In order to promote cohesiveness in an organizational culture, first, it should be important for the business leaders to understand two levels of diversities that are present in the group or team cohesion: surface-and deep-level diversity. The surface level attributes are almost immediately observable and they include age, sex and gender. Deep-level diversity is the differences among the individuals and they include beliefs, values and attitudes. The school of thought widely accepts that the overall cohesiveness in an organizational culture can be strengthened using two factors: communication and unity of purpose. A cohesive team must engage in constant communication so as to have a common goal. Secondly, the organizational culture must have a higher level of commitment that involves understanding what they do together as compared to what they can do on their own-unity of purpose. In other words, communication and unity of purpose are the most powerful “human moments” that leads to the creation of team synergy in an organizational culture (Haider, 2014).

1. What are the internal and external challenges in creating a scenario?

Scenarios are best created around uncertainties with the aim of helping in decision-making in terms of budgetary costs and event planning. When designing a scenario, the challenges can be grouped into internal and external challenges. Internal challenges in a business environment include: planning for turnover of critical managers, making significant changes in stock prices or preparing for major accidents. External challenges include: competitive forces and uncertain strategic considerations; government forces such as rules and regulations; costs which relate to the economics of the business (Haider, 2014).

2. Who is responsible for the futuristic framework planning?

Futuristic planning is a component of the management. As such, the business executives and the business leaders (managers) are the ones involved in planning the vision for the business whereby they consider the vision, values, mission, strategies and tactics (Haider, 2014).

3. Why is future framework important for an organization?

The future framework is important for an organization because it helps in articulating the long-term goals of the business. The future framework helps in evaluating work initiatives, whether product or processes, the framework helps in developing tactical and strategic plans and constantly optimizing them with an eye to the future (Haider, 2014).

4. How can diversity of thoughts be affective in planning

Diversity of thoughts allows people to think differently and as a result, develop ideas that make the business to stay ahead of the competition. In planning, the diversity of thought promotes group diversity in the business culture; allowing people with different backgrounds to contribute to the decision-making process by providing effective strategies and plans. The key idea to promoting diversity of thought is that people have the need to be included in planning so that they can share their views in an inclusive and trusting organizational culture. Diversity also creates loyalty among the workforce (Haider, 2014).

Task 3

1. What secure payment methods retailers can offer?

Payment methods are ways in which the customers can use to pay. The common used method of payment is the cash payment especially for low-value transactions. The Payment System Annual Board Report in 2011 showed that 64 percent of the number of consumers in most financial institutions chose cash payment as the most preferable method of transaction. The second payment method that has been offered by retailers is the card-based payment; however, most retailers do not prefer this method because it incurs additional costs. The third payment method that the retailers have offered is the electronic payment such as the use of paypal; where the retailers wan to make a quick notice of the services they have and the customers can make cash-on-delivery using the online purchases (Haider, 2014).

2. What are the different types of delivery system an online retailer can offer?

The retailer can offer three types of online delivery systems. The first one is the parcel-to-parcel point where the consumer shops in an online store, chooses the parcel point as the delivery type and also selects the pick-up point location. The second method is the Economy commerce where the retailer drops the items bought online at the customer’s specified postal outlet. The third method is Express Flex which is suited for online and mail order deliveries. It is common in Finland and the customers are contacted in advances so as to prepare for the delivery time (Haider, 2014).

3. How can retailers adopt to culture different of target consumer?

The key to any marketing strategy is to provide goods and services that are appealing to the consumers. In a pool of diverse consumer cultures, retailers should promote their products and services by identifying cultural-diverse target markets. For example, the retail management can employ front-line employees that represent consumer demographic cultures. Here, consumers feel comfortable when they visit retail outlets with employees that reflect the diversity of their own communities (Haider, 2014).

Task 4

1. How can companies differentiate themselves in term of technology?

Different companies use different technologies especially in marketing. Marketing technologies can be grouped into four operations: marketing experiences such as email marketing, video ads marketing, calls and call centers; marketing operations such as websites and dashboards, digital asset management and mobile analytics; middleware such as data management and cloud connectors; backbone platform such as ecommerce (Haider, 2014).

2. How can the technology effect innovation?

New technologies has made it easier for people to communicate in a global community; as a result, forming a global community that process ideas at speed and boost productivity. Technology has led to ‘virtual corporation’ in a virtual workplace which has inspired new strategies and causing revolution in research-and-development process (Haider, 2014).

3. What challenges companies are facing due to rapid technology?

Some of the challenges being faced by companies include the challenge of change of velocity. Because the rate of change is accelerating, high performing companies are constantly adapting to the changing technology while the small-to-midsized businesses may fall to the most techno-savvy marketers. Another challenge is that the demand for the techno-savvy employees is increasing but there is a shortage of talent (Haider, 2014).

4. How can emerging company impact on technology’s changes?

Emerging companies should accelerate transformation by involving forward-thinking executives and marketers who are fast to evolve according to the urgency of the technology that is required in business operations (Haider, 2014).

Task 5

1. What is the value of serendipity?

Serendipity has been referred to “pleasant surprises and in businesses, it is important to both the creative and the business process. Serendipity is a valuable resource that helps one to set up opportunities, flow of events and to control the chain of tenuous, circumstantial connections that occur in a seemingly random sequence of events (Morgan, 2012).

2. Who are individuals involved in creating exchange new concepts?

The management is mostly involved in creating exchange new concepts which are intended to create enhance adjustments between the business staffs and the new operations of the business (Morgan, 2012).

3. How can organizations facilitate a culture of serendipity?

An organization can be developed by providing an environment that allows for creativity by providing a chance of happy accidents to the employees as potential innovation triggers. The culture can also be built on dissemination of knowledge through learning hubs and research (Morgan, 2012).

4. When can entrepreneurs make use of the serendipity idea?

In this era of networked persons, entrepreneurs should employ serendipity mostly when trying to ensure there is innovation and creativity in business such as the emerging trends in future marketing and social media (Morgan, 2012).

Task 6

1. What causes poor leadership?

Poor leadership is caused by lack of communication, unclear expectations, intimidation and bullying of other employees and poor people’s skills such as speaking negative about the company or the employees (Roebuck, 2012).

2. How to set clear goals?

Leaders can develop clear goals by first including the group. As a group, the leaders have an opportunity to brainstorm ideas, develop objectives for each goal, revise the goals, clarify the roles, set motivating goals and give and receive feedback (Roebuck, 2012).

3. How can organization structure facilitate development business model?

Business development models have three major qualities. These qualities include: acquiring high customer value such as those who are easy to locate, allow you to charge a profitable price; offer significant value to customers including better distribution through retail or distribution; deliver products or services with high margin (Roebuck, 2012).

4. How can leader effectively communicate strategies in organization?

Leaders can use three forms of communication which include public forums, one-on-one dialogue and electronic media. For instance, public forums encourage leaders to be transparent and foster employee workforce environment (Roebuck, 2012).

References

Haider, A. (2014). Business technologies in contemporary organizations: Adoption, assimilation,

and institutionalization: adoption, assimilation, and institutionalization. Sydney: IGI Global

Morgan, J. (2012). The collaborative organization: A strategic guide to solving your internal

business challenges using emerging social and collaborative tools. New York, NY: McGraw Hill Professional

Roebuck, D.B. (2012). Communication strategies for today’s managerial leader. New York, NY:

Business Expert Press