Operations Management or Strategic Management and Business Analysis

Operations Management: A Process Approach with Spreadsheets

Author: Scott M Shafer

Jack Meredith and Scott Shafer abandon the traditional approach for operations management books and focus on business processes and spreadsheets to solve problems. They provide readers with an applied and contemporary introduction to operations management as well as a solid foundation in its theory. With this text, readers will discover the latest trends currently being used in business. They'll learn about the additional skills needed to succeed in an extremely competitive environment. This includes the trend away from vertical hierarchical organizations toward horizontal process-centered ones creating a need for individuals who can also work as part of a team and who understand how technology can be used to better meet customer needs.

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Strategic Management and Business Analysis

Author: David Williamson

Strategic Management and Business Analysis takes a different approach to the study of business strategy An essential feature of this approach is the provision of a detailed roadmap for the strategic analysis of a company. It identifies key strategic questions and provides clear guidance on how they may be answered.

The issues involved in answering the questions are then explored and this includes a review of the tools and techniques that can be used in strategic analysis. This is supported with a CD that has powerful strategic modelling and financial analysis tools to significantly ease the strategic analysis task.

The book contains case studies with detailed and practical advice on their analysis. Taken altogether, the book outlines an exciting and robust framework for strategic analysis and decision making, and provides materials that encourage students to become familiar with important concepts in strategic management.

David Williamson, Head of Centre for Research into Corporate Responsibility and the Environment and Principal Lecturer in Business Strategy, Staffordshire University Business School, UK.

Wyn Jenkins, MBA Award Tutor and Senior Lecturer in Business Strategy, Staffordshire University Business School, UK

Peter Cooke, Part -time Lecturer in Financial and Strategic Modelling, Staffordshire University Business School, UK.

Keith Michael Moreton, Awards Tutor for Postgraduate Programmes in Operations and Supply Chain Management and Senior Lecturer in Operations Strategy, Staffordshire University Business School, UK.

Table of Contents:

	Introduction
	How to use the CD
	Acknowledgements
Pt. 1	The Four Big Questions You Need to Ask
1	The first big question: Where is the organization now?	3
2	The second big question: What options are open to the organization?	18
3	The third big question: What is the best way forward for the organization?	26
4	The fourth big question: How can this be achieved?	32
Pt. 2	Helping You Answer the Four Big Questions
5	Organization structure and strategy	49
6	Strategy-making processes	64
7	Organization environments	77
8	Competitive advantage	88
9	Auditing resources	103
10	Financial performance and investment appraisal	115
11	Models for aiding strategic selection	127
Pt. 3	Case Study Analysis and Case Studies
12	Case study analysis	143
13	Wm. Morrison Supermarkets PLC	156
14	The UK supermarket sector in 1996	174
15	Delamere Pottery Limited	205
16	Alpha Toiletries Limited	221
17	AB machine tools	228
	References	253
	Index	259