Which of the following best describes the role of operations in a business?

The role of operations in a business primarily focuses on the processes that transform inputs into outputs, directly affecting the production of goods and services. This includes managing the procurement of raw materials, overseeing the production process, and ensuring efficient distribution of products to the market. By handling these aspects, the operations function helps maintain quality, reduce costs, and enhance customer satisfaction, which are crucial for the overall success of the business. Purchasing raw materials and managing distribution are core activities within operations, illustrating its vital part in achieving the organization's objectives, such as profitability and market competitiveness. Other roles outlined, like managing employee relations, creating marketing strategies, and designing financial plans, although essential to a business, do not directly pertain to the operational processes that drive production and service delivery.