Abstract
Operations management is crucial to the success of any small business. It impacts both the firm’s financial and non-financial aspects. Of importance is the control that can be obtained over the firm’s cash flow, stock and other productive assets to achieve the maximum levels of operational efficiency and effectiveness. Each business is likely to be different in how it operates, and the key performance indicators (KPI) that it needs to monitor how it is performing. This chapter examines operations management and how it applies to small businesses. It includes a review of business process analysis, the development and use of meaningful KPIs, operations management systems and techniques.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsBibliography
Alpander, G., Carter, K., & Forsgren, R. (1990). Managerial issues and problem-solving in the formative years. Journal of Small Business Management, 28(2), 9–18.
Ashford, B. (2007). How benchmarking can mitigate risk in business transformation. BT Technology Journal, 25(1), 50–57.
Blakeman, J. (2002). Benchmarking: Definitions and overview. Centre for Urban Transportation Studies, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. www.uwm.edu
Bogan, C. E., & English, M. J. (1994). Benchmarking for best practices: Winning through innovative adaptation. Boston: CEP.
Brown, A., Van der Wiele, T., & Loughton, K. (1998). Smaller enterprises’ experiences with ISO 9000. The International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management, 15(3), 273–285.
Brown, L (1997). Competitive marketing strategy. Melbourne, Australia: Nelson.
Chittenden, F., Poutziouris, P., & Mukhtar, S.-M. (1998). Small firms and the ISO 9000 approach to quality management. International Small Business Journal, 17(10), 73–88.
DUBS. (1995). Operations management and control. Durham, UK: Small Business Centre, University of Durham Business School, Mill Hill Lane.
Fassoula, E. D., & Rogerson, J. H. (2003). Management tools for SMEs. Total Quality Management, 14(10), 1114–1119.
Fisteus, J. A., & Kloos, C. D. (2006). Business process analysis. In M. Khosrow-Pour (Ed.), Encyclopedia of e-commerce, e-government, and mobile commerce (pp. 78–82). Hershey, PA: IGI Global.
Gonzalez, M. J., Martin, E., Buiza, G., Hidalgo, M., & Beltran, J. (2015). Implementation of an operations management system in eight Spanish SMEs. In International conference on Industrial Engineering and Systems Management (IESM), October 2015 (pp. 1296–1302). Seville, Spain.
Hannagan, T., & Bennett, R. (1995). Management: Concepts and practices. London: Pitman.
Hongyi, S., & Tsz-Kit, C. (2002). Comparing reasons, practices and effects of ISO 9000 certification and TQM implementation in Norwegian SMEs and large firms. International Small Business Journal, 20(4), 421.
ISO. (2015). Quality management principles. Geneva, Switzerland: International Standards Organization (ISO.
Jacka, J. M., & Keller, P. J. (2009). Business process mapping: Improving customer satisfaction. 2nd edition. Hoboken, NJ,Wiley.
Karagozoglu, N., & Lindell, M. (2004). Electronic commerce, strategy, operations and performance in small and medium-sized enterprises. Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, 11(3), 290–301.
Maire, J.-L., Bronet, V., & Pillet, M. (2008). Benchmarking: Methods and tools for SME. Benchmarking: An International Journal, 15(6), 765–781.
Mazzarol, T., & Olivares, C. (2007). Action learning task 5: Business operations. Small business excellence program. Perth, Australia: Centre for Entrepreneurial Management and Innovation (CEMI), University of Western Australia.
McAdam, R., & Kelly, M. (2002). A business excellence approach to generic benchmarking in SMEs. Benchmarking, 9(1), 7–27.
McAdam, R., & McKeown, M. (1999). Life after ISO 9000: An analysis of the impact of ISO 9000 and total quality management on small businesses in Northern Ireland. Total Quality Management, 10(2), 229–241.
Mkala, M. D., Wanjau, K. L., & Kyalo, T. N. (2018). Operations management and performance of manufacturing small and medium Enterprises in Kenya. International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science, 7(2), 2147–4478.
Nwankwo, S. (2000). Quality assurance in small business organisations: Myths and realities. International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management, 17(1), 82–87.
Prasanna, M., & Vinodh, S. (2013). Lean six sigma in SMEs: An exploration through literature review. Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology, 11(3), 224–250.
Rahman, S. (2001). A comparative study of TQM practice and organisational performance of SMEs with and without ISO 9000 certification. International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management, 18(1), 35–45.
Raymond, L. (2005). Operations management and advanced manufacturing technologies in SMEs. Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management, 16(8), 936–955.
Schlichter, J., Klyver, K., & Haug, A. (2018). The moderating effect of ERP system complexity on the growth–profitability relationship in young SMEs. Journal of Small Business Management in press.
Sharma, D. S. (2005). The association between ISO 9000 certification and financial performance. International Journal of Accounting, 40(2), 151–172.
Silver, B. (2017). BPMN quick and easy, with method & style. Altadena, CA: Cody-Cassidy Press.
Simpson, M., Padmore, J., & Newman, N. (2012). Towards a new model of success and performance in SMEs. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour & Research, 18(3), 264–285.
Snaith, W. (1997). Business management program course notes. Durham, UK: University of Durham Business School, Mill Hill Lane.
Stickley, A., & Winterbottom, A. (1994). The nature of quality assurance and statistical methods in BS 5750. The Statistician, 43(3), 349–370.
van der Wiele, T., & Brown, A. (1997). ISO 9000 series experiences in small and medium sized enterprises. Total Quality Management, 8(2/3), 300–304.
van der Wiele, T., & Brown, A. (1998). Venturing down the TQM path for SME’s. International Small Business Journal, 16(2), 50–65.
Vazquez-Avila, G., Sanchez-Gutierrez, J., & Nuñez-Moreno, T. (2013). Knowledge management and operation management as drivers of competitiveness: Manufacturing SMEs in Guadalajara, Mexico. Competition Forum, 11(1), 50–55.
Walters, D., & Lancaster, G. (2000). Implementing value strategy through the value chain. Management Decision, 38(3), 160–178.
Worster, A. J., Weirich, T. R., & Andera, F. J. C. (2012). Maximising return on investment using ERP applications. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2020 Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Mazzarol, T., Reboud, S. (2020). Operations Management. In: Small Business Management. Springer Texts in Business and Economics. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-9509-3_8
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-9509-3_8
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore
Print ISBN: 978-981-13-9508-6
Online ISBN: 978-981-13-9509-3
eBook Packages: Business and ManagementBusiness and Management (R0)