Energy & Environment – CIS Kenya

Tylenol Scandal and Crisis Management

admin — Thu, 11 Jan 2018 09:50:54 +0000

Project Infomation

In October of 1982, Tylenol, the leading pain-killer medicine in the United States at the time, faced a tremendous crisis when seven people in Chicago were reported dead after taking extra-strength Tylenol capsules. It was reported that an unknown suspect/s put 65 milligrams of deadly cyanide into Tylenol capsules, 10,000 more than what is necessary to kill a human. The tampering occurred once the product reached the shelves.

In 1982, Tylenol controlled 37 percent of its market with revenue of about $1.2 million. Immediately after the cyanide poisonings, its market share was reduced to seven percent (Mitchell 1989). They were removed from the shelves, infected with cyanide and returned to the shelves (Mitchell, 1989).

Client : Insight Studio
Date : 20 Feb, 2018
Skills : Project Planning

Challenge & Solution

Once the connection was made between the Tylenol capsules and the reported deaths, public announcements were made warning people about the consumption of the product. Johnson & Johnson was faced with the dilemma of the best way to deal with the problem without destroying the reputation of the company and its most profitable product.

Offer favorable coupons

In order to motivate consumers to buy the product, they offered a $2.50 off coupon on the purchase of their product. They were available in the newspapers as well as by calling a toll-free number. (Mitchell 1989)

Recover from stock crisis

To recover loss stock from the crisis, Johnson & Johnson made a new pricing program that gave consumers up to 25% off the purchase of the product. (Mitchell 1989)

Restore the confidence on the product

Over 2250 sales people made presentations for the medical community to restore confidence on the product. (Mitchell 1989)

Our Process

Following one of our guidelines of protecting people first and property second, McNeil Consumer Products, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, conducted an immediate product recall from the entire country which amounted to about 31 million bottles and a loss of more than $100 million dollars. (Lazare, Chicago Sun-Times 2002) Additionally, they halted all advertisement for the product.

Improve sales & operations & production planning

Determine the right inventory level

Optimize the supply chain for perfect order planning

Improve sales & operations & production planning

Result Driven

Although Johnson & Johnson knew they were not responsible for the tampering of the product, they assumed responsibility by ensuring public safety first and recalled all of their capsules from the market. In fact, in February of 1986, when a woman was reported dead from cyanide poisoning in Tylenol capsules, Johnson & Johnson permanently removed all of the capsules from the market. (Credit: http://iml.jou.ufl.edu)

Reduced lead time by 43%

Decreased variability by 50%

Lowered the risk of back-order by 95%

Increased stock for finished goods by 10%

Carbon Emission Management Assistant

admin — Thu, 11 Jan 2018 09:50:14 +0000

Project Infomation

The University of Cambridge’s Environment and Energy section works to improve the environmental sustainability of the University’s operational estate. With an estate portfolio valued at over £1.7bn, a planned capital building programme worth £412m, and energy costs of £15m a year, the University has a high environmental impact and large carbon footprint. We are committed to an absolute reduction of our carbon footprint by 2020.

My graduate placement, as Carbon Management Assistant was created to help support the Carbon Reduction Manager in a number of areas of carbon management.

Client : Insight Studio
Date : 20 Feb, 2018
Skills : Project Planning

Challenge & Solution

I supported the Carbon Reduction Manager in a number of areas including data management, analysis and reporting; project design and implementation; and communications and engagement. I also helped to implement the Energy and Carbon Reduction Project (ECRP).

Improve carbon savings

I helped to organise the launch of the University’s Equipment Replacement Programme, which should see large carbon savings with funding to replace inefficient pieces of energy intensive equipment, such as -80 freezers, in the near future.

Carbon emission review

I also helped on a practical level with the current review of the University’s Carbon Management Plan. I carried out, reviewed and improved the University’s methods for reporting Scope 3 (indirect) carbon emissions helping to report against targets in the future.

Results Analyses & Conclusions

My placement was organised through Change Agents, who supported the University in terms of helping with the recruitment process and provided me with personal and professional development as a graduate.

Our Process

Opportunity Benefits: I was given the opportunity to attend many events as well to develop skills and knowledge outside of the scope of the role. I was given the independence to focus and work on different areas, and to make contacts which will be extremely useful for my future career and studies.

Improve sales & operations & production planning

Determine the right inventory level

Optimize the supply chain for perfect order planning

Improve sales & operations & production planning

Result Driven

During my opportunity, I launched and started the beginnings of the University’s Green Labs Programme – a programme which seeks to reduce the environmental impact of scientific research where possible. (Credit: environment.admin.cam.ac.uk)

Reduced lead time by 43%

Decreased variability by 50%

Lowered the risk of back-order by 95%

Increased stock for finished goods by 10%

Putting People Before Profits: Classic PR Case Study

admin — Thu, 11 Jan 2018 09:48:25 +0000

Project Infomation

In late 1995, a fire at Malden Mills put 3,000 union jobs at risk. The timing couldn’t have been worse. The 90-year-old manufacturer in Lawrence, Mass., has seen its revenues triple and employment double since emerging from bankruptcy in 1982. It’s popular Polartec and Polarfleece fabrics were one reason. A loyal and productive workforce was the other.

In a time when offshore manufacturing became standard procedure in American business, Malden Mills’ CEO Aaron Feuerstein opted to stay put and to rebuild his factory on the very site where his family had made textiles for 90 years.

Client : Insight Studio
Date : 20 Feb, 2018
Skills : Project Planning

Challenge & Solution

The fire came just two weeks before Christmas, affecting employees both financially and emotionally. So just 2 days after the blaze, Feuerstein announced plans to pay his employees their full wages for 30 days. He would eventually extend that offer to 90 days for the paychecks, 180 days for benefits. Total cost to Malden Mills: $25 million.

A business fairy tale?

It would seem so. Unfortunately, the case doesn’t end here. Feuerstein found himself back in bankruptcy court, saddled with $140 million in debt, much of it tied to the rebuild. The company hired a new president in 2004 as part of the Chapter 11 reorganization. It wasn’t enough.

Did Aaron Fueurstein do the right thing in 1995?

After his decision, Feuerstein became a legend in both business and PR circles — a textbook case in excellence theory. But in the end, he leveraged the business into bankruptcy. No one will question Feuerstein’s good intentions, but there’s no line on the balance sheet for “loyalty” or “ethics.”

The business of business is messy.

Always has been. But we don’t often talk about the ugly side of it in our PR casebooks. Instead, we select cases that exemplify symmetrical communication, ethics and trust. And we celebrate them.

Our Process

When students leave my classroom, few will work for principled managers like Aaron Feuerstein, the man they called the “Mensch of Malden Mills.” If there’s a silver lining to this story, it’s that Polartec remains a great product with a loyal customer base, including me. None of that may have occurred had Feuerstein not saved the day on Dec. 13, 1995.

Improve sales & operations & production planning

Determine the right inventory level

Optimize the supply chain for perfect order planning

Improve sales & operations & production planning

Result Driven

Sadly, Malden Mills didn’t turn out as such a classic case in employee relations. To me, it’s a depressing reality of business world that makes “maximizing shareholder value” its top priority. (Credit: toughsledding.wordpress.com)

Reduced lead time by 43%

Decreased variability by 50%

Lowered the risk of back-order by 95%

Increased stock for finished goods by 10%

Background Checks for Job Candidates

admin — Thu, 11 Jan 2018 09:47:41 +0000

Project Infomation

OfficeDrop scans paper documents into digital files. Its clients include hospitals that want to archive patient records and a minister with too many hand-written sermons. Prasad Thammineni started the company in 2007 and opened his doors to clients a year later.

Checking the backgrounds of job candidates to ensure that only trustworthy employees handle client documents (without violating candidate privacy or breaking the bank).

Client : Insight Studio
Date : 20 Feb, 2018
Skills : Project Planning

Challenge & Solution

The need to do background checks came up in the start-up phase, when participants in a focus group said they were nervous about entrusting strangers with private documents.

Candidate identity information

The first piece of the package is the Social Security number and address check, which confirms the candidate’s name and date of birth and also shows where he or she has lived.

Criminal record check

The criminal checks can get complicated because authorities keep records in a wide range of courts. Kroll suggested that Mr. Thammineni pull data from three sources.

Court record information

Kroll also recommended digging into federal court records that contain information about crimes committed across state lines and tried by federal courts for other reasons.

Our Process

Driving records came last. This check is crucial because employers can be liable for accidents that happen on company time. In addition, Ms. DeLoach said, the data can offer insights, flagging those who flout the law or abuse drugs or alcohol.

Improve sales & operations & production planning

Determine the right inventory level

Optimize the supply chain for perfect order planning

Improve sales & operations & production planning

Result Driven

OfficeDrop now pays $100 to $175 for every candidate, depending on how many states he or she has lived in. When Mr. Thammineni wants to hire a new employee, he enters the person’s name and Social Security number in OfficeDrop’s online Kroll account; in less than a week, he receives a seven- or eight-page report. (Credit: nytimes.com)