New Product Manager
After Lululemon suffered from a negative brand image as well as public embarrassment due to the sheer pant recall, the company needed a way to improve their reputation and their products. Hoping to diminish the effects from the sheer yoga pant snafu, Lululemon takes a step forward by hiring a new product manager.
The company went through damage control and hired executive 
, president of Kmart Apparel. Since Poseley has previous professional experience, the company believed she would help revive the company’s reputation.
Current CEO Christine Day raves of the company’s new chief product officer:
“[Ms. Poseley’s] proven track record in product allocation and planning will help us to maximize the productivity of each Lululemon store,” Ms. Day added. “We have greatly fortified our product engine and execution capabilities, an investment in the business that will pay dividends as we pursue new growth opportunities.”
Lululemon demonstrated the use of Systems Theory in an attempt refresh the public’s viewpoints.
After the former chief product officer Sheree Waterson quickly vacated her position and news of the current CEO seeking a replacement, the retailer’s shares suffered. Their environment seemed to be breaking down and Lululemon needed to rebuild it.
The company needed to find equilibrium between the organization and its publics. They had to adapt their product in order to please their consumers, they had to do major damage control. Their initial action was to hire a new officer to oversee product management.
Four elements can be seen in the Systems Theory that help breakdown the issues within a company:
- Input: Information proved the company had too sheer of yoga pants and the consumers were not pleased
- Throughput: Understanding that the company needs to change their product and the way their products are being produced, including who oversees the production
- Output: Organization recalled the sheer yoga pants, hired a new chief product officer, and is currently seeking a new CEO in order to restore the equilibrium between the company and the public
- Feedback: Lululemon is still in the process of bouncing back. There are still complaints about the pants being too sheer and the perishable quality of the seams for how much the product the cost. The company is also still trying to increase their stock sales
The company’s first actions to improve their yoga pant and their brand image was not successful and the company is continuing to better their status to their reputable name they once endured. After the initial sheer pant issue, the yoga pants continued to be see through, displeasing customers even more.
The company’s stakeholders include the organization, the CEO, other executive positions, as well as their consumers. Lululemon is still in the process of damage control to revitalize their name, hire successful and innovative officers, and ultimately please their customers once again.
By: Mollie Norin
Sources:
http://faculty.buffalostate.edu/smithrd/PR/systems.htm
http://www.nbcnews.com/business/trying-put-yoga-pants-snafu-behind-it-lululemon-hires-new-8C11497826