Online Tutoring on Case Study Analysis

Introduction

One of the main aims of this report is to highlight some of the main issues that are being faced by the fast food chain. One of the main problems as indicated is that the orders are not being served to the customers in a timely manner. The issue lies at the end of the customers, rather at the end of the employees on the other end of the counter taking the orders. Too much of time is taken by the customers to think over the item they need to order for, making the others wait for their turns. On the other hand it is seen that based on the long list of available food items, the customers tend to change their minds in the last minute making the orders being served slow and late.

Question 1: Recommendations

Three recommendations would be suggested here for improving the overall operations of the mentioned fast food chain. Two main issues have been highlighted. One of the main issues is the longer time that is being taken by the customers in placing orders based on the large variety of food items available on the menu of the fast food chain (Baden-Fuller and Mangematin, 2013). The larger items in the menu make the customers even confused as to what they want to eat and the customers have been seen to keep on changing their minds (Florin and Schmidt, 2011). This is one of the main reasons based on which longer times are taken by the employees to service the customers. Thereby from here, it can be seen that there are issues being faced by the business. All businesses in one way or the other need to make up for the losses they have faced. In the modern times when the operations of the business have gone more costly, there is a need that the businesses think of strategies that can help the businesses grow and make more profits in an effective manner (Baden-Fuller and Mangematin, 2013).

The first main recommendation for the fast food business is that there is a need to increase the counters in the fast food chain restaurants of the company. This would make sure that more customers can place their orders and the remaining customers are not left waiting for longer times. Smaller the counters, lesser is the number of the customers that are dealt with at one time. Thereby there is a need that the overall size of the counters is increased (Gupta, 2012).
There is a need that the business carried out a detailed analysis of the resources that it has. Once the analysis has been carried out in detail, it would help the business executives in making better decisions in relation to the changes that need to be implemented for making business prosper even more (Considine, 2000). One of the main facts that need to be mentioned here is that keeping in mind the overall resources that are available to the company, there is a need to priorities training of the employees and the staff working in the food chain restaurants (Knutson, 2000).
More than US $30 to 34 is spent by the average Australian on the fast food on the daily basis. Various factors have played an important role in increasingly attracting the attention of the customers towards the fast food chains. One of the main reasons is the overall environment, which is offered by the fast food restaurants, the menus along with more affordable pricing (Ooi and Yazdanifard, 2014). Keeping these factors in mind it has been seen that there are certain important considerations that need to be considered by the fast-food business if they wish to excel. The third main recommendation is in relation to the overall changes that are needed in the fast food restaurant. Some of the main changes that are needed in the fast food chain restaurants include having better fast food menus. There are certain changes needed in the menu, which include having a more organized menu that can help the customers in making better choices (Gangwar, Kumar and Rao, 2014). Other than the repetitive aims that are present on the menu there is a need that newer and more novel food items are introduced. This will make sure that the customer’s attention towards the new change can be attracted. On the other hand there is a need that a detailed analysis is carried out by the employees of the company for the likes and dislikes of the company regarding the food items that are most selected by the customers. The items that are selected at the higher rates are the ones that need to be kept in the food menus and the ones that are liked less are the ones that need to be removed from the menu. This will make sure that the overall fuss in the food menu is reduced. The lesser fussy the food menu, greater are the chances that the customers would be able to make choices in a shorter time. Thereby there is a need that more focus is given on the needs and demands of the consumers (Ooi and Yazdanifard, 2014). This is the information that will help the company in having a successful business. In this case, another main change, which is needed in the fast food chain restaurants, is the addition of an online website in the resources of the company. There are various advantages of having an online website. One of the main advantages is that many customers can be approached with the help of the website. There can be more communication between the company and the customers with the help of the website. One of the other main advantages that will be offered by the website is that the customers can place their orders online. The choice that the customers can avail is that either they can make their payments online or they can make the payments over the counter when they reach the restaurants (Hill, 2003). One of the main facts that need to be mentioned here is that time of the customers and that of the employees working over the counter would be saved. Thereby for the better business operations, there is a need that more focus is given by the business executives on the main business operations that need improvement. In these cases, it has been analyzed that there are three main areas in which an increased improvement is needed. These include some of the main changes that are needed in the fast food menu (Raju, 2006).

Question 2: Alternative for ATM Like machines

Based on increased time that is being taken buy the customer, one of the main changes that have been thought over by the executives is to hire more employees and to increase staffing. With an increase in staffing, there would be an increase in the costing related to the staffing. There would be an additional need to train the staff that asks for even more costs. Thereby this is not one of the most appreciated solutions of the issues that are being faced. Other than these, some of the other main solutions that have been thought over by the executives include

Installation of ATM like machines in which the customers would enter their own orders. This would help in saving time and the orders can be served faster and on time.
The second main suggested solution is that there is a need to reduce some of the food items in the menu in order to make sure that customers have an easy way to make choices. The higher selling food items are to be kept while the lesser selling food items need to be removed.
In order to increase the earnings, it has been suggested that there is a need to install ATM like machines at different locations in the town. With the help of these machines, customers can place orders and collect their orders from the franchises later after payment to the counters.

These are some of the main suggestions that have been made by the executives. However, there is a need that these suggestions are considered. Some of the main elements that need t considered in these cases include the overall resources that are available to the company for implementing these changes.

The first main change that has been thought over by the executives includes installation of the ATM machines at the restaurants. In these cases it needs to be mentioned here that greater amount of resources are needed for the installation of ATM like machines all around the stores of the fast food chain. Other than the money based capital that is needed for the installation of these machines, the other main forms of required capital is the human capital. For the maintenance of the machines, there is a need that skilled labor is employed that is aware of the ways in which the machines can be operated and maintained. Thereby from here, it can be seen that if the machines were installed, additional resources would be needed for the proper maintenance of the machines. It is the case with the machines that are being planned to be installed around the town. One of the main facts that is more important to be mentioned here is that the machines that are installed in the fast food chains can be maintained in a timely manner. However, in the case of the machines that have been instead in various and different locations in the town are the ones that are not being looked upon by the IT employees all the time, based on which one of the main challenge is the maintenance of these machines. For this purpose, there would be a need that additional employees who are skilled in IT and machine maintenance should be hired. This means additional costs.

Thereby there is a need to devise solutions for the company that is less resource demanding. This is because at this point there is a need to generate resources, rather use them up in new innovations. One of the main solutions that can be used is online ordering. One of the main facts that need to be mentioned here is that the facility of online ordering can be used by the online users who want to place there orders and pay over the counter and it can also be used by the customers who are in the shop. The only main requirement for this change is the installation of one or two counters in the shop. With the help of online portal, the customers from all over the town can reach the menu of the fast food chain. With this, the customers can be saved from the hassle of reaching the ATM like machines that would have been installed in different locations in the town. The counters that are installed in the shop would only need an internet connection and the orders can be placed on the spot. One of the main changes that would be needed additionally is the maintenance of the internet connection and the website, which can be done from any location, even from the headquarters of the company. Thereby one of the additional advantages of this facility is that there is no need of hiring additional workforce, which would save extra on the resources. With the help of the new website, even more customers can be approached.

The second main suggestion is the reduction of the number and variety of the food items on the menu of the fast food restaurant. With the help of online presence, the reduction in the overall food menu would no longer be needed. The online presence would help the customers in placing orders fast and they would be able it make choices in a timely manner. The only equipment for the customers in these cases would be to pay online and if they wish, they can make the payment over the counter. Thus would make sure that the time of the employees in the restaurant is saved and that of the customers as well.

References

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Cherp, A., Watt, A. and Vinichenko, V. (2007). SEA and strategy formation theories: From three Ps to five Ps. Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 27(7), pp.624-644.

Considine, J. (2000). Developing Appropriate Promotional Strategies for Religious Organizations.Journal of Ministry Marketing & Management, 5(1), pp.23-36.

Florin, J. and Schmidt, E. (2011). Creating Shared Value in the Hybrid Venture Arena: A Business Model Innovation Perspective. Journal of Social Entrepreneurship, 2(2), pp.165-197.

Gangwar, M., Kumar, N. and Rao, R. (2014). Consumer Stockpiling and Competitive Promotional Strategies. Marketing Science, 33(1), pp.94-113.

Gupta, V. (2012). Flexible strategic framework for managing forces of continuity and change in supply chain management of fast food (quick service restaurant) industry. International Journal of Business Continuity and Risk Management, 3(2), p.148.

Hill, C. (2003). International business. Boston, Mass.: McGraw-Hill/Irwin.

Knutson, B. (2000). College Students and Fast Food–: How Students Perceive Restaurant Brands.Cornell Hotel and Restaurant Administration Quarterly, 41(3), pp.68-74.

Ooi, J. and Yazdanifard, R. (2014). How do Fast Food Chain Restaurant can still sustain their Business despite Controversial Health Related Issue. Journal of Research in Marketing, 3(2), p.269.

Raju, P. (2006). Creating business value through people. International Journal of Learning and Intellectual Capital, 3(4), p.357.