Questions:
1) Describe House, Hearth and Home's competitive strategy. How does it differentiate itself from its
competitors? What are the human resource implications of this competitive position? Provide examples
from the case.
The competitive strategy that House, Hearth and Home’s has is that they are a small business and able to
give their customers a one on one experience. By being able to do this they make sure each customer
has an exceptional experience they keep them coming back instead of going to one of the big box stores.
With this strategy there may not be enough employees to talk to each customer in a reasonable amount
of time, this can be solved by hiring more staff they just have to make sure they hire the right employees.
In the case Boyd had to fire two employees because they were not working and Coglin did not hire any
new ones, if he does a careful screening process he may be able to find employees that can help improve
the customer service even more.
2) Contrast the different approaches Dan Boyd and Wesley Simpson take with low performing
employees. which do you think is more effective?
Boyd is more straight forward and is not afraid of confrontation where Simpson is more laid back and
only steps in when it is absolutely necessary. Simpson felt uncomfortable when it came to firing an
employee or discipline them when something is done incorrectly. I feel that Boyd is more effective
because he removed the employees that were slowing the yard down. When Boyd fired the two
employees the yard stated to run more efficiently since those employees were no longer there.
3) Do you think there is a difference between being a manager and being a leader? Why or why not? If
so, how are they different?
I think there is a different between a manager and a leader. A manger is there to make sure the job is
being done where as a leader is trying to motivate and drive their followers to do the best that they
possibly can. Just about anyone can be a manager and tell people what to do and supervise that
employees are doing what they are told. A leader is going to reach out to each employee and make sure
they have all the appropriate tools to do the job. They are also going to take charge of situations and
make any changes that have to be done.
4) How has Boyd been able to accomplish so much in such a little time? Why has Simpson not been able
to?
Body has been able to do so much because he has strong communications and pays attention to the
employees. By doing this he is being a strong leader and manager because he knows how to talk to the
employees and make them work more efficiently. With strong communication a manager can make sure
each employee understands what their job is and when it is to be done by. Simpson was not able do this
because he just wanted to make sure everything was done no matter how long it took. With this
mentality the employees are not going to put in the extra effort to make sure things are done. When a
manager has a strong sense of leadership they are going to work as hard as possible to make that
everything is done correctly.
5) Identify Mark Coglin's opinions for addressing this issue. Analyze the benefits and risks of each
opinion. Be sure to consider how each opinion affects Simpson, Boyd and Coglin (individually and their
This study source was downloaded by 100000858936669 from CourseHero.com on 01-12-2023 06:06:09 GMT -06:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/19524513/HouseHearthandHome/
1) Describe House, Hearth and Home's competitive strategy. How does it differentiate itself from its
competitors? What are the human resource implications of this competitive position? Provide examples
from the case.
The competitive strategy that House, Hearth and Home’s has is that they are a small business and able to
give their customers a one on one experience. By being able to do this they make sure each customer
has an exceptional experience they keep them coming back instead of going to one of the big box stores.
With this strategy there may not be enough employees to talk to each customer in a reasonable amount
of time, this can be solved by hiring more staff they just have to make sure they hire the right employees.
In the case Boyd had to fire two employees because they were not working and Coglin did not hire any
new ones, if he does a careful screening process he may be able to find employees that can help improve
the customer service even more.
2) Contrast the different approaches Dan Boyd and Wesley Simpson take with low performing
employees. which do you think is more effective?
Boyd is more straight forward and is not afraid of confrontation where Simpson is more laid back and
only steps in when it is absolutely necessary. Simpson felt uncomfortable when it came to firing an
employee or discipline them when something is done incorrectly. I feel that Boyd is more effective
because he removed the employees that were slowing the yard down. When Boyd fired the two
employees the yard stated to run more efficiently since those employees were no longer there.
3) Do you think there is a difference between being a manager and being a leader? Why or why not? If
so, how are they different?
I think there is a different between a manager and a leader. A manger is there to make sure the job is
being done where as a leader is trying to motivate and drive their followers to do the best that they
possibly can. Just about anyone can be a manager and tell people what to do and supervise that
employees are doing what they are told. A leader is going to reach out to each employee and make sure
they have all the appropriate tools to do the job. They are also going to take charge of situations and
make any changes that have to be done.
4) How has Boyd been able to accomplish so much in such a little time? Why has Simpson not been able
to?
Body has been able to do so much because he has strong communications and pays attention to the
employees. By doing this he is being a strong leader and manager because he knows how to talk to the
employees and make them work more efficiently. With strong communication a manager can make sure
each employee understands what their job is and when it is to be done by. Simpson was not able do this
because he just wanted to make sure everything was done no matter how long it took. With this
mentality the employees are not going to put in the extra effort to make sure things are done. When a
manager has a strong sense of leadership they are going to work as hard as possible to make that
everything is done correctly.
5) Identify Mark Coglin's opinions for addressing this issue. Analyze the benefits and risks of each
opinion. Be sure to consider how each opinion affects Simpson, Boyd and Coglin (individually and their
This study source was downloaded by 100000858936669 from CourseHero.com on 01-12-2023 06:06:09 GMT -06:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/19524513/HouseHearthandHome/
