Egaña, Jericho A.

EE – 3308

1. Read through the case study. Write down all of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities
and threats you can think of in relation to the New Valley Inn.

The New Valley Inn is a 50-unit, no-frills operation in the less scenic part of a major Bakersfield
resort town. The owner, Mr. Shaw, firmly believes that there is a need for his style of low-cost
family accommodation amid the luxury and beauty of the area. His rooms are large, family-style
rooms (there is no television, for example). Although there is plenty of room for future expansion,
the grounds are fairly plain with a bit of landscaping, but mostly grass.

Mr. Shaw can serve breakfast to the rooms and provides tea-making facilities. There are now a
lot of good restaurants and take-away in the area. Mr. Shaw’s prices are less than half of what
similar hotels charge and only a fraction of what the big five-star properties are charging. And,
really, he isn’t all that far away from the beach, shops and other attractions.

The problem is occupancy. He has some regulars who come every holiday period and have been
doing so for the four years he has owned the property. Overall, occupancy is about 50% year
round and he knows from the local tourist office that the other properties average around 68%
occupancy year round. New developments could mean trouble. This lack of occupancy can be
quite frustrating for Mr. Shaw. Cars pull in, drive around the parking areas, and then drive away.

Currently Mr. Shaw does very little advertising in local district guides and the holiday papers,
mainly because he really thinks word-of-mouth is the best form of advertising. He is a member of
the local tourist committee, but too busy to go to meetings. However, he does receive the local
statistics and knows the average stay in the area is 3 nights, and that local families and couples
and increasingly overseas visitors are his potential customers.

He’s not desperate yet, but he’s getting worried and disillusioned. He thought he would be overrun
with guests, but that hasn’t happened. What actions should Mr. Shaw need to do?
 StrengthS Weaknesses
low-cost family accommodation; large & 50% year-round occupancy.
family-style rooms; charge is less than half
of others; near beach, shops and other
attractions.

Opportunities
SWOT Threats

plenty of room for future expansion; other properties average around 68%
local families and couples & increasingly year-round occupancy;
overseas visitors are potential customers. does not receive the local statistics;
overrun with future guests.

2. An engineer notices a fine white powder covers everything in a room that has a laminating press.
She asks the operator how long he has been working in this room. He replies that he has been
working there for over ten years. The engineer is concerned that the health of this operator may
be at risk from inhaling this powder for so long. What should she do?

Use the following questions as your guide to solve the problem:

● What is the problem?

- An unknown fine white powder covering the entire room may possess a health risk to
the operator.

● What are the choices you have?

- Conduct research, on if long exposure to the powder is noxious or safe.

- Ask the manager or officer in charge of the operation to clean the area.

- Analyze the cause and source of the powder; thus, propose a proper waste management
plan and ways to eliminate it.
● What do you think the consequences of these choices will be for yourself and others
who are involved?

- Fulfill my duties as an engineer, ethically and morally.

- Practical safeguarding of the operator in the laminating press.

● What is your decision?

- Study the fine white powder if it's safe or not, determine the source of the powder, and
propose a proper waste management plan and ways to eliminate it.

● Do you think you made the right decision? Why?

- Yes. Because those 3 steps are all necessary to achieve a safe, clean, and efficient
workplace for the benefit of the worker and the company.