Final answer:
The statement that operations managers work to effectively and efficiently produce and distribute the right goods and services at the right time to the right consumers is true. They aim to optimize resource use and maximize production within the framework of economic efficiency and market demand.
Step-by-step explanation:
Operations managers indeed strive to employ effective and efficient methods to produce and distribute goods and services. The assertion that they aim to produce the right goods and services in the correct quantities and distribute them to the right consumer at the right time is true. Efficiency in this context pertains to the optimal use of resources to maximize production and meet the demand for the most wanted goods and services. An efficient economy or business is highly organized and eliminates waste, ensuring that production is on the production possibility frontier where goods are produced and sold at the lowest possible average cost. Business decisions, including those about mergers or changes in operations, are made with the objective of profit maximization. However, business failures can occur due to a variety of factors including poor management, unproductive workers, or unexpected shifts in market demand and supply. Even though such failures may affect many, they are sometimes viewed as necessary within a market-oriented economy to maintain flexibility, encourage innovation, and satisfy customer needs while keeping costs low.