Case Study on the Wallingford Bowling Center

While first analyzing the case on the Wallingford Bowling Center it appeared the company had initiated high-quality solutions for optimizing profit. Some of these solutions included creating a men’s and women’s bowling league to play throughout the year, which makes up 60% of the profits. The bowling alley also features a full service bar, restaurant, locker room and game room.

While reading the last two paragraphs, however, the owners and managers of the company may not be implementing the best strategies for the company as a whole. The first being, what is the goal and purpose of the company? The obvious answer is they are a bowling alley, but more importantly, they provide an avenue of entertainment for the community. Their goals and purpose should be vocalized and well known to all employees, management, and to the community. Goals and purpose drive success.

The next issue questions how the company is resolving the issues they currently face. On a positive note, one of the members spent three months investigating into the cost side of the bowling alley. The negative is his observations noted the company being strict with keeping the things the way they are. If there is a current issue that needs resolved and the company leaders are not willing to change, than there is major fault at play. The characteristics of managerial decisions (risk, lack of structure, uncertainty, and conflict) come to mind. If the company is not willing to managing risk then they are not providing long term opportunities for the company.

The 6 stages of decision making also come to mind. They are: 1) identifying and diagnosing the problem 2) generating alternative solutions 3) evaluating alternatives 4) making the choice 5) implementing the decision and 6) evaluating the decision. Based on the conflicts The Wallingford Bowling Center is currently dealing with, they are not using the stages of decision making properly. They have identified the problem but are unwilling to provide...