Friday, January 24, 2020
Wal-MArt :: essays research papers
Background Information Ø     Wal-Mart Inc. Corporate Headquarters  ·Ã‚     702 Southwest 8th street Bentonville, Ar 72716-8001 Top Executives      ·Ã‚     President and CEO: H. Lee Scott  ·Ã‚     Chairman of the Board: S. Robson Walton  ·Ã‚     Chairman, Executive Committee of the Board: David D. Glass  ·Ã‚     Chief Financial officer & Executive Vice President: Thomas M. Schoewe Industry  ·Ã‚     General Merchandise, SIC code: 5399 Divisions  ·Ã‚     Wal-mart stores  ·Ã‚     Sam’s Club  ·Ã‚     International Major Products  ·Ã‚     Hardware  ·Ã‚     House-wares  ·Ã‚     Auto Supplies  ·Ã‚     Small Appliances  ·Ã‚     Domestics  ·Ã‚     Grocery  ·Ã‚     Candy  ·Ã‚     Tobacco  ·Ã‚     Pharmaceuticals  ·Ã‚     Electronics  ·Ã‚     Health & Beauty Aids  ·Ã‚     Sporting Goods  ·Ã‚     Toys  ·Ã‚     Stationary  ·Ã‚     Jewelry  ·Ã‚     Shoes  ·Ã‚     1-hour Photo Major Competitors  ·Ã‚     Target  ·Ã‚     Sears Roebuck & Co.  ·Ã‚     Kmart  ·Ã‚     Costco Wholesale Most Successful Wal-mart Brands  ·Ã‚     Ol’ Roy  ·Ã‚     Great ValueÃ’  ·Ã‚     EquateÃ’ Financial Analysis Ø     Profitability Wal-mart experienced sales growth of 20% in the fiscal year of 2000. This impressive increase is a direct result of the companies expansion program. Wal-mart has also acquired a few international stores, which are doing very well and adding to the companies’ profit. As the table shows wal-mart is no stranger to climbing profits, in fact wal-mart has managed to increase sales by no less than 12% (typically more) each year for 11 consecutive years. Year          Net Earnings      Net Sales           Profitability 2000          $5,377           $165,013           0.0326 1999          $4,430           $137,634           0.0322 1998          $3,526           $117,958           0.0299 1997          $3,056           $104,859           0.0291 1996          $2,740           $93,627           0.0293 Ø     Analysis Ø     Liquidity Wal-marts’ liquidity has been decreasing since 1996, which is a good sign from a growing company. In 2000 wal-marts liquidity dropped off drastically, this is on account of their expansion projects. They are willing to take some short-term risks, because they are very confident it will pay off down the road. A lot of wal-marts’ money is being pumped into the super centers and also financing the over seas expansion.      Year          Current Assets     Short-term Debt     Liquidity 2000          $24,356           $25,803           0.9439 1999          $21,132           $16,762           1.2607 1998          $19,352           $14,460           1.3383 1997          $17,331           $11,454           1.5131 1996          $15,338           $9,973           1.5380 Ø     Analysis Ø     Capital Management To say wal-mart is healthy is an under statement, thriving is a bit more fitting. The company has plenty of assets to cover their overall debt. Wal-mart continues to widen the gap between total assets and overall debt, the companies leverage has been increasing for 5 years running. By keeping their assets high and debt low wal-mart is assuring increased profits and happy shareholders for years to come. Year          Total Assets     Overall Debt     Leverage 2000          $70,349           $25,803           2.7264 1999          $49,996           $16,762           2.9827 1998          $45,384           $14,460           3.1386 1997          $37,541           $11,454           3.2775 1996          $32,819           $9,973           3.2908 Ø     Analysis Ø     Asset Management Once again wal-mart demonstrates why it is looked at as the 5th most admired company in the United States. Wal-marts’ inventory ratio has been on the rise for at least five years. As wal-mart grows and gains experience it creates a very strong base for it self. It is one of the few companies today that actually learns from and builds on its mistakes.
Thursday, January 16, 2020
Kroger Company Case Analysis Essay
A. Case Abstract This is a comprehensive strategic management case that includes the company’s financial statements, organization chart, competitor information, and industry trends. Sufficient internal and external data are provided to enable students to evaluate current strategies and recommend a three-year strategic plan for the company. The Kroger Company, Inc., with headquarters in Cincinnati, Ohio (513-762-4000), operates over 2,500 supermarkets, 795 convenience stores, and 436 jewelry stores. The Kroger Company employs approximately 290,000 employees. The company achieved annual revenues of $56.4 million in fiscal year ending February 2005, compared to $53.7 million in 2004. Kroger is ranked #19 on the Fortune 500 list and is ranked as the third largest retailer in the world, behind Wal-Mart (#1) and the Home Depot (#2). The company has been in existence for over one hundred years and is the # 1 pure grocery chain in the United States with over 3,770 (including subsidiary businesses) sto res in 32 states. Kroger and its subsidiary operations market food, pharmacy, and jewelry products. B. Vision Statement (proposed) Our vision is to be America’s supermarket, and to continue to provide innovation and unparalleled value to our customers, employees, and shareholders. C. Mission Statement (actual) Our mission is to be a leader in the distribution and merchandising of food, pharmacy, health and personal care items, seasonal merchandise, and related products and services. (proposed) 1. Provide the freshest food, highest quality products, and exceptional service to our customers all at reasonable prices; 2. Be a leader in the distribution and merchandising of food, pharmacy, health and personal care items, seasonal merchandise, and related products and services; 3. Strive to have a prominent, profitable presence and positive name recognition in all 50 states and the District of Columbia; 4. Employ the latest and most innovative technology to improve distribution, enhance customer service, anticipate customer needs, cut costs, and compete using an arsenal of consumer data; 5. Continuously review the performance of each and every Kroger store, manufacturing facility, employee, and private label product to insure that every element of the company is contributing to its growth and financial strength; 6. Hold fast to our corporate values of honesty, integrity, respect for others, diversity, safety, and inclusion; 7. Uphold the motto of our founder, â€Å"Be partic ular. Never sell anything you would not want yourself.†8. Contribute generously to causes that relieve hunger and provide medicine to the poor; and 9. Compensate our employees in a manner that is consistent with the exceptionally high quality of customer service that is expected of them, striving to maintain positive relationships with the labor unions that represent our many associates across the country. This mission statement incorporates all aspects of the company’s interests. The first point relates to the fact that Kroger must differentiate itself on the basis of fresh food, high quality products, and exceptional service. In this respect, Kroger has a strategic advantage, since rivals like Wal-Mart are weak on customer service, and since Kroger manufactures many of its own items, it therefore has more control over quality and prices. The third point is important since Kroger now has a very weak presence on the East Coast. Kroger is missing opportunities by not having grocery stores in places like New Jersey, Maryland, and Florida. The fourth point is supported by Kroger’s new relationship with dunnhumby, a database management company from the United Kingdom, which is partnering with Kroger to better utilize consumer information to improve sales. This is an overwhelming strength against Wal-Mart, which does not even issue loyalty cards to its customers, and therefore, does not have access to nearly as vast a customer database as Kroger does. Point five is key, since Kroger must have the management dexterity and courage to close underperforming stores, execute make-versus-buy decisions, and implement enterprise-wide changes quickly when necessary. D. Class Discussion Questions and Issues 1. Considering Kroger’s current position in the industry, would you advise an international expansion strategy? If so, in what international market(s)? How would you suggest entrance with respect to location selections and number of units? Currently, Kroger has no existence in international markets, it would be advisable for Kroger to enter, perhaps Mexico and/or Canada, with a limited number of locations so it can test and strengthen the market at one or both international arenas. While Wal-Mart seems to exist everywhere, Canada is a promising economy to test 3 to 5 store locations. 2. If international expansion is one recommended strategy, discuss the pros and cons of considering hiring expatriate leadership/management teams. Leading/operating in international markets requires a thorough cultural understanding of the respective country. It’s difficult for expatriates to serve in such a capacity without having a conceptualization of the culture. It is advisable to recruit local leaders from the countries and perhaps examine local operational functions to ensure they are adaptable to business/cultural standards abroad. The use of expatriates can be considered a strength as they are aware of the corporate functions/culture and can operate with minimal direction abroad. 3. Discuss cultural diversity/sensitivity management, as it applies to Kroger Company, Inc. How might it differ and what should Kroger consider/incorporate if international expansion efforts are proposed? Cultural diversity is critical regarding workforce. Kroger should consider recruiting proposed international market leaders and training them at their headquarters. This would constitute leadership that represents the sociological culture of a respective country coupled with the values/operational functions of headquarters as a result of training, etc. There is more of a ‘buy-in’ when local cultural leaders are in power, where transfer of objectives would take place much easier. 4. Discuss how Kroger can take advantage of the concept of synergy. Kroger operates over 40 manufacturing facilities and should continue to focus on this business to operate the system more lean, where it can achieve optimal operating costs, converting to manufacturing savings and better pricing for consumers relating to corporate brand (55%) goods (www.kroger.com). Moreover, Kroger can benefit from manufacturing dairy/bakery, etc., goods at a reduced price that it sells in its grocery stores, which can be considered a strategic advantage. 5. How can Kroger, if at all, keep competitors at a distance? In your response discuss expansion in the United States, abroad, product line(s), and portfolio management. Kroger should continue to focus on its core business, grocery, by identifying emerging markets (population > 20,000) and expanding. Additionally, continue to focus on product lines (grocery), with respect to buying power and sales. Incorporate more self-checkout units in stores to cut employee costs. Also, expand the jewelry business into more states and perhaps consider international expansion into Mexico and/or Canada too. 6. How effective is the â€Å"Strategic Growth Plan†? Would you change and/or recommend any additions? The growth plan in its current state is worthy; however, should include specific language/objectives with respect to international expansion to better compete with rival competitors. The focus should be to operate more lean and expand businesses that are achieving lucrative sales. 7. What influence, if any, may consumer purchasing behavior affect an organization’s (grocery retail) considerations to transition abroad? Please discuss: Specialty outlets, such as butcher/meat shops, produce and flower outdoor markets, etc. Sociological factors, such as diet and grocery purchasing frequencies, etc. Kroger should always focus on behavior patterns of consumers; one way to monitor this may be by use of a â€Å"club card†where consumer transactions are able to be recorded and reviewed. This is especially valuable abroad as behavior patterns are obviously different, simply just by physically noticing what is purchased and the quantity also. In Europe, butcher, flower markets, and outdoor produce markets are all highly common, where prices are lower as a result of operating expenses are being trimmed. Moreover, a greater part of the world (Asia and Europe) consumption patterns are minimal compared to the United States. It is common for consumers to visit the grocery store to purchase enough items to store in a shopping basket, as opposed to an average shopping visit in the United States which may require the use of a shopping cart. Obesity factors should be considered too. E. External Audit Opportunities 1. Supermarket sales of drugs grew 6.9% to $27 billion in 2004. 2. Wal-Mart has a large, recruitable low-paid, nonunion workforce. 3. Organic food sales are up 19.5% annually over the last 5 years. 4. Hispanic shoppers spend $117/week vs. $87/week average on groceries. 5. Hispanic population growth rate = 13% = 4X average. 6. Margins for private-label products are 35-45% vs. 27% for national brands. 7. 87% of consumers have tried private-label products. Threats 1. Traditional drugstores are focusing on customer service and merchandising. 2. Mail-order pharmacies are the fastest-growing format in the industry (up 17.9%). 3. Health plans allow larger supplies of drugs for Mail-order pharmacies. 4. Drug price inflation has led to illegal drug importation. 5. Supercenters are dominating the market share of grocery sales. 6. Wal-Mart is tops in logistics technology. 7. Labor costs account for >50% of operating expenses. 8. Price pressure was the cause of the Southern California strikes.
Wednesday, January 8, 2020
Ways to Inculcate Recycling Habits Among Students - Free Essay Example
Sample details Pages: 6 Words: 1685 Downloads: 1 Date added: 2019/03/14 Category Environment Essay Level High school Tags: Recycling Essay Did you like this example? Introduction  The United Kingdom’s former Prime Minister, Benjamin Disraeli (1867), once said that â€Å"change is inevitable, change is constant.†Although it is true for most of the time, we must agree that there are certain things that have not changed, even after many years. One of them is of course, pollution; a topic that has always been the talk of the town. Just recently, Star News (2018, November 15: 1) published an article regarding how crucial pollution is in Malaysia as we continue to process plastic waste rejected by China. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Ways to Inculcate Recycling Habits Among Students" essay for you Create order It is undeniable that medias worldwide have always portrayed plastic waste as harmful towards the Earth. For instance, an article was once published by the United Kingdom newspaper, Independent (2017, September 28: 3), mentioning that among the dangerous implications of plastic wastes is that disposing plastics to the oceans simply means that it will kill the marine creatures, and we, as seafood eaters, will also be at risk of the negative effects of it. In Independent (2017, September 28: 3) too, had included a research, that according to United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organisation (2015), 92.6 million tonnes were caught from all around the world. Nevertheless, afraid not, when there is a will, there is a way. Therefore, in the mission to combat this worrying issue, the slogan, â€Å"Reduce, Reuse, Recycle,†was invented. What is the slogan all about, to be exact? Based on Oxford’s Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, reduce is defined as to make something less, reuse is to use something again, and recycle is to treat things that are already used so that they can be used again. All these steps are very crucial to follow to lessen pollution. However, no matter how much effort the Malaysian authorities put in hopes to help save the Earth, our people still fail to apply them in their lives. Let us face it: Why does Malaysia continues to process plastic wastes despite being provided with factual evidence of t hese wastes and their bad implications? Clearly, we do it for money. We never fail to satisfy our greed until we reach the point where we dare to sacrifice the Earth’s wellbeing, just to incorporate more money. So, before things get worse, we must find the solution to this problem. Students are no doubt the future generation. The way we shape them now determines how they would act in the future regarding sustaining the Earth. The question here is, what are the ways to inculcate recycling habits among students? First and foremost, parents play an important role in teaching recycling habits in their children. In fact, not only are parents their children’s’ guardian, but they are also their first teacher. Almost often we hear from our ancestors that a child’s behaviour reflects their parents. With that being said, the perceptions society have towards parents with children with bad behaviour will undoubtedly turn bad as well. To support this statement, the results of a survey done by The National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (2011) indicate that more than two in three teachers acknowledged that one of the most common contributing factors for students misbehaving is a lack of support from parents. Therefore, since this is an obvious issue, parents must be able to discover a way to instill good moral values in their children, and this includes teaching them to recycle. Children, when is taught good habits since little, are most likely to still apply them in their lives, even when they grow older. Pressman, Owens, Evans, Nemon (2014) mentioned that it is found out in a study that for almost 50,000 families in America, the children’s responsibilities at home, like doing house chores, for instance, remained constant from the age of nine until the end of high school. Thus, if they start recycling since they are little, there is a high probability that they will continue recycling in the future. Besides that, most children look up to their parents. We often hear that when asked, these kindergarten scholars would answer that they would want to be exactly like their parents when they grow up. With this mindset, there is no uncertainty that they would follow their parents’ behaviour. Hence, when their parents recycle, their children will unconsciously develop that habit too. Obviously, it is undeniable that parents play a crucial role in help ing to instil recycling habits among students. After we are done with the first step, we shall proceed to the next step to get students to start recycling, which is through their learning institutions. As children grow older, it is a necessity for parents to provide their children with proper education by enrolling them to school. According to our former Education Minister, Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid in News Straits Times (2017: 1-2), even children who are stateless, too, deserve to be educated. Hence, there is no excuse for the children who are more privileged than them to not have education. Once a child goes to school, we cannot deny the fact that most of their hours will be spent there, and not at home like they used to. They see their teachers more frequent than they see their parents on weekdays. Take for example, the results of a survey conducted by the Assocham Social Development Foundation (2012) shows that most pupils spend at least eight to ten hours in school. When they reach home, they are ought to complete their homework, and then they will feel tired and decide to go to bed early. Students’ long hours in school is exactly why the school authorities play a massive role in instilling recycling habits in the students. Among the ways that can be done by schools are organising recycling campaigns, and to get students to attend talks regarding the benefits of recycling. However, we must agree that encouraging students to enjoy or join this type of activities is a burden, because not everyone is interested in doing so. Therefore, it is vital that schools offer students with exciting prizes and certificates, because adolescents’ determination to learn can be reinstall by giving them rewards. (Theodotou, 2014.) This act, in my honest opinion, may seem similar to bribery, but it is actually merely a token of appreciation to the students involved. When given some form of gratitude, they would definitely be more encouraged to join similar events in the future. Besides, who would not want to feel valued, right? Other than that, students who initially join for the prizes will eventually find out that recycling is indeed a noble act, thus they would further be doing it in their daily lives. Clearly, it is true that through learning institutions, students could start instilling recycling habits in them. Last but certainly not the least, after schools have played their part, the next step to follow in order to nurture recycling habits among students is with the help of social medias. As students living in the twentieth century, it is very much common that most of their lives revolve around social medias. In actual fact, based on a research done by the Pew Research Centre (2015), seventy-one percent of teenagers say they use more than one social media site, like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat, for instance. There are a lot of things we can do on social medias, so what are among the benefits of them? On the words of Star Online (2018, March 21: 1), the boons of social medias include enabling people to connect, share, and learn online. Due to do this, it is vital that environmental activists take full advantage of this and create multiple social media accounts or create advertisements that could encourage students to start recycling. Students who always have their smartphones under their fingertips will definitely come across them whenever they are scrolling through their account. Moreover, in social media, celebrities should act as a good influencer in a student’s life. Martin and Bush (2000) mentioned that teenagers choose media figures as their role models according to the characteristics that they can relate themselves with. â€Å"They are attached to brands endorsed by their icon celebrity and aspire to adopt their image and lifestyle†(Martin and Bush, 2000; Thomson and Woodham, 1997). This suggests that aside from parents, celebrities, too, play a major role i n shaping youth nowadays. Teenagers love to copy everything their favourite idols do; from their fashion sense to their personality, and eventually their habits. Celebrities should make the most out of this perhaps by endorsing recycling campaign and promote them in their social network account. With these being said, it is a fact that among the ways recycling habits could be instilled among students is through mass media. To sum it all up, among the steps to take in order to inculcate recycling habits among students is through the roles of parents, learning institutions, and social medias. Nevertheless, we cannot argue the fact that there could be millions of ways in this world to get students to start recycling, but all of them would not work if the individual themselves are not motivated to do so. Sometimes we wonder why it is so hard for some students to develop habits that not only could benefit them, but the Earth as well. Instead, they are more prone to make poor decisions in their life by instilling unhealthy habits like smoking, drinking alcoholic beverages and skipping classes, for example. Well, according to Bedwell (2017), the reason why students are bad decision makers is because the prefrontal cortex (the area of the brain where the most complex functions are located) will keep on evolving until we reach our early twenties, and our decision-making capabilities are not completely mature until we finally reach adulthood. As for now, the Earth is unquestionably in dire need of more people to start recycling. Why? Because based on Independent (2018, October 1: 1), experts have discovered that as the global temperature has a rise of 1.5C, the world is now slowly dying. Therefore, I would like to plead the adults to wake up from your dreams and realize that this is indeed an issue. Not only should we do something about it, but we must also help guide the students for the good sake of our Mother Earth.
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