http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/ en tutor2u.net Copyright 2012 2012-02-12T11:47:19+00:00 http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/video-resource-do-bonuses-work-as-an-incentive-for-better-performance http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/video-resource-do-bonuses-work-as-an-incentive-for-better-performance#When:12:22:55Z A timely short video here from the BBC looks at the way that a simple activity-related bonus improves productivity in a small drilling business.  Employees and management seem happy at D-Drill.  But, can the use of much larger-scale bonuses in financial services be justified in the same way?  A great starting point for discussion with students… BUSINESS THEMES, Human Resource Management, Operations Management, TEACHING BUSINESS, Video Case Studies, 2012-02-10T12:22:55+00:00 http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/how-to-turn-threats-into-an-opportunity-at-ryanair http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/how-to-turn-threats-into-an-opportunity-at-ryanair#When:06:11:12Z Michael O’Leary, quoted in Management Today, describes the situation facing Ryanair towards the end of last year. He highlighted the threats from the EU recession and higher oil prices, but typically O’Leary found the opportunities more compelling: the “unfolding failure of the package tour operator model, significant competitor fare increases and capacity cuts, created enormous growth opportunities for Ryanair, as large and smaller airports across Europe compete aggressively to win Ryanair’s growth” he said. BUSINESS THEMES, Business Strategy, Leisure, Travel & Tourism, International Business, Operations Management, 2012-01-31T06:11:12+00:00 http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/manufacturing-strategy-is-china-losing-its-competitiveness http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/manufacturing-strategy-is-china-losing-its-competitiveness#When:16:43:41Z Is China still a competitive location for overseas manufacturing? Certainly the nature of manufacturing in China is chaining rapidly, as this 4 minute video from the Financial Times explains.  It features European firms that moved their production to China several years ago.  However, as wages in China have risen rapidly in recent years, it becomes less cost-effective to make low value-added products in China. BUSINESS THEMES, Business Strategy, Emerging Markets, International Business, Operations Management, TEACHING BUSINESS, Video Case Studies, 2012-01-29T16:43:41+00:00 http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/technological-change-3-d-printing-promises-a-new-industrial-revolution http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/technological-change-3-d-printing-promises-a-new-industrial-revolution#When:19:45:16Z I’m going to show you a technology that may simply blow you away.  This isn’t a make-believe technology; it’s real and it’s here now.  The possibilities are endless; the implications for the future of manufacturing, business investment and business models could be hugely significant. BUSINESS THEMES, Business & Technology, Operations Management, 2012-01-28T19:45:16+00:00 http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/technology-in-action-inside-the-transparent-factory http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/technology-in-action-inside-the-transparent-factory#When:22:17:17Z What a stunning video that is likely to become a permanent fixture on the schemes of work for many colleagues. This 6 minute video gives you a guided tour of VW’s “transparent factory”.  Wow! BUSINESS THEMES, Business & Technology, Operations Management, TEACHING BUSINESS, Video Case Studies, 2012-01-27T22:17:17+00:00 http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/strategy-lessons-from-the-tesco-downfall http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/strategy-lessons-from-the-tesco-downfall#When:12:49:42Z A highlight for me and many business teachers was the superb presentation given at the Business Teacher National Conference 2011 by Sir Terry Leahy who, just weeks earlier, had retired as CEO of Tesco leaving behind a stunning record of profitable growth. Who would have thought that less than a year later, the shares of Tesco would fall by 16% in just one day (nicknamed “Tesco Thursday”) wiping £5bn off the value of Tesco shares.  The sudden downturn in Tesco’s fortunes will be a rich source of business lesson material for months, perhaps years to come. BUSINESS THEMES, Business Strategy, Marketing, Human Resource Management, Operations Management, Retailing, 2012-01-15T12:49:42+00:00 http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/business-size-and-the-innovation-debate http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/business-size-and-the-innovation-debate#When:16:39:17Z Innovation is a business topic in its own right, and it also crops up a lot when there are discussions about the benefits and drawbacks of size – or economies and diseconomies of scale, in syllabus terms.  This is a rich thread for evaluation, although it’s probably fair to say that poor rates of innovation and change are often quoted as a classic ‘diseconomy of scale’.  In other words, big business is supposed to be bad at it. But more and more big firms are setting out to challenge this view and prove themselves as innovators.  The Economist have also recently added to this side of the argument. BUSINESS THEMES, Business & Technology, Business Organisation, Leadership & Culture, Operations Management, 2012-01-11T16:39:17+00:00 http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/revision-presentation-operational-objectives http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/revision-presentation-operational-objectives#When:07:41:15Z An introductory revision presentation looking at the key operational objectives set by businesses. These include cost and volume targets, quality, efficiency and environmental. BUSINESS THEMES, Aims and Objectives, Operations Management, REVISION PRESENTATIONS, 2012-01-03T07:41:15+00:00 http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/revision-presentation-economies-of-scale-resource-mix http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/revision-presentation-economies-of-scale-resource-mix#When:07:31:28Z This revision presentation looks at the operational issue of business scale. What are economies of scale and should a business adopt a capital or labour intensive business model? BUSINESS THEMES, Operations Management, REVISION PRESENTATIONS, 2012-01-03T07:31:28+00:00 http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/revision-presentation-innovation http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/revision-presentation-innovation#When:21:13:11Z This revision presentation focuses on the role of innovation and invention in a business as part of operational strategy. BUSINESS THEMES, Business & Technology, Operations Management, 2012-01-02T21:13:11+00:00 http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/revision-presentation-critical-path-analysis http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/revision-presentation-critical-path-analysis#When:13:21:20Z This new revision presentation provides an overview of CPA - critical path analysis.  CPA is a technique widely used in management of complex projects and is also associated with lean production. BUSINESS THEMES, Operations Management, EXAM BOARD SUPPORT, AS & A2 Business, AQA BUSS3, REVISION PRESENTATIONS, 2012-01-02T13:21:20+00:00 http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/revision-presentation-business-location-and-operations http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/revision-presentation-business-location-and-operations#When:08:34:51Z This new revision presentation provides an overview of the factors that a business considers in choosing its business location. The presentation also considers issues such as multi-site location, industrial inertia and locating a business overseas (offshoring). BUSINESS THEMES, International Business, Operations Management, Retailing, REVISION PRESENTATIONS, 2012-01-02T08:34:51+00:00 http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/critical-path-analysis http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/critical-path-analysis#When:07:20:19Z CPA is probably my favourite topic to teach. I love it. This idea is not a magic bullet, but is a way to make it slightly easier. Who came up with this idea? One of my students…. BUSINESS THEMES, Operations Management, EXAM BOARD SUPPORT, AS & A2 Business, AQA BUSS3, TEACHING BUSINESS, 2012-01-02T07:20:19+00:00 http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/why-id-productivity-rising-in-the-us http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/why-id-productivity-rising-in-the-us#When:12:48:16Z Productivity – usually expressed in terms of output per worker – is a really important term in business.  In fact, it’s up there near the top of the list of the most important measures of business efficiency.  So is it good news that productivity continues to rise (at least in the US)?  And what forces are driving this improvement? BUSINESS THEMES, Business & Technology, Human Resource Management, Operations Management, 2012-01-01T12:48:16+00:00 http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/revision-presentation-lean-production http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/revision-presentation-lean-production#When:07:01:08Z A common challenge for manufacturing and service businesses alike is to maxmise product quality whilst minimising product costs.  Lean production methods provide opportunities to meet this challenge, but they are not without their drawnbacks, as explained in this revision presentation. BUSINESS THEMES, Operations Management, REVISION PRESENTATIONS, 2011-12-31T07:01:08+00:00 http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/a-quality-control-disaster-turns-into-a-new-product-opportunity http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/a-quality-control-disaster-turns-into-a-new-product-opportunity#When:12:57:30Z What happens when a product that is supposed to delight customers for 20 minutes lasts for just 50 seconds?  That’s what happened to the good people of Oban in Scotland, when their bonfire fireworks celebration turned out to be a little shorter than expected… BUSINESS THEMES, Marketing, Operations Management, 2011-12-29T12:57:30+00:00 http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/functional-strategies-for-success-at-mcdonalds-uk http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/functional-strategies-for-success-at-mcdonalds-uk#When:15:01:01Z Love them or loathe them, it’s hard to deny that McDonalds has really got its act together in the UK and is thriving in a tough environment for consumer spending.  This excellent article from the Independent features an interview with Jill McDonald (no relation to the original founder!) describes some of the key functional strategies that the business has adopted which are credited with improved business performance. Lots for business students (and their teachers) to get their teeth into here.  Among the key strategies adopted are: - Redesign and renovation of location interiors, with renewed focus on families (marketing & ops) - Wider menu choice, including some healthier options (marketing & ops) - Free WIFI (marketing) - High level of training, including extended apprentice programmes - Increased proportion of locations which are franchises (up from 40% in 2006 to 65% now) Well worth a read. BUSINESS THEMES, Business Strategy, Customer Service, Marketing, Human Resource Management, Operations Management, EXAM BOARD SUPPORT, AS & A2 Business, AQA BUSS3, 2011-12-15T15:01:01+00:00 http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/warehouse-woes-superdrys-operations-hit-the-finances http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/warehouse-woes-superdrys-operations-hit-the-finances#When:12:24:07Z At the recent BUSS3 workshops we considered how a seemingly insignificant change in operations could have a potentially significant effect on the financial performance of a retail business if that change went wrong. We used the example of retailer Superdry to help make the point.  And now the full cost suffered by Superdry as a result of their warehouse problems has been disclosed in the latest financial results from its parent company Supergroup. BUSINESS THEMES, Finance & Accounting, Operations Management, Retailing, 2011-12-14T12:24:07+00:00 http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/behind-the-scenes-of-a-sainsburys-warehouse-at-christmas http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/behind-the-scenes-of-a-sainsburys-warehouse-at-christmas#When:18:49:43Z A neat, short video here in which we get a behind the scenes look at the way in which Sainsbury’s handles goods delivered to a main distribution warehouse in the busy build-up to Christmas.  Some nice glimpses of technology in action - what is that over-sized watch that the warehouse employee is wearing?  The flow of stocks is quite straightforward too.  Goods come in at one end; they are automatically scanned and then sent to waiting delivery lorries at the other end.  Simple - in theory! Here is the video BUSINESS THEMES, Business & Technology, Operations Management, Retailing, TEACHING BUSINESS, Video Case Studies, 2011-12-07T18:49:43+00:00 http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/a-peak-inside-santas-grotto-sorry-the-amazon.co.uk-warehouse http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/a-peak-inside-santas-grotto-sorry-the-amazon.co.uk-warehouse#When:09:20:18Z A recent report suggested that about 25% of Christmas presents will be ordered online in 2011 and many of them will be picked, packed and despatched from this modern-day version of Santa’s grotto - the amazing Amazon.co.uk warehouse.  This photo-stream provides some snapshots of activity at Amazon UK’s distribution hub in Swansea, which opened back in 2008 and must now be one of the busiest workplaces in the UK!  Of course, we all know that the real Santa continues to use his highly-trained and efficient Elves for the present selection and distribution functions for children.  But students may appreciate seeing what goes on behind the scenes for the grown-up’s presents.  I’m told that Amazon is the official outsourcing partner for Santa for this important customer segment… BUSINESS THEMES, E-Business & E-Commerce, Operations Management, Retailing, 2011-12-04T09:20:18+00:00 http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/a-tour-of-a-handmade-chocolate-factory http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/a-tour-of-a-handmade-chocolate-factory#When:12:05:44Z We’re diving into the world of chocolate retailing at the AQA BUSS3 revision workshops over the next three weeks and I came across this super 5 minute video as part of our research.  It takes you behind the scenes of a premium chocolate producer in the US called Moonstruck Chocolate… BUSINESS THEMES, Operations Management, TEACHING BUSINESS, Video Case Studies, 2011-11-21T12:05:44+00:00 http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/how-we-made-our-millions-michelle-mone-and-richard-reed-under-the-spotlight http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/how-we-made-our-millions-michelle-mone-and-richard-reed-under-the-spotlight#When:23:14:31Z I enjoyed watching this programme last night in which Peter Jones investigated Michelle Mone, founder of Ultimo, and Richard Reed, co-founder of Innocent in order to find out ‘How we made our millions’. The programme looked at their very different characters as Peter discussed with them their childhoods, studied their business models, asked staff what they are like to work for, and considered what it was that drove them to be entrepreneurs. BUSINESS THEMES, Business Organisation, Enterprise and Startups, Leadership & Culture, Operations Management, 2011-11-10T23:14:31+00:00 http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/job-production...unwrapped http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/job-production...unwrapped#When:11:42:19Z I owe a pat on the back to one of two of my Upper Sixth students, Georgina Carter & Mille Dunn, for telling me all about a US TV programme called ‘Unwrapped’ which goes behind the scenes of food production of some of the western world’s favourite foods. BUSINESS THEMES, Operations Management, EXAM BOARD SUPPORT, GCSE Business, 2011-11-10T11:42:19+00:00 http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/workforce-planning-and-the-risk-of-excessive-cutbacks1 http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/workforce-planning-and-the-risk-of-excessive-cutbacks1#When:14:11:54Z As part of their workforce planning, firms try to anticipate their future labour requirements and undertake an analysis of their existing workforce.  This helps them see where there are gaps in their human resources and where training priorities need to be addressed. My students have been going through this using the example of the HR implications of business expansion in the UK supermarket sector. Of course, workforce planning for growth is one thing.  Maybe more current is the depressing necessity for many firms to cut back on staffing.  But this can go too far, as I read in a piece on Kellogg’s. BUSINESS THEMES, Aims and Objectives, Business Strategy, Human Resource Management, Operations Management, 2011-11-08T14:11:54+00:00 http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/brilliant-video-for-just-in-time-and-kaizen http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/brilliant-video-for-just-in-time-and-kaizen#When:05:30:07Z THis video is perfect to illustrate Just in Time and Kaizen in action. BUSINESS THEMES, Business & Technology, Operations Management, TEACHING BUSINESS, Video Case Studies, 2011-11-05T05:30:07+00:00 http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/jaguar-land-rover-essay http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/jaguar-land-rover-essay#When:07:00:01Z Yesterday with my A2 class I made use of the following article and accompanying clips from the BBC website highlighting Jaguar Land Rover’s decision to build a new production plant in Wolverhampton. BUSINESS THEMES, Business Organisation, Business Strategy, Operations Management, EXAM BOARD SUPPORT, AS & A2 Business, AQA BUSS3, AQA BUSS4, 2011-09-20T07:00:01+00:00 http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/disposing-of-e-waste http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/disposing-of-e-waste#When:15:04:01Z This is a great BBC News Clip on what happens to our electronic waste when we no longer need it. WASTE MANAGEMENT appears in many syllabuses nowadays and waste disposal is becoming a more regulated and expensive aspect of a business’s operations. This video clip shows what happens when the costs rise and businesses try to find cheaper ways to dispose of that waste. Here is another BBC clip from Panorama BUSINESS THEMES, Business Ethics & CSR, E-Business & E-Commerce, Globalisation, Operations Management, 2011-09-15T15:04:01+00:00 http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/waitrose-strategy-essay http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/waitrose-strategy-essay#When:06:54:00Z This afternoon I made use of Jim and Tom’s recent blogs relating to Waitrose to have a fascinating strategy discussion with my A2 students. BUSINESS THEMES, Aims and Objectives, Business Strategy, Operations Management, Retailing, EXAM BOARD SUPPORT, AS & A2 Business, AQA BUSS3, AQA BUSS4, 2011-09-13T06:54:00+00:00 http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/nurofen-plus-and-the-importance-of-quality http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/nurofen-plus-and-the-importance-of-quality#When:19:04:00Z Quality control is a key element of any business’s operations management and is a theme regularly covered in exam case studies. I am sure that the starting point for many of you when teaching this concept is the importance of quality to business. There have been many examples that we can refer to, most recently the case of Nurofen Plus... BUSINESS THEMES, Customer Service, Operations Management, 2011-08-28T19:04:00+00:00 http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/is-apple-now-the-worlds-biggest-firm http://www.tutor2u.net/blog/index.php/business-studies/comments/is-apple-now-the-worlds-biggest-firm#When:14:07:00Z This is a classic Business Studies question to which the most accurate response is probably, “it depends on how you measure size”.  And according to The Guardian, Apple really IS the biggest company, by one measure.  Today, at any rate. BUSINESS THEMES, Finance & Accounting, Operations Management, 2011-08-10T14:07:00+00:00