Controlling Your Business
Assignment – Critical Evaluation of Burberry LTD
Focussed on Human Resources, Information Management and Knowledge Management.
Amy Lawrence
601635
BSc. Business Communications
Tutors: Mike Swain and Gwenda Mynott
Contents Introduction 2 Burberry Limited 2 Human Resource Management 3 Information Management 3 Knowledge Management 4 Conclusion 5 Bibliography 6
Introduction
Considering the impact of Burberrys closure of its Wales plant at Treorchy, Rhondda, and plans to relocate to China this report considers the impact to Human Resources, Information Management and Knowledge Management. Extensive research into the closure from media coverage at the time paints an unfavourable picture of Burberry and their decision and attitudes towards the closure and the unavoidable effects on the 300 workers whose employment was to be terminated. Through discussion of the Human Resource function this report evaluates what processes will be completed during the relocation and how information can successfully be managed. Furthermore considering how using knowledge management strategies facilitated Burberry in transferring knowledge from Rhondda, Wales to China.
Burberry Limited
Burberry Limited founded in 1856 by Thomas Burberry is a designer clothing retailer, opening his first store in Basingstoke, Hampshire, England. The iconic Burberry check was created in the 1920s and used as a lining in its world famous trench coats. Burberry was an independent company until 1955, when it was taken over by Great Universal Stores (GUS). Burberry Group plc was initially floated on the London Stock Exchange in July 2002. GUS divested its remaining interest in Burberry in December 2005. Burberry is well-known for using British celebrities in its advertising. In 2006 Rose Marie Bravo, who as Chief Executive had led Burberry to mass market success, retired. She was replaced by current CEO Angela Ahrendts. In March 2011
Bibliography: ACKERMAN, M., PIPEK, V., & WULF, V. (2003). Sharing Expertise Beyond Knowledge Management. [e-book] MIT Press. Available through : Liverpool John Moores University website <http://www.ljmu.ac.uk/lea/index.htm> [Accessed on 10.12.2011] BBC, 2006. Hollywood star in Burberry Battle. BBC News, [online] (Last updated 19th September 2006) Available at: <http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/5361162.stm> [Accessed on 05.12.2011] BBC, 2007, Burberry royal status under fire, BBC News, [online] (Last updated Tuesday 23rd January 2007, 15:40 GMT) Available at: <http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/6289007.stm> CHAFFEY, D., & WOOD, S. (2005). Business information management improving performance using information systems. Harlow [etc.], Financial Times Prentice Hall. [Accessed on 05.12.2011] FLETCHER, R., 2007, Union forces Burberry to pull out of Baftas [Accessed on 05.12.2011] LUCK, A., 2007