Internal Job Alignment, Essay Example

The second part of this job case study involves providing an internal job alignment in which looks further at the job description of Bill Packer, an inventory management specialist at Wal-Mart. For the first part of the case study, it involved interviewing Mr. Packer on his job, the company, Wal-Mart, and the role he and his company plays in HR and market competitiveness. Based on the information given from Mr. Packer in the interview, “I am an inventory management specialist, which means I oversee the mastery list of inventory for all the merchandise in the store. I am in charge of ordering, storing, and monitoring inventory, equipment, and digital records used in inventory for the store. I have to review constantly, maintain, and establish relationships with outside service providers and vendors.” (Mr. Packer Interview, Job Case Study Part 1)

Job Description

Using this information the job description for the inventory management specialist system requires the qualifications of: a highly experienced or educated individual that holds a bachelor’s degree or higher in business, mathematics, or engineering. The job requires a hand on experience that will be spent physically counting items, and pay particular interest to manage Wal-Mart’s goods and services. The job duties and responsibilities include, managing orders, monitors, and stores all inventory and parts that are needed by Wal-Mart store. The management of inventory will include inventory and parts in the warehouse, and in Wal-Mart store. The position will monitor the intake of the parts in order to maintain the equipment used, and keeps an electronic record of all inventory to verify requested parts, and job processes. Other duties for the role include maintaining the computerized inventory system, determining the requirements for purchase, coordinating specifications, solicitations, analyzing proposed bids, and recommending rewards for the bids. The position includes reviewing and processing requisitions, which establishes and maintains positive and profitable relationships with outside services and vendors. Past job experience in inventory management, as well as supervisory experience in high volume businesses. The job skills needed include aptitude for multi-tasking, management, high level of math, and capable of working the entire Microsoft Office Suite.

Much of the information in creating a job description was taken from an interview with Mr. Packer and his description on his role at Wal-Mart. Other additional sources helping to shape the description includes Wal-Mart Careers website, Ehow.com, as well as Jobing.com, and Yahoo! Small Business Advisor. Their information was useful in trying to determine the skills necessary as well as the education needed in qualifying for the position of inventory management specialist. The job analysis is a good explanation or list of requirements needed on being a leader in the role, and knowing that the job will require skills that includes mathematics, computer, memorization (or at least can keep a good record), and organization.

This method of data collection was the most sensible, as it took information from the Mr. Packer, the individual that actually works in the job description, and as well as internet sources that provided job descriptions on the position. Using the interview provided first-hand knowledge, and perspective on the job that is being analyzed. For a person that works in the role their perspective on what they have to do is significant to forming a more authentic job description of the position. The internet searches are also the most beneficial, as you are able to use Wal-Mart, a company in which Mr. Packer works in, actual job description. No other source would be more lucrative than going to the direct employer for the position. Other job sites such as Jobing.com also provide a good job analysis that makes it more understanding to the potential employees. They also have information on day to day activities, the job responsibilities in merchandising, the skills and requirements, the interaction with people, and their importance in the organizational structure. (Jobing.com, 2014)  The information collected provides a better outlook and the requirements needed in providing a clearer description to qualifying for the position. Ehow also provides a good measure of warning if the person is not the right fit for the role, “Either way, mismanaging inventory duties can shut down operations and cause a loss of revenue.” (Ehow, 2014) In hindsight, this is still the most useful way in collecting data information. There are other job sites that provide a description on the job that includes Glassdoor.com or Indeed.com that might provide more or the same information, as well as salary ranges for individuals that are employed in this position. There are no other plausible methods that would seem reasonable than going to the direct sources for a job analysis.

What was learned in creating this job analysis is the skills and qualifications that are necessary in a high level job where skills, experiences, and success in education is needed to excel in organizations such as Wal-Mart. Also learned, is in providing a job description, trying to create a job summary on an important job where management is necessary requires finesse in saying a lot while writing a little. While not everything can be included in a job description giving an overview of what is required and what is needed is necessary in conveying to the potential candidate if they are right fit for the company. The job analysis is also necessary in examining where their job fits in the organizational structure, as well as how valuable it is to the market.

For the organizational structure (see below), was gathered from an internet search of Wal-Mart’s organizational structure which provided information from various sources including Wikipedia, Wal-Mart, and Forbes. However, the information utilizes for a job description such as Wal-Mart and Jobbing.com provide more comprehensive information that details where internally the position stands. Using the various information available, it provided the data needed to create a verifiable organizational structure chart that details where Mr. Packer’s position falls in line with the rest of the company. Looking at the internal alignment, Mr. Packer is far from entry level position. In fact his job role is on the level of recognized authority, a higher level of pay structure, and competencies needed to qualify for the job position. Wal-Mart’s organizational structure is based on a bureaucratic and formal structure that is constantly being altered. Using the information from Wal-Mart, the company has identified seven different organization structures, in which each is set up as the top-down approach where categorizes each department and their relations that achieves the highest level of production. The structures are divided into: Retail Operations, Corporate, Healthcare, Transportation, and Logistics Group. Wal-Mart provides a comprehensive structure that details the importance of each position in their individual stores.

References

Ehow Contributor. (2014). Inventory Control Job Description & Duties. Ehow. Retrieved from http://www.ehow.com/about_5494754_inventory-control-job-description-duties.html

Job: Inventory Control Specialist Team Supervisor 2nd shift. (2014). Jobing.com. Retrieved from http://denver.jobing.com/inventory-control-specialist-team-supervisor-2nd-shift/job/1864442

Our Business. (2014). Wal-Mart. Retrieved from http://corporate.walmart.com/our-story/our-business/

Parker, Bill. (2014). Job Interview. Job Case Study Part 1 The Job, Industry and Market Competitiveness.

Store & Club Management Jobs. (2014). Wal-Mart. Retrieved from http://careers.walmart.com/career-areas/retail-operations/store-club-management-jobs/

Wal-Mart Individual Store. (2014). Cog-Map. Retrieved from http://www.cogmap.com/chart/wal-mart-individual-store