MANAGEMENT

Assignment Details

This assignment consists of reading the following scenario and composing a paper regarding what managers must do to lead change and achieve their goals through planning and prioritization.

This Assignment will be used to assess the following Course Outcomes:

MT140-3: Discuss the steps to manage change.

PC-2.1: Achieve goals through planning and prioritization.

You are owner and executive level manager of a food and beverage shop which has eight locations. Your strategic goal is to expand this business over the next 5 years. Your business has a great problem: An increase in the number of customers! However, employees have been consistently reporting that they are overwhelmed by the volume of customers. Additionally, your frontline and middle level managers have noticed that the number of reported errors in customer orders has increased. You have decided to adopt an electronic customer ordering system that will allow customers to input their own orders at touch-screen computer kiosks located within each store. Employees will focus on preparing each order as it appears on a screen in the food preparation area. This will address the issue of employees being overwhelmed by the increased pace of the workplace while also improving accuracy and speed in fulfilling customers’ orders.

You have decided to first communicate your decision to the eight location managers who report to you in an email communication. You are aware of how important it is to exhibit professionalism and business etiquette in constructing this email message to the managers. It is important for you to gain the support of the managers since they will have key roles in leading this change at the shop level. The main focus of this message is to describe the intended implementation and achieve your goals with planning and prioritization, following each of the eight steps in the process for leading change.

Following the eight steps to leading change (which start with establishing a sense of urgency and end with anchoring new approaches in the culture, as well as the other required reading from the text, compose an email communication (type it in a Word document). This email will be from you to the location managers describing what they must be aware of and do to manage this change in technology to automated customer service. After you have completed the email message to the location managers (in a Word document), address the following questions in the remainder of your paper:

Is email an effective channel to send this message? Why or why not? What are potential communication pitfalls in this scenario, and how can they be avoided?

In summary: In a Word document, compose an email message from you to the location managers (shop managers) explaining the steps necessary to manage this new technology change, and addressing the questions above concerning this communication channel and its potential pitfalls. Note: The main portion of your paper consists of the message about the change, written from the perspective of you to the managers and following the protocol laid out in the eight steps to leading change from your text. After you have composed the message to the managers, address the other parts of the assignment regarding the effectiveness of email as a channel to communicate this message and potential communication pitfalls in this scenario.

Minimum Submission Requirements:

• Your paper should be at least 2 full double-spaced pages in length, using size 12-point font in Word.
• Be sure your paper is well written in paragraph form, with correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
• Be sure to name your file according to the following Kaplan file-naming convention: username_homework_unit#.doc (username is your Kaplan username).
• You may use external sources in addition to the required readings. Cite any external sources used.
• Your paper must be written in Standard English and demonstrate exceptional content, organization, style, grammar, and mechanics.
• Your paper should provide a clearly established and sustained viewpoint and purpose.
• Your writing should be well ordered, logical, and unified, as well as original and insightful.

Plagiarism

Plagiarism is an act of academic dishonesty. It violates the University Honor Code, and the offense is subject to disciplinary action. You are expected to be the sole author of your work. Use of another person's work or ideas must be accompanied by specific citations and references. Whether the action is intentional or not, it still constitutes plagiarism.

For more information on Kaplan University’s Plagiarism policy, refer to the current Kaplan University Catalog.