Merch should have been the first to downsize ! Educate me on the difference between buying underwear, socks, pantyhose, and ... clock radios? Negotiate the cheapest cost, set a margin.. if you can't sell it, you're out !! Do you actually need 20 people to predict demand on fruit of the loom tightie-whities?
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Ba's workload depends on the area. In grocery, i worked 35-40 hours/wk. in my new area with import, it's been 60+. My entire team is stretched way too thin. I would love some better systems and more helpful partners (TSS and mpd, I'm looking at you) in order to get the job done more efficiently. I haven't had a coffee or gtky in 8 months.
Anonymous73644, don't you think that better systems or more laborious parts of the SS job could go to TI just as easily? By your own analysis, the outdated systems created extra work. Should Target improve IT, both internally and externally, the SS job could be redundant just as fast, if not faster, than the TSS BA.
Yes, there are TSS BAs that aren't very busy. Yes, some of those jobs could be consolidated so TSS BA supports more departments or even sits next to the MP BA.
There are also many, many PMs and SPMs that are also not very busy, which is probably why Brian decided to reduce headcount across the organization.
TSS BA role is a Joke. They feel entitled and do nothing to support the SS nor Pm roles. They bearly work 20 hours a week. If they are not web surfing, they at coffees, getting water, networking, everything but supporting the business. The poor SS's are over worked updating unproductive systems, item setup, validating po, tracking shipments and samples.
BA's put more effort into FFF events then putting a little more effort and time into iniciatives aimed at saving the company money. They are rude, self-centered, and annoying ingrates.
as a current ba in MP and former tss ba, i completely disagree with most of this thread. MP ba's are overworked and stretched too thin as it is. if anything should be eliminated, it is MPD. they literally do nothing except put things in ROY-G-BIV order like a rainbow and then send what the MPBA's do to TI
Both merch and TSS are overstaffed. PM roles are a joke as the buyers could work directly with the TSS teams overseas - many PMs should be eliminated. Some buyer work can be shifted to category managers.
If they automate more of merch BA role, then could cut both types of BAs. As TSS BA, you remind the merch BA to do his/her shit (calendar reminders, statuses, notes to MP manager) and then the merch BA doesn't hit deadlines and feigns ignorance as to why it takes more than 2 weeks for a shitty factory in China to manufacture the product and have it in stores. Because merch BA couldn't get his/her orders done, then TSS BA is yelled at by shady Chinese factories (lots of red bold emails). Product doesn't arrive on time, merch BA is put on corrective action plan for messing up. And the cycle starts all over again.
Don't worry, merch BA spent time statusing, having Starbucks, leaving early for HH. Make merch BA work more automated (i.e. more automated forecasting/OTB process) and you could eliminate half of both types of BAs. And, yes, I've done both jobs.
Could they do without a SS or PM? Send the work to TI or distribute it between BA or Buyer?
So much over staffing in merch/tss it's crazy. Not as bad as TTS though. I once heard a ba complain about working a 45 hr week.
My guess is the pain will be felt most in those two areas.
I'm a TSS BA, and I agree that our function is pretty ambiguous. If vendors/MR communicated directly with the MPBAs, the leftover scraps of workload could be easily picked up by SS and PM. Oh, and I agree that SPM's are useless. I've been in sourcing for 3 years and I have no idea what they actually do. Write reviews? Work on random projects? I don't get it.
How about sourcing? What exactly does a TSS BA do all day? How about a PM? SPM?
Sourcing just yells at vendors and travels the world instagram-ing how great first class is and posting photos of themselves drinking. How to get vendor of the year? Be located somewhere the sourcing team hasn't been yet. Embarrassing.
I would agree with the OP, from the perspective of separate buyers for Stores vs Target.com. To me, that seems excessive.
Correct,73440. And realizing the company already has alot of automation (that is not being used) and therefore doesn't need the large teams of people. It was those same leaders who spent 5 days a week in the Great Hall, statusing and GTKY's.... You know who you are !! Pompous, Holier than thou KMG-level !!
this company is already down
Target uses people for things that are automated at other companies.
This is what is going to happen for the next two years! The beginning of a "pack" mentality, "That my department is vital, and yours is not". That kind of petty mindset could bring the company down.
Why? Why? Why? You provide no supporting facts here!!!