Research and analyze company's current IT situation Essay

Research and analyze company's current IT situation - Essay Example The first outlet of Wal-Mart was opened in the same area in 1962 by the name of Wal-Mart discount store. Thereafter, another 12 retail stores under the ownership of Walton’s family were opened (Wal-Mart). However, it was not until 1969 that the Wal-Mart stores chain was founded (Wal-Mart). The strategy on the basis of which Wal-Mart was founded was providing everyday low prices at any place. It was not until 1970 that the first stock was traded with the formation of Wal-Mart as a public limited company (Wal-Mart). Thereafter, the company’s operations expanded and its distribution centers increased leading to increased growth through acquisitions. Competition also increased with retailers such as K-mart, Costco, Dillard's, Dollar Tree, J.C Penny, Sears and Target (NASDAQ). The bargaining power of customers, therefore, increased with the availability of greater substitutes. This increased the need to manage the operations efficiently and effectively which meant the compan y had to make use of information systems and manage them to sustain their competitive edge. Perhaps the primary reason behind the rapid growth of Wal-Mart is its high responsiveness to customer needs and cost reduction through the integration of information technology and information systems into its supply chain and logistics. This is reflected in Wal-Mart being the first retailer to have adopted the hub-and-spoke system of centralized distribution (Banjo). The hub-and-spoke system revolves around the idea of systems integration with the inflow of products from various places to distribution centers where the orders are consolidated and sent to their respective destinations (Banjo). These enable companies to reduce cycle times, inventory as well as costs of transportation. Wal-Mart has carefully synchronized its business strategy with its MIS strategy. This is in line with literature which suggests that the operational, managerial and strategic needs of corporation must be aligned with the information systems. The model of strategic alignment suggests that the business, IT, Organizational infrastructure and IT infrastructure must be aligned with each other (Venkatraman, Henderson and Oldach). The strategic drivers in the case of Wal-Mart included intense and growing competition, the need to shift to online operations and cutting costs to enhance profits. All these have resulted in Wal-Mart resorting to the use of Management Information Systems in its operations. Although traditionally classified as a brick and mortar company with physical operations only, Wal-Mart can now be categorized as a dot.com corporation as well owing to the foundation of walmart.com. Wal-Mart presents a case of a retailer that has used information technology to achieve and maintain a competitive edge in the market. As mentioned earlier, this is based on the company’s business strategy of offering lowest possible prices (which can come through lowest possible costs). Therefore, cost reduction and responsiveness to customer needs have been at the heart of Wal-Mart’s business strategy. The company has catered to the needs of most of its stakeholders including its vendors, suppliers and customers through the adoption of information systems. Wal-Mart has invested huge sums of money for tracking its inventory across all outlets. The satellite communication system developed in

Emergent Technologies in Commercial Construction Essay

Emergent Technologies in Commercial Construction - Essay Example This research will begin with the statement that the need has arisen for solving urgent environmental problems that have been caused partially by an anthropogenic factor. The consequences of the greenhouse effects (such as gas emissions), the forthcoming and unavoidable insufficient fuel supply, and other related topics are causing intensifying energy concerns among the global community. The increasing use of renewable fuels has become an inevitable practice when facing the global energy crisis. Oil depletion makes oil extraction more difficult and expensive, which has forced many countries to search for alternative fuel sources and energy conservation strategies. Due to these threats, sustainability planning has become the primary agenda for the states who are facing an energy crisis and environmental problems caused by destructive human activity. Since sustainability increases the chances to survive in the context of a complex and changing environment, timely planning of activities to enhance alternative energy usage seems the most reasonable. This paper will present a framework to help organizations design sustainability plans, aided by discussion and analysis of innovative technologies and construction in real-life settings. The revelation of commercial construction and building technology innovations of the near future will also be discussed. There is a pronounced need to expand knowledge on commercial construction and energy, and on their influences on sourcing, building material use, construction processes, and interior/exterior design. In addition, the positive changes in the global construction patterns that can create a reliable and sustainable living environment will be predicted. The need for energy conservation and analysis of biomimicry advantages will be considered herein. The discussion of future energy delivery models will provide a solid basis for the analysis of innovative construction technologies. The essence of smart interface technologies will be revealed as this phenomenon promises future benefits for the sustainable construction and engineering fields. Information about future construction techniques and material implications will also be covered. Energy Conservation and the Benefits of Biomimicry Throughout the centuries, people have been producing energy from natural resources like fossil fuels, such as coal, natural gas, and oil, which are nonrenewable. Unfortunately, these natural resources take millions of years to form and humanity has not yet discovered any methods to accelerate this process. Moreover, energy production is a costly process that causes enormous time and financial losses for individuals and organizations (Ollhoff, 2010). In this context, the necessity for energy conservation is growing at an alarming rate. The current energy crisis is accompanied by increasing prices for energy supplies, shortages of fossil fuels and other natural resources, and a reduction of the number of power stations in some countries. It is obvious that in facing the current energy crisis, people are searching for effective sustainable practices to solve these new problems; however, finding them implies initial clarity about the intricacies of the energy crisis, its causes, manifestations, and possible consequences. To respond to the energy crisis, research and development programs, along with the corresponding agencies, are focusing on biomimicry as the method to solve specific problems by following the examples of certain processes in nature. Biomimicry is welcomed in numerous energy conservation programs (Brebbia & Carpi, 2010). However, one needs to deepen into the essence of all essential aspects of energy conservation in order to understand why biomimicry occupies a significant place in contemporary innovative construction technologies. Ollhoff (2010) noted that the problem of energy conserv