Critical Thinking

Outsourcing and offshoring initiatives can help an organization fine-tune its business model to become more resilient and profitable. At the same time, these initiatives present challenges. 

In today’s highly competitive, extremely variable, and dynamicenvironment, many firms are seeking solutions. Supply  chain  management  becomes  more sophisticated  and  the  difference  between  what firms  want  to  achieve  and  what  they  can  do  in-house continues to grow, firms begin to realize that doing the right thing becomes more interesting than doing everything.  Accordingly, they are becoming better focused and more specialized by outsourcing and offshoring activities that are far from their core businesses. In many cases firms decide to outsource this function in whole or in part to agents or third-party logistics firms.

Using this concept of offshoring and outsourcing answer the following questions by taking any Saudi Local company or any Multinational company.

Questions: Each Question Carrying 2 Marks.

1. Define Third party logistics firms? Discuss its working procedure? (400-500 Words)

2. Explain the motivational factors for going internationally?(400-500 Words)

3. On what ground companies choose developing country’slocation for offshoring? Use examples. (Mention the country and decisive factors). (400-500 Words)

4. Why do companies outsource? (Use example of any Saudi company along its objective and scope for outsource).(400-500 Words)

5. Assess the reasons for using third party logistics service in Saudi Arabia? Using examples, Explanation regarding their logistics performance and priorities.(400-500 Words)

The Answer must follow the Key word/ outline points below:

• Outsourcing ,offshoring ,Third Party logistics

• Their Main functions

• Motivational Factors /Drivers

• Any local example

• Reasons with suitable Examples

• Reference

Note: You can support your answer by reading chapter 4 of your book.

You can use secondary source available on internet. Please use APA-style referencing.

Answer 1.

Answer 2.

Answer 3.

Answer 4.

Answer 5.

Overview

Millennials (born between 1981 and 1996) and Generation Z (born between 1997 and 2015) are the two target audience groups that are important for businesses in the entertainment category.

As a regional marketing director of the theme park, you are aware that more than 70% of your target audience falls into the Generation Z category. Understanding their needs, mindsets, perceptions, and preferred methods of communication is essential for your business and your marketing strategy.

Considering these points, you will draft a recommendation report that will help the chief marketing officer (CMO) and the other marketing directors understand the importance of these major stakeholders in the marketing strategy for park reopening. Your recommendation report should also include the correct marketing strategies to engage Generation Z.

Prompt

Draft a report for the CMO in the scenario and recommend marketing strategies to engage Generation Z, or the “I-Generation.” Specifically, you must address the following criteria:

1. What is unique about Generation Z in terms of marketing?

– Identify two digital marketing approaches that work best for this generation.

2. How do you best reach this generation with your message focusing on brand image ?

– Identify two social media platforms preferred by Generation Z. Give examples and reasons.

– What is the role of bloggers or other influencers in connecting with Generation Z? Describe and provide examples.

– Do online advertisements work with this generation? Explain.

3. Describe the role of traditional methods of marketing with Generation Z.

– Which forms of traditional media can work best in influencing Generation Z?

– How will the park use these forms of traditional media in its plan?

– Consider outdoor, promotional, and guerilla marketing.

– Describe the pros and cons of using TV and radio.

Q1 Brand Equity is defined by David Aaker as ” a set of assets (and liabilities) linked to a brand’s name and symbol that adds to ( or subtracts from) the value provided by a product or service to a firm or that firm’s customers.” This definition can be broken into five dimensions. Which one is not one of the five dimensions?

Select one:

a. Brand Awareness

b. Brand Association

c. Brand Loyalty

d. Perceived Quality

e. Brand Roles

2. Integrated Marketing Communications ensures that all forms of communications and messages are carefully linked together. At its most basic level, Integrated Marketing Communications, or IMC, as we’ll call it, means integrating all the promotional tools, so that they work together in harmony.

Why is IMC important?

Select one:

a. Delivering a unified message to end-users through various channels has better chances of attracting customers

b. A targeted audience receives consistent, persuasive, and reinforcing brand messaging in an integrated and comprehensive way to move buyer’s through the decision making process

c. A consistent brand voice helps build stronger relationships with consumers

d. The process starts with the customer or prospect and then works back to the brand (identity) communicator in determining the most appropriate messages and media for informing, persuading and inducing customers and prospects to act as planned towards the brand

e. All of the above

Q3 ) Which of the following step is not included in our textbook of the Market Research Process?

Select one:

a. Collect the Data

b. Design the Data

c. Report the Findings

d. Establish Research Design

e. Analyze the Dat

Q4 ) The following generational group’s representative values are describing Baby Boomers.

* Pragmatic

* Optimistic

* Team players

* Savvy consumers

* Edgy

* Focused on urban style

* More idealistic than Gen X

* Technology comes naturally

Select one:

True

False

Module 12: Critical Thinking Assignment

Aligning IT Strategies to Business Strategies (115 points)

Delta Corporation has been very impressed with the progress it has made with its new product line and the new marketing approach that you recommended and instigated. As a result, it is now considering expanding this approach for its other product lines, providing them with the ability to market and sell all of its products online. However, it has not considered the implications for its IT department in developing this type of plan. As the Social Media Marketing Consultant, you are familiar with integrating business and IT strategic planning. They have called upon you to provide advice. You need to:

• Explain      what the company needs to consider if it is going to move to a more      on-line approach for its sales and marketing activities. In particular,      describe the consequences for its IT department and why they need to be      involved in the planning phase.
• Given the      likely increase in costs associated with this move, you need to outline      the potential benefits and possible pitfalls of outsourcing the IT      maintenance and development.
• Outline some      strategic technology trends that the company may wish to monitor and      consider for the future.

Finally, research a company in Saudi Arabia and discuss whether they were able to align their overall strategy and their IT strategy. If they were successful discuss how they managed this alignment and what benefits they gained from doing so. If they were not so successful, explain how and why you felt that occurred.

Reference book:

Turban, E., Pollard, C., & Wood, G. (2018). Information Technology for Management: On-demand Strategies for Performance, Growth and Sustainability. John Wiley & Sons

Critical Thinking

Outsourcing and offshoring initiatives can help an organization fine-tune its business model to become more resilient and profitable. At the same time, these initiatives present challenges.

In today’s highly competitive, extremely variable, and dynamic environment, many firms are seeking solutions. Supply chain management becomes more sophisticated and the difference between what firms want to achieve and what they can do in-house continues to grow, firms begin to realize that doing the right thing becomes more interesting than doing everything. Accordingly, they are becoming better focused and more specialized by outsourcing and offshoring activities that are far from their core businesses. In many cases firms decide to outsource this function in whole or in part to agents or third-party logistics firms.

Using this concept of offshoring and outsourcing answer the following questions by taking any Saudi Local company or any Multinational company.

Questions: Each Question Carrying 2 Marks.

1.Define Third party logistics firms? Discuss its working procedure? (400-500 Words)

2.Explain the motivational factors for going internationally? (400-500 Words)

3.On what ground companies choose developing country’s location for offshoring? Use examples. (Mention the country and decisive factors). (400-500 Words)

4.Why do companies outsource? (Use example of any Saudi company along its objective and scope for outsource). (400-500 Words)

5.Assess the reasons for using third party logistics service in Saudi Arabia? Using examples, Explanation regarding their logistics performance and priorities. (400-500 Words)

The Answer must follow the Key word/ outline points below:

Outsourcing ,offshoring ,Third Party logistics

Their Main functions

Motivational Factors /Drivers

Any local example

Reasons with suitable Examples

Reference

Note: You can support your answer by reading chapter 4 of your book.

You can use secondary source available on internet. Please use APA-style referencing.