Week 1 Flashcards
What is a collection of interrelated parts or subsystems unified by design to obtain one or more objectives?
A system
Input > ______ > Output
Transformation
Why use the systems approach?
-Facilitate problem solving & decision making
- cost
-delegate tasks
-safety
-quality control
What are the seven main components of a food systems model for foodservice organizations?
- Input
- Transformation
- Output
- Control
- Memory
- Feedback
- Environmental factors
What four aspects make up the input of a food system?
- Materials - food, supplies
- Humans - labour, skill
- Operational - money, time, utilities, information
- Facilities - space, equipment
What three aspects are involved in transformation?
- Management functions
- Functional subsystems
- Linking processes
What factors contribute to control in a food system?
- Plans - standing and single use; goals and objectives; standards; policies; programs
- Contracts
- Regulations - local, state/provincial, federal
Why is memory important to a food system?
Financial records, forecasting demand, planing purchasing and personnel scheduling
What outputs are expected of a food system?
- Meals - quantity & quality
- Customer satisfaction
- Employee satisfaction
- Financial accountability
What are some functional subsystems contributing to the transformation process?
- Procurement
- Production
- Distribution & service
- Safety, sanitation, & maintenance
What are some internal controls in a food system?
Plans
Goals
Standards
Objectives
Contracts
Menu
What are some external controls influencing a food system?
Contracts
Laws & regulations
What is the benefit of efficient record-keeping for a food system?
Records can be analyzed for trends and can be taken into consideration for future planning.
What are some environmental factors that could influence foodservice operations?
- unreliable utilities
- climate change
- contaminants
- demographic
- infrastructure
- inflation
- competition
- sociopolitical issues
What are some sources of feedback for a food system?
- Customer feedback
- Plate waste tracking
- Employee performance & morale
- Financial performance
Why is feedback important for the functioning of foodservice organizations?
- Assist system in adapting to changing conditions
- Improving quality
What is the difference between a commercial food service operation vs. an onsite/institutional operation?
The primary activity of operation for a commercial organization is the sale of food.
- Think: restaurants
In an onsite/institutional organization, sale of food is a secondary goal.
- Think: school/workplace cafeterias, hospitals, long term care…
What are the six characteristics of open systems?
- Interdependency
- Dynamic equilibrium
- Equifinality
- Permeable boundaries
- Interface of systems and subsystems
- Hierarchy of system
List the six types of foodservice industry operating practices.
- Self-operation
- Multidepartment, multi site management
- Partnering
- Franchising
- Small business ownership
- Contracting
What is multidepartment management?
The food service manager is in charge of more than just the food service department.
What is multi site management?
The food service manager is responsible for food service in multiple sites - hospitals, correctional facilities, child care, senior centres.
What is sustainability in foodservice?
The ability to meet the needs of today without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.
What are the three characteristics of a sustainable food system?
- Ecologically sound
- Socially acceptable\
- Economically viable
Describe the four shades of “green” in sustainability.
Stage 1 (light green) - legal approach - this is the bare minimum to meet sustainability regulations.
Stage 2 - Market approach - introducing sustainable practices due to customer feedback.
Stage 3 - Stakeholder approach - meeting the environmental demands of multiple stakeholders (employees, suppliers, community, customers)
Stage 4 (dark green) - activist approach - actively pursuing sustainable practices