16 Jun How is the value chain used to increase competitive advantage?

Use the company you chose for the Unit 1 Activity to complete this question. Use Porter’s Five Forces to explore the competitive advantage that this company has in the industry. How does the current Five Forces analysis help explain the current competitive advantage in the industry? How is the value chain used to increase competitive advantage? If it is not used effectively, what adjustments to the current value chain would you suggest to increase the competitiveness of the company?

Specifications:

3 page paper

Created in a Word document

Follows APA, formatting

Includes a Reference page for cited sources

Instructions: For this activity, you will write a 3 page paper on the development of an operation management plan that focuses on your business concept that you developed for the Unit 1 Activity. A minimum of four scholarly resources should be used in order to support your plan, citing your sources in APA format. Make sure to include a References section that also lists the sources used in APA format. As you write your paper, you should address the following questions and topics:

Purchasing procedures: Identify the necessary input (raw materials necessary to generate the output, or product). Who will or can you buy the raw materials from? If you are providing a service, what supplies will you need to begin and where will they be purchased from?

What accounting and/or purchasing system(s) will you need to accomplish buying either a product line or a service-based business?

Quality control procedures: Identify what quality control measures you will use in order to make sure the product or service meets consumer standards.

For example, if your business concept was to open a bed and breakfast, to answer question 1, you will want to estimate how many rooms you will need; how many guests [on average] you intend to host; and where you will obtain your groceries, paper items, soap, and other guest necessities? Will you shop at a grocery store, use a shopping club like Costco or Sam’s Club, or obtain your inputs through some other means?

Question 2 would include a review of accounting software or systems such as: Sage Peachtree Accounting, Quickbook or Netsuite Financials (or another you may feel comfortable with). Identify why you chose this system or software for your particular business in order to justify its applicability.

Question 3 would need a similar discussion as you identify your quality assurance/control measures that you intend to use to help minimize defects or errors as you produce a product or provide a service. Your review of quality control measures will include a discussion such as: Will there be a quality control manager named for your business? Why, or why not? Will your business use Six Sigma processes in its operation? Why, or why not? Is there a need to utilize ISO 9000 quality standards? Why, or why not?

Be specific in your essay. It may be helpful to “brainstorm your needs” on a separate sheet of paper and once done, create an outline for this section (numbers 1, 2, and 3), using topical headings. Then, note how you will address each requirement of these sections with specific content.