The ToyTime Company makes and sells a line of popular children's toys. In six months, retail stores will begin buying the company's products in large quantities in preparation for the holiday shopping season. Every year, ToyTime introduces one or two new toys designed to attract the attention and interest of children and their parents and get them into the stores at holiday time. Then they design in-store displays and promotions of the company's toys that have been popular for many years, bringing in a high volume of sales of both new and traditional toys.
1. What management problems are apparent in the ToyTime Company? Why have these problems occurred? Are the reasons related more to planning issues or to organizing issues in the company?
2. What is likely to happen to the company this year and in future years if the problem is not resolved quickly?
3. Using the management tools discussed in the chapter, give examples of how each could be used to help solve the company's problems.