Introduction
As the franchise performance support manager at Radisson Blue Hotel, it is crucial to conduct a thorough assessment of the current management practices and operational performance of the franchise owner(Kerzner, 2022, p. 102). This analysis will serve as the foundation for developing a comprehensive business development plan aimed at resolving existing issues, improving productivity and performance, and aligning with the overall strategic objectives of the Radisson Blue Hotel brand.
Assessment of Current Management Practices and Operational Performance
The first task of the evaluation phase will be an in-depth analysis of the franchisee’s current management strategies. It will involve a wide-ranging evaluation of the leadership styles the top management employs, which entail how they make decisions, communicate, and manage the team. An organizational structure analysis is going to be made to reveal possible inefficiencies or bottlenecks of an operational nature that can impede optimal functioning(King et al., 2020, p.492484). Moreover, we will assess the decision-making processes to verify if they are neatly streamlined, data-driven, and in tune with the overall strategic goals of the franchise and the Radisson Blue Hotel brand. Through the comprehension of the managerial practices, gaps in the management can be discovered, and suggestions for improvement of the leadership effectiveness, restructuring of the organization, and the rationalization of the decision-making process can be proposed.
The operational performance and functionality will be the prime focus of this phase. Quantitative measures such as guest satisfaction scores, revenue per available room (RevPAR), occupancy rates, and staff productivity will be used to evaluate the franchise’s efficiency and overall operational effectiveness. Guest satisfaction data will be thoroughly analyzed to highlight what is being done well and what requires improvement in service delivery so that the management can implement those improvements and deliver a better guest experience. For this franchising venture, the RevPAR and occupancy rates will be used as the primary metrics to assess the efficiency of revenue management and market positioning. The productivity of human resources will be evaluated at the same time to identify if any process can be streamlined, a training program is needed, or the resources should be reallocated to ensure maximum efficiency.
In addition, the evaluation stage will explore the strategic marketing issues, such as the franchise owner’s marketing strategies, customer acquisition and retention efforts, and the brand’s positioning within the local market. The effectiveness of current campaigns, promotional activities, and online presence will be assessed to determine whether they assist in customer acquisition and retention. The brand positioning of franchises will be studied relative to competitors and market trends, and gaps will be identified that will be used to create a strong brand appeal and differentiation(Lima-Junior et al., 2020, p. 109376). Operational processes, including registration/deregistration, housekeeping, and food and beverage service, will be taken and reviewed in detail to discover areas of improvement and better operational efficiency. Furthermore, the performance of the franchise owner’s financial arena, including revenue channels, cost management, and profitability, will also be evaluated to guarantee long-term financial viability and discover the possibilities for cost reduction. Lastly, there will be an appraisal of the conformance with Radisson Blue Hotel’s brand standards and regulations to keep consistency and protect the brand’s reputation.
Recommendations for Improvements and Alternative Management Strategies
The recommendations that will be offered are sequenced on the basis of the results obtained from the comprehensive evaluation. These recommendations are meant to address the gaps in the management practices of the franchise. These suggestions, which will be based on the idea of structural changes, seek to increase the efficiency of the entire organization, communication, and decision-making processes(Erdenebat et al., 2023, p. 254). A horizontal hierarchy or a more decentralized system may be recommended to allow for greater agility and empowerment right across the various operational parts. Moreover, decision-making processes could be streamlined to incorporate data-driven intelligence, cross-functional collaboration, and a more structured approach to confirm that timely and economically sound decisions are made.
In addition, a leadership model will be suggested to develop a more efficient and productive management team. As an example, following the transformational or servant leadership style is about empowering employees, building a positive corporate culture, and ensuring employees’ development(Mrowinska, 2020, p. 610). Using these leadership techniques can encourage the staff to have a higher level of enthusiasm, motivation, and commitment, thus enabling them to attain better operational results and guest satisfaction.
A systematic approach to the implementation of the operational process optimization strategies will be the core of the proposed plan. Guest experience can be significantly improved while operational efficiency and effectiveness are achieved through the introduction of self-service kiosks or mobile check-in/out options, which facilitate the process of check-in/check-out. Moreover, the suggestions to be made with regard to housekeeping operations include the use of timekeeping techniques in cleaning rooms effectively, the adoption of modern cleaning technologies, and the optimization of staffing schedules to ensure timely and thorough service delivery(Ray, 2023, p. 842). Alongside this, the food and beverage services can also be upgraded through the incorporation of strategies such as menu optimization, sourcing high-quality ingredients, using technology for efficient service delivery, and training programs to boost staff competency and service standards.
In order to spearhead revenue growth and increase competitiveness, marketing efforts will be highlighted. This can be done, for example, by relocating the brand positioning strategy of the chain and making it different from competitors, which reflects the change in consumer preferences. Moreover, utilizing digital marketing means, including social media, online advertisement, and influencer networking, could be an option for raising the customer acquisition and retention rate(Zhang et al., 2022, p. 17). Cost reduction and better financial management strategies will be identified, like introducing smart budgeting and forecasting procedures, seeking cost-saving opportunities through strategic partnerships or vendor negotiations, and implementing financial controls and reporting effective systems. The intervention will be the development of programs for staff training and development in order to enrich their skills and productivity so that they can better serve the guests and contribute to the hotel’s outstanding operation.
Implementation Plan
Creating a well-organized implementation plan becomes the key to the proper deployment of the proposed solutions. The strategy will feature a well-knit action plan, which will highlight the exact methodology and timeframes to be used in implementing each recommendation. This will be achieved by splitting the proposals into achievable tasks, defining realistic deadlines, and designating roles and responsibilities for individuals or departments within the team(Doliente et al., 2020, p. 110). Besides the implementation plan, the plan should include the names of the main stakeholders who will be carrying the responsibility of the execution process; this includes the department heads, managers, and frontline staff. Clearly defined roles and responsibilities alongside accountability measures will be put in place to make sure all players work together in harmony.
Effective communication should be taken as the critical process of the implementation stage. A workable communication approach will be developed to ensure the proper information delivery to all stakeholders in a timely manner(Kilson, 2022, p. 602). This plan will detail the communication methods, frequency, and the type of informative feedback on the implementation process. The management meetings, progress reports, and feedback sessions will be held on a regular basis to ensure transparency, address concerns, and receive input from the stakeholders. Well-coordinated and uniform communication will help to build a mutual perception of the goals of implementation and accelerate the process of transition toward changes.
In addition to the implementation plan, the organization will assess the resources needed, including financial, human, and technological resources. A comprehensive assessment of the related costs, namely training expenditures, capital or software purchases, and the implementation of any necessary infrastructure improvements, will be carried out. The staffing levels will be evaluated according to the need for staff reinforcement, training programs, or the relocation of the existing staff(Klemi-Stojanov, 2020, p.11). Moreover, the technological resources that are going to be implemented for the execution of the proposed solutions, like new software systems or hardware upgrades, will also be considered and included in the plan.
The most important factors that we need to consider in advance are projecting possible risks and developing contingency plans, which will help us prevent and run the implementation process smoothly. The implementation plan will identify possible barriers, for example, the people who are not willing to change, the budget issues, or the technical problems, and there will be a solution provided for each of them systematically(Sadhale, 2023, p. 519). In-built contingency plans will be created to offer options for the diversion in case of unplanned events. Furthermore, the plan will have some milestones and touchpoints to check on the progress periodically. Such checkpoints will be used as a means of evaluating the efficacy of the implementation, identifying areas for improvement, and making the required changes in order to achieve the desired results.
Metrics for Monitoring and Evaluating the Plan
The implementation of KPIs to measure performance and monitor and evaluate success is a must for the employed solutions. These KPIs will act as the basis of what can be measured, which will give us complex information on how the changes will affect the various aspects of the business(Sakovska et al., 2021, p. 885). A guest satisfaction score (GSS), which is typically gained after the course of a stay via a post-stay survey or online reviews, will offer invaluable information on the efficacy of any service improvements and operational enhancements. RevPAR and occupancy rates will be the major performance indicators used to keep track of the financial performance and demand for the services of the establishment. Staff performance metrics, which include tasks completed per shift or money brought in per staff member, will be used to evaluate the efficiency of operational processes and the effect of training and development programs.
In order to have regular and organized monitoring, we will carry out a reporting and reviewing process. The process will involve collecting and analyzing data relative to the established KPIs at intervals that are set prior to time, such as weekly, monthly, or quarterly. The data will be displayed in a simple and comprehensible way, which will enable us to see the patterns, spot the trends in the data, and put them into action(Rankoussi, 2022, p. 539). Regular meetings will be set with key stakeholders like the management team and the heads of the departments. They will review the progress against the targets set out for each KPI. These gatherings will help hold open talks, reveal problems, and facilitate ongoing improvement by means of a data-driven approach.
Besides internal monitoring and evaluation, the organization will rely on the possibilities of benchmarking against the industry’s best practices and competitors’ performance, as well as on the sources of such information. This will entail doing in-depth research and analysis of information from reliable industry sources, attending conferences and networking events, and working in consortium with the industry associations or consultants. Through the process of benchmarking against the leaders of the industry and successful competitors, the establishment can discover where other successful practices are and adopt them for itself(Oginok et al., 2021, p. 22). This strategy will not only help identify areas in need of improvement but also provide a competitive ground for the adoption of the most advanced technology that will make the company more competitive in the market. The periodic reviews will be held to define how the implemented solutions work in terms of the benchmarked standards. If the evaluation shows that the plan needs to be modified, then this will be done.
| Component | Description |
|---|---|
| Assessment of Current Practices | Review management practices, organizational structure, and decision-making processes
Evaluate operational performance metrics (guest satisfaction, RevPAR, occupancy rates, staff productivity) Analyze marketing strategies, customer acquisition or retention, and brand positioning. Assess operational processes (check-in or out, housekeeping, F&B services) Review financial performance (revenue streams, cost management, profitability) Evaluate compliance with brand standards and guidelines |
| Recommendations and Strategies | Suggest changes to organizational structure, decision-making, and leadership.
Recommend operational process optimization strategies Propose marketing initiatives for brand positioning, customer acquisition or retention, revenue growth Identify cost optimization and financial management opportunities Recommend training and development programs for staff Suggest strategies for brand standards compliance |
| Implementation Plan | – Outline steps and timelines for executing solutions
Identify stakeholders and assign responsibilities Develop a communication plan for stakeholder coordination Outline required resources (financial, human, technological) Anticipate challenges and develop contingency plans Establish milestones and checkpoints for progress monitoring |
| Monitoring and Evaluation | – Define key performance indicators (KPIs)
Establish reporting and review process for KPI monitoring Develop data collection and analysis system Identify benchmarking opportunities against industry best practices Conduct regular reviews and make necessary adjustments |
References
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