Action Research Project. Business & Marketing Essay.

Action Research Project
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Problem Identification
Description of the Organization
Context of the Problem:
How Do You Know It’s A Problem?
Specifically What is the Problem?
Needs Assessment and Diagnosis
Data Collection
Data Analysis
Proposed Organization Development Interventions/Strategies
Required Resources
Timeline
Anticipated Resistance
Potential Benefits
Suggested Evaluation Approach
Summary/Conclusion Problem Identification
Organizational development organizes and rearranges an organization’s operation due to some factors. It may be rebranding, a new application of strategies, tight competition, or problems that endanger the company’s stability in the industry. Organizational change due to problems has to be planned carefully so as not to create more problems to deal with. Organizational problems may cause larger issues if not attended right away. It may even cause the company’s fall at worst.In this paper, I choose Quiktrip as my sample organization to plan for organizational development. The change will be related to the effects of coronavirus pandemics to the business industry. The problem identified is downsizing.
Description of the Organization
For this paper, I choose Quiktrip Corporation as my business organization. Quiktrip was established in the late 50s as a small grocery store in Tulsa Oklahoma. As the business expands over the years, it has become a chain-supply, retail store for fresh foods and snacks. It has also entered the petroleum industry by retailing gasoline and diesel fuel. With revenue of 11.4 billion dollars, Quiktrip so far has 800 stores and gasoline stations, and 22, 089 employees (Forbes, n.d.).
Context of the Problem:
Problems in an organization are inevitable. They rise as a reaction to an occurrence inside or outside the company. For instance, the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the business industry in terms of sales revenue. Establishments had to close for weeks and adjust the number of customers to accommodate, an unplanned move for the business industry (Nicola et al., 2020). The closing and the reduction of customers cut the usual income of establishments.
Such a problem is caused by a health issue that the business industry has no control over. Uncontrollable issues as such can create organizational problems. What the business industry can do when in a situation is to adjust its plans and strategize their next moves with several alternatives (Cameron, 1994). Quiktrip, as a retail store, has undergone distress in the pandemic as well. They have continued to operate with health protocols to lessen the economic impact of the pandemic on the business.
How Do You Know It’s A Problem?
Organizations maintain a stable business operation to avoid loss in revenues and investments. Smooth business operations entail a proper application of strategy and operation management. However, organizations are disturbed occasionally by the results of operation management. For instance, a low sales rate can affect the revenue of the organization. Later on, it may result in adjustments in operation management plans. It can go worse if the root of the problem is not identified because it will not be addressed immediately (Kumar & Routroy, 2014).
Organizational problems show symptoms like declining sales rate and revenue, compromised production quantity and quality, financial instability, etc. These symptoms may start small but they should not be neglected. Signs of organizational distress must be identified earlier to be addressed with plans and strategies immediately.
Specifically What is the Problem?
Downsizing is a strategy used in an organization in instances when there is a need to cost-cut or outsource. It can be applied in the number of employees, pieces of equipment, production, cost, and other aspects of the business (Cameron, 1994). However, downsizing can cause distress for the organization. For instance, downsizing on human resources may affect the manpower in the production section. It may also cut off potential skilled employees.
Quiktrip has a reputation for carefully handling its business and its employees (Ton, 2011). It worries not only about the people but also the service they give and their service providers. In the time of a pandemic when an economic crisis hits the establishments, there may be a need to lay off. It will be a problem for Quiktrip to cut the number of their employees especially now when people need a source of income.
Needs Assessment and Diagnosis
This section assesses the information about Quikrip’s operation, gathered from news article reports on Quiktrip. Access to particular details about Quiktrip’s operation is limited. Instead, the news articles will show the stability of Quiktrip amid the pandemic.
Data Collection
Qualitative archival data will be used in this action research. Due to limited access to details about the company’s detailed status, proactive measures done by Quiktrip to combat the pandemic will be assessed instead. These measures will tell how Quiktrip is coping with the pandemic. It can also hint on the status of their sales and business stability.
Data Analysis
Quiktrip has been following health protocols for establishments frequented by many people. Sanitation and social distancing are implemented which resulted in decreasing the number of customers at a time. Because of this change in customer accommodation, changes in sales and human resource management have occurred as well.
New York Times (2020) reported on the estimation of workers without paid sick leave during the pandemic and Quiktrip is among those with the least number. It implies that Quiktrip still has workers without paid sick leave but with only a minimal number of employees affected by it. A Quiktrip employee was reported to have died of coronavirus. This was proactively reacted upon by Quiktrip by sending support, which the store did not disclose publicly, to the family of the employee. Quiktrip also initiated on local hiring for the replacement of the employee. (Goforth, 2020). These human-resource-related reports give an implication on the stability of Quiktrip during the pandemic. Quiktrip has been managing to look after its employees despite the effect of the pandemic on retail sales.
The U.S. has been reported to have a shortage of coins. This is evident because stores have been putting up signs to pay in the exact amount due to a lack of coins for change. Quiktrip has also put up a sign in their counters and an additional that they will instead give gift cards as change for those who don't have the exact amount (Walters, 2020). This issue on the circulation of coins affects all the establishments but Quiktrip was able to solve the issue with the customers' comfort in mind.These reports on Quiktrip and its proactive solutions entail that Quiktrip is stable enough to still satisfy the customers despite the toll that the pandemic gives to the business industry. It shows that Quiktrip stands true to its reputation of being a customer-driven store.
Proposed Organization Development Interventions/Strategies
Lewin's 3 stage model of change can be applied as an intervention to Quiktrip's organizational development. The three stages are unfreeze, change, and refreeze. The unfreezing happened when the pandemic broke out and the status quo had to change, thus the new normal. Change happens next to it. Planning the business operation following the health protocols and new normal. When the pandemic ends, refreezing of the established new normal will be applied. There will be changes that will have to continue until necessary (Hussain, 2018).
Required Resources
To carry out the organizational development plan for Quiktrip, enough human resources and production must be secured. These are the necessary resources to apply the change intervention to the organization.
Human resources will be efficiently assigned to recruit. Instead of hiring new employees, internal recruitment will place effective employees to another position where they can maximize their skills. Downsizing the employees will cut the number of employees and may result in a slowdown of production and longer working hours for some employees.
The security of production ensu...