Start-up Idea: Online or In-Person of the Ark Educational Portal - Essay Example

? Start-up Idea – Online/in-Person of the Ark Educational Portal Start-up Idea – Online/in-Person of the Ark Educational Portal The need for outstanding academic performance is on the rife among parents. Their concern is nothing less than quality educations for their children in the extremely early stages of life. This need can be provided in another possible way in which the kids are engaged in consistent and unique approach. The online and person modalities can be conveniently used to achieve this objective. The program also integrates the parents in addressing the unique challenges of the different personalities presented by the kids. This  is envisaged in helping in molding and nurturing the kids to globally relevant and competitive individuals which is the key objectives of the initiative. The aspect of kids-parents-teachers engagement has been cited as lacking in other modes and probably this is contributing in the production of the partially competent persons in the long run. The initiative is up to filling this gap in the provision of knowledge to the kids. It is expected that such initiatives comes with a number of challenges; thus, the need to do thorough external analysis as well as the internal. This will work in positioning the initiative at a better place to develop close to an ideal situation that will enable the realization of the initiative’s objective. As for the external analysis, the performance of other firms that provide more or les similar services will be used to envisage the challenges likely to be faced and the possible ways of dealing with them on time. For the internal analysis, SWOT analysis will be used to give indications of the strengths and weaknesses of the initiative and this will as well serve all relevant role of cushioning the firm from sporadic misfortune (Hitt, Ireland, & Hoskisson, 2011). External environmental factor External environment consist of those external factors, forces and institutions that are beyond the power of individual and influence the running of the organization. These factors affect the performance of the organization system because they are beyond the organization unit, and operate around them. Thus, the initiative will face external environmental factors like competitors, government laws, political issues, socio-cultural institutions and international organization (Pushparaj, 2010). Some of these factors will affect the education program directly and others indirectly depending on the rate of expansion of the program in various regions. However, the external environmental factors can be controlled and influenced by the management of the organization by employing effective strategies to control the factors. In order to provide the services effectively to the children, the organization should analyze the economic factors because it involves the economic system of the organization. The success of the organization will depend on the ability to anticipate the future of the program in the current market conditions. Lack of the kids-parents-teachers engagement is a driving force of the program, and the ability of the program to close this gap shows the future of the program in the market. Meanwhile, the organization should employ suitable strategies that will minimize the cost of the program and maximize the gains because the objective of the organization is to be profitable and productive. Similarly, the external environmental factor involves the social environment surrounding the organization because it affects the functioning of the program. The factors such as cultural background of the kids, cost structure, scientific techniques and the wealth and income distribution are the sociological factors that will influence the organization (Pushparaj, 2010). The social environment will determine the work culture and mobility of labor in the organization. For instance, quality of the online education to be offered to kids will depend on the willingness of the parents and their customs and attitudes will influence the program. Since, the program will involve online programs the social groups like government agencies will be involved to monitor if the program meet the ethical standards. Additionally, the legal environment that consist the flexibility and adaptability of the legal rules surrounding the organization should be examined (Pushparaj, 2010). The organization should meet the legal standards to avoid misunderstanding of the program and customers are aware of the legality of the program. The political issues are external environment that influence the effectiveness of the organization, and it significant should be recognized. The stability of the country will affect the functioning of the organization. For instance, the country unrest will affect the functioning of media facilities that will affect the online program of the organization. Meanwhile, the technical environment is an external environmental force that affects the functioning of the organization. The technology used by the organization will determine the quality of the programs produced, and resources to be utilized (De Wit, 2003). Thus, technological environment will impact the organization on the investment matters and the consistent application of technology in organization. The technology advances will promote the organization approach in both online and person modalities that can be conveniently used to achieve its objectives. The technology will enhance the ability of the online program to address the unique challenges of the different personalities presented by the kids. SWOT analysis The SWOT analysis of the initiative will assist in focusing on the areas of the organization inefficiencies and effectiveness in providing the various programs. In order to implement online program effectively to the kids, it is crucial to emphasize carefully on analyzing an internal look of the strength and weakness of the organization. Conversely, it is significant to examine the internal factors like weakness and strength that may arise in the process of implementing the program (De Wit, 2003, P. 56). Therefore, the SWOT analysis will help to evaluate the usefulness of the organization in offering clear understanding of the program to the community and it implications in future. The process of evaluating internal analysis will focus on performing internal audit of the organization to determine the weakness and the strength of the organization. The internal analysis will be based on the management, marketing research and development and the technology environment system used by the organization. The considerable source of the strength of the organization in its initiatives operation is the accessibility of sufficient financial resources and well trained staff in developing the program strategies to kids. The organization has accumulated funds from its revenues that are adequate to support the program and train it staff that indicate the stability of the organization financially. The organization has introduced internal training through establishing workforce opportunities that offer employees skills and knowledge about the various operation areas of the company. However, the organization should not concentrate too much on its strength, but should analyze the potential weakness that would diminish the organization ability to offer quality programs. The organization faces weakness from expansion of the program in the entire market due to various negative perspective of the online program from various parents and unions. Further, the organization is facing the weakness of not having an appropriate management system in that time and balanced scorecard has not been incorporated with the modified training of the organization staff that makes it prone to challenges. Meanwhile, there is a struggle of economies of scale in the organization due to lack of sufficient resources required to expand its initiative portfolios to reach a wider market diversification of programs. Similarly, there are inefficient facilities used to market the program in the global market that causes problems in outsourcing of the initiative. The organization has suffered lack of adequate development of the investment in other regions due to lack of adequate advanced technologies. Competitive position and possibilities The advances of the technology will open opportunities for the organization to implement outsourcing approach across the global market to reach its customers (De Wit, 2003). The outsourcing strategy would reach global customers without them refusing the program that has been successful in various regions despite the stiff competition. Thus, possibility should always offer a competitive situation that can be attained and consist of having a global outreach to maintain the global customers. Globalization of the organization has provided a competitive advantage against the educational services in the industry. The organization substitutes environment factors have offered a global outreach that assist in maintain the bargaining power in the competitive environment. It also generates programs to consumers with a variety of services using various portfolios, unlike its rival. Conclusion The SWOT analysis of the organization indicates that there is a need of the organization to improve the situation its initiative operations in order to improve its performance. Meanwhile, the external environmental forces of the organization have s helped to improve the organization image and competition from the rivals. References De Wit, M. (2003). Strategy: Process, Content, and Context. Thomson Business Press, London. Hitt, M. A., Ireland, R. D., & Hoskisson, R. E. (2011). Strategic management: competitiveness & globalization. (9th ed.). Mason, OH: South-Western Cengage Learning. Pushparaj, A. (2010). The Economic factors affecting business environment. Retrieved on 29th, May 2011 from: Read More