Assignment
QUESTION 1
Small businesses need a strategic planning process designed to suit their particular needs. It should be relatively short, be informal and not structured, encourage the participation of employees, and not begin with extensive objective setting. Linking the purposeful action of strategic planning to an entrepreneur's little ideas can produce results that shape the future.
Discuss the TEN steps in the strategic planning process?
What are the four basic questions that the organizations need to ask themselves on how to achieve the vision and strategy?
Using Richfield as an example of your organisation and analyse the impact of external forces on the operations of the organisation. Use any appropriate theories or frameworks to illustrate your answer.
QUESTION 2
Using the example of the telecommunications industry, critically evaluate the impact of Porter's Five Forces that drive competition in this industry. Support your answer with research studies and your experiences.
QUESTION 3
MOTOROLA:
Motorola has been at the forefront of communication inventions for more than 80 years. We have achieved extraordinary accomplishments along the way - such as making the equipment that carried the first words from the moon and leading the cellular communication revolution with the development of the world's first handheld cellular phone. More recently, Motorola has taken leadership positions in solution for public safety, enterprises, mobile computing, 4G broadband and high definition video.
Today, Motorola's portfolio of technologies, solution and services includes wireless handsets, wireless accessories, digital entertainment devices, wireless access system, voice and data communications systems, and enterprise mobility products. We operate in a numerous countries around the globe, tapping the creativity of diverse cultures and individuals.
With the rapid convergence of fixed and mobile broadband Internet and growing demand for next generation mobile communication solutions, our mission is to lead the next wave of innovative products that meet the expanding needs of our customers around the world.
The trends towards media mobility, ubiquitous connectivity and wireless flexibility, coupled with mobile lifestyles and business, continue to expand.
Motorola is organised into two business units. First, the Mobile Devices and Home business is positioned to lead in the convergence of mobility, media and Internet. Our comprehensive portfolio includes mobile converged devices and smartphones, digital entertainment devices in the home, and end-to-end video, voice and data solutions that enable us to provide advanced mobile media solutions and multi-screen experiences for our customers. Working with our network operator partners we are enabling more advanced personalized services that leverage the capability of expanding wireless and wireline broadband availability.
Second, the Enterprise Mobility Solutions and Networks business offers a comprehensive end-to-end portfolio of products and solutions, including rugged twoway radio, mobile computers, secure public safety systems, barcode scanning, RFID reader and wireless network infrastructure to enterprises and governments, as well as 4G broadband infrastructure, devices and services to network operators globally.
Our Enterprise Mobility Solutions (EMS) portfolio is available to enterprise customers across retail, energy and utilities, transportation, manufacturing, healthcare and other commercial markets and to governments and public safety agencies. Motorola EMS has consistently delivered new ways for governments and business to connect from the first ever two-way radio and first ever hand held laser scanner to the cutting-edge, converged solutions of today such as the mobile computing device, MC9500, and APX public safety radio. With this portfolio Motorola offers solutions, support tools and services to many of the Fortune 500 companies and governments around the world. Combined with a global channel partner community Motorola has an extensive reach into small-medium businesses, as well a large range of additional vertical markets.
Our Networks portfolio reflects our commitment to 4G with WiMAX and LTE solutions that provide a way for operators to profitably meet the ever-growing demand for mobile broadband today while giving 2G and 3G customers a future path as we continue to support their legacy networks with our services, fourth- generation orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) platform and 25 years of wireless data systems innovation and experience.
Motorola is organised into two business units. Explain the meaning of organizing and the reasons behind the importance of organizing.
Briefly discuss any FIVE principles of organizing.
Power' can be defined as the ability to influence the behaviour of others in an organisation. Discuss the various kinds of power that can be distinguished in an organisation. Which one of these various kinds of power would be the most important one to have for a leader in Motorola? Substantiate your answer.
An important aspect of organizing is the grouping of related activities into units or departments, called departmentalization. Distinguish between the various types of departmentalization that an organisation can implement.
QUESTION FOUR
Mid-West e-Services, Inc.
Salina, Kansas
Dave Rose, Owner/Founder www.mweservices.com
Mid-West e-Services Inc. demonstrates the usefulness of the Internet for selling rural real estate (primarily commercial and public buildings in the Midwest) to buyers across the country. The company's strategy for success in the Internet real estate market is to focus on underserved markets (rural areas) and provide services and quality of information not available elsewhere. Mid-West e-Services also shows how to develop a successful ecommerce e-business with a modest initial investment.
Profile:
Mid-West e-Services, Inc. (M.W. e-Services) is an Internet based real estate advertising and marketing company. The company headquarters are in Salina, Kansas, and real estate agents are located in Kansas and Colorado. The company's agents are licensed to sell real estate in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Colorado. M.W. e-Services specializes in marketing commercial and public buildings (e.g., schools, hospitals, churches) located in rural communities in Kansas and surrounding states. Approximately seventy percent of M.W. e-Services listings are commercial and public properties and thirty percent are residential. M.W. e-Services markets its properties and listings for other real estate firms over the Internet on eBay, LoopNet, and Cityfeet. The company provides a web page for each property that includes a large number of high quality photos, a lengthy description of the property and surrounding area, and links to websites that provide information on local demographics, services, and amenities. The elaborate and informative web pages for each property distinguish M.W. e-Services from their competitors on the Internet.
Currently, M.W. e-Services does not promote its services to local real estate brokers or multiple listing services (MLS). Leads for new listings come primarily from referrals of prior customers. The company averages thirty Internet listings a month for its agents and one to five listings for other real estate firms. M.W. e-Services has thirteen associates: four salaried, one hourly, and eight straight commission independent contractors. Nine of the staff are licensed real estate agents. The management team for the firm is four members of the Rose family. Dave Rose is Founder and President, Susan Rose is Secretary-Treasurer, Brian Rose is Vice President of Real Estate Sales and Web Design, and Chris Rose is Vice President of Information Technology.
M.W. e-Services anticipates an increase in its sales force to develop leads and respond to information requests from potential buyers.
History:
M.W. e-Services was founded by Dave Rose in 2003. Mr Rose worked from 1979 to 2003 as an insurance claims adjustor and regional claims manager for Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company. In 2000, Mr Rose suggested that Farm Bureau market their salvaged vehicles (cars, trailers, boats, farm implements) through eBay. The eBay auctions doubled the Bureau's salvage recovery rate over other disposal methods. Dave Rose retired from the Farm Bureau in 2003 and he started a business selling salvage and repossessions on eBay for area banks and insurance companies. He charged a flat fee per item sold, but the storage of vehicles became a problem. In 2004, Dave branched into real estate advertising on eBay when he was approached by the City of Gaylord, Kansas about assisting them in selling an abandoned school building. Dave acted in the capacity of an advertiser and he referred all leads to the City of Gaylord. Dave designed and built a web page for the school that contained more than 20 pictures of the property and surrounding area and links to county and community web sites. The school was purchased by a couple from Seattle, Washington who are using the building as both home and location for their business (TAB-Funkenwerk) restoring sound equipment.
Word of the successful sale spread, and Dave started receiving requests from other communities to market their vacant schools and public buildings. M.W. e-Services changed their business strategy to focus on Internet-based real estate marketing and sales. Since 2004,
M.W. e-Services has sold eighteen schools and numerous commercial buildings, churches, and private residences. All of the properties are in the Midwest (Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Missouri), but buyers are from across the nation (e.g. California, Florida, Oregon, Georgia, Wisconsin, Nevada). Real estate sales for 2006 are anticipated to be over 200 percent greater than for 2005. M.W. e-Services continues to add employees at its Salina office and agents in rural areas to handle the increase in business. In 2007, M.W. e-Services will move into a vacant public school purchased from the local school board. The additional space will permit the expansion of M.W. e-Services staff plus make available space for businesses with related services (e.g., mortgage, title, and insurance companies).
Business Location:
M.W. e-Services is located in Salina, Kansas (population 46,000 in 2000) in the Salina Micropolitan Statistical area (population 59,760). Salina is a regional trade center with a significant manufacturing base. The city is located at the intersection of Interstates 70 and 135, 180 miles west of Kansas City and 95 miles north of Wichita. High speed Internet services in the Salina area are provided by twenty-eight companies.
Discuss what E-commerce is and the role e-commerce played in Mid-West e-Services, Inc.
What are the myths and traps associated with e-commerce, why are they not true?
What are the basic strategies to achieve success on the web?