'inventing new knowledge is not a specialized activity...it is a way of behaving, indeed a way of being, in which everyone is a knowledge worker' (Nonaka, 1991).

Following this line of thought, and with reference to relevant literature and theory, discuss your company's approach to strategic management of knowledge and organisational learning. Evaluate its use of strategic frameworks and tools, including the importance of knowledge in strategic development; strategic marketing; sustainability, competitive advantage; and managing strategic corporate change.

Below is my the Company startegic plan for assignment 1.

Introduction

The Strategic business plan discussed depicts a well-organized framework of an investment in in Zambia which manufactures plastic lumber from recycled plastic waste. The plan goes in alignment with the strategy of AB Investments Inc. To expand into unexploited arenas in the diaspora without AB Investments Inc. footmark. In turn ensuring a consistent enhancements of human capital development, corporate social responsibility (CSR), enhanced robust risk management platform, treasury and accounting function. Subsequently , a secondary company AB Poly Ltd. has been merged in Zambia as a boat through which the holding company, AB Investments Inc. will spread its corporate footmark into Africa as fragment of its grand strategy to meet long term objectives and a generic strategy to meet strategy in the short term.

Strategic Resolve

AB Investments Inc. Predicts diversify is needed to remain competitive, sustainable and profitable in operations through investments into offshore companies. Using autonomous entity with mission, vision, strategic objective, policies and procedures as a backdrop AB Poly Ltd has been merged.

The formulation of this business plan is to provide a direction and path for AB Poly Ltd for a period of five years of business of AB Investments Inc. An initial capital of $150,00(US) will be required to support the growth of resources, achieve strategic objectives and maintain stability.

For any business that wishes to maintain its competitive advantage, achieve its long term goals must put sufficient time into Planning, refurbishing its purpose, vison and the way it will be player in environment it is both at micro and macro level (Hill, n.d. p.23).

Background

AB Poly Investments Inc is the main company in The United states of America (USA) it as pierced or making a footmark in Zambia via the AB Poly Ltd which is its subsidiary.

Vision and Mission

To get to a zero-poly waste in Africa starting with Zambia via innovative ways of recycling poly solid waste as well as the top choice of recycling plastic lumber. To make and avail a top customer product and help in the development of the country is the mission of AB Poly Ltd.

The vision statement is to top and unrivalled in offering innovative lumber and any other plastic products that are recycled.

Company Values

Fast customer response, innovation, integrity and excellence are the company values of the company. The values are enshrined and reinforced daily to define organization culture, support the vision and reflect externally what the values of the organization.

Governance

As earlier mentioned, that the company with be an extension of AB Investment Inc USA operating in Zambia, hence will be governed by the laws and regulation of Zambia.

Companies Act cap 388 of the laws of Zambia will govern AB Poly Ltd. Hence the following must be done or met;

1. Registration with Patents and Companies Registration Agency (PACRA).

2. Registration with Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) to acquire Taxpayer Identification Number (TPIN), Value Added Tax (VAT) and corporate Tax

3. Registration with Zambia Public Procurement Authority (ZPPA), in order to comply with laws and regulations and comply with all international standards such as the ISOs.

As can be seen from the organogram that the vison and mission formulated by the board of directed will be turned to long term goals that each unit head will, further break down to specific attainable short-term goals that are measurable and quickly evaluated. These objects will be specific responsibilities of different members if staff at the operations side. Hence making each employee feel a sense of belong to the company and share in the vison and mission (Messori, 2016).

Board of Directors: to oversee the overall strategic direction and progress of the company.

Organizational structure and leadership

President: the main responsibility is to maintain a strategic fit between the corporate resources and external factors

Operations manager: running of the overall day-to-day operations, technological and operational soundness, and financial stability.

human resources management. To over human resources activities, acquisition, development and retention of skills

Innovation and Digital Officer: To oversee overall technological efficiency, information control and and innovations in waste management.

Director of Sales and Marketing: responsibilities include sales generation, marketing programs development, and public relations.

Finance manager: responsibilities ffinancial oversight and safeguarding of assets

Monitoring & Evaluation analyst. To oversee evaluation of projects, programs, activities and lead in strategic plan evaluation.

Figure 1. Company Organogram

Internal and Macro environmental analysis

After setting our understanding of our vision, setting up our mission, long goals and short-term goals. We now dive into analysis both internally and externally. As this analysis will give us a better understanding where we stand as a company both internally and externally, we begin by carrying out a SWOT Analysis for our internal analysis, it's a common tool used to strategic planning.

Figure 2. SWOT Quadrants

Strengths

The following strengths have been identified.

a.It is backed by a reputable and sound international organization

b.Its target market is being served by only this company in Zambia producing recycled lumber products

c.Its low manufacturing costs will in turn make the company have a high productivity.

d.Its staff is well trained and qualified pulling from both international and local

e.It has the capability of production minus major investments and low-cost production.

Opportunities

The opportunities include; Increase in the demand for lumber in industrial use especially with the major construction and infrastructure in road and in Zambia which is very favorable. Plus, International organization promoting waste management like UNDP with call to innovation for waste management.

growing economy with Gross Domestic Product (GDP) annual growth rate of 4.5% according to the World Bank and promotion of the Free Trade Area (FTA) with the COMESA block.

Weaknesses

Major weakness as this is a subsidiary of large company not found Zambia, hence may see as a new company in the industry. This may play as a weakness, as customers will need time a cultivate trust in the company and its products

Threats

With the recent Statutory Instrument (SI) number 65 of 2018 on extended producer responsibility regulations there is possibility if over regulation. New entrants due to ease of entry market may increase unnecessary. Pricing and cost of production might be affected by the inflation of prices plus the government's policy of banning supermarket from giving out plastics but needs to sale to customers. Entry of new products to replace plastics materials

Macro-Environmental analysis

This environmental analysis is basically an analysis of the external environment that the organization will be operating in, this includes economic, technological, political, social, legal/regulatory and the physical environment. The external is constantly changing, especially in the recent year's technological breakthroughs, change of environmental regulations and globalization plus the need to have a green economy. There is great demand globally for innovation and poly waste recycling which AB Poly Ltd is aware of this , hence this environmental analysis will put all this into perspective were we stand and what we can adopt as best practices to in our strategic plan to be relative and sustain our competitive advantage.(Morden, 1993).

Political Environment and social environment

Political in Zambia the atmosphere is stable and seeing that the country has never experienced civil war before, unlike our neighboring countries. This peaceful environment makes it attractive for international investments

It must be noted as well that another challenge is with the widely spread populated population in far places, most of the population is in the rural places and widely spaced in 10 provinces. Where most of young population migrate to urban places like, Lusaka the capital city and along the rails. Hence companies find it a challenge to reach most customer especially in the rural areas. Yet the country has seen several rural places being turned to provincial center to boost the economy and bring development to those areas.

Economic conditions

The macroeconomy has seen stability in the recent years. This can be attested to the policy makers reducing inflation to less than 11%.Osillatimg at an average of about 9% and 10.8%.The kwacha was steady but has seen its value decrease comparison to the major currencies because of the crisis .It was stable because of copper prices being increased on the international market. Interest rates on big financial products have declined or dropped. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic there has been a halt, then decrease in the employment arena but previously was getting higher due to major infrastructure projects around the country roads, hospitals, building of malls for example.

Technology

With the coming of the fourth industrial revolution, in Zambia in the recent years with the increased number mobile network companies. We have seen a big surge or flux of several people acquiring mobile devices. Which has seen an increase in the dispose of this waste. Which the company is ready to take advantage of. Technology has been a major factor into days companies. With digitalization and automating of a lot of business processes to make operations more efficient and effective. Hence the AB ltd is ready to take vantage of technology to make its operations more efficient. Hence it is quite imperative for companies to understand this aspect of the environment, which continues to evolve exponentially.

Environmental factors

With bumper harvest and the country trying to diversify tits economy, like the introduction of fish farming, pumping money in cooperatives to grow other food like soya beans, rice etc. unlike just maize. Plus, with the opening of new districts and making rural places provincial centers has triggered an increase population in these places, where people in near villages come. The building of roads to rural places and connecting these places. There is demand for a lot in this sector as AB ltd can foresee a lot of waste management needs and demand for lumber will be high as well.

Legal and Regulatory Condition

The Government is in support and making strides to partner with different stakeholders to invest in renewable energy and waste management and recycling. They have including tax incentives when importing equipment for manufacturing. Hence AB Poly ltd tends to take advantage of this as well.

Strategic Analysis and Choice

The main drive of the product lays on the fact that plastic is readily available and the cost of collection is rather lower as compared to other materials .Plus the material doesn't need to be treated and that its prone to rooting hence keeping it preserving cost is nearly to zero, just storage place is needed. Using plastic poles and other substitutes to metals is the more efficient and cheaper. Plus, in Zambia it will be the only company offering these finished good. The only company offering plastic finished products is the LAMASAT that sales water tanks only. Hence, we see that AB Ltd will be a major player and dominate the market. In these regards after the internal and external analysis, a strategic decision must be made as to what grand strategy and generic strategy that the company will follow. It is quite evident that the Grand strategy to follow will be concentrated growth, were will concentrate on our market and product. the risk and loses will vary but overall, we shall be ok. Once Zambian scene is dominated, an expansion is very possible to the SADC and COMESA especially y that trading in this region is easier.

The company will use the named grad strategy to achieve its long-term goals, as its focus will be on the market and product to have competitive advantage over its competitors by establishing itself. (Gaddis, 2018).

Long Term Objectives

Long term goals are important to an organizations stability as well to help the originations or business stay in its course and not get swayed by the ever changing world, long term goals helps a managers to make a road map for the organizations and propel it to its purpose .If not have an organization may only manage succeed in a few venture next steps but the actual purpose. (Quinn, 2010, p.23).

Hence the long-term goals of AB Ltd in the 2 to 4 years as follows;

1. Leading in supplying and manufacturing recycled plastic/lumber products.

2. To empower youths and women in the community by employing them, hence helping their economic livelihood.

3. To lead in technological advances in the area of waste recycling

4. To be innovative and have a top-notch product my refining them, every cycle

5. Always adhere to it cooperate social responsibility.

Short term Objectives

Regarding the short-term goals for AB Poly Ltd, to advertise via radio, print, youth fora and social medium plus use rural cooperatives become profitable within the first year of operations. As this is in line with the SWOT analysis that cost of production is low. We hence employ Porters generic strategy to get competitive advantage (Dess and Davis, 2017).With the generic strategy, the company will use the low cost and differentiated product's it will be possible because plastic raw material is gotten a low coast and production is low hence going the company an advantage of profit maximization. Differentiation of product, by launching on the demand plastic products like plastic pavers and children play park tools that are plastic. As time goes on different products will be launched after feedback from customers. Hence will tailor make them to clients, and this will set us apart from all other entries. With an increased brand power and customer trust.

Figure 3. Poters Generic Strategies

Investment and Profitability Statement

Capital Injection

The capital injection of $150,000 will be used for the following;

1.Purchase machinery

2.Transport logistics

3.Wages for the people collecting and separating the waste

4.renting warehouse.

5.Advertising

Policies

Regarding polices it is imperative that we create polices that will give or push our employees to think innovatively and be creative in their fields. Plus, must be at liberty to execute these ideas. Hence our HR will be in charge of putting in the place polices like awarding best performing workers every moth; pitching ideals to senior management if approved the staff members can run their ideals for execution; Awarding best performing units; Units will have brainstorming session bi-weekly with Innovation Officer.

Social and Economic Benefits and Justification

The formulated strategic business plan for AB Ltd takes into light the social responsibility off empowering women and youth. In addition, the environment impact it will have, plastic waste will be reduced as it will be transformed to a finished that is useful for people. Plus, it considers the responsibility of sharing information waste management.

plastic waste.

Strategic Control and Continuous Improvement

In order to track the progress of the strategic plans, controls will be put in place to see what is achieved and ensure continuous improvement of the plan. These controls will ensure monitoring and tracking of progress and ensure that the company stays focused on the long-term goals. The following will be implemented.

a.Quarterly meetings evaluations.

b.Have a program and implementation unit with the monitoring & evaluation analyst leading it to evaluate programs and projects done.

c.Hold month quarter in each unknit to evaluate what short goals have been realized.

Conclusion

As can be seen from this formulation of the strategic plan of the company that, a strategic plan is imperative as it lays the foundation and path for a company to achieve its vision. Managers in companies need see that to achieve sustained corporate growth and profitability they need a plan of action which will cater for this plan. The plan includes Grand strategy and Generic strategy that is chosen after an analysis of the internal and external environment. It is also quite inventing that to achieve a vision, managers need to formulate long term goals and translate them to short term goals which are measurable and achievable by specific employees to build a sense of belonging in the company. Meticulous choosing of matrices, strategies, analysis method is imperative. As can see that a strategic plan in the AB Poly Ltd played a major role to ensure that best practices are adopted and that give back via the social cooperate responsibly and beneficial to the environment.

Financial estimation for next 3 years, in year two as can be seen won't acquire a machinery or truck, to recover and make profit. Which will used in year 3.Where we expect an increase in production and transport service offered our estimation is that as a lead and monopolized in this market and powerful brand power we should be able to double profit when we purchase machinery and light truck

ITEMS

FY 2020

FY 2021

FY 2022

Once of Light truck

$50,000

Nil

$50,000

Once of Machinery

$80,000

Nil

$80,000

Car maintenance & Fuel

$10,000

$10,000

$10,000

Monthly Wages

$10,000

$10,000

$10,000

Weekly Advertisement

$500

$300

$150

Monthly Warehouse rentals

$12,000

$12,000

$12,000

Total Expenditure

$162,500

$32,300

$162,150

SERVICE SALES

FY 2020

FY 2021

FY 2022

Transport services

$15,000

$15,000

$30,000

Agriculture Plastic products

$70,000

$90,000

$120,000

Other line Plastic products

$80,000

$100,000

$180,000

Total Service Sales

$165,000

$205,0000

$330,000

Figure 3. Financial estimation for 3 years.