Final answer:
The Italian restaurant utilized the management function of controlling to address the issue of customers taking home cloth napkins by switching to paper napkins and offering cloth napkins for sale. This action is part of a broader set of strategies used by businesses to manage resources and uphold operational order.
Step-by-step explanation:
When the Italian restaurant decided to replace its checkered cloth napkins with paper napkins and started selling cloth napkins at its cash register due to customers taking them home, it was employing the management function of controlling. This function is critical in ensuring that the organization's resources are not misused and that corrective action is taken to address issues that could negatively impact the business. It shows how modern businesses must adapt to challenges by implementing strategies to manage resources effectively and maintain order.
In the larger context of business management, the restaurant's roles are divided among various staff such as top chefs, sous chefs, servers, greeters, janitors, and a business manager, each responsible for different aspects of business operations. This division of labor is designed to create an efficient workflow, addressing the distinct economic connections a restaurant has with various stakeholders including suppliers and customers. In analogy, mentioned in one of the examples, a lunch-hour manager at a fast-food restaurant took the initiative to use floor markings to guide customer queues, which is another example of using the controlling function to address an operational difficulty, leading to improved efficiency and customer satisfaction. This reflects the flexibility and responsiveness needed in the modern business environment.