Author: anthonyt301s12

Google’s True Implications of Quality

Posted on by anthonyt301s12

It seems clear that Google is a company that will last into the undeterminable future. It feels this way because Google develops people with abilities to create and perform at levels that are undeterminable. Google’s strategy seems attainable at the rate which it creates these people. Just recently a former Google Tech Manager was giving a position to head Yahoo Inc. as president and CEO, Marissa Mayer. Marissa Mayer has a great reputation from her work at Google and on the Board of Wall Mart. She is an exceptionally hard working woman who defies the stereotype and brings a special way into encouraging and motivating future women leaders. Her time at Yahoo will not be easy, the company has been in serious reconstruction of it’s strategically pursuance of survival in a world dominated by Bing, Google and Facebook.  For Yahoo adding some previous Google employees would seem to be a good thing for the company. Twitter for example a thriving social media company has taken some on. According to the Wall Street Journal, “Some former Googlers have said they have taken what they have learned management-wise from Google to their new jobs. Twitter’s Mr. Costolo said in January that about 80 to 90 Twitter employees previously worked at Google, the biggest feeder for the start-up, which has more than 900 employees.” Although we learned about product quality, having a quality management system created by employees will most likely create a quality product. Most products even the most innovative ones need a strong functions management team behind it. This is what employees at Google offer. According to the WSJ, “In a 2010 interview, Mr. Armstrong said he also has tried to apply many valuable lessons learned from working at Google under Mr. Schmidt. Those include keeping in mind how much of Google’s success came from a willingness to make bold moves in its early days, as when the company dramatically revamped its AdWords online search advertising program roughly a decade ago, forming what would serve as a key source of revenue, said Mr. Armstrong.” The quality and strategy that former Google employees take away from working at Google is fascinating, I am not sure whether it’s because of their “open” company culture or Google’s continuous education programs, you can answer that in the comments if you would like. But what I have learned from reading about Google is that the characteristics of managing quality are supported by their ability to generate growth through all sorts of demanding tasks.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303612804577533073173479052.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_LEFTTopStories&_nocache=1342557535536&user=welcome

Walgreens crossing borders

Posted on by anthonyt301s12

Charles R. Walgreen, Sr. in 1901 started a neighborhood drugstore. Walgreen a Pharmacist living in Illinois, had an entrepreneurial view of the then drugstore. Walgreen had to start his own drugstore, “The store, however, was struggling. Dim, poorly merchandised and unwelcoming, it presented Walgreen with the first real challenge to his ideas on store layout, selection, service and pricing.” Walgreen wanted to make the store inviting, pleasant and service satisfying for the customer. To enhance customer satisfaction Walgreen introduce what they call the “two minute drill”, “Whenever a customer in the immediate area telephoned with an order for non-prescription items, Walgreen always repeated – loudly and slowly – the caller’s name, address and items ordered.” This became efficient for Walgreens’s because the people processing the orders could accurately and quickly provide service to their customers. Walgreen’s was able to provide better goods and services than its competition, which lead to it being the largest Pharmacy drugstore in America.

Walgreens is an every growing company, with over 240,000 employees and thousands of stores. The American dominance of Walgreens is leading the company to expand across borders and into Europe. A deal made with a very well-known pharmacy providing company in Europe, Alliance Boots. This is will apparently be the world’s first global pharmacy store. According to MSN money, “Walgreen will spend $6.7 billion in cash and stock to buy a 45% stake in the European company.” Walgreens is a very large company that still seems to have growth opportunity, with expansion into uncharted waters. This can be a very strategic move for the company. But was are the costs and operation issues need to be the number one priority. Walgreens is going to have to begin to understand the new markets they will be entering. This challenge might be averted with the help of their partnership with a company already well-established in the market, will help improve operations. Ethical issues will also need to be taken into account, like what are the laws in said country. Not just ethical but cultural issues also need be taken into consideration. Walgreens will most likely have the same mission statement, but the strategy is going to change and the developmental process needs to be implemented. This is a very bold move more Walgreens and not being prepared and understanding the size of operations that they will endure is something they have not seen yet. Being prepared for globalization and increasing its supply chain outside the U.S. will have great impacts on markets all over the world.

What do you think are important factors for the globalization of Walgreens’s supply chain?

http://www.walgreens.com/marketing/about/history/default.jsp

http://money.msn.com/top-stocks/post.aspx?post=03176ab9-4387-4c88-8657-7c5327fd3d89