Introduction

The main objective of the report is to interview a successful Entrepreneur with any successful operational company.

Background of the Company

Sumer SDN BHD was established in 2007 as a private office for an overseas education consultancy to assist potential students from Arabic nations in to finding universities and Colleges within Malaysian states that best suits them, based on their program required, academic qualification and their financial status. Sumer SDN BHD started to gain trust from the students and the educational institutes.

Vision

Mission

PEST Analysis

Economical: Political: Economical:

Opportunities

Ms Zina Abdullah saw the opportunity when she moved to Malaysia with her two sons that needed to find a university in 2005. She encountered difficult ies in finding a suitable University for her sons. These difficulties parked an idea in her to create a company that will mitigate the problem not to be faced by other parents in the future.

Approach
Ms Zina Abdullah indicated during the interview that her setting up the company Sumer SDN BHD was singular approach, however according to Booz-Allen & Hamilton one of the fastest remedy for a business to grow is to increase the number of strategic alliance. A simple definition of a strategic alliance is stated as a Business to Business collaboration. Alliances range in scope from an informal business relationship based on a simple contract to a joint venture agreement in which for legal and tax purposes either a corporation or partnership is set up to manage the alliance. (SmallBusinessNotes.com , 2010) Sumer SDN BHD individualism company status wont diminish if it had to participate in a strategic alliance with other companies, as indicated by SmallBusinessNote s.com companies that are in a strategic alliance agreement have reported a 18% increase in revenue due to the alliance with other companies . These alliances are used as leverage for companies to partner themselves with international companies for them to b e able to operate globally rather than taking on the risk and expense that international expansion can demand. The aim of strategic alliance is to minimize risk while maximizing your leverage and profit Businesses use strategic alliances to:
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Achieve advantages of scale, scope and speed Increase market penetration Enhance competitiveness in domestic and/or global markets Enhance product development Develop new business opportunities through new products and services Expand market development Increase exports Diversify Create new businesses Reduce costs. (SmallBusinessNotes.com, 2010) .

On the other hand, If SUMER SDN BHD Company wants to reach greater heights which will automatically demand more funds and manpower then this would require the company to sign a legal partnership agreement with other companies and this concept is known as Joint Venture. The joint venture will help SUMER SDN BHD expend their customer base by selling their services at a place where they did not have any previous es tablished business like other non Arabic nations that know that Malaysia is transforming into an Educational hub. According to the Buzzle.com (2011), the joint venture is proven to improve marketing strategy which in turn will improve revenue. Joint ventu res have become a necessity in almost all the sectors of an economy. Though the joint ventures advantages are plenty, it is advisable to consult legal experts before you go ahead with the joint venture plans. (Buzzle.com, 2011) There is another approach t hat SUMER SDN BHD can try for growth purposes, which is known as Mergers & Acquisitions. This approach is the price at which a prospective buyer offers to purchase a controlling interest in a business or corporation. SUMER SDN BHD will be in the advantage if the company can identify any other smaller company in the same line of business and take over or merge. As indicated by Mapsofworld.com (2010), the benefits

of Mergers & Acquisitions may generate tax gains, can increase revenue and can reduce the cost of capital. Other benefits are
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When a firm wants to enter a new market When a firm wants to introduce new products through research and development When a forms wants achieve administrative benefits To increased market share To lower cost of operation an d/or production To gain higher competitiveness For industry know how and positioning For Financial leveraging To improve profitability and EPS

Success of a Company
Ms Zina Abdullah l ike any other entrepreneur, starting up a business does not guarantee success. According to Ms Abdullah she experienced some problems at first, especially finding clients and marketing her company in Arabic nations . At earliest stage, she was using mouth to mouth advertising as means to find clients . There after she started advertising in Arabic newspapers, magazines, television, radio and creating a company website (www.sumer.com.my). However if the business had failed at first try, she should not have given up. According to Sam Phillip s (2009) many important lessons are learned from failure of a business and John Maxwell supports by saying If at first you do succeed, try something harder. The willingness to take greater risks is a major key to achieving success, and you may be surprised that it can solve two very different kinds of problems.
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The problem of hitting ALL of your goals and the problem of hitting NO goals because you never make any.

Current Status According to Mrs Abdullah, the Sumer SDN BHD is currently doing well unfortunately she could not give us the financial statement to measure the wellness of the company due to confidentiality . Sumer SDN BHDs specialize in assisting potential students in f inding the best affordable University and College within Malaysia. However she is not use scholarship/fellowship offered by university to attract clients . Its segmentation area is only Arabic nations. Sumer SDN BHD doesnt identify any competing company ye t, however there are individuals that are working as agents to get students to Malaysia as well. Sumer

SDN BHDs competitive advantage is that they are the only Arabic based company that have an agreement for recruitment agent of International Students with Malaysian Public

Institution of Higher Learning and Malysian Ministry of Higher Education. She has created a ethical relationship with the clients and the Malaysian Educational Institutions.

Future Plans

Sumer SDN BHDs future plans it to expand into other non-Arabic nations. The company is planning to open up 3 more branches in Malaysia in 3 years to come to accommodate the growing number of student in Malaysia.

Smallbusinessnotes.com. Strategic Alliance . [Online]. Available From: http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com/managing-your-business/strategic-alliances.html. [Accessed: 14 January 2011]. Buzzle.com. Joint Venture Advantages. [Online]. Available From: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/joint-venture-advantages.html. [Accessed: 14 January 2011]. Mapsofworld.com. Merger-acquisition. [Online]. Available From: http://finance.mapsofworld.com/merger-acquisition/benefits.html. [Accessed: 14 January 2011]. John Maxwell. Leadership. [Online]. Available From: http://johnmaxwellonleadership.com/2010/05/04/if-at-first-you-do-succeed-trysomething-harder/. [Accessed: 14 January 2011].