Product Development & Operations – Category Manager Analysis

 

Due Date

Week 3

Note: While representative of possible situations faced by Alikay Naturals, all scenarios in this assignment are fictional.

Real Business

Let’s roll up our sleeves and use what we’ve learned this week in a real-life business situation. Each week, you’ll encounter a scenario where you will assume the role of a business person who works with or at a national discount retail store, like a Walmart or Target. These companies provide important, everyday staples for millions of people across the country and have become very successful businesses in the process.

Discount retail stores have locations in communities across the country. They often have strong and recognizable brands that are household names. We will explore how business works throughout this course by taking on a few of the many different roles at successful companies like these.

Your Role

This week, you’ll assume the role of a Category Manager for the Beauty Products category at a national discount retail store.

WHAT IS A CATEGORY MANAGER?

Category Managers are responsible for related groups of products (for example, baseball equipment or laundry detergents) for a retail business. They use research, information and insights about the category to change shopper behavior and increase sales of the products in the category. They also work with the suppliers of the products in their category to ensure that good products and services are available to customers.

As a Category Manager, part of your role is to analyze data and information about how well a product is selling to help the maker of that product improve the product and consider introducing new products. Rochelle and her team at Alikay Naturals have asked you, the Beauty Products Category Manager, to review one of their products and determine where it lies in the product life cycle. Additionally, they have asked you to recommend ways to improve the product in order to increase sales.

 

INSTRUCTIONS

 

Click DOWNLOAD TEMPLATE at the bottom for all of your assignment materials!

Step 1: Product Life Cycle

Read the Product Report for Alikay Naturals Moisturizing Black Soap Shampoo. The Product Report contains important information that will help you to identify where the product stands in the Product Life Cycle and give you clues about what changes customers might like to see. Respond to Rochelle and her team at Alikay Naturals based on the information in the Product Report.

· Identify where Moisturizing Black Soap Shampoo is currently positioned in the product life cycle. Please describe the rationale for your position.

Step 2: Product Changes

Based on what you've learned:

· What recommendation(s) do you have for Alikay Naturals to improve or replace Moisturizing Black Soap Shampoo? Please support your recommendation(s).

Step 3: New Product Development

Read the New Product Proposal, which contains three examples of possible products that could be developed to replace Moisturizing Black Soap Shampoo. Based on the information in this proposal and the customer feedback in the Product Report:

· If you had to recommend one product, which product would you recommend they create? Please explain your decision. Provide examples of the customer feedback that informed your choice.

· Determine which type of innovation this represents from among the four main types discussed this week. Briefly explain why you chose that type of innovation.

Note: You should complete Step 4 after reading the material in Week 3

Step 4: Production Methods

Based on the product you chose in Step 3:

· Determine which production method is most appropriate for the production of this product. Please explain your decision.

Week 5

FINANCE & ACCOUNTING - SENIOR ACCOUNTANT ANALYSIS

Due Date

Week 5

Note: While representative of possible situations faced by SunsTruck Sunglasses, all scenarios in this assignment are fictional.

Real Business

Large discount retailers like Target and Walmart employ large teams of Finance and Accounting professionals to help measure and understand the financial health of the business. Financial and accounting information helps these businesses make educated financial decisions, such as whether or not to continue partnering with a retail supplier. While often smaller businesses, it is equally important for these retail suppliers to use financial and accounting data to make educated decisions, such as the best approach to gaining additional funding.

Your Role

This week, you’ll assume the role of Senior Accountant with SunsTruck Sunglasses.

Senior accountants take ownership of reporting costs, profitability, margins and expenditures for a given business. They use the principles of accounting to analyze sales information, create financial reports, make recommendations about the financial health of the company, and more. They are also responsible for training junior accounting staff.

For the last six months, SunsTruck has partnered with the discount retail store to run a pop-up sunglasses stand in their stores for a big summer promotion. Due to the high customer purchase rate, the store has requested stock for five additional stores. SunsTruck needs to increase its capacity to meet the additional demand. In order to do so, SunsTruck needs additional money.

In this assignment, you will need to help determine which type of financing option is best for your company and train your junior accountants on the accounting cycle and financial statements.

INSTRUCTIONS

Step 1: Financing

The junior accounting team has assembled a Financing Report that (a) offers three options for securing the additional funds required to meet the new order; and (b) details the criteria Shaun, the owner of SunsTruck, would like you to consider when choosing one of the three options. Based on this report:

· Identify which financing option you think is the best option for SunsTruck to pursue given Shaun’s constraints. Please explain the rationale for your decision.

Note: You should complete Steps 2 & 3 after reading the material in Week 5.

Step 2: Accounting Cycle

A junior accountant is working to get everything in order for the new financing and has come to you with a question about what do next in the accounting cycle.

· Read the email the junior accountant sent you and identify the best next step to take in the accounting cycle. Please explain your reasoning.

Step 3: Financial Statements

A potential investor has been identified, but before it is willing to commit, it has requested information about SunsTruck’s current debt from the junior accountants.

· Identify the correct financial statement for your junior accountants that will provide the investor with the information it has requested. Please explain to your junior accountants why you are giving them this financial statement and where the debt information is located.

Week 7

MARKETING - MARKETING MANAGER ANALYSIS

Due Date

Week 7

Note: While representative of possible situations faced by the Brooklyn Nets, all scenarios in this assignment are fictional.

Real Business

For a large discount retail store like Target and Walmart, it can be difficult to get the marketing mix just right for a given product. There are so many products in the store fighting for the attention of customers. There is also the challenge of helping the suppliers of each product maximize their profits while making sure the store is making money. With so many things to consider, working in marketing for such a large business can be a challenge.

Your Role

This week, you’ll be acting as a Marketing Manager in the sporting goods section.

WHAT IS A MARKETING MANAGER?

Marketing Managers are responsible for developing, implementing and executing marketing plans, either for an entire organization or for particular categories or products within the organization, in order to attract potential customers and keep existing ones.

Their day-to-day tasks include managing and coordinating marketing and creative staff, leading market research to improve existing products and services, working with advertising agencies, and determining the best way to get products in front of customers.

As a marketing manager for a discount retail store in Brooklyn, you have been asked to evaluate a marketing plan for basketballs to ensure that the 4 P’s of marketing are being applied well. Using your knowledge of the 4 P’s and the best approach to generating sales, you’ll take a look at a number of marketing recommendations and choose the approach that you believe will sell the most products.

INSTRUCTIONS

Step 1: Product

In the Marketing Analysis Presentation provided by your marketing team, you’ll see three different basketballs that need to be included in the product display on Slide 2. Each product has unique features.

· Based on the information provided about the customers that shop at the store location on Slide 3, choose the basketball that you think will sell the most. Please explain the rationale for your decision.

Step 2: Place

On Slide 4 of the Marketing Analysis Presentation, you’ll see the results of a survey that asked potential buyers about where they are most likely to purchase these products.

· Use your knowledge about product placement to choose the best place to sell the products, deciding between traditional stores and online. Please explain the rationale for your decision.

Step 3: Promotion

Slide 5 of the Marketing Analysis Presentation shows three recommended advertisements, including a special deal promotion, for the product that is expected to sell the best.

· Based on the information provided about the customers that shop at this store location on Slide 3, determine which promotional activity will sell the most product at this particular store. Please explain the rationale for your decision.

 

Step 4: Price

Look at the pricing options available for each of the three products together on Slide 6.

· Based on your knowledge of Pricing Strategies, choose the option that has the best pricing mix for all three products. Refer to the customer information on Slide 2, if needed. Please explain the rationale for your decision.

 

Note: You should complete Step 5 after reading the material in Week 7.

Step 5: Brand & Sales Pitch

The company that makes one of the basketballs is looking to rebrand the product. They have asked for your input on possible brand ideas.

· First, read the Brand Vision statement which summarizes the goal for the new brand. Then, look at the logo, name, and tagline recommendations. Which of the two brand directions do you think best meets the goals of the brand vision? Please support your decisions.

· Second, write a sales pitch that you would use to try to convince someone to purchase this product.

Week 9

LEADERSHIP & MANAGEMENT - LEADERSHIP CONSULTANT ANALYSIS

 

Due Date

Week 9

Note: All scenarios in this assignment are fictional.

Real Business

It can be difficult for a business to improve how it operates from inside the organization. Sometimes, an outside perspective is needed. The large discount retail store you work for wants to improve its in-store restaurant management team.

Your Role

Companies like Target and Walmart often work with outside consultants—people who are not employees of the company but who are hired on a contract basis to help with a specific project. As a Leadership Consultant, you’ve been hired by a large discount retail company to help the company improve its leadership structure and approach to management.

WHAT IS A LEADERSHIP CONSULTANT

A leadership consultant is a person called in to a company, be it a large corporation or a small business, to evaluate how it operates and make recommendations for improvement. Leadership consultants are typically hired when a business is struggling and needs to make changes in order to remain profitable. Such consultants are often highly educated in the field of business and have experience in managerial roles.

INSTRUCTIONS

Step1 Organizationl Structure

Take a look at the Organization Chart provided by the company.

· Based on your knowledge of hierarchies, would you say that this team has tall structure or flat structure? Please explain your answer.

Step 2: Human Resources

The company would like to improve the culture of its team and the quality of its work. Its leadership has provided you with a Process Chart detailing how it currently applies Human Resources best practices.

· What step of the Human Resources Cycle is missing? Please explain why it is important to include this part of the process.

Note: You should complete Step 3 after reading the material in Week 9.

STEP 3: Leadership Style

You have been asked to help improve the leadership style of the team leader in order to meet the team’s performance goals. The team leader has given you a description of what is most comfortable in terms of leading others.

· Identify this leader’s style of leadership, and list two benefits and two drawbacks to that style as it relates to the performance of the team.

 

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Status NEW Posted 08 Apr 2020 11:04 PM My Price 40.00

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