With reference to Gill Corkindale’s blog, I will write on the importance of having an organizational design and structure according to the culture of the company. I agree with her idea that as organizational strategy changes, structures, functions and roles should be realigned with the new objectives.

Organization design and structure has become so crucial that it dictates how people function in any business, thus directly affecting the functioning of the company. However, more often than not, organizations either overlook the importance of importance of organizational design or simply don’t know what to do. An outdated and improper structure can lead to ambiguity and commotion inside a business therefore breaking down co-ordination, decision making processes in the business. Moreover, it can lead to huge conflicts between managers, employees and the other shareholders of the company. Such problems would furthermore reduce the company’s strengths and hamper its opportunities to develop.

Therefore, it is imperative for the managers or the CEO’s of any company to search for the right combination of its structure and design that would suit their company. A good structure and design will lead to an improvement in communication, increase output and productivity of its employees and most importantly make all the shareholders happy.

Reference – http://blogs.hbr.org/corkindale/2011/02/the_importance_of_organization.html

Image Ref –  http://www.mainstconsulting.com/graphics/organization-design-gfx.jpg

Recently, I read Clarisse Ong‘s blog regarding the survival of small business in today’s world. I agree with her idea that during the time of economic recession or slow economic growth, it is extremely difficult for small businesses to enter the market and prosper in it.

I strongly agree with the fact that small business will have limited cash flow at the time of its start up. Moreover, at the time of slow economic expansion, rivalry increases and intensifies making it extremely difficult for new businesses to enter the market. Furthermore, a slow economy would mean that people would have less dispensable income to be used in buying products. This in turn, will lower the sales of the businesses.

According to the Craig Alexander, the chief economist and senior VP of TD Bank, small businesses should have realistic expectations and be flexible to adjust with the changing economic climate in order to succeed at the times of economic uncertainty.

However, I feel the most important factor for any businesses survival in today’s market, be it, during economic growth or economic uncertainty, is how well a business conducts market research and industry analysis. With good and thorough market research every business has an opportunity to survive and do well in the market.

References  – https://blogs.ubc.ca/clarisseong/

– http://business.financialpost.com/2011/10/13/will-small-business-continue-to-prosper/

Tata Nano, is currently the cheapest car in the world at 100,000 Indian Rupees, equivalent to 2,000 CAD. If Tata Nano comes to North America though, the cost would be slightly higher due to some redesigning needed to meet the emission and crash standards. In addition, there would be high charges for transporting the cars to North America.

I think it would provide excellent competition to other low cost cars in the region.  At a time of Financial Meltdowns around the world, people would most definitely want to reduce their expenditures in any ways possible. So, a cheap car, with good safety measures would be an ideal car for many people.  Furthermore, tata nano has a 4.8L/100km fuel efficiency with low carbon dioxide emissions.

If we consider the fact that, the cheapest retail car in Canada is for around $ 10,000, why will people not buy a car that is at least three times its cheaper? There might be a different view amongst some that people in these regions usually prefer big cars, but maintaining such cars turn out to be quite expensive. Moreover, with such soaring prices of gasoline, a fuel efficient car will greatly improve your savings.

I feel if CEO of Tata Motors decides to enter the car market here, he will surely make people think about investing on cars in the years to come.

Every market is today’s world is so vast with so innumerable competitors, that it becomes imperative for any business to identify and target a particular sector of the market. To do that, a business has to first segment the market.  Once the segmentation is done, a business would target a specific group of consumers who are “most likely” to buy their products and services.

Let us look at the car manufacturing industry for instance. The high competition present in such an industry implies to the fact that it is very important for every company to have a target market, in order to have a comparative advantage over its competitors. For example, Mercedes-Benz targets the high income sector of the society, while Toyota targets the lower middle class with lesser disposable income. Suppose, if Mercedes-Benz decides to sell its cars in a country like Somalia at its normal high prices, it will not be able to incur high (or rather any) sales. Toyota, on the other hand would be much better off selling its cars in such a country.

Therefore, it is very important for any business to identify its target market and sell accordingly in those markets.

While the whole world is grieving on the death of Apple’s co-founder Steve Jobs, let us pay tribute to some of his skills which made him special around the world.                             The media has always symbolized Steve Jobs for his impact on Apple. Under his supervision, the company became a master brand and increased sales significantly with the introduction of iMac and the iPod.  Further in June 2007, Apple entered the cellular industry with the introduction of the iPhone.

Jobs always took personal responsibility for what Apple makes and how these products would feel to the user. He was responsible for directing the design processes of the products from start to end, asking innumerable questions, thereby pushing the production unit towards manufacturing more useful, efficient and better products. The decisions that most companies would consider finishing touches, like the look of a hinge, the sound a product makes when it is opened or shut, the color of a products case – were to Jobs, the extreme core of the designing process at Apple.

With his death, the world has truly lost a visionary, a person who, as President Obama puts it “bold enough to believe he could change the world”.

References – http://www.inc.com/magazine/20040401/25jobs.html                                                           http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/10/05/president-obama-passing-steve-                     jobs-he-changed-way-each-us-sees-world