Project Report On Cookies Limited: Data-Driven Customer-Centric Essay.

Report Introduction

Write about the Project Report on Cookies Limited.

Strategic Management refers to the preparation and application of goals and objectives that are set by the top management of the company to achieve better results by allocating the resources to the right place (Ansoff, 2007). It involves strategic planning which analyses the internal and external environment in which the company prevails. It is important to make and plan strategies for the future of company because it will evaluate and analyse the efficiency and the effectiveness of the company (Hill, Jones and Schilling, 2014). The current report discusses the case of Cookies Limited Company which is popular for its variety of tasty cookie products. In relation to the same, the company have set a strategic goal for the company to have a customer-centric and data-driven approach. The objective behind this strategic approach is to improve sales and business growth. In addition to the same, the company has to develop a data driven technology which will serve the executive people of the company who have less knowledge of Information and Communications Technology. The data driven system has to be developed in such a way that it is user friendly and clearly understood by the general people.  Further, the report will discuss the data collection and storage system, data in action which includes the consumer centric design of the product and the recommendation system, the business continuity i.e. how the business will survive in case of contingencies and finally the conclusion of the report. 

Data Collection refers to a systematic process of gathering and measuring of information through various sources to get the exact idea of the ways through which the objective will be accomplished. The data which is required to be collected in the current case of Cookies Limited is basically the tastes and preferences of the customers because the company being into the food industry depends on how well they cater to the demands and wants of their customers. The data can be collected with the help of different methods of the like surveys cum questionnaires which can asked to be filled by the customers visiting their single store in the city. This is can be used by the company to get the reviews of customers which will ensure them to make cookies according to the tastes of their respective set of customers. The questionnaires will comprise of questions like gender, age, occupation, their favourite flavour cookies, do they find the prices reasonable, design or shape of cookies they liked the most etc. these type of questions will help the company in becoming a customer-centric firm which makes the products by and for their customers. Rich data with the consumer choices can be collected by gathering data and information from not only the people coming into their store but also by reaching out to the people in nearby places, uploading review cum feedback form on their website so, that they can directly communicate with their customers. Another method of data collection can be stratified and cluster sample surveys which will help in collecting information from the selected group of people in order to cater to the customised demand of people (Williams, 2007).

Data Collection and Storage

Storage system refers to the storing of data and information in the computer system and retrieving the data when required in future for the formulation of strategies. In the current report the storage system refers to the storage of the information of their customers which will include their likes, their shopping history, their favourite flavours etc. This big data can be maintained by upgrading their technology. In addition to the same, the company can use the artificial intelligence technology which will help the company to reduce the work of the company personnel. As the technologically updated soft wares installed in the systems will reduce the work of humans and will give results based on the tastes of their customers. The database of their customer’s shopping history will be of great importance as they will be able to make out their shopping behaviour and then will provide customised products which will give the customers a feeling of being delighted and therefore; long lasting worth remembering experience. In order to achieve an efficient storage system the company will have to improve their technology standards as they are interested in going for online business which a great option because of its coverage and effectiveness. Therefore; for having an online presence the company needs to be present on each of the online websites where they will get more coverage and will cater to the needs of their target audiences. The tactic of involving customers in their process of new cookie’s design and flavour can be possible being online because this will involve their customers and will give them a sense of belongingness with the company. This will also make the products customised and unique for the needs of their customers (Pais, S and Symonds, 2011).  

Customer-centric product design refers to the designing of the product according to the needs and wants of the customers. Customer-centric refers to the situation where customer is at the centre of the whole working of the company basically, the customer is said to be the king according to whose wishes the ministers are required to perform and act. Customer-centric approach is a big factor which gives rise to customer loyalty. Loyal customers are those happy customers who will always spread good word of mouth about the company and it is said to be the best and effective way of advertising and promoting the company (Maureen E and Daniel, 2014).

Data in Action

To be a company which follows customer-centric product design it has to become technology advanced company. Updated technology will make the online business of the company very strong by which they will be able to communicate with their customers in which the customers will let them know about the design of the product of their choice. Cookies are mostly liked by children therefore; they can be given options of the design of cartoon characters which will bring the whole hearted involvement of their customers and finally the output will also be satisfying because as it has catered the same product which was chosen by the customers. The ways to make the customer-centric product design the company can make their websites in such a way that their customers are able to update or choose their preferred design with their favourite flavour and order the same then and there (Jirinova, K and Kolis, K, 2013).

The recommendation system refers to that system which enable the people visiting that particular online platform are able to rate or give their feedback or preferences that the user would give them. Similarly, a kind of website or portal should be evolved by the company so that the company will be able to seek the feedback, preferences, ratings; views etc. of their customers and finally become a company who whole heartedly works for its customers. Recommendation system is a tool for the company to evaluate its performance and image of the company in the minds of the customers. The recommendation system can be of two types that are collaborative and content-based filtering methods. The recommendation system of the company should be such that it does appeal to its customers. Apart from this the system will also generate huge database of the customers which will include various valuable information which will be helpful to the company as on the basis of such information the company will be able to use it for further improvements and additions (Sen, Xiaonan and Yannan, 2015).

Business Continuity refers to how effectively the management manages the interruptions of any kind which occurs in between the smooth functioning of the company. The need for the Business Continuity Management arises to manage deal with the business contingencies, by designing a Business Continuity Process after making effective business continuity plans for the constant running of the operations of the company with least impact on it of the disruptions which might occur anytime. Business Continuity is advantageous for companies as they analyse the potential threat and risks which might occur therefore; the need of business continuity is to reduce the impact which might affect the processes of the company (Queensland Government, n.d.).

Business Continuity

There are different types of plans which will help the online business of the company to survive in case of disasters or power outrage which are the back-up plan, emergency plan, test plan and recovery plan. The back-up plan should be such so that it recovers all the information and data of the customers and the back-up has to be managed by the company personnel. They are also required to update the back-up plan constantly and there should always be one or two back-ups in case of any failure of any of the back-ups the extra one has to be there. The emergency plan has to be undertaken in case of any disasters or emergencies like fire, attacks or structural damage then, the company has to identify the situations and then apply the emergency plan. The test plan is the final aspect of the disaster where the plan identifies loop holes of the three of the plans that are the back-up, emergency and recovery plans. The recovery plan deals with the restoring of information and data. The people comprising the recovery department should be firm enough in fulfilling their responsibilities (Dushie, 2014).

In order to survive against the problems that occur because of the power cuts and other kinds of disasters the company has to be wise with their back-up plans. They are of different type’s full back-up, incremental back-up, mirror back-up and differential back-up plans. All these are required in order to deal with the contingencies and at the same time reducing the risks involved in such mishappening events. The full back-up plans carries the all of the files and data stored from day one to till date as in different files and also the back-up will be restored again when whenever the back-up run takes place. The incremental back-up is just the add on the new files and not running of the whole previous back-up and just the new files added after the last back-up.  The mirror back-up refers to the changes that are made in the sources of the will automatically update the mirror back-up similar to the changes made in the file. The differential back-up is in the middle of the full and the incremental back-up. The major focus has to be on the proper and effective back-up during the time of power cut which can be managed by installing long lasting generators which will act as a recovery plan for the company to restore the data saved there and then (Karim, 2011).

Conclusion and Recommendations

On the basis of the above report, it can be concluded that the Cookies Limited Company is going for online business which will increase the sales of the company as it has only one store in the city. The company is willing to advance its technology so that they can reach out to more people moreover; they will get the direct views and first hand data from their customers. The report has discussed will be presented to the senior executives of the company who don not possess great knowledge of technology therefore; in order to make it understandable by them it is required that they are convinced by the new strategies which will benefit the company in the long run.

On the basis of the above report it can be recommended to the company that they should make their website in such a manner that customers are automatically driven towards them and the recommendation system is technologically advanced so that their customers can communicate their feedback and grievances. The company should also make their products customised by the customers themselves and for that they should have artificial intelligence software which will do the work with little human assistance therefore; reducing the load on the personnel of the company and making it more advanced through going for online business (Paulsen, 2012).

References

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