Research Topics: Challenges And Opportunities

Challenges and opportunities of Scenario One

This paper discusses about Scenario One which are all about the USA World Bank. The paper is focused on the challenges and opportunities of the company based on the scenario. The paper identifies the most significant opportunities as well as the end-state goals of the organization. Summary USA World Bank, UWB, is an international major bank, with branches across the country as well as in several locations worldwide. The company has a large consumer base including small business organizations. UWB has been so far successful in its ventures and has already positioned itself in the market.             Being an international major bank with a reputation, UWB has an opportunity to further expand its market through different strategies. To address this issue, every year, like most companies do, UWB launches a new product to increase its market share. The new product needs to be profitable and something that will excite customers and an advantage to every sector of the market. During the past years, the products that the company had launched were just marginally successful and the board members of the company are demanding for some winning products. The most significant challenge now is to launch and develop new product that will definitely be successful and profitable for the company.             For years now, the product development team is headed by its president, Brian Allen who in the past had some winning products but lately, his ideas were not so good that, as mentioned above, the products that the company had launched through him were not very successful. This year he is pressured to develop a product that will change the trend and he has come up with the idea of Instant Reward Card. Instant Reward Card is basically a credit card where customers can earn rewards from their purchases with the card and is comparable with a business credit card with discounted interest rates.   Under him is the Vice President of New Product Development, Mary Monroe who although very collaborative has not been so keen in assessing research about new products. Since she is the one responsible for studying research on new products, she is also the one responsible in deciding which new product should be presented to the board and eventually be developed with the approval of the president of new product development team. She hired a research company to conduct the marketing research for the Instant Reward Card. Based on the research, the product will be successful and can make people switch to UWB from their current bank if the incentives are strong enough.             Moreover, the company’s VP for marketing development, Jim Wilson seems to be a company’s human asset who has been focused on building business for the UWB. With his four years in the company, he has increased the company’s small business segment through good and successful business relationship with small business organizations and owners as well as with relationship managers.             When the new product, the Instant Reward was initiated, he conducted an analysis regarding the stand and reaction of small business owners to the product with the cooperation of relationship managers. Each relationship manager conducted focus groups in their region to assess the feasibility and marketability of the product in the small business segment.             With the research done by the relationship managers, it was found out that small business clients demand for a card that will allow them quicker access to capital and at the same time can earn rewards. The initiated instant reward card seems to have advantage and more demand to consumers but they want a card which can be used for their businesses. Also, according to the study, a great percentage of UWB’s small business segment will consider other banks that have the product that they need if the reward card for small business will not be launched first. They called it small business card.             Because of his concern with the small business card, he consulted some of the company’s executives and consequently, he got their approval and support and advised him to coordinate the idea with the VP of the new product development before the presentation of the instant reward card to the board of directors who will approve the products to be launched.             However, when the small business card idea was presented to the VP of the new product development, Mary seems to be insisting on the consumer products although she reviewed the analysis on the small business card. She was so dependent and reliant on the research done by outside firm to the instant reward. Jim also approached Brian about the small business card but Mary had decided that it is the one that should be presented to the board.             Moreover, the company has a new Board of Directors member, Bea Hansen which seems to be another asset of UWB. She is a statistics professor and makes decision based on facts; she is reasonable and not political. She adds up to the approval body of UWB.             During the presentation of the proposal for the new product to be launched the coming year, Brian presented data showing a nationwide demand for product like instant reward card. But Bea questioned the reliability of his data. She asked for the size of the sample and time frames in which the data was collected.   She argued that the sample even though large, may not represent the nationwide demand for such product; that sampling error may occur and that the data will be more reliable if age and income were considered as variables for the survey. She also argues that the time frame of collecting data should have been considered because business trends especially in banking changes quickly; the data accurate a month ago may not be true next month. Because of the issues brought up by Bea, the presentation was cancelled to give Brian time to prepare for his presentation and to provide the board members copy of the market research on instant reward card.             On the next presentation, even before Brian can start, Bea already pointed out the flaws on the market analysis on instant reward card based on statistical data of the research. She explains the importance of information about age which has a practical value in predicting the likelihood of people who will switch to UWB because of the new product. The importance of other variables such as the gender and the types of questions used were also elaborated. Because of these, other board members had seen flaws on the marketing analysis of the product and started to have doubts on its reliability. Consequently, the presentation was again cancelled to give Brian some time to review on his data and for the board members to come up to a decision.             Brian conducted a meeting with the some key members of the product development team including Mary, Jim and Tom. Tom is marketing associate that is good in analyzing statistical data. Brian, because of Bea now became concern on how data on research were obtained. He is considering redoing the research the focus group method which was used in the small business card research. According to the scenario, focus group method use variables such as the size of the company and a mix of founders of such companies. In focus group the response rate of 50 percent is adequate for the data to be reliable. Brian also has become concern on how other companies think up new products and gather ideas before coming up to a new product initiative. Also, on the financial side, the product should be profitable so Brian need to coordinate with the accounting for the ROI and for some details about the system for estimating payback period.   Analysis             On the scenario, it can be identified that the end-state goal of USA World Bank is to further expand its market share by developing a new product every year. With this goal the company will be able to expect a yearly increased in market share and gives the customers something to look forward to especially the small business segment, a segment where the bank can expect more profit. Mutually, small business segment and UWB benefit with each other.             At UWB, the challenge is creating new product which is a challenging role to the company’s president of new product development who he handles it himself. But if he shares the responsibility with other team members, together they can think of brighter ideas on how to delight the customers with new products. For example, when the instant reward card was initially proposed, Brian should have got some ideas of other team members since each one of them handles different aspect of marketing. They could have had brainstorming, carefully analyzing and weighing which idea is better. They can incorporate each other’s idea to come up with the best possible product.             The situation in the scenario also gives the company an opportunity to improve on its method of collecting data that will be the bases of marketing analysis. It is important for the company to have knowledge and awareness of how to interpret data. Moreover, the new product development team should have the ability to conduct its own research and not heavily rely on outside research firm especially now that they have Bea on the company which can act as a consultant for analyzing gathered data. As a statistician, Bea can be of great help to the company in conducting research needed in marketing a new product. Based on the scenario and her background, her knowledge is of great advantage for the company and as an academic person, she is very much aware of research and feasibility studies.             Brian as the brain in his department should also have hands-on on his works. He should have the basic knowledge of interpreting data and research as well as on what effective approach and methodology to be used when launching a new product. Over the past years, Brian and his team were not so successful with their new products. This seems to be because of lack of definite approach on how to gather data and on how to conduct research and market analysis.                           Analysis of the marketing research findings is very important in developing new product. Failure in market research findings can cause failure of new products. Also, overestimated demand and size of market is also a significant factor in new product failure (Anonymous, 2006). There are different research techniques or methodology used today that should answer questions that will help one develop new product concept. These questions include: to what extent do potential customers for the proposed venture find the concept attractive; is there actually a viable market for the concept at all; if the concept proposed is wrong, can it be modified to tap a genuine demand; how can the concept be modified to optimize the potential opportunities; and what pricing model is acceptable/unacceptable in the market (Benchmark, 2001).             It was stated in the scenario that the team had developed the idea based on what the bankers’ perceptions and is not a reliable basis of the concept. Depending on the research techniques or methodology used, the research should also determine the viable market for the concept as well as its size to be able for the company to project if the concept will be profitable.             On the part of USA World Bank, the primary goal will be achieved if the problems faced by the team can be seen as opportunities. To summarize, the problem includes questionable data that could have been prevented if Brian and Mary are good in analyzing market research, which can lead to product development failure if the board members did not recognize errors on data.   References: Benchmark Research Ltd. (2001), NPD An Introduction to New Product Development research techniques and how it can help your business online http://www.benchmark-research.co.uk/attachments/solutions/Developing_New_Products.pdf#search=’failure%20of%20market%20research%20for%20product%20development’   Anonymous, Chapter 11 Developing New Market Offerings (PowerPoint)             Online date retrieved: March 22, 2006 <http://www.courses.psu.edu/mrkt/mrkt520_uqy/CHPT11.PPT#256,1,CHAPTER 11>   Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

Challenges and opportunities of Scenario One

This paper discusses about Scenario One which are all about the USA World Bank. The paper is focused on the challenges and opp...

Sample Paper Study on Microsoft and the Challenges of Corporations: Management and Leadership Framework and Performance Infrastructure in the Organization

This paper will discuss the different challenges that are being faced by a corporation today. It will try to identify and critically analyze and evaluate the Management and Leadership Framework and Performance Infrastructure in that organization. This paper will also critically assess the effectiveness and efficacy of these measures. The paper will also highlight the barriers to effective management in the chosen organization. This paper will also try to study the different performance differentiators and how it is used by the given organization in responding to the challenges and other problems.              The company that will be the focus of this paper is the company called Microsoft Corporation or simply Microsoft that is based in the United States but has offices and business centers around the globe including an office in the United Kingdom. First of all Microsoft had a strategically sound product design. The products and services that Microsoft offered were not only based on the requirements set by its competitors but also based on the conditions and necessity faced by its consumers. It offered products that can be classified as disruptive as stated by Shafer (2003, p. 51) since goods and products of the company are innovative and do not conform to the normal standards of the industry.  It did not concentrate on a specific field of the market but expanded to other computer related industry to maximize its consumer base and profits (Manes, 1994, p. 111). Microsoft developed, manufactured, licensed and supported a wide range of software products for computing devices (Manes, 1994, p. 112). The most popular of these are the Windows operating system and the Microsoft Office Suit. It has also published Microsoft Encarta, an encyclopedia designed to run on a computer and books such as Exploring the IBM PC Home Computer by Peter Norton and the Apple Macintosh book by Cary Lu (Lowe, 1998, p. 32) . Microsoft also issued the Microsoft Sidewinder 3D Pro in an attempt to further expand its profile in the computer hardware market (Lowe, 1998, p. 55). Microsoft entered the palm computing market with Windows CE 1.0, a new, built from scratch version of their flagship operating system designed to run on low memory and low performance machines such as handhelds and other palm sized computers (Manes, 1994, p. 67). Microsoft Windows 98 as well as Internet Explorer 4.0 SPI was released marking the beginning of the takeover of the browser market from its competitor, Netscape. It included features such as FAT32 file system and a support for multiple displays. Windows XP was also issued and it was specifically designed for multimedia capabilities and entry level consumers. Microsoft did not only dominated the software business but it diversified, moving into messaging by introducing MSN Messenger to instant messaging clients to compete with the popular AOL Instant Messaging (Wallace, 1992, p. 211). It also acquired the major online service MSN and the cable news station MSNBC. Microsoft has also tapped the global market of home entertainment by introducing WebTV which enabled consumers to access the Internet from their television and the highly regarded Xbox and Microsoft Flight Simulator which dominated the market with their superb graphics and splendid game interface (Wallace, 1992, p. 222). Microsoft was not only concerned with the expansion of its market, it has also an insight on how to develop and design its products based on the specifications and needs of its specific end user. Microsoft introduces Russian MS-DOS 4.01. MS-DOS is the first Microsoft product localized for the Soviet market. The Russian version brings the total number of foreign-language versions to 13, including versions in Arabic, Chinese, Hebrew, Japanese (Kanji), and Korean (Hangeul) (Wallace, 1992, p. 213).  Because of international acceptance, the company simultaneously introduced Windows version 3.1 of Windows in English, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Spanish, and Swedish (Slater, 2004, p. 55). The Chinese State Bureau of Technology Supervision (CSBTS) and the Chinese Ministry of Electronics Industry (MEI) also announce that they have signed an agreement with Microsoft to standardize the Chinese version of Microsoft Windows 95 as the software development standard for The People’s Republic of China (PRC) (Stross, 1997, p. 167). The agreement was aimed at speeding the development of Chinese Windows 95 by expanding the scope of cooperation and strengthening the foundation of software development in the PRC (Stross, 1997, p. 166). With regards to process and manufacturing, Microsoft excelled in this area. Microsoft Corporation develops product with outmost care and consideration for the equipments and features that its product would possess. Inside Microsoft the “eat your own dog food”  expression  is used to describe the policy of using the latest Microsoft products inside the company in an effort to test them in “real-world” situations and to perceive potential errors and mistakes before a software is released in the market (Lesinski, 2000, p. 55).  Prerelease and beta versions of products are considered dog food. Microsoft also expects its employees to be comfortable with uncertainty. Employees do not know with a degree of certainty when a product will ship, what it will be called, or what features will be included. The company expects responsive employees to rapidly adjust to dramatic changes and advances (Lesinski, 2000, p. 67). Microsoft also promotes a general attitude of long-term strategic wariness in its managers, who are expected to be ready for any challenge from the competition or the market (Lesinski, 2000, p. 67). In this reasoning, being the largest software company in the world does not entail assurance, guarantee and security that the company will remain successful. For instance, future competitors could rise from other industries, or computer hardware companies could try to become less dependent on Microsoft, or consumers could decide not to upgrade their software as often. Microsoft requires its managers to maintain vigilance and sustain a dynamic expansion in new markets. Because of the size and massive time it takes to produce software that will be appreciated by the market, Microsoft has to engineer processes that would rapidly produce the products needed by the market while reducing “bugs” and other irregularities (Rich, 2003, p. 89). Microsoft, like other companies breaks the development of its software by means of checkpoints called milestones. Each milestone has a definition document that describes which features will and will not be implemented by that milestone and what the acceptable quality level for those features are (Kramer, 2004). Product would also pass the alpha and beta stages of development. Alpha developments refer to releasing previews an pre released versions of a developed software so that it can be scrutinized not just by the company’s developers and programmers but also a selected few consumers to  solicit feedbacks and other improvements (Rich, 2003, p. 90). After the product has passed the Alpha test, the product will undergo the Beta stage where it is examined for hidden bugs and defects. Beta stage would also include all features of the software. The last step of a product would be the Release Candidates (RC). As the name implies RC is a software good enough to be shipped out to the market and are tested by tem of developers and a set of costumers for quality assurance and other overlooked bugs (Rich, 2003, p. 100). Moreover, management of logistics is also stressed inside the company since softwares and products had to be produce rapidly to satisfy consumer demands. Microsoft implemented this concrete and successful supply chain management negotiating with suppliers with regards to developed and fresh concepts that it can market (Bramel, 1997) Microsoft also develops a long term partnership with other firms to have a stable supply and source. A stable supply will dramatically increase the capacity of a company since raw materials and information can be passed on one department to another department without any hindrances (Bramel, 1997). An example of this would be the partnership between Microsoft and Apple Corporation in an effort to develop a joint computer program with regards to software development and hardware improvement. Microsoft wrote the computer program that enabled Apple Macintosh machines to run. In the browser competition with Netscape, Microsoft gained a lead versus Netscape when it vertically integrated the internet industry by buying the email provider Hotmail and when it sold Windows 98 bundled together with its Internet Explorer. Furthermore, to improve its softwares, Microsoft implemented quality measures to protect its product. Unlike cars and other products that can be measured, softwares and computer programs have a special system to check for consistency and quality.  During the development of a specific software, the product undergoes alpha and beta testing as mentioned above to check for errors and other hidden bugs in the program. To totally eliminate bugs and glitches, most products are tested by Microsoft’s in house programmers and developers. Imaginary checkpoints are also set to be able to check the progress of a product and to solve problems before projects are completed (Lowe, 1999, p. 100). This strict quality control is due to the fact that substandard products and softwares released in the market would cost the company millions of dollars in lost sales, not to mention the negative publicity and bad image it would shed on Microsoft (Shafer, 2003, p. 43). Aside from the ones mentioned above, Microsoft also made products that patterned and molded to the quality expectations of its costumers. In a survey hired by Microsoft before releasing their popular game console Xbox, it was found out that the gamers wanted a stable and secured gaming platform with superb graphics, higher frames per seconds, compatible softwares and additional features such as network plays (Curran, 2005, p. 100). Microsoft answered the demands of the gamers and gaming enthusiasts by releasing Xbox which fully complied and satisfied the gaming demand of the public. It was an error free and a bug free platform, it plays games with stunning graphics and its softwares are also exclusively made by Microsoft, thus eliminating the hardware and software conflicts suffered by other gaming platforms like Sony and Nintendo (Curran, 2005, p. 101). Microsoft also has a fine practice of managing human resources. A great deal of time and money is spent each year on recruiting young university-trained software developers who meet very exacting criteria, and on keeping them in the company (Slater, 2004, p. 111). For example, while many software companies often place an entry-level software developer in a cubicle desk within a large office space filled with other cubicles, Microsoft assigns a private or semiprivate closed office to every developer or pair of developers (Kramer, 2004). In addition, key decision-makers at every level are either developers or former developers. In a sense, the software developers at Microsoft are considered the “stars” of the company. For fun, Microsoft hosts the Microsoft Puzzle Hunt, an annual puzzle hunt.  The company also funded a corporate campus for its developers and other students to further advance the knowledge and learning experience of its employees (Gates, 1996, p. 50). Microsoft also strictly implements scheduling. Scheduling in Microsoft’s definition refers to subcontracting other parts and system of the program to smaller software firms and computer programmers. The Microsoft program MS-DOS was created by Tim Paterson of Seattle with its original name, QDOS (Lesinski, 2001p. 66). Windows which was Microsoft’s main product, was a copy of the program used by Apple Macintosh. Subcontracting does not only lessen the expenses of Microsoft in hiring new programmers and developers, it also picks up outside ideas, insights and innovations that it can use in its products (Shafer, 2003, p. 176).             Microsoft also performs regular maintenance in its products and softwares. It can be seen on the costumer support hotline in the company’s website. In the costumer service hotlines which can be reached by email, Microsoft provides technical support to costumers who have encountered problems with regards to their computer software (Rich, 2003, p. 44). To protect itself and its end consumers it has initiated a program in all its legal softwares to carry a product activation codes as safeguards against computer pirates. Not only does it offers consumer support and technical assistance, Microsoft  and its website also supports forums, blogs, newsgroups, user groups to elicit feedbacks and response (Gates, 1996, p. 76). Since Microsoft incorporated these improvements and reforms in the organization of the company, it has remained a major leader in the software development industry. This is evident because of several accounts. Data from several websites largely argued that Microsoft is a big leader in the said industry. It has the largest market shares and sales. Microsoft has the largest market capital with an amount of 296.45 billion dollars and it has possesses the biggest quarterly growth of  6% when compared to its closest rival  International Business Machines (IBM) which can only post  a -7.80% (Microsoft Corp., 2005). Microsoft has also amassed a net income of 12.86 billion dollars, a big sum when compared to the net income of Oracle Corp. and IBM which is 4.96 billion dollars and 18.48 billion dollars respectively (Microsoft Corp., 2005). While Microsoft is growing financially today, the company is also faced with numerous problems and challenges nowadays. Alongside this apparent success is a different aspect of the company. Microsoft has been frequently sued by numerous competitors, U.S. Department of Justice and 50 states in the U.S.  with regards to antitrust violations (McKenzie, 2000, p. 87). The plaintiffs argued that Microsoft abused its monopoly power in selling operating system and web browsers when it bundled its Internet Explorer with the Microsoft Windows operating system (McKenzie, 2000, p. 93). This move enabled Microsoft to dominate the web browser wars and elbowed its competitors since consumers now have a free version of Internet Explorer. The U.S. Department of Justice also alleged that Internet Explorer will only work with Windows and not with other software made by Microsoft’s competitors (McKenzie, 2000, p. 95). Aside from the antitrust suit that Microsoft eventually lost, a formidable challenge faced by the company is the problem of computer and software piracy. Microsoft software and products are being pirated and copied illegally then sold to the consumers at half the price with no revenue going to the firm (Conrad, 1999, p. 61). This is appalling since even products and software not yet ready for release to the global market are copied and sold.  Aside from software piracy there are also notions, reports and allegations that Microsoft and its programs are very vulnerable to hackers and computer viruses proliferating in the cyber world (Conrad, 1999, p. 53). These viruses cause the computer to act sluggishly losing important data and files. Viruses and other problems inherent in the programs made by Microsoft creates costumer dissatisfaction, negative publicity and loss of sales (Conrad, 1999, p. 65). Another huge challenge against Microsoft today is the shift of the world market to an open source program. Open Source programs like Linux are softwares much like the one’s made by Microsoft but with a fundamental difference. The difference lies in that Linux is a stable program, its source code are open and can be modified, it has the best technical support, it runs on a wide range of hardware and most of all it is free (Siever, 2005, p. 51). Since the main advantage of the Linux is that it is free and can be modified freely, Microsoft and its subsidiary companies and softwares are put in an unpleasant position. The market would now gradually shift to Linux and other open source program gobbling up the huge market share and monopoly enjoyed by the company. Linux and other open source program will also force Microsoft to open up the source codes and basic programming codes of its softwares to the public since the current trend now in software programming is open sourcing (Siever, 2005, p. 53). A proper operations management could overcome these said challenges and problems. An appropriate operations management could turn the tide for Microsoft. A suitable operations management could also have an immense impact on the over all performance of the firm. Microsoft should adapt stringent maintenance and reliability on its products. It must implement measures that would help curb the effects of computer viruses and the company must employ stiff computer firewalls against hackers and identity thieves. Assuming viruses do get into the system, Microsoft must have an immediate manpower and technical resources to remedy the situation and in addressing the issues, and helping the costumers with regards to their computer problems. This is very vital since the absence of frequent maintenance and a costumer service hotline could adversely affect the company’s reputation, profits and costumers. With regards to product design, Microsoft must be extra watchful when it is going to release a product. It must consider all legal and political changes occurring in the society to avoid being sued and fined with a heavy sum. This incident is not only counterproductive to the goals of the company but also damaging to a company’s reputation. Microsoft can also win against piracy by making its products pirate proof, making all softwares and products unable to function when they are recopies of the original. In relation to the challenge posed by Linux and the advent of open source system, Microsoft can use and improve its quality management and maintenance with regards to a proper operations management. First, Microsoft in order to survive, must step up its quality management in relative to its products and softwares. Stepping up the level of quality management is not only improving the excellence and superiority of its products but also listening to the desires and wishes of the costumers since they are ones that must be satisfied by the company. Microsoft must replicate the steps and actions that they took that enabled their Xbox to be a success. It must listen to feedbacks from the publics regarding its products and implementing these feedbacks as a solid answer to the expansion of Linux. Greater competition and struggle in the software business is also a challenge to the growth of the company. The organization is being threatened by other competitors and other business enterprises that aim to get a big market share that is solely dominated by Microsoft. Aside from competition from other companies, there has also been a trend towards liberalization of the market and the software industry. Liberalization means the gradual decrease of control on the part of Microsoft with regards to source codes and other computer programs because of the recent anti trust rulings made by the U.S. Supreme court. Source codes and computer programs that is unique and the vital in building computers softwares will be gradually distributed to open source programmers and other independent software companies making these source codes available to the public and breaking Microsoft’s monopoly on software designing. This “liberalization” would in turn strengthen other software companies in challenging Microsoft and providing alternative products to the consumers. This move would also decrease the dependency of the market to the products offered by the company since the consumers will have a clear and distinct choice when  buying. To combat these negatives external factors, a clear cut policy must be implemented by the company. First, the company must diversify its products. Because of recent government actions and other factors such as new competitors, Microsoft must diversify the products that it offers to the market. Product diversification would mean the modification of products that would have an edge over other competitors in terms of performance, ease of use and compatibility. Diversification would also mean the production of new and unique products that would be bought by the market following the example made by Apple Corporation and their portable music players. Microsoft must also venture producing products and not concentrating all its resources and manpower on a specific area which is software development and design. It must increase its focus on game design, software publishing and home entertainment system to to ease the pressure of competition. Diversification would also mean entering new markets such as China to relieve competition from market rich regions of the world. Microsoft would benefit greatly if it totally enters the Chinese market because of the huge consumer base and the cheap labor cost being offered by China.                 Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

Sample Paper Study on Microsoft and the Challenges of Corporations: Management and Leadership Framework and Performance Infrastructure in the Organization

This paper will discuss the different challenges that are being faced by a corporation today. It will try to identify and critically ...

CRITICALLY ANALYSE THE POTENTIAL BENEFITS AND CHALLENGES OF WORKING WITHIN AN ORGANIZATION

Potential Benefits and Challenges of Working Within an Organization   Introduction             The pharmaceutical industry has existed in its current form since the early 1900’s. Before then, local pharmacists, or more commonly called chemists, mixed potions and elixirs from bulk chemicals using either standardized formulas or their own concoctions. Today, modern pharmaceutical companies comprise thousands of firms that produce a wide range of products for disease treatment and prevention, although the industry is dominated by a much smaller number of very large firms.             Pharmaceuticals are improving the delivery of health care and reducing the cost of treatment for many diseases. Drugs have reduced the death rate from arteriosclerosis, early childhood diseases, heart disease, ulcers, polio, and tuberculosis. The cost of maintaining a polio victim on an iron-lung machine today would run into the tens of thousands of dollars annually, while the common polio vaccine is now inexpensive. Treating typhoid with methods used before the discovery of antibiotics would cost hundreds of dollars. New drugs also have made possible many life-saving procedures such as organ transplants, chemotherapy, and kidney dialysis. These improvements could be attributed to representative as well as regulating bodies of pharmaceuticals. The representation and regulation of the pharmaceutical industry and its products evolved in response to increased potency, effectiveness, and toxicity of drugs. One of these representative bodies, which will be the subject of this paper, is the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI).   Background of the organization The ABPI is the pharmaceutical industry’s main industry body and lobby group in the United Kingdom, as it justifiably claims. It represents the pharmaceutical industry’s views to government and decision makers in the country. Amongst the ABPI’s principal objectives are influencing legislation affecting the industry and creating a beneficial business environment. It enjoys a very favorable relationship with the government, and is considered one of the most powerful of all cross industry groups in the UK.             The mission of ABPI is to represent the pharmaceutical industry operating in the UK in a way that will assure the patients to have access to the best available medicines; creating a favorable political, economic, and regulatory environment; encouraging innovative research and development; and affording fair commercial returns. Membership of the ABPI is open to UK pharmaceutical companies which supply prescription medicines for human use. As of the present, members of the organization include seventy five pharmaceutical companies within the country producing prescription medicines and supplying more than 90 per cent of the medicines prescribed through the National Health Service (NHS). Its member companies research, develop, manufacture and supply more than 80 per cent of the medicines prescribed through the NHS. Controlled of the ABPI is done by a board of management whose members are elected by the member companies and by directors appointed by the ABPI itself. Board members work only voluntarily for the ABPI. They still maintain their other jobs with their companies. The larger pharmaceutical corporations, given the large size and effectiveness of their prescribed medicines, are better represented on the board of management   Context             The ABPI is just like any other organization. It has hierarchies, structures, manpower, conflicts and other characteristics that are found in other organizations. Organizations as structures of action have approaches which focus on the circumstances determining the actions of individuals in organizations. A great deal of organization theory has been criticized for its normative bias; for its individualistic analysis of the members of organizations; and for embodying an inadequate analysis of how wider relations of power and control in society affect and are affected by organizations (in other words for concentrating mainly on the internal exercise of managerial authority and attempts to subvert it) (, 1998).             Organizations are shaped by their culture, which include assumptions, values, norms, organization members, and their behaviors. They are also shaped by characteristics, which include strategies, technologies, structures, and processes. Where there are people and technologies, there are organizations. There are four key elements that define organization: (a) people and their roles within the organization; (b) the purpose of the organization; (c) the work activities; and (d) a person’s working relationship with the organization (, 2005). Everyday our lives are touched by some element of an organization, whether it is a visit to the doctor, a board meeting, forming alliances on an uninhabited island, or simply buying a drug from a drugstore. Specific to its goals and philosophy, the ABPI also has potential benefits as well as challenges. These may be organization-specific yet it is basically the same as for other organizations too. The benefits of regulating and representative organizations for pharmaceutical companies is that aside from regulating pricing and promotional policies, the effectiveness and safety of a drug could be regulated before it is allowed to be sold in public.             During the 1920s and 19230s, pharmaceutical companies built a new strategy, forging alliances with physicians and being identified with ethical or prescribed medications rather than industrial chemical suppliers and secret tonics for home use (, 2004). At present, strategic alliances is still being used by pharmaceutical companies, which is also done by many other organizations outside the field of pharmaceuticals. The ABPI can manage alliances, arrangements, or disputes over their members. The viability and desirability of alliances and other external linkage arrangements depends importantly not just on the efficacy of this form of contract, but also on the resources/capabilities which can be accessed in this fashion. These alliances are essential in the 1980s and 1990s to the pharmaceutical industry as a mechanism to tap into the drug development capabilities of new biotech firms. Because the biotechnology revolution has occurred outside the organizational gambit of the established pharmaceutical industry, alliances have been embued with virtues they might not otherwise possess. Put differently, the value of a contract can easily be confused with what it enables one to access. The comparative institutional approach used here imputes to the alliance only that which it can uniquely access as compared to other arrangements (, 1999).             Using state-of-the-art design and manufacturing technologies, many pharmaceutical companies have gotten better at meeting customers’ needs, responding to changing markets, and producing higher-quality products. This is actually a characteristic of many other organizations, not only those belonging to the pharmaceutical industry. They have reduced paper flow, prototyped products quickly, shortened cycle times, linked supply lines electronically, created virtual inventory and companies, and given customers more choices. Some results have been widely reported, such as Motorola’s customized pagers and Levi Strauss’s customer-tailored jeans. Others not as widely reported include the Big Three automakers, the aerospace industry, semiconductor makers, the computer industry, and pharmaceutical companies. All have been able to speed up design, manufacturing, and customization using the agile concept to meet changing customer needs as well as to optimize a company’s operations ( & , 2003).             Organizations are of course composed of individuals who are working interdependently to produce some good or service. Even holding aside issues of incentives and motivation, the very fact of interdependence requires coordination to ensure that activity results in the efficient production of the organization’s output. What would happen in a pharmaceutical research facility if there were no social controls of any kind to determine when people would start work and what they would do? Almost certainly there would be chaos. Coordination and control are necessary, and how to achieve these ends efficiently and, in some formulations, humanely, are fundamental organizational issues (, 1997).             Also, the behavior of employees would definitely vary within the organization. We cannot expect people to leave their evolved behavior at the door when they enter the work environment; gossip, dominance, harassment, and status seeking behaviors permeate organizations and create conflict, intimidation, and jealousy. These behaviors cannot be eliminated, but they can be understood and considered when creating organizational policy. When considering one’s position in an organization, it is advantageous to be socially intelligent, which can be thought of as being skilled at social networking, knowing whom to trust, and being able to form powerful relationships.             An understanding of the organization life cycle and the associated management imperatives could also aid ABPI founders through the uncharted course of organization growth. The life-cycle literature suggests that organizations evolve in a consistent and predictable manner (, 1993). Scholars have argued that as firms move through various stages of growth, differing problems must be addressed, resulting in the need for different management skills, priorities, and structural configurations. While numerous theories and models have been proposed in an effort to explain the life-cycle process, there has been remarkably little effort to validate these empirically. On the whole, life-cycle stage definitions remain vague and general, making application to specific cases difficult.             Organizational structures, production systems, information processing procedures, strategies and environments all tend to influence each other. A valid life-cycle model could be of great value to those managing emerging growth firms. It could provide a road map, identifying critical organizational transitions as well as pitfalls the organization should seek to avoid as it grows in size and complexity. It could help management know when to let go of cherished past strategies and practices that will only hinder future growth. The benefits of such a model to new-venture founders could be significant. However, if these benefits are to be achieved, a great deal of work remains to be done in tightening the life-cycle construct and clarifying patterns of organization growth (, 1993). Challenges for pharmaceutical companies stem mainly from occupational safety and hazards. As this organization deals mainly with chemicals and research, health has become a hot topic for the pharmaceutical companies. Occupational health problems arise in a context, that of the employment relationship, and are bound up in issues of management, labor relations, contractual obligations, regulation and compliance, and professional certification (, 2005). This prompted many organizations to come up with plans that will safeguard their employees’ health and safety and at the same time avoid costs brought about by illness and injury. Occupational health programs have therefore become a trend in many organizations, including that of pharmaceutical companies. When difficulties arise within the organization, emphasis is always on improving both the ability of a system to cope and the relationships of the system with subsystems and with the environment The use of reflexive, self-analytic methods refers to involving system members themselves in the assessment, diagnosis, and transformation of their own organization. Rather than simply accepting the authoritative advice of an expert, organization members themselves, with the aid of outside consultants, examine current difficulties (, 2006).   Summary and Conclusion             The pharmaceutical industry has evolved over the past hundred years. Organizations within the industry exist specifically to represent the industry’s views to government and decision makers. Chief among them is the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry. This association, as is the same for other organizations, has its benefits and challenges. One of its benefits is its response to the perceived needs for consumer protection and industry development, attempting to balance the benefits and costs of pharmaceutical regulation. Its challenges also are the same as other organizations, chief among them their employees’ health and safety. Along the way, the entire pharmaceutical industry was transformed through organizations like the ABPI.   References Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

CRITICALLY ANALYSE THE POTENTIAL BENEFITS AND CHALLENGES OF WORKING WITHIN AN ORGANIZATION

Potential Benefits and Challenges of Working Within an Organization Introduction The pharmaceutical industry has existed...

Challenges and Opportunities for System Modelling

Challenges and Opportunities for System Modelling I.      Overview System modeling is a technique that is use in order to express, visualize, analyze as well as transform the architecture of a given system. A system may compose of software components, hardware components or combination of both as well as the relationship and connection between the said two components.  On the other hand, a system model is a skeletal of model of a system (SINTEF & Kresken 1996, p. 2).             The main aim of the system modeling is to support and help in developing as well as maintaining the large systems with the focus on the construction components using a well-defined interfaces that indicates the interaction of the different components in its environment. The complete system will be developed by arranging and ordering the said components (SINTEF & Kresken 1996, p. 2).             System modeling can help to increase the level of reliability and eventually reduce the development cost by making the process of developing and building a system a lot easier.       It can also help to lessen effort, time and money by enabling to use the previous built components that are inside the new system; to change the systems in order to suit in the changing requirements like the different functional requirements and different platform changes; and to understand the system as a whole. Due to the said reasons or abilities of the system modeling, a system model can help to satisfy and cater to the different requirements of the system like documenting the system, offering a notation for tools like the consistency checkers as well as it can be use useful in designing the physical and logical aspect of the system throughout the process of system development (SINTEF & Kresken 1996, p. 2).             In general, system modeling is use in order to ensure the each and every developing piece of a software evolves in a consistent, constant and steady manner and that the different task in integrating the different software components are all simplified (SINTEF & Kresken 1996, p. 2).   II.    Evolution of Modelling Framework and Language (SINTEF & Kresken 1996, p. 1) A conceptual framework and a system modeling language, in textual and/or diagrammatic form are both important in system modeling.  Textual notations pertain to the tools like tables and prose, while the diagrammatic notations are those graphs and the likes. Both of the said notations are used in most of the system modeling nowadays. In a diagram there are many symbols that are used in order to represents different parts or aspect of a system like an object and the different groups of objects as well as the different symbol that visualize the different connection between the said objects. The number of the different symbols for each purpose differs obviously and clearly between each notation (SINTEF & Kresken 1996, p. 2.). There are four main conceptual frameworks that have been evolved during the past decades: a.            Design Methods – first implemented during the early seventies. It was consist of a concept, a language and a design process. The concept is the main idea about the parts of the program that are needed to be represented by the different components of the system model. The language, on the other hand is the one that is responsible in describing the system model. The design process is a planned or implemented step-by-step guideline that can help the designer to carry out the design of the system with accordance to the software lifecycle or one of its parts (SINTEF & Kresken 1996, p. 2). MD++ is a design method that has been used as an edge for the object-oriented design. Aside from that, there are also other methods that have been used like the HOOD or the Hierarchical Object-Oriented Design, which was used during the implementation of the ADA language (SINTEF & Kresken 1996). Nowadays, there are also some methods that uses the design methods such as the Ooram or Object-Oriented role modeling by Reenskaug; OODLE or Object-Oriented Design Language by Shlaer; OODA or Object-Oriented Design and Analysis by Booch; and OMT or Object Modelling Technique by Rumbaugh (SINTEF & Kresken 1996). b.            Module Interconnection Languages or MILs – it is a process of creating the different program modules and connecting them in order to form a large system using different design efforts. MILs focus on supporting the connection between the different efforts of a large system. It is also use in order to formally express the system designer’s intent with regards to the system structure. MILs have a separate language to describe the system as a whole; it also uses a static intermodule type of checking; it does its designing and construction of information using only a single description and has its own version control (SINTEF & Kresken 1996, p. 2).   There have been vast numbers of other component-based languages that have been proposed recently. These languages are describing a system as a configuration of different modules that are related in more specific and predetermined ways or even enforce in specialized pattern of the organization or business that is surrounding its large system. More often than not, all of the said languages are dependent around a tiny, permanent set of communication paradigms as well as implementation-level descriptions, or enforcing a particular, single-purpose organization. As a result, it will create a way inappropriate for stating a extensive and wide variety of system architectures (SINTEF & Kresken 1996). There are well known MILs that are used and applied nowadays: the Tichy’s InterCol that introduces the management version to the MILs (SINTEF & Kresken 1996). Another example is the SySL or Thomson’s System Structure Language and the PCL or Proteus Configuration Language, which is considered as the modern generation of the MIL that was developed in the Proteus research project (SINTEF & Kresken 1996). c.            Software Architectures – software architectures are developed in order to prevent the disadvantage of the design methods and MILs. Both the design methods and the MILs force their system designer to use a somewhat low level of abstraction because its system decomposition are all illustrate and express using the term of its modules, object or its procedures, in the perspective of the implementation-language items. However, with the ever-increasing size as well as complexity, the specification and the design of the overall system structure had become more significant than the selection or preference of the algorithm and the data structures that are why software architectures had been used (SINTEF & Kresken 1996, p. 2). d.            Design Patterns – introduced by an architect named Christopher Alexander. It was first used for the designing of the buildings and cities during the end of the seventies. But it was just during the nineties when the software engineers and researchers have become extremely interested in the design patterns. It is also known as a reusable solution for a particular problem in a given context (SINTEF & Kresken 1996, p. 2).   Design patterns are like software system architectures tjat are autonomous of a precise or exact accomplishment and execution of a language or a language concept like the modular or object-oriented programming. On the other hand, the most significant and vital value of patterns nowadays is that they are used to balance and set off the existing design methods in solving problems that are afar from the reach of those said methods, especially the object-oriented design methods. An object-oriented design pattern recognizes and classifies the participating classes and different instances as well as the way that they interact. Each design pattern focuses on a given or specific object-oriented design problem using a description that is similar to object that was mentioned above. The selection of the implementation language is essential, because it has the ability to determine what can and cannot be implemented in easy manner (SINTEF & Kresken 1996, p. 2). e.                            Figure 1 Modelling Frameworks and Language Source: (SINTEF & Kresken 1996) III.   Different System Modelling Technique a.    Mathematical Programming Language Modelling System or MPL –  this type of system modeling focuses on the mathematical parts or aspect of the programming language. b.    General Algebraic Modelling System or GAMS– this type of modeling technique has been widely accepted due to its capability to use a relational algebra that can help to provide a partial derivatives about the multidimensional, very huge and complex as well as meager and bare structure (Kallrath p. 137). GAMS was developed in a close cooperation of the mathematical economists as a help for the different department of economics, computer science as well as operation research that are considered as the most important factors for the success of a system (Kallrath 2004, p. 138).  It had been used as a modelling technique for those large financial companies or establishments like banks and other large lending agencies. c.    Petri Nets – Petri Nets or PN is used for modeling real system and also know as the Condition/Events nets. It can be done by identifying the different places that will identify classify the different conditions of different parts of the system as well as the different transitions describing the passage from one condition to another. An event occurs when all of the conditions are all satisfied that will later on give the event a concession. Marking on the other hand is the occurrence of the different event that has been modified as a whole or partially as the status of the conditions. To identify the different numbers of the different resources that are lying the an specific condition that are denoted in one given place, the numbers of token in a place are used (Bobbio n.d.) IV.  Opportunities of System Modelling System modeling is very important in developing a large and complex system. There have been many techniques and tools that are used in doing the said process. It has been stated in the previous part of the paper the evolution of the different types of the system modelling. System modelling will continue to improve due to the development and enhancement of the different technologies that are now used in different organizations and businesses. a.    Increasing Demand for a Large System – this is one of the opportunity for the development of the system modeling. The fact that the world of businesses is growing due to the globalization, innovation and technologies more specifically the Information Technology or IT. All of the establishments or association that is planning to improve or develop their current system will need the help of different system modelling technique. It can help to improve also the different tools and techniques that are used in different situations or aspects of a system.  It can help to spread the use of the different modelling techniques and therefore can help to practice it more for the better. b.    Technological Enhancement – the use of different technologies and innovations can help to enhance more the process of system modeling. There are many newly developed information system and other tools that can help to organize and improve as well as develop the current usage and condition of different methods and techniques that are used in system modeling. V.   Challenges for System Modelling Like any other techniques and methods, system modeling also has its different challenges that must be faced as in the current time in order to maintain its efficiency and reliability. Challenges is not a negative thing or factor, as a matter of fact it will serve as a motivation or drive for the development of the different techniques in system modeling. System modeling technique can be affected by different factors but the main key or challenge for the system modeling is the change. a.    Growing System – although the growing demand or the growing size of the different system is a big opportunity for the system modeling, it can also be considered as a challenge for the development of the system modeling technique as a whole. This is due to the fact that a more complex and huge system can require a much higher level of system modeling. Another thing is that a huge system will be able to ask for more in-depth investigation as well as more time in order to get to the point where in the different subsystems or other aspects get the chance to meet. b.    The need for speed – Time is always an important aspect or resource in any company, organization or even individual. Time cannot be wasted because it will be equivalent to the waste of money as well as effort. This is one of the challenges that the system modeling is facing, the ability to create or build a system modeling is short period of time. System modeling is a great help in order to see a huge system in its each and every important aspect. If the system modeling can be done in shorter period of time, it will also be easy for the designer or the developer to locate all of the serious problems or areas of the overall system and therefore start to implement it. c.    Fast Changing of Demand and Needs of Systems – different systems have its own needs, preferences and demands for a specific technique, tool and method. However, this needs and preferences changes as times go by. Although, there are already some modeling languages and techniques that are already reusable, it cannot be applied in some areas. That is why, it is a challenge for the system modeling to have a more space for future enhancements or the likes. d.    Change in Technology – technology has always been a key driver for change. It will be a challenge for the different system modeling technique to follow or jump to the bandwagon of technology. It only means that it must focus and give priority to the different technologies that are now used and can be used in order to maintain the effectiveness of a system. e.    Model and Designer Interaction – the easy understanding of system modeling techniques is important because it is the primary factor that connects the designer or the user of the system modeling technique. It will be a challenge for the system modeling technique to enhance its readability or understandability level so that it can connect to the user or designer in an easier way. By doing this, it will be easy to create, implement as well as maintain different large system. f.     Difficulty in Choosing the Right System Modelling Technique or Method – like any other method that are used in developing, implementing, planning as well as maintaining a system, it is also difficult for the designer to evaluate the suited methodology or model that can be used in order to implement a system. Wrong use of model or technique can lead to a larger dilemma or problem that may cause failure of the system. Larger system is harder to analyze than that of the single or small systems. It can cause time, effort and money in order to evaluate one single subsystem or aspect of a larger system, that is why it must choosing the right model must be properly planned and analyze in order to maintain ensure smooth flow of process. That is why, it will be a challenge for the system modeling techniques and methods to make each and every model more transparent so that it will be easy to understand if it is suitable for a given situation or type of large system. Conclusion:             A system modeling is the process of showing and representing the in-depth analysis of different aspects and function of different part of a given large system. It is important because it will serve as a map of the overall flow of the system as a whole and how those aspects relate with other and how it can affect the performance of the overall large system.             There are many factors that are affecting the continuous improvement of the system modeling. This are the factors that can help the system modeling to become better in order to cater to the needs of the future large systems.     Reference:   Bobbio, A, System Modelling With Petri Nets, draft, Istituto Elettrotecnico Nazionale Galileo Ferraris, viewed 28 January 2008, < http://www.mfn.unipmn.it/~bobbio/BIBLIO/PAPERS/ANNO90/kluwerpetrinet.pdf>   Kallrath, J 2004, Modelling Languages in Mathematical Optimazation, Springer   SINTEF & Kresken, T 1996, Technology Briefing Report: System Modelling, draft, RENAISSANCE Esprit Project 22010, viewed 18 January 2008, <http://www.comp.lancs.ac.uk/computing/research/cseg/projects/renaissance/RenaissanceWeb/project/Acrobat/System_Modelling.pdf> Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

Challenges and Opportunities for System Modelling

Challenges and Opportunities for System Modelling I. Overview System modeling is a technique that is use in order to express, vis...

Essence of Globalization and it’s Challenges

Introduction Globalization refers to the process of global integration of the economies of nations by allowing the unrestricted flow of goods, services, investments and currencies between countries. Globalization also means the free exchange of thoughts and ideas, and greater mobility of people. It is the result of forces for change that are deeply rooted in human nature: the drive for freedom and a better life, for new discoveries, and for a variety of outlooks. Many nations embraced this new philosophy in the hope that in will lead to prosperity and sustainable development. Many believed that globalization will bring agricultural modernization, industrialization, urbanization, and hyper-consumerism resulting in increases of per capita gross domestic product (GDP). Unfortunately, such developments have often been accompanied by increasing social and environmental destruction throughout the world. The process of globalization is having unprecedented impacts, both positive and negative in all aspects of living. Globalization encompasses a range of social, political, and economic changes. Essence of Globalization Globalization has started as the process of economic cooperation and integration of countries.  The development of national economies and introduction of new technologies created the foundation for the construction of a totally new system of international economic relations. The introduction of technologies and improvement of logistics as well as the growing attractiveness of international markets for many companies, the formation of multinational corporations stimulated the trend to integration of economies of different countries and their growing interaction. The integration of national economies determined by objective needs to expand markets led to the elimination of fiscal barriers and the emergence of free trade accelerated further development of the process of globalization.   It is important to emphasize that the process of globalization is consistently more beneficial for multinational corporations and developed countries because the elimination of barriers, which actually stimulate free trade, opens markets of developing as well as developed countries to the expansion of multinational corporations and companies operating in developed countries.   In these situation, each country attempts to take its own position in the international market. However, companies based in developing countries prove to be uncompetitive, especially in high-tech and knowledge based industries, where companies from developed countries and multinational corporations dominate.  As a result, developing countries are forced to use either their natural resources which they supply mainly to developed countries or developed the main industry, which is not highly technological, such as the production of some agricultural goods. Opportunities and Challenges of Globalization In the industrialized countries, the real per capita income more than tripled in the second half of the 20th century. In some developing countries the increase was even more dramatic. In South Korea, for example, per capita income increased more than tenfold. Economic growth also brought about medical advances, for example: life expectancy rose by over a decade in industrialized countries and by over 20 years on average in developing countries. Some developing countries that have embarked on the road toward global integration, such as China, India, Malaysia, Brazil, Mexico, South Korea, and Thailand, now no longer export only raw materials, but also finished products, and services. In India, for example, IT exports alone account for nearly 40 percent of export earnings. Globalization has its positive and negative effects. It all depends on what we make of it the extent to which we are able to exploit the opportunities and at the same time limit the risks. I believe that to alleviate world poverty, we need more, not less, globalization but above all a better globalization. In other words, globalization requires political management. The major challenges of globalization is to make the global system deliver economic growth to reduce global poverty and in inequality in all nations through modernization and increase economic activity. Implementing of the right policies to provide better living conditions to the entire global population.  Giving of international aid specifically by industrialized and developed countries to share their knowledge and technologies to developing countries to help them become competitive in the global market.  Improving governance to promote a globally competitive environment and eliminating corruption.    Developing countries must struggle to be competitive in the global market because they lack technologies to create finished products. They will have to resort on trading their natural resources and land to international companies to be able to resolve the problems of globalization. Developing countries are also force to import human resources to other countries just to survive. Globalization has a positive vision in making all economies unite into one network that maintain the balance of trade but with lack of technological advances, many countries specially the developing ones will suffer in the global competition of products and services.   References 1.    Center for Alternative Development Initiative, Globalization [Online] Available at: http://www.cadi.ph/globalization.htm [Accessed 24 Feb 2010] 2.    Essence of Globalization [Online] Available at: http://www.globalnook.com/globalnook/2006/10/essence_of_glob.html [Accessed 24 Feb 2010] 3.    International Monetary Fund, Horst Kohler, The Challenges of Globalization and the Role of the IMF [Online] Available at: http://www.imf.org/external/np/speeches/2003/051503.htm [Accessed 24 Feb 2010] 4.    Stanley Fischer, Globalization and its Challenges [Online] Available at: www.iie.com/fischer/pdf/Fischer011903.pdf [Accessed 24 Feb 2010]   Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

Essence of Globalization and it’s Challenges

Introduction Globalization refers to the process of global integration of the economies of nations by allowing the unrestricted flow of...