Tuesday 15 January 2013

Unit 4: Research and Planning


P1: In this unit I am going to research 3 online companies from different sectors (Private Sector, Public Sector and NGO) in order to build ideas and knowledge for my business, including:
  • Rules and Regulations
  • Financial Issues
  • Funding and Risk
  • Organisational Structures
  • Website Design Features
  • Job Roles and Functions in an Online Business
In this task I have choosen Coca-Cola Company for Private Sector, TFL for Public Sector and Barnardo's Charity for NGO.
   
1. Coca-Cola Company is one of the biggest beverage in the world. They  make, produce and sell fizzy drinks with different flavours to public. Coca-Cola Company is a business that is very well-known worldwide.

Aims and Objectives of the Coca-cola website: The aims of the coca-cola's website is to inform the public that Coca-Cola brand is the number 1 beverage worldwide and to encourage and attract people to buy the products. To make it happen, they need to make the website easy to use and easy to understand what they write in there.
Rules and Regulations: According to this website (http://www.coca-cola.co.uk/terms-and-conditions.html) Coca-cola applied the Trade Description Act in their company business because they are aware of misleading their statements about their goods and services including online services because if not, the company will get penalties and punishments enforced by Trading Standards Officers.They also applied the Distance Selling Regulation for their online business so people who have small/medium/large businesses such as restaurants can order cold drinks from coca-cola through online, e-mails, calls, etc. Therefore, to comply this regulation the trader needs to give description to all the consumers/costumers about the goods or services that coca-cola offers/sells, giving the right details about the delivery cost and give approximately days to be delivered all the products that consumers have ordered, especially the  giving the full and correct details of how payment can be made and the most important is to explain about the prices of goods/products including all the taxes that the company sells to public (in this case fizzy-drinks such as Fanta, Sprite, Diet Coke, etc. from coca-cola company).
Employment Rules and Regulations UK:  The Coca-Cola Company's workplace rights policy is approved by international human rights standards, guiding the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Internation Labor Organisation's Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work and United Nations Global Compact. The policy includes the following components, these are:

-Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining
-Forced Labor
-Child Labor
-Discrimination
-Work Hours and Wages
-Safe and Healthy Workplace
-Workplace Security
-Community and Stakeholder Engagement


Financial Issues: Online Refunds are available. According to this website (http://www.cokecce.co.uk/about-us/contact-us/refund-request.aspx) if consumers/costumers are not happy or satisfied of the product they ordered from coca-cola and they would like a full refund, consumers/costumers can browse the link on the top and fill-up the refund request and submit it. Costumers only need to wait 4-5 working days to receive their money.
Funding and Risk: Everyone all know that Coca-Cola is a big company by selling different kind of cold drinks, if costumers want to know more about this company they can find more details on their website (http://www.coca-cola.co.uk/about-us/archive.html) such as about their partnerships, environment, etc. Coca-cola's website is not made to sign-up to be a member but madev it to inform everyone about their brands and the activities that they do. Therefore, costumers can still place orders from the website by calling them and e-mailing them in privately. They can also follow coca-cola in facebook, twitter, etc. in this way coca-cola is advertising their products through social networking. If costumers have any complaint about the quality of one of their products they can email the product quality team or can contact them via their freephone number: 0800 22 77 11
Organisational Structure: 
Coca-Cola Company is a Hierarchical Structure because it has got many levels of staff, this structure starts with CEO, COO, Board of Directors, Managers, Supervisors, Team Leaders and Staffs. It could also be a Divisional Structure because their business is into different divisions such as: location, types of costumers and type of products they make or sell to public.

Website Design Features:


The Coca-cola Company website design features are very easy to use, to read and to understand. It has got a white background, bright colours for the images and abstracts with black and white text colours. It is very organised. The website has also a drop down effects for example: on the top where you can see "HOME, BRANDS, ETC" when you point the "brand" all the different brand of drinks came out. 
Job Roles and Functions in an Online Business:

Finance: Is the department who controls the money including pay rolls, etc.
Human Resources: is the department who is in charge in social responsibility (health and safety training) and hiring/firing staffs.
Customer Service: is the department who is in charge in dealing customers complaints, queries, etc.
IT (Information Technology): is the department who is in charge to check all the computers and other equipment if they are working well including the responsibility of updating the company website.

2.  TFL (Transport for London)The role of TFL, which is a functional body of London Authority, is to implement the Mayor of London's Transport Strategy and manage transport services across the city. The aims and objectives of TFL is to ensure safer and easier accessibility for all residents in London and co-ordinate for transport users with impaired mobility.

URL Website: http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/about-tfl/4510.aspx

Aims and Objectives of TFL's Website: The aims and objectives of TFL's website is to inform the public about the transports of London, especially give information about how to get an adult oysters and oysters for all the student and give instruction how to apply. Therefore, TFL's website allows everyone to sign-up to top up theirs travel cards/oysters through online.

Rules and Regulations: TFL's website has got a lot of terms and conditions also privacy. To make the website work and to be success, TFL team should apply rules and regulations such as Distance Selling Regulation because they need to apply this kind of rules and regulations first before they can sell oysters or let people to top up their oyster cards via online, let people to pay their congestion charge too.

Employment Rules and Regulations UK: Check this (http://www.tfl.gov.uk/microsites/pensions/documents/Trust_deed_and_rules.pdf)
website and you will find out their Rules and Regulations that they applied.

Financial Issues: According to the websitehttp://www.tfl.gov.uk/static/corporate/media/newscentre/archive/3660.html TFL website was very   oversubscribed, therefore enabling an even more competitive rate of interest than TfL's first bond, its also states that there first bond was launched 10 years ago which makes the interest rate being on the new £200m, 25-year bond was 4.5 per cent. This compares favorably with the interest rate on the previous bond of 5 per cent.

Funding and Risk: One of the example of funding and risk of TFL website is you cannot easily top up your oyster cards and you also cannot even pay your congestion charges without signing up an account for you but on the other side it is also a good thing for everyone because signing up as a customer you will get a safer transaction online this includes your protection from identity online fraud. Therefore, TFL's website is still making money because they are selling oyster cards for adults and students.


Source: https://oyster.tfl.gov.uk/oyster/entry.do


Organisational Structure:


TFL could be Hierarchical Structure because each department has got managers and has their own staffs.
Website Design:
TFL's website is  simple, it has got white wallpaper as background, blue colour for the logo and black colour for the texts, they also use different kinds of logos for oysters, congestion charge, barclays cycle hire, etc. It is also very accessible for everyone because people can do many things in their website such as ordering new oysters card/applying oyster cards for all the students, topping up the oyster cards, paying the congestion charges, etc. 
Job Roles and Functions in an Online Business:

IT (Information Technology): is the department who is in charge to check all the computers and other equipment if they are working well including the responsibility of updating the company website.
Production/Manufacturing:is the department who research how to improve, upgrade all the transports for the public. In that way, it will help the company to maximise their profit or income.
Finance: is the department, who controls the money of the company, this is also the department who are in charge in pay rolls, budgets, etc.

3. Barnardo's Charity: (http://www.barnardos.org.uk/) Barnardo's charity is one of the famous charities in the UK, they help children and young people to get a good future.

The aim and objectives for Barnardo's website is to give information to the public about their activities for the children to show them that they are special and has a family by giving them the best care they can get from the charity.
Rules and Regulations: Barnardo's Charity has got a full legal and parental responsibility for all the children and also they are committed for the children's life changes. They also applied the Distance Selling Regulations for Barnardo's Charity because they also sell products to the public to increase their funds. On the other hand Barnardo's website allows everyone to give donations for all the children.
Employment Rules and Regulations UK: Check this  website (http://www.bris.ac.uk/education/research/centres/creole/resources/ethics/barnados.pdf) You can read here about their rules and regulations for their employees.

Financial Issues: The Financial Issues of Barnardo's Charity is a direct condition of an extra financial benefits to families with provision or no provision of Trained Service improving outcomes for the kids who live with their families with a low income which makes it harder. The outcomes of interest is related to physical and emotional health and it is also a social symbol of well being such as an education.
Non-Refundable income rather than benefits in kind are at theheart of the interventions explored in this review. It helps them to assess the financial benefits with others in reducing inequalities in child health the issue now is Critical interest.
Funding and Risk: One of the example of funding and risk of Barnardo's website is you cannot easily buy stuffs (cards) or you cannot even donate money for the children on their website without creating your account, this will give you a safer money transaction and this will really help everyone to avoid identity online fraud. 

Source: http://greetingcards.barnardos.org.uk/shop/cat2.asp

Organisational Structure: 



Barnardos Charity is a Hierarchical Structure because it has got a lot of different departments with many levels of staff, this structure starts with CEO, COO, Board of Directors, Managers, Coordinators and Staffs.
Website Design:

Barnardo's website has got a white background and a green colour for the logo. It is very accesible to use because you can make the text smaller, medium or large. The website allows everyone to join the group as volunteer and give donations too.
Job Roles and Functions in an Online Business:


These are the main job roles of Barnardos' Charity.


Finance is the department that controls the money that is coming in and out, also the department who calculate the annual budget for their activities.
Human Resources  is the department who provide advice about employee relations and discipline, in charged in trainings (health and safety training), specially hiring and firing staffs.

Supporter Marketing is responsible for recruiting new donors to the charity through direct mail, or face-to-face fundraising, telemarketing and also  marketing.

However, there is one department which is very important this is:

The Adoption department is supported by an Adoption Order, granted through Court. It is a long procedure it is one of the most life-transforming experiences that can happen to a child and their adoptive parents. Children need an adoptive family when it has been decided that they are unable to remain with their birth families and that adoption is in their best interests.

P2: I am going to identify the 3 different main types of Business Organisational Structure and give some examples, these are:
  • Hierarchical Structure: this is the type of a business which is the business has got a lot of levels of staffs. This structure starts with CEO, COO, Board of Directors and then down to various levels of managers, supervisors, staffs. All information will come from up to down, this can of structure can be found in retailers (e.g Coca-Cola).


  • Flat Structure: this is the structure will be used by small organisations who lead by only one person with two or more staffs. The management role in this structure may have to carry out more functions (e.g Kiosk).
                           
  • Matrix Structure: this type of business structure is used in organisation that bid to do projects. For example: Engineering Companies. Once contract has been made a project, Team will set-up but it will be directed by the leader. Therefore, as soon as the project is done the team will break up to get another projects.

P3: In this task of assignment I am going to produce basic job description and specific person for the job.

As an owner of A's Fashion Clothing I am current looking for 2 store assistants; 1 part timer and 1 full timer who have got these skills and experience.

*A person who has got excellent customer service skills.
*A person who is confident, friendly, punctual and hard-working.
*A person who has 1 year experienced working as a retail assistant.

Job description:
Sales assistants are at the front line of a fast-paced sector where no two days are ever the same. Far away from the world of office desks and boring business meetings, expect to meet a whole range of people every day. So if you've got an outgoing personality, this is the perfect job for you.

Your main task as a sales assistant is to ensure that customers have an enjoyable shopping experience and spend lots of cash so the business can keep going. As part of this service you'll be expected to:
  • Welcome and advise customers (so practice your smiling)
  • Ensure the clothes are well displayed (an organised shop is a happy shop)
  • Handle payments
  • Arrange ordering and delivery
  • Receive deliveries from suppliers
  • Keep the shop floor clean and tidy
APPLY NOW!

Please contact us as soon as possible:


Tel: 0208-176-8905
Send and attached your CV and Cover Letter at E-mail: Asclothing@info.co.uk


P4: In this task of assignment I had an interview with Genora based on which job I have chosen (Cashier). She also recorded the scene as an evidence.

P5: In this task I am going to match skills and abilities to 2 job opportunities (Essential/Desirable).

"Retail Sales Supervisor"

Job Description: According to this website (http://www.bauschke.com/download/Retail%20Sales%20Supervisor.pdf).


The The Retail Sales Supervisor is in charge for supervising the daily activities and productivity of the Retails Sales Team, including: ensuring retail sales is complying with high service standards, sales goals and meeting all the strategic objectives. 

Retail Sales Supervisor's duties are:

-Coaching.
-Assessing Performance.
-Improving team member skill levels.
-Tracking and reporting productivity.
-Manages multiple tasks.

The complete job description covers the following topics:

-Essential duties and responsibilities.
-Supervisory responsibilities.
-Performance standards.
-Qualification requirements.
-Education and Experience.
-Language and Numeracy Skills.
-Reasoning Ability.
-Physical Demands.
-Work Environment.

After I read the job description of Retail Sales Supervisor I can say that I can do and manage to work as a Retail Sales Supervisor because I am confident, hardworking and fast learner person and  at the moment I may be working as a F&B Assistant and it might be nothing to do in retail but I can still apply my experiences in this job and in my opinion they are both the same because they have the same target which is to provide high service standards to customers and deliver great results

At the moment, I am studying Business at Westminster Kingsway. I can use and apply the knowledge that I learned from college and this will help to learn how to face all the responsibilities with confidence. I also have got English Language which can help me to communicate with other staffs and Numeracy Skills to help me tracking and make productivity reports.


"F&B Supervisor"



A F&B Supervisor attends to customer complaints or issues, resolving matters as expediently as possible. Supervisors also oversee food preparation, storage and dining areas, ensuring that the facility remains in compliance with safety regulation and health codes. A F&B Supervisor performs the duties of a human resources manager, recruiting, hiring, training and terminating staff members.


Performance management and disciplinary actions are administered as required. Supervisors also schedule employees for work. They also maintain employee records, payroll and benefits. Also, the management of incoming funds and accounts payable are often responsibility of the F&B Supervisor.

At the moment, I am working as a F&B Assistant at The Cavendish Hotel. My duties are:  serving customers, handle their queries, handling payments, etc. Since I start working at the hotel I gained a lot of experience and learned a lot of knowledge about hospitality. This kind of things will help me in the future to achieve higher position as a F&B Supervisor. All I need to do is to be patient and always work hard.

P6I am going to talk about my career development plan; the step to my dream job/career.


At the moment, I am a full time student. I am studying business at Westminster Kingsway College, it is from Monday to Wednesday. I am a hardworking, friendly, punctual, cheerful, reliable and trustworthy person. I am able to work with other people and adapt quickly to a new environment and have an ability to learn new skills.

My skills are I am good at ICT, I can use Microsoft Software (Excel, word, PowerPoint, etc) and I am also good at numeracy. I can speak 3 languages; Spanish, English and Tagalog (Philippine Language).

I am also working as a part timer at The Cavendish Hotel, it is from Thursday to Sunday. I have been working at the hotel for 1 year and 7 months and I am really enjoying it because I am gaining new experience learn new skills such as being confident handling guests complaints. This kind of things will help me in the future.


I am looking forward to go to study Business and Finance in the University, but to make it happen there are few steps that I need to go through.


1. To pass my level 2 and access course.

2. To pass all my functional skills exams with good marks.
3. Gain more experience and knowledge from University and at work place.
4. To get merits or distinction.

Maybe after 5-8 years, when I finished my master degree in the University and I finally received my diploma, I have more opportunities to get a proper job and I also have the chance to get promoted into higher position and can able to save some money and later I will run my own business because I can say that as long as determined, hardworking and patient I will become a successful business woman in the future. 


M1: In this task of assignment I am going to talk 2 different organisations (JustFab UK and Barnardo's Charity) and then, I am going to compare their main job roles and functions.


"JustFab stands for JustFabulous, founded by Don Ressler and Adam Goldenberg and launched in year 2010. It is an online fashion retailer selling; bags, shoes, clothes, jewelries, etc. If you want to join or register you do not have to pay anything."

Aim: JustFab's aim is to be the best online fashion retailer in the UK.

Objective: is to expand their business internationally within 5 years.


"Barnardo's Charity was founded by Thomas Barnardo in year 1867. Barnardos is one of  the popular charities in the UK"

Aim: is to give hope to children who are victims from abuse, poverty, etc. and help them to change their lives and make them always happy to be able forget their pains.

Objectives: is to raise/make profit/money from selling their products though in stores or through online. Also having a fundraising activity for the charity is very helpful to get financial support for children’s needs.

"JustFab and Barnardos have also got same things to be such as both of the organisation want to be successful but they both have different ways to make it happen; JustFab can be successful by selling the products through online and the money that they make goes to shareholders but in Barnardos is very different because Barnardos charity make money by selling products through in store, online and donations but the money that they make they put it back in the charity to be able give children’s needs."

Functional Areas Of 2 Different Organisations

JustFab UK
Barnardo's Charity
IT: The IT department of JustFab is one of the important vital functional area for their business because this is the department who is in charged to make sure that their website is working and people are able to make orders.
IT: is the department who make sure that all the computers are working including Bernardos website.
Finance: This is the department who controls the money of the business. Including: payrolls, etc.
Finance: is the department that controls the money that is coming in and out, also the department who calculate the annual budget for their activities.
Human Resources: Is the department who are in charged to hire people who are willing to work for the company and have passion in fashion. 
Human Resources: is the department who provide advices about employee relations and discipline, in charged in trainings (health and safety training), specially hiring and firing staffs.
Marketing:This is the department who is in charged to advertise the products to get customer’s attention and interest.  
Supporter Marketing: is responsible for recruiting new donors to the charity through direct mail, or face-to-face fundraising, telemarketing and also marketing.
Retail: This is the department who are in charged to choose, sells products such as bags, shoes, clothes, jewelleries, etc.
Retail: Barnardo's have over 450 shops in the UK where they sell donated items such as clothes, accessories, books, DVDs & CD, etc. they can make valuable funds each year to change the lifestyle of the children.
Production: This is the department who is responsible to research new things to improve all the products and they are also responsible to keep safe all the products all the time and to ensure that they are in good condition.
Advertising and Communications: this department who communicate to the public to advertise Barnardo’s campaign. It also works through online (Barnardo’s website).
Legal Team: This is the department who does all the legal review for JustFab such as copyright policy , customer issue, etc. 
Children's Services: this is the department who give family support, taking care all the children, keeping them safe from physical and emotional.
Ecommerce: This is the department who are in charged to research on how to improve the customer’s experience. 
Fundraising: is the department who help all the children to keep away from poverty/abuse. 
Logistics and Supply: This is the department who is in charged to ensure that all the products will be place where it meant to be.
Legacies: is the department who deal with all the legacy giving.
Customer Care: This is the department who provide helps, advices and supports to all customers.
Supporters Service: is the department who are responsible for the processing and reconciliation of Barnardo’s voluntary income.

Policy and Research Unit: this department who find different ways to improve the lives of children through influencing public policy and practice.

M2: In this task I am going to make a job advert for my business (A's Fashion Clothing) this will include the job description and the person specification of Sales Assistant/Cashier

A’s Fashion Clothing is looking for someone who can work in retail as a full time (40 hours a week) or casual £6.10 per hour as a Sales Assistant/Cashier. Working hour is flexible to suit you; we are open 24/7 from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm.
If you get through our interview, we will call you for your trial training shift to see the way you work and get the chance to gain new experience working with us and maybe after few days we will call you back or send you an e-mail to discuss if you get the job or not. Therefore, the decision is still yours.

Job description:
The purpose of working with us is to provide the highest standards of customer service at all times, this will help us to ensure that we always do the right things to provide what customer’s wants, needs and expectations from us. The main responsibilities and duties for this role will include, help customers in a polite and friendly manner, ensure the clothes are well displayed (an organised shop is a happy shop) and keep the shop floor clean and tidy. Other duties will include cashiering, handling payments and arrange orders and deliveries.

It is very important that applicants are:

-Friendly and Polite
-Cheerful
-Punctual
-Hardworking
-Patient
-Organised (Neat and tidy in appearance)
-Customer Focus
-Always willing to help to everyone.

“You must speak English formal, clearly and have got the permit to work legally in the UK.”

Benefits from A's Fashion Clothing:

A’s Fashion Clothing offers to all hardworking and deserving members to gain new experience and get the chance to achieve higher position in the future. Being part of A’s Fashion Clothing we provide holiday pay, free uniforms and free meals everyday and also we give 50% discount to all employees when they buy clothes from A’s Fashion Clothing.

Person Specification:



Desirable

Essential

Qualification

Finished/still studying business in College or University.



Finished Secondary School
with at least Grade C in English and Maths.


Skills and Abilities

Punctual.

Hard working.

Helpful.

Polite and friendly.

Fluent English speaking with good communication skills.

Has got good ICT and numeracy skills.

Can work as a team.
Organised and attention to details.


Experience

Previously worked as a sales assistant/cashier before.
















What are you waiting for? Apply now!


Please contact us as soon as possible:


Tel: 0208-176-8905
Send and attached your CV and Cover Letter at E-mail: Asclothing@info.co.uk