Growth Inequality and Poverty or Operational Review Workbook

Growth, Inequality, and Poverty: Prospects for Pro-Poor Economic Development

Author: Anthony Shorrocks

The relationship between growth, inequality, and poverty lies at the heart of development economics. This volume draws together many of the most important recent contributions to the controversies surrounding this topic.

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Operational Review Workbook: Case Studies, Forms, and Exercises

Author: Rob Reider

Practical, proven tools for conducting successful operational reviews

An operational review evaluates management’s conformity with plans and resource allocations, organizational structure, operating procedures, processes, and controls. In today’s volatile marketplace, organizations must do everything possible to ensure their operations are running most economically and effectively to maximize desired results. In such a competitive environment, operational reviews have become increasingly important. The Operational Review Workbook not only gives readers a better understanding of the concepts behind operational reviews but also enables them to conduct reviews with more confidence and authority.

A companion to Rob Reider’s Operational Review: Maximum Results at Efficient Costs, Third Edition, the Workbook explains the benefits of a review and offers step-by-step guidance through its various stages. In addition to the author’s incisive analysis, this practical guide:

• Includes case studies, checklists, forms, and exercises

• Reinforces the fundamental principles necessary to perform an operational review

• Presents in a step-by-step manner how an operational review should be performed

• Shows how to judge a review’s results and make recommendations to management

• Demonstrates how to use tools and techniques such as financial statement analysis, verification of data accuracy, determination of compliance with laws and regulations, development and understanding of ratio change and trend analysis, use of systems and layout flowcharts, effective interviewing techniques,and preparation and use of survey forms, questionnaires, and checklists

• Integrates operational review concepts with other analytical processes such as benchmarking strategies and activity-based costing principles

The Operational Review Workbook delivers all the tools needed to successfully conduct an operational review of the organization, department, or activity. CEOs, operations management and staff, internal and external consultants and auditors, CFOs and controllers, and other organizational stakeholders will find Reider’s incomparable guide an invaluable addition to their professional libraries.

Table of Contents:

	Preface	xi
	Introduction	xiii
Chapter 1	Overview of Operational Reviews	1
	Stakeholders	2
	Why Businesses Are in Existence	3
	Businesses a Company Is Not In	4
	Some Basic Business Principles	5
	Criteria for Organizational Growth	7
	Mental Models and Belief Systems	7
	Organizational Criteria Example	9
	Economy, Efficiency, and Effectiveness	12
	Specific Objectives	13
	Specific Purposes	15
	Benefits of Operational Reviews	16
	Operational Review Phases	17
	Operational Review Engagement Development	18
	What Functions to Review	19
	Initial Survey	22
	Case Study: Joe Sorry, Inc.	22
	Case Situation: Leasing Insurance Costs	48
	Review Questions	55
	Suggested Responses	55
Chapter 2	Planning Phase	59
	Information to Be Obtained	60
	Sources of Information	60
	Review of Organizational Planning and Budget Systems	61
	Organizational Structure and the Role of Management	62
	Planning Phase Work Program	63
	Case Study: Joe Sorry, Inc., Planning Phase	63
	Case Situation: Purchase Order Quantity Tolerances	88
	Review Questions	96
	Suggested Responses	100
Chapter 3	Work Program Phase	102
	Benefits of the Operational Review Work Program	103
	Work Program Work Steps	103
	Engagement Control	105
	Case Study: Joe Sorry Company, Work Program Phase	123
	Case Study Situation: Defective Merchandise Returns	124
	Case Study Situation: Equipment Maintenance Review	130
	Review Questions	132
	Suggested Responses	133
Chapter 4	Field Work Phase	135
	Field Work Techniques	136
	Specific Field Work Techniques	137
	Work Papers	161
	Case Study: Joe Sorry Company, Field Work Phase	162
	Case Situation: Clerical Procedures	196
	Review Questions	197
	Suggested Responses	197
Chapter 5	Development of Review Findings	200
	Operational Review Finding Attributes	201
	Operational Review Criteria Standards	202
	Some Possible Types of Causes	203
	Effects of Operational Review Findings: Possible Indicators	204
	Review Findings Development Checklist	206
	Case Study: Joe Sorry Company, Development of Findings	207
	Case Study: Finished Goods Shipments	228
	Case Situation: Shipping and Receiving Procedures	237
	Case Situation: Accounts Receivable and Collections	238
	Review Questions	240
	Suggested Responses	240
Chapter 6	Reporting Phase	243
	Characteristics of Good Reporting	244
	Examples of Reporting Operational Review Results	244
	ABCs of Effective Report Writing	247
	Case Study: Joe Sorry Company, Reporting Phase	248
	Review Questions	283
	Suggested Responses	283