MEMORANDUM
To: Erika Paterson
From: Jasmin Senghera
Date: February 16th, 2019
Subject: Progress of Formal Report
As mentioned on the English 301 course website, I have completed an outline for my formal report. I am writing this memorandum to detail the progress on the report so far.
The audience for this report will primarily be David Yu, the manager of the Shoppers Drug Mart location on Scott Road and 72ndstreet in Surrey. This is because he is in charge of regulating and maintaining the current food expiry management system. Additionally, he is actively looking for ways to improve this system. Thus, if he finds the new methods outlined in this report feasible then he will convey this information to the rest of the employees of this location.
The purpose of this report is to determine the feasibility of new methods for expiry management as well as to highlight the issues with the current system. The expiry methods in effect are prone to errors, costly, and wasteful. The new methods proposed involve technology and alternative waste management strategies to avoid these problems.
This investigation is very important to David as it will help him understand how the expiry management system is lacking. Customers finding expiries on shelves is not good for business. Additionally, the build-up of expired food items is economically taxing and environmentally harmful. Therefore, the recommendations of this investigation will prove to be fruitful for David to learn how he can change the expiry system to be more sustainable and cost-effective.
My research plan is outlined below:
- Evaluate the problem and confirming it with other employees as well as with David
- Identify primary data sources such as David, other employees of this store location, grocery store customers, experts on the waste to energy system, and charities or shelters for the homeless
- Compose interview questions for David to gain knowledge on expiry statistics
- Compose survey questions for employees to determine their outlook on the current system
- Compose survey questions for grocery store customers to determine their response to expired foods
- Compose interview questions for experts on the waste to energy system to understand how the system works
- Conduct surveys and interviews upon approval
- Perform research on consumer behaviour in response to expiries and on software-based vs. excel-based expiry management
- Research the protocol of food donations outlined by charities and homeless shelters
- Design graphs and charts to depict expiry statistics and survey responses
Since the first draft of this report is due on March 15th, I am quite ahead with my plan as the first seven tasks have been completed. Once I gain approval, I will conduct the surveys and interviews. I expect this to be a lengthy process, so I have prepared the questions beforehand. While waiting for approval, I will begin some of the secondary research and graph-making. I believe that the interviews and surveys will be completed by the end of February, which gives me the first two weeks of March to complete the draft.
This investigation addresses the needs of David as it directly involves improving the expiry management system which he is in charge of. The designed surveys and interviews attached below as well as the secondary research will provide real-life data and evidence that will allow me to provide a cost-effective analysis and solution for the expiry problem. I will present my findings in visual forms such as graphs and charts to better convey the solutions. It is important to note that the nature of the investigation is such that its focuses on procedures and systems rather than on personal issues or clashes of character.
Thank you for taking the time to read this progress report. If you have any questions regarding my investigation, please feel free to let me know.
Enclosure:
Surveys:
301 Jasmin Senghera Customer Survey
301 Jasmin Senghera Employee Survey
Interviews:
301-Jasmin-Senghera-Interview-Questions
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