Unit 42 Planning for Growth Assignment Help (GC01349)

Table of Contents

Introduction.

Company Overview.

Task 1.

a) Analyze key considerations for evaluating growth opportunities such as competitive advantage, new products & services, innovation etc. and justify these considerations within an organizational context (p1)
b) Evaluate the opportunities for growth by applying Ansoff’s growth vector matrix (market penetration, product/service development, market development, unrelated diversification) (p2)

Task 2.

Assess the potential sources of funding available (i.e. bank loans, crowdfunding, peer to peer lending, angel and venture finance) to businesses and discuss the benefits and drawbacks of each source. (P3)

Task 3.

Using the example of a small business of your choice; design a business plan for growth that includes financial information and strategic objectives for scaling up a business (P4)

Task 4.

As a small business owner, assess exit (i.e. selling or floating the business, valuing the company) or succession options for a small business explaining the benefits and drawbacks of each option (P5)

References.

Introduction

According to European Commission (2017) notes, SMEs are known as small and medium-sized enterprises which a number of employees is less than 250 and the annual turnover is not more than 50 million euros, and the annual balance sheet is not more than 43 million euros. This assignment is divided into four main tasks. Different key considerations are analyzed for evaluating the growth opportunities in the first task. Then, several sources of funding are assessed in the second task. After that, a business plan for growth is designed in the third task that includes financial information and strategic objectives for scaling up a business. Finally, several exits (such as selling or floating the business, valuing the company) are assessed in the fourth task.

Company Overview

The chosen company for this assignment is Ades. Ades is well known and small and medium-sized wholesale grocery super shop in South East London. Ades creates quality African and Caribbean drinks/foods which are affordable as well as accessible to the customers in the UK, London and EU. It increases its range of quality products including foods and drinks and sells these products at competitive prices to continue its business in the wider marketplace (Ades, 2018). Ades sells different items such as grocery items, food, vegetables, poultry, fish and ethnic foods, health and beauty products, baby products and provides catering services. As Ades (2018) notes, the aim of this enterprise is to create quality foods and drinks which are affordable as well as accessible to the customers in London. However, this enterprise is controlled by a loyal team with wide experience in the food sector and has managed a better reputation in the supermarket sector for many years.

Task 1

a) Analyze key considerations for evaluating growth opportunities such as competitive advantage, new products & services, innovation etc. and justify these considerations within an organizational context (p1)

Competitive advantage

The term “Competitive advantage” is the circumstance that takes the company in a favorable business position. If an owner can develop a competitive advantage for the small business, he/she will be capable to trade the products and services profitably and easily (Tutor2u, 2018). However, a good competitive advantage means that the business is likely to thrive and is capable to grow. Competitive advantage is so significant for the owners of small businesses. A small business has some features and from those features, anyone can be turned into a competitive advantage. These features include the product, the business, competition and the customers. While it comes to embrace new and digital technologies, small businesses face several opportunities and challenges (Tutor2u, 2018). However, small businesses have a chance to take protest on their competitors by being more agile in the implementation of new solutions.

Generic strategies (Porter)

Porter’s Five Forces include bargaining power of buyers, bargaining power of suppliers, and the threat of new entrants, competitive rivalry and threat of substitutes. The bargaining power of suppliers mentions that how much the power is exchanged for the products’ price (Hanlon, 2016). If small or start-up enterprises (including Ades) make products with rare inputs that are retailed by other companies, suppliers have created the bargaining power. For example, suppliers of Walmart have limited bargaining power where top chef’s suppliers need rare ingredients.

Bargaining power of buyers states to sign a similar thing like the bargaining power of suppliers. However, it is applied to the customers. It is difficult to get similar products where there is less bargaining power of buyers. Ades has also the bargaining power of the buyers (Hanlon, 2016).

The threat of new entrants denotes the obstacles to entry in the business industry. A new or start-up business (Including Ades) could be flooded with the threat of new competitors.

The threat of substitute products denotes the customer’s ability to choose to apply several products (Hanlon, 2016). It means that customers decide is not essential to purchase any products. The threat of substitute products is frequently unnoticed by the new entrepreneurs who will enter and say that they have the latest product without competition.

Last, of all, the final step is a competitive rivalry. This step is self-explanatory and denotes the other companies in the marketplace with whom the start-up enterprise contends.

Portfolio strategies (Boston Consultancy Group Matrix and GE/Mckinsey matrix)

BCG matrix model includes stars, cash cows, dogs and question marks. STARS are the products that presently make much cash for business but managing the position in the marketplace (NetMBA, 2017). If an enterprise can manage a good marketplace share then the stars may become the cash cows.

CASH COWS are the previous stars, and make much cash for its business, even after marketplace growth has reduced because marketplace growth has reduced and competitive pressure is minimized………………………

Accounting & Finance