Drexler's World Famous Bar-B-Que

Case 1.1: Drexler's World Famous Bar-B-Que

Drexler's World Famous Bar-B-Que is a family owned restaurant located in an economically disadvantaged neighborhood in Houston, Texas. Drexler's is a restaurant built on family traditions and affairs. This is a family business with strong underlying values. Drexler's began in the 1940s as Burney's BBQ. Over the years, the establishment was owned by a great uncle of the present owner. In the 1950s, the great uncle passed and the uncle of the owner took over and renamed the restaurant Green's Barbecue. In the 1970s a young, James Drexler worked with his uncle and learned how to run the business and any secrets of old family recipes. But in 1985, James took over as owner after his uncle passed and renamed the restaurant to Drexler's Bar-B-Que. The Drexler's restaurant culture has been influenced by the head of the family, Mrs. Scott, along with the values she uses to run a successful business. Hard work, honesty, and treating people fairly and with respect permeate the atmosphere and operations of Drexler's. Drexler's uses those values to give back to the surrounding African-American community through sponsorship. Drexler's restaurant epitomizes the organizational behavior and values of a successful organization.

1. What role do values play in how the Drexler's restaurant interfaces with its neighbors and customers?

Values are the key ingredient to how the Drexler's restaurant interfaces with neighbors and customers. Many customers want organizations to be responsive to their needs. With Mrs. Scott going through the restaurant with a smile and warm greeting and inquiring about individual needs equally for longtime and new customers gives Drexler a better understanding of how to service a customer. Drexler's also gives back to the community, which is a very important piece to being an effective organization. Being in the community gives an organization an opportunity to gain more customers.

2. Is Drexler's an effective organization? Why?

Drexler's is an effective organization because Drexler provides a great menu of food and excellent service. Drexler is an adaptable organization to the outside world. Drexler's decision in 1994 to close the business for six months to expand the restaurant to accommodate the growing customer demand ended up being a good decision- doubling business.

3. Apply the systems model to illustrate how Drexler's Bar-B-Que operates with its environment.

Inputs à {Drexler's uses family values and the resources/supplies}.

Process à{Drexler processes their inputs}