Question 1 Re -read the 'Operations in practice ' example on Pret a Manger . (a) Do you think Pret a Manger fully understands the importance of its operations n management ? (b) What kind of operations management activities at Pret a Manger might come under the four headings of direct, design, deliver and develop? Question 2 Write down five services that you have 'consumed" in the last week. Try and make these as varied as possible. Examples could include public transport, a bank, any shop or supermarket, attendance at an education course, a cinema, a restaurant, etc. Try and identify how these services are different and how they are similar . Question 3 The environmental services department of a city has two recycling services - newspaper collection (NC) and general recycling (GR). The NC service is a door-to-door collection service that, at a fixed time every week, collects old newspapers that householders have placed in reusable plastic bags at their gate. An empty bag is left for the householders to use for the next collection. The value of the newspapers collected is relatively small, the service is offered mainly for reasons of environmental responsibility . By contrast the GR service is more commercial . Companies and private individuals can request a collection of materials to be disposed of, either using the telephone or the internet . The GR service guarantees to collect the material within 24 hours unless the customer prefers to specify a more convenient time. Any kind of material can be collected and a charge is made depending on the volume of material This service makes a small profit because the revenue both from customer charges and from some of the more valuable recycled materials exceeds the operation's running costs How would you describe the differences between the performance objectives of the two services? Question 4 Visit the websites of two or three large oil companies such as Exxon , BP, Shell or Total . Examine how they describe their policies towards their customers, suppliers, shareholders, employees and society at large. Identify areas of the company's operations where there may be conflicts between the needs of these different stakeholder groups. Discuss or reflect on how (if at all) such companies try and reconcile these conflicts. Question 5 'Globalization is very much a "mixed blessing". There is little doubt that it has lifted millions out of poverty, but it has also led to the destruction of traditional cultures in developing countries and many jobs in the developed world .' Draw up lists of what you see as the advantages and disadvantages of globalization