Small Business Management Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Small Business Management - Assignment Example Studying the data of the online sales of large chain stores like Gap cannot provide an accurate assessment of the situation faced by startup ventures in the E commerce. A better approach would be to case study analysis on small vendors who are operating in the same kind of clothing categories as the planned clothing store and see the strategies they have picked out which led to either success or failure. Further secondary information can be gathered from analysis done by research companies on E-commerce, expectation of profitability for online clothing stores and such topic for a prescribed fee. Some primary research can also be conducted either on the marketing strategy or the tastes and preferences of customers through interviews or surveys. These would indicate what type of apparel are the customers looking for, what kind of service they expect from an online store and help judge how far can you satisfy their need. The research is an essential component of designing a suitable mar keting strategy and more extensive research would steer the strategy towards success. Any cost incurred in conducting the research should be considered as investment. 2. In designing the marketing strategy the first question is what kind of segmentation the clothing line is going to target. After the strategy has been identified, it becomes easier to organize resources and marketing campaigns towards your core customers increasing the chances of customer acquirement and retention: Unsegmented strategy: Followed by clothing stores with either a uniform range of clothes (plain Jeans or category like headwear) or with large margins available to cater to the masses; their customers could be from all walks of life but some characteristics could be as follows: Availability of disposable income not necessary. Single individuals or Families in need of regular new clothes Comfortable with social outings (like shopping) Have an interest in advertising, can be persuaded for a trial purchase Mu ltisegment Strategy: In this strategy, the clothing line would be designed to appeal to certain different kind of segments only and these are the customers that will be targeted by the company. Considering a clothing line with economical, casual clothes as well as trendy clothes for ‘tweens’ there can be two different groups of customers targeted: A. Economical, casual clothes B. Trendy clothes for ‘tweens’ Middle aged males or females Most probably part of a family unit, with kids Working full time or part time Have a casual social life, with kids or family Mid tier income level Emergency savings but low amount of disposable income Time conscious Would be persuaded to purchase clothes if it is convenient and seems like a good bargain Children and teenagers from ages 11-16 Coming for mid and upper tier income families Have a monthly allowance Allowed to choose own clothes Interested in pop culture and latest fashions Concerned about their image their clothi ng portrays Parents are primary earners May be able to use ‘nag factor’ to persuade parents Single-segment strategy: Also known as ‘concentrated’ or ‘niche’ strategy it is adopted by firms with a low amount of recourses to spend on marketing or a unique product which can only be marketed to a single segment of customers.

Coca Cola: Changing marketing environment

Coca Cola: Changing marketing environment Marketing environment are the actors and forces that affect a companys capability to operate effectively in providing products and services to its customers. The marketing environment consists of microenvironment (customer, competitors, distributors, and suppliers) and the macroenvironment (economic, social, political, legal, physical and technological forces). These shape the character of the opportunities and the threats facing a company and yet are largely uncontrollable. The major microenvironment that Coca-Cola is facing is its competitor, PepsiCo. Competitors have a major bearing on the performance of a company. It affects a companys capabilities to operate effectively in its chosen markets. For example, Coca-Cola was once successful and was the Wall Street favourite. It created a global brand and outperformed its arch-rival PepsiCo. However, by December 2005, its competitor, PepsiCo, for the first time in the history of the two companies, was valued more highly with a market capitalization of $98.4 billion against Coca-Colas $97.9 billion. Coca-colas number one status was starting to look vulnerable. It was losing market share to PepsiCo. The major macroenvironment that Coca-Cola is facing is Social/cultural forces. Social/cultural forces can have an impact on marketing decisions by changing demand patterns and creating new opportunities and threats. With the increasing numbers of health-conscious consumers, attitudes towards the demand for beverages are changing. The changes need to be monitored and understood so that marketing management is aware of the changing tastes and behaviour of consumers. Such changes can create demand shifts that can act as either opportunities or threats. In contrast to Coca-cola, PepsiCo considered the change an opportunity for business expansion. For example, PepsiCo diversified away from sugary fizzy drinks into a powerful portfolio of non-carbonated products. It bought the fruit juice business Tropicana and Quaker Oats. With these new businesses, the company has experienced double-digit growth, where as Coca-cola cherish the status quo and resist change. There are various ways companies can respond to the change in marketing environment, which are: ignorance, delay, retrenchment, gradual strategic repositioning and radical strategic repositioning. The first response of Coca-Cola to the changing marketing environment before the arrival of Mr Isdell to that of PepsiCo, is where Coca-Cola made no change to its strategy at the beginning after the death of Roberto Goizueta. It continued as normal, ignore its competitor, PepsiCo, which was threatening their existence. During that time, Coca-Cola was facing bungled takeovers, disastrous product launches, contamination scares, and constant feuding between factions within the management and boardroom. It still stayed put to Goizuetas philosophy, that is, it was that nothing could beat the low cost, high-profit -margin business of producing syrupy concentrate for bottlers, under licence. Between the competitions of the two companies, it had made consumers more cola-conscious. However, Coca-Cola rarely saw it like that due to the poor environment scanning. Coca-Cola appears to be internally orientated business, as it did not monitor and seek to understand customers, research competitor a nd their brands to understand theirs strengths, weaknesses, strategies and response patterns. Coca-Cola did not realize that salient forces are affecting their future prospects. Apart from the ignorant, Coca-Cola has delayed in their response to the marketing environment change. This can be caused by bureaucratic nature of their decision-making. Marketing myopia can slow response through management being product rather than customer focused. For example, despite the change in consumer tastes, lifestyle and expectations, Coca-cola is still focused on soft drinks where PepsiCo has already well diversified and even enter into snack food business. The result is that PepsiCo generates about 23 per cent of its worldwide profits from the stagnant carbonated drinks sector, while Coca-Cola relies on fizzy drinks for 80 per cent of profits. PepsiCos diversification programme and its branding-building expertise have made it the worlds fourth largest food and beverage company, ranking behind Nestle, Kraft and Unilever. Its sales were more than $43 billion compared with Coca-colas $32 billion in 2008. Slowly, Coca-cola has looked into gradual strategic repositioning. This involves a gradual, planned and continuous adaptation to the changing marketing environment. Coca-Cola has slowly and continually repositioned itself in response to its strong competition and the changing marketing environment. It has in fact gradually challenge its competitor by having launched Minute Maid fruit juice to challenge Tropicana, Dasani to take on Aquafina and so on, even though it seems to be playing catch-up. Compare to Coca-Cola, PepsiCo has adopted the radical strategic repositioning where it took part and involved by changing the direction of the business according to the change in marketing environment. For example, PepsiCo developed and marketed better alternative, more varieties and healthier beverages.

AIDS Resistance Genes :: Biology

The What AIDS researchers have recently uncovered a genetic trait that may provide protection against HIV-1. A "defect" that could account for unexplained cases of individuals that seem to have an immunity or protection against HIV-1. They are calling the trait an "AIDS Resistance Gene". What is an AIDS-Resitance Gene? This is just one of the questions our group inquired about when we began our investigations into the latest of AIDS research. AIDS Acquired immune deficiency syndrome, AIDS, is a serious disease that becomes more and more common in our nation and around the world. AIDS is defined by certain criteria established by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention based on lab evidence such as T4 cell count, the presence of certain diseases, and other conditions. WHAT CAUSES AIDS? This disease is caused by the virus known as Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1) (Structure of HIV), which attacks cells in the immune system, leading to the system's inability to resist harmful organisms. It damages the cells in the immune system, causing the body to lose the ability to fight off infections and diseases. During the course of infection, CD4 T-cells (a special type of infection-fighting white blood cells) are disabled and killed as their numbers decline. From 1981, when the first cases of AIDS were reported, through mid-1995, more than 476,000 individuals had contracted AIDS in the U.S. More than 295,000 of these individuals died. These numbers do not include those infected with HIV. Without symptoms of AIDS, nearly 1 million Americans have been infected with HIV through the mid-1990's. An estimated 19 million individuals world-wide have been infected with AIDS since the late 1970's. History Research has lead some to believe that HIV arose in Africa from retroviruses of monkeys. It is said that urbanization and the change in traditional lifestyles brought HIV-1 to the cities. It then spread to other parts of the world. However, it is proven that HIV-1 has been in circulation since 1959, because antibodies to HIV-1 have been detected in stored frozen blood samples taken from individuals in Zaire in 1959 and the United States in 1968. AIDS was first officially detected in the United States in 1981 in New York and California. In 1981 doctors found what they thought was a rare form of cancer called Kaposi's Sarcoma in many males. These patients also had signs of a type of pneumonia called Pneumocystits which occurs when one's immune system is not functioning well.

Online Learning V.S Traditional Classroom Learning Essay

I think whether it is online learning or traditional class learning both should be taken into consideration when planning to further education. I personally did not consider the facts when I decided to further my education. I had started out in a traditional classroom but soon after realized it was not the right choice. It was hard to fully apply myself when I was attending a traditional classroom because I was a working wife and mother. Online learning and traditional learning will show that both of these are great options depending on who the student may be and which educational program the student has chosen. Online learning and traditional learning each have their merits and faults. Online degrees have become a perfect option for individuals who may not be able to enroll in a traditional classroom. When you compare the two learning classes, the biggest difference is that students studying online have the flexibility to attend classes at their own pace and time. In a campus-based classroom they require that students attend class a certain number of times every week, at specific times. Traditional class learning may not be the option for people who have children or work long hours. Learning online would be a better option for these people because they can make their own schedule for when they will attend class. Both online and traditional classes give students the opportunity to interact with other students and their professors. With a traditional classroom you can interact with students and professors face -to -face. In online learning there is no face- to -face interaction with classmates or instructors. Online learning interaction can consist of chat rooms, e-mail, main forums, and over the telephone. Traditional class students have a better advantage of understanding the materials because they can have that one –on- one time with the instructor face- to -face. It may be a little harder for online students to grasp the materials because they do not have that face- to -face interaction. Online learning and traditional class learning work assignments are similar and different in their own ways. In both online and traditional learning classes you still have assignments that have to be completed by a certain time. In the traditional class your assignments are done on paper and with online learning you have to submit your assignments on the computer. Also with traditional class learning one has the opportunity to present in front of their classmates, while online students do not have that option. They are only able to present their presentations to the instructors. In both classes you still have homework and you have to participate in class. Online learning requires you to participate and attend class a certain number of times but there is no specific times or days. They have the option to decide when that will be but with traditional class you have to attend class every day you are scheduled and participate every day. Earning a degree at a traditional college can be very expensive but obtaining a online degree can be a lot less expensive for students. Exceptionally less, but they offer students the same loan and grant benefits offered at a traditional college. Online schools and traditional schools offer the same financial aid packages. Students who attend a traditional class usually have to pay traveling cost and living cost. Online learning students do not have to pay these extra costs because they are learning from home and that requires no traveling. Also with online schools you do not have to pay for facilities like residence halls, dining halls, gyms and libraries. Most provide access to virtual libraries and some even have partnerships with local facilities. There are many similarities and differences between online learning and traditional class learning. The facts show that both are great options to consider, depending upon the person and his or her day- to- day schedule. One method to determine how well online learning and traditional class learning might work for you is to consider the benefits and disadvantages of both. Researching and planning ahead can help a person in deciding which would better fit his or her needs. I have found online learning to better fit my needs because I can make my own schedule concerning attending class. I am a mother and wife so I have many responsibilities and this option gives me time to take care of my household while still being able to obtain a degree at my own pace. Do the research to see which one is the right option for you at this time in your life. Most people think that their decision to go to college only affects them but it affects your family also. You have to still be able to do for your family and handle your business at home. I also suggest if you are attending a traditional college and it seems to be too overwhelming for you at times you should really consider trying the online learning. Becoming successful in life depends on the choices you make throughout life, whether they be good or bad choices. So choose wisely which learning class be it online learning or traditional learning is right for you and your family.

Production Operation Assignment

Assignment 6: PRICING a) Computation of Economic Value of an offering Mercedes Benz is launching its luxury SUV (called the CDL class) in a market dominated by Lexus GL. The CDL class uses diesel and obtains 25 miles per gallon. The Lexus model, priced at $48000, uses premium gasolene and obtains 20 miles per gallon. Both the models need to be serviced annually but the CDL being a diesel engine requires annual service that is costlier by $100. The life of a diesel engine is typically longer – hence the residual value of a 10 year old CDL is estimated to be $1600 higher than the Lexus. Assume (i) the average cost of premium gasolene to be $3. 0 per gallon (ii) the average cost of diesel to be $3. 25 per gallon (ii) the average customer drives 12000 miles per year and (iii) there is no time discount. What should be the price of the CDL such that the economic value of Benz CDL over Lexus GL (during a 10 year use horizon by a customer) is completely appropriated by Mercedes Benz? The economic value of CDL: Price of substitute=48000 Cost saving=(12000/20*3-12000/25*3. 25-100)=140 Revenue enhancing=residual value=1600+residual value of GL Use horizon=10 EV of CDL=48000+140*10+1600+residual value of GL=51000+residual value of GL The economic value of GL: Price of substitute=XCost saving=(12000/25*3. 25-12000/20*3+100)=-140 Revenue enhancing=residual value=residual value of GL Use horizon=10 EV of GL=X+(-140)*10+ residual value of GL=X-1400+residual value of GL To make (51000+residual value) equal (X-1400+residual value of GL) X should be 52400 So the price of CDL should be lower than 52400 dollars such that the EV of CDL is higher than GL. b) Breakeven Analysis Nokia has decided to manufacture a special edition cellphone called HiRide for the teen market next year that will be sold with Sprint’s wireless service. For this phone, Nokia’s variable manufacturing cost is $35 per phone.Fixed manufacturing costs amount to $20 million and advertising cos ts are expected at $6 million. Nokia will sell HiRide to retailers and pay its own salesmen a commission of $8 per phone sold to the retailers. The retail price (i. e. , price paid by the end customer) of the product is $120 and retail margin typically average about 10%. (i) What is the price at which Nokia sells to retailers? Assume that the price is X, thus: X*(1+10%)=120 X=$109 (ii) What is Nokia’s contribution per unit sales for HiRide? Contribution per unit= P-VC=109-(35+8)=$66 (iii) What is Nokia’s breakeven volume?BE volume=FC/contribution per unit=? (20000000+6000000)/66=393939. 4? 393940 (iv) Nokia’s actual sales in Year 1 turned out to be 375000 units. Since the product did not break even, Nokia’s product manager decided to reduce the commission offered to its salesmen in Year 2. Provided the sales volume, price, and other fixed costs remain the same as in Year 1, how much should be the new commission so that HiRide breaks even in Year 2? Assume that it is X, thus: The new contribution per unit would be 109-(35+X), which equals 74-X BE volume =375000=FC/ new contribution per unit=26000000/(74-X) So X =4. 76$