Coles: Applying System Thinking to Retail Industry Problems Analysis

This report analyzes the challenges faced by Coles in the retail industry, focusing on the application of system thinking to identify and address the problems. The assignment critiques the existing approach, highlighting the need for a more holistic and systemic investigation of the issues. It emphasizes the importance of tools like rich pictures and system maps for a comprehensive understanding of the problems. The report suggests that a system thinking approach can provide effective solutions to the declining profits and increased competition faced by Coles. It recommends a broader perspective to analyze the problems and propose solutions that minimize adverse impacts on the company. The report also references relevant literature to support its arguments.

Running head: CRITIQUE
Part B
Critique
As per the assignment written by Ibrahim Adeyinka Babalola, it shows that the retail
industry, Coles, has been facing a lot of problems. It always remains circulated with a list of
problems which are never ending and has been noticing a sharp decline in making profit (Crowe,
2017). The company is also facing a lot of competition from the new arising competitors within
the respective industry. Even the base of the customer is also shrinking. Hence, it is clearly
showing that there are enough problems which are needed to be solved immediately by using a
proper technique of system thinking. The holistic approach which is mentioned only allows for a
consideration of the broader set of problems. Only consideration cannot bring a holistic approach
for sorting out the rising problems (Offor & Cleveland, 2018). A great strategy has to be find out
by using several techniques of system thinking and try to solve the problem. In this case, only a
system thinking approach will provide help in a systemic investigation to the adverse effects of
the problem and provide alternative solutions for bringing out the appropriate solution. In this
assignment, only the tools and the techniques like rich pictures, system maps or spray diagrams
are mentioned but not a single is implemented for describing the situation. In this scenario, a rich
picture might help in describing the situation so that an appropriate solution is brought out
(Mjema, 2018). Therefore, finally a more holistic approach is to be brought out so that the
proposed study envy a bigger picture of the situation of the problem which are seen to be faced
by the company Coles, thereby finding proper solutions which have low adverse effect or impact
on the mentioned company.

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References
Crowe, J. (2017). An Integrated Retail Supply Chain Risk Management Framework: A System
Thinking Approach.
Mjema, E. A. M. (2018). A SYSTEM THINKING APPROACHING MAINTENANCE,
PRODUCTION AND QUALITY. Tanzania Journal of Engineering and
Technology, 26(2).
Offor, P., & Cleveland, S. (2018). Ontological Analysis of An ERP Implementation Success and
Education: A Critical System Thinking Approach. International Journal of Smart
Education and Urban Society (IJSEUS), 9(3), 52-67.

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