The Home Depot vs. Lowe’s
AIU Online
MGMT499-1302A-06
June 2, 2013
Abstract
This research paper will compare and contrast two organizations in the same industry. There will be analysis on the two organizations’ elements of business. This includes the basic legal, social, and economic environment, the managerial, operational, and financial issues impacting the organizations, and an analysis on the impact of potential change factors.
The two organizations in the same industry that will be compared and contrasted are The Home Depot and Lowe’s. The Home Depot and Lowe’s are both clearly success stories, with 4,000 stores between them. Although the two organizations are in the same industry they have both are able to succeed because they have solidified distinctly different images that appeal to different customer segment. Both The Home Depot and Lowe’s companies operate in a basic legal, social, and economic environment.
Legal Environment
The Home Depot’s legal environment operates under various rules, regulations, and laws that are imposed by the local and international governments (“External Analysis of The Home Depot”, n.d.). The Home Depot company business units, specifically where the integrated processes related to the business are conducted, are also issues to several laws relating to the protection of the environment (“External Analysis of The Home Depot”, n.d.). Lowe’s is issues to a number of laws and regulations enforced at state, federal and local level to it and these laws are subject to change over time (“External Analysis of Lowe’s”, n.d.). Lowe’s legal environment can have a significant impact on the company and its operations (directly or indirectly) due to their laws being subject to change over time.
Social Environment Lowe’s effectively takes part in the community, the company has a long history of supporting local communities, and
References: External Analysis of Lowe’s Companies Inc. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://docs.google.com/document/d/12pwPwt0fcBkteaoUJhLoNnZLyR6PFC19keiVH9Gi_Ts/preview?pli=1# External Analysis of The Home Depot Inc. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://docs.google.com/document/d/1yEEWcodi0o52GB6QeKL8sUL0gRBFAHGREv6ilQpp2uw/edit?sort=name&layout=list&pid=0B9-eFEl2RA49NTA3ZTFjYjgtZjU0Ny00ZjI2LTkzNWMtYWEyMTUzNTZlZjBk&cindex=6&pli=1 Home Depot tries to get back to basics. (2007). Leaders We Deserve. Retrieved from http://leaderswedeserve.wordpress.com/category/frank-blake/ Learning and Developing. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://careers.lowes.com/training.aspx Living Our Values. (n.d.). The Home Depot. Retrieved from http://careers.homedepot.com/our-culture/our-values.html Our Vision and Values. (n.d.). Lowe’s. Retrieved from http://www.lowes.com/cd_Our+Vision+and+Values_671793447_