WEEK 9

1) In your own words and using referenced quotes describe what is meant in strategy by the 'Resource-Based View'?

ØResource-Based View (RBV):
                                                  It is a way of viewing the firm and in turn of approaching strategy. This theory formulates the firm to be a bundle of resources. It is these resources and the way they are combined, which make firms different from one another. it is considered as taking an inside-out approach while analysing the firm. The RBV is based on the idea that effective and efficient application of all usable resources that the company can muster shows its competitive advantage. This means the starting point of the analysis is the internal environment of the organization.(etheses.nottingham.ac.uk,2013)

2)How might you undertake 'Internal Strategic Analysis' ? What models would you apply and why/ Where would you go to find the information you need?

ØInternal Strategic Analysis is very important for an organization as it focuses on strengths and weakness of the internal factors that give them certain advantage and disadvantages in meeting the needs of its target market.
There are different methods to access the internal analysis of an oragnization, which are :

• Resource-Based View
• Value Chain Analysis
• SWOT Analysis
• TOWS Analysis
• McKinsey 7 S model, etc

If I were to analyse the internal environment of a company, I would choose SWOT analysis because it is both simple and powerful for strategy development. It is easy to use, cost less and consumes very less time to complete. It is a useful technique for understanding strengths and weakness, and for identifying opportunities and threats that the company faces. Strengths refer to the core competencies that give firm an advantage whereas weakness refers to limitation the company faces in developing or implementing strategy. Ii also identifies the area of 'need' in which company can perform profitably.  It helps to support mission, vision and objectives that has been already defined. It provides perspective and will reveal connections and areas of action.

3) Talk about your group video work. How is it going so far ? do you have a plan? What are you most worried about at the moment ? what is going well?

ØSo, far we have done all the research that needs to be done. Everyone in the group has done their share of research. It is getting difficult to incorporate all those information into one project. At the moment I am most worried about finishing the work and get desired output ready on time. The one thing that is going well is that we have a good teamwork and everyone is working together as a team. Everyone is determined and working hard together to achieve the goal.

References:
[online] Available at: http://etheses.nottingham.ac.uk/3271/1/442284.pdf [Accessed on 29th April 2013]

WEEK 8

1. Complete your strategic grouping diagram for Islington college (task 3 - slide 48) and post it on your learning journal

Islington College is an educational institution that provide bachelors degree for business and information technology (IT). It is one of the well known college in the country. It is directly affiliated with the London Metropolitan University, UK. 

 The list of competitors of Islington College are:

• The British College
• Silver Mountain College
• St.Xavier's College
• APEX College
• Kathmandu University- college of engineering 
• Lincoln College 
• Deerwalk Institute of Technology
• King's College

                                         Porter's 5 Forces Model for Islington College:

Strategy Grouping Of Islington College:

WEEK 7

External Analysis:

The External Analysis examines opportunities and threats that exist in the environment. both opportunities and threats exist independently of the firm.

PESTLE Analysis:

It is a method of reviewing the macro environment (external forces that impact a company's ability to plan). It stands for:

• Political
• Economic 
• Sociological
• Technological
• Legal
• Environment

It looks at the external business environment and is an appropriate strategic tool for understanding the "big picture" of the environment in which the business operates, enabling it to take advantage of the opportunities and minimize the threats faces by its business activities.

A PESTLE analysis enables the company to take long-term perspective, and clarify strategic opportunities and threats that it faces. (www.coursework4you.co.uk, 2013)

PESTLE Analysis of BIG MART SUPERMARKET:

Big Mart is a retail store in Kathmandu established in 2009. It has two outlets in Kathmandu, Kamalpokhari and Lazimpath. It aims to open more branches across the city.

Political Factor:

• influenced by political and legislative condition of the country
• employment legislation, the government encourages retailers to provide a mix of job opportunities from flexible, lower-paid and locally based jobs to highly-skilled, higher-paid and centrally -located jobs.  
• unstable political situations could create problems regarding the law and policies of the country for the mart to successfully carry their activity.    

Economical Factors:

• likely to influence demand, costs, prices and profits
• increase inflation and unemployment rate may decrease effective demand for goods, adversely affecting the demand for producing the goods
• increase in the living standard of Kathmandu may increase potential buyers  

Social Factors:

• customers more interested in 'one stop' and 'bulk' shopping due to various social changes
• customer are becoming more health conscious than before, so strategy of the supermarket must also change by increasing the stock of organic products.
• customer satisfaction can be driven by customer care by being helpful and also providing various services as discount to members, and adding schemes on various occasion that benefit the customer.

Technological factors:

• new technological benefits both customer and company because shopping becomes more convenient, goods can be readily available and services can be personalized
•  BIG MART is keeping up with the technology as it has different LCD screens, CCtv all over the places and also has a credit card payment system. 

Legislative Factors:

• Established powerful competitor such as Bhat-Bhateni  may create a threat of intense price war and strong requirement for product differentiation
• It mostly gives importance to the imported products that are high in number which may increase tax and hence increase in the price of the good

Environmental Factors:

• the store must take steps to become eco friendly
• they must take steps in managing the usage of plastic and also managing the waste 
• provide the people a message and spread knowledge about environmental issues by funding or joining different campaign.

3) For the research, we made a group of five members and went to BIG MART for a quick visit. We closely observed the market and also had some talk with the employees. After discussing about the research we had done so far, we came t o a conclusion and did our PESTLE research. 

Reference:
E-Kantipur, 2012. eKantipur.com. [Online] Available at: http://www.ekantipur.com/2012/08/01/business/big-mart-to-open-seven-stores-in-kathmandu-by-2012/358057 [Accessed on 7 April 2013].
What is pestle analysis. [Online] Available at: http://www.coursework4you.co.uk/essays-and-dissertations/pest-analysis.php [Accessed on 7 April 2013]

Big Mart, [Online] Available at http://www.bigmart.com.np/ [Accessed on 7April 2013]