Monday, September 30, 2019

Report on Marketing Strategy of Rahimafrooz Bangladesh Limited

Report on Marketing Strategy of Rahimafrooz Bangladesh Limited Rahimafrooz Bangladesh limited was established in 1950. As a trading company. Late A. C. Abdur Rahim was the proprietor in this time. From 1954   it was established as a limited company. In the new environment he had to start afresh. He had little capital. His main assets were self-confidence and a strong faith in the Almighty, which carried him through all the difficulties with a remarkable triumph.He finally established a small proprietary trading company named Rahimafrooz & Co, in Chittagong in 1950 which was later incorporated on 15th April 1954, which is now Rahimafrooz (Bangladesh) Ltd. Rahimafrooz   Ã‚  expanded rapidly into various trading items. The major milestones in   Rahimafrooz history can be  summarized as below: Incorporated in 1954 by Mr. A. C. Abdur   Rahim Distributorship of Lucas Battery in 1959 Exclusive distributorship of Dunlop tyre in 1978 Acquisition of Bangladesh operations of Lucas UK in 1980 First producer of industrial battery in 1985Pioneering Solar Power in collaboration with BP in 1985 First ever battery export – to Singapore –  in 1992 Launched Rahimafrooz Instant Power System in 1993 Acquisition of Yuasa Batteries (Bangladesh) Ltd. – in 1994 Attained ISO 9002 certification for RBL operations in 1997 First India office opened in Ahmedabad – in 2000 Awarded â€Å"Bangladesh Enterprise of the Year† in 2001 Attained ISO 14001:1996 for RBL  operations Launched â€Å"Agora† – the first ever retail chain in 2001 Launched Rahimafrooz Energy Service in 2002 – promoting distributed power. Established   Rahimafrooz CNG ltd. n 2003 Awarded â€Å"National Export Trophy† in 2003 Metronet  Bangladesh,  a  fibre  optic  based  digital  solution  provider  for  data  communication,launched in joint venture with Flora Telecom – in  2004 Received McGraw-Hill Platt Global Energ y Award  for Renewable Energy  in 2004 Received the â€Å"   Ã‚  Ashden Award† for Sustainable Energy in 2006 EPZ factory and RAL  two new company developed –  in 2008   1. 1 ORIGIN OF THE REPORT: This project   Ã‚  Report has been prepared as the fulfillment of the partial requirement of B. B. A Program. 1. 2 OBJECTIVE OF THE REPORTOur business courses are designed to help the students learning the technique and acquiring with skills needed effectively in management including planning, organizing, staffing, directing, motivating and controlling, problems in achieving organizational goals in differing managerial environments as a part in different management system. So the prime aim of the regarding report is to diagnosis a company regarding their operations & thus make a nice combination of my four years educational learning. The main objective of the report is marketing strategy of   Ã‚  Rahimafrooz ltd. 1. PURPOSE OF THE REPORT: I take information fo r my report by two purposes. 1. 4 PRIMARY PURPOSE: The Primary purpose of this report is to partially fulfill the requirement of my Bachelor Degree. 1. 5 SECONDARY PURPOSE: Secondary sources include the internal documents like annual report company bulletin other research reports and brochures. 1. 6SOURCE AND METHOD OF COLLECTING DATA:The report is organized by secondary source of data. Various report’s brochure, catalog, articles and journals, projects profile, dealer credit policy, and Rahimafrooz website is used in this regard. 1. LIMITATION OF THE STUDY: Firstly, judging a company’s activity relative to competitor is not an easy task. This study has tried to figure out the key factors that has an effect towards the profitability of the company. Secondly, analyzing the secondary data and comparing it with the primary data was a major problem in making the report. Thirdly, lack of adequate knowledge has a effect in   Ã‚  writing the report properly. Chapter Two Com pany history Founder Late A. C. Abdur   Ã‚  Rahim (1915-1982). Rahimafrooz   Ã‚  Bangladesh Limited A man of strict religious values, yet a believer in progressive dynamism, and dreamer who thought nothing is impossible – Late A C Abdur Rahim overcame numerous challenges and obstacles to become one of the most accomplished entrepreneurs of this country. Born on the 20th of January 1915, he lost both his parents by the time he was seven years of age. Deprived of formal schooling and a typically comfortable childhood, he grew up as a man with strong determination, hardworking diligence, and humane compassion. By the early 1940s, Mr. Rahim started small scale commercial trading on his own. He moved to Chittagong in 1947 and stared afresh with very little capital in hand, but with a whole world of courage and faith.In 1950, he established the small trading concern dealing in various items. This proprietary business was formally incorporated on April 15, 1954 as Rahimafrooz & Co. Till date, Rahimafrooz Group commemorates this as its â€Å"Foundation Day†. The childhood hardship and the struggle in his young years only made Mr. Rahim a strong individual, a faithful human being, and a leader full of compassion and humanity. He was a caring father and an affectionate person throughout his life. Whoever, in his lifetime, came in touch with Mr. Rahim, fondly remembers him as a man of tremendous humility, dignity, and trustworthiness.His   passion for continuously improving himself and his religious and ethical righteousness, and his dedication to please his customers – are still prevalent in today’s Rahimafrooz culture – shaping the Group’s present and its future. Today’s Rahimafrooz is a dream that Mr. A C Abdur Rahim turned into reality. The business growth, the social commitment, and the great diversity in today’s Rahimafrooz are the outcome of one lifetime of hard work and compassion from Mr. Rahim. He br eathed his last on March 14, 1982 in London. But his work and his virtue have kept him alive forever.May Allah grant him with eternal peace. Over the decades, Rahimafrooz has grown in size, scale, and diversity. The Group today has Eight Operating Companies (SBUs), a few other business ventures, and a not for profit social enterprise. As of 2011, the Group currently employs more than three thousand people directly and a further twenty thousand indirectly as suppliers contractors, dealers and retailers. Rahimafrooz operates in four broad segments – Storage Power, Automotive & Electronics, Energy and Retail. We have strengthened our market leadership at home while reaching out to international markets.Ranging from automotive   after   Ã‚  market products, energy and power solutions, to a world class retail chain – the team at Rahimafrooz is committed to ensuring the best in quality standards and living the Group’s five core values – Integrity, Excellenc e, Customer Delight , Innovation and Inspiring People. Rahimafrooz has been a partner in the development journey of this nation for more than fifty-five years now. We set ourselves the highest standards in responsible corporate behavior and our passion for success is aligned with the development of the country.We are committed to playing a leading role in driving growth, prosperity, ethical values and social responsibility. We continue to serve our customers through unparalleled quality excellence and service superiority. Our business success has been complemented by our commitment to the environment, society and community. At Rahimafrooz, We are – ‘enriching lives with your trust’! 2. 1 Aspiration: To be most admire and trusted organization through excelling in everything we do, following ethical business practice and adding value to stake holder. 2. 2 Vision:Be an enterprising group of Taka 2,000 crore by the year 2010 with the diversified business portfolio fo cus on dynamic growth, excellence, innovation, customer delight in enriching our world. 2. 3 Vision 2015: A billion dollar diversified group committed to adding value to all stakeholders and community Value: Integrity in all our dealing Excellence in everything we do Total commitment to customer satisfaction Thinking ahead and taking new initiative 2. 4 Quality policy: We, as a team, totally committed to customer delight through intelligent effort and continuous improvement. 2. Community service: Rahimafrooz regularly contribute personal, monetary and medical help to  people disadvantaged by  natural calamities and  serious illness. Rahimafrooz also makes significant contribution to leading diabetic and cancer hospitals. 2. 6 Achievements of RBL: Asia’s Best Brand  Ã‚  CMO Award 2010 Asia’s Best Employer  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   SC& FE,  CSR  Ã‚  Award 2008 Brand Leadership  Ã‚  Award 2008 Ashden   Award  Award 2006 National export trophy Award 2001- Chapt er three Strategic business unit (SBU) RBL 3. SBUs (Strategic Business Units): Rahimafrooz (Bangladesh) Ltd. (Group Parent Company)Rahimafrooz (Batteries) Ltd. Rahimafrooz Distribution Ltd. Rahimafrooz Energy Services Ltd. Rahimafrooz Renewable Energy Ltd. Rahimafrooz CNG Ltd. Rahimafrooz Superstores Ltd. Excel Resources Ltd. Rahimafrooz Globatt Ltd. Rahimafrooz service center 3. 1 Rahimafrooz (Bangladesh) Ltd. (Group Parent Company: Rahimafrooz (Bangladesh) Limited (RABL) is the Group Holding and Parent Company including the Group Corporate Center that guides the Strategic Business Units (SBUs). It ensures continuous management innovation, technology adoption, new initiatives, corporate governance and compliance.Rahimafrooz Bangladesh Ltd has imported world famous Dunlop Tire and Tube which is producing in Japan and India. At present Rahimafrooz Bangladesh ltd. Is one of the top most organizations in the country many officer and personnel work hard. From the development of the orga nization Rahimafrooz Bangladesh ltd. is mainly work in four divisions 1. Corporate Division 2. Manufacturing Division 3. Marketing and sales division 4. International division The chairman is the chief executive officer of the organization and the director is the head of every division. Rahimafrooz Bangladesh ltd. has one head office in Motiheel.Two service offices in Dhaka and Chittagong and one factory in Nakhal Para and other is Savar. Regional office is operated by regional manager who has controlled all the sales force and also has responsible for his job to the managing director of head office. Every appointed dealer in the sales center of Rahimafrooz Bangladesh ltd. they always get up great training from the company to serve the customer all over the country there are near about 180 dealers of Rahimafrooz Bangladesh ltd. Often the company organize conference for the dealer and they create the opportunity to exchange their value. . 2 Rahimafrooz Battery Ltd: Rahimafrooz batter y ltd has mainly marketed Rahimafrooz battery. At present Rahimafrooz company has been producing and marketing more than one hundred categories battery. Automotive battery and motor cycle battery are produced by Rahimafrooz Company. This is very popular in the market and also high quality. The Company’s manufacturing plants produce a range of products – automotive, motorcycle, and appliance batteries, Industrial (stationary, deep cycle, traction, VRLA batteries, IPS and UPS batteries, and rectifiers.Lucas and Spark are the leading names in the local automotive battery market while Volta, Optus and Delta are gaining equity as International brands. RBL has a successful story of installing solar power in the remote rural areas of Bangladesh. It has successfully installed more than 10,000 home solar systems in the remote rural areas of Bangladesh. In Bangladesh Rahimafrooz Factory is situated in Nakhal Para. Tejgoan. It is the heist battery production capacity factory. The authority tries their level best but to keep its quality through skill and efficient engineer Plant Capacity: Rahimafrooz has state of the art manufacturing plants.We are equipped with all latest technologies with complete air treatment and lead-recycling management. RBL produces different types of batteries to meet the local and international market. Its capacity in Automotive Battery is 660,000 (N50) units per annum and Industrial Battery is 41 million AH/annum. By the end of 2010, these will increase to 8000,000 (N50) and 120 Million AH respectively. All the products are manufactured following strict quality and environmental standards, and are ensured by international certifications too. Our main product range includes: Automotive battery Motorcycle batteryAppliance battery Deep cycle – Flat plate battery Industrial tubular battery VRLA battery IPS and UPS batteries 3. 3 RAHIMAFROOZ DISTRIBUTION LTD: The company has a huge relation with the market to distribute its produ cts through the network of dealers. It has almost near about 200 dealers, 280 Retailers and 95 Lubricant Dealers across the country for distributing Dunlop   tyre, Lucas batteries, Volta batteries, RZ   tire, BP lubricants and Rahimafrooz instant power system. RDL’s portfolio includes international tyre brands Dunlop and Kenda while it also carries its own brand RZ Tyre and  battery brands Lucas and Spark.RDL is the exclusive franchisee of the world’s leading lubricant brand Castrol. Through Rahimafrooz IPS, UPS and Voltage Stabiliser, the company enjoys clear leadership of the emergency power products market. In addition, it also runs eight automobile service centres in Dhaka and Chittagong. Recently the company has entered the electronic goods market. It distributes and markets various household appliances and electronic goods through RDL’s newly inaugurated electronics retail chain, Ureka and its numerous sales outlets.RDL product portfolio includes the followings: Tyre RDL   markets different tyres for car, bus, truck and auto-rickshaw. It is the sole distributor of DUNLOP in Bangladesh. RZ Tyre is its own premium heavy duty truck/bus tyre fit for Bangladeshi road. It also markets other economy tyres. Automotive RDL markets three major brands of automotive batteries: LUCAS, VOLTA, VOLTA MF (Maintenance Free) and SPARK. All batteries are produced by RBL. Power Back-Up System RahimAfrooz   Ã‚  IPS and Rahimafrooz UPS are two popular power back-up systems marketed by RDL. LubricantRDL is the marketer and sole agent of Castrol, one of the lubricant giants Rahimafrooz solar is started with a  pilot project with the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission. Rahimafrooz Solar supplies solar-electricity to the remote villages of Bangladesh. More than 30,000 thousand families are supplied with solar power with help of NGOs and International Organizations. Excel retires limited RBL is the leading tyre retread company in Bangladesh. ERL ha s been serving the industry since 1994 providing  best quality of retreads. Its plant is capable of retreading tyres of  car, bus, and truck.EXCEL RESOURCES LTD Excel Resources Ltd. (ERL) is a leading name for tyre retread. ERL also manufactures and markets emery cloths and abrasive papers. ABOUT RETREAD Retread of tyre is a process whereby new tread rubber is applied on a used tyre casing; if done properly, this process allows similar mileage like new tyres. The process extends longer casing life. Based on the casing, a tyre can be retread up to 3 or 4 times, as long as the casing supports. The retread process is eco-friendly and does not result in environmental pollution.A retread tyre can save up to 50% of new tyre’s cost. Every time you buy and use a retread tyre, you help to conserve Their valuable natural resources and since retread tyres are less expensive than comparable new tyres, one can save money while helping the environment. This is truly a win-win situation 3. 4   Rahimafrooz   Energy Services Ltd. BRAND Rahimafrooz   Energy Services Limited was established in the year 2000 as a standby, captive anddistributed power solution provider. It is a leading name in the diesel generator industry having a customer base of nearly 700.Its clientele comprise of industrial plants, real estates, hospitals, educational institutions, telecoms, supermarkets, corporate houses and government establishments including the Armed Forces. The company is marketing both diesel and gas generators from Pramac Power Engineering, Italy and Spain, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Limited, Japan. Rahimafrooz Energy is also providing Rental Power with both diesel and gas generators. Rahimafrooz Energy is the Authorized Distributor of GE Consumer & Industrial Lighting, USA and Exclusive Distributor of Wiring Accessories and Low Voltage Protection Devices from Hager, France in Bangladesh.Located at the heart of Tejgaon Industrial Area, Dhaka Rahimafrooz Energy is equipped with the necessary service facilities and ready availability of stocks for all kinds of organizations and individuals requiring energy related solutions RESL is the Exclusive Distributor of PRAMAC in Bangladesh. It markets diesel generators up to 2500 KVA for multiple users. Its customers comprised of industrial plants, real estates, hospitals, educational institutions, telecom companies, supermarkets, corporate houses and government establishments.Established with the aim of being a provider of standby, captive and distributed power solutions offering 24X7 customer services, the company is now ready to launch three new products which are gas generators, power rentals and electrical accessories. In a short span of five years, Rahimafrooz Energy Services Limited has grown to be a highly reliable energy solution company. PRAMAC generators come up to 2,500 KVA for multipurpose use. Its customers comprised of industrial plants, real estates, hospitals, educational institutions, telecom companies, supermarkets, corporate houses and government establishments. . 5 RAHIMAFROOZ   Ã‚  RENEWABLE ENERGY LTD Transforming the lives of people and lighting up different corners of the country, Rahimafrooz Renewable Energy Ltd. (RRE) has been providing Rahimafrooz Solar solutions for households, agriculture, healthcare, education, rural streets and marketplaces. To date, RRE has lightened up more than 40,000 rural homes in Bangladesh and the Company is endeavoring to do much more in the future. The abundance, inexhaustibility and non polluting nature of solar energy, have made it right alternative for conventional energy sources, which are getting fast exhausted.So far only a small portion of solar energy is being harnessed for use in solar water heating, solar lighting, telecommunications, medical refrigeration and solar water pumping. Working closely with Bangladesh Government’s agencies, NGOs, donor and partner organizations, and international agencies, RRE offers a full rage of solar solutions including home lighting, street lighting, heating systems, water pumps, Photo Voltaic (PV) centralized systems, drip irrigation systems, vaccine refrigeration, support for computer and other electronic systems, and a number of other solutions.More than 60,000 homes already been illuminated with RRE’s solar efforts and the number is always growing. Rahimafrooz Bangladesh Ltd. At first has marketed solar energy by exporting it from England. The following places and the institutions are the user of solar. 1. Hospital and Clinic 2. Irrigation project 3. School, Masjid, Road, Television 4. Telecommunication sector. 5. Railway signal 6. To find out the river way. The Organization where the solar Energy is set up 1. NGO 2. Tea Garden 3. Army cantonment Chittagong 4. Private Organization 3. 6 RAHIMAFROOZ CNG LTD. Rahimafrooz CNG Ltd. RACNG) offers comprehensive solutions for CNG refueling, conversion, conversion centers, and maintenance. The Com pany runs state-of-the-art CNG conversion centers offering 1st to 5th generation conversion, and is setting up a wide country-wide network of refueling stations. It also assists, through equipments, technological know-how, training and marketing, in setting up CNG conversion centers and refueling stations INSTALLATION OF CNG STATION: It helps to setup CNG Fuel Station on a turn-key basis. It also assists in obtaining financial support from the Financial Institution to setting up CNG station.It provides round the clock technical supports and training   CNG CONVERSION: It has its own conversion centers where you can convert your Octane or Petrol driven automobile into CNG. Rahimafrooz CNG offers an innovative and technically advanced system for conversion of all types of vehicles into CNG It is the sole technical and commercial representative of Lo. gas s. r. l. of Italy. All CNG components are given full warranty with necessary technical support. CNG SERVICES: It also provides all types of technical support related to CNG stations, systems and kits to individuals and institutions. 3. 7 Rahimafrooz Superstores LtdRahimafrooz Superstores Ltd. (RSL) made a breakthrough in the urban lifestyles by launching the first retail chain in the country – Agora. With outlets in important locations in Dhaka, and many more coming at key locations in Dhaka and other major cities, Agora is endeavoring to fulfill the everyday needs of the urbanites through fair price, right assortment, and best quality. While Agora mainly focuses on food items – ranging from a wide variety of fish, meat, vegetables, fruits, bakery, dairy, and grocery – it also carries a vast array of other household, grocery, personal care, and various other products.Having started its journey in 2001, Agora is committed to sustaining and growing as the most trusted, loved, and frequented retail chain. Agora outlets: Dhanmodi Gulshan Mogbajar Mirpur 3. 8   Rahimafrooz Globatt Ltd (RGL) Ra himafrooz Globatt Ltd (RGL) is the global wing of Rahimafrooz group. As part of excelling two decades of international market experience and aspiring to become a truly global company, this state of the art Maintenance Free (MF) and Sealed Maintenance Free (SMF) battery manufacturing plant was established in the year 2009. With 2. million unit production capacity per year, RGL is the largest battery export plant in South Asia. In recognition to its quality management system, RGL has received ISO 9001:2008 Certification from Orion Registrar, Inc. , USA. The manufacturing process of RGL ensures highest level of environment sustainability. RGL offers a broad range of maintenance free automotive batteries manufactured according to JIS and DIN standard for a variety of vehicles, ranging from small cars to large commercial vehicles. RGL also manufactures deep cycle battery for inverter application.All these batteries have been designed by one of the leading German company. These batteries are designed for millions of vehicle enthusiasts across Asia & Pacific, Middle East, Africa, Europe and Americas. As the pay off line of  its flagship brand GLOBATT â€Å"Drive Within† illustrates, the battery is winning heart and mind of the consumers around the globe through its unparallel performance. Metro net Rahimafrooz Group, in a joint enterprise, has ventured into the first ever fiber optical commercial networking backbone in Bangladesh Metronet Bangladesh Ltd. (MBL).MBL provides robust data communication services to private sector offices, financial institutions, ATMs, and many other institutions. GreyFab and Asia Tex are two other businesses that manufacture and export textile and terry towels. Rural Service Foundation (RSF) is a not-for-profit social enterprise endeavoring to alleviate poverty and supporting the rural poor. The poverty alleviation model of RSF is based on three basic principles – affordable, replicable, and sustainable. RSF has been helpi ng the rural poor, through programs involving solar home systems, irrigation, bio gas, contract farming, battery powered instant power systems etc.Besides, RSF also runs â€Å"Dhaka Project† which is a home to some 600 urban street children, providing them with shelter, education, food, clothing, and care. Supported by Rahimafrooz. 3. 9 RAHIMAFROOZ SERVICE CENTER : Rahimafrooz Bangladesh Ltd service center is situated in 13 Mahakhali commercial areas in Dhaka. Here the product of Rahimafrooz is sold and servicing also. Here the service is done in modern computerized system. The   Ã‚  complain is also solved and handle from here. and a number of generous donors from home and abroad, RSF has a country-wide network with nearly fifty field offices. . 10 Sales process: Diesel generator: Project 1. Pre-sales meeting: (sale people) Discussion with customer regarding the actual need, the size of the generator, KVA, installation process etc. a)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Inform customer re garding product feature b)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Site visit: evaluate the customer recommended location where generator would be placed c)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Load calculation d)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Site suggestion: Inform customer regarding installation process; provide product recommendation based on site etc. e)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Estimated price rates 1. Offer submission (based on customer requirement)Technical Product list Financial offer Other parties involve with offer submission. (They evaluate the offer) a)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Financial institution/ Bank b)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Consultant c)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Construction contactor 1. Follow up (before sale) a)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Over phone b)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Direct visit 1. Final Negotiation meeting Price Product 1. If accepted   by the customer then work order is issued   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   schedule date for installation material estimate or list of material material arrangement relevant document Price and mode of paym ent 1. payment (as per work order) 2. re-installation inspection (sale people and installation and service supervisor * customer name and address * package number * capacity * installation place * material list * delivery date 1. delivery/dispatch (store officer 2. installation 3. follow up ( after sales) by the sales people 4. bill collection (accounts and sales people) * description of equipment * model * commissioning date * amount of bill claimed by the RESL 1. A. Corporate: Definition: corporate customers are those customers who buy a bulk amount of products from RESL. It can be Bank, factory, hospital, real estate or industry.Sales process is same 1 to 11 Installation Sources/sales leads are different. B. Individual: Definition: individual customers are those customers who buy one or two products from RESL. It can be Bank, factory, hospital, real estate or industry. Sales process is same 1 to 11 (except work order) 100% payment before delivery sources/sales leads are different 1. B. Referral : Colleague from RDL, RBL and etc Sales lead given by commission agent Sales man of RESL has contact with other company’s sales man   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Refer customer to the RESL. Receive commission   from RESL to 11 same processes. Except work order for individual but for corporate (need work order) 1. C. Third party/Contract proposal: Rail way , police buy from third party Third party buy from RESL (supplier of generator)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   But all after sales services given by the RESL Sources of sales lead: From colleague like RDL,RBL sales person of other company existing customer Direct call from customer( new or existing customer) Sales lead given by commission agent From bill board Newspaper Related generator company/ similar trend business Consultant Road site Field representativeDirect sale Customer direct come to RESL Project| Corporate| Individual| Third party/contract proposal | Referral|   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   From Existing customerDirect sale  |   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Direct saleFrom bill boardNewspaper  |   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   From bill boardNewspaperDirect saleField representativeRoad siteRelated generator company/ similar trend business|   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   From bill boardNewspaper|   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   From colleague like RDL,RBLsales person of other companySales lead given by commission agentConsultant| Figure #1 3. 11 After sales service: 1. Installation (project and individual/corporate) 2. Service (individual) . I. Emergency service 2. II. Schedule service 3. Service (project) 1. Installation( individual/corporate) a)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Site visit b)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Pre-installation inspection (sale people and installation -service supervisor)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   customer name and address package number capacity installation place material list delivery date c)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Material arranged Material bought by the customer (cable) or RESL provide it. d)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Based on that date follow up and confirm that today you have installation date. e)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Which engineer will go for installation (his name, place and date)?This record is in excel sheet f)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Commissioning sheet * Site code * customer name * Package no * Supplier address * Technical terms * Other relevant information * Comments from customer * signed by RESL service engineer and customer 2. Service ( individual ) 1. I. Emergency service (warranty period 1year or running hour1500h) a)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Hot line b)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Call from customer c)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Whether this product is within warrant or not d)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Commissioning sheet cheeked by service coordinator   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   customer name Package no Supplier address Technical terms Other relevant information Comments from customer igned by RESL service engineer and customer e)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   If it is within warranty then free service and prompt( excluding Lub oil fi lter, air filter, fuel filter and culent filter parts) f)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   send engineer to the sight g)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Service sheet sign by engineer and customer with the bill copy, feed back sheet and other material h)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Follow up only for individual (everyday at least 10 calls from excel sheet randomly) i)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Documentation how many times complains come from client. j)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Problems sheet send to Service complain par day——–6 to 10 k)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   She only send critical problem to the COOEmergency service for an example>hospital>1) normal problem> normal engineer   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   >2) critical problem> critical enginee r 1. II. Schedule service a)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Hot line b)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Tell Detail information about product( KVA and price rate) c) Offer give by service coordinator of RESL[this is basically gave idea about relevant parts for generator]   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Description of material Quantity Price Signature by service engineer d)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   If accepted then schedule date e)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Bill collection f)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   AMC service[Dhaka and out   side Dhaka city] Critical A ——–one service—–price range different *   Non Critical —-one service—–price range different * Super Critical —one service—–price range different * Working hour * Payment date * Exclusion * Other applicable terms * Starting date g)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Inform about Servicing after 50h/200h/ or 6month which ever come first ( excluding Lub oil filter, air filter, fuel filter and culent filter parts) h)     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Engineer send to the customer with the bill copy, feed back sheet and other material i)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Payment( partially or full) j)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Follow up monthly wise )  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   All Problems sheet send to (senior officer- customer relation l)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Service complain par day——–10 to 15 m)  Ã‚  Ã‚   She only send critical problem to the COO C. Service (project): Projects are those customers who bought a bulk amount of product. For an example GP bought——560+ diesel generators. 5 people are working as a service coordinator to maintain the service for project. Different people are handling different type project. So, their working style is also different. They have 5projects (GP, Bangla link, Eric son, AKTEL and Motorola. Processes are same but record keeping/documentation is different.Installation (projects): service coordinator Estimated( everything including product, pa rts and etc) given by the project * customer name * Package no * Supplier address * Technical terms * Other relevant information * Comments from customer * signed by RESL service engineer and customer RESL take all estimated   material( material list) for installation to the site If any extra parts or material need then RESL claim extra bill for that Commissioning paper and engineer sign that paper Problems: Service engineers are not identifying the specific problem. Every time new service engineer was coming and telling customer about new problem.Different service engineers are sending for same problem. customer become dissatisfied and for this reason sell will be decline in future Stock out problem Not delivery at proper time Not inform problem to the original sales people by Proper service Place Manpower Branding Promotion Promotion (integrated Marketing communication): RESL was doing Same Promotion for all products. For an example: diesel generator, GE lighting and power renta l. Above the line Through the line Below the line Above the line   | Bill board | Press add| Add Design for bill board | Process of press advertising:Design developed   by RESL with agency Rate (fixed)[on behalf of RESL negotiation with news paper by Agency] a)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Which paper b)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Page number c)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   What size d)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Color Quotation send by add agency Work order send by RESL Payment Chapter four Branding 4. 1 Brand: A name, term, sign, symbol, or design, or a combination of them intended to identify the goods and services of one seller or a group of sellers and to differentiate them from those of competition. Brand elements, sometimes called brand identities, are those trademark able devices that serve to identify and differentiate the brand.The main brand elements are brand names, logos, symbols, characters, slogans, jingles, and packages. Brand element choice criteria: 1. MEMORABLE Easily recognized: it is easy to r ecognize because this is already a establish brand (general electric) Easily recalled: easy to recall also 2. MEANINGFUL Fun and interesting Rich visual and verbal imagery 3. PROTECTABLE Legally Competitively 4. ADAPTABLE Flexible Updatable 5. TRANSFERABLE Within and across product categories Across geographical boundaries and cultures The quality parameter: ProductQuality| Generator| Performance| v| Feature| v| Conformance quality| v| Reliability| v|Durability| v| Serviceability| v| Style and design| v| 4. 2 Steps of brand building TARGET MARKET| OTHER VARIABLES| VALUE INNOVATION| VALUE PRICING| VALUE DELIVERY | VALUE PROPOSITION | Brand Elements| STEPS IN BUILDING BRAND| Product Engineering| Creating Differentiation| Five Dimensional Branding| Win – WinSituation| Cost-EffectiveDistribution| Position the brand in the mind of the prospect| Create awareness/ identity of name/ symbol/personality | Position the brand to differentiate from others | Create brand image| Create trus t in the minds of customers, prospects and other stakeholders by maintaining consistency and DEL | BRAND EQUITY| Build awareness to the mind of the prospect. a)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Branded vehicle b)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   All Transportation of GE will covered by the GE stickers c)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Sales man will build awareness to the dealer d)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Tell detail about the   brand like GE e)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Provide GE T-shirt to all sales people 4. 3   Experience wheel of Rahimafrooz Chapter Five Supply chain  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   management 5. 1 Function of Physical distribution: Inventory control a)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   How much to order? b)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   When to order? Warehouse(private) a)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Tejgaon b)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Begun bari c)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Mirpur Material handling )  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Maintain the quality of storage b)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Moving right goods at the right ti me to make them available to the right customer. Transportation a)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Own b)  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Private Channel structure: Indirect| Intermediary (RESL)| Manufacturer| End user| Level of intensities: Distribution from single outlet (RESL)| Exclusive| Ware house entry process: 1. Normal entry 2. Warranty entry A) Normal entry [which come from direct principle] Entry new products L/C number About product part number and serial number Input to the excel sheet Kept in store Delivery B) Warranty entry Entry Defective productsMatch with the product part number and serial number Input to the excel sheet For Defective products kept in store[ for physical evidence] Delivery Current process (re-placement flow): 5. 2 Target market : The target market is group of customer to whom the company aims its marketing effort. The   target market of the RBL is automobile users   and industries telecommunication, power station, railway   system, electric vehicle, forklift, ship   buoy lighting and solar power system and household for IPS and UPS battery. targeting   board groups of buyers within a specific product/market, such as automobiles.Consider for example, the global market for automobiles. In 2003 the sales   of   the Chevrolet Impala model where 1. 5 million units, In 2005 the sale corolla best selling model has sales of about 300,000 unit . considering automobile market   RBL segmented their markets and develop product like locus. The fragmentation of needs and want in market is creating subgroups of buyers of buyers within the total market, each displaying different customer satisfaction requirements. such  Ã‚   differention provides   and   opportunity for business to design product offerings to meet the needs of customer indifferent market segment.Targeting all people  Ã‚   and also organization in a market is not a typical strategy for RBL. instead, many target one or more segment within the total market. Deciding what people to target is a critically important strategic decision. Customer focus Rbl are focusing on customer. getting to close to customer Rahimafrooz associates   Ã‚  directly   with distribution, retailers and also buyers to know what drives customer satisfaction, identify customer   needs, and use those needs to target market where the business can achieve a sustainable and significant competitive advantage in this field.RBL understand customer preferences and   requirement and offerings superior value RBL developed a centralized customer feedback and query sell total commitment to customer satisfaction â€Å"is one is of their values. listening to what customer say in continual systematic way is a key tool to comprehend their needs and requirement and to satisfy them a achievement excellence in their product and service accordingly. All individuals of Rahimafrooz Group interact with customers and members of the  public everyday and do hear, eceive, or learn about their comment s, complaints, views, etc on the products, services, and dealings of the company A systematic and organized way of managing these feedbacks and queries will surely strengthen their total commitment to customer satisfaction. Strategic Policies Innovative: RBL always   find creative means to achieve their desired results, while  building on the experiences of others. Leaders : RBL aggressively in the forefront of economic development for their target markets; others will use their success  to measure own. Renewals and Growth:RBL focus our efforts and incorporate values into actions that contribute to a positive, effective and  sustainable economic transformation in the  Region. Enterprising  People: RBL find,  embrace  and  support  the  efforts  of  customers, suppliers and employees who are motivated to undertake new or risky paths that result in  personal and  company growth. Enterprising Businesses: RBL attract and engage companies willing to change a nd take risk to achieve sustainable growth, thereby providing increased employment and wealth to the Region. The Region:RBL will serve the broad  geographic area rather than Bangladesh. Strategies Build a support system that will enable the successful execution of resources to innovate superior products. Develop production process based on  the strategic plan  implementation requirements Develop cross-functional team to support  implementation of the  strategic plan. Develop a performance measures tool Develop  a  process  for  continual  feedback  on   progress  from  the  market  and  periodic assessment and  revision of their marketing strategy and plans. 5. 3 How RBL Become Market Leader 1. ive the values Integrity Honest, fair and impartial to all. – e. g. delivering on promises to external and internal customers. Excellence Self  discipline,  personal  responsibility,  overall  commitment  e. g. (a) Taking  personal resp onsibility for delivering the results as planned. e. g. (b)   Finding and  implementing new or  improved solution. Total Customer satisfaction This applies to both  internal and external customers, and must fully  satisfy both. This means those understanding their expectations, and  matching to our  resources/capabilities. Taking new initiativesFinding and implementing new ways of solving or improving issues 2. RESULT  ORIENTED Achieving   Ã‚  targets, taking corrective action, giving  feedback. 3. TEAM  BUILDER Empathic, Compassionate . e. g. (a) Receptive to ideas, complaints, feedback of others and adding positive suggestions (b)  Actively coaching team members for their  development. 4. RECEPTIVE  TO  CHANGE E. g. deriving maximum   Ã‚  benefit from   the new style of supportive training programs rather  than the previous directive style of training. 5. VISIONARY Recognizing the qualities & skills required to aspire to the company’s vis ion e. . Constantly  benchmarking themselves to fulfill aspirations. 6. ENTREPRENEURIAL Proactive, risk-taking, Self-starter, innovative, confident e. g. Constantly strive to improve knowledge of company. 5. 4 SWOT ANALYSIS OF RBL According to the study if the organization strengths, weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) analysis of   Rahimafrooz Bangladesh Ltd is described bellow; Strengths: Excellent cycling ability  high reliability and exceptionally long life Large electrolyte reservoir high tolerance to water loss and minimal maintenance High charging efficiencyLow self discharge, dry pre-charged plates High rate of discharge performance High resistance to adverse mechanical and electrical condition Weaknesses: Expensive than other competitors’ brand Low self discharge Opportunities: Evolution into a â€Å"Plug-in Hybrid† with higher capacity batteries and a drive train designed to operate for extended periods in electric-only mode. spread into other market sectors Increasing awareness of environmental issues likely to keep demand high. licensing of technology to other manufacturers Threats Increasing Global CompetitionLow price batteries offered by China Increasing raw materials price Chapter Six Findings Product Basis Market Share: Rahimafrooz Battery Ltd 27 Feb 2011 †¦ Bangladesh now has a battery market of 0. 6 million units worth Tk 5. 0 billion a year and Rahimafrooz has 75 per cent market share. Rahimafrooz’s     Globatt hits Local Market â€Å"We exported 0. 6 million batteries in the last two years with   Ã‚  Globatt   Ã‚  having 60 per cent share of the total units. Mr. Moin said at present there is a demand of 400 million batteries worldwide while Rahimafrooz exports 0. 5 million units a year. Business DomainsThis section describes Rahimafrooz Group’s businesses according to the four broad segments that its companies operate in. Storage Power: Rahimafrooz Group is the largest manufacturer a nd exporter of automotive and industrial batteries in Bangladesh and has the largest battery export plant in South Asia. Automotive and Electronics: Rahimafrooz Group markets and distributes various automotive after-market products such as automotive batteries, tyres and lubricant as well as electronics ranging from home appliances, power backup systems, lighting products, and electrical accessories.The Group is also one of the leading complete CNG solution providers in the country. Energy: Rahimafrooz Group has a significant presence in the energy sector of Bangladesh and offers a wide range of renewable and conventional energy solutions. Retail: Rahimafrooz Group introduced the first retail chain of superstores in Bangladesh and has played a major role in redefining everyday shopping. After gathering information I can draw the following findings: As it is found that average 75% of market share is obtained by RBL.Most of the dealers claim that they receive their order, but it is no t in   ordering period. Cent percent dealers’ claims that they are dissatisfied with the products of RBL. The Rahimafrooz Group has more than 10 exclusive outlets. Bangladesh’s largest manufacturer†¦distributor of automotive and industrial batteries. Bangladesh-based Rahimafrooz Batteries Ltd (RBL) expects India operations to contribute 10 per cent to the company’s global revenues by 2013. Rahimafrooz IPS & UPS are best in country. RBL is the first producer of industrial battery.It is a leading name in the diesel generator industry having a customer base of nearly 900. RREL is also the pioneer in providing solar-hybrid solutions for Telecom Operators’ BTS towers and solar powered irrigation systems in Bangladesh. Skilled and well-trained team to ensure quality workmanship Excellent after sales service. Rahimafrooz CNG Ltd. (RACNG) is one of the leading complete CNG solution providers in the country Chapter Seven Recommendation Service engineers are not identifying the specific problem. Every time new service engineer was coming and telling customer about new problem.Different service engineers are sending for same problem. customer become dissatisfied and for this reason sell will be declined in future Stock out problem Not delivery at proper time Not inform problem to the original sales people by Proper service Place Manpower Branding Promotion If company solves these problems then it will grow faster. Conclusion No business stays at the top if it doesn’t maintain its performance. Thus it is very important to fulfill the demand of the consumers through competitive advantage.This study has gone through different stages to identify the relations of marketing tools that can affect significantly the market share of Rahimafrooz’s product. Going through, Rahimafrooz’s product also identifies different activities of the competitors because there are also players who have special interest are their market share in the same market. Timeliness of the data is very important. I want to mention that here I learned how to work in professional environment with challenges in the real development world, how to improve coding and design techniques and how to cope with different working Throughout the whole development process.I got the chance to implement my theoretical knowledge of marketing that I learnt over last 4 years from my respected faculty members of ASA University of Bangladesh. Not only that, through report writing I got to know how to compose professional and formal reports for any project or research works. I have taken total marketing strategy of Rahimafrooz Bangladesh Limited. Through this I have tried to give an actual scenario of Marketing Strategy.

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Feedback: What can go wrong? Essay

When identifying a problem in the performance appraisal process, managers need to focus on the employee rather than on the performance (Gomez-Mejia, Balkin, & and Cardy, 2010, p. 218). Focusing on the employee’s development helps keep a sense of objectivity. If the manager focuses on the performance, instead of on the employee development, the employee may become defensive. If this happens, the effectiveness of the feedback will decrease because the employee may become self conscious. It’s better to direct feedback toward skill improvement rather than toward the employee performance. Encourage the employee to discuss their feeling and ideas about the problem. If the employee feels they are not a part of the discussion and that they are just being lectured to, the feedback may not be taken as seriously. Getting the employee actively involved in the feedback process helps ensure they take an active role in the process. In addition, making sure to accurately define the problem helps in developing a solution. If the problem is not accurately identified and defined, then the right solution will be very difficult to determine. Furthermore, if the feedback from the manager is vague or wishy-washy, the employee may not understand what the manager is trying to say. This miscommunication can diminish the effectiveness of the appraisal process. Make sure to plainly state the problem and be clear about the desired solution. A performance appraiser may not identify what you are doing well as an employee. As a result, her feedback to you highlights your flaws. You may feel that no matter what you do, your employer cannot be pleased. If you receive a performance appraisal with feedback describing your faults. In addition, make sure to communicate to the employee that they are in control of their solution. If the employee feels empowered, they will be more active in fixing any performance problems they are faced with. If they don’t feel empowered, they may not understand that the solution to the problem is in their hands. Managers need to help employees understand they are accountable for solving their performance problem with the help of the manager. The pre-appraisal checklist and preparing for the appraisal. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://hrweb.berkeley.edu/performance-management/cycle/assessment/tips/supervisors/checklist-prep Paulding, B. (2012, 04 09). Performance appraisals: Post-appraisal activities. Retrieved from http:http://human-resources-payroll.knoji.com/performance-appraisals-postappraisal-activities/

Saturday, September 28, 2019

The US-China trade relationship Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

The US-China trade relationship - Research Paper Example The United States imposed selective controls on trade with China immediately after the communist forces commenced to win the civil war in the early 1949. U.S export controls were then progressively tightened until a whole ban was set in place against China by the U.S following the outbreak of the Korean War (Louis and Bull 127). The United States was fundamental in creating the coordinating Committee on Multinational Export Controls (COCOM). It comprised of representatives of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and Japan. It was intended to supervise a ban, which was imposed on China and the U.S. This study reveals that, by 1951, no trade existed between the two countries. In 1971, China recaptured its seat in the UN. President Richard Nixon made a historic visit to China In 1972 and these unfolding events compelled COCOM to loosen the export controls and allowed China to get equal treatment like the Soviet Union (Louis and Bull 124). This forced the US to permit its populace to make purchases from the Republic of China and compensate for them in dollars. The move by COCOM made USA’s exports be under the identical export control precincts as sales made to the Soviet Union. The trend of partial loosening of barriers continued until after nearly twenty years trade between the two countries has been seen growing tremendously (Louis and Bull 124). The total trade between the two nations has expanded from zero to nearly $2.4 billion in the late 1970s. This is the year when the two countries formally established diplomatic relations. The US and China formally signed the Trade Relation Agreement. This agreement was intended to accord each of the two nations the most favoured nation treatment based on the reciprocal trend (Lehmann and Lehmann 158). This study establishes that, this was just the begging of the numerous trade agreements that followed in the subsequent years. Some of them included Agreement on Civil Aviation and Sea Transportation and the Agreement on Avoidance of Double Taxation. In addition, three joint committees on commerce, science and technology and economic affairs were formed. These committees were intended to serve as effective instruments of promoting dialogue between the two nations. As from 1981, China was given relatively higher levels of the USA’s technology than the Soviet Union. COCOM adopted a green line policy toward China in 1985 (Lehmann and Lehmann 159). This policy gave preferential licensing treatment, which enabled China to control up to 27 categories of items for exports to China. China became more advantaged than other countries prescribed under the COCOM. This saw China grow in labour intensive industries, which later became China’s driving force for China’s exports. It is worth noting that, by 1988, China’s exports had reached over $40 billion and total trade topped 480 billion. This study establishes that, the USA imposed broad sanctions against China after the Tiananmen Square incident in the summer 1989. The sanctions included a deferral of authorized and military interactions between the two nations, a ban on the US trade financing and investment insurance for China projects and a prohibition on exports to military and police

Friday, September 27, 2019

Kind of sport ball Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Kind of sport ball - Essay Example o establish and market its brand name, which is a trusted and well-known national brand as designer clothing and a private label that has several low-cost, well-located, and leased stores throughout the U.S. (Pride & Ferrell 36). This has helped the company attract and retain loyal shoppers. The company management has also gained staffing confidence in its market through the achievements of its managers and employees and awards given to its staff. Kmart has adopted and implemented turn-around strategy, which has significantly transformed management structure. This implies that unprofitable stores and underperforming employees are retrenched, in any renewal (Pride & Ferrell 36). This strategy ensures that a high performing staff is retained, and employees are promoted to where they can work effectively. Kmart has also managed to limit face-to-face competition from its key competitors, such as Wal-mart and Target, by locating its stores away from them. It has employed expertise that plans the appearance and layout of stores to satisfy different customer segments (Pride & Ferrell 36). Finally, the company has established an effective retailing system through focusing on certain key areas of technology. This system helps in controlling supplier payments and inventory. It also monitors income versus profit margins, and track customer behaviors across all stores (Pride & Ferrell

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Inter to accounting Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Inter to accounting - Research Paper Example Mutiny Gold Limited is one of the key major players in gold, copper and nickel mining and exploration activities and has great control in this sector. It is a public company which is listed in ASX, and has two main competitors; Kingsgate Consolidated Limited and Eldorado Gold Corporation who will also be analyzed in this report. This report consider the released quarterly activities and cash flow results in the year 2011 and the impact the half year profit result had on the stock prices. In the cash flow report, Mutiny Gold Limited had its net cash flow improve significantly. This made the share prices of Mutiny Gold Limited gain slightly as portrayed by the positive residual over time. Profit announcement Mutiny gold limited as a limited company must always adhere to the capital market regulation. Therefore, it is obligated to provide financial results and report to the shareholders and members of the public. In conformance to this requirement the company on 29th July, 2011 released a report having information about the quarterly activities and a cash flow report. The announcement made through the Australia Security Exchange press made information available to both investors and members of the public. ... h at the end of the quarter 1588 On this report, the progress of mutiny gold limited of major and almost all projects that the company was undertaking thus offering the investor a mere forecasting of Mutiny Gold Limited profit. In addition, the company showcased improved cash flow management implying that the company will be able to ruin its operation smoothly without cash flow problems. To achieve the objective of this report, we will analyze the company stock prices while considering all market indices for the period starting 8th July 2011 to 20th August, 2011, to establish whether there were positive residual which would delineate the impact of the announce on the price of shares. In addition to this, the tow major competitions, Kingsgate Consolidated Limited and Eldorado Gold Corporation share prices will also be analyzed so establish the industrial effect the announcement brought forth. Residual returns of MYG Source: (Austailia security Exchange, 2011) Trend analysis of share c losing prices of Mutiny Gold Limited, The share prices immediately after the announcement increased by 0.005 but later dropped. This price increase can be associated with the announcement made the company on its activities and cash flow report. Source; (Austailia security Exchange, 2011). Now let us analyzes the residual returns of the company, As showcased in the above graph the residual returns of the company improved from, -5.86 to -2.47, this can be attributed to the announcement made by the company. The residuals returns did not improve, since the company announcement did not change the potential investor’s perspective (Austailia security Exchange, 2011). The company action of realizing the quarterly report of its activities and cash flow statement did not win the confidence of the

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Legitimacy Theory In Brewing And Hotels Sector Essay

Legitimacy Theory In Brewing And Hotels Sector - Essay Example These social contracts may be three-fold; between the society and the state, the society and the businesses and between the state and the businesses. Suchman says that legitimacy is the general view that an entity's actions are desirable, appropriate as well as proper in the light of values, norms, and beliefs within a system that's socially constructed.Suchman further highlights three kinds of legitimacy in organizations. These are; cognitive, moral and pragmatic. Management of legitimacy according to him also faces various challenges like maintenance, gaining and the repairing of it. He also writes that communication is where the management of legitimacy rests. Therefore, while the function of legitimacy is being examined it’s not possible to sideline the corporate communications’ essentiality. It attributes to goals or purposes that a business entity has.It's an issue that's widely linked with issues of corporate governance. Corporate governance is defined as the pow er exercised over business entities with the aim of increasing the value toward its stakeholders. These stakeholders should be accountable for their actions to the society at large to make sure that they achieve these objectives. That's, both to the internal and the external societies. The internal society may refer to issues like workers' protection like adherence to industrial and factory safety measures while the external society is the entire society not involved in the business actions first- hand. (William, 2009)

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Analyses customer relation theory of adidas Assignment

Analyses customer relation theory of adidas - Assignment Example This is a powerful marketing for Adidas and it uses it effectively to be able to engage the customers. Adidas tries to use customer loyalty in order to maintain its customers. Although some scholars have argued that consumers are rarely loyal to such brands as Adidas and its major competitors like Nike and Puma, the firm still sticks to its strategy of trying to create customer loyalty Matthew (2013). One of the ways in which Adidas tries to create customer loyalty is to have its brand strategy designed in such a way that all customers have been served. For instance, the firm is currently delivering three parts of its brand (Arenas, 2010). The first brand is the original which gives the customers the option to access the original Adidas designs. This is for the loyal customers who still want to stick to the products they liked in the older days. The second is the designs that are geared towards professional athletes. These products are designed to serve professional athletes in order to help them have the best performance. The third and last brand is geared towards fashion. This is f or the Adidas customers who feel they want to wear Adidas products but with a fashion appeal to it (Kyle, 2006). Of these three categories of customers that Adidas targets, its digital marketing strategy targets only two. The two categories targeted with the digital strategy for Adidas are those who are fashion oriented and the athletes’ categories. The reason for this is these customers are the ones who are most likely to use the gaming consoles and so Adidas is able to engage these customers. Although the digital gaming console is the main digital marketing strategy that Adidas has used mainly, the firms also uses other digital channels to engage the customers. For instance, the firm uses social media such as Facebook and twitter for its

Monday, September 23, 2019

Cunsumer adopting e-banking as a new technology innovation Essay

Cunsumer adopting e-banking as a new technology innovation - Essay Example While there may have been security concerns about this in the past, today security on mobile networks is almost at par with the security strength which available to those accessing their accounts from desktop computers (Coelho and Easingwood, 2003). Marketers and technology companies have done their part in allowing users to expect the same experience and the same speed which they find in e-commerce to be applied to m-commerce. This means users are more willing to adopt e-commerce as a means of interacting with their financial service providers. This experience can be carried over from the mobile phone to the desktop or laptop computer and across different operating system since the interface is web based. Just as mobile network data transfer can be secured, laptops and desktop computers can also have wireless data networks with the same if not higher levels of security while providing a more enriching experience since the computer is a far more capable machine for information access than a mobile device. The interaction is one of the factors which impacts the propensity for consumers to adopt e-banking since the interaction with a human at a bank branch is quite different from an interaction a person may have with a computer. Customers may choose to make investments based on information given to them by a financial consultant in the real world but they can also make investments decisions based on the current information they have. For example, a client could get a news report about a company which made a breakthrough in nanotechnology on their mobile phone. They can simply use their phone to login to their financial investment services provider’s web portal, research all they want to know about the company and simply put in a buy order for stocks of the company. All of this can be done from the client’s phone or the client’s primary computer. SSL encryption,

Sunday, September 22, 2019

Whole Foods Essay Example for Free

Whole Foods Essay Whole Food’s chief elements of the strategy are to position the company as a market leader in the natural and organic foods, expand the brand internationally, provide the highest quality, and be the best food retailer in every community in which Whole Foods stores are located. Is Whole Foods’ strategy well matched to market conditions in the food retailing industry (one of the criteria for a winning strategy discussed in Chapter 1)? Whole Foods’ strategy is definitely well matched to market conditions. Currently, there is a huge demand for healthy food. People are more health conscious, expect taste and quality, and look for convenience in shopping. Whole Foods is able to address all the current trends through its strategic vision. The CEO John Mackey’s vision was for Whole Foods to become an international brand, carry the highest quality natural and organic foods, and be the best food retailer in every community. The products are free of pesticides, hormones, and other genetically engineered products that could affect health, community, and agriculture. In addition, Whole Foods is recognized by the USDA as being a Certified Organic grocer by Quality Assurance International. This means that all their products are grown organically; the products are grown without the usage of pesticides, fertilizers, bioengineered organisms, growth hormones, or antibiotics. Whole Foods had successfully addressed the economic conditions of 2008; as sales dropped due to the recession, Whole Foods executives changed the company’s strategy to better match the economic downturn. For instance, they reduced prices of certain foods, offered family sized meals, offered coupons, and managed to cut certain products’ costs. Based on the financial statement data in case Exhibits 9, 10, and 11, how well is Whole Foods Market performing? Use the financial ratio information in Table 4.1 of Chapter 4 (pages 98-99) to assist you in calculating a revealing set of` financial ratios and interpreting them. According to Exhibits 9, 10, and 11, there is an increase of their net income from $136,351in 2005 to $203,828 in 2006. In 2007 and 2008 Whole Foods net income decreased gradually, in 2009 net income increased to $146,804 due to the change in the company’s strategy. According to Yahoo finance net income has been increasing since 2009; in 2011 the company’s net income was $342,612. Whole foods’ balance sheet shows total assets of $3,783,388 and total liabilities of $2,155,512 in 2009. In 2011 total assets were $4,292,075 and total liabilities were $ 1,300,770. Ash The cash flow data shows a net cash provided by operating activities of $587,721 in 2009. Also, the company has invested $386,283 in 2009 as part of the growth strategy. Based on these recent information Whole Foods has recorded a strong financial performance. Fiantial Ratios 2009 Gross Profit Margin= Revenues-Cost of goods sold= $8,031,620-$5,277,310=34.3% Revenues $8,031,620 34.3% is the percentage of revenues available to cover operating expenses. Current Ratio= Current assets =$1,055,380= 1.54 Current liabilities $684,024 Since the current ratio is greater than 1, Whole Foods is able to pay current liabilities using assets that can be converted to cash in the near term. Debt to assets ratio=Total debt = $2,155,512= 0.057 Total assets $3,783,388 This ratio is very low, in other words the company’s operations are not financed through the use of debt.

Saturday, September 21, 2019

The Role Of Alfieri in A View From A Bridge Essay Example for Free

The Role Of Alfieri in A View From A Bridge Essay This essay that I have written about is from the book A View from the Bridge. And I am going to discuss how Arthur Miller (the Author of this play) has achieved such dramatic impact by using Alfieri. In this play Alfieris role is very important. He tells us more about the characters like a narrator; he sets the scene and the environment. He is an engaged narrator, helping the audience in every way to understand the story. Arthur miller has used the characteristics in Alfieri to divide the play in different ways. The character helps us to understand the background information, which we might have missed. Alfieris role is to unfold the play to the audience. He makes the audience get involved and plays with their emotions and helps them understand the story. The audience, including me, believe Alfieri because he is a lawyer and knows the most. He creates tension and emotion for the audience and the characters. I think he has so much pressure from being told the background information about the characters. I think he is drowned in stress and needs to talk to someone. I think thats why he talks to the audience. Alfieri also gives the feeling that he is retelling the story, because he mostly speaks in the past tense. The community in this play respect Alfieri because he is a lawyer and helps the rest of the characters out. Alfieris role is like a chorus, always reminding its tragedy. He creates suspense in the audience and gets them hooked to the play. The author must have thought very hard about this. The author makes the play feel like its a cliffhanger and makes them addicted to the play and makes them want to watch more. When Rodolpho wins Catherine, Eddie feels left out and jealous. He feels betrayed by Catherine and that she has ran off and lives her own life. This could also be the reason for his fear of Catherine growing up, and that she is not a little baby anymore. Eddie thinks Rodolpho is gay because he has blond hair and does cooking and sewing. Eddie feels justice must be served. Eddie goes to Alfieri (the lawyer) and tells him about Rodolpho. Alfieri is an educated lawyer, this contrast with the characters like Eddie. Alfieris language is very high standards. His role is to be an expert adviser and represents the American law. He is Eddies advisor. Sometimes he uses imagery to describe something. He uses similes and metaphors. He is giving the audience a clearer view and to convey to the audience that this story will end tragically. He keeps the audience thinking and helps them concentrate towards the play. He also uses imagery to tell the audience about his characters. For example: He walked in the room, and his eyes were like tunnels. This is a simile, this could mean Eddie was thinking deeply and like he committed a crime or he had some passion or he was stressed, obsessed or he had a deep desire or he was not aware of whats going on. In most of Alfieris scenes he develops tension, action, he also helps us like a guide. He moves the scene on to the next one. In the first scene in Alfieris office is where the main message of the play comes to light. That is love, morality, law come to life. The way the Arthur Miller done this is very clever. At the start of each scene Alfieri introduces who is in the scene and the setting, plus he creates the time and atmosphere.

Friday, September 20, 2019

Caribou coffee company inc.

Caribou coffee company inc. Introduction This assignment presents an analysis on Caribou Coffee Company Inc. (Case study 28 Dess, Lumpkin and Eisner, 2008.) An overview of the industry, in which the company operates, is provided, with an analysis of the company itself. From the outset, an overview of Caribou Coffee Company Inc. is presented; a business segment analysis, and identification of the companys major competitors. The assignment comments on the Companys financial outlook, to year ending September 2009. Whilst some discussion is made in text, for the purposes of the word limit of this assignment, this analysis will appear in the appendices. The assignment concludes with recommendations as to the future direction of Caribou Coffee Company Inc. The work is sourced from existing literature and referenced throughout. Company Overview Caribou Coffee Company Inc., (Caribou) is a specialty retailer of coffees, teas, bakery goods, and related merchandise. As of September, 2009, Caribou Coffee had 525 coffeehouses, which includes 112 franchised and licensed locations, predominantly in the US as well as international expansion to Asia, the Middle East and the United Arab Emirates (UAE.) Caribou targets its customers by offering gourmet coffee and espresso based beverages in addition to specialty teas, baked goods, whole bean coffee, branded merchandise and related products. Furthermore, it sells whole bean and ground coffee to grocery stores, mass merchandisers, office coffee providers, airlines, hotels, sports and entertainment venues, university campuses and online customers. Caribou focuses on creating a unique experience for customers through a combination of high-quality products, a comfortable and welcoming coffeehouse environment, in ski-lodge style, and a unique style of customer service (Caribou Coffee Compan y, Inc., 2009.) The company presents its mission statement as follows: â€Å"Our mission at Caribou Coffee is to provide a total experience that makes the day better.† (Caribou Coffee Company, Inc., 2009) Market competition includes Starbucks, local and regional coffeehouses, restaurants, coffee shops and to some extent, Dunkin Donuts and McDonalds (See also: Dess, Lumpkin and Eisner, 2008.) The Company is a majority-owned subsidiary of Caribou Holding Company Limited and trades on the NASDAQ under the ticker (CBOU) (NASDQ, 2009) (Web-link provided.) Industry Definition Caribou operates in the fast food industry; the fast food market can be defined as the sale of food and drinks for immediate consumption either on the premises or in designated food areas which may be shared with other foodservice operators, or for consumption elsewhere; this definition excludes sales through vending machines and is restricted to sales in specific foodservice channels (Data Monitor, 2008) (Web-link provided.) All market values are given in operator buying prices that is the amount spent by foodservice operators on the food and drink that they serve and not the amount the consumers spend on food and drinks. The difference is the increase various companies add to cover their costs and generate a profit. Consequently, this values the market in terms of the amount of money for which food and drink manufacturers are competing. In terms of market segmentation, Caribou belongs to one of four: Quick service restaurants, take-away, mobile and street vendors, and leisure locations. However, in terms of the coffee industry, this comprises two business segments whole bean coffee and coffee beverages sales (see also: Dess et al, 2008.) Caribou has three reportable operating segments these being: retail, commercial and franchise. Arcapita Bank (Arcapita) based in Bahrain, has been the majority shareholder of the company, since 2000, with 60.6% holdings (NASDAQ, 2009) (Web-link provided.) For Caribou, however, the competitive market, along with a potential class-action lawsuit involving store managers, has caused some serious issues, including increasingly high net losses and decreasing stock price over the past few years (Caribou Coffee Company Inc., 2009.) By providing â€Å"an experience that will make the day better,† Caribou Coffee has created competitive advantage in their store operations, but the question remains whether they can maintain this and use it to sustain their growth strategy. Creating strong human capital is the foundation for the companys differentiation strategy (see also: Dess, Lumpkin and Eisner, 2008; Shultz, 1961.) One of the issues that will be analysed in this case is whether or not Caribous attempts in developing human capital, will enable them to achieve Case Study: Caribou Coffee Company, Inc A Strategic Analysis a sustainable competitive advantage given the competition and threats they are facing. In order for Caribou to maintain its competitive advantage it must continue to create differentiation in its coffeehouses through their human capital. The company has developed strong capabilities in recruiting, developing, and retaining their employees (Caribou Coffee Company Inc., 2009) but this can be easily copied by competitors however, this is not enough to sustain their advantages. To continue to expand they must maintain their strong focus on human capital, in addition to developing their other strengths to create a bundle of resources as the basis of differentiation. Brief Profile of the Industry The global fast food market has exhibited strong growth over the past five years; however, it is predicted to decline in the years leading up to 2015 (Dess et al, 2008.) The market generated total revenues of $154.7 billion in 2008 which represented a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 6.6% for the period 2004-2008. By comparison, the European and Asia-Pacific markets grew with CAGRs of 4.4% and 10.3% respectively over the same period and reached values of $26.5 billion and $47.1 billion in 2008 (Data Monitor, 2008.) The number of transactions increased with a CAGR of 2.2%, during the period 2004-2008, to attain a total of 85.8 billion, in 2008. The number of transactions is predicted to rise to 97.0 billion transactions by the end of 2013 thus, representing a CAGR of 2% for the period 2008-2013 (Data Monitor, 2008.) External Analysis PESTEL Political Caribou, like the rest of the food industry is directly concerned with public health and, as such government legislation is in place. Caribou, like all fast food manufacturers must strictly adhere to the regulations of the market in which it supplies its products. For example, frozen food must not be kept above -15C for longer than two hours over a 24 hour period. Furthermore, heating and cooling commercial buildings requires roughly six times more electricity. Since the government in several countries regulates electricity, then Caribou is highly vulnerable to government legislation. Economic A number of positive and negative factors can affect Caribous market growth, as well as the industry. For example, the increases in the price of coffee beans, milk as well as the worldwide economic recession and decreased globalisation of the economy and culture. The latter is evident by the introduction of products from Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe. Furthermore, demographic changes have increased the demand for, and consumption of fast foods and, for Caribou, this has impacted on their product performance, business profitability, production costs and firms overheads. In 2007-2008 Caribou reported that their production costs significantly increased as a result of higher wage demands due to global economic difficulties. In addition to being the majority shareholder, Arcapita also has two seats on the Board of Directors but its controlling interest could represent an overhang on the stock. Arcapita requires Caribou to operate in accordance with Islamic principles which may limit financial flexibility and impact the perception of the brand. Social Over the past 10-15 years, women have become more financially independent and entered the workforce, and the number of single households and single parents has increased, which has further increased the average disposable income. All of these factors favour fast foods. Specialty coffee is a strong and growing industry in the US. Specialty coffee consumption increased by more than 48% from 2001 to 2006 and the market is estimated to be over $11 billion annually (Dess et al, 2008.) The number of coffeehouses grew from only 500 units in 1991 to 24,000 units in 2006, but the industry remains highly fragmented (with the exception of market leader Starbucks) (Dess et al, 2008.) The reason for such growth is the consumer trend to specialty and traditional products such as micro brewed beer, single malt liquor, and organic foods. Coffee is seen as a new quality beverage, there is an expanding menu, and coffeehouses have become the â€Å"third place† for social consumption. However, the demand for coffee could fall as a result of changes in consumer preferences or concerns about caffeine. Technological Caribou has tapped into the market with their dedicated website. The site is interactive in style and content, with imagery or promotions based on business rules or consumer preferences. This provides the site visitor with more relevant information on coffee types or coffeehouses. Caribous marketing team can also update the site to keep the content fresh for site visitors. Caribou can also monitor consumer responses therefore, looking at new initiatives to meet consumer needs. Environmental As demonstrated, Caribou has many outlets throughout the US and its expansion to the Middle East, Asia and UAE. This means that the company could be affected by regional and national weather which may impact upon consumer preferences and needs. In terms of Corporate Social Responsibility and sustainability, Caribou actively supports sustainable coffee production; for every pound of coffee the company purchases, a significant proportion of money is granted to sustain socially responsible initiatives in coffee-producing communities. Legal Caribou is not without exposure to the potential legal institutions of regional states within the US and those governing the countries outside of the US, where the company has its units. In 2008, Caribou faced legal proceedings, which was filed by three of its former employees, regarding overtime payments. The case was financially settled however, this left an element of disdain amongst other employees and, to a certain extent, consumers (Dayton Business Journal, 2008.) (Web-link provided.) Five Forces Analysis (Porter) Rivalry, Threat of Substitutes, Buyer Power, Supplier Power, Barriers to Entry Rivalry among competitors is quite commonplace in the coffee industry consequently, Caribou must maintain its differentiation to maintain their customers loyalty. There is strong competition in the coffeehouse industry, which is characterised by not only from the industry leader, but also from the threat of new entrants and substitutes attracted by such huge growth (see also Porter.) Caribous position is under threat from emerging and current competitors who have a differentiated approach to the provision of coffee. Caribou competes with specialty coffeehouses; including Starbucks, doughnut shops, bakery-cafà ©s, and traditional quick-service restaurants therefore it must maintain a differentiated concept to continue building on its market share. Caribou is under threat from Starbucks because they have increased their long-term store goals from 30,000 to a target of 40,000 (Starbucks, 2009; web-link provided.) As industry leader, Starbucks is committed to maintaining its domination of the industry, which gives them an overwhelming advantage which means that Caribou, and all the others, struggle to become the recognised second-place coffee ho use. In this instance, the buyer power is very high due to the many choices and the switching costs for going from one coffeehouse to another being so low. In order to create a good quality beverage suppliers need to provide quality coffee beans and, since these are an essential commodity, suppliers are unable to place controlling price demands. Caribous position in the coffeehouse industry is encouraging; when one examines the conditions and different forces that are present in the industry, as well as taking into account its incremental expansion over the years, however, strong competition and buyer power limits profit potential. Partial SWOT Analysis Opportunities and Threats Opportunities Caribou recognises the long-term potential to invest in 2,500 locations which the company believes is achievable based upon limited penetration across markets outside of Minnesota. The company has already increased market penetration by company and franchises in the Middle East and Asia. Furthermore, the company intends to build upon and increase its broader licensing strategy including more franchised stores in the US (see also: Dess, Lumpkin and Eisner, 2008.) This should lead to more profitability for Caribou. Threats A too aggressive growth plan requires Caribou to execute an active development schedule whilst managing existing operations across a range of markets. Consistent performance depends upon suitable locations as well as the recruitment and retention of staff. Consumers in the new markets may not embrace Caribous concept to the same extent as in the core markets such as Minnesota. Inflation for key inputs, for example coffee labour, could impact, as the company may not be able to pass through sizeable price increases and the demand for coffee could diminish as a result of consumer preferences or health concerns about core products for example, caffeinated drinks. Internal Analysis Caribou has been able to achieve a competitive advantage by fulfilling customers needs by placing emphasis on its human and social capital; however, the company is at risk of being compromised as a result of recent events. Developing human capital is embedded within Caribous strategic initiatives, to improve operations by improving their selection and training of coffeehouse personnel (Caribou Coffee Company, 2009.) Through the creation of human capital Caribou has been able to create domination between the individual capabilities, skills, knowledge, and experiences of the companys employees. Shultz, (1961) discusses human capital in more detail. At Caribou, the human capital is built through the extensive training procedures that help create customer satisfaction; social capital is created through the network of relationships that the employees have throughout the company (Caribou Coffee Company, 2009.) Three main interdependent activities of creating human capital i.e., attracting, developing, and retaining, are an organisations main focus (Shultz, 1961.) Caribou attracts human capital by implementing very selective hiring practices. The most important part of Caribous human capital is their focus on creating operational excellence through extensive training procedures; the training at Caribou is very important and continuous, as they believe it is the employees who create the great products or customer service that differentiated the company. The training of employees was believed to be central to fulfilling the mission of creating â€Å"an experience that makes the day better† (Caribou Coffee Company Inc., 2009.) The company implemented this into all of their training practices as one of the companys core competencies that would create strong commitment in their employees. All new employees were given instructions to become ‘drink certified, in-store Certified Instr uctor Trainers provided ongoing instruction in presentation and service, and courses were offered through Caribou College to improve career skills (Caribou Coffee Company, 2009.) The company also retained their human capital by implementing rewards that are both tangible and intangible. Shultz (1961) discusses reward mechanisms in more detail. Caribou follows a pay-for-performance philosophy which enables the company to identify and reward team members whom achieve high performance standards. Employees would work harder to make their coffeehouse the best since the bonuses for managers and the coffeehouse was based on sales, profit, and customer service. The company has a belief that excellence is a product of hard work; this sounds good to consumers because they will get the best, but may be a negative for the employees and will make it harder to have employees contributing to human capital. These factors are what created effective human capital for only a certain time, but other issues is not allowing them to sustain that advantage. Caribou has a culture that allowed a place â€Å"Where Entrepreneurial Spirit Roams Free† (see also: Dess et al, 2008.) The company is not overly structured, which is why employees are able to work on a variety of different projects and take on an extensive range of responsibility; moreover, Caribou has a culture which includes a strong belief in promoting from within the company, which creates a future to work toward for employees. The company is more on the personal or relaxed side where they would communicate in person rather than through emails and they would have a dress code that was business casual. These different aspects of company culture, creates social capital that gains employee loyalty for Caribou; it has a strong belief that customer service is led by their employees and that their selective hiring practices, extensive training, and low turnover created superior employees (Caribou Coffee Company, 2009.) Caribou has created differentiation by implementing a strategy dedicated to creating human capital as a way to better meet consumer needs, but in the changing and rapidly growing industry it will be very difficult to create a sustainable competitive advantage. This strategy has been successful in creating competitive advantage at the business level however; it is arguable whether this is a source of sustainable advantage since this advantage is based on resources and capabilities that can be too easily imitated by competitors. Having dedicated employees creates a value for Caribou, which differentiates them from other coffeehouses; the companys culture has created a value that creates a common purpose for the employees and the company, which creates an effective outcome when presenting service or products to consumers. The challenges that Caribou is facing through the stock declines, company losses, or even the manager demands for overtime pay can possibly weaken their human capital as a source of competitive advantage. Also, the effects of the external environment can significantly impact upon the company if they remain on the same path. The changes that Caribou is facing will send them into a decline of their human capital as a source of competitive advantage, if they do not do anything to add to or change their strategy. SWOT Analysis Strengths and Weaknesses Strengths Specialty coffee sales in the US are on the increase; the factors that are driving growth are a greater awareness of the quality differences between specialty brands and commercial grades. Caribou sells it appeal as their coffee houses are an ideal gathering place, especially amongst teenagers and young adults. Caribou recognises there is a high demand for the variety of their beverages and these can be customised to cater for individual consumer preference. Penetration for coffee consumption is low (16% daily consumption by US population) relative to overall coffee consumption (57%); this is indicative of a major opportunity for growth; Caribou is performing well compared to other competitors and is set to take advantage of the booming industry. Caribou has created a distinctive position through providing high quality coffee in comfortable, ski-lodge like atmosphere, which distinguishes itself from the chic, upmarket approach used by its competitors, in the main, Starbucks. This concept is good; as it enables the company to capitalise on favourable trends in the specialty coffee market. The quality of Caribous custom roasted coffee has been the key to its success, with taste tests demonstrating that consumers prefer Caribou coffee by a significant margin over other competitors (Caribou Coffee Company Inc, 2009.) In terms of Caribous financial position, the last quarter to year ending September 2009, demonstrated a fourth consecutive quarter of positive earnings. These results are driven by strong implementation at every level of the Caribou with a fundamental focus on expansion and diversification, which is a key component of Caribous future growth strategy. Caribou focuses on maintaining its position as a branded coffee company and are making the necessary investments to expand the brand. Financially, Caribou is in a good position to secure further expansion in the future. Weaknesses Caribou competes with specialty coffeehouses, with its main competitor being Starbucks. Caribou must maintain a differentiated concept to continue building its share of the market. During the financial year 2003-2008, Caribou announced net operating losses and negative free cash flow (Caribou Coffee Company Inc., 2009.) Hence, the company needs to improve profitability and operating cash flow in order to sustain growth and achieve a health long term financial position. In terms of geographic concentration, Caribou is predisposed to local economic, meteorological factors and political issues. Conclusion and Recommendations With the industry leader creating new goals that target to make them almost a monopoly in the world of coffee, Caribou is in danger of losing its competitive advantage. This source of social and human capital is a key source of Caribous competitive advantage, but even that is in decline. In order to compete in the industry and even possibly surpass the industry leader, Starbucks, Caribou must have a sustainable competitive advantage. After conducting an internal analysis of the firm, it is clear that Caribou needs to maintain or better its human capital; it needs to implement the same practices, but the company must also consider implementing a way to satisfy overtime pay because the fact that managers work overtime shows dedication like an owner, but maintaining that belief is important for the company. Caribou has created a coffeehouse that is seen as an escape for consumers that helps the company maintain its differentiation from other coffeehouses, but the company is in its stag es of decline if no changes are implemented (Caribou Coffee Company, 2009.) Although Caribous focus on human and social capital has created a temporary competitive advantage, in the current competitive environment these are likely to become necessary success factors, not valuable, rare, inimitable, and non-substitutable core competencies. It is more likely that their human and social capital, superior product quality, store design and atmosphere provide a collection of resources that can create sustainable competitive advantage. Porter (1985.) As Caribou continue to shift their strategies to meet politico-economic and socio-cultural demands, like most in this industry sector, the company is not able to predict the economic and social challenges to which consumers and businesses will be exposed. However, the company believes that it is in a very good position to enable it to react and respond to these challenges because of their remarkable customer loyalty, their unique product brand and its attractive price-value position. As it places emphasis on coffee, a nd combination beverages, the company will, undoubtedly, innovate by creating new products and experiences which complement the coffeehouse experience and drive transactions.

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Robert Frost poems Essay -- Literary Analysis, After-Apple Picking

Robert Lee Frost is one of the most popular American poets in the century. Frost frequently uses the theme of nature in all of his poem collections. Due to the time he spent and lived in New England, most of his work was influenced by some specific locations in New England. Frost uses nature as a medium to express thoughts about life. In the poem â€Å"After Apple-picking†, Robert Frost has many symbols and as well as allusions to embellish the meaning of the poem. In addition, â€Å"After-Apple Picking† is not literally about picking apples; it’s about the everyday life that human go on with. Like all of his other poems, this poem can be interpreted and read on more than one way. It tells of an old dying man who looks back on his life with regret on the factors/things he did not accomplish. All his life, he spent trying to achieve his goals, but he realizes how he has no reason to accomplish those goals of his. As the poem begins, the speaker is standing on a very long ladder which is apparently pointing towards heaven, also looking down on the apples he did not pick. The speaker’s state of mind looks as if to be in many of regrets, â€Å"and there’s a barrel that I didn’t fill beside it, and there may be two or three apples I didn’t pick upon some bough.† (6) Although, the character may seem confidence and sure of his decision, the audiences question him as the character looks upon at the barrel that he did not complete. The apples that the speaker is constantly referring to represent life experiences, the speaker missed. However, the speaker does not show any sign of regret, due to the reason that he is â€Å"done with apple picking now.† (6) It tells the audience that the life experiences that the speaker once had are finally coming to an... ...tans of water as well as land, the audiences can definitely imagine a terrified little boy trapped between the two. Frost makes the ocean look like it could destroy the whole world, an end of the world scenario. The ways portray this evil, that anything they touch, will be destroyed. Importantly, Frost makes it straightforward that the ocean isn’t really the ‘threat’ as it may appears to be evil. Frost describes the fear as a feeling that all the people should feel and as well as give a warning: â€Å"Someone had better be prepared for rage.† (12) At the end of the poem, Frost leaves a question to the audience regarding about the source of â€Å"ocean destructive rage†. (Grade saver) In all of these three poems, Robert Frost uses nature to interpret a deeper meaning to the poem, and leave the readers even more anxious to read on and think in a more deeper level.

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

common law and equity Essays -- essays research papers

Equity is frequently referred to as a supplement to the common law. Cruzon defines Equity as a system of law developed by the court of chancery in parallel with the common law. It was designed to complement it, providing remedies for situations that were unavailable at Law. Because of this, Equity provided a dimension of flexibility and justice that was often times lacking because of the common law’s rigidity. This rigidity stems from the fact that, while courts sometimes altered their jurisdictions and procedures, the fundamental premises and noticeable forms of the common law went largely unchanged between the 13th and 19th centuries. The common law was regarded as a birthright for all Englishmen; however, as the Crown continued to impose new jurisdictions, many statues sought to protect the peoples’ right to due process. In 1215 the Magna Carta was issued which sought to protect a free man’s right to life, liberty, and property except by the due process of the law. These statutes meant to limit the power of the crown, the very power that had introduced the common law as an alternative to the previous localized form of justice, and characterized a shift in the common law. Yet, due process legislation could only be invoked where the common law was considered to be deficient, and petitions were sent to the king, seeking his grace, when this was thought to be the case. Gradually the number of these petitions increased so much that they had to be reserved for special councils of the parliament, and as they continued to increase, only the most significant petitions were reserved for the parliament. The re st, mainly private suits, were passed on to individual councilors such as the chancellor, admiral, or marshal. These councilors grew in importance as petitioners began approach the appropriate individual directly. Out of the councilors’ arrangements for dealing with these cases, along with their added significance, developed several distinct courts. The most important of these was that of the chancellor as it developed its own jurisprudence. The Chancery began as the royal secretariat. Originally it was a department where royal writs and charters were drawn and sealed. Much of the chancellor’s later power stemmed from the fact that he had custody of the great seal of England, which was used to authenticate these documents. Because the writs originated from thi... ...  Ã‚  In the 19th century radical reforms of the judicial system attacked the practical flaws of the chancery. In 1813 the supreme power of the chancellor was checked by the appointment of a vice-chancellor. Later, this effort was continued by increasing the power of the Master of the Rolls, and the abolition of many of the offices in the court. By reducing the spread of the court and once again streamlining business, hopes were for joining the two courts and, once and for all, eliminating the rivalry between them. After 500 years, however, the chancery still left a bad taste in peoples’ mouths, and under Victorian legislation, the power of the supreme courts was increased to administer the law and equity: the chancery and the common law courts were abolished, forever ending the age old dispute between the two. While the chancery was abolished, equity has taken on a broader meaning and still survives today in England and the US. It is that approach to justice giving more precedent to particular facts of a case. Equity is important because it gave increasing protection to the individual, and represented a breaking away from the medieval notion of the all-powerful feudal lord.