Question
Lesedi’s Delights is a company owned by Lesedi Kekana and it is based in Atteridgeville. The company was registered in 2007. Lesedi, the owner, initially operated in a back room at her mom’s house. Her business was initially based on orders received from the local communities. The people in her township would order cakes, sandwiches and pies for their functions. Lesedi won a business award from the local business chamber in 2010 and she was given prize money of R250 000 for being the most promising entrepreneur. The award bought so much publicity that she started to struggle to fulfil orders.
Initially, she coped with this increase in orders with the help of her unemployed mother and her elder brother, who worked in Pretoria and assisted her with the deliveries after work. Some of her customers also fetched their own orders. As the business grew even more, she realised that she needed to employ at least two more people: an experienced baker and a reliable delivery person with a valid driver’s licence. Given the frequency and size of her orders, she could not afford to bring people in who could not hit the ground running in the two positions. From her recruitment process, she identified Natalie, a recently graduated hospitality student from a nearby university of technology. Natalie had also worked as an intern at a local confectionery. She also stayed in nearby Danville Township, which made travelling to work convenient.
Lesedi also identified Jonas as a suitable candidate for the driver position. He had worked for the same company for 30 years as a driver before the company closed when the owner relocated. Jonas was forced to retire at the age of 55.
2.1The concept of unity of command is very important with the chain of command.
2.1.1 Explain the concept of unity of command.
2.1.2 Provide a reason as to why unity of command will be important at Lesedi Delight.
2.1.3 Motivate how the chain of command would play a positive role in Jonas
and Natalie’s work.
Initially, she coped with this increase in orders with the help of her unemployed mother and her elder brother, who worked in Pretoria and assisted her with the deliveries after work. Some of her customers also fetched their own orders. As the business grew even more, she realised that she needed to employ at least two more people: an experienced baker and a reliable delivery person with a valid driver’s licence. Given the frequency and size of her orders, she could not afford to bring people in who could not hit the ground running in the two positions. From her recruitment process, she identified Natalie, a recently graduated hospitality student from a nearby university of technology. Natalie had also worked as an intern at a local confectionery. She also stayed in nearby Danville Township, which made travelling to work convenient.
Lesedi also identified Jonas as a suitable candidate for the driver position. He had worked for the same company for 30 years as a driver before the company closed when the owner relocated. Jonas was forced to retire at the age of 55.
2.1The concept of unity of command is very important with the chain of command.
2.1.1 Explain the concept of unity of command.
2.1.2 Provide a reason as to why unity of command will be important at Lesedi Delight.
2.1.3 Motivate how the chain of command would play a positive role in Jonas
and Natalie’s work.
Answers
GPT 3.5
2.1.1: The concept of unity of command states that each employee should only have one direct supervisor to whom they report and receive instructions from. This ensures that there is a clear line of authority and avoids confusion or conflicting instructions.
2.1.2: Unity of command will be important at Lesedi Delight because it will help maintain order and efficiency within the organization. With a clear chain of command, employees will know who to report to and who to seek guidance from. This will avoid any confusion or conflicting instructions that may arise if employees have multiple supervisors. It will also help streamline communication and decision-making processes, allowing for a more cohesive and coordinated work environment.
2.1.3: The chain of command will play a positive role in Jonas and Natalie's work by providing them with clear lines of authority and support. Jonas, as the delivery person, can report to his direct supervisor and receive clear instructions on which orders to deliver and when. This will help him prioritize his tasks and ensure timely deliveries. Natalie, as the baker, can also benefit from the chain of command by reporting to her direct supervisor and receiving guidance on the specific recipes and techniques required for each order. This will help her maintain consistency and quality in her baking. Additionally, the chain of command can provide a framework for feedback and performance evaluation, allowing both Jonas and Natalie to receive constructive feedback and support in their roles.
2.1.2: Unity of command will be important at Lesedi Delight because it will help maintain order and efficiency within the organization. With a clear chain of command, employees will know who to report to and who to seek guidance from. This will avoid any confusion or conflicting instructions that may arise if employees have multiple supervisors. It will also help streamline communication and decision-making processes, allowing for a more cohesive and coordinated work environment.
2.1.3: The chain of command will play a positive role in Jonas and Natalie's work by providing them with clear lines of authority and support. Jonas, as the delivery person, can report to his direct supervisor and receive clear instructions on which orders to deliver and when. This will help him prioritize his tasks and ensure timely deliveries. Natalie, as the baker, can also benefit from the chain of command by reporting to her direct supervisor and receiving guidance on the specific recipes and techniques required for each order. This will help her maintain consistency and quality in her baking. Additionally, the chain of command can provide a framework for feedback and performance evaluation, allowing both Jonas and Natalie to receive constructive feedback and support in their roles.