Future of the grocery store :: essays research papers

Where will the grocery industry be in the near future? Chester Sideman and his wife Carmen married 25 years ago. After they married they decided that they did not want to be typical working Americans who worked from 9-5 and retired at age 55. They had always envisioned running their own company and running it in the form that they saw fit. After thinking long and hard they decided to build a company from the era that they were from. Being that they were from the â€Å"hippie† era, they fell in love with the idea of running a grocery store that provided a healthy alternative to the grocery shopping experience. A few years after opening, Chester and Carmen began to notice a trend. They were seeing that their health food store was beginning to gain popularity with the locals here in San Francisco, since so many were from the same era. Seeing this, the couple decided that they needed to expand and take full advantage of their popularity.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  First they decided to expand into a neighboring store that had gone out of business. With this added space, they were able to triple their size and bring in an enormous variety of products that tied into the theme of the store. With this added size, they also found that they needed help in the day-to-day operations of running the store. Due to this fact they hired Craig Premer. Craig was a grocery industry professional that had worked for years in the business. He was also able to see the great potential that this store had.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  After five years of Craig taking control of running the store, he had implemented all the ideas that he had to help build the grocery store. At this point, the store was doing great. Profit was double what it had been before Craig got there, but beginning to level off. Craig noticed this and had a talk with Chester and Carmen. Craig: Chester, we need to reevaluate what it is that you want out of this store at this point. I understand that this store has been doing very well the past few years, but with the increase in competition from stores like Whole Foods and Rainbow Grocery, I feel that changes need to be made. Chester: I know that our profits have been doing well and have started to level off, but do you think big changes need to be made?

Pacs Essay

Groups and Teams at Kluster 1. What are the challenges of working together as a team? How have members of the Illuminator project overcome these challenges? What are the benefits of a team-based approach? Teamwork is a huge factor of the success for many companies around the world. The performance of teamwork in the workplace will bring the sense of trust, loyalty and security among every worker. The morale and productivity will be higher as a result of that. However, working on a team has its own challenges. Working with people that have different personalities, ideas, cultures, backgrounds, ages, needs and values is one of the most challenges that teamwork faces during its performance. Conflict, mistrust, poor performance can be created as result of these differences. Finding a way to overcome these obstacles is the foundation of a strong and successful teamwork. Illuminator project has overcome these challenges by respecting and using every skill and idea that each team member delivers. That makes every team member feel important and productive. Also communication among each member is very critical for the success of the Illuminator project. Today, teamwork has been found to be as a better way on using every employee’s talent and skill toward a more effective and efficient organization. † Management has found that teams are more flexible and responsive to changing events than are traditional departments. Teams have the capability to quickly assemble, deploy, refocus, and disband. † Robbins and Judge, pg 323. 2. What type of individual would fit in well on the Illuminator team? What characteristics are important? According to the engineer of the Illuminator project, each team member should have self-disciplined and self-leadership. Individuals that are careful, reliable, organized, hardworking, persistent, and honest are those that are more likely to give a higher performance than those that lack any of these characteristics. Conscientious personality which describes someone that is responsible, persistent and organized would fit in well on the Illuminator team. Also, someone who is emotionally stable meaning a confidence, calmness and secure personality would fit in well on this team. . How has technology changed the way we do business? Identify how Kluster has embraced technology in its operations. Advanced technology such as computers and computer networks have changed and helped businesses on being more efficient and effective. Downsizing, outsourcing and empowerment are some of the substantial gains of the organizations due to the technology. New ways of communicating among members, stor ing information and researching for ideas and ways to achieve and succeed are result of the advanced technology. Kluster has taken advantage of the technology by using the telecommuting as a way of communication among team members. Since members of Kluster project live in different areas and some of them travel to different cities, it’s very important to communicate with each other at all the time. Therefore telecommuting through Web based program has made it possible. â€Å"Telecommuting refers to employees who do their work at home on a computer that is linked to their office. † Robbins and Judge, pg 223. 4. Describe the different parts of the Illuminator team. Why is it necessary to have each of these parts represented? The illuminator team is created by combining different ideas and skills of different individuals. Each team member has to be self- disciplined and committed to their job. As every organization, Illuminator team has the founder, the project designer, the engineer of the team and the project manager. The importance of this system is to keep the work in place and run effectively and naturally. Each member has different responsibilities that need to be established and require different skills. Illuminator project runs under job enlargement design which increases the degree of each member to control, plan and evaluate the work done. â€Å" An enriched job organizes tasks so as to allow the worker to do a complete activity, increases the employee’s freedom and independence, increases responsibility, and provides feedback so individuals will be assess and correct their own performance†. Robbins and Judge, pg 220. 5. Ben Kaufman, founder of Illuminator, says it is important to recognize that sometimes people need a break from the team. Explain what he means by this. Sometimes, personal life issues can cause stress, pressure, disorientation and weak performance. Therefore, it’s very important that every team member to have the right and be able to work sometimes on their own away from the team as long as they work on their job responsibilities. Depending on the personality, some individuals can perform better while under stress when they work alone. Being able to accept that break from the rest of the team, the organization is helping their member to establish his/her responsibilities required for the organization’s success. . What two or three suggestions would you provide to address ways that virtual teams could celebrate successes? How would you implement them? I would give two suggestions that could help virtual team succeed. The first one is to set a time of the day every week for all the team members to participate in a meeting via internet. In this way, everyone will be able to get the same feedbacks, ask questions and receiv e answers at the same time and share their ideas with the rest of the team. So every week the meeting will provide each member with the result of their work, how much has been achieved and where they need improvement. The second suggestion would be for the virtual team to have a leader where the team members can address all their questions and concern. The team leader should be reached at anytime of the day and be able to address these concerns in the best way possible. 7. As a manager, what two or three suggestions would you implement to ensure that individual members were recognized for their contribution? Obviously, financial incentives will help motivate every employee to perform better. A pay raise would be one of the suggestions that would ensure that the good work of a member has been recognized. Also, bonuses such as a paid day off or a gift card would be another suggestion. Employee of the month nomination can be a third suggestion. This way the competition to get any of these recognitions among employees will provide a better performance and more productive workers. Therefore, I as a manager will be able to lead a successful organization.

Essay about Hawthorne Studies - 1529 Words

This essay will review the writings of â€Å"Hawthorne, the myth of the docile worker, and class bias in psychology† an article by D. Bramel and R. Friend. It will then go on to further critique academic articles that both support and disagree with the primary source and demonstrate how the Hawthorne studies have influenced contemporary organizations. The Hawthorne experimental studies conducted at the Western Electric Company Works has attracted considerable amounts of sharp critical scrutiny; it has practically â€Å"become an intellectual battle† (Miner, J. 2006. p.68) as it has been interpreted in various ways. The studies basically concluded that social and psychological factors are responsible for workers productivity and job satisfaction.†¦show more content†¦2006. p.68.) A. Brannigan and W. Zwerman’s (2001) article â€Å"the Real Hawthorne Effect† completely disagrees with the arguments that were presented by Bramel and Friend. Their article in contrast strongly supports the Hawthorne studies and emphasizes just how valuable they. Brannigan and Zwerman actually view the studies as being â€Å"the single most important investigation of the human dimensions of industrial relations in the early 20th century† (Brannigan, A. Zwerman, W. 2001.p.55). They recognize the fact that the Hawthorne studies have received harsh critical disapproval over the decades due to potential flaws in the research and experiments conducted. However Brannigan and Zwerman are able to look past that and purely see the innovative ideas that grew around these studies. They express that â€Å"the main idea should not be undermined by these shortcomings† and that sometimes the actual idea itself is more meaningful then the evidence on which it is based. ( p. 59). B. Reiger’s article â€Å"Lessons in Productivity and People† also disagrees with the negative statements that are directed towards the Hawthorne studies. Reiger’s article aims to show how the studies executed had an enormous influence in the way managers and supervisors now interact with their employees. Which in result has positively affected worker productivity, Due to implementing a less mechanical view and paying more attention to the human influences within the workplace. Not onlyShow MoreRelatedHawthorne Studies1495 Words   |  6 Pages1924, Hawthorne Studies was first initiated by the Western Electrical Company and National Academy of Science to study on the relation of quality and quantity of illumination to efficiency in industry which is known as Illumination studies.(Roethlisberger amp; Dickson, 2003, pg 14). From 1927-1933, a series of experiments were conducted once again at Western Electric Work and analyzed by Professor George Elton Mayo who is famous for Hawthorne Effects after the failure for the first studies. TheseRead MoreThe Hawthorne Studies1976 Words   |  8 PagesIntroduction Hawthorne Studies began in 1924 until 1932 at the Western Electric, Hawthorne plant in Cicero, Illinois, by Professor Elton Mayo. Initially, this study was originated to identify the conditions of which would improve the working conditions for higher productivity. However, as time progressed, it evolved and was used by managements across as a guide to restructuring their respective companies. With Professor Elton Mayo from the Harvard Business School began a study of how the workersRead MoreThe Hawthorne Studies On The Development Of Management1397 Words   |  6 PagesThe Hawthorne Studies were conducted by Elton Mayo with help from his research assistant Fritz Roethlisberger in the mid-1920s along with the works at the Hawthorne plant of the Western Electric Company in Chicago, Illinois. These studies were influenced by the principles of scientific management which were introduced by Frederick Taylor in 1911. The studies were to research weather people worked more efficiently when they were working as a group, being treated as special (such as working in a separateRead MoreEvaluate the Contribution of the Hawthorne Studies to the Development of Management Theory and Practice2439 Words   |  10 PagesThis paper is an overview of four important areas of management theory: Frederick Taylor s Scientific Management, Elton Mayo s Hawthorne Works experiments and the human r elations movement, Max Weber s idealized bureaucracy, and Henri Fayol s views on administration. It will provide a general description of each of these management theories together with observations on the environment in which these theories were applied and the successes that they achieved. Frederick Taylor - Scientific Management Read MoreHawthorne Studies804 Words   |  4 PagesPrentice Hall Carey A. (1967) The Hawthorne Studies: A Radical Criticism, American Sociological Review, Vol.32, No.3, Jun. 1967, p.403-416. Clark D (1999) â€Å"Hawthorne Effect† Retrieved November 20, 2007, Retrieved from http://www.nwlink.com/~donclark/hrd/history/hawthorne.html Coutts B, (2003) â€Å"The Hawthorne Experiments† Retrived November 25, 2007, Retrived from http://www.hawthorne-academy.org/publication6.html Draper S.W (2006) â€Å"The Hawthorne, Pygmalion, Placebo and other effects ofRead MoreA Study of a Character: Hester Prynne in The Scarlett Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne909 Words   |  4 Pagesbelieves in when she was in the worst emotional state is truly inspiring. Although she could feel the shame of those around her in town because of the scarlet A on her breast, she refused to let herself be brought down by them, and at one point Hawthorne describes her as not letting her hand cover the symbol. She grew to understand her fate and continues to make the best of it, doing all that she could to be normal in a society where she is seen as an outcast. The way I feel about Hester is quiteRead MoreThe Hawthorne Studies2022 Words   |  9 PagesThe Hawthorne studies 1.0 Introduction 1.1 Mayoists brought a fundamental new paradigm. The scientific management movement led the industrial revolution to change our way of life, our perception of work and our understanding for what an organization is. This paradigm shifted to the Human relations movement (led by the so called Mayoists) as a result of the Hawthorne studies, which took into consideration the physical, social and psychological needs of employees unlike the previous paradigm.Read MoreThe Implication of Hawthorne Study in 21st Century4408 Words   |  18 PagesAssignment The Implication of Hawthorne Study in 21st Century Ashab Anis Joy ID: 2012-1-10-255 Class: MGT Course Code: 101 Sec: 7 Semester: Fall East West University Bachelor of Business Administration East West University 20th November 2012 Introduction The Hawthorne Experiments were conducted between 1927 and 1932 at the works of the Western Electric Company in Chicago. Basically the aim of these experiments was to † attempt to reduce worker dissatisfaction and resist trade unionRead MoreEvaluate the Contribution of the Hawthorne Studies to the Development of Management Theory and Practice.1720 Words   |  7 PagesHawthorne Studies have been subjected to many criticisms. Yet, the evolvement of many of the management theories today would not have come about without the experiments done by Elton Mayo. This essay will cover the various aspects of management that has been refined through the findings of the tests conducted and how improvements were made to aid in the development of organisational behaviour. It will also discuss the various studies and will show how these theories implement Hawthorne studies asRead MoreAnalysis Of The Experiment Management And The Worker 1485 Words   |  6 Pagesexperiment report â€Å"manag ement and the worker† in 1939(Gillespie, 1991) the Hawthorne studies have been playing an important role in management, psychology and sociology. Hawthorne studies were the foundation for the modern day management thinking. Hawthorne studies have been subject to many criticisms but it produced the fundamental changes in the development of management thoughts. The great contribution Hawthorne studies made to the development of modern management these experiments are identified

Composing Topic Sentences Practice Exercises

Commonly appearing at (or near) the beginning of a paragraph, a topic sentence expresses the main idea of a paragraph. What usually follows a topic sentence are a number of supporting sentences that develop the main idea with specific details. This exercise offers practice in creating topic sentences that will attract the interest of your readers. Each passage below is lacking a topic sentence but contains a series of sentences with specific examples of a single character trait: patiencea frightful imaginationa love of reading Your job is to complete each paragraph by creating an imaginative topic sentence that both identifies the particular character trait and creates enough interest to keep us reading. The possibilities, of course, are limitless. Nonetheless, when youre done, you may want to compare the topic sentences you have created with the ones originally composed by the student authors. 1. Patience For example, recently I began taking my two-year-old dog to obedience school. After four weeks of lessons and practice, she has learned to follow only three commands--sit, stand, and lie down--and even those she often gets confused. Frustrating (and costly) as this is, I continue to work with her every day. After dog school, my grandmother and I sometimes go grocery shopping. Inching along those aisles, elbowed by hundreds of fellow customers, backtracking to pick up forgotten items, and standing in the endless line at the checkout, I could easily grow frustrated and cranky. But through years of trying times, I have learned to keep my temper in check. Finally, after putting away the groceries, I might go out to a movie with my fiance, to whom I have been engaged for three years. Layoffs, extra jobs, and problems at home have forced us to postpone our wedding date several times. Still, my patience has enabled me to cancel and reschedule our wedding plans again and again without fuss, fights, or tears. 2. A Frightful Imagination For instance, when I was in kindergarten, I dreamed that my sister killed people with a television antenna and disposed of their bodies in the woods across the street from my house. For three weeks after that dream, I stayed with my grandparents until they finally convinced me that my sister was harmless. Not long afterward, my grandfather died, and that sparked new fears. I was so terrified that his ghost would visit me that I put two brooms across the doorway of my bedroom at night. Fortunately, my little trick worked. He never came back. More recently, I was terribly frightened after staying up late one night to watch The Ring. I lay awake until dawn clutching my cell phone, ready to ring 911 the moment that spooky little girl stepped out of my TV. Just thinking about it now gives me goosebumps. 3. Love of Reading When I was a young girl, I would make a tent out of my blankets and read Nancy Drew mysteries late into the night. I still read cereal boxes at the breakfast table, newspapers while I am stopped at red lights, and gossip magazines while waiting in line at the supermarket. In fact, Im a very talented reader. For example, Ive mastered the art of talking on the phone while simultaneously reading Dean Koontz or Stephen King. But what I read doesnt matter all that much. In a pinch, Ill read junk mail, an old warranty, a furniture tag (DO NOT REMOVE UNDER PENALTY OF LAW), or even, if Im extremely desperate, a chapter or two in a textbook. Example Topic Sentences My life may be a box full of frustrations, but learning how to overcome them has given me the gift of patience.My family is convinced that I inherited my imagination from Edgar Allan Poe.I envy you terribly because at this very moment youre doing what I have always loved doing more than anything else: youre  reading.

The War And Plato s Symposium, And The Man Discussed

In two very different works we see two equally different portrayals of the same man; these differences are informed by the author’s purpose, the genre of the work, and the effects of the depiction upon the rest of the specific work. These works are of course Thucydides’, The History of the Peloponnesian War and Plato’s Symposium, and the man discussed is the Athenian giant, Alcibiades of the Alcmaeonidae. The authors, of course, have their own aims and reasons for writing their works, Plato, writing an allegory on love likely to defend his teacher Socrates, and Thucydides, to inform on what he believes to be the most significant war in history. The genres of the works being philosophy and history respectively also affects the rhetoric of Alcibiades’ speech; as well as his greater portrayals in the works. It is important to note the differences in the depictions as they are significant not only to understanding the literary merit of the works, but also furt hering the knowledge with respect to the author’s motives and the state of higher opinion on a maverick of a man in the late 5th and early 4th Centuries BC in Athens. The first significant variance one must note between the author’s works is the rhetoric and aims of the speeches Alcibiades makes in the two works. In Plato’s Symposium all the major characters are at a dinner party and are giving speeches about eros, the Greek concept of love, and there is quite an awkward relationship squabble occurring between Socrates andShow MoreRelated Exploring Love in Shakespeare’s Sonnets Essay4114 Words   |  17 PagesIn Plato’s Symposium, the discussion on the nature of love between Socrates and his companions in the house of Agathon clearly discerns key ideas that Shakespeare uses in the sonnets. Beauty, youth, and love are all topics of discussion in the conversations, and Plato’s ideas show up again and again when the sonnets are explored. In Symposium, Aristophanes gives a detailed description of a time when humans were not in their present physical form (Plato 353). His tale posits that the original formRead MoreDr. Einstein And Sigmund Freud Essay1852 Words   |  8 Pagesshared between Einstein and Freud discussed the psychoanalytical aspect of war and how human character, flaw and greed affect the causes and effects of war. Einstein reached out to Freud after the First World War, as requested to do so by the International Institute of Intellectual Cooperation (IIIC), to discuss what he called a subject â€Å"calculated to serve the common interest of the League of Nations and of intellectual life.† His central argument surrounds wars between nations, international affairsRead MoreThe Evil of Politics and the Ethics of Evil10364 Words   |  42 PagesThe Evil of Politics and the Ethics of Evil Author(s): Hans J. Morgenthau Source: Ethics, Vol. 56, No. 1 (Oct., 1945), pp. 1-18 Published by: The University of Chicago Press Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/2988705 Accessed: 21/09/2010 06:43 Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of JSTORs Terms and Conditions of Use, available at http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp. JSTORs Terms and Conditions of Use provides, in part, that unless you have obtained priorRead MoreEssay on the Role of Women in Ancient Greece14417 Words   |  58 Pagesthose holding political power.† See Ticchi and Vindigni (2003) for a model of endogenous constitutions, and Aghion et al. (2004) on endogenous political institutions. 8 Sparta was very democratic—for its citizens—by the standards of the time. As discussed later in this paper, all Spartan men went through the same educational system, spent adulthood as full-time soldiers, ate in military mess halls, owned estates in Messenia, and were expected to marry and have children. Indeed, the Spartans referredRead MoreMultiple Intelligences Seminar and Workshop14464 Words   |  58 Pagesteachers and school administrators. In addition to writing many more books and articles on multiple intelligences theory, Gardner has served as a consultant to a variety of school districts. The multiple intelligences movement now includes publishers, symposiums, Web sites, how-to manuals, educational consultants who consider themselves M.I. specialists, as well as a number of critics. Howard Gardner and others have revised and expanded the theory Howard Gardner, formulator of the theory, continues

Police Roles and Functions Free Essays

Police Department Roles and Function CJA/214 Police Department Roles and Function In this paper the principal roles and functions of police organizations and their roles as it applies to the law will be identified. Secondly, the description of various types of police agencies at the local, state, federal level, and the roles and functions of each will be discussed. In addition, the role and function of patrol will be explained. We will write a custom essay sample on Police Roles and Functions or any similar topic only for you Order Now The principal roles and function of police organizations The principal role of police organizations can be narrowed down to different services that they provide. Protecting and serving the local community and their civil rights, traffic control, to uphold and enforce the law, and to encourage respecting the law. As we identify the function of the police organization we can say that each organization function helps to prevent crime and keep communities safe. The municipal police deals with serious crimes in big and small cities and asked to provide a wide variety of emergency services. Description of various types of police agencies at the Local, State and Federal Levels As previously discussed, there are three levels of law enforcement agencies being covered, Local, State and Federal. The Local level is made of three organization Municipal Police, County Police, County Sheriff, County Coroner/Medical Examiner and some states still use Constables today. Let’s briefly review each one. Municipal police play a more complex role than any other law enforcement agency due to serving in our cities. Big and small cities represent the most complex environments when it comes to diversity. With that being said, city police carry the heaviest responsibility for dealing with serious crime, which is not concentrated evenly. They are also responsible for difficult order maintenance problems as well as asked and expected to provide a wide range of emergency services (Walker Katz 2011). A County Police officer is essentially a municipal police officer that operates on a county-wide basis but do not have non-law enforcement roles of the county sheriff. There focus is on patrolling and criminal investigations. On the other hand, County Sheriff has a unique role as they serve all three components to the criminal justice system: law enforcement, courts and corrections (Walker Katz 2011). Under these components they patrol, investigate crimes, process and serve subpoenas, provide security in courtrooms and last but not lease maintain county jails. The County Coroner also called the Medical Examiner falls under the law enforcement because they investigate death scenes, conduct autopsies and determine cause of violent and unexpected deaths (Walker Katz2011). Constables were still used, are usually found in a County court system where they are responsible for serving warrants and subpoenas, transporting prisoners, and providing security for district judges. They also work with county commissioners to post delinquent tax notices and assist attorneys in serving divorce papers (Walker Katz 2011). State police and Highway patrol fall under the State Level. They both provide a variety of law enforcement services. In terms of patrol, state police have concurrent or shared responsibility with local police agencies. In about half of the states, the state police or highway patrol agency has the primary responsibility for enforcing traffic laws on the main highways (Walker Katz2011). State police manage traffic and emergency incidents and minimize exposure of the public to unsafe conditions resulting from emergency incidents and highway impediments. Furthermore state police prevent loss of life, injuries, property damage, and protect public and state assets (CHP 2012). The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is one of several law enforcement organizations under the federal umbrella. The DEA is to enforce the controlled substances laws and regulations of the United States and bring to the criminal and civil justice system of the United States (DEA 2012), and primarily dedicated to reducing the supply of illegal drugs to residents in the United States (Walker Katz 2011). One of the missions and responsibilities of the DEA is the management of national drug intelligence program that aids with federal, state, local, and foreign officials to collect various intelligence drug information (DEA 2012). The role and function of patrol With law enforcement officer the role and function of patrol can take on many descriptions. At times while on patrol an officer can be called upon to be a service provider, a crime fighter or a social worker. Secondly, traffic flow and collision reduction can be one of the many functions that allow an officer to take up different roles while on duty (Heath Karen, 2012). Conclusion In conclusion local, state and federal law enforcement agencies are the key to protecting our country. From the municipal police officer who is responding to a 911 call or a federal agent making a major illegal drug bust, each duty is very different but essential to enforcing our laws. Without law enforcement agencies in the United States and throughout the world, there’d be no one to â€Å"protect and serve† leading to total chaos. Reference Walker, S. , Katz, C. M. (2011). The Police in America. An introduction (7th ed. ). Retrieved from The University of Phoenix Collection database. CHP (2012) The California Highway Patrol, Retrieved from http://www. chp. ca. gov/html/mission. html Drug Enforcement Administration (2012) About Us, Our Mission Retrieved from http://www. justice. gov/dea/ HG Global Legal Resources (1999-2012) Control Substances Law Retrieved from http://www. hg. org/control. html How to cite Police Roles and Functions, Papers

Strategic Integrated Marketing Communications †MyAssignmenthelp

Question: Discuss about the Strategic Integrated Marketing Communications. Answer: Introduction In the present scenario, efficient management of strategies and plans has become vital for the success of businesses(Aghazadeh, 2015). Strategic management can be defined as the process of planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation of various policies and plans to accomplish the goals and objectives of an organization. Further, strategic management is considered as a continuous process and companies are required to carry out changes in process and strategies at regular intervals. The present report is based on Edwards and Co. which is one of the most famous salon located in Melbourne. The company offers various types of hair salon related services to all its customers and clients. This study explores detailed internal and external environmental analysis of Edwards and Co. Apart from this; the competitor analysis of selected business enterprise is also mentioned in the present study. Edwards and Co. is very popular in Australia, and the business has its presence in different locations of the country. Further, the company was founded 11 years ago by Jaye Edwards who was a freelancer hairstylist(Co, 2017). Edwards was having no money when he moved to Sydney, and he was looking forward to developing a modern and satisfactory hair salon in the country. The mission of Edwards and Co. is To be truly creative hair agency by providing personalized services to customers and tailor-made education to other hair salons. The corporate objectives of Edwards and Co. are mentioned below as: 1) To provide best salon services in Australia through a network of freelance hairstylists and colorists. 2) To provide salon education to other hair salons in Australia in terms of technique, business and people. 3) To expand operations in other beautiful locations of Australia Regarding brand identity, it can be expressed that Edwards and Co. are presently operating in the five different locations within the country and all these salon shops operate under a single brand name. The selected business enterprise has developed an efficient network of qualified and skilled freelancer stylists. Apart from this, Edwards and Co. brand mantra is to develop and operate as hair agency which is entirely creative and innovative. The key product and service offered by Edwards and Co. include hair salon services such as hair styling, weeding, makeup, etc. In addition to this, it also provides educational services to other salons located in the country(Armstrong, Kotler, Harker, Brennan, 2015). Here, the brand emphasizes on providing consultancy and knowledge to other business regarding how to achieve operational efficiency and run a successful salon. Edwards and Co. assists other companies in skill development of other salons operating within Australia. To sustain in the highly competitive marketplace, Edwards and Co. carries out changes in its products and services at regular intervals according to the changing need and demand of customers. The scope of the marketing plan is that it will help the company to carry out analysis of its internal and external environment(Baker, Marketing strategy and management, 2014). The plan is also going to support in developing potential business and marketing strategies which will result in attracting more and more customers. The marketing plan is going to assist in creating demand among people in the market and will also help in getting a competitive advantage. The internal resources of the selected business enterprise can be termed as highly efficient and professional. For example, the human resources include freelancer stylist who renders various types of services to the people in the market. It can be expressed that training and development programs at regular intervals are carried out by Edwards and Co. to enhance skill set and knowledge base of the freelancers(Baker Saren, Marketing theory: a student text., 2016). The company also has adequate finance available for various activities such as expansion, business operations, and aggressive marketing. Edwards and Co. management and operational capabilities are also effective as the company can acquire higher degree of customer satisfaction by delivering fast, satisfactory and accurate services to all clients. The key strength of internal resources lies within their management capabilities which are quite capable. On the other side of this, the weakness of internal resources is that the company is available with a limited number of human and financial resources. This gap acts as a hurdle regarding achieving higher growth rate. Products and services Services linked with Haircut, Styling, Hair Colour, highlighting, bleach, keratin, make-up, styling, Services-Education for other hair salons, renting of salon space are being offered by Edwards and Co. The core strength of these services is that they are highly creative and innovative(Chernev, 2014). On the other hand, weakness can be termed as lack of permanent workers as the staff members are working on the freelancer basis. It restricts the company to accomplish its long term objectives of acquiring high market share and growth. Price The pricing strategy which has been adopted by Edwards and Co. can be termed as high price strategy. For example the business charges -$100-$250, Hair color- Re growth-$110-$150Short-$130-$180. The strength of this pricing strategy is that it has helped the business to earn satisfactory profits. On the contrary(Frow, Nenonen, Payne, Storbacka, 2015), high price strategy results in restricting people in middle and low-income group to make use of Edwards and Co. services, and this can be termed as the major weakness of the selected strategy. Place The Company is offering services to customers through stores located in five different areas of Australia. The stores are located in Melbourne, Alexandria, Budds Beach, Byron Bay and Surry hills. Promotion It can be stated that promotion of products and services offered by Edwards and Co. is not so much useful. The company is making use of some in-house promotional techniques, and this has supported in managing the cost of operations(David David, 2017). However, it can be argued that promotion techniques used by Edwards and Co. is ineffective and this is a major weakness which needs to be overcome. The business can emphasize on making use of modern marketing tools such as social media and emails to create awareness among people in the market. Apart from this, techniques such as offering discounts and loyalty cards can also be taken into consideration to attract more customers and enhance the volume of profitability(Galliers Leidner, 2014). External environmental analysis This tool represents the range of factors that influences business operations and it is required for the business to comply with such factors so as to operate efficiently in the market. Several factors are present that affects operations of Edwards and Co and they are discussed below: Political factor: It is one of the most significant factors which involve the government laws and regulations that influence business operations(Greene Walls, 2015). The changing government laws and regulations for businesses can directly influence the activities of Edward Co. Further, the new scheme has been introduced associated with loans for small scale businesses and this is effective enough in meeting with the financial requirement of the companies. With the help of youth centre new instruction programs have been developed for beauty cultural field(Hollensen, 2015). Apart from this, the political parties have imposed high taxes for companies that have adversely affected the salon businesses operating in the market. Huge taxes are applicable on the branded cosmetic products that influences the overall operations carried out by the business. Economic factor: At present the economic condition of Australia is sound and this has positively affected the purchasing power of people in the society. People prefer to spend more on cosmetics and other form of products that are offered in the salon(Kitchen Burgmann, 2015). Therefore, it is beneficial for the Edward Co to increase price of its products where customer can easily afford the products and in turn profit margin of the business can be easily enhanced with the help of this. Social factor: This factor is associated with change in frequent taste and requirement of the target market. New types of hairstyles are present in the market due to which Edward Co has to modify its product range so as to meet with the expectation of the target market. Therefore, it is necessary for Edward Co to meet the social requirement of the customers with the motive to enhance overall performance in the market and this in turn can act as development tool for the enterprise(Liebl, 2015). Technological: For hair dressing and performing other type of salon activities modern tools are required to be undertaken with the help of which effective services can be delivered to the target market. At present modern tools are used by the business for rendering salon service and adoption of more advanced tools can surely be beneficial for the business and it can allow in satisfying need of target market in efficient manner(Kumar, Sharma, Gupta, 2017). Legal: Various legal laws are present that can influence the business operations of Edward and Co in every possible manner. Further, cleanness and safety measures are required to be taken where the company has to ensure that its internal workplace is clean and it can be utilized for delivering proper service to the customers (Percy, 2014). Apart from this, safety measures are required to be taken through which accidents can be avoided at the time of delivering salon services. Proper disposal of the chemical waste is required and proper license has to be taken from the recognized authority. Environmental: This factor is associated with the environmental laws that Salon Company is required to follow. Business is required to adopt proper disposal technique with the help of which it is possible to reduce the environmental burden(McDonald Wilson, 2016). Apart from this, government has introduced some regulations that companies are required to follow so that their adverse impact on surroundings can be reduced to extent. So, in this way these are some of the external factors that can influence the overall activities of Edward and Co directly. It is required to deal with every factor efficiently so that business operations can be carried out efficiently. Shift in marketing activity For smooth functioning of business operations it is required for the Edward and Co to influence the market activities. The market when small business operates is competitive and various businesses are operating in the market that are offering same type of salon services in the market such as hair dressing, wedding styling, hair colour, highlighting bleach, education services to different salon, renting salon space for photo shoot etc(Milichovsky Simberova, 2015). Overall the taste and requirement of the target market keeps on changing on continuous basis due to which the marketing activities are required to be influenced. Possible future and current opportunities and threats In near future several opportunities are present with Edward Co that business can grab easily for enhancing market performance. Further, the main opportunity present is rising demand for various type of salon services in the market where it is possible for the business to modify its existing range of services through adoption of latest tools in the market(Musarra, Robson, Katsikeas, 2016). Apart from this, the main threat that can influence business performance is competition where other salons are present in the market that are also offering same type of service. So these are some of the opportunities and threats that can influence business activity. Detailed competitor analysis The market where Edwards and Co operates is competitive and various players are already operating in the market. The main competitors of company are Organika Hair Tremayne Xiang Hair Spada Toni Guy Name of organization Product/service offered Benefits Xiang Hair Hair products that involve LOreal professional paris, Kerastase paris, American crew, Kevin Murphy The benefit associated with purchasing Xiang product is that all the products are branded that can easily encourage the purchase behaviour of the target market. Tremayne Hair treatment, Manicures Pedicures, express facials and waxing tinting, skin consultation, laser hair reduction, makeup, eyelash extensions etc The service range of Temayne is very wide and they are of high quality. The key benefit associated with service of the company is that it provides value for money experience to the customers Spada Haircuts, Hair color and styling, Keratin treatment, Tape human hair extensions All the services of Spada are of high quality and this is the main benefit associated with purchasing product of the company. On the other hand, product range of Edward and Co contains all the essential attributes such as high quality, value for money experience, wide range of products etc. Generally, all the Salons are operating on smaller basis and due to this reason market share of all the businesses is not possible(Payne Frow, 2013). Therefore, it directly provides competitive edge to the business in every possible manner and in turn the desired goals of the firm can be accomplished efficiently keeping in view the business aim. Overall competitor analysis has shown that products and services of firm are more superior as compared with other businesses. SWOT analysis Strengths Providing customized educational services to other beauty salons in the country Online and offline operations Creative hair services Weakness Variation in prices Staff members are freelancers Opportunities Expansion in other areas of the country Hiring full time employees Increasing online promotion Threats Intense competition Unavailability of freelancer in peak seasons From the mentioned-above table, it has been analyzed that the major strength of the company lies within its customized educational services(Peppard Ward, 2016). The services are getting more and more popular with the passage of time and are helping Edwards and Co. to increase its sales and profits. Furthermore, it also offers products/services through online and offline mediums, and this makes the entire shopping very convenient for customers. However, variations in prices and freelancer staff members can be termed as the major weakness of the brand. Sometimes freelancers are not available, and the company is not able to deliver services to all its customers (Percy Elliott, 2016). On the contrary, Edwards and Co. have opportunity to expand its operations by hiring full-time employees. The business can also emphasize on increase the marketing activities through online mediums. At present, the salon and hairstyling industry has become highly intense, and this can be termed as the major threat for Edwards and Co. It has created obstacles for the brand regarding attracting more customers and increasing profits. Detailed customer analysis Market segmentation can be defined as the process in which entire market is divided into different categories, and people with same buying behaviour are clubbed together. Further, market segmentation is important because it provides clear directions to companies in the accomplishment of business objectives and goals(Rosenbaum-Elliott, Percy, Pervan, 2015). The target market of Edwards and Co. includes women in Australia, and at the same time, it has also targeted salons in the country which seeks for enhancing technical education in the industry. The segmentation has been carried out by demographic variables where the brand has targeted people in middle and higher income group. Individuals who need the beautiful salon spaces of Edwards and Co. for photo shoot media event etc. are also targeted by the selected business enterprise. The targeted market is served with high quality and innovative services linked with hair styling, make up and wedding styling. Regarding transitions and exchange, it can be asserted that Edwards and Co. offer different services regarding hair styling, make up and wedding styling and in turn, it charges a certain amount from the customers(Slater, 2015). Women can be termed as the primary market segment of the company, and the secondary market segment includes other salons located in the country. The services are purchased from online and offline modes. The company is required to focus on carrying out market research to identify the changing need and demand of people in the market. The reason behind buying the services offered by Edwards and Co. is that it helps in the makeover of people and changes their looks. On the other side of this, businesses buy the services of the selected company to enhance their overall operational efficiencies and become more productive. Another reason behind purchasing the services offered by Edwards and Co. is to increase the volume of sales and profitability. The key opportunities present in front of selected company is that it can reduce its prices and attract new market segment which includes people who fall into the category of middle and lower income group(West, Ford, Ibrahim, 2015). Apart from this, the business is presently targeting only women and therefore, in future it can also introduce products and services for the male in the country. Facilities linked with salon and spa can be added to enhance to its existing customer base and market share. However, the critical future threat is going to be the changing demand of people in the market. The changes in demographic variables such as the decline in women of age group 20-45 which is the primary target market for Edwards and Co. can also affect the business operations of the company(Yu, 2014). Conclusion From the above report, it can be concluded that Edwards and Co. are required to focus on making use of online marketing practices. 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