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ScotlandBusiness Management

Management of Operations

5 dot points across 5 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

How do ethical and environmental concerns shape the way organisations produce, and what do they cost or gain?

Ethical and environmental considerations in operations, including ethical sourcing, fair treatment of workers and suppliers, reducing waste, recycling and pollution, and the costs and benefits to the organisation.
An SQA Higher Business Management answer on ethical and environmental considerations in operations, covering ethical sourcing, fair treatment of workers and suppliers, reducing waste, recycling and pollution, and the costs and benefits to the organisation.
10 min answer →

How do organisations control their stock so they never run out yet avoid the cost of holding too much?

Inventory (stock) management: the costs of holding too much and too little stock, the inventory control diagram with maximum, minimum and re-order levels, and just-in-time (JIT) stock control.
An SQA Higher Business Management answer on inventory management, covering the costs of holding too much and too little stock, the inventory control diagram with its maximum, minimum, re-order level and re-order quantity, and just-in-time (JIT) stock control.
11 min answer →

How do organisations choose how to make their products, and what are the trade-offs of each method?

Methods of production (job, batch and flow production) and the difference between labour-intensive and capital-intensive production, with the advantages and disadvantages of each.
An SQA Higher Business Management answer on methods of production, comparing job, batch and flow production and the difference between labour-intensive and capital-intensive production, with the advantages and disadvantages of each method.
11 min answer →

Why does quality matter, and how do organisations build and guarantee it?

The importance of quality and the methods used to ensure it: quality control, quality assurance, total quality management (TQM), quality circles, benchmarking, and quality standards and symbols.
An SQA Higher Business Management answer on quality, explaining why quality matters and comparing the methods used to ensure it, including quality control, quality assurance, total quality management (TQM), quality circles, benchmarking, and quality standards and symbols.
12 min answer →

How does technology improve the way organisations produce goods and manage stock and suppliers?

The use of technology in operations, including automation and robotics in production, computer-aided design and manufacture, electronic stock control (EPOS) and online ordering, with the advantages and disadvantages.
An SQA Higher Business Management answer on the use of technology in operations, covering automation and robotics, computer-aided design and manufacture, electronic stock control (EPOS) and online ordering, and the advantages and disadvantages for the organisation.
10 min answer →