A Project Management Plan for Wal-Mart - Case Study Example

A Project Management Plan for Wal-Mart

Wal-Mart stores Inc. is the company which I discussed in detailed form as my project in Module 1. In addition, Wal-Mart Stores Inc., in this case, is a retail corporation that is based in the United States which runs a series of hypermarkets grocery stores as well as discount department stores. Moreover, the company is amongst the many largest companies in the world basing on their revenues as it is also the biggest private employer company sector in the whole world having over two million employees. It has its headquarters in Bentonville. As per the moment, it manages eleven thousand, five hundred and thirty-five stores which are found in twenty-five different countries in the world in the subordinate to seventy-two banners (Adams, 2011).

Despite its success in the market, the company is most faced with the challenges of effective motivation. However, the concern is on the importance regarded to the paper as actual to give a proposal of a simple process improvement plan which will aid in improvement and ensure that there is effective motivation for the workers of the company. Moreover, the company faces the challenge of public relations which results from the lack of positive motivation of employees. In recent years, the company has faced allegations that it over-exploits their employees despite having the policy that aims at motivating its employees (DaCosta, 2013). This policy of motivating workers is one of the policies which aim at ensuring that there is motivation even though the policy is still not effective enough as it has not been practiced effectively and efficiently.

Why should one plan to develop a process improvement plan for this company?

It is required that the company should develop process improvement plan so as it strikes back to the alternating business climate which is both found internally and externally. In other words, demand and technological shifts, as well as increased competition in the market, should be well managed in order to remain nimble in the market. However, the company should come up with improvement methods and processes frequently to ensure quality development, dispersion of the products and services they offer in cost-effective ways (DaCosta, 2013). The process improvement plan, in this case, can help the company to discover specific areas that can be potentially improved, and actions to take so as to make sure that success and the strategies happen.

Attention to the needs of the customer

On the other hand, successful process improvement plans should utilize both the internal and external viewpoint, with the clear attention to the needs of the customers. It is very essential for the process plans to actually be considered the most preferred features of a process for the person that will consume and then implements the measures to hasten the value. Conversely, also, those undesired processes and features can be identified and removed by the process improvement plans, thus reducing costs.

Visible outcomes

Wal-Mart Company should be able to spot any improvements that have taken place through measurements. The process improvement plans are able to set up a particular goal, end results and later incorporate methods which measure improvement towards that objective.

Communication and integration

The most successful process that deals with improvement plans always takes into account a team spirit. Workers who have not yet incorporated are required to be aware of any plans and the targeted outcome in the business. Such will help all workforces in the company to work towards a given objective.

Some deficient processes include;

Sales order processing: Errors may occur frequently when putting orders into the sales system like duplication of sales orders into the system of the company. Such can lead to uncertainty to the production department thus distorting production planning and production.

Stock control: Inefficient control of stock can lead to under stocking and overstocking at the same time. Such is majorly contributed by improper setting of maximum and minimum stock levels that need to be maintained by the company.

Process description: The process improvement plan aims at improving the motivation of staff within the Wal-Mart Company. The process provides a report for the scheme that will help it guide the organization in an effort to ensuring that there is effective motivation. The main objective of the plan directly support the goals of the company and initiative

Process scope: The process improvement plan will make sure that it targets all the workers in all the Wall-Mart retail stores around the world.

Process goals: The plan aims at ensuring that workers are comfortable at the workplace through ensuring they are motivated maximally. Such automatically will help the company in achieving its mission and goals.

Process resources: The resources for the plan will basically come from the management of the Wal-Mart retail Inc. as the company will be responsible for giving out motivational tools to workers who can be the provision of health insurance, bonuses, even providing training to employees.

Change is the outcome of dissatisfaction with present strategies

There is both process and policy change. However, the operations change is obligatory in the sales order and stock control as there is no system that helps to track the stock level and the sales completed, hence, can demoralize the management effort to assess progress over a period given. More so, there is no any sound system to collect the responses of the customers thus management has the mandate to know the wants and preferences of the consumers (Ferguson, 2013). The change in policy is also required since currently, the Wal-Mart company has an ineffective integration and communication among staff. Not being able to convey information properly reduces the efficiency of making informed decisions because the executive has no up-to-date information relating to the operations at the lower level.

Marketing theories

SWOT Analysis

The analysis is a useful skill in determining the organization’s strengths and weaknesses and also identifying its opportunities and threats. This analysis assists the business to shape a sustainable niche in a given market. Therefore, this paper is going to analyze the use of SWOT analysis in Wal-Mart Company to increase the achievability of its goals and objectives as it is a business tool that is used to deal with internal as well as external factors of the business (Ferguson, 2013). The SWOT analysis involves two steps: synthesis of internal data that aid to list weaknesses and strengths for collecting the external data to identify threats and opportunity in the market.

The external components of the SWOT analysis include opportunities and threats. These components are beyond the control of Wal-Mart. There are various obstacles faced by Wal-Mart like Market changes which can start to satisfy another market segment with same products which result to shift in demand this causes threat. The technology plays an important aspect since it enables continuous market presence and, therefore, needs a constant updating and competitors are also a threat of Wal-Mart, and the case of failure to catch up with competitor’s advancement will lead to losing customers.

SWOT Analysis as a Management Tool

The SWOT analysis assists the manager to focus on the strengths, minimize threats and take the greatest possible advantage of opportunities available. The analysis is used to lash out of strategy formulation and also as a serious strategy tool. It is also used to comprehend the competitors and give insights to craft sound and successful competitive position. Therefore, SWOT analysis is a helpful tool as it serves as a basis of information for strategic planning. The Wal-Mart company can strategically plan by building its organizational strengths, reverse its weakness, take full advantage of on its response to opportunities and overcome the threats. The management is able to identify the future goals of Wal-Mart after conducting a SWOT analysis (Zieger, 2011). There should be strategic plans on customs to reduce the weaknesses and well preparation on anticipated threats.

From the recognized weaknesses of Wal-Mart put across above, the management is able to focus and alleviate these effects of external and internal factors that affect the company. There should for a reason be delivered an in-depth analysis of the four weaknesses of Wal-Mart, and thereafter, the management should seek solutions to these weaknesses and implement them to enable continuity of the business. The management is in a better position to improve on communication mechanism in the organization and develop the most efficient ways to measure improvements. Also, the management should set realistic and attainable objectives basing on a SMART tool which is an acronym of Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Timely targets.

Process Proposals

The company should have an Enterprise Resource Software, which provides a podium to examine the changes in the sales and also the inventory department. Therefore, the software will be able to collect the data of the sales and inventory levels. Thus, this will save time as it also enables the workforce to focus on other core activities in the organization. In addition, the data recorded can be utilized to forecast the future outcomes and also create strategies that will help to achieve them. The company also needs to redesign a new communication policy which will help create a platform whereby employees and customers are able to raise their concerns (Nunez et al., 2015). The employee handbook also will be in place to provide a guideline of how communication should flow in the internal structure of the organization. Hence, it will increase the incorporation of the personnel with communication being encouraged through meetings and forums as well as electronic tools. The feedback system will help the management to have a realistic perception of the needs of the customers.

Implementation and results

The strengths should be transferred on this change with the company’s expertise of how it manages the hypermarkets and be enhanced by the ERP software. The data collected helps the management to examine and establish the fast moving products that the company should get hold of, increasing sales and thus the profits. Also, the software can allow control over the stock by allowing the lowest inventory level which is sufficient to ensure that there is continuity of the business operations of the company thus, reducing the storage costs of the company (Ferguson, 2013).

Therefore, the integration of sales and stock in the company guarantees the availability of a large variety of products which attracts the increasing mindful customers. Such is enhanced by researching and also developing the products which the clients are in need of them. Also, it increases the number of customers in the business because there will be the critical services offered. In addition, after the introduction of the new product and services, the company needs to ensure that it tracks the performance of the goods by follow ups and feedbacks from customers (Persky and Merriman, 2012).

There should be multiple channels whereby employees report their issues and options for raising the concern anonymously through drop emails in the department and feedback box which are placed purposefully within the company. This encourages new relationships to be built as there is a policy in place that encourages employees to raise a concern to an independent outer party that investigates the issue as it has no biases and personal interests. There approach ensures that there are fairness and transparency in the organization thus creating the most supportive workplace culture which will increase productivity (Nunez et al., 2015).

Goals of the process

Wal-Mart has no system that assists in tracking the stock level and the sales that are completed and it also has an inefficient integration and interaction approach within its staff mebers. the mention ed problems makes the services of the firm to the market ineffective and inappropriate because the needs of the custmer and employee are not fully being utilized with utmost relevance. Significantly, the recommendation of utilizing the contents of the Enterprise Reource Software and a new communication policy within the firm will be a fundamental approach in the market (DeCenzo et al., 2015). Having a well fitted enterprise Resource Software will offer the firm better skills on matters associated with collecting data of the sales and the level of the inventory.

The goal of the new aproach is ascertain the firm that their setvices and products are of high quality and the needs of the client are being satisfied. The approach is meant to help the firm comprehend the market from a wider platform because services are being initiated in the right way and platform for better results. The implication here is that I intent to ensure that the firm perfrms better on the market because of having a new Enterprise Resource Software which is designed to evaluate the changes in sales and assist in the inventory department as well (Vedder et al., 2006). My other core objective for proposing the utilization of the Enterprise Resource Software is it will permit the management to utilize systems of integrated application to administer the business and automate the services of the organization in amore modified perspective.

It is true about the Enterprise Resource Software because the system is designed to integrate all facets of an organization to generate relevant results for the organization and the market respectively. Furthermore, I aim at accomplishing positive results from the Enterprise Resource System because it offers a global, real-time entity concerning data that can help Wall-Mart address challenegs from a proactive point of view and generate better results. I also intent to automate significant business services like lead-to-cash and procure-to-pay procedure. Significantly, the entire process in this case is to improve the financial compliance with regulatory aspects in the organization and reduce possible risks (DeCenzo et al., 2015). Thus, my objective is to help the organization be in a better place on the market because of ofering beter service delivery and moidernized products that suite the needs of the market.

On matter associated with communication, Wall-Mart does not have a an effective integration and communication strategy. The problem reduces the efficiency of making fundamental decisions within the organization for the market’s benefit. Significantly, the intent of utilizing a new communication policy for the organization is to ensure that interaction across the departmetns within the firm is co-ordinated, well managed and it has to be responsive to the disimilar content needed in the market. The New communication policy needs to be utilized, so as to offer the market with timely, precise and complete content associated with the services and products needed in the organization (Vedder et al., 2006). The presence of a new communication policy will make the work of the manager better and easy because communication will be understod across the entire firm.

The rationale for using a new communication plan is significant based on the fact that the management of Wal-mart is tasked with the objective of enumerating its functions and decisions within the firm. It is true as the employees have a right to know what needs to be done through the management of their leaders. With the new communication policy, I intent to assist the organization fully help managers inform, persuade and motivate their employees to work with ease and professionally. Therefore, implementing the new communication policy will be a fundamental entity for Wal-Mart as the management will be in the position to better motivate their employees on the basis of their performance (Nunez et al., 2015). The outocme of being motivated based on the work and services initiated for the firm is the firm will be in the position to earn more profits from the market and at the same time increase their market share.

Additionally, implementation of the new interaction policy will help managers at Wal-Mart to persuade employee on what needs to be done, and in what manner, so as to attain fundamental results from the market. The employees will have a better view of their managers because their leadership will be based on the aspect of benefiting the employees and the market respectively. Furthermore, the new interaction approach is significant for the firm because managers will eb able to interact with employees on a common platform, which help managers to better understand the needs of the employees. Fundamentally, my intention for implemeting the new process in the organization, i.e. Enterprise Resource System and a new communication approch is to enable the firm create a better working atmosphere for its employees and benefit the needs of the market (McMillan, 2012).

Time Frame to accomplish the process

Wal-Mart New Process

To implement the strategies that will benefit the firm both within the firm and the market

The outcome is to have the employees needs attained and the market respectively

Long-term indicator: strategies implemented when the new process is initiated

Item

Objective

Team member responsible

Start and Completion Period

Planning

Propose new communication policy and an Enterprise Resource System to the sight employees

Human resource manager

22/4/2016-30/4/2016

In progress

Utilization of the proposed strategies, i.e. new communication policy and an Enterprise Resource System

Web designer and an Information Technology engineer

2/5/2016-9/4/2016

Completion

Practice the essence of the proposed methods for the firm

Human Resource Manager, IT expert and managers

12/5/2016-13/5/2016

By undertaking what has been enumerated in the above timeline, Wal-Mart will be in the position to offer better products and service delivery for its employees and clients on the market respectively. The rationale is based on the fact that following a set approach is a sign of professionalism, hence, the possibility of attaining better results is a sure fact.

Value of the process

The value of incoporating the new process proposal is of positive perspective because of the nature of the expected results within the organization and the market as a whole. The outocme of implementing the new process is that employees will be in a better position of undertaking their tasks because the managers will communicate with them on what needs to be done, how a task should be done to achieve better results and reasons to generate significant results. The employees will be persuaded by the management to work well because their efforts will be rewarded (Pride & Ferrell, 2014). When it comes to the issue of utilizing the strategy of Enterprise Resource System, the firm will be in a better position of tracking the stock level and the sales of the organization.