HAZEL CASE

Questions:

1. In what ways are Hazel’s customers most likely to judge the quality of her lawn care services?
 Hazel’s customers will most likely judge the quality of her lawn care services based on
how well their lawns are doing and by observing Hazel’s other customers’ garden as well.
Hazel’s credibility and insights from other customers will also be considered by the
customers. They will also most likely judge the duration of how long the lawn care
services will be done, length of the grass should neither be too long nor too short. It can
also be judged whether Hazel was able to follow the instructions given to her by her
customers or not. Also, if Hazel’s overall service is clean enough that it became pleasing
in the eye than it was before. Lastly, the customer might also weight the services she
provides with the price she is asking for.
2. Hazel is the operations manager of her business. Among her responsibilities are forecasting,
inventory management, scheduling, quality assurance, and maintenance.
a. What kinds of things would likely require forecasts?
 Weather / Climate – it is not good to do some mowing when the weather is not good
particularly if it is raining or there is a storm.
 Demand – number of customers who would want their lawn to be mowed which can
help her to properly schedule work and maintenance the necessary equipment.
 Expenses – expenses that will be incurred during a certain period.
 Inventory – supply of gardening products and equipment.
 Potential threat from competitors.
b. What inventory items does Hazel probably have? Name one inventory decision she has to
make periodically.
 The inventory items that Hazel probably have are as follows:
 Lawn moving machine
 Backup scissors or grass cutters (in case mowing machine breaks down)
 Water spraying machine
 Fertilizers and manures
 Grass seeds
 Other gardening tools (shovel, hedge shears, weeders, rake, etc.)
 One inventory decision Hazel has to make periodically maybe the usage or quantity of
fertilizers and manures because these can make the lawn grow well and be healthy. If
these items are not used on the lawn on a regular basis, the grass will likely become
wild and all the moving efforts will go in vain.
c. What scheduling must she do? What things might occur to disrupt schedules and cause
Hazel to reschedule?
 For the schedule, at first, Hazel needs to consider how many people are demanding her
service and based on that demand, she can set up reasonable schedule or time on when
to perform service and how many hours will it take to complete. It is highly important
because it would ensure smooth operations for her business and keep the customer
well-informed, thus, gives more probability of their satisfaction.

This study source was downloaded by 100000826612901 from CourseHero.com on 08-01-2022 17:12:41 GMT -05:00

https://www.coursehero.com/file/102884118/om-hazeldocx/
 The things that might occur to disrupt schedules and will cause Hazel to reschedule are

fortuitous events, weather like heavy rains that may result to flooding that can make her
staffs become sick that may eventually result to their absences or unavailability. It can
also result to equipment being broken and malfunctioning of the machines. Also, if her
fund is in trouble, things need to be rescheduled for a better outcome.
d. How important is quality assurance to Hazel’s business? Explain.
 The quality assurance to Hazel’s business is indeed very essential. If the quality of her
service is poor, customers will stop demanding her service. Since Hazel just started her
new business, it only means that she does not have enough number of customers yet. If
she wants to maintain her business credibility, it is important to keep her reputation and
quality of the service in order to attract or gain more customers.
e. What kinds of maintenance must be performed?
 Checking the expiration dates of fertilizers
 It is necessary that the equipment and tools are kept in good condition to reduce the
expenses of the business.
 Maintain good relationship or communication with the customers in order to be
updated and effectively deal with any changes. Also, without them, she will easily run
out of business.
 Maintenance of quality in the service, it must be consistent all throughout.
 Making sure that the facilities are clean.
 Service must be delivered on time and as per the schedule

This study source was downloaded by 100000826612901 from CourseHero.com on 08-01-2022 17:12:41 GMT -05:00

https://www.coursehero.com/file/102884118/om-hazeldocx/
Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)