...1. Case study - Women on the Right Track at CP Rail Women comprise nearly half of Canada's workforce, but over the last two decades, they have made no progress in obtaining senior management roles. This lack of success may deter younger women from entering certain professions and from learning from role models. Furthermore, research shows that a lack of diversity can affect retention, productivity, and innovation. Companies with more female senior managers have a higher return on equity than those with lower rates of female senior managers. With this research in mind, CP Rail undertook three initiatives to increase the number of women managers: * Each department must have diversity goals. * Mentoring programs for females have been established. * Senior women discuss their careers in forums. * Women on Track offers networking opportunities. To date, the program has been successful, with the number of women in senior management doubling over 5 years. Questions 1. Compare CP Rail’s initiatives to advance women with the recommended six-step program for the implementation of employment equity. 2. Review the list in Highlights in HRM 3.1 (retention strategies). What more could CP Rail undertake? Here is Highlight H.R.M 3.1 ( retention strategies ) see bellow. 2. Case study “Fairmont Hotels and Resorts” Corporate social responsibility through environmental sensitivity, among others, has recently surfaced as a pressing...
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...Wal-Mart study Case#1 1. What threats and challenges is Wal-Mart currently facing? From the beginning, Walmart did not have many threats. However, not only the competition is different, several global retailers such as Target, Carrefour, Costco, and Amazon, are working hard to keep efficiency. They are trying to work together to shrink the prices difference between them. Walmart has facing difficulties from every single angle. Not only the company has internal labor relation problems, but also it has some external threats from its competitors. The company must work hard to get possible solutions against its competitors, and to solve any internal problems regarding its labor relations. Even though Walmart does not have any problems with its good sales performance, it does not stop the company to have issues with sales. Walmart needs to pay attention because there are too many claims from women regarding the lawsuit discrimination for several reasons inside the company such as pay, promotions, and training. The company has no other recourses to re-evaluate the situation to make its employees feel better as far as the coverage is concerned. There are several companies in the United States that offer better health insurance coverage than Walmart does. As a result, a re-evaluation is necessary so that associates can pay less with a higher contribution of the company. Life insurance is important for every single employee within an organization. An employee with no good life...
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...Women vs. Wal Mart Ethical Case Analysis Key Ethical Issue The main ethical issue in the Women and Wal-Mart case is its discrimination of women in the workforce, and how they go hand in hand with the utility, rights, and justice arguments of discrimination. The Utilitarian arguments claim that discrimination leads to inefficient use of human resources. This applies to the Wal-Mart case because they were not getting full use out of their employees because they would often times promote a man instead of a woman, even if she had more experience and was better qualified. Studies conducted by a statistical expert that the six women hired, Richard Drogin, revealed that a much larger amount of men were receiving promotions at every level in the Wal-Mart workplace, even though women’s performance ratings were higher than men’s. Wal-Mart was clearly not promoting or giving benefits to these women because of their gender, and they were stuck underneath the “glass ceiling.” The Rights-based arguments claim that discrimination violates basic human rights. In this case, Wal-Mart didn’t view women to be equal to men because men were receiving the promotions when it should have been the women, as stated before. A Kantian argument also states that a person would not want to be discriminated on the basis of their characteristics that do not affect the person’s ability to perform a job, in this case, being a woman. Wal-Mart is not viewing their male and female employees as equals, as...
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...unethical to shop at Walmart? “If we work together, we’ll lower the cost of living for everyone… we’ll give the world an opportunity to see what it’s like to save and have a better life.” –Sam Walton (“What We Do”) Walmart was founded on the belief stated above by its founder Sam Walton in 1962. “Saving people money, so they can live better,” was the main objective when Sam Walton opened the doors to the first Walmart (“History”). Today, Walmart is the world’s largest retailer and corporation in the United States and have been awarded and recognized by various organizations for being the best employer throughout United States and other countries. By the Fortune magazine, it is listed as one of the most admired companies in America and many others praise Walmart for its accomplishments (“Is It Ethical to Shop at Walmart?”). Although, Walmart has earned popularity for the low price it provides, they are frequently faced with a lot of criticism and law suit for its employment practices made nationally and internationally. Some of the unethical practices the public criticize Walmart for are discrimination against women, low wages, and bad working conditions. Today, Sam Walton’s promise of a “better life for all” is questioned by employees, unions, environmentalists, recording artists and human rights organizations [Source]. This leaves many consumers to ponder if it is ethical or unethical to shop at Walmart? As mentioned in the above paragraph, Walmart is one the largest...
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...WALMART Andrew Louis Webster University MNGT 5650 Kenneth Chapman Wal-Mart study Case#1 1. What threats and challenges is Wal-Mart currently facing? From the beginning, Walmart did not have many threats. However, not only the competition is different, several global retailers such as Target, Carrefour, Costco, and Amazon, are working hard to keep efficiency. They are trying to work together to shrink the prices difference between them. Walmart has facing difficulties from every single angle. Not only the company has internal labor relation problems, but also it has some external threats from its competitors. The company must work hard to get possible solutions against its competitors, and to solve any internal problems regarding its labor relations. Even though Walmart does not have any problems with its good sales performance, it does not stop the company to have issues with sales. Walmart needs to pay attention because there are too many claims from women regarding the lawsuit discrimination for several reasons inside the company such as pay, promotions, and training. The company has no other recourses to re-evaluate the situation to make its employees feel better as far as the coverage is concerned. There are several companies in the United States that offer better health insurance coverage than Walmart does. As a result, a re-evaluation is necessary so that associates can pay less with a higher contribution of the company. Life insurance is important for...
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...CASE STUDY 10 | SHRM Table of Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................................................ 2 ANNEXURE ............................................................................................................................................ 3 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................... 9 INTRODUCTION TO THE COMPANY ................................................................................................. 9 QUESTIONS ......................................................................................................................................... 10 QUESTION 01: ................................................................................................................................... 10 QUESTION 02 ................................................................................................................................... 12 QUESTION 03 ................................................................................................................................... 14 QUESTION 04 ................................................................................................................................... 16 CONCLUSION.....................................................................................................................................
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...citizen." But that was before the U.S. government began to probe whether its contractors knowingly hired illegal immigrants to clean stores. Earlier this month, researchers at the University of California at Berkeley released a study pointing out that because Wal-Mart's 44,000 workers in California must rely on public assistance programs, the company's business practices end up costing taxpayers US $86 million a year. (Maich, 2004) Walmart's Mid-Life Crisis Key Issues Insufficient Employee Wages * A study conducted by researchers at the University of California at Berkley concluded that 44,000 Walmart employees in California relied on public assistance. According to the study, this costed Californian taxpayers $86 million a year. This data was also the foundation of a lawsuit against Walmart in 2001. Discrimination * A noticeable lack of diversity in the corporation’s management ranks implied women and minorities were not afforded the same opportunities as their male, non-minority counterparts. Business Footprint * An aggressive business approach led to the rapid opening of hundreds of stores to the disdain of many who insisted Walmart was increasingly infringing upon their communities. Underlying Issues Lack of a Union * North American Walmart employees finally became members of a union in 2004, more than 40 years after the retail...
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...Application Case Study: Global Stumble It’s not always easy to do business globally, as executives at Japanese brokerage firm Nomura Holdings Inc. are discovering. Nomura acquired Lehman’s international operations in late 2008 after Lehman’s parent company sought Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, an action that added about 8,000 non-Japanese workers. For Nomura, the time seemed right to strengthen its global expansion strategy. However, since the acquisition, cultural and business differences between the two organizations have been a major stumbling block. Although blending two diverse cultures requires intentional efforts when different organizations merge or are acquired, it’s particularly challenging when the key assets in the cross-border acquisition are the people employed by the organization being acquired. Workplace tensions arose over executive compensation, how quickly decisions were made, and how women were treated. For instance, during Nomura’s initial training session for new hires, the men and women were separated. The women—many of whom had earned prestigious degrees from the likes of Harvard—were taught how to wear their hair, serve tea, and choose their clothing according to the season. The company’s dress code was strictly interpreted for women, also. Women from Lehman were told to remove highlights from their hair, to wear sleeves no shorter than mid-bicep, and to avoid brightly colored clothing. Several women were sent home from the trading floor for dressing...
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...which could make the company work better. Recently, Wal-Mart has been criticized for their opposition to allowing their employees to be unionized. I have concerned some problems occurred in the moment in Walmart and these concerns must be addressed if Wal-Mart is to enjoy continued success in creating positive name recognition. 1. For the past decade walmart has been ranked as the world’s largest employee and which creates more job opportunities for workers than no other. Walmart has high ranked on Fortune Magazine’s list of “Most Admired Companies”. 2. Company gives bonuses, profit shares for most of the employees and part time workers are also eligible for health benefits. Most of the employees were entitled to the benefits offered by the company despite of their designation. 3. As most multinational corporations, Walmart is highly diversified company; hence it was recognized among most professional organizations. Walmart was also famous in gender diversification in the company and was recognized several women alliances and magazines. 4. Despite these high accolades not everyone is enamored of walmart, the world’s largest employer is also the top target of the special interested groups and political organizations. Several political organizations and anti-walmart organizations were trying to drop down the company image and goodwill to pressure...
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...This article is published in a peer-reviewed section of the Utrecht Law Review Four Case Studies on Corporate Social Responsibility: Do Conflicts Affect a Company’s Corporate Social Responsibility Policy? Cristina A. Cedillo Torres, Mercedes Garcia-French, Rosemarie Hordijk, Kim Nguyen, Lana Olup* 1. Introduction 1.1. Background and objectives This article will discuss the different Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) issues that emerged within four multinationals (Apple, Canon, Coca-Cola and Walmart). There is no clear definition of CSR. In Corporate Social Responsibility, Legal and semi-legal frameworks supporting CSR Lambooy gives an r o verview of several definitions of CSR.1 The European Commission defines CSR as ‘the esponsibility of enterprises for their impacts on society’.2 This is the definition which is the most suitable for the c ontext of the article’s research question. As this article will focus on companies from the US and Japan, the authors also provide an overview of the focus on CSR from the US and Japanese perspective. In the US there is no governmental regulation regarding CSR or business best practices. Instead, according to findings from Bennett American, companies have a marked tendency to use codes of conduct.3 The American CSR perspective could be described as following a principles-based approach, with codes of conduct that prescribe values and principles which company members as a whole should aspire to follow. ...
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...HISTORY & BACKGROUND Founder of Walmart Sam Walton graduated from University of Missouri in 1940 with a degree in Economics. He wanted to capitalize on his work experience in retail. Sam had an idea to bring a different type of economical approach to the retail industry. Sam and his brother J.L. Walton owned nine Ben Franklin stores. They went to Ben Franklin store owners with the approach of reducing prices to increase sells and were turned away. In 1962, the brothers decided break away and opened their own store in Rogers, Arkansas which was the start of the first Wal-Mart Discount City store. Their approach was to open stores in populations with 5000 to 25000 people. By the late 1960’s the Walton brothers has 18 discount stores and 15 Ben Franklin franchises which became incorporated in Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (Tell me the history of Wal-Mart). During the 1970’s the Walton’s incorporated many changes to how they do business which laid the foundation to cut cost to gain more control. They implemented a warehouse distribution strategy of constructing their own warehouses so they can buy merchandise in great volume, and positioned its stores 200 square miles from each distribution point. By 1977, Forbes had Wal-Mart ranked #1 in return of equity, return on capital, sales growth, and earnings growth over all other discount and variety stores (Tell me the history of Wal-Mart). Wal-Mart’s continued expanding and in 1978, its stores included a pharmacy, auto service center...
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...deals with one of the biggest companies in the world… Walmart. It towers over its competitors with hundreds of millions of people visiting its stores each week and saving more money in this economic depression. It lowers the prices of everything to help your average middle and lower class families out when they need it the most. One main reason customers keep returning with smiling faces and will continue to return are because of these blow out prices. I know and understand even when people start to hear more about the risks Walmart employes are taking they will continue to shop here. The deals are to good to pass up and until something bad were to happen to individuals they will come week after week. How this article opens our eyes as to how Walmart is anti union and does not meet with competitors on employee wages. "On average, Wal-Mart sales clerks -- "associates" in company parlance -- pulled in $8.23 an hour, or $13,861 a year, in 2001, according to documents filed in a lawsuit pending against the company. "How is one supposed to live their lives off off this and support a family in this day and age of high gas price and low jobs available. Anthony and Wendy point out that it only takes time for people to stand up for themselves and revolt. "Indeed, the company now faces a revolt of sorts in the form of nearly 40 lawsuits charging it with forcing employees to work overtime without pay and a sex-discrimination case that could rank as the largest civil rights class action...
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...This article is published in a peer-reviewed section of the Utrecht Law Review Four Case Studies on Corporate Social Responsibility: Do Conflicts Affect a Company’s Corporate Social Responsibility Policy? Cristina A. Cedillo Torres, Mercedes Garcia-French, Rosemarie Hordijk, Kim Nguyen, Lana Olup* 1. Introduction 1.1. Background and objectives This article will discuss the different Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) issues that emerged within four multinationals (Apple, Canon, Coca-Cola and Walmart). There is no clear definition of CSR. In Corporate Social Responsibility, Legal and semi-legal frameworks supporting CSR Lambooy gives an r o verview of several definitions of CSR.1 The European Commission defines CSR as ‘the esponsibility of enterprises for their impacts on society’.2 This is the definition which is the most suitable for the c ontext of the article’s research question. As this article will focus on companies from the US and Japan, the authors also provide an overview of the focus on CSR from the US and Japanese perspective. In the US there is no governmental regulation regarding CSR or business best practices. Instead, according to findings from Bennett American, companies have a marked tendency to use codes of conduct.3 The American CSR perspective could be described as following a principles-based approach, with codes of conduct that prescribe values and principles which company members as a whole should aspire to follow. ...
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...low priced strategies allowed him to boost sales and negotiate lower prices with his wholesalers. Once Walton’s retail operation started to take off, he decided to change the name to Walmart, by the use of his last name. He then established more than 9,600 factories, stores, and warehouses (Sam’s Club), throughout the United States, Asia, Mexico, Europe, and South America. Walmart has low prices, friendly workers, and many locations, but protesters will argue that the gender discrimination, harsh impact on the surrounding communities, and low wages, outweigh the benefits to Walmart. We thought gender discrimination ended with the ratification of the 19th amendment, but according to Wake-up Wal-mart.com, several cases have been recorded in the Walmart workplace. For example, in 2001, studies proved that for the same job classification, even after taking into account factors such as seniority and performance, women earned from 5 to 15 percent less than their male colleagues. Walmart was sued on this matter by six women claiming that Walmart systematically denied them promotions, and were paying them less than men. This lawsuit gathered more than 1.6 million women, which soon was declared the largest class action lawsuit ever. Due to these conditions, women and men wanted to leave Walmart and...
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...Analysis of Walmart Jennifer Boykin Strayer University Professor Swinney BUS 310 July 17, 2014 Analysis of Walmart 1. Analyze the organization overall, its primary purpose, the customers that it serves, and its size. In 1945 a businessman named Sam Walton made the decision to purchase a branch of the Ben Franklin Stores with the idea of focusing on selling products at lower prices in order to earn higher volume sales at a lower profit margin. Once he was able to overcome a few obstacles, he gained the ability to locate lower-cost suppliers who allowed him with the opportunity to have a significant advantage over his local competitors. Over the next five years, Walton drastically increased his sales percentage and by the time his lease on the Ben Franklin stores were up, he opened a new franchise called “Walton’s Five and Dime”. This new franchise would eventually give birth to today’s most successful multinational retail corporation known as Walmart. By 1970, the company had 38 stores operating throughout Arkansas and within the next decade, they continued to grow rapidly with a total of 1,198 stores with sales totaling $15.9 billion Walmart has since opened thousands of stores throughout the United States and have also expanded internationally. The company currently operates over 11,000 retail units under 71 banners in 27 countries and e-commerce websites in 10 countries (“Our Business” 2014). Walmart has rapidly...
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