Strategy Planning and Implementation

Strategy Planning and Implementation Task 1a) The organisation of my choicce in discussing the Strategy Planning and Implementation assignment would be Pantaloon Retail India Limited. The reason behind choosing this organisation as matter of discussion can be mentioned as follows: i) I am an ex-employee of Panataloon Retail India Limited being on the rolls of the company for nearly 4 years overseeing comapanys Marketing Business Operations in the state of Gujarat, India encompassing 5 Pantaloon Retail Lifestyle stores in the cities of Ahmedabad, Baroda, Surat Rajkot in Gujarat. ii) Organised retailing is emerging in Indian sub-continent with Pantaloon Retail India Limited being the forerunner. iii) Started from a humble begiining in late 20th century with single outlet operation today it is Rs.10 billion turnover, with a presence over 30 cities with combination of 500 mega stores, super stores and lifestyle stores with over 20,000 employees. Task 1b) Stakeholders are the persons or a community(group of people) who are directly or indirectly associated with an organisation for attaining its objectives and are directly or indirectly affected by the actions, decisions and policies made by the organisation. Stakeholders of the company are its Directors, Employees, Creditors, Customers, Vendors, Government Agencies, Owners and Shareholders. Hence, in other words all the human entities directly or indirectly associated with the organisation are the stake holders of the organisation. In particular, the major stakeholders of my chosen organisation are the Employees, Customers and Vendors. Retail is man intensive industry and hence the role and importance of team work is the essence of providing international standard experience of shopping to its customers. Customers are king of the retail business. Custmers are listened, obliged, serviced and are given the primary importance in Pantaloon Retail India Limited. It is believed here that if Customers are happy then the company will survive. The company follows the M.K.Gandhis famous qoute, A customer is the most important visitor on our premises, he is not dependent on us. We are dependent on him. He is not an interruption in our work. He is the purpose of it. He is not an outsider in our business. He is part of it. We are not doing him a favor by serving him. He is doing us a favor by giving us an opportunity to do so. Vendors are the blood line of the organisation. Vendors provide the organisation with the right product win desired quantity. The also support the organisation in terms of payback period giving an edge to maintain healthy cash flows for development. Hence, we observe that these stake holders are of considerable importance to the organisation growth and to combat fierce competition and to meet customer satisfaction. The specific considerations that the company has for these stakeholders are as follows: Employees: The employees should be suitably compensated in terms of monetary and other intangible benefits so that the high level of enthusiasm towards work and customer focus is maintained. The happiness and retention of customers can be ensured only with satisfied employees. Customers: As mentioned above, Customer is the key focal point of Pantaloon, hence all the business persepective should be should be suitable oriented towards customer needs and wants. The company consideration would be providing Value for Money experience to its customers and reaching them the products wherever and whenver they want. Vendors: The company considers Vendors as partner for growth. The company has taken measurable steps towards assessing them, procuring procedure, payments and to deal with the grievance. The company has further taken a step ahead by incorporating electronic touch points to minimise the lengthy procedure and ensure time saving. Task 1c)Organised retail is agressive and is becoming challenging every moment. All the strategies formulated in Retail have been centered around the most important entity The Customer. The company has always focussed towards attracting customers, retaining the existing customers and giving customers an experience which would enable to come back again and again. The crieteria that Pantaloon focussed are: 1.Cost: The most challenging factor in todays business. A good earnings to cost ratio would only decide the fate of the retail business. No matter what top-line or bottom line a company desires, Pantaloon has always focussed on Cost Strategy to offer maximum benefit to its Customers. 2. Market Penetration: After opening its various retail formats in the metro cities in India, the company has decided the Cluster Development Strategy viz. 8 city strategy for market penetration. By doing this the company will focus towards only cluster of cities for market reach in step wise manner. 3. New Product Strategy: The company strategy has always been+ based on Ideas to give their customers something new and unique. The company looks to achieve a healthy share of each Rupee spent by the customers. Thus company started from garments retailing has moved into Food Retail, Fast Food and Speciality cuisine, Gaming, Hyper market segment, home products, e-shopping and insurance sector. 4. Square foot sales : The strategic objective of the company is to seek healthy square foot sales in order to maintain good profit margin in terms of attaining healthy top line. 5. Private Brands: One of the most important criteria for attaining strategic management objective is introducing Private Label Brands which would ensure gaining a healthy bottom-line margin. 6. Vendor Strategy: Touch screen single point operation for vendor slection, product identification and payment procedure. The company believes vendors or manufacturers are partners to the business and hence venodr management is key importance to the company. Task 1d) Pantaloon Retail India Limited was formed to deliver organised garment retailing in India. The company wanted to blend fashion with affordability. Due to its fast expansion and growth the garment trader and the dictribution channel(middle man) has also earned huge margins. They are the trader who used to source the material from the manufacturers and used to store and supply the merchandise to Pantloon. There was a sudden demand in raising the margin of the merchandise by the intermediary channel. Pantaloon used to source 80% of their merchandise of reputed brands from these channels. This sudden raise could not have direct implication on the customers as increase in price to the final product would mean losing business. Hence company initially bear this loss. After sometime the comapny wanted to discuss with these intermediate channels for price renegotiation, failing which the supply of the goods were stopped creating a vacuum in the supply. This was affected by poor merchandise and customer complaints which continued for several months till the time the company had done renegotiation with new set of Intermediary channel including contacting the manufacturers directly. Bu this, the company felt the necessity of having their own private brands including manufacturing and aquiring manufacturing set up of few other companies. The company took around 6 months for consolidation exercis e and thereafter Pantaloon relaunched its Retail Stores with nearly 80% of private manufactured merchandise. Task 2) Develop Vision, Mission, Objectives Measures a. For your chosen organisation, list down its ethical, cultural, environmental, social and business objectives. How are these influenced by the current business and economic climate? Pantaloon Retail India Limited with its multi-retail business in various sectors has consolidated its operations under the umbrella concern of Future Group. The company has laid down and oberve the following values to cover its ethical, cultural, environmental, social and business objectives. The values are as below: Ethical i) Respect Humility: Respect for every individual associated in business and be humble to all. This value entails the core people function. The company pays utmost respect, listen and act accordingly to its Customers, Employees and Vendors through various channels. The Senior Management evaluates and acts accordingly on any grievance, comments and suggestions made by Customers, Employees and Vendors. ii) Openness: To be open and receptive for new ideas, knowledge and information. The company has various platform of communication with its people and analyse all the ideas or comments and shares its opinion with the Stakeholders. E.g. the company has Share With Us Book placed in all the retail stores through which a Customer can communicate with the Senior Management. Cultural i) Valuing Nurturing Relationships: To build long-term relationships. Business particularly retail business is strategic in nature. It has complete reliance on Relationship building and nurturing the emotions.It is observed that it requires more money to attract new customers rather that retaining and satisfying new customers. ii) Simplicity Positivity: Simplicity in thought, business and actions. Thinking simple yet positive render positive vibrations in the economy and earn respect from its stakeholders. Environmental i) Flow: To respect and understand universal laws of nature. The company follows the natural way of business and respect and adheres to the rules and policies laid down from time to time. It also acts accordingly keeping in mind the current economic condition and takes steps relevant in order to satisfy needs of its stake holders. Social i) Indianness : Confidence within ourselves and amongst our product. The company respects Indian culture and offer the products that suits Indian households. ii) Adaptability: To be adaptive and flexible to meet new challenges.The only thing that is constant in the Universe is Change. Hence the company is always open to change and modify accordingly its product lines as per the need and demand of the present market. Business Objectives i) Intropsection: Leading to purposeful thinking. The company from time to time does meaningful invigoration of its entire process in order to audit and take any corrective action if any. Based on the outcome the company re-strategise any of its process or function. ii) Leadership: Leadership in thought and idea and its application in business. The comany belives to be Number 1 in whatever business they are and work hard to retain its position. (Source:Pantaloon Retail India Limited website id http://www.pantaloon.com/corporate_state.asp,Dated October 26, 2009) Based on the above, it is clearly observed that Pantaloon Retail India Limited is equipped with broad range of measures to handle stressfull business environment and economic changes that may occur. Specifically, particular change in any macro economic policies are treated with utmost sincerety and needed change is implemented to overcome it. Thus more recently the economic crises has very little effect on Pantaloon, as the company could envisage the problem and taken specific measures to overcome this. The percentage of leased out premises to its its total retail outlet was nearly 65% towards the beginning of year 2008. The companys outflow in rental expenditure was a large sum of money. The company could oversee the challenge of offereing competitive pricing during the era of economic meltdown. Based on the same company started having its own premises by creating a special vehicle Future Capital Holdings which is 100% subsidiary of Pantaloon Retail India Limited. This has brought d own not only the rental outflow but also ensured better offering to customers in terms of competitive pricing as compared to its competitors.

Harlequin Five Forces Analysis Essay

High economies of scale required. For an entrant to gain success in romance novel market, it must possess mature sales, production, and distribution to operate effectively, which also leads to great risk. High product differentiation required. Other companies start to add more features while Harlequin products remain relatively unchanged. Significant capital requirement required. This is evident in Simon and Schuster’s case, in which it bears a high upfront investment for this battle. Access to distribution channels is medium to difficult. Harlequin has gained exclusive access to groceries, but failed on stand-alone retails. Other competitors either choose regular bookstore or similar as Harleuqins’; however, it might be difficult to entrants to gain access to these channels by themselves. Government policy has been very protective to authors; however, no clear restrictions on product images. Buyers Power Increasing buying power due to additional competing products Low switching cost Changing target markets A variety of choices Poor retention rate, high return rate Loss of existing customers and high cost of attracting a new customer American Romance Series to meet consumer’s tastes Substitutes Threat of Substitutes is high due to technology advancement and demand diversification. Evident in Harlequin’s attempts of film, magazine and scholar’s choice (bookstore). Suppliers Power Increasing supplier power due to promising offer from Simon and Schuster Loss of excellent authors who later generate sales for Simon and Schuster shows that authors possess significant supplier power Other supplier powers such as sales force, printing business are relative stable Industry Competitors, Rivalry among existing firms Low growth rate as more competitors are competing for a stable market other competitors are earning market share at Harlequin’s expenses oligopolistic market is another factor of intense competition â€Å"Romance War† due to introduction of silhouette Simon and Schuster introduced Silhouette, a rival line of romance novels, in 1980 32% market share and rising Competes the oversea markets Emerging competitors as a result of Silhouette’s introduction; also evident in 5 additional rival lines launched in 1982 accelerate the intensity of competition and decrease Harlequin’s market share and volume sales Possession of competitive advantage (i.e. No best seller management and standardization) which ease competition temporarily Bitter rivalry with Sillhouette – S&S although losing money, but gaining market share underestimated by Harlequin hired Harlequin’s former vice president and best-selling authors advertising budget copied Harlequin’s Presents – confused buyers Financial Revenue increase slowly Profit dropped to half 1980-1981 ($44.7 –> 22.3) drastically decreased from 1982 -1983 ($25.8 –> 5.5) remove unprofitable subsidiaries – films, scholar’s choices, magazine etc Debt high debt ratio – rapid increase from 1980-1982, then lower in 1983 expensive bad debts from the Reader Service Cost 40 new stores eating up all the cash increasing costs of Reader Services reducing costs at corporate level – cut overhead expenses by 20% sales decreased, advertising expenses increased Working Capitals decreasing working capitals – lack of cash flow for investment – only 33 millions in 1983

Jesus and the Dignity of Women

From the beginning of Christ’s mission, women show to him and to his mystery a special sensitivity which is characteristic of their femininity. It must also be said that this is especially confirmed†¦ not only at the Cross but also at the dawn of the Resurrection. The women are the first at the tomb. They are the first to find it empty. They are the first to hear: â€Å"He is not here. He has risen, as he said†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ They are also the first to be called to announce this truth to the Apostles. Mark reports that at the time of the crucifixion of Jesus all his male disciples had fled. But there were some women watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdala, Mary who was the mother of James the younger and Joses, and Salome. These used to follow him and look after him when he was in Galilee. And many other women were there who had come up to Jerusalem with him (Mark 15: 40). Here Mark uses the same expression for â€Å"following† Jesus as he does in the case of the disciples. Women were disciples in the same way as men. That was new for the world of the time. In the circle of Jesus’ disciples women were on the same footing. What moved Jesus to gather women around him in the same way as men? Evidently as a man he had no fears about coming into contact with women. All the Gospels report that it was the women who had persevered by Jesus’ cross. The woman â€Å"who had a flow of blood† (cf. Mk 5:25-34), who could not touch anyone because it was believed that her touch would make a person â€Å"impure†. Each of them was healed, and the last-mentioned – the one with a flow of blood, who touched Jesus’ garment â€Å"in the crowd† (Mk 5:27) – was praised by him for her great faith: â€Å"Your faith has made you well† (Mk 5:34). The Gospel of St. Luke pays special attention to Jesus’ relationship with women. He tells how Jesus on his wanderings was accompanied not only by the twelve but also by† certain women whom he had cured of evil spirits and ailments: Mary Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, Joanna the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza. Susanna and many others. They provided for Jesus and his disciples out of their own resources â€Å"(Luke 8: 2). So when Jesus was wandering around the country, there were always women around him with whom he had a personal relationship. He had healed them, touched them, raised them up, and freed them from demons, i. e. from patterns of life which restricted them, from disparaging and condemning themselves. He had restored their dignity as women. And these women weren’t just recipients: they also gave something to Jesus in return. They served him not only with their resources, but also with their capabilities, with the inner and outer gifts at their disposal. The Greek word for† serve â€Å"really means serving at table. The women served at table, they served life. They aroused life in Jesus and his disciples. They created a sphere in which life could flourish. In the house of the sisters Mary and Martha, who have given hospitality to Jesus (Luke 10: 38 – 42), Mary is sitting at Jesus’ feet. The phrase used to describe this posture is one typically used of discipleship. It is similarly said of Paul that he had sat at the feet of Gamaliel and had been instructed in the law of the Lord (Acts 22: 3). So this woman is just as much a disciple as the other disciples of Jesus. Whereas Martha serves Jesus and his disciples at table, Mary just sits there and listens to Jesus and tells him that he should ask Mary to help her. But Jesus takes sides with Mary. She has chosen the good part, which will not be taken away from her. The scene in which Luke portrays Martha shows how open Jesus was in his dealings with women. He claims their hospitality, but he also takes them seriously as disciples. He instructs Mary in what matters most to her. And he joins in the clash between the two sisters without hurting one of them and without allowing himself to be taken over by the other. He makes a clear stand, but in such a way that neither feels scorned. Yet another scene in the Gospel of Luke seems to me important in shedding light on Jesus’ relations with women. The angel by the tomb says to the women who are to be the first witnesses of the resurrection, â€Å"Remember what he said to you when he was still in Galilee† ( Luke 24: 6). For the angels, the women are witnesses not only to the resurrection but also to the words which Jesus has spoken to them. Jesus proclaimed his teachings not only to male disciples but also to female disciples. They bear witness to his teaching on an equal footing. They hand on his words. They recall these words and keep them in their memories. And as with Mary, these sayings go round and round in their minds, penetrating into them more and more deeply. So the interpretation of the message of Jesus isn’t just given by the men, but to an equal degree by women. When Luke narrates a scene with a man as the chief character, it is immediately followed by another with a woman in the main role. A parable about a woman is played off against a parable about a man. Luke believes that he can speak rightly about men and women at the same time. Unfortunately the church didn’t draw any conclusions from this. For too long, only men interpreted the message of Jesus. The deepest friendship with a woman is that which associates Jesus with Mary of Magdala. Jesus drove seven demons out of Mary Magdalene. She owed him her life. When Jesus died, her world collapsed. But her love outlasted death. Her encounter with the risen Christ is another beginning for her life story. When she saw him, she’s completely transformed, and says to him, â€Å"Rabboni† (My Master) (John 10:16). In the history of Christianity many women have lived as friends of Jesus like Teresa of Avila and Hildegard of Bingen. Jesus of Nazareth confirms this dignity, recalls it, renews it, and makes it a part of the Gospel and of the Redemption for which he is sent into the world. Every word and gesture of Christ about women must therefore be brought into the dimension of the Paschal Mystery. In this way everything is completely explained.

Animal Testing The Future of Pharmaceuticals Essay

Millions of chemicals have been discontinued in everyday uses, such as in plant poisons, through animal testing, they have been donned to be unsafe for people and environment. Without animal testing, the general public would still be using these hazardous chemicals. Many humanitarians may be opposed to testing chemicals on animals, but if scientists didn’t test on animals, individuals would have to test the deadly chemicals or live in a world where people don’t know if the chemicals they are using are poisonous and lethal to the human society. Animal testing may be wrong in some instances, but it does not compare to the benefits that it brings to this society in many different areas. A person should not have to imagine how this world†¦show more content†¦Many over the counter and prescription drugs are also tested by animals to ensure the safety and effectiveness of the drug. An abundant amount of people are demanding safe drugs (PIR Partners Research), w hich, agreeably, is a necessity with the people of today to be able to feel safe and confident about what is put into their bodies, but because of this demand more and more animals are being sacrificed for the safety of humanity. Society deserves the right to know of the safety of products that are, supposedly, supposed to make people better and not worse than the current state. Because of the effectiveness of animal testing, â€Å"a parent whose child swallowed a certain type of cleanser†¦ can phone a poison control center for immediate instructions rather than rushing the child to an emergency room. In effect, knowledge gained from toxicity testing has made possible a response that saves money as well as lives† (PIR Partners Research). Alternatives are awfully limited (PIR Partners Research) to anything other than observing living animals. 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