Question $1$

a$)$ IKEA is one of the most successful furniture retailer and managed to develop

their own special way of selling furniture. Identify the 'operations function'

within IKEA and explain the macro and micro operations.

$(30$ Marks$)$

b$)$ Discuss briefly the extent to which Ryanair strategy represents a top$-$down

perspective of operations strategy?

$(35$ Marks$)$

c$)$ Briefly explain the bullwhip effect in the context of supply chain management

and discuss some of the best practices that companies adapt to cope with this

phenomenon.

$(35$ marks$)$

Question $2$

a$)$ Discuss how dependability and flexibility performance objectives can be

achieved in the following operations:

A hospital

An automobile plant

Bus Company

Supermarket

$(30$ marks$)$

b$)$ Using HTC company, briefly explain what is vertical integration and the impact

of this decision on the operations performance of companies?

$(35$ marks$)$

c$)$ Total quality management $($TQM$)$ was one of the earliest management

'fashions'. Its peak of popularity was in the late $1980$s and early $1990$s$.$

Critically discuss TQM and how does it fit into operations strategy. Highlight

the main criticism of TQM$.$

$(35$ marks$)$