Published: 15 January 2015
Purpose. The research is aimed at studying and analyzing operational and managerial processes at a food store and at drawing recommendations to address the identified problems on the basis of this analysis. Research method. The main research method is non-participant observation within two month staff joining. This type of research provides minimal researcher’s influence on all studied objects and processes, allowing for examining the situation as it is. Results. Two groups of problems have been identified. Solutions to them will give positive results in the short and long run. Also, a list of recommendations has been drawn, which can serve both as a step-by-step plan to address these problems and as a starting point to elaborate other solutions, relevant to current problems. Scientific novelty. Basic negative effects of hiring non-qualified staff for managerial positions in SMEs are identified. Interdependence of managers’ knowledge and workflow efficiency is justified.