Final answer:
Operations managers address the 'what, how, when, where, and who' by outlining the structural and infrastructural aspects of the operations management system, influenced by specific production and market conditions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Operations managers answer questions of what, how, when, where, and who by defining both the structural and infrastructural aspects of the operations management system. Structural aspects include tangible resources such as buildings, equipment, and technology, which determine the physical capacity and appearance of operations. On the other hand, infrastructural aspects involve strategy, policies, people, and organizational culture, which dictate how businesses conduct operations and improve over time.
These decisions are shaped by factors such as production and cost conditions individual to each firm, as well as the broader market structure influencing how competitive the industry is. Important considerations include market power, product uniqueness, and barriers to entry, which impact what goods or services are produced, how they are produced, and for whom they are produced.