Retail segment and communications management Essays

Retail segment and communications management Essays Retail segment and communications management Essay Retail segment and communications management Essay Introduction A major share of the contribution to the economy comes in from the retail segment. The entry of numerous domestic and global players in the industry makes it extremely challenging and customer oriented. The World Wide Web has paved the way to virtual stores, facilitating the easy comparison of selling prices and product specification. Cyber trade has seen plenty of aristocratic achievements due to advancement in technology. 1. Decision Making The aim is to establish a retail fashion and accessory store to target the student community in particular. The enormous costs hooked up to the inception of a physical store have lead to resolve that a virtual store is a better option. Firstly, a business plan is crucial to any new establishment. Then to be able to concentrate on business development ensure that there is sufficient monetary preparation to feed no less than the initial ten months. Launching a registered website is vital to going virtual. This will require a domain name, web host and an IP address. A shopping cart script and a payment gateway must be subsequently constituted. The victory of any cyber trade is highly influenced by the marketing tools chosen. The promotion techniques adopted will depend upon both internal and external market information. Decisions that influence the long term performance of any concern are Strategic in nature. They relate directly to its aims and objectives. The choice of a virtual store rather than a physical one is a strategic decision. Tactical decisions foster the strategic decision of the business. Strategies are generally in standing for a long period of time while tactics tend to be more volatile. Three generic strategies that pull off competitive advantage 1 . Cost leadership, be the cheapest, 2. Differentiation, eave a better product, 3. Focus, set your sights on convenience niche, as stated by Michael Porter. Elementary to the daily working of the business are the operational decisions taken. Decisions like how to service a client or when to re-order stock are operational in nature. Several options need to be contemplated before procuring the required workforce. Freelancers could be seen as an alternative as it does not involve any full time salary and benefits. The state agency caters to initial fund requirements along with financial assistances and advises. Therefore fresh entrepreneurs can ply for startup loans and avail their mentoring services as well. 2. Information and Decision Making Information conducive to business can be assembled through multifarious means. Like case analysis, focus group discussions, observations, reviews and surveys to name a few. These can be broadly divided into internal and external sources. Census figures, Judgments on court cases, national opinion polls, trade Journals, professional publications and the Internet are a few external sources, while production and sales statistics, company reports, sales invoices and accounting records are a few internal ascertaining the current and future plan of action. 3. Improvements in Selection and Analysis of Information Fundamental decision making was based on various internal and external sources of information. In order to make decisions regarding market segmentation, soot analysis, customer analysis, competitor analysis, risk analysis, product research, advertising, test Marketing and the like it is necessary to use Market research reports as they give an extremely comprehensive summary and analysis of the market. The support and back up catered by the government must be sought after at all initial stages of a new business. Ensure to frequent workshops, seminars and symposiums on new ventures to comprehend and stay up to date in business management. 4. List of Stake holders Stakeholder of a company means, an individual, group or organization that has interest or concern in that company. Stakeholders can affect or be affected by the actions of the business as a whole. Primary Stakeholders generally internal, take on economic transactions with the business. Stockholders, customers, suppliers, creditors, and employees for instance. Secondary Stakeholders although do not take on direct economic trade with the business can influence or be affected by its recordings. General public, communities, activist groups, business support groups, and the media for example. The company and its stakeholders have to stay in perpetual correlation to attain overall objectives. In retail trade product related decision making has to be made in accordance with customers to get a better understanding of their needs and wants. Likewise there will be many circumstances where decisions are taken with stakeholder participation. In case of any difference of opinion a cordial consensus has to be arrived at. 5. Methods to Develop Contacts with Stakeholders To elicit better understanding of company objectives and stakeholder desires it is essential to have a well designed two way communication system in place. It finally results in a healthy multidimensional flow of information with a high degree of transparency. Involving examples. 7. Strategy for Future Improvements Concentrate on developing favorable operational association. Prioritize on accepting the discrepancies instead of discarding them. Construct and encourage mutual performance Pay attention on administering internal stakeholder liaison. Review the communication system in practice at least quarterly. Conclusion Establishing a retail concern can be very demanding and complicating. The realms of decision making for the proprietor and founders stretch in all directions. These decisions will be based on the information gathered through the several internal and external sources. The company and its stakeholders have to constantly stay correlated in all important issues pertaining to the company. To establish and maintain any business successfully there has to be clarity in monetary and market apprehension and awareness. An effective blueprint and continuous effective administration will help keep away from risks and pave the way to success. PART II Communication is a fundamental, universal process. It is essentially the exchange and share of information, knowledge and ideas among people. Communication plays a vital role in the business organization. It is the life wire of the organization. It is the important essence for the drive to success. Communication done within the organization is internal communication while any form of contact with anyone outside the organization is external communication. External communication if more emphasized than internal communication. Subtle formal communication systems are applied. The vertical communication system, both top down and vice versa, are extremely inadequate. In a business the major setback is in maintaining proficient communication process. This generally results in poor communication. Blunders occur because orders are misunderstood. The fundamental trouble in communication is often because what is actually understood may is different from what was intended. This results in incomplete communication. 1 . Communication Process The organizational communication network and the types of communication are given below in a self explanatory diagrammatic representation. In todays corporate scenario a multidimensional system of communication is indispensable. The need for communication is to put across information and the need for information is to enable timely decision making. The flow of information has to reach the indented receiver in the intended manner. Fundamental tips too healthy workplace communication: 1. Be straightforward and unambiguous. 2. Listen to words as well as body language. 3. Let the speaker know you care about what is being communicated. 4. Opt for a face-to-face conversation in case of complicated information. 5. Be Respectful use names, look in the eye and nod. 6. Choose the right medium depending on the content and receiver. . Tailor the message according to the receiver boss, co-worker, customer or supplier require different styles. 8. Use testing when further explanation or repeated follow up is not required. E. G. , What time is the budget meeting? 9. Regardless of the discussion, try to keep it positive. Even an earsplitting feedback can and ought to be delivered in a positive, supportive, team-centric man ner. 10. Be navigable to improvements. Efficient communication is crucial to a companys development. Improving communication also includes integration of technology. This brings along the necessity for requisite training. Several businesses have realized efficiency and productivity through communication technology. It has affected is improved accessibility, flexibility and collaboration, which are vital components of communication. Technology will transform communication in many more ways. 3. Information and Knowledge In an organizations scope information refers to data, conceptual commitments and interpretations, while knowledge is the process of exercising the information to facilitate timely decision making. Hence it must be managed effectively. Knowledge has to be captured and acquired in order to be managed. Knowledge can be aggregated as structured, unstructured and critical. Bifurcation can also be tactic, explicit and implicit knowledge. Knowledge Management is a multi-disciplined approach towards accomplishing overall objectives through the optimum usage of knowledge. It involves capturing, preserving, transferring, disseminating and utilizing knowledge. Advances in information technology have made it easier to manage tools that can be used. Using information technology for knowledge management will require systematic knowledge management architecture. This should provide the organization with a framework that can use the central database to store customer tat and effectively utilize information and knowledge. This is a highly cognitive process. The organization in study, we come to understand from the case, does not encompass a modus operandi for storing and retrieving knowledge and information. The knowledge of the supervisor is not stored for the volunteers hence cannot be resourceful to the writer. It is evident from the case study that the organization doses not practice knowledge management strategies. A fresh and innovative strategy has to be inserted to exploit the available information resources. This will result in 40% raise in profitability. There will be enhanced data acquisition and data storage while complications in information recovery will become redundant. Technology will provide a contemporary management approach through an instant and rapid access to information. An idyllic strategy will merge multiple corporate databases into bigger, integrated, multidimensional knowledge bases that are constructed to sustain cutthroat intelligence. These centralized knowledge repositories force the optimization of information gathering, organizing, and retrieval. This strategy will comprise Knowledge enriching features with the aim to carry out flawless interoperability and information stream. This implementation will directly correlate with the bottom-line. Crisis management is yet another imperative function to be carried out by the organization in study. These organizations face issues that are not recurring in nature. This means the information handled belongs to a highly volatile breed. This calls for more speedy availability of dynamic information and strategic knowledge management. Implementing a healthy information and knowledge management: Step 1 identify the existing setbacks to implement a thriving system it should be aligned with overall objectives and current issues. Step 2 prepare for change this is not bare application of technology but also involves cultural change and requires backing from the corporate management. Step 3 create the team a befitting team with an efficient team head and cross departmental proficiency is necessary for the success of the new system. Step 4 perform the audit and analysis the information and knowledge audit will reflect what data is there? , what is needed? , what is missing? , how to acquire it? , and how to organize it?. Step 5- define the key features features in the new system have to be clearly stated. Features differ between organizations. However insurability, customizable and security are commonly preferred features. Step 6 build the blocks one by one use a phased approach that balances the existing system and implements the new features in an acceptable manner. Each phase should lay the foundation for the next phase in a subtle way. Step 7 link it to people its a known fact that even the foremost user-friendly systems can fail if they are not properly linked to the concerned people. Implementing an inclusive information and knowledge management system can be a taxing task; nevertheless, the outcome will be extraordinary. 4. Improving Access to Information and Knowledge The major objectives to improve access to information and knowledge in the organization are to: Ensure balanced access to information and knowledge. Endow employees with appropriate information and knowledge. Guarantee handy, comprehensible data. Foster knowledge and information proficiency of an individual. Elicit optimum system usage. Among suggested methods to achieve improved access are firstly, actuality an intranet into the system so as to facilitate the finest database practices and proficient directories. An intranet is an internal computer network of an organization that improves access to information and knowledge through streamlining its cascade. The subsequent method is sowing fresh cutting-edge knowledge and yielding it to precious harvest that is meaningful and capable of breakthrough performances leading to rapid and superior innovation. This dynamically managed and well mapped meta- knowledge is a significant aspect of the companys intellectual capital which directly correlates to its success. 5. Personal Plan for Effective Communication Personal and professional life progress to a very high degree is influenced by interpersonal skills. Effectively conveying and translating information, being able to interpret peoples emotions and being sensitive to them, calmly arriving at solutions to conflicts, avoiding gossip and being polite are all members of the interpersonal skill crew where listening is the captain. The volunteer supervisor needs to develop his interpersonal skills. The development program encompasses the following: Appreciate spot something positive about each co-worker let them hear it. Build dynamic listening demonstrate that the others point of view has been received in full. Be non verbal where you have to listen and communicate not Just words but also body language and moods. Bring people together Create an atmosphere that encourages everyone to work together. Resolve conflicts be an efficient mediator. See it from their side Empathic. Stay calm, poised and balanced. Dont complain else youll get a bad reputation. The volunteer supervisor ought to acquire the art of communication and allocation to create a healthy work environment. Conclusion The communication system of an organization is its backbone. The political activists organization in study needs to sharpen its internal communication system, as an analysis of the case gives an evident picture of the issues resulting from scanty communication practices. The voluminous nature of information handled by organizations calls for proficiency in its management. Information is not knowledge unless its value is dug out. This gives rise to an essential cognitive process called information and knowledge management the focus of which is to connect people, processes and technology to effectively use and manage the organizations intellectual capital at par with the physical assets of the company to achieve overall success.

Fahrenheit 451 and 911 essays

Fahrenheit 451 and 911 essays The Constitution provided the right to free speech and this right afforded us to voice our issues, concerns, discontent or even salutations to how our government acts or does. Previously, the freedom of speech was expressed through the power of the pen or oration in different gatherings but modernization of the media changed all that. The Internet, live news broadcasts and even the movies became tools for free expression and Michael Moores Fahrenheit 9/11 is a prevailing example of how a civil act is expressed. Some sectors may say that Moore may be a bit too critical of the Bush Administration when he released the movie Fahrenheit 9/11but others applaud it as a wake up call for what was happening during George W. Bushs administration. In summary, the movie is about what occurred after 9/11 terrorist attacks on US soil and how certain events before and after could be traced to how the Bush Administration has been poorly handling the government. At the height of the 9/11 attacks, the movie showed how George W. Bush was stumped when he first heard the news. He was seen as taking several minutes before he was able to give directions on what courses of action were needed to be taken. This was a disheartening scene because being the president of the most powerful nation in the world; he should have shown more fortitude and decisiveness in dealing with a tremendously important issue. Adding insult to injury is when Fahrenheit 9/11 showed that instead of keeping suspected perpetrators in custody, they were let go and even escorted out of the country. This had something to do with the immediate family of Osama Bin-Laden being allowed to leave the country. In a criminal, civil or legal case, the suspects or those that have relations to suspects are kept under tight watch because they may be able to help solve the case or shed light on aspects of the case. What happened after the 9/11 incident was totally out of contex...

Risk Management in Rapid Linear and Linear PMLC Assignment

Risk Management in Rapid Linear and Linear PMLC - Assignment Example Implementing the Rapid linear project management life cycle model instead of linear project management life cycle model however has associated risks that I seek to explore in this paper. One of the involved risks in implementing the Rapid linear project management life cycle model instead of the linear project management life cycle model is the possible confusion that may arise from the required extensive documentation. The manager may therefore miss the most important aspects of the management process because of demanded attention by the documentation process and the documented information. Loss of creativity in a project is another risk that is associated with the Rapid Linear PMLC model and arises from the rigid scope of the model that reduces the project manager and project team members to instruments for implementing designed processes rather than creative resources for improving project process and products. The associated complications in disintegrating project functions are another risk of the model and may lead to mistakes and inaccuracies in project implementation (Wysocki 28; Wysocki n.p.). The model’s swim lane operational approach also identifies risks of ineffectiveness and excessive wastes in event of paralyzed process in one lane. Concurrent implementation of process may also lead to wasted resources is one phase fails. Under the linear model, such a failure would mitigate losses by suspending subsequent processes but such measures may not be possible because other processes in the rapid model will be underway. Reliance on same personnel for operating the different phases of a project, in the rapid model, is another risk factor because personnel may be held up in one department and fails to attend to an emergency in another department. The tight schedule of the model that seeks to complete a project within the shortest time possible also poses the

Censorship of pornography Speech or Presentation

Censorship of pornography - Speech or Presentation Example In 1973, the Supreme Court tried to define what could be considered as obscene in the case of Miller v. California. It was held in the said case that pornography is obscene if applying community standards and viewing such material as a whole, (1) the "dominant theme taken as a whole appeals to the prurient interest" (2) that it depicts or describes sexual conduct in a patently offensive way; and (3) that it lacks serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value (Miller v. California 1976). Community standards may have evolved, as more people are becoming more liberated and open-minded. But the average person as a whole still defines what is proper. Pornography injures not just the community but also, the self-respect lost by its subjects. The abuse that it contemplates is not limited to what could be shocking to the conscience of men, but what is proper to humanity. Obscenity is never a matter of individual belief or perception, it is not how one can be impressed or satisfie d by such material, rather, it is the perception of the community as a whole which is genuinely taken. In our modern time where media and the Internet are accessible to every person, even to a child, the State must act upon its authority to provide the sanctity and safety of every individual through regulation.

Federal Express Canada Case Analysis Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Federal Express Canada Analysis - Case Study Example Contents Contents 3 Background 4 Statement of Problem(s) or Statement of Issue(s) 4 Situation Analysis 5 Marketing Mix 5 SWOT Analysis 6 Environmental Analysis 7 Analysis of alternatives 7 Recommendation(s) 7 Implementation or Action Plan 8 Reference 8 Background The case study revolves around FedEx’s customer service that it provides to its customer and need of assistance provided by the customers care. FedEx is one of the leaders in the air express cargo transportation and its business is based on the philosophy that â€Å"when people are placed first they will provide the highest possible services and the profits will follow†. FedEx is known to be a reliable shipper and is committed to get the package of its customers irrespective of the size to the required destination on time. The present case study analysis is based on the customer service of FedEx which they showed towards a small company by the name of Desktop Innovation. Anita Kilgour who was the office manager in Desktop Innovation had shipped two packets from Kitchener, Ontario to Simpsonville, South Carolina through FedEx. But only one of the two packets was received and there were no whereabouts about the second packets. Statement of Problem(s) or Statement of Issue(s) FedEx which was known for its services and has received many awards for its excellent services in the past but Anita was really disappointed with the way the company handled the situation. With respect to the case of Anita and her company Desktop Innovation, the main problem lied with FedEx was its customer service. Despite of Anita calling them several times to keep a track of the packets and to know about the whereabouts of the missing packets, the customer service department was least interests in informing her and the company about the missing packet and as promised they never called Anita back to provide the information. As stated by Anita that the customer service policies needs to be given an in dept analysis was however true for the situation where Anita and her company had to face issues because of FedEx. Situation Analysis Marketing Mix The marketing mix constitutes of four Ps but since Federal Express is a service industry, the marketing mix would include the remaining three Ps also that is all in 7 Ps. Thus the 7Ps are Product, Price, Place, Promotion, People, Process and Physical Evidence. Product/ Services: FedEx is a courier service industry and delivers the couriers to the required destinations ion time and it has been known for its on time delivery system. Other services includes packaging and shipping of the products, hold at the location, local delivery, laptop docking stations, hotels and conventions and also provides services such as scanning, fax, passport and other office suppliers (FedEx, 2012). The products of FedEx includes posters, banners, displays and frames, cards and calendar, design services to name a few products (FedEx, 2012). Price: FedEx charges a premium price for its services from its customers. It also provides booking facility through the internet so that customer can book at an ease and at any point of time. Place: FedEx is geographically scattered all over the globe and provide services 24*7. FedEx is located in Asia, Europe, Middle East, Africa, North America and Latin America.

Foundations of Western Civilization Essay Example for Free

Foundations of Western Civilization Essay Essay 1: Pope Urban II launched the First Crusade when the Byzantine emperor Alexios I asked for help to fight against the Muslims. In 1095, Pope Urban II made a speech at the council of Clermont to persuade the people and nobility who attended the council to wage war for their Holy Land against the Seljuk Turks. His speech was considered as one of the most effective speeches given in European history. Because of this speech, he was able to reconcile their fight against the Muslims by telling them that they have to fight together because it is the will of God. In turn, the Crusaders were Christians formed to wage fights against Muslims, pagans and other political enemies of the popes. The First Crusade’s major purpose was to reclaim Jerusalem from Muslims. Major motivations for any Crusader at that time were the promise of deliverance from their sins, exemption from tax and protection from the church. Another motivation was that if any Crusader died, they will certainly go to heaven. The First Crusades was successful in getting back their Holy Land. Four new kingdoms were established and the First Crusades were followed with more conquests to gain territories against their enemies. The First Crusades was able to help the pope expand his power and authority of the church among the people of those times. Essay 2: (Aztec, Egyptian and Mayan Civilization) One common thing about these three civilizations is that they have many gods that people worship. Religion in these civilizations influenced political life because leaders associated them closely with their gods. In the Egyptian civilization, some pharaohs considered themselves as son of the sun-god while some leaders in the mentioned civilizations considered themselves as reincarnations of their gods. Rulers during this time were also the high priests themselves and led many religious ceremonies. Religion greatly influenced political conquests in these ancient civilizations because captives from foreign conquests were mainly used as human sacrifices for religious rituals and ceremonies. In Mayan and Aztec civilizations, a number of their religious rituals included human sacrifices to their major gods. These rituals were used to send messages across their enemies how powerful they are. References The First Crusades, http://www. historylearningsite. co. uk/cru2. htm. , 2002-2008 Aztec Civilization. http://encarta. msn. com/ Egyptian Civilization. http://encarta. msn. com/ Mayan Civilization. http://encarta. msn. com/

Geography of Trinidad :: Essays Papers

Geography of Trinidad Just seven miles of northeast of its mother land Venezuela, separated by the Gulf of Paria , Trinidad is one of only 1,864 square miles. It is an island surrounded by the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean. With a longitude (W) of between 60* 54' and 61*56', Trinidad has a latitude (N) of between 10* 3' and 10* 50'.With a tropical climate and rainy season that runs form June to December, unlike the other Caribbean Islands, Trinidad is not on the tropical storms and hurricane paths. Moreover the mountains of Trinidad are unlike those of the other Caribbean Islands. Trinidad has mountains that stretch southwards to the plain and along the gulf and down to the sea, the mountains lay along the whole northern boarder. Its mountains are not steep, cone shaped and rugged. From east to west the mountains of Trinidad run in three lines that are parallel but are separated by two large valleys. As De Verteuil wrote â€Å" Trinidad, being a comparatively newly-settled island, presen ts in many parts the appearance of a wild unreclaimed country. It is covered with dense and lofty forests, the heavy appearance of endless woodland being only broken here and there by vast savannahs, or by the effort of agricultural industry, - except, perhaps, at the Naparimas , where an extensive district is under uninterrupted cultivation.† As beautiful as the valleys are, the plantations have its own beauty, filled with cane-fields and cacao plants, giving it a violet-red hue when the leaves are young, and a range of colors from red, yellow, green, and dark crimson pod withy the older branches. Trees are also very colorful, some have flowers and some such as the Poui have a brilliant yellow color, The Roble has an orange color, and there are many other trees that have colors from white to pink and violaceouse. At the same time, because most of the population deals with plantation, as estimated in 1993, fifteen percent of the land is permanent crops and nine percent permane nt pastures, there are many environmental issues. Some of these current issues in Trinidad include â€Å"water pollution from agricultural chemicals, industrial wastes, and raw sewage; oil pollution of beaches; deforestation; soil erosion†. Trinidad also has many valuable natural resources such as natural gas, asphalt, and petroleum.