CMNS 1140 Annotated Bibliography on In-Store Thefts in Walmart

This annotated bibliography addresses the issue of in-store thefts in Walmart, presenting a collection of five sources that explore various facets of the problem and potential solutions. The sources cover topics such as last-mile fulfillment in omnichannel grocery retailing, international trends in retail crime prevention, the theory of security tagging, systematic reviews of tagging methods, and customer tolerance for validation in omnichannel retail. Each entry includes a summary of the source's main points, an assessment of its validity, and a reflection on its contribution to the argument. The bibliography highlights the importance of management strategies, innovative technologies, security measures, and customer-centric approaches in mitigating in-store thefts and enhancing overall retail operations. The student also includes a memo addressed to the store manager, highlighting the increasing cases of theft in the electronics department of the store.

Running head: MANAGEMENT
Annotated bibliography on In-store thefts in Walmart
Name of the student:
Name of the university:
Author note:

1
MANAGEMENT
Date: Feb 20th, 2019
To: The store manager
From:
Subject: Concerns regarding in-store thefts in Walmart
Cc:
Respected Sir/Madam
Source 1: Hübner, A., Kuhn, H., & Wollenburg, J. (2016). Last mile fulfilment and
distribution in omni-channel grocery retailing: a strategic planning
framework. International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management, 44(3),
228-247.
Summary
This article upholds the importance of management in the online sales through the
means of logistic models. Due to the transformations in the marketing activities, there has
been inadequate research on the practices for distributing the products to the customers.
However, scarcity prevails in the research on the management strategies for distribution
channel in retail marketing, which lacks strategic planning (Hübner, Kuhn & Wollenburg,
2016). This article attempts to develop a framework for constructing planning towards “last
mile fulfilment” for enhancing the efficiency in the grocery shops. Explorative design and
qualitative data collection enhances the awareness of the readers regarding the practices
involved in the managing the retail store operations. Typical evidence of this lies in the
interviews conducted on the retail store and logistic experts.
Assessment of the validity of the source

2
MANAGEMENT
Logistics planning is segregated into back end fulfilment and last mile distribution
concepts. The design choices are exclusive to the store owners in terms of planning the
managing the store operations. Within this, Hübner, Kuhn and Wollenburg, (2016) makes
mention of specific components like capability for cross channel process integration, which
helps in mapping the areas to be covered for controlling the store operations. This integration
process contradicts the situations of “in-store thefts. This technique is fruitful in terms of
reducing the instances of store thefts.
Reflection towards the contribution of the research into argumentation
I think last mile fulfilment technique is beneficial in terms of optimizing the
integration of omni-channel integrations. Adopting this technique is assistance for the grocers
towards fulfilling the concepts, which needs to be used in different contexts of managing the
store operations. After conducting a thorough review of the source, I have learnt that
foundations in the field of research regarding the frameworks for managing the store
operations are a cornerstone towards enhancing the productivity through the decision
supporting systems.
Source 2: Bamfield, J. (2018). International Trends in Retail Crime and Prevention
Practices. In Retail Crime (pp. 33-53). Palgrave Macmillan, Cham.
Summary
The article enhances the awareness of the readers regarding the measures taken by the
retail stores for preventing the crimes. These measures include measuring the loss outputs.
Within this, focus has been placed on the investments made towards acquiring innovative
technologies for curbing the crimes (Bamfield, 2018). As a matter of specification, the article
sheds light on the specific crimes, which the retailers encounter in the process of managing
the store operations. These are customer theft, employee deviance, which is persisting in the

3
MANAGEMENT
retail industry since a long time. The article also emphasizes on the instances of frauds, which
have also gained a significant position within the crimes associated with the retail store
operations.
Assessment of the validity
Situations like thefts attains commonality in the present scenario. These instances
aggravate the complexities of the stores in terms of fulfilling the specific needs, demands and
requirements of the clients and the customers. Moreover, Bamfield, (2018) is of the view that
thefts delays the process of supplying the products to the clients and the customers according
to the requirements. This degrades the stability in the public relations, indicative of
vulnerability, which might get added into the market position of the retail stores. In order to
prevent these crimes, measures like control, framework are needed.
Reflection on supporting the argument
I think CCTV cameras are an efficient means for controlling the situations of thefts
within the stores. This is an innovative step for regulating the store operations in terms of
achieving infrastructural upgradation. Along with this, I also feel that joint ventures with the
members of the research and development team is needed for maintaining the pace with the
contemporary brands. Moreover, this would be an efficient and effective means for
expanding the scope and arena of the stores through the means of large scale customer
satisfaction.
Source 3: Sidebottom, A., & Tilley, N. (2018). Towards a Theory of Tagging in Retail
Environments. In Retail Crime (pp. 379-402). Palgrave Macmillan, Cham.
Summary

4
MANAGEMENT
The article enriches the knowledge of the readers regarding the theory of security
tagging. Synthesis of the ideas from other perspectives of crime prevention expands the scope
and arena of the field. The context of the article is a retail setting, which helps in excavating
the decisions towards mitigating the intensity of the crimes (Sidebottom & Tilley, 2018).
Along with this, specific contexts have been taken into consideration for giving the readers a
practical example of the crimes, which takes place within the retail environment.
Assessment of the validity
The tag of security is crucial within the retail store operations. This tag acts as a
certification for the retail brands in terms of assuring the clients and the customers regarding
the safety of the confidential data. As per the arguments of Sidebottom and Tilley, (2018),
this certification, in turn, enhances the brand image, indicative of the trust, loyalty and
dependence, which the store managers would achieve from the clients and the customers.
Registration certificates for the stores is an essential document in terms of preventing the
intensity of the crimes. This documents is a legislative requirement, which the store managers
need to possess for averting the illegal scandals and issues (Sidebottom & Tilley, 2018).
Reflection on supporting the arguments
I think that theoretical considerations towards security in the retail stores. Tags for the
security is authentic in terms of executing the marketing strategies. According to me,
strategic approach in this direction is appropriate in terms of achieving the desired outcomes.
As the matter relates to the security, rationality and consciousness towards taking the
preventive measures, is a wise step towards reducing the instances of store thefts.
Source 4: Sidebottom, A., Thornton, A., Tompson, L., Belur, J., Tilley, N., & Bowers, K.
(2017). A systematic review of tagging as a method to reduce theft in retail
environments. Crime science, 6(1), 7.

5
MANAGEMENT
Summary
The article sheds light on the aspect of security tags, which the retail stores use for
ensuring the safety, security and privacy of the store products. However, the critics are
concerned about the recent scarcity within the research on the security tags. According to the
article, the security tags are the evidence that in-store thefts, like in the workplace of Walmart
have reduced in their intensity. Along with this, Sidebottom et al., (2017) attempts to explore
the ways and means through which the tags can contribute in mitigating the intensity of the
crimes. Within this, the main focus of the article is on the information related to the expenses
behind implementation of these tags on the products of the stores.
Assessment of the validity
In view of the increased levels of the in-store thefts, security tags validates the
management practices towards reducing the intensity of the crimes. Mixed method reviews
adds values to the perceptions related to these unwanted situations. Meta-analysis of these
reviews results in the identification of three mechanisms, which contribute towards reducing
the intensity of the crimes related to the in-store operations (Sidebottom et al., 2017). These
are: increasing the risks, reducing the rewards and increasing the rewards. In all of these
cases, the extent of the security tags vary according to its functions. These variations depends
on the categories specified by the moderators: retail stored and staffs; customers (shoplifters);
tag type, product type and intervention of the criminal justice system.
Reflection towards supporting the arguments
Thorough review of the article enables me to conclude that frameworks and planning
helps in effective handling of the complexities towards the in-store crimes, like in Walmart. I
feel that variation in the tags are effective in terms of reducing the thefts. This is possible
only if the store managers use the mechanisms and systems rationally. Typical evidence of

6
MANAGEMENT
this lies in the capability towards making rational and judicious configuration of the
conditions in which the preventive measures can be applied.
Source 5: Hoehle, H., Aloysius, J. A., Chan, F., & Venkatesh, V. (2018). Customers’
tolerance for validation in omnichannel retail stores: enabling logistics and
supply chain analytics. The International Journal of Logistics Management, 29(2),
704-722.
Summary
The article consists of the information regarding the contribution of mobile
technologies towards the big data analytics. These technologies and analytics are crucial in
terms of chalking out plans for enhancing the efficiency within the omnichannel businesses.
The article also sheds light on the technologies, which enhances the convenience of the
customers towards online shopping (Hoehle et al., 2018). Apart from this, the article
considers the comparison to the physical presence of the customers in the stores for providing
an insight into the challenges in implementation of the security measures.
Assessment of the validity
The author introduces three emerging trends in online shopping, through which the
customers can check out from the transactions. This has been done specially in the context of
the retail stores, developing authenticity. Along with this, the suggestions regarding the exit
procedures relates with the innovation planned for providing the customers with a hassle free
shopping experience. The checkout processes, which are enabled through mobile
technologies hamper the processes of the stores like the one in Walmart (Hoehle et al., 2018).
These disruptions adversely affect the behaviour of the customers related to the purchases,
which varies according to the changes in the validation process.
Reflection on supporting the arguments

7
MANAGEMENT
I think that measurement scales prove appropriate in terms of controlling the store
operations. These scales prove beneficial in terms of measuring the intensity of the crimes,
which helps in planning for the relevant solutions. Feedbacks from the stakeholders and
shareholders is fruitful in terms of gaining an insight into the opinions towards the issues. The
feedbacks enhance the awareness about the situations and contexts regarding the validation of
the checkout processes. I think the way in which the clients propose the answers relate to
their tolerance towards the issues. Synthesis of the ideas result in the fact that customers are
highly tolerant towards the sources, which are enabled through mobile technologies.

8
MANAGEMENT
References
Bamfield, J. (2018). International Trends in Retail Crime and Prevention Practices. In Retail
Crime (pp. 33-53). Palgrave Macmillan, Cham.
Hoehle, H., Aloysius, J. A., Chan, F., & Venkatesh, V. (2018). Customers’ tolerance for
validation in omnichannel retail stores: enabling logistics and supply chain
analytics. The International Journal of Logistics Management, 29(2), 704-722.
Hübner, A., Kuhn, H., & Wollenburg, J. (2016). Last mile fulfilment and distribution in
omni-channel grocery retailing: a strategic planning framework. International
Journal of Retail & Distribution Management, 44(3), 228-247.
Sidebottom, A., & Tilley, N. (2018). Towards a Theory of Tagging in Retail Environments.
In Retail Crime (pp. 379-402). Palgrave Macmillan, Cham.
Sidebottom, A., Thornton, A., Tompson, L., Belur, J., Tilley, N., & Bowers, K. (2017). A
systematic review of tagging as a method to reduce theft in retail
environments. Crime science, 6(1), 7.