Mba 502 Kudler Fine Foods Strategic Management

Strategic Management

Company Introduction

Kudler Fine Foods is a local upscale specialty food store located in the San Diego metropolitan area. The company has three locations such as La Jolla, Del Mar and Encinitas. The stores are stocked with the very best domestic and imported foodstuffs and divided into different departments; fresh bakery and pastries, fresh produce, fresh meat and seafood, condiments and packaged foods, cheese’s and specialty diary foods. The success of a company depends on the ability to manage its people and resources efficiently (Gomez-Mejia-Balkin, 2002, p.4). It is important management and ability to use of people, money, physical plant and other assets of the company to provide it with a competitive advantage. Gomez refers to management as “individuals responsible for making resource allocation decisions and with the formal authority to direct employees.” There are three levels of management: strategic, tactical and operational within Kudler Fine Foods.

Strategic Managers

Strategic managers are the senior executives of an organization and responsible for overall management. Their main roles are to develop the company’s goals, focus on long-term issues, emphasize the growth and overall effectiveness of the organization (Gomez-Mejia-Balkin, 2002, p.5). Kathy Kudler, president, is the strategic manager of Kudler Fine Foods.

Tactical Managers

Tactical managers are responsible for translating the general goals and plans developed by strategic managers into specific objectives and activities. Tactical managers are also called middle managers and focus on both shorter time horizon and the coordination of resources.

Tactical managers in Kudler are Harvey Stephens, Director of Finance; Yvonne Reynolds, Director of Store Operation and Brenda Wagner, Director of Administration and Human Resources.

Operational Managers

Operational Managers are lower-level managers who supervise the operations of the organization. They are directly involved with nonmanagement employees, implementing the specific plans developed with tactical managers. Their role is critical in the organization, because they are the link between management and nonmanagement personnel (Gomez-Mejia-Balkin, 2002, p.5). Operational managers in the organization are Daniel Pitcher, Purchasing Manager; Arlyn Rilley, Inventory Manager; Kent Vesper, La Jolla Store Manager; Laurie Priest, Del Mar Store Manager and Juanita Lopez, Encinitas Store Manager.

The various levels of management can also be applied to the organization that depends on corporate level and store level. For Example, One store at Del Mar, Laurie Priest is also the strategic manager, while two assistant store managers are tactical managers. In Fact, the department managers for Produce and Foodstuffs, Spirits, Wines and Cheeses, Meats and Seafood, Bakery and Pastries are the operational managers. The performance of organizations can change conditions how their resources are allocated and their ability of managing others.

Management and Technology

Management of information systems and technology has generated new challenges in organizing, analyzing, and protecting information throughout the firm. Managers use management information systems (MIS) to help them for making decisions. Similarly, Kudler uses applications software to develop a specific task. Kudler uses technology in several ways

such as Internet, Intranet and Extranet .According to Accounting System Overview, Smith System Consulting maintains Retail Enterprise Management System (REMS) on a yearly basis. Finance and Accounting Modules has been installed to integrate financial data by providing General Ledger, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, POS Terminals, Bank Reconciliation, Asset Management and Security Module.

Kudler Fine Foods has experienced significant growth and focused on expanding the services, improving the efficiency of its operations and increasing the consumer purchase cycle as a means to increase the loyalty and profitability of its consumers in marketing overview. Human Resource Department uses technology to keep track employee time and communicating about benefits and services. Kudler also creates a database to manage the inventory levels, the shipping dock’s trucking schedule, record the methods of payment for an order, supplier relations program, research and development of new programs, food marketing trends studies and design a training database for new employees (Virtual Organizations, 2005).

Porter’s Model

Kudler will remain competitive in the food industry