Provide an Individual (1650 words) critical evaluation of the organization sustainability and CSR, alongside the financial performance of a major international corporation of your choice.

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Assignment

Provide an Individual (1650 words) critical evaluation of the organization sustainability and CSR, alongside the financial performance of a major international corporation of your choice.

Guidance: Refer to the lectures provided in the Strategy component of the module where you covered responsible decision making, considering areas such as the concept of the triple bottom line, expectation of the chosen organization in terms of CSR and how these decisions are underpinned in terms of an  organizational  sustainability  agenda. You should also consider how the  company executes  its  Corporate  Governance.  In terms of financial performance, consider the key financial statements provided by the organization and consider these in absolute terms alongside the use of a manageable number of financial ratios.

12 – 14 Academic References should be used: Remember that all sources cited in the assignment should appear  in  the reference list.

Marks will be deducted for reports that do not conform to the structure above and which fall below the presentation and writing standards expected for a professional report.

Submission of Assessment:

Both assignments should conform to the following specification:

  1. Word-processed in Arial 11p t, 1.5 spacing
  2. Each section should start on a new page
  3. Pages should be numbered

How should brick-and-mortar food retailers decide/design their e-commerce strategies to achieve a competitive advantage?

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This paper will be written for a Supply Chain Management course. That is why I ask you to concentrate on this point.It is about the FOOD industry. Specifically, it is about that so far consumers have been reluctant to buy food over the internet. But this is changing. That means, the classic food retailers (brick-and-mortar) have to start finding ways how to open profitable online sales channels… The methodology will be a literature review and must be cited from Mark Saunders.

A4 Size: 1.5 line spacing, font – 12, Times New Roman Main body, 14 bold 1st heading, 12 bold 2nd heading, 12 (not bold) 3rd heading.

Numbering style – Chapter wise
1. Introduction
1.1 Background
1.2 Methodology
1.3 Statement of Limitation
2. Theory
2.1 …etc …
3. Findings
3.1 …etc..

Research Question is :How should brick-and-mortar food retailers decide/design their e-commerce strategies to achieve a competitive advantage?

Compare beach and Mitchell’s and Hogarth’s decision-making models.Describe and compare the three decision-making styles listed in the textbook.

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Research and summarize Janis and Mann’s decision-making model
1) Compare beach and Mitchell’s and Hogarth’s decision-making models.
2) Describe and compare the three decision-making styles listed in the textbook.
3) Research and summarize Janis and Mann’s decision-making model.

What are business models and how are they a compliment to or alternative to traditional strategy models and tools? Outline your understanding of business innovation (BMI) and how BMI is different to product and process innovation.

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  1. What are business models and how are they a compliment to or alternative to traditional strategy models and tools? Outline your understanding of business innovation (BMI) and how BMI is different to product and process innovation.
  2. Critically evaluate the contention that traditional models of strategy bind companies into red oceans. In contrast, what are blue oceans and what tools can we use to look for and exploit blue oceans?

Remember:Provide full references to support your arguments. Try to use journals as much as possible. Many have been cited in lecture slides but also, try and research the most recent work published in respect of any of the core concepts.

Word count. 1500 words per each question. This excludes the bibliography so there is every incentive to demonstrate your reading and provide extensive ‘quality’ literature sources.

Important:

1.Tutor are going to prohibit use of a single company case study. What he mean is, don’t write an essay from the perspective of a single company. When using company examples, compare and contrast companies and use them to illustrate theoretical points.

2.Each question should make a contrast between what you think is 21 century strategy and what every you think preceded it.

3.Starting by questioning the question then spread the analyzing.

 

Evaluate the relative attractiveness of these three segments using the criteria included in your Segment Attractiveness Assessment Framework.

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Overview of the Assignment

Successful companies operating in international markets must have a clear understanding of who their customers are and the factors that make that market unique. It is key for an entrepreneur and/or international marketer to understand customer segmentation and target marketing.

This individual assignment provides each learner with the opportunity to practice applying:

  1. The Customer Segmentation Framework, for Consumer Market, a customer segmentation tool that helps to identify and profile viable segments of customers in the given market. It also provides an opportunity to compare and assess segments in terms of their potential attractiveness using a…
  2. … Segment Attractiveness Assessment Framework, a decision matrix used to compare the relative attractiveness of potential customer segments.

Supported by secondary research, you will be using frameworks to complete your overall analysis of a specific geographic market. First, you will identify three potential customer segments in that geographic market, and then you will comparatively assess the attractiveness of each of these segments so you can make a recommendation of a primary target segment to pursue in that geographic market. You will be making the recommendation to the marketing manager of a Fortune 500 company.

Instructions

Your instructor will assign you one product from a large parent company for your analysis. Once you have been assigned the specific product you will be considering, you will need to complete the following steps:

  1. Identify a specific geographic location in which your assigned company could potentially market the product. As you see fit, you may choose a country, region, or city. Make your choice based on your ability to reasonably identify and find information on three distinct potential customer segments in that geographic market. In your actual paper, you do not need to explain your choice of geographic location.
  2. Identify and develop a profile for each of three distinct potential customer segments within that geographic market. You will describe the different segments using the four customer segmentation variables. (The geographic variable will be the same for all your segments, but the other three customer segmentation variables will differ by segment.) You will provide a concise but comprehensive summary of these segments and their attributes in the body of your paper, and you will provide a “Customer Segmentation Framework, for the Consumer Market” in the appendix of your paper that provides more detail on each segment. To learn enough about your chosen market such that you can identify appropriate customer segments and find uniquely relevant information to help you profile them, you will need to do secondary research.

Make sure you are using sources that are credible, relevant, and published within the last two years. Where you need to make some reasonable assumptions, state your assumptions clearly and explicitly, and provide solid rationale for these assumptions.

  1. In the next part of your paper, evaluate the relative attractiveness of these three segments using the criteria included in your Segment Attractiveness Assessment Framework. You will provide a concise but comprehensive summary of your analysis comparing the attractiveness of these segments in the body of your paper, and a “Segment Attractiveness Assessment Framework” in the appendix of your paper that provides more detail. Here, too, you will need to justify your analysis with information from your research.
  2. Based on your analysis of their relative attractiveness, you will recommend to the parent company of your assigned product which of the three segments you believe is the most appropriate as the primary target market, followed by the secondary market, and then tertiary market. To justify this recommendation, you will include your insights from your segment attractiveness analysis.

A suggested outline for your paper (not including your cover page, table of contents, reference page(s) and appendices) is as follows:

  • Brief introduction to your paper, and your assigned company and product
  • Customer Segment Descriptions
  • Segment Attractiveness Analysis
  • Recommendation(s)

What does that have to do with identifying tracking errors? Gotta ask, and what’s so important about error tracking anyway. Fix it and fly it!

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SFTY 345

Please answer the following questions in a MEMO to Mr. Chuck Yeager in great detail.

1. What is this HFACS deal and what’s the difference between HFACS and SHELL?

2. Is it a proactive or reactive thing?

3. What does that have to do with identifying tracking errors? Gotta ask, and what’s so important about error tracking anyway. Fix it and fly it!

4. What does this have to do with identifying tracking error in a safety program?

Advise if you have any questions or concerns. Thank you for the assistance in advance. Multiple sources may be utilized as needed.

What is the estimated size of the market/customer-base for your product/service market and what are the customer drivers (order winning and qualifying factors)?

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Learning Guide Unit 2

BUS 5116: OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT

Group Activity: Part 1

Instructions: By the end of this unit as a group, your group must provide a detailed answer and justification to each of the following questions:

  1. Product or service: what product or service has the team has chosen?

iPhone SE 2020 – Smartphones product is designed and marketed by Apple Inc which was founded by Steve Jobs and Ronald Wayne in April 1976. All generations of the iPhone use Apple’s iOS mobile operating system software. The first-generation iPhone was released on June 29, 2007, and multiple new hardware iterations with new iOS releases have been released since.

  1. Market and customer: what is the estimated size of the market/customer-base for your product/service market and what are the customer drivers (order winning and qualifying factors)?

The customer base is 100 million customers annually for the first year and about half of that in the second year. The total sale of the device is an estimated 200 million devices. The most important market driver for this product is the innovation of technology and the increased need for smart devices compatible with IoT.

  1. Process Type: what type of manufacturing or service process do you consider most appropriate?

James (2011) defines Process types as a way of describing the approach taken within the design and managing process. Factors on which process types are defined are volume and variety of the products that Apple create for the market.

Hayes and Wheelwright (1984) explain that most processes operate in a continuum of a combination of low volume/high variety, through to a combination of high volume/low variety. For Apple, the combination of high volume and low variety means that the specific process type within the manufacturing process is ‘Mass’. Although there is variety in the range of phones, this factor does not represent a significant change in the materials or process of manufacture. Due to the high volumes of product, Apple sees it as cost effective to use specialised equipment in the manufacturing process.

  1. Layout Type: what type of layout do you consider most appropriate?

Layout types are ways of describing the positioning of resources in processes (James). Because of its relative permanence, facility layout is one of the most crucial elements affecting efficiency. An efficient layout can reduce unnecessary material handling, help to keep costs low and maintain product flow through the facility. Apple subscribes to a Product layout, meaning repetitive assembly and process. These produce high-volume, highly standardised products that require highly standardised, repetitive processes. In a product layout, resources are arranged sequentially, based on the routing of the products (Finch, 2016).

Apple mostly drives its manufacturing with partnerships in China (Foxconn). Within this system Apple deploy a functional layout. A functional arrangement has the advantages of improved quality, less handling, less inventory, improved quality and more flexibility within the manufacturing process. Source: Duhigg, Charles and Bradsher, Keith (2012).

  1. Facility Location: what location do you consider adequate for the facilities where the product or service is performed?

The production plant will be in China for the following reasons:

Distribution costs: Apple’s turnover in China went from $ 3 billion in 2010 to $ 13 billion in the current year, and now accounts for 16% of Apple’s entire revenue of around $ 4.5 billion. Felix. R (2020, Feb 18). And China is also the largest mobile phone market in the world with 940 million registered users according to official data from the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Technology. Team Counterpoint (2020, Feb 15)

Energy costs: The cost of electricity consumption is an important production factor for companies in the industrial sector. Currently, the average industrial power rate in China is around 0.084 USD / KwH somewhere in the middle compared to the rest of the world. Among the OECD member countries, the industrial power rate is the highest in Italy at 0.185 USD / KwH and the lowest in Sweden at 0.060 USD / KwH. Zoey. Y (April 23, 2019).

Labor costs and labor skills: Production will be in China but not only a matter of labor costs. Obviously, paying a Chinese worker is cheaper than a European or American worker, but the main difference is that Chinese companies offer a strategic advantage which in other countries would be impossible. The fact is that Chinese factories give guarantees to their customers practically all the technology in the world is produced in the factories of some Chinese companies. Even more relevant is the availability of skilled labor. For example, a company is able to bring together 3000 engineers in a matter of hours, while in the United States and Europe it would be impossible, several times, the western world cannot train enough staff in the disciplines that serve the technology sector. China and India “produce” thousands and thousands of engineers every year, even millions, thus creating a pool of potential workers impossible to beat. Vivek. W (n.d.).

  1. Process Technology: what process technologies do you consider adequate for your product/service?
  2. Product / Service and Process Design: what elements of the design process do you think are more relevant given your product/service?

Design is the approach used by design thinkers to bring the focus back on track to the most essential element in anything you do, whether it’s a new product/service, a process improvement or solve more problems, (Yen, 2014).

According to Yen, (2014) the design process is the focus on features that matter most and have the biggest impact which end up becoming the epicenter of great brands, solutions, and organizations. Process design goal is to create an improved and optimized process that meets all of your expectations in relation to process performance and strategic business needs and below are relevant design processes for iPhone.

  • Adding value to customers,identification of these activities will make the product or service more valuable to client eyes and must be the subjective of improvement studies.
  • The hand off delay’s reduction,Employee termination process should be controlled during the exchange of responsibilities between workers to verify whether the existing employees don’t have the pending issues dealt properly before employee termination, this allows the process to continue in case of employee termination without the delay.
  • Standardization of business process, this will facilitate the operation to represent simpler procedures that are easy to learn and memorize which will positively impact productivity and safety with fewer mistakes, higher quality products/service and reduced cost due to less staff time.
  • Compliance, considering the standards of the market segment where company operates and verify the national standards which may differ country by country.
  • Business process design validation,its vital for the people working in the process be part of every phase of the implementation. The best way to validate the process is by submitting a prototype for the evaluation of the people performing the execution process to avoid embarrassment for some people say that they never understood any element in the face of the unpleasant situation.
  • Business process design simplicity,looking for the complete solution there might be a mistake of the complex solution and complex don’t bring any benefit to the design process. The complex process or operation may result into unnecessary expenses, errors, low productivity and delays unlike good design that result into something simple, containing only the essence necessary to make the process capable of achieving the expected performance.
  1. Work and Job Design: what elements do you consider important to the design of the job and work required to manufacture your product or offer your service?

The most important elements required for the manufacture of the device is ingenuity and innovative solutions to encompass the best application experience in the petite, in-demand device. The innovation is particularly on the software development since the device needs to match the most recent apps and meet the demands of a smartphone in 2020. Integrating all these features, while maintaining the aspects of the device that makes it popular thus needs top notch innovation.

References 

Duhigg, Charles and Bradsher, Keith. (2012). How the U.S. Lost Out on IPhone Work, The         New York Times.

Felix Richter (2020, Feb 18). The Size of Apple’s China Business. Retrieved from:             https://www.statista.com/chart/13246/apple-china-revenue/

Finch, B, J. (2006) Operations Now: Profitability, Processes, Performance. 2nd ed.           Boston: McGraw-Hill/Irwin.

Hayes, R.H. and Wheelwright, S.C. (1984) Restoring our competitive edge, John Wiley &           Sons Ltd.

James, T. (2011). Operations Strategy. Bookboon. Chapter 10

Team Counterpoint (2020, Feb 15). China Smartphone Market Share. Retrieved    from:             https://www.counterpointresearch.com/china-smartphone-share/

Vivek Wadhwa, Gary Gereffi, Ben Rissing, Ryan Ong (n.d.). Where the Engineers Are.   Retrieved from: https://issues.org/wadhwa/

Wulandari, N., & Sari, R. K. (2016). Linking Experiential Value To Loyalty In Smartphone         Industry. Studies And Scientific Researches. Economics Edition, (24).

Yen, S. (2014). How Design Thinking Drives Competitive Advantage. Forbes. Retrieved Nov 24, 2018, from http://www.forbes.com/sites/sap/2014/08/11/how-design-thinking-drives-competitive-advantage/#7c1f8eaa7a53

Zoey Ye Zhang (2019, Apr 23). China Electricity Prices for Industrial Consumers.Retrieved from https://www.china-briefing.com/news/china-electricity-prices-industrial-consumers/

Based on Zara’s outsourcing strategy and physical distribution scheme described in the article, what do you think are challenges that the company will face to sustain its growth?

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Discussion Assignment #4

Zara is the main chain of the apparel retailer Inditex Group, developed in the 1990’s, and is a quick operations system that enabled its fast-global expansion. This system introduced the concept of Fast Fashion and revolutionized the sector.

Read the article Zara’s Fast Fashion Edge and answer the following questions:

  • Based on Zara’s outsourcing strategy and physical distribution scheme described in the article, what do you think are challenges that the company will face to sustain its growth?
  • Briefly describe a strategy to address the most compelling challenge facing the organization.

Reading Material:

Berfield, S. & Baigorri, M. (2013). Zara’s Fashion Edge. Retrieved from: https://bambooinnovator.com/2013/11/20/zaras-fast-fashion-edge/#more-33581

James, T. (2011). Operations Strategy. Bookboon.

  • Chapter 11 (review)

Lu, D. (2011). Fundamentals of Supply Chain Management.  Bookboon.

  • Chapters 2
  • Chapter 8

Evaluate at least three current approaches or trends related to training (in organizations), including pros and cons of each.

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The CEO of Savannah Engineering, Inspection and Insurance Company (SEIIC) often says, “Our most important asset walks out the door every night.” The company relies on the knowledge and skills of its employees for its success. Without its human capital, the company has little to offer its customers. As noted in the introduction to the case, SEIIC has been experiencing difficulty in meeting customer service expectations and is experiencing problems with retaining some of its most valuable employees. Building on your previous work in the case, you will need to analyze the critical HRM areas of training, performance management, and career management.

Summarize key details about the case to date. What are the most important issues affecting SEIIC’s HRM? Your summary should be no more than one to two paragraphs. (Imagine that you are riding down the elevator with SEIIC’s CEO and she asks you to provide a high-level summary of what you’ve discovered so far. You have thirty seconds from the time she gets on the elevator until the time she gets off. What would you say?)
Evaluate at least three current approaches or trends related to training (in organizations), including pros and cons of each.
Justify a training best practice for SEIIC to help it meet customer service expectations and enhance retention of employees.
Evaluate at least three current approaches or trends related to performance management, including pros and cons of each.
Justify a performance management best practice for SEIIC to help it meet customer service expectations and enhance retention of employees.
Evaluate at least three current approaches or trends related to career management, including pros and cons of each.
Justify a career management best practice for SEIIC to help it meet customer service expectations and enhance retention of employees.

Identify the gap to be filled between present level of knowledge or skills against the expected standard. What knowledge and skills will assignees’ need to develop?

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IHRM assessment: Training and support programme

In-class support and formative feedback

Training programme (suggested word count around 1500 words):  Your training plan should help HR professionals prepare and support employees going on the chosen type of international assignment.

Type of international assignment your report is dealing with:

Who are the employees going on the international assignment (demographics, role, personality, skills, etc.)

Key cultural differences between the home and host countries involved (use Hofstede, Hall or the Globe Project – see week 9). 

Training needs analysis

Identify the gap to be filled between present level of knowledge or skills against the expected standard. What knowledge and skills will assignees’ need to develop?

Aim and objectives of the training and support programme

What are the objectives of the proposed training and support programme?

Consider:

Assignees’ demographics; cultural distance between home and host countries; type and duration of international assignment; the size of the organisation; the 3 key phases: pre-departure, during and post-assignment. Do not only focus on cultural aspects, consider career and family issues as well.

Expected outcomes

Learning outcomes identify what the international assignees will know and be able to do after participating in your training and support programme. What will your training and support programme allow assignees to do?

Content, supporting activities and timeframe

What activities in specific will your training and support programme include? What areas will they cover? (see week 10)

* For cross-cultural training (CCT), which is relevant for all types of international assignments, consider types of CCT: didactic training, culture assimilator, language training, sensitivity training, field training) (see week 11)

Training and support activity Objective

Why is it important? What aspects/areas will it address? What problem should it prevent or alleviate?

 Description

Characteristics, content, process, requirements, people involved, timing, etc.

 References

 
Pre-departure  
 

 

 

 

 

  
 

 

 

 

 

  
 

 

 

 

 

  
 

 

 

 

 

  
On-assignment  
 

 

 

 

 

  
 

 

 

 

 

  
 

 

 

 

 

  
 

 

 

 

 

  
Repatriation  
 

 

 

 

 

  
 

 

 

 

 

  
 

 

 

 

 

  
 

 

 

 

 

  

 

Evaluation framework

Training results need to be evaluated against original need that was previously identified. How will you evaluate the impact/success of your training and support programme?

Consider the 4 levels of evaluation: Reaction, Learning, Behaviour, Results (see week 11)