Quick questions on Influences on operations: globalisation, technology, quality, CSR (HSC Business Studies)

Definition. The increasing integration of economies through trade, investment, labour and capital flows.

Definition. The application of scientific knowledge and tools to the operations process.

Definition. The standard of performance customers expect of the business's output (durability, accuracy, reliability, fit-for-purpose).

Definition. Competition fought primarily on price rather than features or service.

Definition. Government decisions on industry policy, taxation, trade, monetary policy and grants that change the operating environment.

Definition. Compulsory rules set by Australian, state and local government that constrain operations.

Definition. Operating in a way that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.

Definition. A business's voluntary commitment to operate ethically, contribute to the community, and consider all stakeholders (not just shareholders).

The increasing integration of economies through trade, investment, labour and capital flows.

Global supply chains expand the supplier base (cheaper inputs, more choice) but increase exposure (geopolitical risk, currency movements, freight cost). Global customer markets expand demand but require new product variants and compliance with foreign regulation.

Legal compliance is the floor - you must do it. Ethical responsibility goes beyond. Coles paying small suppliers in 14 days (when the law requires only disclosure of payment terms) is ethical responsibility, not compliance.

Choose Qantas; pick globalisation and environmental sustainability; structure as two short paragraphs and a judgement.

Qantas operations are deeply globalised - aircraft from Airbus and Boeing, engines from Rolls-Royce and GE, fuel sourced through global commodity markets, and routes connecting Sydney to over 30 international destinations. The benefit is access to scale-efficient global suppliers and a worldwide customer base. The risk is concentrated dependency (the Rolls-Royce engine maintenance backlog grounded multiple A380s in 2022) and FX exposure on fuel and aircraft purchases.

Qantas committed to net-zero by 2050 and a 25 percent reduction in emissions by 2030. The operations consequences include investment in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) supply contracts, fleet renewal toward more fuel-efficient A220 and A350 aircraft, and a carbon-offset Future Planet program for customers. The cost is significant capex; the benefit is regulatory positioning ahead of any future aviation emissions scheme and customer-segment preference.

Both influences are net positives for Qantas's competitive position, but both raise operational risk that requires deliberate hedging (supplier redundancy, FX hedging, fleet diversification, SAF supply contracts). The operations function is now as much about managing these influences as it is about running flights. :::