Business Development and Teamwork: Lombard Security Case Study 301A

This case study examines the Lombard Security Group, focusing on the role of a Business Development Manager (BDM) in fostering team innovation and achieving organizational goals. The analysis covers various aspects, including assessing team needs, gathering information on team performance, encouraging idea generation, creating plans for objective achievement, and defining individual contributions to team effectiveness. The study further discusses internal and external factors that contribute to team innovation, such as leadership styles, communication strategies, and diversity. The case concludes by highlighting the significance of performance management and strategic planning in building a competent and innovative team within the context of Lombard Security, emphasizing the importance of adapting to competitive business environments.

Case study 301A

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
QUESTION 1..................................................................................................................................1
1. Stating brief description in which Wendy evaluates the needs of team and ways to achieve
the same.......................................................................................................................................1
2. Assessing the manner in which information can be gathered about team member’s work.....2
3. Presenting the ways through Wendy can encourage ideas for improvement from team
members.......................................................................................................................................2
4. Presenting plan for the achievement of objectives..................................................................3
5. Defining the manner in which different people makes contribution in building effectual
team..............................................................................................................................................3
QUESTION 2..................................................................................................................................4
Discussing the internal and external factors that make contribution in team innovation............4
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................6

INTRODUCTION
In the recent time, every sector whether retail or other facing high level of competition
which in turn places direct impact on the profitability of concerned organization. Now, business
entities can gain competitive edge over others when they provide customers with innovative
products or services. Further, significance of team work is also increased which in turn makes
remarkable contribution in the attainment of goals. The present report is based on Lombard
security group which offers fire protection and GPS system, access control and alarm system.
Besides this, it also lays emphasis on installation, services and maintenance of the latest
technological aspects to a great extent. In this, report will describe the significance of team work
in the context of organizational growth. It will also shed light on the manner through which
innovative ideas can be generated from personnel.
QUESTION 1
1. Stating brief description in which Wendy evaluates the needs of team and ways to achieve the
same
 Cited case situation entails that Wendy works as Business Development manager (BDM)
has built a team of four individuals.
 In this, all BDM’s are assigned with the responsibility to offer services to the individuals
in east, west, south and north region.
 BDM’s have achieved their sales target to the significant and now emphasis is laid on
enhancing the aspect of innovation and thereby overall performance.
 Being a BDM, it is the accountability of Wendy to assess the needs or requirements of
team members and thereby find out the ways to achieve same.
 Thus, for evaluating the needs of team members Wendy should take feedback from the
members.
 This in turn helps manager in assessing the areas or aspects which are creating difficulty
in front of members regarding fund, risk in relation to attracting customers etc.
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 Once needs of team members have been assessed thereafter Wendy should set SMART
objectives. By setting highly specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time bounded
objectives manager would become able to provide direction to the individuals.
 In addition to this, by conducting training session as per the requirements of team
members Wendy can fulfil their needs.
2. Assessing the manner in which information can be gathered about team member’s work
 For ensuring smooth functioning of team it is highly required for the manager to gather
information from individuals about work performance and aspect.
 Thus, for gathering information about team performance Wendy should employ
benchmarking technique. On the basis of such aspect, by making evaluation of actual
performance in against to predetermined standards manager can make assessment of
team’s activities.
 By this, BDM can make evaluation of quality of work produced, cost and time associated
with the same. All such three are the main indicators which in turn help in getting
information about work performance or aspect.
 In addition to this, through the means of written and verbal communication system
Wendy can get information about team member’s work.
For instance: By sending mail about daily work and performance Wendy can get information
about the extent to which activities have been accomplished. Besides this, team members can
also discuss activities with each other via video conferencing technique. It also enables manager
and team members to share their ideas and unique ways to perform sales as well as marketing
related activities. Hence, by employing all such tools and techniques BDM can gather
information about individual’s performance and thereby would become able to develop highly
innovative team.
3. Presenting the ways through Wendy can encourage ideas for improvement from team
members
 In every business organization, personnel have better idea about the needs, wants and
requirements of customers. Thus, it is vital for the manager to take input or suggestions
from concerned personnel.
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 In this, there are several ways through which BDM of Lombard Security can encourage
highly effectual and productive ideas from personnel.
 In this, being a manager, Wendy should conduct group discussion session which in
encourage individuals to present their views.
 Moreover, each individual has desire to build distinct image in the mind of higher
authority over others. In this, group discussion session will help in taking effectual inputs
from the team members.
 Besides this, by organizing quiz or activity regarding innovative practices and aspects
BDM of Lombard security can motivate team member to present their innovative ideas
and practices that contribute in its productivity as well as profitability.
 Hence, it can be stated that by organizing or conducting weekly discussion and activities
BDM can get valuable information from team members and thereby would become able
to facilitate innovation.
 In addition to this, innovation and associated practices can be facilitated by the manager
of Lombard security by adopting participative style of leadership.
 Such leadership style will help manager in taking suggestions from team members
regarding improvement.
 Hence, by undertaking all such aspects manager can gain information from members and
thereby would become able to indulge innovation.
4. Presenting plan for the achievement of objectives
For the attainment of objectives within the specified time frame manager is required to
develop suitable and competent plan. On the basis of such aspect, Wendy Smith will undertake
following steps with the motive to develop sound marketing plan such as:
 In the first step, Wendy Smith will conduct meeting through the means of either video
conferencing or at specific place. In this, manager will make discussion the members
about customer needs, expectation and preferences. Moreover, the main objectives
behind the preparation of marketing plan are to attract large number of customers.
 At this stage, discussion will be made by manager with members about working aspects
or practices. Hence, through the means of detailed discussion Wendy Smith can find
most suitable ways in relation to offering services to the customers more effectually.
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 In the next step, manager of Lombard Security should communicate the progress to
team members. Thus, by providing information about deficiencies and effectual
measures to concerned members performance level can be improved significantly.
5. Defining the manner in which different people makes contribution in building effectual team
By preparing performance management plan BDM of Lombard security can develop
highly effectual team and thereby would become able to get desired level of outcome or success.
Hence, by following below mentioned steps Wendy Smith build highly effectual and competent
team.
 In the very first step, manager of the firm should set action list about the areas in which
team members require change or improvement. Thus, by including specific career goals
and objectives of each team member Wendy can design effectual plan for improvement.
 Once action list has been prepared thereafter Wendy smith should communicate the
vision and mission through the formal written process. This in turn provides direction to
personnel about the manner in which they need to perform activities.
 Wendy should set weekly plan by including SMART objectives which provides deeper
insight to the personnel about activities need to perform during a specified time frame.
 Hence, by undertaking weekly plan and measuring actual performance in against to the
same business entity would become able to assess deviations. Thus, by making
assessment of performance on a periodical basis BDM of Lombard security can assess
the cause of deviations and thereby become able to take significant action for
improvement purpose.
Thus, by following all the above mentioned steps Wendy Smith can develop high
effectual and competent team. Along with this, by undertaking democratic style of leadership
manager of Lombard Security can build and maintain highly motivated team. The rationale
behind this, effectual communication and leadership are the main elements required to build a
competent team. On the basis of such aspect, by undertaking suitable style of leadership Wendy
Smith can build effective team. In addition to this, cohesiveness is another main aspect that
requires making competent team. Thus, BDM of Lombard Security can meet the expectation
level of individuals by resolving their issues or queries within the fewer time frames.
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QUESTION 2
Discussing the internal and external factors that make contribution in team innovation
In the present era, firm can ain competitive edge over others only when it lays high level
of emphasis on innovation. Hence, uniqueness in both product and service offering is highly
required to get success in the competitive business environment. Thus, Wendy Smith should
consider both internal and external factors for building and maintaining the level of innovation.
 From assessment, it has been identified that by becoming a change agent leader can
evolve innovation among team. Thus, by giving challenges to the members about think
in a critical way BDM of Lombard Security can encourage individual towards
innovation. This in turn helps manager in making continuous improvement in marketing
strategies and overall performance.
 In addition to this, through the means of collaboration members would become able to
assess the new ways of thinking. By this, suitable outcome can be generated by the
manager of Lombard Security.
 BDM of business unit can contribute in team innovation through the means of sound and
effectual communication aspects. By encouraging individuals in relation to come up with
the suggestions and unique ideas innovative practices can be developed. In addition to
this, by communicating the success of team to the members firm can provide information
to them about competitive position or aspect. This aspect will positively affect the
innovation aspect or practices within the firm.
 Diversity is the main external factors that help in introducing innovation. Moreover,
team includes people who come from varied backgrounds and having different skills as
well as attributes. This aspect helps manager in coming up with the unique marketing
strategies.
 Along with this, by conducting brainstorming, group discussion and organizing
workshops Wendy Smith can build and maintain innovative practices more effectually.
Hence, by taking into account all such aspects innovation among the team can be facilitated
and maintained among the team to a great extent.
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CONCLUSION
From the above report, it has been concluded that BDM of Lombard Security can attain
organizational goals and objectives through team building. It can be seen in the report that by
making effective and sound performance management plan Wendy Smith can develop competent
team. Along with this, it has been articulated that by taking feedback from members work
performance of them can be monitored in the best possible way. Besides this, it can be inferred
that by encouraging team members to come up with the unique ideas Wendy Smith can facilitate
innovation in the marketing strategies as well as tactics.
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