Operations Strategies Past HSC

The banning of dangerous goods such as asbestos is due to

• global sourcing.

• business policies.

• legal regulations.

• operational regulations.

Answer explanation

The banning of dangerous goods like asbestos is primarily due to legal regulations aimed at protecting public health and safety, making 'legal regulations' the correct choice.

A government is providing businesses with a tax benefit if they source their electricity through renewable energy sources. The most likely reason for offering this tax benefit is to

• minimise government debt.

• minimise government utility costs.

• encourage competition between businesses.

• encourage businesses to be more environmentally sustainable.

Answer explanation

The tax benefit aims to promote the use of renewable energy, encouraging businesses to adopt environmentally sustainable practices, which aligns with government goals for sustainability.

An employee has badly injured their shoulder at work and is seeing a physiotherapist for treatment. The treatment that the physiotherapist provides can be described as a

• customised good.

• standardised good.

• customised service.

• standardised service.

Answer explanation

The physiotherapist's treatment is tailored to the specific needs of the injured employee, making it a customised service. Unlike standardised services, customised services are designed to meet individual requirements.

The role of an operations manager is to

• reduce waste and increase efficiency.

• reduce output and increase customisation.

• improve customisation and decrease speed.

• improve quality and decrease economies of scale.

Answer explanation

The role of an operations manager primarily focuses on reducing waste and increasing efficiency in processes, which enhances productivity and optimizes resource use, making this the correct choice.

Which of the following are common characteristics of a critical path analysis?

• What tasks need to be done, how long they take, delivery timing

• What tasks need to be done, how long they take, what order is necessary

• Which tasks can be completed simultaneously, how long they take, quality testing

• Which tasks can be completed simultaneously, how long they take, how many components are required

Answer explanation

The correct choice highlights essential aspects of critical path analysis: identifying necessary tasks, their durations, and the order in which they must be completed to ensure timely project delivery.

A florist designs floral displays for weddings to suit the colour preferences of individual couples. Which of the following would be the main performance objective being targeted by this florist?

• Customisation

• Flexibility

• Quality

• Speed

Answer explanation

The florist's focus on designing floral displays to match individual couples' color preferences highlights the importance of customisation, making it the main performance objective targeted.

The training of staff in the manufacturing process is an example of interdependence between which of the following business functions?

• Finance and marketing

• Marketing and operations

• Finance and human resources

• Operations and human resources

Answer explanation

The training of staff is a key function of human resources, ensuring employees are skilled for operations. This highlights the interdependence between operations and human resources in the manufacturing process.

A large construction company has decided to focus their operations on design and innovation. Which of the following best describes this operations management strategy?

• Outsourcing

• Cost leadership

• Supply chain development

• Goods/services differentiation

Answer explanation

The construction company's focus on design and innovation indicates a strategy of goods/services differentiation, as they aim to offer unique products and services that stand out in the market.

Which tasks could be occurring at the same time?

• A. AB, BC and CD

• B. AB, BF and FC

• C. BE, BF and BC

• D. BE, BF and EC

Answer explanation

Tasks BE, BF, and BC can occur simultaneously as they do not depend on each other. The other options include tasks that are dependent or cannot run at the same time.

Task EC is delayed and takes an additional 7 days. By how many days will the length of the critical path change?

• 0 days

• 2 days

• 4 days

• 6 days

Answer explanation

The critical path is determined by the longest sequence of dependent tasks. If Task EC is delayed by 7 days but is not on the critical path, the overall project duration remains unchanged, resulting in a change of 0 days.