This is an operational enhancement pursuant to Simple Store initiatives. The SGM position will be going away in a few districts as a pilot program and then eventually rolled out to the rest, in favor of having one manager in charge of two stores. When the company wide rollout happens, I don't know, because this is still in the planning phase. Stores that are a "considerable distance" from another will retain the SGM position until further notice.
Demotions/reassignments and/or layoffs TBD. LBS (location balanced scorecard), performance and length of service have been discussed at the meeting as the potential guidelines on which SGM of the two neighboring stores will be kept.
This has been tested with the Kmart format in a few of their districts. It is now in the works for Sears. Keep in mind at this time that this program will not roll out to every store, as of right now a only couple of districts in will be selected as a pilot store (and even still only a few stores in those districts will actually participate in this program).