Author Archives: Jingtong

Retention assignment

What do you think is the most demotivating part of Harper’s job?

The most demotivating aspects of Harper’s job appear to be the increased workload and the lack of recognition or guidance from her new boss, David. Following Jose’s departure, additional responsibilities have fallen onto Harper’s shoulders, leading her to experience stress, a sense of being overwhelmed, and a loss of confidence in her ability to effectively manage tasks. Furthermore, the absence of a supportive and communicative leader like Jose has resulted in Harper’s efforts going unnoticed and a feeling of being disregarded. The absence of acknowledgement and guidance may erode Harper’s drive and enthusiasm for her role, prompting her to contemplate leaving the company.

If you were an HR manager meeting with Harper’s supervisor, David, what advice would you give to help David re-engage Harper?

  1. David should engage in timely communication with Harper to understand her current challenges at work. Subsequently, he can provide solutions, allocate work tasks reasonably, and alleviate Harper’s burden.
  2. If Harper or other employees display exceptional work abilities, David should acknowledge their efforts. This can be done through verbal encouragement to motivate employees or through tangible rewards such as bonuses, promotions, paid leave, and other meaningful incentives to instill enthusiasm for their work.
  3. David can establish an open forum within the company, encouraging employees to boldly express their insights and opinions. This way, when issues arise, targeted solutions can be found. This is conducive to fostering a harmonious team atmosphere and enhancing employee satisfaction.
  4. David should clearly communicate to employees the company’s current short-term and long-term goals. This ensures the team’s focus is aligned towards striving for these objectives. With boosted morale, work efficiency can be elevated, and employees can have a sense of certainty about their career development prospects.

What would be the downside of losing Harper as an employee?

Losing Harper would necessitate the company to invest resources in seeking a suitable replacement, which not only consumes financial resources and energy but also diminishes overall productivity. Moreover, the cost of training a new employee could outweigh direct salary expenses, thereby reducing the company’s profitability. Harper’s four years of experience in the industry imply that she has likely amassed clients and resources. Consequently, her departure might entail the loss of potential business opportunities, taking away a portion of the company’s potential clientele.If the leadership fails to address the current issues within the company, after Harper’s departure, more employees might raise concerns such as heavy workloads, potentially leading to a renewed wave of resignations. This high turnover rate could disrupt project continuity and further impact productivity.

The Founder

  1. What makes Ray Kroc and the brothers different from each other?

In terms of background and experience, Ray Kroc initially worked as a milkshake machine salesman. His sales and entrepreneurial experience provided him with a sharp ability to recognize the potential of the McDonald’s brothers. The McDonald’s brothers had previously been involved in the movie theater and restaurant businesses, accumulating relevant experience. When it comes to entrepreneurial drive, Ray Kroc appears more like an entrepreneur. He valued the McDonald’s brand and consistently expanded its brand impact. He possessed strong determination and ambition, along with the courage to transform McDonald’s into a vast franchise empire. In contrast, the McDonald’s brothers displayed innovation in developing the restaurant concept and placed significant emphasis on the quality of McDonald’s food.

  1. Do you think the McDonald’s brothers did the right thing by selling out to Ray Kroc? Did Ray Kroc give the brothers a good deal？

I think that, considering the circumstances at that time, it was a good decision. The McDonald’s brothers selling their business to Ray Kroc could provide them with a substantial income. They received upfront payment from Kroc and ongoing franchise usage fees, which added financial security and stability. While the offer might have been a favorable figure back then, as McDonald’s grew significantly in influence and the profits generated by the franchise network multiplied exponentially, the share that the brothers ultimately gained from the success of the franchise might have been relatively small in comparison. At that point, the initial offer might not have seemed as substantial. It’s important to note that the evaluation of their decision involves the context of the era and the unforeseen magnitude of McDonald’s success.

  1. How did the local store franchisees make money?

For local store franchisees, the revenue generated from their McDonald’s location is their primary source of income.

  1. How did Kroc make money? How was that different than the franchisees, running the local stores?

Ray Kroc’s sources of income: 1. Making money by charging new franchisees upfront fees when they join the McDonald’s system. 2. Continuously collecting franchise usage fees based on a percentage of the total sales of franchisees. 3. He created a separate company, the Franchise Realty Corporation, to acquire land and lease it to franchisees. This allowed him to earn rental income from franchisees in addition to other fees. 4. Earning revenue from franchisees by marking up the cost of supplies and raw materials purchased from suppliers he contracted with. This allowed him to benefit from economies of scale achieved through bulk purchasing. In contrast, franchisees’ income is relatively limited, primarily coming from operational revenue.

  1. Does this film change your view of McDonald’s? After watching this film, my perspective on the McDonald’s industry has undergone a significant transformation. Previously, I only focused on the burgers and fries in the store, but now that I’ve gained insight into the entire developmental journey of McDonald’s, I’ve realized that there’s a intricate business network behind it. It encompasses the innovative management wisdom of the McDonald’s brothers and the ambitious business expansion of Ray Kroc. In fact, I believe that both elements are indispensable. Moreover, McDonald’s existed in the business environment of 1950s America, which adds a certain depth of business culture and atmosphere to its brand. At times, I feel that selling sentiment and culture can be more meaningful than merely selling products.

Nike

When facing the topic of this assignment, I had many options in mind. After careful consideration, I decided to choose Nike. Nike has always been a brand that I frequently heard about from my family since childhood, and it’s a store I have visited since I was young. I have great confidence in the quality of their products. Over the years, Nike has expanded its business from sportswear to casual wear, and they also offer versatile accessories such as backpacks and hats. So besides buying sports shoes, I sometimes purchase cute clothes and pants from them as well.

As a globally influential company, Nike’s practices regarding corporate social responsibility and ethical principles have drawn significant attention. In recent years, Nike has been the subject of controversy, especially in the areas of advertising and labor rights. Therefore, in this assignment, I will elaborate on Nike’s efforts in social responsibility and explore their ethical principles. I will also provide my thoughts and recommendations on some areas that may need improvement.

In the context of increasing global resource and energy consumption and environmental degradation, industries are demonstrating their ability to contribute to environmental protection and sustainable development, integrating sustainable development concepts into their daily operations through innovation and leveraging their advantages. On November 6, 2022, Nike and Ant Group jointly launched the “Nike Reuse a Shoe” mini-program, which has collected more than 25,000 pairs of discarded sneakers from both online and offline channels. These old shoes will be processed using Nike Grind technology and used to build environmentally friendly playgrounds. To date, the Nike Grind project has recycled over 30 million pairs of old shoes and over 120 million pounds of footwear factory materials, transforming them into innovative sports products. As Nike deepens its commitment to sustainability, they are continuously exploring innovative ways to achieve their long-term goals of zero carbon and zero waste. At least 90% of the Nike shoeboxes you receive are made from recycled materials. In order to reduce packaging waste, Nike has launched the “One Box” packaging that doubles as a shoebox and a shipping box. Currently, One Box is being piloted on a small scale and will be expanded on a larger scale in the future. Through innovative green packaging, Nike plans to reduce 414 tons of packaging waste over the next three years. Each shoebox goes through a journey from the warehouse to the store, consuming a large number of cardboard boxes. To address this, Nike is trying to use reusable boxes instead of factory original cardboard boxes, and logistics centers are reusing factory original cardboard boxes as much as possible. According to Nike, the current reuse rate of cardboard boxes has reached 80%. Nike is also actively promoting the construction of a “circle of friends” for green supply chains with supplier factories, promoting the application of renewable energy. At the front end of logistics, as Nike’s largest logistics center in Asia, the Nike China Logistics Center uses 45% of its energy from renewable sources, including solar and geothermal energy. Nike has signed a commitment with the Renewable Energy Buyers Alliance to reduce carbon emissions by 30% by 2025 and use 100% renewable energy. It is evident that Nike has been making efforts to fulfill its social responsibilities and actively reduce carbon emissions.

However, despite Nike’s excellence, there are still areas where the company could improve. For example, in the past, Nike has faced criticism regarding labor rights issues in its supply chain. Although they have taken measures to improve the situation, there are still reports pointing out issues like overtime work, low wages, and unfair labor conditions in some supplier factories. Additionally, there is a lack of female representation in Nike’s upper management, and female employees are paid lower salaries compared to their male counterparts. Some of Nike’s advertising campaigns have also been controversial, with some people feeling that they are too commercialized or exploit social issues to promote products. Furthermore, although they are committed to promoting sustainable materials and production methods, more efforts are needed to reduce their carbon footprint, water consumption, and waste generation.

In conclusion, while Nike has made significant strides in social responsibility and sustainable development, there are still areas for improvement. To create a more ethical, socially responsible, and sustainable business, I recommend focusing on improving worker wages and protecting human rights. Allocate funds to upgrade production equipment and reduce environmental pollution. Actively improve supply chain management. Pay more attention to social fairness issues. Also, promote the development of sustainable products. By actively addressing these issues, Nike will continue to be a leader in the industry and make a positive contribution to a more sustainable and socially responsible business environment.

https://www.nike.com/sustainability
https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201909/19/WS5d83362ba310cf3e3556c6fb.html
Nike Introduces One Box, A Shipping Box That Doubles As A Shoebox

https://www.textiletoday.com.bd/nike-pledges-cut-co2-footprint-use-100-renewable-energy-2025

Jingtong Xu

Hi everyone, nice to meet you there. My name is Jingtong Xu and my major is business administration. This is my second semester in BMCC. I'm so excited to start my summer semester and ready to learn new things all the time, so I will keep doing this course, too. Usually, I like traveling and ice skiing. Moreover, I'm a foodie. So, the first time I came to America, I went straight to McDonald's. But, whatever, in and out burgers are the best. Anyway, hope everyone have good memories on this class!

My BMCC email is: JINGTONG.XU001@STU.BMCC.CUNY.EDU