统计学-案例分析(英文)

Executive summaryWith the development of globalization and information technology, outsourcing has gained great popularity all over the world. On the other hand, virtual works have more chances to find freelance works with the development of outsourcing. The reasons for outsourcing includes low operational and labor costs, tax breaks, to gain more global and local market share, to reduce risks, to move to higher segments of the value added chain, to serve for innovation as well as to focus to accelerate business transformation. Now the Brammer is encountered with a problem of management that the purchasing and management of spares for the daily operations, maintenance and repair of production and manufacturing equipment is often a complex, time and resource consuming issue for most organizations. The Brammer is considering whether they will outsource the management of spares.This research will focus on identifying a management problem of the Brammer and designing an appropriate business research strategy for success in business. What is more, the essay will choose a qualitative research methodology to investigate the organizational management problem of the Brammer.1. Background informationAs one of the Europe’s leading supplier of quality industrial maintenance, repair and overhaul products, the Brammer has enjoyed good reputation all the world. With its head quarter in England, the Brammer operates out of more than 300 locations in 15 countries. The aim of the company is to supply a range of solutions which are designed to help the clients to cut down the total cost of component acquisition.Even faced with the globally economic crisis, the Brammer has kept a stable increase in 2008. The following statistics will present the outstanding achievement of it from 2006 to 2010:Brammer FundamentalsYear Ending Revenue (£m)Pre-tax (£m)EPS P/E PEG EPSGrth.Div YieldIt is predicted that in the fiscal year 2011, the Brammer will still keep a tendency of increase in the revenue.2. Analysis of the symptoms of the management problems.However, with the growth of the company, some management problems occurs which affects the continuous development of the company.For most organizations, without proper management, the purchasing and management of spares for the daily operations, maintenance and repair of production and manufacturing can turn into a complex, time and resource resourcing issue. This problem also concerns Ian Ritchie, Brammer’s UK’s managing director.In order to cut down the cost of such purchasing and management and focus on the core business of the Brammer, he has taken into consideration outsourcing such purchase and management to other small companies, with the more and more popularity of outsourcing and outsourcing websites.However, this has not been approved by the board of directors. But it will be discussed as a good idea to cut down the cost of purchasing and management.3. The statement of the management problemIn different stages of a company, it will have a chance to be encountered with various problems in the areas of marketing, human resources, finance, operations or general management. For the Brammer, it is obvious the company is facing the problem in operations or general management. With the expansion of the company, the cost of daily purchasing and management is increasing, which will have a negative effect on the final profit of the company. As a result, it needs better methods of management to reach a better settlement. (Gupta, & Ashok, 1992, p.p. 44-59),This essay is trying to have a research about whether the Brammer should take advantage of the outsourcing in order to achieve the goal of reducing the cost. Before the conclusion is finally drawn, some research questions should be raised.1) What are the reasons for outsourcing?2) What are the advantages and disadvantages of outsourcing?3) Whether there is a need for the Brammer to use outsourcing as a method to solve the operational and management problems?4) If the outsourcing is carried out by Brammer, how and where to seek for outsourcer who can offer high quality of service?5) Is there any other problems in the management of the Brammer? If yes, how to solve them?In order to offer some suggestions for the Brammer to solve the current operate and management problems, with the growth of the company, this essay is trying to have a research on the necessity and feasibility of outsourcing the daily purchasing and management to some other companies as to cut down the routine cost of the company. As a result, the research objectives will center around the advantages and disadvantages of the outsourcing. This essay is making an effort to find out whether outsourcing will help solve operate and management problems that concerns the Brammer.6. Research methodologyIn order to have a better understanding of outsourcing and its benefits in current economic environment, two kinds of qualitative research methodologies will be used in this research.1) Literature reviewLiterature review can be defined as an overview of the available literatures in a certain field which is closely connected the research objects, including the process of search and evaluation of such resources. In this research, some valuable literatures of the peer researchers in recent years will be searched and evaluated. All the resources will center around the pros and cons of outsourcing as well as the cases of the usage of outsourcing. (Deavers, 2010, p.p. 503-519),2) Interviews of the users of outsourcingIn order to have a deeper understanding of the management of outsourcing, after the literature review, the research will conduct some interviews of the current or previous users of outsourcing. The interview will focus on the following questions: (Perry, 1997, p.p. 785-802)➢In which occasions, have you chosen the outsourcing to solve the management problems?➢Are there any problems in the process of outsourcing?➢Have you achieved the goal of outsourcing, such as cost reduce, to improve innovation, as well as to focus on the core competitiveness.➢How to choose a qualified company for outsourcing?7. Review of the methodology●Reasons for the chosen research methods.1) Literature review:A good literature review will collect up-to-date and useful information for theresearcher. What is more, it will make the researcher have a deeper understanding of the specific field. In this research, literature review will offer the current situation of the situation, as well as the pros and cons of outsourcing. (Fan, 2000, p.p. 213-219)2) Interviews:By interviewing the current or previous users of the outsourcing, it can give the researcher a closer connection with outsourcing. What is more, some experience and lessons will learn from the interviews. Based on the literature review and interviews, the Brammer can decide whether outsourcing will be carried out to solve the management problems in current situations.●Research methodology limitations.It is unavoidable that each research methodology has its own limitations. The literature review as well as the interviews is no exceptions.1) Literature review:During the research, the problem of time constraint will be encountered. What is more, it will a difficulty to get access to the most up-to-date literature resources.2) Interviews:➢Due to the fact that the interviews have to be done face to face, some interviewees will feel embarrassment, as a result, the results of suchinterviews will be negatively affected.➢Because of the time limitations of the interviews, it is reduce the depth of the questions in the interview, which will have an influence the final results ofthe interviews.➢The face to face interviews have a high requirement for the interviewer.➢Some questions will not get the expected answers due to the protection of trade secret. (Barclay, 2001, p.p. 81-101)●Research methodology ethical considerations.During the process of the research, all the ethical principles will be upheld, what is more, no one under the age of 18 will take part in the research, last but least, all the responses from the interviews will be kept confidential.8. Plan for the business researchIn order to carry out the research, here are some plans for the research. (Witte, 2000, p.p. 179-195),1) First step: conducting the literature review.2) Second step: based on the literature review, some preparations will be done for the interviews.3) Third step: conducting face to face interviews.4) Fourth step: drawing conclusions from both the literature review and interviews.5) Fifth step: having a better understanding of the Brammer.6) Last step: offering recommendations or suggestions for the Brammer.9. ConclusionIn face with the operation and management problems of the Brammer, whether outsourcing will be carried out to cut down the daily cost will be the research objects of this research. Despite the limitations of literature review and interviews, they will still be good research methodologies for this research, at last, some recommendations or suggestions will be offered to the Brammer by the research.10. ReferenceBarclay, J. (2001), “Improving selection interviews with structure: organization’s use of behavioral interviews”, Personnel Review, vol.30, 81-101Deavers, K. (2010), Outsourcing: A corporate competitiveness strategy, not a search for low wages. Journal of Labor Research, 18, 503-519Digital Look, (2012), retrieved on January 6, 2012, from the website:Fan, Y. (2000), Strategic outsourcing: evidence from British companies. Marketing Intelligence & Planning, 18, 213-219Gupta, U, & Ashok, G. (1992), Outsourcing the function: it is necessary for your organization? Information systems management, 9, 44-50Perry, C. (1997), “Process of a case study methodology for postgraduate research in marketing”, European Journal of Marketing, vol.32, 785-802Witte, J. (2000), “Research Methodology”, Social Science Computer Review, vol.18, 179-195。