Introduction
Granola Gourmet is a manufacturer of healthy energy bars in the United States. The company now specializes in producing energy bars endorsed by medical professionals as meeting the nutritional needs of diabetics. The company has grown from 35 stores initially to 600 stores in 2011. Currently, the company has partnered with Safeways Stores, Whole Foods Market, Vons and Amazon.com which retails the bars. Safeways stores currently make massive orders energy of up to 80,000 energy bars a day. The company plans to increase the number of stores to 1000 and partner with five more big supply chains in the next four years. Moreover, the company shall in the same period look into the prospects of moving its products through franchises throughout the country.
Planning function of management
The management shall breakdown the main plans to short-term (6 months), medium term (2 years) and long-term (more than two years). In planning the management will evaluate the growth of the company since inception. The management will base the plans on the long-terms on the vision, values, objectives and policies of the organization.
Influence of legal issues, ethics, and corporate social responsibility on planning
Before rolling out a plan to partner with supply chains in the country to increase coverage of the country and more market, the management will need to consider the following issues: legal issues, ethics and corporate social responsibility. Granola Gourmet exists in an industry that is dynamic and competitive. The confectionaries and energy bars industry has numerous products but Granola Gourmet has a special line of products which have been medically proven as fit for diabetics. Legally the management will need to ensure adequate patent and copyright protection of its products. In addition the management will need to establish the rules and regulations governing business in other regions.
Business ethics establish the rights and wrongs in the business environment (Moment, 2012). The recognition of the significance of business ethics will from the anchor on which the business plans will be laid. To this end, the company will keep to the seven principles of business ethics. These are: being trustful, meeting obligations, having clear documentation of work, maintaining proper account control, keeping an open mind, being respectful and becoming involved in the community.
Community involvement (corporate social responsibility) will be double as a means of enhancing the attainment of the plans as well as a genuine means of giving back to the community. Granola Gourmet’s CSR will target at raising awareness on diabetics, blood pressure among other medical conditions. Having Granola Gourmet’s products endorsed by physicians and endocrinologists will help in creating enhancing the company’s corporate social responsibility. A portion of the sales will e set aside to help fight diabetes. The company will fund health facilities to offer healthcare services to diabetic patients. In addition the company will launch a campaign to encourage people to encourage people to live healthy lifestyles by eating healthy foods and going for regular medical checks-ups.
Factors that influence the company's strategic, tactical, operational, and contingency planning
Several factors influence company’s strategic, tactical, operations, and contingency planning. These are market viability, availability willing partners in the supply chain, the human resource infrastructure, the level of technology in the company and in the industry, (Stanwick, 2003). In order to satisfy the increased demand for energy bars, the company will have to invest in advanced machinery and technology. For instance the company will invest in mixers of larger capacity or a multipurpose machine that incorporates several production processes. Technology will be at the heart of increasing efficiency in the production facilities and other departments such as marketing, and finance. Investing in advanced technology will therefore help realize operational as well as strategic plans of the company.
The availability and willingness of popular supply chains to partner with Granola Gourmet will be a tactical and strategic plan for the company. The management will need to identify a popular supply chain with stores countrywide and look into the competing products already on sale in those stores. The selected supply chain will need to have stores located in the populous regions. The establishment of facts and figures of the prevalence of diabetics in those regions will also help in determining the supply chain with which to partner.
The human resource of any company plays a critical role in the realization of plans hatched by the management (Moment, 2012). In line with this, the company will embark on training of current employees as well as recruitment of experienced personnel in marketing department. The management will adopt a matrix system of management. In light of these, employees will e organized into teams: technical team, product development team, sales and marketing team, among others. Moreover, the company will seek the services of experts in human resource management as well as motivation of employees such as regular team building exercises and competitive remunerations. Increased efficiency and morale f employees will be a key pillar in the attainment of the company’s goals.
Conclusion
Granola Gourmet is a manufacturer of high energy bars in the United States. Currently, the company owns 600 stores in addition to partnering with Safeways, Whole Foods stores, Von, and Amazon.com to retail its products. The high energy bars have been endorsed by medical professional as helping in the management of diabetes and high blood pressure. It is in line with this discovery that the management plans a massive expansion to 1000 stores and partnering with major supply chains in the country. The successful attainment of the plan shall be influenced by legal issues such as adequate protection of patents and knowledge of business regulations in various states and hoe they stand to affect the business. Moreover, the company will adhere to business ethics such as truthfulness, proper documentation of processes as well as respect for competitors, customers and suppliers. Corporate social responsibility will seek to fund the fight against diabetes. The attainment of the plans will seek to address critical areas in improving technology, strategic partnering and adequate human resource management.
References
Moment, J. (2012) 7 Principles of Admirable Business Ethics. Business Ethics for
Small Business. Retrieved from
http://sbinformation.about.com/od/bestpractices/a/businessethics.htm
Stanwick, S. (2003) Global Crossing. Case Study. Taken from
http://www.auburn.edu/~stanwsd/globalcrossing.html
