Undercover Boss – Smoothie King's Boss' Interaction in the Workplace

Uncover Boss – Questions
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Uncover Boss – Questions
1 Literature review/Background research which gives history and context of the organization
Smoothie King was founded in 1973 in Louisiana by Steve and Cindy Kuhnau. Steve wanted to cure his allergy, so he blended some nutrients with fruits. His friends liked the mixture calling it ‘smoothie.’ In 2012, the company was bought by Wan Kim. The company focuses on smooth blends in which they use whole fruits and organic vegetables without relying on added sugars and artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives. The company aims to be involved in the health and fitness of its customers. Currently, the company is a $500 million business with an annual income of $75 million and over 1,000 stores across 32 states.
2 Researcher’s positionality – how does the boss’s individual history contribute to their interactions
The boss grew up in Korea in a wealthy family. He liked the culture created by Steve and Cindy, which made him buy the company. Positioned as an outsider, the boss interacts with staff members on level ground, assuming that he knows little or nothing about the business. His individual history comes out in the sense that he is respectful and honest, which makes it easy to interact with staff members who are giving him attention while busy at the same time.
3 Research question – guiding questions of the researcher/boss
There are four research questions that govern the researcher’s approach:
-Does the franchise meet the company’s standards?
-What are the issues that have emerged due to the introduction of the clean blend?
-How have the guests engaged with these changes?
-What kind of a team is working behind the scenes to produce a nutritional powder that the brand relies on when creating smoothies, and will this team keep up with Smoothie King’s expansion?
4 Description of the setting - this should be very thorough and clear description of the setting
There are two sets of settings in the documentary. The boss visits four destinations; three are retail stores, while one is a manufacturing plant. The settings in retail stores are similar. The walls are white with some sections in red, which are the brand colors. Staff in stores...