PRESENTING YOUR BUSINESS
OPERATIONS, TECHNOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT PLAN 1
Operations, Technology and Management Plan
Timeka Ash
Strayer University
BUS599: Strategic Management
2020-12-05
Operations, Technology and Management Plan
Operations Plan
An operation plan helps in devising how, when and what an organization will use to undertake its activities. The plan entails resources that are allocated to different departments so that they can achieve a specific goal (Dodson, 2017). Zodiac Freakz has specific short term and long-term goals of being a leading company in providing services to its target market. This operations plan is designed to help devise suitable operations plans and how resources will be allocated, and risks mitigated.
Facilities
Zodiac Freakz will lease a facility for a period of 5 years with an estimated annual rent of rent of $ 120,000. The facility will act as the organization’s production and administrative headquarter. The organization will incur costs in terms of utilities such as water ,electricity and sewer. As a production company of body oil for people with low libido, the organization will use a significant amount of electricity. Other utilities are variable and primarily based on the market value which fluctuates. However, the approximated bill is estimated at $1,500 per month. The utilities that Zodiac Freakz faces are variable and will keep changing and can in turn result in large volume batches.
Production Process/ Description of Operations (if service company)
Zodiac Freakz will be both a retail and service company for its sexual lubricant products. The sexual lubricant-making process is very intense and tasking as it involves acquiring the right ingredients. Fruits and vegetables act as oil producing ingredients. Different chemicals will also be used in the process to acquire the right feeling and purpose with different people. The sexual lubricants will be produced in different batches that vary both in size and quantity. The sexual lubricants production involves the use of different equipments and methods. Also, it involves the use of different guidelines and manuals so that the right flavor and brands are achieved. For instance, there are lubricant oils that are meant for arousal whereas there are others designed to cater for women who are beyond menopause and have a difficulty with dryness during sex.
For fruit and vegetables, they will be purchased or outsourced from farmers worldwide. There should be equipment’s that crush the fruits and vegetables to produce oil that can then be used to create specific brands and flavors. The following equipment’s will be required for largescale production of sexual products, Laboratory mixers, high power batch mixers, high voltage mixers and a self-pumping and high viscosity level machines. Besides, there needs to be refrigeration for storage of the oil. The total cost of all the equipment’s could be up to $ 100,800 and the maintenance cost of $ 20000 per month. Maintenance is meant to ensure the continued worthiness and quality of the equipment’s. The machines will be maintained weekly whereas the temperature parameters checked daily to ensure everything is working within the required framework. Measurement of viscosity and other elements of the mixers will be guided by their maintenance manuals.
All calculations and elements of the machines such as temperatures are essential in acquiring the right amount and quality of products. An inventory will therefore be devised and maintained to understand what materials are in and which ones are out. The organization will depend on suppliers to help acquire the right ingredients for the products. The turnaround time for the sexual lubricant products is when an order is made by a customer.
Research and Development
Information plays a vital role in research and development as it helps organizations understand their competitors and how best they can gain a competitive edge within the market. Through research, Zodiac Freakz will seek to understand different trends within the market and identify preferences that fit their business needs. Zodiac Freakz boasts a competitive advantage in terms of the quality of their products as well as the health and sexual benefits the product provides to its users. The organization will rely on seminars and workshops to help enhance the quality of its products. As part of the organization’s objectives and goals, the organization places the interests and health of their customers first before the business needs. Zodiac Freakz intends to work on reducing the use of chemicals within its products and focus more on use of organic materials that have little effect on the human body. Through extensive research, the organization will identify suitable substitutes for the chemicals. The use of fruits and vegetable oils have proven to be beneficial and the reason why many customers consider purchasing our products every other time. Through research and development, the organization will seek to reduce the struggle that many people with low libido or those that have aged experience during sex.
Also, research and development will play a significant role in the integration of new innovations into businesses to ensure their eventual progression and growth. As per the reasons listed herein, the organization will rely on extensive research and development to produce new products and understand how the market responds to each of them. The organization will also rely on customer feedbacks to understand how best the organization can expand its product line and market reach.
Personnel Needs in Operations
Given the organization is focused on manufacturing and service industry, Zodiac Freakz will require up to 50 employees.30 of the employees will be stationed within the factory layout ensuring that the machines are running and everything is up to date. The remaining 20 employees will be posted to different administrative posts to ensure everything in terms of finance, information technology, maintenance, and management are all okay. I will run the organization as the managing director and CEO. The organization will also partner with different suppliers and service providers to supply our products to retailers and wholesale shops. Also, the organization will focus on an up to date inventory system to help keep tabs with the production costs and the profit margins. The organization will adopt a fully-fledged delivery system to help enhance the success of the organization. The future success of the organization depends on the company’s needs.
Technology Plan
Technology in the modern-day world play a key role in ensuring the success of any business and achievement of its goals. The use of technology helps reduce unwanted costs. Also, technology helps ease operations and enhance growth.
Software needs
The organization will adopt the use of customer relationship management (CRM) software system. According to Badwan et al. (2017), the use of CRM helps organizations interact effortlessly with clients in real time. The software also includes the following purposes: helps in the automation of marketing, allows the organization to address customer issues on time, and allows organizations to acquire detailed data and analytics. The customer relationship management system will help Zodiac Freakz to improve customer care and relations while ensuring they acquire the right address to their needs. There are different types of technologies involved in the customer relationship management technologies that include the co-operational CRM, the analytical CRM and lastly the operational CRM. Zodiac Freakz will adopt the use of the co-operational. Maintenance of the system would cost up to $130.
Hardware Needs
The organization requires 20 computer desktops and eternal drives or each administrator. Also, the organization requires wireless connection and router. All these could cost the organization up to $2500.
Telecommunication Needs
Direct and indirect communication will cost the organization up to $200.
Personnel Needs
All the personnel needs shall be met within the organization. For instance, the telecommunication needs will be outsourced from a different company that will be serviced with a $500 monthly bill.
Management and Organization Plan
Key Management Employees.
The organization will have a total of 50 employees. 30 of the employees will be stationed within the factory layout ensuring that the machines are running, and everything is up to date. The remaining 20 employees will be posted to different administrative posts to ensure everything in terms of finance, information technology, maintenance, and management. I will run the organization as the managing director and CEO.
Management hierarchy
According to Bhat & Darzi (2016) management hierarchies are used to illustrate different management performances and levels of management. The following table illustrates the organization’s hierarchy of management.
Social Responsibility Plan
Impact on stakeholders.
One of the main purposes and goals of Zodiac Freakz is to ensure and promote healthy living within the society. Many organizations are committed to ensuring healthy living among everyone within the society and Zodiac Freakz is not any different(Advantage, 2020).With hundreds of aged people and those with low libido falling into depression because of the lack of sexual activities, Zodiac Freakz seeks to solve this issue. The organization’s focus on the use of organic materials for production of sexual lubricants will have a huge impact on their lives. The organization’s employees will also be focused on participating in the society’s activities. Also, the organization will partner with different organizations within the immediate society to create a healthy working environment for everyone. All the suppliers will also be paid on time and customers provided with a friendly environment. Employees will undergo intense training to ensure quality service is always offered .
Environmental impact
Zodiac Freakz intends to reduce the increased effect of global warming and climate change by use of bins for littering within the organization’s premises. The company will rely on the use of renewable energy sources more notably the use of solar energy for lighting. Electric power will be used for running the machines within the factory layout. Zodiac Freakz will adopt a suitable waste management system to help with the collection of wastes within its premises. All packages will be eco-friendly and can easily be re-used and recycled.
References
Advantage, C. (2020). Corporate Social Responsibility. CSR and Socially Responsible Investing Strategies in Transitioning and Emerging Economies, 65.
Badwan, J. J., Al Shobaki, M. J., Abu-Naser, S. S., & Abu Amuna, Y. M. (2017). Adopting technology for customer relationship management in higher educational institutions.
Bhat, S. A., & Darzi, M. A. (2016). Customer relationship management. International Journal of Bank Marketing.
Dodson, L., Drake, M., Hardaway, E., Hutton, A., Deonte’Screven, A. T., & Thompson, J. CONTINUITY OF OPERATIONS PLAN.
The CEO
Sales
Marketing
Services