Category: Business 11471

Introduction

I cannot fail to notice that our company is progressive. For that reason, we must ensure continuity by projecting our focus to future possibilities. The technological changes as well as diversification of business ideas such as additional production efforts, provision of supplements to enhance the companys future growth have to emanate from within. This memo, therefore, addresses to you as personal feasibility of the companys expansion through analysis of various business operations. In this memo, I will not consider addressing the financial options that the company needs to consider. This is a general analysis of options for future business growth.

E-commerce and its issues

There is a need to expand the use of our network and internet to enhance the completion of business tasks through the web. This means that the company must invest substantially in the security of information and the entire intranet, for effective online collaboration. Our company has attained its maturity level and like many panache international companies, we have to embrace various electronic engagements through the internet for our daily routines.

The computer threats affect all companies and are arguably becoming more sophisticated and disproportionate for instance the security attacks on Google and Yahoo search engines and even the recent Wikileaks cables revelations. This only requires better security measures or protective mechanisms.

I am certain that our firm will be in a better position to quantify its value through evaluation of performance in the course of using networking. Management will also be in a position to note prospective projects and any pending work at whatever time, place, or location. Networking and internet use is a control that adds value to performance in a reputable manner. The use of the internet also enables resourceful communication and sharing of information.

What is the amount of time spent by employees waiting to deliver projects for analysis before a new assignment? How much productivity is lost due to downtime? Lack of advanced technology slows the delivery of products, services, or projects. I hope our firm will be in a position to overcome this in the future by embracing virtual transactions since they assist in determining the business value, especially when considering project delivery.

New Forms of Telemarketing and Communication

The battle with technology is a dynamic and continuous process expected to bring about new challenges every day. This mainly influences the marketing and advertising department in a very vibrant manner due to the stable anticipated creativity. Current and future societies are dependent on technology and probably a good majority will have access to computers in the workplace, homes, or mobile systems. This is an effective chance for enhancing business transactions, especially marketing. Our business will cut down on production costs and time since this will eliminate the majority of the manually involved tasks. Is it also possible to include social-sites marketing strategies?

Collaboration

The performances and dimensional adversity of a company depend on its level of aggression. There is an urgent need for this company to ensure it avoids blending differentiated values, especially at the individual levels. Employees are often bond with group work initiatives. Some social groups may have strong integration probably due to their social bonds, generation links, or loyalty. Involving internal automated social groups will enhance group work and thus boost outcomes.

Managerial Structure

There is a need to revise the roles of management, especially in the HR department. To increase profitability, the current and future HR department should be the key business strategic planner with an ability to apply technology such as the web-based analysis of economic factors that can influence our business functions. The managers in the HR department should be the strategic business associates who ought to ensure the business gains from its planning strategies.

They ought to have the sole role of ensuring maximization of profit margins through enhanced quality and technology-based human management as a way of creating value for the organization. Future aspects of internetworking required for HR management include the electronic education of clients as well as employees. They also ought to enhance self-service for the client, gathering of the clients response, reactions, or comments virtually through surveys and influencing website-based comments that may assist in business growth.

Investments

Future implications and planning for technological advancement as a business strategy means advancement in employees productivity. Our firm must integrate the latest information technology such as cable televising into the business functions, to eventually manage and improve customer relationships. This also assists in tapping intelligence as a business resource, enhance electronic trade as well as support decision-making procedures.

Future changes in profitability depend on the flexibility of our firm to embrace and take advantage of the already technologically acquainted markets. Investing in technological advancement will allow the company to be in a position of collaborating and exchanging information over contraction or stockholding. The current increased usage of technology is a clear indication that investing in the latest technology is inevitable for any business initiative.

Conclusion

Initial analysis of the above outlines factors might call for the alteration of various aspects and the need for additional or expansion details to ensure viability for growth of the company. However, a closer analysis will show that our company requires a major revolution to avoid various risks. On this note, before implementation, I recommend more details on the analysis especially in the following areas:

• Survey of the existing customer niche to determine the demand, thus provide better as well as accurate services according to expectations and projections
• Investigation of the financial requirement for each proposal as a measure to ensure significance in line with costs
• Critical evaluation to align the study with the companys strategic plans, goals, and objectives, this will also assist in determining the most feasible and urgent method to implement. Prioritizing is important for better financial growth.

Lastly, I am willing to discuss or review my findings with any interested member particularly the companys board members. I am sure your reactions will assist to expound, adjust and put more details into my findings and I am willing to work with management to gather additional information to ensure implementation of any of these plausible findings. I appreciate your time to go through this imperative proposal.

To evaluate a firms marketing success, it is critical to explore why customers do not purchase the companys products. This can help analyze the possible errors in the firms marketing strategy and plan future approaches to increase sales. Consumers can have multiple causes for not buying specific goods. This paper will discuss some of these reasons and propose the ways on how to tackle them to effectively raise the firms sales.

Affordability

One of the common issues for a purchaser that leads to a refusal to buy a product is the question of affordability. An items sales often depend on its price, which is why to evaluate its success in the market, it is important to consider its cost. To overcome this obstacle the seller can choose to change the original price of a commodity (Ferrell & Hartline, 2013b). With the decreased value, it becomes more affordable for the potential consumer.

Product Awareness

Another factor that might influence the vending of goods is product awareness. The customer is more likely to notice and subsequently purchase an item that is profoundly advertised. Therefore, potential customers will not be able to buy a commodity because they are not aware of its existence. One of the ways to address this challenge is focusing on promotion. An item can be advertised with the use of Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC). This tactic includes advertising on various media platforms, increased public relations, personal selling, and sales promotion (Ferrell & Hartline, 2013c). These methods are efficient in making the potential buyers notice the goods, which would consequently raise the companys sales.

Incorrect Segments of Target Customers

Sales might not be successful due to the marketing to an excessively large segment of customers. Some commodities or services are not meant for everyone, and, instead, should be targeted at a specific kind of buyer. In this case, the seller might consider reevaluating their marketing strategies and engage in the process of market segmentation (Ferrell & Hartline, 2013b). This technique identifies the groups of consumers that the product is targeted at. To do this, the trader should understand who the firms primary customers are and what common characteristics they share. Due to the specific needs, the buyers will return to purchase from the same company again, which will eventually make the firm more successful.

Competitive Alternatives

The purchaser might not wish to buy an item due to the presence of more expedient alternatives in the market. When two businesses sell similar kinds of commodities, the factors of convenience and affordability become crucial. To attract the customer to the companys product and not to the alternative, the trader should develop a competitive advantage (Ferrell & Hartline, 2013a). The seller can assess the weaknesses, strengths, opportunities, and threats of their marketing program with the use of the SWOT analysis (Ferrell & Hartline, 2013a). This would help the seller learn which business aspects and methods their firm is more successful at, compared to the competitor, and focus on them, as well as improve weaker elements.

Human Factor

At times it is impossible to know the exact reasons why customers change their mind at the point of buying a product. It can be due to the negative interaction with the seller or might be an influence of a completely spontaneous decision. In either way, to avoid this challenge in the future the marketer can focus on building long-term personal relationships through sales management (Ferrell & Hartline, 2013c). This process focuses on a more individual approach to each customer and fosters positive relationships between salespeople and consumers. To achieve this, the marketer should pay attention to the training of the firms personnel.

Conclusion

The issues outlined above directly influence the success of a product in the market as they lead customers to refuse to buy a good or service from the firm. These problems vary from incorrect marketing and promotion to the human factor or the presence of more affordable alternatives. However, these issues can be tackled through a thorough analysis of the marketing process by identifying its weaknesses and strengths.

References

Ferrell, O. C., & Hartline, M. (2013a). Marketing in Todays Economy. In Marketing Strategy: Text and Cases (6^th ed.). Cengage Learning.

Ferrell, O. C., & Hartline, M. (2013b). Customers, Segmentation, and Target Marketing. In Marketing Strategy: Text and Cases (6^th ed.). Cengage Learning.

Ferrell, O. C., & Hartline, M. (2013c). The Marketing Program. In Marketing Strategy: Text and Cases (6^th ed.). Cengage Learning.

DHL International, GmbH (DHL) offers timely door-to-door delivery around the world. The Germany-based shipping company is a branch of the Deutsche Post DHL Group, which remains to be the largest courier firm operating in over 220 territories and countries. The shipping corporation combines both ground and air transport to ensure it offers parcel, express, and courier shipment services to international countries (Savelsbergh & Van Woensel, 2016). Additionally, the over 380,000 employees distributed transnationally ensure that the syndicate delivers about 1.5 million consignments every year.

DHLs management partners with their workers located in all the 220 nations to ensure that they track the items dispatched from localities to another. The multi-ethnic personnel relate well with their various clients to make sure that they meet the distinct interests and expectations. Also, the global distribution enterprise monitors the goods from the manufacturers to the wholesalers all through to the retailers and takes account of the associated financial obligations. Precisely, Savelsbergh and Van Woensel (2016) argue that the transnational transportation commercial finances all the carriage services to ensure that the various global society buyers receive their desired products safe and in excellent quality. Thus, the universal consortiums transportation and catalog operations match the techniques and principles included in the course text.

Political instability and inadequate funds are potential challenges that might be threatening DHLs success in the coming two years. The political happenings in the different global countries determine the market environments. For instance, the firm might find it challenging to establish its operations in nations that experience instability in politics. The establishments lack of enough resources to facilitate their businesses in all the global realms portends its operations. Thus, the carriage company needs to recommend and implement alternative approaches that would be immune to the potential threats.

Reference

Savelsbergh, M., & Van Woensel, T. (2016). 50th anniversary invited articlecity logistics: Challenges and opportunities. Transportation Science, 50(2), 579-590.

Wild Dog Coffee is a small coffee house offering espresso visitors a limited choice for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. So far, the company has only one branch office, but it is in the interest of management to open a new point. Expanding a business always involves risks, as it requires significant financial investments without guarantees of success. For this reason, risk and profitability analysis should be conducted before opening a new location. The purpose of this research paper is to provide an analytical overview of procedures for improving business expansion and demand management.

The efficiency of Advertising Impact on Demand

Looking through the monthly charts of the advertising campaign, one can come to an ambiguous conclusion. During the period under review, $7,800 were spent, and 7,280 pounds were processed. On the one hand, one can see an unambiguous correlation between the increase in financial investments and the number of coffee beans used to make espresso. Thus, in recent months, it was invested in 450 dollars more than in the first month, and this has affected sales: the number of sold pounds increased by 412. On the other hand, for unknown reasons, the change in financial investment was not logical. Figure 1 shows that after the first month, advertising money increased, but immediately after a sharp drop to $ 1000, which is only 66 percent of the previous month.

The decrease in advertising investments in the third month was reflected in the number of pounds sold. By the third month, sales fell by 28 percent compared to the pounds used in the second month. Then there was a gradual increase in sales and a two-month financial stagnation. However, the stability of investments was sufficient for the sale of espresso because with the same amount of investment in the advertising campaign, by the sixth month, the number of sold pounds was 1399, while by the fifth month only 1322. Thus, the Wild Dog Coffee Company managed to increase sales by 5.8 percent at the same advertising cost.

Forecast for the Seventh Month

Linear regression models are designed to produce a forecast of continuous numerical variables. Regression is a conditional mathematical expectation of a continuous dependent variable with observed values of independent variables. Linear regression is based on the hypothesis that the sought dependence is linear (Rahmawati, Rahadi, & Damayanti, 2018). Using a linear regression model to assess and predict the cost of pounds of coffee beans makes sense because the dependence of the number of beans on the financial costs of advertising is conventionally linear, which is shown in Fig. 2

Among other things, Figure 2 shows a graph of the linear trend for the analyzed dependence and using MS Excel tools, and a mathematical expression was built for this line. The amount of money spent on advertising is used as a variable, and the number of beans is used as a dependent value. Substituting instead of a variable value 1350, we receive, that the expected quantity of sales will make 1252.695 pounds of coffee beans or 20043.12 ounces. The results allow management to design the necessary production volumes for a more accurate inventory.

Interpretation of Results

For subsequent analysis based on the predicted number of pounds of beans for the seventh month, the table into the original job. According to this information, Wild Dog Coffee Company prepares espresso, each of which requires 1.5 ounces of beans. Considering the expected 20043.12 ounces, the company will prepare 13362.08 cups of coffee for the seventh month. The coffee shop operates for 14 hours daily during the month: this means that the companys employees need to prepare 32 cups of coffee per hour.

The number of pounds of coffee beans required for the seventh month is calculated based on the average performance of the Wild Dog Coffee Company. If employees were to prepare 446 cups of coffee per day, the company would require about 669 ounces of beans, equivalent to 41.81 pounds of espresso every day for the seventh month.

It is difficult to draw an unambiguous conclusion about the impact of commercial advertising investments on beverage sales. It is possible to notice precisely that an increase in investments promotes the growth of the quantity of sold coffee, however, as the practice of the fifth and sixth month shows, change of sales does not necessarily directly depend on spent sums. Advertising costs actively affect the success of sales but are not the only factor of influence (Worley, Williams, & Lawler, 2016). Therefore, planning a new branch opening or designing future sales should not rely solely on a linear regression model.

Inventory Management Analysis

Inventory management is an integral part of the overall policy for managing the current assets of a coffee house. The main objective is to ensure a smooth production and sales process while minimizing total inventory maintenance costs (Hayes, 2019). The ultimate goal is to generate profit and ensure operational stability. An important issue is the necessary amount of insurance reserves that the coffee house creates in case of unforeseen supply disruptions or possible upsurges in consumer demand.

The companys management needs to solve some paradox, as insurance reserves worsen the financial results of production activity but provide the company with stability and liquidity. Wild Dog Coffee Company is not a large company with significant production and storage spaces, so the issue of storage of the most optimal quantities of grains is critical. Also, virtually all of the companys assets and its success depend only on the successful sale of espresso made from beans.

Stock management strategies

Each production unit monitors its inventories acquired, returned, and issued within a specified period using the inventory accounting system. There are two types of inventory systems: continuous inventory system, in which the stock movement is recorded continuously, and periodic inventory system, which from time to time, updates the inventory records only after the physical counting of the stock (Sanders & Reid, 2019). There is an interesting difference between the two systems: generally, if a company has chosen a continuous inventory system, the movement of goods is controlled by computers while people control the periodic inventory system. Thus, it is not difficult to conclude that the type of periodic inventory is more typical for companies with small capacities.

Characteristics of the Periodic Inventory System

The periodic inventory system is a method of evaluating the companys reserves for accounting in the financial statements, where the physical evaluation of reserves is made at specific intervals or periods. This method of accounting is characterized by conducting the inventory at the beginning of the period. If Wild Dog Coffee Company decides to use this type of inventory accounting, the number of beans will be controlled periodically, for example, every seven days, in order to be able to make up for potential shortages. The most significant advantage of periodic inventory is the fact that it allows the company to record the actual stock situation. Also, the periodic inventory method does not require the daily recording of stock movements, which significantly facilitates the companys production capacity.

In addition to the apparent advantages, the system of periodic inventory of inventories has critical shortcomings. The fact that the company does not need to conduct daily control is both a disadvantage because, in this case, there is insufficient control of information. If stock records are carried out once a week, and as a result of a seasonal surge, all the stored coffee was sold on the second day, Wild Dog Coffee Company will face the problem of stopping production for a while until a new batch is delivered. What is more, financial reporting takes time, as stock is not monitored continuously.

Characteristics of the Continuous Inventory System

The apparent shortcomings of the periodic inventory are compensated by the continuous inventory method. Under this system, the inventory is counted every day or every week, and the inventory assets are adjusted accordingly. In this way, the entire inventory can be checked without much interference to the ordinary operation of production. To ensure accuracy, physical inventories are checked at regular intervals and then compared with the data recorded. If there is a fault due to a loss, it can be easily detected, and corrective action is taken immediately.

Since perpetual inventory is implemented through software, there are certain risks for the business associated with software malfunction. Breakdowns or glitches in the work of the program can adversely affect the life of the company, creating a critical situation. Also, regular inventory requires significant resources, so it is more expensive. Permanent inventory systems may be prone to errors due to over- or under-estimates. This may be due to theft, breakage, scanning errors, or moving inventory without tracking, resulting in moving errors.

Recommendation for a Demand Management System

For a small coffee house like the Wild Dog Coffee Company, a continuous inventory system that allows recording a shortage of goods quickly is more appropriate. Consumption of beans for the seventh month is projected at 1,252,695 pounds, although this number could potentially increase to 1,400. Taking into account the cost of one pound of espresso beans, the minimum amount of money spent to purchase the necessary number of pounds is 1,1274.26 dollars, and the maximum is 1,600. The total number of packs, which Wild Dog Coffee Company uses for the seventh month, varies from 51 to 56. In this case, ordering above the sold quantity, the coffee house risks losing at least $ 1125 for five unused packs of beans. For this reason, management should think about the continuous periodization of inventory.

A vital issue for the financial efficiency of the business is the delivery problem. According to the suppliers terms and conditions, the minimum quantity that can be delivered free of charge is two packs. The calculation of the cost of a cup of coffee with and without free delivery is presented in Table 1. The analysis of the presented table shows the benefits for the company if it decides to use the strategy of buying several cups of coffee with free delivery.

Table 1. Comparison of two types of procurement strategies (created by the author).

Workflow Scheduling

Description of the First Scenario

According to the first work schedule scenario, part-time workers will be transferred on weekends, while full-time barista and employees will work on weekdays. One barista will be transferred from part-time to full-time to free the second barista. It is proposed to hire a new employee who will work full time. This schedule is useful in that it relieves the load on current employees and does not require overtime work. During the whole week, the coffee shop will not have a period when the change takes place, because the employees have intersections on the working schedule. However, the company will have to hire a new employee, which will increase costs instead of reducing them.

Description of the Second Scenario

The second scenario involves gaps in the schedule, which will lead to the stagnation of the coffee shop and a drop-in sale. This is solved by hiring two new employees at once: barista and non-barista. Partially busy employees, except one, will be transferred to the weekend, and full-time barista and barista employees will work in shifts on weekdays. As in the first scenario, there is no overtime, but the second scenario shows high financial costs for hiring new employees.

Staffing Plan

The second scenario described is more expensive: the company will have to pay $780 more, which may hurt financial well-being. The first scenario involves eight employees, while the second scenario involves nine. It turns out that the same job can be done with fewer employees and for less money. For this reason, the Wild Dog Coffee Company should pay attention to the foreground. The saved money can be spent by the company to buy goods or pay bonuses to employees.

References

Hayes, A. (2019). Inventory management. Web.

Rahmawati, D., Rahadi, R. A., & Damayanti, S. D. (2018). Business valuation for small medium enterprise. International Journal of Business, Economics and Law, 17(2), 8-15.

Sanders, N. & Reid, D. (2019). Operations management: An integrated approach, 5th edition. Web.

Worley, C. G., Williams, T., & Lawler, E. E. (2016). Creating management processes built for change. MIT Sloan Management Review, 58(1), 7782.

Business executives and entrepreneurs despise macroeconomic volatility more than anything else. Businesses function following future projections and scenarios that include both surprises and certainties. Even though corporations take uncertainty into account, the one thing they try to avoid at all costs is the macroenvironmental instability brought on by political radicalism, paralysis, and dysfunction. This explains why many emerging markets either draw or turn away potential investors. Businesses like political stability because they spend much money putting up facilities after they have licenses to operate in specific regions and states.

Furthermore, they require the assistance of the government to expedite the process of purchasing land and other assets. In addition, political unrest harms them since it forces workers to frequently miss work due to strikes and other disturbances, which negatively affects the enterprises profits. Additionally, businesses want a location that is accepting and favorable to them rather than a hostile and unfriendly regime.

The point is that political instability is terrible for businesses since it affects operations, earnings, and employee working conditions. The other side of political instability is that essential laws and regulations are frequently stalled in parliaments and legislatures, and lengthy bureaucratic processes hamper necessary approvals. All of these elements work together to produce an unfavorable environment for enterprises. Finally, capital is indeed both country and area blind. It moves and flows wherever desired and where the macroeconomic climate is favorable. This is the lesson that politicians of all stripes need to learn if they want to grow their support bases.

Political instability is typically defined as the likelihood that a government may fall due to conflicts or intense competition between different political parties. A change in government also enhances the chance of other changes in the future. Political unrest frequently lasts for a long time. Political stability and economic growth are closely related. On the one hand, the unpredictability of a volatile political climate may slow down investment and economic growth rates.

On the other hand, bad financial performance could result in political upheaval and a collapse of the administration. However, persecution or the presence of a political party that does not have to run for re-election might lead to political stability. Political stability is a double-edged sword in these circumstances. Political stability may provide a tranquil environment, which is desirable, but it could as quickly turn into a haven for impunity and cronyism. Such is the predicament that many nations with a precarious political structure are forced to deal with.

Political stability has not exactly been the rule throughout human history. Like all authoritarian systems, democracies are prone to collapse. Regardless of political administrations, if a nation does not have to worry about wars or abrupt changes in power, its citizens may focus on working, conserving, and investing. Numerous factors have been found in the most current empirical literature on corruption to correlate significantly with deterioration. A lengthy history of democracy and political stability are among the elements that have been proven to lower crime. However, many nations in the modern world combine one of these two powerful predictors of corruption with the polar opposite of the other: politically stable autocracies or recently established unstable democracies.

Political stability that results from having one party or a coalition of parties in power for an extended period may eventually be harmful. Since the equilibrium entails a predictable political environment, the economy may do well in luring foreign direct investment. However, laziness, a lack of competition, and opacity could harm other facets of society. These eventually hurt the economy. As a result, stronger economies may not always result from stable administrations.

Introduction

Saputo Inc. is a Canadian dairy company with a history of more than 60 years. Currently, Saputo not only in Canada but also in the USA, Argentina, the UK, and Australia (Saputo, 2017). The current paper examines the profitability of Saputos expansion into Germany, China, and South Africa from the perspective of the CAGE distance framework. The conducted analysis reveals that it will be more profitable for Saputo Inc. to enter the German market than the Chinese or South African one.

Cultural Distance

Cultural distance between different states is created by various social norms, ethnicities, languages, and religions. The food industry is susceptible to these differences because food consumption in most cultures is dissimilar. To begin with, China seems to be the most remoted from Canada option out of the three given ones. According to Stober (2014), linguistic peculiarities are a barrier that distinguishes this country from the rest of the world. The study conducted by Hofstede Insights (n.d.) reveals that Chinese and Canadian cultures have little in common. More precisely, Canada cherishes individualism, while Chinese culture is a collectivist one. Chinese people are also two times more prone to develop long-term strategies in comparison with Canadians.

The difference between Canadian, German, and South African cultures are less striking. Hofstede Insights (n.d.) analysis shows that these three countries are more or less equal in terms of power distance, individualism, masculinity, uncertainty avoidance, and indulgence. It also essential that both in Canada and South Africa, English is a widespread language. Even though English is not an official language in Germany, it still belongs to the same language family and much closer to English than Chinese characters do.

Finally, the essential local feature that will hinder Saputos entrance into the Chinese market is that Chinese people prefer soy milk to a traditional bovine one. In recent years, in supermarkets, it became possible to find dairy products and milk. Nevertheless, the local population steel prefers soy milk and tofu to dairy products made from animal milk. From this, it could be inferred that if Saputo decides to expand into Germany or South Africa, it will have to compete with other dairy companies. In the case of China, the competition will primarily be not with other dairy companies but with firms that produce demanded soy milk and soy products. In other words, in China, Saputo will have to struggle to change peoples attitudes to dairy products.

Administrative Distance

Before entering a new country market, it is essential to consider administrative details, including trade policies, political situation, and currency. In some cases, colonial ties might also matter. Canada, China, Germany, and South Africa are members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and, therefore, have to follow the same regulations on international trade. Nonetheless, bilateral trade relations between each of these states are different.

China is Canadas second-largest national two-way trade partner after the US and will be crucial to Canadas economic future over the next 50 years (CAFTA, 2020, para. 1). In addition to this, in 2017, the governments of China and Canada signed a Policy Paper on Expanding Canadas Agriculture and Agri-Food Exports to China. This paper indicates that the two countries are willing to enhance trade with one another. At the same time, it is noted that currently, agri-food trade with China is hindered by high tariffs and non-tariff barriers that must be reduced in the future (CAFTA, 2017). Thus, from one point of view, Saputos decision to expand into China corresponds with Canadian policy. From another point of view, high tariffs, quotas, and non-tariff barriers are a severe impediment to this expansion.

Germany is also a crucial economic partner of Canada. In 2017, the EU and Canada signed a Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement that establishes free trade between the two parties. This means that, in contrast to China, it is much easier for Saputo to export products to Germany than to Chins because, in this case, it does not incur losses due to tariffs. South Africa and Canada have well-established trade relations in the mineral and mining sectors. However, in the field of food and agriculture, trade ties are relatively weak. What is more, Canada does have free trade agreements with any of the African states. Therefore, for Saputo, it will be more beneficial to enter the German market because of the absence of tariffs.

Geographic Distance

All of the examined countries have no common borders with Canada and have no direct sea or river access. Nonetheless, Canada has close trade ties with China, Germany, and South Africa, as it has been previously mentioned. Thus, it becomes apparent that the physical remoteness is not a dissolved problem. Still, for Saputo, it is more rational and less costly to export goods to Germany since it is only 4,200 miles away from Canada. China is almost 6,000 miles away, and South Africa is nearly 9,500 miles away. Simultaneously, it should be noted that if Saputo establishes its own production of dairy products in one of these countries and does not export goods from Canada, then the issue of transportation is not that topical.

Economic Distance

Economic distance is characterized by differences in states wealth, possession of resources, infrastructure development, and social division. In terms of GDP PPP, the gap between China, on one side, and Canada, Germany, and South Africa is great (The World Bank, 2020). Furthermore, China is richer in natural resources than Germany and South Africa. The societies of South Africa and China are marked by a considerable gap between rich and poor compared to the other two countries discussed above (OECD, 2017). The analysis of economic distance illustrates that Canada is much closer to Germany than to China and South Africa. This means that Saputo should expand into Germany because the economic conditions there are roughly equal to those in Canada. Hence, the administration should not adapt to new and unfamiliar circumstances.

Conclusion

The present paper compared Chinas, South Africas, and Germanys cultural, administrative, geographical, and economic differences with Canada, where the headquarters of Saputo is located. The conducted analysis results in the conclusion that Germany is the best choice for Saputos profitable expansion venture. Overall, economic and social conditions in Germany do not exhibit a striking difference with those of Canada. Thus, for Saputo Inc., it will be easier to enter the German market because the company could employ the already existing experience. China and South Africa are not inherently wrong choices for expansion. However, the company is expected to bear more costs related to dissimilarities in culture or economic development while setting up a business in these countries.

References

CAFTA (2017). A policy paper on expanding Canadas agriculture and agri-food exports to China. Web.

CAFTA (2020). Canada and China. Web.

Hofstede Insights (n.d.). Country comparison. 2021. Web.

OECD (2017). Inequality. Web.

Saputo (2017). Company profile. Web.

Stober, E. O. (2014). CAGE Analysis of Chinas Trade Globalization. European Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, 6(1), 39-54.

The World Bank (2020). GDP, PPP (current international $)  Canada, China, Germany, South Africa. Web.

Introduction

This paper will discuss the requirements for pursuing the role of academic researcher in conjunction with a managerial position. Naturally, a manager has a plethora of roles directly associated with their field of work, such as supervising the employees, setting tasks, checking their completion, and working on employee motivation, among others. However, managers can also be researchers and study the phenomena at their workplaces that allow addressing the challenges they face.

Managers Researchers

Typically, managers who acquire an MBA degree are prepared to complete tasks that require creative decision-making and entrepreneurial thinking. On the other hand, the students who complete the doctoral program in management are prepared for a role of a researcher, as studying the basics of research design and approaches to examining practical problems they face in their workplace is an integral part of this degree program. As such, the DBA students are prepared to examine the phenomenon behind a problem, develop a hypothesis, and test it using a suitable design (DBA module 1, n.d.). The result of these efforts is the creation of a model that helps resolve not only a single case problem but a wide range of similar issues.

A good example is the changing nature of the workplace, which is the result of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), where managers have to find new ways of motivating employees. An MBA graduate would look at a single workplace situation and employ the existing models to help enhance the motivation and subsequent productivity of work for their subordinates. A DBA graduate, on the other hand, would strive to examine many examples of such issues, for instance, within one industry, such as transportation, where truck drivers are likely to be replaced by automated systems that coordinate the vehicles movement. The issue that the industry may face right now is that managers struggle to recruit drivers and motivate the existing ones for work since the latter understand that these jobs will be eliminated in the nearest future. Hence, a manager-researcher would examine industry reports, papers, and existing theories to create a model under which truck drivers can be recruited, for example, by offering them opportunities for learning and development considering the current conditions of the industry, as an example. Such a research-focused approach would require an examination of the underlying factors that impact peoples decision to select a certain job and the understanding of the driving forces behind these industry changes. However, the model developed using this approach could be applied by different companies and not only within a single institution where this manager works.

Considering this, it is also important to explain the difference between managers who pursue a Ph.D. degree, which also implies an enhanced understanding of research methods, and those who choose a DBA degree. The former is designed to prepare professionals to work as professors, which means that there is little practical research that these individuals will have to complete (DBA module 1, n.d.). Firstly, these examples show that managers incorporate a wide range of roles, from working for a company and making decisions regarding routine tasks to becoming a professor and resolving industry challenges through research and the creation of models. Secondly, this shows that managers of different levels face issues that require them to perform a study of some type, whether it is a workplace issue or an industry challenge. This shows that managers have a versatile set of tasks, responsibilities, capabilities, and roles. However, it is also important to consider how a manager can combine these different roles effectively where pursuing a research path does not affect their ability to complete their day-to-day tasks.

A DBA degree allows a manager to find the balance between the theory that all individuals pursuing a managerial degree learn and the practice since this degree allows one to develop the capability of noticing the practical issues at their workplace and applying the understanding of the research tools and methodologies to study these issues in depth. Moreover, with the enhanced emphasis on analytical skills development and systems thinking, DBA managers can really integrate what they learn into the practice setting and enhance the existing theory (DBA module 1, n.d.). Hence, a DBA degree allows managers to gain the competencies and skills they require to become effective managers with the capabilities of a researcher.

Next, it is important to understand what research is and what is the goal of such efforts. According to Akihito et al. (2017), research allows one to gain an understanding of an event or occurrence that they do not understand, for example, something that has no been studied before or an area where the amount of evidence is insufficient to make concrete conclusions. There are a variety of methods and types of research, such as quantitative and qualitative, each suitable for an exploration of a different phenomenon. For research to be valuable and valid, the researcher has to ensure that the design and methodology allow for eliminating any potential biases that can arise from their interpretation of the problem or from a research sample that is not diverse or representative of the population that would allow finding an answer. This requirement means that the manager has to have an advanced understanding of how research is conducted, what limitations should be considered, and what to keep in mind when completing the study. To achieve this, one has to complete a program that incorporates the development of research skills and requires one to learn about the basics of research design. Arguably, a manager without these capabilities and knowledge can complete a small-scale research study that would provide insight into a problem, but these capabilities would not be enough to work on a research study that would allow creation a model or framework for resolving a problem.

An understanding and compliance with the ethical standards for business research is another factor that is a necessity when considering the alignment between the role of a manager and that of a researcher. Mainly, there have been studies, the results of which were under criticism because of the questionable or biased design, such as the Stanford Prison Experiment. This experiment was designed in a way that prompted the violence and aggressive behavior of the guards, which means that in reality, the results of it are not very useful (Morelli & Perry, 2017). To avoid conducting a study, the researchers must understand the ways of properly staging the experiment, where the subjects are not aware of the phenomenon being studied directly, in case it affects the results, but where their safety and wellbeing are guaranteed. This can be achieved by applying business and research ethics principles and by, adhering to the standards of confidentiality and inflicting no harm on the subjects of a study.

Another factor that allows a manager to be a researcher as well as the knowledge and capabilities to interpret the collected data. For example, with quantitative studies, one has to possess sufficient analytical skills and an understanding of statistics to be able to interpret this information correctly. This includes knowledge about the different statistical elements, such as mean or median, and a comprehension of what these statistical elements may point to in a research study. While collecting data from appropriate sources and using adequate methods is important as it will directly have influence the presence of bias in the results, the ability to interpret this information is just as essential (Morelli & Perry, 2017). For this purpose, a wide range of validity and reliability tools has been created to address the potential problems and inconsistencies and to allow the researchers to identify inconsistencies in their findings. Moreover, qualitative research also requires individuals to use designated approaches to data interpretation, such as selecting keywords, finding patterns in the answers of the respondents, and other approaches (Indeed Editorial Team, 2021). Without the use of these methodologies, the findings of the researcher will be limited to their personal interpretation of the issue and, therefore, biased. Hence, another capability of a manager that allows them to be a good researcher and combine the two roles is their knowledge and ability to use statistical analysis tools and methods to interpret their findings.

According to Henry Mintzberg, any manager performs a cluster of roles that allow them to work for their organization effectively (Mintzbergs managerial roles, n.d.). In this regard, being a leader and entrepreneur, under Mintzbergs classification, is helpful since such managers are interested in promoting the business and finding solutions to existing problems. However, this on its own is not enough to become a researcher since the latter requires specific knowledge and skill set. When combing the understanding of the traditional managerial roles and the specifics of the research studies, their preparation, and development, there is a set of requirements that allow one to be an effective researcher. For one, this manager has to have an excellent understanding of the theories that guide the practice of managerial work, such as the theories of motivation, leadership, organizational effectiveness, and others. In addition, there should be a sufficient comprehension of the statistics and research design methods that will allow this manager to come up with a question, create a research design, and carry out the study. Hence, in order for a manager to combine his managerial responsibilities with that of a researcher, they have to gain competence in ethics, research design, and statistics.

Creativity and systematic thinking should be mentioned as well when discussing the conjunction of an academic researcher with the role of a manager. Mainly, creativity and systematic thinking, as useful Morelli and Perry (2017) note, are the qualities that will allow a manager to spot a problem in the first place, which is the first step in developing a research study. A manager working for a company may know about a certain bottleneck in production but may be incapable of determining the systematic factors that cause this delay. In that case, this manager will be incapable of defining a research question and subsequently supporting their hypothesis with empirical evidence. In this regard, developing critical thinking skills becomes essential for such managers because this approach to reviewing issues predisposes them to be able to identify a problem and its potential causes.

In general, the plethora of factors that impact the managers capability of combining their role in conjunction with that of an academic researcher creates a challenge of holistic development. Mainly, such managers have to possess the qualities and knowledge from different fields, as was discussed previously. Apart from having a sufficient understanding of how research studies are designed and carried out, this manager has to be creative and think systematically to spot the problem in the first place. Hence, a holistic development approach, where a manager works on improving their knowledge in different areas, not only the ones directly linked to managerial work, is essential for creating a conjunction between the managerial and researcher roles.

Conclusion

In summary, Assessment 2 focuses on the issue of managers combining the role of a researcher and a leader in the organization who oversees task completion. Generally, most managers with an MBA degree are well-equipped to address the day-to-day challenges that arise in their organization, and they have the skills needed to find new solutions to emerging issues. However, this degree does not prepare an individual for conducting a study that would have an effect on the entire industry. A DBA graduate learns in-depth the specifics of conducting a research study, including the development of a hypothesis, choosing an appropriate methodology and design, selecting a sample, and other aspects required for trustworthy research. Hence, one way of combining the standard managerial roles with that of a researcher is by gaining competency in how to design and carry out a study and by developing critical thinking, thinking, and analytical skills. These goals can be achieved by completing a DBA program, which, unlike the Ph.D. or Master, is focused on teaching students how to notice issues in their workplace, study them, and develop models of an effective solution. A manager who develops holistically and earns competencies in fields other than management, including statistics, analysis, research design, critical thinking, and others, can combine their role with that of a researcher.

References

Akihito, T., Hiroyuki, Susumu, & Koichi. (2017). Role of managers in the fourth industrial revolution: From the viewpoint of comparing Japan and the United States (Japanese). Discussion Papers (Japanese). Web.

DBA Module 1. (n.d.). [Power Point Presentation].

Indeed Editorial team. (2021). Holistic approach in business: Definition, characteristics and benefits. Indeed. Web.

Mintzbergs management roles. (n.d.). Web.

Morelli, J. & Perry, C. (2017). A manager/researcher can learn about professional practices in their workplace by using case research. Journal of Workplace Learning, 29(1), 49-64.

Introduction

Management is a complicated process that consists of various activities, including organizing, planning, directing, staffing, and supervision intended to achieve organizational goals. In this regard, diverse concepts and practices have been developed to improve the management efficacy and the overall performance of a company. This paper aims at describing and comparing Demings 14 principles and Baldriges 11 core values and determining which of these two approaches is more effective.

Description

Demings 14 principles place a strong emphasis on the significance of continuous improvement rather than making radical changes. The first provision directly claims, Create constancy of purpose for improving products and services (Dr. Demings, n.d.). Herewith, according to the principles, managers should implement various new philosophies, training, on-the-job education, and other relevant practices and strategies to ensure gradual enhancement. The advancements can concern the staff or particular workers, administration, equipment, processes, relationships, and resources. The principles also encourage executives to strengthen the team and interdepartmental cooperation, eliminate impracticable standards and objectives, and stimulate all employees to achieve beneficial transformations resulting in higher competitiveness and profit.

Baldriges 11 values define the managements correct behavior and attitudes towards all organizational activities and fields to guarantee excellent performance. For instance, the Baldrige Criteria states that the management system should consolidate all parts of the organization under the shared purpose, mission, and vision (Core values, n.d.). Besides, this concept urges managers to establish high expectations for workers and focus on providing an outstanding quality of service for customers. Organizations also should be open to new approaches, ideas, and innovations and resilient to emerging challenges and distress, retrieving valuable lessons from them. Finally, successful management takes care of constant improvements in personnels professionalism and adherence to professional and corporate values, ethics, and transparency.

Comparison

In terms of management, Demings 14 principles and Baldriges 11 values have their commonalities and distinctions. For instance, the shared feature between these two concepts is a focus on improvement, primarily in the technological sphere and staff competence. Additionally, they recommend companies be open to forwarding ideas, methods, and practices. Similar to Demings principles, Baldriges values also welcome progressive changes.

However, the former concentrates on quality alterations in production processes and workers behaviors, while the latter optimizes the final products or results. Moreover, Deming encourages managers not to set high expectations and standards for employees, considering this activity ineffective and redundant. In contrast, Baldrige determines the establishment of expectations for staff as an essential task to ensure customer satisfaction. Finally, the first view gives priority to employees creativity, whereas the second prefers system quality.

The Definition of Higher Quality

Based on the comparison, it can be concluded that Demings 14 principles appear to be more effective and practical in the management field. In particular, if applied appropriately, this set of principles allows for releasing the enormous potential of employees, especially regarding their creativity and resourcefulness. This concept enables workers to grow professionally and ultimately become genuine leaders.

In his book, Bialaszewski (2018) expands on the considerable benefit of Demings principles for project management and decreasing risks. On the other hand, Baldriges 11 core values rely more on the correct operation of the system, leadership, and vision. According to Baldrige, managers should develop their plans carefully to avoid possible obstacles, build a system able to withstand challenges, and try to foresee problems (Core values, n.d.). Last but not least, Deming principles have similarities with lean manufacturing principles since they both focus on adjusting the production processes, not merely the final output.

Conclusion

In summary, the paper has described and compared Demings 14 principles and Baldriges 11 core values and determined which of these two approaches is more quality. Demings principles focus on constant improvement in the production processes and professional development, while Baldriges values advocate for the importance of system, vision, and leadership. Nevertheless, the former seems to be more effective in management because it cares more for workers, allowing them to develop creativity and competency, which affects organizational performance.

References

Bialaszewski, D. (2018). W. Edwards Deming as a Guide for reducing risk in project management. In K. D. Strang, M. E. Korstanje, & N. Vajjhala (Eds.), Research, practices, and innovations in global risk and contingency management (pp. 174-185). IGI Global.

Core values and concepts. (n.d.). The National Institute of Standards and Technology. Web.

Dr. Demings 14 points for management. (n.d.). The W. Edwards Deming Institute. Web.

How do your organizations leaders influence your organizations culture? How does the leadership of your organization achieve organizational goals?

The leaders at my place of work have adopted various strategies that aim at transforming the organizations culture and achieve relevant organizational values. The organization has established various programs in which the leaders act as mentors and share their knowledge and expertise with others. These programs facilitate staff motivation and appropriate vision sharing within the organization. In addition, the programs focus on empowering the organization members.

This strategy creates a sense of self-worth and facilitates learning and improvement of skills within the organization. In this regard, the organization can tap into the employees energy and creativity, as the employees know that the organization values their contribution. Furthermore, the employees are eager to learn as the environment within the organization accommodates mistakes.

To achieve organizational goals at my place of work, the leadership focuses on promoting teamwork among employees to achieve various tasks. In this regard, there is cultivation of a health two-way communication between the staff and supervisors. Teamwork and effective communication creates a motivating working environment. Moreover, the organization has a conflict management program that handles various opinions and complains. In this way, the leadership can address all the issues that may cause delay in various projects due to misunderstandings, conflicting job responsibilities and reduced cooperation among team members.

Can someone who is a leader not be a manager? Why or why not? Can someone who is a manager not be a leader? Why or why not?

Although it is significantly important that leadership and management to go hand in hand to maximize effectiveness, a leader may not be a manager. Similarly, a manager may not be a leader. A company vests the authority that a manager possesses over his or her subordinates. It is largely through this authority that the subordinates submit to the directions of a manager. The subordinates are obliged to follow the managers instructions, as there is a reward.

Furthermore, there are unpleasant outcomes concerning the failure to observe protocol. In essence, rewards largely drive a managers work. This does not apply for a leader where actions are based on the pursuance of a certain vision. In addition, leaders do not have subordinates, but rather followers. Since following is a voluntary activity, leaders exact minimal authoritarian control. Unlike managers, leaders gain control over their followers by appealing to their heart desires and making them want to follow a particular cause that they believe will transform them into better people.

A leader makes the followers want to undertake certain actions that they would normally not undertake. Thus, a manager must appeal to the subordinates heart desires in order to become a leader and share his or her vision with them. On the other hand, a leader must observe protocol and work within a given scope in order to become an effective manager.

How has management changed because of the increased role of globalization? Would a good leader in one country automatically be a good leader in another country? What characteristics should a leader have to make them successful globally?

Considering globalization, the approach to management has considerably changed, as there is the need to accommodate varying factors brought about by different settings of operations, which affect the market, customer base and competition among other factors. With globalization, companies scope of operation has shifted from the country of origin to the whole world. It is easier to appeal to people from a similar background unlike in the case of people from diverse backgrounds.

Even with a unifying language, individuals from different backgrounds observe different norms and thus conflicts are likely to occur. To become a successful leader globally, one must adopt a strategy that takes into consideration all the aspects of the group of concern. This includes, but is not restricted to culture and social standards. By coupling this with appropriate work ethics and professional integrity, a leader can achieve his or her vision in any country.

Comcast Corporation is a giant American entertainment, information, and telecommunications company based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The firm focuses on creating incredible communication technology that connects millions of people worldwide while generating the most exciting and treasurable experiences. Comcast Corporation is known for using backward integration to gain a competitive advantage to create harsh conditions for new competitors entering the industry. It can be seen as a form of vertical integration where one firm either buys or merges with another to benefit from the supply of raw materials or services. In 2011, Comcast Corporation acquired majority control of NBC Universal. This acquisition ended in 2013, giving the giant telecommunications company an enormous boost due to the extensive broadcasting of the Rio Olympics. The firm took advantage of this global event to advertise and promote the X1 cable box, a superior product that was being brought to the market at the time. Moreover, backward integration helped the firm to introduce online streaming and TV video feeds into this device, a step that led to increased sales from 2014 to date. In yet another case, Comcast outbid Fox to take over British broadcaster Sky, an acquisition that resulted in a quick and efficient expansion of its customer base globally.

Comcast Corporation also integrates forward to promote its products, movies, and TV shows across its channels, Xfinity cable stores, websites, and theme parks. For instance, the company had significant events such as Super Bowl spot air on NBC for the blockbuster Jurassic World, one of the most lucrative franchises in 2015. This strategy has seen Comcast Corporation gain tremendous cross-marketing capabilities that have shadowed various consumer products for its rivals, such as Microsoft and Disney.