Question(s):

1. In what ways are Hazel's customers most likely to judge the quality of her
lawn care services?

Hazel’s lawn services can be judged through the appearance of her work. The
customers can decide if they are satisfied by simply observing their lawn after her
service. Her work will also be judged based on her efficiency in doing her work
taking into consideration the hours spent in doing the service and the amount of
time it took before Hazel could render the service.

2. 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?

Hazel would need to forecast first her business ’budget so she can allocate the
financial resources of her business properly. Second is sales so she can find out the
level of sales she can expect to achieve. Lastly, she would need to forecast her
business ’potential for growth and she can use these things to set goals and make
adjustments in order for her business to reach its goals.

b. What inventory items does Hazel probably have?

Lawn Mower
Fuel for Lawn Mower
Fertilizers
Herbicides
Grass seeds
Pesticides
Tools in gardening (e.g. rake, grass cutter, spade, etc)

Name one inventory decision she has to make periodically.

When to order and how much supplies should Hazel order.

c. What scheduling must she do? What things might occur to disrupt schedules and
cause Hazel to reschedule?
⁃ Arranging the schedule of when to serve which customer to avoid
overlapping of time in serving the customers, considering the amount of
time needed in finishing a job before she can start with another.
⁃ The things that might occur to disrupt schedules and will cause Hazel to
reschedule are fortuitous events such as storms, floods, earthquake and
other calamities. Other reason may include rain or bad weather, equipment
failure, and if she gets sick or has a family emergency.

d. How important is quality assurance to Hazel's business? Explain.

Quality assurance is very important because it is one of her strong suit in

competing with professional lawn care services. Since lawn mowing services are
almost the same for every competitor, the quality of her work will be her
competitive advantage.

e. What kinds of maintenance must be performed?

⁃ Placing equipment in safe places which minimizes deterioration.

⁃ Checking if the tools are in well condition; equipment maintenance
⁃ Storing fertilizers in a dry place and checking the manufacturing and
expiration date.
⁃ Keeping track of new methods in lawn mowing
⁃ Keeping the facilities clean
⁃ Proper communication with the customers through phone or in person.