Harold’s Hardware Store

Within the Discussion Board area, write 400–600 words that respond to the following questions with your thoughts, ideas, and comments. This will be the foundation for future discussions by your classmates. Be substantive and clear, and use examples to reinforce your ideas:
After reviewing the story, conduct research online into the various possibilities for analyzing and approaching the system documentation problems that are presented, and propose possible solutions.
Before you start this assignment, please read the story entitled Harold’s Hardware Store. This can be found in the OSI and TCP/IP Models MUSE. This can also be found in your text materials for Week 2.
This is a direct link to Harold’s Hardware Store. After reading the story, complete the following:
• Discuss the specific recommendations that you would make based on your personal experience and research.
• Provide specific examples of how you would address the communication problems that are mentioned in the story and how your problem-solving technique could be implemented for the company that was mentioned in the story.
• How can you apply the lessons that you learned from the story to your own retail store problem?
• Provide feedback on the recommendations that your classmates made.
Responses to Other Students: Respond to at least 2 of your fellow classmates with at least a reply about their Primary Task Response regarding items you found to be compelling and enlightening. To help you with your discussion, please consider the following questions:
• What did you learn from your classmate’s posting?
• What additional questions do you have after reading the suggested techniques for solving the problem?
• What clarification do you need regarding the method for solving the problem?
• What differences or similarities do you see between your problem-solving technique and that of other classmates?

Sample Solution

Primary Task Response: After reviewing the story, I would recommend that Harold\’s Hardware Store approach their system documentation problems in two different ways. First, they should have a clear and concise plan for documenting all of their systems. This plan should include the creation of SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) that outline specific processes for running each department or area within the store. Additionally, there should be an inventory control system established which will allow for tracking of products by item number, vendor name, location within the store’s shelves or racks and other pertinent information related to the product. This information can then be used to generate reports when necessary.

Second, I would recommend that Harold’s implement a change management process in order to more effectively communicate changes made throughout their systems both internally and externally. Change management ensures that any modifications to existing systems are properly documented from start to finish so as not to create confusion with staff members or customers who access these systems on a regular basis. Having a documented trail of changes also makes it easier for troubleshooting any issues later down the line because one knows exactly what was changed at what point in time and why it was done so.

The lessons learned from this story can easily be applied to my own retail store problem which is keeping track of inventory levels across multiple locations through an effective inventory control system set up process . Specifically, I could develop SOPs outlining how stock levels need to be tracked between stores such as how often counts need to take place and how much stock needs reordering in each location based on current demands while taking into account delivery times associated with vendors providing items needed for restocking purposes. Additionally, implementing a change management process leading up to any modifications being made within our stores’ data systems will help ensure accurate communication flows smoothly among departments and staff members having access those same data points.

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