PACE 111B Program and Career Exploration in Business An orientation to UMGC and exploration of how UMGC academic programs align with professional goals and career options. The focus is on developing and practicing communication, teamwork, professionalism, and integrity skills while exploring ways to create and enhance career opportunities. The goal is to become familiar with the university’s academic culture and expectations; learn about UMGC resources for success; reflect on academic and professional goals, and explore opportunities to shorten programs through transfer credit and other prior learning.
Category: Business
solving the problems of financial policy
An overview of the theory, principles, and practices of financial management in a business environment. Topics include financial analysis and financial risk, characteristics and valuations of securities, capital investment analysis and decision making, the capital structure of the firm, financial leverage, and international finance. The aim is to examine financial information, identify issues and solve business problems, and make sound business decisions. Emphasis is on the application of financial theory and methods for solving the problems of financial policy that managers face
domestic and global business environment
A study of the relationship of business ethics and social responsibility in both domestic and global settings. The aim is to explore ethical and moral considerations of corporate conduct, social responsibilities, policies, and strategies. Emphasis is on the definition, scope, application, and analysis of ethical values as they relate to issues of public and organizational consequence and business decision making in the domestic and global business environment
the conceptual foundation gained through previous study
A study of strategic management that focuses on integrating management, marketing, finance/accounting, production/operations, services, research and development, and information systems functions to achieve organizational success. The aim is to apply integrative analysis, practical application, and critical thinking to the conceptual foundation gained through previous study and personal experience. Emphasis is on developing an organizational vision and mission, developing and implementing strategic plans, and evaluating outcomes.
citations from your reading.
personally can avoid the challenge.
remove the tracked changes from the artifacts
This week we will start the process of compiling your edited and polished work for the assessment portion of your portfolio, demonstrating your mastery of a selected learning outcome from your program. Instructions Select one learning outcome from your program of study. Then, select two graded artifacts (i.e., written assignments, projects, papers, discussion posts, or responses) that you feel best demonstrate your mastery of the selected program outcome. When selecting a previous work sample, you can review and retrieve your Waypoint assignments from previous courses from within Waypoint itself. Utilizing the feedback you received on these artifacts from your instructor as well as the things you have learned since submitting this work, revise and expand on these artifacts to create polished and corrected examples that you can add to your portfolio. Utilize track changes to make additions, corrections, and changes to your work in order for the instructor to review the changes that were made. Add two additional professional and current resources to support and improve your artifacts. Submit Combine the two updated artifacts (include track changes) into one document and submit via Waypoint. Then remove the tracked changes from the artifacts and add the polished and corrected artifacts to your portfolio with the correct heading and description of the selected program learning outcome. Insert a link to your portfolio in a Word document and submit via Waypoint. If needed, review the Week 1 Folio resources.
customers with unbranded or private label products
marketing research in Europe
P&G conducted marketing research in Europe when it faced declining sales in Europe, more significantly in Germany. The research found that the threat to P&G was not from traditional rivals like Unilever, L’Oreal SA, etc., but from regional retailers, who were giving the company a tough fight. The research brought to light the fact that retail stores in Germany stocked unbranded diapers and detergents, that were sold at half the price of P&G’s products i.e. Pampers and Ariel respectively. The marketing research showed that one-fifth of all retail sales in Western Europe were attributed to private labels. In fact, the share of private label sales of total sales of the retailers was predicted to go up to 30 percent. One of the leading retail stores in Germany, Aldi, provided customers with unbranded or private label products, where they directly competed with the renowned products of P&G. For instance, Aldi stocked a private label product Putzmeister, a cleaner, to beat P&G’s Mr. Clean. Alarmed by the number of retail brands gaining a firm foothold in the retail market segment, Paul Polman, President for P&G Western Europe, decided to cut the prices of its commodities. As a part of this decision, the company reduced the price of the Pampers basic model to make the price range more affordable. The company followed yet another strategy by introducing even cheaper versions of its products. In this way, P&G avoided cutting down the prices of its existing products. For instance, the company launched Mr. Clean, a cheaper detergent version, instead of reducing the prices of Ariel. Meanwhile, the company also introduced and promoted improved versions of its premier and costlier models. P&G introduced a costlier version of Charmin, a toilet paper, to enhance sales in that product category. The company complemented the launch with an ad campaign that asked the consumers “Don’t you deserve a bit of luxury?” and tried to justify the high cost of the product. P&G also acquired Gillette Co, which made batteries and razors, to diversify and expand into more lucrative areas. The company took various steps to retain its brand image too. As a result of its efforts, the company’s net profit increased by 122 percent when compared to its sales during the previous three fiscal years. In India too, the company faced stiff competition from Hindustan Lever Limited (HLL), an FMCG company and a price war began. Until then, the Indian FMCG industry was in a sluggish state with the industry growth rate varying between 1 and 1.5 percent. However, the industry witnessed a revival, when the players in the sector resorted to price cuts. P&G resorted to price cuts to revive declining sales in its Indian operations. The company began its efforts by announcing price reductions on sachets of detergent products namely Ariel (from Rs 1.50 to Rs 1.00) and Tide (from Rs 3 to Rs 2). Soon afterward, the company announced a reduction of up to 50 percent on large packs (500 gm) of these products. While the price of Ariel went down from Rs 70 to Rs 50, the price of Tide was reduced from Rs 43 to Rs 23. HLL followed suit by reducing the price of its flagship detergent brand Surf Excel. P&G claimed that the sales of its detergent products doubled after the price cuts were implemented. P&G also had to deal with competition in the shampoo market, when HLL introduced ‘buy-one-get-one-free’ offer. Instead of resorting to price reductions, the company concentrated on heavily promoting its brand ‘Rejoice’ shampoo. Also, P&G introduced a line extension of its shampoo product ‘Pantene’. P&G’s share in the detergent market increased from 6 percent to 10 percent in one year. Analysts, however, were of the opinion that P&G had shifted its priority from being a value-based company to a volume-based company, in a bid to take on its rivals. Questions: 1. Is Procter & Gamble right in resorting to price cuts to revive its flagging sales? Discuss. 2. Comment on Procter & Gamble’s shift to a ‘volume-based’ company from a ‘value-based’ company.