Question 1 Study the scenario described below and answer all questions that follow. Firms achieve their missions in three conceptual ways: (1) differentiation, (2) costs leadership, and (3) response. In this regard, operations managers are called on to deliver goods and services that are (1) better, or at least different, (2) cheaper, and (3) more responsive. Operations managers translate these strategic concepts into tangible tasks to be accomplished. Any one or combination of the three strategy options can generate a system that has a unique advantage over competitors (Heizer, Render and Munson, 2017:74). P&B Inc., a medium-sized manufacturing family-owned firm operates in a market characterised by quick delivery and reliability of scheduling as well as frequent dramatic changes in design innovation and customer demand. As the operations analysts at P&B Inc., discuss how you would prioritise for implementation the following FOUR (4) critical and strategic decision areas of operations management as part of P&B's 'input-transformation-output' process to achieve competitive advantage:

1. Goods and service design 2. Human resources and job design 3. Inventory, and 4. Scheduling

In addition to the above, your discussion should include an introduction in which the strategy option implicated by the market requirements is comprehensively described.