This case study focuses on the operations strategies of Home-Style Cookies baking company. First, carefully read the following information about this organization.

Company

The company is located in a small town in New York State. The bakery is run by two brothers, employs fewer than 200 people (mainly blue-collar workers), and the atmosphere is informal.

Product

The company’s only product is soft cookies, of which it makes over 50 varieties. Larger companies, such as Nabisco, Sunshine, and Keebler, have traditionally produced biscuit cookies, where most of the water has been baked out, resulting in crisp cookies. The cookies have no additives or preservatives. The high quality of the cookies has enabled the company to develop a strong market niche for its product.

Customers

The cookies are sold in convenience stores and supermarkets throughout New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey. The company markets its cookies as “good food”- no additives or preservatives – which appeals to a health-conscious segment of the market. Many customers are over 45 years-of-age, and prefer a cookie that is soft and not too sweet. Parents with young children also buy the cookies.

Production Process

The company has two continuous band ovens that it uses to bake the cookies. The production process is called a batch processing system. It begins as soon as management gets orders from distributors. These orders are used to schedule production. At the start of each shift, a list of the cookies to be made that day is delivered to the person in charge of mixing. That person checks a master list, which indicates the ingredients needed for each type of cookie, and enters that information into the computer. The computer then determines the amount of each ingredient needed, according to the quantity of cookies ordered, and relays that information to storage silos located outside the plant where the main ingredients (flour, sugar, and cake flour) are stored. The ingredients are automatically sent to giant mixing machines where the ingredients are combined with proper amounts of eggs, water, and flavorings. After the ingredients have been mixed, the batter is poured into a cutting machine where it is cut into individual cookies. The cookies are then dropped onto a conveyor belt and transported through one of two ovens. Filled cookies, such as apple, date, and raspberry, require an additional step for filling and folding.

The non-filled cookies are cut on a diagonal, rather than round. The diagonal-cut cookies require less space than straight-cut cookies, and the result is a higher level of productivity. In addition, the company recently increased the length of each oven by 25 feet, which also increased the rate of production. As the cookies emerge from the ovens, they are fed onto spiral cooling racks 20 feet high and 3 feet wide. As the cookies come off the cooling racks, workers place the cookies into boxes manually, removing any broken or deformed cookies in the process. The boxes are then wrapped, sealed, and labeled automatically.

Inventory

Most cookies are loaded immediately onto trucks and shipped to distributors. A small percentage is stored temporarily in the company’s warehouse, but they must be shipped shortly because of their limited shelf life. Other inventory includes individual cookie boxes, shipping boxes, labels, and cellophane for wrapping. Labels are reordered frequently, in small batches, because FDA label requirements are subject to change, and the company does not want to get stuck with labels it can’t use. The bulk silos are refilled two or three times a week, depending on how quickly supplies are used.

Cookies are baked in a sequence that minimizes downtime for cleaning. For instance, light-colored cookies (e.g., chocolate chip) are baked before dark-colored cookies (e.g., fudge), and oatmeal cookies are baked before oatmeal raisin cookies. This permits the company to avoid having to clean the processing equipment every time a different type of cookie is produced.

Quality

The bakery prides itself on the quality of its cookies. A Quality Control Inspector samples cookies randomly, as they come off the line to assure that their taste and consistency are satisfactory, and that they have been baked to the proper degree. Also, workers on the line are responsible for removing defective cookies when they spot them. The company has also installed an X-ray machine on the line that can detect small bits of metal filings that may have gotten into cookies during the production process. The use of automatic equipment for transporting raw materials and mixing batter has made it easier to maintain a sterile process.

Scrap

The bakery is run very efficiently and has minimal amounts of scrap. For example, if a batch is mixed improperly, it is sold for dog food. Broken cookies are used in the oatmeal cookies. These practices reduce the cost of ingredients and save on waste disposal costs. The company also uses heat reclamation: The heat that escapes from the two ovens is captured and used to boil the water that supplies the heat to the building. Also, the use of automation in the mixing process has resulted in a reduction in waste compared with the manual methods used previously.

New Products

Ideas for new products come from customers, employees, and observations of competitors’ products. New ideas are first examined to determine whether the cookies can be made with existing equipment. If so, a sample run is made to determine the cost and time requirements. If the results are satisfactory, marketing tests are conducted to see if there is a demand for the product.

Potential Improvements

There are a number of areas of potential improvement at the bakery. One possibility would be to automate packing the cookies into boxes. Although labor costs are not high, automating the process might save some money and increase efficiency. So far, the owners have resisted making this change because they feel an obligation to the community to employ the 30 women, who now do the boxing manually. Another possible improvement would be to use suppliers who are located closer to the plant. That would reduce delivery lead times and transportation costs, but the owners are not convinced that local suppliers could provide the same level of quality. Other opportunities have been proposed in recent years, but the owners rejected them because they feared that the quality of the product might suffer.

Then, through a case analysis, compare or contrast the Home-Style Cookies baking company with the Yamazaki Baking Co., Ltd. Use the following article: [Attached] (2012). Bread & Rolls Industry Profile: Japan, 1-32. You will find Yamazaki Baking Co., Ltd. on page 24.

A case study is a short description of a real business situation. Analyzing case studies gives you the opportunity to apply those concepts to real business problems. Cases are generally written for several types of analysis. Usually, there is not a “right or wrong” answer. Rather, cases provide a vehicle for you to demonstrate your understanding and ability to apply course concepts. You must use appropriate sources (properly cited) to support your position. Check your analysis by assessing how well it demonstrates your subject knowledge. If your answer relies on your impressions of the topic prior to taking this course, it is likely that the analysis is not your best effort. Simply answering the questions which are part of the case is not enough; consider the questions to be clues to the important concepts and facts. You are strongly encouraged to use the following outline, so that your analysis is organized appropriately:

• Identify both the key issues and the underlying issues. In identifying the issues, you should be able to connect them to the business principles which apply to this situation.
• Discuss the facts which affect these issues. The case may have too much information. In your discussion, you should filter the information and discuss those facts which are pertinent to the issues identified above.
• Discuss your tentative solution to the problem and how you would implement your solution. What actions would you propose to correct the situation, based on the knowledge you have gained in this course? Be sure to support your recommendation by citing references in the text and in the supplementary readings. You should also draw on other references such as business periodicals and relevant journals. Remember that an ANALYSIS is more than simply a SUMMARY of the Case Study.
• Discuss follow-up and contingency plans. How will the organization know that your proposed solution is working? What should they do if it does not work?

It may be helpful for you to “role-play” this assignment. Your presentation should cover the points listed above. By “role-playing” the situation, using the questions at the end of the case as hints, and by using this guide, you should be able to develop an action-oriented analysis with a recommended course of action.

Your case analysis should be 2-3 pages in length, not including the title and reference pages. Include at least two articles/materials (not including your course textbook) to support your analysis. All citations should be in APA 6th edition format. Double space your paper, use Times New Roman, 12-point font, with one inch margins. Be concise and present your materials in a clear manner. Include any calculations, spreadsheets, etc. that help to support your analysis of the case.

Create a mini-unit to teach a content area standard you chose for the assignment in Module 5. Utilize the GCU eLibrary to research best practices in unit planning. Create and administer a formative assessment tool to determine the learning needs of a group of students (use students from your practicum or any other small group). Base your assessment on the learning objectives you created in Module 5.

Create three lesson plans that will help the students develop and demonstrate the skills required to achieve the content area standard. Incorporate a variety of instructional strategies and implement activities that address the students’ individual learning needs. Utilize the lesson plan templates located in the Student Success Center.

Create and administer a summative assessment at the end of the mini-unit, and evaluate the students’ assessments using a standards-based rubric.

Write a 500–750 words reflection that compares and contrasts assessment tools that inform continuous student learning and teacher practice. Would the mini-unit help the students to demonstrate proficiency on the content standard you chose? Why/why not? What changes would you make?

While APA format is not required for this assignment, solid academic writing is expected and in-text citations and references should be presented using APA documentation guidelines, which can be found in the GCU APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.

This assignment uses a grading rubric. Review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.

You are not required to submit this assignment to Turnitin.

Submit the assignment (reflection with the lesson plans, assessment tools and rubric attached).

The files I have attached are from a previous assignment. This assignment goes along with that one. They should relate.

Questions 1

a.)

Writing Your Obituary

Included in the psychosocial aspects of end of life issues is the notification of family, friends, and the larger community of the death of a person. Beyond the personal contact and widening pattern from the immediate family to others, notification also takes place in newspapers in the obituary section.

If you have read such notices, you saw that some were too brief to give justice to the life of the deceased person, perhaps because someone had to do it in a hurry to get it in on time or was too upset, or did not have enough background on the person. It is wise to draft your own obituary in advance and give copies to the appropriate person(s) to have ready.

Your task is to write your personal obituary for your local hometown paper. Give thought to how you will appear in print after you are gone for family and progeny to keep and for the community to recognize you. It is to be written for now/today, not in the future.

There are some guidelines for doing this for a newspaper. The information should be word-processed rather then hand written. In the upper left corner provide the name of a contact (usually a close family member) who can verify information and provide more details about the death if needed. (Include phone number, although not necessary to include for this assignment.)

The first paragraph is a straightforward summary of facts such as name, occupation, age and date of death. Often the cause of death is noted as well.

The next paragraph or two should give highlights and major activities of your life such as schools attended, education, work history, volunteerism, military, professional, government or organizing activities, sports, little league coach and others. Include any special positions or offices you held as well as any activities or awards in high school sports or academics.

Next, include survivors/family, and geographic locations if not too lengthy. Then, be clear about any funeral or memorial services to be held with appropriate location and time information.

File your finished obituary with your will and give copies to your attorney and appropriate family members. You may want copies sent (upon your death) to schools, organizations, or professional publications. Make this obituary yours, do not model on some brief write-up you see in a major paper with many such notices. Do it as a local project for the place/community who would know you best. In such a transient era, you may have lived only a year or two in a new location because of a job. The finished product is to be 2-3 paragraph single space

Lastly, review and update your obituary every few years for any changes and updates in location, job, family members, and others.

b.)

Final Rite of Passage

Notice how these discussion topics relate to the real world; disasters and accidents dominate our news. Our preparedness considers those who will be responsible to carry out our final wishes for unexpected deaths or tragic events.

This week, you are to write your wishes, from your cultural/spiritual perspective, as to how you want your death from your cultural perspective acknowledged. Funeral, memorial service, celebration, music, eulogy, where – outside beautiful setting, or cremation with a small service in the home at a later time, or other arrangement. What would be the most meaningful to you now as you foresee this event? Enter your arrangements for your final rite of passage and make copies and give to those who will follow.

Make this assignment real: who would participate; what favorite music would you want; the eulogy, family members or friends who would give farewell comments, pallbearers: if you are to be viewed, how would you want that; if cremated, what about disposition of the remains; any written words from you that you would want read? What would you want emphasized about your life – this is especially important and is more personal and informal than the obituary.

Write your response as a smooth flowing essay with details. You have likely thought about this, so now put this last part of your final affairs in order.

Background: How you feel about planning your final rite. Who will be responsible for carrying out/managing details.

The Body: Viewing, Cremation

Location and Service: Wake/Viewing, Funeral Service, Memorial Service, where interred or other

The Event: Eulogies, Music, etc.

Post Service Gathering: Invitees, Reception, Location

If you choose to have no final event, then respond accordingly and give reasons for your choice; rationale/logic, any family issues or personal issues (that you are comfortable to share). Then reflect and comment on how others, family or those in intimate relationships, might be affected if there is no final arrangement for closure. You may give your views on any final service you have previously attended, positive or otherwise, and how that may have influenced your decision. (This discussion must be substantial). 2-3 paragraph single space

Key Terms and Phrases

Advance Directive: A written document that tells what a person wants or does not want, if in the future is unable to make wishes known about medical treatment.

Artificial Nutrition and Hydration: When food and water are fed to a person through a tube.

Autopsy: An examination done on a dead body to find the cause of death.

Comfort Care: Care that helps to keep a person comfortable but does not make him/her better. Bathing, turning, keeping a person’s lips moist are types of comfort care.

CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation): Treatment to try and restart a person’s breathing or heartbeat. CPR may be done by pushing on the chest, by putting a tube down the throat, or by other treatment.

Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care: An advance directive that appoints someone to make medical decisions for a person if, in the future, he/she can’t make his/her own medical decisions.

Reading material – pdf ATTACHED

Chapter 57: The American Funeral

BERT HAYSLIP JR., KENNETH W. SEWELL & RUSSELL B. RIDDLE

For this module, I would like you tell me how you think this online class is going. I would like some feedback, so in the future I can make the necessary changes to make it better. All that needs to be done is submit a word document about a paragraph or more, which tells me how the class went for you, what can be done to be it better, etc.

Where you will submit this is in the Assignments, under Effective Delivery.

There is no discussion for for this module.

[ This is a online class.We had 4 modules with one discussion in each except 4. In discussion each student will had to answer the question and provide reply for the answer of at least two other student.

We had 3 speech ( persuassive, demonstrative, persuassive). We had to write the outline and sumit it online. And the made the speech with live at least 3 people watching and listening us and post it in the youtube . And the should be submitted to the professor.

And then we had field interview. We had to interview one of the business man for the job and ask 15 question like

1. Tell me about yourself

2. What are your strengths and weaknesses?

3. How did you hear about this position?

3. Where do you see yourself in 5 years from now?

4. What do you know about our company?

Record their expression , gesture, how they talk, feeling, body language while they answer.

After that we talk notes on how we could have improved. Write thank you letter to the person.

Last one was non verbal communication which was about expressing ourself.we had some questions like

1. Analyze your home and or office environment.

(Ex: color, arrangement of furniture, type of furniture, theme, organized etc. and what does this mean.)

2. What does your appearance communicate about you?

(Style, colors, jewelry, hair, glasses, clothes, etc.)

3. How do I use my eyes to express myself?

(Sad, disappointment, happy, excited, bored,etc.)

4. How do you use touch?

(Handshake, hugging, kissing, pat on the back etc.)

5. Describe your kinesics.

(Posture, body type, gesture etc.)