Rowe and Flexible Work and Success at Best Buy

Employee burnout and turnover was high. After the ROWE program’s implementation, productivity has increased and voluntary turnover has decreased. The Culture of Best Buy Prior to the implementation of ROWE at Best Buy, employee morale was low; the turnover rate was high, employees worked very long hours. “The company’s culture used to embrace long hours and sacrifice”. Employees spent a lot of time in impromptu meetings called by management. Employees were called upon to complete reports with little or no notice. Some employees stated they spent little time with their families and worked even when they were not physically in the office. The system at Best Buy before ROWE was work, work, and more work. Employees seemed to be working 24hrs a day. Now, with more control of their time, employees are more productive. They are able to decide when and where they want to work. The change has also helped them to confront some biases in the workplace. Deciding whether or not to extend the same benefit to hourly employees exposed how some managers felt. They resisted because of their belief that it was not for everyone, some people needed to be held to the old system.

The retail sectors are specializing in the selling of products that the consumers need in specific times and places. However, it is hardly the retailer's responsibility to produce the goods. The retailers just act agents, as they get the products to the consumers. Industrial retailing will focus more on the sale of small quantities of the products to the buyers. Transformational processes are not integrated in the retailing processes, as the retailers neither produce nor manufacture any goods. Initially, retailing was just transacted in stores and shop. Presently, technological upgrades and developments have affected the retailing process positively, leading to the use of electronics to do transactions. In most cases, the retailers will transact with cash specifically during payment of the products (Retail Council of Canada, 2009).

Implementing change in an organization is complicated. It is important that a manager understands their role and responsibilities for which could very well be the success or failure of an organization. A manager should know how to handle staff resistance, and the areas that require change. There are processes that help management with assisting their staff members with adjusting to change and concentrate on the areas of importance. This process includes planning, assessment, implementation, and evaluation. The difference between a failed organization and a successful manager is when the manager has the ability to implement change with little disruption to

The economic success of retailers greatly depends on their ability to reach customers and meet customer demands in ways that is convenient for the customer. No longer can retailers expect customers to only shop at their retail stores. Retailers are required to provide customers with the multiple shopping channels and flexible fulfillment options that they demand. Companies who fail to do so will see their customers take their business to competitors who are both willing and able to serve customers based on consumer demand (xxx)

There should be enough promotion of the goal commitment by the manager as well as the top management to see that there is always a balance between learning and performance goals and to motivate employees in achieving it. Employees pursue goals which are reasonable and obtainable; every employee should be given certain goals

2) Will the benefits gained from the program improve employee motivation enough to warrant the expenditure?

Working in retail, entails patience and knowledge of the products in the store. Customers should

Another challenge that PDP might face in the future is that there are too many risks attached to the program. An issue is that the PDP might face a challenge from its current employees because there is nothing in it for them. The opportunity of career development and growth are directed towards graduates in which might upset current employees as they feel neglected. Another challenge is that the program isolates people with a GPA of 3 or higher. There should be other ways to seek out talent. A potential challenge that the company could run into is that the individual invested into does not stay with the company or later down the road is not the ideal candidate for the company. The company runs the risk of losing that trainee after investing so much into them. Another challenge is that the program branches across a widespread that if one single entity does not cooperate, it could jeopardize the program. An example would be the person who is doing the coaching because if that person does not do an adequate job then the company runs the risk of losing the

As we all know, the retail industry is very crucial and is highly competitive. As this company

Retailing is one of the largest industries in the United States and accounts for approximately 10 percent of the gross national product. A retailer is someone who purchases items from a supplier or wholesaler for re-sale at a profit. The retailer earns his or her living by making a profit on the re-sale. Retailers purchase a product, mark up its cost, and advertise it for sale. The mark-up process is the key to the retailers business because if the product is marked up too high, consumers will not buy it. If it is marked too low then the retailer will have lost profits and the supply may be quickly exhausted. Another key to the retail business is knowing what the customer needs or wants and when, how much the customer is willing to pay for the product, what the competition is charging, and where to find the product at the best possible cost to make a profit.

[“Look at why big companies die,” says Shari Ballard, Best Buy’s executive vice President, retail channel. “They implode on themselves. They create all these systems and processes--- and then end up with a very small percentage of people who are supposed to solve complex problems, while the other 98% of people just execute. You just can’t come up with good enough ideas that way to keep growing.”]

Innovations in technology can force a business to change just to keep up. Employees who have never used computers need to be trained to operate the new computer system. A business also can benefit by implementing a technological change. According to the Hotel Online website, the airlines

The contemporary approach to job designs that attempts to redesign tasks to optimize operation of a new technology while preserving employees’ interpersonal relationships and other human aspects of the work is called sociotechnical systems theory. It is relevant in to the internal environment because it focuses on employees and their knowledge, training, and tools.

The employees feel that they have greater responsibility and trust put on them, this can generate greater participation, commitment, and a better job performance.

But what are the consequences for the employees ? The new system scheduling time work is totally irregular and unpredictable which may decrease the employee’s job stability and potentially create financial hardships. The result was a computerized system that totally