...1968 : His business career began at the age of 15 when he published the magasine called « Student » He went on to set up a mail-order business in 1970 in the vinly record business which, in 1972, became a chain of record stores called Virgin Records, later known as virgin Megastores. 1984/ Virgin Atlantic takes off , boat and Ballon tour 1988 : Virgin Megastores opens new stores in Galasgow and Paris, followed by numerous other British, European, American and Pacific Basin cities. 1996 : Virgin Express airline takes off Virgin Net launches as an internet service provider Virgin Brides opens its doors 2000 : Virginmoney.com (supermarket financial services) virgin travelstore virgin energy (gas and electricity) Virgin.Shop (a new retail concept replacing the price brand) Mobil, cars, wines Today, the group has 300 companies in 30 countries, with over 50,000 employees Slide 5 Lessons from Richard Branson 1 Listen more than you talk : To be a good leader you have to be a great listener. Brilliant ideas can spring from the most unlikely places, so you should always keep your ears open for some shrewd advice. Get out there, listen to people, draw people out and learn from them. 2. Keep it simple : Maintain a focus upon innovation, but don’t try to reinvent the wheel. A simple change for the better is far more effective than five complicated changes for the worse. 3. Take pride in your work : With so many...
Words: 482 - Pages: 2
...struck me most 13 Introduction 13 Richard Branson 13 Tony Hsieh 13 Compare and Contrast 14 Introduction 14 Richard Branson 14 Tony Hsieh 15 Executive Summary This paper aims to present and discuss both Richard Branson and Tony Hsieh on their business ventures, characteristics, and endeavours both inside and outside the business world, it will focus mainly on their successes and the trials and tribulations that came with it; including my own personal reflection and juxtaposition of myself and both Richard Branson and Tony Hsieh. Richard Branson was born on July 18, 1950 in Surrey England, all throughout his childhood he struggled in school dropped out at the age of 16. This decision ultimately led to the creation of Virgin records. His entrepreneurial ventures and...
Words: 5044 - Pages: 21
...from Virgin Cola to Virgin Brides The demise of the domestic carrier Little Red joins a string of the entrepreneur’s failures from makeup to bridalwear to alcohol • Virgin Atlantic axes Little Red * Share * * * inShare0 * Email * ------------------------------------------------- * ------------------------------------------------- Gwyn Topham, transport correspondent * ------------------------------------------------- The Guardian, Monday 6 October 2014 18.19 BST Sir Richard Branson hands out free cans of Virgin Cola in downtown Tokyo. Sales of the brand lost fizz against the might of Coca-Cola and Pepsi.Photograph: EPA Sir Richard Branson has made a fortune from a string of business ventures that bear his signature brand, including Virgin Trains and Virgin Media. But Little Red joins a series of failures that have seen Branson fail to break into lucrative markets including soft drinks and alcohol. Virgin Cola Launched in 1994, Virgin Cola was initially available only on Virgin planes and in Virgin cinemas before Branson sought wider distribution. “It tasted better than Coke. For one wonderful year we had the dream of Virgin Cola being the brand on everyone’s lips.” Instead, Branson claimed, “swat teams and bagfuls of money” sent from Coke’s Atlanta headquarters gobbled up his drink, whose market share peaked at 0.5% in the three years it was on sale in the US. In 2012, the UK producer went bust and no one else acquired the licence. Virgin Vodka...
Words: 8829 - Pages: 36
...Virgin America: Recreating the Airways How it’s Possible to Fly Low-Cost Luxury A Creative Marketing Strategy for an Upstart Airline Joseph Deluca Table of Contents Overview……………………….. 1 Target Audience………………. . 2 SWOT Analysis…………… …… 2-4 MC Objectives………………….. 5 Strategic Plan…………………… 5 -6 The Budget……………………… 6 -7 Evaluation and Conclusion…….. 7 Citations…………………………. 8 Virgin America: Recreating the Airways How it’s Possible to Fly Low-Cost Luxury A Creative Marketing Strategy for an Upstart Airline By Joseph Deluca Overview Fledgling airline, Virgin America, is rethinking what it means to fly economy. Low cost shouldn’t infer low quality. Virgin America offers consumers style, relaxation and entertainment without emptying their pockets. A thorough and accurate creative work plan will allow Virgin America to produce an effective MC campaign that will yield a high ROI. The Virgin Brand The Virgin brand is synonymous with value style, a little bit of fun, irreverence and caring deeply for customers and employees (Reed, 1). Corporate Values Virgin America’s main principle is commitment. Virgin America is committed to environmental sustainability, governance and accountability, its employees and its stakeholders (VirginAmerica.com). Corporate Vision Within the next 5 years Virgin America aims to be the leading low- cost, high- luxury airline in the United States by expanding flights, its air force and by creating new destinations. Mission...
Words: 2081 - Pages: 9
...Resarch Paper Virgin Group Jonas Rosario-Lora Table of Contents Executive Summary3-4 Literature Review4 Bullets A-C4-12 Discussion 12-17 Conclusion17-18 Reference18-22 Executive Summary The matter of this company is to observer there recent change, and how we can identify the change the organizational change. Using the company’s management models, leadership styles and strategic management change, to figure out if the change is making the company profitable. Can the company sustain the change process and fit best with the condition without having resistance in change to hurt the company. Virgin America is in the verge of losing it’s shareholders and investor, since the day it lunch in 2007 and the following four years the company has been losing over 395million dollars. There Expenses are lower than the main airline carriers, primarily, it’s not inexpensive sufficiently to participate rivalry against competitors like JetBlue or Spirit. Virgin America has been embraced to create a honest low- cost structure, While it’s competitors have reduced their cost structure significantly, customers are not eager to pay a high premium to have the ability to enjoy TV on there flights and have a free checked bag “which is why JetBlue will likely be charging for the first bag soon”. There mission statement is to rethinking what it means to fly economy, by producing the leading low-cost luxury airline. The company established an impressive goal, to create the procedure...
Words: 4438 - Pages: 18
...chosen to enter. According to Hellreigel, D. & Slocum, J., (2011), Mr. Branson through his company Virgin Group, LTD, “has turned a lifelong disdain for conventional business wisdom into a multibillion dollar global conglomerate and one of the worlds most recognized brands” (p. 344). It is this knack for unconventionality that is the key to the Branson name and the Branson legacy. Even though Mr. Branson is a very successful entrepreneur, he is not universally liked in the conventional business world. According to Hellreigel, D. & Slocum, J., (2011), “Some have suggested that Branson and the Virgin brand attract almost a cult following, and it works both ways-many people admire Branson, but some detest him” (p. 344). Mr. Branson has been on the business scene for more than 45 years and during that time frame one thing can be said for how he conducts business and that is that his employees love him which contributes to that cult like following. The author will discuss Mr. Branson’s leadership style to try to ascertain what is right about it and what could be done to improve it. The writer will also determine a different leadership style which could help Mr. Branson be a more effective leader. The author will also discuss how Mr. Branson would inspire and lead a global company in starting and completing a new project like the project he started in 2007 called Virgin Galactic....
Words: 2062 - Pages: 9
...Strategic Management Case plus Case Answer – Apple’s Profitable but Risky Strategy Case study Apple’s profitable but risky strategy When Apple’s Chief Executive – Steven Jobs – launched the Apple iPod in 2001 and the iPhone in 2007, he made a significant shift in the company’s strategy from the relatively safe market of innovative, premium-priced computers into the highly competitive markets of consumer electronics. This case explores this profitable but risky strategy. Note that this case explores in 2008 before Nokia had major problems with smartphones – see Case 9.2 and Case 15.1 for this later situation. Early beginnings To understand any company’s strategy, it is helpful to begin by looking back at its roots. Founded in 1976, Apple built its early reputation on innovative personal computers that were par-ticularly easy for customers to use and as a result were priced higher than those of competitors. The inspiration for this strategy came from a visit by the founders of the company – Steven Jobs and Steven Wozniack – to the Palo Alto research laboratories of the Xerox company in 1979. They observed that Xerox had developed an early version of a computer interface screen with the drop-down menus that are widely used today on all personal computers. Most computers in the late 1970s still used complicated technical interfaces for even simple tasks like typing – still called ‘word-processing’ at the time. Jobs and Wozniack took the concept back to Apple and developed their...
Words: 7002 - Pages: 29
...Research Case Study Virgin Blue ‘You can’t make a business case that you should be who you are not’ Shayne Connell Student Number: 9809317 Case Study GSBS6010 – Foundations of Marketing Theory Due: 11 March 2010 th Lecturers: Penny Crittall and Joel Goodsir Page 113 Table of Contents 1. Executive Summary………………………………………………………3 2. Situation Analysis a. Identification of case issues………………………………....…. 4 b. Analysis of case issues using marketing theory…...........……5 3. Evaluation of alternative courses of action……………………………. 7 4. Recommendations………………………………………………………..7 5. References………………………………………………………………...9 Page 114 1. Executive Summary This analysis examines Virgin Blue’s strategy to increase share of the business and government travel market. This is the third change of strategic direction for the low cost carrier since 2000. The key issues are the challenge of repositioning the company while maintaining the brand strength of the airline, and continuing to meet the needs of the leisure market while offering value to business travellers. Virgin Blue has targeted the full service market leader, Qantas, by positioning itself as an airline for executives who can avail themselves of ‘Premium Economy’ services. The situation is analysed drawing on International case examples, strategic planning principles and growth strategies to evaluate alternative courses of action. Virgin Blue needs to target the business market in the unique Virgin way to differentiate...
Words: 1806 - Pages: 8
...Rupesh Doshi on Richard Branson Sir Richard Branson is the Founder and Chairman of Virgin Group – a multi-billion dollar, branded venture capital organization headquartered in London, United Kingdom. I first came to know of Sir Richard when I studied abroad at the London School of Economics during the summer of 2001. One of my classmates suggested a great summer read - the book was titled Losing My Virginity. The title definitely put a smirk on my face but soon after he mentioned the name, my friend said the book was an autobiography of the person who founded Virgin Records, Virgin Megastore, and Virgin Atlantic Airways – Sir Richard Branson. Having heard of those companies, I took my friend’s suggestion and picked up a copy of the book to read on my trip to Asia. I rarely read a book to completion – but Losing My Virginity was an exception and probably the quickest book I have ever read. Engaged and enthralled by the book I came to admire Richard’s leadership and his way of living life. Professor Friedman’s Total Leadership course and the principles he has taught confirmed that Sir Richard Branson is the perfect case study of a leader who has achieved “total leadership” across the four domains of life – work, family, community and self. Richard was born in 1950 in London, the eldest of four siblings (He is 60 years old today). As a youth, he suffered from dyslexia – a learning disorder that impairs the ability to speak and read – which resulted in not only frustration but also...
Words: 1390 - Pages: 6
...Virgin Mobile USA : Pricing for the Very First Time 1) Virgin Mobile targets the 14 to 24-year olds market. The case lays out three pricing options. Which option woul you choose and why ? All three options are very interesting for Virgin Mobile to introduce the American market. Considering Virgin Mobile’s background, goals and strategy, I would have choose the option 3 « A Whole New Plan » There are few reasons that explain this choice : Firstly, Virgin Mobile’s cultural values are to be innovative, fun. It also wants to make things different from its competitors and continuously improve customers’ experience through innovation. Indeed the options 3 offer something very different than competitors. Secondly, regarding the segment target, 14–24 years old, it is known that those categories can not pass the credit check with the current carriers due to their lack of revenue. The result is that this target market has been forgotten. Moreover, it is an age where teenagers are looking for “independence” and like to do things without parents. It is why the option 3 fit well. Thirdly, I believe that the option 3 is the one that fit the best selling model that has been chose by Virgin. In fact, it does not require any salespersons...
Words: 1730 - Pages: 7
...through work or general enthusiasm for his leadership style, and how effectively those theories are applied. This submission covers details of Richard Branson’s early life and the beginning of his leadership. It then goes on to explain how his leadership style emerged as he began to run the Virgin Group. I then explained how Richard Branson is seen by the public, and how he has followers in the public that don’t work for him. After this, I consider which technical leadership theories are used by Richard Branson. I review how successful Richard Branson has been as a leader, by looking at how his followers respect him and follow in his footsteps. To conclude, I review Richard Branson from my own perspective. Introduction Before a leader can be analysed, one must define what leadership is. This is hard to do. It’s an intrinsic trait which is hard to define. Jackson and Parry (2008: 5) say that ‘leadership is like beauty – it is difficult to describe, but we certainly know it when we see it.' However, the general consensus is that leadership is influencing people in order to attain goals (Daft, 2008: 590). The leader that will be analysed in this essay is Richard Branson, who runs and owns the Virgin Group. He has demonstrated his leadership skills from the early age of just seventeen, when he set up a student magazine, that was aptly named,Student. Even earlier than this, he showed entrepreneurial skills, growing Christmastrees and selling budgies, although these plans failed (Grint...
Words: 2064 - Pages: 9
...THE VIRGIN GROUP CASE STUDY QUESTION 1: What examples does the case give of links between Branson’s strategy for Virgin and the environment in which it operates? The Virgin Group Ltd is a group of separately run British companies with the Virgin brand under the leadership of English celebrity business tycoon Sir Richard Branson. The core business areas are travel, entertainment and lifestyle, among others. Richard Branson’s strategy comes from his deepest inner beliefs; “in principle there were no product or service boundries limiting a brand name, provided it was associated with quality products/services on offer” The corporate strategy of the Virgin Group is to operate like ‘a venture capital firm based on the Virgin brand.’ This strategy involves non-related diversification at the individual business unit level. Meanwhile, synergies are created from hierarchical relationships and the interaction of the corporate head office with individual business units. By leveraging on the Virgin Brand which has established prominence in the minds of consumers, Virgin is able to enter new business areas with a bang and shake up existing orders. The unique Virgin culture also allows Virgin to break into new markets and execute its ventures very effectively. Virgin’s corporate strategy is best described in the Virgin Charter – the individual businesses are focused and develop as autonomous enterprises under a single unified brand name. This decentralization...
Words: 6569 - Pages: 27
...Exam cases: Kodak Virgin Australia Post Pre-seen exam information Semester 2 2012 Global Strategy and Leadership © CPA Australia Ltd 2012 Case Scenario 1 Kodak case facts Eastman Kodak Company (Kodak) was founded in the late 19th century by amateur photographer George Eastman in Rochester, New York. With the slogan ‘you press the button, we do the rest,’ Kodak gave consumers the first simple camera in 1888, making a cumbersome and complicated process easy to use and readily accessible. A major multinational organisation, Kodak was listed on the New York Stock Exchange and became a powerhouse in the photography industry. The company led the way as an innovator, launching a large range of new products and processes to make photography simpler, more useful and more enjoyable. With the rapid growth of digital photography, competition against its product and being slow to embrace the move to digital technology Kodak has fallen on hard times. In January 2012, Kodak and its US subsidiaries filed voluntary petitions for Chapter 11 business reorganisation1 in the US Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York. A company spokesperson said the aim of the business reorganisation was to enable Kodak to bolster liquidity, sell off nonstrategic intellectual property, and enable the company to focus on the most valuable business lines. The process will allow Kodak to continue normal business operations while it attempts to emerge a profitable and sustainable enterprise2...
Words: 10653 - Pages: 43
... 1 Consensual Relationship Agreements Case Study Tara Brooks Professor Alston Organizational Behavior, BUS 520 4 November 2012 Consensual Relationship Agreements 2 Abstract The dating scene is not easy these days, especially for dedicate singles putting in 60-plus hours at the office every week. But if you've had your eye on the gorgeous guy or girl in the next cubicle, consider that the consequences of intra-office dating can far outweigh the convenience of a consensual workplace relationship. Consensual relationships agreements are widely in the workplace in American organizations. These agreements entail and outline the dos and don’ts of co-existing with fellow colleagues while maintaining a romantic relationship with them. The public display of affection, favoritism, and lack of productivity are all addressed and managed within these documents. Some organizations argue that these documents should not be used, while others believe they should be enforced In this paper, I will discuss the argument for the use of consensual relationship agreements, create a counter argument against the use of CRAs, discuss the ethical principles involved in the principles involved in the use of CRAs and create one (1) other option besides CRAs that would address workplace romances. Abstract Sir Richard Branson learned...
Words: 1410 - Pages: 6
...Research on Virgin Galactic Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic has us all excited about space travel, but we are slightly less excited about the Virgin Galactic cost. Those tickets into suborbital space are not cheap, and most of us will not be able to afford the trip for a while. What is the Virgin Galactic Cost? A 2008 book about space tourism stated that, "The cost of suborbital flight advertised by private space companies such as Virgin Galactic and Starchaser Industries is in the order of U.S. $200,000." [Source: Erik Seedhouse, page 27]. Virgin Galactic's webpage confirms that $200,000 is still the cost of a ticket of admission, and that at least 100 people have already paid that fare in full. [Source: virgingalactic.com]. Apparently, the company intends to keep the cost of tickets at this level for the time being. Will the Virgin Galactic Cost Come Down? In a 2008 interview, Stephen Attenborough, commercial director for Virgin Galactic said he thought competition would eventually drive ticket prices down to $50,000 or lower. [Source: The Independent]. He did not give any timeframe for this decrease. It seems inevitable that competition will force Virgin Galactic and other space flight companies to lower their prices. Low price is, after all, the most obvious way for a company to distinguish its product. But with $200,000 spaceflights still a thing of the future, it might be a while before the average Star Trek fan can afford a trip to space. Conclusions...
Words: 25217 - Pages: 101
