Case 1:

Hazel
Bueno, Angelica
Diga, Pearl Suzanne
Noveno, Hannah Eleonor
Tinio, Christian Joy
 BSA 3-1

Professor Litonjua

Case Hazel: Questions:

1. In what ways are Hazels customers most likely to judge the

quality of her lawn care services?

~ Hazels customers will most likely judge the quality of her lawn care

services by the quantity of Hazels other customer, how efficient she

does her work and her credibility.

2. Hazel is the operations manager of her business. Among her

responsibilities are forecasting inventory management,

scheduling, quality assurance, and maintenance.

a. What kinds of things would likely require forecasts?
~ Weather and climate condition would likely require forecasts as

well as the demand for lawn mowing services.

b. What inventory items does Hazel probably have? Name one

inventory decision she has to make periodically.

~ The inventory items that Hazel probably has are rake, grass

cutter, fertilizers, mower, seeds, and other lawn mower equipments.

c. What scheduling must she do? What things might occur to disrupt

schedules and cause Hazel to reschedule?

~ It depends upon the demand of the customers. Basically, Hazel

will accept one to two customers five times a week. She will do her
 lawn services approximately once a month. The things that might

occur to disrupt schedules and will cause Hazel to reschedule are

fortuitous events such as storms, floods, earthquake and other

calamities.
d. How important is quality assurance to Hazels business? Explain.
~ The quality assurance to Hazels business is indeed very

important. It will determine the number of Hazels customers. It will

also reflect on her business credibility.

e. What kinds of maintenance must be performed?
~ Checking of fertilizers (expiration dates).
~ Checking if the tools are in well condition
~ Proper communication with the customers via telephone lines
~ Making sure that the facilities are clean
3. What are some of the trade-offs that Hazel probably

considered relative to:

a. Working for a company instead of for herself?
~ Trade offs between time that will be wasted when looking for a job

and the money that she will gain when she renders lawn services.
b. Expanding the business?
~ Trade offs between the increase level of customers service and

the increase cost required to expand the business.

c. Launching a Web site?
~ Trade offs between publicity and doubled customers demand.
4. The town is considering an ordinance that would prohibit

putting grass clippings at the curb for pickup because local

landfills cannot handle the volume. What options might Hazel

consider if the ordinance is passed? Name two advantages and

two drawbacks of each option.

~ Hazels option would probably be adding up additional services in

her business like collecting and disposing of the trash grasses. An

advantage of these is additional income and additional job opportunity

 to the laborers. The disadvantages would be: cost of additional

equipments that would be use in the new service and it would be time

consuming because of much work to be done.

5. Hazel decided to offer the students who worked for her a

bonus of $25 for ideas on how to improve the business, and

they provided several good ideas. One idea that she initially

rejected now appears to hold great promise. The student who

proposed the idea has left, and is currently working for a

competitor. Should Hazel send that student a check for the

idea? What are the possible trade-offs?

~ This basically shows that Hazel was mistaken in her decision

therefore theres no need for her to send a check. It is possible that the

student already suggested it to her competitor. Possible trade-offs are

between the gain of the competitors and the loss of a good idea maker.

6. All managers have to cope with variation.

a. What are the major sources of variation that Hazel has to contend

with?
~ Quality of services
~ Credibility
~ Affordability

b. How might these sources of variation impact Hazels ability to

match supply and demand?

~ Hazel will easily determine how much she will supply to the

demands of the customers.

c. What are some ways she can cope with variation?
~ Development of new ideas
~ Improvement of services
7. Hazel is thinking of making some of her operations

sustainable. What are some ideas she might consider?

~ Hazel must consider the efficiency of her work as well as the

maximum quality of her services. She must also consider providing

promos and discounts to her avid customers.