Category: Organizations

A decentralized organization offers workers  greater freedom, empowerment, and the ability to be innovative. This creates a much more satisfying environment to work in. However, Walmart is, in a way, the complete opposite. It is a centralized organization that enforces strict rules that doesn’t make any allowances.

The employees at Walmart are all required to follow the company’s policies, called the Ten Rules of Sam Walton. Although the last of the ten rules is “swim upstream, be different, and challenge the status quo”, Walmart managers do not allow anybody to stray from their expectations. Managers keep watch of each worker, and penalize them if there is even the slightest mistake. The managers are like this because their higher-ups keep an eye on them as well, and there are strict evaluation of each member of Walmart.

Every employee must greet and help any customer within 10 steps from them. Every employee must smile and treat the customer like family. Every employee must do everything to make the customer happy. The customer is everything, and is always right. There is absolutely no satisfaction in the workplace. In the end, every employee becomes an identical robot under this extremely centralized organization.

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Is Wal-Mart Too Powerful?

The difference between two stores can be drastic

The Ten Rules of Sam Walton

Usually, products that you buy in store come from a long supply chain. Once it is produced by the manufacturer, it goes through the distributor into warehouses, then to the retailers, and finally to the hands of the consumers. However, that means the product will go through double marginalization, which will cost more to customers who only want a fair price.

Dell, on the other hand, not only supply to retailers such as Futureshop, but they are also a direct business on their own. This means having a possibility to customize products for consumers and also having the ability to charge lower prices while earning more profit.

Dell uses mass customization in its factory outlet. The consumer chooses the model of the product, then gets to customize the storage space, docking, audio system, battery type, and also the skin. The buyer can also choose to include accessories along with their original purchase, such as getting the mouse, office software, product bags, headphones, or others. Dell also provides free shipping for shoppers who order from their factory outlet.

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Dell Factory Outlet

The familiar “cut-paper” style Fido logo was changed on November 4, 2008. What was the purpose of this new identity, and was it a wise move?

Indeed, it was. Although the logo and plan rates were changed when Fido was bought by Rogers Wireless, the brand name and dog imagery still portrayed loyalty and trust. Looking at the big picture, Fido did not become a stranger to its customers. Instead, it retained its familiar attributes and added newer and better features!

This is one of few companies who successfully changed their identities effectively. Their strategy of being the first company to bill airtime by the second, and becoming a discount wireless brand while maintaining its brand image not only kept its current loyal customers, but also attracted new users. Their new low-rate plans, without system access fee, were especially suitable for the low economic times in Canada. Fido was able to recreate their image for the better.

To make their service stand out, Fido had a makeover. Unlike any makeover that uselessly changes the whole company’s image, Fido grasped what their customers loved, and acted upon what their customers wanted, creating the all new but still loyal Fido.

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http://www.cellphones.ca/news/post004431/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fido_Solutions

http://www.underconsideration.com/brandnew/archives/here_fido_good_fido.php