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Product design and development
Together with the Research and Development (R&D) Department, he studies new products and processes of producing them. Firms must not copy the innovations of others, nor should they produce the same product over a long period of time.
Facilities location
The location decision combines a host of factors e.g. tax rates, land and building costs, access to customers, competitors’ locations e.t.c.
Capital Equipment
Includes determining the capital equipment needed, buying and installing it, providing for routine maintenance and repair, and eventually replacing it.
Facilities Layout
He should ensure that the plant lay out follows a logical sequence so that materials flow smoothly through the process with minimal handling.
Work design and measurement
He accurately measures and controls both material and labour usage. This saves the department a lot of money.
Production forecasting
Helps to anticipate the demand for a product based on past data, current events and personal judgment about future developments.
Production planning and scheduling
These are dynamic activities. He arranges resources and available time in attempting to best utilize the firm’s capacity to produce.
Quality Control
Quality must be designed and produced into the product. It is essential that he monitors the quality of incoming materials, work-in progress and finished items to assure that quality standards are being met or that corrective action is taken.
Kavungya answered the question on April 27, 2021 at 05:32
- Write short notes on the following:
i) Job production
ii) Mass production
iii) Batch production(Solved)
Write short notes on the following:
i) Job production
ii) Mass production
iii) Batch production
Date posted: April 27, 2021. Answers (1)
- Ngura works as a research and development manager in a manufacturing firm. He joined the firm five years ago as a research assistant. The organization...(Solved)
Ngura works as a research and development manager in a manufacturing firm. He joined the firm five years ago as a research assistant. The organization for which Ngura works has a policy whereby vacant positions are filled from within the organization.
Management relies on the outcome of performance appraisals to identify employees for promotion. The appraisals are carried out annually. The appraisal exercise of the organization has not been dome objectively and superiors have been awarding grades arbitrarily. Many of the employees have been awarded high grades even when their performance does not deserve high grades.
Early in the year, the position of the head of the research and development department fell vacant and employees were encouraged to apply for the job. Ngura felt capable of performing the job, applied and was invited for an interview. Consequently he was awarded the promotion and took up the post of head of research and development department.
It has become apparent that Ngura is not very co-operative with staff in other departments. In his own department he over delegates to his subordinates because he is incapable of handling the tasks involved in the higher job. There have been occasions when assistants have not completed work to the satisfaction of management but when asked to explain, Ngura explains that employees know what is expected of them and they should therefore work, for they are paid for it.
Required:
a) State and explain the guidelines that management should have followed to ensure the success of the performance appraisal.
b) Identify and explain the weaknesses in Ngura’s style of management and suggest measures that should be taken to address the weaknesses.
Date posted: April 27, 2021. Answers (1)
- Managers charged with putting a company on a growth trajectory can pursue its existing markets (customer sales) or enter new markets and can emphasize its...(Solved)
Managers charged with putting a company on a growth trajectory can pursue its existing markets (customer sales) or enter new markets and can emphasize its existing products or develop new products.
Using Ansoff’s classic product/market matrix, discuss the risks and rewards of the four growth alternatives.
Date posted: April 27, 2021. Answers (1)
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Explain ten major forces that have been responsible for the sweeping changes and re-organizations that have been taking place in Kenyan firms in the recent past.
Date posted: April 27, 2021. Answers (1)
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Modern trends and practices call for firms to pursue wider objectives in addition to the global profitability. Explain the concept of corporate social responsibility and discuss the various components that a socially responsible firm should address.
Date posted: April 27, 2021. Answers (1)
- Leadership is a dynamic process in a group or organization whereby one individual influences the other to contribute voluntarily to the achievement of the group...(Solved)
Leadership is a dynamic process in a group or organization whereby one individual influences the other to contribute voluntarily to the achievement of the group or the organization’s objectives in a given situation.
Discuss this statement with reference to different types of leaders.
Date posted: April 27, 2021. Answers (1)
- One of the functions of management is decision making.
Discuss various types of decisions taken by managers and explain the steps that should be followed to...(Solved)
One of the functions of management is decision making.
Discuss various types of decisions taken by managers and explain the steps that should be followed to arrive at the right decisions.
Date posted: April 27, 2021. Answers (1)
- A key element in the effective implementation of corporate strategies is the design of the organizational structure of the firm or the organization.
Discuss each of...(Solved)
A key element in the effective implementation of corporate strategies is the design of the organizational structure of the firm or the organization.
Discuss each of the following types of organizational structure:
a)Holding Company structure;
b)The Functional structure;
c)The matrix structure; and
d)The multi-divisional structure.
Date posted: April 26, 2021. Answers (1)
- The principal of Management by Objectives was first coined by Peter F. Druker in the 1950’s. Describe the principle and its merits and demerits in...(Solved)
The principal of Management by Objectives was first coined by Peter F. Druker in the 1950’s. Describe the principle and its merits and demerits in the organizations.
Date posted: April 26, 2021. Answers (1)
- For successful management, managers must come up with objectives before commencing operations. Explain what is meant by the term ‘objectives’ and describe the characteristics that...(Solved)
For successful management, managers must come up with objectives before commencing operations. Explain what is meant by the term ‘objectives’ and describe the characteristics that good objectives should have.
Date posted: April 26, 2021. Answers (1)
- Many forward-looking organizations have an explicitly stated mission which is always displayed in a conspicuous place.
Explain the benefits of a mission statement(Solved)
Many forward-looking organizations have an explicitly stated mission which is always displayed in a conspicuous place.
Explain the benefits of a mission statement
Date posted: April 26, 2021. Answers (1)
- Kirkland Ltd. is a multi -national company that has recently launched its operations in your country. The company wants to immediately conduct research in order...(Solved)
Kirkland Ltd. is a multi -national company that has recently launched its operations in your country. The company wants to immediately conduct research in order to devise the most suitable organizational structure for its operations.
Discuss the various options available to the company indicating the advantages and
disadvantages of each option.
Date posted: April 26, 2021. Answers (1)
- Marketing experts around the world have generally agreed that there are a number of clearly identifiable variables that comprise of building blocks of marketing. These...(Solved)
Marketing experts around the world have generally agreed that there are a number of clearly identifiable variables that comprise of building blocks of marketing. These variables have been labeled “Marketing Mix” elements.
Identify these elements and discuss the concept of product as it relates to each of them.
Date posted: April 26, 2021. Answers (1)
- The ideas and concepts of management thought as conceptualized by Max Weber crystallized to what came to be known as a bureaucratic system.
Discuss Weber’s propositions...(Solved)
The ideas and concepts of management thought as conceptualized by Max Weber crystallized to what came to be known as a bureaucratic system.
Discuss Weber’s propositions and discuss their applicability in today’s organizations.
Date posted: April 26, 2021. Answers (1)
- The Kenyan corporate sector has been experiencing serious economic difficulties resulting in closure of business. It is now being argued that the future of this...(Solved)
The Kenyan corporate sector has been experiencing serious economic difficulties resulting in closure of business. It is now being argued that the future of this country lies in the growth and efficient management of the medium-sized enterprises (SME) discuss.
Date posted: April 26, 2021. Answers (1)
- Various economic factors have forced firms to downsize their workforce.
Explain the ways in which a manager may best manage a downsized workforce.(Solved)
Various economic factors have forced firms to downsize their workforce.
Explain the ways in which a manager may best manage a downsized workforce.
Date posted: April 26, 2021. Answers (1)
- Compare and contrast Total Quality Management (TQM) and re-engineering as change processes.(Solved)
Compare and contrast Total Quality Management (TQM) and re-engineering as change processes.
Date posted: April 26, 2021. Answers (1)
- Discuss the factors that influence the level of compensation and benefit packages for different employees in an organization.(Solved)
Discuss the factors that influence the level of compensation and benefit packages for different employees in an organization.
Date posted: April 26, 2021. Answers (1)
- Explain the ways in which a manager may apply motivation theories to achieve effective performance by employees in an organization.(Solved)
Explain the ways in which a manager may apply motivation theories to achieve effective performance by employees in an organization.
Date posted: April 26, 2021. Answers (1)
- In developing strategic plans for the future, it is important for a company to assess both its current and past performance.
Outline and discuss the following...(Solved)
In developing strategic plans for the future, it is important for a company to assess both its current and past performance.
Outline and discuss the following approaches in assessing the organizational performance.
a) The historical analysis of performance in comparison with the organization’s performance.
b) The analysis of industry norms in comparison with the relative performance of organizations in the same industry.
c) The analysis of the organization’s performance in comparison with the best performance through benchmarking.
Date posted: April 26, 2021. Answers (1)