Fiji Water A comprehensive analysis

Executive summary The main idea behind entrepreneurship is the production of goods and services that perform well in their respective markets, thus creating opportunities for optimum financial gains for the entrepreneurs. However, the development of such products and services requires the fulfilment of certain specific conditions to ensure that the goods or services gain acceptance in the market coupled with developing and remaining relevant even as trends in the market change.Advertising We will write a custom case study sample on Fiji Water: A comprehensive analysis specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More As exciting as the launching of such products and services may be, the process of ensuring that they get to the intended consumers while elevating profit levels is not without its challenges. This paper looks at an example of these aspects through a case study regarding Fiji Water and its manufacturing company. The paper is analytical in nature and it displays some of the aspects that make the product unique and relevant in the market, some of the challenges that the product’s company encounters, how the company has dealt with the challenges in the past, as well as challenges that it currently faces, and possible solutions to its presenting problems. It also provides a possible contingency plan in case such solutions do not prove fruitful. Fiji Water: Situational assessment Fiji Water is a bottled water brand from Fiji that sells artesian water containing silica, which is a mineral renowned for its anti-aging and rejuvenation properties. Although the product’s launch market was Fiji, it has gained international acclamation through its distribution to other countries including the United States, Canada, and Australia. Due to such widespread recognition, the products market is vast and dynamic, thus enabling more sales and reaching consumers than the company had earlier anticipated. Although this ele ment has positive implications regarding financial gain, the vastness of the market also means that the product faces competition from numerous other companies selling similar products. Bottled water is an alternative product, as opposed to supplementary products such as most fast foods that accompany the consumption of soft drinks. As such, Fiji water faces competition from various local brands that sell similar products in different countries. For instance, in the United States, the brand goes against local brands such as Ice Mountain, Deer Park, Arrowhead, and Poland Spring. In addition, the brand’s classification in the same category as soft drinks puts it in the same pool as renowned brands such as Coca Cola and PepsiCo, both of which have an established clientele worldwide. These two companies are part of the few in the world that enjoy a form of monopoly in the soft drinks department. Such monopoly has created a challenge for Fiji Water to curve a niche in the market a nd become relevant.Advertising Looking for case study on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Certain attributes of the product have enabled it to stand out thus giving it a competitive edge against others in its category. First, the quality of Fiji water has enabled it to gain and maintain approval from consumers and distributors alike. Unlike most other mineral water brands, Fiji water contains light mineralisation and its artesian quality gives it a clean crisp taste that enables consumers to feel the purity of the product. In addition, unlike most other brands that are bottled at cold mountainous regions, Fiji Water comes from a tropical region, thus giving it a sense of exotic luxury, which is refreshing for the consumers. Good quality ensures that consumers repurchase a product in the future and market it to other potential customers through the word of mouth. Secondly, the uniqueness of its packaging ens ures that consumers are in a position to distinguish the product from others on sight when shopping for bottled water. When the company introduced its brand, especially in the American market, the majority of other brands of bottled water were bottled with paper labels bearing conservative colours. In order to ensure that people shopping for bottled water would immediately spot Fiji water, the packaging company, Fiji Water LLC, packaged the product in square bottles with brightly coloured labels bearing three-dimensional graphics that were stylishly attractive and easy on the eyes. This bold move ensured that people noticed the product first as retailers lined it up with other brands on shelves in supermarkets and convenience stores and that they would easily recognise it when going for future purchases. The marketing and strategy for the product also set it apart from the rest of the brands. For instance, in the United States, the product was distributed to wholesale as well as ret ail stores in strategic cities such as Los Angeles and Miami. In order to reach a wider market, the company supplied the product to big strategic outlets as well as small retail outlets such as drug stores and gas stations, thus ensuring a wide reach and more objective response. In 2005, the brand had distribution in over 400 Cole’s supermarkets. The bottles also bore a series of unique phrases that created awareness about the product’s origin and quality, such as â€Å"bottled in Fiji† and â€Å"what ecosystem is your water†. The trend with regard to consumption of bottled water is that people perceive it as a â€Å"cool† or â€Å"trendy† drink. People have made it â€Å"fashionable† to drink bottled water, hence giving it a sense of prestige and luxury. The marketing team for Fiji Water took advantage of this concept in the pricing by ensuring that the price range is suitable enough to fall into the same category with products from beverage giants such as Coca Cola and PepsiCo, yet low enough to provide an affordable alternative for such other high quality brands. Research shows that consumers would rather pay extra for a good quality product than buy a cheap bad quality product.Advertising We will write a custom case study sample on Fiji Water: A comprehensive analysis specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In the marketing and distribution of a product, it is important to consider the regulatory framework that governments apply in various countries in order to facilitate the estimation of profitability. For instance, it is important to research on taxation policies and ensure that they favour the company before embarking on a business in a given country. Some countries impose high importation duties in order to facilitate local production of certain products while others keep the taxes affordable to encourage importation and facilitate reduction in prices on sp ecific products in a country. In instances where the import duty is high, the determinant factor would be the demand for the product, thus laying the basis on whether the sale of the product in such a country offsets the costs incurred during importation. For instance, during the early years of production of Fiji Water in Fiji, the government of Fiji, upon realisation of the impact the company had on the economy, decided to raise its taxes on exportation of bottled water in order to gain from the venture. However, due to the influence that the company had and the high employment rates it had created in the country, the company managed to counter the policy by threatening to lay off most of its labour force, which was essentially comprised of local inhabitants from areas surrounding the bottling plant. This move would cause mass unemployment and create the possibility of protests as people ranked the company as one of the most well paying institutions in the country. It is also impor tant to assess the norms in a country in order to evaluate the acceptance of the product and its consequent profitability. For instance, after a successful entry into the Australian market, Fiji Water tried to make entry into the United Kingdom. However, the company faced opposition from environmentalists and conservationists because of the distance that the water would travel to reach the people and the damage this element would have on the environment. Britain is one of the countries with the highest quality tap water in the world and thus environmentalists and conservationists thought it illogical to transport drinking water from Fiji to Britain when people could simply drink tap water. They also thought it unnecessary to go through such trouble when there was already a product from France, which was much nearer and thus provided a â€Å"cleaner â€Å"option that served the same purpose as Fiji Water. The aspect of provision of alternatives and variety, which had provided for a cceptance of the product into the market in other countries, did not seem to apply to the conservative British society as conservation of the environment through the production of least possible amounts of carbon emissions took centre stage as part of the society’s norms.Advertising Looking for case study on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The introduction of Fiji Water into the British market sparked controversy and created scrutiny of the product and the company’s operations worldwide. It also sparked protests against bottled water, terming it as an unnecessary evil. The main concern was the amount of carbon emissions released into the atmosphere during transportation and production of the products throughout the world and the general effects that such emissions have on the environment, such as the escalation of global warming. SWOT Analysis In determining the viability of a product for future success, it is crucial to perform an analysis of the product’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT). Strengths One of Fiji Water’s strengths is the uniqueness of the product when compared to similar products in the market. Most bottled water products come from mountainous regions and undergo high levels of mineralisation, a factor that has a great impact on the taste of the water. Fiji Water undergoes natural filtration by volcanic rocks for 450 years and it contains silica (a mineral with rejuvenating and anti-aging properties), thus requiring very light mineralisation. Therefore, the water has a crisp clean taste that is appealing to consumers and contributing to the establishment of a more permanent market. Secondly, the pricing of the product ensures affordability by most people in the countries that the company distributes the product. This aspect ensures that Fiji Water is a household product with all the qualities of a luxury brand. The wide distribution of the product is also another notable strength as it ensures for a bigger market and more profitability. Weaknesses The product has a few weaknesses, and one such weakness is the location of the bottling company. This aspect is important as it determines accessibility of the product and the expenditure spent on transportation. Although profit margins make up for transportation inconvenience, development of infrastructure in the area would make it cheaper to transport the product by road. Another weakness is the involvement of various other companies in the production and distribution process that makes it vulnerable to lags in decision-making. Opportunities The Company is expanding into other countries hence new opportunities, including the possibility of expansion into untapped markets such as Asia and Africa. As global trends keep evolving, they create opportunities for access into other markets. Advancements in technology also provide opportunities for the water company to tap into markets worldwide through Internet marketing. Threats The operation of the company and the product face two main threats, viz. the uproar that environmentalists and conservationists create regarding carbon emissions from the bottling and transportation processes and the sustainability of the water source. The most crucial concern of the two is the sustainability of the source considering the area of the source and the amount of water harvested for distribution. Problem statement The primary problem exhibited in the case study is the effect that the protests by environmentalists and conservationists have on the productivity and profitability of the company. A rise in boycotts for bottled water products would mean a decrease in consumption and unnecessary expenditures leading to massive losses. Alternatives The company can employ several alternatives in the mediation of the primary problem. Expansion into rising untapped markets in Asia and Africa The sale of bottled water to companies in different countries so that the buying companies can offset transportation costs Strategic expansion and concentration on specialised markets The use of the Internet in marketing Evaluation The criterion for measurement of success for the alternative methods depends largely on reduction in expenditure and increase in profitability. The company should use as little money as possible in expenses wh ile gaining as much as possible from the sale of the product. Analysis of alternatives The main advantage of expanding into upcoming markets is that the cost of marketing is reasonable and people are more open to trying out new products. The most crucial disadvantage for this alternative is the unpredictability of the market. It is difficult to establish the trends in consumption in such markets. The advantage of selling the product to companies straight from the source is that it saves money in expenditure previously applicable to transportation. It also cuts out some of the blame that was the focus of upraise against the product in Britain. Strategic expansion means that the company should focus on just a few markets that have the greatest potential for growth and profitability. Although this option curtails wide distribution, it promotes smart distribution creating a few reliable markets for the product. Internet sales would reduce advertisement costs greatly while making up for the loss created by the strategic expansion formula. Recommendations The most recommendable option among the alternatives would be strategic expansion, as it ensures that the company remains profitable while eliminating unnecessary costs in advertisement and efforts for wide distribution. It also creates a more reliable market for the product, thus reducing the negative variables in evolving market trends. Action plan The company should concentrate on selling the product more in countries that are most receptive and indicate higher sales as this ensures profitability and sustainability for the company. The use of research would be vital in the establishment of such markets before the initiation of the implementation process. Contingency plan In case the recommended plan does not prove viable, the company would benefit from the exploration of the other alternatives in the analysis as they all aim at the same objectives, viz. reducing expenditure and increasing profitability. This case study on Fiji Water: A comprehensive analysis was written and submitted by user Jazmin Sutton to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. 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Writing Habits of Great Authors You Should Try

Writing Habits of Great Authors You Should Try Writing Habits of Great Authors You Should Try It’s not a secret that many famous writers of the past and the present had, or still have, habits considered strange by other people. Nevertheless, strange writing habits were dearly cultivated and consistently practiced by writers to help them boost their creativity or productivity or to get them into the right mood for writing. Here’s a short list of habits belonging to some well-known writers that you can use. Haruki Murakami: Routine as part of the process.  A famous Japanese writer, Haruki Murakami, has a special procedure, which he adheres to every time he turns on his â€Å"writing mode,† as he calls it. In this mode, he gets up at 4 a.m. sharp, and works on his writing for several hours straight (usually, as Murakami says, it takes up to six hours). After that, he goes running (10 kilometers), swimming (1500 meters), or both. Finally, at the end of such a productive day, Murakami listens to some music and reads, and goes to bed at precisely 9 p.m.Murakami believes that such a ritual, performed for years without even the slightest variation, can work as a form of hypnosis that helps set his mind for writing. Vladimir Nabokov: Using index cards can help.  A famous writer, Vladimir Nabokov, was known to use small index cards to write his ideas, or sometimes even the fragments of his current or future stories and novels, on. There was no particular order for these cards, so he could simply toss them in a random order from time to time which he did, actually. This method could lead to unexpected plot twists and combinations. Nabokov kept some blank cards under his pillow in case he suddenly got an interesting idea in the middle of the night. Victor Hugo: Eliminate all distractions†¦ or isolate yourself from them.  The author of Notre-Dame de Paris was known to procrastinate from a lot. One of his favorite occupations was to simply stroll around the streets. Probably, he could do this all day long; otherwise why would he ask his relatives to take away all his clothes? Without clothes, he obviously couldn’t exit his house, so the only thing he could do under such circumstances was to stay at home and work on his novels. Aaron Sorkin: Talk to yourself.  The screenwriter behind the â€Å"Social Network† movie (and some others as well) confesses that his way of writing in particular, it refers to dialogues is to speak out loud. Turning into an actor, he plays the roles of his own characters. You can read the dialogues line by line in order to determine whether they sound natural, where the flaws are, and what can be improved. The trick is that audial perception helps the brain detect all kinds of mistakes and discrepancies more easily, without being distracted by inner monologue. So, this method can be used not just for dialogues, but for writing in general. Dan Brown: Shift from mental to physical activity. The author of the famous Da Vinci Code says that standing on his head (or maybe hanging upside down?) helps him relax and get into a more creative state of mind. He also does pushups every half an hour, when writing. So, why wouldn’t you do the same? It sounds like a good habit to follow. Of course, these habits alone can’t improve your writing, or make you a great author. It’s even likely that none of them will work for you. The main idea is that every writer has their own unique ritual, habit, or trick, helping them to write more productively. You can try them out too, but the best thing would probably be to develop some peculiar writing habit on your own. Perhaps you ever need online custom writing help from academic experts? You are always welcome to contact our writing company.

A Child of Two Worlds Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

A Child of Two Worlds - Essay Example Three key things that I have considered within me whenever am faced with this challenge and these are my physical appearance, family as well as personal values and the place where I am situated at that moment. I must admit that in the past I used to irritated, distressed, anxious and confused whenever such question was about to emerge either from me or from those I was interacting with. My high school life has had a number of challenges especially emerging from my fellow classmates who have formed a negative opinion of me due to my mixed race status. Some are due to their envy as well as their inability to appreciate themselves. They have less information on what it means to belong to the mixed race. This has made me to particularly hate my high school and on many occasions, I have had to come up with a number of excuses so as not to go to school. I remember one day when I had to fake sickness for a whole week so as to avoid going to that school. I must admit that the journey towards acceptance and self-realisation has not been easy and a number of factors have served to make it less easy. However, my family has been of great assistance in this journey as they have helped me to accept myself through several initiatives. My parents have treated me with equality from both sides and I have never been under pressure to conform to one side of the race I really appreciate my parents as they have never dictated to use the people we need to associate with or keep away from. When I tend to identify with Whites, my mother seem less concerned neither is my dad when I associate closely with those of the Asian descent. One cannot change those around them but can change the perception that they have of themselves. I have therefore come to the point of personal acceptance irrespective of the views of those around me. I firmly believe that achieving my personal goals and visions in life is not based on my race but is on the perception that I form of myself.  Ã‚  

Dissertation Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Dissertation - Research Paper Example In terms of methodology, both qualitative as well as quantitative approaches have been taken into concern for obtaining a valid conclusion. The research results helped identifying certain potential factors or strategies, which can help in the overall improvement of academic performances of the boys and girls belonging to the Bangladeshi community. These factors include building effective communication with respective schools and increasing the level of participation of parents in attending school meetings among others. Apart from this, the other strategies that used by the then poorly performed schools of Tower Hamlets including effective spending and ensuring high quality of teaching as well as learning may also contribute in serving the above stated purpose. The conclusions of the research suggest that the boys as well as the girls in Bangladeshi community will be able to attain well at KS4 level by effective adoption and execution of the discussed strategies. The purpose of this research is to explore, ascertain and analyse the strategies that are put in place in a secondary school in Bethnal Green, East London for the boys as well as the girls in the Bangladeshi community to attain well at KS4. Evidence suggests that the size of the educational gender gap differs by ethnicity (Bhattacharyya, et al. 2003). The evidence of gender imbalance in the Bangladeshi community in Bethnal Green/East London clearly reveals the persistence of political as well as social differences and the presence of multiculturalism factor in the respective region (Malik, 2015). It is worth mentioning that the research study used a specific school in order to find out the actual strategies that can be applied in making the boys as well as the girls of the Bangladeshi community to accomplish well at KS4 level. The ethnic mix of the school could be reckoned as mixed culture wherein the students belong to different nations with distinct cultural backgrounds. It can be

Taylorism and Scientific Management: Work Design Influences

Taylorism and Scientific Management: Work Design Influences The origin of modern management consulting dates back to the early 1900s when Frederick Winslow Taylor, an American mechanical engineer published his work, The Principles of Scientific Management. In his study, Taylor argued that scientific management consisted in devising the one best way to complete a task and then ensuring the workman closely followed the rules, by supervision and incentives. This essay will primarily attempt to discus a proposition that Scientific Management in the 21st century dominates the work design within large firms. Starting with what scientific management is and how it evolved, we will analyze some modern day examples of firms that have adopted Taylorist approach in their businesses. Further, we will highlight both strengths and weaknesses of this approach and also touch base with the works of other authors in the similar domain. Evolution of Scientific Management Adam Smith, the father of Economics, originally developed scientific management in the 1800s. Interested in a factory that operated and produced pins at the rate of 20 pins per employees per day, he applied division of labour i.e. breaking down of complex tasks into numerous simple tasks. As a result of this change, each employee produced 4800 pins per day, a staggering 23900% increase in productivity. However, the greatest breakthrough in scientific management came during the industrial revolution when factories were only focussed on mass production. Workers were trained through lengthy apprenticeships and followed Rules of Thumb i.e. they enjoyed much initiative and control on how their tasks were completed. Also, there was a need to systemize managerial practices. It was here when Taylor, an advisor at the Bethlehem Steel plant, started working towards improving worker productivity after observing gross inefficiencies during his contact with the steel workers. He conducted time st udy and measured performance standards to calculate a full, fair days standard for each task and then emphasized on selection of workers who could meet those standards when motivated by the differential piece rate system. In his book, Taylor (1967, p.10) states prosperity for the employer cannot exist through a long term of years unless it is accompanied by prosperity for the employee, and vice versa; and that it is possible to give the workman what he most wants high wages and the employer what he wants a lower labour cost for his manufacturers. Taylor further suggests that maximum prosperity for a worker can exist only when he has reached his highest state of efficiency and to implement scientific management, the management had to assume much larger share of the responsibility for result rather than the worker and that a managers job is to tell employees what to do and a workers job is to do what they are told and get paid accordingly. Taylor, through various experiment, proposed the four principles of scientific management. First, replace rule-of-thumb work methods with methods based on a scientific study of the tasks. Second, scientifically select, train, and develop each worker rather than passively leaving them to train themselves. Third, cooperate with the workers to ensure that the scientifically developed methods are being followed. And finally, divide work nearly equally between managers and workers, so that the managers apply scientific management principles to planning the work and the workers actually perform the tasks (Taylor, 1967). Taylorism in Industry The First major firm to adopt the principles of scientific management was the Ford Motor Company in 1914. Henry ford believed that the more cars they produce, the more they can sell. His main objective was to mass-produce. Hence he built an assembly-line system, with a constantly moving conveyor belt and minute subdivision of labour. Through subdivision, a complex task was broken into a series of simple tasks for which workers had instructions on how to do it and when to do it. Taylors system insured the most efficient work process was selected and standardized. This way, Ford could employ staff for as cheap as possible and yet keep the quality and efficiency at a satisfactory level. The difference in the productivity levels was striking. Before the assembly line was setup, each car chassis was assembled by one man, taking a time of about twelve and a half hours. Later, with standardization and sub division, the total labour time was reduced to ninety-three minutes per car. This movement of Ford was given the name of Fordism. Taylorism in the 21st century In the 21st century, you can hardly find a successful business enterprise that does not implement the principles of scientific management. It is not that managers study Taylorism before adopting it; in fact these methods of working are so logical that its quite natural to base an efficient business on these principles. McDonalds, the worlds largest chain of fast food restaurants can be seen as a major implementer of scientific management. They have setup their business on the similar lines of a what Henry Ford did to his manufacturing plant, by implementing a human assembly line, where they use food items instead of car parts, and churn out Fast Food instead of automobiles. They follow the highest levels of standardization and sub division. George Ritzer (1996) in his book, The McDonaldization of Society says that the impact of Taylors time and motion studies is very strongly felt at McDonalds. He reiterates Taylors philosophy that the most efficient ways of performing a task has been codified and taught to managers, who further explain to workers. The degree of standardization at McDonalds can be perceived when Ritzer (1996, p.46) mentions, For instance, hamburger chains strive to discover and implement the one best way to grill hamburgers, cook French fries, prepare shakes, process customers, and the rest. One of the major characteristics of Taylorism was the separation of planning, designing and decision making unit of a firm from the production unit. Braverman (1974) supports this attribute of Taylorism in his claim that the production unit operates like a hand that is watched, controlled and corrected by a distant brain, i.e. the management unit. This aspect of Taylorism is very evident in the design of a firms customer care call center. Companies operating in one part of the world often setup/outsource their customer service call centers into countries in another part. For example, an organization based in the UK has its service call center setup in India where labour is very cheap and government policies are favorable. The workers, who may not be skilled, are trained to repeat ad infinitum the same scripted words over and over again and function as a human assembly line. While manufacturing may be moving away from Taylorism, for reasons we will see in the later part of the essay, but the service sector is readily embracing it (Batt Moynihan, 2002). Limitations However, adapting such high levels of standardization and division of labour has some serious limitations. Performing the same simple task, over and over again makes a workers life monotonous and boring. The worker in such an environment is as good as a robotic arm. Ritzer (1996, p.110) criticizes Taylor by stating, Taylors attitude is one precursor to the contemporary effort to reduce human activities to robot-like actions so that humans can actually be replaced by robots. Because Taylor did not have Robots at his disposal, all he could do was hire humans, then dictate to them in great detail what they were to do on the job. To illustrate this further, a Taylorist environment is analogous to software development. Software applications are developed by programmers who write the program code and machines that execute the code and generate output. By giving detailed instructions to workers on what to do and when to do, managers act as programmers and workers as mere machines that execu te the given instructions and generate output. They are not allowed to apply their ideas or exercise any kind of control. As a critique to McDonalds highly scientific and standardized approach, Ritzer (1996, p.15) states that People have the potential to be far more thoughtful, skillful and creative, and well rounded than they are now. If the world were less McDonaldized, people would be better to live up to their human potential. Braverman (1974) substantiates this claim in his statement, Taylorism dominates the world of production; the practitioners of human relations and industrial psychology are the maintenance crew for the human machinery. Hence, in such a work environment, it is hard to motivate employees since money is not always a motivating factor. Some people work for reasons other than financial reward. Also, workers are not homogeneous in their attitudes, work and personality. So the one best way may not be the best for all. By following this approach, firms are de-skilling workers and encouraging them to underperform. Another limitation of the Taylorist approach was that it inspired bureaucracy. According to Warring (1992, p.206), by centralizing power with managers, separating planning from performance, and specializing tasks, firms were encouraging excessive bureaucracy. Managers did not visit the production floor and were thus ignorant of many production matters. They manipulated people like any other factor of production. There was thus a quest to develop an alternative to Taylorism, which called for a stop to treating employees as factors of production, and begin treating them as respected members of community. Human Relation Management The limitations of Taylorism along with practical problems caused by it led to the birth of the human relations school of thought. The movement was established by Elton Mayo, when he conducted a series of behavioral experiments called the Hawthorne Experiments (1924-1933). Two-way communication was encouraged i.e. from worker to chief executive and vice versa for effective management. McGregor (1960) in his book Management and Scientific Knowledge argues that the human relations school is a movement forward from Taylor by inculcating social science into scientific management. He advocated the contribution of social science towards greater productivity in the firm and stated that without predicting human behavior, the control over workers was even harder. He suggested that incentive structure for employee motivation should be aligned with human nature and also claimed that Taylor did not care about ethical values. Conclusion While its is not quite clear that Taylor did not care about ethics and worker motivation as he himself was once a worker at the steel plant. He had also given the idea of setting up suggestion boxes for workers on the shop floor. His main emphasis was on finding the best man for a particular task and motivating him through an incentive structure. Manufacturing today, is moving away from Taylorism. Customers now have more specialized and customized interests. They are willing to pay extra for quality and a differentiated product. Hence, the interest in mass production is declining. Also, with the advent of technology, firms can afford to be more flexible in their production process and reduce the involvement of humans in Repetitive tasks that do not require skill. It is difficult to summarize if Taylorism in its exact sense is dominantly implemented in the 21st century. Just like Henry Ford, Firms have interpreted and modified the scientific management principles in ways to suit their style of business, however, the crux of their efficient existence lies in the principles stated by Taylor. References Batt, R., Moynihan, L. M. (2002). The viability of alternative call center production models. Human Resource Management Journal, 12, 14_/34. Harry Braverman book was Labor and Monopoly Capital: The Degradation of Work in the Twentieth Century McGregor, D., (1960) Chapter 1, Management and scientific knowledge. from McGregor, D., The Human Side of Enterprise. pp.3-15, McGraw-Hill Companies Nelson, D. (1992), Epilogue, in D. Nelson (ed.), A Mental Revolution: Scientific Management since Taylor, Columbus, OH: Ohio State University Press, 237-40 Ritzer, George. (1996) The McDonaldization Of Society. Pine Forge Press Taylor, F.W. (1923).ÂÂ   The Principles of Scientific Management.ÂÂ   New York: Harper Warring, SP., Peter Drucker, MBO, and the Corporatist Critique of Scientific Management. In: D. Nelson, ed.1992. A Mental Revolution. Columbus, OH: Ohio State University Press. Ch. 9. Achieving Competitive Advantage: IKEA Case Study Achieving Competitive Advantage: IKEA Case Study Strategic business units in IKEA Each country is a strategic business unit in IKEA as they are all a part of the organisation but for which there is a distinct external market for goods or services and distinct competitors that is different from another SBU. Also, the financial performance of each country can be clearly evaluated. From the case, it can be noted that each SBU faced the same class of customer the class, but customer behaviors in each SBU are different. For instance the American had a different set f measurement system. Therefore, each SBU needed to tailor its product and service and have particular business strategies in order to satisfy distinct needs in each market segment. Porter (1980) asserts there are basic businesses strategies differentiation, cost leadership, and focus and a company performs best by choosing one strategy on which to concentrate. However, many researchers feel a combination of these strategies (hybrid strategy) may offer a company the best chance to achieve a competitive advantage (Cross, 1999; Karnani, 1984; Miller and Friesen, 1986;; Miller, 1992;). There is much debate as to whether or not a company can have a differentiation and low-cost leadership strategy at the same time (Helms et al., 1997). Porter felt differentiation and cost-leadership were mutually exclusive (Helms et al., 1997). However, research shows this is not the case (Kumar et al. 1997). This case study is an example of how IKEA employed a hybrid strategy and successfully maximize its competitive advantages. Generic strategies can be successfully linked to IKEA performance through the use of key strategic practice. IKEA positioned itself as both a cost leader as well as differentiator. It distinguish itself from its competitor by providing a better shopping experience, a new concept of lifestyle, a wider range of product, a simultaneous service which involved customers participation. As customer have to delivery and assemble the flat packed furniture by themselves, this unique delivery system also partly contributed to IKEAS low cost strategy. Differentiation Differentiation is one of Porters key business strategies. When using this strategy, a company focuses its efforts on providing a unique product or service (Hyatt, 2001; Porter, 1980). IKEA managed to distinguish itself from other furniture merchants by successfully making its customers around the world believe that instead of selling furniture, it was selling a lifestyle by offering a much wider range of home products. It has been commented by Retail Consultant Bryan Roberts that there were other retailers offer affordable furniture, but there is no one else who offer the whole concept in the big shed. In fact, there were 7000 products from kitchen cabinets to candlestick. Thus, the focused diversified production choice is a decisive advantage. And: Hybrid Strategy With a Hybrid strategy, IKEA was simultaneously achieving differentiation and a price lower than competitors which enables it to achieve greater volumes. It counterbalances the risk of just using one generic competitive strategy, such as the loyalty problems caused y cost leadership strategies (Cross, 1999). In fact, it has been found out that when an organization follows a hybrid strategy, they exhibit higher performance than those following either cost leadership or differentiation alone (Kumar et al. 1997). Similarly in their research on the UK wine industry, (Richardson and Dennis, 2003) found the hybrid focused differentiation approach was best for niche segments. (Spanos et al., 2004) studied the Greek manufacturing industry and found hybrid strategies were preferable to pure strategies. and how they can be applied to the case. You dont do so with every argument however, sometimes you simply offer opinions such as: These product differentiations fulfilled customer need and involves tailoring the product or service to the customer. This allows IKEA to capture market share. The differentiation strategy is effectively implemented as IKEA provides unique and superior value to the customer through product quality. Also, the message of differentiation reached its clients (McCracken, 2002). It s vital to the effectiveness of the strategy as the customers perceptions of the company are important (Berthoff, 2002). These senses of differentiation created strong brand loyalty among IKEA customers and lower their price sensitivity. This helps to insulate IKEA from competitive rivalry. Second, the lack of perceived acceptable alternatives with comparable combinations of features and costs increases the IKEAs power over customers. Third, with the existing customer loyalty, potential competitors need to overcome the attractive uniqueness of IKEA product so it creates substantial entry barriers. While some researchers suggested that when using differentiation, firms must be prepared to add a premium to the cost (Hyatt, 2001), as customers perceive the product or service as unique, they are loyal to the company and willing to pay the higher price for its products (Cross, 1999), price therefore is not the main focus, IKEA went for a different approach. It employed a hybrid strategy which combined differentiation and low cost and focus strategy. Which, whilst they cite references do not offer justification and support for the views that you are expressing. And in other places you merely summarise the theory without providing clear linkages to how this relates to the case such as in saying: Sustainable competitive advantage Sustainable competitive advantage can be achieved through the following methods. Achieving Low Prices Operate with lower margins Develop a unique cost structure Create efficiency in Organizational capabilities Focus on market segments with low expectations Achieving Sustainable Differentiation Create difficulties of imitation Create a situation of imperfect mobility Establish a lower cost position Establishing Strategic Lock-In Size or market dominance First-mover dominance Self-reinforcing commitment Insistence on preservation of position Paraphrasing or summarising the theory is not, on its own, proof that you know how to apply it in a practical situation such as the case study. Be careful of simply offering assertions and opinions you need to cite evidence and draw in facts from the case, compare and contrast them to the models and frameworks from the course and then draw strategic conclusions from that process. When you actually try to apply the concepts explicitly such as in saying: The CAGE Framework The CAGE of Distance framework can be applied in this case study of IKEA in a large extends. The four dimension of distance namely cultural distance administrative and political distance, geographic distance and economic distance between the Sweden and its foreign markets indicated how different is the foreign market and what strategy should IKEA adapt accordingly (Ross, 1999). It has been illustrated by the IKEAs difficulties in reaching the California Hispanic market. Hispanic is geographically far away from Sweden, socially different in term of having larger family size and different color preference. Also there was economically different. Thus IKEA designers need to customize product and pricing strategy according to the particular market needs. The result is more seats were added to dining tables and sofa. Showroom color was warmed to avoid the more subdued Scandinavian palette. you are demonstrating a level of understanding and application of some of the marketing concepts in this response that is at least the sort of thing we are expecting from a postgraduate student at this point in your studies, and sometimes even better than expected. These demonstrate an understanding of the concepts that is appropriate and explicit. Whilst the way that the concepts have been described and applied is really sound, and I was pleased to see the use of a wide range of concepts but remember that you need to use them to analyse (explain and interpret) rather than simply to observe and comment and throw in some course references as headings or citations such as in saying: Strategic position Strategic capability Internally, some strength of IKEA can be identified in the case. IKEAs core competences lay on it low cost distribution system and innovation product design which ease manufacture and distribution which enable the organization to become cost leadership. Besides, with the company creative flair, strong capability in research and product engineering, IKEA can put its differentiation strategy into practised effectively. Macro Environments Externally, IKEA was benefited from the opportunities identified below. Economically, the growing size of the world middle class especially in China, India and Russia implies that there will be an increasing need of IKEAs product (contemporary household furniture with value of money). Also the growing wealth with the worlds population means middle class with higher purchasing power. Socially, the fact that the new emerge middle class are more aware of their home design present an opportunity for IKEA to expand. In conclusion, it e be seen that IKEA has successfully generated strategic choices that utilized its strength to take advantage of opportunities The difference between analysis and commentary is the capacity to interpret and make explicit what the facts are telling you. Commentary on the other hand describes what you see and asserts (rather than proves or demonstrates) a set of conclusions. So, if you take the wide range of course concepts that you are obviously familiar with and compare and contrast a little more explicitly facts and evidence from the case itself, it will make your arguments flow much more directly, and more reasoned conclusions emerge. From time to time, what you offer here is like an explanation of the theory and an assertion that X is true at IKEA! without always providing specific evidence and analysis to substantiate the comments. Understanding how you get to conclusions from your analysis is as important as setting out what the conclusions are. However while it strikes me that your observations about could use some more reasoning your other answers are sound and reflect a good understanding of strategy . Overall, this is well-structured and laid out piece of work and offers a clear indication of your emerging understanding of this subject and ability to apply it in practice good work.

Immoral Materialism :: essays research papers

Immoral Materialism   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The desire to be rich is part of every American’s dream, but does one change when one becomes rich? Can one be happy and wealthy? Just as the characters in the novel The Great Gatsby, written by Scott Fitzgerald, people believe that money will buy them a happy life. In the almanacks of Poor Richard, quite a different approach at happiness is presented. Poor Richard writes about money as just a supplement to a wise man, that being knowledgeable and having a trade are far more respectable that inheriting money from a relative. Contrary to Poor Richard’s works, the prevalent aspirations of modern Americans are better represented in Fiztgerald’s work The Great Gastby, which shows the ignorance of the rich, the adulterous morality of people, and the correct way to pursue happiness.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Today’s society believes that money can buy happiness. Jordan, a character of The Great Gastby, explains this theme when she says, “Gastby bought that house so that Daisy would be just across the bay'; (79). Gatsby Himself later states “She only married you because I was poor…It was a terrible mistake.'; (131). These quotes explain Gastby’s belief, that if he becomes rich, he will be able to obtain love from Daisy. This is quite contrary to the ideas of Ben Franklin represented in this quote “Content makes poor men rich; Discontent makes rich men poor';, this quote explains that life itself is the reward, not the things that money can bring to it.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Many wealthy people assume that it is their right to have others listen to and follow their own wishes, or thoughts. The character, Tom Buchanan is the model superficial rich person. Who attempts to force his poorly thought-out, stolen theories to all those around him. This is shown in the indication of his tone when he states “ ‘Civilization’s is going to pieces,’ broke out Tom violently'; (13). Tom’s use of non-formal English, such as “I’ve gotten to be a terrible pessimist about things'; (13) cause him to stand out from his wife and the other Characters. This view of superiority by white males that have inherited wealth is not uncommon today. Contradicting the stated opinion, Franklin feels that a man that gains his wealth deserves more respect that one who inherited it though family ties when he writes “A Ploughman on his Legs is higher than a Gentleman on his Knees.

Financial Aid

Federal regulations require students to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) in three areas- cumulative GPA, hours earned or completion rate, and maximum timeframe – to be eligible for financial aid. It is the student’s responsibility to stay informed of the University’s SAP standards and to monitor their progress, through our Banner system. A complete description of VSU SAP policy for financial aid purposes can be found on the VSU website at www.vsu.edu , click 1) Financial Aid, 2) General Information and 3)Satisfactory Academic Progress. Extenuating or Mitigating Circumstances;An appeal can be submitted if a student’s failure to be in compliance with one or more areas of SAP is due to events beyond the student’s control. If such mitigating circumstances can be documented for the specific semester(s) when the deficiencies occurred, the student may submit this completed SAP Appeal, along with all required documentation. Submission of the ap peal does not guarantee approval.Students appealing to reinstate eligibility; you are granted one opportunity to appeal, (no repeat appeals), however re-evaluation for more than once is based on a case-by-case basis. Those students may not submit an appeal for the same previous reasonSupporting DocumentationTo confirm your extenuating circumstance(s), you must attach documentation from an objective third party (Example: Physician, counselor, lawyer, social worker, teacher, religious leader, academic advisor, VSU Counseling Center). Documentation must be on official letterhead and verify that extenuating circumstances occurred during the timeframe referenced in your appeal. In cases of death of an immediate family member, provide a copy of the death certificate or obituary. Appeals without supporting documentation will not be reviewed.Reinstatement of AidA financial aid Staff member will notify you of the decision by mail or via email to your official VSU email account. If your appea l is approved your financial aid is reinstated for the current semester. Eligibility is not retroactive to a prior term. If your appeal is denied you may choose to apply for an alternative loan. All decisions of the Financial Aid SAP Appeal Committee are final and not subject to further appeal.Appeal DeadlineSAP appeal and supporting documentation must be received by the VSU Office of Student Financial Aid by June 20 for the fall semester and January 6 for the spring semester. Summer appeals must be submitted prior to the first day of classes. Appeals received after these dates will be considered for the following semester. It is the responsibility of the student to initiate an appeal before the specified deadline.