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PORTER INDUSTRY ANALYSIS MBP COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS
PORTER INDUSTRY ANALYSIS: MBP COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS
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Introduction
Companies and businesses continue to live and operate with the informal impression on their competitors, gathering information that is not analyzed. This poses a great threat to the business since a competitor in the industry undermines the profitability of a company. A competitive analysis is required in order to understand the competitors and come up with better ways of handling customers. Porter developed a framework that analyses the competition within a business development and industry. This framework derives its information on five forces that ensure attractiveness in the market thus ensuring high competition. These forces are close to a business and affect the profitability and the sustainability of the business. This paper analyses the Mother Bear’s Pizza business using the Porter’s five force model of industry analysis. The analysis is used to determine the sustainability and is profitability of the business (Arons & Waalewijn, 1999).
Competitive Strategy of the Business
The competitive analysis is an important corporate part of a business. The competitive strategy determines the weaknesses and the strengths of the business competitors within the market. Mother Bear’s pizza is located in the Indiana university Bloomington campus and is widely known for its delicious pizza (Mother Bears Pizza, 2014). Mother Bear’s Pizza faces the threat of competition from other joints that serve Pizza in the town. The competitive business strategy will help the company to offer more pizzas effectively and gain a competitive advantage. The competitive business strategy focuses on the threat of bargaining power of suppliers, the industry rivalry, and the bargaining power of buyers, the threat of substitutes, and the threat of entry into the industry or business. Competitive strategy of Mother Bear’s pizza business is focused on these factors and the analysis indicates the profitability and sustainability of the business in competition.
Bargaining Power of Customers
The buyers determine the competitive advantages of businesses. This represents the capability of customers or the buyers to exert pressure to the business and this affects their sensitivity to changes in the prices of the products. The customer bargaining power is also referred to as a market of output. BIP business should take measures in order to control the bargaining power of their customers. The buyers possess this ability to minimize the prices of products and increase the quality of the same product at the same price and this therefore reduces the profitability and sustainability of the business. The bargaining power of the MBP customers is since they are not in large numbers. The business has not expanded so much and hence the customers are tied into using the supplier’s products. The company receives large volume orders since it’s in a specific location hence the strong bargaining power. This affects the profitability of the Mother Bear’s Pizza business since the customers can find inexpensive and easy switch of suppliers.
Threat of Substitutes for Business
Substitute products meet the customer needs the same way as another product. The production of the substitutes is dome in a different industry. The existence of another outside the business that satisfies the customers provides cheap alternatives for the customers to switch and thus reducing the profitability of the business (Arons & Waalewijn, 1999). In the case of the Mother Bear’s Pizza business, the presence of a substitute will harm the business, as the customers will find it easy to shift. If the price performance of the substitute is attractive and the quality is high, this poses a threat to the business, as it will lose the profits due to the imposed threat by the substitutes. If the cost of changing is low, customers are also likely to shift. The business will have to offer high quality product with relative prices compared to the substitutes in order to ensure the sustainability of the business.
Bargaining Power of Suppliers
This represents an important force in the competitive analysis of a business. All industries and businesses need raw materials in order to carry out production. The raw materials include inputs, labor, and other components. This requires a strong relations hip between the buyer and the seller. If the suppliers are fewer, they tend to wield significant power to the business and industry. When the suppliers attain the bargaining power, they exert pressure on the business, as they will charge high process for the raw materials and components thus increasing the prices of the products (Porter’s Five Forces Model, 2014). They will also control the delivery timelines of the companies thus inconveniencing the customers and the business resulting to low sales and hence e low profits. The MBP business experiences strong bargaining power from the suppliers due to the competition from other companies selling pizza in the Bloomington town. The business should have the ability to find substitute raw materials in order to lower the bargaining power of the suppliers and maintain the sustainability and profitability.
Threat of New Entrants
The force of new entrants in the business determines how it is easy or hard to enter into the industry. If an industry continues to experience more profits and has few barriers in entry, more companies will enter the industry in search of profits. This will result to more competition in the industry hence the profits of the business will start to fall affecting the sustainability of the business. In the case of MBP business, the entrance of a new business in the industry will mean that the company will experience high competition and the profits will drop since some of the customers will shift to other alternatives. The business requires low amount of capital to start hence more entrants that are new are bound to join the industry. The MBP business should ensure that the switching cost to their business from other competitors is low in order to gain a competitive advantage. The business should also establish a customer loyalty program in order to stop the customers from shifting.
Rivalry
When the there are many competitors in the industry, they engage in stiff competition in order to achieve and attain a market share (Porter’s Five Forces Model, 2014). Companies rival each other especially when the exit barriers are high, when the industry growth is slow, or even when the competitors are of equal size. The MBP business will have to compete aggressively since the pizza market has many competitors in order to maintain its market share. The business will have to engage in price competition in order to win the large market share ensuring the sustainability and profitability.
Conclusion
The availability of critical information on the important forces that affect the profitability of a business is crucial. The competitive analysis of a business helps it to gain competitive advantage by exerting power on its capabilities and weaknesses of their competitors by overcoming their strengths. By understanding the factors that determine the competitiveness of the business as indicated by the Porter’s model of industry analysis, companies are able to maintain their profitability and sustainability in the industry amid stiff competition.
Reference
Arons, H. d., & Waalewijn, P. (1999). A knowledge base representing Porter’s five forces model.Rotterdam: RIBES, Rotterdam Institute for Business Economic Studies.
Mother Bears Pizza. (n.d.). Mother Bears Pizza. Retrieved October 24, 2014, fromhttp://www.motherbearspizza.com/Porter’s Five Forces Model: analysing industry structure. (n.d.). Porter’s Five Forces Model:analysing industry structure. Retrieved October 24, 2014, fromhttp://www.tutor2u.net/business/strategy/porter_five_forces.htmThe Five Competitive Forces That Shape Strategy. (n.d.). Harvard Business Review. RetrievedOctober 22, 2014, from http://hbr.org/2008/01/the-five-competitive-forces-that-shapestrategy/ar/1
The Demon in the Freezer
A Review: The Demon in the Freezer
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Preston, R. (2002). The Demon in the Freezer: A True Story. New York, NY: Penguin Random House LLC
Introduction
The relevance of the book
This book was written to help people understand how and why viruses can become a pandemic. The book does this by describing how smallpox became eliminated in the world. It also discusses how quickly the virus could spread if introduced into a population without immunity. The context of the book is that it was written in the early 1990s before many countries had universal health care and programs to eliminate childhood diseases like polio or measles.
Background Information
The author has an extensive scientific knowledge of infectious agents, pathology, virology and immunology. In his years of research, he has conducted many experiments to determine whether these viruses were the cause of diseases and how they could be eliminated. He has written two books on the topic that have been translated into several languages.
The purpose of the book
This book aims to describe how smallpox became eliminated in the world and discuss how quickly a new virus can spread if introduced into a population without immunity.
Scope of the Book’s Content
The book only describes smallpox and its history. It also discusses why this disease spreads so quickly and how it could be eliminated by controlling global trade.
Description
An Overview/Summary of the Book
In the Demon in the Freezer, Preston takes readers back to a time when modern science was still in its infancy and explores morality from that perspective. His goal is not to determine what was “right” or “wrong” as it is to show how humans long ago shared many of their values and principles with people who are now considered scientific pioneers.
The Methodology of the Author
He begins his work by introducing his idea that questioning scientific thought can benefit society. He proceeds with a summary of what he believes human moral development began around 400 BC until the present day. He then stages a debate between himself and readers regarding scientific experimentation. Finally, he goes into depth describing his beliefs regarding scientific morality.
Assumptions Made by the Author
Preston sees scientists as human beings who are just as capable of being moral (or immoral) as anyone else. Therefore, they must be held to the same standards of morality as anyone else. He sees science progressing faster than humanity’s ability to understand or corroborate that science; therefore, scientists must be careful not to do evil in the name of science.
The Thesis of the Book
The thesis seems to be that advances in science should not be made at all costs and that scientists should not ignore the ramifications of their work.
The structure of the book
The book is structured so that the reader is being led through the arguments that Preston Richard is making concerning virology as a bioterror. He explores how important an issue it is that this research be ethically sound and not be conducted in a vacuum with little or no consideration of other concerns.
Many people are rightfully wary of virology research, and any work conducted in the field has the potential to have very negative consequences. “The Demon in the Freezer” examines this field from a new perspective never before taken into account: from within and outside scientific research, including objections and comments on ethical concerns that could result from such investigations.
Evaluation
Preston attempts to address bioterrorism issues by introducing a highly virulent virus into a vulnerable population. In doing so, the author confronts the global ethics that should guide scientific efforts. However, it is important to evaluate the methodology by which the author attempts to address such issues. Even though Preston cites numerous facts and findings that experts across the globe have made, he does not seem to acknowledge a significant body of scientific literature in his conclusions. Due to a conflict of interest, Preston may have ignored opinions contrary to his own. For example, Preston alludes to the possibility for a genetically engineered germ to be made which would resist all but the most powerful antibiotics. In actuality, many viruses and bacteria are resistant to certain types of antibiotics; however, expressing resistance against all but the most powerful antibiotics seems unlikely.
Preston exaggerates the threat of biological warfare by using emotive language. For example, he states that if another plague like the Black Death were loosed upon humanity, three-quarters of the world’s population would perish. However, Preston uses no scientific evidence to support this claim.
The majority of the scientific literature that Preston cites supports the notion that genetic engineering has considerable limitations. However, it is important to acknowledge that there have been great advancements in biotechnology; however, these advancements have not made bacteria or viruses more virulent. For example, a study cited by Preston demonstrates how DNA cannot be inserted into certain animal cells; however, this finding does not necessarily mean that it is impossible to insert DNA into a different type of cell.
Summary
Richard Preston’s book has many strengths that provide a new perspective on biological weapons research. I think this is important because biological weapons research is not a topic that receives much attention, so Preston’s perspective provides new insights to readers as to how this type of science operates and its potential for misuse. Conversely, the book also has a limitation in terms of the detail it provides. The book is not so much a history of biological weapons programs. It is a research study where Preston looks at the potential of biological weapons, the science involved, and some of the potential unethical uses, including their potential to create havoc with environmental systems. Preston is not trying to give readers an overview of all biological weapons programs, but rather he provides insight into some of the most notable ones and their projects.
The demographics of Australia have significantly changed in the last decade
TASK 1
Job Description
The demographics of Australia have significantly changed in the last decade. Thus, Adept Owl Games Company found it necessary to assess the diversity and inclusion of its workforce. As a result, the company employed me as a Diversity and Inclusion Specialist to develop a diverse and inclusive workforce. Also, create and encourage an equitable, fair, accessible, and respectful work environment that values and recognises personal characteristics such as gender, race, sexual orientation, and religious beliefs. The Diversity and Inclusion Specialist roles should align and support the company’s strategies, goals, values, and priorities.
Personal and Team Goals
Improve my understanding of the different diversity and inclusion issues at the workplace.
Participate in different training and seminars on the different diversity and inclusion issues, especially on cultural competency.
Participate in different professional activities both online and physically to increase my experience interacting with people with different personal characteristics and cultural backgrounds.
Coordinate with the Human Resource department team to develop effective strategies to attract and recruit a more diverse applicant pool for employment.
Work with the Human Resource department team to create a productive work environment free from discrimination, harassment, and bullying.
Work Plans
Work Goal 1: Building a Diverse and Inclusive Workforce in the Company Work Plan
Work Activity Description Goal KPIs Timeframe Person Responsible
Recruiting a more diverse workforce It is conducting inclusive employee recruitment and selection, taking into account individuals with a disability, gender representation, and non-natives. To achieve a diverse workforce that resonates with the changing Australian Market diversity Improvement in the organisational workforce and management inclusivity and diversity year after year By November 2022 Human Resource hiring team and line managers that participate in the recruitment process
Development of a Consultation Programme for Managers and Leaders Creating a consultation programme that provides managers and leaders with insights on developing inclusive strategies and training on how to work and handle a diverse workforce To guide the organisation management and leadership on inclusive leadership and prevent unconscious and conscious biases An improvement in staff perception on the level f diversity in the organisation.
Improvement in organisation leaders and managers understanding and demonstration of inclusivity and diversity By June 2022 Inclusivity and Diversity Specialist
Developing diverse programmes, training, seminars, and workshops Training workforce on the concept of inclusivity and diversity To create a workforce that understands, recognise, embraces, and values differences Improvement in staff understanding of inclusivity and leadership and their importance in the workplace. By June 2022 Diversity and Inclusion Specialist
Work Goal 2: Create and encourage an equitable, fair, accessible, and respectful work environment that value and recognize the personal characteristics
Work Activity Description Goal KPI Timeframe Person Responsible
Conduct 60-minute Virtual Focus groups with workers from different Identity groups Organise virtual focus groups with workers from different identity groups to gather information on their challenges and possible solutions To understand the inclusivity and diversity issues in the company that should be addressed Improvement in staff perception in the level of diversity and inclusivity in the company By April 2022 Diversity and Inclusivity Specialist
Development of communication channel that encourages speak up Provide workforce with an avenue that they can report the various inclusivity and diversity challenges they are experiencing in the organisation and offer feedback To encourage employees to speak up as the company’s work towards a more inclusive and diverse organisation Improvement in staff understanding and perception about inclusivity and diversity in the company By April 2022 Diversity and Inclusivity Specialist
Journal
The company attracts, retains, and engages consumers in the entire Australian market in a supportive environment by building trust and providing quality and excellent products and services. Therefore, my personal and team goals revolve around understating and interacting with people of different cultural backgrounds. Work goals are essential in daily operations in the business. However, there is a need for personal and team goals that align with the work goals to give the workforce direction, focus, and motivation. Additionally, team and individual goals help the workforce stay on track and plan for the future.
Adept Owl Games Company is working towards achieving a diverse and inclusive workforce and creating and encouraging a work environment that is fair, equitable, and respectful of differences in personal characteristics. Therefore, the company’s Key Performance Indicators are essential in evaluating and explaining the company’s progress in achieving a diverse workforce and examining how the company’s workforce perception and understanding of inclusivity and diversity are developing.
The organisational workforce tends to be resistant to change. As a Diversity and Inclusivity Specialist, I will engage the workforce through effective communication. This aims to listen to their ideas and perceptions on the issue of inclusivity and diversity and seek their feedback on various programmes and practices I intend to implement. Additionally, I possess strong interpersonal skills and organisational skills. These skills will come in handy in relating and interacting with the workforce and developing a work plan that will achieve the company’s objective.
Due to the company’s urgency in the matter, I prioritise five activities to achieve the company’s work goals. These interdependent activities take a short time, making it easy to manage and wheel them into achieving set objectives. A work plan is a significant tool in achieving set goals. I developed a work plan that will be essential in assigning tasks to various Human Resource team members, managing the work flow, tracking the progress, and meeting our set deadline.
In all aspects of my work, my goal is to be a role model to others; by carrying myself in a way that actively supports the principle of togetherness and promotes inclusivity and diversity in the workplace. Inclusivity and diversity is a new department in Adept Owl Games Company; thus, the workload is expected to be a lot. Similarly, to create change, a lot of resistance is expected that might negatively impact my mental health and result in stress. I plan to create a flexible work schedule that encourages work-life balance and work with realistic goals and expectations to avoid mental stress.