...The Virgin Group in 2012 Duarte Lopes Pinto Gonçalo Silva Maria Xavier Miguel Borges Duarte Lopes Pinto Gonçalo Silva Maria Xavier Miguel Borges Contemporary Strategy Analysis- Robert M. Grant Index I. What common resources and capabilities link the separate Virgin companies? II. Which businesses, if any, should Branson consider divesting? III. What criteria should Branson apply in deciding what new diversification to pursue? IV. What changes in the financial structure, organizational structure, and management systems of the Virgin group would you recommend? V. What are the advantages and disadvantages of having an umbrella name for all companies of the Virgin group? I. What common resources and capabilities link the separate Virgin companies? The Virgin group, defined as being “a structure of loosely linked, autonomous units run by self-managed teams that use a common brand name”, includes in its portfolio diverse businesses from airlines, health clubs to music stores. They really believe in entering into “industries they know nothing about”. Their expansion strategy is developed through joints ventures, where they actually contribute with their brand image and awareness, having the partners the role to provide the majority of capital and, moreover, the knowledge to be successful in the industry. The name Virgin became so important worldwide that the number of companies willing to have the...
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...Case Study – The Virgin Group: Structure, leadership and motivation This essay analyses organizational structuring of the Virgin Group, with a view to understanding the dynamics that have helped create a global conglomerate. A critical assessment is undertaken on three areas: the hierarchical form of the company, the style of leadership exhibited by Sir Richard Branson, and the approach adopted by management to motivate employees. Firstly, a comparative argument is made on whether the Virgin Group can be classified as a centralised or decentralised organization. These terms refer to division of power, capital, technical procedures and control in various units of a business. A centralised organization allows for minimal delegation to managers, with the chief executive retaining power over majority of the decisions. On the other end, a decentralised organization makes it possible for managers to exercise control without ownership oversight at each stage, provided goals and targets are met (Buchanan & Huczynski, 2007). Secondly, the essay aims to determine the leadership style practiced by Sir Richard Branson, Virgin Group’s chief executive officer (CEO). Two styles of leadership are used as reference point: transactional and transformational. According to Bass & Bass (2009), transactional leaders work within the organizational culture as it exists, with an awareness of the link between effort and reward. They motivate their employees by setting goals, and enforce control through...
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...Virgin Atlantic Marketing Case Study Presented by Donal Manning James E. Salter Andre Tuinzing Prepared for Professor Enda McGovern Dominican University of California iii Virgin Atlantic Airlines Manning/ Salter/ Tuinzing Table of Contents LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS………...…………………………………………………..IV EXECUTIVE SUMMARY……………………………………………………………….V HISTORY OF VIRGIN ATLANTIC ................................................................................. 3 B ACKGROUND ............................................................................................................................................. 3 F LEET .......................................................................................................................................................... 5 R OUTE N ETWORK........................................................................................................................................ 7 A IRLINE P ARTNERSHIP ................................................................................................................................ 8 A IRLINE ALLIANCES .................................................................................................................................... 8 STRATEGIC PLANNING ............................................................................................... 10 MISSION S TATEMENT ..................................................................................................................
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...Sir Richard Branson, Chairman, Virgin Group, Ltd. Case Study Assignment 4 Professor Leadership and Organizational Behavior February 26, 2012 Since the beginning of history humans have lived in groups guided by the group leader; in which leader is either chosen for his characteristics or born into through cast. No matter the culture this is similar through the human race. Humans need someone to guide them, teach them, someone to look up to. Without followers there is no leader. “That is, leader is a term applied by observers to someone whose behaviors and characteristics match the observers’ implicit leadership preferences” (Hellriegel, D., & Slocum, J. W., Jr. (2011). They are different type of leaders and leadership style depending on the situation and solution needed at that moment by the followers. In my opinion good leaders have shown to be flexible enough to switch between leadership styles depending on the demands of the situation. One of the worlds most intriguing, succesful and enduring entrepreneurial business leaders today is Richard Branson, someone who takes control of the situation by conveying a clear vision and goals for the team, a marked passion for the work and an ability to make the group feel recharged and energized. I consider Richard Branson to be a transformational leader, a leader with vision, confident, motivation, passion and determination. He is the founder of Virgin Group Ltd. “Born July 18, 1950, in Surrey, England, Sir...
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...Sir Richard Branson, Chairman Virgin Group, Ltd. Case Study International success for an organization requires the expansion of the company into the global market for exposure and the goal of increasing profit margins. Strong leadership skills are an essential key in the success for a global company. Judgment, positive attitude and entrepreneurial thinking, and motivational incentives are additional keys that contribute to the success of an organization. The strategic leadership ways and personality of Sir Richard Branson proved to be success in the company he led into the global market. His Virgin Galactic company had the vision to be the first company to offer passengers the opportunity to fly into space at the cost of an expensive price as the world’s first space line. In addition to offering the hopes of the first space line for customers, Branson wanted to expand the global presence even further by participating in joint-venture agreements in telecommunications with China. By incorporating their reputation into the foreign market, the exposure to an untapped market or competitive market, an organization is able to branch out with ideas that will produce additional profits. The leadership traits that Branson portrayed played a huge part in the motivation skills he used on his employees that increased production, Corporate leadership requires two important areas: content leadership (leader’s attributes and decision making skills) and context leadership (variables...
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...Sir Richard Branson, Chairman, Virgin Group, LTD . Case Study BUS520 Dr. Sue Lowe December 4, 2012 Abstract Sir Richard Branson was born in Stowe in the United Kingdom in 1950; Branson first business venture was a student paper, which that started him at the age of 16. Sir Branson started this after he had decided to drop out of school. The decision to drop out of school might have been initiated by his seemingly troublesome period in his elementary school. He has a diagnosis of being dyslectic and he also performed poorly in school. Well in the 1970s Sir Branson started a mail order business and later on he started a record label then two years later the business was expanded with record stores named Virgin Records. The Virgin brand grew during the 1980s and 90s and Branson ventured into a airlines and called it the Virgin Atlantic Airways and also started a Virgin record label in America. In 2005 Branson started Virgin Galactic, a space tourism company, where the intention was to eventually reach orbital trips around the globe as well as going to the moon. Well as of Today the Virgin brand has over 200 different businesses, which is great. Sir Branson has differnet leadership models. He is differnet from others in so many ways. Sir Richard Branson is determined a very determined man with many leadership traits...
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...Assignment 4: Sir Richard Branson, Chairman, Virgin Group, Ltd. Case Study Due Week 8 and worth 100 points Read the Sir Richard Branson, Chairman, Virgin Group, Ltd. case study located in Chapter 11. Write a six to eight (6-8) page paper in which you: 1. Describe Branson’s leadership style in terms of the leadership models addressed in Chapters 10 and 11 and evaluate the likely effectiveness of that style in the U.S. today. 2. Recommend a different leadership style (or combination of styles) that would make Branson an even more effective leader. 3. Determine how Branson would develop and lead a global team working on a major project (e.g., space tourism). 4. Discuss how you can incorporate some of Branson’s leadership qualities into you role at work or school. 5. Include three (3) external peer-reviewed sources to support your position. Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements: • Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; references must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions. • Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required page length. The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are: • Explain the variety of leadership theories and roles. • Analyze...
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...Composition Of Virgins Portfolio Marketing Essay The Virgin Group is a multi national corporation with a hugely diversified business portfolio. This essay examines how the Virgin Groups corporate strategy has allowed it to sustain competitive advantage. The first area that is covered is the composition of Virgins portfolio, namely what businesses Virgin is in and what is the logic of their portfolio. Within the composition section it puts forward two models that help to show why Virgin has chosen particular avenues for achieving growth and sustaining competitive advantage. The Core Competence Theory and Parenting Concept are then reviewed critically in regard to Virgin. Porters three tests are then related to the Virgin Group. Next the co-ordination of Virgins portfolio is addressed, how Virgin has managed its portfolio in its quest for growth and a sustained competitive advantage. Within the composition section of the essay is the issue of control versus the co-operation of Virgin and its business units. It then handles the four concepts of corporate strategy and how Virgin can and has used them to add value to its business units. The link between Virgins Corporate and Marketing strategy is then discussed before the other side of the argument is considered, looking at how Virgins corporate strategy destroyed rather than added value. Finally having synthesised the various diverse elements the essay concludes by using the knowledge gained to raise questions for Virgin about their...
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...statement Signature: M. Yadollahi Date: 16th October, 2015 A separate feedback sheet will be returned to you after your work has been graded. Refer to your Student Manual for the Appeals Procedure if you have concerns about the grading decision. Student Comments (optional) Was the task clear? If not, how could it be improved? Was there sufficient time to complete the task? If not, how much time should be allowed? Did you need additional assistance with the assignment? Was the lecturer able to help you? Were there sufficient resources available? How could the assignment be improved? For further comments, please use the reverse of this page. Assignment cover sheet 28/3/ 2008 Considering Strategic Planning: Virgin Atlantic Mina Yadollahi Business Department Prague College 14. Oct.2015...
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...2008 VIRGIN MOBILE-THINK HAT KE MARKETING PROJECT PREPARED BY:9/12/2008 September VIRGIN MOBILE-THINK HAT KE 12, 2008 Why Virgin Mobile In Indian mobile market, Virgin mobile is a unique player based on its business model and strategy. It is the only service provider which does not hold any bandwidth and mobile setup infrastructure but uses Tata Teleservices spectrum and is penetrating market totally on its branding and marketing strategy. Creating a niche brand and promoting it to specific customer segment with proper marketing has been key to success for virgin mobile across the globe. So, from marketing and customer understanding point of view, this is a very unique company to study. Understanding Virgin’s business Model Virgin has promoted itself as the brand for young India, keeping the Indian youth as its target customer segment. The idea behind targeting this segment can be found inherited in virgin’s business model. The salient features of Virgin’s business model from customer perspective are: 1) With intensive competition and reducing voice tariffs, the profit margins for voice service are decreasing day by day. So, the future profit strategy is maximizing profit margins through data services and it is youth segment which provides maximum data service revenues. 2) Future projection of increasing young and working population of India as 65% of overall population by 2020. 3) Increased use of data services in future due to technological advancements. So...
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...1968 : His business career began at the age of 15 when he published the magasine called « Student » He went on to set up a mail-order business in 1970 in the vinly record business which, in 1972, became a chain of record stores called Virgin Records, later known as virgin Megastores. 1984/ Virgin Atlantic takes off , boat and Ballon tour 1988 : Virgin Megastores opens new stores in Galasgow and Paris, followed by numerous other British, European, American and Pacific Basin cities. 1996 : Virgin Express airline takes off Virgin Net launches as an internet service provider Virgin Brides opens its doors 2000 : Virginmoney.com (supermarket financial services) virgin travelstore virgin energy (gas and electricity) Virgin.Shop (a new retail concept replacing the price brand) Mobil, cars, wines Today, the group has 300 companies in 30 countries, with over 50,000 employees Slide 5 Lessons from Richard Branson 1 Listen more than you talk : To be a good leader you have to be a great listener. Brilliant ideas can spring from the most unlikely places, so you should always keep your ears open for some shrewd advice. Get out there, listen to people, draw people out and learn from them. 2. Keep it simple : Maintain a focus upon innovation, but don’t try to reinvent the wheel. A simple change for the better is far more effective than five complicated changes for the worse. 3. Take pride in your work : With so many...
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...The Virgin Group, LTD Roxanna Farris Professor: Trista Avent Organization Behavior August 26, 2012 The Virgin Group, LTD 1. Describe Branson’s leadership style in terms of the leadership models addressed in Chapters 10 and 11 and evaluate the likely effectiveness of that style in the U.S. today. Sir Branson’s leadership style is the combination of authentic and transformational. He believes in hiring staff that have the skills to perform effectively. The authentic leadership style leads the way to his skill to work with the understanding that people make mistakes and they can be corrected while the work continues. As a transformational leader he demonstrates the capability needed to foresee company development, inspire and empower staff. With these attributes it requires him to have balance as a leader in the day-to-day working environment while creating a productive work environment and focusing on company goals. According to Chapter 1, “Leadership is the process of developing ideas and a vision, living by values that support those ideas and that vision, influencing others to embrace them in their own behaviors and making hard decisions about human and other resources”. (Hellriegel & Slocum, 2011, pg. 290). Even though the company has taken losses from different endeavors the CEO continues to envision new ways to transform the business to newer heights. Because of his compassion for his workers, the concept to work harder and smarter helps the...
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...from Virgin Cola to Virgin Brides The demise of the domestic carrier Little Red joins a string of the entrepreneur’s failures from makeup to bridalwear to alcohol • Virgin Atlantic axes Little Red * Share * * * inShare0 * Email * ------------------------------------------------- * ------------------------------------------------- Gwyn Topham, transport correspondent * ------------------------------------------------- The Guardian, Monday 6 October 2014 18.19 BST Sir Richard Branson hands out free cans of Virgin Cola in downtown Tokyo. Sales of the brand lost fizz against the might of Coca-Cola and Pepsi.Photograph: EPA Sir Richard Branson has made a fortune from a string of business ventures that bear his signature brand, including Virgin Trains and Virgin Media. But Little Red joins a series of failures that have seen Branson fail to break into lucrative markets including soft drinks and alcohol. Virgin Cola Launched in 1994, Virgin Cola was initially available only on Virgin planes and in Virgin cinemas before Branson sought wider distribution. “It tasted better than Coke. For one wonderful year we had the dream of Virgin Cola being the brand on everyone’s lips.” Instead, Branson claimed, “swat teams and bagfuls of money” sent from Coke’s Atlanta headquarters gobbled up his drink, whose market share peaked at 0.5% in the three years it was on sale in the US. In 2012, the UK producer went bust and no one else acquired the licence. Virgin Vodka...
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...struck me most 13 Introduction 13 Richard Branson 13 Tony Hsieh 13 Compare and Contrast 14 Introduction 14 Richard Branson 14 Tony Hsieh 15 Executive Summary This paper aims to present and discuss both Richard Branson and Tony Hsieh on their business ventures, characteristics, and endeavours both inside and outside the business world, it will focus mainly on their successes and the trials and tribulations that came with it; including my own personal reflection and juxtaposition of myself and both Richard Branson and Tony Hsieh. Richard Branson was born on July 18, 1950 in Surrey England, all throughout his childhood he struggled in school dropped out at the age of 16. This decision ultimately led to the creation of Virgin records. His entrepreneurial ventures and...
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...Business Strategy Analysis Virgin Group Yingzi Dong Xiange Liu Huan Wang Introduction Virgin is the managing company for the branded private investment group, which had interests ranging from transportation, financial services, health and leisure, and media and telecom to space travel. Virgin’s founder Richard Branson,started the Virgin group in the 1970s, with Branson and Murphy had decided in 2005 that Virgin would focus on two additional pillars of growth: health& wellness, and financial service.In the past, Virgin had generally financed its expansion by selling equity in its operating companies,then, Murphy contemplated the group’s strategy for the next decade. Business Strategy Virgin Group’s corporate strategy is change due to the whole financial situation. At the beginning, Virgin Group is a branded private investment group and seeking an internal rate of return of 30% or more on investments per year. And the initial strategy includes, 1) The founder of Virgin Richard Branson is enthusiastic about his career. The ideas for new investments can came from various people, such as Richard and his meeting friends, entrepreneurs or colleagues. Also, once...
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