Inductivo, Beatriz Julien P.

Sec.3
Questions:
1. In what ways are hazel’s customers most likely to judge the quality of her lawn
care services?

First by the cost of Hazel’s service. It is important for her customers to know at
the beginning how much will the service costs. Next is the outcome of her work.
The quality of Hazel’s work must be also considered by making sure that she
mowed the lawns properly and the shrubs are trimmed well. Also, Hazel’s
availability to plan her schedule ahead of time and avoid having conflicts. Lastly,
the tools and fertilizers that she will use to perform the service in order for the
customers to build trust on her and be satisfied. Non-availability of these may
affect her service and bring dissatisfaction to her customers.

2. As an operation manager what are the roles of Hazel in her business?

Her roles as an operation manager is first, to know what are the current and future
trends in her business to be able to attract customers and know their demands. Next
is the tools needed, its price, and the quantity needed. Also, regularly check the
schedule to deploy her assistants and cater all the customer’s appropriately. Next is
the quality service. Forecasting the weather, and lastly her competitors.

3. what are some of the trade-offs that hazel considered and why?
a. relative to working in other company

She already spent 8 months on finding a new job but rejections always
come. However, she was able to bring some money by mowing the lawn
of her neighbors and considered it as an alternative source of income.

Trade-offs between she herself as the boss and working for a company as
an employee.

Having a stable income in a job, and no fixed earnings in business.

b. expanding the business

She will need to a big capital for this but will earn a lot in return.

Hazel hired two part-time workers to assist her.

c. launching a web site

 Marketing was not a problem for her business since it was already done
by the customers themselves.

Some people were simply glad to turn the work over her; others switched
from professional lawn care services. This simply shows that the business
is doing well even without launching a website.

4. The town is considering an ordinance that would prohibit putting grass clippings
at the curb for pickup because local landfills cannot handle the volume. What
options might Hazel consider if the ordinance is passed? Name two advantages and
two drawbacks of each option.

First option is it can be good opportunity for Hazel to additional services in her
business such as collecting and disposing of the trash grasses. Its advantage is she
will have an additional income as well as job opportunity to the workers.

However, the disadvantage is she will need to buy new equipment to perform the
service.

Second advantage is Hazel does not need anymore to sweep the grass clipping
since it would breakdown on its own. Hence, it will also cost less for the fertilizers
and the garbage bag.

The disadvantage not all customers would want the grass clipping left on their
backyard.
5. Hazel decided to offer the students who worked for her a bonus of $25 for ideas
on how to improve the business, and they provided several good ideas. One idea
that she initially rejected now appears to hold great promise. The student who
proposed the idea has left, and is currently working for a competitor. Should
Hazel send that student a check for the idea? What are the possible trade-offs

Hazel already did the mistake and she cannot do anything about it anymore.
Therefore, she does not need to send a check to the student. In addition, it is
possible that the idea was already suggested by the student to Hazel’s
competitor. Possible trade-offs is between the gain of customers and loss of
good idea maker.