Ambient Intelligence and Enabling Technology MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Ambient Intelligence and Enabling Technology. Answer: Introduction Business operations management are geared towards achieving maximum values in organizing by increasing efficiency in use of resources to produce goods and services. Cost is an important aspect for any business organization that would like to maximize profitability. In the case study of Hon Hai, this organization has realized the need to optimize business operations to minimize cost. This has led to winning many clients and attaining bigger market share by manufacturing products and selling at very low prices compared to its competitors. This competitive advantage achieved at minimizing cost has enable organization to stand out in the market as best option for many consumers of electronics. Hon Hai has achieved tremendous success in electronic industry by cutting down on cost to achieve competitive over competitors. The company has constantly enjoyed higher economies of scale by indulging in massive production at lower cost to maximize profitability. This subtopic identifies various ways the company has adopted to minimize production cost without compromising quality. Hon Hai has embraced technology to achieve competitive advantage as well and reducing operational cost. The company functions are automated ranging from production, management to distribution. This is attributed to presence of highly skilled workforce who are using technology in every aspect of business to minimize cost. It is reported that organizations that uses software and programs in production are able to minimize errors attributed to humans thereby minimizing cost (Kopacsi,et al., p. 214). The company also has intense research and development unit that is constantly reviewing process to check functions that can be optimized to minimize cost. The corporate culture is characterized by optimum support from management that creates conducive environment for creativity and innovations. The employees are motivated to share ideas on how to optimize business operations and minimize cost. Process optimization is the main standing point for the company. Hon Hai has laid focus on entire process rather than focusing on raw materials and production cost only. The company further enjoy reduced material cost due to huge procurement of materials at less cost. The company enjoys huge discounts due to bulk buying that lowers unit cost. Furthermore, the production process is standardized material waste during production. The company has invested hugely in acquisition of modern equipment that fasten manufacture process while lowering production cost. The return on investment of capital has manifested itself in low cost in the long run in the company. In conclusion the Hon Hai will continue to be on the lead in electronic industries due to its unique strategies of saving on cost. To copy ideas from huge company and gain similar advantage is difficult. Hon Hai is always inventing new ways to keep off competitors and gain monopoly power. First, the company has huge bargaining power due to its collaboration with renown organization including Apple and Sony. Imitating ideas of Hon Hai on how to minimize cost is difficult particularly due to strong market loyalty that the company has gained. The competitors should be innovative so as to become leaders in electronic industries. The business models for Hon Hai may not work well for its competitors. However, there is opportunity for competitors to copy some ideas but the best strategy is to develop innovative ways that are specific to the company. The competitors would not make it in industry unless it looks for target audience. Hon Hai is unbeatable in price and is always looking for ways to gain more market share by lowering their prices. It can be recommended that competitors improve on their existing products while advocating for measures to manage operational cost. Conducting research to identify what consumers need offers opportunity for the competitors to improve on their products to match customer expectations (Hausman and Johnston, p. 2722). Quality is one of performance objectives aimed at developing product with specific desirable features that meet the expectations of customers. The products that meet or exceed customers expectations are likely to develop loyalty among the consumers. This is because the consumers have increased knowledge and can easily switch to substitutes that offer great value for their money. It is therefore important for organization to identify various aspects that define product quality. Quality can lower cost to organization due to minimal risk of product failure. Quality build trust and lowers customers complaints. Speed is important aspect in business operations whether in production, distribution, problem resolution or offering feedback to the customers. Speed in business allows development of new products with enhanced features to gain wider market base. Business is characterized by rapidly changing environment necessitating speed to adapt. Greater speed can be achieved by adopting technology in production and communication process. The speed allows organizations to be innovative to produce product at a lower cost. Apple company has been on the lead in innovation by introducing new products in the market including iPods and iPads. Speed is essential to business to grow. Dependability creates reliability, a business that ensures constant production or supply is able to maintain its customers. Being depend on is vital for organization to gain trust from the customers. Trust is one of the most important attribute for building strong relationship with customers and winning their loyalty to organizational brands. When it comes to organization, having business partners or employees that are dependable is vital to ensure continuity of operations and ensure constant delivery of goods and services to the customers. It allows organization to plan well and avoid wastages in production that can raise cost. Flexibility is important in business to adapt to different scenarios associated with globalization. Flexibility allows company to make internal changes in processes to respond to changing external environment. Walmart has experienced huge growth due to its ability to respond to customers need. It has offered flexible means for customers to shop online and product be delivered to their door step apart from allowing customers to shop in its stores. Lastly cost is important objective of business operations since it affects productivity. Minimizing cost is the main objective of any business organization so as to offers customers products at lower prices than competitors. Conclusion Each and every aspect of business operation is aimed at maximizing performance while minimizing the cost. It is evident that five objectives of operations can be enhanced by creativity and innovation. Offering quality products improve on gaining loyalty to customers while speed and flexibility helps in responding to trends in business environment to achieve exponential growth. References Hausman, A. and Johnston, W.J., 2014. The role of innovation in driving the economy: Lessons from the global financial crisis.Journal of Business Research,67(1), pp.2720-2726. Kopacsi, S., Kovcs, G., Anufriev, A. and Michelini, R., 2007. Ambient intelligence as enabling technology for modern business paradigms.Robotics and computer-integrated manufacturing,23(2), pp.242-256.