...Fresh Direct Case Study Report Fresh Direct is a web-based supermarket that delivers fresh produce and meals to customers in New York City metropolitan area. Customers can order prepared meals from the website, www.freshdirect.com. Fresh Direct is in the online grocery store industry. BACKGROUND FreshDirect was found in 1999 by Jason Ackerman, Steve Druckman and Joe Fedele as an online alternative to traditional grocery stores. The company specializes in delivering a variety of over 3,000 items such as fruits, vegetables, seafood, prepared entrees and sides, coffee, meat products, deli and cheese products, and bakery items (Goldberg, 2010). The company provides same day and next day delivery to over 600,000 customers in New York City neighborhoods in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Riverdale, Queens, Staten Island, Connecticut, Long Island, New Jersey, and Westchester County (Bruno, 2010). FreshDirect solidified its market position by purchasing directly from farmers and passed the low price to customers within seven days to guarantee freshness; therefore, the company was able to deliver food to customers’ door for 25% less than its competitors. Former CEO, Rick Braddock, used innovative ecommerce technology to give the company a competitive advantage (Hu, 2012). FreshDirect struggled to turn a profit, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement audited the company concluded 15% of the employees were not eligible to work in the U.S (Bruder, 2010). The company also experienced...
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...AMITY INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS SCHOOL MBA (International Business) Course Title: Economic Analysis Programme Name: MBA (IB)/3C MBA Course Code: MIB 106 Semester: I Classroom contact hours: 40 hours Faculty: Prof. Ajit K Pandey Prof. Kshamta Chauhan Credit Units: 04 Prof. Harendra K Pandey Self Study hours: 80 hours Course Objective This course aims to integrate various principles and concepts from different fields of economics with typical problems of managerial decision-making and policy formulation in business organizations whether in a local or global context. Understanding the application of economic principles to key management decisions will provide guidance to increase value creation within organizations, and allows a better understanding of the external business environment in which organizations operate. Learning Outcomes At the end of this course the student will be able to • − Use the theory of the firm to model business organizations • − Apply demand theory to establish the elasticity of demand • − Use demand estimation to forecast demand trends and change • − Apply production theory to manage production • − Use cost theory to establish short and long run behavior • − Describe market structures to establish market equilibrium • − Use pricing strategies to enable organizational coherence • − Use macroeconomic principles to address market...
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...Exam: 70 Internal Assessment: 30 Time: 3 Hours Project Economics and Management Paper Code: 3.1 Unit-1 Concepts of projects; project identification; formulation, analysis, risk, planning, design, report and appraisal; location of an enterprise; factory design and layout. Unit-II Understanding financial analysis; ratio analysis; fund flow analysis; breakeven analysis; social cost-benefit analysis; budgeting and planning process. Unit-III Sources of development finance; institutional finance to entrepreneurs; working capital management; incentives and subsidies; policies governing entrepreneurship; role of a consultancy organization. Unit-IV A review of project performance; post evaluation approach; community participation in projects; SWOT analysis; managing risk and exposure. Suggested Readings: 1. 2. 3. 4. Note: 1. 2. Four case studies will be discussed in a paper by the concerned teacher in the class. Instructions for External Examiner: The question paper will have two sections. Section ‘A’ shall comprise eight questions (two questions from each unit). The candidates will be required to attempt four questions (selecting one question from each unit). Section ‘B’ will contain one CASE STUDY which will be compulsory. All five questions will carry equal marks. Chandra, P., Project Planning Analysis, Selection, Implementation and Review, Tata McGraw Hill, New Delhi. Hedemey, J.W., Control and Management of Capital Projects, John Wiley, New York. Wysocki, R.K., R. Bick and D. B...
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...A) The name of the company is Apple. The reasons of choosing this company to explore its experience using the concepts of International Business are as follow: Global pattern of trade * Apple is the global company in the retail industry. 43,000 of Apple employees in the United States to work in the 30,000 Apple stores. Apple retail store employees to do more than the average wage of employees, and provides money for universities, as well as a gym membership, 401K plans, health care plans, product discounts and lower prices for the purchase of shares. * Apple has 453 retail stores (such as in March 2015) in 16 countries and 39 countries in the online store. Each store is designed to meet the requirements of the position and the regulatory authorities. Apple has received numerous architectural awards for its store design, especially its location on Fifth Avenue in midtown Manhattan on. Competitive advantage * Before the company advertised its products are being made, the late 90s of the last century the United States; however, as a result of the outsourcing plan in 2000, almost all of the manufacturing process is now abroad. According to a report the New York Times, Apple insiders "that huge overseas factories, as well as flexible, diligent and industrial skills of foreign workers have to make more than their American counterparts that" Made in USA "is no longer a viable Alternatively, for most Apple products. " * The company's production, procurement and logistics...
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...STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT TEXAS EXECUTIVE MBA PROGRAM FALL 2011 Professor David B. Jemison CBA 3.232 Telephone 471-8757 David.Jemison@mccombs.utexas.edu Texts: Porter, Michael E. Competitive Strategy. (New York: Free Press, l998). Course Description Perspective and Themes This course is about the creation and maintenance of a long-term vision for the organization. This means that it is concerned with both the determination of strategic direction and the management of the strategic process. As such, it deals with the analytical, behavioral, and creative aspects of business simultaneously. The course is organized around six themes in strategic management: the role of the general manager, the components of business strategy, corporate strategy development, divisional-level strategy development, managing strategic change, and the development of general managers. Our perspective in this course is that of the leader whose responsibility is the long-term health of the entire firm or a major division. The key tasks involved in general management include the detection of and adaptation to environmental change; the procurement and allocation of resources; the integration of activities across subparts of the organizations; and, at the most senior levels, the determination of purpose and the setting of corporate direction. General managers, from our perspective, are managers who are in the position to make strategic decisions for the firm. Note that such...
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...discussing “case” materials in light of theoretical arguments advanced in “readings.” Case materials include standard Harvard Business School cases, book chapters about individuals (Robert Moses and Henry Kissinger), corporations (e.g., Lehman Brothers and Time Warner), and industries (e.g., the auto industry), and in-class videos (e.g., a “Bill Moyer’s Journal” segment on David Rockefeller). COURSE REQUIREMENTS Final course grades will be based on student performance on three written assignments and on student participation in class discussions. Written Assignments. Each student will be expected to submit two individual case analyses that indicate what the student learned from reading and discussing the case in question. The case analyses should be one single spaced typewritten page long and should be submitted the week after the case that they address is discussed in class. Individual case analyses will be graded on a scale from 1-3 and together will comprise 10% of a student’s final grade. Each student should also form a group with three to four other students to complete a case study of a real organization. The research for this case study can be carried out using primary sources (e.g., participation observation and/or interviews) or secondary sources (e.g., books, articles, or prepared cases about a target organization). Thus, group members need not have worked in an organization to use it as the subject of their final case analysis. Other case analysis topics...
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...Change and Culture Case Study Paper Lauri-Ann Rivera HCS 514 April 15, 2013 Carol Young Change and Culture Case Study Paper It can be said that organizations change dramatically as well as very fast. They change in both structure and of culture. This can also be found when businesses merge together. In this case study, the paper will discuss the context of a healthcare organization. There are some sociological theories that are both present and that can be applied to whatever consequence that may occur because of the merger. A couple of good examples are as follows: conflict theory, which can be defined as concept of conflict over resources, role theory, this is any type of expectation that people have during the change, social constructionism, how reality is really seen by the business and employees, integration theory, social behavior that is looked at through micro/macro analysis, and finally, structural functionalism, this is meeting the individuals biological needs. Impact On Culture There is never a merger that begins and ends without a hitch. Conflicts will always be there. When there are two organizational cultures at work, the more dominant of the two will begin to take over. This can bring out resentment behaviors...
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...International News on the Internet: Why more is less Chris Paterson This study examines the intersection of news agency political economy and cyberspace information exchange between 2001 and 2006 in an effort to determine if online news has corrected – or replicated – the inequities and limitations of the international journalism provided by ‘traditional media’. Through comparisons of content at major online news sites and the output of major news wholesalers, this research is the first to demonstrate that the international news most online users consult is that of just two news agencies. This research finds an online news environment with little real information diversity – a situation at odds with a decade and a half of fervour for the democratizing potential of new media. Keywords: News agencies, online journalism, Reuters, associated press, news sources, international news New media have often been deemed inherently democratizing and liberating, offering the prospect of freeing us all from a long standing dependence on a few powerful information providers and the “mainstream” discourse they offer. McNair (2003) hailed recent internet evolution and its infinite possibilities for horizontal communication, the demystification and deprofessionalization of journalism, and endless information choice, suggesting that the chaos of the contemporary communications environment may lay to rest concerns about the power of traditional media monoliths upholding the status...
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...Analysis of the Use of the Blue Ocean Strategy; Case Study Analysis on 14 Different Agencies Zainal Abidin Mohamed, Graduate School of Management/ Faculty of Economics and Management Universiti Putra Malaysia E-mail: zainal@econ.upm.edu.my ABStrAct Fourteen companies who have applied the use of Blue Ocean Strategy (BOS) participated in this study through the case study approach. Basically, the data were focussed on the four action framework of BOS namely eliminate, reduce, raise and create activities (ERRC) identified in each of the cases. The 14 companies were grouped into 6 categories and their ERRC activities summarised accordingly. Of the 76 activities that were raised and created, 42 were customer related of which 9 were new. Of the 40 in the created category, 20 were totally new while 6 were on governance and 5 long term investment projects. Keywords: Blue Ocean Strategy, Eliminate-Reduce-Raise-Create Framework, Competitor Irrelevancy, Competitive Advantage, Introduction The Blue Ocean Strategy is still relatively new and had been introduced only in 2004 by W. C. Kim and R Mauborgne. Its principles are simple but its operationalisation and implementation has yet to be properly synchronized. Courses and workshops trained by licensed BOS are still going on and the number of certified BOS graduates has yet to be felt. Nevertheless there are already agencies that declared that they are already in the midst of applying the said BOS principles. These are the target group...
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...the role of strategic management in organisations. There are few strategies described in the report as well. I have read a lot of books and journals therefore I have mentioned a few in the reference list. There is also a case study for the body shop. It has been critically evaluated on the strategies. Moreover, the report is a business report with a well research topic. Contents page Introduction-…………………………………………………………………………….1 Findings-…………………………………………………………………………………1 * What is strategy? .......................................................................................1 * What is strategic management? ...............................................................1 * What is operational strategy?....................................................................2 * Discussing the kinds of strategies………………………………………….2 * Body shop case study………………………………………………...……..2 Conclusion………………………………………………………………………………..3 Reference list…………………………………………………………………………….3 Introduction In this paper, I will briefly be discussing the two questions given. The first will be about strategy and strategic management and second will be the case study for body shop. I will be analysing both of the questions to the best of my knowledge. Furthermore, analysing the topic critically with supporting arguments. Findings- What is strategy? Strategy basically can be described...
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...Journal of Case Research in Business and Economics Application of Six-Sigma in finance: a case study A. Ansari Seattle University Diane Lockwood Seattle University Emil Thies Zayed University Batoul Modarress Zayed University Jessie Nino Seattle University ABSTRACT In recent years, companies have begun using Six Sigma Methodology to reduce errors, excessive cycle times, inefficient processes, and cost overruns related to financial reporting systems. This paper presents a case study to illustrate the application of Six Sigma Methodology within a finance department. Specifically, the case relates to the Continuing Account Reconciliation Enhancement project undertaken by the finance department of a major U.S. defense contractor. The goal of the project was to streamline and standardize the establishment and maintenance of costing and planning for all business activities within the current financial management process. The Six Sigma implementation resulted in a significant reduction in the average cycle time and cost, per unit of activity, needed to produce the required financial reports. Key Words: Six Sigma, Process Management, Quality Management, Finance Application of Six-Sigma, Page 1 Journal of Case Research in Business and Economics INTRODUCTION In 1987, Motorola developed and organized the Six Sigma process improvement Methodology to achieve “world-class” performance, quality, and total customer satisfaction. Since that time, at least 25% of the Fortune 200, including...
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...RESEARCH SOZIALFORSCHUNG Volume 11, No. 3, Art. 17 September 2010 The Case of Value Based Communication—Epistemological and Methodological Reflections from a System Theoretical Perspective Victoria von Groddeck Key words: Abstract: The aim of this paper is to reflect the epistemological and methodological aspects of an communication empirical research study which analyzes the phenomenon of increased value communication within theory; form business organizations from a system theoretical perspective in the tradition of Niklas LUHMANN. analysis; Drawing on the theoretical term of observation it shows how a research perspective can be functional developed which opens up the scope for an empirical analysis of communication practices. This analysis; Niklas analysis focuses on the reconstruction of these practices by first understanding how these practices Luhmann; stabilize themselves and second by contrasting different practices to educe an understanding of organization different forms of observation of the relevant phenomenon and of the functions of these forms. studies; George Thus, this approach combines system theoretical epistemology, analytical research strategies, such Spencer-Brown; as form and functional analysis, and qualitative research methods, such as narrative interviews, system theory; participant observation and document analysis. value communication Table of Contents 1. System Theory and Empirical...
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...Jennifer Kunkel COMPANY NAME/WEBSITE/INDUSTRY FreshDirect / http://www.freshdirect.com/site_access/site_access.jsp / grocery industry BACKGROUND/HISTORY FreshDirect was created in July 2001 by cofounder and former chief executive officer Joseph Fedele, who was able to bring plenty of experience in New York City’s food industry to the company. Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Officer Jason Ackerman was an investment banker with Donaldson Lufkin & Jenrette, where he specialized in supermarket mergers and acquisitions and gained him exposure into the grocery industry. Fedele and Ackerman had decided to open their own chain of fresh-food stores, but decided to pursue an option that allowed them to use online shopping and central distribution to deliver their products to consumers. The idea behind the company was to take products that you typically get from a grocery store and deliver them to the doors of their customers. After several changes to CEO, Jason Ackerman is currently holding the position. (Dess, c125) SWOT ANALYSIS Strengths * Financial backing from several private sources, with a small contribution coming from the State of New York. * Outstanding customer service. * Door to door delivery. * Warehouses have multiple temperature zones to ensure freshness of different types of food. * Refrigerated trucks. Weaknesses * Only located within a certain mile radius of Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, Nassau County, Riverdale, Westchester, select...
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...Journal of Business Case Studies – Second Quarter 2006 Volume 2, Number 2 Case Studies In Marketing Research Donald K. Hsu, (Email: yanyou@hotmail.com), Dominican College ABSTRACT The use of case studies for Marketing Research has been examined. Starting with a topic selection, students collected the background information from various sources. A focus group was conducted to gather detailed information. A questionnaire was designed for an in-depth survey of the general public. Using mall intercept, 100 or more convenient samples were collected from the questionnaire. SPSS software was used to analyze this data. Then a final report with possible recommendations was written. During the course of this research, students made face-to-face interview with senior managers or CEO, selected appropriate Harvard Business School cases, did research using Internet or library resources, and added much real-life learning to the theoretical in-class knowledge. INTRODUCTION V ase studies in Marketing Research have attracted much interest for global researchers. During the last two years, participants at the European Applied Business Research Conference presented findings in marketing related topics: 56 papers in 2003 and 25 papers in 2004. Out of the 81 papers, 24 reported work on marketing research. Cho and Ha (2004) measured consumer behavior by surveying 300 people on two brand names, Chow et al (2003) studied the environment friendly (eco-label) issues on the...
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...USA TODAY – INNOVATION IN AN EVOLVING INDUSTRY: INDIVIDUAL CASE STUDY Victoria Hill USA TODAY – INNOVATION IN AN EVOLVING INDUSTRY: INDIVIDUAL CASE STUDY Victoria Hill Table of Contents 1. Executive Summary ............................................................................................................................. 3 2. Identification of the Problem ............................................................................................................... 3 3. SWOT Analysis..................................................................................................................................... 4 3. 1. Strengths ..................................................................................................................................... 4 Strength 1. Highly innovative newspaper company that has been a leader in news development .... 4 Strength 2 – Gannett is currently the largest newspaper distributor in terms of circulation ............. 4 Strength 3 – Strong portfolio with multiple Brand Extensions and Partnerships ............................... 4 Strength 4 – Excellent presence and distribution in the digital environment .................................... 4 3.2. Weaknesses .................................................................................................................................. 6 Weakness 1 – Relatively small amount of digital subscribers ....................................................
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