The manager revealed that on his insistence the company agreed to collect series of the case studies experienced by the company since their inception, and each relevant authority was referred for the evaluation of the case study which had particular reference to their department (andall, 1999).
The manager shared wide range of activities which he launched during his association with the company, initially on his insistence the company agreed to range monthly and quarterly seminars and conferences for the managers and their departments, the purpose of the exercise was to explore the expected challenges which the company was expected to face, and at the end of each gathering the opinion of the participants was sought and discussed in details. The findings of the discussion were to be further summarized and discussed with the directors for their information and references. Such an approach was in actual a proposal to involve the…...

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References

David O. Whitten, Bessie Emrick Whitten. Handbook of American Business History. Greenwood Press. 2000. pp. 176.

Robert L. Mathis, John Harold Jackson. Human Resource Management. Thomson South-Western. 2006.

Randall S. Schuler, Susan E. Jackson. Strategic Human Resource Management. Blackwell Publishing. 1999.

Susan E. Jackson, Randall S. Schuler. Managing Human Resources through Strategic Partnerships. Springer Publication. 2004.

Kroger Company is an American retailer founded in 1883. At present, it I the 2nd largest general retailer by revenue, the largest grocery store in America and the fourth largest retailer globally. It has over 2,500 stores and has markets in 31 U.S. States. In 2012 the company grossed almost $100 billion. Kroger's employees are largely unionized, with 75% being represented by the United Food and Commercial orkers union (Kroger Company, 2013).
Interview: Completed by phone with J.A, Administrative Assistant for Human Resources, Kroger Corporation, Cincinnati, Ohio, October 09, 2013.

(answers are paraphrased, not quoted directly) (See also: UFC 876, 2010)

Does seniority play a role when it comes to promotion and job security? Employees must be with Kroger over 6 months to receive notice for layoffs, etc. The more seniority, the more severance pay an or benefit available -- for a maximum of 6 weeks. Employees who accept severance pay do…...

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Works Cited

Kroger Company. (2013, March). Investor Relations. Retrieved from ir.kroger.com: http://ir.kroger.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=106409&p=irol-irhome

Schuster, J. (2012, December 1). Kroger Employee Manual. Retrieved from jahneilschuster.weebly.com:   / 1/4/5/3/14534778/kroger.pdfhttp://jahneilschuster.weebly.com/uploads 

UFCW 876. (2010, June 10). UFCW Local 876 and Kroger Company Grocery Division. Retrieved from dol.gov:   / private/k/Kroger%20Company%20(Grocery%20Division)%20%20K9299.pdfhttp://www.dol.gov/olms/regs/compliance/cba/box 

Kroger's ratios. Then, a comparison company's ratios industry's ratios undertaken. Do discuss ratio measuring, formula calculate amount year period. e utilizing ratios evaluate performance condition company determine areas investigation.
Analysis of Kroger

Kroger has made intense efforts to improve and consolidate a strong position within the industry and, in some instances, it has managed to advance its condition. However, in order to construct a more faithful and realistic review of the company's condition and performance, it is necessary to assess the evolution of its ratios.

At the level of the returns on assets, invested capitals and shareholders' equity, overall decreases are observed throughout the past recent years -- from 2006 through 2010. In none of the three cases were there direct and sustained decreases, as the ratios fluctuated. The decreasing trend was however set starting with 2008, concomitant with the outbreak of the economic crisis. This virtually means that Kroger became less…...

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With the other ratios, trends are difficult to set as the ratios would increase, decrease or even stagnate one year relative to other, with the impossibility to generalize. The movements are even difficult to assess in 2011 relative to 2010, as the ratios vary, with some registering decreases and other registering increases. The same scattered evolution is also obvious at the level of the industry, and could be indicative of the general instability within the macroenvironment.

Overall, Kroger appears to possess a stable capacity to overcome the threats of the internationalized economic crisis and in some instance, it even appears that it has managed to so. The ratios indicate that the company possesses numerous internal strengths which grant it stability and improved financial condition. Still, performances linger in the face of the economic crisis.

There are also several ratios which have not revealed a clear pattern relative to the company's evolution in time and relative to the industry, and they are as such difficult to assess. This virtually supports the need for additional observations of the ratios in time and the evolution of their future movements.

In this way, the product questions are topical, current and focused upon the actual Kroger product line.
Before entering the focus group interview phase, the manager will write the questions and print them on customer response questionnaires passed out in the stores. The respondents who fill out the survey questionnaires in the store to prepare for the full focus group interviews will receive a Kroger gift certificate. The individuals that are interviewed in the recorded sessions will be paid for their time, with an individual interview requiring about an hour to complete. The key will be to develop open-ended questions about key products that are being introduced in the hypermarket store.

Data Analysis

The study will last anywhere from six months to one year, depending on the cash flow results from the store front. Those cash flow results will determine the formulation and reformulation of questions (to make sure that the questions…...

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References

Grocery chains. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.americancompanies.com/industry.asp?ID=Grocery

Chains.

Grocery retail at a glance. (2011). Retrieved from  http://www.thekrogerco.com/operations/operations_grocery_marketing.htm .

It is not enough to merely come to a conclusion and move on. Once the essential steps have been taken care of, one should go back to square one with the person in order to make sure that they are happy with the situation now (How to Give & eceive Constructive Feedback, 2011).
It is important for the manager of Kroger to not go into this meeting with any kind of hostility. They must keep the meeting as neutral as possible in order to assure that their message is received well by Mr. Willis. The last thing that they want to happen is for the meeting to turn into a non-productive fight. This will not get either party anywhere and will not do anything for their working relationship in the future.

eason

Good business communication fosters good working relationships. In this case the manager of Kroger needs Mr. Willis to understand the…...

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References

How to Give & Receive Constructive Feedback. (2011). Retreived from http://www.ehow.com/how_2076195_give-receive-constructive-feedback.html

Kroger Co. As Snider, Hill and Martin (2013) note, corporate social responsibility (CSR) is what truly connects companies to the “larger society” (p. 175). CSR is one of the most important aspects of a company’s brand and image in today’s 21st century marketplace: consumers want to know what the companies they patronize are doing to make the world a better place—and companies have to respond with policies and practices that support and reflect the values and ideals of the communities they serve in order to stay competitive. This paper will discuss the Kroger Company’s CSR statement along with its mission and vision statements to show what it is doing to connect with its communities in the U.S.
The Kroger Co’s CSR statement focuses on sustainability through achieving zero waste and zero hunger: “We’re on a mission to end hunger in the communities we call home and eliminate waste across our company by…...

The important task of monitoring the behavior of the employee and building rapport is to bring about the commitment of the employee to the organization. The organizations that consider humanitarian values and employee care have the largest loyalty. (McShane; Von Glinow, 2010)
Other factor that is to be considered is the individual perceptions of the work and the individual's personal make up. Some of the considerations that are required to make an assessment of the individual in the context of the organization relate to the "individuals background, the moral intensity, ethical sensitivity, and situational influences, and the imbibed ethical perceptions of the workplace." (McShane; Von Glinow, 2010) Employees with lesser sensitivity may not be concerned about ethical importance. (McShane; Von Glinow, 2010)

The Company Communication:

The Kroger Company seems to have had consideration of all these principles in all its mergers and acquisitions and has effectively use technology to bridge the gaps…...

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References

Activeboard. (2010a) "Ever work a day from hell in one's department"

Retrieved 1 August 2010 from   (2010b) "Lazy managers do not work." Retrieved 1 August 2010 from  http://www.activeboard.com/forum.spark?aBID=17527&p=3&topicID=37170386 http://www.activeboard.com/forum.spark?aBID=17527&p=3&topicID=37395016Activeboard .

Garrison, Bob (2002) "Logistics Report Publication: Refrigerated & Frozen Foods"

Refrigerated and Frozen Foods. Retrieved 1 August 2010 from  http://www.allbusiness.com/management/business-support-services/358636-1.html

The 3M model is also one that thrives on internal competition between ideas for further funding, the progression to the next stage of the innovation process, and the development of prototypes and finished products. What unifies all of these elements together is the strong focus on innovation that is predicated on team-based assignment and requirements (Allio, 1993). There is also a strong focus on minimizing variation in new products once defined and in production using Six Sigma, a technique for minimize product variations over time (Hindo, 2007).

eferences

Constraints eferences

Bernardi, d. S. (2010). Theory of constraints contributions to outbound logistics. Management esearch eview, 33(7), 683-700. Link:

http://ebiz.uoregon.edu/poms2008/FullPapers/008-0518.pdf

Goodrich, D.F. (2008). The relationship of the theory of constraints implementation to change management integration in professional service organizations. Nova Southeastern University). Link: http://gradworks.umi.com/33/12/3312014.html

Gupta, M.C., & Boyd, L.H. (2008). Theory of constraints: A theory for operations management. International Journal of Operations & Production Management, 28(10), 991-1012. Link:…...

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References

Allio, M.K. (1993). 3Ms sophisticated formula for teamwork. Strategy & Leadership, 21(6), Link:  http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/31538/1/0000461.pdf 

Hindo, B. (2007, Sep 17). 3M: Struggle between efficiency and creativity. Business Week (Online),, 1.

Link:  http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/07_24/b4038406.htm 

Shapiro, A.R. (2006). Measuring innovation: Beyond revenue from new products. Research Technology Management, 49(6), 42-51. Link:  http://www.allbusiness.com/technology/3997709-1.html

Competitive Market
The author of this report is asked to look at a competitive market and its main business that leads or otherwise exemplifies the sector. The sector that will be looked at is retail. The far and away leader of this retail market is Wal-Mart but they have three competitors in the form of Target, Kroger and K-Mart/Sears, that each compete against Wal-Mart in their own way. Despite the fact that they are in the same general line of business, they each have their own niche that they target.

Niche of Each Business

Wal-Mart's clear objective is to sell in bulk at low prices. They deal heavily in the grocery and hardline sectors and are very aggressive discounters in both markets. In half a century, they have risen a nascent retail to a worldwide juggernaut that employs more than a million people in the United States alone and nearly two million worldwide…...

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References

K-Mart. (2013, September 26). Kmart - Deals on Furniture, Toys, Clothes, Tools,

Tablets & TVs. Kmart - Deals on Furniture, Toys, Clothes, Tools, Tablets & TVs.

Retrieved September 26, 2013, from  http://www.kmart.com 

Kroger. (2013, September 26). Kroger. Kroger. Retrieved September 26, 2013, from http://www.kroger.com

In addition to these technological factors there is also the fluidity of people moving across borders and throughout regions of the world as well. This all adds up to an exceptional pace of change globally for Operations Management as a discipline.
3) Research the Theory of Constraints by Eli Goldratt. How does this theory apply to the company, such as Kroger or Circuit City?

The Theory of Constraints most applies to Kroger and Circuit City from the standpoint of streamlining and making more efficient their supply chain, sourcing, procurement and logistics strategies, making it possible to keep products that sell well on their store shelves. The Theory of Constraints also is invaluable in terms of helping the management teams in those retail chains determine the optimal mix of inventory for any given month or season as well, as the Goldratt model seeks to define optimization through constraint modeling.

4) Research standardization, flexibility…...

Fresh Direct
Product planning

FreshDirect: A unique opportunity

Consumers today are busy -- often so busy they do not have time to shop. Grocery shopping is time-consuming, especially after work. Getting to the store, parking, navigating the aisles (especially with small children) and checking out -- not most consumers' idea of a fun evening. FreshDirect offers a great solution: online shopping. With a few clicks of a mouse, and for a small fee, the chore of grocery shopping is accomplished with great ease for the consumer. There is no need to even carry heavy shopping bags to the car.

Consumers are health-conscious and want to improve the quality of their lives by cooking at home more and eating out less. However, it is easy to grab takeout rather than grocery shop because of the pressures surrounding the chore of shopping. FreshDirect ensures that healthy foods are waiting on the customer's door when he or…...

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Reference

FreshDirect. (2012). Official Website. Retrieved: http://www.freshdirect.com

Lolacc
Competitive Advantage

A competitive advantage is something that sets the company apart from its competitors. In order to entice customers, a company needs to have something that it does better than its competitors. The more competitive advantages the firm has, and the stronger they are, the more competitive the company will be in the marketplace.

Lola Savannah has a number of competitive advantages that help it in the marketplace. One advantage that Lola has is with respect to freshness and the quality of the roast. Freshness is important because freshly-roasted coffee tastes better, and this is especially true for coffee that has been pre-ground. Coffee from major food companies or importers like Sunbelt Imports lacks the freshness of Lola's coffee. Lola ensures that it receives its beans as quickly as possible from the harvest by working with wholesalers to shorten the supply chain. The fresh beans are then roasted in Houston. Not…...

Profit Sharing and Other Incentives as Employee Development Performance Motivational Tools and the Relationship between Managerial Support and Employee Commitment to the Organization
The impact of profit sharing and other incentives on employee development and organizational growth is measured in various companies around the world. From Keller Williams to Southwest Airlines companies are utilizing incentives, such as 401ks, profit sharing plans, insurance plans, even pre-tax commuter benefits, because like Southwest they believe that their "greatest asset" is their employee (Southwest Report, 2010, p. 45). According to servant leadership theory, by offering managerial support that is designed to benefit and assist the worker, a higher degree of employee commitment to the organization can take place. Thus, companies such as Keller Williams promote mottos like "God, Family, Business" in that order to show that in their workplace environment what comes first is not business but that which is more important than business:…...

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Northouse, P. G. (2016). Leadership: Theory and practice (7th ed.). Thousand Oaks: CA:

Sage Publications.

Sanders, T. (2006). The Likeability Factor. NY: Three Rivers Press.

As the UFCW president and director Shaun arclay says, "This pact fits the same pattern of their actions three years ago when they forced UFCW members and their families into the streets and disrupted shoppers for nearly five months in a grab to end meaningful health care coverage for employees."
UFCW] the pay hikes that the CEO's of these supermarkets received last year attests to their improving profitability proving that the supermarkets are crying wolf. [UFCW]

However, the situation has turned around and currently the workers are once again bargaining with the supermarket chains. Unlike three years ago, this time the Union is negotiating with the supermarkets individually. [Uprising] the plan seems to workout better for the Union. As a positive trend, the UFCW has successfully negotiated good contracts with Stater ros and Gelsons, two comparatively smaller supermarket stores. [UFCW]. If these two smaller supermarkets can do this without the luxury…...

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Bibliography

Abigail Goldman, "Grocers lose their Wal-Mart leverage," Accessed May 8th 2007, Available online at, http://www.groceryworkersunited.org/walmart_excuse_not_working.htm

UFCW, "Supermarket Workers Nationwide Call for Good Jobs and Affordable Health Care," Accessed May 8th 2007, Available online at,  http://www.ufcw.org/press_room/index.cfm?pressReleaseID=305 

UFCW, "Talks Break Off Between Grocery Workers and Southern California

Supermarkets," Accessed May 8th 2007, Available online at,  http://www.ufcw.org/press_room/index.cfm?pressReleaseID=304

Target
etailer name, history of operation

Classification of etailer

The Target Customer

Competition

Analysis of Store Building

Promotional Techniques

Method of Management

Selling Methods

Merchandise/Service Mix

Customer Services Offered

Comparison of Both etailers' Overall Strategies

etailer name, history of operation

Target Corporation

Target is among the leaders in retail trading in the U.S. The company offers perishables, dry grocery, dairy and frozen items and all food items comparable to traditional supermarkets. The company has three primary types of stores -- SuperTarget, CityTarget and TargetExpress. The company recorded a loss of 1.9% in 2014-2015 compared to the previous year with a fall in net earnings of 9.1%. The total sale in the period was $U72.6 billion.

The company has 1,799 stores in the U.S. along with 38 distribution centers. The company has staff strength of 347,000 worldwide. It also does business online through its website 'target.com'.

With the aim of easing the shopping experience for customers and discounted prices, the first store of Target was opened…...

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References

Dogan, K. (2010). Consumer Effort in Promotional Incentives. Decision Sciences, 41(4), 755-785.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-5915.2010.00295.x 

Halzak, S. (2015). Target's new strategy: We need more than just minivan moms. The Washington Post, p. 1. Retrieved from  https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/business/wp/2015/03/04/targets-new-strategy-we-need-more-than-just-minivan-moms/ 

Investors.target.com,. (2015). Investor Contacts, News, Stocks & Events -- Target Corporate. Retrieved 8 December 2015, from  http://investors.target.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=65828&p=irol-govhighlights 

Kotler, P., & Keller, K. (2009). Marketing management. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson Prentice Hall.