Interpersonal dynamics in produce department shrinkage management

Interpersonal

Real World Interpersonal Issues in Places of Business: A Produce Product Shrinkage Case Study

There is a variety of interpersonal issues that can come into play in any given employment situation. From the management of employees to ensure that the necessary tasks for successfully continuing operations are completed to working with customers and clients to ensure that their needs are being effectively and efficiently met, almost all business transactions and matters of conducting business involve at least some level of interpersonal interaction. Wherever there is interaction and communication, of course, there is the potential for miscommunication and a variety of other problems involving individual personalities as well as more general issues of interpersonal respect and fulfillment.

It is with the intention of illuminating certain specific interpersonal problems that can arise in the grocery industry that this current paper is undertaken. While many interpersonal issues can be easily observed or guessed at in a variety of employment situations, not all of them are quite so clear. There are specific instances in many industries and levels of operation that depend on the successful utilization of interpersonal handling techniques and an awareness of the necessary considerations in interpersonal interactions at work. While there are numerous instances of this type of interaction in the grocery industry that might not be immediately observable to outsiders and that could be explicated for a better understanding of this issue, only one specific instance is focused on herein.

The broader issue that is dealt with here does not seem to have anything to do with interpersonal issues at first glance. The issue is what is known as "shrinkage" in the produce department, which is basically the loss of product due to spoilage -- once a piece of produce has been left out past a certain date, it is no longer saleable for a variety of reasons. This is primarily an issue of quality control, preventing poorer tasting and even spoiled vegetables from reaching customers. At the same time, there is a large element of cost control involved in this area of operations. Though this is primarily a product-centric area of operations and the grocery business, however, there are also a great many interpersonal interactions involved in carrying this operation out that are essential to its effective and efficient completion. In this way, this particular case illustrates with a great deal of clarity how almost every business transaction and operation ultimately depends on interpersonal interactions.

Manger/Employee Interactions

Obviously, the actual carrying out of these operations is hugely dependent on the ability for managers and others in leadership positions to adequately communicate the necessary tasks as well as the purposes for these tasks. Developing effective communication channels between managers and employees is part of the overall organizational structuring process and also requires day-to-day specific technique and behavioral practice and application (Papa et al. 2008). That is, effective leaders must be supported by an effective organizational structure and must also possess and practice certain traits and behaviors to achieve effective communication.

In this case, each individual supermarket or grocery store must have its own well defined power structure, division of labor, and communication network in order for produce shrinkage to be accurately and efficiently accounted for (Papa et al. 2008). Without an adequate and clearly defined division of labor that transmits inherent power to certain individuals within the organization, it is highly difficult if not impossible for an organization to achieve necessary task completion on an ongoing and efficient basis without employee resentment and eventual noncompliance forming (Papa et al. 2008). Though produce shrinking is not an especially difficult or moral degrading task, it is not especially engaging, interesting, or intrinsically rewarding, yet it needs to be done. This makes an effective power structure with well-respected managers imperative in getting this task completed.

In addition to adequate power structuring, managers must be supported by their own characteristics and abilities as well as ongoing learning and training, utilizing known managerial techniques, an application of emotionally intelligent decision-making processes, and strong adherence to rules of positively reinforcing communication (Papa et al. 2008). The actual task of monitoring shrinkage on a daily basis in the produce department is generally given to entry-level employees, and positive encouragement in this task as well as clearly defining the task and using other effective communication techniques can ensure that these employees appreciate the importance of completing this task efficiently and accurately (Papa et al. 2008). Without strong interpersonal communication, this task would not be properly completed.

Conclusion

Ultimately, even the customer interactions that take place depend on effective management-employee interactions and communications having been put into place first, it is by selecting the right individuals for the job and providing them with the necessary knowledge and abilities to complete the task that product shrinking is effectively completed. Like most business activities, this task is highly dependent on interpersonal interactions.