Chapter 3: International Competitiveness, Productivity and Quality
Test Review
3.1 ESTABLISHING A GLOBAL PRESENCE
Pg 78-81
3.2 ACHIEVING COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE
There are a number of factors to consider when assessing any country’s competitiveness strength or position. Criteria such as per capita income and employment statistics are used as measures, but so are other factors.
Study the list of factors, sometimes the same factor has both positive and negative ramifications for Canadian competitiveness.
3.3 THE MEANING OF PRODUCTIVITY
Pg 90-98
Pg 99-102
Other Material from chapter 3:
Test Review
3.1 ESTABLISHING A GLOBAL PRESENCE
Pg 78-81
- Global Presence and Canada
- Competitive Advantage
- Canada’s Gross domestic product (GDP), GDp per capita
3.2 ACHIEVING COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE
- Companies that achieve a competitive advantage manufacture products or provide services that have greater economic utility, or usefulness, than products or services supplied by their competitors.
- Economic utility, Form utility, and Place utility
- Factors Affecting Canada’s Competitiveness
There are a number of factors to consider when assessing any country’s competitiveness strength or position. Criteria such as per capita income and employment statistics are used as measures, but so are other factors.
Study the list of factors, sometimes the same factor has both positive and negative ramifications for Canadian competitiveness.
- Opportunity Cost, and Absolute and Comparative Advantage
3.3 THE MEANING OF PRODUCTIVITY
- Productivity refers to the amount of work that is accomplished in a unit of time using the factors of production. The factors of production are land, labour, capital, technology and entrepreneurship.
- Business Purpose and Goals
- Factors Influencing a Country’s Productivity
Pg 90-98
- Innovation and Quality
- Taxation and Innovation
- Rationalization
- Causes and Effects of Rationalization
- Privatization is a type of rationalization.
- Developed Nations and Economies
Pg 99-102
- Kaizen
- Quality ControlEdward Deming’s “14 points for management”
- Some Examples:
- Always continuously improve the product or service to stay competitive and create jobs
- Encourage education of the workforce, both on and off the job
- Allow workers to take responsibility for and pride in their work
- Remove communication barriers between management and the factory floor
- Encourage teamwork between departments to improve product quality and to create common goals
- Japan adopted Deming’s 14 principles and Japanese businesses dedicated themselves to change and worked together with a commitment to quality and productivity to eventually receive the reputation “Japan, Inc.” rather than “Made in Japan”.
- Total quality management (TQM)
- Market-driven organizations
- The International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
Other Material from chapter 3:
- debate question
- six imperatives for success in a globalized world
- H/W questions as well questions assigned in class.