A Southwestern U.S. fast-food chain has opened an outlet in New Orleans. The new outlet's manager is familiar with the myriad federal, state, and local regulations that govern the operation of eating establishments. The restaurant chain also has a long list of its own rules and guidelines. Knowing the distinct preferences of New Orleans diners, the manager decides to bypass some of the specifics of all of these regulations, while complying with health standards for storing, handling, preparing, and serving food to ensure repeat business. What action is the manager engaging in?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The manager is engaging in loose coupling, which involves bypassing some rules and guidelines to adapt to the local environment and customer preferences. This approach allows for more flexibility and responsiveness to local needs, while still complying with health standards. Bureaucratic overloading would involve too much emphasis on rules and regulations, while central planning would involve a more top-down approach to decision-making. Outsourcing would not apply in this context.