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Reply to Introduction to Operations Management Discussion 2
Q – Please read the discussion below and prepare a Reply to this discussion post with comments that further and advance the discussion topic.
Please provide the references you used.
Ensure zero plagiarism.
Word limit: 250 words
Discussion
Operations Management and Quality Perception at Carrefour in Saudi Arabia
Operations management is vital to any organization, particularly in a hypermarket like Carrefour in Saudi Arabia. Customers evaluate Carrefour’s quality based on factors like product variety, pricing, cleanliness, and service efficiency. In the context of the customers’ perception, quality relates to the range of products offered by Carrefour, the price, the cleanliness of the store, and the speed of the services provided by Carrefour staff (Jackson, 2023). That is why providing the Customer expectation level with services, various products, and competitive prices play a crucial role in forming Carrefour’s reputation. Also, technology is critical in delivering a better customer experience, which is enhanced through Carrefour’s self-checkout stations, mobile app, and online order services. Technology integration serves organizational needs and enhances customer benefits by making shopping easy.
When compared to another hypermarket in Saudi Arabia, such as Lulu Hypermarket, Carrefour distinguishes itself with its international reach and extensive use of technology. Still, Lulu concentrates on regional products and an effective in-store customer approach strategy. In contrast, Carrefour has a more extensive product assortment of international products and a more significant online client service. Technology like self-checkout is also adopted in hypermarkets, including its competitors. However, Carrefour’s global network for resource mobilization and convenience gave Carrefour a better perception of quality in hypermarkets.
In terms of operational criteria, customer satisfaction ranks highest in importance for hypermarkets. Satisfied customers are more likely to return, creating long-term loyalty. Stock control comes next in closely monitoring inventory to ensure the products are always in stock and minimize occasions when they are out of stock. Another objective is capacity planning and store layout since they control the flow of customers and customer traffic for efficient shopping (Cooper & Taylor, 2023). However, location, scheduling, and forecasting are other relevant factors that may be less closely tied to the perceived quality from the point of view of the end consumers in a retail context.
However, in a different industry like healthcare, the ranking of operational priorities shifts. High importance is associated with capacity planning and scheduling in healthcare, as these constructs are closely linked with outcomes and quality of care (Jackson, 2023). Customer satisfaction is still paramount, but it is commonly related to the quality of care, not the accessibility of services. Forecasting and inventory management are also vital in ensuring sufficient supply to meet patients’ demands without stock-out of crucial items in healthcare facilities.
In conclusion, operations management is a crucial aspect that impacts the success of hypermarkets, including Carrefour in Saudi Arabia. Such elements define customer-driven quality assessment as customer care, product differentiation, and technology. Some of these technologies are self-checkout systems and online shopping, which benefit the consumers and Carrefour. Hence, based on the options proposed and the case analysis, Carrefour is a hypermarket that differentiates itself from other competitors currently on the scene, mainly due to its international product range and the use of new technologies. Thus, the priority of the operational criteria is vital for organizational success, customer satisfaction, inventory FCG, and capacity planning, at least for retail businesses. At the same time, the comparison with the healthcare industry points to the fact that the operational priorities can vary depending on the type of business.
References
Cooper, D., & Taylor, S. (2023). The data revolution in operations management: Unlocking innovation by embracing change. Journal of Securities Operations & Custody, 15(1), 44–55. https://eds-p-ebscohost-com.csuglobal.idm.oclc.org/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=1&sid=7fd3fabb-24fe-4b55-a2ab-95cf79ca13be%40redis
Jackson, A. (2023, March 28). Operations Management: Understanding and Using It. Investopedia. Retrieved October 11, 2023, from https://www.investopedia.com/terms/o/operations-management.asp
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