Operations and Supply Chain Management: The Core 5th Edition by F. Robert Jacobs Solution manual
CHAPTER 1
OPERATIONS AND SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT
Discussion Questions
1. Using Exhibit 1.2 as a model, describe the source-make-deliver-return relationships in the
following systems:
a. An airline
Source: Aircraft manufacturer, in-flight food, repair parts, computer systems
Make: Aircraft and flight crew scheduling, ground services provided at airports,
aircraft maintenance and repair
Deliver: Outbound and arriving passenger service, baggage handling
Return: Resolve any post-service issues such as lost or damaged luggage
b. An automobile manufacturer
Source: Suppliers of components and raw materials
Make: Manufacturing of vehicles and components or subassemblies to be sold as
spare parts
Deliver: Delivery to and sales from dealerships, delivery of spare parts to the wholesale
system
Return: Warranty and recall repairs, trade-ins
c. A hospital
Source: Medical supplies, cleaning services, disposal services, food services, qualified
personnel
Make: Inpatient rooms, outpatient clinics, emergency room, operating rooms
Deliver: Scheduling patients, providing treatment, ambulance service, family counseling
Return: Billing errors, follow up visits
d. An insurance company
Source: Supplies needed for the office, underwriters, legal authority to operate
Make: Establish policy guidelines and pricing, field agent/representative and facility
network, develop Internet service capabilities, establish preferred vehicle repair
service network
Deliver: Meet with and advise clients, write policies, process and pay claims
Return: Refund of overpayments
2. Define the service package of your college or university. What is its strongest element? What is
its weakest one?
The categories with examples are:
Supporting facility - location, buildings, labs, parking
Facilitating goods – class schedules, computers, books, chalk
Explicit services – classes with qualified instructors, placement offices
Implicit services – status and reputation (e.g., Ivy League schools)
Chapter 01 - Operations and Supply Chain Management
Copyright ©2020 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the
prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
At Indiana University and the University of Southern California, among their strongest
elements are their business schools and their Operations Management programs (of course).
Both also have very dedicated alumni networks. A weak element of Indiana University is its
weak football program; for USC, weak elements are on-campus parking and housing.
3. What service industry has impressed you the most with its innovativeness?
Our vote goes to cruise lines which have introduced such onboard innovations as wave
machines for belly boarding and rock climbing walls, as well as all sorts of other amenities to
keep cruisers involved. The industry is doing record business as well.
Some of the standout companies in less innovative industries are Bank of America (has a
formalized research program to try out new customer services/amenities such as video screens
in next to teller lines), Intuit (e.g., putting Quicken money management software online), Ikea,
JetBlue Airlines, and Progressive Insurance (discussed later in the book).
4. What is product-service bundling and what are the benefits to customers?
Product-service bundling is adding value-added services to a firm’s product offerings to create
more value for the customer. This provides benefits in two areas. First, this differentiates the
organization from the competition. Secondly, these services tie customers to the organization
in a positive way. Alternatively, bundling can also involve adding products to a service, for
example, adding the sale of convenience items and snacks at a hotel.
5. What is the difference between a service and a good?
A service is an intangible process (you can’t hold it in your hands), while a good is the physical
output of a process. Some service businesses also provide a physical good as part of the
service, like a restaurant. Also, mots manufacturers of goods provide services for after-sales
support, like computer tech support or automobile warranty service. So while a service and a
good are definitely distinguishable, customers will often encounter both in their experiences
with a company.
6. Some people tend to use the terms effectiveness and efficiency interchangeably, though
we’ve seen they are different concepts. But is there any relationship at all between them?
Can a firm be effective but inefficient? Very efficient but essentially ineffective? Both?
Neither?
Firms can be anywhere on these two dimensions. It is possible for a firm to be the best at what
OPERATIONS AND SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT
Discussion Questions
1. Using Exhibit 1.2 as a model, describe the source-make-deliver-return relationships in the
following systems:
a. An airline
Source: Aircraft manufacturer, in-flight food, repair parts, computer systems
Make: Aircraft and flight crew scheduling, ground services provided at airports,
aircraft maintenance and repair
Deliver: Outbound and arriving passenger service, baggage handling
Return: Resolve any post-service issues such as lost or damaged luggage
b. An automobile manufacturer
Source: Suppliers of components and raw materials
Make: Manufacturing of vehicles and components or subassemblies to be sold as
spare parts
Deliver: Delivery to and sales from dealerships, delivery of spare parts to the wholesale
system
Return: Warranty and recall repairs, trade-ins
c. A hospital
Source: Medical supplies, cleaning services, disposal services, food services, qualified
personnel
Make: Inpatient rooms, outpatient clinics, emergency room, operating rooms
Deliver: Scheduling patients, providing treatment, ambulance service, family counseling
Return: Billing errors, follow up visits
d. An insurance company
Source: Supplies needed for the office, underwriters, legal authority to operate
Make: Establish policy guidelines and pricing, field agent/representative and facility
network, develop Internet service capabilities, establish preferred vehicle repair
service network
Deliver: Meet with and advise clients, write policies, process and pay claims
Return: Refund of overpayments
2. Define the service package of your college or university. What is its strongest element? What is
its weakest one?
The categories with examples are:
Supporting facility - location, buildings, labs, parking
Facilitating goods – class schedules, computers, books, chalk
Explicit services – classes with qualified instructors, placement offices
Implicit services – status and reputation (e.g., Ivy League schools)
Chapter 01 - Operations and Supply Chain Management
Copyright ©2020 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the
prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
At Indiana University and the University of Southern California, among their strongest
elements are their business schools and their Operations Management programs (of course).
Both also have very dedicated alumni networks. A weak element of Indiana University is its
weak football program; for USC, weak elements are on-campus parking and housing.
3. What service industry has impressed you the most with its innovativeness?
Our vote goes to cruise lines which have introduced such onboard innovations as wave
machines for belly boarding and rock climbing walls, as well as all sorts of other amenities to
keep cruisers involved. The industry is doing record business as well.
Some of the standout companies in less innovative industries are Bank of America (has a
formalized research program to try out new customer services/amenities such as video screens
in next to teller lines), Intuit (e.g., putting Quicken money management software online), Ikea,
JetBlue Airlines, and Progressive Insurance (discussed later in the book).
4. What is product-service bundling and what are the benefits to customers?
Product-service bundling is adding value-added services to a firm’s product offerings to create
more value for the customer. This provides benefits in two areas. First, this differentiates the
organization from the competition. Secondly, these services tie customers to the organization
in a positive way. Alternatively, bundling can also involve adding products to a service, for
example, adding the sale of convenience items and snacks at a hotel.
5. What is the difference between a service and a good?
A service is an intangible process (you can’t hold it in your hands), while a good is the physical
output of a process. Some service businesses also provide a physical good as part of the
service, like a restaurant. Also, mots manufacturers of goods provide services for after-sales
support, like computer tech support or automobile warranty service. So while a service and a
good are definitely distinguishable, customers will often encounter both in their experiences
with a company.
6. Some people tend to use the terms effectiveness and efficiency interchangeably, though
we’ve seen they are different concepts. But is there any relationship at all between them?
Can a firm be effective but inefficient? Very efficient but essentially ineffective? Both?
Neither?
Firms can be anywhere on these two dimensions. It is possible for a firm to be the best at what