week 5

I’ve been noticing a few leadership theories at play this week – specifically the implicit theory of leadership, and have been wondering if perhaps that has led to a bit of stagnation within the company. To begin, I have noticed that the system we use to keep track of all our orders and returns throughout the year, is quite outdated. It is difficult to use, and is often circuitous. So, because of this, its slowness and lack of user control, creates a bit of a lapse in business. I think it would be hugely beneficial for the company to upgrade, both to business and to the individual employees. There are a few new hires and I have noticed that the amount of time it takes to explain the system, and then for them to actually understand it – is excessive (and therefore detracts from their potential productivity, and perhaps even discourages them in some way.) Another place where there is lost efficiency I noted through my personal project. I have been focusing on returns due to negative customer experiences (looking to find ways to improve and/or eliminate them) and noticed that returns are not very well kept track of. When I mentioned this to my supervisor, he was candid about what he thinks the experience in the warehouse is – that they are more focused on getting inventory out than getting it in. But when tabs are not kept on inventory that leaves a lot of unknowns- in terms of inventory and even performance of specific pieces. Not to mention that if you aren’t aware of these piles of returns and you end up sitting on excess inventory that doesn’t look good on financials. All in all, I am still enjoying my time at Free People and like the work I’m doing, but now that I am really immersed in the company and diving deeper, I can see room for improvement. I think all the leaders at the company also have enough idiosyncrasy credit that if they were to deviate from these norms (that have been in place for a very long time ) it would be welcomed by the employees.