HAZEL CASE STUDY

PAGE – 38 & 69

Group II
 
Ms. Stella Kyaw Win
Ms. Hninn Nwe Moe

Ms. Su Su Mar
Ms. Thit Thit Zin

Ms. Khin Thiri

Ms. Thinzar Linn

Ms. Mi Pyae Pyae Thike
 CASE STUDY
 Hazel had worked for the same Fortune 500 company.
 Hazel lost her job after 15 years of working for the same Fortune
company. Hazel along with 400 co-workers was terminated of the
new CEO’s decision. Hazel searched for a job for eight months and
became discouraged.
 Hazel started a side lawn business but could not devote time to
both it and her job search, so she was forced to make an important
decision.
 Hazel decided to start her own business but was fearful. Many
asked her to take care of their lawns and some people switched
from professional lawn care services. Hazel’s lawn business is in
extremely good place.
 She has been able to take a situation that could have potentially
ruined her livelihood and make it a great success.
 There are many aspects of this case that has relevance to
operations management. The concept of being in business for
herself came about when Hazel was forced to use current
resources in order to survive after losing a position that she
relied on for a very long time.
 However it was derived from her need for income and for her
neighborhood’s demand for lawn care services.
 From a consumer’s standpoint, Hazel’s work was just as good
as professional lawn care service and probably less costly.
 Hazel was able to beat out competition without having to put
much effort or cash into advertising and building her business.
Business became so good that Hazel hired two part-time
workers to assist her and to meet demand for her service.
 Hazel believed that she could expand further if she wanted to.
1. HAZEL IS THE OPERATIONS MANAGER OF HER BUSINESS. AMONG HER
RESPONSIBILITIES ARE FORECASTING, INVENTORY MANAGEMENT SCHEDULING,
QUALITY ASSURANCE AND MAINTENANCE.

 A. What kinds of things would likely require forecasts?

Answers; weather, seasons, and maintenance

 B. What inventory items does Hazel probably have? Name one inventory decision she has to make periodically.

Answer: parts of mowing machines, gas, and fertilizer. She has to make inventory decision periodically is the quantity of fertilizer.

 C. What scheduling must she do? What things might occur to disrupt schedules and cause Hazel to reschedule?

Answer: workers’ timetable, mow machine, and maintenance. Mow machine breakdown, workers get sick, bad weather and any
emergencies happen will cause Hazel to reschedule.

 D. How important is quality assurance to Hazel’s business? Explain.

Answer: It is very important because since Hazel just started her new business which mean she does not has enough number of
customers. If she wants to maintain her business, it is important to keep her reputation and quality of the service in order to get
repeat customers.

 E. What kinds of maintenance must be performed?

Answer: oil change, sharpness of the blade, and regular check the mow machine’s engine.
2. IN WHAT WAYS ARE HAZEL’S CUSTOMERS MOST LIKELY
TO JUDGE THE QUALITY OF HER LAWN CARE SERVICES?
3. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE TRADE-OFFS THAT HAZEL
PROBABLY CONSIDERED RELATIVE TO:

 A. Working for a company instead of for herself?

Answer: She will waste time to find a job. Since she is an employee, she will not worry lots of
stuffs and she does not need to take care of so much stuffs compare to own a business.

 B. Expanding the business?

Answer: She can earn more profit but for doing this, she needs a big capital to support her.

 C. Launching a web site?

Answer: It costs a lot to have a web site, on the other hand, she can able to get new customers
from other neighborhoods.
4. THE TOWN IS CONSIDERING AN ORDINANCE THAT WOULD PROHIBIT PUTTING GRASS CLIPPINGS AT THE
CURB FOR PICKUP BECAUSE LOCAL LANDFILLS CANNOT HANDLE THE VOLUME. WHAT OPTIONS MIGHT HAZEL
CONSIDER IF THE ORDINANCE IS PASSED? NAME TWO ADVANTAGES AND TWO DRAWBACKS OF EACH OPTION.

 Answer:

Advantages
1. It can increase Hazel’s business because the customers would not wait the grasses grow too long to call the
mow service.
2. Hazel also can start a new pick up service to help the customers to collect all the grass clippings and throw
it away.

Drawbacks
1. The working volume is increased which means Hazel needs to hire more employees to assist her.

2. Hazel has to reschedule all her working hours and it might be increased her working hours compare to
previous.
5. HAZEL DECIDED TO OFFER THE STUDENTS WHO WORKED FOR HER A BONUS OF $25 FOR IDEAS ON HOW TO IMPROVE
THE BUSINESS, AND THEY PROVIDED SEVERAL GOOD IDEAS. ONE IDEA THAT SHE INITIALLY REJECTED NOW APPEARS TO
HOLD GREAT PROMISE. THE STUDENT WHO PROPOSED THE IDEA HAS LEFT, AND IS CURRENTLY WORKING FOR A
COMPETITOR. SHOULD HAZEL SEND THAT STUDENT A CHECK FOR THE IDEA? WHAT ARE THE POSSIBLE TRADE-OFFS?

 Answer:

Yes, Hazel has to pay the student because the student had provided good ideas which
help improve her business. Since the student has left and currently working for Hazel’s
competitor, she has to make a contract that the information should not be share to anyone
accept Hazel’s company.
6. ALL MANAGERS HAVE TO COPE WITH VARIATION.
 A. What are the major sources of variation that Hazel has to contend with?

Answer: Bad weather, workers do not show up during work time, and extra jobs.

 B. How might these sources of variation impact Hazel’s ability to match supply and
demand?
Answer: Hazel will has to do extra jobs and the working hours are not stable.

 C. What are some ways she can cope with variation?

Answer: Hazel can hire more part-time workers to assist her in case some of the workers take
leave. She also can study more about weather forecast, so she can do some preparation when
it is bad weather occurs.
7. HAZEL IS THINKING OF MAKING SOME OF HER OPERATIONS
SUSTAINABLE. WHAT ARE SOME IDEAS SHE MIGHT CONSIDER?

Innovati A wide
on range of
services
Improvi
Investing
ng
on high Reachin
quality service
g new
tools and quality
custome
equipmen
t
rs
HAZEL REVISITED Q & A
1. WHAT COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE DOES HAZEL HAVE OVER A PROFESSIONAL LAWN CARE
SERVICE?

Helping
Customer
mowing
relationship
lawns
(neighbors)
Market CA

 Answer:

Hazel gains trustiness from her neighborhood because

Hazel’s company is nearer and they know her for a long time, so
this makes her has an advantage from a professional lawn care
service.
2. HAZEL WOULD LIKE TO INCREASE HER PROFITS, BUT SHE DOESN’T BELIEVE THAT IT
WOULD BE WISE TO RAISE HER PRICES CONSIDERING THE CURRENT STATE OF LOCAL
ECONOMY. INSTEAD, SHE HAS GIVEN SOME THOUGHT TO INCREASING PRODUCTIVITY.

 A. Explain how increased productivity could be an alternative to increased prices.

Answer: Training to be more efficient in operation and customer relation and innovation to
reduce cost

 B. What are some ways that Hazel could increase productivity?

Answer: reward her workers, establish reasonable goals for improvement, and develop their
operation for efficiency.
3. HAZEL IS THINKING ABOUT THE PURCHASE OF NEW EQUIPMENT. ONE WOULD BE POWER
SIDEWALK EDGERS. SHE BELIEVES EDGERS WILL LEAD TO AN INCREASE IN PRODUCTIVITY.
ANOTHER WOULD BE A CHAIN SAW, WHICH WOULD BE USED FOR TREE PRUNING. WHAT
TRADE-OFFS SHOULD SHE CONSIDER IN HER ANALYSIS?

 Answer:

If Hazel purchases the new equipment, she can offer a new service to customers,
which can increase her business profit.

On the other hand, if she does not purchase, she does not need to spend extra
maintenance fees for the new equipment.
4. HAZEL HAS BEEN FAIRLY SUCCESSFUL IN HER NEIGHBORHOOD, AND NOW WANTS TO
EXPAND TO OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS, INCLUDING SOME THAT ARE FIVE MILES AWAY. WHAT
WOULD BE THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF DOING THIS?

 Answer:

Advantages : She can earn more profits, more new customers, and more people will know her company exists.

Disadvantages: The company will be more hard to handle, needs a big capital to support, and higher risk to lose
her business.
5. HAZEL DOES NOT HAVE A MISSION STATEMENT OR A SET OF
OBJECTIVES. TAKE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING POSITIONS AND DEFEND IT;

 A. Hazel doesn’t need a formal mission statement and objectives. Many small businesses don’t have them.

 B. She definitely needs a mission statement and a set of objectives. They would be extremely beneficial

 C. There may be some benefit to Hazel’s business and she should consider developing one.

Answers; There may be some benefits to Hazel’s business, and she should consider developing one.
Because there are few benefits such as expansion and growth of her business, attract more customers,
generate revenue and profits and become more professional. 
THANK YOU