Better Business Bureau

The Better Business Bureau (BBB), founded in 1912, is a nonprofit organization focused on advancing marketplace trust, consisting of 113 independently incorporated local BBB organizations in the United States and Canada, coordinated under the Council of Better Business Bureaus (CBBB) in Washington, D.C.The BBB collects and provides free business reliability reviews on more than 4 million businesses to over 100 million requests from consumers in 2012, helping make the BBB's website rank among the top 500 most-visited websites in the United States. The BBB serves as an intermediary between consumers and businesses, handling nearly 1 million consumer disputes against businesses in 2012. The BBB also alerts the public to scams, reviews advertising, and assists when donating to charity.â€Å"Medical quackery and the promotions of nostrums and worthless drugs were among the most prominent abuses which led to the establishment of formal self-regulation in business and, in turn, to the crea tion of the NBBB.†BBB's concept has been credited to several court cases, such as United States v. Forty Barrels and Twenty Kegs of Coca-Cola, initiated by the government against a number of firms, including the Coca-Cola Company, in 1906 after the Pure Food and Drug Act had become law. Samuel Candler Dobbs, sales manager of Coca-Cola and later its president, took up the cause of truth in advertising in the wake of those judgements.In 1909 Dobbs became president of the Associated Advertising Clubs of America, now the American Advertising Federation (AAF), and began to make speeches on the subject. In 1911 he was involved in the adoption of the â€Å"Ten Commandments of Advertising†, one of the first codes of advertising developed by groups of advertising firms and individual businesses.Similar organizations in succeeding decades, such as the National Better Business Commission, Inc. of the Associated Advertising Clubs of the World (1921), and the National Association of Better Business Bureaus, Inc. (1933) merged to become the Association of Better Business Bureaus, Inc., in 1946. In 1970 the Council of Better Business Bureaus (CBBB) was established. Better Business Bureau The better business bureau has been able to perform its business operation more efficiently because of its strong financial base. The company has 380,000 business members that range in size from local enterprises to multinational corporations. To be able to serve all this businesses efficiently means that this company is strong financially. Also the company because of its strong financial background runs many other projects like giving donations to needy students in the form of scholarships. Large number of working staff: The better business bureau has many workers.It has people involved in international organizations for the 133 better business bureaus that are located in North America. Because of its large number of employees, it is in a better position of competing with its competitors. Qualified and competent employees: The better business bureau has qualified and competent employees who are capable of dealing with matters of customers and consumers. To be involved in programs li ke Better Business Bureau Auto line and the National advertising division in America means that the company has qualified and competent workers. The company is utilizing modern technology in its operations:The better business bureau company utilizes modern computer programs and internet in ensuring that it offers its services efficiently. Through the use of modern technology the company is able to serve all its 380,000 business members ranging in size from local enterprises to multinational corporations. The company benefits from its good brand name: The better business bureau has been able to create a good image to its customers hence the company benefits from its good brand name. The company covers America and many other parts of the world: The better business bureau enjoys having many customers within America and in other parts of the world.Within North America the better business bureau serves international organizations for 133 better business bureaus. It also serves 380,000 bu siness members ranging in size from local to multinational corporations. They appeal to the needs of the community: The better business bureau has joined new programs like better business bureau auto line, national advertising division. Through this programs the company gives training on how to maintain there own vehicles and on how to improve on their advertisements. The company also gives scholarships to deserving students, this shows that the better business bureau takes care of the community.Weaknesses: 1. Too many competitors 2. The company should improve on its networking, coordination and record keeping Too many competitors The better business bureau has started facing competition from new other companies that also offer similar services. Networking, coordination and record keeping For the better business bureau to continue being a market leader in serving its customers it should improve on its networking. Its workers should coordinate properly and the company should also imp rove its record keeping systems. Opportunities 1.Meeting the needs of corporate business members who want to do business overseas, and fulfilling the needs of the industry and consumers in other countries. 2. Enlarging of their target market. 3. Creating a community of trustworthy businesses 4. Encouraging and supporting best practices within customers and consumers. The better business bureau has a number of opportunities to exploit. Among them are:- Meeting the needs of corporate business members who want to do business overseas. The better business bureau has met the needs of many corporate business members who want to expand their business overseas.This is an opportunity that the company should exploit. Enlarging of their target market. The better business bureau is promoting charity accountability, it is also promoting public trust in advertising, it also offers Better Business Bureu international student Ethic award further still the company can enlarging its target market by serving more organizations. Creating a community of trustworthy business. The main aim of the better business bureau is creating a community of trustworthy business. The company is after encouraging good business practices among its customers and consumers.Threats Maintaining online programs: – it is expensive to maintain a website and this will require a lot of money. The company will need to hire qualified personnel to be regularly maintaining it. †¢ Higher costs: since the cost of oil, food and other necessities has increased the company will get it hard in performing its operations because the cost of leaning businesses will be high. †¢ Reaching all its customers within and overseas and competing favorably with its competitors: the better business bureau faces a major threat of constantly being in contact with its customers and consumers.The company should also ensure that it offers quality services than those of its competitors. External analysis Some external factors that pose opportunities and threats to the organization include demographics factors, economic factors, social-cultural factors, and political-legal and technology factors. Demographics The better business bureau has created a good business atmosphere where many buyers and sellers meet each other. The better business bureau is an international organization for 133 better business bureaus across North America.In North America the company has met the needs of many businesses. The company has 380,000 business members ranging in size from local enterprises to multinational corporations. Therefore the company is serving many business members globally. For the company to serve the 133 better business bureaus and 380,000 business members world wide, it offer a range of quality services. First the company is promoting public trust in advertising. The company promotes public trust in advertising in order to foster truth and accuracy while making its advertisements.The company is also promoting charity accountability. The company uses modern technology by enabling local charities to use their online reporting and evaluation system. Economic: The better business bureau company will be greatly affected by the increasing prices of oil and food. As the prices of the common necessities increase the general and overall performance of its member businesses are also affected. In response to the general increase of prices of commodities the company is offering advice and training on proper business management.The company offers affordable education to its members on how to manage their businesses. Technological The better business bureau is employing new technology that has enabled local charities to be using an online reporting and evaluating system. Through the use of internet the better business bureau has created more awareness about the services it’s offering to its customers. Also through the internet its international organizations for 133 better business b ureaus across North America communicate with ease. Through the internet many interested business can contact the company.Through the internet also the company has been able to achieve more like denouncing substandard market place behavior and by also ensuring that high standards are set and maintained. Through the internet also many customers are able to join the company. Political-legal The better business bureau is a company with an American origin; it’s likely to face challenges in offering its services to countries that are having poor relationships with America. This is a global company that is addressing the needs and requirements of all customers and consumers in the world.It is going to face major challenges in countries like Iran and Iraq that have been having bad relationships with America. The company will also get difficulties in serving its customers found in war torn areas like Zimbabwe, Somalia and other countries in war torn Ares. Since there is no peace in th ese countries, the company will face some challenges when addressing the needs of its customers from these countries. This company is promoting public trust in advertising in order to foster truth and accuracy of all its operations. Social-culturalThis company has earned a very good reputation offer the past. Here in America buyers and sellers have been able to trust each other through the services offered by this company. Many businesses have preferred this company because it denounces substandard behaviors within business setups. This company has also been liked because it encourages and supports best practices. The better business bureau ensures that high standards are set and maintained within business setups. This is a business trait that most business men prefer while running their businesses.Most businesses are performing to the expectations of the better business bureau company. They are following the teaching of the company. Buyers and sellers especially in America and Euro pe have started having trust of each other. These businesses have attained the standards set by the company. This has shown that this company is attaining its main vision of forming an ethical market place where buyers and sellers can trust each other. Hence this company has a good future; it stands a better change of attracting more business members and international organization to join it.Further still some factors in the industry’s environment like customer’s competitors and suppliers also affect the operation of business. Customers The customers of better business bureau have rated the company highly. Due to this the company is enjoying a good reputation. The company offers best and quality services that can not be matched by any other company under this industry. The better business bureau company is seen as a market leader under this industry with a very good image to its customers. The company leads in quality of its services to customers in many aspects.The be tter business bureau has ensured that its business members attain high standards and maintain them. The company offer teachings on how to improve performance in businesses to its 380,000 business member and 133 international organizations that are found in different parts of the world. The customers of the company are proud of its performance since the company is involved in solving a series of cross-border disputes. Customers in countries like Japan, Israel, Taiwan and UK have benefited from this cross-border dispute resolution agreements.The business members to the better business bureau have benefited from its international torch award for market place ethics. This has benefitted them because this system measures how business people treat their customers, competitors and employees. This encourages good and acceptable business traits that benefit the customers of the company. The customers of better business bureau are enjoying its services because by the clicks of a button one is able to access all the information that he needs. Through the internet customers of the company get all the necessary information without travelling their.The company has benefited many groups of People in the community. The company has promoted charity accountability, though the company many donors respond wisely to charity appeals. Some deserving students have been receiving scholarships. This company has greatly assisted many students who could not afford paying for their school fee. The better bureau has been a key advisor to its customers relating to teamwork, respect, trust, excellent and integrity thus making its customers to have great confidence on the company.Competitors Within America this company is facing competition from a few companies. But these companies are not well established. They lack funds so as to compete favorably with the better business bureau. These companies also lack a good business base so as to compete with the better business bureau. They lack enoug h and qualified staff so that they will compete properly with the better business bureau. Suppliers The better business bureau has many employees that are also competent.The company as been able to introduce many programs like better business bureau online, better business military line, better business international torch award for market place ethics because it has a well trained workforce. The company is also introducing other program like the better business bureau auto line, and the national advertising division that are geared towards appealing to the daily needs of its customers. Through the auto line teachings proper vehicle maintenance skills are offered, and also though advertising division the company is promoting good advertisements within the industry.REFERENCES Armstrong G. & Kotler P. (2007). Consumer Markets: Influences on consumer behavior, Principles of Marketing. ICMR Case Studies and Management Resources. (2007). Consumer Behavior. Retrieved January 20, 2008 from http://www. icmrindia. org/courseware/Consumer%20Behavior/CBC03. htlm Kotler, P. (2005) Principles of Marketing. New York. Melbourne Press Schaik J. L. , (2002); The Task of Marketing Management; J. L. van Schaik (Pity) ltd Winer, R. S. (2007). Marketing Management, Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ.