...Kudler Problem Statement Describe the Situation: Kathy is running all aspects of the business even though she has a manager at each location that would be capable of taking on additional duties. She is working herself to the bone and could use a few days off here and there. If Kathy could let go and give each of her managers a little more responsibility she would be able to focus on opening new stores and also have a few days off. Frame the “Right” Problem: The problem here is that Kathy is taking on too much responsibility for one person to handle alone. One person cannot run a multiple store operation on their own. Describe the End-State Goals from a Broad Perspective of Values: In the end it would be best for Kathy to rely on her managers at each store location a little more. We feel that Kathy is taking on more than she can handle or for that matter that the company itself can handle. If she were to become sick or for that matter become unavailable to work there is really no one in the company that would be able to take on her duties. She has to get information to the managers in order for them to take on the responsibility for their locations. Identify the Alternatives: 1.) If Kathy does not feel comfortable giving the current managers more responsibility then she should conduct interviews and hire new managers for those locations in order to take some stress away from her. 2.) Kathy should spend quality time at each store instead of rushing in and out and allow...
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...Introduction Arthur Miller is recognized as an important and influential playwright, not to mention essayist and novelist. Although he has had plenty of luck in his writing career, his fame is the product of his inventive ability to control what he wants his readers to picture or feel. His intentions when writing ‘Death of a Salesman’ was to help people identify some of the social issues that were growing, in a way that eases the pain they were going through. As one of his critics states, "Miller writes ingeniously, conveying the message that ‘if the proper study of mankind is man, man’s inescapable problem is himself’ (poets 1997). Miller accurately puts into words what every person thinks, feels, or worries about, but often has trouble expressing. Arthur Miller portrays Willy’s problems with family life, the society, and himself in Death of a Salesman. Many of Arthur Miller’s plays reflect or are a product of events in his life; he believed that American society needed to be made over; and for this reason, many of his earlier plays showed sympathetic portrayals and compassionate characterizations of his characters. Death of a Salesman is a play relating to the events leading to the downfall of Willy Loman, an aging salesman who is at one time wealthy, but is now approaching the end of his usefulness (poet, 1997). Miller uses symbolism to expand on the conflicts within the Loman family. Happy and Biff, Willy’s two sons, represent two sides of Willy’s ever-conflicting...
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...Problem Statement: Kudler Fine Foods University of Phoenix Situation Analysis and Problem Statement Developing a workable business plan is the first step in successful business ownership. With this road-map, business owners have a guideline to follow from the initial start-up to the finish. The financial statements within the business plan help owners and managers to understand how earnings are spent. Focusing on these two areas can alleviate past, present, and future issues or problems that many businesses experience. Although Kudler Fine Foods (KFF) has many addressable issues, the business plan and financial statement stand out the most. A weak business plan equals a weak business. For the owner, Kathy Kudler, to reach her goals, she will need to invest in the development of a solid plan that addresses all aspects of her company. Situation Background (Step 1) In the five years of operation, KFF has had two business plans. The first in 1998, Kudler herself developed. A college student developed the second business plan five years later (KUDLER INTRANET, 2008). After reviewing the updated business plan, I discovered several weak areas and underdeveloped. In addition to these areas, the 2003 Income Statement shows several areas of concern relating to high or excessive expenditures. Issue Identification KFF operates on over a million dollar budget with a business plan developed by a college student. Four areas on the 2003 Income Statement stand out as excessive...
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...Problem Statement - Kudler Fine Foods UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX Problem Statement - Kudler Fine Foods Kudler Fine Foods (KFF) is a chain of upscale specialty food stores in the San Diego area of Southern California. The stores target cooks who want only the finest ingredients, including prime cuts of meat, fresh seafood, exotic produce, imported cheeses and dairy products, and fine wines. There is a bakery on the premises which offers a wide variety of freshly baked breads and pastries. KFF also offers catering, online ordering, and special orders of items not carried in the store (Kudler Fine Foods History, 2007). Kathy Kudler is the owner of KFF; it was her own passion for gourmet cooking, and her vision of a specialized “one stop” gourmet grocery store which caused Kathy to recognize the opportunity for such a specialized store. In 1998 the first KFF store opened La Jolla, California. Kathy’s vision proved to be successful and, within five years, generated enough revenue to enable her to open two additional stores, one in Del Mar and the other in Encinitas. The long-term vision of KFF is to become the premier gourmet grocery store for shoppers interested in purchasing the finest imported and domestic bakery, meats, produce, cheeses, and wines (Kudler Fine Foods History, 2007). “Our ultimate goal is to compete in high-end areas in other cities as well. Our long-term plan includes possible sites in: Scottsdale, Arizona; Naples, Florida; and Greenwich, Connecticut” (Kudler...
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...Problem statement: Kudler Fine Foods University of Phoenix MGT/521 Dr. Abdelmagead Elbiali September 28, 2010 Problem Statement Kathy Kudler opened Kudler Fine Foods (KFF) in 1998. The idea of opening a gourmet food store came to her one day when she realized she could not find a good selection of quality gourmet goods in her neighborhood. Her vision was to cater to the “savvy shopper” who is looking for top quality meats, wine, produce, and cheeses. Kathy opened her first gourmet fine food store in La Jolla California in 1998. She proceeded to open the second location in Del Mar in 2000, and expanded to Encinitas in 2003. Multiple issues are indentified in KFF strategic plan. First, Kathy continues to take on almost all of the management responsibilities. She has hired a store manager and assistant manager for each location but doesn’t allow them to work fully in that capacity. Her management style has not changed though she has continued to expand her business. Second, a payroll that consists of high paying employees such as butchers, bakers, and wine stewards for each location. The last issue I will address is, 12% of perishable food is either donated or thrown out each month resulting in a substantial loss to KFF month. Kathy Kudler is the founder of KFF. She continues to handle all of the financial responsibilities for all stores’s and orders all inventory. She works seven days a week and will occasionally even stock shelves and run the cash register...
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...Problem Statement Kudler Fine Food Kudler Fine Foods is a premier gourmet grocery store chain located in San Diego, California. In 1998, Kathy Kudler, the owner, opened the first location in a La Jolla. A few years later, the second location was opened in Del Mar and the final store location is in Encinitas. All three locations have the very finest domestic and imported meats, produce, cheeses, wines, and fresh bakery (Apollo Group, 2007). The strategic plan of Kudler Fine Foods identified several issues within the organization including high payroll, inventory turnover and wasted food, future competition; however, the largest issue appears to be the management. The problem statement identified at Kudler Fine Foods is the centralized management style; the decision making is at the highest level. Kudler must create a new management team to operate more effectively and efficiently by allowing the team to enhance and hone their specialty skills. The present management style limits the staff’s capabilities; they are unable to dedicate their efforts on focusing on developing the company’s long term strategic plan. As the company grows, the management team has remained unaltered. The small management team is overloaded with many responsibilities and there is a lack of delegation by the owner. Kathy manages all of the purchasing, marketing and advertising, finances, and personnel. Although Kathy has a manager, assistant managers, and department managers at each location, she has...
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...An issue is something for discussion or of general concern difficulty; an issue is the preparation for a problem. An issue is something that needs to attention; but is not detrimental. A problem is a difficult situation that can become detrimental to a company. The Kudler Company is dealing with issues that could eventually become detrimental problems that could hinder the company if not addressed before substantial growth. Kudler foods face many issues that can eventually become problems, if not corrected. The goal of Kudler foods is to be a one stop shop with a reasonable price. The mission statement says that they shop the whole world for their products. The finest is what they guarantee their customers. One if the issues are in the process of purchasing “There is no purchasing department in any of the stores although standard purchasing procedures are in place” (Kudler Foods). The lack of a purchasing department within each store leaves room for theft by store managers and over ordering because of favors to venders. Unfortunately, if Kudler is leaving all of the purchasing to the managers except for bulk items, they are jeopardizing the integrity of the products and the company leaving it open for corruption. The solution would be to produce a purchasing department that would make purchases and verify the orders of the management and providing purchase orders to vendors. A new study suggests that nearly any worker may be willing to steal from an employer under some circumstances--unless...
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...Kudler Fine Foods Problem Statement Kudler Fine Foods (KFF) is a chain of upscale specialty food stores in southern California. The concept of KFF was made a reality in 1998 when Kathy Kudler opened the first store in La Jolla. Two years later, KFF expanded with the opening of a second location in Del Mar, followed by a third location three short years later in Encinitas. The long-term vision of KFF is to become the premier gourmet grocery store for shoppers interested in purchasing the finest imported and domestic bakery, meats, produce, cheeses, and wines (University of Phoenix, 2008). Problem at Hand The process of identifying KFF’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats unveils many issues for the company, one of which is a small management team with a large amount of responsibilities (University of Phoenix, 2003). As they continue to grow and expand, the management configuration at KFF remains unchanged. Although a manager has been hired at each store, Kathy is still the primary administrator at all three locations. She manages all of the finances, purchasing, and inventory as well as marketing and personnel. If Kathy were to take any extended time off or become ill, no other employee possesses the ability to deal with major business issues, leaving KFF non-operative. With the majority of her time going toward management positions at each location, Kathy has made herself inaccessible to customers. Contact with her customer base is essential for her...
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...Kudler Fine Food Problem Statement MGT/521 Date Instructor Name Kudler Fine Food Problem Statement Kudler Fine Foods vision is to be the premiere gourmet grocery store for those savvy shoppers who are searching for the finest meats, produce, chesses, and wines, if this company issues are not resolved in a timely manner, then the vision of Kudler Fine Food could only be a vision and not a success. In accomplishing this vision, Kudler Fine Foods has several obstacles that it must overcome. Team B members identified many issues within the organization including high payroll cost, inventory turnover (lack of jit), lack of effective advertisement, no knowledge of the financial aspect , technology issues, and lack of delegated of duties by management. These problems need to be addressed to be truly successful and to maximize profit. Problem Statement As the organization continues to expand, Kathy Kudle, president and founder of Kudle Fine Foods, find she is spreading herself thin. Ms. Kudle had taken on daily responsibilities, for which she has hired qualified team members to do. The organizational charter shows one store manager per store, a director of finance and accounting, a director of store operations, and a director of administration and human resources, ( Kudler Fine Foods), but the strategic plan under stakeholder analysis states, “Ms. Kudle hire, fires, finalized the inventory numbers, and places the weekly orders and controls the finances making sure all...
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...Problem Statement - Kudler Fine Foods Kudler Fine Foods (KFF) is a chain of upscale specialty food stores in the San Diego area of Southern California. The stores target cooks who want only the finest ingredients, including prime cuts of meat, fresh seafood, exotic produce, imported cheeses and dairy products, and fine wines. There is a bakery on the premises which offers a wide variety of freshly baked breads and pastries. KFF also offers catering, online ordering, and special orders of items not carried in the store (Kudler Fine Foods History, 2007). Kathy Kudler is the owner of KFF; it was her own passion for gourmet cooking, and her vision of a specialized “one stop” gourmet grocery store which caused Kathy to recognize the opportunity for such a specialized store. In 1998 the first KFF store opened La Jolla, California. Kathy’s vision proved to be successful and, within five years, generated enough revenue to enable her to open two additional stores, one in Del Mar and the other in Encinitas. The long-term vision of KFF is to become the premier gourmet grocery store for shoppers interested in purchasing the finest imported and domestic bakery, meats, produce, cheeses, and wines (Kudler Fine Foods History, 2007). “Our ultimate goal is to compete in high-end areas in other cities as well. Our long-term plan includes possible sites in: Scottsdale, Arizona; Naples, Florida; and Greenwich, Connecticut” (Kudler Fine Foods Strategic Plan, 2007). In the next five years, KFF will...
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...Kudler Fine Foods problem statement Abstract The topic being researched is how Kudler Fine Foods can improve the success ofthe business by preparing for possible competition, and streamlining expansionprocedures. The sources used are the Kudler Fine Foods Strategic Plan, and TheUniversity of Phoenix online databases. Findings suggest that implementing aresearch and market analysis plan, as well as an effective risk management planwill ensure successful expansion and growth of Kudler Fine Foods. A riskmanagement plan and market analysis of new locations, will allow Kudler toacknowledge potential problems and pre pare for them. The following is a problemstatement explaining what is currently wrong with Kudlers plans on expansion,and how they can improve these plans. IntroductionAfter reviewing the strategic plan for Kudlers Fine Foods it is obvious thereare several issues that will stunt the growth and success of the organization.The company is suffering from a lack of management and poor organizationplanning. The issues that will be discussed are the poorly developed expansionand growth plans, and the lack of risk management in preparation of a competitorentering the market. Problem StatementThe management at Kudler Fine Foods is planning on opening a new location whenall of the current locations are not successful, and the company has not done aproper analysis of the need for their services in the area. Also Kudler is notprepa...
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...PROBLEM STATEMENT Kudler Fine Foods need to expand management team to encompass the needs of the growing organization. When are we seeing the problem? Overall, in the business-Kathy is no longer able to run the operations by herself, the organization is in need of technological advances, and financial analysis going forward. How big is the problem? The problem is reflected by looking at the insufficient inventory and purchasing system, need for better financial planning with opening and consolidating the new store with the struggling store. In addition, Kathy is stretched thin with visiting each store with the frequency that she does. What specifically is the problem? Management team needs to be expanded with dependable people who can focus on different aspects of the business allowing Kathy to focus on the company as a whole. What requirements did the company fail to meet? Failure to prepare a good analysis when expanding to DelMar versus Espanita and now looking to consolidate DelMar with the new store because of fledgling sales. Using technological advances to create a value-added purchasing/inventory system. Having better understanding of customer purchasing cycles and trends. PROBLEM STATEMENT ANALYSIS Identifying issues within an organization is important to determining the overall performance goals within an organization. Creating a problem statement for the issues is the most important step in solving these issues. A good problem statement will...
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...Kudler Fine Foods Problem Statement In order to effectively prepare the company to avoid potential issues in the future, Kathy will need to work to make herself more expendable. In doing this, she will be able to move about the different locations and maintain confidence that the tasks she has delegated will still be properly handled. Perhaps the optimal route would be to hire a vice president. The logic being that this person will serve as Kathy’s back-up for all duties. Kathy can hire someone with experience in managing a similar organization, or evaluate her current staff of managers for someone qualified for the position. The latter would not only fill the position with someone competent in the field, and someone who has already invested time into the company, but it can also be beneficial to the overall morale of the company. “When new employees see that opportunities exist for them and that there's a track record of hiring from within, they tend to stay longer with your company” (Green, 2007.) Hiring within will be cost effecting in avoiding fees associated with recruiting, but it will save a lot of time interviewing and integrating a new person into the culture of the company. Another option, if Kathy prefers not to have a vice president could be for her to simply delegate responsibilities. As mentioned in the strategic plan, there is a proposal of having the inventory system set-up electronically. At that point, managers should be able to efficiently track and know...
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...Kathy Kudler fulfilled her dream of owning her business when she first opened Kudler Fine Foods in 1998. The company offers gourmet food items such as meat, cheese, baked goods, and wine. The success of the first location opened in La Jolla proved that there is a strong market of specialty food items. This paper will summarize the problem statement based on the issues as stated during the Weed Four discussion in the classroom. It will also address management’s efforts to resolve these issues and achieve the organization’s goals. In addition, an end vision will also be created based on the resolution of the issues. An issue is a situation in question or that causes concern. On the other hand, a problem is that a situation that poses as difficult that must be resolved. If an issue exists, a solution may be available. A solution for a problem, however; requires more time to determine the best solution and unresolved problems lead to issues. After reviewing the company’s strategic plan, it is apparent that the company is faced with some challenging issues that may hinder the company’s success if management does not take immediate action to recognize and seek resolution to correct the existing issues. One of the main issues is Kathy’s role as a hands-on manager within all aspects of the business operations. All major decisions are also made by Kathy, including frequent visits to all three locations to oversee the purchasing arm of the business. This management style...
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...Activity 3 Section 3: Research Problem The title for Chapter 3 in your text is �The Problem: The Heart of the Research Process.� Locating a researchable doctoral level research problem is a critical first step in the dissertation process. This course is devoted to that step in the process; and in a developing a researchable Statement of Problem, that is to be refined throughout much of the entire dissertation process. The following is a sample of a common issue for purpose statements from the OAR. Please read carefully to avoid making these common errors. Sample Problem Statement DirectionPlease provide further explanation of your purpose statement see the direction from the DRF below. Problem Statement (approximately 250 to 300 words) Note: Articulation of a concise problem statement is key to a successful proposal/dissertation manuscript. The problem statement is a brief discussion of a problem or observation succinctly identifying and documenting the need for and importance of the study. | 1. Present general issue/observation that in theory or practice leads to the need for the study (in most cases citations within the last 5 years should be included). | 2. Present focused problem that leads to the need for a research response. For some degree programs (DBA, PhD) the problem identified might be a practical problem or issue. | Clearly describe and document the problem that prompted the study. Whose problem is it? What are the potential negative consequences...
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