Restaurant Management: Decisions, Communication & Planning Tools

Managing a New Restaurant: Location and Competition Challenges

When managing a new restaurant, several challenges might arise. A manager must keep in mind the location in which the restaurant operates. That location may, for example, comprise a majority of a particular ethnic group that prefers a certain type of food. The ideal is to provide as great a variety of food as possible; however, the reality is that focus is often needed when catering to the specific population in one's area. Balancing broad appeal with targeted offerings is one of the central tensions in restaurant management. Competition from other similar establishments is another challenge that must be addressed.

Workplace Empowerment and Nonprogrammed Decision-Making

Empowerment in the workplace involves providing lower-ranking workers with greater decision-making power. The advantage of this approach is that these workers can offer valuable contributions, and teams that incorporate such workers often generate fruitful ideas that would not otherwise come to light. Nonprogrammed decisions also lead to greater worker satisfaction, as employees feel that their opinions are valued and their input matters to the organization.

Employee Prizes: Motivation vs. Team Cohesion

While prizes can have the advantage of inspiring employees to give their best effort, there are also notable disadvantages. One drawback is that employees may become excessively competitive. In such cases, winning the prize — rather than the well-being of the company or the success of the team — becomes the ultimate goal. Motivating individual workers through prizes can therefore cause teamwork to suffer, and work satisfaction becomes secondary to the satisfaction of receiving the reward. Managers should weigh these trade-offs carefully when designing employee incentive programs.