How systems and processes deployed within the organization are aligned Assignment

How systems and processes deployed within the organization are aligned with organizations objectives - Assignment Example This research aims to evaluate and present the analysis that is provided in the context of theories and practices in operations management at the workplace. Finally suggestions are provided on how the process can be managed better in order to attain organizational objectives. The key to the company’s business operation is the fact that it keeps changing itself with the ever changing world that it exists in. The company undertakes successful business process re-engineering which is objected to provide solutions to the three main factors in business, namely, customer, change and competition. BPR accounts for one of the main operations strategy of Walmart for achieving radical improvement in contemporary and critical measures of performances such quality, costs, services and speed. The strategy focuses on re-examining its basic roots and aiming to undertake complete reinvention. BPR activities have been particularly employed in Walmart for attaining scale of operations and reduci ng costs so as to attain a competitive edge in the market. Following is a typical BPR process undertaken in Walmart involving cross functional cooperation and changes, identifying expectations of customers and also identifying where the process is falling short of meeting those expectations. The supply chain operator in Walmart seeks to enhance efficiency to such a level such as to attain low price leadership among other retailers in the market. (Haag, Cummings & McCubbrey, 2004, p.101). Because of this high efficiency the company has been able to attain low margins as compared to other retailers. As commented by Pete Abell, the research director at AMR Research Inc. at Boston, cost of goods of Walmart is at least low by 5% to 10% from that of its competitors. The retail giant was effective in becoming the best supply chain operator of all times in terms of undertaking two fundamental strategies. Firstly, it has leveraged its scale in numerous ways for the creation of operational ef ficiencies consequently driving significant competitive advantage. Secondly, it has used its scale for creating competitive advantage through best execution and investment in supply chain (Dorado, 2006, p.1). Globally the retailer has around 9000 number of suppliers which includes Nestle, P&G, Unilever and even Kraft. The company also exercises tremendous power and control over its suppliers. For negotiating with suppliers Walmart

Similarities and differences between japan's keiretsu and south Essay

Similarities and differences between japan's keiretsu and south korea's chaebol - Essay Example These enterprises were established by the Meiji government in the late nineteenth century, as a way to invigorate Japan’s industrialization. Therefore, the main reason for the formation of these business enterprises was to respond to failures in the market. Companies owned by these zaibatsu’s were vertically organized and owned by families and sometimes, holding companies. According to Rosati (1993), trading companies and banks were the most powerful industries among the zaibatsu. This is because they controlled the distribution of goods and operations among the zaibatsu’s. The zaibatsu were abolished at the end of the Second World War by the Allied Occupation Forces, when their shares were allocated to the Japanese public, in order to promote competition and equality. Rosati points out that â€Å"during this period, however, the private sector had little funding capacity, and corporations among themselves unable to raise the capital they needed† (1993, p. 85). It was during this time that the practice of raising funds through loans from banks was embraced. Due to the low prices of shares and accumulation of capital in the private sector, corporations were exposed to acquisitions. This was further compounded by the fact that the stock owning capacity of banks was limited by the 1947 Antimonopoly Act (Rosati, 1993). Consequently, corporations had to invest somewhat equal amounts of capital among themselves to create stability among shareholders although there was no physical exchange of the money. In the 1960s, Japan joined the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and this led to a relaxation of capital transaction policies by the government. Since the owners of the corporations feared being taken over by foreign investors, they conducted cross ownership that brought back the links that had existed among zaibatsu groups prior to the Second World War and this led to the formation of Keiretsu groups. Keiretsu gro ups were very significant in rejuvenating the economy of Japan after the Second World War. Small industries in Japan were able to develop, despite the fact that Japan’s economy was detached for the world markets and highly monitored. Examples of keiretsus include Mitsui and Mitsubishi. South Korea's Chaebols: Origins and Features Chaebols were established by the Japanese colonial rule in Korea during the 1920s and 1930s. In fact, Korea’s Chaebols were formed in a similar way to the Japanese keiretsus. The main reason for the establishment of Chaebols was so that Japan could benefit from Korea’s economic development. The establishment of chaebols began when Japan set up privately owned businesses in Korea, but strictly controlled business procedures, license applications, and credit. Japanese rule in Korea eventually came to an end, and this gave the Korean’s freedom to adjust the business procedures and processes of the Chaebols. Dubois (2004) points out that â€Å"the effort was coordinated by president Park Chung Hee, the president of South Korea from 1961 until his assassination in 1976† (p. 42). Under the concept of chaebols, conglomerates usually controlled by a family were formed under a sole holding company. Each company held another company’s shares and through this, they were all interlinked. The chaebols however had no financial institutions and this required financial support from the government, since South Korea’s banks are joined together and controlled by the government.