OPERATION STRATEGY

Operation strategy which, sometimes, makes us confuse that operation and strategy are two different words, Even they have two different meanings separately. But, however, it cannot be proclaimed as it is true. So first we try to understand that what the operation is? From its name it isn’t very difficult to understand, Operation is an activity which manages resources and processes to manufacture goods and services. Secondly, what do we need to understand is the strategy? Strategy is a kind of planning and direction or pretaken actions to foresee the future so that competitive markets can be understood and goods and services can be delivered at right time and right place.

Now it would be easy for us to understand the operation strategy. Operation strategy more or less related to long term and development of operation resources and processes. So that, they can sustain themselves in a competitive market. Definition given by Slack and Lewis,

“Operation strategy is a total pattern of decisions which shape the long term capabilities of any type of operation and their contribution to the overall strategy, through the reconciliation of market requirements with operation resources”.

In above definition, it is explained that operation strategy is an activity of balancing the market requirements with the available resources with the firm or company. Here, one can clearly understand why the development and appreciation are required for the resources and processes. If management doesn’t appreciate the strategy impact on the resources and processes what have with itself, they definitely miss an opportunity.

In addition, any type of operation can be affected with two available major factors which are market requirements and the available resources with the management. These are the only factors which make the operation strategy tailored. This is because management cannot match its operation with market requirements until unless they study the market. Then, the management can match their resources with market requirements. Therefore, market prospective on operation strategy is an outside-in.

        Finally, it is concluded that operation strategy contributes not only particular strategy but also whole of the business. It manages and develops the resources and process to meet the competitiveness of the market. And it makes the capabilities of operation resources exploited where it actually requires.