Running head: FIELDS CASE STUDY PART 1 1
Fields Case Study Part 1
Alison Goetzman, Elizabeth Grant & Beck Valdez
Metropolitan State University
FIELDS CASE STUDY PART 1 2
Josephine Fields, of the Fields Farm, approached GoetzmanGrantValdez (GGV)
regarding possible future business development on the Fields Farm property. The Fields Farm is
a small-scale family-owned and operated corn and cattle farm located 45-minutes northwest of
the Twin Cities. In January 2015, GGV toured the grounds and facilities while interviewing Ms.
Fields. Our analysis presents a SWOT analysis, proposal of three business development ideas, an
overview of the decision process involved in arriving at the three business ideas, an outline of a
formal management structure and behavioral management approaches as well as a proposed code
of ethics for the Fields Farm.
SWOT ANALYSIS
STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES
● Workplace loyalty
● Social responsibility
● Farm-focused sustainability
● Variety of on-site plant assets
● Informal management structure
● Lack of succession plans
● Risk of family business feuds
OPPORTUNITIES THREATS
FIELDS CASE STUDY PART 1 3
Growing community
● Formal management and accountability
structure
● Employee training and development
● Intense competition
● Employee retention
● City zoning and future development
● Distance from Twin Cities
FIELDS CASE STUDY PART 1 4
Strengths
Workplace loyalty
The Fields Farms is supported by a diverse family with members of different cultures and
expertise. Three members of the Fields hold degrees in subjects directly related to the current
business functions and could potentially be seen as an asset in future developments. For example,
one of the Fields sisters, Veronica, holds an MBA and has been taking care of overall business
operations. In addition, there is a property operations employee who has been with the Farm
long-term, during which has maintained and upgraded the property and offers a well-cultivated
institutional knowledge of the property operations of the site.
