Palmview Pineapples: Strategic Management Process and Decision Making

This case study examines the challenges faced by Palmview Pineapples, a long-standing agricultural business, and analyzes its strategic management processes. The assignment begins with an introduction to the company and its history, highlighting the shift from Brisbane to Palmview and its ini...Read More

Running Head: DISCOVERING MANAGEMENT
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Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note:

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction..........................................................................................................................2
Discussion............................................................................................................................2
PESTEL analysis.............................................................................................................2
Decision making theory...................................................................................................4
Strategic Management Process........................................................................................4
Conclusion...........................................................................................................................6
References............................................................................................................................8

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Introduction
Palmview Pineapples was a well-known business organization operating more than
seventy years. For the location Errol selected the Palmview instead of Brisbane and shifted the
business in this locality. The reason for this selection Errol considered the coastal area with
ample amount of Sunshine. They shifted the business from Brisbane to Palmview in the year
1946. Errol was provided with this selection benefit for his experience in the military farm. Errol
started the business with growing pineapple crops within the consecutive five years. After few
years the organization expanded the business into growing crops of custard apple and passion
fruits. Besides the successful investment on passion fruit and custard apple, pineapples were in
the main focus crop as per the organization. At the beginning of the journey, Jack (Present owner
after Errol’s death) was satisfied with the business and the incorporation of technology to
smoothly run the high and low yield cycles. However, the increasing consolidation of
supermarkets at Queensland became a subject of worry for the organization. These are the forces
that initiating the oversupply of products and decreasing the price for the local producer
including Palmview Pineapples.
Discussion
PESTEL analysis
The components of PESTEL analysis includes Political, Economic, Social, Technical,
Environmental, and Legal factors affecting the business (Song, Sun and Jin 2017). Conducting a
PESTEL analysis of Palmview Pineapples, the following aspects are observed.
 Political factors – The political environment refers to the governmental rules and
regulation that influences the growth of the company. Australians are facing

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unsympathetic challenges in the domain of farming. The increasing capability of
addressing the viability of the business has the undesirable impacts on the evident. It
refers to the maintenance of agricultural products for the upcoming generation (Andrei
and Prisecaru 2014).
 Economic factor – From the past five years fruit and vegetable industry is passing
through numerous difficulties. In spite of increased consumption of fruit and vegetables
the fierceness of price in the competitive market is declining the growth of the business
industry (Bergh et al. 2016).
 Social factor – The concept of food and flow of food production in the Australian
community believed in the metaphor of chain. The modern society has changed the way
of viewing this chain of metaphor (Vogel and Güttel 2013). The community is simple
enough to identify complex and dynamic nature of social environment in terms to
understand the nature of agriculture and food production.
 Technical factor – Australia is observed as an extreme producer of agricultural products.
More than 325,300 people are employed with agriculture. It has a greater contribution to
the GDP. Innovative technology will create greater opportunity for Palmview Pineapple
to grow further within the Australian market (Odumeru and Ogbonna 2013).
 Environmental factor – In Australia, the production of seeds including custard apple and
pineapple are important to the conservation that is poorly addressed (Xu et al. 2015).
Australian land is observed with biotic pollen vectors that increases the fruit production
within this environment.

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 Legal factor – According to the Australian constitution, the federal government has
special focus on agricultural policy in import and export, quarantine and biosecurity,
competition, and research.
Decision making theory
As a management consultant, the person needs to address the solution for the company.
The consultant must offer an outside and unbiased view for the problem that will devote the full
attention to resolve the identified problem (Dewey 2018). The group discussion theory of
decision making initiate influential group discussion to reach for the ultimate outcome. This
theory promotes rational thinking and reflective discussion. This is a systematic approach based
on the functional theory of John Dewey. First it needs includes understanding the problem. It
required to identify the crucial criteria for judgment. It also a way to find more than one
alternatives for the identified problem (Thorburn and MacAllister 2013). Finally, the process
ends with selecting the best and fruitful option for the problem. At the initial stage, identification
of the proper problem is the most important and crucial part of the group activity. Factual
questions helps to identify the actual problem it includes ‘wh’ questions. During the time of
identification of right alternatives for the problem, all the members of the discussion need to
undergo the process of internal orientation. This model of decision-making is a generalized
model. There is no prescribed blueprint of procedure for this model. There is no prescribed
procedure of the activities of the group.
The problem with Palmview is whether to shift the nature of business that means shifting
from agriculture to real estate business. To resolve this, Jack need to follow the group discussion
theory and call for a meeting with Elias, Jackie, and the managing consultant. The general

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meeting will come up with few suitable alternatives for the business to grow. The best one will
be the ultimate decision taken by Jack for the sake of their business.
Strategic Management Process
Figure 1: Strategic Management Procedure
Source: (Robbins and Coulter 2017)
Strategic management process of any organization requires proper analysis of the
external and internal analysis of Palmview Pineapple (Robbins and Coulter 2017). The external
Shifting into
real estate
business
business
Political environment
Rivalry
Low labor costs.
Strong competitive
advantage.
Limited access to
finance.
SWOT analysis
Consultation
with group
members
Making the
decision
Taking initiative
accordingly

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analysis helps to understand the opportunities and threats for the organization. On the other hand
the internal analysis helps to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the organization (Engert,
Rauter and Baumgartner 2016).
External analysis
Opportunities – The political environment of the organization can bring better fortune for the
organization. Apart from that investing in the real estate business will bring positive future for
Palmview Pineapple.
Threats – The existing rivalry in the market place will become a threat for the organization.
Along with the growing rate of properties will demand huge amount of money to be invested by
the organization.
Internal analysis
Strength – Equipped property of the organization is standing as a strength. Along with that,
innovation and good infrastructure will be a strong aspect observed within the organization.
Weakness – As a weakness, the organization is dwelling in the condition of lack of decision
making ability.
Procedure
As per the decision making theory, the members of the authority should organize a group
discussion. During the discussion the members would brainstorm some probable alternatives to
be implemented that will bring positive fortune for the organization.

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Conclusion
Palmview Pineapple started their journey with a positive speed. The record of past
four years is showing the gradual declining of the business. The PESTEL analysis helps to
understand further scope for the business organization to grow within the Australian
marketplace. The problem of the study lies in the question whether Jack should shift the business
from agriculture to real estate to maintain their existence within the industry. Group discussion
theory of decision-making is a way that can help Jack to analyze the problem and find out the
probable solution. Hence, as a management consultant, it is advisable to Jack to call for a group
discussion with Jacquie and Elias. The suitable alternatives of the business will surely be able to
select the right one for the business owner.

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References
Andrei, V. and Prisecaru, I., 2014. The use of PESTEL analysis in development of the Romanian
geological repository.''. UPB Scientific Bulletin (Series C), 76, pp.247-254.
Bergh, D.D., Aguinis, H., Heavey, C., Ketchen, D.J., Boyd, B.K., Su, P., Lau, C.L. and Joo, H.,
2016. Using meta‐analytic structural equation modeling to advance strategic management
research: Guidelines and an empirical illustration via the strategic leadership‐performance
relationship. Strategic Management Journal, 37(3), pp.477-497.
Dewey, J., 2018. Logic-The theory of inquiry. Read Books Ltd.
Engert, S., Rauter, R. and Baumgartner, R.J., 2016. Exploring the integration of corporate
sustainability into strategic management: a literature review. Journal of cleaner production, 112,
pp.2833-2850.
Odumeru, J.A. and Ogbonna, I.G., 2013. Transformational vs. transactional leadership theories:
Evidence in literature. International Review of Management and Business Research, 2(2), p.355.
Robbins, S.P. and Coulter, M., 2017. Management 13E. Pearson India.
Song, J., Sun, Y. and Jin, L., 2017. PESTEL analysis of the development of the waste-to-energy
incineration industry in China. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 80, pp.276-289.
Thorburn, M. and MacAllister, J., 2013. Dewey, interest, and well-being: Prospects for
improving the educational value of physical education. Quest, 65(4), pp.458-468.
Vogel, R. and Güttel, W.H., 2013. The dynamic capability view in strategic management: A
bibliometric review. International Journal of Management Reviews, 15(4), pp.426-446.

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Xu, W., Wang, H., Lu, F. and Yuan, Z., 2015. Study on the Development Strategies of Tourism
Industrial Economy Based on Pomegranate in Zaozhuang, China. In Proceedings of The Third
International Symposium on Pomegranate and Minor Mediterranean Fruits. Acta
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