Ben’ Z Custard shop
Ben’ Z Custard shop is an ice cream shop located in Ashville, North Carolina. It specializes in the production of quality ice cream with added flavors. The shop consists of eight employees, one general manager, and a human resource manager. The manager’s roles include general management of the activities that take place within the business. The Operations Manager is in charge of all the supply chains in the industry, including the supplies of raw materials and the general supervision of the workers. The three main objectives of the organization include customers’ satisfaction, creation of employment, and public social responsibility in the community. In the short term, the business aims at providing value-added products to the customers. This situation will attract more customers and also give a competitive advantage to the company. However, in the medium and long term, the business hopes to participate in social issues in society like the protection of the environment. Finally, the firm plans to open subsidiary branches in other states and even internationally.
Ben’Z custard shop enjoys a multiple of strengths in the market. First, it has employed qualified personnel who are charged with the management of the business. The integration of knowledge and skills in the company enables the business to provide quality ice creams in the market. The other strength that the industry enjoys is the biodiversity of the employees. This biodiversity strength has allowed the firm to receive customers from several cultures, backgrounds, and races. Additionally, the business enjoys a strategic location; thus, more walk-in customers can easily access the shop. Finally, the firm has a steady supply of raw materials that have led to continuous production.
However, the major weakness in the operations of the business is the lack of an online marketing strategy. This inadequacy has made the industry uncompetitive, unlike the other ice cream shops. Although the company doesn’t have online marketing programs, it currently uses various social media platforms for marketing its products. The significant opportunity that exists in the market is the growing population of youths whose primary preference remains ice creams. The increased number of young people within the state provides an opportunity for the shop to exploit and realize more revenues.
There are two critical threats to the operations of Ben’Z Custard shop competition and policies. The policies that are likely to affect the processes exist at national, state, and local levels. Federal taxation and strategies are likely to affect the business. For instance, an increase in tax by the government is a threat to the prices of the ice creams. The national security policies, including the imposition of quarantine and such measures, may affect its operations. At the state level, the infrastructural development, and other state policies may affect the business. The level of existing competition among the ice cream shops in the area is a threat to the Ben’Z Custard shop.
The management at Ben’Z Custard shop can utilize the above internal and external issues to gain a competitive advantage in the market. This utility can be done through the effective implementation of the four principles of management. Planning refers to the creation of a plan that meets the objectives and goals of the company. The managers will ensure the appropriate allocation of resources and delegation of duties to the employees. The managers will also be required to set realistic timelines for the implementation of the assigned tasks. Once the manager has allocated the employees with functions, they need to check on the progress and make any necessary adjustments regularly.
Planning is essential since it provides the managers with a more in-depth focus on the objectives of the organization and to make a clear plan on what to prioritize.
Alongside planning, managers should apply organization skills to help ensure that each department is smoothly run. This application involves establishing internal processes and structures to ensure that the best-suited employees or teams for particular tasks. Such employees to be allocated in their best areas of interest and knowledge. This practice maximizes productivity. Another essential skill for managers is to ensure control over the processes in the business. The managers should closely monitor the performance of the employees, the quality of the work that they do, and the efficiency and reliability of the performed tasks. Finally, managers should exercise leadership skills to gain a competitive advantage in the market. Leadership involves managing, directing, and motivating employees. These roles are influencing factors towards achieving a specific purpose or reason. It creates a positive attitude towards work. The effectiveness and efficiency of the processes should be a key priority to the managers.
Part 2: Ethical Standards and Corporate Social Responsibility
Ben’Z Castor shop is built on three essential values: dedication, quality, and consistency. The mission of the shop is to provide quality flavored ice cream to the clients. The services offered to the customers are top-notch. The vision of the company in the next five years will be to expand into five other states. Additionally, the management envisions an international business by establishing a branch in another country and creating a brand that can be franchised by other entrepreneurs globally.
According to Kumar & Sharma (2014), corporate social responsibility is an essential practice in the current business set up. It is commonly used for gaining a competitive mileage. In the hospitality industry where Ben’Z custard shop serves, CSR practices depend on the profit motives, the positioning of the business brand, and other ethical considerations of the managers and the owners, policies, and the employees (Hailu & Nigatu, 2015). The corporate social responsibility of the company will be to actively take part in the creation of awareness on various forms of pollution. This process will begin by the shop using eco-friendly electrical appliances in the storage of the ice creams. Additionally, the company will be involved in social responsibilities, including offering study bursaries to at least five students at the college level every academic year. Finally, the company will also help in solving social issues like drug and substance abuse through online platforms.
Part 3: Human Resources
Strategic selection and recruitment begin with the visions of the business. The organization, through the human resource manager, intends to build a hard-working, innovative, and a well-structured business process in the shop. According to Thompson and Richardson (1999), the practices by the HR of any organization must be coherent with the business strategies. Undeniably, most organizations may differ in their expectations in Employees. Still, the variety in the number, competitiveness, and the diversities of the employees are the major elements of a successful HR department.
Although financial factors such as the return on capital are essential factors, the HR department will focus on the development and management of employees. This focus will enable the employees to gain more knowledge about the job and also as a motivational factor (Jogdand, Sawant & Ragde, 2015). In the human resource plan, every first weekend of the month will be a recreational and bonding day for all the workers, the management and the customers that will be in attendance. At the end of every year, the shop will hold get together party and gala that will be used to reward employees at different categories, including the best employee of the year. Gifts and other monetary incentives will be awarded. Finally, the business will give paternity and maternity leaves of three months and benevolent benefits to any employee that loses a next of kin. The company requires an online marketing specialist that will enable it to penetrate the mass online market provided by social media platforms.