Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Strategic Management
Strategic Management
Group Members:
Sheriece Blake 620088984
Arneta Buckeridge 620154819
Kimberly Dewar 620082261
Roshell Fyffe 620014084
Sashae Jarrett 620167742
Randain Matthews 620041728
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Abstract
The case study highlights the connection between an organisation's strategy and its
success, emphasizing the importance of effective leadership and the potential for both positive
and negative outcomes in achieving organisational goals. Human Resource Managers today play
a significant role in linking the connection between organisational strategy and leadership to meet
the organisation's goals for performance, effectiveness, and objectives. In this paper, we want to
offer insight through in-depth research utilizing journals and publications that are centered on
attain organisational success. After all, your most significant asset is your workforce. It is possible
to define Strategic Human Resource Management as the proactive planning and development of
is done using the strategy frameworks SWOT. These strategy tools were developed to examine
both internal and external factors impacting XYZ Electronics and its industry, to develop
strategies that may proactively address organisational difficulties, and its environment
(PESTLE). The company's long-term viability and sustainability depend on the results of this
research.
The case of XYZ Electronics, which Basil Briggs' father created and then handed over to
his son, will be covered in this paper. Basil, whose leadership style is laissez-faire and whose
vision is myopic, needs to recognize that the changing economic environment necessitates that
his methods change if he is to continue to be prosperous and a titan in the sector he formerly
controlled. This essay analyzes the current tactics and suggests the adjustments required for
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success. The business is being compared to firms like Blackberry and Apple. Every company
requires a strong organisational strategy in order to lay out a plan for the future.
With the introduction of new executives to the company, who have the zeal to take
immediate action concerning the company’s current state. XYZ Electronics have initiated the
strategic management planning process, the faith of the company will be determined by how well
management formulate, implement and evaluate strategies, to combat the current internal and
Table of Content
Glossary.……………………………………………………………………………………5
XYZ Electronics New Vision Statement, Mission Statement, and Core Values…………..7
The Justification of XYZ Electronics New Vision Statement and Mission Statement…….8
Transformational Leadership……………………………………………………………....33
Change Management………………………………………………………………………42
Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………………67
References…………………………………………………………………………………69
Appendices………………………………………………………………………………...76
Addendum…………………………………………………………………………………81
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Glossary
Abbreviations:
HR Human Resource
Definitions:
i. Business Strategy: An outline of the actions and decisions a company plans to take to
ii. Cohesive Leadership: Cohesive leadership refers to the type of leadership that is
iv. Growth Wheel: The visual tool helps to quickly identify the most important Focus
Areas and define decisions and actions the business should be working on.
influences a group, and directs the group toward a specific goal or mission (SHRM, 2019).
vii. Mission: A mission statement tells an organisation its reason for being/existing.
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viii. Resource Based Technique: This is a model that sees resources as key to superior firm
performance. If a resource exhibits VRIO attributes, the resource enables the firm to gain
unique value proposition that a business sustains over time to outperform its competitors.
and strategic planning. It’s the compass that guides a company through the rough seas of
x. SWOT: SWOT analysis aims to identify the strengths and weaknesses of an organisation
and the opportunities and threats in the environment. Having identified these factors,
strategies are developed which may build on the strengths, eliminate the weaknesses,
changing the values, beliefs and attitudes of followers. The leader motivates followers by
providing a vision of where the group is heading in the future and developing a work
xii. Value Statement: A company's value statement defines actions that validate the
xiii. Vision: A vision statement usually answers the question of what a company wants to
become.
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A company’s success is heavily reliant on their ability to identify and define their main
aims and overarching goals. The mission and vision statements are tools used to identify, expand
and convey the organisations goals and objectives. Most importantly these statements guide the
strategic direction of a company and when reinforced correctly, increases the perceived value of
a company. These statements are vital in developing the strategic management process, which
involves scanning the business environment, collecting and scrutinizing information for strategic
reasons. The mission and vision statements essentially instruct the managers on what to look for
when hiring and making crucial business affecting decisions. The HR Practitioner should use
To be the most customer centric company of choice for high-quality, diverse and
innovation and redefining our approach to product development, customer engagement and
leadership. Through strategic management and diversity, we aim to rekindle the trust and loyalty
of our staff and customers. Our commitment is to evolve into the leading company for high-
quality products in the electronics industry, setting new standards for excellence, sustainability
The Justification of XYZ Electronics New Vision Statement and Mission Statement
The mission and vision statement summarizes the overarching goals of the company, and
guides managers when deciding which strategies to apply and how to implement them. The
strategic management process involves identifying the company’s pain points (strengths,
weaknesses, opportunities and threats), and defining the strategies that the organisation’s
managers will apply and evaluate to improve performance. A mission statement communicates
an organisation’s purpose, identity and core objectives. This statement outlines the wider
approach to actualizing its vision and helps with deciding effective strategies to accomplish its
goals. It answers questions “Who are we?” and “How do we plan to achieve our purpose?”. Rarick
& Vitton (1995, as cited in, David, 2011) stated that “firms with a formalized mission statement
have twice the average return on shareholders’ equity than those firms without a formalized
mission statement have.” XYZ Electronics' new mission statement satisfies all elements of a good
mission statement as it clearly outlines the overarching objectives of the company (product
development, customer engagement and leadership) and outlines how the company plans to effect
change in these areas (adopting radical innovation, strategic management, and diversity).
The vision statement establishes the long-term goals of a company and promotes a
positive, idealistic, and inspirational future image of the business. This guides the strategic plans
and decisions of its managers (Wheelen, T. L., & Hunger, J. D. 2017). XYZ Electronics' new
vision statement outlines the key areas to be addressed, (diversification, innovation, and
stakeholder satisfaction). It also refers to the defining strength of XYZ Company, which is its
high-quality products that may not be easily replicated by newer organisations within the industry.
The core values of an organization are the clearly stated key principles a company focuses on;
these are power words summarizing the mission and vision statements.
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Additionally, these statements form the corporate image and culture which a company
will use to attract and keep its stakeholders. They define how the company wants to be perceived
not only by customers but by investors, employees, and all other stakeholders as it sets the tone
for how the company will operate internally and externally. “An organisation that fails to develop
a vision statement as well as a comprehensive and inspiring mission statement loses the
opportunity to present itself favorably to existing and potential stakeholders” (Fredd R David).
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A strength, weakness, opportunity and threat (SWOT) analysis is a strategic planning tool
used by organisations to identify and evaluate their internal strengths and weaknesses, as well as
external opportunities and threats in their operating environment. The purpose of conducting a
SWOT analysis is to gain valuable insights that can inform strategic decision-making and help
the organisation to capitalize on its strengths while addressing its weaknesses and mitigating
threats. Daniel Kissinger (General Electric (GE) SWOT Analysis & Recommendations 2023)
emphasizes that the SWOT analysis model defines and evaluates the internal strategic factors
(strengths and weaknesses) and external strategic factors (opportunities and threats) relevant to
managing the business. These factors represent the various markets and environments that an
organisation operates in, and should provide a realistic view of the company’s strategic and
(Will, 2023) states that a company should conduct a SWOT analysis at various strategic
points in its lifecycle and during crucial decision making. In the case of XYZ Electronics it is
pivotal for the company to establish a SWOT analysis at this junction, as the company has passed
its maturity phase and is currently on a decline. This will allow its managers to evaluate the
company’s competitive position and help with identifying pain points that are causing the
threats of XYZ Electronics the managers should prioritize these factors when choosing the
strategies to ensure that the company is addressing the actual problems and ensure that the
organisational strategies being developed matches the SWOT based on its significance in the
business.
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The strengths component of the SWOT analysis refers to the internal capabilities and
positive characteristics that gives the company a competitive edge. These are the areas the
company excels at, that enhances its ability to compete within the industry markets. XYZ
Electronics will formulate strategies that match and enhance these capabilities. The XYZ
Strong Company Legacy/ Brand Recognition is one of XYZ Electronics main competitive
advantages within its industry as it represents the company’s historical reputation. XYZ
Electronics has been around for over a decade and was once a leader in innovation, known for
high-quality products. This positive association influences customers’ perceived value of the
company and will allow for easier market penetration. This will enable the company to attract and
retain customers. An existing customer base refers to the group of customers who regularly
purchase the company’s products. Understanding and leveraging this customer base will allow
XYZ Company to experience customer satisfaction. The established supply chain will allow the
In the context of a SWOT analysis, weaknesses are defined as the internal factors that
imposes difficulties and hinders the company from achieving its goals. This component considers
the significant internal limitations of XYZ Electronics management. The aim is to reduce the
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impact of its weaknesses on its competitive advantage. In planning the managers will be mindful
of these limitations and will be able to develop strategies to mitigate and overcome them. The
1. Lack of Innovation
3. Ineffective Communication
Lack of innovation stifles XYZ Electronics brand and product reputation, this contributes
heavily to the company’s customer dissatisfaction. Due to the company's outdated and inefficient
internal processes the product development is stalled, and based on the change in market climate
XYZ Electronics has lost its competitive advantage. This also affects the customer’s experience.
Electronics. This may cause employee unrest due to lack of transparency or last-minute
communication, leading to confusion and undue fear. This may also contribute to the employees
being resistant to change within the organisation as matters may not be clearly explained for
employees to understand the need for change as well as its benefits. It is important for the
leadership style to match the operations and needs of the company, it should also work well with
the internal characteristics and vision of the organisation. Lack of strategic direction and vision
Opportunities in a SWOT analysis are the external factors or circumstances that present a
potential for growth and improvement in XYZ Electronics business. Identifying a company’s
opportunities is essential in the strategic planning process, as the company is required to develop
strategies focused on leveraging these benefits to the advantage of the organisation. Management
1. Technological advancements
2. Product innovation
3. Customer engagements
enhancement of tools, systems, devices, processes, and methodologies used to create, manage and
utilize knowledge, information and resources (ChatGPT, 2023). For example, XYZ Electronics
can employ new machinery or systems to speed up the product creation process. These
advancements also assist with product innovation which is one of XYZ Electronics major
opportunities – developing the products based on market research will allow XYZ Electronics to
better compete in emerging markets, boosting customer engagement, and ultimately helping its
managers to align with the company’s corporate mission and vision. If these opportunities are
capitalized on, XYZ may experience growth, innovation, and market expansion.
Threats are external strategic factors or circumstances that impose limits/challenges that
could harm or hinder XYZ Electronics’ ability to achieve its objectives and goals. Threats reside
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in XYZ Electronics external business environments and are beyond the organisation's control but
can negatively impact its performance and competitiveness. The following threats are considered
Based on the growing demand for electronics and software products, XYZ Electronics
faces fierce competition from innovative industry leaders. The company finds that the rapid
change in the technological landscape requires continuous innovation and strategizing to interact
effectively respond to the changing competitive landscape and to combat economic downturns
that may affect consumer spending habits as well as remain in compliance with the stringent legal
and regulatory requirements. The management team will also be required to implement strategies
Electronics now has a realistic idea of its market position. The SWOT analysis has revealed that
the company is struggling internally from poor management/ unsuitable leadership, and poor
communication which will need to be addressed for improvements. Though the company has high
quality products, existing customers, and a strong brand legacy on their side; they will need to
capitalize on emerging market trends, customer engagement, product innovation and change
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management to offset its weaknesses. Additionally, this will mitigate against the threats of
competition and change in market climate. XYZ Electronics must consider its SWOT analysis,
mission, and vision statement to formulate a business strategy that will achieve them.
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Business strategy is a comprehensive plan created to achieve a specific set of goals and
objectives. The business strategy of a company defines what the business must do to combat its
threats and weaknesses and capitalize on its strengths and opportunities, as such it provides
strategic direction and must be considered when making decisions concerning resource allocation
and hiring. “Strategies affect an organisation’s long-term prosperity, typically for at least five
consequences and require consideration of both the external and internal factors facing the firm”
(David, 2011). The business strategy simply put, is the pathway or roadmap to the company’s
success thus, if not correctly planned or suitable for the organisation, the company may experience
Based on XYZ Electronics current market position derived from its SWOT analysis, the
company must implement strategies that fosters diversification, product innovation and market
expansion. The company needs to first adopt a People First Approach: XYZ Electronics Human
Resource practitioners should address the company’s internal weaknesses by adapting a people
first approach that aims at correcting their staff’s resistance to change and breakdown in
communication. People fuel change and sustain its momentum. Change initiatives fail when the
people involved don’t understand, believe in, or engage in the change (Hannum, 2021). Leaders
make change easier when they engage employees in the change. Leaders accomplish this through
proactive change management communication that creates a desire to change across the
workforce. XYZ Electronics Human Resource practitioners should promote the following:
engage employees through two-way communication methods like surveys, focus groups and
informal feedback collection (Lisa Hannum 2021). Active and visible executive leadership:
This is the top reason change initiatives succeed. The HR Practitioner should educate leaders on
their roles, and enable them to achieve change successfully. Make change compelling and
exciting: XZY Electronics should introduce an engagement team to ensure employees are
strategy that involves expanding a company's business operations into new markets, industries,
or product lines that are distinct from its existing offerings. The goal is to achieve a broader
portfolio of products or services, minimize risk exposure associated with a single market or
industry, and capitalize on emerging opportunities”. For XYZ Electronics to recover and grow
On the basis that the XYZ Electronics products are deemed to be “outdated” it would serve
the company well to diversify their product offering. Introducing new product lines that cater to
different market segments or industries, to leveraging the company's existing capabilities and
expertise. This also includes product extensions, that is to modify existing products to create
variations or upgraded versions that appeal to a broader customer base. This strategy will allow
XYZ Electronics to actualize its opportunities for product innovation and to enter emerging
markets.
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2. Differentiation Strategy
Differentiation aims to make products attractive based on features, brand image, quality,
and related variables. This strategy relies heavily on research and development and will require
XYZ Electronics to invest in this area, to ensure their products maintain good quality and are
unique in comparison to their competitors. This will ensure that they establish a competitive
advantage within their industry. This strategy supports the company’s opportunities of
technological advancement and product innovation, as well as mitigating the threat of fierce
competition. Unique and exclusive features may include solar powered electronics, extended
3. Cost Leadership
offer quality products at low prices (MasterClass, 2022). Cost leadership strategies prioritize
having the lowest operating costs. Given that XYZ Electronics has been in existence for several
years, has established supply chains and purchases in bulk, the company would benefit from
economies of scale.
XYZ Electronics should apply this strategy to a subsection of its product line to benefit
from the following: Cost Leadership Competitive advantage: Low costs allow them to lower
prices while still making a profit. Withstand price wars: Cost leaders are more able to withstand
price wars and can gain more market shares from selling more products. This is also a good
marketing strategy for the company as their products would be more widespread and would gain
traction from customer recommendation. Increased market share: Cost leaders may enjoy
increased market share. A large share of consumers is price-sensitive and gravitate toward the
companies offering the lowest-priced goods. This means that the company with the lowest prices
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is likely to sell the most units. Once XYZ Electronics implements this strategy they will also
experience improved economies of scale and may be able to partner with their suppliers in the
long run. Employing this strategy will also require the company to invest in the development of
4. Product Innovation
These are approaches employed by organisations to introduce new products or improve
existing ones with the aim of satisfying customer needs, gaining a competitive advantage as well
as to drive growth.
This strategy requires: Market Research and development: This is the process of
conducting thorough market research and gathering data, based on customer feedback to identify
customer pain points, needs as well as their preferences. Conduction proper research will aid XYZ
trends. Training and development: The XYZ Electronics Human Resource Practitioner should
foster innovation through establishing a team of innovative individuals to train their current staff.
The human resource practitioner should ensure that the selection process for this team is rigorous
and result in the company employing top talent. Incentivized innovation: The company should
encourage innovation and creativity through incentives and rewards. XYZ Electronics should roll
out an internal programme that allows employees to make suggestions and be compensated or
rewarded for good contribution. Once the products are aligned with market standards and are
more current/ modern, XYZ Electronics will experience an upsurge in purchases, and will be able
to take advantage of the technological advancements that exist within the market, this will
5. Market Expansion
Market expansion is a growth strategy that aims to make a product or service available in
new markets when existing ones get saturated. A market expansion strategy starts with analyzing
existing and future channels of distribution and concludes with adopting measures to increase
This strategy includes the following: Market Penetration: This strategy is when a
company works towards a higher market share by tapping into existing products in existing
markets. It’s how a company (that already exists in the market with a product) can grow business
by increasing sales among people already in the market (Baker, 2022). Through intense market
research XYZ Electronics should collaborate with their retailer and distributors to increase their
physical presence and product availability. Coupled with the cost leadership strategy, for the
subsection of products that will be low cost focused XYZ Electronics should offer those products
share, XYZ Electronics should tap into its current geographic locations by introducing localized
marketing and sales campaigns. This strategy will require the marketing teams within the various
geographic locations, to stay current with the news and current affairs to create advertisements
that the customers gravitate towards. Increased Online Presence: XYZ Electronics should also
strategically expand market reach through online platforms and online partnerships. This will
enable the company to take advantage of globalization, allowing them to reach new geographic
locations through platforms like Amazon, EBay, etc. without having to set up physical shops.
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By introducing and reinforcing a new mission and vision statement XYZ Electronics will
attract the attention of its stakeholders. Using a people first approach will address the company’s
weaknesses; changing the characteristics of the organisation, its leadership style, and the way the
Electronics will capitalize on the external opportunities through product innovation, market
research, and training and development. With the use of the differentiation and product innovation
strategies, the company will better its position within its competing market, striking out its threats.
Using its strong legacy and pre-establish supply chains (strengths) to gain economies of scale,
XYZ Electronics, through its cost leadership approach will be able to lower product cost and
invest in new technology and marketing plans. The company will gain competitive advantage,
increase its market share, and regain market prominence, all together achieving the overall
Achieved
Without this advantage, businesses are more susceptible to shifting consumer expectations and
greater competition. The aim of a company's strategy is to establish a distinct position in the
market, add value for its customers and stakeholders, and increase revenue. Long-term success
requires a company's strategy to be flexible enough to respond to shifting customer needs and
growing competition. High value of product and quality without sacrificing pricing may provide
business to remain ahead of its competitors. Unlike short-term advantages, such as being the first
to market a new type of product, a sustainable competitive advantage may be built into the fabric
of a business and will help maintain its dominance over years and even decades. The development
of such an advantage often takes dedicated effort, the ability to consistently innovate, and even
that are difficult to duplicate or exceed and provide a superior or favorable long-term position
over competitors. A company with a strong brand reputation may also have a long-term advantage
because it is challenging for rivals to match the level of loyalty and awareness. Such advantages
product design, and distribution channels. This promotes sustainability because imitation and
advantage. This idea postulates an organisation based on four criteria: value, rarity, imperfect
imitable quality, and non-substitutable quality. Let us examine the principles aligned with this
school of thought and their applicability to XYZ Electronics. A resource, good, service, or
business procedure must be valuable to customers, rare if difficult to obtain, imperfectly imitable
product, service, or business process. These qualities ensure the uniqueness and worth of the
product or service. If a firm’s valuable resources are absolutely unique among a set of competing
and potentially competing firms, those resources will generate at least a competitive advantage.
To gain and sustain a competitive advantage, it is important to establish a clear vision and mission
statement, formulate strategies, implement strategies, and evaluate and monitor results.
With these qualities, XYZ Electronics would achieve its sustainable competitive
advantage. With the emergence of new technology companies and software, (e.g., Apple Inc.),
XYZ Electronics will focus on innovation and high-quality design to carve a niche in the
electronic industry. Managers may choose the best courses of action to enhance the company
based on its core competencies or long-term competitive advantages, which fulfill all four VRIO
factors.
cutting-edge goods that establish the company as a key participant as these other sectors and
markets expand. XYZ Technologies must ask themselves these strategic questions: what are the
tools that are needed to carve out a sustainable competitive advantage for our business? and what
holds the key to achieving this goal especially in the realm of technology? The landscape has
changed due to the emergence of technology. The solution lies in the utilization of technology. It
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is imperative to use technical innovation, facilitate the creation of an exceptional user experience,
and finally look at automating the process of customer service. XYZ Electronics Technologies
plans to utilize specific resources to establish and maintain a long-term competitive advantage.
industry analysis to identify growth opportunities and potential threats, benchmarking against
formidable competitors like Blackberry and Apple. The company will use this information to
develop new products, target new markets, and develop marketing strategies. By identifying
customer expectations and weaknesses, XYZ Electronics can assess weak areas in its marketing
campaigns and gain an edge over competitors, ultimately enhancing its product line and market
penetration.
Technologies will enhance customer relationships and loyalty by creating more products and
tailoring services to address customer concerns. This approach provides a competitive advantage
by demonstrating a commitment to serving and catering to customers' needs. The process starts
with product inquiries and ends with after-sale follow-up and service, providing feedback on
c. Innovation through product development and research: This is a crucial aspect of our
business strategy. XYZ Electronics Technologies plans to collaborate with software developers
and invest heavily in R&D to stay competitive and offer advanced solutions, recognizing the
significance of conducting industry surveys to understand market trends and customer needs. It
is the strategy of XYZ Electronics Technologies to ensure a new product line is released at the
end of each year to stay ahead of the competition and meet the evolving demands of the market.
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This approach allows the company to regain and maintain its position as a leader in the industry
d. Content Creation: XYZ Electronics Technologies plans to enhance its online presence
through content creation, including blogs, articles, and videos, to expand its customer base and
cater to different demographics. This will enable older customers to receive training for new
models, while younger customers will gain insights into their market dominance through their
current products.
Technology is partnering with influential social media influencers to market their products and
services, aiming to build customer connections and increase brand recognition. Social media
purchase new technology gadgets from specific stores. This strategic partnership will help XYZ
It is evident that digital automation has yielded an increase in profit returns and improved
internal business processes. This is seen in the automation of all back-office tasks, improving
workflows, and creating a more efficient and affordable process. If XYZ Technology conducted
an analysis of their business processes, they would be able to pinpoint any gaps and the impact
these would have on their customer service experience. One might draw the conclusion that XYZ
Technologies would not be able to assess their lack of relevance to the present market for the
items they are supplying if their internal processes have not improved.
on factors that affect corporate sustainability beyond numbers in the financial analysis, ultimately
a major problem for all businesses in the fast-paced commercial world of today. The management
of businesses can clearly see how to prioritize their production strategy to get a competitive edge
thanks to the sustainable competitive advantage analysis. By understanding their strengths and
limitations, businesses may make wise decisions and stay one step ahead of their rivals.
Sustainability begins to play a more and more significant role in the strategic management of a
firm as a result of the fast economic expansion and globalization. We looked at sustainable
The Evaluation of the Leadership Style Currently in Place and its Impact on Employee
defined as the process through which leaders influence others to be more effective in working to
achieve mutual goals while maintaining effective relationships among members (Johnson and
Johnson, 2014). In order to maintain efficient operation of the organisation, leaders need to
Studies have recognized that leaders are seen as decisive factors for the strategy and
success of the organisation (Kotter, 1995). Innovation and the capacity of an organisation to adjust
to the evolving leadership environment are associated with leadership style, which is why
organisations are constantly in search of influential and dependable leaders (Judge, 2011).
organisation, effective leadership is one of the most vital components. It can inspire, guide, and
empower employees, by fostering a positive work environment and driving enhanced productivity
At XYZ Electronics, the laissez-faire leadership style was identified within the company.
and restraint from involvement in making decisions. Generally, leaders who are following the
laissez-faire leadership style are considered passive leaders and are uninvolved in the work with
their followers and co-workers. (Hinkin and Schriesheim, 2008) states that laissez-faire leadership
is an “absence of leadership”. There are varying views that surround the effectiveness of a
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Laissez-faire leader and (Goodnight, 2011) stated that it may be the best or the worst of leadership
styles.
(Oprea et al., 2022) found out that laissez-faire leadership may lead to positive job crafting
behaviors. This leadership style can promote creativity and innovation in work ideas and tasks
assigned to workers. It is best used when the workers are highly educated, knowledgeable, and
competent to take responsibilities without any supervision and observation of a leader (Kshirsagar
and J Ramgade, 2021). Another benefit of the laissez-faire leadership style is that it encourages
ownership and accountability, which stems from autonomy. Employees are more likely to take
responsibility for their work and its outcomes when they have the freedom to make decisions.
According to (Yang, 2015) a hands-off approach by a leader can allow employees to feel
respected and autonomous, suggesting that there are beneficial effects of low or non-involvement
on the part of leaders. This leadership style can be useful when a new manager takes over a
department or company. They may not want to disrupt the current chemistry or progress of the
team and instead, may want to assess the situation first, until a rapport is developed with the
employees. However, it should not be used long-term because it does not improve team building.
In the case of XYZ Electronics, we see this style of leadership continuing for 5 years and not
According to Mathieu (2021) the laissez-faire leadership style has the greatest potential
for negative impact. Einarsen et al (2007) regards laissez-faire leadership as a form of destructive
leadership. They argued that laissez-faire leadership violates the legitimate interests of the
organisations and their employees by undermining organisational objectives and /or subordinates'
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well-being. Bass and Avolio (1997) regard laissez-faire leadership as an ineffective leadership
style together with active corrective leadership (leading by monitoring and focusing on mistakes)
and passive corrective leadership (waiting for things to go wrong before intervening).
One of the most significant drawbacks of laissez-faire leadership is the lack of direction
and guidance provided to employees. When leaders are too hands-off, it can leave employees
feeling lost, uncertain, and without clear instructions on how to proceed with their tasks. This is
an evident shortcoming in the leadership of XYZ Corporation which is seen by its inability to
articulate a well-defined and motivating vision for the company's future. This absence of a clear
According to Al-Malki and Juan (2015), laissez-faire leaders do not provide continuous
feedback for their employees, which is regarded as an essential element of successful teamwork.
Due to the certain disadvantages provided by the leadership, team members may suffer from lack
of communication, feedback for improvement and at the end, they may fail to meet the deadline
for project completion. A recurring characteristic of XYZ Electronics’ leadership was the
breakdown in communication. Communication from the top-down was irregular and lacked
openness, causing employees to feel excluded from the decision-making procedures leading to
them becoming resistant to change. Vital details, like alterations in the organisational structure or
financial difficulties, were frequently kept hidden or presented in a diluted manner, which eroded
According to (Skogstad, et al., 2007), laissez-faire leaders do nothing, and this omission
has negative consequences for firms. Many supervisors rarely understand this and are usually of
the view “that doing nothing will have no effect on performance” (Hellriegel & Slocum, 2007).
Nevertheless, when supervisors do not act following worker behaviour they often demotivate
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good performers and frequently encourage poor workers. Those who practice “if you don’t hear
from me, you know you are doing fine” (Hinkin & Schriesheim, 2004) may be doing more harm
than they suspect. These types of managers change performance for the worse by either:
decreasing the probability of future desired behavior or they open the door for increased levels of
undesired performance.
Harbor (2023) the lack of accountability affects the morale of other team members. While these
leaders are supposed to take accountability for the group, some may use this to shirk their
responsibility for outcomes. As a result, employees could bear the brunt of the blame for
unfavorable issues, making them fearful of trying anything new. This is demonstrated in the
leadership team of XYZ Electronics, where they failed in instilling a culture of accountability,
leading to a situation where there were no repercussions for subpar performance or unethical
conduct. Prominent figures within leadership, such as Basil, frequently evaded taking ownership
of the company's shortcomings, which further diminished trust and employee morale.
leaders often avoid making decisions and hesitate instead of actively responding to the leadership
situation needed (Piccolo et al., 2012). Critical decisions may be delayed or poorly made when
leaders do not actively participate in the decision-making process. In situations requiring quick
and decisive actions, this can be detrimental. At an organisational level, by being indecisive and
uninvolved, laissez-faire leaders can lose the organisation important opportunities. The damages
can be especially costly when the market environment is unstable and changing fast. This is
similar to the decision taken by the CEO of XYZ Electronics, Basil Briggs to “wait out” the period
of deterioration and to disregard the shifts in the competitive industry landscape by failing to
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implement substantial changes to tackle the company's current challenges. Additionally, laissez-
faire leadership can result in poor crisis management. When these leaders fail to correct mistakes
and system loopholes when trouble first emerges, these issues can become more serious and start
Many studies have explored employee motivation and its effects on both organisational
and individual performance. Research has also investigated the various strategies that leaders can
employ to improve employee productivity and shape leaders' impact on employee dedication and
performance. Regardless of the organisation's scale or field, employee motivation has the
According to Zareen, et. al., (2014), motivated employees become more involved and
committed to their tasks and assignments and work hard for the achievement of organisational
goals. Frischer and Larsson (2000) documented that superiors’ lack of initiative and action can
also have detrimental effects on subordinates’ job satisfaction and efficiency. Lazaroiu (2015)
stated that a lack in employee motivation can be detrimental causing such problems as
complacency, disinterest, and widespread discouragement. Skogstad, et. al. (2014) noted that with
the Laissez-faire leadership style there is no attempt to motivate followers or to recognize and
satisfy their needs. Research has shown that exposure to laissez-faire leadership behavior has been
shown to be negatively associated with subordinates’ job satisfaction (Judge & Piccolo, 2004) as
well as satisfaction with the leader and leader effectiveness (Bass & Avolio, 1994; Judge &
Piccolo,2004; Yammarino, Spangler, & Bass, 1993). Rima Ghose Chowdhary (2014), examined
the impact of leadership styles on employee motivation and commitment: an empirical study of
selected organisations in the corporate sector. The Laissez-faire leadership style was found to
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have a negative co-relationship to employee motivation. The research concluded that the effective
leadership styles utilize the strategies for improving positive impact on supervisor and employee
relationship.
On the other hand, several studies have suggested that laissez-faire leadership may not
necessarily lead to negative outcomes. For example, when considering the connection between
laissez-faire leadership and motivation, Chaudhry and Javed (2012) suggested that laissez-faire
leadership shows a positive, yet statistically insignificant, correlation with employee motivation.
In contrast, both Zareen et al. (2015) and Fiaz et al. (2017) discovered that laissez-faire leadership
has a significant and positive influence on motivation. One explanation for the inconsistency in
findings may be explained by boundary conditions under which laissez-faire leadership may have
different effects on their subordinates. According to the stress theory, individuals’ cognitive
appraisals are determined by the extent to which an environmental event threatens or facilitates
their personal goals (Lazarus and Smith, 1988). While laissez-faire leadership is commonly
regarded as a significant source of workplace stress (Skogstad et al., 2007), individuals with
goals, might interpret this stressor differently. This differential interpretation can result in distinct
job performance.
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Transformational Leadership
James MacGregor Burns first introduced the concept of transformational leadership in the
1970s. This concept has continuously been tested and refined over the years and is known as a
process that changes or alters people. The transformational leadership model is more than just an
vision, and a sense of mission, instills pride, gains respect, and trust, inspires and communicates
high expectations, and leads by example, which will be of great help to XYZ Electronics.
believers' beliefs, needs, and values. According to Burns, "The result of transformational
leadership is a relationship of mutual stimulation and uplifting that can turn followers into leaders
and leaders into moral agents" (Kuhnert & Lewis, 1987). Transformational leadership focuses on
the transformation of people to support each other and the Organisation as a whole. It encourages
teamwork and enhances motivation, job satisfaction, staff morale, and the performance of those
involved.
In the transformational style of leadership, the leaders of XYZ Electronics will now be
appreciative for the feelings, morals, standards, and goals of the followers which inspires them to
move beyond expectations and increases the follower’s desire to become leaders themselves. The
leader focuses on collective values and needs by placing high effort into reaching organisational
An important research instrument that was frequently used by specialists to observe the
leaders’ style is the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ), created by Bass and Avolio
(1990). The authors reveal four competency areas that ensure the success of transformational
leadership: Idealized behavior (IB) – it develops trust and respect for leaders. Conger and
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Kunungo (1978), viewed IB as the most significant dimension of the transformational leadership
model. A leader which falls on this dimension usually acts as a strong role model for others, and
whom others try to emulate. Inspirational motivation (IM) – is the ability to stimulate employees
to outrun themselves. This type of leader inspires followers to secure their commitment (Fasola
et al., 2013; Northouse, 2012). Intellectual stimulation (IS) – leaders stimulate the employees to
ask questions and to solve old problems in new ways (Bacha &Walker, 2011; Mcknight, 2013).
A leader in this dimension encourages creativity. Individual consideration (IC) – refers to the
habit of listening to the needs and wishes of subordinates. Based on the qualities of this leadership
style, we recommend that XYZ Electronics adopt this approach for the success of the business.
Low Staff Turnover. Turnover refers to the rate at which employees leave a job and new
employees are hired for the same job. High turnover rates can lead to inconsistency within a
company, poor productivity, and a lost sense of unity within the company. According to Strain,
2017, reducing employee turnover can be a major benefit of transformational leadership. In her
article entitled “The advantages of reducing employee turnover,” she states that when
transformational leadership methods are employed, then employees will be more enthused to
perform their specific job. When employees, especially experienced employees leave the
studies have used turnover as a criterion to evaluate the effectiveness of various organisational
processes such as leadership (Barrick & Zimmerman, 2005 Meglino et al., 2000). Thus,
understanding the factors that influence turnover gives XYZ Electronics the opportunity to reduce
selection and training costs. Hom & Griffert, 1995, states that turnover has a rich theoretical
history in which multiple models have been advanced to understand this complex decision. These
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models are based on the premise that if an employee is unhappy with the job and finds another /
he or she is likely to leave the current job (Lee, et.al, 2004). Thus, the focus of most turnover
models is on job attitudes (Job Satisfaction or Job Commitment) as primary drivers of turnover.
Moreover, Barmon & Motwildo, 1993, says that the continuing prosperity of a firm is likely to
be enhanced by employees who hold attitudes, values, and expectations that are closely aligned
Improved Productivity and Morale. Improved productivity and morale are benefits that
XYZ Electronics can gain from transformational leadership. When an employee leaves, pulling
other workers off their jobs may be necessary, or the need may arise to increase their hours to
cover the work of the departing employee. This increased workload may result in stress and
reduced workplace morale (Heron and Shah 2017). The uncertainty about who will replace the
departing employee and how the changes will affect them may also have a negative effect on the
remaining employees. If the departing employee is unhappy and complains to his or her peers,
this can have a negative effect on worker productivity. On the other hand, loyal, long-term
employees who have been impacted by a transformational leader will provide a certain amount
Job Satisfaction can be defined also as the extent in which employees within XYZ
Electronics are comfortable with the rewards he or she gets out of his or her job, particularly in
terms of intrinsic motivation (Statt, 2004). Job satisfaction has been a widely researched topic and
that transformational leadership is positively related to work outcomes (Dumdum et al., 2002).
Job satisfaction is a critical component of organisational success. When employers take into
consideration the welfare of their employees and ensure that they are satisfied then this will ensure
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the organisation remains successful and committed in its competitive industry. Motivation theory
of an organisation is the best way to satisfy the employees which results in better performance
and an outstanding yield which in turn leads to increased productivity in the organisation (Farsi
et al., n.d.).
Transformational leaders instill a sense of goal and vision in their followers through
shared mission and vision. Furthermore, intellectual stimulation aids productivity by pushing
individuals and instilling the necessary energy in them to complete tasks efficiently. Employees
are encouraged to rethink old challenges in order to produce new ideas and adopt a critical
performance with the mediating effect of organisational citizenship. Job satisfaction is increased
when leaders focus on the employees’ passions and enable them to explore themselves beyond
Human resources are an organisation’s greatest asset and as such management must pay
attention to its employees to ensure that their needs are met resulting in them becoming satisfied.
Job satisfaction alludes to employees being happy and fulfilled with their job (Misener et al.,
1996). Employee level of satisfaction surrounds different aspects of the job relating to their pay,
benefits, job security, working conditions, leadership, and organisational practices. Therefore,
implementing this leadership style will enhance change management and improve culture and
Propose Strategies for Building a Cohesive Leadership Team That Shares a Common Vision
Building a strong and cohesive team is crucial for success in today's complex and change-
driven environment. However, a lack of cohesion can lead to misalignment, diminished trust,
conflict, decreased productivity, and increased turnover. Leaders must focus on developing
cohesiveness and trust within their teams, as it is built on a foundation of trust that changes and
develops as our connections do. Cohesion is often overlooked in leadership circles, but leaders
must make a concentrated effort to foster it and maintain a strong team that is greater than the
together to achieve a shared goal. It involves understanding how everyone interacts and works
together to achieve common objectives. High-functioning teams are more than just a group of
people who occasionally collaborate on tasks in common. Cohesion increases as members' aims
and values are more closely aligned. Achieving and maintaining cohesion can be challenging, but
organizations can strengthen it with appropriate techniques. Techniques for increasing team
inefficient communication can lead to group failure. Common communication issues include poor
listening, speaking, delegation, and adaptability. Improving these areas can enhance team
cohesiveness and success. Continuous feedback is essential for effective communication and
leadership seminar to address the lack of clear and open communication among team members.
Basil's laissez-faire leadership approach allows team members to take ownership of tasks and
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responsibilities, but it lacks clear roles and expectations, allowing managers to claim that projects
Establish objectives and goals. Clear roles and responsibilities are crucial for defining
the team's success and ensuring everyone understands what success looks like. This allows for
performance assessment and helps the team identify necessary abilities with established goals,
ensuring everyone is aware of their role and responsibilities. XYZ Technologies will provide each
employee with a detailed job description outlining their roles, duties, and expectations, outlining
the chain of command and span of control. A job description should will include a description of
the role, functions, tasks, responsibilities, competencies, experience, and key performance
indicators. However, a person's role on a team is more than just a job description; it involves their
knowledge, expertise, experience, and capabilities. Responsibilities are based on the team's
mission, and responsible engagement involves offering guidance, strategic thinking, creative
ideas, and specific work related to the team's mission. Setting clear roles and responsibilities helps
leaders delegate work, ensuring everyone understands the team's mission and contributions. As
the strategic human resources business partner of XYZ Electronics Technology, our responsibility
is to establish a structure for the Human Resources Department, aligning the right team members
The use of frequent team meetings and gatherings. Regular team meetings foster unity,
collaboration, and emotional exchange among team members. They allow for discussions on
current issues and emotions, sharing best practices, and promoting teamwork. These sessions are
crucial for promoting unity, cohesiveness, and effective problem-solving within the team. Regular
team meetings foster alignment, ensuring alignment between team members and their roles in the
mission. They help understand the team's objectives, goals, and responsibilities, as well as
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individual employees' roles. High-performing teams are happy, comfortable, trusting, and
understanding and foster genuine connections between colleagues, whether in person or virtually.
This approach is particularly beneficial for high-performing teams. Team meetings enhance
communication by promoting information sharing, avoiding translation issues, and creating open
channels for major announcements like staff restructuring, allowing for questions and comments.
As a team leader, it's crucial to encourage employee feedback for future success. Utilize meeting
time efficiently, open the floor for comments and problem-solving, and use team meetings to
share feedback on past or current projects. XYZ Electronic Technology is implementing weekly
structured meetings for management at all levels to gather information for effective strategy
conceptualization. These meetings will be held on Mondays to discuss key performance indicators
and strategic goals, and on Wednesdays to communicate the strategies and decisions of the
executive management team. A staff meeting will be held quarterly to communicate the
company's plans and goals, as well as receive feedback for future strategic meetings.
individual team members' talents, making them feel important and benefiting the team as a whole.
A good team has confident individuals who can achieve goals. XYZ Electronics will conduct a
training needs analysis to identify organizational gaps, assess employee competency, and provide
necessary coaching, ensuring effective and efficient employee training. Through the use of the
needs analysis, a plan will be developed. Investing in employee training and development is
crucial for a business's long-term success. According to LinkedIn's 2019 Workforce Learning
Report, 94% of employees stay longer with an organization if career development is supported.
Training programs increase sales, profitability, employee engagement, and financial success. In
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Building Trust. Building trust among team members is crucial for effective collaboration.
Transparency, starting with the leader, is key to fostering trust, as secrets can hinder teamwork
and create a sense of openness. XYZ Technologies will be implementing an employee rewards
and recognition program. The following tenets are principles that XYZ Technologies will be
providing tangible, personal, and public recognition to workers after achieving goals, celebrating
both micro and obvious achievements, and inspiring others to strive harder.
b. Establishing Motivating Goals: Set SMART goals to boost focus and collaboration
among workers, ensuring they are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound,
c. Allow employees to decide their process for job completion: To ensure success,
provide employees with the necessary tools, resources, and learning opportunities, with clear
direction on goals. Inquire with employees about their work preferences to understand their
strengths and demonstrate trust. Allowing autonomy drives innovation and intrinsic motivation,
Building teamwork. Teamwork involves employees working closely together, with tasks
divided among members. Building a positive team culture and ensuring clear goals, leadership,
Finally, XYZ Technologies plans to develop its human resources department to create a
strong leadership team through the hiring of a strategic HR business partner. The department will
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focus on employee engagement, recruitment, training, and development, ensuring clear vision
and excellent communication. The HR department will develop strategies to meet company HR
goals and collaborate with HR managers to implement policies within their departments. The HR
department's role is to ensure long-term goals are met, including developing strategic HR policies,
meeting all colleagues, including executive management, to create a plan for executive meetings.
XYZ Technologies will focus on improving team cohesion for maximum productivity.
Their success relies on individual team success. A cohesive leadership style, inspiring vision,
clear action plans, and clear communication are essential. Empathy, support, and personal
investments in team members lead to success, while skill-sharing opportunities strengthen the
human resources strategies, recognizing trust as the foundation of a successful leadership team.
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Change Management
The first strategy to overcome resistance to change is effective communication. According
to (Harvard Business 2023 review) change Management is a leadership competency for enabling
change within an organisation. It is also a strategic capability designed to increase change capacity
and responsiveness.
One of the most important tasks for leaders of XYZ Electronics is to facilitate change
smoothly in order to capitalize on the new strategies outlined above for business success. Change
is always inevitable but so is resistance. It is basic human nature for people to try and keep their
methods and customs constant. This is where change management comes into play for XYZ as
Whilst change will almost always face resistance, it is certainly possible to overcome it.
The leaders of XYZ must now strive to help the employees adjust and facilitate new variations in
functioning, leaders will now be able to convince workers that the new strategies being proposed
for XYZ are necessary and how they will benefit from them.
This will not happen in one go because it is easier to implement them in stages, if the
leaders portray leadership by first adapting to the changes themselves employees are least likely
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to resist. Sufficient and prior training of employees can help the team of XYZ Electronics to
Participation is always a good idea as the XYZ leadership team plans for the future, all
employees will be impacted they must have a say in the planning process which can be done via
surveys, small informal meetings or conferences where the leaders will explain the relevance and
such participation will make them less likely to resist implementation. Creating hope for the staff
of XYZ Electronics which all employees will create an opportunity for a better future. Leaders
will create the desire to change by sharing passion for success. For some people seeing is
believing and therefore leaders will get the buy-in, by inviting guests to give testimonials and
demonstrate the success of pilot Programs. “Culture eats strategy for breakfast, operational
excellence for lunch and everything else for dinner”- (Peter Ducker, 2023).
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organisation into specific actions and initiatives that can be executed by management. Careful
planning and execution are required to implement the highlighted strategy areas of Product
Innovation Strategy.
advantages and profitability in the electronics market. Below is a detailed action plan for
implementing these strategies, along with Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to measure the
success:
Seven (7) key actions that management will need carryout to ensure that Product Development is
implemented are:
i. Conducting a thorough Market Analysis to identify the gaps and opportunities for
product diversification, this can be done using the Growth Wheel Business Model where one of
the four (4) models – The Business Concept - focuses on a sub model - Business Idea and how
the product can be further developed. It would also allow the evaluation of customer needs and
psychographics, and geographic factors would work for XYZ Electronics mainly because the
organisation would have already acquired a customer-based portfolio. This would allow XYZ
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Electronics to identify the most promising target segments for diversification and to know the
iii. Product Design is investing in resources for research and development might seem costly
and time consuming but the development of new products or modify existing ones to cater to the
identified market segments can generate immense sales revenue. A great example is the
modification that Apple Inc executed in 2018. Apple realized that they were behind in their model
updates and design, so instead of releasing the iPhone 9 which would follow the iPhone 8 and 8
Plus from the previous year 2017, the company opted to release the iPhone 10 which the models
were referred to as iPhone X, XR, XS and XS-Max. The X Series saw the company going for a
sleeker look by moving from the touch button to a full touch screen. These modifications
increased the number of units sold from 216.76 million in 2017 to 217.72 million in 2018. This
has given Apple a steady increase in sales compared to 2015 and 2016 where units sold were
231.22 million and 211.88 million where there was a decrease. While the difference between the
units sold between 2018 and 2017 is 0.96 million that amounted to USD$25,551,000.00 (Global
Data 2022). With the new modifications Apple was able to increase the price of the iPhone to
iv. Testing and Validation the new offering of products, XYZ Electronic would need to
carry out product testing. Conducting product testing, quality control, and validation is highly
important because you want to ensure that your product is safe and is of the best quality for public
consumption. Product testing can be done using small focus groups over a specified period,
gathering feedback from focus groups and early adopters to allow the company to make
v. Marketing and Sales is where XYZ Electronics Marketing Team should develop a
marketing strategy tailored to the new products. These include but are not limited to sales
promotions, advertising, backward and forward integration such as partnering with schools and
to provide devices for eBooks and other interactive learning. Partnership could also be developed
with businesses to provide the technology required one such business could be the restaurant
Macau Gaming Lounge & Bar. This restaurant uses tablets to take customer’s orders, stemming
away from the regular pen and paper waiters and waitresses would use. This allowed them to
make the ordering process easier. XYZ Electronics securing a partnership like this can become
their number one supplier and also manage their repairs. Train the sales team on the new offerings.
Both new and old employees should be trained on the new product offerings, promotions and
customer service.
vi. Launch and Distribution the new products in a phased manner, first step is to launch in
store. XYZ Electronics would set a launch date to promote their new products with exhibition,
sale deals, promotions and having external advertising agencies such as radio station Zip103FM.
Deals could include buying one of the new electronics and getting 30% to 50% off on one of the
older models. This would also help to get rid of products before they go obsolete. The second step
vii. Monitor and Optimize continuously, monitor sales, customer feedback, and market
dynamics. Make necessary adjustments to the product portfolio. Ensure that these changes are
documented to help with future research and product development. If the changes are feasible,
Success:
a. Revenue Growth: This will be a key indicator of XYZ's financial health and success. It
will measure the increase in total revenue (sales or income) over a specified period and will be
and profitability.
b. Market Share: XYZ Electronics recognizes the significance of market share as a key
metric when evaluating its business performance. Market share is indeed a critical indicator for
understanding a company's position within its industry and the competitive landscape. However,
it's wise that XYZ Electronics acknowledges that market share alone is not the only metric to
consider. XYZ Electronics will strive for a more strategic approach that will maximize market
share while also ensuring a healthy bottom line. This approach will help the business to achieve
c. Customer Acquisition: This is the process of attracting and converting new customers or
clients to the business. It is a fundamental aspect of any company's growth strategy, as without a
steady influx of new customers, a business can stagnate or decline. XYZ Electronics will monitor
the number of new customers acquired as a result of diversification. The following are a few steps
d. Define Target Audience: XYZ Electronics will first begin by understanding who their
ideal customers are, what are their demographics, interests, pain points, and behaviors. Creating
e. Market Research: XYZ Electronics will conduct a thorough market research to identify
where their target audience spends their time, both online and offline.
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f. Online Presence: XYZ Electronics will establish a well-designed website, active social
media profiles, and possibly an e-commerce platform to maintain a strong online presence.
services, and overall customer experience meet or exceed customer expectations. High levels of
customer satisfaction are associated with customer loyalty, repeat business, positive word-of-
mouth recommendations, and long-term success. XYZ Electronics will gather customer feedback
to measure their overall satisfaction scores related to the new products. This will be an ongoing
process that requires regular assessment, adjustment, and commitment to improvement. High
levels of customer satisfaction can lead to increased customer retention, brand loyalty, and
positive brand advocacy, all of which contribute to a healthy and successful business.
h. Return on Investment (ROI): It is expected that XYZ Electronics will get Return on
Investment after the restructuring of the business. Return on Investment (ROI) is a financial
measures the return (or profit) generated as a percentage of the initial investment or cost. ROI is
a crucial tool for assessing the efficiency and effectiveness of various financial decisions. XYZ
Electronics will calculate the ROI for the resources allocated to product diversification.
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Establishing your brand and your company above your competitors is very important in
being the best in your market. XYZ Electronics should focus on:
strategies by identifying areas where the company can differentiate itself. The now obsolete
device named Blackberry had a unique feature called Blackberry Messenger. Once Apple Inc
released the first iPhone in June 2007, Blackberry did not update their device to match or
supersede their competitors until November 2008. By this time Apple had captivated the market
with even using a simpler feature to the Blackberry called iMessage (Seth 2023).
ii. Define a clear and Unique Value Proposition that sets the company apart from
competitors. Apple perfected this area with “The Experience IS the Product '' the UPV is exactly
iii. Product Enhancement is to improve the quality, features, and design of existing products
to align with the value proposition. BlackBerry's stock price peaked at an all-time high of $147
million in mid-2008. A year earlier, Apple, Inc. introduced its iPhone—the first prominent
with playful features targeted at younger consumers. However, the iPhone was a huge hit, and
iv. Branding and Marketing is needed to develop a branding strategy that communicates
the differentiation. In the partnership suggested earlier with restaurants like Macau Gaming
Lounge & Bar, XYZ Electronics could use that same avenue to have their brand (Logo) on the
restaurant’s menu. This would reach hundreds, even thousands of customers when they are
reviewing the menu and noticed “Powered by XYZ Electronics.” Create marketing campaigns
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that highlight the unique aspects of the company's offering. The uniqueness of Apple’s logo
exceptional customer service. Training includes IT training, sales training, soft skills training and
other competences training that would be relevant to the business. Your employees are your best
sellers and as such emphasis should be placed on theory development. “It has been said that the
most important assets of any business walk out the door at the end of each day. Indeed, people
and the management of people are increasingly seen as key elements of competitive advantage”
(Boxall & Purcell, 2003; Pfeffer, 1998; Gratton, Hailey & Truss, 2000).
measures the increase in brand recognition and awareness and represents the extent to which a
target audience can recognize or identify a particular brand. This measures how well consumers
are familiar with and can identify a brand by its name, logo, tagline, or other distinctive elements.
At XYZ Electronics the vision is to create brand awareness and in doing so, our ultimate goal is
to make our brand instantly recognizable to our target audience, which can result in increased
b. Customer Loyalty: This will allow us to track customer retention rates and repeat
business. XYZ Electronics is dedicated to creating long-term commitment and allegiance with its
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customers. Loyal customers repeatedly choose a specific brand or company over its competitors,
often despite other options. Building and maintaining customer loyalty is essential for XYZ’s
growth and profitability. Aligning customer loyalty with the company's vision is crucial for the
overall success of XYZ Electronics. This alignment can also enhance the company's brand image
and reputation. When customers and partners see that XYZ Electronics is not only focused on
growth but also on its customers, it can build trust and loyalty.
c. Market Position: This assesses the company's position relative to its competitors. Market
position is not static and can change over time due to shifts in consumer preferences, technological
advancements, or competitive forces. To maintain a strong market position, XYZ must be agile,
competitors. It is essential to align their market position with the overall business strategy and
d. Sales Growth: This will monitor sales growth attributable to differentiation efforts. This
is a key performance metric that measures the increase in a company's revenue over a specified
XYZ Electronics within the market. Following the prescribe tactics can prove successful:
i. Conduct a Cost Analysis - understanding the current cost structure is crucial to identify
areas where costs can be reduced without compromising quality. According to Dheeraj Vaidya
ii. Optimizing Streamline Operations can reduce waste and increase efficiency, leading to
cost savings. XYZ Electronics can identify and implement process mapping, analyze the current
workflow and simplify the work processes, identify the areas that should be automated,
documentation of everything, automate workflows, test the new workflow, refine the workflow
iii. Negotiate with Suppliers for better terms with suppliers can lead to reduced procurement
costs. Terms may include bulk purchases to reduce cost, alternative routes for cheaper delivery,
iv. Invest in Technology that the line of business that XYZ Electronics is in, implementing
technology can automate processes, reduce human errors, and improve productivity, leading to
v. Well Trained and Engaged Employees can contribute to higher productivity and quality,
leading to cost savings and improved customer satisfaction. Quarterly training and certification
vi. Continuous Cost Monitoring - regular monitoring helps in identifying any cost
a. Cost per unit, Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) and COGS as a Percentage of Revenue:
Cost per unit and Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) as a percentage of revenue are important financial
metrics that XYZ Electronics can use to assess their profitability and cost efficiency.
Cost per Unit: Cost per unit is a measure of how much it costs a company to produce or
acquire one unit of a product. This can vary greatly depending on the nature of the business. To
calculate cost per unit, you need to sum up all the costs associated with producing or acquiring a
specific quantity of units (e.g., manufacturing costs, raw materials, labor, and overhead costs),
and then divide that total cost by the number of units produced or acquired. The formula is: Cost
income statement. It represents the direct costs associated with producing or purchasing the goods
that a company sells during a specific period. COGS includes costs such as raw materials, direct
labor, and manufacturing overhead. It does not include indirect costs like marketing or
administrative expenses. COGS is calculated using the following formula: COGS = Opening
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Inventory + Purchases (or manufacturing costs) - Closing Inventory Alternatively, COGS can be
calculated by summing up the costs of all units sold during a specific period.
COGS as a Percentage of Revenue: This metric, also known as the COGS ratio, is used
to assess the cost efficiency of a business. It indicates the proportion of a company's revenue that
is consumed by the cost of goods sold. The formula to calculate COGS as a percentage of revenue
is: COGS as a Percentage of Revenue = (COGS / Total Revenue) x 100. A lower COGS as a
percentage of revenue indicates a higher profit margin because it means the company is spending
a smaller portion of its revenue on production costs. Monitoring and managing these metrics are
crucial for XYZ Electronics to control costs and optimize their profitability. It can also help
b. Production efficiency and Inventory Turnover Rate. XYZ Electronics can use
production efficiency and inventory turnover rate as these are important metrics to assess the
its resources and production processes to manufacture goods or provide services. It evaluates the
ability of a business to minimize waste, optimize production processes, and maintain high output
with minimal inputs. There are several ways to measure production efficiency, such as:
● Labor Productivity: This metric assesses the efficiency of labor resources in the
production process.
● Waste Reduction: Reducing material and energy waste in the production process can
improve efficiency.
Inventory Turnover Rate: Inventory turnover rate, also known as inventory turnover ratio,
measures how quickly a company's inventory is sold and replaced over a specific period. It reflects
the effectiveness of inventory management and supply chain operations. The formula to calculate
inventory turnover rate is Inventory Turnover Rate = Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) / Average
Inventory Value. A high inventory turnover rate indicates that a company efficiently sells its
inventory and minimizes excess stock, which can be a sign of effective inventory management.
Conversely, a low turnover rate may suggest overstocking or difficulties in selling products.
Both production efficiency and inventory turnover rate are crucial in maintaining a lean and
profitable operation at XYZ Electronics. They are closely linked because improved production
efficiency can lead to better inventory turnover rates by reducing production delays and
minimizing the holding costs of excess inventory. XYZ will use these metrics as they can provide
insights into the efficiency of the business operations, cost management, and overall financial
health.
c. Supplier cost savings, Cost savings percentage from negotiations. Supplier cost
savings and cost savings percentage from negotiations are important metrics XYZ Electronics
will use to evaluate the effectiveness of procurement and supplier management strategies.
Supplier Cost Savings: Supplier cost savings refer to the financial benefits realized by
an organisation through its interactions with suppliers. These savings can result from various
activities, such as negotiation, strategic sourcing, process optimization, and supply chain
management. The goal is to obtain goods and services at lower costs than previously paid or
budgeted, thereby reducing the overall cost of operations. Supplier cost savings may be measured
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in terms of actual monetary savings achieved through supplier negotiations or other procurement
activities.
Cost Savings Percentage from Negotiations: Cost savings percentage from negotiations
is a specific metric that measures the portion of cost savings achieved through negotiation
activities compared to the total procurement spend. It is typically expressed as a percentage and
calculated using the following formula: Cost Savings Percentage = (Cost Savings from
professionals and organisations understand the impact of negotiation efforts on their cost-saving
goals. A higher percentage indicates that a significant portion of cost savings is attributed to
Both metrics are crucial for assessing XYZ’s performance of procurement teams and the
effectiveness of supplier management strategies. They can also be used to set targets and track
progress over time, helping XYZ to identify areas for improvement and cost reduction
opportunities.
Labour Costs. Return on Investment (ROI) from technology implementation and reduction in
labor costs are essential metrics for evaluating the financial impact of adopting new technologies
in XYZ Electronics.
metric that measures the profitability or return on an investment. When it comes to technology
implementation, ROI assesses the financial gains or losses resulting from investing in and
deploying new technology solutions. The formula to calculate ROI is ROI = (Net Gain from
Investment - Cost of Investment) / Cost of Investment. A positive ROI indicates that the
57 | Page
technology investment generated more financial benefits than the cost incurred. A negative ROI
Reduction in Labor Costs: Reduction in labor costs is a measure of the amount of money
a business saves by decreasing its expenditure on labor. This reduction can result from various
factors, including automation, process optimization, and improved workforce productivity. The
formula to calculate the reduction in labor costs is: Reduction in Labor Costs = Previous Labor
Costs - Current Labor Costs. A higher reduction in labor costs indicates more substantial savings
in this area.
The relationship between ROI from technology implementation and reduction in labor
systems, can lead to a reduction in labor costs by improving efficiency, reducing the need for
manual labor, and minimizing human errors. As a result, the ROI from technology can include
XYZ believes that these metrics are critical for assessing the effectiveness of technology
investments and their impact on a business's bottom line. Successful technology implementations
should ideally demonstrate a positive ROI, along with meaningful reductions in labor costs,
demonstrating that the investment not only paid off but also contributed to cost optimization and
increased efficiency.
resources are an organisation's greatest asset. Employee productivity, employee satisfaction, and
retention rates are key factors in the success and growth of any Organisation. These three elements
Employee Productivity refers to how efficiently and effectively employees carry out
their job responsibilities. It's a measure of the output or results achieved relative to the resources
and time expended. Factors that can impact employee productivity include workload, time
management, skills and training, access to necessary tools and resources, and workplace culture.
Increasing productivity often involves setting clear expectations, providing the necessary training
Employee Satisfaction reflects how content or fulfilled employees are with their jobs
and work environment. High job satisfaction can lead to better morale, improved motivation,
and increased loyalty to the organisation. Factors influencing employee satisfaction include
Retention Rates refer to how long employees stay with a company. High retention rates
indicate that employees are satisfied and committed to their organisation. High turnover can be
costly in terms of recruitment and training expenses, and it can disrupt workflow. Retention can
The interplay between these factors is crucial. For example, a highly productive but
unhappy workforce may not be sustainable in the long term, as they may leave for better
opportunities. On the other hand, a satisfied and engaged workforce tends to be more productive
Strategies to improve this aspect includes fostering open and transparent Communication to
understand employee needs and concerns. Act on feedback to improve job satisfaction. Invest in
employee Training and Development to enhance skills and job performance, which can increase
59 | Page
productivity and job satisfaction. Recognizing and Reward employees for their hard work and
achievements. This can boost job satisfaction and retention. Work-Life Balance that encourages
a healthy work-life balance to prevent burnout and improve employee satisfaction. Ensure that
Compensation and Benefits are competitive with the industry standards to retain talented
employees. Career Growth Opportunities: Provide pathways for career advancement and
personal development to motivate employees to stay and grow within the organisation.
It is essential for XYZ Electronics to balance these three factors to create a positive work
environment that promotes both employee satisfaction and productivity while minimizing
turnover. This, in turn, can contribute to the long-term success and sustainability of the
organisation.
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“There is no such thing as a new idea. It is impossible…” – Mark Twain. When you look
at the market around the world you will see that most, if not all ideas have been implemented
before. A perfect example is the iMessage feature that is “unique” to the iPhone which was once
the “unique” feature on the Blackberry Messenger. Even though that is the case it’s about how
i. Ideation and Creativity foster a culture of innovation within the organisation. Encourage
employees to generate innovative product ideas. This will allow employees to feel engaged and
will allow management to improve the product and services of XYZ Electronics.
ii. Allocate resources for Research and Development of product innovation. Develop a
structured process for idea evaluation and selection. Keep employees and focus groups involved
in the process of development and marketing the changes to ensure that XYZ Electronic maintains
a competitive advantage.
iii. Prototyping and Testing - build product prototypes and conduct rigorous testing. Gather
feedback from internal and external stakeholders. Take these feedbacks and continue to develop
the product. Make a particular model the face of the campaign when marketing these prototypes.
copyrights, or trademarks with The Jamaica Intellectual Property Office (JIPO). XYZ Electronics
v. Market Entry Strategy - develop a strategy for bringing innovative products to market.
follow).
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vi. Scalability and Sustainability - ensure that the innovation is scalable and sustainable
over the long term with export being the ultimate goal.
a. Number of Innovations: The specific key performance indicators and metrics XYZ
Electronics chooses will depend on the organization's goals, industry, and the nature of the
product innovation strategy. By monitoring these factors, XYZ Electronics will gain insights into
b. Time to Market: Time to market is a critical metric used to measure how long it will take
to develop and introduce an innovation to the market. It refers to the amount of time it takes for
a new product or feature to go from the initial concept or idea to being available to customers in
the market. Shortening the time to market is often a key objective for companies seeking to stay
competitive and innovative. XYZ Electronics will use this metric to stay competitive by quickly
c. Customer Feedback: Gathering customer feedback will be a crucial part of the product
development and innovation process for XYZ Electronics, regarding the value of innovations. To
effectively collect and utilize customer feedback to assess the value of their innovations, various
methods will be utilized to collect customer feedback. Some of which include surveys, focus
Marketing penetration is very important for the success of XYZ Electronics. Positioning the
company in the most ideal area of the market not only will give the company a competitive
advantage but will also ensure that they generate a profit, by conducting the following:
and market trends and is vital for developing effective penetration strategies. One of the reasons
why Blackberry failed was because they were unable to keep up with market trends and took too
feedback that can help in gaining a competitive edge and attracting new customers. Customers
will help stratify when the product and services meet their technological needs and are more than
iii. Pricing Strategy Review is adjusting pricing strategies that can attract more customers
and increase market share. Ensuring your product’s prices match or beat competitor’s prices to
iv. Marketing and Advertising Campaigns refers to strategic marketing campaigns that can
create brand awareness and attract new customers, leading to increased market penetration.
Placing Ads to continuously expose the products and services to customers, these include digital
billboarding using Print Big Ltd., television commercials, radio commercials and social media
campaigns.
v. Distribution Channel Expansion is expanding distribution channels can help reach new
customer segments and increase market presence. Partnering with the Universities to provide
eBooks, computers and other electronics can allow XYZ Electronics to secure a massive market.
63 | Page
relationships with customers that can lead to customer loyalty, repeat purchases, and positive
word-of-mouth, contributing to market penetration. XYZ Electronics can use systems such as
QuickBooks to help store customer’s data, this will help the company to send promotions to your
loyal customers.
a. Product/Service Adoption Rate: Product adoption rate refers to the speed or percentage
at which customers or users adopt and start using a new product or service. It is a measure of how
quickly and widely a product is embraced by its target audience after its introduction into the
market. This metric serves as the yardstick for evaluating the appeal of XYZ Electronics' product
to new signups. By calculating the product adoption rate, the company can readily assess the
number of new sign-ups that have embraced the product and are actively engaged with it. A high
product adoption rate indicates that the product is resonating well with the target audience and
gaining traction. On the other hand, a low adoption rate may suggest that the product is facing
calculate this is: (New Engaged Users / Total Signups) * 100. Additionally, another sub-metric
that is beneficial is the internal adoption rate. This is used to calculate the adoption of a new
feature. This involves calculating how many of XYZ’s existing users are utilizing new features.
The formula for this is: (Number of New Users of a Feature / Total Number of Users) * 100.
fundamental key performance indicator for evaluating the quality of customer service and
products. The ultimate objective is to identify the elements influencing customer satisfaction and
64 | Page
to detect areas that require enhancement. XYZ Electronics will use this metric to evaluate and
monitor the contentment of their customers regarding their service, product, or overall experience.
Customers who are highly satisfied are inclined to share their experiences with friends and family
and actively endorse the brand. Moreover, customers who establish a positive emotional bond
with a brand tend to exhibit lower sensitivity to pricing compared to those who are less loyal.
b. Average Revenue Per User/Customer: This metric is used to measure the average
revenue generated per user or customer over a period. This will give XYZ Electronics a better
understanding of their company’s performance by giving them insight as to whether they are
attracting more profitable customers and the trends in customer cohorts and segments.
Pricing elasticity: This is an important KPI for XYZ Electronics Pricing Strategy. It
measures the responsiveness of demand for a product or service to changes in its price. This will
help XYZ Electronics determine the optimal price point for their products, the demand for their
c. Conversion Rates: The ultimate goal of any marketing campaign is to increase sales.
Conversion rates are central to measuring the success of any marketing campaign as it measures
the effectiveness of the marketing team to convert leads into new customers. Each phase in the
customer's journey entails transforming their relationship from one form to another. For example,
an online ad aims to convert a virtual passer-by into a website visitor. XYZ Electronics will
monitor their conversion rates at various stages of the marketing and sales process which will
enable them to pinpoint particular areas of concern, discerning what is effective and what is not.
Customer Engagement Metrics: This metrics gauges the connection between marketing
tactics and customer responses. For XYZ Electronics to stand out, it's crucial to maintain the
65 | Page
highest possible level of customer engagement. The stronger these connections, the larger their
customer base will become. To ensure repeat business, it's imperative to earn their trust, assure
their contentment, and instill confidence in the company’s products. A few of these metrics
include – The Net Promoter Score (NPS), this is used to measure XYZ Electronics customers’
trust in your products/services and their consequent willingness to recommend them to others.
This enables the company to check customer loyalty according to the products/services. Inversely,
the amount of effort they have put into your customer service is measured here.
The Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC): Customer acquisition cost reflects the overall
measure of customer satisfaction. This metric holds significance in marketing and sales, with the
CAC being a crucial point of interest for both company and their investors. This is calculated by:
Costs Devoted to Acquiring New Customer / Numbers of New Customers. Based on the results
of XYZ Electronics CAC, If the expenses seem too high, it’s indicative that it is time to change
their marketing strategy and modify the company’s views on customer satisfaction.
channels play a crucial role in determining the success and growth of a market. One of the key
strategies for XYZ Electronics is to expand their market size by leveraging distribution channels
effectively. By optimizing more channels, they will reach a wider audience, increase their
customer base, and ultimately boost revenue. Additionally, making products available in more
locations will raise consumer awareness of their offerings and expand the brand. XYZ Electronics
will assess the total revenue at each point in the channel as this will be a good indication of which
partners are strong assets and which should be providing more productivity. Also, tracking
inventory and regional sales is also essential. The company will use this information to help
metric that measures the percentage of existing customers who remain active after a given period,
typically calculated on a monthly, quarterly and annual basis. Your customer retention rate can
help you better understand what keeps customers returning to your company, (Salesforce, 2023).
A high customer retention rate indicates that a company is effectively retaining their customers,
this is important to the long-term success of the company. Using this metric, XYZ Electronic will
be able to determine other needs and preferences that their customers may have. By doing so the
company will be able to explore their opportunities to cross-sell and upsell their products. The
more XYZ Electronics customers feel valued the longer they will remain loyal to the brand,
increasing their customer lifetime value metric. This metric represents the total expected revenue
Conclusion
for XYZ Electronics in achieving cutting edge technologies and the overall success of the
organisation. This allows a company in any industry to gain and maintain a competitive
advantage.
When developing the strategic management plan, it is important that the mission, vision,
and value statement are aligned to the strategic management process. This has several
implications on the company's business operations as one affects the other. It is also critical that
during the strategic management process of strategy formulation, strategy implementation, and
strategy evaluation, the Human Resource Practitioner considers its stakeholders, employees, and
The business strategy of a company has proven that it is vital for an organization's
competitive advantage. Porter's Generic competitive strategies which include cost leadership,
differentiation, cost focus and differentiation focus are used by businesses for their objectives and
strategic plans. XYZ Electronics Group plans to utilize differentiation, cost leadership, market
penetration, product innovation, and development strategy to penetrate a broad mass market.
Moreover, the use of the SWOT analysis was very effective in evaluating the strategic challenges
and opportunities of XYZ Electronics. Since these are useful analytical tools, they will assist in
the development stages of a company's strategic plan with the help of the SHRM’s guide to make
organizations, emphasizing its critical role in business functioning and its impact on
organizations. XYZ Electronics is renowned for its innovation leadership and transformational
68 | Page
stimulation, and individualized consideration. Research shows that this style positively impacts
for high performance and resolving employee grievances, ensuring high performance and
productivity.
the implications it has on XYZ Electronics and gave an example of how it affected the company.
Nonetheless, workable solutions were identified for such challenges and it is for this reason why
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Group Reflection
Writing a project can be a rigorous and transformative journey, leading to profound
personal and intellectual growth. As we (Group 5) reflect on the process, we recognize the
multitude of valuable lessons and insights that have emerged along the way.
One of the most significant lessons we have learned is the importance of meticulous
comprehensive outline, assuming that our ideas would effortlessly flow onto the page. However,
we quickly realized that without a clear roadmap, our thoughts became muddled, and the
coherence of the project suffered. As a result, we have learned to appreciate the necessity of
dedicating substantial time to outlining and structuring the work before delving into the actual
writing process.
Conducting in-depth investigations into the case study not only enriched the content of our project
but also provided the team with a nuanced understanding of the topic. We learned to navigate
various sources, critically assess their credibility, and synthesize diverse perspectives to create a
Moreover, the project writing process has taught us the value of resilience and
perseverance. There were moments when we encountered writer's block or felt overwhelmed by
the complexity of the material. However, we learned to persist through these challenges,
discovering that pushing through and bouncing ideas off each other in moments of difficulty often
communication. We had some challenges in not hearing from member in the initial stages of the
75 | Page
group formalisation, that quickly changed when the time mattered most., with the exception of
one member who withdrew from the programme and did not inform our group.
Furthermore, the collaborative aspects of the project, such as seeking feedback and
engaging in constructive dialogue with peers and mentors, have taught us the importance of
embracing diverse perspectives and incorporating valuable insights from others. This has not only
enhanced the quality of our work but has also fostered a sense of collective growth and learning.
Ultimately, the case study writing experience has instilled in us a deep sense of
accomplishment and self-assurance. We have learnt that with dedication, discipline, and a
willingness to embrace challenges, we are capable of producing work that is not only
In retrospect, this journey has not only enhanced our writing skills but has also shaped our
approach to tackling complex tasks in all facets of life. It has reinforced the significance of
Appendices
Appendix A
Figure 1 Showing Porter’s Generic Strategies (Friesner, 2014).
77 | Page
Appendix B
XYZ Company SWOT Analysis
78 | Page
Appendix C
Resource Based-View Table
Appendix D
Cost-Benefit Analysis
79 | Page
Appendix E
360 Growth Wheel Model
80 | Page
Appendix F
VRIO Framework
81 | Page
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