Woolworths Assignment Exploring The Sustainable Trend

Question

Task: You are required to write a 2000-word report for a novel value proposition within an existing business or organisation. You must use appropriate headings to structure the body of the report.

Your report must demonstrate:

1. Logical and persuasive articulation of: the problem to be solved; problem insight; a portfolio of generated solution concepts; solution selection analysis; novel value proposition; targeted customers; competitive advantage and strategic fit (this includes elements 1 to 4 in the disciplined entrepreneurship canvas by Aulet (2017, p. xviii) and all elements in the value proposition canvas by Osterwalder, Pigneur, Bernarda, and Smith (2014, pp. 8-9)).
2. Logical and persuasive assessment of critical assumptions and uncertainties related to: customer desirability; technical feasibility; and financial viability.
3. Logical and persuasive argumentation for the selection of the innovation tools and techniques used to support the report findings and recommendations.

Minimum five (5) tools and techniques must be applied from the provided list of tools and techniques.

4. Logical and persuasive application of the selected innovation tools and techniques used to support the report findings and recommendations. Minimum five (5) tools and techniques must be applied from the provided list of tools and techniques.
5. Candid and critical self-reflection about assessment 1 tasks including: a reflection on the development of personal innovation capabilities and practices; identification of own personal strengths and weaknesses; supported with suggestions for self-improvement.
6. Clear flow of thought throughout the report with: a convincing executive summary; clear and succinct purpose described in the introduction; relevant structure and content within the body of the report; and a clear and succinct conclusion.
7. Critical review skills and integration of relevant academic and professional literature. A minimum of ten (10) academic and professional references must be used.
8. Appropriate in-text referencing and reference list. Adherence to CQUniversity APA reference style.
9. Clarity of expression, grammar and spelling. Appropriate report format with good use of bullet points, illustrations and figures. Within ±10% of the word limit for report, excluding references and appendices: 2000 words.

Select a business or organisation impacted by the advances of a technology and/or sustainability trend which drives industry innovation.

• CommBank (banking)
• Alipay (online payment platform)
• Uber (transport)
• Maersk (international shipping)
• McDonalds (fast food restaurant)
• Volvo Cars (automobiles)
• Lego (toys)
• IKEA (furniture)
• Toll (transport)
• Qantas (airline)
• Procter & Gamble (consumer goods)
• Cochlear (electronics - hearing implant)
• Danfoss (industrial products)
• Boeing (aeroplanes)
• Woolworths (supermarket)
• Government, not-for-profit, such as but not limited to:

• University (education)
• Healthcare services (health)
• Ozcare (home care)
• AusAID (aid)
• Red Cross (aid)
• A business or organisation that you are or have been employed at and therefore know well. It is important that no confidential information is included in the submitted report.
• If in doubt about the selection of your business and organisation you must consult your local lecturer.

Select a technology and/or sustainability trend driving industry innovation to inspire development of a novel value proposition.

• Technology trends such as, but not limited to (Manyika et al., 2013):

• Artificial intelligence (Davenport & Ronanki, 2018; Iansiti & Lakhani, 2020; McKinsey Global Institute, 2018)
• Robots (Tilley, 2017)
• Smart-connected-products (Porter & Heppelmann, 2014, 2015)
• Blockchain (Carson, Giulio Romanelli, Walsh, & Zhumaev, 2018; Iansiti & Lakhani, 2017)
• Augmented, mixed and virtual reality (Porter & Heppelmann, 2017)
• Big data (Hagiu, A & Wright, 2020)
• Connectivity (Grijink et al., 2020)
• Health-care (Pearl & Madvig, 2020)
• Sustainability trends supporting United Nations sustainable development goals (Brackley & York, 2019; United Nations, 2015; United Nations, 2019): 

• No poverty
• Zero hunger
• Good health and well-being
• Quality education
• Gender equality
• Clean water and sanitation
• Affordable clean energy
• Decent work and economic growth
• industry, innovation and infrastructure
• Reduced inequalities
• Sustainable cities and communities
• Responsible consumption and production
• Climate action
• Life below water
• Life on land
• Peace, justice and institutions
• Partnership for the goals

Your selected innovation trend must be important to the selected business or organisation as that makes the innovation proposition and proposals important to its senior executives and stakeholders, the report interesting to read and your report writing exciting.

Answer

Executive Summary
The report on Woolworths assignment is based on the application of business tools that can help a company to achieve its long-term objective. The report focuses on Woolworths, the most famous and biggest retail store in Australia`. For the Woolworths assignment, the technical trend of Woolworths that is connectivity with the customers is focused. At the same time, sustainability trend in the form of responsible consumption and production of healthy food is focused. For this, five business tools are analysed and applied so that Woolworths can maintain its aim. These tools include Porter's five forces, Value chain analysis, SWOT analysis, Business model canvas and Business environment map. Recommendations on the case scenario of Woolworths assignment are also provided so that Woolworths can achieve its target in the competitive market. ?

Introduction
For companies to maintain a competitive advantage in the business market, connectivity with the customers are an important aspect. Without proper connection with the customers, it can be difficult for companies to understand their needs and meet their demands. However, as stated by Aulet (2017) connectivity does not necessarily mean maintaining regular communication. Panels, social media, customer forums need to be checked so that opinion of a company, products, and services can be gained.

The focus of the Woolworths assignment is on Woolworths and the manner in which the company can maintain connectivity with the people. Woolworths is one of the most famous retail chain companies that serve groceries to people. It has about 80% of the share in the Australian market (Woolworths.com.au. 2020). Furthermore, an analysis of the recent activity undertaken by Woolworths can be made within this Woolworths assignment to justify the connectivity and the sustainable trend of the company. Over the past three years Woolworths has been involved in providing customers with nutritious food habits so that customers can maintain a healthy lifestyle.

For this, the company have been involved in removing tonnes of salt from its products so that it can be involved in promoting responsible consumption and production (Woolworths.com.au. 2020). Therefore, to analyse the connectivity that Woolworths make with people and the changes in the consumption and productivity, certain assessment tools can be used. The assessment tools used in the Woolworths assignment includes Porter's five forces, Value chain analysis, SWOT analysis, Business model canvas as well as Business environment map.

Discussion
Using assessment tools for understanding the potential of a company can have its advantages. Each of the tools selected provide some form of information that can be useful for Woolworths and its activities. The rationale for the selection of each tool is provided in a brief manner.

Porter's five forces: It helps to understand the competition that exists in an industry. The tool illustrated in the Woolworths assignment is ideal for external environment analysis as it helps in adjusting strategies to match the competitive environment.

Value chain analysis: It helps in recognising the activities that are valuable to an organisation and the activities that could be improved upon.

SWOT analysis: It helps to maintain a balance between the internal strengths and weakness of a company with that of the favourable opportunities and threats so that capabilities and advantages over competitors can be gained.

Business model canvas: It helps to structure discussions and make a portfolio of the ideas so that value proposition can be maintained.

Business environment map: It is used to raise awareness about the environmental forces and help to create a clear assessment between the internal and external environments.

Illustrating Porter's five forces basis the current case scenario of Woolworths assignment:

Table 1: Porter’s five forces of Woolworths
(Source: Woolworths.com.au. 2020)

Can you conduct a value chain analysis on the scenario of Woolworths assignment?

Table 2: Value chain analysis of Woolworths
(Source: Woolworths.com.au. 2020)

The analysis developed in the Woolworths assignment shows that the primary activities are associated with the production and sale of the products to target customers. Woolworths have a good relationship with the suppliers and hence it is necessary that the company order for products that have less salt rather than reduce the amount after its purchase. However, Iansiti and Lakhani (2017) observed that the operations of Woolworths are dependent on the processing of the raw materials until the final product is gained.

For this to be effective, Woolworths can use scheduling as a major outbound logistic. Woolworths also have a strong marketing and sales factor that uses technology. In this manner, connectivity with the customers can be maintained and Woolworths can support the activities of the customers so that competitive advantage can be gained (Woolworths.com.au. 2020). The secondary activities facilitate the primary activities.

It can be seen that the firm infrastructure helps in maintaining an optimised business that can be effective for meeting the needs of the company. According to Pearl and Madvig (2020), this has been stated in the Woolworths assignment that Woolworths is blessed with competent and skilful employees. Hence, the company can rely on the employees to make technical advancement in terms of connectivity and maintaining healthy food habits.

Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT)

Table 3: SWOT of Woolworths
(Source: Woolworths.com.au. 2020)

Being a market leader, Woolworths can continue to pursue the customers and ensure that technological resource is used for maintaining connectivity. The company can ensure that it uses social media and mobile applications so that feedback from the customers can be gained. However, the growth strategy adapted by the company discussed within the Woolworths assignment need to improve as it holds back the potential of exploring the opportunities.

In the word of Davenport and Ronanki (2018), growth of Woolworths is affected by the external environment, which in turn hinders the company from dominating the retail market. With growth opportunities such as computerization and advancement in the supply chain management, Woolworths can account for maintaining its technological as well as sustainable trend. Woolworths also need to reduce the prices of the product so that competitive advantage can be gained (Woolworths.com.au. 2020).

It has been seen in the Woolworths assignment that the growth is hindered due to high price and that Government intervention on the activities of Woolworths aid the competition to gain an edge in the market. With multiple option in terms of retailing, Woolworths can reduce the prices of its product, built on its technological competence and ensure that sustainable trend in the economy is maintained.

Business model canvas
The business model canvas of Woolworths helps in determining the key components that can be associated with the success of the organisation. Each component can help the company to become closer with the activities related to technological and sustainable trend.

Table 4: Business model canvas of Woolworths
(Source: Woolworths.com.au. 2020)

Business environment map on the case of Woolworths assignment

Table 5: Business environment map of Woolworths
(Source: Woolworths.com.au. 2020)

Self-reflection
Despite the identification and application of the assessment tools, a self-reflection can be made based on the work done in the Woolworths assignment. My strength had been that I had justified the implementation of each tool and had ensured that rationale for the selection of the tools is met. I had also undertaken good research about the current activity undertaken by Woolworths for sustainability trend.

However, my weakness had been that I had failed to provide excess information about the company and the manner in which it had been able to implement the tools for its success. I hope to mitigate the drawback by conducting more research on Woolworths assignment on the aftermath of the application and suggest potential recommendations that may be useful for Woolworths.

Conclusion/Recommendations
Based on the analysis developed within the Woolworths assignment, conclusion can be made that Woolworths can succeed in its quest by applying the assessment tools in a strategic manner as per requirement. Customer satisfaction can be provided by maintaining connectivity and ensuring that a healthy life style is promoted which may be able to attract the attention. Changes need to be applied to the production process that benefits the customers. In this regard, certain recommendations can be provided in the Woolworths assignment which can help Woolworths to maintain connectivity and promote its sustainability trend.

It is imperative that Woolworths ensure that regular connectivity with customers is made with the use of social media and websites. Regular updates regarding the changes in the organisation need to be provided which can help the company to attract the attention of the customers. With the updated technology, this can be considered as an easy method of maintaining customer satisfaction. At the same time, the company can make the initiatives taken for healthy consumption and production public. News reports can be made about the manner in which it has been successful in reducing the level of salts from its products. This can provide Woolworths with an additional competitive advantage and promote the activities of the company.

Bibliography
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Woolworths.com.au. (2020). Woolworths assignment Retrieved 18 April 2020, from https://www.woolworths.com.au/