Concepts of Logistics in Contemporary Business

Concepts of Logistics in Contemporary Business Introduction Logistics is defined as a business planning framework for the management of material, service, information and capital flows. It includes the increasingly complex information, communication and control systems required in todays business environment. (www.logisticsworld.com) Logistics means having the right thing, at the right place, at the right time. The procurement, maintenance, distribution, and replacement of personnel and materiel. (Websters Dictionary) Distribution and logistics are concerned with product availability. Many have described this as getting the right products to the right place at the Right time. Significance Consumer beliefs and needs have altered. How consumers behave and what we demand have changed. Our willingness to wait to be satisfied has reduced and we expect instant product availability and gratification. It should be obvious from this that the supply or logistics system that gets products from production through retailing to consumption has also had to be transformed. Physical distribution and materials management have been replaced by logistics management and a subsequent concern for the whole supply chain. This consideration for the supply chain as a whole has involved the development of integrated supply chain management. More recently there has been a concern to ensure that channels of distribution and supply chains are both anticipatory (if appropriate) and reacting to consumer demand, at general and detailed segment levels. Background Logistics is the bed rock of trade and business: Without selling and or buying there can be no trade and business. Buying and or selling takes place only when goods are physically moved into and or away from the market. Logistics leads to customer satisfaction through superior customer services. Logistic industry includes a wide range of services and tools for a business to carry on all its operations it includes services like transportation, packaging, ware housing and inventory. In short logistics is most important and primarily necessary for any organisation strategy and its function, when the process of logistics is carried out accurately then not only the company reduces the production cost but also improves the efficiency of the company and increases customer satisfaction. Logistics is very essential for todays highly and competitive corporate world. Literature review Introduction To perform this study further it is necessary to understand how logistics have prevailed todays business from point of origin to point of consumption. This literature review discovers the importance of logistics and its implications in todays global business world. Nobu Azumais Associate Professor in Marketing and Distribution Studies at the School of Business, he emphasizes the importance of the logistics in management studies by employing an interdisciplinary research approach. Concepts of logistics Concept of logistics is fairly new in the business world. Many business practises have evolved and the cost of logistics is 10% to 20 % to total cost of international purchase, there are two main phases which are important in transfer of materials are material management and physical distribution. Material management is timely movement of parts raw materials and supplies by the supplier. Firms finished products reaches to the consumers and termed as physical distribution. Both phases involve process of storage. The main goal of logistics to coordinate all the efforts of the company to maintain a cost effective flow of finished goods. Logistics gained importance Through recent years logistics has gained importance because of the transportation cost grew rapidly due to rise in fuel prices, the activity of production reaching its peak, there was need of fundamental change in inventory, product line was proliferated, due computer technology, growing power of retailers was also a big reason for logistics to grow and due to globalisation and reduction in economic regulation. Due to very sophisticated pass traditional channel of distribution. David Grant says evolving factors that make logistics critical for business success. With a marketing approach to logistics that prioritizes customer satisfaction from a variety of industries to illustrate effective logistics strategies Activities of logistics Logistics involves wide variety of activities and services which makes the working of the company easier and supports customer and satisfaction for both customers and suppliers. Demand forecast is done by logistics. Consumer service. Inventory control. Material handling. Part and service support. Packaging. Procurement. Salvage and scrap disposals. Transportation and trafficking. Planting and warehouse. Storage and order processing. Distribution and communication. Logistical mission Logistics exists to satisfy customer requirements by facilitation relevant manufacturing and marketing operations, it is to balance the service expectation and cost expenditure to achieve business objectives it is basically measure in terms of ; Availability. Operational performance and Service reliability. Objectives of logistics Logistics is a system having number of components which can be combined in different proportions to achieve a set objective. Objectives are physical distribution, physical supply, and controls of the logistics. Ideal logistical system ensures supply to buyers. In correct quantity. At desired location. At required time. At useable condition. At low cost. Logistics is a bed rock for any trade and business Without buying and after buying without selling there can be no trade or business. Buying and selling takes place only where goods are move in or out in the market. If you take away logistics from business the business would eventually collapse. Competitive edge of logistics In the fiercely environment of competition of the world it provides the cutting edge. In the business where the survival of business is controlled by competition where there is no parameter of quality like performance and reliability, where brands are irrelevant, competitive edge is the availability of product and services in terms of time, place and quality. Professor Alan McKinnon is Director of the Logistics Research Centre Alan has undertaken research on many different aspects of logistics has discussed in topics warehousing and the links between logistics and economic development in recent years says that logistics is the foremost and prior requirement for any business to grow and nourish without which a business nor a country can grow. Logistics leads to customer satisfaction Through superior customer services like productivity, quality, cost, delivery, flexibility, safety, health, and environment organisational objectives are framed to meet customer expectations. Logistics supports strong critical functions of operating and marketing Strong and firm logistics enables an organization to move towards just in time production system for survival in highly competitive market. Integrated logistics Logistics is viewed as a competency that links an enterprise with its suppliers and customers. Information about a customer flows through sales activities to forecast and orders. As product and materials are procured a value added service inventory flow is initiated ultimately results in transfer of ownership of finished products to consumers. This type of logistics support system helps an organisation to keep a track on it orders and future supply forecast to meets its customers expectations. In todays era logistics not only plays the role of distribution and transportation but also supports tools like inventory management and just in time inventory, which allows the company access towards its production, surplus and scarcity. Logistics controls and access the Inventory flow Logistics and management is concerned to movement and storage of finished goods and materials from the initial process of purchase. This process adds value to by moving inventory where and when needed. Logistical understandings have four areas. Physical distribution. Manufacturing support. Procurement of resources. Supply chain management. Pietro Evangelista is researcher in logistics and supply chain management at the Naples Institute for Service Industry Research says that The need to improve information exchanged in the supply chain, the desire to increase customer satisfaction and the enlargement of the customer base are the three main enabling inventory factors Logistics involved in supply chain management. Supply chain management : it is the management of networks of inter connected business involved in ultimate provision of the product and services required by the end user consumer. It is management of upstream and downstream linkages, in the different process and activities that produces values in form of services and product in relation with the consumer and supplier to deliver superior customers value at less cost to supply chain on whole. It involves process like: Supply chain planning. Manufacturing. Warehousing and distribution. Delivery and installation after market. Martin Christopher is Emeritus Professor of Marketing and Logistics at Cranfield school of Management. Martin Christophers particular research interests lie at the interface between marketing and logistics reflecting his belief that these two critical activities underpin superior supply chain performance. Logistics creates value for manufacturer and suppliers throughout the world The services in the sector of logistics are the key to in integrating manufacturers forecasting and supply chain management to its suppliers. It helps for the inventory forecast requirement in real time. It enables cost effective and robust supply chain. Reduces inventory and management investment cost. Improves delivery times. Co-ordinate multiple components more effectively. Provide visibility, reporting and control. Reduces high inventory investment. Dr. Yuan Xing The thesis analysed and compared physical distribution service quality (PDSQ) in the online retail market for non-food products between pure player retailers, those that only sell over the Internet and traditional retailers, those that use the Internet to supplement their stores and thus sell through multiple channels. The exploration of PDSQ differences and reasons which caused them from both demand- and supply- side perspectives using in-depth interviews. Logistics transforming business in todays world Logistics in the 21st century touches each and every aspect of the organisations daily operations, and today has grown into business speciality of its own. Logistics is not only about strategic planning and resource management but also how companies go about their day and what impact it has on us. As a business speciality the explosion of globalism has formulated the practice of logistics.

Pizza Hut Study Essay

1. What are the implications of Pizza Hut’s big price cuts for its brand image? As stated Pizza Hut’s brand image is neither fast food nor full-service. It delivers average quality products for average prices. Previously, it was marketed as a â€Å"more for the same† value proposition (Kotler & Armstrong, 2012). Yet, it has done something that shocked the whole market. It has cut the prices up to 50%. Doing that, Pizza Hut is fully reforming its brand image. They are implementing a â€Å"Same for less positioning† (Kotler & Armstrong, 2012). In a commercial, an actress playing a restaurant employee says, â€Å"We’ve changed just about everything, except how your favorite pizza tastes† (ELLIOTT, 2010). This move is due to a weakened economy and a drop of customers. But initiating a price change is not riskless. Customer may think that the quality has been reduced and Pizza Hut could lose its loyal customers. All this being said, I would say that Pizza Hut’s price cuts may tremendous increase its revenues and remodeling its brand image making good products for a really cheap price. 2. Can customer loyalty be generated through low prices? Customer loyalty can be generated in many ways such as good product quality, extra features, or cheap prices. Some ways can be very effective for some products while other are effective for different products. For example, what would you think if Rolex cut its prices in order to generate loyalty? It would not work because loyal Rolex customers are wealthy and would rather have extra feature than a cut in prices. On the other hand, would you pay much more to have a better pizza? The perfect example of a company who cuts its price is Wal-Mart. For this case, I do think customer loyalty can be generated through low prices. And so does Mr. Nicole – chief marketing officer at Pizza Hut- â€Å"We want to build loyalty beyond the price. † Indeed, with the crisis people tend to be more cost-conscious. Thus, Pizza Hut’s approach to deliver a good product for a cheap price is a good way of attracting customers. 3. Can Pizza Hut sustain such dramatically lower prices and still remain profitable? From my point of view, cutting prices by up to 50% is a real challenge. To remain profitable the company will have to manage its production costs, its marketing channel, and its extra costs. Moreover, as it is said in the text the new pricing mechanism will require some time before it proves itself. That is to say that at the beginning Pizza Hut may become barely profitable, but hope to gain more market share that will further cut costs through larger volume and increase its revenues. Finally, I strongly believed that a company like Pizza Hut would not have done such a thing if it were not fully thought out before. ELLIOTT, S. (2010, August 18). Pizza hut cuts prices again to counteract the slow recovery. Retrieved from http://www. nytimes. com/2010/08/19/business/media/19adco. html? _r=0 Supermarket news. (Marc). Retrieved from http://supermarketnews. com/latest-news/wal-mart-scores-highest-shopper-loyalty-study Kotler, P. , & Armstrong, G. (2012). Principles of marketing, global edition. (14 Int. E. ed. ). Boston: Pearson.

Similarities In The Opposition. Ideas Do Not Prove Their

Similarities in the Opposition Ideas do not prove their value until they withstand the challenge of being questioned. On the surface, professor Craig Martin and anthropologist Clifford Geertz approach analyzing religion with opposing views. Martin dismisses definitions of religion claiming that no definition can encompass the practical use of the word and instead provides a step by step approach to explaining beliefs and actions in the perspective of a methodological atheist. Geertz, however, provides a working definition broken into a five-part model to make it a useful tool. Upon further analysis of these two methods, the once contradicting ideas begin to work in unison with each other. Martin’s functionalist approach and the definition†¦show more content†¦Martin discusses the uses of the hermeneutics of suspicion for his second step in his approach. He believes it is important to remain suspicious of the cultural element being examined and presume it is false. Gee rtz, in the second part of his definition, states that a system of symbols â€Å"acts to establish powerful, pervasive and long-lasting moods and motivations in men† (Geertz, 1993). This statement is in agreeance with the suspicious mindset provided by Martin, as Geertz also does not confirm any religious beliefs to be true. He uses the word â€Å"acts† to show that the cultural elements function in a specific way, not to prove their factual accuracy. His definition demonstrates the unity of individual components in a culture and how they function. Both methods do not approach religion with yes or no questions but rather seek the answer to why it functions in particular ways and how it continues to exist. In life, there are questions that have answers unable to be proven with facts of science, which leaves a lot of room up for interpretation. As previously stated, neither Martin nor Geertz tries to prove religious facts but rather explains them in terms of how they fun ction in the practical world. Martin’s last step in the methodological atheist approach is to provide a functionalist explanation as to why the cultural element persists in societies. In investigating this function, Martin must analyze all parts of Geertz’s definition. TheShow MoreRelated Comparing Dictators Adolf Hitler versus Benito Mussolini versus Joseph Stalin1660 Words   |  7 Pagesis most important. The difference and similarity between their ideology, usage of propaganda censorship and the method of improving the economy would be stated and explained through examples. Basically, their ultimate aim was the same, they all tried to make their country better. However, there was their own ambition wanting for power included in their ruling which was probably why they all ended up dictating their county. 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Gorgo - Queen of Sparta

Gorgo was the only daughter of King Cleomenes I of Sparta (520-490). She was also his heir. Sparta had a pair of hereditary kings. One of the two ruling families was the Agiad. This was the family to which Gorgo belonged. Cleomenes may have committed suicide and is considered unstable, but he helped Sparta achieve prominence beyond the Peloponnese. Sparta may have given rights to women that were rare among the Hellenes, but being heir didnt mean Gorgo could be Cleomenes successor. Herodotus, in 5.48, names Gorgo as Cleomenes heir: In this manner Dorieos ended his life: but if he had endured to be a subject of Cleomenes and had remained in Sparta, he would have been king of Lacedemon; for Cleomenes reigned no very long time, and died leaving no son to succeed him but a daughter only, whose name was Gorgo. When King Cleomenes, his successor was his half-brother Leonidas. Gorgo had married him in the late 490s when she was in her late teens.Gorgo was the mother of another Agiad king, Pleistarchus.Importance of Gorgo Being an heir or patrouchas would have made Gorgo noteworthy, but Herodotus shows that she was also a wise young woman. Wisdom of Gorgo Gorgo warned her father against a foreign diplomat, Aristagoras of Miletus, who was trying to persuade Cleomenes to support an Ionian revolt against the Persians. When words failed, he offered a large bribe. Gorgo warned her father to send Aristagoras away lest he corrupts him. Cleomenes accordingly having so said went away to his house: but Aristagoras took the suppliants branch and went to the house of Cleomenes; and having entered in as a suppliant, he bade Cleomenes send away the child and listen to him; for the daughter of Cleomenes was standing by him, whose name was Gorgo, and this as it chanced was his only child, being of the age now of eight or nine years. Cleomenes however bade him say that which he desired to say, and not to stop on account of the child. Then Aristagoras proceeded to promise him money, beginning with ten talents, if he would accomplish for him that for which he was asking; and when Cleomenes refused, Aristagoras went on increasing the sums of money offered, until at last he had promised fifty talents, and at that moment the child cried out: Father, the stranger will do thee hurt,[38] if thou do not leave him and go. Cleomenes, then, pleased by the counsel of the child, departed into another room, and Aristagoras went away from S parta altogether, and had no opportunity of explaining any further about the way up from the sea to the residence of the king.Herodotus 5.51 The most impressive feat ascribed to Gorgo was understanding that there was a secret message and locating it beneath a blank wax tablet. The message warned the Spartans of an imminent threat posed by the Persians. I will return now to that point of my narrative where it remained unfinished. The Lacedemonians had been informed before all others that the king was preparing an expedition against Hellas; and thus it happened that they sent to the Oracle at Delphi, where that reply was given them which I reported shortly before this. And they got this information in a strange manner; for Demaratos the son of Ariston after he had fled for refuge to the Medes was not friendly to the Lacedemonians, as I am of opinion and as likelihood suggests supporting my opinion; but it is open to any man to make conjecture whether he did this thing which follows in a friendly spirit or in malicious triumph over them. When Xerxes had resolved to make a campaign against Hellas, Demaratos, being in Susa and having been informed of this, had a desire to report it to the Lacedemonians. Now in no other way was he able to signify it, for there was danger that he should be discovered, but he contrived thus, that is to say , he took a folding tablet and scraped off the wax which was upon it, and then he wrote the design of the king upon the wood of the tablet, and having done so he melted the wax and poured it over the writing, so that the tablet (being carried without writing upon it) might not cause any trouble to be given by the keepers of the road. Then when it had arrived at Lacedemon, the Lacedemonians were not able to make conjecture of the matter; until at last, as I am informed, Gorgo, the daughter of Cleomenes and wife of Leonidas, suggested a plan of which she had herself thought, bidding them scrape the wax and they would find writing upon the wood; and doing as she said they found the writing and read it, and after that they sent notice to the other Hellenes. These things are said to have come to pass in this manner.Herodotus 7.239ff Source: Carledge, Paul, The Spartans. New York: 2003. Vintage Books. More on Sparta Greek Hoplite SoldierSpartiateCynisca of SpartaLeonidas King of SpartaCleomenes I King of SpartaSparta and SamosSpartas Rise to PowerLycurgus of SpartaKrypteia The Mythological Gorgo There is an earlier Gorgo, one in Greek mythology, mentioned in both the Iliad and Odyssey, Hesiod, Pindar, Euripides, Vergil, and Ovid, and other ancient sources. This Gorgo, alone or with her siblings, in the Underworld or Libya, or elsewhere, is associated with the snake-tressed, powerful, frightening Medusa, who is the only mortal among the Gorgones.