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Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Retail business management'
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Chapagain, B. (Bimala). "Retail business model transformation in multichannel environment." Master's thesis, University of Oulu, 2015. http://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:oulu-201510152075.
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With the advent of internet and e-commerce, the way of carrying out business and transactions has changed to a great extent. Consumers are continuously changing the way they do shopping and this has forced retail business to transform their traditional brick and mortar into adopting multi-channel business models. Retailing is one of the most dynamic and competitive areas of business organization. Effective marketing, customer relationship management is the central dimension of successful retailing and the key to successful retailing is to be aware of the emerging opportunities and threats caused by environmental changes now and in the future.
This thesis paper investigates current conceptualization of ‘brick and mortar’ business models and electronic commerce business models and also tries to identify a unified conceptual model that helps retail business to effectively integrate the two channels and deliver a unique value to the consumers. This is achieved by reviewing the attributes of both the models and finally channeling the reviewed theories to adopting a multi-channel business model. The thesis paper first identifies the concepts of business model, as it is the business model of any organization, that helps to understand what kind of activities are carried out by certain organizations and how and why are those activities carried out. The business model is used to define unique value propositions for the customers of a company, and it is these business models that need transformation, in order for a company to adapt to changing competition and recognizing opportunities in certain scenarios.
The Brick and Mortar model is the oldest model that retailers have been using since centuries, however with the advent of internet; there was a threat of survival as the changing retail environment required retailers to change their traditional business models to adapt to the e-commerce environment. It is however true that, no single model is extremely superior to the other, but they do have relative advantages over the other. It is these differences and pros and cons, that influences a retailer to adapt to a multi-channel or hybrid business model.
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RASHID, MD SANUWAR. "Category Management : The effective way of managing retail business." Thesis, Högskolan i Borås, Institutionen Textilhögskolan, 2010. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hb:diva-20135.
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Today’s fragmented and intensely competitive market place is the obstacle for retailers and suppliers to do business in a traditional way. Even customers have never been more sophisticated. In this perspective, thousands of idea has already been brought though articles, journals and books and thousands of seminars has been hold to define a new way of managing business. Just as an tremendous heat and pressure create diamond, these uncertainties and competitive challenges has produced a new marketing ideas known as category management that offers an wealth of opportunity for those who can adopt with this systematic approach. In this thesis, some definition and structure-oriented phases as well as the challenging area of category management are mentioned. In the next step, a perfect scenario through different stages starting from zero is brought out to show how retailers and suppliers can overcome the power game and collaborate with each other. Finally I have shown that a trust worthy relationship, coupled with in-store implementation of category management, can create a win-win situation for both retailers and suppliers.Program: Magisterutbildning i Applied Textile Management
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Preston, John. "Improving retail decision making." Thesis, Lancaster University, 1989. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.279647.
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Ortiz, Daniel M. "Retail Business Managers' Strategies for Enhancing Workplace Diversity Planning." ScholarWorks, 2018. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/6084.
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Lack of workplace diversity planning leads to negative financial outcomes. The purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies that business managers in the retail sector use to enhance workplace diversity planning for assuring compliance with Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) regulations. The population included a single focus group of retail business employees as well as business managers of 5 distinct retail stores located in the Southeastern United States who have successfully instituted workplace diversity plans for assuring compliance with EEOC regulations. The conceptual framework for this study was cultural intelligence theory, which researchers have used to explore a person's ability to understand an unfamiliar context and assimilate the host culture. Methodological triangulation was achieved from the results of face-to-face individual interviews, a single focus group, and company documents. Interview data were analyzed using a modified van Kaam method. Analysis resulted in 3 themes (a) guiding principles; (b) training, including coaching and communication; and (c) hiring practices. The implication for positive social change includes the potential to provide new insights related to strategies applicable to workplace diversity planning in the retail businesses sector that can create or improve positive business and community relationships while potentially minimizing risk associated with profitability loss.
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Goosen, D. G. "A study of the project scope management process in Nedbank retail." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2001. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/52145.
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Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2001.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The objective of this study project is to investigate the scope management process within Nedbank's retail division. The scope definition provides a starting point for all future planning and tasks in a project. It defines all the work required, and only the work required, to successfully complete the set objectives of the project. Although this aspect of project management is crucial, many organisations fail to complete projects on time and within budget, due to bad management of the project's scope. A literature study was undertaken to determine a scope process, reasons why scope management fails, and those aspects that are of importance when defining the scope. These aspects were identified as follows: • Scope definition. • Setting of objectives. • Client relationship. • Stakeholder relationship. • Scope change management. • Risk. • Norms and standards. • Project requirements. Information from the literature study was used to develop a questionnaire to analyse the opinions of project members. These results were used to identify the gap between the perceptions of the project members and the ideal situation. The quantitative analysis identified the following as areas of concern: • Not all tasks needed to complete the project are identified. • Changes in the objective of the project, after the project scope was defined. • There is no process to deal with scope change. • There is a lack of using norms and standards when managing and planning the scope of the project. The study is concluded with recommendations to ensure that all future project plans comply with the identified process.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doelwit van hierdie studie is om die projek omvangs proses binne Nedbank se kleinhandels divisie te ondersoek. Die definisie van die projek omvang is die begin punt van alle toekomstige beplanning en take van 'n projek. Projek omvang word gedefinieer as al die werk benodig, en slegs die werk benodig, om 'n projek suksesvol te voltooi. Alhoewel hierdie aspek van projekbestuur as van kardinale belang beskou word, is daar vele organisasies wat steeds projekte laat voltooi en begrotings oorskry, weens die swak bestuur van projek omvang. 'n Omvattende literatuurstudie is voltooi om 'n omvang formulerings proses te identifiseer, redes hoekom organisasies faal met die proses, en aspekte te bepaal wat van belang is om te verseker dat organisasies suksesvol is met die definiëring van die projek omvang. Hierdie aspekte is soos volg: • Projekdefinisie. • Projekdoelwit. • Kliëntverhoudings. • Verhoudings met belangegroepe. • Die bestuur van veranderings in die projek omvang en definisie. • Projekrisiko. • Norme en standaarde. • Projekvereistes. 'n Vraelys, gegrond op die literatuurstudie, is opgestel om die persepsies van projeklede te meet teenoor die ideale situasie. Die kwantitatiewe analise het die volgende aspekte geidentifiseer as areas waaraan aandag gegee moet word: • 'n Volledige lys van take om die projek te voltooi word nie geidentifiseer nie. • Te veel verandering in die doelwit van die projek nadat die omvang reeds bepaal is. • Geen proses om enige verandering in die projek se omvang te bestuur nie. • Norme en standaarde word nie gebruik met die beplanning en bestuur van die projek omvang nie. Die studie word afgesluit met aanbevelings om te verseker dat toekomstige projekte aan die geidentifiseerde proses voldoen.
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Nagel, Christelle. "A business plan for an innovative food retail outlet." Thesis, Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/6419.
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Thesis (MBA (Business Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010.INTRODUCTION: This research report investigates the feasibility of an innovative food outlet in Cape Town called HOME CHEF. The food and groceries industry is continuously changing to suit the needs of individuals and to respond to current economic and health trends. Charles Darwin observed, “It‟s not the strongest nor the most intelligent creature that survives. It's the one that is most responsive to change” (Goodreads). HOME CHEF is a new business concept with a unique approach to assist people with the acquisition of their groceries and the preparation of their home-cooked meals, whilst providing a variety of different meal options for a typical family. With Darwin‟s theory in mind, HOME CHEF will respond to the changing environment by taking advantage of evolving food and retail trends. HOME CHEF will target a large market that includes the typical fast food, online retail and grocery segment. Because of the demographic variety of the customer base and due to the innovative nature behind the HOME CHEF concept, little information regarding, market trends, operations and existing strategies was available. Innovative approaches had to be used to acquire the information required for a suitable business plan.
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Palmer, Mark John. "Corporate interaction and learning during the retail internationalisation process : a study of multinational retailer expansion." Thesis, University of Ulster, 2002. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.274100.
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Winkelhake, Brett. "Verbal argumentativeness| A study of retail store managers." Thesis, University of Phoenix, 2015. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=3731745.
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The introduction includes the present quantitative study that addressed the potential benefits verbal argumentativeness could relate to the retail industry and determined the perception of verbal argumentativeness by retail store managers. The data collection method was a survey of retail store managers within San Diego County. A chi-square univariate analysis was conducted of these participants. The results of the study indicated verbal argumentativeness was somewhat of a healthy strategy to incorporate into business acumen as a new approach to contribute to the body of research for possible behaviors and plans retail store managers could adopt in relationships with employees. The discussion section shows an untapped source from the retail industry and how this industry can use this study to further research within the retail industry.
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Ronkainen, T. (Tiina). "Alternatives of internet-based internationalization in fashion retail." Master's thesis, University of Oulu, 2013. http://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:oulu-201305201284.
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The aim of the thesis is to contribute in the discussion of internet-based internationalization. The focus is in examining and analyzing the alternatives of internet-based internationalization, specifically from the point of view of an SME. Fashion retail provides the context for this study. The research phenomenon is approached methodologically with a qualitative research. The empirical primary is collected through interviews of the case companies.
After literature review, is formed theoretical framework based on previous academic literature. The empirical data for the thesis will be collected through interviews of SMEs doing internet-based operations and which are in diverse stages of internationalization. The goal is to address new viewpoints and concepts to add in the discussion of the topic and thus contribute in the theoretical field. The aim is to bring up also practical viewpoints as managerial contributions for managers to learn from and take into consideration in the strategic decisions of their own companies.
Based on research and confirmed by empirical data, four alternatives for internet-based internationalization are pointed out: physical presence, co-operative actions, direct online sales and regional approach to online internationalization. These alternatives do not necessarily outline each other; they may be utilized as separate or complementary strategic guidelines or ways to internationalize an internet-based business. Each alternative contains essential features and aspects that differentiate them from each other. In this study, these alternatives are exclusively presented firstly in the theoretical framework and later in modified framework.
As is pointed out in theoretical framework, and confirmed in three interviews, knowledge is the crucial concept in every aspect of internet-based internationalization. Knowledge guides strategic decisions and it is both the trigger and the result of different operations. Internationalizing companies gather information and knowledge through several methods and through strategic decisions, and utilize knowledge and experiences as guidance for their further strategic decision.
The findings provide both theoretical and managerial implications. Also guidelines for future research are suggested.
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Sanderson, Karin. "Store loyalty and the total retail experience." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2004. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/50104.
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Thesis (MEcon)--Stellenbosch University, 2004.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: With heightening competitive pressures in the retailing environment, customer satisfaction and customer loyalty have become barometers of retailer performance. Determining the relationship of all the controllable elements that encourage or inhibit consumers during their contact with a retailer, defined as the Total Retail Experience (Berman and Evans, 1998: 19), with customer satisfaction and customer loyalty, formed the basis of this study. The dimensions ofTRE that were applied in this study were five controllable components, namely personal interaction, merchandise value, internal store environment, merchandise variety and complaint handling. The empirical study was applied specifically to a retailer dealing in health, home and beauty products. Data for this study was gathered via questionnaire from 34 000 of the most loyal card holders which participated in the loyalty program offered by the health, home and beauty retailer. The results of the data study indicated that the TRE instrument was a valid instrument to measure the success of providing a positive TRE for their consumers. Further, the instruments used to measure customer satisfaction and loyalty were deemed highly reliable. Of the five elements of TRE, enhancing the quality of personal interaction should be the primary focus in improving customer satisfaction, and it is significant that this retailer's management need only focus on improving these five dimensions of TRE to enhance customer satisfaction, given that almost three-quarters of customer satisfaction was accounted for by the five TRE dimensions. Results indicated that in contrast to customer satisfaction, customer loyalty was primarily driven by product related issues, with merchandise value being the strongest predictor of loyalty. Again, it was noted that more than half of the retailer's customer loyalty could be accounted for by the five TRE dimensions. Thus, efforts to improve any of the five TRE dimensions would enhance customer loyalty within this retailer's cardholder base. The varying importance of the specific TRE dimensions to both customer satisfaction and customer loyalty allow this retailer to identify the driving forces behind each of these concepts and allow for prioritizing strategies to optimize satisfaction and loyalty within their consumer base. By analyzing the responses of the individual items (questions) that measure each of the TRE dimensions as they appeared in the questionnaire, this study enables the retailer to focus on very specific aspects that influence each dimension of the TRE experience. Overall, it must be noted that respondents had positive experiences at the health, home and beauty retailer, which provides the retailer with a useful indicator of current satisfaction and loyalty levels and a point of comparison in determining the impact of the strategies employed to heighten satisfaction and loyalty.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Toenemende druk van mededinging in die kleinhandelomgewing veroorsaak dat klientsatisfaksie en -lojaliteit barometers van kleinhandelprestasie word. Die basis van hierdie studie is daarin gelee om vas te stel wat is die verwantskap tussen al die beheerbare elemente wat verbruikers se gedrag tydens kontak met 'n kleinhandelaar aanmoedig of inhibeer, gedefinieer as die Totale Kleinhandelervaring (TKE) (Berman en Evans, 1998: 19), en klientsatisfaksie en -lojaliteit is. Die dimensies van TKE wat in hierdie studie toegepas is, is vyf beheerbare komponente, naamlik persoonlike interaksie, handelsware waarde, interne winkelomgewing, handelsware verskeidenheid en klagte hantering. Die empiriese studie is spesifiek toegepas op 'n kleinhandelaar wat handel dryf in gesondheid-, huis- en skoonheidsprodukte. Data vir die studie is ingesamel met behulp van 'n vraelys wat aan 34 000 van die mees lojale kaarthouers wat lid is van die lojaliteitsprogram van die gesondheid-, huis- en skoonheidsprodukte kleinhandelaar, gestuur is . Die resultate van die studie toon dat die TKE instrument 'n geldige instrument is om die sukses te meet indien 'n positiewe TKE vir kliente aangebied word. Voorts is ook bevind dat die instrumente wat gebruik is om satisfaksie en lojaliteit te meet, hoogs betroubaar is. Die verbetering van persoonlike interaksie tussen kliente en personeel blyk die primere fokus te wees indien klientsatisfaksie verbeter wil word. Die vyf dimensies van TKE is verantwoordelik vir byna driekwart van kliente se satisfaksie. Die kleinhandelaar se bestuur behoort dus slegs te fokus op die verbetering van die vyf dimensies van TKE. In kontras met satisfaksie, blyk lojaliteit primer veroorsaak te word deur produk verwante kwessies, met handelsware waarde as die sterkste voorspeller van lojaliteit. Meer as die helfte van die lojaliteit aan die kleinhandelaar word teweeggebring deur die vyf dimensies van TKE. Dus, pogings om enige van die vyf dimensies van TKE te verbeter, sal lei tot 'n verhoogde klientlojaliteit onder die kleinhandelaar se lojaliteit-kaarthouers. Die varierende belangrikheid van die verskillende TKE dimensies vir beide klientsatisfaksie en -lojaliteit stel die kleinhandelaar in staat om die dryfkragte agter elkeen van hierdie konsepte te identifiseer en maak die prioritisering van strategiee om satisfaksie en lojaliteit te maksimeer, moontlik. Die ontleding van die response op die individuele items (vrae) wat elkeen van die TKE dimensies meet soos wat dit in die vraelys voorkom, maak dit vir die kleinhandelaar moontlik om op spesifieke aspekte wat elke dimensie beinvloed, te fokus. Globaal gesien is bevind dat respondente positiewe ervarings by die gesondheid-, huis- en skoonheidsprodukte kleinhandelaar gehad het en hierdie kan as 'n nuttige indikator gebruik word van bestaande satisfaksie- en lojaliteitsvlakke en ook as 'n punt van vergelyking vir die bepaling van die doeltreffendheid van strategiee wat aangewend word om satisfaksie en lojaliteit te verbeter.
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Stanforth, Nancy Jean Fadgen. "Customer expectations and management event schemata: Satisfaction, patronage and retail store service /." The Ohio State University, 1993. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1487846885779133.
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Speed, Martin. "A targeted approach to managing retail employee dishonesty." Thesis, University of Surrey, 2001. http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/804947/.
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Pretorius, S. J. J. "Effective supply chain management in the furniture retail industry." Thesis, Pretoria : [s.n.], 2001. http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-01092003-135824.
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Collins, Bradley. "Crafting and executing an operational strategic plan for a retail product line." Thesis, Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/918.
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Thesis (MBA (Business Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The following research report is titled “Crafting and executing an operational strategic plan for a retail product line”. The report presents operational analysis which results in creating operational strategy which is relevant to current trading conditions and which is clearly aligned with both the organisation’s group and corporate strategic goals. The primary focus is therefore not on the development of organisational strategy, but on strategic implications, interpretation and operational execution. The central research question is described as follows: How can the current operational strategic planning process be improved in order to deliver strategic plans which are aligned and clearly support the key strategic thrusts at group and corporate level? A literature study was conducted by consulting a vast number of books, articles and websites in order to gain a comprehensive understanding of the latest management thinking pertaining to the creation and implementation of strategy. Primary research, which took the form of informal interviews with key personnel, was also conducted in order to ascertain the opinions and insights of individuals who are directly affected by the operational strategic process. The research resulted in a one year operational strategic framework which can be used as a tool by all central buying teams when creating operational strategic plans. The framework allows teams to follow a standardised process which results in concise summary populated with key strategic points. Teams are thus guided by these points and are also prompted to corrective action by ensuring that each strategic action has a measurable outcome. The framework is also populated with group and corporate goals, which act as guiding principles to team members. The final recommendation is that teams allow for a degree of flexibility in the operational strategic actions which were identified in their initial analysis. While key strategic points at group and corporate level will most likely remain unchanged during the course of a financial year, certain operational activities may have to be reconsidered should the micro and macro trading environment change. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die titel van die volgende navorsingverslag is: “Crafting and executing an operational plan for a retail product line”. Die verslag is ‘n weergawe van ‘n bedryfsontleding wat lei tot die ontwerp van ‘n bedryfs-strategie wat van toepassing is op die huidige handelsmilieu. Die strategie is verder in lyn met beide die organisasie se groep en korparatiewe doelwitte. Die verslag fokus hoofsaaklik op strategiese implikasies, interpretasie en operasionele uitvoering en nie op strategiese ontwikkeling nie. Die sentrale navorsingskwessie word soos volg beskryf: Watter verbeterings kan aangebring word aan die huidige bedryfs-strategiese beplannings proses om sodoende strategiese planne op te lewer wat in lyn sal wees en ondersteuning sal gee aan die sleutel strategiese dryfkrag op groep en korporatiewe vlak. ‘n Aantal sekondêre bronne – boeke,artikels and webwerwe - is nageslaan en ‘n letterkundige studie is gedoen om ‘n omvattende begrip te kry van die nuutste bestuursdenke met betrekking tot die ontwerp en implementering van strategie. Onderhoude is gevoer met sleutel personeel wat gedien het as primere bronne. Sodoende is die opinies en insigte verkry van individue wat direk betrokke is by die bedryfs-strategiese proses. Die ondersoek het as gevolg ‘n bedryfs-strategiese raamwerk. Dit kan as instrument gebruik word deur alle sentrale aanskaffingspanne wanneer hulle bedryfs-strategiese planne ontwerp. Die raamwerk maak voorsiening vir ‘n gestandaardiseerde proses wat kulmineer in ‘n een-bladsy opsomming wat strategiese punte bevat. Die opsomming gee dus rigting aan spanne en hulle word aangespoor tot korrektiewe aksies elk met meetbare uitkomstes. Die raamwerk bevat ook groeps- en korporatiewe doelwitte wat deur spanne as riglyne gebruik kan word. ‘n Finale voorstel is dat spanne voorsiening maak vir ‘n mate van plooibaarheid in die bedryfsstrategiese aksies wat aanvanklik in hul ontledings geidentifiseer was. Sekere strategiese punte sal waarskynlik op groep en korporatiewe vlak onveranderd bly na afloop van die finansiele jaar terwyl sekere bedryfsaktiwiteite heroorweeg sal moet word na gelang van veranderinge in die mikro en makro handelsmileu.
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Nieuwoudt, Adriaan Hermanus (Riaan). "The development of an environmental strategy for Pepkor Retail Limited." Thesis, Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/6428.
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Polak, Benjamin M. (Benjamin Michael). "Multi-echelon inventory strategies for a retail replenishment business model." Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/90753.
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Thesis: M.B.A., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management, 2014. In conjunction with the Leaders for Global Operations Program at MIT.Thesis: S.M., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Mechanical Engineering, 2014. In conjunction with the Leaders for Global Operations Program at MIT.
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Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (page 69).
The mission of the Always Available retail replenishment business at NIKE is to ensure consumer-essential products are in-stock at retailers at all times. To achieve this goal, NIKE has developed a forecast-driven, make-to-stock supply chain model which allows retailers to place weekly orders to an on-hand inventory position in a distribution center. The challenge facing the business is how to design an inventory strategy that achieves a high level of service to its customers while minimizing inventory holding cost. Specifically, safety stock holding cost is targeted as it accounts for the majority of on-hand inventory and can be reduced without significantly impacting the underlying supply chain architecture. This thesis outlines the application of multi-echelon inventory optimization in a retail replenishment business model. This technique is used to determine where and how much safety stock should be staged throughout the supply chain in order to minimize safety stock holding cost for a fixed service level. Provided a static supply chain network, the ideal safety stock locations and quantities which result in minimal total safety stock holding cost is determined. For this business, the optimal solution is to stage lower-cost component materials with long supplier lead times and high commonality across multiple finished goods at the manufacturer in addition to finished goods at the distribution centers. Safety stock holding cost reduction from component staging increases significantly when the distance between manufacturers and the distribution center decreases and for those factories producing a variety of finished goods made from the same component materials due to inventory pooling. Forecast accuracy drives the quantity of safety stock in the network. The removal of low volume, highly unpredictable products from the portfolio yields significant inventory holding cost savings without a detrimental impact to revenue. By deploying the optimal safety stock staging solution and by removing unpredictable products, this analysis shows that finish goods safety stock inventory would be reduced by 35% for the modeling period (calendar year 2012) while only decreasing topline revenue by 5%.
by Benjamin M. Polak.
M.B.A.
S.M.
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Aleruchi, Thankgod Chukwumeka. "Strategies to Minimize Perishable Food Loss in the Retail Grocery Business." ScholarWorks, 2019. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/6505.
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Supply chain managers in the retail grocery industry face significant challenges in reducing the wastage of perishable food. Perishable food spoilage and deterioration in the retail grocery industry result in a significant loss of profitability and consumer satisfaction. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore the strategies that supply chain managers in the retail grocery business used to minimize perishable food loss. The perishable inventory theory was used as the conceptual framework. Data were collected from semistructured interviews with 6 Pennsylvania retail grocery supply chain managers who implemented strategies to minimize perishable food loss and from organizational documents. Data analysis was carried out using Yin's 5-step process of compiling, disassembling, reassembling, interpreting, and concluding data. The 3 emergent themes resulting from data analysis were inventory strategy, logistics and deliveries strategy, and information technology strategy. Member checking occurred after transcription and summarization of the interview data. The findings indicated that supply chain managers use first-in-first-out approaches to inventory management, rotation, replenishment, information sharing, and on-time purchasing to minimize perishable food loss. The findings and recommendations of this study might be valuable to supply chain management and retail grocery leaders to create strategic solutions to mitigate the loss of perishable food. The findings of this study might contribute to positive social change through the reduction of perishable food loss, an increased supply of food, lower retail prices to the consumer, and improved customer satisfaction.
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Treadgold, Alan D. "The application of information technology in independent retail outlets." Thesis, University of Oxford, 1988. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.329018.
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Burroughs, Richard E. "The adoption of retail electronic commerce: an empirical investigation." FIU Digital Commons, 1999. http://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/1867.
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The purpose of this study was to empirically investigate the adoption of retail electronic commerce (REC). REC is a business transaction which takes place over the Internet between a casual consumer and a firm. The consumer has no long-term relationship with the firm, orders a good or service, and pays with a credit card. To date, most REC applications have not been profitable. To build profitable REC applications a better understanding of the system's users is required.
The research model hypothesizes that the level of REC buying is dependent upon the Buying Characteristics of Internet Use and Search Experience plus the Channel Characteristics of Beliefs About Internet Vendors and Beliefs About Internet Security. The effect of these factors is modified by Time. Additional research questions ask about the different types of REC buyers, the differences between these groups, and how these groups evolved over time.
To answer these research questions I analyzed publically available data collected over a three-year period by the Georgia Institute of Technology Graphics and Visualization Unit over the Internet. Findings indicate the model best predicts Number of Purchases in a future period, and that Buyer Characteristics are most important to this determination. Further, this model is evolving over Time making Buyer Characteristics predict Number of Purchases better in more recent survey administrations. Buyers clustered into five groups based on level of buying and move through various levels and buy increasing Number of Purchases over time.
This is the first large scale research project to investigate the evolution of REC. This implications are significant. Practitioners with casual consumer customers need to deploy a finely tuned REC strategy, understand their buyers, capitalize on the company reputation on the Internet, install an Internet-compatible infrastructure, and web-enable order-entry/inventory/fulfillment/ shipping applications. Researchers might wish to expand on the Buyer Characteristics of the model and/or explore alternative dependent variables. Further, alternative theories such as Population Ecology or Transaction Cost Economics might further illuminate this new I.S. research domain.
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Smith, Terrance D. "The Effects of Management on Commitment in the Retail Industry." ScholarWorks, 2017. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/4562.
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The lack of employee commitment costs retail organizations billions of dollars annually in the form of decreased effectiveness, profits, and retention rates. The purpose of this case study was to identify effective strategies used by retail store managers that lead to employee commitment to increase business performance. The study population was 8,230 retail store managers in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area. The conceptual framework for this study was the Meyer and Allen 3-component model of commitment. Participants were purposefully selected for their knowledge, experience and success in implementing effective retention strategies. Data were collected via face-to-face semistructured interviews, indirect participant observations, and archival document reviews with 5 retail store managers. The data analysis process involved organizing the interviews, color coding themes, and using NVivo software to interpret the data. Three themes emerged: Employee engagement increased employee commitment to the organization, managers decreased employee turnover by taking a personal interest in employees, and employee empowerment increased organizational commitment. Increasing employee commitment contributes to social change by providing organizational managers and leaders with important insights. Enhancing employee commitment contributes to society through increased organizational profitability resulting from improved retention strategies.
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Wilson, Dewayne. "Strategies for Reducing Employee Turnover in Retail Outlets." ScholarWorks, 2018. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/5961.
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Employee turnover in the retail industry is costly, difficult, and problematic, affecting organizational wages, benefits, and schedules in relation to serving clients, customers, and stakeholders. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore effective strategies used by retail store owners in the southeastern region of the United States to reduce employee turnover. The target population was 6 successful business owners of 6 small retail businesses in the southeastern United States who had effectively reduced employee turnover. The conceptual framework for this study was the Herzberg 2-factor theory related to workplace job satisfaction. Data were collected through face-to-face, semistructured interviews and review of archival company documents related to employee turnover. Data were coded, analyzed into themes using Yin's 5-step method, triangulated, and validated by member checking to strengthen the credibility of the analyses. Three themes emerged: effective communication, supportive leadership, and competitive compensation reduced employee turnover. The implications for positive social change include the potential to provide leaders with effective strategies to reduce employee turnover, leading to reductions in unemployment, stabilization of communities, and improvements to the human and social conditions outside the workplace.
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Sanyal, Chiranjib. "Development of a web based inventory management system for a small retail business." [Denver, Colo.] : Regis University, 2005. http://165.236.235.140/lib/CSanyal2005.pdf.
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Dupont, Dorthe HÃ¥hr. "Effective Strategies for Transformational Teams in the Danish Retail Banking Sector." ScholarWorks, 2017. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/3764.
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Successful transformation projects in the retail banking industry focusing on improving customer experiences have yielded a verified increase in earnings per employee. The purpose of this single case study was to reveal the strategies used by transformational team managers to ensure improved customer experiences. The stakeholder theory was used as the theoretical framework to analyze the interplay between the project team and the base organization during the process of improving customer experiences. The population consisted of 6 managers of transformational teams in the Danish retail banking sector who were successfully delivering on assigned goals of improving customer services. The data were collected through both semistructured interviews and review of relevant company documents. Establishing a transparent and detailed audit trail in a combination of using member checking process contributed to the credibility and transferability of the findings. Applying a textual analysis provided the foundation for the development of a systematic hierarchical coding system based on mind mapping visualization of clusters of findings. The outcome led to the emergence of 3 themes: the ability to verify customer needs through various sources; the ability to engage and mobilize relevant internal stakeholders; and the ability for the transformational team to be agile, improvise, and adaptive to emerging challenges. Implications for positive social change include improved area customer experiences enabling customers to plan for a better economic future. Employees will benefit from improved customer experiences with more satisfied customers, which could lead to increased revenue and extended and more stable employment.
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Devlin, James Francis. "Single competitive markets and competitive advantage in retail financial services." Thesis, University of Nottingham, 1996. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.320024.
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Stewart, D. B. "Determinants of retail productivity : perspectives from the Canadian car market." Thesis, University of Strathclyde, 1987. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.284272.
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O'Roarty, Brenna Ann. "A critical assessment of the rental valuation of retail property." Thesis, University of Ulster, 1996. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.243624.
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Nteka, Panzo. "Small Business Owners Strategies in the Retail Grocery Sector." ScholarWorks, 2018. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/5643.
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In Angola, 96.7% of established small businesses fail. Thus, the purpose of this multiple case study was to explore strategies retail grocery store owners in Angola use to succeed beyond 5 years. The population of the study consisted of 5 retail grocery storeowners who sustained their businesses longer than 5 years in Angola. The conceptual framework for this study was the resource-based view. Face-to-face, semistructured interviews and company documentation review were used to collect data. Yin's 5-phase cycle, which includes (a) compiling, (b) disassembling, (c) reassembling, (d) interpreting, and (e) concluding, was used to find patterns, themes, and categories from the data. Member checking and methodological triangulation were used to ensure credibility. Through thematic analysis, 5 themes emerged: control and monitoring, dedication of the owner, quality staff, regular offer and quality products, and social capital. These themes reflect a common set of strategies that retail grocery storeowners in Angola use to succeed beyond 5 years. The implications for positive social change include the potential to improve the performance of small businesses and reduce business failure rates and unemployment in Angola. Additionally, by sustaining their profitability, small businesses offer a basis for increasing tax revenues, contributing to economic growth of the local economy, and improving people's living standards.
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Berning, Anika. "Sustainable supply chain engagement in a retail environment : the case of Woolworths food suppliers." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/95997.
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Thesis (MComm)--Stellenbosch University, 2014.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Sustainability is a key requirement for business success and is often regarded a competitive advantage if strategically managed. Sustainability-mature organisations look to their value chains where the retailer-supplier relationship becomes critical in embedding sustainability. With this in mind, it has been established that a large South African retailer, Woolworths, has limited insight into the level of engagement in terms of sustainability with its key food suppliers, and no knowledge of the effectiveness of current tools used in enhancing their supply chain sustainability. This poses a problem, as it hinders the full implementation of Woolworth’s sustainability strategy across their value chain. In response to this, a study was undertaken to establish the level of engagement in terms of sustainability and obtain supplier feedback on the effectiveness of current tools used to enhance Woolworth’s supply chain sustainability. To facilitate this, the United Nations’ Global Compact and the Supply Chain Sustainability Guideline were utilised. Secondary research was conducted by means of a literature review covering the theoretical concepts of corporate social responsibility, sustainability, supply chain sustainability and retailer-supplier collaboration. The qualitative and exploratory nature of the study necessitated a case study research design, while the technique of purposive sampling was used to select the sample of three of Woolworths’ food suppliers. Data was collected by means of semi-structured interviews facilitated by an interview guide, and data analysis was conducted with Atlas.ti software. It was determined that the current engagement around sustainability between Woolworths and their suppliers is still at a basic and broad level, with a strong environmental focus. Additionally, monitoring and support of sustainability initiatives seems to be lacking. Managerial implications emphasise the importance of an integrated sustainability approach driven by the retailer and a strong focus on collaboration and communication with suppliers around ongoing sustainability challenges and opportunities. The United Nations Global Compact Supplier Engagement Continuum was utilised as a framework to map the current level of engagement and was amended for use in the South African context. Future research agendas suggest replica studies in other industries, and that the amended continuum should be tested and further refined for the South African context. In conclusion, specific propositions were formulated to aid future research.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Volhoubaarheid is ‘n sleutel vereiste vir besigheidsukses en word dikwels gesien as ‘n mededingende voordeel indien dit strategies bestuur word. Volhoubaar-volwasse organisasies fokus op hul waardekettings waar die kleinhandelaar-verskaffer verhouding krities is vir die implementering van volhoubaarheid. Met bogenoemde in gedagte, is dit bevind dat ‘n groot Suid-Afrikaanse kleinhandelaar, Woolworths, beperkte insig het aangaande die vlak van samewerking in terme van volhoubaarheid met sleutel voedselverskaffers. Verder is daar ook geen kennis oor die effektiwiteit van huidige tegnieke wat gebruik word om volhoubaarheid in hul waardeketting te bevorder nie. Dit skep ‘n probleem aangesien dit die effektiewe implementering van Woolworths se volhoubaarheidstrategie in hul waardeketting verhinder. Dus is ‘n studie onderneem om die vlak van betrokkenheid in terme van volhoubaarheid te bepaal, sowel as om terugvoer vanaf verskaffers in te samel aangaande die effektiwiteit van huidige volhoubaarheidsinisiatiewe. Om dit te fasiliteer was daar van die United Nations Global Compact en die Supply Chain Sustainability Guideline gebruik gemaak. Sekondêre navorsing was uitgevoer deur middel van ‘n literatuur studie wat fokus op die teoretiese konsepte van korporatiewe sosiale verantwoordelikheid, volhoubaarheid, waardeketting-volhoubaarheid, en kleinhandelaar-verskaffer samewerking. Die kwalitatiewe en ondersoekende eienskappe van die studie het gelei tot ‘n gevallestudie navorsingsontwerp, terwyl doelgerigte steekproeftrekking gebruik was om die steekproef van drie van Woolworths se voedselverskaffers te identifiseer. Data insameling het deur middel van semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude plaasgevind en was gefasiliteer deur ‘n onderhoudgids. Die data was verwerk en geanaliseer met behulp van Atlas.ti sagteware. Dit is bevestig dat die huidige samewerking tussen Woolworths en hul verskaffers, aangaande volhoubaarheid, steeds op ‘n basiese en breë vlak is met ‘n sterk omgewingsfokus. Addisioneel wil dit voorkom dat volgehoue monitering en ondersteuning van volhoubaarheidspogings tekort skiet. Bestuursimplikasies beklemtoon die belangrikheid van ‘n geïntegreerde volhoubaarheidsbenadering wat gedryf moet word deur die kleinhandelaar. Terselfde tyd word ‘n sterk fokus op samewerking en kommunikasie met verskaffers aangaande deurlopende volhoubaarheidsgeleenthede en –uitdagings benodig. Die United Nations Global Compact Supplier Engagement Continuum was gebruik as raamwerk om die huidige vlak van samewerking te bepaal en was aangepas vir die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks. Toekomstige navorsingsagendas stel voor dat replika studies in ander industrieë gedoen word, en dat die aangepaste kontinuum getoets en verder verfyn word vir die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks. Ten slotte was spesifieke proposisies geformuleer vir toekomstige navorsing.
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Addair, Angela Michelle. "Retail Employee Motivation and Performance." ScholarWorks, 2019. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/7453.
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Retail industry leaders seek effective strategies to improve employee motivation to increase levels of workforce productivity. The purpose of this single case study was to explore the strategies successful retail industry leaders used to motivate their employees to achieve higher levels of workforce productivity. The conceptual framework for the study was Vroom's expectancy theory of motivation. The research participants consisted of 2 retail store managers from the same retail store located in southeastern mid-Atlantic region of the United States who successfully motivated their employees. Data collection consisted of semistructured interviews, direct observation, and review of company documents. Data analysis included theme interpretation and data grouping, as well as transcript reviews, and verified the emerging themes from the interview data. The 3 main themes developed from data analysis were workplace motivation, leading by example, and performance. Retail industry leaders might use the findings of this study to provide managers with strategies to motivate their staff. The implication of this study for social change is that retail leaders might apply strategies that engage employees in their jobs while maximizing the sustainability of the organization.
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Colosimo, Mark. "A Data-Driven and Mixed Methods Analysis of Automotive Retail Operations Management." Thesis, Wayne State University, 2019. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=10973231.
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The importance of effective retail operations management has never been more significant. Our research aims to expand the understanding for efficiency and dynamics of franchise outlets within retail networks with a focus on sales performance and profitability. The focus and contribution is the development of an actionable data analytics driven process by which automotive dealerships (retail outlets) can be analyzed to identify areas of opportunity for improvement. In general, automotive dealerships aim to sell product to make a profit, the manufacturer of the product/brand desires to sell vehicles to make a profit, and the customer desires to find a suitable transportation option that provides most utility. While substantial volumes of quantitative data exists about the details of operations and automotive dealership transactions, similar Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are typically generated and reviewed in making decisions about operational change. We will focus on the actions (inputs) that relate to outcomes (outputs) at the dealership level, including factors relating to all three stakeholders and their interactions, which are anticipated to be relevant. Input variables and factors relating to the business outcomes of the stakeholders involved will be the desired target for finding synergies.
To address these concerns, we first developed an analytical process for providing recommendations to improve dealership efficiency and performance through quantitative data and demonstrated the effectiveness of the proposed process using a real-world dealership case study. With a desire to go beyond available datasets, there is a need to dig deeper into operations through aligning quantitative Key Performance Outcomes (KPOs) with qualitative survey analysis of dealership operators. This provides a detailed view of analysis not previously available, which should encourage dealerships to make change. Through the utilization of an interview process, with a focus on variance between dealerships, in creating a survey distributed to dealership management, an assessment of principal factors has been created. The assessment of these factors will help dealerships and manufacturers understand which activities, perceptions, and atmospheres have the greatest positive impact on new vehicle sales and profitability.
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Broman, Johanna, and Patricia Lundin. "CRM systems management and use : From retail stores perspective." Thesis, Högskolan Kristianstad, Sektionen för hälsa och samhälle, 2017. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hkr:diva-17125.
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The purpose of this thesis is to explore how stores in the retail sector and in business to consumers´ relations, are engaged in the CRM systems use and management. The purpose is also to see if the information that is gathered by the headquarters is transferred down to the stores. The research follows a realistic philosophy combined with an abductive approach and a qualitative method. The choice of design to this research was an exploratory research combined with a case study strategy over a cross-sectional time horizon. The data was collected through semi-structured interviews with managers in the six different retail stores. The findings from this thesis showed various results when it came to the use of the CRM system and the amount of information that the stores got access to from the headquarter/partner. None of the stores managed their CRM systems themselves, it was only managed by the headquarters or partners of the retail chains. The amount of information that was transferred down from the headquarters or partners, affected how much the stores used the CRM system. The stores that got much information had more knowledge about the CRM system and used it a lot more than stores that got less information. The limitations that can be found in this thesis is that it is only a small amount of stores within the retail market that has been examined, this might give a misleading result for the rest of the retail market and the global market as whole.
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Ngemegwai, Ogechi U. "Strategies for Reducing Short-Tenured Employee Attrition in the Retail Grocery Industry." Thesis, Walden University, 2018. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=10826190.
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The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore strategies that managers in the retail grocery industry use in reducing short-tenured employee attrition in the West Midland states in the United Kingdom. Participants were 4 store managers who had managerial experience in the retail grocery industry, worked as a retail store manager in the West Midlands, and had experience implementing effective strategies to reduce employee attrition. The Herzberg 2-factor theory was the conceptual framework. Semistructured interviews were used to collect data. Data were analyzed using Yin’s 5-step data analysis process. The major themes were: training and development, enriched job responsibility, human resources intervention, and employee recognition. Participants relied on training and development, enriched job responsibility, human resources intervention and, employee recognition to reduce employee attrition. The results may provide retail grocery leaders with strategies for reducing short-tenured employee attrition in grocery stores, which may reduce adverse effects on the industry’s profitability. Implications for positive social change include improving the quality of life of the community and citizens; improved levels of satisfaction in quality of life translate into developing and maintaining positive relationships with family and friends, as well as helping the local communities and the economy.
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Gikas, Evangelos. "An information system process model for a small South African enterprise in the retail sector." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2002. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/52675.
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Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2002.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study acts as a consulting solution to a South African small retail enterprise in developing an information system process model that will assist them to achieve their goals. A thorough analysis of the enterprise and the existing processes is conducted, where after the development of a transactional processing system is critically analysed. Small enterprises have specific information technology needs that are vastly different from large firms. The study takes into consideration the very specific conditions that will lead to successes and failures for this enterprise. It illustrates that from planning through to implementation and evaluation, it is important to integrate the technology as seamlessly as possible with the existing culture and operation. A review of existing principles for small enterprises is conducted and the guidelines flowing from this are outlined and applied to the business under investigation in a developing a practical solution. The owner understands that technology could be utilised to the benefit of his business. His backing and conviction that this is the way forward is imperative to the long-term success of the ultimate solution. Some guidelines to the study are set parameters as the owner has expressed specific requirements regarding the ultimate solution. This study provides a framework from which the developer, consultant and owner can sit at a planning stage and discuss an action plan for initialising and completing this project. Specifications and technical requirements can be deduced from the conclusions drawn in this study. The success of the new information system will depend solely on the quality of information and involvement of the users. The success of the ultimate solution will need the support of non-technology related functions. The information system will be dependent on the current processes and how well they are managed in conjunction with the new system.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie behels die formulering van 'n oplossing vir 'n Suid Afrikaanse kleinsake onderneming. Die ontwikkeling van 'n inligtingstelsel proses model wat die onderneming in staat sal stel om hulle doelwitte te bereik is die fokus van die studie. Die onderneming en huidige prosesse word in diepte geanaliseer waarna die ontwikkeling van 'n transaksionele prosesering sisteem krities bestudeer word. Klein ondernemings het spesifieke informasie tegnologie behoeftes wat grootliks verskil ten opsigte van groot ondernemings. Hierdie studie neem in ag die spesifieke omstandighede wat die onderneming se suksesse en mislukkings sal bepaal. Dit wys uit dat die proses vanaf beplanning, tot en met implementasie en evaluasie, dit noodsaaklik is om die informasie tegnologie sonder haakplekke te integreer met die huidige kultuur en operasie. Bestaande beginsels vir kleinsake besighede word hersien en die gevolgtrekkings wat daaruit vloei word saamgevat en toegepas op die onderneming wat bestudeer word om 'n praktiese oplossing te ontwikkel. Die eienaar is bewus van die voordele wat informasie tegnologie vir sy onderneming kan inhou. Sy steun en oortuiging dat dit die regte oplossing is, is noodsaaklik vir die langtermyn sukses van die uiteindelike oplossing. Riglyne vir die studie word voorgeskryf waar die eienaar spesifieke parameters aangaande die uiteindelike oplossing vereis. Die studie verskaf 'n raamwerk waarmee die programeerder, konsultant en eienaar 'n beplanningsessie kan bywoon om 'n aksieplan te bespreek vir die oorsprong en voltooiing van die projek. Dit is moontlik dat spesifikasies en tegniese vereistes afgelei kan word vanaf die gevolgtrekkings gemaak in die studie. Die sukses van die nuwe inligting stelsel sal ten volle afhanklik wees van die kwaliteit van inligting en betrokkenheid van die verbruikers. Die sukses van die uiteindelike oplossing moet ondersteun word deur die funksies wat nie direk verwant is aan tegnologie nie. Die inligtingstelsel sal afhanklik wees van die huidige prosesse en hoe goed die prosesse gesamentlik met die nuwe stelsel bestuur word.
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Kem, Katherine F. "Retail Big-Box Development and Small Business Strategy at the Local Level." ScholarWorks, 2017. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/3398.
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The big-box superstore has created a dramatic effect on the retail landscape since its appearance in 1962. As big-box stores proliferate, small business owners continue to struggle with how to compete. The purpose of this multiple case study was to identify and explore strategies small business owners use to maintain or grow profit margins post big-box store market entry. The sample consisted of 5 small business owners in Kansas City, Missouri who survived the entry of the big-box store for at least 1 year. The conceptual framework was the general systems theory and systems thinking. Data were collected using semistructured interviews, archival data, and data mining. I used Yin's five-phase process of compiling, disassembling, reassembling, interpreting, and concluding for data analysis where 3 themes emerged that contributed to the case study's small businesses maintaining or increasing profits. These themes were employees and customers, finances, and organizational strategies. Key findings within the themes indicated that innovation, product differentiation, and flexibility were keys to profitability. The sustainability of small business in communities brings a variety of benefits to include social, economic, environmental, and aesthetic. These benefits can translate into tangible results such as a reduction in crime, increased social interaction, a stronger sense of identity, increased diversity, and more equity. Empowering local small business owners with sustainable business strategies could result in more businesses remaining profitable, leading to an improved standard of living for business owners and urban redevelopment as businesses flourish while contributing to local economies.
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Speed, Richard J. "Marketing, strategy and performance in the UK retail financial services industry." Thesis, Loughborough University, 1991. https://dspace.lboro.ac.uk/2134/7414.
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This thesis seeks to examine the marketing practices, strategies and organisational characteristics of companies in the UK retail financial services industry. The research utilises both quantitative and qualitative methods, seeking to determine what, if any, differences in approach exist between companies of different types or with different levels of performance. Three methods are used to evaluate performance; self assessment, peer assessment and expert assessment. Data was gathered using a semi-structured questionnaire as the basis for interviews with managers. Quantitative analysis utilised contingency table analysis and discriminant analysis to test for differences between different groups of companies. Account was taken of problems due to small sample size. The Delphi technique, a form of anonymous polling of experts over several rounds with feedback between rounds, was used to construct the expert assessment based measure of performance. Companies with better performance were found to have a different strategy from those with poor performance. Better performing companies were found to have products better at meeting customer needs than those of competitors, and to charge more for them. Better performing companies were found to be faster at new product development and to show a balance in their strategy between finance and market performance based factors. Companies of different types were also found to differ in their marketing approaches. A high level of consistency was found between the various measures of performance used. The measures were highly correlated and the sets of variables found to be related to performance level measured by different means had considerable overlap.
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Shackleton, Ruth Elizabeth. "Collisions of corporate culture : UK food retail investment in the USA." Thesis, University of Southampton, 1996. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.242407.
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Lockett, Asia R. "Online Marketing Strategies for Increasing Sales Revenues of Small Retail Businesses." ScholarWorks, 2018. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/5896.
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Small retail business leaders use online marketing to connect with consumers and the community. The purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore the strategies some small retail business leaders use to implement online marketing to increase sales. Data were collected from 4 small retail business owners who successfully used strategies to implement online marketing in California. The conceptual framework for this study was Rogers's diffusion of innovation theory. Data collection techniques and sources were semistructured, face-to-face interviews, and review of public business documents, company websites, social media websites, and analytical tools. A thematic analysis of the data yielded 4 themes: social media platforms and strategies, online marketing strategies and challenges, online content strategies, and follow-up strategies. Business leaders of small retail organizations who want to increase revenue, remain competitive, overcome challenges associated with online marketing, and increase communication by implementing new technology might elect to align with the strategies identified in this study. The implications for positive social change include the opportunity for small retail business leaders to increase revenue while providing more job opportunities to benefit employees, employees' families, and the community.
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Oppong, George. "The role of strategic supply chain management in liquor retail." Thesis, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10948/895.
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The underlying objective of this research was to assess the extent to which an efficient supply chain can help retail businesses; particularly liquor businesses to manage their business risks. The case study firm for the research was Big Daddy’s Group, one of the leading independent liquor distribution and retailing firms in South Africa. In order to achieve the objective of the research, a review of relevant literature was done. It began with literature review of retailing in general, highlighting on the major roles they play and the modern trends in the industry. Afterwards the literature was narrowed down to liquor retailing. This was done to ascertain the unique characteristics of that aspect of retailing including the regulations guiding the industry and the specific business risks in that business. The final part of the literature review was on specific concepts and management models such as value chain, supply chain as well as business risk and its management. The literature highlighted the means by which the retailer creates value for the customer and the inherent risks in the industry. There was the indication of supply chain being a key component of the value creating activities (value chain) of the business, and serving as a tool in mitigating possible risks. The literature provided the theoretical proposition (hypothesis) for the assessment of the case study findings from the Big Daddy’s Group. The data collection exercise was done by means of a questionnaire complimented by personal interview. Due to the nature of the firm, in terms of structure and operations, two persons, with considerable insight into the business, the director and the sales/area manager were interviewed for the exercise. The questions posed were categorised into seven key areas of retail operations such as product range, imports, customer awareness, marketing and advertising, supply chain and human resource. The findings were compared with the theoretical propositions developed in the literature review, and the pattern matching logic technique was used to determine the existence or not of any similar predictions or differences. The risks identified in the findings were analysed with the logic of an efficient supply chain as the mitigating tool. The conclusion was that supply chain management is key to the value creation activities and hence the survival of the business. The recommendation therefore is that the retailer should ensure the efficient management of the supply chain network since it has the potential to reduce the inherent risks in their operations.
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Ricketts, Lu Ann. "Career Mentoring Relationships of Female Retail Executives in the Southwestern Region of the United States." The Ohio State University, 1988. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1389365870.
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Abrons, Irene Michel. "Social Media Marketing Among Small Retail Clothing Businesses." ScholarWorks, 2018. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/4769.
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Social media marketing influences consumer trust in businesses, and trust accounts for about 37% of consumer purchasing decisions. The purpose of this multiple case study research was to identify the barriers to social media marketing that owners of small retail clothing businesses must overcome to be competitive. The conceptual framework was the technology acceptance model. Collected data consisted of company documents and semistructured interviews with 3 small retail clothing business owners in Chicago, Illinois, who had experience with social media marketing. Data analysis consisted of an open coding approach and member checking. The study revealed the small business owners who participated in this study had not experienced insurmountable barriers to their use of social media marketing. However, participants cited difficulties relating to the cost and time involved in social media marketing and the lack of suitable training. The 4 main themes that emerged relating to the perceived benefits of social media marketing were cost, convenience, ability to reach a large audience, and benefits relating to visual marketing. The study has implications for the success of the small business sector as well as the U.S. economy because data yielded insight into effective practice in social media marketing in the small retail clothing industry, as well as the types of barriers and difficulties that small business owners must overcome. This study has potential for social change because knowledge about the barriers to social media marketing could empower small businesses, especially in Chicago, to adopt strategies to overcome barriers, thereby remaining competitive and adding to the stability of small businesses as a significant source of jobs and economic growth.
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Lewis, Steven. "A Quantitative Explanatory Examination of Job Training, Job Satisfaction, and Turnover Intentions among U.S. Retail Grocery Employees." Thesis, Capella University, 2019. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=13808908.
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The topic of investigation for this research was the relationship between job training, job satisfaction, and turnover intention. Specifically, the researcher investigated how the quantity of job training over a one-year period predicted employees’ job satisfaction and turnover intentions. Despite the rich body of research on the mediating factors of job satisfaction on employees’ turnover intentions, little is known about factors that influence job satisfaction and turnover intentions among employees within the retail grocery industry. The research question proposed for the study was: “What is the relationship between amount of job training, job satisfaction and turnover intentions among employees in the U.S. retail grocery industry?” Utilizing a quantitative explanatory research design, a sample was collected of 101 U.S. retail employees who were (a) 18+ years of age, (b) had at least a high school education completed, and (c) were current retail grocery employees who had worked in the industry for at least one full calendar year prior to study participation. Data were collected via online survey, which consisted of a demographic questionnaire, the Job Satisfaction Scale, and the Turnover Intention Scale. A multiple linear regression was performed to assess the predictive relationship between job training, job satisfaction, and turnover intentions. The Pearson correlation coefficient r was used to explore the two-way association between amount of job training, job satisfaction, and turnover intentions. Analysis revealed no statistically significant, predictive relationship between job training, job satisfaction, and turnover intentions. In addition, results from the Pearson correlation coefficient r validated the same lack of relationship. Although findings from this investigation indicated job training had no significant effect on job satisfaction or turnover intentions, organizations and managers should not dismiss the many benefits of employee training.
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Li, Sheng. "Introducing a rule-based architecture for workflow systems in retail supply chain management." Thesis, Högskolan i Borås, Institutionen Handels- och IT-högskolan, 2012. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hb:diva-16404.
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Problem: While global IT competition is becoming increasingly severe, various business organizations and companies, in order to maximize the profit and gain market competitiveness, are in urgent need of high-performance workflow systems to improve efficiency. However, the workflow systems that are currently used are embedded with fixed business rules that cannot be easily adjusted by users, resulting in the inability of users to make adjustments to the business rules, so as to satisfy changed requirements and deal with high cost of business management and low efficiency. Therefore, it is highly desirable for users of workflow systems, especially retail supply chain companies, to employ a new type of systems that can be easily adjusted by end users themselves when required.Solution: The rule-based workflow system architecture for the management of retail supply chain business process is recommended. In such architecture, the business rules can be separated from the system logic and managed by users via a friendly interface. The rule-based workflow systems can greatly enhance the system efficiency and lower maintenance cost, as compared with the traditional workflow system or other similar information systems. And the efficiency of retail supply chain business process management can be greatly enhanced by employing rule-based workflow systems.Methods: Two main research problems and four sub-research problems, which serve as the guidance to conduct related research work, have been identified. The research work has been divided into the theoretical part and the empirical part. In the theoretical part, the theory of rule base establishment and rule-based workflow system architecture are discussed. In the empirical part, data analysis as well as prototype design are conducted by employing both quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection. Attempts are also made to verify the theories suggested in the theoretical part by means of empirical research. Based on both theoretical and empirical research, attempts are made to find solutions to the research questions. In general, this thesis arms at providing references for the future research related to rule-based workflow system management in retail supply chain management. The thesis also aims to provide references for the practical use of rule-based systems in the retail supply chain field with such issues as system development and maintenance, especially for the system of complex and changeable business processes. Most importantly, some solutions are offered to the challenges of retail supply chain management.Program: Magisterutbildning i informatik
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Alo, Obinna Azubuike. "A comparative evaluation of human resource development (HRD) processes and practices in UK and Nigerian retail supermarkets." Thesis, University of Sunderland, 2017. http://sure.sunderland.ac.uk/8553/.
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This research explores the link between human resource development (HRD) interventions and leadership competencies in retail supermarkets in Nigeria and the UK, in order to understand better how Nigerian supermarkets can improve their leadership competencies by adopting the appropriate HRD interventions learnt from their UK counterparts. The retail supermarket literature in Africa recognises the inability of indigenous retail supermarkets in the continent to outcompete some foreign entrants in their own local market. The thesis, therefore, starts by reviewing the challenges facing these indigenous retail supermarkets in Nigeria, including the specific competencies they may be lacking in comparison with their foreign rivals. With this established in chapter one, the literature review chapters then explore issues of competency creation, including the theories of learning and HRD, since competency is learnt, and the HRD construct is in the forefront of learning in the organisation. The methodology adopted was a constructivist ontological stance coupled with an interpretivist epistemology. 40 qualitative interviews were conducted and the data analysis method adopted was a thematic analysis, particularly the deductive-inductive strategy, while the method of data reduction was via categorisation, unitisation, and detecting a relationship between the empirical and secondary data collected. A set of core competencies were identified, and of these the key difference in the responses (gathered from the two countries) was ‘reflective action taking’, and which was a major competence identified in the responses from the UK supermarkets, especially, Tesco. The thesis, therefore, matched the Tesco options programme (which is a leadership development programme in Tesco) with David Kolb’s experiential learning theory (ELT), and, both correspond neatly well. The thesis, thus, recommends that the ELT should form a fundamental part of our curriculum design, pedagogy and delivery of HRD related modules in schools, but also should be adopted in leadership development programmes, especially, in developing countries. However, by building on the current debate on the link between HRD, leadership competencies and organisational transformation, this study helps to address the lack of empirical data on HRD in retail supermarkets in developing countries, and suggests ways of improving the competencies of retail supermarket leaders in Nigerian.
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McConchie, Douglas R. "Patterns of strategic control : an investigation of British, French and German retail banking practice." Thesis, Loughborough University, 1998. https://dspace.lboro.ac.uk/2134/32249.
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This study provides detailed evidence as to the current state of strategic control in European retail banking. In so doing, it also provides an unique insight into the rigour of the strategic management of the banks investigated.
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Hall, Bradley A. "Independent Retail Business Owners' Perceptions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act." ScholarWorks, 2015. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/1537.
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Passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) in 2010 prompted the question of how independent businesses may react to the employer mandate in the PPACA. The law is based on the theory of managed competition and it is more likely to affect businesses with fewer employees than to affect larger businesses that already offer health insurance. The purpose of this quantitative, pre-experimental study was to examine the strategic responses of independent retail business owners in Hillsborough County, Florida, regarding their perceptions of the employer mandate in the PPACA. Before 2014, there was a great deal of non-peer-reviewed literature in which researchers made predictions about the PPACA and independent business perceptions regarding the new law. To determine independent business owners' perceptions of and strategies for addressing the PPACA, a random sample of 309 independent retail businesses in Hillsborough County was invited by e-mail to participate in an online survey. The quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t tests for hypothesis testing, and chi-square goodness-of-fit analyses to confirm the results without using means. None of the alternative hypotheses were supported, indicating that the PPACA may not have an adverse effect on job creation for independent retail businesses in Hillsborough County. The findings of this study can indirectly promote positive social change by communicating to independent business owners and individuals that healthcare insurance options exist. This question was important to academics and business professionals, because the strategies employed by business owners may affect job creation.
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Rodriguez, Beatriz. "Reducing Employee Turnover in Retail Environments: An Analysis of Servant Leadership Variables." ScholarWorks, 2016. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/2758.
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In a competitive retail environment, retail store managers (RSMs) need to retain retail customer service employees (RCSE) to maximize sales and reduce employee turnover costs. Servant leadership (SL) is a preferred leadership style within customer service organizations; however, there is disagreement regarding the usefulness of SL in the retail industry. The theoretical framework for this correlational study is Greenleaf's SL theory. Seventy-four of 109 contacted human resources managers (HRMs) from a Fortune 500 United States retailer, with responsibility for evaluating leadership competencies of the RSMs they support, completed Liden's Servant Leadership Questionnaire. RCSE turnover rates were available from company records. To analyze the correlation between the 3 SL constructs and RCSE turnover, multiple regression analysis with Pearson's r providing sample correlation coefficients were used. Individually the 3 constructs FIRST (beta = .083, p = .692), EMPOWER (beta = -.076, p = .685), and GROW (beta = -.018, p = .917) were not statistically significant to predict RCSE turnover. The study multiple regression model with F (3,74) = .071, p = .98, R2 = .003 failed to demonstrate a significant correlation between SL constructs and turnover. Considering these findings, the HRMs could hire or train for different leadership skills that may be more applicable to effectively lead a retail sales force. In doing so, the implications for positive social change may result in RCSE retention leading to economic stability and career growth.
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Dlamini, Joe. "Rural malls changing the retail landscape in Limpopo." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/79341.
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Thesis (MDF)--Stellenbosch University, 2012.The influx of malls into townships and rural villages post-1994 is well-documented, and researchers such as McGaffen (2010) have attributed this influx to the rising buying power of the Black middle class and other poverty intervention programs created by the government. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of establishing malls in rural Limpopo on spazas and general dealers. Furthermore, the study also evaluated the responses of both spazas and general dealers to competition from the malls. In this regard, 50 outlets composed of 25 spazas and 25 general dealers were interviewed face-to-face on their premises. These in-depth interviews were conducted using the semi-interview guidelines to gain the views of the store owners on the impact of malls in areas such profitability, employment, and the products sold in their outlets. The research further evaluated strategies employed by these outlets in order to cope with the competition from the malls. The main findings were that malls do have an impact on profitability, employment, and the products of both the spazas and general dealers. Similarly, the impact on customers was a mixed bag in that some establishments experienced a decline in the number of customers using their outlets, while at least one spaza shop saw an increase in the number of customers. Finally, the spazas and general dealers employed a number of strategies, such credit facilities, longer operating hours, and focusing on products generally not sold in the mall, in order to counter the impact of competition from the malls.
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Dorman, Alec J. "Omni-Channel Retail and the New Age Consumer: An Empirical Analysis of Direct-to-Consumer Channel Interaction in the Retail Industry." Scholarship @ Claremont, 2013. http://scholarship.claremont.edu/cmc_theses/590.
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It is indisputable that the internet has become a necessary component of contemporary multi-channel retail, as more consumers are choosing to purchase goods online each year. As online spending continues to grow, many have called into question the future of brick-and-mortar retail. This thesis seeks to empirically prove that brick-and-mortar retail remains not only relevant, but indispensable in direct-to-consumer business models. The basis of this conjecture is the idea of channel synergism, in which online and brick-and-mortar operations are complementary. This theory is predicated on the emergence of the omni-channel retail, which is characterized by the integration of the various direct-to-consumer (D2C) channels to support cross-channel consumer interaction. To empirically test this hypothesis, key operating metrics were examined over the five year period from 2007 to 2011. By examining profitability trends and several D2C channel relationships, empirical support is developed to substantiate the claim that brick-and-mortar operations are not being driven into obsolescence by the growing prevalence of e-commerce transactions.
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Arthur, Sherman M. "Sustainable Supply Chain: Maintaining a Competitive Advantage in Retail Organizations." ScholarWorks, 2017. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/4123.
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Some retail managers encounter challenges with efficiency and responsiveness in their attempts to gain and maintain a competitive advantage in the retail industry. Many retail managers are receptive to changes in global markets, technology, and customer demands. The purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore the strategies that some retail managers used to motivate their sales associates to maintain a competitive advantage in the retail industry. Maintaining a competitive advantage increases profitability and customer satisfaction. Sustainable Supply Chain Management was the primary conceptual framework for this study. The purposive sample consisted of 4 retail managers from a mid-sized retail distribution organization in southeastern Georgia. Face-to-face interviews were recorded, transcribed, verified, and analyzed. Analysis in this qualitative single case study was based on the sustainable supply chain management framework. Four emergent themes were identified relating to essential strategies, ethical factors, risk factors, and the value of sustainable strategy toward stakeholders, suppliers, and customers. Implications for positive social change include retail managers’ improved ability to motivate their sales associates to maintain a competitive advantage, which will allow organizations to sustain their progress in the community and thereby contribute to the success and wellbeing of employees, families, communities, and the economy. Motivated and qualified employees tend to remain with their organizations, which is good for employees and their families, as well as the business, the community, and the economy.
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Stodnick, Todd Michael. "Driving retail store peformance: a service profit chain perspective." The Ohio State University, 2005. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1106686551.
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