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Title

Student’s name

Instructor

Course

Date

TROUBLE AT CITY ZOO

Teamwork

Inventory facts

City Zoo is a well-known tourist destination that started in 1905. The zoo has a stellar reputation for caring for its animals and letting visitors view them in their natural habitat while teaching them about wildlife. It is a top tourist attraction that by 2004 had recorded more than one million visitors. 157 full-time employees and 550 part-time and seasonal workers comprise City Zoo's workforce.

Statement of the problem

The Zoo in the city has several operational issues. An operational issue had arisen, and Emma was tasked with identifying and solving it. When the former director was in charge, there was an investigation into the deaths of a female sloth bear, a giraffe, and a hippopotamus. Poor communication between workers and their supervisors say City Zoo staff, may have been the cause of the three animals' deaths.

Analysis of causes

The staff at the zoo lacked teamwork. The chain of command was unclear. The COO was in charge of the veterinarians, while the CEO was in charge of the rest of the animal care employees. Employees could not carry out their assigned duties because of a lack of clarity in the job description. In several departments, such as zookeepers and curators, there was a lack of confidence. They were not encouraging one another. Instead of curators, zookeepers answered Dr. Tim Bernardino instead of curators who made all of the decisions at the institution.

Some staff members felt that William Lau, the executive director, was ineffective in his leadership (Johnson, 2018). Workers said he was abusive, often yelling at them, and never acknowledged their contributions. When raising concerns about the animal's well-being, staff were frightened to the point of hesitation. Disputes among staff and a lack of flexibility on the part of senior members were also brought up, according to the reports. In addition, one of the zoo's more senior staffers complained that he felt marginalized and excluded from decision-making. In other words, the example illustrates a scenario in which bad decision-making and a lack of leadership are prevalent. The City Zoo's difficulties may be traced to various factors, including a lack of openness to change, poor job design, and a climate of fear.

Theory application

· Team analysis theory involves looking at falling apart and analyzing the situation about what went wrong.

· strength theory- this theory is about the idea of the best teamwork that one has to continue and become strong

· leadership theory -this is about the importance of proper leadership to the team

List of possible solutions

The new Executive Director, Emma Breslin, had a monumental challenge in recovering staff morale and confidence. Improving the efficiency of internal communications is the first step Emma should take in reestablishing employee confidence and morale. Employee morale and motivation are boosted when managers communicate effectively.

 Employees and supervisors must have solid connections for communication to be successful, and effective communication is a fantastic way to improve those ties. The workforce's morale is boosted by developing an atmosphere where employees can work together and inspire each other. Everyone should be included in the communication and decision-making processes to enhance communication.

Emma should look into ways to increase cooperation and collaboration among the personnel. Her job is to establish and execute a system in which an employee may report any issues directly to a designated person. Employees should be able to convey particular issues or concerns in a way that is easy to understand. Implementing horizontal organizational structures, in which top-level executives are ranked according to rank, is also a consideration. Emma should address the zoo's internal structure and devise ways to convey the improvements to the public. With the help of the marketing staff, she may communicate with the outside world via advertising and promotion.

Justification of preferred solution

Leaders at City Zoo should begin implementing their rebuilding of the association by recruiting more head working officers and a general caretaker. An identification test may be required as part of this process, which will help them ensure that they choose the best possible candidates. Recognizing and rewarding good teamwork is an important part of every workplace. A team's accomplishments are more important than any one person's.

Evaluation of the preferred solution

Workers completing and passing an identification exam and attending a seminar to understand how they will fit in with the group will help improve teamwork. To transform the organization, they must be charismatic leaders, and their team must have the traits of a transformational management style and be well-versed in their field.

Theory application (solution)

One of the major theories that can be applied in this case is Maslow's hierarchy of needs (Hopper, 2020). There are five stages in Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs that enable a person to be satisfied. Finding out whether your requirements are being satisfied at work and how you may better satisfy the needs of your team will be easier if you understand this psychological notion well.

Implementation

Employees should be asked for their thoughts and ideas every month, so management may make choices that are helpful for the zoo's management by listening to their concerns. Additionally, departmental meetings should be held weekly to address any issues that need to be raised, and quarterly gatherings of all representatives should be held to explain what happened in the last quarter and what the association plans to accomplish in the upcoming year. Lastly, a cross-practical group should be formed to describe issues in the entirety of their abilities. After that, they'll report to their areas of expertise on what's happening inside the organization for criticism.

References

Hopper, E. (2020). Maslow’s hierarchy of needs explained. ThoughtCo, ThoughtCo24. www.christianworldmedia.com/client/docs/603_1585079540_17.pdf

Johnson, I. (2018). Communication huddles: the secret of team success. The Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing49(10), 451-453. Communication Huddles: The Secret of Team Success | The Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing (healio.com)

Company Name

Memo

To: Recipient Name
From:

Your Name

Date: Date
Re:

Subject

Business Summary

[Write a quick overview of the proposed start-up.]

Business Details

[Write responses to the questions asked using concepts from the class learning materials to inform your answers.]

Why do you think you can create a successful start-up? What traits will you need to be an entrepreneur?

What kind of leadership style would you use, and why?

Describe your product and why you think there is a market for it.

What legal form do you think best suits your start-up and why?

What kind of financial document should you provide so that I can evaluate the viability of your start-up?

What are the characteristics of your target customer?

Explain specific types of marketing the business should pursue.

What other sources of funding might be available for you?

How would you organize your management team, and who in your group would lead each function in the organization?

Refer to Dion's coworkers from his initial conversation.

What brand name do you propose for your electric bike, and why did you choose it?

Conclusion

[Write a concluding paragraph or two that emphasizes the reasons why Brenda should invest in your venture.]

References

Be sure to use text references in the memo and link to the references in your reference list.

References (to be used as an example)

Bumstead, D. (2009). The essentials: Sandwiches and sleep. Journals of Famous Loafers, 15(5), 565-582. doi:12.2847/CEDG.39.2.51-71 (sample of a library database peer reviewed article)

Christianson, H. (2004). Obesity in the 2000s. Retrieved from httpd://www.Georgette.coop (sample of Internet source article)

Hansel, G., & Gretel, D. (1973). Candied houses and unfriendly occupants. Thousand Oaks, CA: Fairy Tale Publishing. (sample of a book such as the textbook for this class)

Williams and Lumen Learning. (n.d.a). Introduction to BusinessName of first Chapter used. Adapted by UMUC and available under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.

Williams and Lumen Learning. (n.d.b). Introduction to BusinessName of second Chapter used. Adapted by UMUC and available under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.

Williams and Lumen Learning. (n.d.c). Introduction to BusinessName of third Chapter used. Adapted by UMUC and available under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.

Case scenario

Dion is an engineer with Tesla Motors who helps to design electric motors. It has always been his dream to start his own business, but as he has gotten older, he has not gotten around to it. He is also an avid cyclist who rides near his home in Palo Alto, California. It is hilly terrain and as he has gotten older, he has found it more difficult to navigate the steep terrain.

He has thought about buying an electric bike that would give him an additional boost with an electric motor. However, he has not been satisfied with any of the many brands of electric bikes he can find. The ones that work well are astronomically expensive and the less expensive models are poorly constructed and have short battery life.

One day at Tesla headquarters, Dion is having lunch with three of his colleagues when he raises his frustration with his inability to find the right electric bike. The other three are also avid cyclists, so they launch into an intense discussion. Mark, who works in Tesla’s marketing department, thinks that there is a demand for a high-quality electric bike at a reasonable cost. “There are social trends that could drive that demand,” he says. “First, commuting by bicycle is becoming more popular, and many who are new to it need that extra assistance to make it a comfortable experience. Also, as the population ages, older cyclists are looking for ways to keep cycling as much as they did when they were younger. An electric bike could help them do that.”

Dion responds that some of the new electric motor technologies he has been working on could be repurposed to create a high-quality electric bike at a reasonable cost. “I have been experimenting with some designs, and I think it is workable.” Rosalinda, who manages production of the Tesla Model S interjects, “You know, I came across a defunct bicycle factory about 20 miles north of here when we were looking at potential sites for expansion. It would be perfect to manufacture the bike you are describing.”

Dion can’t hold back any longer and blurts out, “Let’s start our own bicycle company and make this bike!” Sandra, who works in the finance department, scrunches up her face and says, “Whoa there, partner. Where is the money for this venture going to come from? While our salaries and stock options have made us comfortable, we don't have the resources to manufacture and market this bike.”

The group agrees that they would love to start a new company, but they must figure out how to solve the finance problem that Sandra pointed out in order to do so. Later that day, Dion can't get the idea out of his mind. Then, a potential solution comes to him. He remembers Brenda Zhang, who rode with one of his cycling groups, Palo Altitude. She is a partner in a large venture capital firm that invests in promising start-ups. Dion isn't sure if she even remembers him, and she only knew him as a cyclist, not an engineer. But he thinks it's worth a try.

He sends the following email:

To: Brenda Zhang From: Dion Morris Re: Electric Bicycle Start-Up

Several of my colleagues at Tesla and I have come up with a new design for an electric bicycle that would be relatively inexpensive, very efficient, as well as durable. I know this is coming out of the blue, but I am hoping you will remember me from our rides with the Palo Altitude group. We are looking for start-up funding, and I thought a fellow cyclist like you would see the potential market for a high-quality, inexpensive electric bicycle. Please let me know what you think.

Later that day, he is surprised to find the following email in his inbox:

To: Dion Morris From: Brenda Zhang Re: Electric Bicycle Start-Up

Of course, I remember you, Dion. You were always at the head of the pack in our rides. I am intrigued by your idea and would like to set-up a meeting to discuss it. I need to start doing my homework on the venture to see whether I and my partners are willing to provide funding. In preparation for our meeting, I would like you to prepare a memo that addresses the following issues:

· Why do you think you can create a successful start-up? What traits will you need to be an entrepreneur?

· What kind of leadership style would you use, and why?

· Describe your product and why you think there is a market for it.

· What legal form do you think best suits your start-up and why?

· What kind of financial document should you provide so that I can evaluate the viability of your start-up?

· What are the characteristics of your target market?

· Explain specific types of marketing the business should pursue.

· What other sources of funding might be available for you, whether or not we invest in your start-up?

· How would you organize your management team, and who in your group would lead each function in the organization?

· What brand name do you propose for your electric bike, and why did you choose it?

Please send this to me by next week, at least a day before our meeting. I look forward to our discussion.

You are a good friend of Dion’s. He respects you for your degree in Business and Management and your good business sense. Dion feels inadequate in the details of business and asks you to draft the requested memo for him.

How to Set Up the Memo

You will use the attached Project 2 memo template. The memo template should be single-spaced with a blank line between paragraphs. Write clearly and concisely in 12-point Times New Roman. The final product will be in a business memo format, no longer than eight pages in length (excluding the cover page and references page).

Include a title, the course number and section, your name, and the instructor's name on your title page.

Instructions

Draft the requested memo under Dion’s name. Draw on the learning resources that are in the classroom to influence your answers. This is not a research-based project, so do not use any sources other than the course materials.

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