Excerpt from Research Paper :

¶ … Mission and Vision Statements and the Company's Strategic Direction Mission/Vision/Strategic Dissection

Research the challenges the organization is facing consider the objectives the organization has established for revitalization;

Evaluate the mission and vision statements to determine whether these statements align with the objectives of the organization (this requires research to identify new objectives);

Mission Statement & Vision Characteristics

Comparison Article & Mission Statement

Mission Statement Critique

Quality products & services

Broad in scope

Increased differentiation through marketing portals

Great value for customers

Are dynamic in orientation

Provided where & when customers want products & services

Finely balanced between specificity & generality

This objective is achieved

Build positive, lasting relationships with customers

Arouse positive feelings & emotions

Shop Your Way and FitStudio

Be a preferred & trusted resource for products & services

Generate the impression that the firm is successful, has direction, and is worthy of time, support, and investment

Genius Award and online successes promote the desirable image for Sears

Enhance customers' home & family life

Provide criteria for selecting strategies

Sears Holdings Mission Statement:

"To grow our business by providing quality products and services at great value when and where our customers want them, and by building positive, lasting relationships with our customers."

Sears Holdings Vision Statement:

"To be the preferred and most trusted resource for the products and services that enhance home and family life."

Part 2:

Analysis of the Strategies of Sears Holdings

Company Background. The Sears Holdings company was founded in 1899, and developed into a diversified specialty retailer that became a North American feature store. Two well-known subsidiaries -- Kmart Holding Corporation and Sears, Roebuck and Company -- are operated in the United States, while Sears Canada is 95%-owned subsidiary...

The headquarters for Sears Holding company is located in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. As of January 31, 2015, the domestic Sears segment was operating operated 717 full-line stores located across 50 states and Puerto Rico. The company is currently underwater with a profit margin (ttm) of -5.39%, an operating margin (ttm) of -4.59%, -5.68%, and return on equity (ttm) standing at -292.41% Company Background. The Sears Holdings company was founded in 1899, and developed into a diversified specialty retailer that became a North American feature store. Two well-known subsidiaries -- Kmart Holding Corporation and Sears, Roebuck and Company -- are operated in the United States, while Sears Canada is 95%-owned subsidiary in Canada. The headquarters for Sears Holdings is located in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. As of January 31, 2015, the domestic Sears segment was operating operated 717 full-line stores located across 50 states and Puerto Rico. The company is currently underwater with a profit margin (ttm) of -5.39%, an operating margin (ttm) of -4.59%, return on assets at -5.68%, and return on equity (ttm) standing at -292.41%.

After many years of struggle, Sears Holdings reported an Adjusted EBITDA in the fourth quarter of 2014. The company was encouraged by the year over year improvement and anticipates that the positive trend will carry forward into the full year results for 2015. Several strategies were mentioned in association with this positive earnings report, including the following: 1) Focusing on the best performing stores; 2) rewarding the best members; and 3) pursuing the best retail categories. The strategies are held out as a promise to transform Sears Holdings, bringing it back to a position of a retail leader, with the additional attribute of an integrated membership-focused enterprise.

Corporate Level Strategies

Sears Holdings is a mature company and many of the brands sold by the company are far along in the product lifecycle. The primary corporate level strategy that Sears Holdings has pursued is horizontal integration. The strategies employed by Sears are best analyzed as a component of the chain of events experienced by Kmart as it repeatedly…