Analysis’s Of Factors Leading To Woolworth’s Quality Management Problems
Question
Task: This Assignment assesses the student’s understanding of the theoretical learning to practical, realworld situations. Students should identify a problem situation (only one problem) in an organisation they haveaccess to (preferably an organisation where you work or have worked recently). Do not focus on a problem that has already been solved. Also do not focus on many problems at the same time. Followings should be covered in your assignment:
1. A brief introduction of the organisation (it is acceptable to withhold the name of the organisation).
2. Description of the problem, as much as possible in terms of the observable or measurable symptoms It manifests, for example: increased customer complaints; specific quality concerns; high staff turnover; contracts lost; decreased market share; loss of funding or loss of profiL (Do not conceptualise the problem Initially as ‘a leadership problem’, ‘a communication problem’ etc.).
3. The issue/problem that should then be considered and analysed in terms of material drawn from any two topics studied as part of this subject. To give some examples, you may choose to apply a model of leadership and use strategic planning concepts to examine your problem, or use models or concepts of motivation and organisational culture, or ethics and organisational design. Try to choose the topic models/concepts that seem to offer the most useful insights into the problem. Do not try to deal with many models or concepts.
4. Design of an intervention (a change program or set of activities and procedures) utilising some aspect or aspects of your analysis. The intervention should be intended to solve oc improve the situation. Please note you are not merely being asked for a list of recommendations. If you intend to undertake any research, interviewing, distribution of questionnaires or other activities in your organisation, you must discuss your proposed approach with your lecturer and obtain your lecturer’s approval before you do so.
5. A report of 1200 to 1500 words summarising your analysis must be submitted on the due date. Your report must have a cover page duly completed and signed, and it must be fully referenced.
Answer
Executive summary
The report focuses over the questions being raised over Woolworths quality management resulting in poor quality of milk supplied by the Supermarkets of Australia. The controversies related to such degraded quality of milk hare also observed from the report. The models along with the theories suitable for the resolution of the issues are also observed form the report as far as the providing of a comprehensive solution is concerned.
Introduction
The report is primarily aimed at the providing an overview of issues related to Woolworths quality management and poor customer feedback of the major supermarket chain in Australia. Woolworths Supermarkets was established in the year 1924 and is headquartered in Belle Vista, Australia. Since its inception it has expanded to a huge level in the Australian market. However, it has been entangled in to various controversies off late thereby concerns being raised about the services it is providing to the customers (Woolworths Group, 2019). The most notable controversy which has dogged Woolworths quality management in the recent past is the supply of contaminated milk thereby implying the issues related to food quality in Woolworths Supermarkets to a great extent. As a result, a proper and appropriate analysis would be made in the report with regard to the marketing of degraded quality of milk by Woolworths Supermarkets. In this regard, an intervention is also to be laid out with regard to the steps, measures and precautions to be undertaken in the form of activities and procedures for the purpose of improvements to be made in order to address the issue. It would also include the suggestions and recommendations thereby capitulating upon the intervention.
Problem of milk quality in Woolworths Supermarkets
The supply of sub-standard milk on part of Supermarket has raised huge concerns regarding Woolworths quality management. In the recent past, there have been many instances where milk has been recalled form Woolworths Supermarkets and Coles Supermarkets as it has been observed that the milk marketed by such supermarket chains contain chemicals which are used for cleaning thereby implying that the milk is synthetic in nature (SBS News, 2019). The awareness is also being spread amongst the regular customers of Woolworths Supermarkets as far as checking the milk before purchase is concerned. As a result, it is imperative that if the problem relating to milk quality is not resolved by Woolworths Supermarkets at the earliest, customer complaints would rise in the future to a huge level thereby resulting in a detrimental effect over the aspect of Customer Relationship Management on part of Woolworths Supermarkets (Rahimi and Kozak, 2017). It would also lead to a negative impact over customer satisfaction in the long run as the loyal and regular customers would be driven away towards competitors. As a result, Woolworths Supermarkets would not only lose profits and revenues to a huge extent due to drop in sales of their products and services but might also lose prospective contracts in terms of Joint Venture Agreements and deals pertaining to Mergers & Acquisitions. The issues related to health and safety in terms of milk quality for Woolworths Supermarkets are also being raised to a huge extent. Poor Woolworths quality management has had an effect on the brand image of Woolworths Supermarkets may be tarnished if such issues are not resolved at the earliest. Various kinds of milk have been recalled from Woolworths Supermarkets on grounds of contamination. Apart from containing chemicals, another reason for the recall of milk from Woolworths Supermarkets is the prevalence of E.coli bacteria in the milk thereby resulting in contamination to a massive extent.
What are some Woolworths quality management problems?
Strategic planning: The concept related to strategic planning would have an extremely essential role to play as far as the addressing Woolworths quality management relating to milk aquasisition ,storage and supply. The formulation and implementation of a definite strategy would play an important role in the identification of the areas that can be improved in order to address the milk quality issues in an incredible manner. As a result, the laying out of a proper plan would help in the achievement of the goals and objectives for Woolworths Supermarkets with regard the ironing out of the flaws related to milk quality (Wolf and Floyd, 2017). An organized approach is to be followed in order to implement the strategy in an effective and efficient manner. As a result, the situational analysis model would aid in the deeper analysis of the issue related to milk quality in Woolworths Supermarkets in an incredible manner thereby resulting in the favorable outcomes. The poor Woolworths quality management has triggered a chain of events and instances that resulted in the degradation of the quality of milk for Woolworths Supermarkets would help in the feasibility of application of the situational analysis model thereby resulting in the positive outcomes (McLean, 2019).
Ethics and organizational design: The concept of organizational ethics would be quite helpful in terms of the examination of the problem related to milk quality in Woolworths Supermarkets. Compliance with organizational ethics in this regard would be hugely beneficial for Woolworths Supermarkets as far as the undertaking of steps and measures related to the improvement in milk quality is concerned. The formulation of a code of ethics linked to Woolworths quality management will be extremely helpful on part of Woolworths Supermarkets with regard to the examination of the issue related to the milk quality at Woolworths Supermarkets in a proper and appropriate manner (Ferrell, 2016). It also implies the re-designing of the ethics with regard to the demands of the organization as far as the prevention of misconduct on part of people engaged in the marketing of milk by Woolworths Supermarkets to a huge extent. As a result, the following of ethics in a proper and appropriate manner would result in the resolution of the Woolworths quality management problem in an effective and efficient manner. The key role in this matter is to be played by the higher management of Woolworths Supermarkets thereby ensuring effective modus operandi. It is therefore, imperative that the aspect of ethics is quite important for an organization.
Contingency theory of leadership: The contingency theory in terms of leadership implies the decisions to be taken by the leader on the basis of the analysis of a situation in an extensive manner thereby coming up to a conclusion accordingly. The contingency theory of leadership has an important role to play in terms of the examining of the problem of milk quality in Woolworths Supermarkets thereby resulting in a comprehensive solution taking into consideration the circumstances in a proper and appropriate manner. It would facilitate the ease of analyzing the issue of milk quality on part of Woolworths Supermarkets. The primary cause behind compromised Woolworths quality management resulting in the degradation of the milk quality of Woolworths Supermarkets would be inferred as a result of the application of the contingency theory of leadership (Otley, 2016). The manger in charge of ensuring the quality of milk to be marketing of milk by Woolworths Supermarkets would have an important role to play thereby undertaking supervisory control and necessary measures in order to ensure the top-notch quality of milk to be sold in the market. In this regard, the analysis of the situation is to be made by the manager in a proper and appropriate manner.
Trait theory of leadership: The Woolworths quality management problems associated to the milk quality at Woolworths Supermarkets can be examined by the application of the trait theory of leadership in a proper and appropriate manner. The characteristics and qualities of the leader would be the key thing in this regard. The leader must be a role model for the people engaged in the ensuring of incredible milk quality to be sold by Woolworths Supermarkets. The communication skills both verbal and non-verbal of the leader would also play an important role in the in the examination of the issue as far as the trait theory of leadership is concerned. It would help in the desired solution with regard to the problem of Woolworths Supermarkets relating to milk quality in a proper and appropriate manner. The leader has to be adept in the solving of the problem in an effective and efficient manner as far as the qualitative outcomes are concerned (Fleeson and Jayawickreme, 2015). The ability of the leader to motivate would also help in the positive solution to the problem of milk quality at Woolworths Supermarkets. As a result, it is imperative that the qualities of a leader are extremely important in terms of solving the Woolworths quality management problems expereinced.
Transformational theory of leadership: The transformational theory of leadership would play a vital role in terms of the examination and analysis of the problem thereby leading to the identification of grey areas and loopholes in an incredible manner. The key aspect in the transformational theory relating to the Woolworths quality management With regards to leadership would imply the cohesion between the leader and the team members thereby leading to the resolution of the problem accordingly. The aspect of flexibility would also have vital role to play in terms of the introduction of the changes thereby implying their beneficial aspects. The changes with regard to the organizational progress and growth are to be identified and determined by the leader thereby providing an incredible pathway towards the resolution of issues in a proper manner. It is imperative that the transformational theory of leadership can play an essential role in the examination and analysis of the problem for Woolworths Supermarkets in a proper and appropriate manner (Ghasabeh, Soosay, and Reaiche, 2015). The strengths and weakness of people responsible for the sale of milk by Woolworths Supermarkets would also be quite helpful with regard to the improvement. As a result, the abilities of such people would be taken into account thereby resulting in a comprehensive solution. The leader has to undertake the necessary steps and measures for the introduction of changes in an effective manner thereby making sure that the changes are received by the concerned people in a positive manner as far as appreciation is concerned. It is imperative that the transformational model be used to address Woolworths quality management issues plaguing Woolworths Supermarkets.
Intervention liked to Woolworths quality management
Woolworths quality management interventionsmust be aimed at addressing of the crisis related to milk quality at Woolworths Supermarkets thereby leading to the amicable solution without any major hindrances or obstacles. It further implies that the people involved in the ensuring of quality and standards of milk are to work in a cohesive manner. As a result, an Woolworths quality management intervention plan is to be formulated and implemented thereby laying down the appropriate procedures and activities for the introduction of measures. Such measures would imply the improvements to be made in the areas thereby ensuring Total Quality Management for Woolworths Supermarkets. In this regard, Woolworths Supermarkets must make sure that appropriate numbers of Quality Checks are to be conducted prior to sale.
Recommendation to the Woolworths quality management team
It is recommended that in order to ensure the set of procedures and activities as a part of the aforesaid intervention is to be implemented effectively, policies and frameworks are to be made and executed subsequently. Such policies and frameworks are to ensure that the quality and standards of milk adhered to by Woolworths quality management guidelines and policies. The experiments are to be conducted accordingly in order to ensure incredible quality of milk by Woolworths Supermarkets.
Conclusion
It can be deduced that the issue related to quality of milk being sold by Woolworths Supermarkets has been justified and appropriate. The Woolworths quality management team must recall such milk and ensure the issues has been highlighted accordingly. Various theories and models have been taken into consideration in order to examine and analyze the problem of milk quality on part of Woolworths Supermarkets thereby resulting in prospective solutions as far as the desired outcomes are concerned. In terms of solution, an intervention has been laid out highlighting the steps and measures in the form of activities and procedures that are to be undertaken to mitigate the risks regarding the quality of milk of Woolworths Supermarkets. In addition to intervention, a proper and appropriate recommendation has been made with regard to the steps and measures that are ought to be undertaken for reduction of the risks pertaining to milk quality of Woolworths Supermarkets. The Woolworths quality management must scrutinize issues relating to health and safety and customer complaints have also been discussed and demonstrated. In a nutshell, a comprehensive approach has been considered as far as the solution to the problem is concerned. Additionally, the milk quality issues at Coles Supermarkets have also been considered and strategies adopted to the Woolworths quality management guidelines. Woolworths quality management assignments are being prepared by our management assignment help experts from top universities which let us to provide you a reliable assignment help online service.
Reference List
Ferrell, O.C., 2016. A framework for understanding organizational ethics. In Business ethics: New challenges for business schools and corporate leaders (pp. 15-29). 4th ed. Abingdon: Routledge.
Fleeson, W. and Jayawickreme, E., 2015. Whole trait theory. Journal of Research in Personality, 56, pp.82-92.
Ghasabeh, M.S., Soosay, C. and Reaiche, C., 2015. The emerging role of transformational leadership. The Journal of Developing Areas, 49(6), pp.459-467.
McLean, M., 2019. Understanding your economy: Using analysis to guide local strategic planning. 4th ed. Abingdon: Routledge.
Otley, D., 2016. The contingency theory of management accounting and control: 1980–2014. Management accounting research, 31, pp.45-62.
Rahimi, R. and Kozak, M., 2017. Impact of customer relationship management on customer satisfaction: The case of a budget hotel chain. Journal of Travel & Tourism Marketing, 34(1), pp.40-51.
SBS News, 2019. Milk sold in Coles, Woolworths and IGA recalled over contamination fears. [online] SBS News. Available at https://www.sbs.com.au/news/milk-sold-in-coles-woolworths-and-iga-recalled-over-contamination-fears. (Accessed on 10th August, 2019)
Wolf, C. and Floyd, S.W., 2017. Strategic planning research: Toward a theory-driven agenda. Journal of Management, 43(6), pp.1754-1788.
Woolworths Group, 2019. The Woolworths Story. Our History. [online] Woolworths Group Available at https://www.woolworthsgroup.com.au/page/about-us/The_Woolworths_Story/How_We_Were_Founded. (Accessed on 10th August, 2019)
