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 Group Proposal  **Group Members:** Mahnoor Aziz – 995338086 – mahnoor.aziz@utoronto.ca Shivani Handa –995862099 – shivani.handa@utoronto.ca Melissa Gonsalves – 996197128 – melissa.gonsalves@utoronto.ca Hrishikesh Rajan – 996328040 – hrishi11@hotmail.com        (change to utoronto) 
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 * Citation Style:** MLA


 * Project Title:** Best Buy and Its Information Systems

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <span style="font-size: 80%; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">a) Best Buy Inc. is the largest retailer of consumer electronics in the United States, Canada, China and Mexico. Best Buy is known for its proficiency in delivering customer service and its performance in the market.
 * Indication of Topic:** Focus on The Organization
 * Situation Analysis **

<span style="font-size: 80%; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">b) Best Buy uses various technologies that contribute to its efficiency and overall performance. Their revered services have garnered a large customer base and in order for Best Buy to maintain their business and success they use several technology systems. We will be focusing on the following combination of systems:   >>       >>    <span style="font-size: 80%; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">   <span style="font-size: 80%; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">c) The Best Buy website operates as an online mediator between Best Buy’s products and their customers. The website allows customers to browse, view or purchase products. Furthermore, it offers information on the company that users can easily access. <span style="font-size: 80%; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <span style="font-size: 80%; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Best Buy offers its customers special reward, gift, and VISA cards
 * <span style="font-size: 80%; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Online services offered on the Best Buy website
 * <span style="font-size: 80%; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Ordering and purchasing products online
 * <span style="font-size: 80%; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In-store pick-up
 * <span style="font-size: 80%; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Stock check
 * <span style="font-size: 80%; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Store Locator
 * <span style="font-size: 80%; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Best buy reward cards/gift cards/VISA cards
 * <span style="font-size: 80%; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Intranet database
 * <span style="font-size: 80%; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Inventory
 * <span style="font-size: 80%; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Price check and matching
 * <span style="font-size: 80%; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Store Transfers
 * <span style="font-size: 80%; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Employee equipment
 * <span style="font-size: 80%; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Self-scanners
 * <span style="font-size: 80%; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">   Automatic printing

d) The organization is internally linked through a sophisticated network of computers which makes it fast and easy to check in stock products at different stores and warehouses. This contributes significantly towards the intranet database systems, where the employees are able to check inventories and allow stock transfers.

e) The external environment that Best Buy works in is highly competitive. Some of the leading competitors of best buy in terms of consumer electronic sales are Wall Mart, Dell, RadioShack, Henry's, Sears, Staples, Sony etc.Previously, Future Shop was one of the leading competitors of Best Buy. However, acquiring Future Shop in 2001 marked Best Buy's entrance in to the international market. The competitors of Best Buy use more or less the same network systems and technologies that Best Buy relies on. However, Best Buy has many unique attributes that add to the company's competitive advantage. For example, the Geek Squad is a 24 hour computer support workforce. They provide in-store services during store business hours. Another example is the Automatic Printing offered to employees. This is a different strategy used in Best Buy which has not yet been used in any other stores.

f) The accounting team at Best Buy Canada has implemented a program of ongoing self-improvement and measurement. Known as Evergreen, it comprises eight strategies and their related measurements, including account reconciliations, U.S. standard operating procedures and accounting documentation, account simplification, consistency with U.S. accounting and financial statement presentation, streamlining processes, and the training of associates. "Evergreen can be described as a vision, a set of values, performance standards and guiding principles all rolled into one" To meet and beat world-class standards, Best Buy has committed to building a brand of world-class accountants and finance professionals. the company's philosophy sees employees at all levels buy into the corporate goals. And, sure enough, anyone touring the huge Burnaby headquarters will notice that Best Buy is a company that keeps score. The four values are: show respect, humility and integrity; have fun while being the best; learn from challenge and change; and unleash the power of our people. Best Buy Canada and its people are certainly profiting by them.

one of the long term goals of best buy is reduction of carbon emissions, stating its intention to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 8 percent per square foot by 2012, in all of its retail stores as well as corporate headquarters and other facilities. The retail giant plans to meet this goal by placing high efficiency lighting any skylights in new stores, as well as installing them in some existing stores This commitment to reduce emissions signals their willingness to invest in even more efficient operations today, which will save money over time and help them to meet the expectations of their customers, employees, and shareholders, which infact is their ultimate goal.
 * Best Buy Announces Carbon Emission Goals **