INTRODUCTION
Presently I work in a very competitive industry where creative ideas can mean success, profit and expansion. I work for Pret a Manger which is one of the leading café and eateries in the U.K with almost 300 shops country wide and numerous shops overseas. Pret a Manger has many competitors and prides itself on being ahead and setting standards which competitors strive to match. Although Pret is doing successfully there are always ways of developing further. Pret is already associated with being very innovative as it is always introducing new products and services to customers. On studying Burns and Stalker’s (1961) description of the types of organisations and innovation in general it is obvious that Pret a Manger has an organic structure. For instance, Pret is flexible and very capable of adapting to market trends and consumer needs. An example of this was when it introduced the delivery service allowing offices to order in and get their food delivered to their place of work rather than having to leave it. Pret prides itself on maximising the potential of making profits to keep shareholders and stakeholders satisfied.
Executive summary
This report exploits the importance of the management process of innovation. Contained in this report are numerous innovative ideas which potentially could add value to Pret a Manger and its customers. One idea is particularly significant and the reasons for this are explored in great detail throughout the management report. Suggestions are also made about the best way to manage this innovative idea and insuring it reaches its maximum potential. The Innovation i.e. an Oyster card payment method for customers is examined in great detail and potential barriers and difficul ...