Business presentation advice

Lonyo

Lifer
Aug 10, 2002
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6
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You are working for XXXX as a advisor on an organisation of your choice. You are presenting to a manager who is heading up the team on the project for this client.
Your presentation is focused on the ways in which the client can further develop their business. What advice would you give to the organisation on effective expansion of their business, and why?
Your presentation should include:
? A very brief overview of the organisation
? How they can expand/further develop their business
? The advice that you would give to this organisation to ensure successful development of their business, and why.

I am NOT asking for help with the project itself, but I can't think of any suitable companies.
Most of what I know about is based around the tech indistry, but most large technology companies (Dell, Apple, Intel, AMD, Microsoft etc) already know what they plan to do to develop their business, so it's quite tough to think of a suitable sort of company for the presentation.

If anyone here does business/etc, or has any good ideas of what might be a suitable type of business to look at, it would be awesome.
(I am NOT looking for advice on what to put in the presentation or how to do it, I'm not asking for homework help, I just can't think of who to use as an example where I can come up with my own ideas)
 

sjwaste

Diamond Member
Aug 2, 2000
8,757
12
81
Walmart or Southwest Airlines. When I was in undergrad business, these two companies were always in case studies. B-school profs love them :)

You'd be surprised what they face, even though they're seemingly well-established. For instance, Walmart had a lot of trouble getting its Pharmacy division running at first, from what I've read. Look at what else they might expand into (banking?) and go from there.
 

KB

Diamond Member
Nov 8, 1999
5,406
389
126
This can be any company, can't it? To make it easier think of a company, not in the tech industry, that isn't using tech to their advantage.

For example pick an electric company and demonstrate why they aren't using GIS (Geographic Information Systems) to better manage their wires.
Or go ahead and pick a tech company and make something up they aren't doing. I.e. they aren't using performance management systems to better manage the goals, and bonuses, of their employees. Remember your professor won't know what the company you choose is doing.
 

Lonyo

Lifer
Aug 10, 2002
21,938
6
81
Originally posted by: sjwaste
Walmart or Southwest Airlines. When I was in undergrad business, these two companies were always in case studies. B-school profs love them :)

You'd be surprised what they face, even though they're seemingly well-established. For instance, Walmart had a lot of trouble getting its Pharmacy division running at first, from what I've read. Look at what else they might expand into (banking?) and go from there.

Actually WalMart is an interesting option, especially when considering global options (since other grocery chains are pushing into new international markets) although I am not hugely knowledgable about the retail market.
Places like China and the ME could be seen as opportunities, as well as going into new market segments (which they have been doing a lot in the US at least with things like online music etc IIRC).
 

Lonyo

Lifer
Aug 10, 2002
21,938
6
81
Originally posted by: KB
This can be any company, can't it? To make it easier think of a company, not in the tech industry, that isn't using tech to their advantage.

For example pick an electric company and demonstrate why they aren't using GIS (Geographic Information Systems) to better manage their wires.
Or go ahead and pick a tech company and make something up they aren't doing. I.e. they aren't using performance management systems to better manage the goals, and bonuses, of their employees. Remember your professor won't know what the company you choose is doing.

Actually it's not for a prof, it's for a job interview presentation for an advisory company. My main problem is finding a suitable company who 1) I can find out about 2) Doesn't already have well planned expansion/growth strategies in areas I can find out about.
I know what sort of things I will look at, but most of the companies I know about (listed in the OP) already have strategies for growth, and I'm failing to think outside the box.
 

kranky

Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
21,019
156
106
Think about a company you know of that is struggling or badly run or is in a niche market.

For example, the Jitterbug cell phone. It's the perfect cell phone for the one demographic which isn't already saturated - older people. The cell phone is basic, operates just like a landline phone, and has ergonomic features aimed at older people.

Yet you never hear about them. There has to be plenty of ideas you could suggest for them to widen their market reach.
 

Lonyo

Lifer
Aug 10, 2002
21,938
6
81
Originally posted by: kranky
Think about a company you know of that is struggling or badly run or is in a niche market.

For example, the Jitterbug cell phone. It's the perfect cell phone for the one demographic which isn't already saturated - older people. The cell phone is basic, operates just like a landline phone, and has ergonomic features aimed at older people.

Yet you never hear about them. There has to be plenty of ideas you could suggest for them to widen their market reach.

Actually that's a very good thought, possibly.
I might investigate VIA, since recently IIRC they lost their Intel chipset license, and they have their own niche, integrated low power systems, but companies like Intel are starting to develop SFF CPU's and low power processors, so they could start to feel the pressure. (I know it's not exactly what you said, but one element of their business is a niche market which the big guys forsee growth in and they might start to feel pressure).

I might also look at the other company you suggest, as places like India or China or Africa are new markets which are developing quite quickly, and IIRC in at least some African countries there is more cellphone than landline use because it's just easier.
I think I read about Motorola etc making basic phones for emerging markets, and a company who is already making basic phones for elderly people could look into that sort of market.
Places like China also I think have a high percentage of elderly people which means it could be a good potential market for a basic phone, especially a basic phone aimed at the elderly.

Based on United Nations and Chinese government statistics, it was estimated in 1987 that by the year 2000 the population 60 years and older (the retirement age is 60 in urban areas) would number 127 million, or 10.1 percent of the total population; the projection for 2025 was 234 million elderly, or 16.4 percent. According to projections based on the 1982 census, if the one-child policy were maintained to the year 2000, 25 percent of China's population would be age 65 or older by the year 2040.
 

fuzzybabybunny

Moderator<br>Digital & Video Cameras
Moderator
Jan 2, 2006
10,455
35
91
GPS companies? I think that the future of GPS is in real-time information utilization. In the future as more and more places in the country get wireless internet via cell phone towers (Sprint's EVDO network for example), people will be able to access the internet from anywhere with cell phone coverage. Instead of having concrete maps downloaded to a memory card, that may or may not be outdated, have the GPS use the internet to keep maps up to date. We're starting to see this with subscription based phone GPS devices and real-time traffic features. The network is already very widespread. Just last month I drove from Arizona to Ohio, and only in a few 5-minute pockets along the highway did I NOT have internet access with Sprint SERO. I was surfing AT in my tent in the middle of a desert for Christsakes. The weird thing is that sometimes I get internet even when I don't have any bars of reception...

You're in an unfamiliar area and you need to find a hotel. Have your GPS integrated with something like Hotels.com. It automatically searches the hotels around your area for the lowest rate, you select one, and since it's connected to a cell phone tower for internet, you can also call the hotel right from your GPS.

Your GPS can even act as a tracking device. If you're missing your GPS or car, you can call your GPS and it will report back with its coordinates.

You want to find a restaurant in your area. Your GPS can search for restaurant user reviews around your area. Think "Fodor's travel guides" as well. $, $$, $$$, $$$$ for an entree, what credit cards are accepted, reservations or no, etc?

Road trip planner? Advanced itinerary. Input a starting point and destination(s). Give your departure time. It gives recommendations for things to see along the way, places to eat, hotels/motels/campgrounds to stay at, etc.

Integration with USGS topographic maps. Hikers would love this, as they can see the contours of the hikes they'll go on, as well as see the trail itself so they never get lost.

Integration with Google Maps. Satellite imagery.

Real time weather reports, including forecasts for your area.

Basically, take advantage of information information information via a growing nationwide network that allows internet access.
 

Vonkhan

Diamond Member
Feb 27, 2003
8,198
0
71
Chose telecom ... cell phone service. Huge markets opening up in China, India, Russia, Brazil, etc. Pick a company like Russia's Vimpel or India's Hutch and have fun
 

glenn1

Lifer
Sep 6, 2000
25,383
1,013
126
I am NOT asking for help with the project itself, but I can't think of any suitable companies.
Most of what I know about is based around the tech indistry, but most large technology companies (Dell, Apple, Intel, AMD, Microsoft etc) already know what they plan to do to develop their business, so it's quite tough to think of a suitable sort of company for the presentation.

If anyone here does business/etc, or has any good ideas of what might be a suitable type of business to look at, it would be awesome.
(I am NOT looking for advice on what to put in the presentation or how to do it, I'm not asking for homework help, I just can't think of who to use as an example where I can come up with my own ideas)

First, I would decide if you want to take a horizontal or vertical integration approach. Horizontal would be expanding into a different (but compatible) business line, or vertical (expanding into businesses higher or lower on the value chain). For example, if you used Southwest Airlines, a horizontal business extension would be freight shipping, vertical would be development of a ticket booking software system (like SABRE).

Also, you might have more success picking a slightly more obscure business, that way you'll immediately have more expertise on their business model than the person giving you the assignment. Even better if it's slightly distasteful, as they'll have little incentive to fact-check you on every single detail. Something like waste water treatment would be perfect - your business extension idea could be selling reclaimed waste water for industrial purposes (or bottled water if you're really feeling frisky).