Introduction
As for this assignment I am going to use my current organization. There are several things that he organization is doing in regard to business strategy, operation strategy, supply chain, total quality management, just-in-time philosophy, forecasting method, statistical technique, facility location, work design, project life cycle, and project management among other things, and at the same there are some other things that the organization has fallen short of. In this assignment I am going to discuss on the operational strategy. I am going to also formulate a new operations strategy for the organization. I will lastly analyze both the structure of the competitive priorities and infrastructure of the production process with emphasis on enablers.
Operational Strategy
There are several elements that my organization has implemented on ensuring that the operational strategy is working of the organization. The organization has put its strength in the mission and vision statements. They act as guiding principles when carrying out all activities. All employees are encouraged to make sure that they adhere to the mission and vision statements. The organization also makes sure that they keep employees close to its management. This is an element that allows for close relationship between the management and employees. Information can be shared back and forth easily and faster.
Since the organization is a small organization making efforts to expand, it calls for everybody to work hand in hand in realizing the ultimate goal. There are times where employees are rotated from time to see to determine where they fit. There are occasional trainings to ensure that they are well equipped with the knowledge and skills of handling the different tasks assigned to them (Gerard, 2015). I would say that this is a good strategy because as much as it supports the organization strategy it is also important when it comes to the individual employee development.
There are some tasks that I think they do not align with the operational strategy. The issue of ordering and stocking inventory has been a challenge and the management is yet to find a solution. There are some occasions when there a lot inventory in the company than it is the market, something that makes it very difficult to find a balance hence difficulties in operation. Another element is the development of promotional budgets. The organization being a small and upcoming company, it is important that the advertisement exercise be very active. I don’t believe this is the case, is the organization is quite slow. In the past year we have not seen any efforts in the organization to carry out advertisement exercises. The last task that I think does not align with the operational strategy is creating monthly budgets. The organization needs to come up with a strategy that fast track revenues and expenses on a monthly basis for it to be able to come up with an effective budget; instead it does it annually which can be ineffective.
New Operations Strategy
In formulating a new operations strategy based on cost, quality, time, and flexibility there are a number of things that I can consider. The first is to make sure that the organization is operating within the budget set. Organizations that tend to have a high operating cost needs to make sure that the sales are also on a high level so as to sustain the cost of production. For me to make sure that the cost is manageable and one that can guarantee the organization makes a profit, I will work on minimizing the expenses (Alley, 2001). I can incorporate the use of technology in carrying out some of the functions in the organization. They include things like adversities among others. In minimizing the expenses, we can be able to increase the revenue.
It is also important to consider time factor from production to delivery. Time is very important in improving efficacy and ultimate revenue. There are some elements within the organization that can be automated to make the process faster. Tasks like advertising, processing, customer feedback and others can be automated, and technology can come in very handy. It is also important to make sure that quality is guaranteed. A lot of time will be dedicated in customer research to identify the needs of the market (Henderson, 2006). We can then select the best based on the number of these that refer the product or service and implement. The main aim is to make sure that we are able to deliver what is expected by the customers. Lastly, flexibility is an important element especially keeping in mind that the business and market environments are constantly changing. The organization should be in a position to adapt to these changes. I will ensure that systems and processes are flexible and open to new ideas.
Competitive Priorities
The environment surrounding the company is a very competitive. There is a need for the company to make sure that it has the strategies and activities that can be able to compete against large companies with stronger brands. One of the things that the company should implement is creativity and innovation. The company should move forward and come up with strategies that other companies do not have. This will be helpful in helping the company gain a competitive edge. The company should also make sure that it has the best compensation strategy that can be instrumental in attracting new talents and the best of workforce (Harold, 2013). Lastly the company can form partnerships with a stronger brand that will enable it grow its brand faster and more effective.
There are pros and cons of these enablers. The issue of compensation is beneficial in attracting new talents and the best of skilled labor. The disadvantage is that the company might not have enough funds to support this strategy because it is a young company. Any mistake could plunge the company into more trouble financially. The issue of innovation is also important because new ideas can be beneficial in coming up with new products. The disadvantage is that the change might not be accepted well in the market and therefore it can be a waste of time and money. Lastly, forming partnerships can be a good thing to go by especially with the purpose of developing the brand. However, bigger companies might take advantage of smaller companies if the process is not done very well.
References
Alley, L. (2001). The influence of an organanizational Pain Management Policy on nurses' paain management practices. . Oncology Nursing Forum, 28(5). , 867-874.
Gerard, B. (2015). Supplier Management - Simple Steps to Win, Insights and Opportunities for Maxing Out Success. Kansas: Emereo Publishing.
Harold, R. (2013). Project Management: A Systems Approach to Planning, Scheduling, and Controlling. Chicago: John Wiley & Sons.
Henderson, R. (2006). Compensation Management in a Knowledge-Based World (10th ed.). Upper Saddle River: Pearson Prentice Hall.
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