Management Concepts at Seventh Generation - Assignment Example

Name: Tutor: Course: Date: QUESTION ONE Management concepts at Seventh Generation New arrivals of workers at Seventh Generation are taught how to forget and overlook the patterns and habits that they have learned in their previous organizations. Many organizations gag their members against expressing themselves and; therefore, denying them a chance of exploiting their full potential. The employees at Seventh Generation are given a chance of ownership of the company so that they do not feel that they are working for someone else but themselves (Crane 280-3). Motivation and building a strong personality are some of the role that management plays in shaping the workforce at the company. The managerial function that is demonstrated in Seventh Generation is directing, controlling, and evaluating job performance. The management is concerned with grooming desired skills in the workforce through education and training. The employees are supposed to be competent and able to provide the necessary directions to the clients. The objective of management is to observe and maintain sustainability in all processes (Johnson 4). It is also the need of raising employees who become responsible citizens. Apart from management of the growth of workers on their job, Seventh Generation ensures that revenues attain the targeted growth levels. Issues of concern There have been allegations by the national Advertising Division (NAD) concerning some of the misleading advertisement being run by Seventh Generation on social media. NAD, which is a department in the Council of Better Business Bureaus, has suggested that Seventh Generations to discontinue or modify some of the claims in its advertising for the company’s laundry and cleaning products. This move has been occasioned due to challenging of the products which was done by Procter & Gamble (P&G). NAD looked at the ingredients, health, and safety claims made on social media and Internet advertising and packaging of products by Seventh Generation (Hollender 113-9). The claim that detergents from Seventh Generation are 100% natural is misleading. The company also depicted other products from its competitors as unsafe and of low standards. Cleaning products from Seventh Generation were not found to be safer that other competitors in the same field. Both strategic and short term planning are using at Seventh Generation company. Sustainability and environmental conservation are observed in the long term planning. Market share increase and revenue growth are some of the short targets of the company. The company uses forecasting and market analysis as crucial tools for planning. Market trends reveal the direction the company has to take to ensure survival. Departmentalization is the grouping of related functions into units that are manageable in order to attain the objective of the enterprise in the most effective and efficient manner. Departmentalization can be by process, function, market, geographical area, or even matrix. Various organizations combine some of these forms of departmentalization. At Seventh Generation departmentalization is on the basis product and processes involved. Seventh Generation SWOT analysis STRENGTHS A strong belief in social responsibility and sustainability endears the company to customers. Eco-friendly products attract customers due to increased WEAKNESS A claim of changing ingredients of some products has betrayed many customers. The channel of distribution is not well developed and has to depend on other companies. OPPORTUNITIES Increased customer awareness about their health enhances consumption of natural and organic market hence increasing market. Government support for eco-friendly products provides support to the marketing mix of the company. THREATS Raised concerns on advertising may scare ware customers. Growing competition in organic and natural products markets QUESTION TWO Challenges in Seventh Generation Workforce The surging population or size of the workforce has proved to be a challenge to the human resource department. Initially there only thirty workers working for Seventh Generation but increase in production has led to increase in the workforce. Managing the huge number of workers becomes a challenge to the administration. Many workers arrive from other organizations having learnt other practices, and holding some expectations towards the company. Changing the mentality of the workers to adopt Seventh Generation culture becomes a challenging task for the management. Maintaining sustainability and deciding on the size of compensation to offer becomes a challenge to the organization human resource sector. The new arrivals have high expectations from the company (MacCuan 117). On the other hand, they have to change the patterns and practices that they learnt from their previous jobs in order to be incorporated into the working culture of Seventh Generations. First year employees are given ninety hours of training while seventy hours of training is given to them in their second year. Consequently employees at Seventh Generation are highly trained for the benefit of the consumer since they provide the right guidance. Seventh Generation Human Resource Department in problem solving The human resource department has a big role to play in regard to challenges facing the company’s workforce. The department has a role to play in changing the perception of workers who are newly employed in the company. The company looks at what workers need to work on in order to achieve organizational goals. Moreover, every person is taught how he has to grow and improve personally (Hollender 113-9). Employees are left to define what they want to work on. Employees are given a chance to come up with personal initiatives which assist the company in recognition of talents and potential which may not be very obvious during performance of certain job. The company upholds performance measurement as a way of inculcating value. Time is dedicated towards raising responsible and global citizens that can make a difference in the world (sevengeneration.com). Employees working for Seventh Generation are encouraged to air out their views in regard to sustainable processes and products. What Seventh Generation can borrow from Whole Foods? Seventh Generation can learn many things about Whole Foods who have been among the market leaders in the industry. Whole Foods has developed efficient communication channel within its workforce and the human resource department is reviewed from time to time to evaluate its efficiency. Seventh Generation empowers employees through the creation of work environment where each person is assigned with responsibility, and he is accountable for it. Professional and personal development is strongly enhanced (Crane 283). Mistakes are interpreted as chances for growth, and no one is unduly condemned with the aim of reducing his ego. Every member of the organization is provided with information, tools, and resources for producing their best. Both Whole Foods and Seventh Generation use teams in their enterprises with the aim of achieving organizational goals. The management at Seventh Generation is looking for ways on how they can give through teamwork. Catch all teams like Life Balance team and Green team are being used in the development of global warning strategy. Teamwork and training opportunities at Seventh Generation is meant to enhance the mission of the company whereby a lot of consideration concerning the future is done before any decision being implemented. QUESTION THREE Whole Foods and Seventh Generation are referred to as producers because they deal with organic and natural products. In this regard, they have to be concerned with production of the raw materials that are used to process the goods which they sell to their customers. They engage in environmental conservation activities and help in production of raw ingredients of most of their products (wholefoods.com). Seventh Generation and Whole Foods are involved in the production of natural and organic foods in collaboration with farmers. The companies process natural foods and package them for sale. Natural foods without artificial additives are sold by the company. The company ensures that eco-friendly products are produced. PERT Chart for Whole Foods for opening a store Feasibility study and Business analysis and planning = 3 months Designing premises and Building = 12 months Stocking and Staffing = 3 months Opening = one month Assessment = 6 months Total = 25months Opening (one month) Feasibility study (2 months) Designing premises and building (12 months) Assessment (6months) Business analysis and planning (three months) QUESTION FOUR Whole Foods and Seventh Generation trade in markets that are similar. The companies are leading retailers of natural and organic foods. They are majorly based in the United States. The companies aim at producing and marketing natural and organic products which are environmentally friendly while ensuring there is sustainability (MacCuan 117). Whole Foods and Seventh Generation present themselves in the market as retailers offering organic and natural, healthy products that have not been polluted with artificial additives. The retailers are much involved in sustainable and environmental conservation activities in order to win the hearts of the local community with the aim of making they buy their products. Health conscious citizens are the main target of these companies Whole Foods and Seventh Generation) and creating awareness on the importance of natural foods increases the chances of other people being attracted (Johnson 4). The target market of these companies is environmental and health sensitive customers who want to use safer products. Increased awareness of personal health has encouraged many customers to go for organic and natural products. The marketing mix involves promotions, after sale services, advertising and carrying out customer education in order to increase the market share. Distribution of products is through established channels. Market segmentation is important since it ensures maximum concentration on a particular segment of the market to yield maximum returns. A well developed relationship with customers is needed to facilitate market segmentation. Customers buy a product for various reasons such as convenience, affordability, size, quality or durability. Green customers targeted by Whole Foods and Seventh generation also have reasons for purchasing a product and hence enabling market segmentation (Crane 279). Seventh Generation has segmented its green customers into True blue greens, Greenback Greens, sprouts, grousers, and basic browns. Market segmentation enables companies to meet the needs of various customers. Work cited MacCuan, Jess. “It’s Not Easy Being Green.” Inc. Magazine, 26 (11): 110-118. 2004 Crane, Andrew. 2000. “Facing the Backlash: Green Marketing and Strategic Reorientation in the 1990’s.” Journal of Strategic Marketing, 8: 277-296. Johnson, Jim. 2000. “Seventh Generation Goes Private.” Waste News, 5 (39): 4. Hollender, J. 2004. “What matters most: Corporate values and social responsibility.” California Management Review, 46: 111-119. http://www.seventhgeneration.com http://www.wholefoods.com/ Read More