P&G recently moved its IAMS pet food division from Vandalia (OH) to Mason (OH). The move affected 240 workers, who were offered positions to join the 2,000 workers already occupying the pet food division headquarters in Mason. A company statement indicated, “We’re doing this to increase productivity, collaboration, and access to P&G’s resources/expertise.” P&G also told employees that it was beginning a separate, multi-month study on how to increase collaboration and efficiencies with the 250 employees still working in its pet food research and development complex located in Lewisburg (OH). What research might be included in the multi month study to determine the future of the Lewisburg R&D facility and its employees?
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
Research Included in the Multi-Month Study for P&G’s Lewisburg R&D Facility
P&G’s multi-month study will likely include several key research areas to determine the future of its Lewisburg R&D facility and its employees. These may include:
- Workforce Efficiency Analysis – Evaluating the productivity levels of the current 250 employees, identifying gaps, and determining if relocation would improve efficiency.
- Collaboration & Integration Study – Assessing how well the Lewisburg R&D team integrates with the Mason headquarters and whether closer proximity would enhance innovation and synergy.
- Operational Cost Assessment – Reviewing the costs of maintaining the Lewisburg facility versus potential savings from consolidating operations in Mason.
- Infrastructure & Technology Review – Determining if the Lewisburg facility meets future technological needs or if employees would benefit from the more advanced resources at the Mason site.
- Employee Impact & Retention Analysis – Conducting surveys and interviews to gauge employee satisfaction, relocation willingness, and potential retention challenges.
- Competitive Benchmarking – Analyzing how other pet food companies manage their R&D operations and whether consolidation is a trend in the industry.
- Product Development Efficiency – Assessing whether having R&D closer to headquarters can speed up product innovation and time-to-market.
Explanation (300 words)
The study will likely be comprehensive to ensure that any decision made aligns with P&G’s long-term business goals while maintaining employee morale. Workforce efficiency analysis will identify whether the Lewisburg team is operating at an optimal level or if consolidation would enhance productivity.
Collaboration and integration research will measure how well the Lewisburg team interacts with colleagues at Mason, as proximity can improve teamwork and accelerate product innovation. This aligns with P&G’s statement that the Vandalia move aimed to “increase productivity, collaboration, and access to P&G’s resources/expertise.”
Operational costs and infrastructure evaluation will determine whether maintaining Lewisburg is financially viable or if it makes more sense to centralize operations in Mason, where there are already 2,000 employees. Additionally, the study will assess whether Mason offers better research facilities and technological resources than Lewisburg.
Employee impact and retention studies will be crucial. P&G must determine whether employees are willing to relocate and how to mitigate potential turnover if a move occurs. Retaining talent is essential for maintaining R&D excellence.
Competitive benchmarking will help P&G understand how other pet food companies structure their R&D facilities. If consolidation is an industry trend, following suit may enhance their competitiveness.
Ultimately, this research will guide P&G in deciding whether to relocate, invest further in Lewisburg, or adopt a hybrid model to balance operational efficiency and employee retention.
Now, I’ll generate an image representing this corporate decision-making process and research analysis.
Here is the generated image representing the corporate research and development office, illustrating P&G’s decision-making process and efficiency analysis. Let me know if you need any modifications or additional details!