Strategic Management Case Study Essay Example for Free

Strategic Management Case Study Essay Introduction.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Strategic management is one of the most challenging but important element that defines the success of both private and state owned organization. The fundamental issue of defining and clearly stipulating an organizations strategy is to enable the institution have a distinct sense of direction, vision and strategy that will enable the institution deliver efficient services and/or products to its clientele and add value to its customers, achieve sustained a market niche or market share, and thus position the company strategically in the market in order to gain and maintain competitive advantage over its rivals (Dobson, Starkey Richards, 2004).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In state owned enterprises or generally institution where the government is the major stakeholder, one of the biggest problems is balancing between social and commercial objectives in defining the mission statement and policies governing the general direction and brand name or the organization. TVNZ as an organization has had a relatively positive growth in the long run and is still one of the major broadcasting organizations in New Zealand. From the given case, analyzing TVNZ’s historical performance reveals several strength, opportunities weaknesses and threats that the organization is facing given its nature as a broadcaster, form of organization (I.e. public organization) and its line of operation market (Spicer, Powell Emanuel, 1997). This paper is an in depth evaluation into TVNZ a state owned New Zealand broadcasting institution using the strength weakness, opportunity and threat analysis, the paper will analyze the dilemma of managing the company as a revenue generating entity and a medium of furthering social objective for the government and further recommend policies that can be used in defining strategic management objective that can the company meet both objectives. Strength of the organization.   The company was able to invest in latest technology namely digital media making it more competitive and hence retaining its market share. A good example can be illustrated by the Alvan TV center which had the latest equipment that enabled the company to outsource its services to other production firms and diversify its operation to teleccomunications (Hanson et al, 2008). Another feature that made the organization grow is monopoly, the organization enjoyed a monopoly thus had ample time to set up a good base and acquire a large market share. Therefore, though the organization has not enjoyed monopoly from 1980, the company was able to retain and maintain 70% of the market share thus with good strategy it will be able to consistently work to improve and provide good services (Hanson et al, 2008). Weaknesses of the organization. Among the major weaknesses TVNZ has include the fact that it has to balance between social objective and commercial ones. Looking at the companies history, balancing between commercial oriented operation and pursuing social oriented objectives as stipulated by regulations (given the fact that it is a government owned institution) has led to different approaches that have even led to pursuance of different contradicting strategy which have proved to be counterproductive and detrimental to the organizations well being and growth. For example, in 2002 when the charter was introduced, some politician expected the company to adopt social objective but still remain profitable and self sustaining as a business entity. In most cases, social and commercial objectives normally contradict and hence it would be a very difficult and almost impossible for TVNZ to fully adopt social oriented programs and still remain at the same level or increase advertising revenue (Hanson et al, 2008). Reviewing the programs being aired to conform to values that are in tandem or will further the growth of social standards and the integrity of the country means that entertainment department will have to change its program line up to conform to acceptable cultural standards. This can consequently lead to a fall in ratings given that many viewers prefer to watch explicit entertaining channels rather than informative programs.   Therefore, the company will loose a lot of advertising revenue since ratings might significantly drop given the loss of market share to privately owned broadcasters who will continue airing what the majority of viewers want to watch (Hanson et al, 2008). Opportunities in the organization. The organization as a government institution has had various features that led to the organization growth and stability to become a giant internationally recognized broadcasting house. One of the opportunities that act as a driving force for the company is, being a state owned institution, it has abundant resources and relatively cheap source of funding that can be used to further its objectives and attain optimality. For example, the company has the capability of diversifying its market to capture the international market and this can help it strategically in that in the event of loosing a significant share of the local market, the company can still remain profitable from its international focus (Hanson et al, 2008). Threats.   The major threats facing TVNZ as an organization are political interference and government regulations that are imposed on the company given the fact that it is a chartered company. Over the past 35 years of its existence, there has been a major strategic shift of the company due to government regulation which brought about to be indecisiveness and lack a clear long term vision and hence compelled the institution to dilly dally between pursuing   social objectives and commercial objectives. According to Spicer, Powell Emanuel (1997), there has always been pressure from treasury to TVNZ a revenue generating entity while other politicians feel that commercial objectives are secondary to social objective. This has led to dilution of the company’s mission statement and vision which are core elements in charting the long term growth and sustainability of any organization whether private or public, profitable or not-for-profit. Entrance of other players in the market and fragmented clientele might lead to loss of revenue if the company keeps on changing its tactical strategy due to inconsistency which brings about unreliability. For example, according to Hanson et al (2008), each of the five CEO’s introduced a different strategy of management with diverse views for example Brent Harmont (1991 – 1995) in an attempt to make entry in the international market introduced a very complex organizational structure which was realigned by Chris Anderson (1995 – 1998) in attempt to reclaim the companies core business. Solutions. Strategic management involves analyzing the institution by looking at the nature of business with regards to the customers needs or defining the nature of your market and your competitive advantage, financial obligation and needs required to satisfy your clientele needs, other stake holder’s needs and external environment and the learning and growth of the company (Dobson, Starkey Richards, 2004). According to Beiman (2006), Establishing a clear, repeated, and ongoing strategy management process more than doubles the chances of becoming a winner†¦.. And helps companies establish clear strategies that, when used effectively, serve as a foundation for an effective strategy management process. Analyzing the threats and weaknesses facing TVNZ as an institution, it is obvious that the loss market share due to pursuance of social objective is imminent. Given that this is externally based and hence out of control of management in relation to strategic management and formulating of policies, management has to formulate strategies to mitigate and redefine their strategy in order to maintain or compensate the loss that can be instigated by the conditions stipulated by the charter (Sexty, 1983 Spicer, Powel Emanuel, 1997). Firstly, TVNZ has to redefine its objective and evaluate their strategies in terms of mission, vision and objectives spelled out by the charter. This entails looking at the customer needs and market niche as restricted by the set out conditions. The charter postulates that the broadcaster needs to promote New Zealand’s cultural value’s among other objectives, these introduces a new aspect thus TVNZ needs to focus on the clientele who fit this criteria. Therefore, instead of approaching it as a threat the company should focus on ways that will turn this into revenue generating by applying strength – opportunity techniques (QuickMBA, n.d. Beiman, 2006). After formulating the company’s policies, it is very important that management considers the change process. Given the volatility in the market, efficient change management entails formulating chronological implementation policies that will gradually introduce stakeholders to the changes that will take place, effective and consistent communication between the customers, management and other stakeholders and setting up a good feedback mechanism techniques that will ensure that both implementers (TVNZ), and the market understand and appreciate the change process (Schein, 2004). Thus management should continue to play the stewardship role by consistently briefing the employees, customers and other stakeholders to minimize resistance and possibly loss of revenue, effective communication vertically ensures that the employees understand the need for change and these leads to smooth and successful change in two ways. Firstly, employees will be motivated due to involvement and understanding of the change, secondly, they will act as agent in conveying the message to the external environment thus facilitate smooth and successful implementation (Schein, 2004). TVNZ as a charter company compared to other stations has the capability of acquiring funds hence one strategy would be to diverse the business and expand their market internationally. In addition, the business can capitalize on telecommunication given its resources hence increase revenue that will cushion potential loss of advertising revenue. The strength-opportunity approach can be illustrated by the examples below: Tourism sector can benefit from TVNZ if they adopt strategies to sell New Zealand’s heritage, rich culture and geographical wonders globally. Similarly, given the level of globalization in the business world, investors are always looking for new areas to invest their funds, therefore TVNZ can be used as a medium to sell the country as a good investment destination. This move will enable the company attract a new type of clientele worldwide in the business and tourism sector e.g. hotels, airlines, banks among others who can benefit from services offered by the station given its new approach and objectives.         REFERENCES: Beiman, I.   (2006). Chapter 6: Managing SOE’s for improved performance. Retrieved 24th June 2008 from http://www.adb.org/Documents/Books/Balanced-Scorecard/chap6.pdf Dobson, P., Starkey K Richards, J. (2004). Strategic management: Issues and cases. Blackwell Publishing Inc. Hanson, D. et al (2008). Strategic management: Competitiveness and Globalization. Asian pacific 3 Ed. South Melbourne. Thomson Publishing Inc. Spicer,B., Powell, M. Emanuel, D. (1997).   The remaking of television New Zealand 1984 – 1992. Auckland University Press. QuickMBA (n. d.). Strategic Management: SWOT analysis. Retrieved 24th June 2008 from http://www.quickmba.com/strategy/swot/ Schein, E. (2004) Organizational Culture and leadership. Jossey-Bass A Whiley imprint. Inc. Sexty, R. (1983). â€Å" Accountability dilemma in Canadian public enterprises: Social versus commercial responsiveness.†Ã‚   Annals of Public and Cooperative economics. Vol. 45 (1). Pp 19

The Decision That Changed Me Essay -- Personal Narratives Education Es

The Decision That Changed Me The decisions we make throughout life can have an impact on our future, directly or indirectly. When things do not always go your way, you can learn from these experiences and grow as a person. It will not be easy, but eventually with time things will improve. All the hard times really make a person cherish all the good times. Saying this, I wanted to do something a little more personal for my final paper. The environment has a certain pull on everyone's' lives whether they realize it or not. This paper expresses how the environment of Illinois College has changed my life. I am also including a poem that I composed recently after events that have occurred in my life. I am hoping that my readers will relate to and understand where I am coming from. I am especially directing to this to my peers, as well as the future generations at Illinois College. Someday As I lay here at night, thoughts swirling through my head. Is this the beginning, or the inevitable end? Clouded mind, what to do? I close my eyes and all I see is you. Thoughts racing, heart aching Dreams fading, tears trailing. Maybe someday you will see what I see, feel what I feel. Maybe you too will dream the same dream. Until that time comes I will stand tall waiting, hoping, dreaming. I will go on. College. That one word alone sent shivers down my spine senior year of high school. The fear was almost overwhelming that summer as I prepared to leave the comfort of my home, and go off to college. I had a clear picture of what I thought college would be like. The giant campus would consume me with tall, brick buildings and rude people scurrying like rodents along the endless gray sidewalks. How wo... ... Although this is my senior year, it is not the end for me. I have one more semester before student teaching. Looking back on freshman year until the present, I have so many memories of friends I have made, people I have met, classes, and all the ups and downs that come along with college life. As I sit here at my computer, I ask myself, â€Å"If I could change anything about my life, would I?† To answer this question, I will end with this: No class in the world could teach me the lessons that I have learned this far in college. Professors do not teach, How To Recover From a Broken Heart 101 or How To Drive Your Roommate Crazy. These things are learned through experience and learning from your mistakes. I truly would not change a thing because only the bad experiences make you stronger, and all the good things allow you to look forward to what is yet to come.

Study of Consumer Attitudes to Drinking

CONSUMER ATTITUDES TO DRINKING – UK – AUGUST 2010 – Consumer Usage – Market in Brief ? There are opportunities for both the on- and off-trade to take advantage of consumers’ willingness to try different drinks. As cocktails are associated with bartender knowledge, skill and theatre of serve, there is scope for the pub industry to differentiate and for manufacturers to replicate, as already seen by Bacardi’s Mojito mixed drink, now complete with branded packs of ice cubes at Tesco. Internal marketing Environment UK alcohol consumption has been in decline since 2004 but penetration levels are still high as drinking is deeply ingrained in the British culture. What People Drink and How Often Although alcohol consumption is down in the UK, consumers are increasing their drinking repertoire, with cider now ranked alongside the lager, wine and spirits categories. Rose benefits from appealing to all age groups and the much sought-after younger demographic, something the red and white varieties have failed to do. ? Rose wine has managed to do what white and red wine have been trying to do for years: appeal to the younger demographic. While it is not as popular a drink as the other wine flavours, white spirits or cider, rose has the advantaged in appealing almost equally to every age group, from 18-24-year-olds to the over-55s. ? Lager has been drunk by the most people (60%) over the past 12 months and is the largest market in terms of volume sales (see Internal Market Environment). ? Lager drinking remains largely male-dominated, with three quarters of men drinking lager in the last year compared to 40% of women, while the opposite is the case for white and sweeter-tasting rose wines, which women tend to prefer. Choice differs by age Figure 17: Types of alcohol drunk in the last 12 months, by age, August 2010 Base: 838 internet users aged 18+ ? Over a third of women, however, drink alcohol less than once a month or never drink alcohol. Interestingly, and in contrast to reports in the media, the highest proportion of people who never drink alcohol is amongst the 25-34-year-old age group, followed by 18-24-year-olds. ? According to Mintel’s On-trade Soft Drinks – UK, December 2009 report, women are much more likely than men to drink soft drinks in the on-trade and are opting for healthier and somewhat more expensive drinks when they do so. There are several barriers to women drinking alcohol, including health and social mores. Mintel’s Understanding Drinking Occasions and Unlocking Potential Customers – UK, August 2009 report found that almost a third of women would be encouraged to try a new alcoholic drink if it were low in calories, suggesting that brands, retailers and pubs need to d o more to inform health-conscious customers that lower-ABV and -calorie alcoholic drinks exist, both in the off- and on-trade. Factors influencing drinking habits: ? The social dimension is important when drinking alcohol, with over half of consumers drinking when catching up with friends. This is a universal factor of why people drink, being a key reason for over half of men and women and typically most important to 18-34-year-olds, although this is still high for the over-35s and across almost all socio-economic groups. Social beings Figure 24: Net difference* between any agree statements on drinking alcohol, by gender, June 2010 Base: 1,701 internet users aged 18+ who have drunk alcohol in the last 12 months * this is worked out by subtracting the percentage of female drinkers agreeing with each statement from the percentage of males. For example, 65% of female drinkers said ‘I don’t like running a tab as I can lose track of how much I’m spending’ compared to 58% of men, therefore giving a score of +7 percentage points. Source: GMI/Mintel Key analysis: While sharing pitchers of beer is common in the US and larger beer glasses pervade the European Continent (e. g. 1-litre beer steins in Germany), in the UK the defining consumer drinking behaviour is the buying of rounds. What is probably most peculiar with buying rounds of drinks is the fact that friends or family are able to request whatever drink they like, regardless of price or type, in the (usually) safe knowledge that the gesture will be returned. More could be done to encourage customers to share their knowledge of favoured drinks when buying rounds, therefore acting as brand ambassadors by driving word-of-mouth recommendations. Drinking Habits Among 18-24yr Olds – UK – June 2010 – Drinking in Context ? Findings in this report indicate that both young men and women feel under considerable pressure to drink to excess, even if they do not like the taste or the experience of getting drunk. While this is more pronounced among men, who are trying to fit in with masculine norms, a sense of social pressure to drink is also common among women. This causes greater internal conflict for them, as women are not only constrained by negative gender stereotypes of getting drunk, but they are also much more sensible about the potential detrimental health problems that alcohol abuse can cause. However, women aged 18-24 are most influenced to not drink by their ego rather than concerns about their health, with the prospect of putting on weight being the single most influential factor in their not drinking alcohol. However, despite this they are just as likely to binge drink as men, although they are less likely to be extreme binge drinkers. As a rule they prefer sweeter-tasting drinks; they are almost three times as likely as all adults to drink pre-mixed spirits (also known as alcopops or alcoholic ready-to-drinks); as well as being much more likely to drink cider and spirits which mix well with soft drinks and in cocktails, such as white rum, bourbon. ? The choice of drinks for 18-24s is influenced by alcohol being such an acquired taste, meaning that younger drinkers prefer sweeter drinks which disguise the raw taste of alcohol. For example, a major finding from Mintel’s Wine – UK, June 2009 was that wine was attracting many more consumers once they reached their mid-thirties onwards, and a main reason for this was that it takes people a while to develop their drinking palates, alongside a greater propensity to drink at home. ? Recently rose has started to attract younger drinkers put off by the negative baggage surrounding alcoholic ready-to-drinks (ARTDs), but it is the brands with higher sugar content, rather than dry roses which are leading the charge. Cider has been one of the few alcoholic beverages to see its sales volumes increasing yearly over the past five years. It has benefited from being re-invented by the Magners ‘on ice’ concept. This appealed to younger drinkers and women by highlighting its refreshment and fresh, fruity taste, in particular for summer occasions (see Cider – UK, November 2008). Few people understand how easy it is to binge drink†¦ Binge drinking is defined according to government guidelines as: * for women, drinking six units of alcohol or more in one session (ie two large glasses of wine) Flavoured Alcoholic Beverages – UK – October 2007 – Market in Brief * Young women have traditionally been the target for FABs and certainly the profile of those that drink them at least once a week still reflects that, for both on- and off-trade drinkers. The regular FAB drinker is more likely to be female, single and less affluent. * There is still some appeal among older women (25-34) who perhaps started drinking when FABs first appeared on the market, although it’s more likely these consumers are drinking less than they use to. Some women have been attracted to the new innovations in lower-calorie FABs, however, the research shows there is a growing need to develop the category as these consumers are looking for a more sophisticated drink. SWOT Strengths * Consumer demand for more refreshing drinks with lower alcohol levels. * Growing interest in fruit-flavoured drinks. * A large proportion of consumers occasionally drinking FABs providing an opportunit y to increase frequency. * Increased NPD in this market. Government campaigns on units should alert consumers to lower strength than is perceived. * A willingness from retailers to develop the category via premiumisation. Weaknesses * Fall in the number of consumers drinking alcohol as healthy lifestyles take hold. * Poor image associated with the category with underage consumers and binge drinkers. * Continued price pressure from supermarkets. * FABs’ unsuitability to developing on-trade occasions such as food-led. Lack of premium offering appealing to over-25s. * For a market in decline focus on young women is limiting the appeal and targeting requires a broader audience. * Increased competition from cider and lager offered in premium-style bottles. * Declining availability as increased options in premium drinks such as lagers, ales and ciders and soft drinks squeeze shelf space both in supermarkets and bars. Drinks Market 2008 Key Note Alcoholic drinks worth an estimated ? 41. 6bn

Cohesion Exercise Using Transitional Words and Phrases

This exercise will give you an opportunity to apply the techniques discussed in the article Cohesion Strategies: Transitional Words and Phrases. If you havent practiced sentence combining before, you may also find it helpful to review Introduction to Sentence Combining. Exercise Combine the sentences in each set into two clear and concise sentences, eliminating any needless repetition. As you do so, add a transitional word or phrase (in italics at the head of each set) to the beginning of the second sentence to show how it relates to the first. After you have completed the exercise, compare your sentences with the originals. Keep in mind that many combinations are possible, and in some cases, you may prefer your own sentences to the original versions. InsteadRetirement should be the reward for a lifetime of work.It is widely viewed as a sort of punishment.It is a punishment for growing old.ThereforeIn recent years viruses have been shown to cause cancer in chickens.Viruses have also been shown to cause cancer in mice, cats, and even in some primates.Viruses might cause cancer in humans.This is a reasonable hypothesis.In factWe do not seek solitude.If we find ourselves alone for once, we flick a switch.We invite the whole world in.The world comes in through the television screen.On the contraryWe were not irresponsible.Each of us should do something.This thing would be of genuine usefulness to the world.We were trained to think that.HoweverLittle girls, of course, dont take toy guns out of their hip pockets.They do not say Pow, pow to all their neighbors and friends.The average well-adjusted little boy does this.If we gave little girls the six-shooters, we would soon have double the pretend body count.NextWe drove the wagon close t o a corner post.We twisted the end of the wire around it.We twisted the wire one foot above the ground.We stapled it fast.We drove along the line of posts.We drove for about 200 yards.We unreeled the wire on the ground behind us.IndeedWe know very little about pain.What we dont know makes it hurt all the more.There is ignorance about pain.No form of illiteracy in the United States is so widespread.No form of illiteracy in the United States is so costly.MoreoverMany of our street girls can be as vicious as any corporation president.Many of our street girls can be as money mad as any corporation president.They can be less emotional than men.They can be less emotional in conducting acts of personal violence.For this reasonThe historical sciences have made us very conscious of our past.They have made us conscious of the world as a machine.The machine generates successive events out of foregoing ones.Some scholars tend to look totally backward.They look backward in their interpretation o f the human future.HoweverRewriting is something that most writers find they have to do.They rewrite to discover what they have to say.They rewrite to discover how to say it.There are a few writers who do little formal rewriting.They have the capacity and experience.They create and review a large number of invisible drafts.They create and review in their minds.They do this before they approach the page. After you have completed the ten sets compare your sentences  with the originals below. Keep in mind that many effective combinations are possible, and in some  cases, you may prefer your own sentences to the original versions. Retirement should be the reward for a lifetime of work.   Instead, it is widely viewed as a sort of punishment for growing old.(Carll Tucker)In recent years viruses have been shown to cause cancer not only in chickens but also in mice, cats, and even in some primates.  Therefore, it is a reasonable hypothesis that viruses might cause cancer in humans.We do not seek solitude.  In fact, if we find ourselves alone for once, we flick a switch and invite the whole world in through the television screen.(Eugene Raskin, Walls and Barriers)We were not irresponsible.  On the contrary, we were trained to think that each of us should do something that would be of genuine usefulness to the world.(Lillian Smith,  Killers of the Dream)Little girls, of course, dont take toy guns out of their hip pockets and say Pow, pow to all their neighbors and friends like average well-adjusted little boys.  However, if we gave little girls the six-shooters, we would soon have double the pretend body count.(Anne Roiphe, Confessions of a Female Chauvinist Sow)We drove the wagon close to a corner post, twisted the end of the wire around it one foot above the ground, and stapled it fast.  Next, we drove along the line of posts for about 200 yards, unreeling the wire on the ground behind us.(John Fischer, Barbed Wire)We know very little about pain and what we dont know makes it hurt all the more.  Indeed, no form of illiteracy in the United States is so widespread or costly as ignorance about pain.(Norman Cousins, Pain Is Not the Ultimate Enemy)Many of our street girls can be as vicious and money mad as any corporation president.  Moreover, they can be less emotional than men in conducting acts of personal violence.(Gail Sheehy, $70,000 a Year,  Tax Free)The historical sciences have made us very conscious of our past, and of the world as a machine generating successive events out of foregoing ones.  For this reason, some scholars tend to look totally backward in their int erpretation of the human future.(Loren Eiseley,  The Unexpected Universe)Rewriting is something that most writers find they have to do to discover what they have to say and how to say it. There are,  however, a few writers who do little formal rewriting because they have the capacity and experience to create and review a large number of invisible drafts in their minds before they approach the page.(Donald M. Murray, The Makers Eye: Revising Your Own  Manuscripts)