Overview of Management

Overview of Management

Kudler Fine Foods is a company who specializes in upscale specialty foods. Over the past few years Kudler Fine Foods expanded, opening three new stores in the San Diego metropolitan area. In order for Kudler Fine Food to continue to be successful, proper management needed to be formed to ensure the stores would profit and maintain a high quality reputation.

According to Gomez-Mejia & Balkin (2002), the primary functions of management are Planning and Strategizing, Organizing, Leading, and Controlling. At Kudler Fine Foods, Kathy Kudler, the founder and President, plays an integral role in all the store operations. Planning and Strategizing helps companies develop future objectives and plan how the objectives will be achieved. In addition to Kathy's vision of growth for her company, three store managers, who specialize in food and wine, help decide what specific items are to be sold in the stores. Kathy sets prices on the merchandise, but also consults with each manager regarding when prices should be adjusted. "Organizing involves specifying how the firm's human, financial, physical, information, and technical resources are arranged and coordinated to perform tasks to achieve desired goals" (Gomez-Mejia & Balkin, 2002). At Kudler Fine Foods, Brenda Wagner, the Director of Administration and Human Resources, Harvey Stephens, Director of Finance and Accounting, and Yvonne Reynolds, Director of Store Operations, are responsible for ensuring these tasks are complete. Kathy, the three store managers, and the department managers are responsible for providing management leadership. Management is responsible for ensuring employees are contributing to the best of their ability and working effectively as part of the team. Management communicates the store's goals to the employees, while acting as role models to demonstrate how to work together to achieve the set goals. The last function of management is controlling. Gomes-Mejia & Balkin (2002) describe this as "measuring performance, comparing it to objectives, implementing necessary changes, and monitoring progress" (p. 6). Yvonne Reynolds, Brenda Wagner, and the three store managers are responsible for this function under the guidance of Kathy. Yvonne and Brenda work directly under Kathy to monitor performance and make necessary changes. In addition, store managers provide input, as they are in a position to observe what is going on in the stores and provide feedback to the administration.

Information technology is integral to the success of Kudler Fine Foods. Various types of databases are being used. New technologies, such as terminal cash registers, are replacing old equipment. The new technology not only provides an improved customer experience, but also provides information in a faster and more accurate format for the company. Having systems in place where information can be transmitted quickly will allow the company to better assess financial stability. Kudler Fine Foods uses a database system to track customer's purchases, and in return, offers a loyalty points program in which valued customers can redeem points for high-end products. Without current technology, Kudler Fine Foods would find it difficult to maintain correct data on their customers. Current technology also allows Kudler Fine Foods to meet customer needs by keeping track of merchandise in the stores and knowing when to reorder specific items.

Kudler Fine Foods uses the Internet to keep individual stores and the main company databases connected. The Internet allows the data generated at the store level to transmit in real time to the corporate office. Having this information available, reports can be generated to determine individual store, department, and specific item sales. Kudler Fine Foods can transfer products from one store to another, while maintaining an accurate inventory. Accurate inventory lists are critical to maintain and