FLEXIBLE FIRM MODEL

Flexible firm model

Executive summary

Work in the information age is fundamentally different from working in the industrial age economy, but social structures, work practices, the regulatory environment and academic research has to face the old economy and new work is on the side of the other's existence. Working standard in the new economy is increasingly replaced by non-standard or flexible work and is no longer the norm.

Although the new work flexible economy is not (yet) fully defined its main features can be identified. Current research is reviewed which suggests that not adequately address the differences especially with the pace of changing technology. The article analyzes the data collected by government agencies and sponsored bodies in the UK. It considers research on flexible work and discusses its focus on traditional family patterns, gender issues and the exploitation of the labor force and argues that insufficient account was taken of changes in employment within society information.

Table of content

INTRODUCTION4

SAINSBURY4

Business performance5

Sainsbury as a flexible firm6

Failure to keep pace with its rivals7

Methods8

TESCO9

Business performance10

Tesco as a flexible firm11

Purchasing power11

Energy Suppliers11

Rivalry12

Corporate social responsibility12

Tesco and flexible firm model13

References15

Flexible firm model

Introduction

It is not possible to discuss conceptual approaches to flexible working, without reference to the work of Atkinson (1984), who developed the concept of "flexible firm" in recognition of the changes that had taken place in the nature and composition of the force working at the time (Buttereld, 1997, 46).

In the model of "flexible firm", Atkinson proposed the concept of "core" against workers "peripheral." based workers are a permanent component of the workforce of a company that provides the functional flexibility through its ability to carry out a wide range of tasks. By contrast, peripheral workers provide a firm numerical flexibility, with their numbers increase or decrease with changing market conditions. The flexible business approach involves a reorganization of the company's internal labor markets and its division into separate components, where workers from the experiences and expectations of the employer are increasingly differentiated.

Sainsbury

The organization chosen to analyze is J. Sainsbury plc. (Sainsbury's) This is because I think Sainsbury's is at a crucial stage in its history: The supermarket Sainsbury's has experienced a period of dramatic decline, which have been overtaken by rivals Tesco and, more recently, in 2004, Wal- Mart-owned Asda. (Global Market Information Database, 2004) While it is rare for big brands to disappear completely from the street UK high, these competitors have gained market share from Sainsbury's through its commitment to low prices, while Sainz focused on its business transformation program and promoting an image of quality rather than affordability (Brannen, 1994, 24).

Business performance

Unfortunately for Sainsbury's, UK consumers have come to rely increasingly communications, quality assurance and Tesco and Asda at the moment to be attracted by low prices. As a result, Sainsbury's is in danger of not being able to compete in the modern retail environment in the UK without being committed to low prices, and has continued a policy of significant price reductions, which began in the summer of ...