a. Hazel’s lawn care business may experience variability from the neighborhood’s strict
policies about the only time of the day when the lawn care activities can be performed,
from change in seasons or the state of weather, customers’ personalized preferences
regarding their lawn care and preferences in the fertilizers being used on the lawns as well.
In addition, quality assurance, productivity, and appropriate compensation are also
included in the sources of variation in the lawn care business.
b. The variations affect Hazel’s ability to match supply and demand since it was stated that
when the desired outcome is to be met, inputs may be less than or more than adequate.
During the season of spring and summer, demand will be high and therefore Hazel will be
needing extra hands, tools, and equipment in performing the lawn service. On the other
hand, there will be times when the demand is not high enough especially during fall and
winter seasons but Hazel of course can’t fire her employees in order to reduce costs. The
decision being made with regards to hiring of staff and purchasing of equipment’s,
considering such variations in demand, Hazel’s ability to contest supply and demand will
be greatly affected.
c. Hazel must first conduct her careful study and analysis about the nature and effect of the
variations and then develop coping strategies where she can be enforcing certain criteria
and standards that will balance inputs and output, henceforward matching supply with
demand. To be specific, in order to cope up with the variation in demand of the business’
services, Hazel should only keep a specific number of permanent employees that is enough
to perform the services when the demand is minimum. When the seasons are spring and
summer and that the demand is high, Hazel should hire contract workers and rent the extra
equipment needed.