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Blue Bear Ltd is a multifunctional manufacturing organisation with a global supply chain and customers in over 30 different countries. There are many different functions within the organisation who all have their own supply networks and relationships. For each function, select which part of the Value Chain this represents and the type of Supply Network the function uses.

Function 1: This function is a support activity responsible for ensuring the other functions have the right number of resources to complete work. The function has a complex structure with both horizontal and vertical reporting lines. Each person working within the function has separate, clear objectives to achieve.

Function 2: This support activity ensures that the Five Rights are achieved by the organisation. The function makes key strategic decisions which are followed by other departments. Power is centralised here with staff on-hand to support other parts of the business as and when required.

Function 3: Staff within this function describe themselves as ‘the people that get stuff done’. The function is a Primary Activity in the Value Chain responsible for turning raw materials into finished products. The function has a supply network both upstream and downstream which is highly valued and decisions are made jointly with supply partners.

Function 4: This department, although a Primary Activity of the Value Chain, is not well organised and the relationships in the supply network are informal and rely on trust rather than contracts. Information is shared based on ‘good will’ and there are no clear boundaries. The function is responsible for warehousing and transportation.

Function 5: This area of the business has a one-sided supply network. It is considered a Primary Activity of the Value Chain and deals directly with customers.

Complete the table below by listing the Value Chain Activity and the Supply Network Type. Some answers may not be used: HR, Operations, Outbound Logistics, Technology Development, Procurement, Marketing and Sales, Symmetrical, Asymmetrical, Proprietary, Social, Centralised, Bureaucratic.

Below are brief descriptions of 5 organisations which are working to create an Operations Strategy. Each organisation is focusing on one aspect of strategic thinking and has a different attitude to designing the organisation’s structure. Based on the descriptions below, select the attribute of strategic thinking and the Organisational Type according to Laloux’s Organisational Model which correspond to each organisation.

Organisation 1: This organisation uses the metaphor of a machine to describe its organisational model. The priority is to achieve competitive advantage within the marketplace, drive growth and generate profit. The main attribute is therefore to understand how value can be created within the system by understanding the current reality and what changes need to be made to ensure the organisation remains competitive.

Organisation 2: The management at this organisation constantly re-evaluates the direction of travel in order to determine if that direction is still valid. The organisation is extremely responsive to changes in the external environment and has a participatory management system with employees encouraged to voice ideas and opinions. The main concern of the organisation is to drive employee empowerment.

Organisation 3: The organisation knows what it wants to achieve and all energy is directed to achieving these aims. The goals are clearly defined by senior leadership who have strong managerial command and control systems in place. There is little creativity at this organisation.

Organisation 4: This organisation uses the metaphor of a family to describe itself. It invests heavily in developing organisational culture and its people. The organisation listens to its employees and is extremely prudent about avoiding past mistakes. The priority is to be as responsive as possible to the current environment and renewing the organisation’s strategy for the future.

Organisation 5: Here there is a creative and critical approach to strategy design. Rather than using data to drive decisions, management asks ‘what if?’. There is heavy investment in agile practices, and employees do not have direct line managers, rather they ‘self-manage’. The organisation uses the metaphor of a living organism to describe itself.

Complete the table below by listing the Strategic Thinking Attribute and Organisational Type. Some answers may not be used: systems perspective x2, hypothesis driven, intent focused, thinking in time, intelligent opportunism, orange x2, teal x2, green x2.

Which of the following will you put into box 2?

Salgo Ltd is an oil refinery organisation which has been in operation for 30 years. It has made increasing profits each year with the most recent year's takings in excess of £20m. Salgo Ltd uses an Emergent Strategy principle when it comes to resource planning. What are the characteristics of this approach? Select ALL that apply.

LTL Ltd is a manufacturing organisation that produces made to order equipment for the construction industry such as bespoke windows and doors. The Head of Operations has received four large orders of windows and doors and is considering the sequencing of when the orders should be made. Which of the following should the company do?