Kudler Fine Foods Case Study
Personal Values Aligned With Kudler Fine Foods
After reflecting on my Williams Institute Ethics Awareness Inventory (2006) results I conducted a self-assessment of my personal values. The Kudler Fine Foods strategic plan was also reviewed to determine the values of the organization. I then considered how my personal values aligned with the values of the Kudler Fine Foods organization, and how the alignment would affect my performance as a manager in the organization.
Personal Values
My personal results from the Williams Institute Ethics Awareness Inventory (2006) were very high scoring in the character perspective and very low scoring in the results and equity perspectives. My obligation perspective score was relatively high and is considered …show more content…
a blended category. These scores parallel my personal values favoring strong character. Character is the internal measuring yardstick for what people believe is right or wrong. No matter what the extenuating circumstances are, the final decision by an individual of what is ethical or unethical greatly depends on that individual’s character.
Integrity is the core of character, and requires moral and ethical standards.
Standards vary on a multitude of factors that include one’s up bringing, life experiences, and beliefs. Based on those factors standards will vary with each individual. However, people with integrity will consistently demonstrate behavior toward their set of standards. From this consistent demonstration of integrity they make ethical decisions with a strong bias towards their values and principles.
My moral and ethical standards drive my desire to be a servant leader. I value nurturing, defending, and empowering those around me (Yukl, 2006). An important aspect to servant leadership is trust. Yukl (2006) states, “trust is established by … keeping actions consistent with values.” Therefore, establishing trust directly correlates to having personal integrity and ethical …show more content…
standards.
Kudler Fine Foods Values
I reviewed Kudler Fine Foods’ strategic plan to gain understanding of the organization’s values. Throughout the strategic plan is a clear focus to provide an amazing customer experience through high quality service and product. The manner in which the high quality service and high quality product are achieved is also important. To provide the best product the organization uses the freshest organic supplies available. Produce is rotated off the shelves in a timely manner to ensure freshness. This is done with significant expense to profit, and no corners are cut to improve profit at the cost of lowering product quality.
Kudler Fine Foods reflects the values of its owner, Kathy Kudler. Her vision is to provide top quality product along with top quality service. She demonstrated the importance of building connections with customers when the organization opened the first store. Customer relationship building is a value that continues to be cultivated. Highly paid specialists assist the customer in each of the different departments, and employees are instructed to provide customer feedback to Ms. Kudler. Valuing the customer is also recognized in her vision to provide convenience through offering a combination of large variety, reasonable prices, and personal customer service in a single shopping experience.
Kudler Fine Foods values charitable giving. Products are donated to local charities that do not meet the organization’s standards to stay on the shelves but are still in good condition. An example is day-old bakery products donated to local charities that feed the homeless. These items could be sold through a separate outlet to increase profit, but are instead donated to those in need.
Alignment of Personal Values With Kudler Fine Foods
My values of character and integrity complement the values of high quality service and product found in the Kudler Fine Foods organization. The organization demonstrates strong integrity by the methods used to ensure high quality. These methods include purchasing the freshest and finest foods and ensuring fresh food is on the shelves.
My performance as a manager in this area would flourish. I would embrace the organization’s vision and values, and they would become my own. The vision and values would be apparent in my daily managerial duties, and they would become contagious to my employees. Customer service would continue to improve as those who worked around me and under me caught the vision. The amazing customer experience would be the consistent experience of the customer.
Kudler Fine Foods presents a ‘customer first’ focus.
This is exemplified in building the personal connection between employees and customers during the shopping experience. My values of character and integrity are of benefit to this focus. As character and integrity is demonstrated to the employees, they in-turn will demonstrate it to the customers. The customers will perceive character and integrity as sincerity, and will be inclined to trust the employees to assist them in their decisions and purchases. This creates another amazing customer experience, which fosters loyalty to the organization.
Kudler Fine Foods’ decision to provide food to charitable organizations is an outward sign to the public that it is an organization that cares. This validates the strong character within the company. These charitable acts have a possibility of strengthening my performance as manager because they validate my values of character and integrity.
The highest potential of impact and performance in the current Kudler Fine Foods organization for a manager with character and integrity is in the area of employee empowerment. Currently Ms. Kudler works seven days a week ensuring the purchase of the proper product for each store and the pulling of product off the shelves at appropriate times. As a manager, my goal would be to earn the trust of Ms. Kudler to perform this part of my job. Demonstrating consistent Kudler Fine Foods values, which is a result of character and integrity,
would earn the desired trust.
In the same manner that Ms. Kudler would empower me, I would empower my employees. Trust would be built through character and integrity. The employees would then be empowered to perform their jobs and make decisions appropriate to their job function. This would create a more valued workforce as well as a managerial framework for successful growth.
Conclusion
My value in character and integrity are complimentary to the values found in the Kudler Fine Foods organization. My managerial performance would be strengthened in the organization because it would enhance the values already present within the organization. In addition to supporting the organizations strong values in quality product, quality services, amazing customer experience, and charitable giving, I would empower my employees to display the values of character and integrity in the workplace. References
The Williams Institute (2006). Ethics Awareness Inventory. Retrieved October 5, 2009 from University of Phoenix MGT 521 web link.
Yukl, G. (2006). Leadership In Organizations, 6e. Chapter 14: Ethical Leadership and Diversity. Retrieved October 5, 2009 from University of Phoenix e-book collection.
After reflecting on my Williams Institute Ethics Awareness Inventory (2006) results I conducted a self-assessment of my personal values. The Kudler Fine Foods strategic plan was also reviewed to determine the values of the organization. I then considered how my personal values aligned with the values of the Kudler Fine Foods organization, and how the alignment would affect my performance as a manager in the organization.
Personal Values
My personal results from the Williams Institute Ethics Awareness Inventory (2006) were very high scoring in the character perspective and very low scoring in the results and equity perspectives. My obligation perspective score was relatively high and is considered …show more content…
a blended category. These scores parallel my personal values favoring strong character. Character is the internal measuring yardstick for what people believe is right or wrong. No matter what the extenuating circumstances are, the final decision by an individual of what is ethical or unethical greatly depends on that individual’s character.
Integrity is the core of character, and requires moral and ethical standards.
Standards vary on a multitude of factors that include one’s up bringing, life experiences, and beliefs. Based on those factors standards will vary with each individual. However, people with integrity will consistently demonstrate behavior toward their set of standards. From this consistent demonstration of integrity they make ethical decisions with a strong bias towards their values and principles.
My moral and ethical standards drive my desire to be a servant leader. I value nurturing, defending, and empowering those around me (Yukl, 2006). An important aspect to servant leadership is trust. Yukl (2006) states, “trust is established by … keeping actions consistent with values.” Therefore, establishing trust directly correlates to having personal integrity and ethical …show more content…
standards.
Kudler Fine Foods Values
I reviewed Kudler Fine Foods’ strategic plan to gain understanding of the organization’s values. Throughout the strategic plan is a clear focus to provide an amazing customer experience through high quality service and product. The manner in which the high quality service and high quality product are achieved is also important. To provide the best product the organization uses the freshest organic supplies available. Produce is rotated off the shelves in a timely manner to ensure freshness. This is done with significant expense to profit, and no corners are cut to improve profit at the cost of lowering product quality.
Kudler Fine Foods reflects the values of its owner, Kathy Kudler. Her vision is to provide top quality product along with top quality service. She demonstrated the importance of building connections with customers when the organization opened the first store. Customer relationship building is a value that continues to be cultivated. Highly paid specialists assist the customer in each of the different departments, and employees are instructed to provide customer feedback to Ms. Kudler. Valuing the customer is also recognized in her vision to provide convenience through offering a combination of large variety, reasonable prices, and personal customer service in a single shopping experience.
Kudler Fine Foods values charitable giving. Products are donated to local charities that do not meet the organization’s standards to stay on the shelves but are still in good condition. An example is day-old bakery products donated to local charities that feed the homeless. These items could be sold through a separate outlet to increase profit, but are instead donated to those in need.
Alignment of Personal Values With Kudler Fine Foods
My values of character and integrity complement the values of high quality service and product found in the Kudler Fine Foods organization. The organization demonstrates strong integrity by the methods used to ensure high quality. These methods include purchasing the freshest and finest foods and ensuring fresh food is on the shelves.
My performance as a manager in this area would flourish. I would embrace the organization’s vision and values, and they would become my own. The vision and values would be apparent in my daily managerial duties, and they would become contagious to my employees. Customer service would continue to improve as those who worked around me and under me caught the vision. The amazing customer experience would be the consistent experience of the customer.
Kudler Fine Foods presents a ‘customer first’ focus.
This is exemplified in building the personal connection between employees and customers during the shopping experience. My values of character and integrity are of benefit to this focus. As character and integrity is demonstrated to the employees, they in-turn will demonstrate it to the customers. The customers will perceive character and integrity as sincerity, and will be inclined to trust the employees to assist them in their decisions and purchases. This creates another amazing customer experience, which fosters loyalty to the organization.
Kudler Fine Foods’ decision to provide food to charitable organizations is an outward sign to the public that it is an organization that cares. This validates the strong character within the company. These charitable acts have a possibility of strengthening my performance as manager because they validate my values of character and integrity.
The highest potential of impact and performance in the current Kudler Fine Foods organization for a manager with character and integrity is in the area of employee empowerment. Currently Ms. Kudler works seven days a week ensuring the purchase of the proper product for each store and the pulling of product off the shelves at appropriate times. As a manager, my goal would be to earn the trust of Ms. Kudler to perform this part of my job. Demonstrating consistent Kudler Fine Foods values, which is a result of character and integrity,
would earn the desired trust.
In the same manner that Ms. Kudler would empower me, I would empower my employees. Trust would be built through character and integrity. The employees would then be empowered to perform their jobs and make decisions appropriate to their job function. This would create a more valued workforce as well as a managerial framework for successful growth.
Conclusion
My value in character and integrity are complimentary to the values found in the Kudler Fine Foods organization. My managerial performance would be strengthened in the organization because it would enhance the values already present within the organization. In addition to supporting the organizations strong values in quality product, quality services, amazing customer experience, and charitable giving, I would empower my employees to display the values of character and integrity in the workplace. References
The Williams Institute (2006). Ethics Awareness Inventory. Retrieved October 5, 2009 from University of Phoenix MGT 521 web link.
Yukl, G. (2006). Leadership In Organizations, 6e. Chapter 14: Ethical Leadership and Diversity. Retrieved October 5, 2009 from University of Phoenix e-book collection.