Kudler Fine Foods Organizational Structure

Integrated Business Topics BUS/475 March 1, 2010

Introduction (Shanta) This week assignment is on functional area interrelationships. Team A will be stating the primary reasons of Kudler Fine Foods existence, its analysis of the mission, vision, values, and goals. Second Team A will analyze Kudlers organizational structure and identify the key positions that support their organizational structure. Then we will identify and explain the steps of the collaboration process among the functional areas that must be employed to achieve organizational goals. Prepare an action plan to implement the collaboration process. We will then identify and provide an example of the use of lateral collaboration and vertical collaboration
The organization is focus on the unique fine foods consumers’ desire, however, cannot locate in the local community. Kudler Fine Foods competitive advantage is differentiation; cost and speed to market are important to the firm but are second to the organizations structure. Kudler Fine Foods has a fairly flat organization structure. Each area of the store has employees who specialize in their area; additionally there is support staff for stocking, checking, and customer service. The flat structure simply allows for communication continuity. The communication of sales, trends or lack of sales and trends help guides the firm’s strategic planning initiatives. The less management structure nurtures an environment that promotes an organizational culture of creativeness and ideas for the specialty foods within the firm. Direct contact from the specialist to the owner cuts out the extra layer of people, whom could decrease the differentiation via lack of specialty knowledge of the products. The owner has a small high level management team; the owner depends on the area specialist to be constructively involved with the success of the
The integration of frequent shopper programs; in which consumers will be offered points as well as incentives for consumer loyalty will increase web and floor traffic. The purchase of new technology across departments to help facilitate the management process and create an atmosphere that is flat, open door policy to communicate will be encouraged as pointed out in the action plan. An employee incentive drives quality assurance and happiness as well as shows appreciation so that the vision and spirit of the company will be reverberated from employee to consumer. Organizational structure is important and it has been pointed out so that Kudler Fine Foods will differentiate from the company’s competitors, the low cost and the speed in which the company will help to market in a way that will please consumers. The flat structure gives room to open communication and keep all levels of the structure coherent and open to what is being communicated from the consumer to the individuals on the front line to management. Collaboration and communication is key to success, the Five C’s will help to shape a strong industry leader, and Kudler Fine Foods will incorporate communication, coordination, cooperation, collaboration, and contribution. Lateral and Vertical Collaboration will help to cut cost by partnering with specialty companies in helping to