Manage supply to match demand

• What is outsourcing?

  Hiring an external party for services or goods
• Why do companies outsource services?

  To cut costs and manage strategically
• What types of jobs can outsourcing affect?

  Customer support, manufacturing, and back office
• What costs do companies aim to cut through outsourcing?

  Labor costs, salaries, and overhead
• How does outsourcing help companies focus on their core business?

  By spinning off less critical operations
• What are some challenges of outsourcing?

  Communication issues and increased security threats
• Why might companies outsource to manage their balance sheet?

  To move financial responsibilities around
• How can outsourcing benefit companies regarding taxes?

  By using 1099 contract workers
• What is a disadvantage of signing contracts with outsourcing companies?

  It requires time and effort from legal teams
• What security risks are associated with outsourcing?

  Data breaches from third-party access
• What communication issues can arise from outsourcing?

  Lack of communication may delay projects
• What criticisms have been directed at outsourcing regarding contract workers?

  Job precarity and fewer promotion opportunities
• How do contract workers' earnings compare to full-time workers?

  Contract workers often earn lower compensation
• What inequities exist in the workforce due to outsourcing?

  Lower compensation and fewer benefits for contract workers
• What does flexible working describe?

  A range of employment options
• Why is the term "flexible" used in flexible working?

  It relates to various working arrangements
• What are some popular flexible working practices?

  • Part-time working
  • Job sharing
  • Flexitime
  • Working from home
• What percentage of UK businesses offered part-time working in 2007?

  86%
• What is a key business reason for offering flexible working options?

  Cost savings on overheads
• How does flexible working help with recruitment and retention?

  It leads to better job satisfaction
• Why is flexible working becoming more common in the UK workforce?

  More women and an ageing population
• What technological development supports flexible working?

  Access to online and networked systems
• Why do businesses need flexible working for customer service?

  To deliver services 24/7
• How did the credit crunch affect flexible working options?

  It led to part-time work to avoid redundancies
• What legal aspect supports flexible working requests?

  Employment legislation allows requests
• What are some concerns employers have about flexible working?

  • Additional administrative work
  • Potential loss of customers
  • Lower employee productivity
  • Difficulty in managing flexibility
• In which types of organizations are flexible working practices most likely found?

  Large organizations and public sector
• What role do unions play in flexible working?

  They are recognized in flexible working situations
• What is a characteristic of workforces that adopt flexible working?

  High employee involvement in decision-making
• What type of workforce is more likely to have flexible working?

  A highly educated workforce
• How does the presence of women in the workforce relate to flexible working?

  Higher proportions of women lead to flexibility
• Why might smaller businesses struggle with flexible working?

  Inability to substitute for absent skills
• What is one way a business can better match supply to demand?

  Produce to order
• What is the produce to order approach in production?

  • Production starts after a confirmed order
  • Tailors production to specific customer needs
• How can mass customisation techniques be used in production?

  They allow inclusion of customer-specific requirements
• How do most restaurants match demand with supply?

  By using produce to order
• What happens when a customer orders from a restaurant menu?

  The production process begins for that order
• What are the key benefits of using production to order?

  Lower inventory costs and greater customer satisfaction
• What is a benefit of lower levels of finished goods in inventory?

  Lower inventory holding costs
• How does producing to order affect customer satisfaction?

  Customers receive exactly what they want