Predicament Panacea Introduction Blue chip companies- A nationally-recognized, well-established and financially sound company. Blue chips generally sell high-quality, widely accepted products and services. Blue chip companies are known to weather downturns and operate profitably in the face of adverse economic conditions, which help to contribute to their long record of stable and reliable growth. Revenue growth is the goal of all businesses. Growth means the potential for higher profits and a stronger position in the market. As revenues grow, so does the value of the enterprise should the owner decide to sell. Finding new customers, new markets, creating new products and doing a better job serving existing customers are all viable growth strategies. Strategies that can be adopted include widening consumer base, improving operational strategies, making promising ventures etc. MANAGEMENT A competent management is the backbone of any successful company. This is not to say that employees are not also important, but it is management that ultimately makes the crucial strategic decisions. You can think of management as the captain of a ship. Fallouts such as Enron, Worldcom and Imclone have demonstrated the importance of emphasizing the qualitative aspects of a company. Here you need to address the questions: 1. What kind of goals has the management set out for the company? 2. How concise is the mission statement? A good mission statement creates goals for management, employees, stockholders and even partners. It's a bad sign when companies lace their mission statement with the latest buzz words and corporate jargon. 3. How you plan to reorient the company’s strategy? MARKETING The heart of your business success lies in its marketing. Most aspects of your business depend on successful marketing. The overall marketing umbrella covers advertising, public relations, promotions and sales. Something might be going wrong in marketing of your products. Ask yourself the following questions: 1. Are you able to showcase the product as unique? 2. Is the marketing budget being optimally utilized? Revamp your marketing strategy through perception, planning and improvisation. FINANCING Unless your business has the balance sheet of Apple, eventually you will probably need access to capital. In fact, many large-cap companies routinely ask for capital infusions to meet short-term obligations. An overhaul of company’s marketing and management sectors can be pretty expensive .Proving that your company would be a money spinner to the financers would require a creative acumen. Problem Statement You have been handed over the reins of a large scale blue chip company going through a downward spiral. The company registered a loss in last year and is scaring away investors. Your much touted team has to turn the tables and restore the company’s former stature. Employ your creative and technical acumen to revamp the management, marketing and finance departments of the company. Your strategy should showcase your aptitude, innovation and presentation; you are not expected to have much technical knowhow of business management. Indulge yourself in this titillating extempore experience and get an insight into the world of business management and organizations. Ask yourself: 1. Whether you acquire additional capital through debt (bonds, loans) or through equity (stock market, venture capitalist)? 2. How will you appease to the banks, lenders, public etc for money? 3. Your plan b in case of fallout. General Rules 1. Students of any discipline are eligible to participate in this event. 2. Each team must contain 3-4 members. 3. Registrations will be on the spot. The event constitutes two stages: STAGE 1 A multiple choice quiz based on the participants’ business aptitude and knowledge of industry and economy will be conducted. This would be a screening round for the main event. STAGE 2 1. Each team will be required to choose a company from the rendered list. 2. Different companies in different sectors shall be available to choose from and priority will be based on the team’s quiz score. 3. Information pertinent to the selected company will be provided in form of company’s background information, product information, strategy, balance sheet, annual report etc. 4. The members will have to analyze the aforementioned data and perceive the glitches in the company’s strategy. 5. Members will prepare future strategy and proffer suggestions in areas of management, marketing and finance. 6. After a preparation time of 2-3 hours members will present their strategy to uplift the company with one member speaking on one segment i.e. management, marketing or finance. 7. The teams will be apprised based on their perception of situation, reprisal strategy and presentation appeal.