1. Having considered the changes in agriculture and manufacturing sectors in the industrial era, speculate what might happen to the service sector in the post-industrial era. What factors might influence these changes and the role played by operations managers?
Ans: It would appear that the attention once given by management (society) to agriculture and manufacturing will now be turned towards services. The service sector will be the challenge for operations managers in future. The gains in productivity enjoyed by society in the first two sectors will be expected in the third. The service sector is now consuming most resources in developing countries. Resources such as people, information technology and investment capital which in turn should lead to increased share holder value and GDP growth. You may wish to check which economic sectors contributed to GDP growth the next occasion you see a growth figure quoted. Also consider: can services be treated as products - can we apply operations knowledge honed in manufacturing companies to services?