Strategic management for engineers and technologists Case Study

Strategic management for engineers and technologists - Case Study Example The differentiating factor of Harley Davidson had been its heavy customization offering to customers and its distinctive design (b). INDUSTRY Harley Davidson has been among the leading players in the motorbike industry. Two-wheeler plays significant role in leisure industry in addition to meeting transportation-needs. For instance, sporting bikes and high way cruising bikes are used for leisure and sporting purpose etc (Mason, 2012). Worldwide motorcycle industry accounts for around $63.5 billion in 2010 according to the Report Linker, (2012). The growth status of the industry has been none over the last four years as reported by aforementioned research (Report Linker, 2012). However, the report forecasts growth of around six percent in for 2010-2015 (Report Linker, 2012). KEY SUBSTITUTE PRODUCTS The close substitute of the motor bikes is car. Mintel research reports transportation expenses on the motor bikes, cars both used and new ones. The research reported significant rise old ca rs and two wheelers contribution in expenditure as compared to new cars as given below: 2001 2011 % change ?m ?m 2001-11 Consumer expenditure on new cars 32,200 26,895 -16.5 Consumer expenditure on used cars 25,400 38,165 50.3 Two-wheelers 1,774 2,226 25.5 Petrol, oil & antifreeze 19,391 34,582 78.3 Car & van hire 1,545 2,019 30.7 Other transport & motor vehicle running costs* 15,156 26,200 72.9 Total 95,466 130,087 36.3 (Mason, 2012) KEY COMPETENCIES Possession of key competencies is critical to remain among the dominant or even sustaining position in any industry. Key competencies that that motor bike firms require to develop include: Innovative expertise and research and development: Innovation capabilities have taken crucial role in the firm’s core competencies in every industry and same is the case with this industry. Innovation plays a significant role in motor bike industry as well. For instance, Japanese motor bikes invaded the US industry with innovative capability t o develop smaller, faster, fuel efficient models of the motor bikes (b). HD with its capabilities innovated improved mechanism when European Laws mandated noise control. HD managed to change its core gear production competency that was giving noise output (Modern Machine Shop, 1996). Over the period of time motor bike industry has witnessed significant innovations in form of Razr Scooters, BMW C1, Segway etc (Keller, 2012). Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) being recent innovation is to take significant market in years to come (Report Linker, 2012). Technology, speed, engine, environmental compatibility, weight and design are areas of continuous innovation in the motor bike industry. Supplier and distributor relationship Management: Supplier relationship management is critical for such mechanical products. Components outsourced are required to be strictly in line with specification in order to ensure fine fitting of final product. Similarly distributor relationship management is also extremely important. Consumer’s purchase decision receives strong impact from the distributors’ recommendation as motor bikes require significant investment. Hence, well established distributors relationship management plays dominant role in firm’s position in the market. Information Technology Systems: Technological advancement has significantly impact different industries. Research and development, managing huge manufacturing plants, financials, marketing hence all areas are dependent on effective

Nanda Home Case Auysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Nanda Home Case Auysis - Essay Example The proof of concept for her product is that the product effectively and efficiently fulfills the need of the customers. The runaway alarm clock forces an individual out of bed, through its random movements in the room, after it jumps off the bed stand when an individual presses snooze on the alarm clock. The concepts works because an individual must move out of bed and look for the clock so as to stop the alarm; otherwise it cannot allow the individual to continue sleeping, since it will keep ringing the alarm sound, while moving to different parts of the room. Gauri Nanda selected online retail channels, through which customers can order the product. She was able to tell whether the channel was working, through customers’ response. The initial sales that were made allowed the company to break-even within the first two months. The company sold 500 units of the product almost immediately after manufacturing through the online retail channel. Gauri Nanda made changes to the retailing channel over time, through introducing physical retail locations. The company has now also adapted physical store locations, where the product is being retailed in boutiques and other retail stores. 3. How did Gauri Nanda start building her brand? What advantages did she have in terms of how she was able initially to publicize her business? What advantages did she have as an entrepreneur regarding the association between herself and her product? Gauri Nanda started building her brand through giving it a recognizable and memorable name and making it more appealing to the people, while also giving it features that were suitable for its functions. Such features include the wheels that allow it to roll over and move around the room, prompting an individual to move out of bed and look for it. Another feature is the embedment of shock absorbers, which prevents the alarm clock from damaging,

Case study about UPS Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Case study about UPS - Essay Example Companies are focusing on the distribution system for providing a sustainable growth for the firm by understanding the adverse effect of the different environmental factors involved with the system which contributes significantly to global warming (McKinnon et.al, 2010, p. 3). Understanding sustainability is the major issue in the modern trend of the business which is very well implemented by UPS in their business process. UPS believes its sustainability as the core driver of their business. It not just about their care towards the different processes but it is the major requirement for their sustainable growth. It is the commitment of the firm not only towards the customers but also towards the employees of the firm. It is believed to be their responsibility towards the planet earth along with the community on which the company operates their business (UPS-f, n.d.). Over the years UPS is constantly craving new ideas and programs for better sustainability efforts. The company consistently improved its business operations and invested in greener shipping projects and also into effective logistics system to serve more efficiently to the customers of the company. UPS donated huge time on training and development of its employees and tried to focus on providing opportunities to the people to match with the need of the organization and the community at the same time. The company incurred a huge investment of $325 million into the training program of which 54 % is concentrated towards the development of safety training for the logistic system. UPS promoted about 1,168 employees to the company management in the year 2010 for a strong building of the base for the company. The carbon neutral small package service from the company gives a great competitive advantage for the firm to differentiate its service from the other player of the market. UPS is also involved into donating $1 million towards the support program for the Haitian relief effort.

Economic Policy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Economic Policy - Essay Example They can influence in making decisions and in the monopoly of the authorized force. The government illustrates the fact that people are living in the community and personal autonomy must be constrained. Governments are created to increase the survival potentials of the people and they are directly involved in manipulating and managing all the regional economies. The government itself can make reforms on currencies and they ensure that the values of money will undermined by prohibiting counterfeiting. The government regulates most of the aspects in the economy and they stabilized it for the benefit of the people. The government has a crucial role in managing the public goods and the environment. They are the institutions that resolve problems in the local level and global scales. The economic market has suitable mechanism and governmental intervention and regulation that sustain the management. Normally, the government manipulates the economy of the nations wherein the members of the government shape the economic policies. There are social programs such as Social security and Medicare. The flexibility of the government resulted to unusually dynamic economy and it produced growing affluence, technological innovation and growing trade with other nations Services are relative to traditional manufacturing, some Economic Policy P 2 industries give more specialized production and it gives emphasis on product diversity and customization Large companies have merged and split up and reorganized in numerous ways, and increasingly the government and business leaders emphasize the importance of high skilled and flexible work force in ensuring the future economic success of the country. Territorial competition involves the formation of policies in promoting local economic development in competing with other territories. It involves competing for mobile investment and it gives consideration in promoting the territory as a competitive place in conducting business. It includes improvement of the environment for all its existing local businesses and they are directed to foster formation of new firms than attracting inward investment. It involves leading agency formation that coordinates actions and efforts in developing a strategic analysis of the territory. This applies to the level of city regions and it is a principle o f distinguishing the traditional top-down regional policy by the local origins and the fact as locally determined goals. This gives consideration with the issues on regional spatial equity and the efficiency of local economy. Incentives involved in territorial competition and it works against wider issues on spatial equity. Territorial competition can be inevitable and beneficial; it is beneficial to local inhabitants, society, and economy. Unrelieved malign influence stemming from benefiting the interests of small or group of property owners leads an implicit rejection of economic growth as goal for the policy. The government breaks up and regulates companies that they have so much power wherein they could defy the market forces. Government normally addresses matters the private economy overlooks. Government nurture new industries and they even protect the companies from competition. Economic Policy P 3 It shows that there are implications in the policy in national and super national government, in

History Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

History - Assignment Example The four castes were recognizable around 1000 BCE (). The division was part of the creation process. For example, the highest caste of Brahmins came about from the mouth of the primeval being Purusha. The other castes were the Kshatriya, Vaishya and Shudra. These three castes came about from the Purusha’s arms, thighs and feet respectively. The relative heights of these bodily locations correspond exactly to the relative levels of the four castes in the social hiearchy. There are many other castes in the Aryan social structure as well, but the aforementioned are the main four. Source: Ralph T. Griffith, trans. The Hymns of the Rigveda, 4 vols., 2nd ed. Benares: E. J. Lazarus, 1889–92, 4:289–93. The ‘Mandate from Heaven’ and its significance 5. What is the meaning of the â€Å"Mandate from Heaven?† Why was it significant to the Zhou Dynasty? How did a ruler know he had lost the mandate from heaven? The expression ‘mandate from heaven†™ refers to the legitimacy of the Chinese emperor’s right to rule the throne. Thus, Chinese emperors acquired their office not merely through exercising force but through permission of divine origin. This mandate made the emperor a holder of absolute power though limited by his responsibility towards heaven. A failure to fulfill this responsibility and in enforcing basic morals had the consequence of resulting in a loss of the divine mandate.

Most Popular Alcohol Brands Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Most Popular Alcohol Brands - Assignment Example According to the research findings, priority 1 is ensuring that the consumers have full access to the information about the brands, both new and existing ones. Action Step: Hanging advertisement posters, displays and any other relevant information about the quality of the unpopular brands. Objective: To persuade as many customers as possible to taste and continue buying the unpopular alcohol brands. Priority 2: Ensuring full participation of staff and senior management in enhancing sales of the unpopular brand. Action step: Educating the entire staff about marketing and promotional activities. Objective: To create a competitive team that will promote high sales from inside the store to the alcohol market. Priority 3: Pricing, marketing strategies, and time of this operation. Action step: Â  Conduct market research about the prevailing alcohol prices and set a cheaper price for the product. Develop the marketing strategies and determining the period that the whole exercise will take.

Necessity be the mother of invention Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Necessity be the mother of invention - Essay Example Also any decline in the gross domestic production for more than two successive quarters is referred to as recession. When recession falls on a society, it is applicable on the producers, consumers, business organizations, industrialists, in short the whole society. In times of recession, the society affected, should aim on producing innovating and sustainable methods to provide means of reduction in the recession instead of reducing number of businesses, firing employees, reduction in usage of technologies developed from before. Innovation can play its role in the society by pushing recession backwards, and if that is not possible than it can at least stop recession from growing and bringing the economy further down. This can be achieved by long-term strategies and public investments in different fields especially growth sectors to provide better technologies so that recession does not overtake the society and the economic demands of the people of that society. Recession leading to i nnovation and prosperity As recession progresses, a decrease in the trading and industrial activities is witnessed. This is a negative respond by the business organizations and industrialists. ... When these business organizations decrease their work out put, they have less work load which is why they fire their employees; increasing the rate of unemployment and making the society feel that real recession has approached. This is a negative response to recession by the business organizations which leads the economy towards a downfall. A more positive approach would be to increase work load by increasing work out put with the help of more employees. This way the employees will not feel the burden of recession and they will work with devotion for their company or firm. These are some of the main reasons of progression of recession. One major cause is inflation. It is referred to as a rise in the price of goods and services. When recession occurs, the customers spend less and save more money on goods especially with their inflated prices. Therefore, fewer amounts of goods can be purchased, reducing sales. Inflation can be caused by different factors such as increase in the product ion costs, increased energy costs and national debt. When a company faces severe consequences of recession, it tends to decrease the quality by cutting production costs hence cost of the product is lowered. The change of quality of products neglects the requirements and needs of the customer. Instead of compromising on quality of product, the organizations along with their researchers should work on reprocessing the methods of making the products and by taking the risk of introducing new products. Innovating new products will earn the organization confidence of the customer, and when the period of recession ends, the customers will continue to look up to that organization that took care of their needs in times of crisis. This way the company which allows innovations will run