E-Commerce Business Solution: Professional Management Consultants - Research Paper Example

?RUNNING HEAD: E-Commerce Business Solution E-Commerce Business Solution: Professional Management Consultants BY YOU YOUR SCHOOL INFO HERE YOUR HERE DATE HERE Professional Management Consultants 1. The E-Commerce Business This start-up company will be named Professional Management Consultants and consist of consulting services for businesses that are struggling with their management structure and strategy. Berry & Wilson (2004) offer that the need for experienced and dedicated consultants is growing exponentially across the world as businesses struggle to reach their competitive milestones and strategic goals. The consulting will occur via streaming video, teleconferencing, and e-mail systems with the purchasing and buying aspects that will occur online through payment systems that allow for convenience and pay-per-consulting experience. Depending on the complexity of the consulting principles requested by the client, the materials or conferencing delivered will be measured hourly or by the documentation requested. Companies that have multi-cultural workforces often have difficulty sustaining their profit margins due to reduced turnover when employees are unable to work together efficiently. Some businesses turn toward their dedicated human resources staff to develop new methodologies for new feedback and appraisal systems, only to find that their efforts have failed to build a more unified organizational culture (Mathis & Jackson, 2005). Because of these problems, the market is opening for professional management consultants that utilize their knowledge in hierarchy, how to create autonomous and motivated work environments, and many other varieties of management restructuring. This E-Commerce business will provide real-time, dedicated consulting services in a variety of programs and disciplines in which all transactions occur via the Internet. 2. The Business Concept Aziz & Yasin (2004, p.3) identify that the marketplace today demands interaction with customers using technology “to provide services instantaneously across international borders and therefore must relate the traditional face-to-face interaction via a technology interface”. There are literally billions of customers in business environments and the consumer marketplace that now have access to the Internet and the evolving technologies that support video conferencing and meeting structures in the online environment. Because companies are now relying on technology interfaces and find this suitable for conducting business, Professional Management Consultants expects considerable interest if the marketing and advertising concept is sound and relates to customers’ needs. Customers will inquire about their special needs related to consulting services and schedule an initial kick-off meeting to learn, face-to-face from business leadership, about our expertise and different consulting techniques. This is part of the marketing strategy to ensure that there is initial interaction and the client is ready to adopt Professional Management Consultant knowledge exchanges. Upon acceptance of the proposal, clients will be provided with appropriate literature that has been developed through primary research conducted by the business leadership as well as secondary source materials about improvements in management, culture and restructuring. Prices will be dependent on the volume of information requested as well as the extensiveness of the research effort to gain the market information. For example, if the client requires demographic knowledge on the cultural backgrounds of Indian consumers, the consulting firm will conduct the marketing research, compile it in a professional report. Upon payment, the document will be uploaded to the customer’s virtual account (produced by the assistance of information technology support at the business) where the transaction will occur via credit card, PayPal or other appropriate payment systems built into the website. After receiving the information, additional consulting will be scheduled via telephone or email systems and teleconferencing will be conducted, by the hour, based on need. 3. Making it Sell In order to be successful in the e-commerce environment, business ownership and its staff must “get cozy with customers” (Elsever, 2009, p.68). Therefore, the company will be adopting Web 2.0 technology to facilitate much of the consulting discussion. Web 2.0 is a term for linking internal computer systems that support the business, such as customer relationship management software, with the Internet social networking environment. Rise in consumer and business use of Facebook, MySpace and Twitter has grown significantly in the last several years and Web 2.0 is a low-cost method of improving the blogging capabilities of the business and also providing better advertising for less price. Web 2.0 will be combined with teleconferencing software and video chat provided by common providers such as Yahoo! and Google Systems. According to Smith (2011), in order to make an e-commerce consulting business find success, the company must do something others in the competitive field are not doing. There are far too many competitors in this industry to list, however these barriers can be overcome with clever marketing strategy and also the ability to differentiate Professional Management Consultants from existing consulting businesses. One method is to position the business for brand management and brand leadership. The company will consult with a graphics arts company to develop an appropriate and eye-catching logo that will be utilized on all print and online data provided by the company. Additionally, the company will position itself based on quality and expertise to distinguish service competence from other consulting services. Positioning is selling a key idea or word that defines the company from the buyer perspective (Trout, 2008). This will be accomplished with a branded and trademarked tagline that represents the whole of the company and its knowledge excellence. In order to be successful, especially in a recession economy, Sampson (2009) offers that a company must link their site with industry blogs and also publish a small book about the company and deliver it to potential clients for a very low cost. As part of advertising, the company will develop a 20 page brochure with the branded logo and the consulting business, along with the ease of payment systems and interactivity between consulting to make the company stand out. Further, the business will develop a value proposition that describes the company’s ability to enhance client management and cultural systems using a three line statement to set the business apart from competitors. “Companies that offer no guarantees in their value propositions will have difficulty finding market share” (Alexander, 2009, p.17). As part of marketing strategy, the company will offer service guarantees with a pre-test and post-test survey and questionnaire system with a guarantee of at least 20 percent improvement after the consulting period has ended. Discounts will be guaranteed if expected results are not attained. 4. Estimated Pricing Structure Primary Research Reports: $3,000 Secondary Research Reports: $1,500 Teleconferencing Consulting: $125/hr HR Services for Culture Development: $75/hr In-Depth Reorganization Consulting: $7,500 per package The proposed pricing structure is in-line with qualitative and quantitative market research reports and the brand management strategy justifies a price that is competitive or above competitive with existing consulting business competition. Payment will be rendered prior to administering the uploaded research report documents and face-to-face consulting just prior to the meeting that has been scheduled for video systems meetings. 5. Providing a New Convenience Other consulting firms in management consulting have one streamlined function, however Professional Management Consultants will have part-time resources available for assistance with expertise in marketing, human resources, and cultural development for cases of extreme need for in-depth consulting services. They will be hired as freelance experts and paid 30 percent of the entire “take” when used as resources and will have contracts stating their freelance status. The convenience of online payment systems as well as online interaction is something that is being accepted by clients worldwide. With the right marketing strategy and published advertising literature that depicts the company as a top quality leader, there is no barrier to achieving a high volume of clients to support revenue growth. Since the demand is so high for this type of service, the online capability to provide payment satisfies instantaneous profit and also a new type of convenience for the business-to-business buyer. References Alexander, Jeremy. (2009). “It’s Still all about Guarantees”, National Underwriter Life and Health, 113(19), p.17. Retrieved June 24, 2011 from ABI/INFORM Global Website. Alsever, J. (2009). “How to Innovate: A step by step guide to fostering business creativity, Fortune Small Business, 19(8), p.68. Aziz, N. & Yasin, N. (2004). “The influence of market orientation on marketing competency and the effect of internet-marketing integration”, Journal of Marketing and Logistics, 16(2), p.3. Berry, T. & Wilson, D. (2004). On Target: The Book on Marketing Plans, Palo Alto Software, Inc: Eugene, Oregon. Mathis, R. & Jackson, J. (2005). Human Resource Management, 10th ed. Thomson South-Western. Sampson, Brent. (2009). “Top 7 Marketing Tips to Boost Your Business During the Recession”, The American Salesman, 54(7), pp.13-17. Smith, Alan. (2011). “Online Consulting leads to better Online Business Image”. Retrieved June 25, 2011 from http://www.articleclick.com/Article/Online-Consulting-Leads-to-Better-Online-Business-Image-and-Profits/1213180 Trout, Jack. (2008). The New Positioning: The Latest on the World’s #1 Business Strategy, Genii Group. Retrieved June 25, 2011 from http://www.genii-group.com/pdf/Book_Review_The_New_Positioning.pdf Read More