Chapters Deciding The Course Of Action Summary Of The Uniq
Chapters Deciding The Course Of Actionsummaryone Of The Unique Feature
Identify the core assignment question: selecting a business, analyzing two problems using KT methods, constructing a Situation Analysis for each, and determining next actions based on the analysis, following guidelines from the textbook “Strategies for Creative Problem Solving.”
Cleaned instructions: Select a business, understand its problems, analyze two employee-related problems using the specified KT strategies, and generate potential solutions. Prepare a Situation Analysis table for each problem. Decide on subsequent actions using appropriate KT methods. Submit in Word or Excel, formatted with 12-point black text, 1-inch margins, your name, course info, title “Homework 10,” and page numbers. Include an introductory paragraph about the business and the number of problems identified. Follow specific formatting and proofreading standards.
Paper For Above instruction
In this analysis, I selected a local bakery to explore the operational challenges faced by employees. The bakery, a family-owned enterprise, operates daily to serve a community clientele with fresh baked goods. Through discussions and observations, two major problems emerged: first, inconsistent product quality during peak hours; second, difficulty in managing inventory efficiently. This paper applies the KT strategies as outlined in the coursework to analyze these problems and determine actionable solutions.
For each problem, I constructed a Situation Analysis table, which synthesizes the situation's timing, trend, impact, and the next process along with potential problems and causes. These tables facilitate a structured understanding of the issues. The next step involves selecting appropriate KT methods, such as KTSA (Knowledge Test Situation Analysis), KTPA (Knowledge Test Problem Analysis), KTDA (Knowledge Test Decision Analysis), or KTPPA (Knowledge Test Preferred Alternative), to guide the decision-making process.
Problem 1: Product Quality Inconsistency
The initial Situation Analysis revealed that during the busiest morning hours, product quality tends to deteriorate, leading to customer complaints and decreased satisfaction. The timing, trend, and impact suggest a need for process examination during peak periods, possibly linked to ingredient prep or oven calibration.
Applying KTSA, the situation was appraised with a focus on timing (morning rush), impact (customer dissatisfaction), and process problems (ingredient measurement, oven temperature). Potential causes identified include staff fatigue, inconsistent ingredient measurement, and improper oven calibration.
Using KTDA, I analyzed solutions such as implementing standardized procedures, staff training, and adjusting oven calibration tools. The decision process considered weighings of potential benefits and drawbacks, leading to a recommended action: standardizing ingredient measurement and establishing quality checks during peak hours.
Problem 2: Inventory Management Difficulties
The second problem involved excess inventory of early ingredients and shortages of fresh supplies during peak hours. The situation analysis determined that poor forecasting and reorder timing contributed to this problem.
Through KTSA, the timing of reorders and trend in inventory levels were mapped, highlighting inefficiencies in stock management. Causes included lack of real-time inventory tracking and delayed communication among staff.
Employment of KTPPA facilitated evaluating solutions like adopting inventory management software, sharing real-time stock data, and scheduling regular stock audits. The most suitable next step identified was implementing an inventory software system to optimize reorder timing and reduce waste.
Conclusion
Applying the KT methods provided a systematic approach for understanding and resolving the bakery's operational issues. For product quality consistency, standardization and staff training were prioritized. For inventory management, technological integration offered promising improvements. These solutions align with best practices for creative problem solving and demonstrate how structured knowledge analysis can support effective decision-making in small business operations.
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