Walmart Part 6_Controlling

1. Does Wal-Mart’s use of automation and information technology eliminate the need for workers and managers? Explain.

• The path to have a perfect logistic required more than a team of savvy efficiency experts, however it required automation. WalMart has introduced computers in the 1970s but Sam Walton purchased a satellite communication system and established electronic linkage. This automated end-to-end system kept products flowing to WalMart’s shelves at the right time and in quantities suited to customers demand. Use of automation and information technology will not eliminate the need for worker and manager. WalMart still needs worker and managers to monitor the automation and information technology. Although a few numbers of workers will be eliminate because automation and information technology help WalMart to become more superior efficiency, thus by reducing the number of worker help to cut down the cost and boost profit for WalMart. 

2. How will the creation of a Sustainability Index help Wal-Mart manage quality and performance?

• Sustainability Index is a team that establishes to measure the greenness of every item sold in store. WalMart will provide a label for every product, allowing customer to evaluate green benefit in the same way they evaluate nutrition benefit through food labeling. To be able to create the Sustainability Index a manager need to be creative in working on it. To meet the target of slash the greenhouse gas emission and eliminate 20 metric ton of CO2 emission, WalMart trying to be eco-friendly by purchasing wind and solar energy systems, designing sustainable buildings, mapping ultra-efficient driving routes, and recycling all plastic waste through a Super Sandwich bailing process. WalMart need to develop a team to make sure that the Sustainability Index is working well. In that sense the WalMart need to develop and manage the quality and performance of a manager. Other than that sustainability produces massive cost reduction, making WalMart more competitive. Since, WalMart is No.2 operating expense, a big cut in energy usage mean big savings for WalMart and lower prices for customers.

3. Why do Wal-Mart managers set goals such as “double fleet fuel efficiency in ten years” and “cut greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent in seven years”? Explain how managers would use the feedback control model to reach those goals.

• By setting goal manager know what their desire future state that the organization attempt to realize. In this case, WalMart wants to be fuel efficiency and trying to reduce greenhouse effect. They even purchasing wind and solar energy systems, designing sustainable buildings, mapping ultra-efficient driving routes, and recycling all plastic waste through a Super Sandwich bailing process. In a management system that regularly examines the process it is in charge of in order to make changes that will improve its output efficiency. Many business operations that include modern manufacturing facilities have implemented feedback control systems to monitor and fine tune the production process.