For supporting activities, Porter’s Value Chain includes four aspects that contribute to the internal analysis of the company. Procurement, otherwise known as purchasing, includes sourcing raw materials from wholesalers and suppliers, with whom we have long-term strategic relationships. We also source recycled material to create biodegradable containers and spray bottles, as a part of our commitment to the environment. Human resource management consists of a high level of commitment to ethical and diverse hiring practices, effective staff training and cross-training programs to allow for internal growth. It is imperative that HR practices are developed with consideration for the organization’s strategic goals, especially because it has the ability increase our success in attracting and retaining talent that may help us succeed. Additionally, information technology used at Mildon’t’s research and development is sourced in Canada. Extensive research allows for progressive technologies to ensure sustainable, innovative growth in not only our product but also our operations. Finally, the infrastructure of our organization also includes a legal office which functions to create contracts with our buyers and suppliers, and an administrative team that keeps track of our customer relationship management and database. Customer service answers questions online and over the phone to connect with current and potential buyers, in order to ensure product performance. External Assessment
The Competitive Forces of L.L.Bean are fulfilled in the company’s logistical and order fulfillment capabilities. L.L.Bean has a 650,000 square foot warehouse that houses the infrastructure to expediently move its inventory of 4 million items from a 25 shipping dock facility, through a built in Federal Express distribution system. These attributes are the company’s critical source for competitive advantage, along with its incomparable customer service, increased productivity, enhanced flexibility, and improved quality-of-work life for Bean employees, and incorporating cutting edge technology for a strong business and IT strategy, the company has successfully initiated certain strategies to counter the competitive forces from Porter’s five forces model by using Porter’s four competitive strategies, basically focusing on differentiation, utilizing better product/service industry wide (L.L.Bean et al, 2010).
The value chain, made by Michael Porter, is really important to see how a company structure is created. The value chain is constituted by two parts: support activities (firm infrastructure, human resource management, technology development, procurement) and primary activities (inbound logistic, operations, outbound logistic, marketing and sales, service). (Johnson et al. 2011, p.97-99)
Chern’s also has a history of promoting from within, thus viewing employees as long term investments. With the autonomous nature of each store, the company must put a certain amount of stock in the acceptance of other ideas and best practices. Knowing this, and wanting to maintain the culture that has built their success thus far, the staffing strategy starts to come into a clearer objective and focus. The HR Strategy and challenge to acquire, develop, and retain an employee base that has long term career goal and is diverse based upon the demographics of each of the markets that the corporations has stores located. The Staffing Strategy to recruit and hire based upon the model of looking for employees that will be invested with the company on a long term basis and diverse based upon the various market demographics, will require at minimum some form of centralized HR administration to oversee the corporate objective, legal compliance, retention of top performers and mentoring at all levels within the organization. All of this to be done naturally while holding a high ethical standard and treatment of its employees on a fair and consistent basis.
In this assignment I have looked at strategic human resource management perspective in Marks and Spencer. Before move on the strategic human resource management, let us have a brief introduction about Marks and Spencer. According to the corporate website Marks and Spencer, started its business as a single market stall and grown to become one of the UK’s leading retailers of clothing, food, home products and financial services. Marks and Spencer employs 78,000 in the UK and abroad, have more than 700 stores and serve over 21 million customers every week. Marks and Spencer strongly committed to provide high quality products as premium prices. The company has an established brand name and exceptional financial turnover of £8 billion in 2012 (About Us, 2014).
In this portion of my case analysis, I will be showing ways for suggested solutions in order to help improve the situation at the Engstrom Auto Mirror Plant. I will be showing ways in which organizational improvement outcomes can directly help remedy some of the issues and recommend strategic actions that would lead the organization in a proactive production workforce. The recommendations are creating committees, rework how the Scanlon Plan bonus works, create or use their marketing and sales department to the full capacity, and to help empower the workforce work to achieve Corporate Social Responsibility. (CSR)
Costco is among the leading global retailers which provide customers a wide range of merchandise, ranging from small to well-known brands. The company began operations in 1983. Over the years, Costco has been a retailer in low cost membership-only leader, in warehouse club of merchandise. Moreover, Costco does not offer frills warehouse business models as its competitors do. Costco’s major competitors are BJ’s Wholesale Club and Sam Club (Costco, 2010).
At its core, Porter’s 5 forces describes a firms overall ability to compete in a market. We discuss our analysis of the 5 forces and how they affect SAS Corporation and its stakeholders. Please examine Figure 1.1 to view a diagram that depicts the 5 forces.
Martell and Carroll (1995) stated that there are two types of human resources: strategic and operative. They went on to describe four characteristics of human resource initiatives: (1) They are long-term oriented; (2) They are connected with the corporate strategies; (3) They are connected with the organizational performance; and (4) The line managers are involved in the details of decisions regarding human resource management. Too often, both operations managers and human resource mangers forget that they are working toward the same goal. Often, human resources will adopt policies and procedures that are hard for line managers to implement, and line managers expect human resources to have an inherent understanding of the processes taking place on the plant floor. The relationship between the best human resource practices and organizational performance must always
According to Nassar (2007) text, organizational performance equals,resources plus technology and effergy. Porter Leath service industry is made up of intangible and tangible inputs. Taking a look at Porter Leath resources, Porter Leath would benefit from exploring cost options for supplies. Porter Leath could research better quality materials such as crayons, copy paper and other supplies to include pencils. Porter Leath is unable to seek other resources for intangible inputs.
CVS Caremark established 1963, has been expanding every year since their inception. With over 7,000 retail locations they face many human resources challenges. It essential for CVS to understand what HR challenges they face to make informed decisions; beneficial to the company stakeholders and employees. Hr decisions affect not only the employee’s but the company’s social opt squat. These resolutions include recruitment of highly skilled workers, company policies, labor relations, training and diversity, management of multiple locations, global business environments, employee compensation and benefits,
McDonald's is the world’s leading food service retailer with more than 30,000 local restaurants in 121 countries serving 45 million customers each day.
Sam Watson the founder of Walmart once said “our people make the difference”. Walmart understands the importance of its human resource department. Its employees deal directly with its customers and this has an influence on the success of Walmart. The objectives and corporate goals of Walmart are cost reduction, saving money for on goods for its customers to live better and the acknowledgement that their success to a great extent depends on their employees. The human resource functions that Walmart has put in place to be in line with its business objectives are its retention programs/strategies, internal promotion and career development and compensation.
Given the demands of today's competitive and dynamic environment, it is quite challenging to understand strategic issues facing organizations and develop the capability for long term organizational success. Introduction in today's dynamic and competitive business environment, survival, growth and profitability are the essence goals of all industries. Nowadays, Porter's Five Forces is currently being adopted as the powerful management tool of choice by many organizations. The essence of Porter's Five Forces is that it can help senior managers to make right decision and build and sustain competitive advantages in the organization
Porter’s five forces analysis not only provides the ideas to create the strategic plan but also assesses the attractiveness of an industry.
Within technology and the value system, this called for an emphasis on media relations to disseminate information to the local community and its leaders. Solid communication practices, i.e. strategic communications, was of the utmost importance to gain the respect and acceptance of the population.