Sears_And_Information_Technology

Sears And Information Technology CONTENTS BUSINESS ISSUE…………………………………………………………...…………....….2 LITERATURE REVIEW…………………………...…………………………………..….…2 SCOPE OF THE CASE………..………………………………………………...…….……..8 COMPANY PROFILE…..…………………………………………………………………....9 PROBLEMS AND CHALLENGES…………………………………………………….…..11 IMPLEMENTATIONS….…………………………………………………………………..12 ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS…………………………………………………………..…14 BENEFITS OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY………………………………….……..16 INFORMATION TECHNPOLOGY STRATEGY………………………………………….16 IMPLEMENTATION PLAN………………………………………………………………..18 EXPECTED IMPACT……………………………………………………………………….23 EXPECTED RESISTANCE…………………………………………………………………24 FUTURE OF IT AND SEARS………………………………………………………………25 REFERENCES……………………………………………..……………………………..…27 BUSINESS ISSUE The name Sears always comes to mind when talking of American retailing. This giant retailer was the leader for the better part of the twentieth century. It remained at the top spot until the 1980’s. Then, it switched its focus from retailing to services such as credit cards and insurance in an effort to gain access to other markets and industries. This decision allowed other retailers, such as Wal Mart, to take advantage and eventually surpass Sears. In the early 1990’s, Sears began selling off many of its service subsidiaries and refocused on its retailing operations. The results seemed to suggest that, in the short run, the retailer would be able to regain its position. Sears is now entering the 21st century and is nowhere near regaining the position of #1 retailer in America. In fact, it has now slipped to #3, behind Wal Mart and Krogers. In 1999, Sears’ total revenues were less than one quarter those of Wal Mart. Sears’ strategy of being all things to sears, information, new, 2000, sales, technology, management, business, customers, suppliers, review, inventory, department, stores, product, industry, future, departments, company, change, workforce, strategy, store, retailer, people, must, marketing, market, managers, mainframe, intranet, internet, increase, higher, firm