Lesson 8.15.1

8.15.1 External influences on operations Quiz: OCR Business, Unit 8

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson 8.15.1, External influences on operations: 20 multiple choice questions for the OCR Business (H431), Unit 8: Operations, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. Which external framework analyses political, economic, social, technological, legal, and environmental influences on operations?

    • SWOT analysis
    • Boston matrix
    • PESTLE analysis
    • Ansoff matrix

  2. What operational strategy moves production closer to the home country to reduce global supply chain risks?

    • Outsourcing
    • Insourcing
    • Offshoring
    • Nearshoring

  3. How does a strong UK pound directly affect a UK manufacturer importing raw materials?

    • Lowers material costs
    • Increases export sales
    • Reduces import volumes
    • Raises material costs

  4. Which technological advancement allows manufacturers to produce unique, custom products at mass-production unit costs?

    • Flow production
    • Job production
    • Mass customisation
    • Batch production

  5. What primary operational challenge arises when new government environmental legislation imposes strict carbon emission caps?

    • Higher profit margins
    • Faster lead times
    • Increased unit costs
    • Reduced quality standards

  6. Which external social trend forces operations managers to adopt ethical sourcing and sustainable packaging?

    • Increased import tariffs
    • Eco-conscious consumers
    • Rising interest rates
    • Shortage of labour

  7. How does high domestic inflation directly impact a manufacturer's operational costs?

    • Increases input prices
    • Lowers wage demands
    • Reduces import tariffs
    • Decreases interest rates

  8. Which software technology directly connects computer-aided design to automated machinery on a factory floor?

    • CAD and CAM
    • ERP systems
    • EDD tracking
    • CRM software

  9. What operational risk increases when a firm relies on single-source suppliers located in politically unstable regions?

    • Supply chain disruption
    • Excessive stockholding
    • High labour turnover
    • Increased capacity utilisation

  10. If interest rates rise sharply, how is an operations department planning capital-intensive automation affected?

    • Reduced labour costs
    • Increased profit margins
    • Lower machinery prices
    • Higher borrowing costs

  11. Which concept focuses on redesigning operations to eliminate waste and continuously re-use resources indefinitely?

    • Mass production
    • Circular economy
    • Lean production
    • Kaizen budgeting

  12. What is the main operational drawback of replacing manual factory workers with industrial robotics?

    • High ongoing wages
    • High initial cost
    • Lower product quality
    • Slower output rate

  13. A new safety law requires extra machinery guards. How does this immediately impact factory operations?

    • Decreases unit costs
    • Reduces quality assurance
    • Increases production speed
    • Increases compliance costs

  14. How do trade tariffs imposed on foreign components affect a domestic manufacturer's operations?

    • Lowers import taxes
    • Improves product quality
    • Raises production costs
    • Shortens lead times

  15. What operational advantage does a business gain from Just-in-Time during rapid technological change?

    • Longer lead times
    • Lower obsolete inventory
    • Higher buffer stock
    • Larger batch discounts

  16. Which external factor is a major driver behind businesses adopting automation and artificial intelligence in operations?

    • Falling energy prices
    • Decreasing competition
    • Rising labour costs
    • Higher import tariffs

  17. What term describes bringing outsourced operational processes back in-house to maintain better quality control?

    • Franchising
    • Offshoring
    • Insourcing
    • Subcontracting

  18. How does an aging national workforce directly influence operational human resource planning in manufacturing?

    • Lowers wage demands
    • Causes skill shortages
    • Reduces training needs
    • Increases output speed

  19. Why might a business choose to relocate operations to a country with flexible labour laws?

    • Greater workforce agility
    • Higher union power
    • Longer lead times
    • Increased tax rates

  20. What is the primary operational impact of widespread internet connectivity and 5G technology on supply chains?

    • Increased buffer stock
    • Real-time inventory tracking
    • Slower delivery times
    • Higher transport tariffs

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