Operations
strategy
Operations in context
Global network operations
Direct
Creating the agile supply chain
Steering operations
Design
Develop
Shaping products, services and systems
Improving the operation’s capabilities Deliver
Product/service design
Operations planning
& control
Operations Strategy – Slide 1
Planning and controlling ongoing operations
Managing the supply base
Creating the lean supply chain
Supplier relations
& selection
Key Topics
Strategic Importance of Operations
Operations Performance Objectives
Formulating Operations Strategies
…Global Operations Strategies
Operations Strategy – Slide 2
Operations Strategy
“Operations strategy is the pattern of decisions and actions that shape the long-term vision, objectives, and capabilities of the operation and its contribution the overall strategy.”
-Slack, et al. 2009
‘Strategos’
General’s Knowledge
Operations Strategy – Slide 3
The Art of War
Sun Tzu (c. 544 - 496 BC)
Strategic Positioning
Potential
Entrants
Buyers
Industry
Competitors
Suppliers
Substitutes
Porter’s 5 Forces
The key to understanding the competitiveness of firms and the range of strategic options open to them is a thorough appreciation of the environments in which they operate.
- Michael Porter. How competitive forces shape strategy? HBR. 1979
Operations Strategy – Slide 4
Burton’s 5 Sources of
Collaborative Advantages
Previously Unrelated
Industries
Prospective diversification alliances Buyers
Partnering with
Channels / buyers
Industry
Collaborators
Horizontal strategic alliances Substitutes and
Complements
Related diversification alliances Operations Strategy – Slide 5
Suppliers
Relational contracting, quasi-integration (Adapted from Burton, J. 1995.
Composite Strategy: the combination of collaboration and competition, Journal of General
Management, vol. 21, no. 1, 1-21)
A Resource Based View
(RBV) of Firm Strategy
4
3
1
Adapted from Grant (1998)
Operations Strategy – Slide 6
RENT-EARNING POTENTIAL
CAPABILITIES OF THE FIRM
Rules and Directives
Organisational Routines
Resources
Tangible
Intangible
Knowledge Management
2
Competitive Advantage
(Rents)
Strategic Importance of Operations
Why is operations strategy so important?
• It can provide sustainable competitive advantage
• Major investments may be required
• Fundamental changes may be crucial
• A high percentage of the budget is allocated within operations • Structural constraints of operations due to
The length of time to build operations systems, e.g. factories
The difficulty of altering them once installed
Wickham Skinner
"Manufacturing - Missing Link in Corporate Strategy“, HBR, 1969
Operations Strategy – Slide 7
Hayes & Wheelwright’s Four-Stage Model of
Increasing strategic impact
Operations Contribution
STAGE 4
Give an operations advantage
Redefining industry expectations STAGE 3
Link strategy with operations
Clearly the best in the industry
STAGE 2
Adopt best practice As good as the competitors Holding the organization back
STAGE 1
Correct the worst problems
Internally
neutral
Externally neutral Internally supportive Externally supportive Increasing operations capabilities
(Hayes and Wheelwright 1984)
Operations Strategy – Slide 8
Operations Performance Objectives:
A CAR WASH COMPANY
In this car wash we do our job:
Good, Quick and Cheap! but most people cannot do these
3 things well because:
If they do it Good and Quick, the price cannot be Cheap….
If they do it Good and Cheap, it cannot be done Quick….
If they do it Quick and Cheap, it cannot be Good….
Operations Strategy – Slide 9
Your satisfaction with our service is very important to us!
Generic Operations
Performance Objectives
The Operations function can provide a competitive advantage through its performance at a set of objectives.
Quality
Speed
Dependability
Flexibility
Cost
Innovativeness
Doing things RIGHT
Doing things FAST
Doing things ON TIME
Being ABLE TO