Value Chain Analysis for Independent News and Media Plc
Value Chain Analysis for Independent News and Media Plc
Inbound Logistics
The inbound logistics for independent news and media plc involves the use of the various journalists enlisted with the different entities forming the company to get news. The inbound logistics also requires the employment of sales team to acquire advertisements for the various media outlets owned by the corporation (Independent News & Media, 2016). After the company editors have adequately reviewed the news and advertisements, they are laid down in the format to be published in and are either sent to the printers or in the case of online publications, they are uploaded in the respective websites. The company often get news from other entities such as FFP and other journalistic organisations.
Operations
Independent News and Media Plc operates in a number of countries. The company has the largest pool of publications in Ireland where it owns Evening Herald, Sunday World, Irish Daily Star and Sunday Independent (Inmplc.com, 2016). The company also more than a dozen of regional newspapers in the country. The company has investment interests in United Kingdom, South Africa, India, Australia and New Zealand (Reuters.com, 2016). The company has a gross assets pool of €187.6 million. According to 2010 data, the total company revenues amounted to €605.3 million.
Outbound Logistics
Independent News and Media Plc operates many newspapers, magazines and online publications. Apart from the online publications, the printed magazines and newspapers are distributed via vendors who are supplied by the company employees. The printed versions of the company’s publications are either sold or distributed freely by the vendors.
Marketing and Sales
Independent News and Media Plc often publish marketing adverts for the company’s products in their strategically located billboards and other publications (Independent News & Media, 2016). The company as any other company rely on advertisements to make profits and, therefore, the marketing is important to ensure that the company's revenues continue to grow. The company also runs online marketing campaigns for their products and services.
Service
Independent News and Media Plc aims a being the media outlet of choice that attracts advertisers to advertise with them and publishers to work with them (Reuters.com, 2016). The company even provides free advertisement spaces in some of their publications and also distribute some of the company’s publications for free to entice advertisers.
Support Activities
Infrastructure
Independent News and Media Plc infrastructure includes the use of state of the art equipment in the publishing departments and also a well-structured management at the top of the company and a well-defined chain of command to the various companies running under the entity (Reuters.com, 2016).
Human Resource Management
The company employs more than 10,000 workers who form a core part of the operations in each of the business entities under the enterprise (Inmplc.com, 2016). The professionalism of the journalists of the company and well-edited contents makes the company’s publications credible hence big audience that translates into more revenues from advertisers. The in-house training to provide the journalists with the necessary knowledge to adapt to the house style of the company also adds uniformity and hence professionalism in the way the company is run.
Technology Development
Independent News and Media Plc has heavily invested in technology ranging from providing online publications to investing in new publishing plants which boost quality and performance. In 2007, the company bought a Goss printing press facility which was the first in the world (Reuters.com, 2016).
Procurement
The different entities of the company are allowed to procure transparently for the raw materials such as papers and printing ink from different suppliers.
References
Independent News & Media, (2016). Products. [Online] Available at: http://www.inm.ie/products/ [Accessed 22 Feb. 2016].
Inmplc.com, (2016). Profile - Independent News & Media. [Online] Available at: http://www.inmplc.com/about-inm/profile/ [Accessed 22 Feb. 2016].
Reuters.com, (2016). Independent News & Media PLC (INME.I) Quote| Reuters.com. [Online] Available at: http://www.reuters.com/finance/stocks/overview?symbol=INME.I [Accessed 22 Feb. 2016].
