Using Buzz Groups and Syndicates in Training Programmes

Buzz Groups A buzz group can allow an individual to retain anonymity in the group, since the spokesman of the buzz group will express the view of group instead of individual. However an individual can also express a personal view if he/she wishes do so. There can be use of the buzz group method with as few as six, sending into two buzz groups of three people. This approach was used following the first activity of a training programme   in which it is necessary to encourage the participants to involve themselves in open discussion at an early stage. During the full group discussion that followed, comments were made on group and individual performance that would have been much less early if the full group had entered discussion immediately after the activity. In fact, the immediate full group discussion approach had been the norm until that particular course and buzz Continue reading

What is Investment ? – Concept, Definition and Features

Concept of  Investment   Man, it is said, lives on hope. But, hope is only a necessary condition for life, but not sufficient. There are many other materialistic things that he needs – food, clothing, shelter, etc. And, like his hope, his needs too keep changing through his life. To make things more uncertain, his ability to fulfill the needs too changes significantly. When his current ability (current income) to fulfill his needs exceeds his current needs (current expenditure), he saves the excess. The savings may be buried in the backyard, or hidden under a mattress. Or, he may feel that it is better to give up the current possession of these savings for a future larger amount of money that can be used for consumption in future. In contrast to the above situation, if the amount available for current consumption is less than the current needs, he has to Continue reading

Porter’s Five Forces Analysis of Microsoft

Microsoft Corporation is the largest software company founded by Paul Allen and Bill Gate in 1975, the company controlled an overwhelming share of the personal computer operating system, cloud storage, office software suite, video game console Xbox, servers etc. Microsoft Company has intense pressure in the software competition over Google and Apple since they introduce operating system in both mobile device and PC. But still Microsoft conquer the market of operating system and software which resulting in more than 90% market share of operating system. Their vison is to create innovative technology that can be accessible to everyone. Therefore, to archive that vision, they decide to reduce the cost of software and service and make sure everyone can afford to use it. By doing so, they manage to lock-in their customer and influence the world to use more their products and service than others. Besides that, Microsoft trying to differentiate Continue reading

Case Study: The Collapse of Lehman Brothers

Lehman Brothers Inc operated at a wholesale level, dealing with governments, companies and other financial institutions. Its core business included buying and selling shares and fixed income assets, trading and research, investment banking, investment management and private equity. In September 2008, Lehman Brothers filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The company became insolvent with finances totalling $639 billion in assets and debt worth $619 billion; it became the largest bankruptcy in history. The company employed 25,000 employees worldwide including 5,000 and was the fourth largest US financial bank at the time of the bankruptcy. It also became the biggest victim of the subprime mortgage disaster that had put the global financial sector into meltdown. History In 1844 23 year old Henry Lehman the son of a cattle merchant immigrated to the United States from Rimpar, Bavaria. He set up home in Montgomery, Alabama where he opened a dry-goods shop. In Continue reading

Case Study of FedEx: Pioneer of Internet Business in the Global Transportation and Logistics Industry

Transportation is one of the largest industries in the world, and its sector range is very wide which include taxis, truck, train, ships, barges, airplanes, pipelines, warehouse and logistics service. For the industry, the three main trends were globalization of business, information technology development and new technology to support process efficient, and the market demand for more value-added. Hence, the companies in transportation and logistics industry depend on the global network of distribution centres to gain quick payment cycle and cheaper resources. In FedEx Corporation, as a leader firm in the industry, its centralized structures have always required, and facilitated billion dollar investments in IT and established the website from 1994. It provided a successful technology for the FedEx Corporation as a pioneer in the whole industry for e-business. This strategy became an advantage that they used to undermine their competitors’ strengths and localized customer service. With a globally connected Continue reading

Profit Management And Control

Profit is the reward which goes to organization as a factor of production for its participation in the process of production.  Profit in its pure accounting sense is the surplus of revenue over the cost. Thus,  P = TR – TC We have also studied that every business enterprise desires to  maximize  its profit. The condition for profit  maximization  is the level of output where Marginal Revenue = Marginal Cost. We also differentiate between normal profit and super normal profit i.e. normal profit is included in average cost whereas any profit above the average cost is super normal profit. We have also considered   the concepts of gross profit and net profit besides profit in accounting sense, which considers only explicit cost whereas in economic sense to consider profit we take note of both explicit   and implicit costs. The firm has also to reveal to its shareholders the profit Continue reading