The Role of Business Research

Research is a systematic search for information in order to obtain a clear picture concerning the underlying problem. Technically speaking, research is a process of identifying problem thoroughly, establishing an objective, collecting and analyzing the relevant data in order to determine the possible factors causing the problem. Thus, research activities are consistent search for information with the objective to get a clearer picture concerning the problem and to propose specific recommendation for the solution. Role of Research in Business Making the right decision is an ideal practice in any business whenever the organization encounters a problem. A good organization primarily conducts research to resolve the critical problems surrounding their business such as competition, customer satisfaction, product innovation, customer complaints, and new government policies affecting the industry. Decision making process requires systematic and organized efforts to investigate a specific problem in a business setting. The first step in understanding the problem Continue reading

Case Study on Business Ethics: Madoff Investment Scandal

Bernard “Bernie” Lawrence Madoff is an American investment adviser and stock broker who operated Madoff Investments in an unethically acceptable manner. He used the company as a front to commit a Ponzi scheme which fleeced investors of over $65 billion. This has been regarded as the largest Ponzi scheme ever. Madoff grew up in a humble background and he established the Madoff Investments Company with support from the father in law. A few friends and family members also supported Madoff with the operations and growth of the business. Madoff used the returns from investment to support several charitable and political causes which his firm believed in. However, in 1999, there was concern that the profits made by Madoff Investments surpassed the normal profits expected from a firm in such a venture. Markopolos, an expert in investments informed the exchange commission that it was not possible to achieve the level of Continue reading

Investment Center Performance Evaluation

Investment centers are decentralized divisions or sub-units for which   the manager has maximum discretion in determining not only short-term operating decision on product mix, pricing and production methods, but also level and type of investment. An investment center extends the profit center concept in that the measured profit is related to the center investment. It may be described as a special form of profit center since a profitability measure is being developed for the center. The concept relating profits to assets employed has an intuitive appeal for it for indicates whether the return for the capital invested in the division and it is important that an evaluation be made the overall company are earning on in elaborate systems for authorizing capital investment center performance can be the aggregation of past and present capital projects each project individually. Such a measurement also provides an incentive for division managers to monitor Continue reading

Tips to Organize an Effective Meeting in a Business

What is a Meeting? A meeting is a gathering of people to present or exchange information, plan joint activities, make decisions, or carry out actions already agreed upon. Almost every group activity or project requires a meeting, or meetings, of some sort. In business organizations, different meetings of executives and employees are held to discuss and debate upon certain matters for taking collective decisions. At these business meetings different proposals are discussed in the light of their pros and cons, and consensus is reached through interaction and influence among various persons. In business, meeting is any focused conversation that has a specific purpose, like taking decision of share capital, issue of dividends, issue of bonus shares, etc. Purpose of Business Meetings Meetings play vital roles in business management. It is also dynamic tools for communication. In modern world, meetings are conducted in almost every organization. It may be held for Continue reading

Why Integrated Marketing Communication is Important?

For marketing communication to be successful, sound management decisions must be made in the other three areas of the marketing mix: the product, service or idea itself; the price at which the brand will be offered; and the places at or through which customers may purchase the brand. The best promotion cannot overcome poor product quality, inordinately high prices, or insufficient retail distribution. Likewise, successful marketing communication relies on sound management decisions regarding the coordination of the various elements of the promotional mix. To this end, a new way of viewing marketing communication emerged in the 1990s. It is called integrated marketing communication; this perspective seeks to orchestrate the use of all forms of the promotional mix to reach customers at different levels in new and better ways. Why Integrated Marketing Communication is Important? The evolution of the above mentioned perspective has two origins. Marketers began to realize that advertising, Continue reading

Case Study: The Coca-Cola Company Struggles with Ethical Crisis

Coca-Cola is the world’s largest beverage company that operates the largest distribution system in the world. This allows Coca-Cola companies to serve more than 1 billion of its products to customers each day. The marketing strategy for Coca-Cola promotes products from four out of the five top-selling soft drinks to earn sales such as Coke, Diet Coke, Fanta, and Sprite. This process builds strong customer relationships, which gives the opportunity for these businesses to be identified and satisfied. With that being said, customers will be more willing to help Coca-Cola produce and grow. Pepsi and Coca-Cola, between them, hold the dominant share of the world market. Even though Coca-Cola produces and sells big across the United States, in order for the company to expand and grow, it had to build its global soft drink market by selling to customers internationally. For example, both companies continued to target international markets focusing Continue reading