Organizational Report and Recommendations
Processes
It is imperative to mention that most processes and functions of the firm are not complicated. The ones that are viewed as the most important will be explained and discussed. First of all, employees receive orders from customers and record every item in the computer program to avoid any mistakes. Cooking is also an important process, and it is performed strictly according to instructions.
Managers monitor the whole process and provide recommendations to new workers. Additionally, they will talk with clients in case of complaints and try to come up with solutions to problems that occur. Some employees are responsible for receiving packages and others clean the facility when it is necessary. Such procedures are aligned with internal functions of the enterprise, and they are to produce, sell and offer support. External ones also should be mentioned, and they consist of advertising, research, public relations (PR), recruitment, and others.
Most processes are complicated by interrelations because the firm has many positions, and every individual has a set of responsibilities. Nevertheless, the collaboration between subordinates and supervisors is a crucial area because they are focused on the production of goods and make sure that consumers are satisfied. It is possible to state that these processes are incredibly efficient because strategies were developed over the years, and the approach has been effective.
Main Output
The company’s primary output consists of numerous dishes and drinks that are affordable and known for their outstanding flavour. The firm has a set of requirements that are used to determine if products meet the standards. For instance, dishes cannot be overcooked, and their appearance is also evaluated. Additionally, the company keeps track of the ingredients to ensure that the taste stays the same and is not affected.
Cooking procedures are monitored with a use of such techniques as timing to minimise the number of negative comments and disagreements. Customers are less likely to complain if they are aware of the fact that the same approach to cooking is utilised every single time. Small differences in standards can be identified in some of the regions, and it can be explained by the fact that the populations have various preferences. Quality standards set are rather high because the organisation focuses on constant improvement, but products are still not viewed as healthy because of excessive calories and sugar. Nevertheless, most consumers are aware of potential risks but still believe that provided products have many advantages over the ones offered by competitors.
Compliance
The firm has developed a set of policies to ensure that workers comply with standards and regulations. However, it acknowledges that it is not an easy task to monitor some aspects of the work. Furthermore, it has introduced several methods that are rather unusual. Monitoring with a use of cameras may be viewed as unethical, but it is a necessary measure in this case. It can be regarded a significant benefit when it comes to lawsuits because it will be much easier to present evidence and prove that the firm is not guilty.
Timers are used to ensure that employees do not waste time during their shifts, and all the products are cooked according to the instructions. Indicators are utilised to make sure that all temperatures are appropriate. Only fresh ingredients are used and a team responsible for this aspect monitors all products received. A department that consists of several trained professionals is focused on monitoring and elimination of all the issues related to non-compliance.
Moreover, employees that break some of the rules may have to deal with severe penalties and such behaviour is not acceptable in the company that values safety. The organisation promotes collaboration and teamwork, and it minimises the number of accidents because employees are less likely to make mistakes when they are working on common goals. Inspectors ensure that all rules and regulations and acknowledged and conduct regular inspections to guarantee outstanding results (Ryu 2012). Instances of non-compliance are rare, but the organisation still does not disregard the importance of monitoring.
Evaluation of Management Systems
The organisation is focused on continuous improvement of quality in all the areas. Therefore, several management systems were established to meet the demands of all involved stakeholders. First of all, the firm has developed a set of policies that would help to maintain high standards of quality. Objectives and long-term goals also were set to keep track of the progress and avoid issues related to scheduling. Different versions of manuals were introduced over the years, and they are frequently updated according to new regulations and changes in the industry. The organisational structure was altered to ensure that it is much easier to manage quality.
All the appropriate data is collected and analysed to determine if any issues related to quality are present, and it is possible to develop strategies that would address areas that are most problematic. The company acknowledges the fact that the level of quality may have an enormous impact on decisions of customers. Therefore, it utilises questionnaires and interviews to identify which aspects can be improved. Feedback is incredibly valuable in this case and helps to establish long-lasting relationships with consumers. Concepts related to quality management are applied to all the processes to limit risks and avoid difficulties.
Systems in different regions are connected with each other to maximise their level of efficiency, and it produces best results. It is not an easy task to maintain high levels of quality all over the globe, but the enterprise has been quite successful in this area over the years thanks to well-developed strategies. Defect rates are small because all processes are monitored by trained professionals, and it helps to reduce the number of mistakes. Overall, it is possible to state that the selection of such systems is justified in this case, and it leads to impressive results.
Quality Culture
It is necessary to mention that current culture within the organisation supports the continuous improvement of quality. One of the most significant aspects that should not be disregarded is that employees are engaged in the whole process. Additionally, they are rewarded for outstanding performance and are presented with opportunities to voice their ideas and present recommendations on how the quality can be improved.
Workers are encouraged to work in teams and the quality of service and products increases when they are working on common goals. A lot of resources are devoted to research. Therefore, a company can stay ahead of competitors when it comes to the implementation of innovative techniques. The current quality culture consists of six areas. The first one is employee empowerment. The firm recognised that it is important to ensure that individuals have control over their jobs and operations to make sure that they accept change. Teamwork and collaboration are also crucial and help to promote continuous improvement.
Leadership commitment and customer focus are also areas that are vital and facilitate active development. Infrastructure focused on quality improvement may be revised because it is quite outdated. Continual enhancement of processes is the last area currently considered by the organisation, and it has enormous potential. The strategy may be revised in the future because quality levels are increased at a relatively slow pace at the moment and it in unacceptable for a firm that operates in this sector.
Quality Improvement Recommendations
The company is known for its high-quality products and services. However, several approaches that may improve the current situation should be considered. First of all, it would be beneficial to promote the discipline within the organisation. Many supervisors prefer to utilise a collaborative style of leadership. However, it is not appropriate in some situations, and they should be capable of using various styles depending on the situation. One of the issues that should not be overlooked is that some issues are not solved completely. For example, a company has recognised that some limitations prevent the enhancement of quality.
Some symptoms were addressed, but the problem remains. Such situation is unacceptable, and the firm should ensure that all possible measures focused on the elimination of weaknesses are taken. Benchmarking is a technique that needs to be introduced in the workplace because it helps to determine areas that are most problematic and may be improved. It is paramount to measure the time required to produce a particular product and assess the ways in which results may be enhanced in the future. Employees should not be punished when this method is introduced, and they must be engaged in the whole process.
They must have access to all the information to get a better understanding of how they may improve their productivity and which aspects cause most problems. Utilisation of modern technologies is the approach that may be considered. One of the benefits is that it helps to minimise human error and eliminates bias. However, monitoring and maintenance are critical and are use to avoid complications associated with the malfunction. The company is incredibly reliant on labourers, and it would not be ethical to change the current approach. Nevertheless, some processes may be modified to meet the demands of the industry and gain a competitive advantage (Chaston 2012). The introduction of a new product is a technique that also may be considered.
SWOT Analysis
Matrix
Table 1 highlights internal and external aspects of the business that should be considered when developing strategies.
Table 1. SWOT Matrix.
Strengths
A widely-known brand is a tremendous advantage that helps the company to maintain its position as one of the leaders in the industry. Therefore, it is reasonable to devote attention to this aspect and focus on franchising. Many foreign enterprises are willing to pay enormous funds to get an opportunity to use the brand name because it is easy to recognise. Additionally, it is not necessary to invest in advertisement and promotion. Workers are extremely motivated and understand that they will be rewarded for outstanding performance. Another strength that needs to be highlighted is that the firm operates in various sectors and has many sources of profit.
Weaknesses
One of the most significant issues is that the number of products offered is rather limited, and target market values variety. It is hard to monitor and maintain high levels of quality because of a huge number of franchisees. Therefore, it is nearly impossible to avoid incidents that affect the overall image of the company. The presence of negative comments on the Internet also can be regarded a significant problem because some of the reviewers can be incredibly influential. The company is not supported by organisations that support healthy lifestyle because they argue that some of the products may be bad for clients in the long-term. They are aimed at a particular target market, and it would be nearly impossible to attract customers that have different tastes.
Opportunities
The company may focus on products that are not dangerous to consumers. It is understandable that they are much more expensive most of the time, but it would be reasonable to invest in research to reduce unnecessary expenses on production. It would be appropriate to collaborate with enterprises in other industries and develop products that take advantage of the popularity of these brands. Opportunities related to other target markets are still not explored, and it would be appropriate to offer several products that are much more expensive than others to attract individuals that prefer luxury. Some regions are still actively developing and have enormous potential. Furthermore, the company can expand before competitors consider such areas.
Threats
The use of new technologies by rival firms may be viewed as an issue because some of them are disruptive, and it would lead to an enormous competitive advantage. Most organisations utilise similar concepts, and it is challenging to differentiate offered products and services. The most significant threat that should not be overlooked is the economic situation in various regions. The company operates in many countries all over the globe, and it could minimise some of the damage.
However, the problem is that it is extremely reliant on several key restaurants that produce the most profit. Lawsuits and negative reviews on the Internet can be extremely problematic. The introduction of such methods of communication as social media has changed the way information is transferred. The company has managed to deal with such situations in the past, but mass media is getting much more influential every year.
Risk Analysis and Plan
It is necessary to mention that the risks identified vary in their priority levels. Labour strikes may be viewed as dangerous and can affect most of the operations. The problem may be resolved if the firm improves its compensation policies. The company operates in a sector that has to deal with numerous standards and regulations. Complications related to currency can be tremendous, and it is vital to keep track of such indicators as inflation to avoid associated complications. Techniques aimed at the reduction of losses due to interest rates and other factors are also used (Vernimmen et al. 2014).
Legal issues may also cause tremendous harm. It is understandable that it is nearly impossible to avoid all the lawsuits, but the firm may take several key steps to reduce the number of incidents. Reputation risks are also worthy of a discussion. Negative experiences and exposure in the media can affect the opinions of the target market and public as a whole. Risks related to supply chains also should not be disregarded.
The situation is particularly problematic in other countries because it may not be an easy task to find reliable suppliers (Ross 2016). Additionally, some of the operations may be put at risk if the firm does not have access to required resources, and it may have an enormous impact on the way the organisation is perceived by clients. Therefore, it would be appropriate to develop a plan that would help to address such situations:
- Risk identification.
- Impact evaluation.
- Prioritisation analysis.
- Risk mitigation.
The first step is focused on the identification of events that may be viewed as risky to the enterprise, and all the connections with other incidents are defined. The next stage helps to evaluate consequences associated with such risks such as an increase in cost, problems with scheduling, reduction in performance levels and others. Next, it is paramount to define the order in which such situations must be addressed to reduce the damage. The last step includes the development of strategies that would help to eliminate or prevent risky events that may cause severe harm, and monitor the ones that have lower priority.
The plan is rather simple and can be altered if it is necessary, but it addresses crucial aspects of risk management and may be considered by the company. It is imperative to set appropriate priorities when considering risks that are currently present, and potential impact needs to be measured when making decisions. It can be high, medium, or low and the use of software program that measures likelihood can be beneficial (Roberts 2011).
Health and Safety Measures
It is paramount to mention that the company devotes enormous attention to health and safety of both employees and consumers. Such techniques as monitoring with a use of cameras are used to prevent any misbehaviour or dangerous actions. All of the devices have proven to be safe and are replaced in case of malfunction. Additionally, the organisation utilised several indicators that measure heat, radiation and help to identify associated problems.
Open communication is one of the most important factors that influence the success of organisation when it comes to safety and health. All workers are encouraged to voice their opinions and provide recommendations in case they think that some areas have weaknesses and can be improved. They are accountable for mistakes they make and must face consequences. It is noted that safety directors and inspectors play important roles within the firm and report all the issues to higher-ups. Identification of hazards is critical most of the time, and such specialists are focused on continuous improvement of conditions in the workplace (Reese 2008).
On the other hand, the problem is that the company does not use latest techniques utilised by competitors in this sector and prefers standards approaches. Most employees are satisfied with the situation and are determined to stay loyal to the enterprise, but they believe that some benefits could be expanded. The number of incidents every single year is relatively small, and it indicates that the current strategy is reasonable. Overall, the method is justified from the financial perspective and has proven to be effective. Nevertheless, it may be revised in the future because it limits the development.
Organizational Project Management
A network diagram for the project
It would be appropriate to present a network diagram of the current project to get a better understanding of the situation. Additionally, it will be possible to evaluate the linkages and determine the ways in which some of the activities may be altered. Figure 1 needs to be examined to get a better understanding of the current project.
It is clear that only two paths are available, and one of them is critical. The fact that one of the activities is dependent on the completion of other two also should be taken into account.
What is the project completion time and cost?
The cost of each activity must be added, and the summary is $308.000. The duration of the project is equal to the critical path, and it is 2+3+2+4+3+5+2=21 days.
What is the ES, EF, LS, LF and slack for each activity?
All of the calculations are based on available information.
- ES: 0, EF: 2, LS: 0, LF: 2, Slack: 0.
- ES: 5, EF: 7, LS: 5, LF: 7, Slack: 0.
- ES: 2, EF: 5, LS: 2, LF: 5, Slack: 0.
- ES: 7, EF: 11, LS: 7, LF: 11, Slack: 0.
- ES: 5, EF: 9, LS: 9, LF: 11, Slack: 2.
- ES: 11, EF: 14, LS: 11, LF: 14, Slack: 0.
- ES: 14, EF: 19, LS:14 , LF:19 , Slack: 0.
- ES:19 , EF:21 , LS:19 , LF:21 , Slack: 0.
Which activity is it possible to choose to reduce the project duration by one day?
It can be seen that the lowest cost per day could be achieved if F is an activity selected to be crashed, and it will be necessary to spend $250. Additionally, one of the paths may not become critical because it is included in both cases. Therefore, it can be viewed as the most reasonable decision and the new cost of the project is $308.000+$250=$308.250. Other approaches may also be considered depending on the situation, but it is the best possible choice according to provided instructions.
A health and safety assessment in the organisation
It is noted that the firm values health and well-being of its employees and is focused on continuous improvement. The problem is that current retention rates are not satisfactory because many individuals consider this company when looking for part-time jobs. Therefore, a lot of resources may be wasted on training and promotion of health. The current situation is not acceptable and needs to be addressed because it damages the business. It would be appropriate to review approaches currently used within the firm and provide a list of recommendations on how some of the problems may be resolved. Table 2 shows a list of policies used to protect health and safety within the company.
Table 2. List of policies.
It can be seen that current policies are well-developed and address critical areas. However, it is impossible to argue with the fact that they can be improved. For instance, many individuals are forced to overwork at the moment because wages at their positions are relatively small, and they believe that this approach would help them with their careers. The problem is that it could lead to issues with health. The work is extremely stressful and employees that overwork are more likely to be under constant pressure, and it could reduce their productivity in the long-term.
The company acknowledges the fact that it has a broad range of responsibilities and must guarantee safety and well-being of its employees. The problem is that it is focused on the reduction of unnecessary expenses because it had to deal with several complications over the last few years. Therefore, it cannot offer health promotion programs that are expensive, and the use of funds to support such activities must be justified from the perspective of economics.
The situation may be solved if the firm utilises management systems. Some of them are relatively cheap and are not hard to maintain. They may be used to determine relationships between variables within the organisation. For example, it is noted that performance levels are extremely dependent on employee satisfaction, and it would be beneficial to introduce health-related programs that would not take too much time but may have an enormous influence on the outcomes (Topolosky 2014). Additionally, it is reasonable to hire an external professional that would guide employees throughout the whole process and will provide valuable advice.
The company may suggest its employees to download free smartphone applications that could improve their health. It would be appropriate to educate new workers and recruits on issues related to safety and health to avoid complications in the workplace. Training needs analysis needs to be conducted to determine possible gaps in knowledge (Gilmore & Williams 2012). The process may be relatively slow and could require significant amounts of resources.
Furthermore, it is important to explain all the benefits of the program to make sure that employees do not leave the company. It is necessary to provide the information about healthy eating habits, and lifestyle changes should be promoted to increase overall well-being of employees. The work can be quite stressful, and can lead to depression in some situations. Therefore, it is reasonable to establish a positive environment that would meet the needs of most workers. Such techniques as the introduction of paid vacations may also increase motivation levels and work engagement. Overall, it is expected that this approach would help to address most of the issues related to health within the organisation, and the number of accidents also could be reduced.
Reference List
Chaston, I 2012, Strategy for sustainable competitive advantage, Routledge, New York, NY.
Gilmore, S & Williams, S 2012, Human resource management, OUP Oxford, Oxford, UK.
Reese, C 2008, Occupational health and safety management: A practical approach, 2nd edn, CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL.
Roberts, P 2011, Effective project management, Kogan Page Publishers, London, UK.
Ross, DF 2016, Introduction to supply chain management technologies, 2nd edn, CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL.
Ryu, D 2012, Improving reliability and quality for product success, CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL.
Topolosky, P 2014, Linking employee satisfaction to business results, Routledge, New York, NY.
Vernimmen, P, Quiry, P, Dallocchio, M, Le Fur, Y & Salvi, A 2014, Corporate finance: Theory and practice, John Wiley & Sons, Hoboken, NJ.