Question 1:

InnovateTech Solutions is a leading technology company known for its cutting-edge products and services in the software development industry. As the company continues to grow, the leadership team recognizes the importance of staying ahead of the competition by continuously innovating. However, they’ve observed that while the company has talented employees, the current work environment is more focused on efficiency and routine tasks, rather than encouraging creativity and innovation.

To remain competitive, InnovateTech’s CEO, Ms. Lee, is committed to shifting the company culture to one that empowers innovation. She believes that nurturing creativity in the workplace is essential for developing new products, improving processes, and solving complex challenges. The leadership team is now focused on how they can allocate resources effectively to support innovation initiatives and create an environment where employees feel encouraged and supported to generate new ideas, take risks, and explore creative solutions.

Propose five (5) strategies the company can implement to foster an environment where employees are encouraged and supported to generate new ideas, take risks, and explore creative solutions to challenges.

Note: In your discussion, incorporate relevant organizational theories and models, such as the resource-based view, organizational learning theory and etc. to support your recommendations. (35 marks)

Question 2 (Unit 4, CLO2)
Bella Italia Restaurant is a well-known Italian eatery located in the heart of a bustling city. The restaurant prides itself on its authentic cuisine, charming ambiance, and a loyal customer base. Despite its success, recent customer feedback has indicated inconsistencies in service quality and areas where the dining experience could be improved. The restaurant’s owner, Mr. Rossi, recognizes the need to cultivate a more customer-centric culture to better meet customer expectations and enhance overall satisfaction.

While Bella Italia has a strong reputation for its food, Mr. Rossi and his management team have realized that being truly customer-centric involves more than just serving great meals. They need to implement strategies that will embed a customer-first mindset throughout the restaurant, from the kitchen staff to the front-of-house team.

Based on the scenario, propose five (5) strategies that managers at Bella Italia Restaurant can use to promote a customer-centric mindset and build a service-oriented culture within their establishment.

Note: In your discussion, apply relevant organizational theories/ models, such as Kaizen philosophy, job enrichment theory, SERVQUAL model etc. to support your recommendation. (35 marks)

Question 3:

Bella Italia Group, known for its successful chain of Italian restaurants, is considering expanding its business into the hotel industry. The company has built a strong brand and a reputation for exceptional customer service in the restaurant sector. To capitalize on this success, the management team is exploring three options for entering the hotel market: starting from scratch, acquiring an existing hotel, or franchising.

As a member of the management team at Bella Italia Group, evaluate which option is best for entering the hotel business.

Note: In your response, consider factors such as brand alignment, financial investment, market entry speed, and operational control etc. In addition, incorporate relevant management frameworks, such as SWOT Analysis, the Resource-Based View and etc., to support your evaluation and decision. (30 marks)

Answers to Above Case Study Questions

Answer 1: Innovation is highly essential for every type of businesses in order to survive in this highly competitive business conditions. It is therefore important for employees to generate new ideas, take risk and explore creative solutions to challenges. It requires management to develop important strategies that encourages employees to take initiative to innovate in the organisation. Below are the five important strategies that can be considered in order to foster a culture of innovation at InnovateTech Solutions.