Natural Knibbles Case Summary

I. Background and Problem statement:

Natural Knibbles recently decided to serve a small niche market. They now have a mixed strategy designed to increase the company’s profit margin through further market penetration and developing in other new markets. The owners Brandon and Cherrie Wheat want to make Knibbles an interesting place to work in. They believe that the family atmosphere, open communication and employee consultation are major contributors to their success. Over the last six months Knibbles has conducted training programs based on the specific changes in the company; Cherrie constructed and offered (to their employees) courses that would improve organizational performance and would also ensure that the employees become familiar with the new standards; Orientation on the usage and maintenance of new technology was done as well. Feedback has been positive and encouraging up to this point. Two new employees – Lisa and Kane – had joined the company and took part in a formal orientation which introduced them to everything that they needed to know. With the use of a “buddy system” they two newcomers were taught by the more experienced workers; the two were mainly instructed about the routines and procedures in every position and were given hands-on work. There was, however, inadequate time
It involves a buddy system, where the new employees are paired up with more experienced employees who would present to them the tasks and responsibilities entailed in their position. This system would go on for three months, with a buddy-switch happening for every month. The new members are placed in one of the positions full-time, with occasional rotations in order to make up for a lack in hands or for those who were not around. This method encourages employees to try every position there is so that they can be familiar with