MGT502 Business Communication: Annotated Bibliography of Woolworths

This annotated bibliography explores the business issues faced by Woolworths, a leading Australian supermarket chain. It analyzes ten articles discussing various challenges, including IT outages, customer complaints, competition from international rivals, and political uncertainty. The bibliography highlights Woolworths' struggles in maintaining customer satisfaction, managing IT risks, and adapting to changing market dynamics. It also covers initiatives taken by Woolworths to address these issues, such as restructuring, focusing on customer relationship management, and implementing promotional sales. The analysis reveals that IT risks and increasing competition are major concerns for Woolworths. Desklib offers similar annotated bibliographies and solved assignments for students.

Running Head: ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY 0
Business Communication

ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY 1
Introduction
Woolworths is the leading supermarket of Australia. It was founded in the year 1924.
It specialises in variety of products including fruits, meat, vegetables, packaged food, meat,
beauty & healthy products, stationary items, and DVDs. Besides performing well, it still
lacks in several aspects that is creating problem in the organization. The discussion is carried
on such business issue by analysing different article.
Annotated bibliography
Article 1
Rao, s., Eley., T., & Delibasic., S. (2018). Woolworths checkouts hit by national outage.
Retrieved from: https://www.news.com.au/finance/business/retail/woolworths-
checkouts-hit-by-national-outage/news-story/5611943156249d4ecc6427ef0b447c18
In this article, authors have explained the issue of Woolworths prevailing in the
organization. The article has described the problems that customers faced due to technical
outage in the stores of Woolworths. Due to such issues, customers re also faced several
problems. authors have also supported their argument by providing several examples of
customers who suffered from this issue of Woolworths. This deeper understanding will help
the readers to know how these issues can affect the company in their business and relations. It
has also explained how such issues can affect the social media sites of company by getting
bad comments on the part of customers. In this way, it has clarified how a single mistake
whether it is IT issue can affect the growth of company.
Article 2
Mitchell, S. (2015). Woolworths- what went wrong at the supermarket giant. Retrieved from:
https://www.afr.com/business/woolworths-what-went-wrong-at-the-supermarket-
giant-20150508-ggwuqp
In this article, author has described the complaints on part of customers for
Woolworths. It has directly taken its research on the common issues of Woolworths. It stated
the common themes including prices, out of stock issue, poor customer service, as well as
lack of proper brands in the shelves. It is true that customers are the essential part of every
organization. It assists in knowing the importance of proper customer service and proper

ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY 2
stock in the organization. It has also highlighted how one bad step can affect or lower down
the growth of company. In this way, by undertaking proper research on this article, it has
assisted the readers to know supermarket issues that can occur.
Article 3
Janda, M. (2016). Woolworths supermarket struggle not over yet: UBS. Retrieved from:
https://www.afr.com/business/woolworths-what-went-wrong-at-the-supermarket-
giant-20150508-ggwuqp
In this article, author has effectively described the struggle of Woolworth’s
supermarket until date. It has stated that competition is still the part of supermarkets in
Australia. It has assisted this argument by providing facts regarding Woolworths in Australia.
It has made the forecast regarding future of Australian supermarket. By realising the current
situation, it clarified that competition will increase more in the Australia. The key challenges
of Woolworths are also being highlighted in order to assist the reader how growth can be
hampered due to several problems. The biggest threat to Woolworths is the entry of several
international rivals such as Aldi and Lidl. The deeper research in this article clearly describes
the potential of such companies to take the market share. The study of such article will help
the readers to know how the companies can overcome a competitive threat.
Article 4
Tay, L. (2010). How Woolworths made IT risk a business issue. Retrieved from:
https://www.itnews.com.au/news/how-woolworths-made-it-risk-a-business-issue-
240080
In this article, author has focused on the It risk of Woolworths. It has properly
explained how Woolworths has made the risk of IT a business issue. It has explained when
the business executives were not able to receive the security presentation of IT that is
prepared by the risk manager of company. At this time, the redesigning of the presentation in
their own language has formed this issue. In recent time, Cooper also stated that how it ha
managed to narrate the IT security threats to all the executives that are concerned with the
business of liquor outlets, petrol stations, and supermarkets. The intended audience in this
article includes the company, management of the company, executives and risk manager. The
importance of presentation can also be achieved through this article.

ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY 3
Article 5
Jones, S. (2015). Woolworths: where did it go wrong?. Retrieved from:
https://mumbrella.com.au/woolworths-where-did-it-go-wrong-308694
The article put emphasis on the struggle of Woolworths. The information contained in
this article clearly describes the reliability of this article. As compare to other articles, it put
emphasis on its fresh food sector. The intended audience for this article is the customers as
well as company members. It has stated that Woolworths is facing the great threat in its sub
sector of fresh food that it is dominated for last many years. The major threat of Woolworths
is the increasing threats of Aldi that presents various issues of supermarket. By underlining
such concept, it makes easy for reader to know how a competitive threat can becomes a
business issue for the Company. In addition, it has also outlines the “cheap cheap” strategy of
Woolworths. However, this strategy of Woolworths was flawed due to increment in price
consciousness sue to several economic pressures. In the grocery sector, author has clarified
the importance of sales in spite of the competing with price.
Article 6
Mitchell, S. (2016). This is why Woolworths is in trouble. Retrieved from:
https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/news-life/this-is-why-woolworths-is-in-
trouble/news-story/558564355722533006f4c6f1c209fe18
The information contains in this article highlights the poor side of Woolworths. It
explains the steps undertaken for such issues. In this way, it has announced some of the jibs
will be cut as well as some non-performing supermarkets will shut down. By getting such
information, reader will come to know the importance of restructuring in organization. In
addition to this, it also described the importance of skilled staff in order to bring the positive
results. The author in this article has also throws light on the driver of satisfaction for such
supermarket channel. It clearly explains that customers value the store layout, customer
service as well as quality and freshness of product. Therefore, organisation is required to be
balance cost competitiveness.
Article 7

ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY 4
Deutrom, R. (2019). Woolies launches massive frozen food sale. Retrieved from:
https://www.news-mail.com.au/news/woolies-is-launches-half-price-frozen-food-
sale/3670910/
This article underlines the recent news of Woolworths. From above all the articles,
this article highlights the necessary step taken by Woolworths in order to minimise all the
issues. It has taken the initiative recently to sale the products in half price. Woolworths has
also decided the specific timing for this sale. In addition to this, Woolworths has stated the
availability of sale on delivery and pick up services. In this way, readers will come to know
how a necessary step taken by the company can removes all the issues that it has faced in the
past few years. All the information contained in this article is reliable as it is the recent news
and posted in the newspaper. The intended audience in this article are Management of
Woolworths, readers as well as decision making committee.
Article 8
Omarjee, L. (2017). Political uncertainty impacts Woolworths growth. Retrieved from:
https://www.fin24.com/Companies/Retail/political-uncertainty-impacts-woolworths-
growth-20170824
The article has highlighted the impact of political uncertainty on the growth of
Woolworths. The impact of bad trade conditions are also being highlighted by the author in
this article. The reliability of this article can be proved by seeing the decline in the growth
rate of company. In this way, adverse tradition condition can directly put impact on the sales
and growth rate of Woolworths. Afterwards, it has also discussed the steps or majors that can
be taken after such condition. Similarly, Woolworths has also taken the initiative for
introducing the structural changes in the operation of Australia as well as South Africa where
this problem has occurred. Author has expanded its research on the other point that is the
growth rate of Woolworths as compare to decline in first half year. In this way, how low
inflation has brought the positive volume has been described in the article.
Article 9
Inside Retail. (2018). Coles has “lost its way”, as Woolworths extends lead. Retrieved from:
https://www.insideretail.com.au/news/coles-has-lost-its-way-as-woolworths-extends-
lead-201802

ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY 5
The article has described the best part of Woolworths despite all of its business issue.
It has taken the assistance of survey of suppliers by explaining the key performance of
Woolworths. In this way, the underlining of these elements will help the readers to know
competitive advantage of Woolworths. It has also highlighted the areas in which Woolworths
has performed well. As compare to other supermarkets, it has performed better in terms of
freshness, and availability of on-shelf. In addition to this, readers will also come to know the
reasons for underperformance of other supermarkets. It also thrown light on the suggestion
that are useful for Coles to generate the huge profit margin.
Article 10
Crozier, R. (2018). How Woolworths landed in “really bad shape” with salesforce. Retrieved
from: https://www.itnews.com.au/news/how-woolworths-landed-in-really-bad-shape-
with-salesforce-513627
The article has described the actions that Woolworths has taken in order to improve
the internal capabilities around its workplace. Woolworths has undertaken the proper use of
all the sales force for the very first time by creating the centre of excellence. It also explained
how relationship with other well-known company could prove to be useful. Similarly,
Woolworth’s effective relationship with Wipro has helped the company in various aspects.
The effectiveness of “customer relationship management strategy” also proves to be useful
for the company. In this way, the intended audience for such article can be customers,
employees as well as other people who want to know the importance of CRM strategy in the
organization.
Conclusion
In the limelight of above discussion, it can be concluded that Woolworths is the
leading and competent player in the Australia supermarket. From the proper identification
and analysis of article, it is founded that IT risk is the major issue faced by Woolworths.
Besides this, competition is also one such challenge for the Woolworths.

ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY 6
References
Crozier, R. (2018). How Woolworths landed in “really bad shape” with salesforce. Retrieved
from: https://www.itnews.com.au/news/how-woolworths-landed-in-really-bad-shape-
with-salesforce-513627
Deutrom, R. (2019). Woolies launches massive frozen food sale. Retrieved from:
https://www.news-mail.com.au/news/woolies-is-launches-half-price-frozen-food-
sale/3670910/
Inside Retail. (2018). Coles has “lost its way”, as Woolworths extends lead. Retrieved from:
https://www.insideretail.com.au/news/coles-has-lost-its-way-as-woolworths-extends-
lead-201802
Janda, M. (2016). Woolworths supermarket struggle not over yet: UBS. Retrieved from:
https://www.afr.com/business/woolworths-what-went-wrong-at-the-supermarket-
giant-20150508-ggwuqp
Jones, S. (2015). Woolworths: where did it go wrong?. Retrieved from:
https://mumbrella.com.au/woolworths-where-did-it-go-wrong-308694
Mitchell, S. (2015). Woolworths- what went wrong at the supermarket giant. Retrieved from:
https://www.afr.com/business/woolworths-what-went-wrong-at-the-supermarket-
giant-20150508-ggwuqp
Mitchell, S. (2016). This is why Woolworths is in trouble. Retrieved from:
https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/news-life/this-is-why-woolworths-is-in-
trouble/news-story/558564355722533006f4c6f1c209fe18
Omarjee, L. (2017). Political uncertainty impacts Woolworths growth. Retrieved from:
https://www.fin24.com/Companies/Retail/political-uncertainty-impacts-woolworths-
growth-20170824
Rao, s., Eley., T., & Delibasic., S. (2018). Woolworths checkouts hit by national outage.
Retrieved from: https://www.news.com.au/finance/business/retail/woolworths-
checkouts-hit-by-national-outage/news-story/5611943156249d4ecc6427ef0b447c18

ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY 7
Tay, L. (2010). How Woolworths made IT risk a business issue. Retrieved from:
https://www.itnews.com.au/news/how-woolworths-made-it-risk-a-business-issue-
240080