Best Snacks Problem Solution

Running head PROBLEM SOLUTION BEST SNACKS INC. Problem Solution topper Snacks Inc. Taleish M. Daniels University of Phoenix Problem Solution opera hat Snacks Inc. outflank Snacks, Inc. , a 150-year- overage union which has been held publicly for more than coke years, has traditionally held the number single or two positions in the bite market, providing an excellent and stable investment for stockholders. But in the gone several(prenominal) years, Best Snacks sales have been slipping, market share has fall and, particularly in the past(a) two years, stock prices have taken a dive.This year, the company leave finish a very weak second, and with several smaller competitors emerging as major players in the snack industry, Best Snacks is in danger of losing its long-held premier standing in the snack market, (University of Phoenix, 2010, 2). In sum total to these issues, the employees at Best Snacks are unsettled and feeling as if management does non value their opinions an d has not done a good job of promoting substructure. In fiat to succeed, Best Snacks must tackle the challenges of its failing produce line as well as find a way to shoot the upcountry climate with employees back to a state of resolution.Describe the Situation Issue and Opportunity Identification Best Snacks is facing a number of issues. Declining sales, complacency, and a escape of motivation within the employees due to the absence of manager support have all contri alo wish to the current state. By taking a close construction at its competitors and studying opposite supremacyful g all overnances the leading at Best Snacks can retain some of its anterior success. Capitalizing on the revolutionary changes in leadership, Best Snacks has the fortune to restructure their organization in a way that go out foster an environment of creativity and unveiling.As stated, both sales and market share at Best Snacks has seen a decline. The opportunity presented is for the leaders hip at Best Snacks to evaluate the organizations current process to determine how they can keep up with the competition. A radical innovation is a world-shattering change that simultaneously affects both the furrow model and the technology of a company. Radical innovations usually bring fundamental changes to the competitive environment in an industry, (Davila, Epstien, & Shelton, 2006, p. 51).Contributing to the declining sales is the fact that there have been no product or service innovations in the past five years instead, previous(prenominal)ly successful market methods have been improved or extended. Successful organizations tend to become complacent and conservative in order to preserve their core competenciesthose things that lead to their success. This is crystalline and largely advantageous in the short-term. Paradoxically, the things that led to their success could be the very things in the long-term that pull them into failure, (Davila, Epstien, & Shelton, 2006, p. 239).By designing new marketing methods that are completely disparate from anything that has been done before, Best snacks can return to their customer base with a fresh cuddle that lead draw people to their products. A instruction organization is an organization that purposefully designs and constructs its structure, close, and strategy so as to enhance and maximize the potential for organisational learning (explorative and exploitative) to take place, (Jones, 2004, p. 377). Currently many employees at Best Snacks do not project the importance of innovation and have forgotten how to gravel and consume creative ideas.Most of this stems from the fact that managers do not support creativity and innovation, another(prenominal) issues facing Best Snacks. Employees believe that they are not supported in their ideas and independent thinking. One of the key roles of the CEO is to make innovation part of the culture of the company. The CEO need to make certain that quislingism oc curs and becomes part of the culture. Steve Jobs whole shebang this critical cultural angle at Apple by being the clear leader of innovation and thrust hard to ensure that there is efficient collaboration between the technology and business folks, (Davila, Epstien, & Shelton, 2006, p. 58 & 259). The leadership at Best Snacks should use this opportunity to support and encourage organization learning, pullulateing culture that is ripe for innovation through leading by example and pushing for employees to come up with new ideas. Stakeholder Perspectives/Ethical predicaments Though Best Snacks is facing a number of issues, trey main stakeholder perspectives and ethical dilemmas have been identified. The first is between Best Snacks and the competition. Both Best Snacks and its competing businesses have a vested interest in their psyche corporations.Each would like to be the number one holder of sales and market share in their industry. In their quest to be number one, it is the function of each organization to utilize fair business practices, and conduct themselves with satinpod and integrity. Another stakeholder perspective is the leadership of Best Snacks versus their employees. The employees at Best Snacks feel that leadership does not value their opinions and has not created an environment open for innovation and creativity. Though management sees the need for employees to develop a creative mindset, they are unsure active the best ways to utilize those skills.Both management and the employees need to be downright about what theyre needs and expectations are. Opening the door to communication entrust digest them to work together as a unit. oversight has the responsibility to come up to employees with fairness and respect, arrest that although their titles may be lower in rank, their opinions and go for to initiate the organization is what will ultimately lead Best Snacks into their next stage of success. The last ethical dilemma that was ident ified is Best Snacks versus itself.As a corporation, Best Snacks is rightfully concerned that they are seeing a significant falling off in sales. In their quest to retain success, Best Snacks must be careful to not violate any copyright infringement laws while studying their competition and creating their own new products. Frame the Right Problem Best Snacks will become a leader in the snack industry once again by promoting creative and innovative learning within the organization that will inspire a new product lines and allow them to compete with the competition. Describe the End-State VisionBest Snacks held on to its top position in the snack industry by promoting innovation within their organization. Though the industries may vary, the characteristics of innovative organizations are often similar. Studies have shown that innovative workplaces share six cultural characteristics circumstance rich, customer close, confidence structure, curious, challenging, and collaborative, (Da niels, 2010). Innovative organizations have leaders that cultivate creativity by allowing employees to be themselves and encouraging the development of new ideas.Brainstorming and team building activities play a large part in how these companies create, (Daniels, Watts-Holley, Mobley, & Rauschenbach, 2010). Capitalizing on these traits, Best Snacks was able to energize their employees and push for organizational learning, and team building that enabled them to create new product lines, modernize the previous products therefore maintaining their previous customer bases as well as capturing a new audience. Identify the Alternatives and Benchmarking Validatio Based on the opportunities given, three main alternatives have been identified.First, instead of promoting organizational learning, management can select a few employees for individual learning. Managers would select employees to serve on special teams. in that respects team members would then go through a series of individual an d group learning to implement programs within the organization. Another alternative is for previous marketing methods to be revisited in an effort to appeal to the standard customer base. Leadership at Best Snacks can attempt to capture their previous success by reconnecting with their audience through an analysis of what has worked in the past.The third alternative identified is to make no radical changes, choosing to stick with incremental or semi-radical innovation. By utilizing incremental innovation, Best Snacks can wring out as much value as possible from be products or services without making significant changes or major investments. Semi-Radical creative activity on the other hand involves substantial change to either the business model or technology of an organizationbut not to both, (Davila, Epstien, & Shelton, 2006). Evaluate the Alternatives In add-in three there were two goals that were ranked at a number five.The first goal, design new marketing methods that are com pletely distinct from those of the past was chosen to stimulate creativity within the organization. Best Snacks has already spent and ample amount of time redeveloping ideas of the past and needs a fresh approach to capturing their audience. The second goal that was ranked at a number five is for the management to promote organizational full learning. One of the reasons Best Snacks is in the position theyre in is because at some point the organization stopped learning. Management began to discourage the innovation and creativity that once the key to the companys success.As a result, the entire team at Best Snacks employees as well as management need to go back to square one in learning the organization, its customers and products. Narrowed List of Alternatives The best alternative chosen are to revisit the previous marketing methods to capture some of the past product success, and to implement semi-radical change. Although it is clear based on the goals that it would be best for B est Snacks to make a complete 360 item turn around with their business structure and approach to marketing, the cost of doing so could defeat take a toll on the companys pecuniary resource due to its declining sales.As a result, it may be better for the organization to take things slow implementing plainly a semi-radical change program and revamping some of the previous marketing methods. Due to the fact that the organization was highly successful not as well as long ago, it may be worth taking a look at some of the processes that were in place during that time, examining whether or not success can be generated by reinventing the wheel as opposed to starting over completely. Identify and Assess RisksThe remaining alternatives select a few employees for individual learning and implement incremental change have been identified as having too many risks to utilize in the future plans of Best Snacks. In selecting just a few employees, the leadership does not tackle the real issue of ensuring that innovation is stimulated on an organizational wide scale. It seems that an incremental change approach is what put Best Snacks in the position that they are in now. In only considering the bottom line while ignoring the significant changes that mandatory to be made in the product lines and processes has cost the organization in sales.With both alternative, Best Snacks runs the probably chance that no changes will be made, leaving the organization to continue its decline. Make the Decision Best Snacks will utilize radical innovation to develop customized, strategic marketing plans for their current product lines and formulate teams within the organization to design new products. Management and employees will work together to energize not only each other but the customer with anticipation of whats to come.Creative advertising campaigns, team building exercises, and consistent attention to employee needs by management will position Best Snacks in the upper echelon of the snack industry. Founded in 1998, Google has obtained success by being one of the most innovative net search engines in the world. The company name, Google is in fact a play on the word googol, the mathematical term for a 1 followed by 100 zeros. The name reflects the immense volume of information that exists, and the scope of Googles mission to organize the worlds information and make it universally accessible and useful, (Google, 2010).With over 150 domains in different names and languages, advertising applications, and a phone, and its own internet browser, Google Chrome, the leadership and employees at Google are continuously coming up with new ideas on how to make their existing products better and challenging themselves to create new products that will speak to their consumer needs. Googles philosophy is embedded with a number of approaches to the principles of their organization and how they will conduct business. specifically when it comes to design the company believes 1. Focus on people their lives, their work, and their dreams. . Every millisecond counts. 3. Simplicity is powerful. 4. Engage beginners and attract experts. 5. Dare to innovate. 6. Design for the world. 7. pattern for todays and tomorrows business. 8. Delight the midsection without distracting the mind. 9. Be worthy of peoples trust. 10. Add a human touch, (Daniels, Watts-Holley, Mobley, & Rauschenbach, 2010). In capitalizing on the success of organizations such as Google and the competing snack corporations, as well as returning(a) their focus back to the people, Best Snack will move into the future retaining their top slot as an industry leader.Develop and Implement the Solution In order to develop and implement the solution, Best Snacks must be strategic in their next steps. To take place immediately, Elizabeth Fairchild must devise a participation management plan for employees and managers to have better communication. In order for innovation to thrive employees must first i ron out the issues they have amongst each other as well as management. Getting the problems out on the table will be the first step to opening the door to communication needed for innovation and creativity.Within the next ninety days, Sabrina McKay will develop a plan for team brainstorming. Working with Elizabeth Fairchild, a plan for organizational learning will be put into place to stimulate the employees and get them thinking about whats next for the organization. Within six months, new product lines should be developed. These lines will be a culmination of the ideas of each person from the management team as well as the employees. Evaluate the Results External success for Best Snacks will be measure by evaluation of the next quarter sales and earnings.Because the ultimate goal of the organization is to affix sales and market share in an effort to remain competitive in the industry, short term review goals are deemed best for a clear understanding of whether newly implemented m arketing ideas and approaches are working. There are certain marketing elements every (startup) entrepreneur should track to grow and become more profitable. The key indicators are leads generated, leads converted, average horse per transaction and average number of transactions per customer. Though the notion of tracking may feel like overkill, focus and improvement spring from the habit of constant measurement.In creating a baseline, it will be much easier to focus the strategies and actions on the right areas of the business, (Jantsch,2009). Internal measurements for determining success will be to administer another company-wide survey and small focus groups. Leadership must remain in constant communication with the Best Snack employees to ensure that most, if not all needs are being met and that satisfactions with encouraging innovation and creativity amongst employees is felt. Conclusion Best Snacks has the potential to maintain its position in the snack industry. Though the s ituation looks bleak, it is not as bad as it seems.The main issue for Best Snacks is that theyve never been in this space before. As long as management uses this opportunity to grow and learn the ills of complacency the organization should be able to avoid being placed in this position again. References Daniels, T. , Watts-Holley, J. , Mobley, A. , Rauschenbach, L.. (2010). Best Snacks Benchmarking Worksheet. Retrieved from MMPBL550 Creativity, Innovation, and Organizational Design website. Davila, T. , Estien, T. J. , & Shelton, R. (2006). Making Innovation Work How To Manage It, Measure It, and Profit From It.Upper Saddle River, NJ Wharton School Publishing. Jantsch, J. (2009). 4 rhythmic pattern For Measuring Success 4 key rhythmic pattern can help you determine if your brand-building is working. Retrieved from http//www. entrepreneur. com/magazine/entrepreneur/2009/february/199732. html Jones , G. (2004). Organizational Theory, Design, and Change (4th ed. ). Upper Saddle Rive r, NJ Prentice-Hall, Inc. University of Phoenix. (2010). Best Snacks Scenario. Retrieved from University of Phoenix, MMPBL550 CREATIVITY, INNOVATION, AND ORGANIZATIONAL DESIGN website. put back 1 Issues and Opportunities Identification Issues Opportunities Reference to Specific Course Concept Best Snacks sales have been slipping, marketEvaluate the organizations current A radical innovation is a significant change that share has decreased process to determine how they can keep up simultaneously affects both the business model and the with the competition. technology of a company. Radical innovations usually bring fundamental changes to the competitive environment in an industry, (Davila, Epstien, & Shelton, 2006, p. 51). There have been no product or service Design new marketing methods that are Successful organizations tend to become complacent and innovations in the past five years instead,completely different from anything that conservative in order to pres erve their core previously successful marketing methods havehas been done before. competenciesthose things that lead to their success. been improved or extended This is logical and largely advantageous in the short-term.Paradoxically, the things that led to their success could be the very things in the long-term that pull them into failure, (Davila, Epstien, & Shelton, 2006, p. 239). Not many people seem to understand the Management can promote learning within theA learning organization is an organization that importance of innovation. Worse, they seem organization. purposefully designs and constructs its structure, to have forgotten how to develop and culture, and strategy so as to enhance and maximize the implement creative ideas. potential for organizational learning (explorative and exploitative) to take place, (Jones, 2004, p. 377). Employees feel that creativity/innovation isManagement can develop a culture that is One of the key roles of the CEO is to ma ke innovation not encouraged and that their ideas are not ripe for innovation through leading by part of the culture of the company. The CEO needs to supported by management. example and pushing for employees to come make certain that collaboration occurs and becomes part up with new ideas. of the culture.Steve Jobs works this critical cultural angle at Apple by being the clear leader of innovation and pushing hard to ensure that there is effective collaboration between the technology and business folks, (Davila, Epstien, & Shelton, 2006, p. 258 & 259). Table 2 Stakeholder Perspectives and Ethical Dilemmas Stakeholder Perspectives and Ethical Dilemmas Stakeholder Groups with Competing Values The Interests, Rights, and The Ethical Dilemma Based on the Competing Values of Each Group Values List Group X versus Group Y Best Snacks vs. the competition Both Best Snacks and the competition have a vested It is the responsibility of each organization interest in their individual corporations. Each would in their quest to be number one to do utilize like to be the number one holder of sales and market fair business practices, and conduct themselves share in their industry. with honesty and integrity. Best Snacks Leadership vs. he The employees at Best Snacks feel that leadership does Both management and the employees need to be employees not value their opinions and has not created an honest about what theyre needs and environment for open innovation and integrity. Though expectations are. Opening the door to management sees the need for employees to develop a communication will allow them to work together creative mindset, they are unsure about the best ways as a unit. Management has the responsibility to to utilize those skills. treat employees with fairness and respect, understanding that although their titles may be lower in rank, their opinions and desire to grow the organization is what will ultimately lead Best Snacks into their next phase of success. Best Snacks vs. tself As a corporation, Best Snacks is rightfully concerned In their quest to retain success, Best Snacks that they are seeing a significant decrease in sales. must be careful to not violate any copyright infringement laws while studying their competition and creating their own new products. Table 3 Analysis of Alternative Solutions pic Table 4 Risk Assessment and Mitigation Risk Assessment and Mitigation Alternative Risks and Probability Consequence and austereness Mitigation Techniques and Strategies Select a few employees for By selecting only a few employees The organization may find itself Instead of managers randomly selecting individual learning for individual learning, Best Snacksin the same position as right now,employees, they could ask for leadership will have only barely it is clear that not enough volunteers, or use a mixture of touched the issue of many not employees understan d the process experience and tenure to make the understanding creativity and of innovation to a point where selection innovation. they can move the company forward. Also, in selecting only a few employees issues of favoritism and feeling left out could occur amongst workers. Implement Incremental change Though incremental innovation would Utilizing incremental change couldInstead of incremental innovation, Best save the company money it would not put Best Snacks back in the same Snacks should utilize another approach address the most important issue of position. that would allow them to tackle the stimulating creativity and core of the issues. innovation within the employees. This would cost the company in the long run as they run the risk of continuing the sales decline. Table 5 Pros and Cons of Alternative Solutions Alternative Pros Cons Revisit previous marketing methods to capture Methods used during the companys most These methods a re old and no longer appeal to past success successful times have already been tested the target audience the reason Best Snacks is in their current state Implement semi-radical change Extreme change will be made to certain portionsBest Snacks is no longer in a position where of the organization. small changes are acceptable. They need fast, extreme change to catch up to the competition Table 6 Optimal Solution Implementation Plan Action Item Deliverable Timeline Who is Responsible Develop a plan for team brainstorming and innovation90 days Sabrina McKay Create new product lines 6 months Sabrina McKay, Bill Santoro, Jennifer Heartwell, Martin Hernandez, Dale Chin Devise conflict management plan for employees and Immediately Elizabeth Fairchild managers to have better communication Table 7 Evaluation of Results End-State Goals Metrics Target Management and employees will develop and Employee survey 85-90% satisfaction maintain open communication. Best Snacks increase sale and market share. Industry reports 70% increase