Operations management

Table of Contents

1. Topic pack - Operations management - introduction
2. Operations Management (OM) - Introduction
3. 5.1 Production methods notes
4. 5.1 Production methods - questions
5. 5.2 Costs and revenues - notes
6. 5.2 Costs and revenues - questions
7. 5.3 Break-even analysis - notes
8. 5.3 Break-even analysis - questions
9. 5.3 Break-even analysis - simulations and activities
10. 5.4 Quality assurance - notes
11. 5.4 Quality assurance - questions and activities
12. 5.5 Location - notes
13. Innovation - notes (HL only)
    1. Innovation
    2. Case study - Xerox
    3. Research and development (R&D)
    4. Pharmaceutical companies - a new contract
    5. Innovation and R&D
    6. Europe moving in R&D slow lane
    7. Canadian apparel companies dress for success
    8. R&D - costs and benefits
    9. Patents, copyrights and trademarks
    10. Intellectual Property Rights (IPR)
    11. Digital Rights
    12. China: The Intellectual-Property Battleground
    13. Factors affecting Innovation
    14. Case study - 3M corporation
14. 5.6 Innovation - questions
15. 5.7 Production planning - notes
16. 5.7 Production planning - questions
17. 5.8 Project management - notes (HL only)
18. 5.8 Project management - questions (HL only)
19. Print View

Europe moving in R&D slow lane

Read the article Europe falling behind US and Asia in R&D, EC says (you can do this in the window below or follow the previous link to read the article in a separate window) and then answer the questions below.

You may also wish to read the following articles to help with answering the questions:

China closes in on Europe's R&D spending

China rises in R&D metrics

Question 1

Explain the difference between research and development.

Question 2

Summarise the differences in R&D spending between Europe and China that are identified in the articles.

Question 3

Assess the importance of R&D to firms.

Question 4

Discuss possible policy options available to European governments to encourage more spending by firms on R&D.