Strategic Operations Management: The New Competitive Advantage

by Robert H. Lowson

Overview

This indispensable text offers students a high quality treatment of strategic operations management. It provides the reader with a clear understanding of the importance and nature of operations strategy by determining exactly which management activities, core competencies, resources and technologies underpin an operational strategy. The book demonstrates how various operational elements and components can be combined and customised into unique operational strategies. When these strategies are correctly implemented, they provide sustainable competitive advantage and allow firms to provide a diverse range of services and goods in their increasingly demanding, complex and dynamic marketplaces and spaces. Includes chapters covering customising operational strategies for retail, manufacturing, services and SMEs, and sections on eBusiness and complexity theory in relation to operations theory. Features include: *extended case-studies including several from Europe and the USA *case vignettes *learning objectives *key terms *chapter introduction and 'maps' to aid reader accessibility *'time out' boxes to prompt the reader to reflect on what has been learnt *'critical reflection' boxes that analyse theories and models.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781134519019
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	08/29/2003
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	352
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Robert H. Lowson

Table of Contents

Preface Acknowledgments Part I - Understanding 1. An Introduction to Operations Management 2. Frameworks for the Analysis of Operations Management 3. An Introduction to Strategic Management Part II - Synthesis & Analysis 4. Towards a Taxonomy of Operations Strategies 5. The Essence of an Operations Strategy 6. The Deployment of an Operations Strategy 7. Influences and Factors that Shape an Operations Strategy 8. Operations Strategy as Source of Sustainable Competitive Advantage 9. Understanding Demand Complexity 10. New Research in Demand Understanding
Part III - Applications 11. Operations Strategy: Retail & Manufacturing Applications 12. Operations Strategy: SME & Service Sector Applications 13. Operations Strategy: Global Trade & Network Supply Applications 14. Operations Strategy: E-Commerce & Strategic Co-ordination Applications

Editorial Reviews

'Useful teaching text for students concerned with strategic operations management. Includes well-structured learning objectives and discussion questions as well as case studies and website support.' - Long Range Planning

Robert Lowson's book breaks new ground in its review of the way in which value is created and differentiation achieved through superior operations strategies. Using appropriate examples and case studies the book brings to life the new ideas that are being adopted by leading organizations. The insights that it provides will guide managers and students in their search for understanding of the concepts and tools that underpin excellence in operation strategies. - Martin Christopher, Cranfield School of Management.

From the Publisher