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3: Resources and Bathtub Behavior

  • Page ID
    23041
    • Anonymous
    • LibreTexts

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    Learning Objectives

    This chapter will do the following:

    • explains how to work out what the numbers do when resources fill and drain
    • shows where management control lies
    • outlines how managers can develop resources through time

    Resources have a special characteristic: They fill and drain over time, like water in a bathtub. This chapter explains this behavior, shows why it is so important, and also does the following:

    • 3.1: Bathtubs Rule! Resources Fill and Drain
      This page examines how a firm's resources affect its performance, specifically in customer acquisition and retention within a restaurant setting. It uses a tank analogy to explain the stock-and-flow structure of customer movement, influenced by marketing and service quality. The discussion highlights the necessity of monitoring customer metrics and dynamics for effective resource management, linking these insights to broader business strategies and operational oversight.
    • 3.2: How Management Control Affects Resources
      This page highlights the significance of understanding resource dynamics in restaurant management, focusing on customer inflows and outflows to enhance performance. It emphasizes that resource quantities affect performance, urging management to control these flows. Analyzing customer behavior is crucial, as fluctuations can influence profits.
    • 3.3: Developing Resources
      This page examines resource development challenges in businesses, focusing on staffing, product, and customer resources. It highlights the importance of managing limited resources and introduces principles such as identifying potential resources and understanding development rates. The "choice chain" demonstrates consumer progression from awareness to loyalty, stressing strategic investment in brand management.


    This page titled 3: Resources and Bathtub Behavior is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Anonymous via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform.