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Tesco Case Study

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Journal of Management and Sustainability; Vol. 4, No. 4; 2014
ISSN 1925-4725 E-ISSN 1925-4733
Published by Canadian Center of Science and Education

Analyzing and Evaluating Critically Tesco’s Current Operations
Management
Shuang Zhao1
1

Business School, University of Kent, UK

Correspondence: Shuang Zhao, School of Economics and Management, Inner Mongolia University for the
Nationalities, Tongliao, China. E-mail: honeyzhaoshuang@126.com
Received: August 31, 2014

Accepted: September 20, 2014

Online Published: November 26, 2014

doi:10.5539/jms.v4n4p184

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.5539/jms.v4n4p184

Abstract
This essay analyses and evaluates critically Tesco’s current operations management. The essay discusses from 3 major perspectives namely, operations strategy, operations design and operations management. Firstly, it will show an introduction. The second section will analyze Tesco’s formats and international expansion at corporate strategy level. And then, based on the customer-centric conception, it will discuss the low price policy, cost control, loyalty card strategy, supply chain management, delivery system management and inventory management at the business unit strategy level and functional strategy level. Following this, it will make a comprehensive conclusion and show the strengths and weakness of Tesco’ operations management. Finally, the article will give some appropriate recommendations to Tesco’s sustainable development.
Keywords: operations strategy, operations design, operations management
1. Introduction
Tesco was established by Jack Cohen in London in 1919. Today Tesco is the biggest retailer in UK. It operates in
14 countries across the world and serves tens of thousands of customers every day. The company mainly operates 4 types of store formats in terms of Express, Metro, Superstore and Extra, respectively. In recent years, it also expands its

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