Final answer:
The best description of a process is a series of activities that produce work. In business, this can relate to production processes, such as making a pizza, which involves transforming various inputs into an output. A cyclical process is one where the system returns to its original state at the end of the cycle, like the water cycle in nature.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question 'Which of the following best describes a process?' refers to a series of activities that lead to a particular end. The best answer is 'b. A series of activities that produce work'. Processes are fundamental in business and other disciplines including engineering and the scientific method. In business, a production process involves transforming inputs such as labor, capital, and raw materials into outputs, which are the goods or services the firm intends to sell. For example, the production process of making a pizza involves several inputs like flour, water, yeast, tomatoes, spices, cheese, and other toppings.
In contrast, a cyclic process, which is mentioned in question 12, is 'a. A process in which the system returns to its original state at the end of the cycle'. This term is frequently used in scientific and engineering contexts to describe a system that undergoes a series of changes yet ends up in the same condition it started in after one complete sequence of operations. An example of a cyclic process is the water cycle in nature.