Saturday 20 December 2014

What have I learned this week : case study of ROBIN HOOD

What have I learned this week was the case study of ROBIN HOOD. Before I go into conclusion, here is a brief explanation on what is ROBIN HOOD story is all about. Robin Hood is a good man, however he is doing a cruel job in helping the poor. Sheriff is his enemy. The revolt against the Sheriff had begun as a personal crusade, erupting out of Robin’s conflict with the Sheriff and his administration. He therefore sought allies, men with grievances and a deep sense of justice. Later he welcomed all who came, asking few questions, and only demanding a willingness to serve.

He spent the first year forging the group into a disciplined band, united in enmity against the Sheriff, and willing to live outside the law. The band’s organization was simple. Robin ruled supreme, making all important decisions. He delegated specific tasks to his lieutenants. Will Scarlett was in charge of intelligence and scouting. His main job was to shadow the Sheriff and his men, always alert to their next move. He also collected information on the travel plans of rich merchants and tax collectors. Little John kept discipline among the men, and saw to it that their archery was at the high peak that their profession demanded.

The increasing size of the band was a source of satisfaction for Robin, but also a source of concern. The fame of his Merry men was spreading, and new recruits poured in from every corner of England. The growing band was also beginning to exceed the food capacity of the forest. Game was becoming scarce, and supplies had to be obtained from outlying villages. The cost of buying food was beginning to drain the band’s financial reserves at the very moment when revenues were in decline. Travelers, especially those with the most to lose, were now giving the forest a wide berth. This was costly and inconvenient to them, but it was preferable to having all their goods confiscated.

In this case study, the key issue that has been pointed out was the economic imbalance between rich and poor as well as the political problem that has been faced by Robin Hood. Prince John was vicious and volatile. He was consumed by his unpopularity among the people, who wanted the imprisoned King Richard back. He also lived in constant fear of the barons, who had first given him the regency, but were now beginning to dispute his claim to the throne. Several of these barons had set out to collect the ransom that would release King Richard the Lionheart from his jail in Austria. Robin was invited to join the conspiracy in return for future amnesty. It was a dangerous proposition. Provincial banditry was one thing, court intrigue another. Prince John’s spies were everywhere. If the plan failed, the pursuit would be relentless and retribution swift. The sound of the supper horn startled Robin.

The other issue was the management problem due to the lack of discipline. As the band grew larger, their small bivouac became a major encampment. Between raids the men milled about, talking, and playing games. Vigilance was in decline, and discipline was becoming harder to enforce.

Lastly it is about the Robin Hood himself is lacking of power in management. Robin had often entertained the possibility of killing the Sheriff, but the chances for this seemed increasingly remote. Besides, while killing the Sheriff might satisfy his personal thirst for revenge, it would not improve the situation. Robin had hoped that the perpetual state of unrest, and the Sheriff’s failure to collect taxes, would lead to his removal from office. Instead, the Sheriff used his political connections to obtain reinforcement. He had powerful friends at court, and was well regarded by the regent, Prince John.

What I have learned in this case study is we should know how to handle our subordinate and plan carefully with a good mission. Then should know how to manage the task that needs to be done. But I personally think that our good intention is invaluable if the ways we perform is in the bad ways like Robin Hood.


That’s all. Thank you. 

currently I'm keeping an eye on one person, but I'm not a nutty as a fruitcake. saranghae.

What have I learned this week : GLORIA JEANS COFFEE

Assalamualaikum..

What have I learned this week?

Today, I would like to share about our case study discussion in tutorial class for the past few weeks.
The cases study that has been discussed is GLORIA JEANS COFFEE. 

It was in the year 1979, Ed and Gloria Jean Kvetko first started Gloria Jean’s Coffee (GJC) in Chicago, the USA. A total of 25 years and 316 outlets worldwide later, Diedrich Coffee, the owner of GJC decided to sell the GJC franchise. Many offers were made, but the deal went to Saleh, GJC’s Master Franchisee in Australia. For a cool $16 million, Saleh managed to own the rights to all GJC worldwide minus 146 outlets in the USA and Puerto Rico. Where Dierich Coffee owns the rights to operate free of franchise royalty. In 2010, Dierich sold all of its rights and remaining 102 franchised outlets across 24 states in the USA to Saleh for additional $3.1 million, making Saleh as the owner of GJC franchise worldwide. GJC was ranks third globally among premium coffee brands.

Hence, madam was asked us to evaluate the food beverage industry in Malaysia and analyses their Porters 5 forces model.

Threat of new entrants
The level of threat of new entrant is high. It is very difficult to new entrant to enter into the industry; this is because there are a barrier for entering the industry which is money currency and also the government policy.

Supplier
From the Gloria jean’s supplier perspective, it was in the high level. This is because the coffee suppliers have been globally supplied. The example of supplier are from Brazil and  Mexico. And the coffee shop not only has a supply from a coffee but then they also will need a supply from other items such as creamer, sugar, cup, and many more.

Buyer
The level demand is high. This is because the demanded of coffee is wide and globally today. All stage of age has done liked to drink a coffee. Even it is cold or hot, it also can be ice cream and ice blended of coffee flavor. The focus of target usually student, graduates, masters student, corporate man, business man. Kippies are one with the target market of the buyer.

Substitute
The level substitutes are high or moderate. There are not many substitutes that we can find for Gloria jean’s coffee and the substitute that we can find for the Gloria jean’s coffee are juices, ice cream, and soft drink.

Competitors
The level of competitor for Gloria jean’s coffee is high. This is because the industry comes out with many brand of coffee, so the buyer does have many of choice. The competitors for Gloria Jeans Coffee are Starbuck, Old Town Coffee, San Francisso Coffee and also Kopitiams.  

In Malaysia, GJC has a low rate of number of outlets compared to other competitor.  So they may have a chance to open up other outlets. Franchising permits the company to grow with capital invested by individual franchise owner. In today marketplace, the window of opportunity for a new business closes concept very quickly. Franchising permits multiple units to be opened simultaneously, GJC need to open more outlets to gaining a foothold over their competitors. As additional locations are opened, name recognition increases. GJC need to increase their customer awareness towards their product. Customer usually feel more secured frequenting a business they recognize by name.

But it is good for GJC when they have their outlets in TESCO. TESCO has been offering excellent premises to GJC in all upcoming stores. This occasion will help GJC a lot in terms of they will gain an attention from the customers who did not buying their product. TESCO are one of the biggest Mall in Malaysia and have a lot of customer. From that, GJC can provide their product to that group of customer.   

But there are some few advantages and disadvantages of franchising. To help us determine if any franchising opportunity is right, we need to know the pros and cons of franchising.

As for the advantages, franchise business may have customer base and established brand which means the biggest advantages of buying an established franchise is the strength of the brand and loyalty of customer. Setting up a franchise also will have marketing support. Franchise will have support form national campaign and the material as well as prepared for a local campaign. The also will have a business support and the got network for that. Some of the expensive or better franchise is offering training in franchise operations which include a management and technical training. 

At the same time, franchising also has great disadvantages such as royalty payments. For as long as we are a franchisee, we will have to pay some percentages of the monthly gross back to the franchisor. It will reduce our profit total sum up.  The reputation of your franchise is only good as that of the franchisor, so any difficulties that the franchisor encounters will have a direct impact on you. Opening a franchise rather than starting our own business offers no guarantee of success. We still need to be a sharp business person to make it work.

That’s all. Wassalam.


currently I'm keeping an eye on one person, but I'm not a nutty as a fruitcake. saranghae.

What have I learned this week : KPJ HEALTHCARE GROUP

Assalamualaikum..

What have I learned this week?

Today, I would mind to share about our case study discussion in tutorial class for the past few weeks.
The cases study that has been discussed is KPJ HEALTHCARE GROUP. 

Kumpulan Perubatan Johor (KPJ) Healthcare Group was the largest public-listed Healthcare service provider in Malaysia. At the time KPJ operated 19 hospitals in Malaysia and managed two hospitals in Indonesia. However, in 2008, the effect of the US financial crisis was felt in many countries, including in Malaysia. Then because of this crisis the demand for KPJ Hospital services may decrease.

Then, by the end 2009, pressure was mounting on Siti Sa’diah and her management team to make urgent decisions on how to survive the economic slowdown and The team had three options, first is KPJ Healthcare Group could expand its business by focusing on the medical tourism market, which was expected to continue growing in the next few years, then KPJ could expand its college business, in particular because of the need to provide      nurses to its own hospitals and also to support overall rapid expansion of the medical markets or KPJ could further expand its international market.

Moreover, in order to growth the strategies in KPJ Healthcare they have to issue of funding the business expansions. While in 2006, the effort to raise funds for its business expansion, KPJ initiated a major shift in its corporate strategy from being an entirely asset-based company to one that stayed light on its assets through securitization and was accomplished with the establishment Al-‘Aqar KPJ Real Estate Investment Trusts (REIT), which had played an important role in facilitating KPJ’s strategic expansions (KPJ Healthcare). Grow the company’s business.

The question that has been given by Madam Ummi was what were the strategies implemented by KPJ Healthcare prior to 2009?

It was secondary level strategies when KPJ Healthcare was have expansion strategies with Puteri Nursing College with the objective of providing nursing education and providing the human resources required by its group of companies and also the country in 1990 in order to opened their education nursing. While in corporate level strategies under the tactical strategies, KPJ Healthcare was partnered with Penawar Hospital through a joint-venture agreement of 30-70 percent share in 1995. In addition, in 2002, KPJ Healthcare also established a joint-venture project with the Kelantan State Economic Development Corporation to operate the Perdana Specialist Hospital in Kota Bharu, Kelantan. In 2002, KPJ established a subsidiary, Pharmaserv Alliances, which functioned as a wholesaler and distributor of pharmaceutical, medical product, and other hospital related products focusing on servicing KPJ-owned hospitals

The second question was based on the company goals, propose 3 strategies options for growth in KPJ HEALTHCARE.

From my opinion, KPJ needs to establish some strategies that may help them to support their strategic expansion. First of all, we think that KPJ need to do a joint venture with international companies such as from Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand and any other countries. Expansion plan will support KPJ for a long term growth. Competition was getting intense a more players are including foreign based private healthcare providers were entering the Malaysian market.

Even though the competition was good, KPJ need to move faster to enter foreign market as well. The competition was good as it can help to increase the standard of the private healthcare services. In the next following year, KPJ should focus to do joint ventures with private hospital in foreign market to promote their names in international market. KPJ need to make a new entry outside Malaysia because their names are formally known in this country.

The second strategy that needs to be paid attention is organically grown by backward regression. KPJ needs to think something new such as to produce their own medicine and be a supplier of that product to another hospital, clinic or pharmacy. Their customers also do not need to go to KPJ hospital but instead just bought their medicine at the pharmacies available around Malaysia. Instead of that, KPJ also can send their students in KPJ nursing education to another hospital and gain profit from that. In the effort to overcome the shortage of nurses, KPJ should grab this opportunity to be a supplier for these nurses in this industry.

The last strategy that we propose to KPJ is to establishing their line of franchising.  A franchising will increase a business success because the KPJ branding is already all over the Malaysia. KPJ is already an establish name of good service that may already enjoy widespread brand name recognition. KPJ may offer franchising to open at Sabah and Sarawak because there is none of KPJ service there. It can be a good strategy because KPJ need to expand their services all over the Malaysia.

In order to achieve their goals to increase their number of hospitals, we think that they should use the technique and advantages of franchising properly. For the other goals to expand their business internationally, we suggest for them to do a merging with another international private healthcare.

Knowing how to analyze a case study is a really great thing because this is one of our questions during final exam later. Insya Allah with Madam explanations and all activities that we have done during tutorial class, it will help me a lot.


Until then, wassalam. 

currently I'm keeping an eye on one person, but I'm not a nutty as a fruitcake. saranghae.

Tuesday 2 December 2014

What Have I Learned This Week : Corporate Level Strategies

Assalamualaikum..

What I have learned this week ?

Today, I would like to discuss the kinds of strategies that I have been learned in our lecture for the past weeks. Basically, the strategies can be group into 3 broad levels of decision making namely, corporate level strategies, business level strategies and functional level strategies. These 3 level of strategies is been done from different method and different circumstance within the organizations.

First of all, corporate level strategy is meant to looking for the overall movement of the organization. The Corporate level strategies have the priority to the movement and action of the entire organization and also their decisions will have to be made at the top of corporate level with the participation from all divisions.

While business level strategy will look at how the organization have to handle things from the competition perspective. An organization has to deal and think of how to compete with their competitors. Functional level strategy has to consider at the various operational level of the organization. Usually, this level has to deals with marketing, financing, management and also the operation divisions to make sure that the overall things have been assist.

In corporate level strategies, it has various levels of the strategies.

GRAND STRATEGIES
GROWTH
• STABLE GROWTH
• TURNAROUND
• COMBINATION

SECONDARY LEVEL STRATEGIES
EXPAND
INTEGRATE
• DIVERSIFY

TACTICAL LEVEL STRATEGIES
• ORGANICALLY
• JOINT VENTURE
• MERGER
• ACQUISITION
• REVERSE TAKEOVER
• STRATEGIC ALLIANCES
• LICENSING/FRANCHISING


The corporate level strategy looks at the whole organization with the helicopter view. The corporate level strategy covers the overall group whether to grow or to do turnaround through the various secondary and tactical strategies. All three level of strategies need to be done in synchronized manner as it all started from the same point of action wanting to be the best organization and better than their competitors. 

Wassalam. 

currently I'm keeping an eye on one person, but I'm not a nutty as a fruitcake. saranghae.