Assignment 2018

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I have attached a previous assignment on the company Publix pages 6-13, of which I would like this assignment prepared from. This assignment has two parts, the first, is a one of which require an 8 slide presentation with speaker notes

ASSIGNMENT 2: CHALLENGES IN THE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT

Due Week 9 and worth 330 points

PART I

As you have explored in this course, ongoing challenges in the global business environment are mostly attributed to unethical business practices, failure to embrace technology advancements, and stiff competition among businesses. Imagine that you have been appointed as the Chief Compliance Officer of a Fortune 500 company of your choice and must prepare a presentation for your suppliers regarding your Supplier Code of Conduct to deliver via a web meeting.

This assignment has two parts. For the first part, you are to create a five to seven (5–7) minute dynamic video on your company’s Code of Conduct. You may use any type of recording device you have to create this video—smartphone, laptop, webcam, or other type of video recorder. The specific points to cover for this video are listed below.

As an alternative to the video, you may submit a four to six (4–6) page paper that details what you would say in such a presentation following the same prompts as the video assignment below.

For the second part of the assignment, you will create a presentation using PowerPoint (or other equivalent software) summarizing the important changes and explanations regarding the code of conduct that you communicated in your video/paper presentation to email to the suppliers after the meeting for future reference. The specific points to cover are listed below.

You must submit both parts of the assignment to receive full credit.

Note: If you are using a tablet or smartphone you will need to email the video file to yourself, then save it to a computer in order to upload to Blackboard. You may want to upload your video to a file sharing service, such as Dropbox, if your email will not let you send a large video file. Dropbox is accessible from all smartphones and tablets from the Dropbox app.

Once you are ready to upload your video to Blackboard, view the Kaltura video tutorial found in your online course shell (Week 9). Please use the following naming convention in the popup window for your video once it is finished uploading:

Title: Your First Name, Your Last Name – Challenges in the Business Environment Tags: BUS475, Business Environment Description: First Name, Last Name – BUS475 Assignment 2 (Date Uploaded ex. 1-14-2018)

Part 1: Video Presentation OR Paper Prepare and present a video that is a maximum of five to seven (5–7) minutes OR write a four to six (4–6) page paper in which you:

1. List specific changes that your company has made to its Code of Conduct in recent years. Provide at least one (1) example of each change.

2. Explain the identified changes to the suppliers in such a way that they will understand the standards that your company requires in order to maintain their relationship with the company.

If you choose the written paper instead of the video, your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:

· This course requires use of Strayer Writing Standards (SWS). The format is different than other Strayer University courses. Please take a moment to review the SWS documentation for details.

· Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length.

Specific Library Resources to help you get started

The Strayer University Library is accessible at research.strayer.edu.

A general introduction to the Strayer Library is available in your course shell on the left-hand menu under Research-Library.

· Introductory Search - Use the home page’s search box to keyword search many, but not all, databases.

· Targeted Search - Scroll to the bottom of the page for an A to Z listing of all databases. Float over each link to see a description of the database and click to load that particular database’s custom search page. Custom search pages include both basic and advanced search options.

These databases are only partially searchable through the general search bar. You will have to search them individually to find resources for your paper.

· Nexis Uni - This contains legal information and would be useful to search for court cases in which your company has been involved.

· Video Explaining Nexis Uni

· Mergent Online - This has company info on both public and private companies. Fortune 500 can be public or private. Mergent is known for financial and accounting info, but also has qualitative information too. They offer news feeds, country reports on business environments, industry-wide reporting, company reports, and Annual Reports—the middle 3 are unique to this database. Starting with looking at a company's annual report would be very useful for this assignment. Industry reports would also be useful to see if your company is involved in any industry-wide initiatives or is notable in its industry in any way (could be good or bad.)

· Instructional Videos on each of the databases:

. Library Databases - Mergent Online

Company Research - Annual Reports and 10-Ks

PART II

As an alternative to the video, you may submit a four to six (4–6) page paper that details what you would say in such a presentation following the same prompts as the video assignment below.

You must submit both parts of the assignment to receive full credit.

Part 1: Video Presentation OR Paper

Prepare and present a video that is a maximum of five to seven (5–7) minutes OR write a four to six (4–6) page paper in which you:

1. List specific changes that your company has made to its Code of Conduct in recent years. Provide at least one (1) example of each change.

2. Explain the identified changes to the suppliers in such a way that they will understand the standards that your company requires in order to maintain their relationship with the company.

If you choose the written paper instead of the video, your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:

· This course requires use of new Strayer Writing Standards (SWS). The format is different than other Strayer University courses. Please take a moment to review the SWS documentation for details.

· Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow SWS or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.

Part 2: PowerPoint Presentation

Create a six to eight (6–8) slide PowerPoint presentation in which you:

1. Summarize your chosen company’s Supplier Responsibility information.

2. Discuss your company’s stance on each of the following areas:

1. Empowering Workers

2. Labor and Human Rights

3. Health and Safety

4. The Environment

5. Accountability

0. Identify the key ways that your company’s Progress Report has changed since last year.

1. Examine the manner in which your company’s Supplier Code of Conduct helps the organization operate as a socially responsible organization.

2. Provide detailed speaker notes of what you would say if you were delivering the presentation.

3. Submit a reference page with at least three (3) quality references from the past 2 years that you have used for this presentation / paper. Note: Wikipedia and other websites do not qualify as academic resources.

3. Tip: A good place to look for references is at the Strayer Library - research.strayer.edu

3. Here is an introductory video on the library and how to use it: Online Library Resources at Strayer University.mp4

Your PowerPoint presentation must follow these formatting requirements:

· Format the PowerPoint presentation with headings on each slide and three to four (3–4) relevant graphics (photographs, graphs, clip art, etc.), ensuring that the presentation is visually appealing and readable from 18 feet away. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.

· Include a title slide containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The title and reference slides are not included in the required slide length.

Specific Library Resources to help you get started:

· The Strayer University Library is accessible at research.strayer.edu.

. A general introduction to the Strayer Library is available in your course shell on the left-hand menu under Research-Library.

. Introductory Search - Use the home page’s search box to keyword search many, but not all, databases.

. Targeted Search - Scroll to the bottom of the page for an A to Z listing of all databases. Float over each link to see a description of the database and click to load that particular database’s custom search page. Custom search pages include both basic and advanced search options.

. These databases are only partially searchable through the general search bar. You will have to search them individually to find resources for your paper.

. Nexis Uni - This contains legal information and would be useful to search for court cases in which your company has been involved.

· Video Explaining Nexis Uni

. Mergent Online - This has company info on both public and private companies. Fortune 500 can be public or private. Mergent is known for financial and accounting info, but also has qualitative information too. They offer news feeds, country reports on business environments, industry-wide reporting, company reports, and Annual Reports—the middle 3 are unique to this database. Starting with looking at a company's annual report would be very useful for this assignment. Industry reports would also be useful to see if your company is involved in any industry-wide initiatives or is notable in its industry in any way (could be good or bad.)

2. Library Databases - Mergent Online

2. Company Research - Annual Reports and 10-Ks

2. Company Research - Industry Reports

. American City Business Journals - This is probably the most fun way to read business news by metro area. They have over 35 journals based around US cities. Look up the metro area your company is associated with, go to ACBJ, then choose the applicable city, and search for news articles.

. Research Starters are like the academic version of Wikipedia. Search on a topic to get an overview with links to other information within that topic. It will help you get ideas for keywords for your own searches and what you need to know in order to successfully write your paper.

4. Research Starters - Business

4. Library Databases - Research Starters

. Note - This is an exception example. Research Starter articles do appear in a feature box above the results list when using the general search box on research.strayer.edu.

. Don't stress over writing papers! Watch this video on writing papers and essays. Topics include how to start your research, how to organize your research, how to draft your paper, and how to revise it.

1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlgR1q3UQZE&t=9s

The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:

· Evaluate the influences of changing economic, political, social, cultural, and technological forces on business and society.

· Use technology and information resources to research issues in business and society.

· Write clearly and concisely about business and society using proper writing mechanics.

Grading for this assignment will be based on answer quality, logic / organization of the paper, and language and writing skills, using the following rubric.

Grading for this assignment will be based on answer quality, logic / organization of the paper, and language and writing skills, using the rubric .

Publix Super Markets

Students Name

Professor

Date of Submission

Publix Super Markets

Since its inception in 1930 George W. Jenkins, Publix Super Market Inc has developed into the largest privately-owned grocery chain across the eastern states of America. Even though the employee-owned grocery operator is yet to expand its operations globally, it has over the years outgrown and outshined regional competitors. The company is renowned for its diverse products ranging from seafood, freshly prepared foods, deli and bakery to dairy products. Alongside concentrating on food products, the company has recently introduced a new product line that comprises of flowers, pharmacy products, and general merchandise as well as health and beauty products (Mujtaba & William 48). This paper will examine the external environment factors that affect the performance of Publix Super Markets Inc., the influence stakeholders have on the corporate’s financial performance in addition to the role the company plays in corporate social responsibility.

Nature and Structure of Publix

With over 1200 supermarkets extending in different states around the United States including, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, South Carolina, Alabama and Georgia, the company’s growth strategy focuses on improving customer service delivery and investment in stores. According to a report by Saarijärvi et al. (28), Publix spent over 1.5 billion dollars to grow its store ownership portfolio by remodeling its existing stores and opening new stores across its geographical reach. The report additionally suggests that the number of Publix stores grew from 11 percent to 29 percent between 2007 and 2016 respectively by (Saarijärvi et al., 30). Considerably, this corresponds to the company’s mission that focuses on matching their product and service delivery with the dynamic trends in customer demand.

External Factors Affecting Publix Inc.

Among the factors in the Publix’s external environment that affect its performance include political and economic factors. Political factors include variables within the federal and state government that potentially affect business activities. These factors include security measures and restrictions as well as government legislation and regulations, for example, employment laws, safety and health of workers at the workplace, consumer protection in addition to contract and trading regulations that affect the automobile industry. Government regulations and laws have a significant impact on Publix since they influence consumer purchasing power (Mujtaba & William 49). Conversely, economic factors also affect Publix’s business operations and include aspects such as business settings dominant in the industry, economic growth rates, and exchange rates. In the past few years, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has declined hence affecting consumer spending. Other factors such as high inflation rates have also reduced the disposable income for customers thus leading to a downward trend in consumer purchases.

Financial Performance

In comparison to its competitors, Publix has exhibited a growth in its sales over the past few years. This trend owes to the company’s move to increase its strategic position in the market by introducing more stores. In fact, since 2013, the sales return of Publix have increased steadily by 20 percent which represents higher profits margins and overall higher net income relative to its grocery rivals throughout the last five years. For example, as the leading grocery chain in its primary market-Florida, Publix reported a revenue of approximately 35 billion which represents a growth of 1.7 percent from the previous year’s returns.

Influence of Stakeholders on Publix’s Financial Performance

At Public Inc., customers have a significant effect on financial performance. As stakeholders, customers include individuals who are involved in making a financial decision of whether or not to purchase the corporation's products. Subsequently, consumer purchasing patterns and decisions to purchase the company's products and services influence the sales returns Publix obtains, thus directly affecting the firm's financial performance. Publix, therefore, has a huge task to retain its loyal customers and also attract potential customers. Although the organizations have put in place comprehensive customer service delivery and marketing initiatives, customers' needs are ever-changing and hence require the firm to enhance its adaptability. To manage its customers effectively, Publix embraces a market segmentation approach that groups its consumers according to their respective needs (Peters & Bodkin 7). In essence, Publix focuses on its loyal customers while expanding its product range as a means to leverage impulsive consumers.

Alongside customers, employees are also a valuable asset for Publix. As primary stakeholders, employees ensure the smooth running of business operations by coordinating these activities to be in line with the organizational objectives. Managers at Publix recognize that employees influence the financial performance of the organizations since they interact directly with the customers. As a result, the organization has developed and implemented programs that ensure employee retention o eliminate high turnover rates as well as loss of talent. These policies serve a great purpose in motivating employee productivity, whose results are portrayed in Publix's financial performance. Besides, caring for their welfare, Publix ensures that workers receive equal promotion and training by establishing a corporate culture that nurtures career development.

Similarly, firms that develop a positive reputation in a community often attract and retain both the customers and workers. In the case of Publix, the organization has established and maintained good relations with the local communities in which it operates as a strategy of sustainable growth. In 2012, the company was awarded two summit philanthropic awards for its participation in community engagement Peters & Bodkin 7). Although community engagement seems costly for Publix due to the additional expenses the firm incurs in community development programs, the company’s directors reiterate that community engagement and corporate financial performance are strongly correlated.

On the other hand, suppliers also affect Publix’s financial performance since they supply the raw materials needed for food production. Publix food preparation process necessitates suppliers to deliver these commodities in a just in time approach to reduce wastes and meet the demands of the consumers. A failure to readily supply these commodities would imply that Publix does not meet the demand of customers and thus risks the loss of such customers. Consequently, the loss of potential and loyal customers would affect the firm’s financial performance in the long run due to the loss of returns. Likewise, the government expects Publix to abide by the legislation it sets regarding the filing of corporate taxes and observing labor, environmental laws, and other regulations. Failure by the company to observe these regulations attracts heavy financial liability which would, in turn, affects Publix's financial performance.

Corporate Social Responsibility

An incredible approach to Corporate Social Responsibility at Publix has been its commitment to the highest standards of environmental responsibility and its medical healthcare coverage. Furthermore, the community engagement greatly owes to the company’s financial performance in the past five years since it created a positive reputation. Hence, the initiative helped in attracting impulsive consumers as well as increasing the customer loyalty base for the existing loyal customers. However, although the company is recognized for its efforts towards CSR by providing the community with life-saving medicinal drugs, its CSR initiative is increasingly facing controversies regarding implementing non-discrimination policies. Critics argue that none of the non-discrimination policies in place include a transgender-inclusive healthcare coverage, hence call upon the company’s managers to develop policies that cater for transgender people.

In conclusion, stakeholders significantly influence aspects of the organization, especially financial performance. They have a direct influence at Publix and include suppliers, employees, directors, customers, the community in addition to the government and its agencies. Therefore, for Publix to remain productive and maintain its market share, it is necessary for its managers to identify and understand organizational stakeholders and the influence these parties have on the organization’s financial performance.

Sources

Galant, Adriana, and Simon Cadez. "Corporate social responsibility and financial performance relationship: a review of measurement approaches." Economic research-Ekonomska istraživanja 30.1 (2017): 676-693.

Mujtaba, Bahaudin G., and William C. Johnson. "Creating an Organizational Culture of Delightful Customer Intimacy at Publix Super Markets, Inc." International Journal of Marketing Practices 3.2 (2016): 47-67.

Peters, Cara, and Charles D. Bodkin. "Community in context: Comparing brand communities and retail store communities." Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services 45 (2018): 1-11.

Saarijärvi, Hannu, Lasse Mitronen, and Mika Yrjölä. "From selling to supporting–Leveraging mobile services in the context of food retailing." Journal of Retailing and consumer services 21.1 (2014): 26-36.