Why Business Models Matter in Business?

Business model is a concept used in explaining various aspects of the business ranging from its value proposition to the innovation process that a particular business entity wants to adapt in its business activity. A a business model comprises two elements. These are a specific business system and a profit model. The aim of framing a business model is to conceptualize a picture on how a business operates in its operating environment. In addition to this, a business model also provides the opportunity of using the available resources best as per the ability of the firm. The aim of the firm is to maximize the utilization of the resources available to them. The two components of the business model are inclined towards describing the maximum utilization of the resources and deliver the products to the consumers in a profitable manner. The business system is concerned with the system of work Continue reading

Overcoming Resistance to Change

In the previous post, we deal with the various sources of resistance to change.    In this post we discusses strategies and tactics to  overcome resistance  to organizational  change. Kotter and Schelsinger (1979) has  identified six general strategies for overcoming resistance to change. Education and Communication : Resistance can be reduced through  communicating with employees to help them see the logic of a change.  This tactic basically assumes that the source of resistance lies in  misinformation or poor communication. If employees receive the full  facts and get any misunderstanding cleared up, resistance will subside.  Communication can be achieved through one-to-one discussions,  memos, group presentations, or reports. Does it work? It does, provided  the source of resistance is inadequate communication and that  management-employee relations are characterized by mutual trust and  credibility. If these conditions don’t exist, the change is unlikely to  succeed. Participation and Involvement : It is difficult for individuals Continue reading

Normative Theories of Mass Media

Normative theories  are theories that seek to locate media structure and performance in the milieu (environment) in which they operate, they are observation of situation within which the press operate. The basic assumption of the normative theory is that, “the press always take on the form and coloration of the social and political structure within which it operate” (Siebert, Peterson and Schramm, 1995). They are theories that explain the expected operation of media under political and economical circumstance The origin of normative theories of the press seen from two opposing view points, (1.) Radical libertarian (first amendment absolutist) and technocratic control, the first amendment absolutist takes the idea of “ free press” as literal and oppose government regulation while the technocrats do not trust the media and believes in use of regulators to act in the public interest, and (2.) Propaganda and mass society theories are used to justify media Continue reading

Benefits of Forward Exchange Contracts

Forward exchange rates, like spot exchange rates are determined by the demand for and the supply of forward exchange. If the supply of forward exchange exceeds the demand for it, the forward rates will be  quoted at a discount over the spot rate i.e., forward exchange rate will be lower than the spot exchange rate. On the other hand, if the demand for forward exchange exceed its supply, the forward rates will be quoted at a premium over the spot rate i.e., forward rate will be quoted at a premium over the spot rate i.e., forward rate will be higher than the spot rate. The demand for forward exchange arise, mainly, from: Imports, Outflow of capital, Arbitrage  operation and Bullish speculation. An importer of foreign goods having to make payment after a certain period of time may contract to purchase foreign exchange in advance to avoid the risk of changes Continue reading

Retail Store Design

Store design is the architectural character or decorative style of a retail store that  conveys to the customer “what the store is all about.” Retail stores vary so much in kind, size,  and geographical location that it is difficult to generalize about design. The architecture of  the store’s exterior creates an initial impression. For example, if a  retailer chooses to  remodel an older Victorian home, the customer will get a different impression from that of  a store in the mall. Because of continued pressure on costs, newer designs reflect  a closer attention to all details including store size. The drive to reduce inventory levels  has forced a move to smaller stores, because a large store with less merchandise looks  as though it is going out of business. The stores showing an increase in store size are  those attempting to diversify and broaden merchandise lines. Higher rents, higher  building costs, and Continue reading

Team Development Life Cycle

When a number of individuals begin to work at interdependent jobs, they often pass through several stages as they learn to work together as a team.  The stages of team development life cycle  are forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning.  This model of team development was first proposed by Bruce Tuckman in 1965, who maintained that these phases are all necessary and inevitable and allow team growth. Though these are not followed rigidly, they do represent a broad pattern that may be observed and predicted in many settings across team’s time together. These stages are the result of a variety of questions and issues that team members face such as “who will be members of the team?” “Who will perform what functions?” “Who will contribute what?” “What rules will be followed?” “How can conflicts among members be resolved?” and so on. These typical stages of team development life cycle  are Continue reading