Report On Canadian Business Environment, Ethical Considerations For Starting Business, And Management Restructuring For Seafood Treats

Canada's telecom industry overview

1. You have been hired as a consultant for a global telecom company, Phonetask, headquarted in Mexico which believes there is potential for consolidation in Canada's Telecom market. Because of your knowledge of Canada, you have been asked to provide a report on the Canadian business environment that would include overviews of Canada's economic system and the role of government in conducting business in Canada, especially as it relates to telecom. In addition to the overview, it should specifically outline how these compare to Mexico. This report will serve to inform the company's decision to invest in the country.

2. After having spent 11 years working for a large Canadian bank as an account officer in downtown Vancouver, you have decided to pursue your lifelong dream of opening your own business with your sister (also tired of the corporate rat race). As avid outdoorspeople, you and your sister seek to establish a whale watching tour company of the shores of Salt Spring Island in British Columbia. You have the opportunity to apply for seed funding through a local government initiative but you must first complete a 1-2 page elevator speech that addresses the following questions: What ethical concerns should you consider in the establishment of your business? What form of business ownership do you propose and why? Why do you feel you have what it takes to be successful entrepreneurs? 

3. Your family run business, Seafood Treats, has been manufacturing high quality fish products and dried feline foods in Halifax, NS since 1974. With the recent retirement of your father, you have been appointed as CEO and while you worked in the business, it was only for a few years while you attended university for your BBA degree. Within weeks of assuming the lead role, you decide that the increased competitive pressure in the industry necessitates a complete restructuring. Presently, your 180 line workers are unionized and they are worried about job losses and your lack of business experience. You are now tasked with preparing a 1-2 page brief to stakeholders on your decisions. The provincial government, due to a recent loan, presently maintains an equity stake of approximately 15% of the company's shares which complicates things because you need their approval to make any substantial changes to structure or job cuts. The brief outlines what management structure would you propose and why, how you would maximize efficiency in the company's production, how you would motivate employees during and after the change, and the key points to consider in the change to the new structure. 

4. You have been hired by Kinder Morgan to develop a new marketing plan that includes not only the key elements of the marketing mix, but also how you would implement them. You understand that there is a lot of controversy over the Trans Mountain Expansion Project in Western Canada and just recently, the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) resigned. Your report will act as strategy and also tactical plans for the next 12-24 months as the company tries to stabilize its market position.

Canada’s telecommunication industry is segmented into six sectors: local, long distance, internet, wireless, data and private line. Among this, internet and wireless has been ruling the market since 2012. The sales revenue of this sector has experienced an upsurge of more than $7.3 billion, which is 25.9%. One of the striking facts is that this sector accounts for more than 63.8% shares as compared to the other sectors in the era of 2012 (Crtc.gc.ca, 2018). The percentage increased to 72.3% in 2016. In the same five year plan, there was significant decline in the wireless service. Out of the total telecommunication services, the wireless services represented a mere 18.5%, which was 25.6% in 2012.

Canada occupies the ninth place in the list of the world economies. Being one of the members of G-8 countries, Canada takes pride in having one of the most influential economies of the world. Canada’s population was accounted for 34.059 million in 2010. Among this, the labour force was accounted as 18.59 million. According to the census report of 2006, 2% worked in agriculture, 13% in manufacturing, 6% in construction, 76% in services and the rest 3% in other industries (Crtc.gc.ca, 2018). The government needs to be credited for developing immigration policies for reducing the knowledge gaps within the workers. Special focus on the aged workforce is a positive move towards enhancing the stability in the society. Along with this, increase of the employment opportunities is noteworthy action within the governmental initiatives.

Along with this, mention can be made of the Telecom Regulatory Policy, involving the public within the socio-economic conditions. According to the terms and conditions of the policy, the commission makes it a point to ensure that quality telecommunication services reach to the urban, rural and remote areas (Bell, Bryman & Harley, 2018). Apart from this, governmental funds would be used for the upgrading the infrastructure. Accessing these services brings socio-economic growth in the Canadian business environment.

On the other hand, Mexico’s GDP is accounted as $2.199 trillion. In terms of the nominal GDP, Mexico is ranked 15^th in the list of the world economies. GDP growth rate accounts for 2.3% according to the annual reports of 2018. Telecommunications falls within the services of the tertiary sector (Visitmexico.com, 2018). Since 2011, the working population in this industry accounts for 62%. Mexican government introduced labour reforms, which enhanced the productivity of the telecommunication industry. Incentives lured the labours towards performing the activities in a proper manner. Governmental intervention is fruitful in terms of competition reforms, which enhances the transparency in the trades and practices of the telecommunications brands. Reforms in the broadcasting services enable the telecommunications industry to upgrade their knowledge regarding the provision of services. Along with this, the reforms are crucial for foreign investors.

In 2012, lack of competition in the telecommunication sector resulted in ineffective markets, exposing insignificant prices for the services. According to the reform, the government made use of information and communication technologies mandatory for the telecommunication brands (Visitmexico.com, 2018). Technological advancement enhanced the supply chain management of the brands, enabling the execution of offshore management for establishing contact with the foreign clients.

Canada's economic system and government role in conducting business compared to Mexico's

Ethics is a vital component, which every businessperson needs to adhere. Taking grants and permission from the government is one of the primary ethical considerations, which needs to be ensured prior to starting the business. After this, promise of a diversified workforce is vital in terms of enhancing the cultural diversity. Within this, one of the essential components is making empathetic decision-making for projecting transparency, which is needed in the business. Apart from this, Maylor, Blackmon and Huemann, (2016) opines that compliance with the guidelines set by the government is essential in terms of averting the illegal instances. Expressing liberal approach towards the needs, demands and requirements of the employees proves beneficial for the managers. This is in terms of gaining an insight into the capability of the employees. However, rationality in the approach is vital for controlling the performance.

I think joint ventures or partnerships would be beneficial in terms of producing collaborative output. This is necessary in terms of completing the tasks within the stipulated time. Moreover, it would reduce the product delays, strengthening the stability in the professional relationships. On the other hand, Sekaran and Bougie, (2016) states that partnership would act as a financial assistance for both the companies, removing the obstacles of inadequate resources, knowledge gaps among others. However, rationality and tactfulness is needed for averting the instances of threat of substitutes. On the other hand, sole partnership would reflect monopolistic competition, projecting the lack of prospective clients and investors.

Strategic approach makes me feel that I am successful entrepreneur. Strategizing the activities helps me in setting them according to their priority. Consciousness towards this direction is essential in terms of enhancing the leadership skills, abilities and competencies. I also feel that strategic approach is beneficial in terms of organizing the activities, which reduces the chance of mistakes within the performance (Bolman & Deal, 2017). For this, evaluation is needed for assessing the effectiveness, appropriateness and feasibility of the plans. Maintaining consistency in the execution of evaluation seems fruitful for upgrading the standards and quality of performance. Rationality within the behaviour helps in gaining trust, dependence and loyalty from the customers and the clients.

I feel that taking personality tests would be effective for me to assess whether the skills, which I possess is appropriate for starting the career as an entrepreneur. Discussing the results with the seniors would enhance my awareness about the areas, where I need to make modifications. Using the guidance is effective in terms of reaching to the benchmark level of performance slowly and gradually (Girod & Whittington, 2017). Typical example of this can be setting time limits for performing the tasks. This approach would help in attaining perfection. Improving communication skills is prospective in terms of creating good and positive impression on the clients. This is necessary in terms of extracting prospective gains in the business.

Indulging in presentations would enhance my confidence, attracting the foreign clients and the customers. Increase in the confidence level possesses opportunities towards promotion. Utilizing the appreciations for bringing further noticeable improvements in the performance, indicates drive towards leadership skills (Cummings & Worley, 2014).

Ethical considerations for establishing a business

Thoughts for restructuring is apt for Seafood Treats in terms of maintaining the market position within the competitive ambience. Increased competitive pressure indicates the threat of substitutes, which might result in the employee and customer turnover. Along with this, intervention of the labour unions indicate the threat of job losses for the employees, which reflects negativity in terms of productivity. One of the striking facts is the knowledge gaps in case of the employees, which is compelling the staffs to face complaints from the clients and the customers. The provincial government possesses an equity share, which accounts for 15% of the company’s share (Carayannis, Sindakis & Walter, 2015). This bore negative results, as no prior permission was taken by the personnel for proposing alterations to the organizational structure.

At the initial stage, meetings can be conducted for developing strategies. Within this, interactive sessions would clarify the doubts regarding performing the tasks in an efficient and effective manner. Within the strategies, revisions for the recruitment and selection policies can be included, as they need to be updated. Drafts of the minute meetings can be sent to the higher authorities for receiving their approval. However, prior permission would be helpful in terms of averting unwanted and illegal instances. Along with this, technological innovation needs to be pointed out. With this, one of an important aspect is contracts with the research and development team (Lee et al., 2015). This approach would result in the production of innovation and lip smacking seafoods, luring the clients towards the brand image.

Introducing online marketing can increase the sales revenue of Seafood Traits. Special discounts and offers on a minimum orders for a stipulated amount would help to attract the foreign clients. However, conducting market segment would assist in enhancing the efficiency within the business. Conducting lab tests for the manufactured seafoods would help in catering to the health needs of the clients and the customers. Apart from this, suggesting separate storage facilities for the different seafoods would help in preventing the instances of poor quality products.

Training is needed in terms of enhancing the skills, expertise and knowledge of the employees regarding effective handling of the resources. Technology training is essential for bringing automation in the business of Seafood Traits (Goetsch & Davis, 2014). Post training tests is crucial for the managers in terms of assessing the capability of the employees towards making practical application of the learnt skills in performing the operations. Tracking the scores of the employees is vital for appraising the performance of the employees. This appraisal acts as a motivation in terms of extracting the required labour.

Using the means of survey and feedbacks would be helpful for Seafood Traits. This is in terms of gaining an insight into the specific needs, demands and requirements of the clients. Liberal approach in dealing with the clients would assure that their viewpoints would be valued. Evaluation of the proposed changes would be essential for assessing their effectiveness in terms of the identified and the specified objectives. Kotter’s eight step change model can be considered for evaluation of the proposed plans (Carayannis, Sindakis & Walter, 2015).

Proposed form of business ownership and reasoning

Marketing mix would help the personnel involved in Trans Mountain Expansion Project to seek better placement for the transportation facilities in the mountain region. Segmenting the labours over the mountain regions would be effective in terms of constructing the expansion work in an efficient and effective manner. Budgets would prove beneficial in terms of gaining an insight into the expenses for labour maintenance. Indulging in alliance with the trade union members would help in dealing with the instances of financial instabilities. Within this, consideration of demand and supply would be vital in terms of maintaining the balance between the construction project.

Promoting the benefits of expanding the mountain area through hoardings would prove effective for making the clients aware. Within this, advertisements for the inconvenience would improve the relationship with the customers. Rationality in this approach would help in achieving loyalty, trust and dependence from the clients. Along with this, briefing the locals about the diversions would be a wise step in terms of ensuring that they reach to the destinations without much hassles and disturbances. Here, ensuring that the clients have full access to the websites, would be vital in terms of clarifying their doubts towards the construction project in the mountains.

Regular updates from the suppliers would help the personnel to ensure that quality materials are used for expanding the mountain region. Lab tests for the materials would help in assuring their feasibility towards enhancing the efficiency within the project related activities. Testing the skills of the labours is necessary in terms of averting negative outcomes in the construction activities. Completion of the tasks within the set time limits would reflect the selection of right candidates. Within the project, health checkups would be conducted for assessing the risks, which the employees might face during the activities. Reports for the risk assessment would be sent to the supervisors for making them updated with the latest plans.

As the CMO has resigned, therefore, plans need to be developed for recruiting new CMO. If it does not suit within the stipulated time, the operations manager can take the charge. He needs to expose strategic approach towards conducting the activities. Therefore, his first step would be to conduct meetings, where he needs to brief the employees about the plans. Next step would be to develop budgets for the items needed for progressing with the construction activities. After this, drafts along with the budgets needs to be sent to the local authorities for gaining their approvals.

References

Bell, E., Bryman, A., & Harley, B. (2018). Business research methods. Oxford university press.

Bolman, L. G., & Deal, T. E. (2017). Reframing organizations: Artistry, choice, and leadership. John Wiley & Sons.

Carayannis, E. G., Sindakis, S., & Walter, C. (2015). Business model innovation as lever of organizational sustainability. The Journal of Technology Transfer, 40(1), 85-104.

Crtc.gc.ca (2018). Canada policy monitoring. [online] Retrieved 8^th Dec 2018 from https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/publications/reports/policymonitoring/2017/cmr5.html

Cummings, T. G., & Worley, C. G. (2014). Organization development and change. Cengage learning.

Girod, S. J., & Whittington, R. (2017). Reconfiguration, restructuring and firm performance: Dynamic capabilities and environmental dynamism. Strategic Management Journal, 38(5), 1121-1133.

Goetsch, D. L., & Davis, S. B. (2014). Quality management for organizational excellence. Upper Saddle River, NJ: pearson.

Lee, J. Y., Kozlenkova, I. V., & Palmatier, R. W. (2015). Structural marketing: Using organizational structure to achieve marketing objectives. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 43(1), 73-99.

Maylor, H., Blackmon, K., & Huemann, M. (2016). Researching business and management. Macmillan International Higher Education.

Sekaran, U., & Bougie, R. (2016). Research methods for business: A skill building approach. John Wiley & Sons.

Visitmexico.com (2018). About us. [online] Retrieved 8^th Dec 2018 from https://www.visitmexico.com/en