Leasing – Meaning, Types, Benefits and Limitations

Leasing is understood to be a financial instrument that permits an individual or the lessee to enjoy the utility of a physical asset without possessing it or without assuming ownership of the asset. Leasing can also be defined as an arrangement between two main parties namely: the lessor or the leasing company and the person or the lessee. The customer or the lessee can rent the asset from the company for a particular period of time. The rent for leasing are always predetermined and are due after a particular fixed intervals of time and the lessee assumes the ownership of the property for the entire lease period. There is no purchase option at the expiry of the lease period. Leasing applies to equipment’s that are expensive and bulky or large. Leasing has advantage of tax exemption since the individual avoids the per annum leasing charges; also there is the advantage of avoiding Continue reading

Three Value Disciplines by Treacy and Wiersema

Value discipline, a term coined by Michael Treacy and Fred Wiersema in their book, “The Discipline of Market Leaders” to describe different ways companies can differentiate itself from competitors.  A value discipline is more than just a benefit statement–it is a statement of strategic focus and provides a context for a company to set its corporate vision and objectives, to target its most profitable customers, and to focus and align its activities. Treacy and Wiersema identified three different ways of bringing together a compelling value proposition with an effective operating model. The basic idea is that any company can deliver value to its customers in three value disciplines. Operational Excellence:  Delivering quality products or services at the lowest total cost with the least inconvenience and always on time.  Companies pursuing operational excellence are relentless in seeking ways to minimize overhead costs, to eliminate intermediate production steps, to reduce transaction and Continue reading

Concept of Store Management

Storekeeping is a service function which deals with the physical storage of goods under the custodianship of a person called storekeeper or stock controller. Goods stored may be either, stores or stock. Unworked materials or raw materials are usually referred to as stores and the place where they are kept is known as stores room. Finished products ready for shipment are usually called stocks and are housed in a place called stock-room. Storekeeping, therefore, is that aspect of materials which is concerned with physical storage of goods. Store functions concern receiving, movement, storage and issue of items- raw materials, bought out parts, tools, spares, consumables etc. —required for production, maintenance and operation of the plant and finished goods until is dispatch to customers. Store, therefore, is the custodian of all goods that are received in the company until they are consumed or sold and naturally it assumes the responsibility of Continue reading

Push and Pull Factors in International Business

Companies decide to go global and enter international markets for a variety of reasons, and these different objectives at the time of entry should produce different strategies, performance goals, and even forms of market participation. However, companies often follow a standard market entry and development strategy. The most common is sometimes referred to as the “increasing commitment” method of market development, in which market entry is done via an independent local partner. As business and confidence grows, a switch to a directly controlled subsidiary is often enacted. This internationalization approach results from a desire to build a business in the country-market as quickly as possible and by an initial desire to minimize risk coupled with the need to learn about the country and market from a low base of knowledge. International markets evolve rapidly and very often companies struggle to keep up in terms of their strategy. It is therefore Continue reading

Advertising Objectives

Without objectives, it is nearly impossible to guide and control decision making. Good performance occurred in the absence of objectives can rarely be sustained. The challenge today is to bring effective management to the advertising process in such a way as to provide simulation as well as direction to the creative effort. The solution is the meaningful objective. Advertising objectives, like organizational objectives, should be operational. They should be effective communication tools, providing a line between strategic and tactical decisions. A convenient and enticing advertising objective is immediate sales or market share. However, an increase in immediate sales is not operational in many cases for two reasons: Advertising is one of many factors influencing sales, and it is difficult to isolate its contribution to sales. The other forces include price, distribution, packaging, product features, competitive actions, and changing buyer needs and tastes. The second reason involves the long-term effect of Continue reading

International Project Appraisal

International project appraisal also known by a variety of names such as internal company analysis, profiling the organization, capability or resource audit position and strategic advantage analysis, is the process of evaluating a company’s posture relative to its business competition within and outside the country, overall performance and its capability in terms of strengths and weaknesses. Significance of International Project Appraisal The organization’s deficiency should also be compared with those of its successful competitors. Such perceptive self appraisal when matched with environmental analysis facilities management to grasp the opportunities and combat the threats inherent in the environment. International project appraisal has such a vital significance in international corporate planning. Without such am-exercise it will not be possible to formulate economic strategy for an organization on the objective basis. It helps the management in choosing the most suitable niche for the organization. Economic opportunities may bound in different parts of the Continue reading