operations is how the key business functions work interdependently (1) to achieve the business’s goal such as profit maximisation, which involves the use of cost leadership, where you (3) have the lowest cost of production than competitors in the market, creating a competitive advantage and product differentiation, where goods and services from a business are changed to stand out and attract more customers in a market. The strategic role of operations is impacted by operations influences as it can affect a business’s ability to achieve cost leadership and influence product differentiation for a business.

McDonald's, the world’s leading food service organisation, and global outdoor, lifestyle and sports company Kathmandu, are businesses that respectively demonstrate how operations influences impact the strategic role of operations.

1. This information explains the concept of the interdependence of the key business functions. It does not define the strategic role of operations and should be removed.

2. Punctuation: it is important to ensure that your punctuation and syntax are well-developed. I have added a few commas (and an apostrophe for McDonald's) where needed.

3. You should not write an essay as if you were verbally explaining a concept to a person, i.e. the word "you" cannot be used in formal writing.

Overall, a relatively good introduction with a few (mostly) minor issues.

Quality Expectations

Quality expectations refers to constitute the expectations that a consumer has about the quality of a product or service. Quality expectations impacts the strategic role of operations as it affects the business’s ability to achieve cost leadership as it can determine the production costs and features of a good or service. Furthermore, it also affects product differentiation as depending on the expectation of quality the consumer has it will affect the quality and features of the product/service.

McDonald's demonstrates this in effect as statistics from 2011 state that after receiving negative feedback regarding their coffee, McDonald's changed the product to meet customer expectations which resulted in them selling 220 million cups of coffee per year. As a result, this showcases how quality expectations impact strategic role of operations as due to the product not living up to customer expectations, McDonald's had to change the quality of the product in order to meet expectations and in the process, change the production costs which as a result affects McDonald’s’ ability to achieve cost leadership. Therefore, through McDonald's, it showcases how quality expectations impacts the strategic role of operations as it can affect the a business’s ability to achieve cost leadership through what the consumer expects of the product and how the quality expectations of the consumer influences product differentiation.

A good paragraph that establishes a link between appropriate syllabus dot points and supports its main argument by referring to relevant case study material. Minor edits were made so as to improve its flow.

Corporate Social Responsibility

Corporate social responsibility is where a business goes beyond their compliance costs and aims to become environmentally friendly and ethical. Corporate social responsibility impacts the strategic role of operations as it affects the business’s ability to achieve cost leadership as it can leads to waste minimisation in the production process. Moreover, it also affects product differentiation as it can lead to products being more eco-friendly.

Kathmandu demonstrates the impact of their influence as they recycle 9.3 million bottles into gear, hence showcasing how corporate social responsibility impacts the strategic role of operations as due to Kathmandu recycling gear, it leads to waste minimisation in the production process, which reduces production costs, which in turn affects Kathmandu’s ability to achieve cost leadership as well as leading them to changing their products to be more eco-friendly. Therefore, Kathmandu displays how corporate social responsibility impacts the strategic role of operations as it can lead to business partaking in waste minimisation in the production process thus affecting their ability to achieve cost leadership as well as making them more inclined to incorporate eco-friendly and ethical changes to their product.

A good paragraph that establishes a link between appropriate syllabus dot points and supports its main argument by including relevant case study information. Minor edits were made so as to improve its flow.

Conclusion

In conclusion, operations influences impacts the strategic role of operations through quality expectations and corporate social responsibility, affecting cost leadership and product differentiation as evident evidenced by how they have affected Mcdonald's and Kathmandu in their ability to achieve cost leadership and how it has influenced their product differentiation.

A relatively good, short conclusion that provides a brief summary of the contents of your essay. Minor edits were made to improve its flow.

Overall, I believe that this response is leaning towards the higher quality responses, and I would personally give it a mark around 16-17/20. Your body paragraphs were fairly comprehensive and approached the question in an appropriate manner. However, correctly defining concepts should be emphasised, as inaccurate or incorrect definitions can result in marks being deducted.

I hope this helps!

 

[Dane Red]

Here is what I think:



1. This information explains the concept of the interdependence of the key business functions. It does not define the strategic role of operations and should be removed.

2. Punctuation: it is important to ensure that your punctuation and syntax are well-developed. I have added a few commas (and an apostrophe for McDonald's) where needed.

3. You should not write an essay as if you were verbally explaining a concept to a person, i.e. the word "you" cannot be used in formal writing.

Overall, a relatively good introduction with a few (mostly) minor issues.



A good paragraph that establishes a link between appropriate syllabus dot points and supports its main argument by referring to relevant case study material. Minor edits were made so as to improve its flow.



A good paragraph that establishes a link between appropriate syllabus dot points and supports its main argument by including relevant case study information. Minor edits were made so as to improve its flow.



A relatively good, short conclusion that provides a brief summary of the contents of your essay. Minor edits were made to improve its flow.

Overall, I believe that this response is leaning towards the higher quality responses, and I would personally give it a mark around 16-17/20. Your body paragraphs were fairly comprehensive and approached the question in an appropriate manner. However, correctly defining concepts should be emphasised, as inaccurate or incorrect definitions can result in marks being deducted.

I hope this helps!

Thank you for me giving me good feedback and grade.

 

[Dane Red]

Okay how does this essay hold up?
Essay 2- Evaluate the response of operations management to influences in achieving a competitive advantage.

Introduction

Operations management is an area of management that is responsible for the production processes and operations within a business and focuses on resource allocation to satisfy customer’s needs. Competitive advantage is where a business uses a strategy to gain an ‘edge’ over its competitors. Technology and corporate social responsibility are two influences that McDonalds has effectively responded to , leading it to achieve a competitive advantage.

McDonalds is the world’s leading food service organisation with its operations management being responsible for the practical delivery of McDonald’s good or service.

Corporate Social Responsibility

Corporate social responsibility is where a business goes beyond their compliance costs to become an ethical and environmental business. Corporate social responsibility can affect a business’s ability in achieving a competitive advantage as corporate social responsibility can increase or decrease a business’s market share or profits. It can also lead to a short-term increase in costs and a long-term increase in cost-effectiveness for a business.

McDonalds has been effective in responding to corporate social responsibility resulting in a competitive advantage as when Russia invaded Ukraine, McDonalds ceased all operations in Russia and sold 800 of their stores from there, which was a show of support to Ukraine. Hence this is effective as they were able to respond to the situation of Russia invading Ukraine without compromising their corporate social responsibility and instead benefitted from it as they showed support to Ukraine. This show of support can lead to an increase in McDonald’s reputation amongst consumers which would result in n an increase in sales as consumers see McDonalds as a socially responsible business; thus feel inclined to reward its social responsibility by buying products from them leading to McDonalds increasing their ability to achieve a competitive advantage. Therefore McDonalds has effectively responded to corporate social responsibility by not comprising on it and using it to increase their sales, hence increasing their ability to achieve a competitive advantage.

Technology

Technology is the design, manufacturing and application of innovative devices and methods of machinery to use in operations processes. Technology can be a high initial cost for a business and its operations management, when it comes to using and developing technology however it can significantly improve quality and productivity.

McDonalds’ operations management responds to technology in an effective manner as they use automated dispensers and use delivery companies such as Uber Eats to deliver food to their consumers. This is an effective response as McDonalds utilises technology in their operations management to increase efficiency in the delivery of their goods and service. Hence would allow them to sell more of their products in a shorter period of time leading to increased profits which results in McDonalds achieving a competitive advantage. Therefore McDonalds has effectively responded to technology by utilizing it in their operations management leading to efficient delivery of their products which results in an increase of sales and achieving a competitive advantage.

Conclusion

In conclusion, McDonalds has effectively responded to operations influences as it was able to take full advantage of their corporate social responsibility and technology to increase their sales, reputation, and efficiency in delivering their products; thus, results in McDonalds getting a competitive advantage.