Concepts of Throughput Accounting and Theory of Constraints

Financial Management

Kaizen – Understanding the Japanese Business Philosophy of Continuous Improvement

Operations Management

Role of Leaders in Shaping Organizational Culture

Management Principles

Organizational Culture – Development and Importance

Management Principles

Five Important Organizational Cultural Models

Management Principles

Case Study of Nike: Building a Global Brand Image

Brand History The idea of Nike began way back in the 1950s. A track coach by the name of Bill Bowerman was at the University of Oregon training his team. Bill was always looking for a competitive edge for his runners, like most of us today look for any advantage we can get. Bill said he tried using different shoes for his runners as well as trying other things to try and make his athletes better. Bill tried to contact the shoes manufactures in attempt to try out his ideas for running shoes. This however failed. In 1955 a track runner by the name of Phil Knight enrolled at Oregon. Phil was on the track team under Bill. Phil graduated from Oregon and acquired his MBA from Stanford University. Phil went on to write a paper that talked about how quality shoes could be made over in Japan and they Continue reading

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Hawtreys Monetary Theory of Trade Cycles

The British economist Ralph G. Hawtrey regards trade cycle as a purely monetary phenomenon. According to him, non-monetary factors like wars, earthquakes, strikes and crop failures may cause partial and temporary depression in particular sectors of an economy. However, these non-monetary factors cannot cause full and permanent depression involving general unemployment of the factors of production in a trade cycle. On the other hand, changes in the flow of money are the exclusive and sufficient cause of changes in trade cycle. In Hawtrey’s opinion, the basic cause of trade cycle is the expansion and contraction of money in a country. According to Hawtrey, changes in the volume of money are brought about by changes in the rate of interest. For instance, if banks reduce their rate of interest, producers and traders will be induced to borrow more from banks so as to expand their business. Borrowing from banks will lead Continue reading

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Brand Attributes – Meaning, Components and Importance

In order to understand the meaning and importance of brand attributes, and their contribution to the creation of memorable and attractive brands, it is important to understand the significant difference between products and brands. A product is purely a physical thing, defined by physical attributes. For example, cola is a physical product made from a combination of caramel, caffeine, sugar, carbonated water and other colors and flavors. In contrast, a brand is a defined image and name associated with a specific firm’s products, and used to differentiate these products from those of competitors. As a result, a brand effectively represents the promise of quality for consumers, and the promise that a product will meet certain standards and expectations. At the same time, a brand can also represent a conceptualization of the values that a product espouses, hence how these values can differentiate one product from another, and influence a consumer’s Continue reading

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Forex Operational Risk Management through Marketing Management

Operating risk in foreign exchange operations can be negotiated ably through marketing management strategies as well. These are: market selection, product strategy, pricing strategy and promotion strategy. Market Selection: Impact of exchange rate fluctuations on operating profit can be dealt through right mix of markets. Major strategic operations for an exporter are the markets in which to sell and the relative marketing support to devote to each market. Marketing management must take into account its economic risk and selectivity, adjust the marketing support, on a nation-by-nation basis, to maximize long-term profit. From the perspective of non-US companies, the strong U.S. dollar is a golden opportunity to gain market share at the expense of their U.S rivals. It is also necessary-to consider the issue of market segmentation within individual countries. A firm that sells differentiated products to more affluent customers may not be harmed as much by foreign currency devaluation. On Continue reading

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Indian Depository Receipts (IDRs)

Indian Depository Receipts (IDRs) are transferable securities to be listed on Indian stock exchanges in the form of depository receipts created by a Domestic Depository in India against the underlying equity shares of the issuing company which is incorporated outside India. As per the definition given in the Companies (Issue of Indian Depository Receipts) Rules, 2004, Indian Depository Receipt is an instrument in the form of a Depository Receipt created by the Indian depository in India against the underlying equity shares of the issuing company. In an IDR, foreign companies would issue shares, to an Indian Depository (say National Security Depository Limited — NSDL), which would in turn issue depository receipts to investors in India. The actual shares underlying the IDRs would be held by an Overseas Custodian, which shall authorize the Indian Depository to issue the IDRs. The Indian Depository Receipts would have following features: Overseas Custodian: Foreign bank Continue reading

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Functions of Collective Bargaining

Good relations between the employer and employees are essential for the success of  an industry. In order to  maintain good industrial relations, it is necessary that industrial disputes  are settled quickly and amicably. One of the  efficient means of  resolving industrial disputes and deciding the employment conditions is collective bargaining. It is a process  in which the representatives of the  employer and of the employees meet and attempt to  negotiate a contract governing the  employer-employee union relationship. Collective bargaining is a technique of social change, some-times performing its function smoothly and at other times threatening to blow up. Arthur D Butler’s classification of functions of collective bargaining can be viewed under the following three headings. Collective bargaining acts as a technique of long-run social change, bringing rearrangements in power hierarchy of competing groups. Collective bargaining serves as peace treaty between two parties in continual conflict. Collective bargaining establishes a system Continue reading

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