Leeds Trinity University:
BMM3003: Introduction to Business Operations and Management Portfolio 

 Introduction
The purpose of operations management is to increase an organization's efficiency by
managing business activities. Operations management refers to the process of making sure
that revenue and cost are balanced and that the company's operational profit exceeds its
maximum possible. Management of business operations aims to ensure an efficient and
smooth business flow to boost sales and customer satisfaction. Within this report, Ikea and
Cathay Pacific are discussed as regards their operations during this pandemic. Some ideas are
offered on how these two companies could resolve their problems. Aldi's business operations
and business model have been discussed in further detail. In the article, the author discussed
whether Aldi's business model would work in other industries, as well as what Aldi's
customers would face due to Aldi's strategy. A crucial aspect of operations management is
also business ethics. The discussion of business ethics has also been touched on.
Task 1: Contemporary Research
It is almost impossible to run a business without offering or selling some service or product.
Services provided by non-profit organizations are also available to the general public. All
aspects of the process of production are overseen by operations management to ensure
optimal efficiency and productivity. Massive enterprises, such as Ikea, have been thrown off
their feet by the Covid-19, which has been known to cause regular outages. According to
BBC.com, a shortage of drivers was a problem at all 22 Ikea outlets in the United Kingdom
and Ireland. Aside from offering furniture, home appliances, and home accessories, Ikea also
boasts a unique blend of Swedish origins with a Dutch headquarters. As a result of a scarcity
of HGV drivers, the company was unable to offer around 1,000 product lines during the
current business year. The shop apologized to its consumers on behalf of the company to
resolve the supply shortfall as swiftly as feasible. According to the store, the present supply
chain crisis can be attributed to the ongoing supply chain issues that have occurred. The
shortage of drivers, along with disruptions to global trade flows, has resulted in this
predicament, which has been compounded by the epidemic that is Brexit. Workers in the
meat production industry, for example, have been affected by the labour shortage in the
United Kingdom, which has had an influence on every component of the supply chain. In the
case of the Ikea crisis, it is possible that the corporation may not be able to fully remedy the
situation until a period of time has passed and policy changes have been enacted by
government authorities. If you want to correct the issue and regain the trust of your
dissatisfied clients, damage control is something you should consider. Alternatively, the
corporation can enter into short-term contracts with other transportation companies in order
to reduce the problem to the greatest extent possible. However, if Ikea can figure out a
method to work with third-party providers, the problem can be minimized to a certain extent.
A total of 130 Cathay Pacific pilots were confined for 21 days in Hong Kong after the airline
corporation compelled them to provide this service. As a result of this circumstance, it is
projected that a global scarcity of pilots would worsen.
The virus was discovered to have infected three pilots who had slipped through COVID
testing protocols during the emergency circumstances. They were later revealed to have been
infected when they returned to Hong Kong. Following the incident, a required 21-day
quarantine was ordered for all 130 cargo and passenger pilots who were staying at the hotel
where the three pilots were staying. Shukor Yusof, an analyst at Endau Analytics, stated that
this choice will be extremely costly to the corporation and will further erode the Island's
status as an airline hub. In addition to the current financial crisis, Cathay Pacific may find
itself even more badly impacted in the near future. By being more lenient with its "zerocovid" policy and by providing a choice for avoiding the three-week quarantine, the
corporation may be able to overcome this issue. A further recommendation is that Covid-19
safety procedures be implemented as thoroughly as possible by the airline and its employees
so that neither will be able to circumvent them in the future.