Managing Communication, Knowledge, and Information at Foodie Flavour

This report examines the communication, knowledge, and information management strategies employed by Foodie Flavour, a new Mexican food business in London. The report begins by discussing various decision-making processes, including strategic, tactical, and operational decisions. It analyzes the knowledge and information required to start a business, covering customer perception, market trends, and competitor analysis. The report then explores internal and external information sources, assessing their reliability and recommending improvements in information selection and analysis. Furthermore, it identifies key stakeholders and proposes methods for engaging them in the decision-making process. The report also details existing communication processes, suggests improvements, and outlines a plan for enhancing personal communication skills. Finally, it covers approaches to collecting, formatting, storing, and disseminating knowledge and information, along with strategies for improving access to these systems. The report provides a comprehensive overview of the challenges and opportunities in managing communication and information within the context of a start-up food business.

MANAGING
COMMUNICATIONS,
KNOWLEDGE AND
INFORMATION

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
1.1 Discussion of different decisions to be made........................................................................1
1.2 Examine knowledge and information needed to take decisions while starting up business. 2
1.3 Internal and external sources of information along with assessing these sources................3
1.4 Recommend improvements in the methods used in selection and analysis of information..3
2.1 Different stakeholders whose actions can impacts decision-making processes....................4
2.2 Different ways to make contact with stakeholders...............................................................4
2.3 Plan to include identified people in decision-making process .............................................5
2.4 Strategies for future improvements in this process...............................................................5
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................6
3.1 Existing processes of communication...................................................................................6
3.2 Design ways to improve appropriateness..............................................................................6
3.3 Implementations to assure greater integration of systems of communication in
organisation.................................................................................................................................6
3.4 Personal plan to improve own communication skills...........................................................7
4.1 Report on approaches to collect, format, store and disseminate knowledge and information
.....................................................................................................................................................7
4.2 Appropriate changes to improve formatting, dissemination, formatting and storage of
information and knowledge ........................................................................................................7
4.3 Implement strategy to improve access to systems of knowledge and information ..............7
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9

INTRODUCTION
Managing communication means planning, monitoring and implementing of different
communication channels in a business firm. Managing information and knowledge is a
procedure to keep information in a proper manner so that shareholders and stakeholders can
understand the objectives of company in a proper way (Akhavan, Jafari and Fathian, 2012). This
assignment is based on Foodie Flavour which is a new start-up in food business, opened in
London. This report is going to cover about different decisions and use of knowledge and
information to take decisions. Internal and external source of information are discussed along
with list of stakeholders that impacts decision-making. A plan is prepared for appropriate
decision making that includes strategies for future improvements. Report on existing processes
of communication, ways to improve them, personal plan to enhance communication skills,
approach to format, collect, store and disseminate information is carried out, strategy to improve
access to systems of knowledge and information is mentioned.
TASK 1
1.1 Discussion of different decisions to be made
In this given report, a new food business i.e. Foodie Flavour is introduced in market of
London. This restaurant is going to offer Mexican dishes to their customers due to which they
are directly sourcing their special food ingredients and resources from Mexico. To start and
manage a new business in a proper manner, it is required for the business owner in Foodie
Flavour to take right and appropriate decisions. This will benefits them in achieving their
objectives and targets in a proper manner.
In order to run business in a proper manner, there are different types of decisions which
are required to be taken by the manager and business owner to Foodie Flavour. Some of these
decisions are mentioned below:
 Strategic decisions: These decisions will have long term impact on organisation as these
decisions will be taken by the owner of restaurant. These decisions will be taken to
achieve vision and mission of company. Owner of Foodie Flavour will communicate
strategic decisions such as promotional tactics to workforce so that high profits can be
earned (Becerra-Fernandez and Sabherwal, 2014).
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 Tactical decisions: Here, the decisions are taken by the manager of an organisation so
that maximised output can be achieved by adopting tactical plans. Here, manager in
Foodie Flavour is needed to analyse their current practices so that modifications as per
customer's demand can be carried out. By introducing advanced business tools and
technology, manager in Foodie Flavour can achieve long term objectives of company.
 Operational decision: These kind of decisions are taken by the workforce so that short
term objectives can be achieved in a proper manner. In Foodie Flavour, employees will
be given the right to resolve the issues of customers so that high sales can be earned.
1.2 Examine knowledge and information needed to take decisions while starting up business
Information is referred to the facts which are systematically presented so that an
appropriate meaning can be derived from them whereas knowledge is defined as objective and
relevant information that is gained through experience. Below are mentioned some aspects that
will benefits in taking effective decision during a business start up:
 Customer perception: With the help of this factor, Mexican dishes which are offered by
the restaurant will be modified in accordance with the taste and perception of customers.
This will create a positive impact in minds of customers due to which concerned business
will be able to achieve high growth and success (Bryson, 2017). Manager of Foodie
Flavour is planning to collect required information and knowledge with the help of
surveys and feedbacks so that menu related decisions can be taken accordance with
demand of customers.
 Market trends: The manager in Foodie Flavour is required to collect the knowledge and
information in accordance with the market trends. This will benefits the restaurant in
formulating and implementing effective strategies like pricing strategy, promotional
strategy so that attention of customers can be grabbed in a proper manner. This will
allow the Foodie Flavour in taking strategic and tactical decisions so that a stable position
can be secured in market.
 Competitors: Beside this, business owner in Foodie Flavour is required an appropriate
knowledge and information about rivals & competitors so that unique decisions and
strategies such as offers and discounts can be adopted to grab the attention of customers
and retain them for a long time period (Davison, Ou and Martinsons, 2013).
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1.3 Internal and external sources of information along with assessing these sources
There are two sources i.e. internal and external sources which benefits an organisation in
achieving required information and knowledge in a timely manner. These sources in context with
their reliability and sustainability is mentioned below:
Internal sources: With the help of internal sources such as company database,
documents and employees, manager in Foodie Flavour can gather information about
performance of restaurant in an organised manner. Workforce in a restaurant is treated as a
primary source of information collection as they have direct interaction with customers. Sales
and marketing team in Foodie Flavour collects information for sales promotion so that dishes can
be modified as per latest demand of customers (Galliers and Leidner, 2014). Files and documents
of a company include information related with different operations and management of
restaurant. Beside this, data of Foodie Flavour offers valuable information to manager and
employees so that appropriate decisions can be taken to increase sales and profits in a desired
manner.
External sources: It includes primary and secondary data which includes market
demand, perceptions and feedback of customers etc. These sources benefits in scanning market
environment so that knowledge and information of rivals can be attained. Internet, social media,
government and other websites constitutes an important part of external sources. These sources
will benefits employees in Foodie Flavour to attain pictures of current trend and take right
decisions in offering those products which are required by customers.
1.4 Recommend improvements in the methods used in selection and analysis of information
Foodie Flavour will offer appreciable dishes and services to their customers so that high
sales can be earned. But customer base of company can seem less integrated due to improper
analysis of customers. Below are mentioned some recommendations that can be given to the
manager of Foodie Flavour to carry out improvements:
 Manager of company can use advance ERP system so that feedback of clients can be
collected in an organised way. By this, company will be able to sustain a strong relation
with customers by appropriate analysis of collected information (Holsapple, 2013).
 Communication process in Foodie Flavour will be improved by supporting two way
communication so that management and employees of restaurant can interact and share
information in a comfortable way.
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With the help of these recommendations, concerned restaurant will be able to achieve
their goals and objectives in a timely and proper manner.
2.1 Different stakeholders whose actions can impacts decision-making processes
Decision making process in Foodie flavour must be carried out by involving different
stakeholders so that business activities can be performed by most efficient means. In this context,
different stakeholders are mentioned below:
 Government: Rules, policies and regulations which are formulated by UK government
can impact the decision making of Foodie flavour in a considerable manner. Manager of
restaurant is needed to make policies for workplace in accordance with the rules of
government. Otherwise, Foodie Flavour will have to pay heavy fines or in extreme cases
their license can be cancelled.
 Employees: Workforce can also impacts the decision-making procedure of a company in
a considerable manner. This is because they directly interact with the customers and
taking decisions as per the opinion of employees can benefits Foodie Flavour in retain
customers for a long time period (Jones and Sallis, 2013).
 Customers: These are one of the important stakeholders for Foodie Flavour. Owner in
restaurant must take decisions after interacting with the regular and potential customers
so that their satisfaction level can be increased. If decisions will not be taken according to
customers they will shift their preference towards the food offered by other restaurants.
2.2 Different ways to make contact with stakeholders
There are different ways by which manager in Foodie Flavour can maintain an effective
contact with different stakeholders. Some of these methods are mentioned below:
 E-Mails: This is a modern method to invite important stakeholders in a personal manner
rather than using traditional means such as post mail systems. It will benefits Foodie
Flavour in targeting their specific stakeholders. This method is cost effective and million
of individuals can be reached within few minutes due to which customer base and sales
of restaurant can be increased (Khodakarami and Chan, 2014).
 Website and social media platforms: Foodie Flavour can target their identified
stakeholders with the help of websites and social media like Facebook, Twitter etc. This
is an official manner to reach the important stakeholders. With the help of website and
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interacting platforms good relation with stakeholders can be maintained, by this relation
among restaurant and employees can be enhanced properly.
2.3 Plan to include identified people in decision-making process
Participation of different stakeholders is attained with the use of online tools. Messaging,
mailing, social web conference, voice calls can be considerably use to reach stakeholders for
Foodie Flavour like business partners, employees and customers in a proper manner. With the
help of social media and websites, interest and perception of customers can be attained in a
proper manner (Laudon and Laudon, 2016). These tools will help Foodie Flavour in
acknowledging the feedback of customers in a regular manner. Internal resources like employees
and suppliers can be engaged with company through business invitations. Events and meetings
can be performed in organisation to acknowledging ideas of different employees. In this way
different stakeholders can be identified in the decision-making process.
2.4 Strategies for future improvements in this process
There are some strategies which can be used by company to carry out future
improvements in their processes to satisfy their stakeholders in a proper manner. Some of these
strategies are mentioned below:
 Strategy for customers: In context with customers, modification strategy can be used.
With the help of this strategy, different alternatives can be offered to customers in dishes
as per their requirements. Due to this, their satisfaction level will increase and sales in
Foodie Flavour will enhance.
 Strategy for employees: Foodie Flavour can adopt diversification strategy for their
employees. This will enable the employees to work in diversified fields so that they can
identify their true potential and works by delivering their best performance.
Other than this, Foodie Flavour can conduct Quiz and offer discounts to customers on
winning. Beside this, with the use of updated computers, managing the information customers
and employees in an organised way will be easy. With the help of automatic data collection
application, opinions of customers can be directly stored in the database of company. Due to
these aspects, Foodie Flavour can formulate desired strategies so that attention of customers can
be grabbed in a proper manner (López-Nicolás and Meroño-Cerdán, 2011).
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TASK 2
3.1 Existing processes of communication
There are different communication processes which can be used by an organisation to
interact with customers, employees and other individuals in a proper manner. Some existing
communication process in Foodie Flavour are mentioned below:
Internet: This is the most efficient way by which Foodie Flavour can interact with its
inside and outside stakeholders. Internet will allow individuals to use different social media
platforms so that restaurant can interact with customers for feedbacks in a regular manner.
E-mail: Electronic mailing system can be used by Foodie Flavour for information
exchange with external and internal stakeholders. Email techniques can be used by concerned
restaurant to acknowledge their customers, business partners and investors about recent activities
and operations of organisation (Martin, 2017).
Telephone: This is a two way communication in which with the help of telephonic call
appropriate interaction with business partners, suppliers and customers can be maintained. By
using telephone, customers can ask restaurant for home deliveries and pre-bookings.
3.2 Design ways to improve appropriateness
To attain effective results, an organisation is needed to maintain appropriate
communication. Complaints and queries of customers must be registered in file so that they can
be tackled and resolved properly. Beside this, the management in Foodie Flavour is required to
use latest and advanced technology so that communication processes can be improved
effectively. In this context, management of restaurant can adopt personal assistant applications,
web integration and instant messaging so that employees and customers can interact properly and
quickly (Mulhern, 2013). Advertising is another effective method in which large number of
people can be acknowledged about the services or products of a firm without can complex
procedure. By advertisement, Foodie Flavour can ensure high hike of sales. This will enhance
the satisfaction level of customers due to which high sales and revenues can be earned.
3.3 Implementations to assure greater integration of systems of communication in organisation
To assure high integration and appropriate passage of information from one unit or
department to another side, manager in Foodie Flavour can introduce intranet and LAN facility
to have effective communication within restaurant. In this manner, wide communication in
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organisation can be shared freely and securely among workforce of company. Other than that,
required information can be shared with the help of face-to-face meetings rather than using E-
mails so that misunderstanding and miscommunication among individuals can be avoided. Also,
the issues and grievances of employees must be addressed through a common channel where
they can be addressed as per priority (Pearlson, Saunders and Galletta, 2016).
3.4 Personal plan to improve own communication skills
In order to enhance the present capacities of communication related skills, it is vital to
assure the continuous development. To improve communication skills of employees in Foodie
Flavour, below mentioned plan is formulated:
Communication Skills Time Method
Written communication skill 3 months By taking coaching and classes
this skill can be improved
while working as an employee
in an organisation.
Listening skill 2 months By interacting with more and
more people and
understanding their point of
view before giving any
judgement. By this, listening
skills of a person can improve.
4.1 Report on existing approaches to the collection, formatting, storage and dissemination of
information and knowledge
Communications is considered as to be the best medium to communicate,it involves
interaction between two parties. Which helps in effective transfer of information without any
disturbance or errors. Association is using customers reports and enquiring about goods and
services for collecting information (Peltier, 2016). The existing approaches that a company uses
for collection of data about the goods and services that foodies flavour offers is structured and
unstructured. All the informations of the companies are stored in formatting. This information is
formatted by customer reviews and their perceptions which helps the organisation to identify the
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current market situation before expanding their business. The data is measured on various factor
of its worthiness and reliability. The data is stored to analyse the capability of the both
businesses. The data is used by the promotion department to determine customers thoughts to
establish proper promotional strategies for online and cafe business. It has planned a website for
customers to meet and leave their feedback for the services rendered. As it is an online business
it can promote its business with no cost and it will also improve its profitability as well as image
in the market. It uses a software that can automatically collect data of those customers who went
through its website (Rai and et. al., 2012).
4.2 Changes to improve the collection, formatting, storage and dissemination of information and
knowledge
It is necessary to improve the process of collecting,formatting, storing and dissemination
of information for the business like Foodies flavours. This will help the management to reduce
the time and cost. The managers and the superiors should adopt new and upgraded software for
the collection of data as upgraded software will help the business to increase their accuracy level.
To improve the process of collection of information and knowledge the company can adopt
various methods such as installation of upgraded and fast computers which will increase their
speed to perform operations so that they can take orders frequently (Rowley and Hartley, 2017).
Knowledge management system is also a great source to adopt that ascertain proper collection
and storage of the data. It helps the employees to direct access the information, formats and
documents so that they can use it in their work and run enterprise quickly. The company like
Foodies flavours should plan surveys so that they can easily take feedback and check the default
in the process. Surveys enables face to face interaction with the customers so that the accurate
data can be collected and proper strategies can be formulated. Focused group methods should be
considered so that large number of data can be collected which will help the management to
make appropriate judgements.
4.3 Implement a strategy to improve access to systems of information and knowledge
The approach to system of information and knowledge needs few special strategies for
strengthening the business of Foodies Flavours. The company can install few online or electronic
devices to collect information and knowledge regarding their business operations (Rowley,
2016). It is very important that the workers gets proper information so that the management can
work upon bringing effectiveness, improvements and coordination in the knowledge of workers.
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To increase the performance level of employee's management must arrange some training and
development programmes which would enhance their performance. The top managers as well as
subordinates must ensure that there is a proper supply of goods and services in the market and
keeps on recording the feedback to improve their business's. The company can also hire and
external specialist who would guide them in marketing plans and also help them in formulating
the strategies which will increase their sales and gather appropriate information as much as they
can. The systems are designed in such a user friendly manner so employees use this system for
proper execution of business operations so that it helps in future growth (Schwalbe, 2015).
CONCLUSION
From above mentioned report, it has been concluded that there are different tactical,
strategic and operational decisions which allows a new business to sustain a strong presence in
market. Appropriate knowledge and information can be accessed through internal and external
sources so that preference of customers can be acknowledged in a proper manner. Important
stakeholders of a company are its employees, customers, government etc. and their decisions
impacts an organisation in a considerable manner. It is vital for an organisation to have
appropriate communication with customers and employees so that their satisfaction and desires
can be fulfilled in a desired manner.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
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processes. Routledge.
Bryson, J., 2017. Effective library and information centre management. Routledge.
Davison, R. M., Ou, C. X. and Martinsons, M. G., 2013. Information technology to support
informal knowledge sharing. Information Systems Journal. 23(1), pp.89-109.
Galliers, R. D. and Leidner, D. E., 2014. Strategic information management: challenges and
strategies in managing information systems. Routledge.
Holsapple, C. ed., 2013. Handbook on knowledge management 1: Knowledge matters (Vol. 1).
Springer Science & Business Media.
Jones, G. and Sallis, E., 2013. Knowledge management in education: Enhancing learning &
education. Routledge.
Khodakarami, F. and Chan, Y. E., 2014. Exploring the role of customer relationship management
(CRM) systems in customer knowledge creation. Information & Management. 51(1).
pp.27-42.
Laudon, K. C. and Laudon, J .P., 2016. Management information system. Pearson Education
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López-Nicolás, C. and Meroño-Cerdán, Á. L., 2011. Strategic knowledge management,
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Martin, W.J., 2017. The global information society. Routledge.
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systems, binder ready version: a strategic approach. John Wiley & Sons.
Pearlson, K. E., Saunders, C. S. and Galletta, D. F., 2016. Managing and Using Information
Systems, Binder Ready Version: A Strategic Approach. John Wiley & Sons.
Peltier, T. R., 2016. Information Security Policies, Procedures, and Standards: guidelines for
effective information security management. Auerbach Publications.
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Suppiah, V. and Singh Sandhu, M., 2011. Organisational culture's influence on tacit knowledge-
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Yang, T. M. and Maxwell, T. A., 2011. Information-sharing in public organizations: A literature
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