Q&A Hero

Q: In a forecasting model using simple moving average the shorter the time span used for calculating the moving average, the closer the average follows volatile trends.

Q: In a forecasting model using simple exponential smoothing the data pattern should remain stationary.

Q: In the weighted moving average forecasting model the weights must add up to one times the number of data points.

Q: Time series forecasting models make predictions about the future based on analysis of past data.

Q: Trend lines are usually the last things considered when developing a forecast.

Q: Cyclical influences on demand may come from occurrences such as political elections, war or economic conditions.

Q: Cyclical influences on demand are often expressed graphically as a linear function that is either upward or downward sloping.

Q: There is not much that a firm can to influence independent demand.

Q: Independent demand is the demand for a product or service caused by the demand for other products or services.

Q: Continual review and updating in light of new data is a forecasting technique called second-guessing.

Q: The SAP financial accounting modules do not include which of the following? A. Accounts payable B. General ledger C. Capital investments D. Accounts receivable E. Payroll

Q: The SAP sales and distribution modules do not include which of the following? A. Export controls B. Rebate processing C. Transportation management D. Advertising placement E. Billing

Q: The SAP human resources modules do not include which of the following? A. Retirement plan funds administration B. Travel expense accounting C. Workforce planning D. Payroll E. Time management

Q: SAP Business One is a special version of SAP software designed for small and medium-sized firms. According to the text, SAP Business One modules do not include which of the following? A. Procurement monitoring B. Inventory and warehouse management C. Financial reporting D. Manufacturing reporting E. Order fulfillment analysis

Q: Which of the following areas is not addressed by an SAP module? A. Financial accounting B. Marketing C. Human resources D. Manufacturing and logistics E. Sales and distribution

Q: The core of the three-tier client/server configuration required to run SAP is the R3 Application Server.

Q: SAP's Corporate Services segment includes the ability to manage all types of corporate assets including "human capital".

Q: Using the SAP Financials segment requires that a firm adopt Activity-Based Costing (ABC).

Q: Because of the high Level of control that ERP software brings to business processes, cost over-runs are rare when implementing ERP.

Q: According to a survey done by the Harvard Business School, most executives had very positive feelings about ERP software.

Q: mySAP.com is an internet interface that allows users to have the full functionality of the SAP software without requiring the deployment of any special software.

Q: Just-in-time or kanban practices can not be supported by SAP.

Q: Corporate Governance is one area that SAP does not support.

Q: "Slice and dice", in the context of the information warehouse, means getting an increasingly detailed and focused view of aggregated data.

Q: "Drilling down", in the context of the information warehouse, means getting an increasingly detailed and focused view of aggregated data.

Q: The technical aspects of SAP software are a closely guarded secret.

Q: Orders taken over the internet pose a threat to data integrity in an ERP system.

Q: SAP modules are updated twice each year.

Q: The "data warehouse" is an archive of records that must be retained for legal reasons.

Q: SAP's R/3 product is the only viable framework for implementing ERP.

Q: One of SAP's ERP modules is the global alliance module

Q: SAP AG sells an ERP product called R/2D-2.

Q: SAP AG is a major vendor of ERP software.

Q: Implementing ERP may require major changes in the way a company is run.

Q: Enterprise resource planning is a once-per-year activity usually involving a management retreat.

Q: An enterprise resource planning system, when implemented correctly, links most of the areas of a business together.

Q: Why does one have to thoroughly understand conventional approaches to problems when they can be solved by ERP computer programs?

Q: What are the three tiers in the SAP Client/Server configuration?

Q: If SAP users wanted to build their own Internet applications on top of those provided by SAP they could use a product known as what?

Q: The mySAP Supply Chain Management (SCM) product organizes its software into three planning scenarios that represent the basic planning needs of the organization. What are these three planning scenarios?

Q: Financial supply chain management,

Q: Name the three major areas into which the SAP R3 financials segment is divided?

Q: What are the four major "procurement and logistics" functions handled by the operations segment of SAP AG's R/3 ERP software?

Q: Name the six components of the SAP AG's R/3 operations module?

Q: Name the four major modules in SAP AG's R/3 software?

Q: Which of the following firms is not listed as a major developer of ERP software? A. SCLogicx B. Microsoft Corporation C. I2Technologies D. JDA E. Oracle

Q: Describe how the success-to-the-successful system archetype works. What should be done about it?

Q: Why do client firms need operations consulting?

Q: What is the distinction between detailed complexity and dynamic complexity?

Q: What is the most common method for improving efficiency in consulting firms?

Q: What is the goal of consulting firms?

Q: What are buyer power, potential entrants, power of suppliers, potential of substitutes and industry rivalry?

Q: What are the three systems archetypes discussed in the text?

Q: . List three managerial guidelines for implementation of reengineering.

Q: Identify the seven principles of reengineering.

Q: Name the five P's of production

Q: Identify the five forces which help evaluate a firm's competitive position in light of the structure of its industry.

Q: Identify the two types of loops in causal loop analysis.

Q: In the language of systems thinking, what is the archetypical pattern called which attempts to resolve a difficult underlying problem by trying to alleviate the problem's symptoms? A. Limits to success archetype B. Success-to-the-successful archetype C. Reinforcing and balancing archetype D. Shifting the burden archetype E. Feedback loop archetype

Q: Which of the following is not one of the categories in a Rapid Plant Assessment tour? A. Customer satisfaction B. Teamwork and motivation C. Productivity incentives D. Level of inventory E. Commitment to quality

Q: Which of the following is not a principle of reengineering? A. Treat geographically dispersed resources as though they were centralized B. Link parallel activities instead of integrating their results C. Capture information many times, at the source and where it is interpreted D. Organize around outcomes not tasks E. Merge information processing work into the work that produces the information

Q: One of the principles of reengineering is which of the following? A. Quality at the source B. Have those who use the output of a process perform the process C. Do not select suppliers on the basis of price alone D. Leverage high cost employees with lower cost employees E. Downsize your headcount while outsourcing non-essential activities

Q: It is expected that an operations consultant would be familiar with which of the following statistical process control tools? A. Linear programming B. Information technologies C. Run charts D. Core competencies E. Waiting line theory

Q: Flow charts are used in both manufacturing and service consulting to track which of the following? A. Materials B. Information C. People D. All of the above E. None of the above

Q: Flow charts are used in both manufacturing and service consulting to track which of the following? A. Historical milestones B. Information C. Income trends D. Ideas E. Cash flow

Q: In the five forces model, which of the following is one of the five forces? A. Industry rivalry B. Quality control C. Manufacturing processes D. Quality at the source E. Opportunities for the customer

Q: In the five forces model, which of the following is not one of the five forces? A. Buyer power B. New technologies C. Supplier power D. Substitute products E. Potential entrants

Q: Which of the following is a cost impact and payoff analysis tool from the operations consulting tool kit? A. Decision trees B. Gap analysis C. Work sampling D. Statistical tools E. Customer surveys

Q: Which of the following is not a data analysis and solution development tool from the operations consulting tool kit? A. Computer simulation B. Statistics C. Plant tours/audits D. Problem analysis (SPC tools) E. Bottleneck analysis

Q: Which of the following is a data analysis and solution development tool from the operations consulting tool kit? A. Bottleneck analysis B. Employee surveys C. Gap analysis D. Balanced scorecard E. Responsibility charts

Q: Which of the following is a data gathering tool from the operations consulting tool kit? A. Gap analysis B. Employee surveys C. Organization charts D. Statistical tools E. Bottleneck analysis

Q: Which of the following is not a data gathering tool from the operations consulting tool kit? A. Plant tours/Audits B. Work sampling C. Flowcharts D. Factory blueprints E. Organization charts

Q: Which of the following is not a problem definition tool from the operations consulting tool kit? A. Customer surveys B. Computer simulation C. Gap analysis D. Issue trees E. Five forces model

Q: Which of the following is a problem definition tool from the operations consulting tool kit? A. Plant tours/audits B. Work sampling C. Gap analysis D. Balanced scorecard E. Responsibility charts

Q: Which of the following is not considered an operations consulting tool kit category? A. Problem definition B. Data gathering C. Cost impact and payoff analysis D. Optimizing operations output E. Implementation

Q: Which of the following is the stage in the operations consulting process that immediately follows assure client satisfaction? A. Design, develop and test alternative solutions B. Assemble learnings from the study C. Present final report D. Assure client satisfaction E. Present invoice

Q: Which of the following is the stage in the operations consulting process that immediately follows present final report? A. Design, develop and test alternative solutions B. Develop systematic performance measures C. Present invoice D. Assure client satisfaction E. Implement changes

Q: Which of the following is the stage in the operations consulting process that immediately follows problem analysis? A. Design, develop and test alternative solutions B. Develop systematic performance measures C. Present final report D. Assure client satisfaction E. Implement changes

Q: Which of the following is the stage in the operations consulting process that immediately follows sales and proposal development? A. Design, develop and test alternative solutions B. Develop systematic performance measures C. Present final report D. Assure client satisfaction E. Problem analysis

Q: Which of the following is not a major strategic or tactical area where companies typically seek operations consulting? A. Adding new plants B. Refocusing existing facilities C. Locating new plants D. Expanding an existing plant E. Refurbishing an existing facility