30th October 2009 Update

1. Meeting Minutes

Friday, 30th October 2009

Attendance: All members (Rayhan had reasons to leave early)

Absentee(s): None

Taken by: Penny Tang

• Status report and progress
  Situation Analysis: Current competitors (Penny) - PRESENTED and COMPLETED
  Situation Analysis: Distributor network (Faris) - PRESENTED and COMPLETED
  Situation Analysis: External Forces (Jessica) - PRESENTED and COMPLETED
  Situation Analysis: Current Financial Situation (Rayhan) - NOT COMPLETED and DEADLINE EXTENDED VIA E-MAIL BY SUNDAY 1 NOV 2009
• Upcoming week's tasks
  Marketing Strategy: Marketing Strategy (Chaya) - TO BE PRESENTED 6 NOV 2009 : ON TRACK
  Marketing Strategy: Financial Objectives (Faris/Rayhan) - TO BE PRESENTED 6 NOV 2009 : ON TRACK
  Marketing Strategy: Marketing Objectives (Penny/Jessica) - TO BE PRESENTED 6 NOV 2009 : ON TRACK
  SWOT: Strengths (Chaya) - TO BE PRESENTED 9 NOV 2009 : ON TRACK
  SWOT: Weaknesses (Penny) - TO BE PRESENTED 9 NOV 2009 : ON TRACK
  SWOT: Opportunities (Jessica) - TO BE PRESENTED 9 NOV 2009 : ON TRACK
  SWOT: Threats (Faris/Rayhan) - TO BE PRESENTED 9 NOV 2009 : ON TRACK
  Profile of target consumer: Consumer survey - SURVEY ONGOING WEEK OF 2ND NOV 2009 AND DATA PRESENTED 6 NOV 2009: ON TRACK
• Other issues
  * Consumer survey form for profile of target consumer discussed and finalised. Finalised copy e-mailed to all group members for dissemination and data collection.

2. New Issues/Matters Raised During Previous Meeting

NA

3. Key Target Checklist Update

Please click the table above to enlarge the view.

4. 2500-word Essay Update
NA

5. Video Presentation Update

Technical arrangements will commence from 6 NOV 2009 meeting (i.e. getting a video recording device etc.)

6. Video Advert Update
Same as 5.

7. The Marketing Game! Update
Not discussed.

8. Miscellaneous
NA

Blog updates by Faris
On behalf of Group C4

30th October 2009

26th October 2009 Non-Routine Update

The group, through e-mail and forum correspondence over the last weekend have discussed on several issues in light of the recent meeting's lack of performance and focus.

Result of the discussions are as the following:

1. The group has reviewed and rescheduled its key target dates and deadlines, thus cancelling all previous published schedules. The most recent schedule will be the one used.
2. The group has noted in detail the tasks in hand and made it clear to all group members.
3. The group has agreed in delegating specific tasks to members of the group.
4. The group has agreed that minutes of future meetings will be recorded and published on the blog.
5. The group has agreed that the blog updates will carry a new format post-26th October.
   
6. The group has finalised on all meeting dates.
7. The group agrees to raise all matters during weekly meetings without fear or favour, putting the group's coursework interests above all.

A PDF file has been published as a result of this and can be accessed through this link for download. All group members have been furnished with a copy.

Group C4

26th October 2009

23rd October 2009 Update

The group conducted its second meeting at Chapters, King's Building, Strand Campus.

At the meeting among the issues discussed were:

* Matched progress with the key targets set up - to which the group is on track. We have conducted a Market Research and these information has been channelled to Chaya Gopaul for compilation later in the semester. Also, we have completed a current product and current target market list, which is also channelled to Chaya Gopaul for compilation

* Information gathering for SWOT Analysis is still ongoing from last week and is expected to go on for another two weeks before being presented on the 9th of November meeting. Tasks for the SWOT analysis were finalised with Strengths being overseen by Chaya Gopaul, Weaknesses by Jessica Wang, Opportunities by Ahmad Faris Bin Ahmad Kabeer and Threats by Hiu Yin Tang, Penny. Rayhan Siddique has been entrusted to gather information on the surface for the SWOT analysis and to oversee the technical aspects of presenting the SWOT analysis.

* The group agreed that for the Situation Analysis Report, all group members will e-mail Chaya Gopaul materials with references for compilation. Chaya Gopaul will e-mail team members later in the week to set deadlines of when these information should be submitted to her.

* The group has also discussed that it may create the 30-second advert on a specific product from Cadbury as a sample on how should Cadbury advertise its other products. The group thinks it is better to set up an example through one specific product that can be applied to other products rather than creating an advert to portray all of Cadbury's product range.

* The group discussed and finalised on the target market on channeled the thoughts to Chaya Gopaul on how to present this information

* Rayhan Siddique may make a visit to Cadbury's office in Central London to find out more information from the company to help with the group's coursework

* The group acknowledges that in the recent week reports have been surfacing that Cadbury's is picking up its revenue, aprroximately 7% rise in the last financial year and will be expected to release its third quarter results early November. Therefore, to classify Cadbury's as a failing company - it is inappropriate. The group has now focused on helping Cadbury's do better as their business is picking up.

* Cadbury's possible take over by American foodstuff giant KRAFT was also discussed during the meeting.

* Apart from the SWOT analysis, the group will also be working on gathering information about Cadbury's distribution network and current competitors list. Current competitors have been tentatively finalised, so as the distribution network - however, group members are asked to find detailed information especially for the Cadbury's distribution network and how Cadbury's offers incentives to its distributors. This will be e-mailed to Chaya Gopaul in the coming week before or by the next meeting.

* Some ideas were discussed about the video presentation and advert however these will only be discussed further and rigorously as per our planned key target dates.

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THE MARKETING GAME! - Week 1 Submission

* The group will discuss about the variables and to finalise reading by Tuesday before Wednesday's seminar.

* Ahmad Faris Bin Ahmad Kabeer will prepare the form to be submitted on Wednesday during the seminar.

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GROUP C4
23rd October 2009

16th October 2009 Update

The group has launched its blog which can be accessed at http://kclc4.blogspot.com

Also, the group launched its own private forum so that team members can discuss virtually every now and then - this can be accessed online, however due to the private nature of the forum, public access is restricted.

We have researched on some brands to be considered as our group coursework - these included Starbucks, Cadbury, KFC, Next, and Carphone Warehouse.

The group tentatively decided via anonymous votes that it will conduct the group coursework for Cadbury's - subject to the lecturer's approval (which has now been approved).

The group conducted its first meeting at Chapters, King's Building at the Strand Campus.

Among the issues discussed were:
* Confirming and finalising the group's brand selection. The group collectively agrees to carry out research for Cadbury's - in a global perspective.
* Contacting Cadbury's Media Relations to have a liasion from within the organisation to render assistance in terms of corporate information that would be valuable for the coursework
* Setting dates that the group will conduct meeting throughout the semester until the coursework submission deadline.
* Setting up key deadlines and targets of the coursework (refer below).
* Tasking members of the team to be managers in different aspects of the coursework.
* Delegating team members to contribute equal amount of information for the SWOT analysis which will be part of the Situation Analysis Report.
* Agreeing that a Market Research for the selected brand would be conducted in the forthcoming week to be presented in the next meeting.

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APPENDIX A

The marketing meetings have been provisionally scheduled for the following dates:

1. Friday,16th October 2009 2-3pm : Chapters, Level 2, King's Building - DONE
2. Friday, 23rd October 2009 2-3pm: Venue TBC
3. Friday, 30th October 2009 4-5pm: Venue TBC
4. Friday, 6th November 2009 2-3pm: Venue TBC
5. Monday, 9th November 2009 11-1pm: Venue TBC
6. Monday 16th November 2009 3-4pm: Venue TBC
7. Friday, 20th November 2009 2-3pm: Venue TBC
8. Friday, 27th November 2009 4-5pm: Venue TBC (Scheduled FINAL meeting)
9. Friday 4th December 2009 2-3pm is scheduled as back-up meeting dates that may not take place if the group assignment is completed on time. They are only scheduled just in case we have a backlog. Venue TBC.

Key dates and targets (Tentative)
16th October 2009
* Start Market Research for Cadbury's
* Start gathering info for SWOT analysis.

23rd October 2009
* Should complete current product and current target sections

30th October 2009
* Should complete distributor network and current competitors sections

6th November 2009
* Should complete SWOT Analysis

9th November 2009
* Start work on video shoot for presentation and advert

16th November 2009
Discuss further on video presentation and editing

20th November 2009
TBC

27th November 2009
* Final meeting, to prepare submission on 30th November 2009

30th November 2009
SUBMISSION OF COURSEWORK

4th December 2009
Back-up meeting in case of backlog and submission on 9th of December 2009 (FINAL - INCASE OF BACKLOG ONLY)

****** KEY MANAGERIAL AREAS ******
Penny and Faris: Video Presentation and Advert
Chaya and Jessica: Situation Analysis
Rayhan: Blog Updates

GROUP C4
16th October 2009

Updates Coming Soon

This blog will be updated weekly, every Friday starting 16th October 2009 to 11th December 2009 as part of our group's coursework progress report.

These updates may be posted as late as 11.59pm on Fridays to report the progress of the group's work for the week starting from the previous update up to the latest update.

Please stay tuned.

Thanks.

Faris
Group C4