Only for PhD doctorate.

CLASS # 1

Week 4 Discussion 1

"Business-Level Strategy" Please respond to the following:

From the first e-Activity, assess your satisfaction with the company you researched and make recommendations about how that company could modify its business-level strategy to both increase your overall level of satisfaction and to attract new customers. Provide specific examples to support your response.
Analyze the five business-level strategies discussed in Chapter 4 to determine which strategy the company you researched most likely applies. Determine how your experience with that company might change if it switched to one of the other four strategies (your choice). Explain your rationale.

EXAMPLE FROM ANOTHER STUDENT DISCUSSION: RE: Week 4 Discussion 1

From the first e-Activity, assess your satisfaction with the company you researched and make recommendations about how that company could modify its business-level strategy to both increase your overall level of satisfaction and to attract new customers. Provide specific examples to support your response.

AT&T Uverse is my current internet and cable provider. Initially, I decided to utilize their services because I heard nothing but good things. As a customer of over two years, I do not see the benefit of staying with the company; I have noticed a steep increase in my bill over the past few months. In order to increase my overall satisfaction, the company will need to provide a customer loyalty program which will give a discount to those who have continued with their services after two years. The company has no issues with attracting new customers. They provide new customers with significant discounts and also a visa gift card.

• Analyze the five business-level strategies discussed in Chapter 4 to determine which strategy the company you researched most likely applies. Determine how your experience with that company might change if it switched to one of the other four strategies (your choice). Explain your rationale.

The business level strategy which most likely applies to AT&T Uverse is the differentiation strategy. The company focus is on providing unique equipment compared to its competitors to attractive new customers . If the company where to change strategies, I would still shop around for cheaper service. As a new customer, I appreciated the discounts provided but now that my bill has increased, it is more important for me to pay less for these services.

Hitt, M. A. (2013). Strategic Management: Concepts and Cases: Competitiveness and Globalization, 10th Edition.

CLASS # 1

Week 4 Discussion 2

"Apple, Inc: Keeping the “I” in Innovation” Please respond to the following:

From the second e-Activity and the case study, determine how market commonality and resource similarity impact Apple’s competitive standing in terms of its main rivals. Provide specific examples to support your response.
Determine what additional steps Apple's competitors are likely to take and how Apple will most likely respond. Explain your rationale.

EXAMPLE FROM ANOTHER STUDENT DISCUSSION: RE: Week 4 Discussion 2

From the second e-Activity and the case study, determine how market commonality and resource similarity impact Apple’s competitive standing in terms of its main rivals. Provide specific examples to support your response.

The main rivals for Apple is Samsung. In the past the two have battled it out in 2011-2012, when Samsung abused its authority as a supplier for Apple in their design of their Galaxy model. Later in 2014, Samsung’s business strategy was leaked showing the world “Beating Apple is #1 priority. Logistically, Samsung is still a supplier for the Apple giant, Apple imports billion in components from this rival annually. Apple is confident in its value as a leader of innovation for the information and technology industry.

Determine what additional steps Apple's competitors are likely to take and how Apple will most likely respond. Explain your rationale.

Competitors like Samsung have been around for much longer than Apple and has also developed innovatively over the years. Mobile technology is just one aspect of their firm. Apple’s competitors will continue to focus on ways to increase their customer base and become number one. Apple will most likely keep their focus on their company and how they can continue to dominate their industry through early market development.

Hitt, M. A. (2013). Strategic Management: Concepts and Cases: Competitiveness and Globalization, 10th Edition.

http://www.investopedia.com/articles/markets/110315/samsung-vs-apple-comparing-business-models.asp

CLASS # 2

Week 4 Discussion 1

"Individual versus Group Incentives" Please respond to the following:

From the e-Activity, compare and contrast the likely success of individual incentives, group incentives, and companywide incentives for improving employee performance.
Referring to the same company, create an outline for an incentive pay program that would benefit employees and the company / organization. Provide specific examples to support your response.

HR Management: Compensation & Incentives

EXAMPLE FROM ANOTHER STUDENT DISCUSSION: RE: Week 4 Discussion 1

Individual incentive pay plans are great when they meet the needs of employees in the right conditions. To start, the rules of engagement for employees should be under conditions that performance can be measured objectively. In contrast, if the company has motivated high performers and they fail to create an awards program based on their performance, the company will not be able to keep or attract top talent to make the company prosper. Next, the company should create an environment where employees have control over their individual work outcomes. In contrast. If the employees constantly have equipment malfunction and delays in the supply chain, employees will no longer have the ability to perform at the level expected. Lastly, the work conditions must be clean and safe as well as healthy for all employees to feel comfortable as they carry out their jobs. In contrast, if the job that they perform to create an unsafe environment. The jobs performed will be weak, to say the least.

References:

Martocchio, J. J. (2017). Strategic compensation a human resource management approach. Boston; Columbus; Indianapolis; New York: Pearson.

Outline for Incentives

I. Hourly Wage

A. Basic wages employees

B. Over time more than 40 hours

C. Union employees with collective bargaining agreement

II. Annual Salary

A. Annual salary with no overtime pay

B. Salary levels

C. Executive Salary

III. Retirement Savings

A. 401K Plan

B. Annual Raise based on performance

C. Incentive cash plan

IV. Raises & Incentives

A. Employees performance compensation plan

B. Outstanding performance appraisal

C. Best at improving the company’s bottom-line

V. Group Medical Benefits

Group health compensation plan
Supplemental dental plan

Week 4 Discussion 2

"Person-Focused Pay" Please respond to the following:

From the e-Activity, determine if a person-focused pay system would benefit the company you researched. Provide specific examples to support your response.
Analyze the advantages to employees and to employers of a person-focused pay program to determine if this would be a good approach for all companies and organizations in the U.S. to pursue. Explain your rationale.

EXAMPLE FROM ANOTHER STUDENT DISCUSSION RE: Week 4 Discussion 2

UGG is the company I researched is committed to its employees as well as those who are looking to create wealth for themselves. Knowing the commitment that UGG has taken to its employees I would say that the person-focused pay system would be a great asset for UGG and its employees. Having employees acquire job-related competencies, more knowledge toward the job, and skills to do the job is a major plus for the company. “The brand has built a reputation on luxury style and comfort by using only the finest materials in the world, employing the highest standards of craftsmanship, and delivering new and innovative styles”(UGG). This example is a prime commitment to its customers; it only makes sense to educate and grow from within, so UGG can continue its excellence by retaining and paying those that commit themselves to learning and making the most comfortable shoe in the world.

After analyzing the advantages for employees and employers of a person-focused pay program, it is determined that this would be a good approach for all companies and organizations in the U.S. to pursue. “Person-focused pay programs that emphasize vertical skills work well at manufacturing companies that organize workflow around high-performance work teams in which employees are expected to learn both functional and managerial tasks” (Martocchio, 2017). Keeping the company UGG in mind, the utilization of teamwork is the only way the products sold by them can remain a top-selling proven product. Each team member of the selected groups learns all the jobs of the other, creating a well-oiled machine.

References:

Martocchio, J. J. (2017). Strategic compensation a human resource management approach. Boston; Columbus; Indianapolis; New York: Pearson.

UGG. (11). Buying Real UGG Product, Know the Facts. Business Wire (English).

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