Developing Distribution Plan and Promotions Strategy

Introduction

This assignment is about developing and formulating distribution plan and promotional strategy that are used and applied as marketing tactics by different organizations.  

Marketing Place Distribution strategy

As far as the distribution strategy is concerned, there is need to understand the importance of target market, selection of distribution channels and location in an appropriate manner. Actually, this is the way or method through which the products or services are gone through different distribution channels. After going through different channels, finally the product is reached to the end user. It can be said in other way that from where and how the consumers will buy the product or service (McDonald & Wilson, 2011). There are other assignment help that make this activity crucial and effective in order to reach target market. These factors can be considered such as the location of the business, location of target market, how to reach target market. The stocking means the warehousing of stocks should also be perceived as significant and important factor. How the stocks or goods will be transported that becomes another key factor as well (McDonald & Wilson, 2011).

Locating the Business

The location of business does relate to the different aspects that need to be assumed and assessed in the assignment writing service. These are related to retailing direct to public or working through an intermediary. The convenience element should also be focused because customers will visit the business place. The location of target market is crucial when planning about locating the business (Ferrell & Hartline, 2012). There is need to understand the fact that how much exposure will this business get and in what manner. The competitors along with their complete information including their presence and location should also be considered. There is need to focus about occupancy cost as well.  

 Channels of Distribution

The channels of distribution can be explained through the help of following diagram (Rosenbloom, 2011).

                               Figure 1: Channels of Distribution (Rosenbloom, 2011)

The above figure has shown the complete way in which channels of distribution will work and in what manner when you ask write my assignment.

Logistics

Logistics is all about developing the plan that will provide basis and ways through which the control and implementation of physical flow of raw materials including the final or finished goods to the end consumers becomes possible (Christopher & Peck, 2012).

Indication of Strategies

There could be different kind of strategies that can be indicated in order to cater and fulfill the demands of target market. The first strategy that will be used is the usage and application of stores that are located in different regions (Hollensen, 2015). This strategy will be used because of the fact that the stores are already present and available therefore they could be utilized in order to stock and place the goods or services in an appropriate manner. In this way, the target market can be effectively catered as the goods and services will be available in different regions where the stores are already available. This will make the distribution strategy effective as the target market can easily access the required goods or services in a convenient manner. The other strategy that can be utilized in order to support or enhance the distribution plan (Hollensen, 2015).

Selling goods or services through online method could become cost effective and reliable as well. In today’s scenario, markets are becoming global through the help of going online as it helps in increasing sales and at the same time many prospective clients or customers are encouraged to visit the shops or stores online (Hollensen, 2015). This can add the population of target market in the near future. The third strategy is not cost effective and it is expensive and time consuming as well. Therefore, the third strategy that is to hire sales team and sell products to supplier and doing campaign door to door is not appropriate and feasible (Hollensen, 2015).

Recommend Three Strategy Options

There can be different kinds of strategy options that can be provided in order to get products or services out to the customer base. The first strategy option that can be used is the application and usage of Social Media (Rosenbloom, 2011). There are different kinds of websites like Twitter, Facebook and Google+ that offer platforms and ways through which the products or services can be easily marketed to the target market in a desired manner.   Social media provides opportunities to potential customers to analyze and assess the products or services of the firm in a different manner. This strategy is more effective when it comes to developing close and long-term relationship with the target market. In this way, the target market is associated with the firm and perceives the firm as their own company and at the same time, the distance between the customer and organization is decreased (Rosenbloom, 2011).

The other strategy option is to conduct an event in the name of customer appreciation in which free refreshments and door prizes can be provided to the loyal and valued customers in a desired manner (Rosenbloom, 2011). These events should be conducted in the company outlets as it will increase the awareness about the firm and at the same time, costumers will be able to become part of these events. The clients or customers other than target market can also visit these events and could become the target market in the near future. The other strategy is about the after sales customer survey in which customer feedback is observed and their personal experiences with the products or services also noted (Rosenbloom, 2011).

Key Types of Marketing Materials

There is need to understand the importance of key types of marketing materials that could be developed in order to successfully compete in the market. The product or service should be defined first along with the identification of target market (Hollensen, 2015). The credibility of an organization should also be enhanced in an appropriate manner. The focus should remain on continuous basis so that time and money resources can be used properly (Hollensen, 2015).     

Action Steps

There could be different sorts of actions that can be taken in order to move the distribution plan in an effective manner.  The first action step is about how the distribution plan can be executed as marketing mix can be useful in the execution of distribution plan in a desired manner. The marketing mix involves product, price, place and promotion (McDonald & Wilson, 2011). The product should follow and complete the product lifecycle stage and it should be either intangible or tangible. The price will effect directly the selling of product and it should be considered in the execution of distribution plan. Placement or place involves how the product will be provided to end users and where it will be placed or present for target market or end users.  The promotion also plays a key role to market and sell the product and who will be responsible for doing the promotion is significant (McDonald & Wilson, 2011).

The next action step is when the distribution plan should be executed. The right timing and right tactic for executing the distribution plan is important in the success of distribution plan. The product or service demand and the time of distribution of product are critical in effectively executing the plan. There is need of focusing on the strategy that will assess the timing of distribution plan (McDonald & Wilson, 2011). The right time will definitely serve the purpose of the firm. The last action step is the involvement of those personnel who will be involved in the execution of the plan. These personnel could be entire marketing team consisted of sales executives, marketing professionals along with suppliers, wholesalers, dealers and retailers (McDonald & Wilson, 2011).    

Conclusion

An effective and result oriented marketing distribution plan is desirable for every organization whether working physically or online. There is need to understand the importance and contribution of promotional strategies that makes the distribution plan effective and efficient.  

Research Proposal On Information Security (IS) the application of Information security (IS) controls to mitigate associated risks of online banking in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Information security is an important aspect to consider in online banking specifically in the banking sectors which are working in Saudi Arabia. There is a need to understand the associated risks which are involved in online banking and how the information security protocols have been applied by banks in order to reduce the risks to a considerable extent. The research proposal will be focusing on different aspects relating to information security (IS) and the risks covered in online banking. The research methodology will be done in a manner to support findings and literature review. The interviews will be conducted in the research in order to find primary data effectively to produce the data which will be reliable and trustworthy.

1.     Title

Information Security (IS): The application of Information security (IS) controls to mitigate associated risks of online banking in Saudi Arabia.

2 Introduction

2.1 Research Question

The main emphasis of the research will be on the domain of information security (IS) of online banking in Saudi Arabia and how the risk based approach is involved in online banking. Considering information security (IS), the research questions for this research are as follows:

a)    Determine and identify the risk based approach which is involved in information security of online banking in Saudi Arabia.  This aspect will focus on the risk approach which are causing threats and harms to information security and the way online banking is being affected by this phenomenon in Saudi Arabia.

Before emphasizing on the mentioned scenario, there is a need to understand the critical literature review in order to create the following aspects.

b)    What is Information Security (IS)?

c)     Online banking in Saudi Arabia.

d)     Identification of optimal balance between the technical and non technical IS controls.

e)     The influence of level protections on users’ acceptance.  

2.2 Importance of Research question

The importance of research question can be considered in a way that information security these days have been affected and badly influenced by the risks which are associated with (IS) information security of online banking and the research question will be able enough to answer the issues in an effective manner as it will allow and help in identifying and determining ways through which the risks of online banking can be decreased.  

3 Theoretical Framework

The banking sector has been so much important and significant in contributing its part to the development and progress of Saudi Arabia. The financial industry specifically banking industry of Saudi Arabia has been transforming in a way that in recent times the online banking scenario has been emerged as the most important aspect of traditional banking and online banking has been greatly influenced by another concept and domain of information security in this concern. Information security (IS) is very critical in making contributions towards the success of online banking.

Banks in Saudi Arabia provide online banking services where customers are able to carry out transactions as banks are encouraging customers to do online banking with the provision of secured environment according to banks ‘point of view. The security of information is based upon the five aspects registration, services, security threats and awareness and authentication methods (Qasem, 2014).

Information security has been defined as the defense and guards of information from a extensive variety of intimidation so that business stability is sustained and continued in an effective manner and at the same time reducing risks and increasing return on investments (ROI) thus expanding business opportunities (Turner, 2008).

This fact has been analyzed that information security has been applied to banks operating in Saudi Arabia as banking institutions have turned out to be the main focus and in this aspect the fall down in banking can lead to further down fall in the overall banking sector and will cause a hindrance in the economy of Saudi Arabia.

The increase application and use of information technology and security in online banking perspective have produced or resulted in basic change in terms of how banks are interacting with customers (Dabholkar & Bagozzi, 2002), (Parasuraman & Zinkhan, 2002), (Bauer et al., 2005). Banking organizations are matured enough or not, they have to maintain their energy and strength by bringing change in a way of learning and innovating from their experiences (Hellriegel et al., 2005), (Slocum et al., 2008).

The acceptance of online baking has to be considered in Saudi Arabia as there is an increased need in information security so that the risk associated with online banking can be reduced to a considerable level as there are factors that can create impacts upon the acceptance of online banking as other factors are also associated with Saudi Arabia as quality of internet connection along as internet quality is critical element in any internet based application. As internet is controlled by Saudi government as the internet is affecting in adopting online banking services and there is a relationship between speed of internet access and use of online banking which has been found in the study (Sathye, 1999), (Almogbil, 2005).

Awareness in terms of the benefits and services of online banking suggesting that lack of awareness of online banking services and benefits are the reasons due to which consumers are reluctant in using online banking services (Howcroft et al., 2002).

The element of trust is also a key factor in the increased use of online banking and e-commerce (Yousafzai et al., 2003) as trust is more significant in online banking than offline banking (Suh & Han, 2002) the online banking transactions involve more sensitive information and customers are more concerned with the access to critical files and information transferred through internet (Alsajjan & Dennis, 2006), (Suh & Han, 2002).     

4. Research Methodology

The research study will be using both primary and secondary sources in a combined way in order to facilitate the interviewing process along with the searching and finding the document and the literature review will also be done in this aspect. In this way the multi method technique will be utilized in this research which is known as triangulation. The reason for selecting this research method is that it will help in providing a desired extent of correctness in research findings (Bryman, 2001).

This research will be done and completed within the situation and background of academic literature therefore the process will begin by appraising the available literature means the secondary data will be analyzed carefully which can be originated and accessed in the form of books, academic articles, Journals and periodicals written by journalists, authors and researchers. Primary data will be collected by the help of performing interviewing in which the nature of the problem will be evaluated in a suitable manner.  The persons who will be interviewed are manager information security and the personnel who are working in online banking departments of different banks. Interviewing is also helpful in providing flexibility and compliance which is very vital in this research as the other method is not as effective for instance questionnaires.

4.1 Interviewing  

The interviewing is a very significant factor in collecting primary sources of information as the interview will be consisted of open ended and close ended questions. This will help in developing standard and flexibility will also be maintained in this way. The open ended questions will be applied in order to explore the hidden areas in a way that ideas and salient features will be discussed and opinions regarding the research will be explored as well (Gill et al., 2008).

The interview questions will follow the different domains and areas which have been developed and organized on the basis of literature review in order to achieve the expected outcomes. There are advantages and disadvantages (Opdenakker, 2006)which are related with interviews in a way that they are very multifaceted to understand effectively as it consists of different skilled conduct or an attitude and knowledge of a domain which is being researched but however, its benefits are very crucial as compare to its drawbacks. 

4.2 Document Search

In document searching this process will help the research to perform the detailed and comprehensive examination in order to support and complement the data which will be obtained from interviews. The documentary confirmation will support in proving reliability of the interview results as results are expected to be biased and undependable.

4.3 Analysis 

In this aspect the data will be analyzed by the help of statistical methods as descriptive statistics will be produced in order to examine and assess the sharing of relevant statistical procedures will be used to explore and understand the data which will be collected in the research (Kumar, 2008).

5.  Reflections

As far as this research is concerned, there can be so many obstacles and challenges which will be anticipated during the process of research. The potential hurdles and difficulties could be in the form of time factor in which the people who will be involved in the process of interviewing will have different priorities as compared to the priorities which have been set by the researcher therefore it will be a tough ask to access the people in a timely manner as the time allocation from the participants for interview will be critical and significant in determining the effectiveness and usefulness of the data.

The access in obtaining information regarding the research will be difficult in a sense that the research is related with the financial sector specifically banks working in Saudi Arabia therefore the confidential matters relating with the information might not be disclosed during the interview as the banks have strict policy and disclosure procedure which may affect in attaining the desired information.    

As far as the conceptual, theoretical problems and challenges are concerned these issues can be considered in a way that sometimes it can be assumed that the limitations and drawbacks of secondary sources can impact negatively in attaining and developing primary data as a matter of fact this issue is of high importance that there is a need of analysis and judgment of the secondary data so that the data which is available should be perceived as reliable and can contribute sufficiently in developing primary data.

From ethical point of view it is very important to conduct the research in confidential manner in a sense that the participant’s information should be preserved in a desired manner and their information will not be given to third party in either way. Ethical issues regarding the plagiarism of the data will be kept in mind by the researcher in a way that the researcher will not try to use and insert the data directly from the internet and this thing will be made sure that participants involved in the interviewing and collecting primary data will be contributing on their own will and consent and no single person will be forced to become a part of this research.

The other issue which is expected that I will be working as a researcher in this study and at the same time the potential bias during the research might come which may cause in a negative way. The knowledge and awareness regarding the research can influence in a way that my already developed assumptions and thinking about the research might play a disturbing role but I will make sure that the research could be done by the help of neutral and open mind so that the research should not be affected because of potential bias (Law & MacDermid, 2008). My position as a researcher in a political field can influence this research in a way that the political scenario will be influencing the research study as in the country there are different situations which may cause difficulties in the research and the research might be affected as the researcher can be affected by the political situations.