COM COM Technology & Innovation Management 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary benefit of implementing an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system in operations management?
- Eliminating the need for employees
- Integrating core business processes into a single unified system (Correct answer)
- Reducing product quality standards
- Outsourcing all manufacturing
Correct answer: Integrating core business processes into a single unified system
ERP systems integrate functions like finance, HR, supply chain, and manufacturing into one platform, improving data visibility and decision-making across the organization.
Question 2: In operations management, what does 'automation' primarily help achieve?
- Increased reliance on manual inspection
- Higher throughput with reduced human error and labor costs (Correct answer)
- Slower production for higher quality
- Elimination of all quality checks
Correct answer: Higher throughput with reduced human error and labor costs
Automation uses technology to perform repetitive tasks faster and more consistently than humans, increasing output while reducing errors and labor expenses.
Question 3: What is Industry 4.0, and how does it impact operations management?
- A labor union movement for factory workers
- The fourth industrial revolution integrating digital technologies like IoT, AI, and big data into manufacturing (Correct answer)
- A US government manufacturing incentive program
- A quality certification level above Six Sigma
Correct answer: The fourth industrial revolution integrating digital technologies like IoT, AI, and big data into manufacturing
Industry 4.0 refers to the digitalization of manufacturing through technologies like IoT sensors, AI analytics, cloud computing, and robotics to create smart factories.
Question 4: What is the Internet of Things (IoT) in the context of operations management?
- A social media network for manufacturers
- A network of connected devices that collect and share operational data in real time (Correct answer)
- An inventory ordering system
- A type of enterprise software
Correct answer: A network of connected devices that collect and share operational data in real time
IoT in operations involves physical devices (sensors, machines, vehicles) connected to the internet to collect real-time data for monitoring, maintenance, and optimization.
Question 5: Which innovation management framework categorizes innovations by their degree of novelty into incremental, breakthrough, and disruptive types?
- Value chain analysis
- Innovation ambition matrix (Correct answer)
- Porter's Five Forces
- SWOT analysis
Correct answer: Innovation ambition matrix
The innovation ambition matrix (Nagji & Tuff) classifies innovations along two dimensions — how new the offering is and how new the market is — to guide resource allocation.
Question 6: What is a key operational benefit of predictive maintenance enabled by technology?
- Eliminating all scheduled maintenance
- Reducing unplanned downtime by servicing equipment before failures occur (Correct answer)
- Lowering equipment purchase costs
- Removing the need for maintenance staff
Correct answer: Reducing unplanned downtime by servicing equipment before failures occur
Predictive maintenance uses sensor data and analytics to forecast when equipment will fail, allowing maintenance to be scheduled proactively and avoiding costly unplanned outages.
COM COM Technology & Innovation Management 1
What is the primary benefit of implementing an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system in operations management?