Lessons for Managing Creative Staff

Question: Discuss about the Lessons for Managing Creative Staff. Answer: Introduction: By the number of guests, it seems that Boleros is a famous restaurant but like it is said every day is not the same. By reading the case study, it is clear that the manager was not able to estimate the workload that the staff may have to face that day. The manager should have divided the work load between the staff as the call of the guest came that they are going to be late because that would have reduced the work pressure the staffs were facing. The manager allowed the guest to sit outside but did not ask any waiter to serve them that is why they were not even served water or even menu. The manager had one and a half hour in hand to set the duties for the staff which he did not do (E.Abel Obeten, 2015). He should have divided the work by asking few of them to just to take the order; one member should be given the duty to serve menu and water at every table so that they feel welcomed. The couple of guests who came early should have been delegated early so that must have reduced the work load of the staff. If the manager would have informed the kitchen staff about the late guests then they would have been prepared for the work load and must have started the basic preparation. Here also the work should have been divided by giving duties of entree, main course, and dessert in the kitchen staff. If Manager would have estimated the work load earlier than he would have delegated the duties to staff and saved everyone including the guest from the problems and delay they faced (Glick, 2010). The main problem that arisen at Boleros was the unplanned afternoon of Fathers Day with the guest more than the staff could handle. If I would have been there as the manager then, I would have divided the work load between the present staff. Also, I would have asked my guest to please wait and cooperate with the staff as they were late and now the restaurant is full which is making the delay in the services. The short term remedy for the situation would have been to hire the extra staff (Jellison, 2007). There were two reasons to do so, first, the manager missed that it was the Fathers Day which means extra guest than usual and secondly, he was having time when he came to know that there would be more guest than the staff could handle. On the long-term basis, it is important that the restaurant manager should keep some people on contract basis those who can come and work in the restaurant on special days like in this case study was Fathers Day. A notice should be written on the menu which says that any special voucher should be presented by the guest before ordering the meal to avoid confusion. The staff should be aware of the duties they are supposed to complete, and the responsibilities are getting handled well or not need to be checked by the manager on the regular basis. If the measures are properly followed then, this kind of situation will not arise again in the restaurant (Vanitha, 2012). References E.Abel, E. Obeten, E. (2015). Restaurant Customer Self-ordering System: A Solution to Reduce Customer/Guest Waiting Time at the Point of Sale.International Journal Of Computer Applications,111(11), 19-22. Glick, L. (2010). Lessons for Managing Creative Staff.Design Management Review,17(3), 73-77. Jellison, S. (2007). Managing Workload.Perspectives On School-Based Issues,8(2), 14. Vanitha, D. (2012). Customer Relationship Management on Customer Satisfaction.International Journal Of Scientific Research,3(4), 1-3.

Foxy Case Study free essay sample

Discuss the pros and cons to launching the foxy brand in the United States. Pros| Cons| U. S. market is 10 times larger than Canada. With right business model and price, foxy would gain additional revenue and profit. The brand seeks great opportunity to further develop the business, enhance product design as well as company’s brand image. | U. S market is different in terms of tastes for jewellery. American preferred the latest trend regardless of the product’s origin. It might take foxy some time to adapt to different customers and create new product to compete within that larger market. Foxy may face risk in controlling the business from far; where Foxy’s HQ based in Canada. These means that Foxy Original need to build their trusted teams to support business in U. S| 2. Assess each distribution strategy from a qualitative point of view Best appropriate method of distribution: * Attending trade shows Trade shows were one-stop market place for retailers to source products from wholesalers and importers. Therefore this will enable foxy to understand their customer needs and preferences. Foxy can also build brand recognition through the trade shows. As for Foxy, through trade shows, they will be able to know the current fashion trend in the U. S market and able to position their current designs or to enhance their designs to match the U. S. market. * Sales representatives This strategy will make it easy to enter the market quickly and form various connections with different salespersons and existing retailers. This advantage indirectly expands their business to the larger market. In addition, minimum amount of training they would require for this strategy. 3. Identify all costs, other than variables costs for the trade show distribution strategy. Categorize these costs as investment and fixed costs (per trade show and for fiscal 2005) Expenses | Type of Cost| Cost Per Show ($)| Fiscal 2005| Registration Fee | Fixed Cost| 3,000 | 30,000 | Booth Cost| Investment Cost| 133 | 1,333. 3 | Booth Shipping| Investment Cost| 1,500 | 15,000 | Travel Expenses | Investment Cost| 2,000 | 20,000 | Promotional Expenses | Investment Cost| 2,800 | 28,000 | Total Cost| 9,433 | 94,333. 33 | Notes: 10 potential trade shows in year 2005. 4. Identify all costs, other than variable costs, for the sales representative’s distribution strategy. Categorize these costs as investments and fixed costs (per trade show and for fiscal 2005) Expenses | Type of Cost| Cost | | Fiscal 2005| Rental Space| Fixed Cost| 200/month | | 2,400 | sample board| Investment Cost| 2,900/year | | 2,900 | Promotional Expenses | Investment Cost| 600/year | | 600 | Travel Expenses | Investment Cost| | | | bookkeepers Fee(work 48hrs/year)| Investment Cost| 40/hr | | 1,920 | Total Cost| | | 7,820 | Note: Above calculated total cost per year $7,820 is for 1 sales representative. For fiscal year 2005, there will be 4 sales representatives in major cities, = $7,820 x 4 = $31,280 5. Do the variable costs for both products (necklaces and pairs of earring) differ between trade show and sales representative? Yes. Other than production costs, difference between trade show and sales representative are shipping cost and sales commission. 6. Calculate the variable costs per order received at a trade show and the variable cost per other received at a sales representatives Trade Show | | | | | Product| Cost Per Unit ($)| Unit Produce | Additional Cost| Total Variable Cost Per Order| Necklaces| 8. 05| 25| 15| 216. 25| Earring| 5. 5| 12| | 81| Total variable cost per order at trade show = $ 297. 25 Sales Representative Product| Cost Per Unit ($)| Unit Produce| Sale| Commission| Total Variable Cost Per Order| Necklaces| 8. 05| 25| 425| 63. 75| 265| Earring| 5. 5| 12| 144| 21. 6| 87. 6| Total variable cost per order at sales representatives = $ 352. 60 7. For each distribution strategy, calculate the unit contribution and contribution margin rate for each of the two products line (necklaces and pairs of earrings). What is the weighted average contribution margin for an order at a trade show and an order with sale representatives? Trade Show| Sales ($)| Unit VC ($)| Unit Contribution Margin | Product Qty | Sales mix (Percentage)| Weighted-average contribution margin| Necklaces| 17| 8. 65| 8. 35| 25| 67. 57| 5. 64| Earrings| 12| 6. 75| 5. 25| 12| 32. 43| 1. 70| Total| | | | 37| 100| 7. 34| S. R. | Sales ($)| Unit VC ($)| Unit Contribution Margin | Product Qty | Sales mix (Percentage)| Weighted-average contribution margin| Necklaces| 17| 10. 60| 6. 40| 25| 67. 57| 4. 32| Earrings| 12| 7. 30| 4. 70| 12| 32. 43| 1. 52| Total| | | | 37| 100| 5. 84| 8. Calculate Foxy’s breakeven point for each distribution strategy Breakeven point for year 2005 a) Trade show Breakeven point TS=94,333. 337. 34 =12,852 units b) Sales representatives Breakeven point SR=31,2805. 84 =5347 units 9. Which distribution channel will be more profitable in 2005 From below estimation, Sales Representatives is more profitable compared to Trade Show in year 2005. Trade Show| Order per trade| 10 trade per year| Total number of | Total Units| | | | Necklace| Earring| | Minimum| 20| 200| 5,000 | 2,400 | 7,400 | Maximum| 45| 450| 11,250 | 5,400 | 16,650 | Average| 32. 5| 325| 8,125 | 3,900 | 12,025 | Note: Number of orders of Retailer repurchase no provided and this exclude in the estimation. Trade Show| Units| Units| $| $| $| $| | Necklace| Earring| Sales Revenue| Variable Cost| Fixed Expenses| Profit| Minimum| 5,000 | 2,400 | 113,800 | 59,450 | 94,333. 3| (39,983)| Maximum| 11,250 | 5,400 | 256,050 | 133,763 | 94,333. 33| 27,954 | Average| 8,125 | 3,900 | 184,925 | 96,606 | 94,333. 33| (6,015)| S. R. | For 1 SR | For 1 SR| For 4sr| Total number of | Total Units| | order/mth| order/yr| order/yr| Necklace| Earring| Â  | Min| 10| 120| 480| 12,000 | 5,760 | 17,760 | Max| 15| 180| 720| 18,000 | 8,640 | 26,640 | Average| 12. 5| 150| 600| 15,000 | 7,200 | 22,200 | S. R. | Units| Units| $| $| $| $| | Necklace| Earring| Sales Revenue| Variable Cost| Fixed Expenses| Profit| Minimum| 12,000 | 5,760 | 273,120 | 169,248 | 31280| 72,592 | Maximum| 18,000 | 8,640 | 409,680 | 253,872 | 31280| 124,528 | Average| 15,000 | 7,200 | 341,400 | 211,560 | 31280| 98,560 | 10. Choose a distribution strategy (trade show, sales representative or both) based on your qualitative and quantitative assessment. From quantitative point of view, the recommended strategy for Foxy is using sales representative which has higher probability to achieve target profit grows ($100,000) compare with trade show. However, selection of agents is crucial. Besides of provide key contact, local knowledge and intelligence in achieving sales, agents must believe in Foxy products. Even though Foxy can get first hand market trend and build relationship with retailer through face time interaction in trade show, the potential risk in business expansion should not be ignored.

3 Tips for Staying Focused at Work During the Holidays

3 Tips for Staying Focused at Work During the Holidays Don’t let your holiday shopping, budgeting, travel-planning- or the weather!- get the better of you this season. Stay focused on wrapping up your year and gearing up for 2017. 1. Deflect the interruptionsThe holidays are always extra distracting. Prepare yourself for the inevitable onslaught and don’t let yourself give in. Instead, use the interruptions to structure your day. Online shopping session? Office cookie break? Set these as deadlines for you to work toward and remain diligent  until its time for your break.2. Look for the right projectsEveryone’s schedules are erratic during the holidays. If you’re stuck working when everyone else is out of office, use the peace and quiet to get work done on your pet projects and big picture tasks. And don’t forget that holiday parties and lingering team lunches can be a great networking opportunity, rather than a waste of time.3. Don’t take it homeStaying focused at the desk means you don’ t have to stay late to get ahead or be on your email 24/7. Make sure to save your off-work hours for all of those distractions you’ve been fending off so successfully. Save time for your shopping and traveling and package-mailing and savor it. Guard it, even. And if you’re worried about getting those things done, schedule them as though they were after-hours meetings.Being mindful about distractions and staying focused will make you more relaxed throughout the holiday season. You’ll probably find you’re way ahead of the game once the fun is over and everybody’s back at work.

Free Essays on Killing Rage

"Killing rage" African Americans Place in Society Is racism a problem of the past? Some people may not associate racism with their daily life, but in reality racism is all around; we just need to open up our eyes and see it. â€Å"Killing Rage† by Bell Hooks is a good representation of how racism, stereotypes, and the mass media all contribute to African Americans place in society. Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. fought for the rights of the African American people. They wanted equal rights and desegregation, but even today we do not have equal rights or a desegregated society. Sure it still exists, but to a lesser extent than it did in Malcolm X’s time. Racism is the practice of racial discrimination or segregation. There are three basic forms of racism, open racism, violent racism, and covert racism, they all express forms of hatred towards distinct ethnic groups. These basic forms of racism, although different in form, all have the same main purpose, to promote racism. Open racism expresses freedom of racial thought and speech. Open racists promote their views through strictly persuasive tactics. This form of racism is allowed in our society because of the First Amendment. Open racism is currently almost nonexistent and steadily declining, because it is considered politically incorrect and socially unacceptable. Violent racism promotes racis m through violence, fear, and persuasive methods. This form of racism is not protected by the First Amendment because it promotes violence to express its ideas. Covert racism expresses ideas of racism in disguised forms; sometimes the covert racist is not even aware of the fact that he is racist. â€Å"They kept explaining to her in loud voices as though she is a child, as though she is a foreigner who does not speak airline English.† (102) â€Å"White folks promote black victimization, encourage passivity by rewarding those folks who whine, grovel, beg, and obey.† (108) We have no righ... Free Essays on Killing Rage Free Essays on Killing Rage "Killing rage" African Americans Place in Society Is racism a problem of the past? Some people may not associate racism with their daily life, but in reality racism is all around; we just need to open up our eyes and see it. â€Å"Killing Rage† by Bell Hooks is a good representation of how racism, stereotypes, and the mass media all contribute to African Americans place in society. Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. fought for the rights of the African American people. They wanted equal rights and desegregation, but even today we do not have equal rights or a desegregated society. Sure it still exists, but to a lesser extent than it did in Malcolm X’s time. Racism is the practice of racial discrimination or segregation. There are three basic forms of racism, open racism, violent racism, and covert racism, they all express forms of hatred towards distinct ethnic groups. These basic forms of racism, although different in form, all have the same main purpose, to promote racism. Open racism expresses freedom of racial thought and speech. Open racists promote their views through strictly persuasive tactics. This form of racism is allowed in our society because of the First Amendment. Open racism is currently almost nonexistent and steadily declining, because it is considered politically incorrect and socially unacceptable. Violent racism promotes racis m through violence, fear, and persuasive methods. This form of racism is not protected by the First Amendment because it promotes violence to express its ideas. Covert racism expresses ideas of racism in disguised forms; sometimes the covert racist is not even aware of the fact that he is racist. â€Å"They kept explaining to her in loud voices as though she is a child, as though she is a foreigner who does not speak airline English.† (102) â€Å"White folks promote black victimization, encourage passivity by rewarding those folks who whine, grovel, beg, and obey.† (108) We have no righ...

How Healthcare Strategies differ from other business Strategies Research Paper

How Healthcare Strategies differ from other business Strategies - Research Paper Example lthcare strategies aim at ensuring excellent treatment services to the patients while business strategies aim at maximizing profits and minimizing losses. The main purpose of this research paper is to outline how health care strategies differ from other business strategies (Moseley 23). In health care, which is different from other business strategies, the business days as usual have ended. Around the globe, almost every healthcare facility is putting efforts to cope with the rising cost and irregular treatment quality in spite of the well-intentioned and trained clinicians’ hard work. Health care facility managers and policy makers have attempted numerous incremental fixes, reducing errors, attacking fraud, trying to make patients better â€Å"customers†, establishing electronic medical data records, and enforcing medical practice guidelines but none of these measures have had much effect (Moseley 24). The scope of this paper is the management and planning of strategy in certain industries, those that associates with the financing and delivery of health care services in the United States. The term health care in its broad sense includes managed care organization, small group practices, large group practices, academic physician academic, health maintenance organizations, and independent and solo physician practices among others (Moseley 25). Heath care also involves Health plans, Health insurance companies, Community hospitals, Specialty hospitals, Teaching hospitals, Community Health centers, and Multi-specialty group practices. The companies associated with Health care strategy are pharmaceutical companies, DME manufacturers, regulatory public health agencies, biomedical and biotechnological companies, public health financing agencies (CMS), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), and state public health departments. Heath care takes into account all these industries for disburseme nts approaching a fifth of the GDP (Gross Domestic Product) of the United

Choice overload Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Choice overload - Essay Example The most widely referenced source in this regard is Schwartz’s. It is due to this reason that the following paper will be greatly based on the source or the book written by Schwartz entitled, â€Å"The Paradox of Choice†. It is imperative to understand the basic definition of the concept choice overload before looking at various perspectives on the subject of matter. It is an evident fact that choice overload is associated with the ability of the consumers to buy more products. The consumers observe the choices when they are given more than one product of a same kind. It does not only make consumers think about the limitless options they have but also think of better ways to consume the product. At times, it is also noted that the concept of choice overload is a behavioural aspect to be learned within the field of psychology. The term Choice Overload is also known as Overchoice. Choice overload is defined in many aspects; it has directly linked to the consumer behaviour and decision-making. Choice overload is now considered as a major problem facing by consumers at the time of purchase. It is also defined that manufacturers, retailers, and other businesses have not increased the choice overload in term of giving options in products, but they have also overloaded the related information. Giving multiple alternatives and bundle of choices does not satisfy the need of a consumer, it rather drive them in psychological depression and thrive their stress level. Consumer start losing their confidence and level of confusion arise which eventually resulted in disturbing their personality (Lee & Lee, 2004). As per the study conducted by Cherev, Bockenholt, and Goodman (2012), it has been noted that despite a lot of stress on providing options to the consumers, it is still not sure that assortments can be beneficial for the

Cost Concepts and Their Application Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Cost Concepts and Their Application - Essay Example Examples are number of units of output and direct labour hours (Datar, Horngren, & Foster 1999, p. 27 - 58). Costs are classified so that data obtained from them will be useful to management. Costs can be classified (1) by the nature of the cost items, (2) with respect to the accounting period, (3) by their tendency to vary with the level of activity, (4) by their relation to the product (product costing), and (5) for analysis or decision making (Datar, Horngren, & Foster 1999, p. 27 - 58; The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology 2000). In a manufacturing concern, the two main types of cost items are manufacturing costs or factory costs and commercial expenses. Examples of manufacturing costs include direct material costs, direct labour costs, and factory overheads. Examples of commercial expenses include selling and distribution costs, administration costs, and financial costs. With respect to the accounting period, costs could be capital expenditure or revenue expenditure. Capital expenditure is intended to benefit future periods and classified as an asset. For example, the pur chase of fixed asset is a capital expenditure. Revenue expenditure benefits the current period and is classified as an expense. The distinction between capital expenditure and revenue expenditure is essential for proper matching of costs and revenues to accurately determine periodic profits. By their tendency to vary with the level of activity, costs could be classified as variable costs, fixed costs, semi-fixed costs or step costs, and semi-variable costs. Variable costs are costs that vary directly in proportion to change in activity or volume of a chosen cost object. Fixed costs are costs that do not change with changes in level of activity or output over a certain time period or relevant range. Relevant range is defined as the range of activity over which the amount of fixed expenses and rate of variability remain unchanged. This applies to all expenses, whether they are fixed, variable, or semi-variable. Semi-fixed costs or step costs are costs fixed over a certain range of out put but jump to a new level when the range is exceeded. Semi-variable costs show characteristics of both fixed and variable costs. A minimum of some expenses has to be maintained in order to maintain operational readiness. At this level of maintenance costs are fixed. Beyond this level costs become variable. By their relation to the product (product costing), costs can be divided into direct costs and indirect costs. Direct costs are costs that can be easily traced to the cost objects. Indirect costs are costs that cannot be easily traced to the cost objects. For the purpose of analysis and decision making, costs are classified into incremental costs, differential costs, sunk costs, avoidable costs, unavoidable costs, marginal, and opportunity costs. Incremental costs is the difference in totals between two alternatives or the addition cost of making a change, such as increasing the activity level or adding a new product line. Differential costs are costs that change in response to an action. Sunk costs are costs that have been incurred in the past and that cannot be changed. It is therefore irrelevant for decision making. Avoidable costs are costs that may be avoided if an activity is discontinued or if another alternative is adopted. Unavoidable costs are