Question 3: Evaluate by mentioning two strengths and two weaknesses for operation management activities and how leaders and managers can improve these activities to meet business objectives successfully.

1[-Setting Standards

2-Capacity management

3-Inventory Management

4- Scheduling:

5-Control:

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Setting Standards: Starbucks carefully sources its coffee beans from coffee farmers who comply with Starbucks quality standards. The firm also prefers to buy coffee from farmers certified under the Starbucks Coffee and Farmer Equity (CAFE) program. Premium quality service is ensured through servant leadership and a warm friendly culture. In this decision area of operations management, Starbucks implements high quality to align with the firms premium brand image.

Capacity management Starbucks human resource management integrates organizational culture in all areas of the business. This organizational culture involves the employees-first attitude that cares for Starbucks workers.

Inventory Management: inventory management at Starbucks is linked with the firms supply chain and various facilities. At the cafs, inventory management involves office automation and manual monitoring. In Starbucks supply hubs, automation is more comprehensively used. The company aims to minimize stock out and ensure continuous supply of coffee beans to its cafs. Starbucks addresses this decision area of operations management by focusing on supply adequacy and automation.

Scheduling: Starbucks uses automated and manual scheduling approaches for its various business activities. The company also applies flexible schedules for management personnel. This decision area of operations management relates with Starbucks in terms of the firms objective of streamlining processes, while allowing some degree of flexibility among management positions in the organization.

Control: Starbucks maintains its physical assets through dedicated teams of employees trained for maintaining facilities and equipment, as well as third parties that offer maintenance services. These third parties include local businesses that provide equipment tune-ups for Starbucks cafs. In addition, the company maintains its human resource capacity through training and retention strategies that include relatively high compensation. Thus, Starbucks addresses this decision area of operations management through the involvement of caf personnel, dedicated maintenance teams, and third-party service providers.