INTRODUCTION
If you were to ask me what my dream job is, it definitely wouldn't be taking over the operation of a floundering grocery chain. Yet, that's exactly what former General Electric executive Lawrence R. Johnston did in 2001. Not only did he take over the company, he turned it around. His inventive management style and new ideas have begun to revive the company. Johnston knew that he couldn't compete head to head with the retail giants such as Wal-Mart (Holmes, 2005). He has spearheaded the addition of technology to Albertsons, to improve the speed of checkout and customer service. These changes are evident in that the 18% increase in earnings for the third quarter of 2005 was mostly due to cost saving measures not increased sales as was hoped (Holmes, 2005). He has also had a few issues with the employees. For example, a four-month strike at the Southern California stores cost the company an estimated $1.2 billion in lost sales. That figure doesn't even begin to estimate the cost of the ill will of the employees (Holmes, 2005). Even though the strike was a definite setback it also proved the resolve of the management to have things their way. Johnston believes the strike has helped to speed the signing of new contracts in other areas of the country (Holms, 2005). All in all, he seems to be exceeding expectations. I wonder if I could perform as well as Johnston.
MY TURN
Imagine that I were hired instead of Johnston. What would I do differently? Well, the biggest thing would be to implement Radio Frequency Identification (RFID). Basically, RFID is using radio frequencies to track and inventory shipments. If you've watched television in the last year you've probably seen the IBM commercial where a couple of truck drivers are lost. The point of the commercial is that the boxes "told" the help desk that they were going the wrong way. Now, is RFID going to cause someone to be sitting in the middle of the road to tell the drivers their going the wrong way? No, probably not. However, RFID could possibly generate a phone call from the dispatcher to enquire about the intentions of the driver.
There is a lot that goes into being a successful company, and making the Fortune 500 list is most every business owner’s dream. Sam Walton is credited with being the founder and first Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Wal-Mart. Walton and other CEO’s of the company were able to shape the success of Wal-Mart by implementing strategies that would revolutionize the way retail stores do business, all while pushing Wal-Mart to the top spot on the Fortune 500 list. This paper looks at a few different strategies Walton implemented that ultimately benefitted the company to increase revenue. How did Wal-Mart become the retail giant that it is today? T.A. Frank of Washington Monthly gives a brief history of Wal-Mart in his article Everyday Low Vices.
David Dillon has been CEO of the Kroger Co. since 2003 and is the 10th CEO in Kroger’s 130-year history. Joseph B. Hall held the CEO position from 1946 until 1964. Hall started with Kroger as a real estate manager in 1931 and later moved onto merchandising. His accomplishments as CEO was taking Kroger from a collection of 1,430 small, of mom-and-pop style corner stores into a unified chain, introducing advances in private label, product manufacturing and the company’s distinctive blue-and-white logo. Like todays manager, Hall was concerned with developing a close relationship with Kroger’s shoppers. Halls approach to gain the knowledge needed was that he and his fellow executives would actually visit shoppers in their homes to discuss their needs and concerns as part of a program known as “Kroger Calls”. Today Kroger’s CEO can simply utilize data and purchase history stored on a customer’s loyalty card to tailor their marketing strategy (Kroger CEOs, Past and Present, 2012). Halls creation of a modern day supermarket company nearly quadrupled sales to $2.3 billion.
The Strategic Analysis will show some of the steps that have been taken to overcome some of the difficulties that Sears has had. The newest CEO, Arthur C. Martinez, has been a motivating leader for the company. He has implemented many changes that have increased sales and moved Sears back up to the top of the retail chain. These changes would include store remodeling, Internet strategies, differentiation, and human resource management.
The purpose of this memo is to show the affects of how Albertson’s is trying to implement many strategies in order to try, and compete with its powerhouse competitor Wal-Mart. This memo will contain information on steps Albertson’s is taking to gain back some of the market share that Wal-Mart has swallowed up. It will also describe Albertson’s planned innovations that will be what determines their success. Lastly it will discuss how through IT as well as a successful implementation of satisfying consumers demands, will possibly allow them to compete with the ever so powerful Wal-Mart.
Penney must take into account all these factors while trying to rediscover its core values with a new strategy. This new "come back" strategy is to reverse J.C. Penney’s recent decline; thus, prompting the retailer to first focus on shareholder value and shareholder return, which is vital in regaining the trust in the company (Garcia, 2016). In addition, J.C. Penney will be partnering and housing more brands (e.g., Sephora) (Garcia, 2016). There are also redesign plans for sunglasses, jewelry, and accessories sections (Garcia, 2016). Moreover, the most important reform for CEO Marvin Ellison is hiring the right candidate, such as ecommerce executives, supply chain executives, and marketing leaders (Garcia,
Historically, the advent of innovative, influential technology has reformed our lives in post-industrial America, creating new amenities on hand, along with altering conventional laws governing this facet of modern living. The revolutionary and global capability of telecommunications has shaped new means for dealing with information, and changed the role of a private citizen among this new technology. Traditionally in America, private citizens have been separate from government or public involvement in personal matters such as identity, and unique characteristics defining that identity. Lately, radio frequency identification (RFIDs) is an upcoming method for tracking objects or even people, representing a very useful yet personally invasive technology. Considering this recent invention, RFIDs have the potential to be a major progression in information processing, and benefit life in public as a citizen. Conversely, RFIDs confront the basic American right to privacy, and ones personal uniqueness. Regardless of RFID benefits, legislation and citizen awareness will need to advance along with this technology in turn to protect themselves from invasion of their personal right to privacy.
The purpose of this paper is to analyze and discuss the effectiveness of the Target Stores supply chain. Target was founded in 1902 by George Draper Dayton who after partnering with the owner of Goodfellow Dry Goods Company for a year decided he wanted to have more involvement, so he purchased Goodfellows renaming it Dayton Dry Goods Company. After purchasing the store Mr. Dayton remained in management until the time of his death in 1938. By this time the store had seen many changes including a name change in 1911 changing from Dayton Dry Goods Company to The Dayton Company, as well as an addition of the Dayton Foundation in 1918. After Mr. Dayton’s death the family continued managing the business until 1983 in which the last two managing Dayton’s retired, ending 80 years of the Dayton’s family management (Target Corporation, 2014).
Radio frequency identification (RFID) is a computerized ID innovation that uses radio recurrence waves to exchange information between an onlooker and things that have RFID gadgets, or tags, joined. The tags hold a microchip and receiving wire, and work at universally distinguished standard frequencies. Barcodes are much smaller, lighter and easier than RFID but RFID offers significant advantages. One major advantage of RFID is that the innovation doesn't oblige any observable pathway the tags could be perused as long as they are inside the range of the spectator, whereas in barcodes in order to read the barcode the barcode scanner should close around 10-15 fts. In RFID data, for example, part and serial numbers, assembling dates and support history is put away on the tags and catches which help in maintenance of equipments. RFID technology as high value for asset management and inventory systems
Some core competencies that must be exploited are: Brand Kmart is an existing well-known and trusted national brand in USA Kmart has private label and designer clothing that is well endorsed Infrastructure Kmart has a large number of well-located, low-cost, leased stores in urban far away from competitors through out the country ( Appendix B ). Staffing Confidence by the market in Kmart is created by the achievements of its staff and management. With the turn-around strategy in place, new blood has been put into the top management structures. In any renewal there will be retrenchment as unprofitable stores are closed. This can be used as an opportunity to retain and move high performing staff to where they are needed and to get rid of non-performing staff. Anderson the chairperson of Kmart is well supported by Wall Street and the board of Directors. These new staff members enter the company with needed skills to address problems in certain areas that previously were poorly managed such as inventory control and merchandising. Store locations, layout and Performance Stores conveniently located away from competitors like Wal-mart and Target therefore less to compete for customers face-to-face. There are 250 non-performing stores who have already been identified as being more cost effective to close than continue with running costs. Expertise exists in-house for the planning of store layout and appearance to meet different customer segments. This concentration of effort will enable focus on key areas Technology Kmart has already invested in good retailing systems. The system can be use to control inventory, supplier payments, track customer buying and monitor income versus profit margins across all stores. Research and Development The planning department is well established and in cross-functional to provide various perspective. The planning department to ensure that strategies at all levels are executed can further use the access to past data and knowledge of changes in buying patterns. Financial Backing JP Morgan Chase has agreed to support Kmart to avert the current threat of closure due to bankruptcy.
Using RFID chips in school is a bad idea because parents and students are against this plan. Kim Setter writer of the article School RFID plan gets and F , "This is not right for our kids, said Michelo Tatro, whose daughter received a badge. I'm not willing for anybody to track me and I don’t think my children should be tracked, either." According to Kim's Article. In other words, the parents are afraid that their kids are going to be tracked down the whole time. Even when they're using the restroom and or having lunch. I personally think this is a privacy invasion and that it shouldn’t be allowed at schools unless it becomes a national requirement. After all the teachers are still going to have to look for the students faces to make sure the
Barcodes are used everywhere around us. They are used to track products through shipment, track products at a store and speed up and enhance the checkout process, as well as allowing faster access to information. Barcodes began to be used heavily in the 1970’s. This began a great movement in the consumer industry, speeding up the checkout process and allowing easier inventory tracking. However, just like all technologies, barcodes have been enhanced many times over and are being replaced by better, more efficient systems (Bonsor).
Douglas Mcmillon has been in the news lately for poor customer service under what seems like a lack of leadership style. Walmart has failed to keep up with changes in the retail environment. Once an ever anticipating, low cost retailer of consumer needs type business to a now slow reaction to change retailer. Buyers’ behavior has changed and so has the business landscape. Leadership must be able to realign strategy to suit consumer need. What works this year may not work next year. Consumers now have zero tolerance for inconvenience of any sort (Mourdoukoutas,
As you are well aware by now the world has become increasingly technology oriented. Every day we use technology in one way or another. Whether it be simply checking email or being able to turn our entire house on from the simple push of a button on our smart phone. Whether we like it or not, technology is there. One piece of technology that seems to be gaining attention and garnering more research is Radio Frequency Identification or RFID. Radio Frequency Identification is a form of wireless media where messaging and data are broadcast through the air. It is radio transmission that uses an RFID tag, RFID reader, and back-end system in order to communicate back and forth and requires no line of sight. As simple as it may sound, this technology has its fair share of complications and the security issues that have presented themselves are at the forefront of this expanding technology.
Computers are used at traffic stops. The officer can find the vehicle identification number (VIN) and calls the number in to the secretary and the secretary lets the responding officer know whether or not the vehicle belongs to the driver of the car, to make sure the vehicle isn’t stolen. If the car is stolen the officer car arrest the person right then.
In today's changing business environment, information technology plays an incredibly important role in almost every aspect of the day to day life of almost every industry. The transportation industry is, of course, no different. From the transport of goods from manufacture, to warehousing, to retail, to end-user, the industry relies on information technology to get things done. The transportation of people is the exact same; incredibly important to get done yet impossible without the impact of information technology.