Strategic Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Strategic - Essay Example An example of a sustainable competitive advantage that has stood the test of time for uniqueness is Coca Cola. Many competitors have tried to replicate or duplicate the Coca Cola formula, with no success. Most people can tell the difference between a Coca Cola and a generic cola. Coca Cola is unique. A company can also create a product that cannot be replicate or difficult to do so. An example of a product difficult to replicate would be Microsoft Windows. Due to copyright laws Microsoft Windows can never be replicated exactly with out Microsoft’s permission. A product superior to the competition can also be controlled internally. Company’s are in charge of what is used to make their products. Using a lower standard can make a product cheaper, but not have the same quality. Examples can be found in the difference between name brands and store brands. Store brands can be cheaper, but a name brand will have more quality. Sustainability is vital for a product’s succ ess. A sustainable product will address needs for a long period of time. An example would be Nike. Nike makes tennis shoes. Until there is a time when shoes are no longer needed, which is probably not in the near future, Nike will have a sustainable product. Gasoline is not a sustainable product. There is a limited supply, which will someday no longer be around. A product that can work in multiple situations is also a must. Coke can be drunk anytime, for a meal, on the road, or for no reason at all. Nike and Microsoft can also be used for multiple situations. A product like can only work in one situation, might sell, but not as well. All of these factors to make a company or organization have sustainability of competitive are internally controlled. Internal decisions are what make the company’s there own. 2. What are the main features of the rational planning approach to Strategic Marketing? Highlight some of the problems associated with

The Importance of Training and Developing Employees at Wal-Mart Research Paper

The Importance of Training and Developing Employees at Wal-Mart - Research Paper Example Out of all these divisions, one important division is Training and Development. â€Å"Training and Development is a subsystem of an organization. It ensures that randomness is reduced; learning or behavioral change takes place in structured format† (Training and Development 2007, par. 4). Most of the organizations did not concentrating in Training before. They believed that managers are born not made; also they thought that training program is very costly affair and not worth. But there has been a change in this kind of traditional approach. Different from traditional thinking, now Organizations are considering training and development as a retention tool than just a cost. The main objective of this department is to create a skillful, willing workforce for any organization. â€Å"The training and development strategy needs to recognize that there should be continual process of core competence development for all staffs† (Cartwright 2003, 53). The objectives can be divid ed into four sections such as individual, organizational, societal and functional. An individual objective mainly helps to attain the personal goals of the employees which indirectly enhance the individual contribution towards the organization. Organizational objectives  help the organization with its primary objectives to bring effectiveness of individuals. Societal objectives mean the corporate social responsibility of any organization, i.e. to make sure that the particular organization is socially and ethically responsible for the needs of the society. Functional objectives ensure the department’s contribution to the organization’s goals. 1st Issue: Orientation Program for New Associates as a Part to Reduce Employee Turnover: â€Å"Companies need to look for ways of incorporating job enrichment, lateral assignments, rotation programs and other activities that can improve employee retention† (Career Development at Walmart 2010). For reducing employee turnove r and retaining employees, Wal-Mart has implemented some attracting training tools to assist its employees. One of the major practices done by Wal-Mart is its orientation program. To help in understanding the newcomers all about their job positions, Wal-Mart additionally teaches the people about the organizational structure within the company, while recruiting. Employees are welcomed with great honor at the same way how the customers’  receives. â€Å"The simulation exercise helps associates to understand customer expectations and what they can do to meet and exceed those expectations† (Stores Training and Development n.d.). Maintain the uniqueness in the retail industry is a big issue faced by Wal-Mart like any other market leader. For that in the next phase of the orientation program, associates explain the company’s history and culture, store work expectation and environment, the impact on customers, communities and associates. Last part of the orientation program is the Audio store Discovery Tour. â€Å"In this exercise, new associates listen to the voices of customers and associates through a headset and audio-playing device† (Stores Training and Development n.d.). â€Å"All these initiatives are aimed at making employees stay within the organization more favorable. This empowers the employees and gives them the incentive to remain within the company† (Career Development at Walmart 2010). Issue 2: Training and Development for New Associates: â€Å"Training and development is not one-time occurrence at Wal-Mart.