My Learning from POM Course

Problem Solving

Recently we were shown a toy and supposed to identify the problem and then solve it.

Often during the course of life a lot of problems present themselves, and then not so often there are problems that really test us. We normally solve these problem through our experience and judgement and move on to the next one in line, 'coz believe it or not, there IS a line, whether we see it or not. So in a sense we all are managers by birth. But a true manager is one who can not only solve the problem presented to him, but can also identify the problem that might not be so obvious, or even anticipate the problem before it comes into being.

I believe that is the sole purpose of the course I am going through here.

Anyways, back to the interesting puzzle. We were taken to the terrace and asked to look around and, no prizes for guessing, people had already noticed the hanging wooden toy from a distance.

A child might enjoy playing around with it, but leave  it to Prasad Sir to find teaching in everything. So we were told there's a problem hidden.

Being bright students that we are (:P), one of us quickly suggested that we try to take the ring off the toy.

And then the fun began. People did try, got bored and went off. Now don't underestimate the curiosity of India's future leaders, 'coz a lot of them came back later and solved it.

Here's how I did it. To remove the ring:

• Raise the ring as high as it would go and hold it there.
• Move one of the wooden squares to the other side by passing it through the slit in the top part.
• Bring both the squares together by moving the thread.
• One of the balls will still remain stuck after its square block is taken to other side.
• Lower the ring, tilt it and remove through the slit and the ball.

And to assemble the toy back:

  - Pass the ring through the slit back onto the square

                                     

  - Raise the ring as high as possible.

  - Pass one of the wooden squares through the slit and to it's correct side.

So it can be said that it's not  only important to be a goode problem solver, but an excellent identifier as well.

ADP

Automatic Data Processing, Inc. is a provider of business outsourcing. It is also a provider of computing services to automobile and heavy equipment dealers. ADP is one of four U.S. companies to get a AAA credit rating from Standard & Poor's (S&P) and Moody's.

Recognitions:

• ADP was recently listed as #47 on Computerworld's 19th annual list of the 100 Best Places to Work in IT 2012.
• ADP achieved a 100 percent rating in the 2011 Corporate Equality Index (CEI) report
• In 2010, ADP was awarded the #2 ranking in the Training Top 125 List by Training magazine. ADP ranked 12th in 2009 and 20th in 2008.
• In 2009 the Aberdeen Group named ADP as one of the top 25 Most Influential Technology Vendors for 2009.
• ADP ranked first on Fortune's 2010 list of America’s Most Admired Companies within the Financial Data Services category.
• In 2006, ADP ranked #2 on InformationWeek 500's top 250 Innovators.
• In 2003, 2004, and 2005, ADP was ranked as one of the top 10 companies in North America, having been AAA/Aaa rated by both S&P and Moody's

Vision:
We will be the leaders in the Employer Services industry. We will deliver the highest quality service, unique value-added products and innovative business solutions through a commitment to continually strengthening relationships with associates and business partners.

Mission
Power organizations with insightful solutions that drive business success

Goals:

• World Class Service
• Employer of Choice
• Product Leadership

 References
www.adp.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automatic_Data_Processing

Colgate- Palmolive

Colgate-Palmolive Company is an American multinational consumer products company focused on the production, distribution and provision of household, health care and personal products, such as soaps, detergents, and oral hygiene products (including toothpaste and toothbrushes). Under its "Hill's" brand, it is also a manufacturer of veterinary products. The company's corporate offices are on Park Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. Colgate-Palmolive specialize in producing and distributing household, health care and personal products including soaps, toothpaste and detergents.

Origin:

In 1806, William Colgate, himself a soap and candle maker, opened up a starch, soap and candle factory on Dutch Street in New York City under the name of "William Colgate & Company".

History 

1817
First Colgate advertisement appears in a New York newspaper. 1820. Colgate establishes a starch factory in Jersey City, New Jersey.

In 1857, William Colgate died and the company was reorganized as "Colgate & Company". In 1873, the firm introduced its first toothpaste, an aromatic toothpaste sold in jars. In 1873, the firm introduced its first toothpaste, an aromatic toothpaste sold in jars. In 1928, Palmolive-Peet bought the 

Colgate Company to create the Colgate-Palmolive-Peet Company. In 1953 "Peet" was dropped from the title, leaving only "Colgate-Palmolive Company", the current name. Today, Colgate has numerous subsidiary organisations spanning 200 countries, but it is publicly listed in only two, the United States and India.

1937 company moved to India.

 

1937: launch first toothpaste Colgate dental cream

1949: launch toothpowder and toothbrush

1950: Palmolive shave cream

1976: launch programme young India

1989: Palmolive extra care soap launched.

2003: launch oral health month program

Mission & Vision:

Mission:

To provide Colgate with a significant competitive advantage by reducing total delivered cost, extending technology resources and developing excellence in purchasing, logistics and sourcing processes.

Vision:  

Our three fundamental values—Caring, Global Teamwork and Continuous Improvement—are part of everything we do. They are the foundation for our business strategy and are reflected in every aspect of our work life. Caring

The Company cares about people: Colgate people, customers, shareholders and business partners. Colgate is committed to act with compassion, integrity and honesty in all situations, to listen with respect to others and to value differences. The Company is also committed to protect the global environment and to enhance the communities where Colgate people live and work.

Global Teamwork

All Colgate people are part of a global team, committed to working together across countries and throughout the world. Only by sharing ideas, technologies and talents can the Company achieve and sustain profitable growth.

Continuous Improvement

Colgate is committed to getting better every day in all it does, as individuals and as teams. By better understanding consumers' and customers' expectations and continuously working to innovate and improve products, services and processes, Colgate will "become the best.”

Awards and Achievements:

1. Best Company for Asian Pacific Americans to Develop Workforce Skills Award — Asia Society – 2011

2. 2012 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year — Energy Star 2012

3. Top 50 Companies for Executive Women — The National Association for Female Executives (NAFE)  2012

4. Top 50 Companies for Diversity Leadership — DiversityInc -2012

5. Colgate was voted “The Most Trusted FMCG Brand” in India for the year in the Brand Equity Annual survey 2010 across all brands and categories.

6. Vietnam's 50 Best Employers — Best Employers to work for in Vietnam  2006-2007

7. Best Employers in India — Business Today 2002-2003

Products and Services

 Colgate-Palmolive produces wide variety of products including tooth brushes, toothpastes, soaps etc.

Market Share

Colgate tooth paste occupies 47 percent of market share in 2010-2011 and which is further increased to 51% in 2011-2012.

Oral care constituted of 96.4 percent and personal care to 2.1 and others to 1.4

The company dominates the Rs. 4100 crore Indian toothpaste market by commanding more than 50% of the market share.

Colgate has been the most trusted bran for consequently 4 years.

51% share in tooth paste

48 % share in tooth powder

30 % share in tooth brush market

Manpower and Organizational structure:

1130 employees all over the world by 2011.

CEO – Ian Cook

COO - Mr. Garcia

CFO - Dennis Hickey

Financial Performance 

 

 

CSR Activities:

Colgate – Palmolive India undertakes its corporate social responsibility through a variety of effective programs. Since 1976, the company has been delivering oral health education to children in rural and urban India in partnership with the Indian Dental Association (IDA). Colgate’s community outreach efforts have touched the lives of millions of children, providing the information, insight and inspiration they need for a healthy life and a healthy smile.

For the past five years, Colgate in partnership with Pratham, has set up libraries for the underprivileged children in economically backward areas in Mumbai, to encourage and inculcate the habit of reading among these children. Colgate firmly believes education will empower these children for the future and help them to explore new avenues.

DEEDS Public Charitable Trust is an NGO in Mumbai that is committed to helping persons with hearing impairment. Since 2004, DEEDS has been conducting an annual Quiz Compeptition "QUEST", for the children from the special schools for the deaf in Mumbai. Quest was conceptualized to inculcate regular reading habits which has, as a result of this competitive quiz, reportedly increased other knowledge enhancing activities. Quest has largely helped in instilling a healthy competitive spirit among the students from deaf schools in Mumbai. The focus of the students is on assimilating knowledge from books to prepare well for the quiz-competition-an activity that the children look forward to participating in, every year.

The Gift of Life

On June 3, 2010, Colgate-Palmolive, India with the efforts of the Red Cross Society organized a Blood Donation Camp.  Close to 130 employees rolled up their sleeves to generously donate blood on the day. Donating blood to save unseen and unknown lives is truly a commendable contribution to society and fellow brethren. The day also focused on spreading greater awareness on the importance of blood donation and the increasing need for safe blood for transfusion for those in need.

World Environment Day Celebrated – June 2010

To observe World Environment Day a tree plantation program for Colgate-Palmolive, India employees was organized on 3rd and 4th June 2010, with the support of the Horticulture Team from the Hiranandani Office.  Few sites within the vicinity of Colgate Research Centre were selected, where employees planted tree saplings thus spreading the message of growing and protecting greenery. This event reflects Colgate’s spirit of being responsible citizens in the society.

Future Plans:

The Company continues to focus on developing new, innovative and high quality products to meet the ever changing consumer needs and drive growth. Also focused on reducing costs to fund the growth

Planning to increase exports to Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Colgate plans to extend usage of e-auctions into new areas such as insurance etc. The company conducted 19 e-auctions in 2003.

 Observations:

1. Colgate Palmolive is doing consistently well in oral care but it is showing a very poor performance in palmolive products like soaps, detergents etc.

2. There is a wide scope for increasing the market by advertising.

References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colgate-Palmolive 

http://www.colgate.co.in/app/Colgate/IN/HomePage.cvsp

http://www.colgate.com