Management Principles –
Final Assignment
Respond to the following scenario:
You have
just been hired to manage a retail store located in a small shopping center on
the outskirts of a large city. The store
sells low end household, hardware and convenient items (similar to a Family
Dollar). Previously, the store was
privately owned (not part of a larger organization) and had been respected in the neighborhood by
its loyal customers for 25 years. Six
months ago it was acquired by a large national retailer.
In the past
the store was open Monday to Saturday from 8 AM to 7 PM, and Sunday from 12 – 6
PM. As a national retailer the hours
have been extended to be open every day from 8 AM to 10 PM. The store currently
has twenty employees, but should have 25 to cover all the shifts. Ten of the current employees have been with
the store for several years, some as long as 15 years, and their average age is
45. None of the other ten employees has
been with the store more than 6 months, and most are high school or college
students.
Sales at
this location are below the expectations of the parent company, and although
you are pleased to have landed your first managerial position, you are
concerned that at some point the parent company may decide to close your location. Reflecting on what you learned in your
favorite college class, Management Principles, answer the following:
·
What
are the most significant challenges facing you as manager of this store?
·
What
steps would you take during the first 90 days as manager to address these
challenges?
·
What
will be your management style – how will you lead, motivate, communicate,
establish a team, etc?
Expectations
for the assignment:
·
This
is your opportunity to demonstrate
what you have learned and to apply
that knowledge in a practical situation.
·
At
a minimum, you should address how you would execute the four functions of
management.
·
While
there is no required length, to answer the questions fully, with supporting
detail would involve at a minimum 5 pages.
·
Specificity
and detail are important – don’t just say you’d motivate by giving more pay – explain why, what is your reasoning, how
does it relate to course material?
·
In
addition to narrative writing, feel free to use graphs, bullet points, etc if
that better illustrates your points.
