Reference no: EM132829878

1.As the administrative manager in a law office, you have been asked to develop a system for evaluating the productivity of the 15 lawyers in the office. What difficulties are you going to have in doing this, and how are you going to overcome them? Think of the difficulty with the measurement of service productivity.

2.Starbucks is one of the best known coffeehouse chains in the world. Each store sells a variety of innovative products to complement the array of coffee choices available. However, 75% of current stores are located in the United States and the expensive nature of the coffee leaves Starbucks vulnerable to changes in consumer spending behavior (such as recessions). Recently Starbucks has begun initiatives to sell its specialty coffee beans for home use, presenting a chance for an increase in revenue and diversification. However, Starbucks faces fierce competition seeking a piece of its lucrative market share and the threat of consumer behavior changes, given its reputation rides on a singular product. Perform a SWOT analysis for Starbucks.

3.Discuss the advisability of using modular assemblies in manufacturing. (What are the advantages and disadvantages?) To what extent can these arguments be applied to service products?

4.In an affluent society, how do we produce a wide number of options for products at low cost? Hint: Focus on how to address some of the major challenges of mass customization.

5.Why is quality of life an element of intangible costs associated with location decisions? Provide an example as part of your discussion.