Business Report: Asda, Facebook, and Entrepreneurial Analysis

This report provides a business analysis of two companies: Asda, a UK-based retail firm, and Facebook, a leading social networking platform. The analysis of Asda focuses on its organizational structure, the application of Porter's five forces, and its strategies for adapting to workforce changes, including training programs and reward-based initiatives. The report examines Facebook's responses to changing customer demands, including new features and services, and its use of research and development. Additionally, the report includes a brief overview of Mark Zuckerberg, the entrepreneur behind Facebook, highlighting his background, motivation, and the evolution of his company from its inception. The report utilizes various academic sources to support its findings and conclusions, offering a comprehensive overview of the business strategies and developments of these two distinct companies.

BUSINESS
WORLD

TABLE OF CONTENTS
TASK 1 ...........................................................................................................................................3
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................3
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................4
TASK 4............................................................................................................................................5
TASK 5 ...........................................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES ...............................................................................................................................7
2

TASK 1
Asda has been selected as organization for completion of this project. It is a leading retail
firm of UK that offers Superior quality products for its business consumers. fresh groceries
products are offered to buyers and it aids for gaining the satisfaction level of consumers towards
purchasing the goods and services that are offered by the firm. In addition to that online platform
is also used by the company for selling the products for its business consumers. Clothing, home
and other daily used products are offered and large number of purchasers are availing the goods
that are offered by the company (Ismail and King, 2014).
Flat organizational structure is followed in the company and under this no level of middle
level management are used between employees and top management. There are some advantages
and disadvantages that are associated with this structure. There exist only few level of
management and due to that it becomes easier for taking decisions and making action plans for
completing the required operational activities that are performed by the company (Massa, Farneti
and Scappini, 2015). Involvement of staff members is more in the decision making process and it
aids for taking valuable suggestions and recommendations from the employees.
Other than this sometimes difficulties are also faced while making use of flat
organizational structure and it enhances the responsibility and authority that are being provided
to staff members in the firm. In addition to that coordination and cooperation among employees
increases and they provide more support so that required objectives and activities of the firm can
be completed in successful way (Peters and Naicker, 2013). Fewer level of organization that are
followed under this structure expedite for involving more involvement of the staff members in
the decision making procedure. However sometimes problems are faced and confusion gets
created among employees for power struggle among management.
TASK 2
Porter;s five forces supports for conducting analysis of important elements that gives
impact on the functioning of the business. Asda is a growing retail firm and it is critical that
management of the firm should adopt strategic approaches for making action plans and strategies
for the business. It is critical that impact of different factors on the business activities should be
3

analysed so that effective strategies can be formed for gaining competitive advantage for the
company. Porter's five forces for ASDA are as mentioned :-
Threat of new entrant :- Retail industry of UK offers huge success and growth opportunities and
due to that many new companies are trying for entering into market. There are existing firms that
are offering huge competition and due to that challenges are faced by rival firms for entering into
this sector.
Bargaining power of buyers :-Consumers are most essential and integral part of business and
bargaining power of buyers is high. There are man y options that are available for consumers and
it creates challenge for existing retail firm (Wahab, Ismail and Muhayiddin, 2016). More
preferences are given by buyers for purchasing products that are available in the affordable price
range. Good services and products offered by Asda will support for gaining consumer loyalty.
Bargaining power of suppliers :- Suppliers have options for selling their goods to large number
of retail firms that are working in this sector. Bargaining power of suppliers is high and it create
challenge for existing and new entrant firms.
Threat of substitutes :- Consumers have options for buying different substitutes products that are
available for them and due to this Threat of substitutes is medium. Many products are available
in market that offers substitute products for the buyers (Armstrong and Taylor, 2014).
Rivalry among existing competitors :- Retail industry of UK is facing tough competition and it is
challenging for gaining competitive advantage and market share over rival firm. Rivalry among
existing competitors is high and it requires strategic approaches from business groups to gain
market share over others.
TASK 3
Asda is a leading retail firm and it belongs to retail industry of UK. It offers home
products, grocery and fresh food products for its consumers. Retail industry of UK is facing huge
competition and challenges. There are many success and growth opportunities that are available
for firms that are working in UK and due to this many companies are trying to execute their
operations in this sector (Bratton and Gold, 2012).
Company has taken significant initiatives for meeting the changing needs of the
workforce in response to pressure that have been faced by it. Positive involvement of staff
4

members is taken so that valuable suggestions and recommendations can be taken by them for
making improvements in existing practices and procedures so that better products and services
can be offered to buyers. In addition to that firm is focusing towards reducing the investment
cost so that affordable price products can be offered to buyers and it will aid for attracting
medium group and lower income group people towards selling products and services that are
offered by the company (Armstrong, Adam and Kotler, 2014).
Along with this company has organized various training programs and seminars so that
required skills and capabilities can be imparted to the staff members that are working in the firm.
This initiative that has been taken by the company has supported for enhancing capabilities of
employees and they are now working with more efficiency. Competence and productivity of the
staff members have increased and it has helped the management of the firm for adapting to the
changing needs of the workforce in response to the pressure. In addition to that reward based
programs have also been launched by the company so that positive involvement of staff members
can be involved in ensuring long term growth and success of the business.
TASK 4
Facebook is a leading social networking platform and millions of consumers across globe
are making use of services that are being offered by the company. Changing customer demands
have made it essential for the firm to make necessary changes in the existing attributes and
services that are offered by the firm to its consumers. Many new social sites have increased in
online market and it has created challenge for Facebook for making necessary changes in the
services that are offered by it (Chabowski, Samiee and Hult, 2013).
New innovative features have been added and it has helped for meeting the demands of
customers and gaining their loyalty towards the services offered by the social site. Recently
Facebook started offering platform that allows users to import personnel posts from other sites
such as Blogger and Xanga. It has supported for increasing the level of services that are offered
by Facebook. Along with this options are given to people for sharing their pictures and videos
with their family and friends.
With this a new profile titled as Timeline has been introduced by Facebook. It allows
users to highlight their photos and it has been liked by many consumers. Along with this Like
5

button has been launched by the Facebook and millions of clients appreciated and liked this
initiative that has been taken by the Facebook. Research and development department of the
company takes initiatives for identifying needs and requirement of buyers and on the basis of
that services are developed (Darley, Luethge and Blankson, 2013). Other than this online survey
are also conducted and suggestions and recommendations are taken by clients for type of
changes that they want to see in Facebook.
TASK 5
Mark Zuckerberg is a leading entrepreneur and he has launched Facebook which is a
leading social networking platform that allows users to connect with their family and friends. He
is an internet entrepreneur and working as Chief executive officer of Facebook. He has been
known as world's Longest Billionaires and Facebook is a leading social site that is used by
millions of people across globe. He is working in the internet sector and thriving for offering
superior quality social networking
services for their consumers. Major focus of their entrepreneur business is to offer their
consumers with fast and good quality services. Millions ODF people across globe are using the
services that are being offered by Facebook. Mark Zuckerbeg has been inspired by the idea for
offering an innovative platform to people where they can get in touch with their friends and
family members. In early life he had interest in internet and computers and it provided a
founding stone in his entrepreneurial career (Izberk-Bilgin and Nakata, 2016).
He has been graduated from Harvard university and he has taken education as a software
developer. He has worked with his friends on the idea of developing a social networking
platform and initially they created a site that allowed users for developing their profile and
uploading photos and making communication with each other. This innovative approach and
concept later changed to Facebook and presently the company is working as a leading firm that
offers social networking platform for millions of people across globe to remain in touch with
each other. A small idea and computer skills posses by him has motivated him to work on the
new innovative idea for designing a social networking sites.
6

REFERENCES
Books and journals
Armstrong, G., Adam, S. and Kotler, P., 2014. Principles of marketing. Pearson Australia.
Armstrong, M. and Taylor, S., 2014. Armstrong's handbook of human resource management
practice. Kogan Page Publishers.
Bratton, J. and Gold, J., 2012. Human resource management: theory and practice. Palgrave
Macmillan.
Chabowski, B. R., Samiee, S. and Hult, G. T. M., 2013. A bibliometric analysis of the global
branding literature and a research agenda. Journal of International Business Studies. 44(6).
pp.622-634.
Darley, W. K., Luethge, D. J. and Blankson, C., 2013. Culture and international marketing: A
sub-Saharan African context. Journal of Global Marketing. 26(4). pp.188-202.
Ismail, N. A. and King, M., 2014. Factors influencing the alignment of accounting information
systems in small and medium sized Malaysian manufacturing firms. Journal of Information
Systems and Small Business. 1(1-2). pp.1-20.
Izberk-Bilgin, E. and Nakata, C. C., 2016. A new look at faith-based marketing: The global halal
market. Business horizons. 59(3). pp.285-292.
Massa, L.,Farneti, F. and Scappini, B., 2015. Developing a sustainability report in a small to
medium enterprise: process and consequences. Meditari Accountancy Research. 23(1).
pp.62-91.
Peters, R. and Naicker, V., 2013. Small medium micro enterprise business goals and government
support: a South African case study. South African Journal of Business Management. 44(4).
pp.13-24.
Wahab, M. H. A. A. A., Ismail, M. and Muhayiddin, M.N., 2016. Factors Influencing the
Operational Excellence of Small and Medium Enterprise in Malaysia. International Journal
of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences. 6(12). pp.285-297.
7