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Thomas Williams’s New Business Startup

CASELET, OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT
ET Cases, 2 pages
AUTHOR(S) : R. Muthukumar and Dr. Nagendra V. Chowdary

Case Preview

Thomas Williams’s New Business Startup

Thomas Williams (Thomas) had worked for ‘NewsRoom’, a news daily for almost 5 years. Although the company had gone through tough times many a times it had always managed to turn around. The topline and bottom-line of the company improved dramatically every time from what they had been earlier due to companywide quality improvement program. The exhilaration, however, was very short-lived. Forced by intense competition, cost escalations, and the resultant depressing margins, the company’s CEO, John Thomas (John) decided to downsize the organization. The downsizing decision, as could be expected, was devastating for 100 employees,
including Thomas.

After recovering from After recovering from the setback, Thomas started to search employment elsewhere. Despite his enormous efforts of job-hunt, even after many months he was unable to land a job. His savings were almost depleted, nevertheles, he was nurturing a plan to start his own business. He borrowed money from his father, friends and relatives. On a rainy Tuesday morning, he decided to start work for himself by setting up his own business...................

Assignment Questions

I. Briefly discuss Operations Management, operations function and and its role in any organization.

II. How would you judge the quality of Thomas’ services, if you are –

a) an existing customer and
b) a potential prospective customer?

III. Thomas is also defacto Operations Manager of MBS. Some of his important responsibilities are – forecasting, inventory management, scheduling, quality assurance, maintenance, etc.

a) What kinds of variables would likely require forecasts?
b) What inventory items does he probably have? Name one inventory decision he has to make periodically.
c) .................

...........................

Teaching Note Preview

Thomas Williams’s New Business Startup

 

Prerequisite Conceptual Understanding

  • • Jay Heizer, et al., “Chapter 1: Operations and Productivity”, Operations Management, 9th Edition, Pearson Education, 2008

 

Synopsis

This caselet is designed to have an overview and understand the strategic importance of Operations Management in any organization’s success or failure. To be used as the introductory case in Operations Management course, this caselet provides adequate breadth and width of operations as one of the key functions of a company. Structured around Thomas Williams’s (Thomas) new and small entrepreneurial venture, an Operations Manager’s roles and responsibilities can be analyzed and discussed. After losing his job due to the downsizing decision by NewsRoom, Thomas initiated a business venture Mawi Business Solutions (MBS) to offer web design services. The caselet also provides scope to discuss and debate on the challenges that the startup may face.

Expected Learning Outcomes

At the end of this caselet discussion, the participants are expected to learn:

  • • Concept of Operations Management
  • • The role of operations in organizations
  • • Difference between goods production and service operations
  • • How Operations Managers bring together different contributions to satisfy customers

 

Assignment Questions

I. Briefly discuss Operations Management, operations function and and its role in any organization.

II. How would you judge the quality of Thomas’ services, if you are –


a) an existing customer and
b) a potential prospective customer?

............................................

Teaching Plan

This Teaching Note follows a sequential order as presented in the Teaching Plan [Annexure (TN)-I]...............

Exhibits

Exhibit (TN)-I: MBW’s Services and Customers

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Abstract


This caselet is designed to have an overview and understand the strategic importance of Operations Management in any organization's success or failure. To be used as the introductory case in Operations Management course, this caselet provides adequate breadth and width of operations as one of the key functions of a company. Structured around Thomas William's (Thomas) new and small entrepreneurial venture, an Operations Manager's roles and responsibilities can be analyzed and discussed. After losing his job due to the downsizing decision by NewsRoom, Thomas initiated a business venture Mawi Business Solutions (MBS) to offer web design services. The caselet also provides scope to discuss and debate on the challenges that the startup may face.



Pedagogical Objectives

  • To have an overview of the broad contours of Operations Management
  • To analyze and discuss the role of operations in organizations
  • To debate on difference between goods production and service operation
  • To discuss how operations managers bring together different contributions to satisfy customers



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- Abstract
- Caselet
- Teaching Note (**ONLY for Academicians)


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