Question

‘Delicious Salads’ was a company that supplied packaged salads to the supermarkets. Recently, the management noticed that a large amount of vegetables were getting spoiled every week. This was increasing the costs and reducing the profits because of which the company was not able to achieve its goals. To solve this, the Production Manager, Meera was asked to take charge of the situation and bring the wastage under control. Meera found that the vegetable cleaning, cutting and packing departments were working at their own pace, leading to the spoilage of vegetables.

Meera started out by setting standards for each of the departments, which were well coordinated with one another. Each activity would be performed in accordance with those standards. Within a month, ‘Delicious Salads’ was able to supply the salads with minimum wastage and achieve its goals.

Explain the two points of importance of the controlling function of management discussed in the above case.

Hint:

Use the case words: spoiled vegetables show efficient use of resources, and departments at their own pace with matched standards show coordination. Explain two of these.

Answer 1

Step 1: Find the control actions in the case:
Vegetables were spoiling every week, and costs were rising. Meera set standards for each department and checked that work followed them.
This is the function of controlling, and the case shows two of its benefits.

Step 2: Point 1: Making efficient use of resources:
The case says a large amount of vegetables was getting spoiled, and Meera was told to bring the wastage under control.
When every activity follows a standard, waste of materials is reduced. Resources are used in the best possible way.
Because of this, the company supplied salads with minimum wastage.

Step 3: Point 2: Facilitating coordination in action:
The cleaning, cutting and packing departments were working at their own pace, which led to spoilage.
Meera set standards for each department that were well coordinated with one another.
Now every department works to a matching standard, so the work flows smoothly from one to the next.

Step 4: Another valid point:
The case also says the company achieved its goals. Hence accomplishing organisational goals can also be written. Any two points are enough.

Final Answer:
The two points shown in the case are making efficient use of resources and facilitating coordination in action.