The Smithsonian Institute Senior Management - Research Paper Example

Being part of the senior management of a large construction firm that is responsible for the construction of commercial and instructional buildings, our firm can offer perfect contracting opportunities to the Smithsonian Institute and the Department of Homeland Security. The firm can introduce two lines of business for these two government agencies to develop. The Smithsonian Institute could use more reliable and cheaper supplier of air conditioner and services while the United States Department of Homeland Security needs a better and trustworthy surveillance cameras to do their job. The Smithsonian Institute The Smithsonian Institute can be one of the best targets of the construction firm to present contracting opportunities. It was founded in 1846 and considered the world’s largest museum and research complex which consists a total of 19 museums and galleries, 9 research facilities and the National Zoological Park (About Us, 2011). There are a continuous researches conducted in the institute thus one of the best opportunity is to offer a construction of a new research building or facility complex. The Smithsonian Institute conducts research around themes such as atmospheric processes, ecosystem dynamics observing natural and anthropogenic environmental change on daily to decadal time scales, and defining longer term climate proxies present in the historical artifacts and records of the museums as well as in the geologic record at field sites (Principal Areas of Focus, 2008). Thus, as a firm who offers commercial and institutional building construction, we can present to them a really good opportunity to add a facility to their institute. The New Line of Business Given the big opportunity to this very important client, we can also offer line of business to make the most out of the opportunity given to us. The firm could develop a new line of business such as supplying air conditioner and services to take advantage of the opportunity in the Smithsonian contract. Offering this new business line or product line, the firm should know the number of buildings and facilities that the Smithsonian Institute has. Providing a new recommendation of supplying air conditioner and services, the firm must collect data about the current electricity bill and consumption, history and present condition of the existing air conditioners of the institute, terms and condition with the present supplier, and contract price with the current supplier. The firm should know all these information to make sure that they can provide a really good marketing strategy such as giving a cheaper contract price, ensuring good and reliable air conditioners and speedy services, and the possible cost reduced when they acquire our new line of product or service. The firm must ensure that they can provide products and services at a very reasonable price. The firm is mainly responsible for responsible for the construction of commercial and institutional buildings and related structures, such as stadiums, grain elevators, and indoor swimming pools (236220 Commercial and Institutional Building Construction, 2011). The services provided by the firm will be a great opportunity for this new line of business. Each building needs proper ventilation. Almost all the buildings that we can see around us have air conditioners. Thus, a construction firm can introduce new line of business such as supplying air conditioner to each new building that the firm constructs. They can offer a cheaper contract price with the clients if they avail of the service. What can be better than constructing and supplying a nearly complete facility, a building with proper ventilation? Department of Homeland Security The Department of Homeland security has a vital purpose of keeping America safe and to secure the nation from the threats and any forms of terrorization. The department requires a lot of people responsible from aviation and border security to emergency response and even from cybersecurity in charged to a chemical inspector. One of the main goals of the department is to prevent terrorism and enhance security. Their founding principle and highest priority is to protect the American people from terrorists by prevention of terrorists attacks, unauthorized acquisition, importation, movement, or use of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear materials and capabilities within the United States and reduction of the vulnerability of critical infrastructure and key resources, essential leadership, and major events to terrorist attacks and other hazards (About, 2011). For them to do this, they should make sure that the people are well trained for months or even years. They must have a really good facility and complete materials and gadgets to ensure that they can do their job well. Thus we can see that the department has a lot of things needed and what we can do is to offer a contract on constructing a new training building or facility. The New Line of Business Given the opportunity to construct a new training facility for the Department of Homeland Security, we can launch a new line of product or service for the security and surveillance cameras. These cameras may include features like pan, tilt, and zoom and placed either indoor or outdoor locations and has a recording option (Davis, Kelsey, Langellier, Mapes, Rosendahl, n.d.). If the firm will launch this new line of business, the marketing department should know all the new and quality surveillance cameras, the product features and specifications, the advantages and disadvantages if any, and the market price of these products. The firm should be ready to present to the client how we can improve their security. We must make sure that we can contribute not only to cost reduction but most importantly to efficiency of their job and responsibilities. Thus we have to offer them the best among other existing surveillance products. We should offer them the services that will assure them that they have the best facilities and gadgets to do their responsibilities. As a supplier, we should also take note that our products must be sold at a reasonable price. Thus, we do not only aim for quality but can contribute to the efficiency and cost reduction of the Department of Homeland Security. The main reason why the firm should launch this new line of business in line with the business opportunity of constructing a new training facility or building with the Department of Homeland security is to make sure that we can also offer better service than any other surveillance camera suppliers to the department in charge of the security of the nation. The Department of Homeland Security has the highest priority of safekeeping the nation and requires the highest possible standards when it comes to security and maintenance of their facilities. The department will not settle to substandard especially if what they do is to protect. Lives are at stake in their job and it is their responsibilities to protect these lives. Thus, if the firm can offer the best and most reliable product in the market, then the client will definitely acquire the services of the firm not only for construction contract but also for the new line of business. Conclusion There are a lot of opportunities a firm can have. But being in a large construction firm offering services such as construction of commercial and institutional buildings and related structures, such as stadiums, grain elevators, and indoor swimming pools, it is a great opportunity to work in government agencies such as the Smithsonian Institute and United States Department of Homeland Security. These two agencies are of great importance to the firm thus it is highly encouraged to offer them the best services. The Smithsonian Institute has a lot of buildings thus the new line of air conditioner services will be a big contract for the firm. The United States Department of Homeland Security highly values security thus cheaper, more reliable and trustworthy surveillance cameras will be a brilliant additional business for the firm to offer. There may be a lot of competitions in the business, but a well prepared marketing strategy and great quality of products and services are the keys to ace and get the deal of the contract. Sources: 236220 Commercial and Institutional Building Construction (2011). Retrieved July 14, 2011 from http://www.census.gov/cgi-bin/sssd/naics/naicsrch About-Homeland Security (2011). Retrieved July 14, 2011 from http://www.dhs.gov/xabout/ About Us-Smithsonian Institute (2011). Retrieved July 14, 2011 from http://www.si.edu/About Davis, K., Kelsey, J., Langellier, D., Mapes, M., and Rosendahl, J., (n.d.) Surveillance in Schools: Safety vs. Personal Privacy-Surveillance Cameras. Retrieved July 14, 2011 from http://students.ed.uiuc.edu/jkelsey/surveillance/cameras.htm Principal Areas of Focus (2008). Retrieved July 13, 2011 from http://www.usgcrp.gov/usgcrp/agencies/smithsonian.htm Read More