Management Case Study
Where the Rubber Meets the Road
Total quality management (TQM), defined in the most simplistic of terms, is the incremental improvement of all facets of a business to increase customer satisfaction and, in turn, company viability. Although TQM is often applied first to manufacturing functions in an organization (zero defects, on-time production), the intent of TQM is equally meaningful in all aspects of business, from administrative (zero defects in billing and timely collection of accounts receivable), to distribution (no breakage, just-in-time delivery) to management (appropriate incentive structures, timely and accurate stakeholder reporting). The increased efficiency and competitiveness created through TQM initiatives is not limited to only the manufacturing sector, with many of the benefits of TQM occurring in the service sector, too.
In the case of Bridgestone/Firestone, TQM was not pursued prior to the recall of its 6.5 million tires in 2000, as evidenced by the magnitude of the defective products involved in the recall. If a TQM program had existed at Bridgestone/Firestone, the scale of the recall would have been significantly...
Sometimes, studies show that elderly patients are perceived not to be in pain because they do not complain about pain, or that the perceive it differently than younger people. In both receptive and non-receptive patients, one can observe facial tics and/or grimaces, blood pressure (elevated blood pressure sometimes indicates more pain), body temperature, and even mobility. For the functional patient, assessment can be done by observation of body movement, gait,
76). As automation increasingly assumes the more mundane and routine aspects of work of all types, Drucker was visionary in his assessment of how decisions would be made in the years to come. "In the future," said Drucker, "it was possible that all employment would be managerial in nature, and we would then have progressed from a society of labor to a society of management" (Witzel, p. 76). The
Patagonia Strategic Management & Corporate ResponsibilityIntroductionPatagonia is a subsidiary of Lost Arrow, a privately held firm established in 1973 by climbers and surfers. Patagonia is a purveyor of outdoor clothing and gear and manages its research, design manufacturing, and sale of its products. The firm is driven by developing essential products for outdoor activities rather than profit-motivated production. Patagonia has a competitive advantage due to unique technological innovation in the
This implies that the proposed business will have a good market to source its sap. Secondly, Thailand's market also offers a good platform for the proposed business model. Farmers have previously had to get less money from rubber farming: they have been forced to sell their sap quickly at a lower price because they cannot store the product. This business model promotes the growth of the business. B. Target Customers
Management Sustainability and CSR Questions Question 1; Green Rubber Failures of firms adopting green marketing approaches are numerous. Perceptions that the target market are more interested in other factors, such as cost or quality, rather than the green credentials will mean firms are likely to prioritize the factors they feel are most likely to attract that market, and making a will lead to a competitive advantage. For example, in the GRG case it
The case is written in a simple but comprehensive manner, focused on the main highlights of Nike's activity. It is useful for the specialized economists as it presents real and clear facts, but it can also be useful to the novice economist or the simple individual, who wishes to get some insight into the Nike culture and ways. The main purpose of the report is to inform the reader about the
Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.
Get Started Now