QUESTION $1$

$(20$ Marks$)$

Reflect on the observation below and answer the following questions.

While the article highlights the financial underperformance of Pickn Pay as the group's primary chalenge, it is Gareth Ackerman's statement, Charman of Pick n Pay, that points to the root of the issue: $"$It was distressing to find that operational changes over many years had caused the core business to decline to its position at the end of the $2024$ frimancial year"

$1\mathrm{.}1.$ Critically discuss how effective integration and algrment across the three $(3)$ major functional areas $-$finance, operations, and marketing$-$and across ther supporting functions, impacts overall

$(10$ Marks$)$

organisational performance. Your discussion should infegrate theoretical perspectives from operations management liferature and provide detailed supporting information from the article to demonstrate how these inserrelationships have influenced Pick n Pay's current stuation.