what do rate first in retail operations - 'PROCESS' ,' PEOPLE'

Process Ofcourse!!! Becoz its The Working Pattern Strategically developed by the company for its smooth, efficient & effective functioning to gain more profit where as people in the process involved are not always guaranteed to be in the process...But with right person at right place during its operations as without these two things together The Process & People related will not be Successful & Vice-versa!!!

People come & go away from company while company & process remains at its place with amendments in process according to demanded situations...People who rate themselves 1st before process lead to failure, as they only think about their importance in the process 'n company & ultimately loose focus while people who rate company & its process before them work for better of the company and try to make process successful and if company gains out of it, it will also result in the progress of people who are associated with it...

Company & processes are by the people, to the people & for the people but if the process fails will lead to the failure of the Company's Objectives which will lead to Company's failure then where the people will go if company fails. So Company & its Processes stand first as it covers the Risks and Interests of associated people...

Process is one thing which is developed by people, once the business grows we need to advance our processes to sustain the bulk of business, so on both ends it is the people who are more important. We have many processes like ERP, ARS etc. but at some stage it is the people who monitor and control these. Again only process has no use if it is not implemented to achieve the objectives and that implementation will again be done by the PEOPLE.

If , People were so important then PROCESS - Why countries like JAPAN,KOREA,CHINA,US,SINGAPORE always talk about JUST in Time (JIT),Lean,Six Sigma,ERP,SAP implementation etc ? Why all these process system is being implemented in service industries too,being so these are meant for Manufacturing industry?

Can Anyone share a name of  Top 200 Fortune companies in world which doesn't work without PROCESS SYSTEM. Please remember,PEOPLE COME & LEAVE COMPANY,BUT PROCESS NEVER.If any company grows or ahead of other competitors by BRAND VALUE,PROFITS and Customer loyalty,its due to Strong Process system.Ofcourse people do matter but not before process.

If any retail company wants to outclass and offlate their competitors than they have to strenghten their Process system which automatically bound people in company to maximise there output.Good process always SAVES :-) Costs & Waste + Expense minimizing + Time + Loss + Reduce Mistakes etc.Whereas,People do make mistake + Over Expenditure + Become little "Chalta Hai" attitude + Less profit driven then their Salary driven etc.Retail organisation work on very high toes and very thin margin.Every new season merchandise changes,products & requirment changes.Process can save money,time & people efficiency,which will result in better result.Today,if WAL-MART is on top of the world,its only because People are Driven by strong process.........

regards.............Rajeev Jha

Dear Shailena ji,

At present, ii is process driving people. Whereas it should be " people in the driver's seat".

Todays' retail is sector s what IT sector was before 5 years. It was more hype and less substance. The decisions are driven by passions and sentiments rather than market analysis and projections.

The present players in this field will face many speed breakers, diversions, U-turns and blockages. Then it will come to settle at it's real level

Off course it is peoples, who makes the process. Without good manpower resources it is diificult to follow even a full proof system.As we say "3m" Man, Machine and method. So people should always to be rated first.

In a service business marketing cannot operate successfully in isolation from other functions. Service firms must understand the implications of the 8Ps of integrated service management to develop effective strategies. Managers need to be concerned about giving good value to customers and treating them fairly in decisions involving all elements of the 8 Ps.

If the PROCESS is right PEOPLE cant go WRONG! Thats my belief. There has to be a process for everything. Even when you are doing a small job like sweeping your house the process of cleaning has to be complete. What?? How?? Where is decided, who will come automatically. It is a process dreiven industry today and people have to follow procedures! :)

Even I agree iwth you Shailena, people are at the top of the piramyd, always as they are the main source of capital for the any business to run. A business needs a customer and so people gets first priority than any other "P".

Well shailena !! I do agree with you when you highlight the levity of the relationship of these 3 p'S....I wonder the importance , their ranking  in a system could be more based on their indispensiblity..meaning anytime a person can be replaced by a equally competent/ more competent person...but a effective PROCESS stands very critical as at no  given point it can be replaced..though corrected, improved..considering the dyanamics...Noways can we discount ceratin skill sert that certain person carries.. which may make him indispensible BUT THEN TRAINING IS SOMETHING CAN BE UTILISED TO HONE THE SKILL IN A PERSON ACCORDING TO THE REQUIREMENT.....

SO I PERCIEVE THAT A PROCESS NEEDS TO BE RANKED BEFORE PEOPLE.......WAT SAY ??