Activities for Elevator Pitch and Case Discussion

This article discusses the activities for elevator pitch and case discussion for topics like walking both sides of the street and Sam's dilemma. It also provides insights on conflicting values, advice, and management competencies. The article is relevant for students pursuing management courses in universities.

Running head: ACTIVITIES
ACTIVITIES
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Table of Contents
Part A : Elevator Pitch.....................................................................................................................2
Elevator Pitch for Topic 7: Walking both sides of the street.......................................................2
Elevator Pitch for Topic 8: Sam`s Dilemma................................................................................2
Part B: Case discussion Activity......................................................................................................3
Case discussion activity for Topic 7............................................................................................3
Case discussion activity for Topic 8............................................................................................5
References........................................................................................................................................8

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Part A: Elevator Pitch
Elevator Pitch for Topic 7: Walking both sides of the street
The electronic sector has become highly competitive and in order to take the organization
to the right path of success, the business needs to see to it that they have a competitive idea
which would assist them to adhere to competition and to carry out the transition from the
physical stores to the online store smoothly. Although selling electronics online is a risky move,
it saves the business huge amount of costs of maintenance of the stores. For this reason, the use
of augmented reality can be made in order to ensure that the transition between physical stores
and the online domain is very smooth. This saves the organization from various inventory costs
and also assists them to offer the customers something more than just price and service, it offers
them an experience which helps in positioning the customer`s perception about the firm.
Elevator Pitch for Topic 8: Sam`s Dilemma
Sam`s Dilemma can be compared to all the manager`s dilemma in the 21st century. The
culture of an organization has a critical impact on the performance of the employees. As the
business environment has become highly competitive, it is important to foster an open and
innovative culture which supports critical thinking and allows the different members to engage in
the development of the organization. However, the culture of the organization can be described
as those values of the organization which have been passed down by the founders and it cannot
be ignored easily. For this reason, Sam needs to ensure that at least in his department certain
measures are taken in order to promote an open culture which takes in the suggestion of all the
employees and provides equal respect to all. Some readings have been provided as follows:

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 https://www.salesforce.com/uk/blog/2017/07/5-ways-to-create-a-culture-of-innovation-
in-your-organisation.html Craig, C. (2017). Uber ugliness unmasks Silicon Valley’s bro culture. InfoWorld.Com.
Retrieved from https://search-proquest-com.ezproxy.csu.edu.au/docview/1871789499?
Part B: Case discussion Activity
Case discussion activity for Topic 7
Case name: Can you win back online shoppers?
My response: Management problems being faced
The main issue with the case lies that Benjys is unable to match up with the recent online
domain trends and other facilities. However, although there are various plans which can be
adopted by Benjys in order to attain success for the organization, they are doubtful with respect
to the success of any plan.
Case study activity questions
Answer to Question 1: Conflicting values
The different conflicting values as present in the case study has been given as follows:
 The change in revenue model: In order to implement the changes and to implement the
solutions like the use of artificial intelligence, the use of augmented reality better systems
from manufacturers and other facilities, the business will be required to engage in costs
which they cannot necessarily afford (Naranjo‐Valencia, Jiménez‐Jiménez & Sanz‐Valle,
2011).

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 The belief of the CEO: The CEO understands that the business model has changed
considerably but is not willing to spend the additional costs because it does not guarantee
adequate success for the organization.
 The nature of the consumers: The nature of the consumers is based on the fact that they
would like to experience the products in the store but purchase the product online. Hence,
this perception of the customers need to be changes and for now, it acts as a conflicting
value.
Answer to Question 2: Advice
The advice which can be provided in order to assist the business to solve the problem at
hand is as follows:
 Matching prices: The business needs to ensure that they are successfully able to match
the prices of the products with the prices which are being offered by the online retailers.
Once they are able to do this, the business will be successfully able to ensure that they
can compete with Amazon (Reeves, Love & Tillmanns, 2012).
 Using anti-showroom techniques: Various anti showroom techniques can be used by
Benzys which can then attract the different customers to experience the products at the
stores.
 Improving customer service: If the customer service as provided by the stores improves
considerably and the different consumers are provided with a unique experience which
will then assist them to purchase the product of their choice, then the organization will be
able to solve the issue.

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 Creating exclusive SKUs: Exclusive SKUs can be created and set up at the stores by the
company which will go a long way to improve consumer experience and ensure larger
revenue (Samson & Daft, 2015).
Answer to Question 3: Management competencies
The different management competencies which are highlighted in the given case are as
follows:
 Global mindset: The different managers as present in the current business environment
are required to have a global mindset which shall go a long way in assisting them to think
about the viable strategies which the business can adopt in order to make the business
successful.
 Technological advancement: The managers are also required to possess adequate
technological knowledge which will then go a long way to help them in understanding
the manner in which technology is able to advance the business and how it showed be
used (Samson & Daft, 2015).
 Decision making: Lastly, the decision making skills and competencies of the managers
also need to be advanced.
Case discussion activity for Topic 8
Case name: Can a strong culture be too strong?
My responses to the question (Parivar case study)
The given case study is related to the organizational culture problem which exists in the
company of Parivar (Hickman & Silva, 2018). The senior management of the organization
follows a parental culture which although motivates the different workers but may seem as

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forceful to some of the members. The main problems which are being faced by the CEO of
Parivar is given as follows:
 The Paternalistic Culture: The culture of the organization can be described to be
paternalistic in nature which treats the new generation of employees like children and
there exists a presence of various mentorship programs
 Poor Hygiene Factors: The salary and incentive structure of the organization is very poor
which further discourages the different employees to perform well.
 School environment: The environment in the office can be described as similar to that of
a school which is not appropriate for the company`s well-being in the long run.
Case study Activity Questions
Answer to Question 1: Conflicting values
The different conflicting values are as follows:
 Additional Costs: The new program which is required to be implemented will be
requiring additional expenditure which will become the burden on the organization.
 Love culture: The love culture of company also clashes with the competitive nature of the
business (Govindarajan, 2016). The business is based on targets and competitions but
since the love culture is present, it prevails the business from achieving success in the
long run.
 Poor turnover rate: The turnover rate of the organization is very poor in nature. Although
it is being said that the love culture is practiced in the organization, the retention rate of
the firm should not have been this low.
Answer to Question 2: Advice

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In order to resolve the problem, Indira and Sudhir are required to conduct a thorough
research and take considerable steps and measures. The exit interviews which are taken by Indira
comprise of the capability to provide a solution to the problem and provide a reason for the
turnover rate condition (FitzRoy et al., 2012). Hence, in this manner Indira will be successfully
able to identify the reason why the organizations culture is taking a toll on the members and
correct measures can be adopted. Moreover, with respect to Sudhir he is required to understand
that as the business is highly competitive, the love culture will not be able to work well with the
firm and that he also needs to cut down on the biasness.
Answer to Question 3: Management competencies
The case has highlighted a typical case of an organizational culture program and the
different competencies which need to be possessed by the managers are as follows:
 Self-awareness: The managers and leaders are required to be self-aware in order to be
able to reflect on their own mistakes (Craig, 2017).
 Intellectual curiosity: They need to be intellectually full of curiosity which will assist
them in developing
 Cross generational management: Moreover, they must possess cross generational
awareness and figure out the problems the younger generation might face while dealing
with the older generation.

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References
Craig, C. (2017). Uber ugliness unmasks Silicon Valley’s bro culture. InfoWorld.Com. Retrieved
from https://search-proquest-com.ezproxy.csu.edu.au/docview/1871789499?
FitzRoy, P., Hulbert, J. M., & Ghobadian, A. (2012). Strategic management: The challenge of
creating value. Retrieved from https://ebookcentral-proquestcom.ezproxy.csu.edu.au
Govindarajan, V. (2016). Planned Opportunism. Harvard Business Review, 94(5), 54-61.
Hickman, C. R., & Silva, M. A. (2018). Creating excellence: Managing corporate culture,
strategy, and change in the new age. Routledge.
Naranjo‐Valencia, J. C., Jiménez‐Jiménez, D. & Sanz‐Valle, R. (2011). Innovation or imitation?
The role of organizational culture. Management Decision, 49(1), 55-72.
https://doi.org/10.1108/00251741111094437
Reeves, M., Love, C., & Tillmanns, P. (2012). Your strategy needs a strategy. (cover story).
Harvard Business Review, 90(9), 76-83.
Samson, D., & Daft, R. (2015). The internal environment: Corporate culture. Management (5th
Asia Pacific Ed.). South Melbourne: Cengage Learning. Retrieved from: ProQuest Ebook
Central, https://ebookcentral-proquestcom.ezproxy.csu.edu.au/lib/CSUAU/detail.action?
docID=1991004
Samson, D., & Daft, R. (2015). Types of culture. Management (5th Asia Pacific Ed.). South
Melbourne: Cengage Learning. ProQuest Ebook Central, https://ebookcentralproquest-
com.ezproxy.csu.edu.au/lib/CSUAU/detail.action?docID=1991004.