Chapter 1 Systems Approach
sustainability
ability to meet needs of today without compromising future generations' ability to meet needs
transformation
action or activity to change inputs into outputs
memory
all stored information that provides historical records of a system's operations
competitor
another organization welling a similar product/service to the same market segment
input
any human, physical, or operational resource required to accomplish objectives of the system
interface
area where two systems or subsystems come in contact with each other
hierarchy
characteristic of a system that is composed of subsystems of a lower order and a suprasystem of a higher order
competitive advantage
characteristics of a company that distinguish it form others
system
collection of interrelated parts or subsystems unified by design to obtain one or more objectves
subsystem
complete system within itself that is a part of a larger system
model
conceptual simplification of a real situation in which extraneous information is excluded and analysis is symplified
dynamic equilibrium
continuous response and adaption of a system to its internal and external environmental
strategies
decisions and actions to assist a company to meet its objectives
mission statement
describes what a company does; differentiates from others
interdependency
each part of the system affects performance of other parts of the system
onsite foodservice
foodservice operations in which sale of food is secondary to the goal of the organization; typically not for profit
commercial foodservice
foodservice operations in which sale of food is the primary activity and a profit is desired
greenwash
inaccurate or misleading information distributed by an organization so as to present an environmentally responsible public image
stakeholder
individuals or groups who are significantly affected by or can significantly influence a company's decisions
boundaries
limits of a system that set the domain of organizational activity
open systems
organizations that are in continual interaction with the environment
integration
parts are blended together into a unified whole
entrepreneur
person who creates and assumes risk for a new venture or business
feedback
processes by which a system continually reveices information from its internal and external environment
output
result of transforming input into achievement of a system's goal
equifinality
same or similar output can be achieved by using different inputs of by varying the transformation process
environmental scanning
search for an acquisition of information about events and trends external to the organization
draw and describe the foodservice systems model
see slides
Describe operating practices (5)
self-operation, contracting, partnering, franchising, multidepartment management
vision
statement of where a company wants to be in the future
SWOT analysis
strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats intended to analyze concepts that stimulate strategic thinking
management
the art and practice of getting things done through people
environmental factors
things outside of the system that can impact the operation of the system
synergy
working together can create greater outcomes than working individually