Improving operations for PSFS
TYPE : Research Proposal Total Pages (1 page=275 words) 9 (2475 words) Volume: 9 pages Introduction Parkes Shire Food Service began fifty-four years ago in 1963 delivering food to local aged residents. Parkes Shire Food service is the local Meals on Wheels outlet. Today we supply 300 hot meals to our Parkes clients a week. We also supply over two hundred frozen meals each week to our clients that live in Parkes, Peak Hill, Trundle and Tullamore. Parkes Shire Food Service is a not for profit organisation which relies greatly on government grants, funding and subsidies. This will not last forever as the government is introducing reforms to give the client greater choice of service providers. With this funding comes accreditation from the government which Parkes Shire Food Services Inc failed in 2015. Parkes Shire Food Service will be required to revisit the current operations management issues that made the service fail and to ensure the service will be a leader in the future. MOW has been operating in Australia since 1952. Although the delivery and operation of services across or within countries is not universal, a fundamental core of MOW services is supporting ageing in place and care within the home, for example, by providing frail older people with a nutritious meal and basic social contact, thus facilitating their independence. Similar to other non-¬profit organisations, MOW organisations worldwide are experiencing challenges that threaten its long-¬term sustainability. Specifically, over the past 10 years there have been significant changes in the social welfare and health sectors that have impacted on all voluntary organisations. These changes relate to changes in client preferences and expectations; funding issues; changing government policies affecting delivery and funding; a heavy reliance on volunteers to deliver services; and recruitment and retention of volunteers. Consequently, they place increasing pressure on services and threaten the sustainability of MOW. Innovative responses to these challenges are therefore required to enable MOW to continue providing this important service in a continually changing environment. (Winterton, R., Warburton, J., & , & Oppenheimer, M. 2011). The Focus of the study The focus of this study is to explore other organisations to provide Parkes Shire Food Service with quality operational processors to ensure the continued funding and overall survival of the business which will reflect within the organisation, clients and externally. Many international MOW providers have developed alternative delivery models in response to social and economic challenges (O’Dwyer & Timonen, 2008). These include modifications to funding arrangements, recruiting less traditional volunteers and moving to provide meals outside the home, employing a market approach, drawing on corporate support, and/or providing a commercial service. Specific research aims are to: • Undertake research study of Australian MOW focusing particularly on organisational structures, funding arrangements and volunteers. • Identify strategies to enable Parkes Shire Food Service Inc to address these vulnerabilities and develop a responsive and sustainable plan for the future. Objectives • To access whether Parkes Shire Food Service Inc can sustain a successful business strategy by meeting all requirements for both government and their clients. Research questions Using a qualitative study design method will allow me explore how the current leadership within Parkes Shire Food Service Inc views both current challenges and ways forward for the service. This will involve conducting semi-¬‐structured telephone interviews with other MOW leaders (paid and volunteer) across New South Wales and with conducting small questionnaires with current staff in Parkes Shire Food Service Inc. Analysis of interviews will identify three main themes: These challenges relate to: Such resistance is often linked to older long serving volunteers reluctant to change their methods of operating which they had been using for years, even decades. Project related literature summary A strong focus will be on the usage of different qualitative and quantitative tools. Another focus will be on production and delivery processes, of service and on the tools and techniques for their improvement. These skills include leadership, project management and change management. It is apparent that no challenge exists in isolation. Rather, MOW services and staff experience a complex and dynamic range of challenges. For example, pressures to meet legislation and regulation requirements (e.g. food safety) increased volunteer workload, which, in turn, impacts on volunteer resistance, retention, and recruitment. Additionally, challenges such as limited funds, lack of resources, and increased volunteer workload all contribute to the quality of service (social support and meal) provided to clients. My studies within the unit of operations management will help me to process all the information. Managing operational management in the workplace of NFP NGO charity will involve the adoption of appropriate strategies that seek to make the organisation benefit (Carnall, 2007). For the charitable organisation to remain independent in areas of finance and execute its mandate well, it must look for alternative ways of generating income. This means that the organisation would be prepared to accept the alternative way of executing activities geared towards improving its financial status. The process of selling food to the private sector as well as to the current clients will increase the sale volume translating to high income to the organisation in addition to enlisting a quality web page designer to develop a webpage for ordering online and keeping up with latest information from the service. Strateigies can be managed through participation. Being part of the strategy has been proved as a key element that guarantees realisation of change in an organisation (Pieterse, Caniëls, and Homan, 2012). Strategies discussed as a team yield positive results. This is because; it develops a shared understanding among the employees of what is going to happen in the organisation (Yeager and Sorensen 2009). This makes them ready for the change and prepares them towards supporting their role. Therefore, the discussion about Meals on a wheel would be open to all employees. The forum will not only prepare them for incoming business strategies, but their contribution will also be noted. Managing all forms of the business the manager now must be able to manage effectively and efficiently. Although much has been written about managers, including their roles, functions, and skills, the organisational context is changing, and new perspectives are needed. A process perspective is a way of understanding the work of managers in these contexts. Strategic management is increasingly important to every successful manager. Ethical considerations In wording and asking questions I will be mindful of all ethical issues such as Conclusion References Dilawer , O. 2016 .How To Manage Change In The Workplace. Entrepreneur Middle East Pieterse, J., H., Caniëls, M. C., J & Homan, T. 2012. Professional discourses and resistance to Judith Ann Chapman, (2001) “The work of managers in new organisational contexts”, Journal of Management Development, Vol. 20 Iss: 1, pp.55 – 68 Reiss, M. 2012. Change management: a balanced and blended approach. Norderstedt, Books on Demand. Sirota, D., & Klein, D. A. 2013. The enthusiastic employee: how companies profit by giving Stack, L. 2013. Time management: how to control your day in an uncontrollable workplace. http://www.books24x7.com/marc.asp?bookid=50560. Yaeger, T., F &Sorensen, P., F. 2009. Strategic Organisation Development: Managing Change for Success. IAP. http://www.nswmealsonwheels.org.au/Volunteer/Volunteer.aspx Winterton, R., Warburton, J., & , & Oppenheimer, M. (2011). The future for meals on wheels? Reviewing innovative approaches to meal provision for ageing populations.
Background
More than just a meal – Parkes Shire Food Service Inc has had a place in the hearts and homes of Australians for more than 50 years. Helping the frail older people and younger people with disabilities and their carers stay in their homes where most are happiest is at the heart of the matter.
Every day a friendly smile, a chat about the weather, a nutritious meal and knowing someone will drop by to say hello, changes the lives of many Australians and it’s not just the clients who value this contact. Ask any of the 35,000 NSW volunteers and they will tell you reaching out and making a difference in somebody else’s day, makes their day.
Independence is something we all value and to have that taken away through not being able to go to the shops for groceries or to cook regular meals, should not be an obstacle to autonomy. (http://www.nswmealsonwheels.org.au/Volunteer/Volunteer.aspx)
• Evaluate the effectiveness and innovation of services across different Australian States and Territories, and determine the key areas of vulnerability for MOW.
• To implement changes to client data to support home care reforms and to implement strategies for continuance in business.
• To make sure the business has systems in place to identify and ensure compliance with funded program guidelines, relevant legislation, regulatory requirements and professional standards.
• To implement change to the corporate governance that is accountable to stakeholders.
• To establish a strategy that can help Wheels and Meals expand its market share.
• How can the proposed strategies of Parkes Shire Food Service be competitive and compliant to meet all expectations from government agencies and the general public?
• How can Parkes Shire Food Service Inc expand its market share through the new strategy?
• How will the implemented corporate governance processes that are accountable to stakeholder’s work for the better of the business?
• After all compliances are met how will the business be competitive as a leader or as a follower?
• Challenges facing MOW services in Australia;
• Innovations and changes that enable MOWs to provide a sustainable competitive service (now and in the future);
• Benefits of MOWs.
• a lack of resources, increasing and demanding legislation and regulation requirements;
• inefficient operations and systems (including issues with volunteer recruitment and retention);
• meeting clients’ changing needs and preferences (meal and social);
• declining service demand;
• competing organisations; and
• volunteer resistance to change has been identified as a major challenge for services, preventing efficient and effective operations, and successful implementation of needed innovation.
My study in Operations Management has given me the knowledge and skills required to manage, improve and transform innovative and organisational processes such as developing new innovative offers and delivery. I will use the skills needed to manage the process of developing products and services to ensure the progression of the business.
The need to explore other companies in the same field as Parkes Shire Food Service Inc and compare their processors, leadership, staff knowledge and strategic management to gain an insight of what could be done to improve Parkes Shire Food Service Inc.
Planned Research Methodology
The research methods that will be followed in the proposal are stated below:
Sources of data: To complete this proposal, data will be composed from both primary and secondary sources. The primary data will be gathered through surveying current staff of Parkes Shire Food Service Inc, visitor discussing informally with personnel and making observations during the period of dissertation etc: Some secondary data will be collected to make the proposal more concrete. This data will be collected from other Meals on Wheels services that are experiencing the same situation.
Data Collection: A semi-structured questionnaire will be prepared to collect data for the analysis part of the proposal. The proposed sample size is 20 staff and board of Parkes Shire Food Service and other Meals on Wheels organisations.
confidentiality, anonymity, feelings of discomfort, dealing with
people with in general. I will comply with Australia’s national guidelines about ethical conduct of research as per the National statement on ethical conduct in human research. (https://www.nhmrc.gov.au/book/national-statement-ethical-conduct-human-research). The research ethics sheet has been completed and submitted with the proposal.
Schedule for completion
I expect to complete this project in three months from the date of obtaining approval for the Project Proposal.
After completing this research report I will have the skills and knowledge to ensure that Parkes Shire Food Service Inc will be a leader and a benchmark for other businesses or people to follow. It will be financially secure and a dependable, reliable and proficient modern business. It will be compliant with all government agencies. By providing to both the private sector and government clients will help to solve the problem of time wastage among the employee. Parkes Shire Food Service would be able to get additional income that would enable it to respond to the increasing needs of the beneficiaries.
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