Sundown Bakery Case Study

Sundown Bakery In the Sundown Bakery situation, the business started as a small operation, but as it expanded it led to changes in the way it was run. The family feeling and closeness that was once strong was less noticeable. The new employees did not even know Bruce and Carol, the owners, and the old employees did not like receiving orders from corporate management. There was no longer any face-to-face communication. As a result, there was less give-and-take of ideas, and the communication channels were closed. To make business more productive Bruce and Carol should bring back face-to-face communication, so that the employees will feel that the owners care about their ideas, and their opinions. When the family feeling was strong, it was only one small store. Carol ran the shop up front, and Bruce ran the bakery and ordered supplies. Carol hired two clerks, Marina and Kim, and Bruce hired an assistant, Maurice. They worked closely, and talked face-to-face about things that needed to be done. They also worked intimately with the customers. Everyone was very close, and things ran smoothly because they talked to each other. Bruce and Carol asked Maurice, Marina and Kim about their ideas and their plans on what could make the store run better, and make business more productive. They all told each other what they thought, and shared their opinions with each other. If Marina, Kim, or Maurice had an idea about a new product or a new way to decorate the store, all they had to do was talk to Bruce or Carol about it face-to-face. As it began to grow, Maurice was now master baker, and he had two assistants. The busier they got meant he had less time to work with Bruce, and help order needed supplies. Marina and Kim supervised the shop, which caused them to no longer have time to help Carol. Carol was too busy managing general