Pre-placement Evaluation Report: Analysis of TK MAXX Operations

This pre-placement evaluation report analyzes the business environment of TK MAXX, a subsidiary of an American company operating in the retail sector. The report utilizes PESTLE and SWOT analyses to examine external and internal factors influencing the company's operations. It identifies political, economic, social, technological, legal, and environmental factors, along with the company's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Porter's Five Forces analysis is also conducted to assess the competitive landscape. Furthermore, the report identifies and discusses the impact of management practices, such as reward systems and training and development programs, on employee performance. A personal skill audit is included, along with an analysis of required workplace skills and competencies. The report provides a comprehensive overview of TK MAXX's strategic position and management practices, offering insights into the company's challenges and opportunities.

Pre-placement evaluation
report

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................3
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................3
1. Analysing the business environment of organisation ...........................................................3
2. Identification of two management practices which can have effect on employees
performance.................................................................................................................................7
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................7
1. Personal skill audit and analysing the way it will change a person as an individual. ............7
2. Identification of skills, knowledge and competencies would require from workplace ..........9
CONCLUSION ...............................................................................................................................9
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................11

INTRODUCTION
Work based learning can be defined as educational strategy which provides students with
real life work experience. It is the work based learning which assist an individual in improving
their performance at workplace. By providing the work based learning opportunity companies
can reduce the cost related to recruitment and training. It also assists firm in preparing workers
for dealing with the issues which might arise in accomplishment of their personal as well as
business objectives.
This report will have focus on identification of management practices which has direct
effect on the performance of employees in context of TK MAXX. It is a subsidiary of an
American organisation which sells apparel and home products.
TASK 1
1. Analysing the business environment of organisation
TK MAXX is basically a subsidiary of an American company which offers apparel as
well as home products to customers. This business entity has its retail store at number of places
such as Poland, Germany, Australia, UK, Ireland etc. As TK MAXX is operating business at
different locations theretofore, changers in external business environment could have significant
effect on its operations. It is required by manager in TK MAXX organisation to conduct Pestle
analysis as it will assist them in addressing those factors which can affect its business.
The external variables which can have impact on the business operations of TX max
company are:
Political environment: In context of the TK maxx an organisation has highly political
environment because of which employees in an organisation are feeling dissatisfied that further
has adverse effect on their as well as organisational performance. In addition to this, political
culture within an enterprise has given rise to the conflicts that has lead to the decline in
productivity of company. Political culture at workplace has adversely effected the relationship
between people. Furthermore, during the political culture an enterprise is facing the issue of high
staff turnover rate.
Economic environment: Such types of external variables include changes in the
economic conditions of the nation, inflation, increase or decrease in income of an individual, rise

in tax rate etc. Changes in all these external variables have great effect on the financial
performance of TX max. In addition to this, changes in the economic condition of nations as well
as market has great influence on the investment decision of firm and also on the buying power of
company. Decline in the consumer can lead to the decrease in the sales as well as profitability of
an enterprise. In context of UK, decline in the exchange rate has provided transactional benefit to
organisation.
Social environment: It is the external variables which involves changes in the trends,
taste and preference of customers etc. These variables have significant influence on the
operational decision taken by manager or leader in TK MAXX. Changes in social factors also
have significant influence on the demand for products or services offered by enterprise. It is
required by TK MAXX to conduct market research at regular interval of time, as this strategy
will assist them in analysing the demand of costumers. Due to continuous changes in fashion
trends, TK MAXX is facing issues in maintaining the balance between demand as well as supply
of products which has further lead to the high level of satisfaction among its clients. Increase in
the demand of trendy clothes by youngster has enabled business entity to increase sale.
Technological environment: Such external factors involves advancement in technology
which has enabled TK MAXX to provide more facilities to customers such as online payment
facilities. But the advancement in the technology has given rise to high level of competition in
retail sector. Many of the firm in retail sector is selling their products on line. The emergence of
online retail organisation has significant effect on the sale of products or services by TK MAXX.
Due to increase in competition from online retail, companies, TK MAXX is facing difficulty in
maintaining its concentration on core business activities which has adverse effect on its business
performance.
Legal environment: In context of TK MAXX, management in an organisation is
ensuring that all the laws are being follow. An enterprise is complying with all laws such as
employment as well as company law etc. It is the factor which has supported an organisation in
maintaining its business sustainability. Changes in the laws have significant effect on business
plans , policies and strategies of TK MAXX.
As TK MAXX is operating business in different countries changes in law has great effect
on business of an organisation. Amendments in legislation has significant impact on the business
practices of TK MAXX (Baartman, Kilbrink and de Bruijn, 2018). In context of TK MAXX,

with the support of different laws, TK MAXX has been able to resolve various commercial
issues. But due to failure to comply with certain industrial standards or norm TK MAXX have to
face legal issues which has adverse impact on its reputation.
Environmental environment: It includes changes in the weather conditions and level of
competition in industry. Such external factors also include changes in environmental law which
haver great effect on business policies and operations. In context of UK market, changes in the
environmental legislation has forced retail companies like TX max to use eco- friendly material
for packaging products.
Swot Analysis
Manager in TK MAXX company can perform swot analysis, as it is the tactics which will
assist them in identifying the internal strengths, weakness, opportunities and threats. Swot
analysis will help management in development of an effective strategic plan which will be
helpful in order to drive an organisation towards success.
Strengths:
 TK MAXX has stores in wide number
of locations which provides an
organisation an ease in delivering
goods or services to large number of
customers.
 This enterprise has focus on customer
services.
 TK MAXX offers products or services
at lower price to customers.
 Broad product portfolio.
 This organisation has online presence.
Weaknesses:
 Poor quality of customer service.
 Customers find it contradictory that
designer clothes are sold in Bulk.
Opportunities:
 TK MAXX has an opportunity to
increase its share by expanding its
Threats:
Credit card fraud which happened in the TK
MAXX has adversely effected the image of an

business in international market.
 Business entity can attract customers by
planning merchandising activities.
enterprise.
Increase in competition within an organisation.
Changes in the pricing policy or strategy by
competitors can have adverse effect on sales and
profitability of enterprise.
Porters Five force analysis
Manager of TK MAXX can conduct the porters five force analysis, as this strategic
technique will assist them in addressing those five forces which are shaping the competition in
retail sector. It can also be utilised by management in TK MAXX for identifying the competitive
strength and position of company. The five forces which are shaping the competition in retail
sector are:
Threat of entry of new firm: In context of the retail industry in UK, the threat of entry
of small companies in industry is low. As retail sector is very big and requires huge capital
investment, it is not possible for small firms to spend huge amount of money (Nickel and Kiela,
2018). But there might be instance where small organisation can enter into market and create
threat to the market share of TK MAXX. Therefore, it is required by TK MAXX to set high
quality standards for products or services as this tactic will help them in limiting the entry of
small firms.
Rivalry among existing organisation: Is high. Major competitors of TK MAXX are ,
OUTNET, NORDSTROM etc. These companies by reducing the prices of their products might
intend to influence the market. The changes in the pricing strategy could have negative effect on
the sales and profitability of TK MAXX. It is required by TK MAXX to concentrate on
providing high value proposition to customers, as this tacit will assist an organisation in gaining
the competitive advantage.
Threat of substitute products: threat of substitute is high, as there are many big
enterprises in retail industry those who have sufficient amount of capital which they can utilise

for developing substitute products. Launch of substitute product in the market can lead to the
decrease in demand for the goods or services offered by an organisation. Product differentiation
is the strategy which can be adopted by TK MAXX for reducing the adverse effect of substitute
products on its business.
Threat of bargaining power of suppliers: It is basically low. There are wide number of
suppliers in retail industry and as switching cost is low company can easily switch to other
suppliers. In context of TK MAXX. Business entity has good brand image in the market,
suppliers are interested in entering into a contract with firm. As TK MAXX is well known brand,
an organisation can negotiate with suppliers and could force them to reduce the price raw
material.
Threat of bargaining power of buyers: Bargaining power of suppliers is high. As their
wide number of firms in retail industry those who are selling similar products so customers can
easily switch to other brand. TK MAXX is required to concentrate on quality of goods or
services, as this will assist them in reducing the threat.
2. Identification of two management practices which can have effect on employees’ performance
Reward system: It is the management practice which includes the formulation of reward
or incentive scheme in order to positively influence employees to improve their performance at
workplace. In context of TK MAXX development of reward system has positive effect on the
performance of employees working in an organisation. It is the reward system which provides
high level of satisfaction to workers and further leads to increase in their working efficiency as
well as effectiveness of productivity (Bruno and Dell’Aversana, 2018.). In context of TK
MAXX, an enterprise utilises the reward system for stimulating the performance of its workers.
It is the reward system which inspires employees to remain committed to their work and
concentrate on producing the quality as well as desired outcomes.
Training and development: In context of TK MAXX , Planning training and development
program is considered to be as other core function of management. Training and development
has positive effect on the performance of employees. It is the training and development program
which is organised by management in TK MAXX which has enabled workers to increase their
knowledge, develop skills as well as core competencies that has further assisted employees in
improving their performance at workplace (Peters, Jandrić and Hayes, 2019). Training and
development program which is organised by management in TK MAXX has provided employees

with high level of satisfaction positive effect of which can be seen on their performance at
workplace.
TASK 2
1. Personal skill audit and analysing the way it will change a person as an individual.
Swot analysis is considered to be as an appropriate strategic tools which can be utilised
for identifying the internal strength, weakness, opportunities and threats.
Strengths:
 I have good written communication
skills.
 I am confident.
 I have good personality.
 I am well organised in my work.
 Positive attitude
 I am self-motivated
 God customer service skills.
 I possess good negotiation skills.
 Good analytical skills.
Weaknesses:
 Lack of effective communication skills
 Lack of commercial awareness.
 Lack of ability to make decision under
pressure.
 Lack of presentation skills.
 Lack of leadership skills
 Opportunities:
 I have an opportunity to develop skills
which I lack.
 I have a chance to get promoted at
higher position in an organisation.
 Threats:
 Increase in the intensity of competition.
 Threat of losing the promotional
opportunities due to lack of skills.
Personal development will assist me in bringing improvement in my personal as well as
professional life. It will assist me in becoming a better person in my life. Personal development
will also help me in bringing positive as well as drastic change in my attitude. It has assisted me

in ensuring success in personal as well as professional life. Personal development will assist me
in accomplishing the desired personal as well as professional objectives. It has enabled me to
develop confidence that the skills, knowledge and core competencies which I possess is
sufficient for accomplishing desired goals (Sung, Yang, Xiang and Hospedales, 2018). The
training and development programs which I have attended at TK MAXX has helped me in
bringing change in myself, further flow of change will assist me in ensuring a fulfilment of
career experience. Implementing change in my life can assist me in stepping into the career role
at TK MAXX. Personal development will assist me in generating the self -awarenesses which
could be helpful for me in order to improve my performance at workplace that is at TK MAXX.
It will also assist me in improving communication with other people which could be beneficial in
order to strength personal relationship. The training program which I had attended at workplace
has assisted me in increasing my working efficiency and supported me in improving quality of
work.
2. Identification of skills, knowledge and competencies would require from workplace
TK MAXX is basically a subsidiary of American company operating business in retail
sector. The products or services offered by an enterprise includes clothing, bedding, furniture
and giftware etc. The activities which are conducted within an organisation include marketing,
sales, human resource management, logistics management, finance and accounting.
The new skills, knowledge and core competencies which I would require from workplace
in order to fulfil my roles as well as responsibilities at workplace includes presentation skills,
commercial awareness, ability to make decision under pressure, effective communication and
leadership skills.
The skills which I require from my workplace include:
Customer service skill: This is the skill which I require from my workplace, as this skill
will assist me gaining the practical experience of dealing with clients. This skill will help me in
delivering services to customers. It will also support me in delivering high level of satisfaction.
People leadership: Working as a manager in TK MAXX I will require leadership skills
which will provide me an ease in managing as well as directing people.
Communication skills: From the swot analysis I found that I need to develop an
effective communication skills. As a manager communication skills will assist me in handling
the customers queries as well as complaints in effective manner (O’Shea, Roy and Clancy,

2018). It will also help me in developing the strong relationship with other people which could
further be beneficial for professional growth.
Knowledge and competencies which I require from workplace include:
Commercial awarenesses: By working in`ompany I will gain knowledge about the field
which will help me in making my significant contribution in accomplishment of business goals.
Knowledge about the job role will help me in improving my performance at workplace.
Knowledge about management: It is the knowledge which I will require in order to
manage people as well as operations at within an organisation.
CONCLUSION
From the above study it has been summarised that that changes in the external factors in
business environment could have significant effect on the business operations, plan s and policies
of company. It has also been concluded from the study that the practices conducted or decisions
taken by management in an organisation related to reward system, training and development can
have significant effect on performance of employees. The other thing which has been discovered
is that reward system, training and development have positive effect of performance of
employees.
The different strategies have been suggested which can be adopted by an organisation for
minimising the threat of adverse impact of changes in external factors on its business.

REFERENCES
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engaged with in school-based and workplace-based learning environments in the
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hyperbolic geometry. arXiv preprint arXiv:1806.03417.
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