Markeaton Park Project Case Study Analysis For Improvement

Question

Task: Please note that the above-mentioned challenges/issues are just a few to trigger your analytical thinking. You must not limit yourself to these only but utilise the knowledge gained through the course and apply different models (such as Value Chain analysis, ITO or IPO model, etc.)

You will produce an Individual Management Report for the Managers of Markeaton Park about certain key operational aspects of the park and project. Your focus must be on providing knowledge about the current operations of the park and suggestions to improve some of these. In particular, Section 1 (see below) is designed for you to provide the Managers of the park with knowledge about how the park currently operates and its analysis. On the other hand, in Section 2 you will provide suggestions regarding how various aspects of the park can be improved and to what outcome. Your analysis and plans need to be underpinned by relevant ‘operations theory’ to support your arguments.

1.As an initial step, you are required to investigate and discuss various operational aspects of Markeaton Park. To do this, you will:

a) Identify and discuss what you may consider the most important:

Inputs (including the transforming and transformed resources),
Transformational operation/process,
Outputs (pure products, a mixture of products and services, pure services) of the park’s operations

b) Conduct the value chain analysis and define the importance/impact of different stakeholders.

c) Identify and briefly discuss the effectiveness of the capacity planning strategy that you consider Managers of the Markeaton Park may be following

d) Identify and briefly discuss the effectiveness of the Markeaton Park layout.

2.You are required to make recommendations to improve the operations of Mundy Play Centre, Craft Village, and Markeaton Park. These recommendations could include, but are not limited to, improvements and addition of facilities, activities, and attractions. Your proposals must generate positive income for the Park. (Do not spend time writing about the things that are being done. Explore new attraction and approaches, which are not covered in their existing plans.) Your recommendations should also address the challenges mentioned in the case study description.

3.Professional presentation and format – appropriate academic citations, references, etc.

4.Provide a 250 words description about your Skills Development during this module and specifically by undertaking the Course Work 2.

Answer

Introduction
The present report is based on a Markeaton Park project case study exploring the business that has not been performing well over the years. It is a park that comprises of a number of things and all of these need maintenance from the authorities. The park is visited by a number of people. However, it has been found out that the people of the age group of 30 to 40 are the most proactive visitors to the park. It is also found that there are a number of people who come to the park bring their children who get the opportunity to play and enjoy themselves within the confinement of the park. According to the Markeaton Park project case study, the management of the park has to establish a system through which the profitability of the park increases. The management system needs to work out the strategy. It has to bring about a new set of functions through which the challenges related to the park are met. The overhaul of the park needs to happen after observing and identifying the areas that the park is lacking. The new system should be able to deliver on the areas of the park where it is lacking.

Operational Aspects
Important Features: A park examined in the Markeaton Park project case study would have a lot of resources that it has to manage properly with professional expertise. The park comprises of a lot of features that provide the service to the people who come on a regular basis. These features mentioned in the present Markeaton Park project case study analysis include grass, seating arrangements, playing arrangements and playing materials that are available from the park offices. The land area is among the most important resource available to the Markeaton Park. A decent land area provides Markeaton Park with an opportunity to use the same to perfect the services. However, it has to be managed. The more the land area the bigger the trouble in management. The responsibilities would fall on the shoulders of the workers of the park who will have to put a lot of hard work and make the park perfect to be able to serve the requirements of the people to visit them. The medical facilities act like one of the most important resource of the park (Jennings et al, 2016). Every large facility needs the presence of medical officers. Also, an important thing to ponder upon is that it is the children who are playing in the park. These children are of a very young age and they mostly do not have much of a sense of physical injuries. Even if they are taken to the park with the help of guardians, very often, these children would be found to be playing with each other on their own. Therefore, considering the readings of Markeaton Park project case study, it can be stated that the presence of the medical officers is an asset to the park. To include them into the area, it has generated a level of appreciation from the parents and the guardians of the little children. They feel that having them by the side will provide them with a feeling of security and satisfaction. The fact obtained on the scenario of Markeaton Park project case study that the children are spending their time playing with each other means that accidents can happen to them at any moment. Even if accidents do happen, the officers being alert mean that there would be somebody to tend to the problems that the children might have to face (Lau et al, 2019).

The seats are an asset to the whole team that is managing the whole park. The team has to make sure that the seats are of high quality. It might be the case that that any of the seats or even a number of seats have reduced in quality over the years. In such a situation outlined in the Markeaton Park project case study, the seats will act like a liability for the whole park. Most of the people who come to the park and sit in those places are of middle age. However, there are also many of them who belong to the category of old age. For such people, the seats become not only a liability, but also a potential for the cause of accidents. If they fall down due to the lower quality of maintenance of these seats, then the chances for causing serious damage to their body is high. This situation basis the Markeaton Park project case study signifies that the basic thing that the park officials would have to keep in mind is that they need to change the seats as soon as they feel that it is not worthy of providing the service that it is meant to be. The official should also need to carry out inspections of the seat multiple times throughout the week (Kim, Thapa & Jang, 2019). If they find that something is wrong with the seats, they have to take action on that. Any delay in such a process can potentially cause the reputation of the park to go down drastically. It can be said that the responsibility on the shoulders of the park official is rigorous. The officials would barely have any time to move or any time to relax. They would have to manage each and every service that the park promises to its customers with a high level of efficiency.

The resources that the park possesses have to be utilized for the benefit of the whole business. This has to be achieved with a high level of efficiency. One of the main services discussed in the Markeaton Park project case study that the park provides to the people is the refreshment time for the middle-aged people who come to the park with their kids (Jacobson et al, 2019). It provides these people the opportunity to have a time that they can use for interacting with others and involving themselves in guilty pleasures. At the same time, the children would have to use the facilities available in the park for their pleasures. It is the duty of the authorities in the park to provide the children and the guardians with the service that they expect from the park. The seats in the park has to maintained well. The grass in the park will also need a lot of tending. If the grass is not tended and looked after properly by the officials, it does not make for a service that provides comfort to the customers. The people who come to the place would mostly look forward to a comfortable time when they can lie down on the grass. Therefore, it becomes a priority for the officials to tend to the grass surface properly and efficiently. These people would have to bear the responsibility of their kids and have a meaningful time spent with each other’s company. If the park is not able to provide these people with these requirements, it will become extremely difficult for the authorities to increase the number of visits in the park (Bakar et al, 2019). That is one of the main features considering the scenario of Markeaton Park project case study that hang around the minds of the officials when they are thinking about the future of the park. If the park is somehow not successful in making itself attractive and worthy for the people who come to the park regularly, then it becomes bad for business. The business is very competitive. As many as 60 per cent of the total number of people coming to the parks come by their cars. Others come by bikes. These people would have the opportunity to avail the services of another park if this park is not up to their requirements in standards. Therefore, it is stated herein Markeaton Park project case study analysis that the authorities and the officials of the park will have to be very meticulous about their job because the responsibility that they serve is important for the consequence of the Park (Jang et al, 2016).

Value Chain Analysis
The most important thing to probe into in an organization for its value chain analysis is its management. As per the readings of Markeaton Park project case study, for a park, management would need to involve officials working rigorously to make sure that the visitors of the park remain at the same rate and go higher. The performance of the management team would come a long way into ensuring the overall appeal of the park remains in good stead to the people who regularly or even non-regularly visit the park. There would be a lot of jobs that the management team would need to look after. The important issue here is that most of the people in the management team would not have the experience in dealing with these matters. Therefore, it is stated in the regards to the Markeaton Park project case study that they would have to make sure that the high-end professionals would perform the job and experts in the industry would re-inspect about the condition of the arrangements in the park (Chan, Si & Marafa, 2018). For example, the park has many children’s playing equipment. This equipment is manufactured in a factory or workshop. The fact based on the Markeaton Park project case study might even be that the park authorities have business deals with multiple factories and workshops. However, they would have to be installed or erected in the park. In the installation process, or even in the manufacturing process, the park officials would need to make sure that their professionalism remains at a high stead. If there is something wrong with the equipment and there is a chance that the park authorities would get cheated by the business contractors who carry out the processes of manufacturing and installation, then the harshest consequences will have to be faced by the park in the future. An accident while playing with faulty equipment jeopardizes the reputation and the future of the park in a big way (Canedoli, Bullock, Collier, Joyce & Padoa-Schioppa, 2017). To avoid such consequences, the park authorities need to have a watchful eye over everything. The management authorities would need to be involved in a lot of activities concerned with the park.

The various stakeholders in the improvement of the park given in the Markeaton Park project case study include the authorities of the park, the government which runs the Markeaton Park, the workers whose jobs are at stake and the visitors too. Among the visitors, the most important people would be the ones who spend the evening pleasantly in the park on a daily basis, the guardians of the children who come to the park to play on a daily basis and the children too. The improvement to the park would be a positive outcome for all of these people and it would raise the overall value to the society.

The Markeaton Park project case study illustrates that the park authorities would have to make sure that their resources are used in a productive manner. They would need to be involved during the peak activities of the park. They would need to make sure that the children are not causing damage to the materials in the park. If they do, the same thing becomes obsolete as far as the use in the future is concerned (Ly & Xiao, 2016). The authorities would also need to make sure that the medical officers are in their place at the right time. Generally, medical officers would mostly be needed by the park authorities during the peak hours of business. However, it is also clear on this Markeaton Park project case study that the rule has been made mandatory for the park officials that one medical officer would at least be present in the park all the time. This would serve the park in good stead by acting like an image building initiative (Nam & Dempsey, 2020). Even if there are no people in the park during the off hours, anybody who is coming to the park for some refreshment and energy would know that the park officials have their requirements in place.

The park has provided training to the people. However, the training has not been provided according to the industry standards (Bisi et al, 2019). When the people would come into the park for the installation of equipment, the park would need to avail the consultancy services of the experts to supervise the process. Such a step by the park as mentioned in the Markeaton Park project case study would take up a lot of time. It keeps people engaged in things when their functions can be used for better reasons. It also costs the park a lot of money in the process (McCarthy, Shinjo, Hoshino & Enkhjargal, 2018). If the same work requirements can be fulfilled by the employees of the park, a lot of time and money can be saved. The park has to provide the training for the park authorities so that the employees become capable of handling and supervising the issues relating to the installation and inspection of the equipment. They would need better contacts and better strategies to set up the process of training of the employees.

How effective a capacity planning strategy for the given scenario of Markeaton Park project case study?
The capacity planning strategy for the scenario defined in the given Markeaton Park project case study can be carried out in the following ways:

Demand: First of all, the park has to increase the demand so that people are interested in spending their time in the park. For that, the park has to be neat and clean in the first place. If it achieves such an objective, the park will become a good place for the people to come in. The people would show their interests in the park (Dangi & Gribb, 2018). The parents would bring kids to the park. They would spend their leisure time in the park with other people who come to the park for the same reason and intentions. To achieve such a purpose as depicted in the Markeaton Park project case study, the park would have to plan itself properly. The grass of the park would need to be levelled in a proper way so that the people would find it comfortable to lie down in the park (Canedoli, Bullock, Collier, Joyce & Padoa-Schioppa, 2017). The requirements of the people would also need to meet in a proper way. For example, if any of the guardians of the kids want to have some cheap food, the park authorities would have to show the way. If they have certain other requirements, then the par authorities would need to fetch them for it. Considering the given Markeaton Park project case study it can be stated that a high level of service will give the park the opportunity to increase its demand in the eyes of the potential customers.

Analyze Existing Capacity: The existing capacity of the Markeaton Park is actually at a high level. The elements of the park are arranged in a proper way. The officials of the park usually do not have to worry about a low or a falling rate of entry of people because there are a lot of people who enter the park every day. It has become a part of their normal routine. The park officials would also not have to worry about the features of the park. The food, washroom, and drinks are available in the park at a location that is easy to spot for the people. The ambience of the place is also decent enough to allow the people to have a good time spent with themselves and the family members as well (Adimu, Boer, Yulianda & Damar, 2018). The food counter has allowed people to come and spent time. Most of these people who visit the food counter do not spent other time doing something different in the park. This is one of the areas that the park officials would have to look at in the future.

Gaps: The park officials would need to look at the areas that the park lacks with a microscope. They would be able to identify these areas and the management officials will be educated enough to deal with the problem (Friedman & Griffin, 2017). First of all, based on the Markeaton Park project case study, the problems arise with little faulty equipment in the park at places. In order to provide a reasonable service to the people, the park would have to improve their equipment. They would have to improve the technique through which they inspect the portions of the park. Also, the layout of the food counter in the park is made in such a way that people are coming to the park only for the food. It does not reflect well for the park because the purpose of the park is not to be a food specialist. Therefore, the function of the food counter would need to be revamped and replaced with something that acts like an addition to the ambience of the park (Eduardo, Klofsten, Albahari & Etzkowitz, 2019). The food counter had been operating mostly like an independent place situated within the campus of the park. For it to achieve the objectives of the park noted in the Markeaton Park project case study, the officials would need to think about innovative ways. A lot of improvements in management would need to be generated through the ideas of the officials.

Effectiveness of Park Layout
The effectiveness of the layout of the park would be measurable for the following features based on the theme of Markeaton Park project case study:

First of all, the playing area has to be closely situated to the entrance of the park. The people who go to the park with their kids have to take care of the fact that the kids are safe (Ismail, Mohidin & Sani, 2017). For that, they would prefer if they do not have t travel for a long time on their feet. The hassles of long distance would also mean that the kids would have a greater chance of being involved in mischievous activities to make their parents wait for a long time. Such activities can lead to dangerous circumstances (Takyi & Seidel, 2017). The kids would have to be on their own and as a result, they would have a higher probability of getting into any kind of accident. To prevent such things outlined in the Markeaton Park project case study evaluation, the parking authorities can take the shortcut by making the whole are of the park not accessible for the kids. Their organizational intervention will come a long way in helping the cause of the park.

The authorities of the park would need to involve themselves in certain strategies to make the park look better and more attractive for the people who come in and out of the park on a daily basis. These strategies would involve innovation on part of the gardening experts. The application of the expertise of these people would be intended at making the park look attractive. They would have to use techniques that have been used in other parks. To follow such a step, the employees of the park would need to be highly knowledgeable in the first place.

Recommendations
First of all, the park has to put responsibilities on the shoulders of the officials. These officials would need to perform the duties that are assigned to them on a better level. The technical training of the officials has to happen with a standard of high effectiveness, Currently, the standard of training provided to the employees is not of a high standard. This has given rise toa sense of misdirection among the people and a feeling of non-performance (Ali, Ismail, Akhir & Muslim, 2018). When such an environment is established in the working domain, the results of that would not look good. It would reflect on the performance of the park as a whole.

Secondly, it is also mention in the Markeaton Park project case study evaluation that the park would need to make sure that it allots enough parking space and makes the people follow guidelines as far as maintaining the parking space is concerned. People want a better parking management from the Markeaton officials. They need to replace the contractor who manages the parking with that of an effective contractor. The new contractor and the workforce would have to come up with guidelines for people to follow as far as parking is concerned. The guidelines have to be made with a proper system. The officials of the park have to receive the feedback of the people who come to the park often enough. The feedback can be received by direct words or by feedback forms (Mubarak, Maani & Frinaldi, 2020). The park officials would have to make sure that the engagement with the customers remains rigorous throughout. If these people have some grievances and the park is somehow unable to meet the same, word would need to be send to the top officials of the park. A proper communication plan basis the Markeaton Park project case study has to be developed to look after the needs and requirements of the customers of the park. The customers of the park are its biggest treasure. Proper strategies would need to be made by the officials to meet their needs.

The Mundy play center is one of the main attractions of the park. It has to make changes to the play centers to make it safer for the kids and more engaging. The changes have to be made by keeping in mind that the park has to appeal to the parents who want to bring in their children on a daily basis to the park. Also, the craft village would need to be made more attractive for the people who visit it. The park has to find ways to make the entire place livelier and appealing to the potential customers. The financial needs of the park can be met by advertising in a crafty manner.

Also, the park would need to install a new food place and replace the existing food place. In the existing food place, people come to the park mostly to fulfill their appetites. For a park, if this is the functional level, then it becomes a problem. The park officials intend to have the food place for another purpose. They mostly serve the purpose of an addition to the park itself. In this particular Markeaton Park project case study, the food place was acting mostly like a party for itself.

Conclusion
It could be concluded from the overall analysis on Markeaton Park project case study that the park would have to implement a number of changes to make itself better for business. That is the main goal for the park. It would be best suited for the park if the food place is replaced by another one that will serve the original purpose of the park. The area that the park officials would have to look into is the outlook of the park from the food place it will build in the future. The park would need to be decorated for the viewable area from the food place. This would make people who go to the park for food interested in checking out the other areas of the park itself. That would bring it more and more revenues. Also, making it more children friendly would also help the park’s business and guarantee relationship building with the customers who form the core of visitors for the park.

Skill Development
By completing the assignment based on the Markeaton Park project case study, I was able to know more insightfully about management. Management is one area that covers businesses. However, park business is one of the unconventional businesses among them all. The fact that I was able to apply my knowledge regarding management into Parks business was satisfactory from my point of view. It is a very extensive task and I was able to go through the details. In management, there are many models and many activities that would bring out the interest among the people. The main idea of a management course or a management study topic is to increase the profitability of an organization. In this case, too, I had to do exactly the same. This is one for the factors that made it easier for me to complete the Markeaton Park project case study analysis. I already had the knowledge regarding the needs and requirements of assessing and re-evaluating the profitability of an organization. However, I would still maintain that completing this assignment was a new level of experience for me. I came to know about the ways and methods of applying my knowledge into areas that I have not worked before. This is one of the main assets about completing this particular task of Markeaton Park project case study anakysis. It gave me the belief and the ability to take on a new set of tasks. Whenever in the future I would be required to do the same, I would be able to do so with much better standards of efficiency. The hesitations, the limitations that I may encounter in the process will all be familiar and I would be able to successfully overcome them.

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