Kudler Fine Food Simulation

Overview of Management: Kudler Fine Foods

As described in the Kuder Fine Foods Simulation, Kudler Fine Foods is a local upscale specialty food store located in the San Diego metropolitan area. The company has three locations (La Jolla, Del Mar and Encinitas). Each store has approximately 16,000 square feet of retail space located in a fashionable shopping center (University of Phoenix, 2004). The stores are stocked with the very best domestic and imported foodstuffs and divided into five departments consisting of a fresh bakery and pastries, fresh produce, fresh meat and seafood, condiments and packaged foods and lastly cheese's and specialty dairy products. Kudler Fine Food's mission is to provide their customers with the finest in selected foodstuffs, wines, and related needs in an unparalleled consumer environment (University of Phoenix, 2004). In order to develop this mission, Kudler Fine Foods needed to first develop an effective management team, focus on new technologies and realize the reality of competition. Kudler Fine Foods has experienced significant growth and is now focusing on expanding Kudler's services, improving the efficiency of the company's operations and increasing the consumer purchase cycle as a means to increasing the loyalty and profitability of its consumers.

Primary Functions of Management

Organizational Structure

Kudler Fine Foods is organized to operate using a frequently used ordinary management arrangement. Kathy Kudler, the founder and President of Kudler Fine Foods, is situated at the top of the organizational chart with all three of her store managers reporting directly to her. Placed just beneath Kathy in the organization's structure are Kudler's three key directors: Harvey Stephens, Director of Finance and Accounting, Yvonne Reynolds, Director of Store Operations, and finally Brenda Wagner, Director of Administration and Human Resources (University of Phoenix, 2004). The organizational chart's last tier consists of various sub-departmental managers and assistants assigned to support the directors in their respective departments.

Primary Functions of Management

Whether at the managerial, individual, or team level, the management process involves four functions that Gomez-Mejia and Balkin (2002) explained as planning and strategizing, organizing, leading and controlling, and decision making. Planning is a function that helps different parts of the organization set future objectives and map out activities necessary to achieve those objectives. To be effective, the objectives of individuals, teams, and management should be coordinated to support the firm's mission (Gomez-Mejia & Balkin, 2002). After Kathy Kudler developed a business plan and obtained financing, Kathy developed the Kudler Fine Food's mission statement and because of her executive level position, remains ultimately responsible to ensure that the firm's mission needs remain attuned to changes in the environment and competitive landscape. This involves working with her store managers and directors so an assessment of the firm's strengths, weakness, opportunities, and threats, are continuously conducted so that appropriate strategies can be implemented. Yvonne Reynolds, Director of Store Operations, must work closely with Kathy during any planning and strategizing activities related to Kudler Fine Foods. Yvonne serves as a consultant to the management on operational matters for store operations, she develops budgets, staffing levels, store designs, product mix, and pricing (University of Phoenix, 2004). Yvonne must also review store performance on a regular basis to assess information to identify potential issues and develop plans for resolving those issues. These essential duties are all categorized as planning and strategizing functions.

Organizing is the next management function mentioned by Gomez-Mejia and Balkin. Organizing involves specifying how the firm's human, financial, physical, informational, and technical resources are arranged and coordinated to perform tasks to achieve desired goals. Organizing activities include defining roles for all players, delegating tasks, marshalling and allocating resources, clarifying procedures, and determining priorities (Gomez-Mejia & Balkin, 2002). Kudler Fine Food's directors and Kathy should be profoundly involved with this management function. Although Kathy's role is acting as more of an overseer, her leadership will not only define roles and responsibilities but will ensure that tasks are being assigned correctly. Brenda Wagner is the Director of Administration and Human Resources. Brenda is responsible for developing policies while directing and coordinating administrative and human resources activities, such as employment, compensation, labor relations, benefits, training, and employee services (University of Phoenix, 2004). Brenda must analyze wage and salary reports to determine competitive compensation rates while working in concert with Harvey Stephens, the Director of Finance and Accounting. Harvey develops and implements goals, policies, priorities and procedures relating to Kudler Fine Food's financial management, budget, accounting and payroll. Harvey and Brenda must work together with Yvonne to design proper budget and staffing levels to make ensure that Kudler is organized properly to realize the company's goals.

Leading is a function that is described by Gomez-Mejia and Balkin, 2002 as a method of energizing people to contribute their best individually and in cooperation with other people. Leading involves clearly communicating organizational goals and their importance, inspiring and motivating employees, providing an example for others to follow, guiding people, and creating conditions that encourage people from diverse backgrounds to work well together to achieve Kudler Fine Food's mission. As the President and founder of Kudler Fine Foods, Kathy Kudler is charged with the responsibility of leading this organization. It is her responsibility to communicate Kudler Fine Food's mission downward to each tier of the organization so each member of Kudler unmistakably understands how his/her role impacts the success of the company's mission statement. All the directors and store managers must represent Kathy in her absence to maintain a cohesive bond between the management and employees.

The only remaining management function is controlling. Controlling consists of measuring performance, comparing it to objectives, implementing necessary changes, and monitoring progress. Many of these issues involve feedback or identifying potential problems and taking corrective action. Organizations may use specific