Final answer:
Operations managers are in charge of efficiency and cost-effectiveness in manufacturing processes, choosing the right production technologies to utilize resources optimally. The correct option is: 1) Operations.
Step-by-step explanation:
Those who find ways to use resources to reduce manufacturing costs and increase effectiveness are operations managers. Operations managers are responsible for overseeing the production process, ensuring that products are produced efficiently, at the right cost, and at the right level of quality. They often use technology to make better use of resources to support more people, by selecting production technology with the lowest total cost, signaling a shift towards the most cost-effective organization of resources. This includes a balanced distribution of machine hours and labor consistent with changes in relative prices of capital and labor inputs.
For example, if the cost of machines decreased, an operations manager might shift toward more automated solutions. Conversely, if machine costs increased, they would likely adjust by finding ways to integrate more labor into the process. The decisions taken by operations managers directly influence the economic efficiency of a firm and can contribute to a fairer distribution of resources among all stakeholders.