MGMT125 - Principles of Management

CRN: 20279
Lecturer: Clinton A. Benjamin

END-OF-SEMESTER INDIVIDUAL CASE STUDY ASSESSMENT

Arya’s Gardens
Read the following case study and answer all questions.

Arya’s Gardens (AG) is a small family-owned agricultural company based in central Trinidad. The business was
founded by Ramchand Arya and his wife Sumintra, both of whom have now retired. The company and the
family’s farmlands are now run by their only son Alex, and his 2 children. They grow and cultivate mangoes,
seasonings and hot peppers which are then processed and bottled into an extra hot pepper sauce, a mango
chutney and a mango amchar. Some of these products are sold from their small shop located on their farm to
local customers; however, their AG Mango Amchar and AG Extra Hot Pepper Sauce are sold in Massey Stores
all throughout Trinidad. The company has been doing well and in fact, had sold more products in 2019 than
they had originally planned. Despite the pandemic conditions, 2020 also saw growth in product sales, though
the rate of growth was less than in 2019.

Arya’s Gardens’ does not have a mission statement at this time; however, their Vision Statement is as follows:

Vision Statement: Working towards an Arya’s Gardens product in every kitchen in every home in T&T.

The small management team at Arya’s Gardens would like to be more strategic in the way they manage
the company and they also want to develop some clear goals for the rest of 2021 and 2022, but they
are not sure how to start.

In addition, the company has a great opportunity to purchase the nearby five acres of land at a reasonable cost.
They are willing to take a bank loan but are in need of more revenue to cover the loan payments for this loan to
buy the land. The management team is in disagreement as to what they should do to increase their
revenue.

Alex, the owner of Arya’s Gardens would like to produce a larger quantity of their current product line as his
goal is to have these products available in TruValu and other major supermarkets. He would also like them to
start thinking about exporting some of their current products to Barbados or Guyana.

Barry, his son, believes that Arya’s Gardens should diversify and expand their product line to include bottling
two new products - green seasoning and a milder pepper sauce.

Cathy, his daughter believes that they should consider producing organic products (i.e., products with no
chemical pesticides and/or preservatives). She knows this can be difficult and sometimes quite costly, but she
has evidence that shows that they can charge twice the amount normally charged for their products and
therefore will be very profitable.

MGMT125 Principles of Management  End-of-Semester Case Study 1

 Question 1: Strategic Management and Goal Setting (Chapter 5) [30 points]
A. Explain the importance of strategic management [4] to managers in general, and list two benefits that
this will bring to Arya’s Gardens [4]
B. (i) What is a Mission Statement? [4]
(ii) Why is it important for Arya’s Gardens to have a Mission Statement? [4]
C. Suggest a possible Mission Statement for Arya’s Gardens. [4]
D. Explain the difference between Strategic Goals and Operational Goals. [2]
E. Using the case provided, create two Strategic Goals and two Operational Goals for Arya’s Gardens.
Remember these goals must be S.M.A.R.T. [8]

Question 2: Decision Making (Chapter 6) [20 points]

Alex, Barry and Cathy cannot decide what to do to increase their revenue -
A. Explain the steps in the Decision-Making Model, then apply the six (6) steps in this model to this
case study. (You are free to decide which choice will be made.) [12]
B. Why would it be a good idea for Alex, Barry and Cathy to get the views of their loyal employees when
making this decision? [8]

Question 3: Managing Change (Chapter 8) [20 points]

A. As a result of decisions made, identify what types of changes may be made within Arya’s Gardens or
any other organization. [8]
B. Discuss any three (3) reasons why the employees of Arya’s Gardens may resist change? [6]
C. Describe how Arya’s Gardens or any other organization can best implement the changes that need to
be made. [6]

Question 4: Communication and Teamwork (Chapters 13 and 14) [30 points]

A. Describe how Arya’s Gardens can best communicate to their employees the changes that need to be
made. [8]
B. Arya’s Gardens relies heavily on teamwork.
(i) List four (4) of the different types of teams that organizations may use? [8]
(ii) State two (2) benefits of using teams. [4]
C. (i) Describe what is meant by team cohesiveness, using a simple example to help illustrate. [4]
(ii) Identify three (3) possible sources of conflict among teams. [6]

INSTRUCTIONS – Please read carefully.

❖ Read Chapters 5, 6, 8, 13 and 14 in your textbook. Solutions to the questions in this case study are based on these chapters.
❖ Prepare your responses to all questions in a Microsoft Word document. As an alternative, you can Google Docs. Save your
work as a PDF document, and submit your work via email to: clintonabenjamin@gmail.com
❖ Please include a cover page.
❖ Make sure your responses are properly labelled, and are in the proper order. (Examples: 1A, 1B, 2A, etc.)
❖ Present your responses in bulleted or numbered points (not mini-essays) where relevant or practical.
❖ Due date: Wednesday, June 30th, 2021 (3 days only)

MGMT125 Principles of Management  End-of-Semester Case Study 2


Question 1: Strategic Management and Goal Setting (Chapter 5) [30 points]
Question
1A: Explain the importance of
[4]
strategic management and
list two benefits this will bring
[4]
to Arya’s Gardens
1B(i): What is a Mission
[4]
Statement
1B(ii): Why is it important for
Arya’s Gardens to have a
[4]
Mission Statement?
1C: Suggest a Mission
Statement for Arya’s Gardens?
[4]
1D: Explain the difference
between Strategic Goals and
[2]
Operational Goals
1E: Create two Strategic Goals
and Operational Goals for
Arya’s Gardens. Remember
these goals must be
[8]
S.M.A.R.T.
Question 2: Decision Making (Chapter 6) [20 points]
Question
2A: Explain the Decision-
Making Model (DMM) and
apply the 6 steps in this model
to this case study. (You are
free to decide which choice
[12]
will be made)
2B: Why would it be a good
idea for Alex, Barry and Cathy
to solicit the views of their
[8]
loyal employees?
MGMT125 Principles of Management  End-of-Semester Case Study
RUBRICS [100 points]
Excellent
[3-4]: Student has clearly and
concisely defined strategic
management in their own
words. Student has also
indicated the importance of
strategic management in their
own words.
[3-4]: Student has listed 2
distinct benefits that strategic
management will bring to AG.
[3-4]: Student has clearly and
concisely defined a Mission
Statement in their own words.
[3-4]: Student has clearly
explained the importance of
having a Mission Statement.
[3-4]: Student has suggested
a solid Mission Statement
which clearly indicates AG’s
direction and operational
intent.
[2]: Student has briefly
defined both a strategic and
an operational goal and has
clearly indicated the difference
between the two.
[7-8]: Student has created
two SMART strategic goals
and two SMART operational
goals.
Excellent
[10-12]: Student has clearly
described each step of the
DMM, and then applied each
step to the AG case.
[7-8]: Student has clearly
indicated, in their own words,
4 distinct reasons why it would
be a good idea to solicit the
views of their loyal employees.
Good
[2-3]: Student has briefly
defined strategic management
in their own words. Student
has also indicated the
importance of strategic
management.
[2-3]: Student has listed 1
benefit that strategic
management will bring to AG.
[2-3]: Student has briefly
defined a Mission Statement in
their own words.
[2-3]: Student has briefly
explained the importance of
having a Mission Statement.
[2-3]: Student has suggested
a fair Mission Statement which
somewhat indicates AG’s
direction and operational
intent.
[1]: Student has briefly
defined either a strategic or an
operational goal and has
briefly indicated the difference
between the two.
[5-7]: Student has created
two strategic goals and two
operational goals, which
possess some SMART
elements.
Good
[7-10]: Student has briefly
described each step of the
DMM, and then somewhat
applied each step to the AG
case.
[5-7]: Student has clearly
indicated, in their own words,
2-3 distinct reasons why it
would be a good idea to solicit
the views of their loyal
employees.
Needs Development
[0-2]: Student has vaguely or
not defined strategic
management. Student has not
indicated the importance of
strategic management.
[0-2]: Student has vaguely
listed 1 or no benefits that
strategic management will
bring to AG.
[0-2]: Student has vaguely or
not defined a Mission
Statement in their own words.
[0-2]: Student has vaguely or
not explained the importance
of having a Mission Statement.
[0-2]: Student has not
suggested a Mission
Statement which indicates
AG’s direction and operational
intent.
[0]: Student has not defined a
strategic or an operational goal
but has very briefly indicated
the difference between the
two.
[0-5]: Student has created 1
strategic goal and 1
operational goal, neither of
which are SMART in nature.
Needs Development
[0-7]: Student has not
described each step of the
DMM, or has not applied each
step to the AG case.
[0-5]: Student has clearly
indicated, in their own words,
1 reason why it would be a
good idea to solicit the views
of their loyal employees.
3
Question 3: Managing Change (Chapter 8) [20 points]
Question
3A: As a result of decisions
made, identify what types of
changes may be made within
Arya’s Gardens or any other
[8]
organizations.
3B: Discuss any three (3)
reasons why the employees of
Arya’s Gardens may resist
[6]
change?
3C: Describe how Arya’s
Gardens or any other
organization can best
implement the changes that
[6]
need to be made.
Question 4: Communication and Teamwork (Chapters 13 and 14) [30 points]
Question
4A: Describe how Arya’s
Gardens can best
communicate the changes that
need to be made to their
[8]
employees.
4B(i): Arya’s Gardens relies
heavily on team work. What
are some of the different types
of teams that organizations
[8]
may use.
4B(ii): State two (2) benefits
[4]
of using teams.
4C(i): Describe what is meant
by team cohesiveness, using a
simple example to help
[4]
illustrate.
4C(ii): Identify three (3)
possible sources of conflict
[6]
among teams.
MGMT125 Principles of Management  End-of-Semester Case Study
Excellent
[7-8]: Based on the decision
made, the student has clearly
indicated and justified, in their
own words, 4 types of
changes may be made within
AG or any other organization.
[5-6]: Student has clearly and
concisely discussed 3 reasons
why employees of AG may
resist change, in their own
words.
[5-6]: Student has clearly and
concisely described, in their
own words, 3 ways how AG or
any other organization can
best implement the changes
that need to be made.
Excellent
[7-8]: Student has clearly and
concisely described, in their
own words, 4 ways or
strategies how AG can best
communicate the changes that
need to be made to their
employees.
[7-8]: Student has described,
in their own words, 4 types of
teams that an organization
may use.
[3-4]: Student has explained,
in their own words, 2 benefits
of using teams.
[3-4]: Student has clearly
defined team cohesiveness in
their own words, and has
provided a suitable illustrative
example of team
cohesiveness.
[5-6]: Student has identified
and defined 3 clear sources of
conflict among teams.
Good
[4-7]: Based on the decision
made, the student has briefly
indicated and justified 2-3
types of changes may be
made within AG or any other
organization.
[3-5]: Student has clearly and
concisely discussed 2 reasons
why employees of AG may
resist change, in their own
words.
[3-5]: Student has briefly
described, in their own words,
2 ways how AG or any other
organization can best
implement the changes that
need to be made.
Good
[4-7]: Student has described,
in their own words, 2-3 ways
or strategies how AG can best
communicate the changes that
need to be made to their
employees.
[5-7]: Student has described,
in their own words, 2-3 types
of teams that an organization
may use.
[2-3]: Student has explained,
in their own words, 1 or 2
benefits of using teams, but
not to a satisfactory extent.
[2-3]: Student has briefly
defined team cohesiveness in
their own words, or has
provided an illustrative
example that does not clearly
illustrate team cohesiveness.
[3-5]: Student has identified
and defined 2 clear sources of
conflict among teams.
Needs Development
[0-4]: Based on the decision
made, the student has
indicated and justified 1-2
types of changes may be
made within AG or any other
organization.
[0-3]: Student has clearly and
concisely discussed 1 reason
why employees of AG may
resist change, in their own
words.
[0-3]: Student has described,
in their own words, 1 way how
AG or any other organization
can best implement the
changes that need to be
made.
Needs Development
[0-4]: Student has described,
in their own words, 1 way or
strategy how AG can best
communicate the changes that
need to be made to their
employees.
[0-5]: Student has described,
in their own words, 1 type of
teams that an organization
may use.
[0-2]: Student has not
provided any benefits of using
teams, or has explained, in
their own words, only 1 benefit
of using teams.
[0-2]: Student has not defined
team cohesiveness well, or
has not provided a suitable
illustrative example of team
cohesiveness.
[0-3]: Student has identified
and defined 1 clear sources of
conflict among teams.
4