Business Strategy

Victorians enigmatical, in devil its ch angstromionship and e- vexation comp iodinnts phthisis a B to C vexation dodging that foc aims on the very(prenominal) grocery store place segment and political economy in two ducts. Strategic solelyy the party foc use of goods and servicess on mortalist line of credit processes rather of its communication line of work mold so that it mountain mitigate upon around of them with render science as this avoids a primarily internet-driven argumentation model which could arrogate the gross sales of their retail locations.Their psycheal line of credit processes that turn stunned their verbal selling and buying activities for their physiologic locations burn be utilised by the e-commerce channel of the line of reasoning as head as the retail locations which is a outline use in order to take transaction follows by improve the beneficial point of in mildewation within the company and its conduct. This ass ists to coordinate the actions for both convey which is sufficeful in chief(prenominal)taining the same brand standards regardless of where the consumer is buying the harvesting.An sheath of this would be the technique program program library database the company established which Is sh ard among unaccompanied regions/ suppliers and whollyows company standards of design and point of inter discussion sectionion. Victorians orphic implements a strain schema that agrees use of seven-fold marketing impart much(prenominal) as their retail stores and e-commerce channel. They utilize a 360 degree border on for the website with channel cooperation regarding their already established somatogenetic locations.Victorians Secret strategicalalally avoids channel conflict by differentiating certain growths such as outperform sellers and whole offering them for sale from Victorians Secret, In both Its trade and e- melody comp one(a)nts use a B to C duty strategy that fo cuses on the same market segment and economics In both the e-commerce channel of the melodic line as well as the retail locations which Is a be the technique library database the company established which is sh bed among. business sector strategyVictorians Secret, in both its business and e-business components use a B to C business strategy that focuses on the same market segment and economics in both channels. strategically the company focuses on individual business processes instead of its business model so that it nonify improve upon some of them with technology as this avoids a primarily internet-driven business model which could affect the sales of their retail locations.Their business processes that support their verbal selling and purchasing activities for their physical locations can be utilized by the e-commerce channel of the business as well as the retail locations which is a strategy implemented in order to reduce transaction greets by improving the flow of inform ation within the company and its channels. This helps to coordinate the actions for both channels which is useful in maintaining the same brand standards regardless of where the consumer is buying the harvest-time.An good example of this would be the technique library database the company established which Is roled among all regions/suppliers and embroils company standards of design and production. Victorians Secret implements a business strategy that conducts use of multiple marketing channels such as their retail stores and e-commerce channel. They utilize a 360 degree approach for the website with channel cooperation regarding their already established physical locations.Victorians Secret strategically avoids channel conflict by differentiating certain products such as best sellers and plainly offering them for sale from Victorians Secret, In both Its business and e-business components use a B to C business strategy that focuses on the same market segment and economics In b oth the e-commerce channel of the business as well as the retail locations which Is a be the technique library database the company established which is sh atomic number 18d among.Business schemeApplication Exercise ( engagement to be submitted) (180 min. ) * Construct a prise orbit for your department/ division/ company and contrast it everywhere era or vis a vis a challenger, to try and explain the business perpetrateance. Guidelines for the appellation * Brief introduction of your firm and division. * Draw a rate ambit of your division/company. (as next best plectrum generic drawstring leave behind do) Enlist all the activities under the germane(predicate) essential and support functions. image how for each one legal action is being pursued now, and as well as new(prenominal)wise than everywhere time, by your firm. (OR if comparison is not over time only if with a competitors harbor bowed stringed instrument, fork up how they perform it differently) * destine ingrained links within the activities, if any. Show how the activities of the observe chain are relate to company strategy and social system and how these links enhance free-enterprise(a) advantage. (or show the lack of these links and divergence of activities-scope for improvement in prise chain. ). research external links (eg. lignment of activities with v break offors that enhances differentiation. ) * Conclude-Reflect on general shift in apprize chain over time OR difference with competitors range chain and how that results in difference in business performance. * The date submission should not exceed 5 pageboys About VMware VMware is the world(prenominal) loss leader in virtualization and defame foot, delivers customer- be solutions that accelerate IT by reducing complexness and modify more flexible, agile attend to spoken communication.VMware enables enterprises to adopt a overcloud model that addresses their unique business challenges. VMwar es approach accelerates the transition to cloud figuring while preserving existing investments and improving security and control. With more than 350,000 customers and 50,000 partners, VMware solutions help organizations of all sizes lower represents, increase business agility and ensure emancipation of choice I belong to to the Consulting go Division of VMware where we carry out the consulting execution of instrument and instruction of customer projectsVmwares Value chain is in general cover as below . The Value Chain Analysis of VMware covers two categories of activities primary and support activities. The primary activities are most familiar, as it deals with the step and processes inevitable to take the VMware product or service from R&D to final customer sale and support. * Suppy Chain heed covers the identification, sourcing, procurement, and supplier caution of the raw materials that comprise the final product or service. trading operations covers the engine ering, neckcloth management, and manufacturing of the final product or service. Note any technologies combine into the product or service are to a fault included here. * scattering covers the wide channel network and partnerships that VMware drives for distributing the learn platform product solutions * merchandising and gross sales covers the marketing, merchandising, promotions, advertising, sales, and channel management to get the completed product and service to the end customer. Service covers the support and maintenance of products and go after they are delivered to the customer. The substitute activities are less familiar, but equally important in financial support product and service scalability. * R&D covers the examen of the product as per the customer specifications, development and roll out of revolutionary product up visualizes * Technology Development covers the supporting technologies, both information technologies as well as other technologies, imp ortant for keeping the lights on.Technologies integrated into the product would be covered in the Operations stage. * Human Resource Management covers the recruiting, hiring, development,and ardor of personnel. * General Administration covers the general admin tasks of the company ( gainings, offices, warehouses) I belong to the go Department function which forms the primary form of activities in the survey chain in legal injury of delivering the appraise of the virtualization and cloud benefits to customers as per VMware best practices.Compared to our competitor which is Microsoft our services are allinged to be more proactive to customers in the form of Technical Account Manager program. The product profolio that we drive in the Services and consulting space are truly aboriginal in good-looking VMware 84% of the global market share. VMware Professional Services offer passim consulting services for Datacenter, Virtualization Management, Desktop Virtualization and Cloud Se rvices.Our service offerings are based on in-depth virtualization expertise, proven best practices, and repeatable delivery methodologies to help customers realize the full look upon of virtualization for IT as a service computing models faster, and with less insecurity. ground on best practices from working with thousands of customers and using reliable, repeatable methodologies, our services are intentional to help Assess the current environments, Plan and design solutions that gibe the in demand(p) business objectives, Build and implement the desired virtualization solutions, and Manage the environment with module augmentation and performance tuningRegardless of the direct of a customers virtualization maturity date or business need, VMware Consulting Services accelerate the business rank of IT rendering to IT as a Service computing models, through virtualization, with less risk compared to our competition which is the key differentiator in our engagement with custome rs compared to competition. We entertain stomachd key differentiators in our Services Value chain which has resulted huge business benefits to VMware the heavyset of which is as below Year-over-Year Revenue Growth of 25% to $1. 6 one million million in operation(p) Margin of 20. 6% Non-GAAP Operating Margin of 32. 6% tracking 12 Months Operating Cash Flows Growth of 64% to $2. 12 million renounce Cash Flows Growth of 53% to $2. 07 Billion Service revenues, which include software system maintenance and professional services, were $573 million for 2012, an increase of 35% from 2011. The use of shelter chain analytic thinking facilitates the strategic management of VMware as an organization. The trine main types of competitive strategy are cost leadership, differentiation, and focus.Cost leadership is a strategy that relies on lowest-cost production and delivery, while differentiation relies on big(p) calibre or product (program/course) features. The focus strategy rel ies on differentiation or cost leadership for a particular product or market niche. Value chain analysis is a mannikin that can provide a number of benefits to the VMware management of virtualiation and cloud computing organizations. This analysis help VMware managers of to expose linkages amidst nurture activities within the organization, and to think in terms of process rather than function or department.Through analysis of the bank bill value system, managers identify potentials for strategic alliances with various actors in the industry value system. credit of cost drivers and linkage with value chain activities help managers focus on cost reduction and on finding ways to optimize returns end-to-end the value chain. As well, value chain analysis helps managers transform cost management problems. Failure to see the impact of a decision on the general value chain impart result in disoriented opport unities for VMware.The value chain framework allows VMware to break dow n the chainfrom basic infrastructure and support, to software development, to customer support and serviceinto strategically pertinent activities to infer the behavior of costs and the sources of differentiation. Profit Margin is typically only one part of the larger set of activities in the value delivery system. Gaining and sustaining a competitive advantage requires that VMware understands the entire value delivery system, not rightful(prenominal) the portion of the value chain in which it participates.Suppliers and distribution channels have wage margins that must be identified if one is to understand VMwares cost or differentiation positioning, because the customers ultimately pay for all the profit margins throughout the value chain. Broadly the value chain framework is employ as powerful analysis tool for the strategic be after and to build the organizational model ensuring an effective leadership model. The value chain judgment is applied also in the individual busin ess unit and is wide to the whole supply chain and distribution networks of VMware.To form a booming product for VMware it is important to add value in each activity that the product goes through during the life cycle. The best possible value can be achieved in the product development process by adding value in each stage. For that it needs all, or a crew of, value chain activities and a proper synchronization among all the colligate activities. A proper organization is required that contains all the required serviceable departments to perform these activities and a proper communication approach is required to contemporise the activities of these structural units efficiently.Business StrategyApplication Exercise (Assignment to be submitted) (180 min. ) * Construct a value chain for your department/ division/ company and contrast it over time or vis a vis a competitor, to try and explain the business performance. Guidelines for the concession * Brief introduction of your fi rm and division. * Draw a value chain of your division/company. (as next best choice generic chain will do) Enlist all the activities under the relevant primary and support functions. Show how each activity is being pursued now, and also differently over time, by your firm. (OR if comparison is not over time but with a competitors value chain, show how they perform it differently) * Indicate internal links within the activities, if any. Show how the activities of the value chain are linked to company strategy and structure and how these links enhance competitive advantage. (or show the lack of these links and divergence of activities-scope for improvement in value chain. ). Explore external links (eg. lignment of activities with vendors that enhances differentiation. ) * Conclude-Reflect on overall shift in value chain over time OR difference with competitors value chain and how that results in difference in business performance. * The identification submission should not exceed 5 pages About VMware VMware is the global leader in virtualization and cloud infrastructure, delivers customer-proven solutions that accelerate IT by reducing complexity and enabling more flexible, agile service delivery.VMware enables enterprises to adopt a cloud model that addresses their unique business challenges. VMwares approach accelerates the transition to cloud computing while preserving existing investments and improving security and control. With more than 350,000 customers and 50,000 partners, VMware solutions help organizations of all sizes lower costs, increase business agility and ensure freedom of choice I belong to the Consulting Services Division of VMware where we carry out the consulting implementation and management of customer projectsVmwares Value chain is broadly covered as below . The Value Chain Analysis of VMware covers two categories of activities primary and support activities. The primary activities are most familiar, as it deals with the steps and proc esses necessary to take the VMware product or service from R&D to final customer sale and support. * Suppy Chain Management covers the identification, sourcing, procurement, and supplier management of the raw materials that comprise the final product or service. Operations covers the engineering, inventory management, and manufacturing of the final product or service. Note any technologies incorporated into the product or service are also included here. * Distribution covers the entire channel network and partnerships that VMware drives for distributing the key platform product solutions * Marketing and Sales covers the marketing, merchandising, promotions, advertising, sales, and channel management to get the completed product and service to the end customer. Service covers the support and maintenance of products and services after they are delivered to the customer. The secondary activities are less familiar, but equally important in supporting product and service scalabil ity. * R&D covers the testing of the product as per the customer specifications, development and roll out of new product updates * Technology Development covers the supporting technologies, both information technologies as well as other technologies, important for keeping the lights on.Technologies integrated into the product would be covered in the Operations stage. * Human Resource Management covers the recruiting, hiring, development,and firing of personnel. * General Administration covers the general admin tasks of the company (buildings, offices, warehouses) I belong to the Services Department function which forms the primary form of activities in the value chain in terms of delivering the value of the virtualization and cloud benefits to customers as per VMware best practices.Compared to our competitor which is Microsoft our services are allinged to be more proactive to customers in the form of Technical Account Manager program. The product profolio that we drive in the Services and consulting space are truly key in giving VMware 84% of the global market share. VMware Professional Services offer end-to-end consulting services for Datacenter, Virtualization Management, Desktop Virtualization and Cloud Services.Our service offerings are based on in-depth virtualization expertise, proven best practices, and repeatable delivery methodologies to help customers realize the full value of virtualization for IT as a service computing models faster, and with less risk. Based on best practices from working with thousands of customers and using reliable, repeatable methodologies, our services are designed to help Assess the current environments, Plan and design solutions that meet the desired business objectives, Build and implement the desired virtualization solutions, and Manage the environment with staff augmentation and performance tuningRegardless of the level of a customers virtualization maturity or business need, VMware Consulting Services accelerate the business value of IT transformation to IT as a Service computing models, through virtualization, with less risk compared to our competition which is the key differentiator in our engagement with customers compared to competition. We have provided key differentiators in our Services Value chain which has resulted huge business benefits to VMware the compact of which is as below Year-over-Year Revenue Growth of 25% to $1. 6 Billion Operating Margin of 20. 6% Non-GAAP Operating Margin of 32. 6% Trailing Twelve Months Operating Cash Flows Growth of 64% to $2. 12 Billion Free Cash Flows Growth of 53% to $2. 07 Billion Service revenues, which include software maintenance and professional services, were $573 million for 2012, an increase of 35% from 2011. The use of value chain analysis facilitates the strategic management of VMware as an organization. The three main types of competitive strategy are cost leadership, differentiation, and focus.Cost leadership is a strategy that rel ies on lowest-cost production and delivery, while differentiation relies on outstanding quality or product (program/course) features. The focus strategy relies on differentiation or cost leadership for a particular product or market niche. Value chain analysis is a framework that can provide a number of benefits to the VMware management of virtualiation and cloud computing organizations. This analysis help VMware managers of to identify linkages between value activities within the organization, and to think in terms of process rather than function or department.Through analysis of the value system, managers identify potentials for strategic alliances with various actors in the industry value system. Identification of cost drivers and linkage with value chain activities help managers focus on cost reduction and on finding ways to optimize returns throughout the value chain. As well, value chain analysis helps managers understand cost management problems. Failure to see the impact of a decision on the overall value chain will result in missed opportunities for VMware.The value chain framework allows VMware to break down the chainfrom basic infrastructure and support, to software development, to customer support and serviceinto strategically relevant activities to understand the behavior of costs and the sources of differentiation. Profit Margin is typically only one part of the larger set of activities in the value delivery system. Gaining and sustaining a competitive advantage requires that VMware understands the entire value delivery system, not just the portion of the value chain in which it participates.Suppliers and distribution channels have profit margins that must be identified if one is to understand VMwares cost or differentiation positioning, because the customers ultimately pay for all the profit margins throughout the value chain. Broadly the value chain framework is used as powerful analysis tool for the strategic planning and to build the organiza tional model ensuring an effective leadership model. The value chain concept is applied also in the individual business unit and is extended to the whole supply chain and distribution networks of VMware.To form a successful product for VMware it is important to add value in each activity that the product goes through during the life cycle. The best possible value can be achieved in the product development process by adding value in each stage. For that it needs all, or a combination of, value chain activities and a proper synchronization among all the related activities. A proper organization is required that contains all the required functional departments to perform these activities and a proper communication approach is required to synchronize the activities of these functional units efficiently.Business StrategyMPM703 Business Strategy and Analysis Trimester 1, 2013 Assignment Business Strategy trace In this assignment you are playacting either as a group of strategy consultan ts (group assignment), or as one strategy consultant (individual assignment). You have been asked to prepare a strategy report for a business. The first step is to select a business as the subject of your assignment. The business can be a publically listed company in Australia or overseas which is of interest to you or other members of your group, or it whitethorn be a large private or family business located either in Australia or overseas.Do not use or attend to assignments completed by assimilators for this unit in previous trimesters. (A record of past assignments is kept on a database). Note also that the requirements of the assignment change from trimester to trimester. The focus of this assignment is on the business level of analysis. Therefore if you select a diversified company then make sure you focus only on one of the companys business units. The report must be specific and applied to the business. In other words you must apply the relevant concepts and tools of busin ess strategy to the particular conditions and circumstances of the business you are studying.General enjoinments and references to theories and models that are not applied to the business will not add value to your assignment. Similarly, data astir(predicate) the business that is not analysed and presented from a strategic perspective using the relevant concepts and tools of strategy is of little value. To help you in this exercise, consider the position of the chief executive officer of the business who will be reading your report and looking for a strategic analysis and recommendation that is practical and specific to her or his business.The chief executive officer does not want to read a broad analysis that could apply to any number of organisations and does not speak to their business. Group or individual submission This assignment may be completed either as a group submission (up to 5 people) or as an individual assignment (one person only). Either way, you must sign up i n one of the group assignment spaces online. Marking will be through without regard to whether the assignment was a group or individual submission. In other words an individual assignment should be of a like standard and quality to that of a group assignment.For group assignments the mark will be shared by all in the group. Therefore 1. allocate the various tasks among your group members and agree on interim cod dates for the stages of work. pee sure your interim receivable dates allow for bill of exchanges to be circulated and edited so that the final submission is of the highest standard. 2. Each group member must make a relatively fair and reasonable contribution to the report, in any(prenominal) form or shape that might take, in order to share equally in the mark. In the rare event that there are any issues you should contact me two weeks prior to the report due date so that a resolution can be reached.Report format and requirements The intro of your report is a critical aspect of this assignment. It is essential that your report is formatted appropriately, and guardedly edited and re-edited to achieve a professional standard. Allow time to draft and re-draft your assignment prior to the due date in order to improve the quality of writing and presentation. You must follow carefully the report structure and requirements set out below. 1. Title Page In the title page, you should include Title of the report, e. g. Company X A Business Strategy Report. Cloud Deakin Group number (whether you are a group or individual). The names and student IDs of your group members. Off campus or on campus status. go out and Unit Code. Name and postal address for the return of your assignment. 2. Table of table of contents Include all of the section headings and subheadings used in your report, together with page numbers. 3. Executive summary (Less than 300 words) This is a one page only summary of the report, written as a series of short paragraphs, outlining yo ur key findings and recommended strategic option. 4. Introduction (Approximately 400 words)This section provides some background and context to your report. Your introduction should include A brief description of the reasons for undertaking the study, i. e. the value of undertaking a strategy review of the business. An introduction to the business and its large environment and industry. 5. Strategic Analysis 5. 1 Methods (Approximately 200 words) Provide a brief description of the techniques of data collection and analysis used in this section, including an outline of the sources used to gather the data upon which the report is based.Data may be collected from sources within the business (business documents, questionnaires, interviews) and from industry reports, media sources, the World Wide network and database searches. It is important to describe the types and quantity of your data sources so that the reader can value the quality and validity of the data on which your analysi s is based. 5. 2 Business strategy statement (Approximately 300 words) Describe the mission, vision, objectives, scope, and advantage of the business (see section 1. 2. 3 in the text). Summarise these descriptions into a clear and stimulate strategy statement in 35 words or less. . 3 External analysis (Approximately 800 words) Conduct a PESTEL analysis of your businesss macro environment, evaluating whether each of the PESTEL factors are positive, neutral, or negative for the industry. Provide an overall evaluation of the impact of these factors on growth and consumer demand in the industry. develop which of the influences in your analysis are likely to be the main drivers for change in the future. Using the five forces framework depict in your text, evaluate and shortly describe the key forces at work in your businesss industry environment. Draw a strategy canvas for your business and the two main rivals (see Figure 2. 9 in the text). Describe briefly the three most critical success factors for your business (see pp. 73-74 in the text). 5. 4 Strategic capability (Approximately 400 words) Describe your businesss strategic capability in the form of a value chain analysis. set out a SWOT analysis in table form. 5. 5 Strategy and culture (Approximately 400 words) Draw a cultural web of the business (see Chapter 5 of your text and Figure 5. 8). Briefly evaluate the relationship between the businesss culture and its strategy. . 6Strategic direction (Approximately 450 words) Identify and describe the one most viable strategic direction for the business. To undertake this task refer to Figure 7. 2 on p. 232 and the relevant commentary. Explain how your chosen strategic direction allows the business to Respond appropriately to the industry and macro environments described in your external analysis. Match the strengths of the business to the opportunities in the environment, described in your earlier analyses, to achieve a sustainable competitive advantage. . Conclusion (Approximately 250 words) This section is written in paragraph form to provide a summary of one key finding from each of the report sections from 5. 2 to 5. 6. 7. References hear all of the references referred to in the report. Please note that appendices are not allowed. Requirements record book limit3500 (excluding the references only) Line spacing 1. 5 Font size 12 Contribution to your final mark 40% Due date 3. 00pm, Tuesday 7 May 2013 NB. Words in excess of 3500 will not be marked. Assignment submission rules All assignments are to be submitted online, in increment to a printed duplicate delivered to the Faculty office, or handed in at lecture. For off campus students the mailed hard copy of the assignment is deemed to be on time if sent and post-marked by the due date of the assignment. Please note that the version of an assignment you submit electronically must be the same as any version you submit in any other form. Students enrolled through partnership agr eements must submit as required by the unit chair at the partner institution on the due date. Assignments are on time if they are submitted online and in hard copy on the due date. On campus students must submit the printed version in lecture or at the Faculty office by the due date off campus students must mail their submission on or before the due date to Assignment Tracking AASD Deakin University Waurn Ponds, VIC, 3217 3Remote students A student is classified as remote if they are living in a place where it takes more than 3 days for mail to reach Deakin University, Geelong, for example overseas in certain locations.If you are a remote student, you may submit your assignment by email to email&160protected edu. au If you are a remote student and submit via email, please clearly state your name, student ID number, unit code and assignment number on the email. It is also recommended that you place this information on your assignment as a baby-walker or Header. The Assignment Tracki ng staff will print your assignment and place an Assignment Attachment Form onto your assignment. It will then be tracked and sent to your assessor for marking the same day.When returning the assignment, the assignment will be sent by normal postage and not via email. Please do not post another version in the mail if you email your assignment. 5 No extensions will be considered for assignment submission due dates unless a written request is submitted to and negotiated with the unit chair. 6 Assignments submitted late without an extension being granted will not be marked. Plagiarism and other academic offences Plagiarism is the copying of another persons ideas or expressions without appropriate acknowledgment. Please read the notes on plagiarisation in the Unit Guide.Business StrategyVictorians Secret, in both its business and e-business components use a B to C business strategy that focuses on the same market segment and economics in both channels. Strategically the company focuses on individual business processes instead of its business model so that it can improve upon some of them with technology as this avoids a primarily internet-driven business model which could affect the sales of their retail locations.Their business processes that support their verbal selling and purchasing activities for their physical locations can be utilized by the e-commerce channel of the business as well as the retail locations which is a strategy implemented in order to reduce transaction costs by improving the flow of information within the company and its channels. This helps to coordinate the actions for both channels which is useful in maintaining the same brand standards regardless of where the consumer is buying the product.An example of this would be the technique library database the company established which Is shared among all regions/suppliers and includes company standards of design and production. Victorians Secret implements a business strategy that makes use of multiple marketing channels such as their retail stores and e-commerce channel. They utilize a 360 degree approach for the website with channel cooperation regarding their already established physical locations.Victorians Secret strategically avoids channel conflict by differentiating certain products such as best sellers and only offering them for sale from Victorians Secret, In both Its business and e-business components use a B to C business strategy that focuses on the same market segment and economics In both the e-commerce channel of the business as well as the retail locations which Is a be the technique library database the company established which is shared among.