1. Management Decision Problem
1.1 Background
Holden is an Australian company which is manufacturing and supply of cars, engines and auto parts. With the vehicle market in good times, the sales of Holden continued to drop even though it received a massive financial supplement of approximately $150 million a year from the Australian government (Coorey, 2013). Moreover, Martin (2013) states that the VF model as a new product cannot alleviate the crisis in the market and influence Holden’s decline 12.5% in 2012 (Appendix 1). In 2013, Holden manufacturing plants suddenly announced that it will cease its production line in Australia in 2017. The main reason is that Holden doesn 't have a definite understanding of the consumer preferences and
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The company can use this test to understand the clients ' psychological state. According to appendix 2, car customers ' ranking shows Holden 's score is -3%. In contrast, Japanese cars with a positive score come out top. Holden really need to understand the Australian consumer buying behavior or psychological motivations, and which marketing method is the most attractive to Australian consumer. Secondly, it can also use this test on the Ro2. The aim of RO2 is to satisfy the customer different needs, so the test can be used to identify what the customers’ real demand about the existing car or new product is. For example, quality and safety are important factors for Australia consumers buying a new car (Appendix 3). Therefore, Holden can analyze the competitive strengths and weaknesses, and then improve their products. This will improve their sale status.
5. Focus Group
The focus group is the mostly widely used in qualitative tools. A focus group discussion is to collect data through a group (8 to 10 participants) interaction and a moderator. The main objective of a focus group is to get in depth answers of consumers, and understand consumer attitudes and behavior on its products (Warren, C. A. B., & Karner, T. X., 2010). The group participants are selected carefully and discussions based on their experiences and views. In addition, researchers or clients can use one –way mirrors to observe participants’ opinions and behaviors. Moreover,
Holden was founded in 1856 in Australia, which only few automobile manufacturing enterprises have. “Pure Aussie product” is the biggest asset of the corporation.
Cars are luxury possessions for most and when it is a brand like Holden it is generally considered to be a prized luxury possession. But, for car owners it becomes a real tough decision to consider which one is the best buy when there is a need for a parts change, or when one seeks for a performance boost with an addition of an exhaust system up gradation. Like for example for Holden owners they can grab on to extensive benefits by availing Holden aftermarket and performance parts instead of going for new OEM parts from brand manufacturer itself.
Focus groups are one of the many ways for a corporation to receive good feedback and information on what products are currently in style, and how to keep appealing to their target audience. However, focus groups are not the only good way to mine for information, companies often higher outside help to acquire new information when it comes to looking for what their targeted audience is most likely to buy. This outside help has been
· New car models and designs are being introduced each year. If Holden can focus on fulfilling; customer preferences, wants and needs with a variety of variable options.
Flexible and inexpensive, focus groups consist of six to ten participants (Hartman, 2004, p. 408). Additionally, a moderator guides the discussion among its panel members that allows researchers to observe real-time verbal responses and nonverbal cues (Hartman, 2004, p. 402; Cooper & Schindler, 2014, p. 160). Focus groups moderators also have the ability to introduce new ideas to gain a greater understanding of concerns from respondents (Hartman, 2004, p. 402). However, a concern with focus group is the lack of anonymity due to the face-to-face participation.
Holden is a totally had right hand of General Motors (GM), the world 's most paramount vehicle creator. Holden uses around 9,200 people far reaching and has made more than six million vehicles. The connection 's valid working workplaces are arranged at Fisherman 's Bend (particular center, alliance, and engine accumulating plant), Dandenong (affiliation parts operation) and Lang (showing ground) in Victoria; and what 's more at Elizabeth (vehicle social event plant) in South Australia. With a particular finished objective to sustain wishes for improvement, Holden must add to the movements and limits that will be required to fight in the general business focus. The test for connection is to be versatile and expense centered in things and procedures, while going on mechanically impelled things in volumes that may change by and large after some time. As a piece of this test, a key issue for Holden to consider is giving versatile working courses of action to delegates in an exceedingly managed and focused assembling environment, while ensuring future sensibility and general forcefulness. The general auto industry is encountering quick change with recommendations for Holden 's business. Holden is always considering developments in the outside environment that may affect the future suitability of its business and as an indispensable bit of this activity, is at present undertaking. Holden defying the weaknesses due the slant need in the business now Holden is endeavoring to address
Focus groups can be an excellent way to collect data and be able to identify if the interventions have an effect on the clients (Stringer, 2007). I’m interested
This article represents a focus group type of qualitative research. According to Qualitative Research Consultants Association (2015), in focus group qualitative research, a group of individuals who share a need, life circumstance, or habit relevant to the research issue(s) at hand are led in a discussion by a modulator. The focus group discussions often include between two to ten respondents, and are often held face to face. They can also be conducted remotely through videoconferencing, teleconferencing, or
Qualitative research method is a systematic strategy used for gathering information that are non-numerical, that is, they use visual and narrative words instead of using number. The data collected are from comprehensive case studies, focus groups a qualitative research approach whereby subjects answers an open-ended interview questions, likewise each others ' comments; ethnographies or field observation. (Headlessprofessor, 2012)
The video if part four of a six part series published by the University of Derby, known as, Advanced Qualitative Methods, created to inform students of the advantages and drawbacks of conducting a focus group. The video features, Fiona Holland, Senior Lecturer Psychology, and James Elander, Head of Center for Psychological Research, both from the University of Derby, representing both the benefits and limitations of focus groups. The main benefits of focus groups are the amount of data collected at one time compared to an individual interview, and the ability to compare results from different demographic groups. The limitations
In order to gather a lot of data, a focus group is recommended. According to Howitt D. (2013), an optimal focus group consists of six to ten participants (Howitt, 2013; Morgan, 1997). The fact that an experienced interviewer conducted the interview led to good control and desired data(Morgan, 1996). Furthermore, a thematic analysis provided a systematic overview of the results.
Focus groups are a prominent method of enquiry, regularly used within the field of social science and in particular, qualitative research. The focus group practice involves a number of participants having an open discussion on a specific topic, set by a researcher. The researcher acts as a moderator to aid discussion by using probes to collect desirable data. This process is recorded and transcripts are used to interpret and analyse given information.
A Focus group is defined as a research technique that collects data through a group interaction, on a given topic from the researcher. Along with this definition are some essential components. Firstly, it states that, focus groups are research methods devoted to data collection. Secondly, it signifies the interaction of group discussion as a source of data. Lastly, it acknowledges the active role of researchers in establishing the group discussion in order to collect data (David, 1996.p.130).
First is focus group method, focus group is defined as a group of individuals providing information in a structured format. A moderator leads the group of about 8 to 14 participants through an open, in-depth discussion rather than simply asking questions to solicit participants’ responses. The group is stimulated by comments from other group members in creatively conceptualizing and developing a new
Another key distinction and justification for using focus groups is that they enable interaction and trust, exploring solutions to particular problems as a unit, which would be less accessible with other research methods such as questionnaires (Gill et al., 2008). However, as illustrated in Chapter 2, many academics suggest millennials enjoy socialisation. It could, therefore, be argued that there is potential for bias in a group setting within the criteria of the participants in this study. Nevertheless, as the intended research focuses on psychology, primarily buyer behaviour and visual communication analysis, qualitative research is the common method