Jes Digital Print Ltd Management & Leadership Issues PDF

Assignment Introduction Principles of management are essential for an organization’s existence and achieving organizational goals effectively and efficiently. Management means planning, organizing, coordinating, and controlling resources to achieve organizational goals. Managers are responsible for...

Assignment Introduction Principles of management are essential for an organization’s existence and achieving organizational goals effectively and efficiently. Management means planning, organizing, coordinating, and controlling resources to achieve organizational goals. Managers are responsible for guiding and directing the work of team members to make sure the achievement of desired outcomes. “Management is to forecast, to plan, to organize, to command, to coordinate and to control” (Henri Fayol). Asare Textiles Ltd is a well-established clothing manufacturing business located in the south of the country, specializing in fashion clothing for both men and women. Founded by Maria and Emilia Asare, the company initially struggled but gained traction after securing a contract to supply work and safety clothing. However, in 2018, the decision to shift focus to fashion apparel introduced significant operational challenges. This transition required adjustments to production processes, leading to issues such as increased waste, quality control problems, and staffing difficulties, which have collectively impacted the company’s profit margins. The management dynamics at Asare Textiles Ltd reflect contrasting leadership styles between the co-owners. Maria adopts an autocratic approach, favoring centralized decision- making, which can limit employee engagement and innovation. In contrast, Emilia employs a laissez-faire style, encouraging creativity among designers but potentially causing confusion in aligning team efforts with overall business goals. The lack of a unified leadership strategy has resulted in decision-making delays and conflicts, further complicating the company's ability to navigate recent operational changes effectively. Additionally, high turnover rates among staff have posed a challenge, with disengaged employees leading to decreased productivity and increased training costs. As the company shifts to short production runs, a lack of cohesive management has contributed to operational inefficiencies. Quality control issues and delays in meeting deadlines have further strained the business, necessitating urgent attention from management to enhance employee satisfaction and streamline operations. To improve business performance, Asare Textiles Ltd should adopt a unified leadership approach, incorporating conflict resolution training for both Maria and Emilia to foster collaboration. Enhancing employee training and development, implementing robust quality control measures, and creating a positive work culture will be essential for addressing current challenges. By focusing on these recommendations, Asare Textiles Ltd can optimize operations, increase employee engagement, and ultimately achieve sustainable growth. In this , we will discuss management and leadership issues and recommendations on actions that can be taken to improve business performance at JES Digital Print Ltd. Then we will be able to understand what should be done for the current issues and future existence of the organization. If Asare Textiles need to become successful again, there are some changes that need to be managed. Which means this company was a successful one before. Because of the owners’ disagreements and lack of attention to leadership styles and leadership skills the company’s performance declined. As human beings every worker, employee, staff members and team members whoever works in an organization would like to have better benefits. If they are unable to have better benefits and needs, they will not work in the organization as they like. Then it will hinder their success and the organizational success also. There are two major problems in this company. The first one is losing permanent staff and the second one is profits decreasing. The first thing that we should give more attention is the leaving of permanent staff. Without better staff a business can’t be run effectively and efficiently, and the profit will decrease because of this. As you can see Asare Ltd has lost many permanent staff during the last five years. So, we need to find, a) Why the permanent staff leave the organization. b) What they expect in the organization. c) What should be done for staff well-being. Principles of management are very important for an organization. If the owners don’t have any idea about this, their organizational goal will not be achieved. For the organizational success requires the employee success also. As a manager of a company, he or she is doing a critical job to achieve shared goals with the help of staff members. From my perspective these owners of Asare Textiles haven’t given priority to some leadership styles and skills also. Planning and organizing Planning is the very first step of an organization. Before doing anything, we should plan about the things that should be done. Planning is the procedure of setting goals, the decisions should be taken to achieve those goals and enhancing strategies to achieve them. Not only in an organization, in our personal life also we should have a plan to do anything. As a manager of JES Digital Print Ltd, the owners must have a better plan for this company. They need to change their decisions which they have made. Developing flexible plans is very important in a company to change decisions efficiently. The first thing that needs to be changed is the owners’ different ideas over major decisions. Because the owners and employees should have a direct vision and mission for the achievement of common goals if they need to become successful in the organization. Setting SMART goals is a very important thing in planning prosses. Which means specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time bound goals. As a company with no profits and losing staff should follow a better plan. As an effective leader first, they should plan to have strong communication skills with their staff. It helps to understand the staff and create a good relationship with them. Then they will be able to provide solutions for organizational problems and employee problems. Sara, who is responsible for human resources, must guide and provide directions to the staff toward success. In this case, she should plan what are the guidance needs to be given to the staff and how it needs to be handled. With good guidance this company will be able to reduce the problem of losing permanent staff. Organizing the things will contribute to achieving the goals systematically. In a successful organization, resources should be arranged in a proper way and the tasks should be done in a structured manner to achieve goals. Luis oversees the production thing. So, he is responsible for arranging resources. As an effective leader he should allocate resources efficiently. If the resources are allocated expertly, employees will be able to work easily. As an example, some employees work in an organization without any commitment or interest. Because they are unable to set resources perfectly. It is hard to work in a structured manner. Because everything in the organization is disorganized. It is not an impact on employees only, it is an impact on the organization also. Because employees with commitment will work for organizational success. That is why organizing is very important in an organization if it needs to be succeeded. As an effective leader one should give more attention to organizing. This will be helpful for staff to do their job properly. Staffing and controlling In JES Digital Print Ltd their biggest problem is losing staff. So, they are responsible for staff well-being in the company. As a manager of human resources, Sara is responsible for recruiting employees. As a qualified leader she should select better employees for the organization. If employees are better, they will not leave the organization for any reason. In this company Sara should train the staff and develop opportunities to enhance employee skills because all employees are working to get better benefits and personal growth. So, she should will be able to provide new ideas and innovation for the achievements of the organization. Which means it is advisable to select better employees to work. For a successful organization or company, the owners should recruit employees with diverse backgrounds. If anorganization gives more attention to diversity, it creates an environment that values different perspectives and ideas.. It is not good to give up on your work. If the staff isnot right, as leaders, they should fix the staff as they want. By giving them advice, opportunities to their personal growth, motivations, and responsibilities. If the staff have no idea about the job role which they are doing, leaders should show them the right way and get better benefits from the staff for organizational success. If an employee is not doing his best in the job role which he works, leaders should be able to switch him to another job role which he can perform well. However, it is better to choose the right person for the right job first. As a responsible leader in Asare Textiles owners should be able to control the company properly. If they are unable to do that the company and employees will not work efficiently. It is very important that a company is controlled by the leaders in the correct way. Leaders of the company are responsible for making sure that the company stays on track towardsits common goals. Monitoring is also a part of controlling. Whatever happens, as the owners, they should give more attention to ensure that the company is doing well. So, they must understand the overall process. Leading and delegating Leading involves guiding, directing, and motivating employees to achieve organizational objectives. As an effective leader he or she should be able to give advice to the staff in the correct way. The owners of Asarae should foster open communication with the staff. Because without good communication the employees will not be able to share their ideas and problems with managers. Then how do managers understand the problems and give the solutions for their problems. Which means as an effective leader the owners of this company need to build good communication with the staff. So, they are responsible for leading the staff properly. Asare has lost many permanent staff during the last five years, like I said. Which means staff had some issues within the organization. So, it is better to know about the reason for staff leaving in advance. After that they will be able to understand what the problems are and what should be done. If the employees are not doing well in the organization the owners should talk and motivate them. Motivating is useful for everywhere. As a leader one should motivate their team members in any situation. By motivating employees, the employees will work hard for the achievement of the organization. The first thing is (Name ), who is training the employees, should understand the employee and if they are not interested in the job, she should motivate them. To motivate them she can give some motivational sessions to the staff and appreciate their work within the organization. Delegating is an essential thing in an organization. It gives the responsibility to employees and teams to do their job. But it does not mean the owners should give all responsibility to the team without any involvement and guidance.without guidance employees will not be able to take responsibility. So, who believes in the staff, should motivate them to take responsibility. Asarae employees do not seem good at their job. That is why they are leaving the company. In that case the owners should understand the situation and they should provide the solutions. As a solution it is better to promote a sense of ownership among employees. Because of that the employees will work hard, and they will do their best for organizational success. It is important to build trust and commitment among employees in this company. By leading and delegating employees like this, they will know about the importance of their job, and they will not leave the job for no reason. Leadership All leaders play a crucial part in the organization. They should guide, motivate, and influence employees for success and the future existence of the company. As a good leader he or she should have self-confidence. Without self-confidence the leaders will not be able to handle the team. Leaders with adaptability and problem-solving abilities will guide their team in a corrective way. Different leadership roles are doing a different job in a company. So, the first thing is known about the difference between those leaderships. It helps to make decisions and take action at the right time. Asare Textiles has faced these leadership issues. As responsible leaders first they must recognize the problem in their company, after that they should find the solutions and then solutions should be implemented with help from the team. There are two types of leadership. The first one is transformational leadership and the second one is transactional leadership. In transactional leadership the leaders focus on the exchange of rewards and punishments. As leaders of company, they should choose the leadership type which they need to follow. From my point of view, they should follow transformational leadership.In the case of Asare Textiles Ltd, the best leadership style would be transformational leadership. This style focuses on inspiring and motivating employees, fostering innovation, and driving organizational change—key factors that are necessary given the company's current challenges and need for adaptability. Here’s why transformational leadership would work best in this scenario: 1. Alignment of Vision and Strategy Transformational leaders provide a clear vision that aligns with long-term goals. Maria and Emilia need to unite their differing leadership approaches and establish a cohesive strategy to manage the company’s shift from work and safety clothing to fashion apparel. A transformational leader would focus on unifying the team around a shared vision that blends Maria’s experience with Emilia’s creative approach. 2. Inspiring and Empowering Employees As the company faces high turnover and disengaged employees, a transformational leader would empower the workforce by involving them in decision-making, fostering innovation, and offering development opportunities. This approach could improve job satisfaction, reduce turnover, and encourage employees to take ownership of quality control and operational efficiency. 3. Driving Change and Adaptability The transition to fashion clothing requires constant adaptation to short production runs and tight deadlines. Transformational leadership is effective in times of change because it encourages flexibility and motivates employees to embrace new processes and technologies. This leadership style could help Asare Textiles Ltd overcome the operational inefficiencies they are currently facing. 4. Fostering Collaboration and Creativity By encouraging collaboration between management and staff, a transformational leader can ensure that both Maria’s experience and Emilia’s creative vision are incorporated into the company’s strategy. This leadership style also promotes open communication, which can help resolve conflicts, leading to more cohesive decision-making and smoother operations. Overall, transformational leadership would help Maria and Emilia guide Asare Textiles Ltd through this period of change, inspire employees to engage with new strategies, and foster a culture of innovation and continuous improvement. Every organization works hard to approach higher profits. If they are unable to make profits properly, the owners will not be able to sustain a successful organization. As you can see this table says how much profit they have made within the organization. Their profit has come down even though the revenue has become high. It does not matter how much revenue they achieve if they cannot make profits. The increase in waste at Asare Textiles Ltd is primarily due to quality control issues and customer returns, which are directly impacting the company's profit margins. This problem likely stems from the shift in production focus from long production runs of work and safety clothing to short runs of fashion apparel. Inconsistent quality standards, lack of sufficient training for staff, and rushed production to meet tight fashion deadlines may be contributing to defects and lower-quality outputs. Key factors behind this issue include: 1. Quality Control Breakdown: With the shift to short production runs, regular adjustments to machinery and methods are required, but the quality control system may not have adapted to these more frequent changes. Without stringent oversight and regular quality checks, defects are more likely to go unnoticed until products are returned by customers. 2. Inadequate Staff Training: Frequent changes in staff, combined with the use of temporary workers to meet seasonal peaks, could lead to improper handling of machinery and materials, increasing the likelihood of errors. These errors in production could result in higher waste and defective products reaching customers, leading to increased returns. 3. Tight Deadlines and Rush Production: The fashion industry operates on short lead times and trends, often resulting in rushed production to meet deadlines. This rush can compromise attention to detail and quality, as speed becomes the priority over precision. Increased stock holding The issue of increased stock holding at Asare Textiles Ltd is another challenge that has arisen from the shift in their production strategy. Moving from long production runs of work and safety clothing to short runs of fashion apparel has introduced complexities in inventory management. The company now holds more stock than necessary, which ties up capital and reduces profitability. Here are the main factors contributing to this issue: Recommendations: To address increased stock holding, Asare Textiles Ltd should implement more effective inventory management systems, such as a just-in-time approach, which minimizes excess stock by only ordering materials as needed. Additionally, conducting regular reviews of sales forecasts and demand trends can help align production with actual demand, reducing the risk of overstocking and freeing up valuable capital tied up in inventory. A high turnover of permanent staff The high turnover of permanent staff at Asare Textiles Ltd is a significant issue that negatively impacts business performance, increasing costs and reducing operational efficiency. High employee turnover can disrupt production, lead to increased training expenses, and reduce overall morale among remaining staff. Several factors could be contributing to this issue: 1. Leadership and Management Style The contrasting leadership styles of Maria and Emilia may be a major factor driving staff turnover. Maria’s autocratic style, which limits employee involvement in decision-making, can result in a lack of empowerment and job satisfaction. Emilia’s laissez-faire approach, while promoting creativity, may create confusion or lack of direction, especially for non-design employees. The lack of clear, consistent leadership may frustrate employees and lead to dissatisfaction. 2. Workplace Stress and Demands The shift from long production runs to short, highly customized runs in fashion apparel has likely increased pressure on staff. The frequent need for machinery adjustments, tight deadlines, and overtime could be causing high levels of stress and burnout, prompting permanent staff to leave. Additionally, employing temporary workers during peak seasons might create an unstable working environment, further demotivating permanent staff. 3. Limited Opportunities for Growth and Development If employees feel that there are limited opportunities for advancement or skill development, they may seek better prospects elsewhere. Without structured career progression or continuous training programs, permanent staff may feel undervalued and unmotivated, contributing to the decision to leave the company. 4. Lack of Employee Engagement The company’s current leadership styles might be causing a lack of engagement, where employees feel disconnected from the company's goals and culture. If employees do not feel their contributions are recognized or valued, they are more likely to leave. Poor communication and insufficient feedback can exacerbate this problem. Recommendations: To reduce staff turnover, Asare Textiles Ltd should adopt a more inclusive and engaging leadership approach, such as transformational leadership, which emphasizes employee involvement and motivation. Implementing career development programs, offering opportunities for skill enhancement, and creating clear paths for advancement can help improve retention. The company should also consider enhancing employee well-being, by promoting a healthy work-life balance, reducing excessive overtime, and creating a more stable and supportive workplace culture. These measures can significantly reduce turnover, improve morale, and increase overall productivity. The increase in staffing costs at Asare Textiles Ltd, driven by overtime and the need to employ temporary staff during peak periods, is a significant issue that is eroding the company's profitability. This problem is mainly caused by the company’s operational shift to short production runs, which require frequent changes in production methods and materials, leading to inefficient use of labor. Here are the key factors contributing to this issue: 1. Unpredictable Production Demands The fashion industry, with its constantly changing trends and seasonal peaks, demands a flexible workforce. However, Asare Textiles Ltd may not have the proper workforce planning in place to handle these fluctuations. This leads to an over-reliance on temporary staff during peak periods and extensive overtime for permanent employees, both of which increase labor costs. 2. Overtime Costs As the company faces tight deadlines, it may resort to having permanent staff work overtime to meet production demands. While this ensures orders are fulfilled, it significantly raises labor costs, as overtime wages are typically much higher than regular pay. In the long run, this increases the financial burden on the company without necessarily improving operational efficiency. 3. Dependence on Temporary Workers During peak seasons, Asare Textiles Ltd may be employing a large number of temporary workers to meet short-term demands. While this provides flexibility, temporary workers often lack the training and experience of permanent staff, leading to inefficiencies, higher error rates, and increased supervision needs. Moreover, the costs associated with hiring, training, and managing temporary staff can further inflate the company's staffing budget. 4. Inefficiency in Workforce Planning Poor workforce planning may also be contributing to the company's inability to balance its labor needs effectively throughout the year. If production peaks are not anticipated and staffed appropriately, the company is forced to rely on costly overtime and temporary staff to manage the workload, leading to a cycle of inefficiency and higher costs. Recommendations: To reduce staffing costs, Asare Textiles Ltd should consider better workforce planning and scheduling, which would align staffing levels with production demands. Implementing a flexible workforce model, where permanent staff can adjust their working hours during peak seasons, could help reduce reliance on overtime and temporary workers. Additionally, investing in cross-training staff across different roles would allow the company to be more adaptable during high-demand periods, improving overall productivity and reducing the need for temporary hires. Automation in certain parts of production could also minimize the need for excess labor during peak times, ultimately lowering staffing costs Aadditional equipment The need for additional equipment at Asare Textiles Ltd has likely arisen due to the company’s shift from long production runs of work and safety clothing to short production runs of fashion apparel. This transition has introduced more complexity into the production process, requiring greater flexibility and frequent changes in machinery and materials. However, the addition of new equipment has contributed to rising operational costs. Several factors are contributing to this situation: 1. Frequent Adjustments to Production In the fashion industry, where trends change rapidly, production runs are often shorter and more varied. Asare Textiles Ltd now needs to adjust machinery frequently to accommodate different product lines, materials, and designs. This requires specialized or adaptable equipment, and the company may have had to invest in new machines that can handle these short production cycles. However, the cost of acquiring, maintaining, and operating this new equipment has added to the company’s financial burden. 2. Outdated or Inefficient Machinery The existing machinery, which was designed for longer production runs, may no longer be suitable for the fast-paced, varied demands of fashion clothing production. As a result, the company may have had to purchase additional equipment to keep up with these new demands. If older machines are inefficient or incompatible with the requirements of fashion production, downtime, repairs, and new purchases can all increase costs. 3. Equipment Downtime Adjusting machinery for frequent short production runs often results in downtime, where machines are idle while being reset for the next product. This downtime not only reduces overall productivity but may also necessitate the purchase of additional equipment to keep production moving smoothly. However, this added equipment may not always be used at full capacity, further increasing costs without a proportionate rise in efficiency. 4. Specialized Equipment for New Materials The fashion industry often requires the use of new, innovative materials and techniques. Asare Textiles Ltd may have had to invest in specialized equipment to work with different fabrics, dyes, or finishes. The cost of acquiring and integrating this new technology into the production process, alongside training employees to use it effectively, would further increase operational expenses. Recommendations: To manage the costs of additional equipment, Asare Textiles Ltd should optimize equipment usage by improving production scheduling and planning. Implementing lean manufacturing practices, which focus on reducing waste and improving efficiency, can minimize downtime and ensure equipment is used more effectively. Additionally, the company should explore equipment leasing or financing options, which could reduce the immediate capital outlay and help balance cash flow. Regular maintenance and upgrading of existing machinery might also reduce the need for constant new equipment purchases, allowing the company to operate more cost-effectively. Delays caused by new materials not being ordered in time for new deadlines. The delays at Asare Textiles Ltd caused by new materials not being ordered in time for new deadlines are a serious operational challenge, particularly in the fast-paced fashion industry. This issue can lead to production bottlenecks, missed deadlines, and increased costs due to rush orders or expedited shipping. Here are the primary factors contributing to these delays: 1. Poor Supply Chain Coordination The shift to fashion apparel requires new and varied materials for each production run, which are often seasonal or trend-driven. If the supply chain management at Asare Textiles Ltd is not well-coordinated, the business may fail to order materials in advance or communicate effectively with suppliers. This lack of coordination can lead to late deliveries and missed production deadlines, disrupting the entire manufacturing process. 2. Inadequate Inventory Planning The unpredictable nature of fashion trends, coupled with short production runs, makes inventory planning more complex. Without accurate forecasting, the company may underestimate the amount of material needed for upcoming orders, leading to last-minute orders that suppliers cannot fulfill on time. Asare Textiles may also be trying to minimize stock holding, which, while reducing costs, increases the risk of running out of necessary materials. 3. Supplier-Related Delays If Asare Textiles Ltd relies on a small pool of suppliers or long lead times for certain specialized materials, this can create vulnerabilities in their supply chain. Delays on the supplier side, whether due to shortages, shipping issues, or other disruptions, can cascade through the production process, leading to missed deadlines for the company. Lack of supplier diversification may also exacerbate this problem. 4. Last-Minute Changes in Design In the fast-changing fashion industry, last-minute design adjustments may require new or different materials. If Asare Textiles needs to adjust its orders to accommodate these changes, this can lead to further delays as suppliers may need additional time to source or produce the necessary materials. These changes can disrupt production schedules and lead to late deliveries to customers. Recommendations: To mitigate delays caused by material shortages, Asare Textiles Ltd should invest in improving its supply chain management by enhancing communication with suppliers and ensuring materials are ordered well in advance. Implementing an inventory management system that forecasts material needs based on past trends and upcoming orders can help the company better manage stock levels. Additionally, building relationships with multiple suppliers can reduce reliance on any single vendor, ensuring materials are available when needed. Introducing supply chain monitoring technology to track orders and shipments in real time could also help Asare Textiles anticipate and address potential delays before they impact production. Leadership styles Leadership styles are doing an imperative job in every organization. They depend on different business circumstances, and the needs of the organization and its employees. As an effective leader who wants the achievement of the organization should follow these leadership styles. By understanding traits, advantages and disadvantages of different leadership styles managers will be able to adapt in every situation and create a positive work environment that helps organizational success and individuals’ success also. So, let’s see how leadership styles influence Asare Textiles Ltd and how they can become successful using those leadership styles. As we know, this company has lost many permanent staff. Before leaving they gave some reasons. Autocratic In relation to the assignment, the autocratic leadership style at Asare Textiles Ltd, particularly demonstrated by Maria, has had a notable impact on the company's ability to adapt and thrive in its evolving business environment. As an autocratic leader, Maria centralized decision-making, taking full control over the direction of the company without involving the management team or staff. While this approach may have contributed to the company’s initial success in producing work and safety clothing, it has proven to be a significant barrier as the company shifted to fashion clothing production. The fashion industry requires innovation, creativity, and quick adaptation to trends, but Maria’s leadership style stifled these elements by limiting input from designers and other staff. This lack of collaboration likely contributed to operational inefficiencies, quality control issues, and low employee morale, as staff were not empowered or engaged in decision-making processes. Furthermore, the autocratic style hindered effective change management, which is crucial for addressing the company's current challenges, including rising costs, increased staff turnover, and missed deadlines. To improve performance, the leadership at Asare Textiles Ltd must move away from this autocratic model and embrace a more participative or transformational approach that fosters collaboration, innovation, and employee engagement. Democratic In the context of Asare Textiles Ltd, a democratic leadership style would be more suitable to address the company's current challenges and drive improvements in business performance. Unlike the autocratic approach, democratic leadership involves shared decision-making, where leaders actively seek input and feedback from employees, valuing their opinions and fostering collaboration. In this scenario, if Maria and Emilia adopted a more democratic approach, they would engage with their management team, designers, and production staff in the decision-making process, particularly when addressing the company’s transition to fashion apparel. By involving employees, especially those with expertise in design and production, Asare Textiles could encourage creativity and innovation, which are essential in the fast-paced fashion industry. This leadership style would also increase employee engagement and morale, reducing staff turnover and fostering a sense of ownership over the company's success. The democratic approach would facilitate better communication and collaboration, allowing the company to respond more effectively to challenges such as quality control issues, customer returns, and production inefficiencies, ultimately leading to improved business performance and profitability.\ laissez-faire leadership style In the context of Asare Textiles Ltd, a laissez-faire leadership style can be particularly beneficial, especially as the company adapts to producing fashion clothing. This leadership approach is characterized by a high degree of autonomy granted to employees, allowing them to make decisions and manage their work with minimal interference from leadership. Emilia, who has previously embraced this style, recognizes the importance of creativity and innovation in the design process, which is essential in the fast-paced fashion industry. By adopting a laissez-faire approach, Asare Textiles Ltd could empower its designers and production teams to take ownership of their roles, encouraging them to explore new ideas and solutions without the constraints of micromanagement. This empowerment can lead to increased motivation and job satisfaction, which are vital in addressing the current issues of high staff turnover and low morale. However, for this style to be effective, it is crucial that the team members possess the necessary skills, expertise, and accountability to manage their responsibilities effectively. Establishing clear goals and expectations while providing the resources and support needed can help mitigate potential challenges associated with laissez- faire leadership. By fostering an environment of trust and collaboration, Asare Textiles Ltd could leverage the creativity and insights of its employees, enhancing innovation and adaptability in response to the dynamic demands of the fashion market. Ultimately, a laissez- faire leadership style could enable the company to thrive in its new direction, provided it is balanced with adequate support and oversight. In the context of Asare Textiles Ltd, effective management functions can significantly enhance the company’s performance as it transitions from producing work and safety clothing to fashion apparel. Here’s how the core management functions—planning, organizing, leading, and controlling—can be applied, along with examples relevant to the company's situation: 1. Planning Planning involves setting objectives and determining the best course of action to achieve them. At Asare Textiles, Maria and Emilia should engage in strategic planning to outline clear goals for the new fashion clothing line. For example, they could conduct market research to identify current fashion trends and customer preferences, allowing them to set specific targets for product lines and sales. Additionally, planning can include forecasting material needs and production schedules to ensure that resources are allocated effectively and deadlines are met. For instance, they might establish a timeline for the design, production, and marketing phases to align with seasonal trends, thereby reducing the risk of delays. 2. Organizing Organizing involves arranging resources and tasks to implement the plans effectively. As the company shifts to shorter production runs and diverse clothing lines, it is crucial to reorganize the production process. Asare Textiles Ltd could establish cross-functional teams that include designers, production staff, and quality control personnel to enhance collaboration and communication. For example, they might create a task force responsible for streamlining the supply chain, ensuring timely ordering of materials, and coordinating with suppliers to prevent delays. This restructuring would facilitate flexibility and responsiveness, enabling the company to adapt to fashion trends quickly. 3. Leading Leading focuses on motivating and guiding employees to achieve organizational goals. To address the high turnover and morale issues, Maria and Emilia need to adopt a leadership style that fosters engagement and collaboration among their staff. For instance, they could implement regular team meetings to encourage open communication and solicit feedback on design and production processes. By recognizing and rewarding employee contributions, they can cultivate a sense of ownership and commitment to the company's success. Additionally, they might consider providing training and development opportunities for staff to enhance their skills, which can lead to higher job satisfaction and retention. 4. Controlling Controlling involves monitoring performance and implementing corrective measures as needed. Asare Textiles Ltd should establish key performance indicators (KPIs) to track production efficiency, quality control, and customer satisfaction. For example, they might monitor the rate of product returns and quality issues, conducting regular audits to identify areas for improvement. If they notice an increase in customer returns due to quality concerns, they can take immediate action by revisiting their quality assurance processes and providing additional training to staff. This proactive approach to controlling performance can help the company maintain high standards and meet customer expectations, ultimately improving profitability.