I am currently employed at two places of business: full-time for the United States Army and part-time for Chick-fil-A of Monmouth Mall. Working at both for a minimum of one year, I have observed both management applications and errors. Taking this Principles of Management course this semester has helped me in identifying these errors and offering an alternative or correction.
According to our text, management is defined as the process of administering and coordinating resources effectively, efficiently, and in an effort to achieve the goals of the organization. In most instances, and to certain degrees, I have seen this definition demonstrated in both of my workplaces. Managers perform four overall functions essential to managing a successful organization: planning, organizing, leading, and controlling. As a first-line manager and operational employee, I have witnessed the effects of both effective and inadequate management.
I. Chick-fil-A
The Chick-fil-A Corporation is very successful yet there are some aspects which call for further scrutiny. To focus on the positive first, one great thing about this organization is the focus on corporate social responsibility namely their philanthropic responsibility as many of the franchise owners are required to give a portion of their sales to charities. The organization seems to operate in a legal and responsible manner but again, I am only a first-line manager for the company. As a first-line manager at the Monmouth Mall store, I do realize that, at times, the young people working there (ages 15-17) are often exploited as cheap labor.
The owner of my store often calls on her first-line managers to think of and discuss strategic goals for our specific unit for the upcoming year. She does not, however, provide a strategic direction or much other information on which we can discuss and compile sufficient goals. Needless to say, we eventually come up with pretty concrete goals in the end. Our goals help us in...