Vipin Kumar Gupta Mb0036 510914612

Master of Business Administration – MBA Semester 4
MB0036 – Strategic Management & Business Policy

Assignment Set- 1
1. Explain the different circumstances under which a suitable growth strategy
should be selected by any company to improve its performance (i.e., intensive,
integrative or diversification growth). You may select an example of your choice
to substantiate your views (10 marks).
Answer :
Strategies to Improve Sales
There are three alternatives to improve the sales performance of a business unit, to fill the
gap between actual sales and targeted sales:
a) Intensive growth
b) Integrative growth
c) Diversification growth
a) Intensive Growth:
It refers to the process of identifying opportunities to achieve further growth within the
company’s current businesses. To achieve intensive growth, the management should first
evaluate the available opportunities to improve the performance of its existing current
businesses.
It may find three options:
· To penetrate into existing markets
· To develop new markets
· To develop new products
At times, it may be possible to gain more market share with the current products in their
current markets through a market penetration strategy. For instance, SONY introduced TV
sets with Trinitron picture tubes into the market in 1996 priced at a premium of Rs.10,000
and above over the market through a niche market capture strategy. They gradually
lowered the prices to market levels. However, it also simultaneously launched higher-end
products (high-technology products) to maintain its global image as a technology leader.
By lowering the prices of TVs with Trinitron picture tubes, the company could successfully
penetrate into the markets to add new customers to its customer base.
Market Development Strategy is to explore the possibility to find or develop new markets
for its current products (from the northern region to the eastern region etc.). Most
multinational companies have been entering Indian markets with this strategy, to develop
markets globally. However, care should be taken to ensure that these new markets are not
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Vipin Kumar Gupta MB0036 510914612
ow density or saturated markets, which could lead to price pressures.
Product Development Strategy involves consideration of new products of potential interest
to its current markets (e.g. Gramaphone Records to Musical Productions to CDs)– as part of
a Diversification strategy.
Study the following example to understand what Product Development Strategy is.
MICROSOFT’s New Strategy
It is called PC-plus. It has three elements:
a) Providing computer power to the most commonly used devices such as cell phone,
personal computer, toaster oven, dishwasher, refrigerator, washing machines and so on.
b) Developing software to allow these devices to communicate.
c) Investing heavily to help build wireless and high-speed internet access throughout the
world to link it all together.
Microsoft envisions a home where everyday appliances and electronics are smart.
According to Bill Gates, ‘In the near future, PC-based networks will help us control many
of our domestic matters with devices that cost no more than $ 100 each ‘.
It is also said at Microsoft that VCRs can be programmed via e-mail, laundry washers can
be designed to send an instant message to the home computer when the load is done
and refrigerators can be made to send an e-mail when there’s no more milk. Microsoft
plans to give these appliances ‘brains‘ and provide them the means to talk to each other
through their Windows CE Operating System.
b) Integrative Growth:
It refers to the process of identifying opportunities to develop or acquire businesses that
are related to the company’s current businesses. More often, the business processes have
to be integrated for linear growth in the profits. The corporate plan may be designed to
undertake backward, forward or horizontal integration within the industry.
If a company operating in music systems takes over the manufacturing business of its
plastic material supplier, it would be able to gain more control over the market or generate
more profit. (Backward Integration)
Alternatively, if this company acquires some of its most profitably operating intermediaries
such as wholesalers or retailers, it is forward integration. If the company legally takes over
or acquires the business of any of its leading competitors, it is called horizontal integration
(however, if this competitor is weak, it might be counter-productive due to dilution of brand
image).
c) Diversification Growth:
It refers to the process of identifying opportunities to develop or acquire businesses that
are not related to the company’s current businesses. This makes sense when such
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opportunities outside the present businesses are identified with attractive returns and that
industry has business strengths to be successful. In most cases, this is planned with new
products that have technological or marketing synergies with existing businesses to cater
to a different group of customers (Concentric Diversification).
A printing press might shift over to offset printing with computerised content generation to
appeal to higher-end customers and also add new application areas ( Horizontal
Diversification ) – or even sell stationery.
Alternatively, the company might choose new businesses that have nothing to do with the
current technology, products or markets (Conglomerate Diversification).
The classic examples for this would be engineering and textile firms setting up software
development centres or Call Centres with new service clients.
Situation Analysis
Sales Improvement Strategies:
a) A supplier of computer stationery invests in a computer stationery manufacturing unit.
b) A vendor supplying engine boxes to Maruti decides to supply the same with
modifications to Hyundai.
c) A company dealing in computer floppies plans to set up a Software Technology Park.
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2. What are the components of a good Business Plan and briefly explain the
importance of each.(10 marks).
Answer .
The format of a Business Plan is something that has been developed and refined over the
years and is something that should not be changed. Like a good recipe, a business plan
needs to include certain ingredients to make it work.
When you create a business plan, don't attempt to recreate its format. Those reviewing this
type of document have expectations you must meet. If they do not see those crucial
decision-making
components, they'll see no reason to proceed with their review of your business plan, no
matter how great your business idea.
Executive Summary Section
Every business plan must begin with an Executive Summary section. A well-written
Executive Summary is critical to the success of the rest of the document. Here is where you
need to capture the attention of your audience so that they will be compelled to read on.
Remember, it's a summary, so each and every word must be carefully selected and
presented.
Use the Executive Summary section of your business plan to accurately describe the nature
of your business venture including the need that you plan to fill. Show the reasons why
people need
your product or service. Show this by including a brief analysis of the characteristics of your
potential market.
Describe the organization of your business including your management team. Also, briefly
describe your sales and marketing plan or approach. Finally include the numbers that those
reviewing your business plan want to see - the amount of capital you seek, the carefully
calculated sales projections and your plan to repay the loan.
If you've captured your audience so far they'll read on. Otherwise, they'll close the
document and add your business plan to the heap of other rejected ideas.
Devote the balance of your business plan to providing details of the items outlined in the
Executive Summary.
The Business Section
Be sure to include the legal name, physical address and detailed description of the nature
of your business. It's important to keep the description easy to read using common
terminology. Never assume that those reading your business plan have the same level of
technical knowledge that you do. Describe how you plan to better serve your market than
your competition is currently doing.
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Market Analysis Section
An analysis of the market shows that you have done your homework. This section is
basically a summary of your Marketing Plan. It needs to show the demand for your product
or service, the proposed market, trends within the industry, a description of your pricing
plan and packaging and a description of your company policies.
Financing Section
The Financing section must show that you are as committed to your business venture as
you expect those reading your business plan to be. Show the amount of personal funds you
are contributing and their source. Also include the amount of capital you need and your
plan to repay this debt. Include all pertinent financial worksheets in this section: annual
income projections, a break-even worksheet, projected cash flow statements and a balance
sheet.
Management Section
Outline your organizational structure and management team here. Include the legal
structure of your business whether it is a partnership, corporation or limited liability
corporation. Include resumes and biographies of key players on your management team.
Show staffing projection data for the next few years.By now you're probably thinking that
you don't need Business Plan just yet. Well you do, and there is business plan building
software that can help you through this immense project. These software packages are
easy to use and affordable. Use one today and produce a professional-quality Business Plan
- including all critical components - tomorrow!
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3. You wish to start a new venture to manufacture auto components. Explain
different stages in the process of starting this new business. (10 marks).
Answer.
Every business starts out as an idea. This idea usually involves the invention of a new
product, or revolves around a better way of making and marketing an existing one. While
many would argue that the idea stage is not a stage at all, it is actually a turning point, as
business adviser Mike Pendrith points out. After this, you as a business builder must refine
this idea into a money-making reality. Here in this case supposing we are to start a new
venture of manufacturing auto components and also to market them. We will see here in
the following paragraphs different stages of achieving the same goal.
1. Idea Researching
In this stage, you are researching your idea. The object of your research is to find
out who is marketing the same product or service in your area, and how successful
the marketer has been. You can accomplish this by a Google search on the Internet,
launching a test-marketing campaign, or conducting surveys. Also, you are
attempting to find what the level of interest is in the products (or services) you wish
to market.
Here as the main goal is to start a company that manufactures the auto
components, we are to make a research on all the auto companies which are
procuring the spares from the outside vendors. And also the competitors who are
all marketing that, their existence and also how successful they are.
As part of the initial research process, it is important to consider the legal
requirements of selling your product or service. According to the Biz Ed website,
examine the legal ramifications of your business. Know the tax laws governing your
business. If insurance is a requirement, prepare to budget for it. Also, be aware of
any safety laws governing you as an employer. Hence we are also to make a
research on the feasible area where we can start our organization and licenses that
we need to take keeping in mind the environmental factors as well.
2. Business Plan Formulation
You must write a business plan. As Pendrith points out, this is crucial if you want
funding, such as a small business loan or grant, or if you wish to lease a building. At
this stage, Pendrith advises, you need to consult with an attorney or business
adviser for assistance.
In the business plan you typically include following heads:
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i) Executive Summary
ii) Company and Product Description
iii) Market Description
iv) Equipment and Materials
v) Operations
vi) Management and Ownership
vii) Financial Information and Start-Up Timeline
viii) Risks and Their Mitigation
3. Financial Planning
Financial planning involves thinking about the financial costs of starting and
maintaining your business. According to the Biz Ed website, you should consider
such issues as the costs of running the business; the prices you wish to charge your
customers; cash flow control; and how you wish to set up financial reserves in case
of an emergency or an event causing significant loss to the business. This includes
the planning of whether to take any loans or make personal investments in the
company.
4. Advertising Campaign
Decide how you will market your product. Consider your budget and your target
audience. Make up business cards with your logo on it, your name and the name of
your business. Make sure that they are of the most professional quality. Utilizing
print, the newspaper, the Internet, radio or TV is also wise, considering, of course,
the size of your advertising budget. Here in this case more than TV, a better
advertising media will be road side sign boards placed close to the auto companies
for getting the deals to manufacture their spares. As TV is useful only to reach the
common man and he is not our target customer. Hence sign boards is the feasible
solution and also pamphlets circulated across the pioneers. This apart personal
marketing is much more suggested.
5. Preparing for Launch
Advertise for employees. This also requires adequate planning. Think about what
you look for in an employee. Be specific about the requisite skills and experience
you are seeking. Then begin requesting resumes and setting up interviews, making
hiring decisions based on the standards you have set. In this case we will be looking
for a few candidates in managerial position who must be good in managing things
apart from minimal technical knowledge. Lower level people at the shopfloor people.
They need to have real time experience in the shop floor activities. The employees
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apart, one needs to plan on the plant and machinery as well.Thus these are all the
stages that I would consider performing if incase I plan to start a manufacturing unit
producing automobile components.
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4. Explain the process of due Diligence and why it is necessary.(10 marks).
Answer.
Due diligence
Of course, your commercial partner will need some reassurance about the quality of the
offer you are making to them. If you are involved in licensing technology or seeking
commercial support for your research you are likely to hear of ‘due diligence.’ When a
future partner is considering whether or not to license technology, to buy a share of patent
rights, or to support your research, they will need to satisfy themselves that it is a viable
proposition. The process of assessing the viability, risk, potential liabilities and commercial
prospects of a project is known as ‘due diligence.’ Indeed, if a potential partner seems not
to be interested in this kind of issues, it may actually raise questions about their
commitment to the project or the credibility of their business plan, particularly if the
relationship assumes some degree of risk and investment on their part.
Generally, due diligence will involve assessing the overall commercial operations, cash flow,
assets and liabilities of a business that is being purchased or otherwise financially
supported. You would think twice about purchasing a business if you found that it was
burdened with debts, or was about to be involved in difficult litigation, or if there were
doubts about whether it really owned its assets. The same applies to a potential investment
involving intellectual property. For instance, a potential commercial partner would not want
to invest in patented technology only to find out that patent renewal fees have not been
paid and the patent has lapsed, or to find out that the patent was being opposed by
another company, or to find that there is prior art available that calls into question its
validity. It may transpire that a student, a contractor or a visiting researcher could actually
be legally entitled to some or all of the patent rights. Even a serious level of uncertainty or
doubt could be enough to deter a potential partner, especially if they have run into this kind
of difficulty before.
Due diligence may also involve searching for information about the full range of IP rights
that might impact on the relevant technology – for instance, to check whether you have
later filed patent applications on improvements to the original patented technology, that
may limit the value of their investment in the original technology. Other intellectual
property rights – such as related trade mark or design registrations, or key trade secrets or
copyright material (such as manuals or software) – may also need to be identified or
located, as these may also affect the commercial partner’s interests in the technology. For
example, they may be unwilling to take out a licence for your patent without getting access
to the software you have developed for a related process. They may want the right to use
your trade mark in association with the patented technology.
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So in a due diligence process, your commercial partner may undertake a range of checks
and need various forms of information. These may include:
Checks on external records, such as patent registers and patent databases,
including foreign patents;
Searches of patent databases for conflicting technology;
Independent advice from patent attorneys on issues such as patent ownership,
patent validity and scope of patent claims;
Checks on employment contracts, confidentiality arrangements, and contracts with
other parties that may interfere with the exercise of IP rights;
Details of the patent prosecution such as examiners’ reports and other opinions;
Details of any legal challenges to the patent, and the way the proceedings were
resolved;
Checks on laboratory notebooks in the event that the validity of US patents is of
concern to the commercial partner (this also provides reassurance as to claims of
ownership of the patent);
Surveys of the activity of competitors and owners of competing technology, and
possibilities of conflict; and
Analysis of freedom to operate issues.
In preparing to license your technology, you should consider in advance these kind of due
diligence issues. If you can anticipate and provide comprehensive answers to these
questions, you will be able more effectively to reassure your commercial partner, and you
will be in a stronger negotiating position in negotiating licence terms. It should also speed
up the licensing negotiations, and ultimately the commercialization of your intellectual
property.
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5. Is Corporate Social Responsibility necessary and how does it benefit a company
and its shareholders? (10 marks).
Answer.
Corporate social responsibility (CSR), also known as corporate responsibility,
corporate citizenship, responsible business, sustainable responsible business
(SRB), or corporate social performance,[1] is a form of corporate self-regulation
integrated into a business model. Ideally, CSR policy would function as a built-in, self-
regulating mechanism whereby business would monitor and ensure its support to law,
ethical standards, and international norms. Consequently, business would embrace
responsibility for the impact of its activities on the environment, consumers, employees,
communities, stakeholders and all other members of the public sphere. Furthermore, CSR-
focused businesses would proactively promote the public interest by encouraging
community growth and development, and voluntarily eliminating practices that harm the
public sphere, regardless of legality. Essentially, CSR is the deliberate inclusion of public
interest into corporate decision-making, and the honoring of a triple bottom line: people,
planet, profit.
The practice of CSR is much debated and criticized. Proponents argue that there is a strong
business case for CSR, in that corporations benefit in multiple ways by operating with a
perspective broader and longer than their own immediate, short-term profits. Critics argue
that CSR distracts from the fundamental economic role of businesses; others argue that it
is nothing more than superficial window-dressing; others yet argue that it is an attempt to
pre-empt the role of governments as a watchdog over powerful multinational corporations.
Corporate Social Responsibility has been redefined throughout the years. However, it
essentially is titled to aid to an organization's mission as well as a guide to what the
company stands for and will uphold to its consumers.
Development business ethics is one of the forms of applied ethics that examines ethical
principles and moral or ethical problems that can arise in a business environment.
In the increasingly conscience-focused marketplaces of the 21st century, the demand for
more ethical business processes and actions (known as ethicism) is increasing.
Simultaneously, pressure is applied on industry to improve business ethics through new
public initiatives and laws (e.g. higher UK road tax for higher-emission vehicles).
Business ethics can be both a normative and a descriptive discipline. As a corporate
practice and a career specialization, the field is primarily normative. In academia,
descriptive approaches are also taken. The range and quantity of business ethical issues
reflects the degree to which business is perceived to be at odds with non-economic social
values. Historically, interest in business ethics accelerated dramatically during the 1980s
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and 1990s, both within major corporations and within academia. For example, today most
major corporate websites lay emphasis on commitment to promoting non-economic social
values under a variety of headings (e.g. ethics codes, social responsibility charters). In
some cases, corporations have re-branded their core values in the light of business ethical
considerations (e.g. BP's "beyond petroleum" environmental tilt).
The term "CSR" came in to common use in the early 1970s, after many multinational
corporations formed, although it was seldom abbreviated. The term stakeholder, meaning
those on whom an organization's activities have an impact, was used to describe corporate
owners beyond shareholders as a result of an influential book by R Freeman in 1984.[2]
ISO 26000 is the recognized international standard for CSR (currently a Draft International
Standard). Public sector organizations (the United Nations for example) adhere to the triple
bottom line (TBL). It is widely accepted that CSR adheres to similar principles but with no
formal act of legislation. The UN has developed the Principles for Responsible Investment
as guidelines for investing entities.
Potential business benefits
The scale and nature of the benefits of CSR for an organization can vary depending on the
nature of the enterprise, and are difficult to quantify, though there is a large body of
literature exhorting business to adopt measures beyond financial ones (e.g., Deming's
Fourteen Points, balanced scorecards). Orlitzky, Schmidt, and Rynes found a correlation
between social/environmental performance and financial performance. However, businesses
may not be looking at short-run financial returns when developing their CSR strategy.
The definition of CSR used within an organization can vary from the strict "stakeholder
impacts" definition used by many CSR advocates and will often include charitable efforts
and volunteering. CSR may be based within the human resources, business development or
public relations departments of an organization,[11] or may be given a separate unit
reporting to the CEO or in some cases directly to the board. Some companies may
implement CSR-type values without a clearly defined team or program.
The business case for CSR within a company will likely rest on one or more of these
arguments:
Human resources
A CSR program can be an aid to recruitment and retention,[12] particularly within the
competitive graduate student market. Potential recruits often ask about a firm's CSR policy
during an interview, and having a comprehensive policy can give an advantage. CSR can
also help improve the perception of a company among its staff, particularly when staff can
become involved through payroll giving, fundraising activities or community volunteering.
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See also Corporate Social Entrepreneurship, whereby CSR can also be driven by employees'
personal values, in addition to the more obvious economic and governmental drivers.
Risk management
Managing risk is a central part of many corporate strategies. Reputations that take decades
to build up can be ruined in hours through incidents such as corruption scandals or
environmental accidents. These can also draw unwanted attention from regulators, courts,
governments and media. Building a genuine culture of 'doing the right thing' within a
corporation can offset these risks.[13]
Brand differentiation
In crowded marketplaces, companies strive for a unique selling proposition that can
separate them from the competition in the minds of consumers. CSR can play a role in
building customer loyalty based on distinctive ethical values.[14] Several major brands, such
as The Co-operative Group, The Body Shop and American Apparel[15] are built on ethical
values. Business service organizations can benefit too from building a reputation for
integrity and best practice.
License to operate
Corporations are keen to avoid interference in their business through taxation or
regulations. By taking substantive voluntary steps, they can persuade governments and the
wider public that they are taking issues such as health and safety, diversity, or the
environment seriously as good corporate citizens with respect to labour standards and
impacts on the environment
Stakeholder priorities
Increasingly, corporations are motivated to become more socially responsible because their
most important stakeholders expect them to understand and address the social and
community issues that are relevant to them. Understanding what causes are important to
employees is usually the first priority because of the many interrelated business benefits
that can be derived from increased employee engagement (i.e. more loyalty, improved
recruitment, increased retention, higher productivity, and so on). Key external stakeholders
include customers, consumers, investors (particularly institutional investors), communities
in the areas where the corporation operates its facilities, regulators, academics, and the
media.
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6. Distinguish between a Financial Investor and a Strategic Investor explaining the role
they play in a Company. (10 marks).
Answer.
In the not so distant past, there was little difference between financial and strategic
investors. Investors of all colors sought to safeguard their investment by taking over as
many management functions as they could. Additionally, investments were small and
shareholders few. A firm resembled a household and the number of people involved – in
ownership and in management – was correspondingly limited. People invested in industries
they were acquainted with first hand.
As markets grew, the scales of industrial production (and of service provision) expanded. A
single investor (or a small group of investors) could no longer accommodate the needs
even of a single firm. As knowledge increased and specialization ensued – it was no longer
feasible or possible to micro-manage a firm one invested in. Actually, separate businesses
of money making and business management emerged. An investor was expected to excel
in obtaining high yields on his capital – not in industrial management or in marketing. A
manager was expected to manage, not to be capable of personally tackling the various and
varying tasks of the business that he managed.
Thus, two classes of investors emerged. One type supplied firms with capital. The other
type supplied them with know-how, technology, management skills, marketing techniques,
intellectual property, clientele and a vision, a sense of direction.
In many cases, the strategic investor also provided the necessary funding. But, more and
more, a separation was maintained. Venture capital and risk capital funds, for instance, are
purely financial investors. So are, to a growing extent, investment banks and other
financial institutions.
The financial investor represents the past. Its money is the result of past - right and wrong
- decisions. Its orientation is short term: an "exit strategy" is sought as soon as feasible.
For "exit strategy" read quick profits. The financial investor is always on the lookout,
searching for willing buyers for his stake. The stock exchange is a popular exit strategy.
The financial investor has little interest in the company's management. Optimally, his
money buys for him not only a good product and a good market, but also a good
management. But his interpretation of the rolls and functions of "good management" are
very different to that offered by the strategic investor. The financial investor is satisfied
with a management team which maximizes value. The price of his shares is the most
important indication of success. This is "bottom line" short termism which also
characterizes operators in the capital markets. Invested in so many ventures and
companies, the financial investor has no interest, nor the resources to get seriously
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involved in any one of them. Micro-management is left to others - but, in many cases, so
is macro-management. The financial investor participates in quarterly or annual general
shareholders meetings. This is the extent of its involvement.
The strategic investor, on the other hand, represents the real long term accumulator of
value. Paradoxically, it is the strategic investor that has the greater influence on the value
of the company's shares. The quality of management, the rate of the introduction of new
products, the success or failure of marketing strategies, the level of customer satisfaction,
the education of the workforce - all depend on the strategic investor. That there is a strong
relationship between the quality and decisions of the strategic investor and the share price
is small wonder. The strategic investor represents a discounted future in the same manner
that shares do. Indeed, gradually, the balance between financial investors and strategic
investors is shifting in favour of the latter. People understand that money is abundant and
what is in short supply is good management. Given the ability to create a brand, to
generate profits, to issue new products and to acquire new clients - money is abundant.
These are the functions normally reserved to financial investors:

Financial Management
The financial investor is expected to take over the financial management of the firm and to
directly appoint the senior management and, especially, the management echelons, which
directly deal with the finances of the firm.
1. To regulate, supervise and implement a timely, full and accurate set of accounting
books of the firm reflecting all its activities in a manner commensurate with the
relevant legislation and regulation in the territories of operations of the firm and
with internal guidelines set from time to time by the Board of Directors of the firm.
This is usually achieved both during a Due Diligence process and later, as financial
management is implemented.
2. To implement continuous financial audit and control systems to monitor the
performance of the firm, its flow of funds, the adherence to the budget, the
expenditures, the income, the cost of sales and other budgetary items.
3. To timely, regularly and duly prepare and present to the Board of Directors financial
statements and reports as required by all pertinent laws and regulations in the
territories of the operations of the firm and as deemed necessary and demanded
from time to time by the Board of Directors of the Firm.
4. To comply with all reporting, accounting and audit requirements imposed by the
capital markets or regulatory bodies of capital markets in which the securities of the
firm are traded or are about to be traded or otherwise listed.
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5. To prepare and present for the approval of the Board of Directors an annual budget,
other budgets, financial plans, business plans, feasibility studies, investment
memoranda and all other financial and business documents as may be required from
time to time by the Board of Directors of the Firm.
6. To alert the Board of Directors and to warn it regarding any irregularity, lack of
compliance, lack of adherence, lacunas and problems whether actual or potential
concerning the financial systems, the financial operations, the financing plans, the
accounting, the audits, the budgets and any other matter of a financial nature or
which could or does have a financial implication.
7. To collaborate and coordinate the activities of outside suppliers of financial services
hired or contracted by the firm, including accountants, auditors, financial
consultants, underwriters and brokers, the banking system and other financial
venues.
8. To maintain a working relationship and to develop additional relationships with
banks, financial institutions and capital markets with the aim of securing the funds
necessary for the operations of the firm, the attainment of its development plans
and its investments.
9. To fully computerize all the above activities in a combined hardware-software and
communications system which will integrate into the systems of other members of
the group of companies.
10. Otherwise, to initiate and engage in all manner of activities, whether financial or of
other nature, conducive to the financial health, the growth prospects and the
fulfillment of investment plans of the firm to the best of his ability and with the
appropriate dedication of the time and efforts required.
Collection and Credit Assessment

1. To construct and implement credit risk assessment tools, questionnaires,
quantitative methods, data gathering methods and venues in order to properly
evaluate and predict the credit risk rating of a client, distributor, or supplier.
2. To constantly monitor and analyse the payment morale, regularity, non-payment
and non-performance events, etc. – in order to determine the changes in the credit
risk rating of said factors.
3. To analyse receivables and collectibles on a regular and timely basis.
4. To improve the collection methods in order to reduce the amounts of arrears and
overdue payments, or the average period of such arrears and overdue payments.
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5. To collaborate with legal institutions, law enforcement agencies and private
collection firms in assuring the timely flow and payment of all due payments, arrears
and overdue payments and other collectibles.
6. To coordinate an educational campaign to ensure the voluntary collaboration of the
clients, distributors and other debtors in the timely and orderly payment of their
dues.
The strategic investor is, usually, put in charge of the following:
Project Planning and Project Management
The strategic investor is uniquely positioned to plan the technical side of the project and to
implement it. He is, therefore, put in charge of:
1. The selection of infrastructure, equipment, raw materials, industrial processes, etc.;
2. Negotiations and agreements with providers and suppliers;
3. Minimizing the costs of infrastructure by deploying proprietary components and
planning;
4. The provision of corporate guarantees and letters of comfort to suppliers;
5. The planning and erecting of the various sites, structures, buildings, premises,
factories, etc.;
6. The planning and implementation of line connections, computer network
connections, protocols, solving issues of compatibility (hardware and software, etc.);
7. Project planning, implementation and supervision.
Marketing and Sales

1. The presentation to the Board an annual plan of sales and marketing including:
market penetration targets, profiles of potential social and economic categories of
clients, sales promotion methods, advertising campaigns, image, public relations
and other media campaigns. The strategic investor also implements these plans or
supervises their implementation.
2. The strategic investor is usually possessed of a brandname recognized in many
countries. It is the market leaders in certain territories. It has been providing goods
and services to users for a long period of time, reliably. This is an important asset,
which, if properly used, can attract users. The enhancement of the brandname, its
recognition and market awareness, market penetration, co-branding, collaboration
with other suppliers – are all the responsibilities of the strategic investor.
3. The dissemination of the product as a preferred choice among vendors, distributors,
individual users and businesses in the territory.
4. Special events, sponsorships, collaboration with businesses.
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5. The planning and implementation of incentive systems (e.g., points, vouchers).
6. The strategic investor usually organizes a distribution and dealership network, a
franchising network, or a sales network (retail chains) including: training, pricing,
pecuniary and quality supervision, network control, inventory and accounting
controls, advertising, local marketing and sales promotion and other network
management functions.
7. The strategic investor is also in charge of "vision thinking": new methods of
operation, new marketing ploys, new market niches, predicting the future trends
and market needs, market analyses and research, etc.
The strategic investor typically brings to the firm valuable experience in marketing and
sales. It has numerous off the shelf marketing plans and drawer sales promotion
campaigns. It developed software and personnel capable of analysing any market into
effective niches and of creating the right media (image and PR), advertising and sales
promotion drives best suited for it. It has built large databases with multi-year profiles of
the purchasing patterns and demographic data related to thousands of clients in many
countries. It owns libraries of material, images, sounds, paper clippings, articles, PR and
image materials, and proprietary trademarks and brand names. Above all, it accumulated
years of marketing and sales promotion ideas which crystallized into a new conception of
the business.
Technology
1. The planning and implementation of new technological systems up to their fully
operational phase. The strategic partner's engineers are available to plan,
implement and supervise all the stages of the technological side of the business.
2. The planning and implementation of a fully operative computer system (hardware,
software, communication, intranet) to deal with all the aspects of the structure and
the operation of the firm. The strategic investor puts at the disposal of the firm
proprietary software developed by it and specifically tailored to the needs of
companies operating in the firm's market.
3. The encouragement of the development of in-house, proprietary, technological
solutions to the needs of the firm, its clients and suppliers.
4. The planning and the execution of an integration program with new technologies in
the field, in collaboration with other suppliers or market technological leaders.
Education and Training
The strategic investor is responsible to train all the personnel in the firm: operators,
customer services, distributors, vendors, sales personnel. The training is conducted at its
sole expense and includes tours of its facilities abroad.
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The entrepreneurs – who sought to introduce the two types of investors, in the first place –
are usually left with the following functions:
Administration and Control
1. To structure the firm in an optimal manner, most conducive to the conduct of its
business and to present the new structure for the Board's approval within 30 days
from the date of the GM's appointment.
2. To run the day to day business of the firm.
3. To oversee the personnel of the firm and to resolve all the personnel issues.
4. To secure the unobstructed flow of relevant information and the protection of
confidential organization.
5. To represent the firm in its contacts, representations and negotiations with other
firms, authorities, or persons.
This is why entrepreneurs find it very hard to cohabitate with investors of any kind.
Entrepreneurs are excellent at identifying the needs of the market and at introducing
technological or service solutions to satisfy such needs. But the very personality traits
which qualify them to become entrepreneurs – also hinder the future development of their
firms. Only the introduction of outside investors can resolve the dilemma. Outside investors
are not emotionally involved. They may be less visionary – but also more experienced.
They are more interested in business results than in dreams. And – being well acquainted
with entrepreneurs – they insist on having unmitigated control of the business, for fear of
losing all their money. These things antagonize the entrepreneurs. They feel that they are
losing their creation to cold-hearted, mean spirited, corporate predators. They rebel and
prefer to remain small or even to close shop than to give up their cherished freedoms. This
is where nine out of ten entrepreneurs fail - in knowing when to let go.
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Master Of Business Administration-MBA Semester 4
MB0036- Strategic management & Business Policy
Assignment Set-2
1. What is the purpose of a Business Plan? Explain the features of the component
of the Plan dealing with the Company and its product description.(10 marks)
Answer.
A good business plan will help attract necessary financing by demonstrating the feasibility
of your venture and the level of thought and professionalism you bring to the task.
The first step in planning a new business venture is to establish goals that you seek to
achieve with the business. You can establish these goals in a number of ways, but an
inclusive and ordered process like an organizational strategic planning session or a
comprehensive neighborhood planning process may be best. The board of directors of your
organization should review and approve the goals, because these goals will influence the
direction of the organization and require the allocation of valuable staff and financial
resources. Your goals will serve as a filter to screen a wide range of possible business
opportunities. If you fail to establish clear goals early in the process, your organization may
spend substantial time and resources pursuing potential business ventures that may be
financially viable but do not serve the mission of your organization in other important ways.
A liquor store on the corner may be a clear money-maker; however, it may not be the
retail to assist your community desires.
The following are examples of goals you may seek to achieve through the creation of a new
business venture:
Revenue Generation – Your organization may hope to create a business that will
generate sufficient net income or profit to finance other programs, activities or services
provided by your organization.
Employment Creation – A new business venture may create job opportunities for
community residents or the constituency served by your organization.
Neighborhood Development Strategy – A new business venture might serve as an
anchor to a deteriorating neighborhood commercial area, attract additional businesses to
the area and fill a gap in existing retail services. You may need to find a use for a vacant
commercial property that blights a strategic area of your neighborhood. Or your business
might focus on the rehabilitation of dilapidated single family homes in the community.
Whenever possible, goals should have quantifiable outcomes such as “to generate a
minimum of $50,000 of net income or profit within three years”; “to employ at least 15
community residents within two years in new permanent jobs at a livable wage”; “to
occupy and support a minimum of 10,000 square feet of neighborhood commercial space”;
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or “to rehabilitate 50 single-family houses over three years.” Clearly defined and
quantifiable goals provide objective measurements to screen potential business
opportunities. They also establish clear criteria to evaluate the success of the business
venture.
Establish Goals
Once you have identified goals for a new business venture, the next step in the business
planning process is to identify and select the right business. Many organizations may find
themselves starting at this point in the process. Business opportunities may have been
dropped at your doorstep. Perhaps an entrepreneurial member of the board of directors or
a community resident has approached your organization with an idea for a new business, or
a neighborhood business has closed or moved out of the area, taking jobs and leaving a
vacant facility behind. Even if this is the case, we recommend that you take a step back
and set goals. Failing to do so could result in a waste of valuable time and resources
pursuing an idea that may seem feasible, but fails to accomplish important goals or to meet
the mission of your organization.
Depending on the goals you have set, you might take several approaches to identify
potential business opportunities.
Local Market Study: Whether your goal is to revitalize or fill space in a neighborhood
commercial district or to rehabilitate vacant housing stock, you should conduct a local
market study. A good market study will measure the level of existing goods and services
provided in the area, and assess the capacity of the area to support existing and additional
commercial or home-ownership activity. This assessment is based on the shopping and
traffic patterns of the area and the demographic and socio-economic characteristics of the
community. A bad or insufficient market study could encourage your organization to pursue
a business destined to fail, with potentially disastrous results for the organization as a
whole. Through a market study you will be able to identify gaps in existing products and
services and unsatisfied demand for additional or expanded products and services. If your
organization does not have staff capacity to conduct a market study, you might hire a
consultant or solicit the assistance of business administration students from a local college
or university. Conducting a solid and thorough market study up front will provide essential
information for your final business plan.
Analysis of Local and Regional Industry Trends: Another method of investigating
potential business opportunities is to research local and regional business and industry
trends. You may be able to identify which business or industrial sectors are growing or
declining in your city, metropolitan area or region. The regional or metropolitan area
planning agency for your area is a good source of data on industry trends.
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Internal Capacity: The board, staff or membership of your organization may possess
knowledge and skills in a particular business sector or industry. Your organization may wish
to draw upon this internal expertise in selecting potential business opportunities.
Internal Purchasing Needs / Collaborative Procurement: Perhaps, your organization
frequently purchases a particular service or product. If nearby affiliate organizations also
use this service or product, this may present a business opportunity. Examples of such
products or services include printing or copying services, travel services, transportation
services, property management services, office supplies, catering services, and other
products. You will still need to conduct a complete market study to determine the demand
for this product or service beyond your internal needs or the needs of your partners or
affiliates.
Identify Business Opportunities
Buying an Existing Business: Rather than starting a new business, you may wish to
consider purchasing an existing business. Perhaps a local retail or small light manufacturing
business that has been an anchor to the local retail area or a much-needed source of jobs
in the neighborhood is for sale. Its closure would mean the loss of jobs and services for
your neighborhood. Your organization might consider purchasing and taking over the
enterprise instead of starting a new business. If you decide to pursue this option, you still
need to go through the steps of creating a business plan. However, before moving ahead,
these are just a few important areas to research in assessing the business you plan to
purchase:
Be sure to conduct a thorough review of the financial statements for the past three to five
years to determine the current fiscal status and recent financial trends, the validity of the
accounts receivable and the status of the accounts payable. Are all the required licenses
and permits in place and can they be transferred to a new owner?
Also look at the quality of key employees who, because of their expertise, may need to
remain with the business.
You will also need to assess the customer or client base and determine whether its
members will remain loyal to the business after it changes hands.
Another area to evaluate is the perception or image of the business. Inspect the facilities
and talk to suppliers, customers and other businesses in the area to learn more about the
reputation of the business.
At this early stage of your planning process, be sure to consult an attorney experienced in
corporation law. As a non-profit corporation, engaging in income-generating activities not
related to your mission may affect your tax-exempt status. You may also wish to protect
your organization from any liability issues connected with the proposed business activity.
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After you have decided on a particular business activity, have a qualified attorney advise
you on the proper corporate structure for your new venture. In addition to qualified legal
counsel, seek the expertise of an experienced professional in that particular industry. He or
she will bring valuable knowledge and insights regarding the industry that will prove
extremely useful during the business planning process.
Advisory
You have decided on a business opportunity that meets the goals of your organization. Now
you are ready to test the feasibility of the venture and to present your business concept to
the world. A solid business plan will clearly explain the business concept, describe the
market for your product or service, attract investment, and establish operating goals and
guidelines.
The first step in writing your business plan is to identify your target audience. Will this be
an internal plan the board will use to assess the feasibility and appropriateness of the
business? Or will this plan be distributed to a larger external audience such as funding
sources, commercial lenders or the community to gain financial backing and political
support for the proposed venture? The content and emphasis of the plan will shift according
to the audience.
You will also need to decide who will conduct the necessary research and write the plan.
The following table lists the advantages and disadvantages of several options for getting
the work done. You might consider a combination of the options.
Creating One’s Own Business Plan

It is also important to establish a timeline for completing the plan. A business plan can be
completed by one staff member working full time in as little as a week, although a
thorough market analysis will add several days at least. A committee will probably need
much more time. Combinations of staff, volunteers, consultants and a board committee
may lengthen or shorten the process depending on skill level, available time, experience
23
with planning and research, and the group’s facilitation needs. Now that you have decided
who will put together your business plan and have set a timeline for its completion, you are
ready to begin assembling the elements of the plan. Your business plan should contain the
following sections:
· Executive summary
· Company and product description
· Market description
· Operations
· Management and ownership
· Financial information and timeline
· Risks and their mitigation
A solid business plan will clearly explain the business concept, describe the market for your
product or service, attract investment, and establish operating goals and guidelines.
1 -Executive Summary
In this section of your business plan, provide a description of your company, the industry
you will be competing in, and the product or service you plan to offer.
Sell your concept! The executive summary may be the first and only section of your
business plan that most of your audience will read. Tell the audience why the business is a
great idea. Some readers will look at this section to determine whether or not they want to
learn more about a business. Other readers will look to the executive summary as a sample
of the quality and professionalism of the overall plan. The executive summary should be no
more than one to three pages long and should answer the following questions:
· Who are you? (describe your organization)
· What are you planning? (describe the service or product)
· Why are you planning it? (discuss the demand and market for the service or product)
· How will you operate your business?
· When will you be in operation? (overview of timeline)
· What is your expected net profit? (discuss your projected sales and costs)
Although the executive summary is the first part of your business plan, you should write it
after you have written the other sections of the plan in order to include the most important
points of each section.
2 -Company and Product Description
In describing your company be sure to include what type of business you are planning
(homeownership development, wholesale, retail, manufacturing
or service) and the legal structure (corporation or partnership). You should discuss why you
are creating this new venture, referencing the goals you set at the beginning of the
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business planning process. Also include a description of your non-profit organization, the
role it has played in developing this new venture and the on-going role, if any, it will play in
operations. Give the reader a brief overview of the industry, describing historic and current
growth trends.
Whenever possible, provide documentation or references supporting your trend analysis
such as articles from business-oriented newspapers and magazines, research journals or
other publications. Include these references in the attachments of your business plan.
Product or Service
After describing your company and its industry context, describe the products or services
you plan to provide. Focus on what distinguishes your product or service from the rest of
the market. Discuss what will attract consumers to your product or service. Provide as
much detail as necessary to inform the reader about the particular characteristics of your
product that distinguish it from its competition – many nonprofits, for example, expect to
produce higher-quality housing than otherwise exists in the area. Mention any distinctive
elements in the manufacture of the product, such as being “hand-made by a particular
people from a specific area.” If you are providing a service, explain the steps you will take
to provide a service that is better than your competition.
Price
Provide a realistic estimate of the price for your product or service, and discuss the
rationale behind that price. An unrealistic price estimate may undermine the credibility of
your plan and raise concerns that your product or service may not be of sufficient quality or
that you will not be able to maintain profitability in the long run. Describe where this price
positions you in the marketplace: at the high end, low end or in the middle of the existing
range of prices for a similar product or service.
In other sections of the plan you will discuss the target market for your product or service
and also provide additional details on how the price of your product fits into the overall
financial projections for the enterprise.
Place
Describe the location where you will produce or distribute your product or provide your
service. Discuss the advantages of the location, such as its accessibility, surrounding
amenities and other characteristics that may enhance your business.
Depending on your anticipated customer base, accessibility to your location via public
transportation could affect the marketability of your product or service.
Customers
In this section of your business plan, you will describe the customer base or market for
your product or service. In addition to providing a detailed description of your customer
25
base, you will also need to describe your competition (other local developers or nearby
businesses providing a similar service to your potential customer base).
Who will purchase your product or use your service? How large is your customer base?
Define the characteristics of your target market in terms of its:
· Demographics – Measures of age, gender, race, religion and family size.
· Geography – Measures based on location.
· Socioeconomic Status – Measures based on individual or household annual income.
Provide statistical data to describe the size of your target market. Sources for this
information may include recent data from the Bureau of Statistics, state or local census
data, or information gathered by your organization, such as membership lists,
neighborhood surveys and group or individual interviews. Be sure to list the sources for
your data, as this will further validate your market assumptions. Include any relevant
information regarding the growth potential for your target market if your business is
expected to rely on growth. Cite any research forecasting population increases in your
target market or other trends and factors that may increase the demand for your product
or service.
Competition
Discuss how people identified in your target market currently meet their need for your
product or service. What other businesses exist in your area that are similar to your
proposed venture? For example, for a housing business, what are the local markets for
purchase and rental? How much are people currently paying for similar products or
services? Briefly describe what differentiates your proposed venture from these existing
businesses and discuss why you are entering this market.
Sales Projections
Present an estimate of how many people you expect will purchase your product or service.
Your estimate should be based on the size of your market, the characteristics of your
customers and the share of the market you will gain over your competition. Project how
many units you will sell at a specified price over several years. The initial year should be
broken down in monthly or quarterly increments. Account for initial presentation and
market penetration of your product and any seasonal variations in sales, if appropriate.
3 -Market Description
In this section, you will describe how you plan to operate the business. You will present
information on how you plan to create your product or provide your service, describe the
staff required to operate and manage the business, discuss the equipment and materials
necessary, and define the site or facility requirements, if any. A key component of the
operation of your business will be your sales and marketing strategy, so you must describe
26
how you will inform your target market about your product or service and how you will
convince customers to purchase it.
Production Description
Describe the steps for creating your product, from the raw material or initial stage to the
finished product, packaged and ready for distribution and sale. If you plan to provide a
service, describe the process of service deliver (such as the initial interview, for instance, if
you are offering consulting services), assessment, research and design, and final
presentation. Provide a description of any sub-contractors or external services you plan to
use in the production process. The reader of the plan may be unfamiliar with the industry,
so avoid using industry jargon to describe the production process.
Staffing
Describe the staff required to operate your business: discuss how many people you will
need; describe the tasks they will carry out; and the skills they will need. Prepare a chart
outlining the salaries and benefits you will provide to your workforce. Provide information
on how you will recruit staff and provide initial and ongoing training of employees.
4 -Equipment and Materials
To manufacture your product or provide your service, what type of equipment will you
need? Describe any machinery and vehicles necessary in the production, packaging and
distribution of your product, including any office equipment such as computers, copiers,
furniture, fixtures and telephone systems. Also discuss the types of materials you will use
in the production process and describe the source and cost of those materials.
Facility
Describe the type of facility in which you will house your business. Indicate the amount of
building space you will need for production and administration. Also discuss any building
features required for the production process such as high ceilings, specialized ventilation
and heating systems, sanitized laboratory space or vehicular accessibility. If you have
already identified a location and a facility that meets your requirements, describe its
features. Even if you are planning to provide a service instead of manufacturing a product,
you need to demonstrate that you will have adequate space for administrative functions
and other activities related to the service you plan to provide .
Market Description
Describe your strategy for locating your target market, informing or educating customers
about your product or service and convincing them to purchase it. Provide details on the
methods you will use to advertise your product, such as print media (advertisements in
newspapers, magazines or trade journals), electronic media (television, radio and the
Internet), direct mail, telemarketing, individual sales agents or representatives, or other
27
approaches. Discuss the product’s or service’s features you plan to emphasize to gain the
attention of your target market. Also detail how you will distribute and sell your product or
service. Will you use sales agents or existing retail outlets, or directly distribute your
product through a delivery service such as United Parcel Service, Federal Express or
independent trucking company?
5 -Operations
In this section of your business plan, describe the senior managers responsible for
overseeing the start-up and operation of your business, their background and their
responsibilities in the business. Be sure to highlight your management team’s experience in
managing the production, marketing and administration of similar businesses or within the
selected industry and attach the resumes of each member to the plan. Be sure to provide a
complete job description of any vacancies in your management team. Describe the
responsibilities, the skills, the background required and the steps you plan to take to fill
that key position.
Ownership
What is its relationship to your existing organization? Who is on the board of directors /
board of advisors of the new business and what are their backgrounds and areas of
expertise? Potential investors or lenders will be interested in the ownership stake of the
board of directors and also in what portion of the company’s equity is available. Success is
often due to one’s contacts, so fully describe your business relationships with attorneys,
accountants and advertising or public relations agencies, and any industry-specific services
such as suppliers and distributors.
6- Management and Ownership
In this section you will describe the financial feasibility of your planned venture and provide
several financial reports and statements to document why your business will be a viable
enterprise and a sound investment. At a minimum, you should provide a brief descriptive
narrative for each of the following financial statements and include a copy in the
attachments to your plan:
· Start-up budget
· Cash flow projection
· Income statement
· Balance sheet
In preparing these statements, you may want to seek the advice of a certified public
accountant (CPA).
Start-up Budget
Describe the initial expenses you will incur to get your business up and running. Some
28
items you might include in your start-up budget research and product design and
development expenses, legal incorporation and licensing expenses, facility purchase or
rental, equipment and vehicle purchase or rental, and initial material or supply purchase.
You can use Worksheet B as a sample format for preparing your start-up budget.
Cash Flow Projection
This statement presents a month-to-month schedule of the estimated cash inflows and
outflows of your business for the first year. This schedule should indicate how much money
your business will have or need and when you will need it. You should describe your
sources of income and capital, detailing your projected sales revenue and indicating your
own or investor equity contribution, lenders, investors and other sources of capital. Itemize
your projected expenses, distinguishing between the cost of goods sold (materials,
supplies, production labor), overhead expenses (rent, utilities, insurance, maintenance,
interest, insurance, administrative costs and salaries, legal and accounting services,
marketing, taxes, fees and other ongoing operating expenses) and capital expenditures
(land and buildings, equipment, furniture, vehicles, and building repair or renovation
expenses). In preparing this statement, account for a gradual increase in sales from initial
product introduction and any expected seasonal fluctuations in revenue projections.
Income Statement
Prepare a multiyear (three- to five – year) statement of projected revenue, expenses,
capital expenditures and cost of goods sold. If you make assumptions about the growth of
your business, provide supporting documentation such as growth patterns of similar
companies or studies that forecast an industry-wide growth rate. This statement should
indicate to the reader the potential of your business to generate cash and its profitability
over time. For an existing business, also submit an income statement for at least three
prior consecutive years. Lenders may look at this statement to determine whether your
business can support the additional debt you are requesting.
Balance Sheet
A start-up business probably will not have any assets or liabilities at the time you are
drafting the business plan. Provide a copy of the balance sheet of the business’s sponsoring
organization or individual. Describe in your narrative any assets that will be allocated to the
start-up of the business.
7 -Financial Information and Start up Timeline
Capital Requirements
Describe the amount and type of financing you are seeking for your business. Are you
looking for debt from a lender or equity from an investor? Refer to your start up budget
and cash flow statement presented earlier. Discuss how and when you will draw on these
29
funds and how they will affect the bottom line. Also describe any commitments or
investments that you may have already secured.
If you are seeking investors, such as venture capitalists, describe what they will receive in
return for their capital. What is the repayment period and the expected return on
investment? Also discuss the nature of their ownership share and how it may change with
future investments. Equity investors are looking for rates of return higher than rates
offered by banks or other business lenders. The level of risk in your business and industry
will help to determine the actual market rate, as will the availability of equity dollars. Check
with other businesses (although not direct competitors) to see what return on investment
their investors demanded. Be prepared to negotiate. And make sure you research the
investment market carefully; several socially minded investment pools exist and more are
in development. or lenders, describe the type of financing you are seeking:
· Seed Capital – Short-term financing to cover start-up costs.
· Fixed Asset Financing – Longer-term financing for property, building improvements,
equipment or vehicles. The asset being purchased is usually pledged as security for the
loan.
· Working Capital – Short-term financing to cover operating expenses and to bridge gaps
in cash flow.
Initial Start-up Timeline
Provide a timeline of tasks and events necessary to get your business operational. Be sure
to describe the current stage you are in and what steps you have taken to date. Include
deadlines for task completion. Set realistic deadlines according to your capacity to complete
these tasks. The following is a list of some of the steps you may wish to include:
· Filing legal incorporation documents
· Identifying and securing suitable space
· Designing and developing the product
· Obtaining required licenses or permits
· Securing necessary financing
· Leasing or purchasing equipment
· Hiring key staff
· Hiring and training of production or support staff
· Purchasing materials and production supplies
· Beginning marketing activities
· Opening
Although it is impossible to know exactly what will go wrong in starting and running your
business, thinking about different challenges will strengthen your plan. Potential problems
could include:
30
· Insufficient public subsidy available to new home owners or residents
· The competition drops its prices
· Not enough customers
· Production costs exceed estimates
· Difficulty in finding qualified employees
· Environmental or governmental changes such as tax increases, additional regulations or
population changes
For each potential problem, discuss its likelihood and describe possible solutions or actions
you might undertake to mitigate the problem.
Risks and their Mitigation
Although it is impossible to know exactly what will go wrong in starting and running your
business, thinking about different challenges will strengthen your plan.
After you have completed all of the elements of your business plan, you should focus its
presentation. A well-organized plan will assist you in communicating the most important
elements of your business plan to the reader, and a persuasive plan will help you to
convince the reader to invest in your business.
Executive Summary
As mentioned earlier, this section should be written last. However, if you have already
written the executive summary, review it to make sure it embodies the following
characteristics. Because it is the first and possibly the only section of the plan that many
readers may see, the executive summary should provide an overview of the plan and entice
the reader to read the whole plan or to agree to meet with you. The executive summary
should be no more than three pages and should briefly describe the most important
elements of the plan. Review the Executive Summary section of this manual for more tips
on this critical introduction to your business.
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2. Write short notes on :
a) sales projections (10 marks).
Answer.
Sales Projections
Present an estimate of how many people you expect will purchase your product or service.
Your estimate should be based on the size of your market, the characteristics of your
customers and the share of the market you will gain over your competition. Project how
many units you will sell at a specified price over several years. The initial year should be
broken down in monthly or quarterly increments. Account for initial presentation and
market penetration of your product and any seasonal variations in sales, if appropriate.
Steps for Developing Sales Projections
Your business plan is not just a funding tool, but also a blueprint for how your business
should operate. The following are steps for developing sales projections.
Step I:
Estimate
For each product or service, estimate the number of people who are likely to buy and when
they will buy it. You can get this information from asking your likely customers about their
possible use of your business, or you can base your estimates on your knowledge of the
market.
Step 2:
Use a Calendar
Estimate your sales and number of customers served during one week. Using the totals for
a week, make projections for each month. For the first few months, keep in mind that
business will start off slowly before people become more aware of your business. Use will
most likely increase as people learn about your products and services. Seasonal variations
may affect your business as well. You will use these numbers to project your equipment,
supply and staffing needs, as well as income.
Cost Account Heads:
· Organizational Start up Costs
· Product Design/Development
· Research & Development
· Legal/Licensing Expenses
· Property & Facilities
· Land/Building Purchase
· Initial Lease Deposit
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· Building Repairs/Improvements
· Equipment/Machinery
· Production-related
· Administrative/Office Equip.
· Materials & Supplies
· Personnel
· Key Employees
· Contract Labour/Temps
· Training Expenses
· Marketing Expenses
· Advertisements
· Brochures/Literature/Other
· Insurance Premiums
· Distributor Contracts
· Contingency (5%)
Expenses:
Costs of Goods Sold
· Materials/Supplies
· Labor
· Rent
· Utilities
· Insurance
· Admin. Exp. (PT Sec.)
· Legal & Accounting
· Marketing
· Equipment Maintenance/Supplies
· Facility Maintenance
· Fees/Miscellaneous
Debt / Equity Investment:
· Equipment Loan
· Building Rehabilitation Loan
· Grants
· Owner Equity
Expenses
· Cost of Goods Sold
· Wages & Benefits
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· Materials
· Supplies
Overhead Expenses:
· Rent
· Utilities
· Building Maintenance/Security
· Marketing
· Accounting
· Legal
· Administrative Expense
· Interest Expense
· Depreciation
The Business Priorities are based upon six top-level objectives; these are:
· To make Business data available both to decision-makers and as much as possible
available in the public domain;
· To ensure all holders of Business information are able to participate.
· To ensure that the data available through the NETWORK are of known quality;
· To ensure that the NETWORK Gateway gives access to data on Location and species used
to inform decisions affecting Business at local, regional, national and international levels;
· To promote knowledge, use and awareness of the NETWORK;
· To enhance the skills base and expertise needed to support and develop the NETWORK.
i) The objectives have cross-cutting themes which are:
A. Infrastructure development
B. Data standards and tools
C. Capacity building
D. Working with the wider public
E. Co-ordination and promotion
i) In addition, the partners will contribute to the overall realisation of the objectives through
work that they initiate on their own account, but which does not necessarily fall under the
focussed objectives for the Network.
ii) A series of assumptions have been made in formulating the Business Priorities and
their associated work programme. These are:
· It is assumed that the present way of working, i.e. a lead partner approach for each
project will be retained;
· The plan is not intended to represent all the work that could be undertaken;
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· It is anticipated that other work towards the principal aim of adding content and providing
a fully functional gateway will be adopted by the NETWORK as part of its programme, but
this work would have to be prioritised against this core activity and separately resourced;
To give additional focus to the challenging nature of the task that the NETWORK is setting
itself, a series of principle drivers have been recognised. The drivers are:
· Processes – This driver relates to facilitated targeted action on the ground through
providing knowledge of resource location, extent, pattern of distribution, data quality and
gaps. It also has the potential for engaging more partners in the NETWORK;
· Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Strategic Environmental Assessment – This
driver is concerned with providing ready access to data on location, extent, pattern and
quality of Business.
· Data contributor engagement – This driver is concerned with accessing sources of data for
the NETWORK enabling the assessment of actions and continual improvement in the
targeting of actions from the two previous drivers;
· Operational use – This relates to the use of the NETWORK within the day to day business
of agencies as a source of data relevant to local reporting or casework;
· Generic enhancement – This driver encompasses capacity building and Recording
Schemes and other contributing organisations and user groups, in order to ensure the
continued and enhanced supply and use of information.
These lead naturally to three broad areas of work:
· Developing the recording network;
· Enhancing the Internet Gateway in terms of its functionality and the data it accesses;
· Ensuring that the benefits already secured through the earlier work are maintained.
The plan also acknowledges the need to co-ordinate activity between the members of the
NETWORK and their partners, and to communicate the progress and successes of the work
programme.
b) importance of creativity in Business

Answer.
Creativity
Everyone in business is creative.
Some of most creative people are in manufacturing.
They actually CREATE products that change the world.
Some of the least creative people perhaps are in advertising.
They spend most of their creative energy telling manufacturers that they…aren’t creative!
Salespeople Are Creative – They are natural born story-tellers.
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Accountants are creative.
Best Creative Exercise Ever
Write down your ideas.
You have a ton every day.
But most of the time, you can’t remember them by the day’s end.
Don’t let spelling and grammar issues or relentless self-editing stop you.
Get your ideas on paper (Let someone else edit it.)
Go retro: Carry a notebook, pen, and calendar into your meetings.
Look up at people.
Story First, Technology Last.
Don’t invest in a presentation class called “How to Use PowerPoint”….…until you’ve taken a
class called “How to Tell Stories and Connect with Your Audience”.
2 A Simple Creative Exercise…
Simplify everything. Your life, your home, your office, your desk, your processes, vision,
policy, procedures. Everything.
Fixing Problems is Creative.
Your job is to fix problems, not to complain.
Brainstorming
Don’t tell people that their ideas are bad, especially if you don’t have a better one.
It’s only your life’s work.
Never say, “It’s not my job to be creative.”
How to Lose an Audience…
· Show your audience slides with columns of numbers.
· Refuse to tell them a story about the meaning of the numbers.
· Do not read your speech or presentation.
· Instead, read your audience.
How about a Show?
Try “giving a performance” instead of merely “giving a presentation.”
Everyone in Sales Knows…
· Tell stories.
· Don’t just provide data.
Avoid Meetings.
Do not attend more than two meetings a day, or else you will never get any real creative
work done.
Get Fresh Ideas.
Leave the office building at least once a day.
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Another Lame Excuse…
Designers should put more of their passion into designing great work, instead of endless
(boring) discussions about the superiority of the Macintosh over the PC!
The Lame Excuse …
“I can’t [write/design/create] because I don’t have the latest [software/hardware/
upgrade]….”
You can’t let a machine take credit for your creativity.
And you can’t blame a machine for your creative failures, either.
Don’t Blame the Tool!
The more you become a master of your particular creative form….
….the fewer tools you will use.
Master carpenters use fewer tools than novices.
So do cooks.
Use what works.
Creativity: Use it or Lose it.
Create something every day.
Creativity takes place every day, not once in a while.
It’s not rare.
It’s just been mystified – Own your creativity.
Facts and observations
Giga-investments made in the paper and pulp industry, in the heavy metal industry and in
other base industries, today face scenarios of slow growth (2-3 % p.a.) in their key
markets and a growing over-capacity in Europe.
The energy sector faces growing competition with lower prices and cyclic variations of
demand. Productivity improvements in these industries have slowed down to 1-2 % p.a .
Global financial markets make sure that capital cannot be used non-productively, as its
owners are offered other opportunities and the capital will move (often quite fast) to
capture these opportunities.
The capital markets have learned “the American way”, i.e. there is a shareholder
dominance among the actors, which has brought (often quite short-term) shareholder
return to the forefront as a key indicator of success, profitability and productivity.
There are lessons learned from the Japanese industry, which point to the importance of
immaterial investments. These lessons show that investments in buildings, production
technology and supporting technology will be enhanced with immaterial investments, and
that these are even more important for re-investments and for gradually growing
maintenance investments.
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The core products and services produced by giga-investments are enhanced with life-time
service, with gradually more advanced maintenance and financial add-on services.
New technology and enhanced technological innovations will change the life cycle of a giga-
investment.
Technology providers are involved throughout the life cycle of a giga-investment.
Giga-investments are large enough to have an impact on the market for which they are
positioned:
A 3,00,000 ton paper mill will change the relative competitive positions; smaller units are
no longer cost effective.
A new technology will redefine the CSF:s for the market.
Customer needs are adjusting to the new possibilities of the giga-investment.
The proposition that we can describe future cash flows as stochastic processes is no longer
valid; neither can the impact be expected to be covered through the stock market.
Types of options
· Option to Defer
· Time-to-Build Option
· Option to Expand
· Growth Options
· Option to Contract
· Option to Shut Down/Produce
· Option to Abandon
· Option to Alter Input/Output Mix
Table of Equivalences:
INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY VARIABLE CALL OPTION
Present value of a project’s S Stock price.
operating cash flows.
Investment costs X Exercise price
Length of time the decision may be t Time to expiry.
deferred.
Time value of money. rf Risk-free interest rate
Risk of the project. σ Standard deviation of
returns on stock
Fuzzy numbers (fuzzy sets) are a way to express the cash flow estimates in a more realistic
way.
This means that a solution to both problems (accuracy and flexibility) is a real option model
using fuzzy sets.
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Self Assessment Questions I
State whether the following statements are True or False:
1. The people involved in manufacturing actually create products that change the world.
2. In the rapidly changing world of global markets, e-commerce, evolving tele-
communications and internet, the secrets of Complex System evolution offer us a basis on
which to reflect on the management of our businesses.
3. Complex Systems thinking informs us how to achieve a high rate of delivery of new
products and services and rapid adaptation to changing conditions.
4. The creativity and imagination of a business will come from the dynamic interaction of
diverse individuals.
5. Efficiency of execution must precede imagination and creativity.
3. What factors are to be taken into account in a crisis communications

strategy?(10 marks).
Answer.
The following items should be taken into account in the crisis communications strategy:
· Communications should be timely and honest.
· To the extent possible, an audience should hear news from the organization first.
· Communications should provide objective and subjective assessments.
· All employees should be informed at approximately the same time.
· Give bad news all at once – do not sugarcoat it.
· Provide opportunity for audiences to ask questions, if possible.
· Provide regular updates and let audiences know when the next update will be issued.
· Treat audiences as you would like to be treated.
· Communicate in a manner appropriate to circumstances:
– Face-to-face meetings (individual and group)
– News conferences
– Voice mail/email
– Company Intranet and Internet sites
– Toll-free hotline
– Special newsletter
– Announcements using local/national media.
Preplanning for communications is critical. Drafts of message templates, scripts, and
statements can be crafted in advance for threats identified in the Risk Assessment.
Procedures to ensure that communications can be distributed at short notice should also be
established, particularly when using resources such as Intranet and Internet sites and toll-
free hotlines.
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Official Spokesperson
The organization should designate a single primary spokesperson, with back-ups identified,
who will manage/disseminate crisis communications to the media and others. This
individual should be trained in media relations prior to a crisis. All information should be
funneled through a single source to assure that the messages being delivered are
consistent.
It should be stressed that personnel should be informed quickly regarding where to refer
calls from the media and that only authorized company spokespeople are authorized to
speak to the media. In some situations, an appropriately trained site spokesperson may
also be necessary.
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4. What elements should be included in a Marketing Plan under Due Diligence
while seeking investment in for your Company? (10 marks).
Answer.
The Process of Due Diligence
A business which wants to attract foreign investments must present a business plan. But a
business plan is the equivalent of a visit card. The introduction is very important – but,
once the foreign investor has expressed interest, a second, more serious, more onerous
and more tedious process commences: Due Diligence.
"Due Diligence" is a legal term (borrowed from the securities industry). It means,
essentially, to make sure that all the facts regarding the firm are available and have been
independently verified. In some respects, it is very similar to an audit. All the documents of
the firm are assembled and reviewed, the management is interviewed and a team of
financial experts, lawyers and accountants descends on the firm to analyze it.
First Rule:
The firm must appoint ONE due diligence coordinator. This person interfaces with all
outside due diligence teams. He collects all the materials requested and oversees all the
activities which make up the due diligence process.
The firm must have ONE VOICE. Only one person represents the company, answers
questions, makes presentations and serves as a coordinator when the DD teams wish to
interview people connected to the firm.
Second Rule:
Brief your workers. Give them the big picture. Why is the company raising funds, who are
the investors, how will the future of the firm (and their personal future) look if the investor
comes in. Both employees and management must realize that this is a top priority. They
must be instructed not to lie. They must know the DD coordinator and the company’s
spokesman in the DD process.
The DD is a process which is more structured than the preparation of a Business Plan. It is
confined both in time and in subjects: Legal, Financial, Technical, Marketing, Controls.
The Marketing Plan
Must include the following elements:
· A brief history of the business (to show its track performance and growth)
· Points regarding the political, legal (licences) and competitive environment
· A vision of the business in the future
· Products and services and their uses
· Comparison of the firm’s products and services to those of the competitors
· Warranties, guarantees and after-sales service
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· Development of new products or services
· A general overview of the market and market segmentation
· Is the market rising or falling (the trend: past and future)
· What customer needs do the products / services satisfy
· Which markets segments do we concentrate on and why
· What factors are important in the customer’s decision to buy (or not to buy)
· A list of the direct competitors and a short description of each
· The strengths and weaknesses of the competitors relative to the firm
· Missing information regarding the markets, the clients and the competitors
· Planned market research
· A sales forecast by product group
· The pricing strategy (how is pricing decided)
· Promotion of the sales of the products (including a description of the sales force, sales-
related incentives, sales targets, training of the sales personnel, special offers, dealerships,
telemarketing and sales support). Attach a flow chart of the purchasing process from the
moment that the client is approached by the sales force until he buys the product.
· Marketing and advertising campaigns (including cost estimates) – broken by market and
by media
· Distribution of the products
· A flow chart describing the receipt of orders, invoicing, shipping.
· Customer after-sales service (hotline, support, maintenance, complaints, upgrades, etc.)
· Customer loyalty (example: churn rate and how is it monitored and controlled).
Legal Details
· Full name of the firm
· Ownership of the firm
· Court registration documents
· Copies of all protocols of the Board of Directors and the General Assembly of Shareholders
· Signatory rights backed by the appropriate decisions
· The charter (statute) of the firm and other incorporation documents
· Copies of licences granted to the firm
· A legal opinion regarding the above licences
· A list of lawsuit that were filed against the firm and that the firm filed against third parties
(litigation) plus a list of disputes which are likely to reach the courts
· Legal opinions regarding the possible outcomes of all the lawsuits and disputes including
their potential influence on the firm
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Financial Due Diligence
· Last 3 years income statements of the firm or of constituents of the firm, if the firm is the
result of a merger. The statements have to include:
· Balance Sheets
· Income Statements
· Cash Flow statements
· Audit reports (preferably done according to the International Accounting Standards, or, if
the firm is looking to raise money in the USA, in accordance with FASB)
· Cash Flow Projections and the assumptions underlying them
Controls
· Accounting systems used
· Methods to price products and services
· Payment terms, collections of debts and ageing of receivables
· Introduction of international accounting standards
· Monitoring of sales
· Monitoring of orders and shipments
· Keeping of records, filing, archives
· Cost accounting system
· Budgeting and budget monitoring and controls
· Internal audits (frequency and procedures)
· External audits (frequency and procedures)
· The banks that the firm is working with: history, references, balances
Technical Plan
· Description of manufacturing processes (hardware, software, communications, other)
· Need for know-how, technological transfer and licensing required
· Suppliers of equipment, software, services (including offers)
· Manpower (skilled and unskilled)
· Infrastructure (power, water, etc.)
· Transport and communications (example: satellites, lines, receivers, transmitters)
· Raw materials: sources, cost and quality
· Relations with suppliers and support industries
· Import restrictions or licensing (where applicable)
· Sites, technical specification
· Environmental issues and how they are addressed
· Leases, special arrangements
· Integration of new operations into existing ones (protocols, etc.)
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A successful due diligence is the key to an eventual investment. This is a process much
more serious and important than the preparation of the Business Plan.
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5. Distinguish between Joint Ventures and Licensing, explaining the relative
advantages and disadvantages of each.(10 marks).
Answer.
Licensing and Assigning IP rights
One basic choice is whether you should actively exploit your IP rights yourself, or to keep
your IP rights and license them to others to use, or sell or assign the rights to another
person. You can, in principle, make different choices in different countries for exploiting IP
rights for the same underlying invention. If you are based in Malaysia, you could in theory
decide to exploit your patent yourself in the East Asian region, grant a licence a Canadian
company to use the invention in North America, and sell or assign the rights in Europe to a
Danish company – whether or not this is the best approach in practice is a different matter,
of course.
A licence is a grant of permission made by the patent owner to another to exercise any
specified rights as agreed. Licensing is a good way for an owner to benefit from their work
as they retain ownership of the patented invention while granting permission to others to
use it and gaining benefits, such as financial royalties, from that use. However, it normally
requires the owner of the invention to invest time and resources in monitoring the licensed
use, and in maintaining and enforcing the underlying IP right.
The patent right normally includes the right to exclude others from making, using, selling
or importing the patented product, and similar rights concerning patented processes. The
license can therefore cover the use of the patented invention in many different ways.
For instance, licences can be exclusive or non-exclusive. If a patent owner grants a non-
exclusive licence to Company A to make and sell their patented invention in Malaysia, the
patent owner would still be able to also grant Company B another non-exclusive for the
same rights and the same time period in Malaysia. In contrast, if a patent owner granted
an exclusive licence to Company A to make and sell the invention in Malaysia, they would
not be able to give a licence to
anyone else in Malaysia while the licence with Company A remained in force.
Licenses are normally confined to a particular geographical area – typically, the jurisdiction
in which particular IP rights have effect. You can grant different exclusive licences for
different territories at the same time. For example, a patent owner can grant an exclusive
licence to make and sell their patented invention in Malaysia for the term of the patent, and
grant a separate exclusive licence to manufacture and sell their patented invention in India
for the term of the patent.
Separate licences can be granted for different ways of using the same technology. For
example, if an inventor creates a new form of pharmaceutical delivery, she could grant an
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exclusive licence to one company to use the technology for an arthritis drug, a separate
exclusive licence to another company to use it for relief of cold symptoms, and a further
exclusive licence to a third company to use it for veterinary pharmaceuticals.
A licence is merely the grant of permission to undertake some of the actions covered by
intellectual property rights, and the patent holder retains ownership and control of the basic
patent.
An assignment of intellectual property rights is the sale of a patent right, or a share of the
patent.
It should be remembered that the person who makes an invention can be different to the
person who owns the patent rights in that invention. If an inventor assigns their patent
rights to someone else they no longer own those rights. Indeed, they can be in
infringement of the patent right if they continue to use it.
Patent licences and assignments of patent rights do not have to cover all patent rights
together.
Licences are often limited to specific rights, territories and time periods. For example, a
patent owner could exclusively licence only their importation right to a company for the
territory of Indonesia for 12 months. If an inventor owns patents on the same invention in
five different countries, they could assign (or sell) these patents to five different owners in
each of those countries. Portions of a patent right can also be assigned – so that in order to
finance your invention, you might choose to sell a half-share to a commercial partner.
If you assign your rights, you normally lose any possibility of further licensing or
commercially exploiting your intellectual property rights. Therefore, the amount you charge
for an assignment is usually considerably higher than the royalty fee you would charge for
a patent licence. When assigning the rights, you might seek to negotiate a licence from the
new owner to ensure that you can continue to use your invention. For instance, you might
negotiate an arrangement that gives you licence to use the patented invention in the event
that you come up with an improvement on your original invention and this falls within the
scope of the assigned patent. Equally, the new owner of the assigned patent might want to
get access to your subsequent improvements on the invention.
Licensing Advantages
• An Inventive Incentive
• "Licensing", tried and true
• Fair and Balanced
• Product Exclusivity
• Inventions of interest to you
• You are free to view our inventions
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• An informed business decision
• A production head start
• We are vitally committed to your success
• A resource for future projects
Joint Venture Agreements and Start-up Companies

Rather than simply exploit your IP rights by licensing or assignment, you might choose to
set up a new legal mechanism to exploit your technology. Typically this can be a
partnership expressed through a joint venture agreement or a new corporation, such as a
start-up or spin-off company.
These options require much more work on your part than licensing or assigning your
intellectual property rights. This could be a desirable choice in cases where:
– you want to keep your institute’s research activities separate from the development and
commercialisation of technology, especially when your institute has a public interest focus
or an educational role; or
– you need to attract financial support from those prepared to take a risk with an unproven
technology (‘angel investors’ or ‘venture capitalists’), and they will only take on a long-term
risk if they can get a share of future profits of the technology.
In working out the right vehicle for your technology, you will normally need specific legal
advice from a commercial lawyer, preferably one with experience in technology and
commercialisation in your jurisdiction. The laws governing partnerships and companies
differ considerably from one country to another, and this discussion is only intended to give
a general flavour of the various options.
A joint venture agreement involves a formal, legally binding commitment between two or
more partners to work together on a shared enterprise. It is normally created for a specific
purpose (for example, to commercialise a specific new technology) and for a limited
duration. For instance, you might sign a partnership agreement with a manufacturing
company to develop and market a product based on your invention. Before entering into a
joint venture agreement, you need to check out possible commercial partners and make
sure that the objectives of your potential commercial partners are consistent with your
objectives. In the joint venture agreement, the partners typically agree to share the
benefits, as well as the risks and liabilities, in a specified way.
But this kind of partnership isn’t normally able in itself to enter legal commitments, or own
IP in its own right, so that the partners remain directly legally responsible for any losses or
other liabilities that the partnership’s operations create. In other words, a partnership
which is not a corporation, a company or a specific institution doesn’t really separately exist
as a legal entity.
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By contrast, a company is a new legal entity (a ‘legal person’ recognised by the law as
having its own legal identity) which can own and license IP and enter into legal
commitments in its own right. A spin-off company is an independent company created from
an existing legal body – for example, if a research institute decided to turn its licensing
division or a particular laboratory into a separate company. A start-up company is a general
term for a new company in its early stages of development. If a company is defined as a
limited liability company, the partners or investors normally cannot lose more than their
investment in the company (but officeholders in the company might be personally
responsible for their actions in the way they manage the company). This separate legal
identity means that a start-up company can be a useful way of developing and
commercialising a new technology based on original research, while keeping the main
research effort of an institute focussed on broader scientific and public objectives, and
insulated from the commercial risks and pressures of the commercialisation process. At the
same time, the research institute can benefit from the commercialisation of its research,
through receiving its share of the profits and growth in assets of the spin-off company, thus
strengthening the institute’s capacity to do scientific research.
The company is normally owned through shares (its ‘equity’). These effectively represent a
portion of the assets and entitlement to profits of the company. Investors can purchase
shares in the company, which is one way of bringing in new financial resources to support
the development of the technology – in exchange, the investors stand to benefit from the
growth in the company’s worth, as their shares proportionately rise in value, and to receive
a portion of any profits produced by the company’s operations, commensurate with the
number of shares they own. If it is a public company, shares in the company can be bought
and sold on the open stock market. An initial public offering is when the shares in a start up
company are first made available to the public to purchase. A private company’s shares, by
contrast, are not traded on the open market (but can still be bought and sold).
The option of starting up your own company to manufacture and market your patented
invention requires you to have business skills, marketing skills, management skills and
substantial capital to draw on for factory premises, hiring staff and so on. But it also can
offer a mechanism for attracting financial backing for research, development and
marketing, which can improve access to the necessary resources and expertise.
Which model of commercialisation is best for you?
Each new technology and associated package of IP rights is potentially difference, and the
mechanism you choose for commercialisation should take into account the particular
features of the technology. One basic consideration is to what extent you, as originator of
the technology, wish to be involved and to invest in the subsequent development of the
technology. You will need to compare the advantages and disadvantages of each model of
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commercialisation. Generally speaking, the higher degree of risk and commitment of
finance and resources you can invest, the higher the degree of control you can secure over
exploitation of the technology invention, and the higher the financial return to your
institution may be.
There are many possible variations on each of these general models, and in practice they
can overlap. In deciding which model of commercialisation is best for you, it is always a
good idea to seek commercial or legal advice.
Remember that IPRs alone do not guarantee you a financial return on your invention. You
need to make good commercial decisions to benefit financially from your intellectual
property rights.
Properly managed, intellectual property rights should not be a burden but should yield a
return from your hard work in creating an invention.
Advantages of Joint ventures:
• Provide companies with the opportunity to gain new capacity and expertise
• Allow companies to enter related businesses or new geographic markets or gain new
technological knowledge
• access to greater resources, including specialised staff and technology
• sharing of risks with a venture partner
• Joint ventures can be flexible. For example, a joint venture can have a limited life
span and only cover part of what you do, thus limiting both your commitment and
the business' exposure.
• In the era of divestiture and consolidation, JV’s offer a creative way for companies
to exit from non-core businesses.
• Companies can gradually separate a business from the rest of the organisation, and
eventually, sell it to the other parent company. Roughly 80% of all joint ventures
end in a sale by one partner to the other.
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6. You wish to commercialize your invention. What factors would you weigh in
choosing an appropriate course? (10 marks).
Answer.
Following are the ways to commercialize my invention.
Licensing and Assignment - Defined
The difference between licensing and selling your invention is comparable to leasing vs.
selling house. When you sell your house, you transfer your title, making someone else in
charge of and liable for the house from that point on. When you sell your invention, the
scenario is the same, except that the process is called “assigning” rather than selling. You,
the inventor would be the “assignor” and the person receiving the title or ownership of the
patent would be the “assignee.”
Instead of selling, though, you may choose to rent out your house. In this case, you retain
the title to the house and give someone permission to use it for a limited period of time. In
consideration for this, they pay you on a monthly, yearly or other basis. The terms of this
lease are entirely up to you and the person leasing your house. It is up to you to negotiate
within the boundaries of the law.
When you license an invention, it’s nearly the same as leasing. You’re offering a
manufacturer, for example, the right to manufacture and sell your invention for a period of
time, and in consideration for this they pay you on a quarterly basis. In this case you are
the “licensor” and the company is the “licensee.” It is up to the parties to negotiate the
terms of the license within the boundaries of antitrust laws and other regulations that
would affect licenses and similar business arrangements.
Should I Sell or License?
You will generally have a better chance of licensing your invention instead of assigning
(selling) your rights for two reasons:
First, it is initially hard to ascertain what the eventual value of an invention will be. This will
almost invariably result in a win/lose situation. If the value is estimated high, the inventor
wins and the company loses. On the other hand, if the estimates are low, the inventor loses
out.
Second, companies don’t like to pay cash up front unless they absolutely have to.
Generally, when a company makes a commitment to manufacture and promote an
invention, they are already anticipating a substantial financial commitment for tooling,
manufacturing setup, engineering expenses, advance purchases of raw materials,
marketing, and promotional expenses. A company that is savvy with licensing negotiations
will state that the more money they pay the inventor up front, the fewer resources they will
have available to put into the promotion. This is a hard point to argue against, particularly
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if you’re interested in the long-range commercial success of your invention.
At this point, Inventors have often already incurred substantial initial expenses for
patenting, prototyping and research, and need to be reimbursed as soon as possible.
Therefore, the inventor can argue that the potential licensees should at least reimburse
them for these out-of-pocket expenses. After all, these are expenses the company would
have normally paid if they had developed such a product on their own. At that point, the
company may very well come back to the table and agree to reimburse you for such initial
expenses. However, they may want to make it an advance against future royalties. Bear in
mind that all negotiations are unique and this is just an example.
When you assign (sell) your invention, you will typically lose control of it. Although you
may have cash in hand from the sale of your invention, the company has the prerogative to
ditch your technology and simply “sit on it” unless you’ve made other arrangements. In
some cases it is just as important to the inventor to see his invention commercialized as it
is to receive the cash from it. Having an invention commercialized can give an inventor a
substantial head start in attracting interest in his additional inventions. This may eventually
be worth more to an inventor than the initial cash he would receive from his first
commercialized invention.
Should I Go It Alone?
Some inventors prefer to keep their inventions close and go into business for themselves,
which comes with its own set of risks and rewards.
There are several different elements at play during the commercialization of an invention:
the company, the management, the technology, the market, and the marketing team. Each
of these is a variable. The more variables you introduce, the greater the risk of failure. If
you start with a new company under new management with a new product, your chance of
success is obviously much slimmer than an existing company already in the field with
experience and knowledge in a similar product line. Even when you look at an experienced
company like 3-M, which brings many new products to market, you’ll find that the
company’s new products fail often. With all its resources, 3-M’s success rate is said to be
only 30%. Unless you have greater resources, your success rate may be even less.
Because there are significant startup risks, it’s important to seriously investigate the
distinct advantages of having your invention introduced by an existing company with
experience in your field can promote your product effectively and already has a skilled sales
force with an existing client base. These factors can greatly reduce the amount of time it
takes to introduce your invention to the marketplace. What you lose in control when you
license can be gained tenfold from a timing standpoint, and in reducing your risk.
Licensing offers another strong advantage when it is time to sell your manufactured
51
invention to customers. Manufacturers who introduce only one invention or a very small
product line often have a hard time selling to large accounts. Large retail outlets prefer to
deal with companies where they can do one-stop shopping. Buyers (or purchasing agents)
for the big outlets want to reduce the number of bills they get and the number of vendors
they see each week. This is why the introduction of a new invention to retailers by a new
company is particularly challenging.
Licensing also has advantages over starting your own company because few products have
an unlimited life cycle. In time, your invention may be replaced by new technology. What
will your company sell then? Most single-item companies that are still around after five
years have done so by introducing new products and expanding their product line.
Companies need new products to survive.
Sometimes starting your own company is the only way to go. If you’ve attempted the
licensing route and no manufacturer is interested in your invention at its current stage of
development, you may need to do a small market test with a limited production run to
prove your invention has sales potential. Then if your sales results are positive, you may
pique the interest of a potential licensee who can take your invention to the next step.
It is easy to get ‘upside down’ financially with invention projects. This is especially true
since inventors have a tendency to overestimate the ultimate value of their inventions. Get
some realistic market research as early in the game as possible. If you find that you must
make a substantial investment to actually manufacture an invention to prove its
commercial viability and to interest potential licensees, keep careful track of your expenses
and constantly weigh these expenses against any royalty potential that may result.
There are too many sad stories of inventors pouring money into inventions that can never
provide a return on their investment. Inventors always take a risk when they spend time
and money on an idea and if they’re lucky, it’ll pay off quite well. The lesson is to minimize
your risks so you can bail out or put the project on hold if warranted. It will save you time,
money, and the personal energy you’ll need for future successes.
52

Vipin Kumar Gupta Mb0036 510914612

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Master of Business Administration – MBA Semester 4

MB0036 – Strategic Management & Business Policy

These are the functions normally reserved to financial investors:

Collection and Credit Assessment

Marketing and Sales

Creating One’s Own Business Plan

b) importance of creativity in Business

3. What factors are to be taken into account in a crisis communications

Joint Venture Agreements and Start-up Companies

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