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Running head: HRM

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HRM

Human Resource Management Homework

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Company’s background

The company Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. is located in US and recognized as one of the foremost casual restaurants. The company employed an innovative technique referred to as ‘Food with Integrity’ through which the constituents are harvested naturally from domestic farmers and meat is obtained from animals that are naturally feed on open surroundings (Walker and Merkley, 2017). Chipotle considers the viability in food as its exceptional selling tool to take over the home manufactured food for busy specialists and pronounced the benefits of healthy meals through unconventional marketing norms such as short films and online series through website.

Relevance of innovation for long-term survival of the Company

Innovation is key factor which will enable this industry to experience numerous and drastic market changes. For instance, improvement in machineries by impacting new elements will boost the quality of food being produced, innovation in the field of check-ups and quality control which is the critical point will ensure safety and diversity of food in Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc as food industry. The initiated new operations through innovation will add more on the trend of healthier food in this industry which will then boost consumers demand.

Overall strategy that fosters innovation in a Company

Overall strategy that can foster innovation in Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc is offering appropriate training to all employee, since if no right skills are in place then it is certain that the new technology will not hold.

Personal Reflection on growth of the company over a period of five to ten years

In personal view, I expect the industry to operate with available resources and identify its main supplier to ensure only quality raw materials and some finished products to be used in the industry is applicable. Consequently, in the period of five to ten years this industry should move from using more manual techniques to more automated process from production of goods to service provision. The case of capital intensive will be of more benefit to this industry where most of operations are carried out under new technology. There is a belief that when everything is under operation by machines, the speed and efficiency triples.

Top most advantages of the Company over its Competitors

The most top advantages Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc has against its competitors are such as; top-quality ingredients a number of industries are pronounced to decline in quality of their ingredients while their focus is to cut on cost, and increase on volume of production, the truth remains that the nutritional quality and flavour reduces drastically (Industry structure and Competitive advantage, 1995). Chipotle Mexican Grill on the other hand is on the track of quality production in food by applying more fresh ingredients obtained from home producers this restaurant renders services to huge number of consumers than any other restaurant in the United States. Simplicity is another top advantage the restaurant has over others; the company has maintained a dead menu plus other transitions like adding tofu option compared to McDonald’s or Taco Bell which is yet to design a new promotional product to attract consumers (Industry structure and Competitive advantage, 1995). Smart expansion strategy is yet another competitive strategy by this organization which separates it from others, the company has installed new restaurants, unlike other firms which use franchising to develop with minimal overhead cost. This strategy enables Chipotle’s to maintain its operational control.

Strategies a Company could employ to exploit its innovation breakthrough

There are three common strategies a company such as Chipotle’s can emulate in exploiting its innovation breakthrough, the underlined strategies are; product innovation is the most common strategy which is used forming a new product, or adding new features in existing products (Baum et al. 2018). Then process innovation is a strategy employed in the stages of product production and service and how they are delivered to the users (Baum et al. 2018). This can comprise of combination of certain aspects, capabilities and technologies for production. Example of this is like; the automated assembly ground of vehicles which aids in cutting down human errors. The last strategy is business model strategy of innovation which is not about addition of elements rather more all-inclusive firm’s overall transformation (Baum et al. 2018). This can influence every process immediately from product to marketing medium to pricing.

Advantages and Disadvantages of the speculated strategies

Benefits of product innovation are like growth expansion and gaining of competitive advantage, where it offers an opportunity for a firm to differentiate its products from that of the other companies, brand switching is the other benefit which enable a firm to overly utilize product innovation that then influence consumers with preference of alternative product to consume your products. Nevertheless, this strategy is underlined by certain drawbacks like; counter-effect of product whereby some firms don’t manufacture goods from a scratch, rather, they substitute alternative resources to modify product innovation. It is also accompanied by high costs and high risks of failure.

Process innovation strategy on the other hand aid the companies in this industry to improve in productivity and increase their competitiveness as well as creating new partnerships and relationships. Its limitations are reflected where the strategy is regarded as time consuming and expensive to implement and waste a lot of resources thereto. Lastly business model strategy of innovation is deemed a fundamental tool which in most cases creates a good reputation for a firm and encourage investors to maintain their investment with the company. Drawbacks under this strategy are such that it is a too complex process and needs skilful planning lest it fail.

Recommended strategy and its exploitation of Company’s advantages over its competitors.

For Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc food industry, I will recommend product innovation strategy, this is because, the firm has been widely identified through its unique healthy and quality products as well as good services. As noted earlier, this strategy will influence consumers with preference of alternative products, that of company’s competitors to consume their products at large quantities compared to their rivals.

References

Baum, C. F., Lööf, H., & Nabavi, P. (2018). Innovation strategies, external knowledge and productivity growth. Industry and Innovation, 26(3), 348–367. https://doi.org/10.1080/13662716.2018.1499502

Industry structure and competitive advantage. (1995). Long Range Planning, 28(2), 154. https://doi.org/10.1016/0024-6301(95)91059-x

Walker, R., & Merkley, G. (2017). Chipotle Mexican Grill: Food with Integrity? Kellogg School of Management Cases, 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1108/case.kellogg.2021.000055