THE HISTORY OF THE IPOH INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

Ipoh International School has a history of 45 years. First known as Tenby School, it

was founded by a Welsh lady, Mrs Nelson Doig who came from the town of Tenby in

South Wales, United Kingdom. Hence, the original name of the school. She named it after

the seaside resort of Tenby in South Wales.

The school was based in the Church Hall of the Presbyterian Church on Jalan

Kelab Golf. It consisted of two classes of international children from Ipoh and its

surrounding area. The school was founded in 1960The town of Tenby was originally a

fishing village and a small harbour. It has the remains of a medieval castle and parts of the

town still retain the town walls.

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 Originally, the school catered for the children of the plantation managers and

miners in the local area. As most of these times were British, the school had a British

atmosphere. During its existence, however that has changed and the atmosphere of the

school is truly international with a student body presenting some 29 different nationalities,

of which the British representation is one of the smallest.

Due to ill health, Mrs.Nelson Doig retired. Some parents and representatives of

British companies raised funds and purchased Tenby from Mrs.Nelson.

The first principal Mrs.Philips, was appointed after the Tenby association was

established in 1966. She retired in April 1967 and the principalship was taken over by

Mrs.Day. She retired in March 1968and was succeeded by Mrs.Audrey Fong. In 1967, the

school relocated to Tiger Lane by taking over Rawley’s Kindergarten. Then in 1974, the

school was moved to Jalan Brash. Yet again another move followed, this time back to the

Presbyterian Church Hall.

Mrs.Audrey Fong served for 28 years as a principal and retired in 1993 when the

school closed in October. In December 1993, the school was set up again, but this time by

‘Fine Spectrum Sdn Bhd’, at Jalan Watson. There were about 160 children from 17

different nationalities in the school and was known as ‘Tenby International School and

Kindergarten’. Mrs.Audrey Fong was again appointed as principal. Tuan Hj Mubin bin

2
Harun became principal upon Mrs.Fong’s retirement in August 1996. He was succeeded

by Mrs.Jill Lawrence in 1997. At that time the school had about 350 students in 19 classes

from 22 different nationalities.

In January 2000, the first class (Tahun 1) of the Malaysian KBSR commenced. The

school had its first musical production in July 2001. In May 2002, the school’s pioneer

group of students sat for the IGCSE exams. In 2003, the school area was increased

following the purchase of an adjoining piece of land at Jalan Kelab Golf. In July 2003,

Mrs.Yin resigned and Mr.A.J.Roderick took over. Also in 2003 Aesthetic Capital Sdn.Bhd.

also known as Tenby Educare Sdn.Bhd. took over the school. Now the school has a big

community with over 480 students from 29 different nationalities, and a staff of over 50. In

January 2005 Mrs.Lai Kong Wa joined as a director and CEO of the school. In 2004, a

new chapter opened in the life of Ipoh International School. New owners took over the

school under the name of Tenby Educare Group. They have invested heavily in the school

to secure its future as the only International School in Perak and by establishing a KBSM

in order for more Malaysian students in an international environment.

The name “Tenby Educare” looks to the future to provide a first class education for

its expatriate students and its local students. It also keeps the link with the past, by having

a Welsh name linked to the city of Ipoh.

3
 BONANZA VENTURES
HOLDINGS

IPOH
INTERNATIONL Sri Inai
SCHOOL (IIS) Pulau Pinang

Based on the chart above, it explains that Bonanza Ventures Holdings are the owner of IIS

and they have another branch in Penang. The school’s name is Sri Inai Pulau Pinang.

Kinta Properties are the main head quarters for Bonanza Ventures Holdings and they own

Greentown Business Centre in Ipoh, Perak.

In IIS, the school has more than 750 students with more 60 teachers and at least

20 management staffs. The school divides its education into two type of stream, which is

International stream where Mr. Roderick is the principal and another is Malaysian stream

where Mr. Louis Rozario is the principal. The school also provides three level of education,

which is secondary level, primary level and pre-school level.

In secondary and primary level, foreign students would follow the international

stream where the teaching method would be base on abroad ways. Nevertheless, the local

students will be following the Malaysian stream due to their parents that are local and

sometimes visits overseas and this seats are commonly for well to do families that wants

their students to be placed in a private schools.

In pre-school level, all students where the local and foreign students study here

together. Moreover, teaching is base on abroad ways too. An expatriate teacher conducts

these classes.

4
 MISSION AND VISION

Vision

• To be a leader in providing an all-round child-centered education that develops the

individual's unique gifts in a multicultural confidence.

Mission

• To provide a meaningful and relevant curriculum that equips students with the

knowledge, skills and attitude to face the changes with confidence.

• To ensure that the school environment is safe, caring and disciplined.

• To develop a learning culture that encourages creativity, thirst for knowledge and life-

long learning.

• To promote a healthy lifestyle through active participation in games and extramural

activities.

• To practice teaching strategies that are child-centered and designed to accommodate

different learning styles and pace so that all may experience success.

• To promote the partnership of school and home to ensure that every student acquires

the core values necessary to achieve personal success and to contribute meaningfully

to society.

• To appreciate our multicultural diversity and to maximize its use as an educational

resource to build unity and mutual understanding.

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Ipoh International School LOGO

Ipoh International School (IIS) shows a picture of a large tree planted on a greenly

environment. The tree represents a strong bond between the leaves and the branches. In

a similar meaning of a relationship between the students and the teachers where it is

always said to be cared. The motto of IIS is “ “.

At the main entrance of IIS one can see a stretch of flags on a pole which

represents from many countries like Findland, Brunei, Australia and so on. This flags

merely shows the countries that the students are coming from. There are at least 29

countries of foreign students that studies in IIS. Below shows the flags that fly on the

school flag pole.

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 FLAGS

Australia Switzerland

Bangladesh Thailand

Brunei Taiwan

Brazil Sweden

Bolivia China

Denmark France

Finland Germany

7
Holland Hong Kong

India Indonesia

Japan Iran

Korea Myanmar

New Zealand Pakistan

Philippines South Africa

Singapore UK

USA

8
9
10
Code of Conduct for Staffs

All members of staff should be familiar with the following items, in order to ensure that the

school runs smoothly and effectively.

Academic Code of Conduct

1. Attendance

All members of staff are to sign the signing in book every morning. The book is

kept in the Administration Building and must be signed on arrival. No member of

staff is to sign in a colleague.

Members of staff must report to the Administration Building by 7.45 a.m.

Staffs are allowed to leave at their respective leaving times providing that they

have completed all their work for the day.

2. Sickness

Should a member of the staff be unable to attend school due to illness, they must

contact the school by 7.30am to report their absence. (The Principal will be

available to take the call).

A medical certificate is required for the days of sickness.

If no medical certificate is produced, the days will be deducted as emergency

leave.

All the above are found in the Malaysian Labor Laws.

3. Leaving School during School Hours

Before members of staff can leave school, they must obtain permission from the

Principal. Staff should where possible leave during their non-contract time and sign

the staff’s movement book on the leaving and returning.

If a member of staff has to leave school during school hours and is aware that they

will be away for longer than their non-contract time, they should seek permission

from the Principal in writing 24 hours before.

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4. Extra Days Leave

Should any member of staff require extra time off school to attend family functions

or courses, then they must apply for annual leave where the forms are available in

the office. The days granted again follow the Labor Laws.

Work for classes affected by the absence should be prepared in advance.

5. Dress Code

All members of staff are expected to be dressed in a professional manner. No

jeans, tee shirts or training shoes should be worn unless it is a school function

which requires them to wear it.

All male members of staff are required to wear a collar and tie while in school,

together with a long sleeved shirt. Proper shoes (not sandals) and socks should

also be worn.

Female members of staff should dress in manner, which complies with the customs

and traditions of the country.

6. Mobile Phones

Mobile Phones should be switched off during lessons. They should not be used in

the public areas of the school e.g. field, canteen or outside classrooms.

7. School Function

All members of staff must attend school functions, i.e. Sports Day, School

Productions, and Parents Evenings.

Members of staff may also be required to attend other functions connected with the

school, as directed by the Board of Governors or the Board of Directors, where

possible 7 days notice of such an event will be given.

8. Respect for Colleagues

Teachers are expected to behave in a professional manner at all times. Respect for

colleagues is of paramount importance.

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 Shouting, the use of bad language or acting in a way, which is considered

disrespectful will not be tolerated. Disagreements of a professional nature should

be discussed with the Head of Departments or the Principals.

Discourtesy or rudeness towards either a colleague or superior will result in the

issuing of a warning letter, which will be kept on file.

9. Warning Letters

Warning letters can be issued to members of staff for behavior, which is

unprofessional, for failure to adhere to the school rules, or for conduct, which

brings the name of the school into disrepute.

10. Relations With Parents

Teachers must not discuss student’s behavior, academic progress or any other

issue regarding his/her conduct, with parents whether in the classroom,

playgrounds or out of school.

If a parent wants to discuss their child’s ability or conduct, ask them to go to the

office to make an appointment to see you and the Principal at a time which is

suitable to all three parties.

No teacher is to discuss any other student with other parents, to do so show a total

disregard for professional etiquette.

At all times, maintain cordial relations with parents, a very general conversation is

acceptable but any discussion regarding an individual student’s work or behavior

should be conducted in a confidential and professional manner.

11. Parents Meetings

If a parent request a meeting with a teacher, or a teacher with a parent, the

Principal’s office must be informed. A meeting will then be arranged between all

three. If the Principal is unavailable, then the Head of Department must be present.

Teachers must not discuss students they do not teach.

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 On Parents Evening, teachers will see the parents on a one to one basis as per

usual.

12. All members of staff are asked to follow the code of conduct. By doing so,

everyone will know what is expected of them.

Various Aspect of Daily Working Life

1. Forward Planners

All members of staff are to keep Forward Planner. Lessons for each week must be

written up and the book handed in to the office on the teacher’s arrival on Monday

Morning. The lessons for each day must be clearly marked.

Details of subject matter and method of instruction should be included. A list of

page numbers will not be accepted.

A copy of each week’s lessons will be kept in the Principal’s office.

If any teacher is unable to hand the Forward Planner in at the appointed time,

please inform the Principal.

2. School Duties

All members of staff will be expected to carry out break duties, morning duties and

lunch duty. A ‘Rota’ for duties will be posted in each staff room at the start of term.

Check the duty list and make sure that the teachers are where they are supposed

to be and on time. When a teacher is on duty, he/she should not be in the

classroom or in the staff room.

As the duty teacher, one is responsible for the safety or the students. Failure to

carry out the duty will result in a warning letter being given.

3. Co-Curriculum

This is now a part of the school day. Each teacher involved should be on time to

their given activity.

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4. School Excursions

If a school excursion is organized, then it must have some educational value and

not just be an excuse for a day out.

Parents must be informed in advance by letter and a permission slip must be

signed by the parents/guardians.

If money is collected, then the teacher in charge is responsible for the collection ad

its totals. The final amount is given to the administration.

5. Homework

A class should have a reasonable amount of homework. Students should not be

overburdened, but homework should be given in conjunction with the work being

done in class.

6. Homework / Work Records

All the teachers should keep accurate records of all work given both in class and

for homework. The date the work is given, the date handed in and a full record of

marks given.

7. Marking / Correcting

Be accurate when marking, the teacher must check what they have done. Make

sure that incorrect work is marked accordingly. Do not mark correct when work is

wrong.

8. Reporting to Parents / Guardians

If the teachers have any concerns over the child’s work or behavior, do contract the

parents/guardians do not wait until a week before the exams. Within three to four

weeks if you feel that there are problems, arrange a meeting with the

parents/guardians. Keep them informed.

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Teaching duties

All members of staff are respected to work for the benefit of the students and the school.

Members of all staff are expected to carry out their duties to the best of their ability and to

co-operate with the CEO, Principals and Heads of Department to ensure that the school

works in an efficient manner.

Staffs are in addition to their teaching duties expected to:

i. Follow instructions and directives from the Principals and Heads of Departments.

ii. Keep a forward planner / Record Book / Lesson Plans

iii. Take part in extra curricular activities.

iv. Carry out break duties.

CODE OF BEHAVIOUR FOR STUDENTS

Introduction:
The discipline code in Ipoh International School, S.K. Tenby, S.M. Tenby and Tenby
Kindergarten is designed to create a safe and supportive learning environment that will
enable students to achieve the following goals:-

• to develop and maintain self-confidence and self-esteem

• to develop a sense of personal responsibility for themselves and for others
• to develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary for their lives

In order to create this environment, appropriate behaviour is expected of the students.

Rules and regulations have been set up and breaking the rules will result in the following
actions being taken:

1. Minor problems – will be handled by the classroom teacher. Correction and

counsel will be given with consequences appropriate to the problem. Eg. of minor
problems: absenteeism, not handing up assignments / homeworks, late to school.

2. More Severe problems – smoking, fighting, harassment, vandalism, cheating

in examinations or repeated infringement of school rules will involve consultation
with the Discipline Teacher or Principal, home contact and suspension from school.

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 Period of suspension is according to severity of offence. Bullying will also not be
tolerated and disciplinary measures will be taken against those found to be
involved in this activity. For repeat offenders, the school reserves the right to expel
the students involved.

3. Criminal or illegal activities such as theft, drug possession or alcohol

consumption on school property or at school functions or possession of a
dangerous weapon will involve police investigation along with suspension from
school until the case is settled.
If a suspension from school occurs, a student will be expected to return with their parents
for an interview with the Principal before being allowed to resume attendance in regular
classes.

Rules and Regulations

1. Punctuality

Students are expected to be in school ten minutes before the bell rings for
registration.

School times:-

Level Time Day

8.30 a.m. – 12.30 p.m. Monday to Thursday
Kindergarten
8.30 a.m. – 12.00 p.m. Friday
8.00 a.m. – 1.10 p.m. Monday to Thursday
Year 1 & KBSR 1
8.00 a.m. – 12.30 p.m. Friday
8.00 a.m. - 3.00 p.m. Monday to Thursday
Junior / KBSR
8.00 a.m. – 12.30 p.m. Friday
8.00 a.m. – 3.20 p.m. Monday to Thursday
Senior / KBSM
8.00 a.m. – 12.30 p.m. Friday

2. School Uniform

All students are required to wear school uniform on school days and on all school
functions and school outings. Students will be informed if exceptions are made.

17
 Seniors Juniors

Blue T-shirt tucked into long blue trousers

Boys and worn with a black belt that has a White T-shirt tucked into red shorts.
reasonable sized buckle.

Blue T-shirt tucked into a blue skirt.

Girls The length of the skirt should be below Red checked cotton dress.
the knee.

Shoes : For boys and girls, plain black shoes and white socks.

For P.E / - A standard uniform for all: white PE T-shirt, plain black shorts or
Co-curricular training pants (no badges or company logos) and black trainers
activities with white socks.

3. Personal Appearance

Hair style - of natural color, neatly cut or styled.

- length of hair for boys should not cover more than a
quarter of their ears and must be above the collar.
Beards, moustaches or goatees are not allowed. (If
required for religious reason, a letter must be given to
the school signed either by the parents or guardians).
- For girls with long hair, the hair must be tied back to
keep it away from the face.
- Fringes for both boys and girls must not go beyond
the level of the eyebrows.

3.2 Jewellery - No jewellery should be worn to school for safety

reason to prevent loss.

3.3 Make-up /
Nail varnish - No make-up is allowed. (This includes coloured
nail varnish and lip gloss). Fingernails must
be kept clean, neat and short. Body piercing and

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 tattoos are strictly prohibited.

4. Prohibited Items

The following items are not allowed in school at any time unless approval has been
given before hand:-

4.1 Cell-phones
4.2 Game boys, CD, DVD and MP3 players.
4.3 Tapes (audio/visual), CD, VCD.
4.4 Playing cards
4.5 Cameras (unless otherwise informed for special school events or outings. If
cameras are brought for these occasions, owners are fully responsible for
them).
4.6 Knives, metal rulers or any sharp and dangerous objects.
4.7 Chewing gum
4.8 Jewellery
4.9 The school management can omit or add to the above list at its discretion.
During ransom spot checks, if any of the above items are found, they will be confiscated or
kept in the school safe until the end of the school term.

5. Smoking - No smoking is allowed. Anyone caught smoking will be given

a warning (1st offence), suspended from school (2nd offence)
or sacked (3rd offence).

6. Money - Excessive amounts of money should not carry in school.

Recommended amounts are as follows:-
Juniors - Not more than RM10.00
Seniors - Not more than RM20.00

General Rules and Responsibilities of students

1. Classroom
1.1 Classrooms must always be kept neat and tidy.
1.2 Students are not allowed to be in the classroom during break time.
1.3 No food or drinks are allowed to be consumed in the classrooms. All class
parties must be with the permission of the Principal.

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1.4 Lights and air-conditioners must be switched off when students leave the
room at the end of the school day.
1.5 For any desk, chair or window pane deliberately broken in or outside the
classroom, the students involved will be expected to pay for the
replacement items.
1.6 Each student is responsible for his own locker in class. Should the locker
key be lost, the student will be charged RM40.00 for the cost of opening the
locker and the damage incurred.

2. Telephone Calls
No cell-phones are allowed in school at any time. In case of emergencies,
students may use the phone in the administration office. Charges for the calls are
as follows:-

A call to a cell-phone : 50 cent per call

A call to a fixed line : 20 cent per call

Students can also purchase telephone cards from the administration office for the
two public phones in the office. Calls can be made only during break-time, lunch
break and at the end of the school day.

3. Food & Drinks

3.1 Students who do not wish to buy food from the school canteen may bring
their own. Lunch packs for students must be left with the guard house
(Jalan Watson) or the guard (Jalan Kelab Golf) before 1.00 p.m. to ensure
that they are delivered on time to the students concerned.
3.2 During lessons, students may drink water only with the permission of the
teacher.

4. Attendance Procedure
4.1 Parents are requested to phone the school about student’s absence. If the
parent does not phone, a note to the class teacher will be necessary when
the student returns.
4.2 After 3 days’ of absence from school, the school will phone the
parent/guardian.

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 4.3 Parents are asked to avoid scheduling doctors’ appointments and vacations
during school hours. Full attendance in school ensures that a student
receives the best benefit from his education.
4.4 Lateness to class is monitored each day throughout the term. Students
who are habitually late (more than 5 times per term) will be given letters of
warning and this lack of punctuality will be reflected in the assessment
report at the end of each term and the absenteeism will be listed in the
SMS.
4.5 Students discovered skipping classes face suspension on their second skip.

5. Leaving class / school

5.1 Students can leave their class only with the permission of the class teacher.
5.2 Students who are sick and need to be taken home must be sent to the
office for their parents to be contacted. In an emergency when the parents
cannot be contacted, the student will be taken to either his/her family doctor
(if known) or to a suitable hospital approved by the school for treatment.
5.3 Parents who wish to take their children out of school during school hours
should give the class teacher a letter 2 school days in advance. In the case
of an emergency, they must report to the school office.
5.4 Parents who take children out of school during school hours must sign into
a Record Book in the office before taking the student back.
5.5 All students are expected to leave the school premises not later than 15
minutes after the school activity has ended.

The school reserves the right to add to the rules as and when necessary. Any changes
will be communicated to students during the registration period or at the assembly. For
parents, the changes will be communicated through a circular and can be viewed online
through the School Management System.

With the rules and regulations, it is hoped that students will be disciplined and responsible.
Student’s behaviour is monitored through a record book kept by all class teachers in the
classrooms. Through close monitoring of their behaviour, the school hopes to ensure that
students display exemplary conduct at all times and learn to appreciate and respect the
beliefs, practices and feelings of others.

21
CHAPTER TWO:

PEST ANALYSIS

PEST analysis is useful before SWOT not generally vice-versa but PEST definitely helps

to identify SWOT factors. It becomes more useful and relevant the larger and more

complex the business or proposition, but even for a very small local businesses a PEST

analysis can still throw up one or two very significant issues that might otherwise be

missed. A Pest analysis is an analysis of external macro-environment that affects all firms.

P.E.ST. is an acronym for the Political, Economic, Social, and Technological factors of the

external macro-environment. Such external factors usually are beyond a firm’s control and

sometimes present themselves as threats. However, changes in the external environment

also create new opportunities and the letters sometimes are rearranged to construct the

more optimistic term of STEP analysis.

The four quadrants in PEST vary in significance depending on the type of

business, e.g., social factors are more obviously relevant to consumer businesses or a

B2B business close to the consumer-end of the supply chain, whereas political factors are

more obviously relevant to a global munitions supplier or aerosol propellant manufacturer.

All businesses benefits from a SWOT analysis, and all businesses benefits from

completing a SWOT analysis of their main competitors, which interestingly can then

provide some feed back into the economic aspects of the PEST analysis.

Many macro-environmental factors are country-specific and a PEST analysis will

need to be performed for all countries of interest. Identifying the PEST influences is a

useful way of summarising the external environment in which a business operates.

However, it must be followed up by consideration of how a business should respond to

these influences. The following are examples of some of the factors that might be

considered in a PEST analysis.

22
Political Analysis

• Government type and stability

• Freedom of press, rule of law and levels of bureaucracy and corruption

• Regulation and de-regulation trends

• Social and employment legislation

• Tax policy, and trade and tariff controls

• Environmental and consumer-protection legislation

• Likely changes in the political environment

Economic Analysis

• Stage of business cycle

• Current and project economic growth, inflation and interest rates

• Unemployment and labour supply

• Labour costs

• Levels of disposable income and income distribution

• Impact of globalization

• Likely impact of technological or other change on the economy

• Likely changes in the economic environment

Socio-Cultural Analysis

• Demographics

• Class structure

• Education

• Culture like gender roles, etc.

• Entrepreneurial spirit

23
 • Attitudes like health, environment consciousness, etc

• Leisure interests

Technological Analysis

• Recent technological developments

• Technology’s impact on product offering

• Impact on cost structure

• Impact on value chain structure

• Rate of technological diffusion

The number of macro-environmental factors is virtually unlimited. In practice, the firm must

prioritize and monitor those factors that influence its industry. Even so, it may be difficult to

forecast future trends with an acceptable level of accuracy. In this regard, the firm may

turn to the scenario planning techniques to deal with high levels of uncertainty in important

macro-environmental variables.

24
The table below lists some possible factors that could indicate important environmental
influences for a business under the PEST headings:

Political / Legal Economic Social Technological

- Environmental - Economic growth - Income distribution - Government spending
regulation and protection (overall; by industry (change in distribution on research
sector) of disposable income;
- Taxation (corporate; - Monetary policy - Demographics (age - Government and
consumer) (interest rates) structure of the industry focus on
population; gender; technological effort
family size and
composition; changing
nature of occupations)
- International trade - Government - Labour / social - New discoveries and
regulation spending (overall mobility development
level; specific
spending priorities)
- Consumer protection - Policy towards - Lifestyle changes - Speed of technology
unemployment (e.g. Home working, transfer
(minimum wage, single households)
unemployment
benefits, grants)
- Employment law - Taxation (impact - Attitudes to work and - Rates of technological
on consumer leisure obsolescence
disposable income,
incentives to invest
in capital
equipment,
corporation tax
rates)
- Government - Exchange rates - Education - Energy use and costs
organisation / attitude (effects on demand
by overseas
customers; effect
on cost of imported
components)
- Competition regulation - Inflation (effect on - Fashions and fads - Changes in material
costs and selling sciences
prices)
- Stage of the - Health & welfare - Impact of changes in
business cycle Information technology
(effect on short-
term business
performance)
- Economic "mood" - - Living conditions - Internet!
consumer (housing, amenities,
confidence pollution)

25
TOWS ANALYSIS

A TOWS or SWOT analysis is an extremely useful tool for understanding and decision-

making for all sorts of situations in business and organizations. SWOT is an acronym for

Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. A SWOT analysis is a subjective

assessment of data, which is organized by the SWOT format into a logical order that helps

understanding, presentation, discussion and decision-making. The four dimensions are a

useful extension of a basic two heading list of pro's and con's.

SWOT analysis can be used for all sorts of decision-making, and the SWOT

template enables proactive thinking rather than relying on habitual or instinctive reactions.

Here are examples of what a SWOT analysis can be used to assess:

• a company (its position in the market, commercial viability, etc)

• a method of sales distribution

• a product or brand

• a business idea

• a strategic option, such as entering a new market or launching a new product

• a opportunity to make an acquisition

• a potential partnership

• changing a supplier

• outsourcing a service, activity or resource

• an investment opportunity

One must be sure to be able to describe the subject for the SWOT analysis clearly so that

people contribute to the analysis, and those seeing the finished SWOT analysis, properly

understand the purpose of the SWOT assessment and implication.

26
 This analysis is an important tool for auditing the overall strategic position of a

business and its environment. The Strengths and weaknesses are internal factors. For

example, strength could be the company’s specialist in marketing expertise. Weakness

could be the lack of a new product. Opportunities and threats are external factors. For

example, an opportunity could be a developing distribution channel such as the Internet, or

changing consumer lifestyles that potentially increase demand for a company’s products.

A threat could be a new competitor in an important existing market or a technological

change that makes existing products potentially obsolete. Accordingly, SWOT analysis is

best used as a guide and not a prescription. Adding and weighting criteria to each factors

increases the validity of the analysis.

Areas to Consider

Some of the key areas to consider when identifying and evaluating Strengths,

Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats are listed in the example SWOT analysis below:

27
By sorting, the SWOT issues into the six planning categories one can obtain a system that

presents a practical way of assimilating the internal and external information about the

business unit, delineating short and long-term priorities, and allowing easy way to build the

management team that can achieve the objectives of profit growth.

This approach captures the collective agreement and commitment of those who will

ultimately have to do the work of meeting or exceeding the objectives finally set. It permits

the team leader to define and develop co-ordinate, goal-directed actions, which underpin

the overall agreed objectives between levels of the business hierarchy.

Translating SWOT issues into actions of six categories:

1. Product (what are we selling?)

2. Process (how are we selling?)

3. Customer (to whom are we selling it?)

4. Distribution (how does it reach them?)

5. Finance (what are the prices, costs, and investments?)

6. Administration (and how do we manage all this?)

CONFRONTATION MATRIX

A tool to combine the internal factors with the external factors is the Confrontation Matrix.

Opportunities Threats

Offensive Adjust
Strengths
make the most of these restore strengths

Defensive Survive
Weaknesses
watch competition closely turn around

28
Often in reality, the two columns of the SWOT diagram are pointing in opposite directions.
Strategists must still deal with the paradox of creating alignment. This can be done via Outside-in
strategy formulation (market-driven strategy) or Inside-out strategy formulation (resource-driven).

PORTER’S DIOMAND MODEL

Porter’s Diamond proposes several basic elements which govern a country’s trading

competitiveness. The theory propounds demand, factor and inter-firm conditions as the

rudiments of a healthy open economy. According to Porter, competitive industries when

compared internationally are those that improve and innovate by investing in such

activities as R&D, learning, modern facilities and training. Innovatory behaviour is

conditioned by other key factors in determining national advantage, which are set out in

a “diamond” system like below:

FIRMS’ STRATEGY,
STRUCTURE and
RIVALS

DEMANDS CONDITIONS
FACTORS CONDITIONS (especially in the
domestic)

RELATED
and SUPPORTING
INDUSTRIES

Porter states that international success in a particular industry is determined by

four broad mutually reinforcing factors which create an environment which enables the

firms to compete.

29
Factors Conditions

Porter states the traditional factor endowment argument of standard trade theory is

too simplistic. The most important factors to comparative advantage are created and the

broad categories of land, labour, and capital are too general. Basic factors such as natural

resources, climate and un/semi-skilled labour are passively inherited while advanced

factors are those whose development demands large and substantial investments in

human and physical capital. The distinction of generalised versus specialised is based on

company’s ability to perform tasks. Generalised factors are available in most nations. They

can be sourced on global markets and their activities can be performed at a distance from

the home base, whereas specialised factors are developed with considerable investment

from the generalise factors. Porter argues that sustainable competitive advantage exists

when a nation state possesses the factors necessary to compete in particular industry,

which are both advanced and specialised.

Demand Conditions

Porter argues that the local demand is at the roof of national advantage. Company

will first supply to their domestic market and then export to markets with similar demand

patterns. Countries will not think of an idea unless domestic demand forces it to, therefore

there is a need domestic demand to get a comparative advantage in these products. This

could be seen through a number of channels. First through the pressure placed on

producers by buyers to innovate, second through sophisticated domestic buyer needs

30
providing a window information more advanced buyer needs and finally through

economies of scale.

Related and Supporting Industries

Demand conditions alone are unimportant as they depend on other parts of the

diamond such as strong domestic rivalry whereby without rivalry, rapid domestic demand

equals complacency. If there exists a close working relationship between companies within

an industry an ongoing coordinating process of innovation and upgrading will result where

access to information, new ideas, insights and innovations will occur. Also if competitive

advantage exists in related industries then opportunities abound for positive interchange

and new opportunities are continually perceived. If company has strong support in

advanced industries economies where industrial cluster exists and a cumulative learning

process is the result.

Firms’ Strategy, Structure and Rivalry

In this point, vigorous domestic rivalry is strongly associated with competitive

advantage in an industry and that success does not grow from one or two firms’

experiencing economies of scale due to their dominance of the market-only in closed

economy will dominance are profitable. Domestic rivalry creates pressure to innovate and

upgrade National Competitive Advantage (NCA) as local competitor imitates new ideas

and the whole industry benefits from overall industry innovation.

For example, firms imitate MNC activities and compete in these sectors. Foreign

subsidiaries have the backing of their large parent corporations who benefits from

significant learning and scale advantages, advanced and specialised factors and a stock of

financial resources for investment. However, imitation of ideas is constrained due to the

31
absence of a concerted attempt by the government to gain access to the technologies.

Porter also states that new business formation will create new competitors and feed the

process of innovation. A country will succeed where the goal and motivation fit the source

of competitive advantage and that these goals are strongly determined by ownership

structure.

Porter suggests that adopting a global approach to marketing strategy provides two

distinct ways in which firms can gain a competitive advantage, or at least off-set poor

returns in domestic disadvantage. These are that:

• A global firm can spread activities among nations to serve the world, and this not

only enables expansion of the business, but also helps to off-set poor returns in

domestic or other select markets.

• A global firm can coordinate dispersed activities, for example where marketing,

distribution and after-sales are located in the buyers’ nation, but manufacturing and

supply can be located anywhere.

Apart from firms’ own strategic choices, including the structure of their organization, the

local competitive situation has to be taken into account. These aspects are themselves

affected by conditions in the national economy like supply of labour, skills, adequate

transport and communications infrastructure together with the availability of sufficient

capital in firms to sustain innovation. The demand situation is critical, since this is the

national marketplace. However, Porter considers that conditions in the home market need

to be sufficiently promising to enable a firm to be able to study what customers really want

before launching out into other nations, even though their needs may not be exactly the

same. Finally, the existence of key suppliers and related industries is an important factor in

the ability of a national industry to compete globally.

32
VALUE CHAIN ANALYSIS

According to Michael Porter, the value chain as the major tool for identifying ways to

create more customer value. Every firm consists of a collection of activities performed to

design, produce, and market, deliver, and support the firm’s products. The value chain

breaks the firm into nine value-creating activities in an effort to understand the behaviour

of costs in the specific business and the potential sources of competitive differentiation.

The nine value-creating activities include five primary activities and four support activities.

33
What activities a business undertakes is directly linked to achieving competitive

advantage. For example, a business which wishes to outperform its competitors through

differentiating itself through higher quality will have to perform its value chain activities

better than the opposition. By contrast, a strategy based on seeking cost leadership will

require a reduction in the total amount of resources used.

Primary value chain activities include:

Primary Activity Description

Inbound logistics All those activities concerned with receiving and storing

externally sourced materials.

Operations The manufacture of products and services-the way in which

resource inputs like materials that are to be converted to

outputs like products.

Outbound logistics All those activities associated with getting finished goods

and services to buyers.

Marketing and sales Essentially an information activity for informing buyers and

consumers about products and services, e.g. benefits, use,

price etc.

Services All those activities associated with maintaining product

performance after the product has been sold.

34
Support Activities Description

Procurement This concern how resources are acquired for a business e.g.

sourcing and negotiating with materials suppliers.

Human Resource

Management Those activities concerned with recruiting, developing,

motivating and rewarding the workforce of a business.

Technology Development Activities concerned with managing information processing

and the development and protection of knowledge in a

business.

Infrastructure Concerned with a wide range of support systems and

functions such as finance, planning, quality control and

general senior management.

The support activities occur within each of these primary activities. For example,

procurement involves obtaining the various input for each primary activity that only a

fraction of procurement is done by the purchasing department. Technology development

and human resource management also occurs in all departments. The firm’s infrastructure

covers the overhead of general management, planning, finance, accounting, and legal and

government affairs borne by all the primary and support activities.

Under the value-chain concept, the firm should examine its costs and performance

in each value-creating activity to look for improvements. It also should estimate its

competitors’ cost and performances as benchmarks. To the extent that the firm can

perform certain activities better than its competitors, it can achieve a competitive

advantage.

35
 The firm’s success depends not only on how well each department performs its

work, but also on how well the activities of various departments are coordinated. Too

often, individual departments maximize their own interests rather than those of the total

company and the customer. For example, a credit department might to reduce bad debts

by raising credit standards; meanwhile, sales people get frustrated and the customers

must buy elsewhere. A distribution department might decide to save money by shipping

goods by rail; meanwhile the customer waits. In each case, individual departments have

erected walls that impede the delivery of quality customer service.

To overcome this problem, companies should place more emphasis on the smooth

management of core business processes, most of which involve inputs and cooperation

from many functional departments. Among other things, these core business processes

include the following:

• Product development process: all the activities involved in identifying, researching,

and developing new products with speed, high quality, and reasonable cost.

• Inventory management process: all the activities involved in developing and

managing the right inventory levels of raw materials, semi finished materials, and

finished goods so that adequate suppliers are available while avoiding the costs of

high overstocks.

• Order-to-payment process: all the activities involved in receiving orders, approving

them, shipping the goods on time, and collecting payment.

• Customer service process: all the activities involved in making it easy for

customers to reach the right parties within the company to obtain service, answers,

and resolutions of problem.

36
CHAPTER THREE:

PEST Analysis

POLITICAL ANALYSIS

1. Government type and stability

Although IIS is not a government-based school, however some elements concern the

government. This is because the school deals with foreign people and foreign

students. Therefore, with the government’s approval only a child of a foreigner would

be able to study here. Besides that, political situation here is stabile and that is the

reason other student from a different country is able to study peacefully here.

2. Regulations and De-regulations Trends

Rule of law in IIS based on international stream and the Malaysian stream. As we are

dealing with international students, so the management team and the school’s aim

here is to make sure the foreign students have the similar education as abroad.

Guidelines are mostly use based on the British Curriculum stream.

3. Social and Employment Legislation

The staffs and teachers in IIS are appointing based on their experience and

qualifications. Expatriate teachers are always welcomed by the school and the school

provides special training as the teachers here are dealing with foreign students and the

way of teaching differs from the Malaysian stream.

4. Work Week

Based on my research the staffs and management team’s working hours are much

different from the teachers. The staffs’ works five-days a week with a half-day work on

Saturdays. Where else teachers works’ five-days a week and if there is any special

event regarding the school than all the teachers must participate.

37
 Working hours for the management side is from 8.30am until 4.30pm where else the

teachers work from 7.45am until 3.30pm.

5. Favored Trading Partners

IIS have a partnership with Sri Inai School in Penang. Both school changes any

information regarding the international school system.

ECONOMIC ANALYSIS

1. Stage of Business Cycle

IIS follows the British Calendar, which means here that in a year the school have four

terms like summer term, winter term, spring term and autumn term. During summer

term, the school is closed for almost two months as a holiday just like in Europe. So

the peak season here is during Autumn season where the school reopens as a new

year with a new intake starts.

2. Current and Project Economic Growth

As this is a school, the current project economic growth is base on the events that the

school held. For example, once in a year the school held a production day where all

the students participate in dramas, dances and singing songs. In this way, the school

receives funds and income by selling tickets to the parents and outsiders.

Besides that, the risk of inflation and interest rate is less, as this is an education field.

3. Labor Cost

Applying to the school scenario, labor cost is even. Teachers have a ranking. Higher

the qualification of teachers so higher the pay it is. Expatriate teachers are paid based

on Malaysian currency with a reasonable amount.

4. Impact of Globalization

38
 The impact of globalization is positive whereby the education prospect in this school

could be broadened. Globalization will bring in more opportunities for other students

from the 29 current countries of students studying here now.

SOCIA-CULTURAL ANALYSIS

1. Population Growth Rate

Looking at the population perspective, Malaysia is one of the countries that promote

high growth of human population. Therefore, a chance of high student registering every

year increases.

2. Entrepreneurial Spirit

Motivation and training given to the staffs and teachers accordingly in order to increase

their teaching skill and for management team to work more efficient and effective to

achieve IIS vision and mission eventually the school’s objective.

3. Leisure Interest

Applying to the school’s scenario, leisure interest and spending time whereby the

management team organizes specified event only for their employees. A way to show

gratitude and appreciation for their employee’s hard work. For example, IIS recently

held a family fun day where the teachers, staffs and the students are welcomed to

bring their family members to join the fun day. We had games, food, and horse riding

and so on organized by the school. Before summer term ends which is in July, the

management of IIS had organized for their employees a party at the Meru Valley Golf

Club.

4. Attitudes (health, environmental consciousness, etc)

For the staffs including the teachers and management, IIS use the government hospital

for any medical emergency that occurs. For students, we do follow the medical

procedures just like the other government school that goes through. For example, if

39
 every year the dentist must do check up for all the students in a school so IIS also

provides that facilities to their school students with their parents concern. From time to

time, the school does have talks on environmental conscious, drugs, about health and

guidelines on how to cross the street for the youngsters. An expert normally gives the

speeches.

TECHNOLOGICAL ANALYSIS

1. Recent Technological Developments

The school had come-up with a web-based application where it allows parents to be

more involved in their child’s education. It is called as “School Management System

(SMS)” that resides on a centralized server and is accessed through an Internet or

Intranet connection. The end user’s computer can be any PC where it only needs a

web browser to access SMS.

2. Technology’s impact on Product offering

With this technology, parents can accomplish online access real-time the student

performance data, communicate with the teachers and track assignments as well as

the attendance of their children. This increases parental involvement and give IIS

positive impact where one could get all the information they need through internet.

3. Research and Development activity

IIS follows more on British Curriculum education system. Research and Development

always a continuing process for IIS. There fore the school keeps up-to-date with British

Education System and through British Curriculum web page.

40
TOWS MATRIX

TOWS analysis or better known as SWOT analysis is a scan of internal and external

environment is an important part of the strategic planning process. Environmental factors

internal to the firm usually can be classified as strengths (S) or weaknesses (W), and

those external to the firm can be classified as opportunities (O) or threats (T).

STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES

• Technological skills • Management

• Customer loyalty / relationship • Disciplinary Board

• Production quality teaching • Unreliable services

• Management in international level

OPPORTUNITIES THREATS

• New distribution channels • Retention of key teacher critical

• Changes in government policy • New distribution channels

• Changes in population age-structure • Technological advances

• Technological advance

41
 STRENGHTS

1. Technological Skills

Applying to Ipoh International School (IIS) scenario, increasing in technology benefits

the school. New methods of learning and teaching ought to be taught to the students.

2. Customer Loyalty / Relationship

As education is a very necessity in upbringing children. Parents concern is choosing

the right school fro their children. Moreover, for IIS our focus is providing sit for foreign

students whose parents are staying or working here. Based on that customer loyalty

refers to quality of teaching whereby well trained and professional teachers is needed

in order to gain parents trust that teachers here are also as good as overseas. Thus,

parents will have no fear in educating their child in IIS.

3. Production Quality Teaching

Production quality refers to teaching quality. The school hires well experience teachers

and provide training from overseas so the teachers are able to teach students by

knowing or experimenting the level that their learn in their home/ foreign schools.

Frequently, teachers are sending to attend training, talks and so on to brush up their

skills and eventually increasing their capability of doing their work.

4. Management

Teamwork in management had been the main source why the school is been doing

better every year. The CEO of IIS always supervises the principals and the teachers.

Every opinion whether from the staffs or the teachers are considered. The school has

at least 750 students with 60 more teachers and at least 20 management staffs.

42
 WEAKNESSES

1. Disciplinary Board

Punctuality among the students is very low. The school has a very small amount of

prefects. Therefore, measures to upgrade the school discipline should be taken into

consideration.

2. Unreliable Product / Services

Teaching service is reliable. However, young teachers and graduates always look for

the better prospect in building their career. Many young staffs and teachers tend to

resign and it is a loss for the school if a caliber teacher or staff leaves the school. That

is the reason the service is unreliable for a school.

3. Management

Based on my research, the management faces weaknesses as they lack of

administration staffs. Each department for example human resource, finance and so on

must at least have two people working as a staff.

43
OPPORTUNITIES

1. New distribution channels

Applying to the school scenario, new distribution channels could be done by arranging

various language skills. As this is an international school, they could try the opportunity

to teach other most popular languages besides English and Mandarin.

2. Changes in government policy

Although IIS follows the British Curriculum system but yet the school is bond to follow

the rule of the country. If there are any changes in the education policy, therefore the

school should be reluctant to follow the policy accordingly whereby it leads to the factor

of changes in population age-structure.

3. Changes in population age-structure

Globalization had broadened the connection between east and the west countries. Due

to that, access to our country is easier and now number of foreigner had increased so

does the policy in the education system had changed in order to allow foreigners to

further their children’s education in a different country rather then their own respective

home country.

4. Technological Advances

Internet and media mass had brought more publicity to the IIS and eventually promote

the school through their web site which www.ipohinternational.edu.my

Through this way, foreign parents are able to send their children to school and

eventually do their business in our country, Malaysia.

44
THREATS

1. Retention of key teacher critical

Looking at a school scenario, holding back a good talented teacher or a staff is

unlikely, due to of better teaching opportunity and better pay. Besides that, mostly

talented teacher have side income like giving out tuitions thus chances of them to quit

and concentrate fully on tuitions, as the income is also more attractive.

2. New distribution channels

The threat would be if a new language to be taught in the school therefore the school is

responsible to make sure that the subject is been taught continuously. Meaning that, if

the teacher is resigning the subject flow must not be interrupted and the school must

have immediate replacement teacher for that specific language.

3. Technological advances

In my point of view, as technology advances more there would be possibilities of

students studying from home computer compare to going to the school. This scenario

do happens in some of the foreign countries whereby during winter term students do

not need to go to the school. They just need to download the materials and the notes

from online. In near future, this could be a threat for IIS as most of the students are

from foreign countries.

45
PORTER’S DIAMOND MODEL

Factor Conditions

Based on Porter’s Diamond Model, one must fulfill the very basic of necessity

before starting a business. In other words, factor conditions are like land, labour, capital,

infrastructure must take into consideration before starting the business. Applying to the

school scenario, the building that IIS currently in is actually a Church Hall and the land

belongs to the Kinta Properties. Eventually as years pass by Kementerian Pendidikan

Perak decided that the state, need to have an international school for the foreign students

as their parent are working here in Malaysia. The land and the building of IIS belongs to

the Kinta Properties. It is a strategic place whereby the school is situated near Ipoh Polo

Ground, HillCity Condominium and near to the Ipoh town. Therefore, it is convenient for

both sides parent of local and foreign to send their child to be educated here. Besides that,

as the school is combined with three level from Kindergarten, to Primary level and finally to

Secondary level so the student would be able to complete their respective education in the

same school itself without any difficulty occurring.

Next element is labour. According to Porter, labour could be divided into three

categories, which are skilled labour that are professionals, semi-skilled labours and

46
unskilled labours. Skilled labour refers to professional which means that the person had

been working for a long period serving the department. Applying to the school, IIS have

teachers that have been serving the school since 1980’s. Semi-skilled labour refers to

teachers that are graduates but have less experience compared to the skilled ones. They

need more training to brush up their skills base on the particular field. Recently, IIS have

chosen at least 15 teachers to go through British International Cambridge Program. In this

program, the teachers will be trained base on the international ways of teaching the

students. Unskilled labours refer to fresh graduates teachers whereby they do not have

any working or teaching experience besides from their practical training. This kind of

labours will be trained by the school by putting them under a supervision of a senior

teacher and the principal. Time to time assessment on the teacher will be conducted to

improve their teaching skills.

Besides that, capital for IIS is based on the students fees and fund that the school

collect during events and fun days that the school celebrates. However, the Kementerian

Pendidikan Perak also provide a certain amount to the school as it is the only school in

Perak providing place to the foreign students to study and for local parents who travel

often to overseas. Infrastructure of the school is based on old design, which is a Church

Hall of Presbyterian Church. Now and then, the school infrastructure increases for better

future. With the advance in technology, now the school is complete with computer lab,

library etc.

47
Demand Conditions

Base on Porter’s Diamond model, demand condition is another element that a

company should take into consideration to generate its competitive advantage. Demand

conditions relate to demand in both local and foreign market and the need to understand

how to gain profits with these to kind of market.

Here speaking of this school scenario, the demand conditions in the local market is

always available. It is because throughout Malaysia there is at least one school exist in

every state. This shows that, IIS would be a likely place for parents who travel often to

overseas whereby they could still place their child in the states that they had moved in.

This is because the link between the schools exists.

Apart from that, with the implementation of using English in Science and

Mathematics learning, it has increased the demand, for the school is known to deliver

almost its entire lesson in English for the international stream. With that, parents that opt

for English learning could see this school as solution. The demand from the foreign citizen

could be seen as a prospective one if there is an increased foreign population immigrating

into Malaysia as a choice of starting a business here or earning an income here.

Foreigners who sometimes bring over they family of for those who settled down in

48
Malaysia as well could find this school as a substitute for their children. This is because of

the flexibility offered and that the school follows the British calendar whereby the four

seasons play an important role. This is because as summer season approach most of

foreigners would be traveling so this is an opportunity for them to bring their children along

without disturbing their education as IIS also start their holiday season in summer time

following British time.

Related and Supporting Industries

Applying to the school scenario, IIS do have supporting industry that is situated in

Pulau Pinang. Sri Inai Pulau Pinang is another branch of international school under

Bonanza Venture Holdings. Therefore, Sri Inai Pulau Pinang method of management and

teaching would be similar. Whatever guidelines or information enrollment, both schools

would have the rule to enforce into the system. Besides that, these schools often

exchange their executives in order to maintain the quality in the teaching and management

sector. Related industry here would be the British Curriculum industry as expatriate that

have skills from this field is normally the company hires or those expatriates that works as

a teacher in foreign also will be taken into consideration to be employed.

Firms’ Strategy, Structure and Rivalry

The strategy that the school should implement is to try to diversify the languages that the

school provides to the students. Currently, English and Mandarin language is used as a

medium of transfer. What could be the strategy is to broaden or administer other foreign

languages such as French and Japan. In order to do so, IIS have to employ expatriate and

49
also eventually train their teacher or employ local teachers that is capable of teaching this

foreign language to the students.

Applying to the school, the structure of the school changes if the Government’s

education policy changes. The school is tied to the rules of law that the Government make

regarding education systems .So far, the new guidelines in the policy for international

schools is that taking intake for local students at least 40% to join the international school.

Rivalry in IIS could be seen if there are other schools offering similar method of

teaching could be a rivalry to IIS. Besides that, IIS is the only school in the state that

enables foreign students to register into the British International General Certificate of

Secondary Education (IGCSE). Methodist Girls School (MGS) in Ipoh and other convent

schools does also provide high competitive to IIS. Due to the school have the similar

where English had been stressed out to be the most used language in IIS unlike the local

schools where Bahasa Melayu is the most used language.

50
Value Chain Analysis

To analyze the specific activities through which firms can create a competitive advantage,

it is useful to model the firm as a chain of value-creating activities. According to Michael

Porter, identifying a set of interrelated generic activities is common to a wide range of

firms.

Applying to the school scenario, the main primary activities starts with inbound

logistics, which has to do with providing all the materials and goods required for making

the products. Base on school, the materials to the school community is employing a well

talented teachers and staffs in order to make IIS a better school and a well-recognized

place to learn. In that way, IIS would be able to receive high intake of student every year

with a better reputation.

Besides that in primary activities, there are operations, which mean value-creating

activities that transform the inputs into the final products. To apply this in IIS, the school

motives as an educate centre. Therefore, students are transforming to be a knowledgeable

and be educated to serve the nation with good deeds. Another way is intensification of the

co-operation between the school and the community, families of the international children

51
and local children, with the aim to emphasize the importance of education and school for

the high value child development. School attendance and monitoring of the co-operation

between parents and school, observation of the educational process whereby training the

teachers and teacher assistants in the field of their experts in that subject like humanities,

ethics and multicultural education using the newly created working and methodical

materials.

Assisting the teachers in the preparation of intervention techniques for the social and

cognitive development of children (individual teaching plans) on multicultural basis

Using newly created materials in the educational process at the beginning of the school

year. Proposing and organizing out-off-school activities and meetings of the school

representatives with parents and guidance.

In outbound logistics are the activities required to get the finished product to the customer,

including warehousing, order fulfillment, etc. Based to the school, the management and

the teachers use the following as criteria to upgrade their learning and teaching process

for IIS whereby it has to benefits to the overall business practices, productivity

improvement, increased ability to adapt to market conditions for example able to conduct

the education system by following the foreigners style. enhanced customer service, use of

technology to deliver an integrated application, technical complexity, high level of strategic

planning, implementation of a practical use of an industry standard, relationship building,

close integration with customers, originality and ingenuity of solution development, and

how delivery processes are designed to meet quality requirements. In marketing and

sales, as IIS do at the times face budgetary constraints and seek ways to enhance their

resources, many turn to commercial sources of funding. Advertisements on school buses

or scoreboards, use of corporation-sponsored educational materials, sales through

vending machines, branded fast food, exclusive contracts with beverage corporations and

similar activities provide supplementary cash, products, or services to schools.

52
Increasingly, however, commercial activities in schools are coming under scrutiny from

parents, teachers, advocacy groups, and others. When the product is a food or beverage

of minimal nutritional value, school boards have a responsibility to consider the impact of

such marketing on student health and well-being, and whether marketing the product

presents a message that is inconsistent with the school’s nutrition education program. For

services, IIS provide outdoor activities such as jungle tracking, treasure hunt, camping etc

for their students to be healthy and keep them in fit. These activities normally held during

the school holidays.

Supporting activities like procurement likely to be used in international school is promoting

their school through web sites and by sending out brochures to the public. Here the role of

mass media is very influencing. Besides that, the other supporting activities like human

resource management, technology development and infrastructure contribute to IIS in

developing the school. Although the working staff in administration sector here is less but

then the staffs are all committed in doing their work.

53
CONCLUSION

As for conclusion, Ipoh International School (IIS) have its own strength and

weakness. Based on my research, the school have a lot of potential to succeed by taking

in more international students whereby the necessity to employ more expatriates is there

in order to make sure the teacher recognize well the system that British Curriculum uses.

Although attending seminars and training sections would not be adequate instead

experiencing the method would be much better. Research in management is that IIS is

lacking of fresh graduated staff. They should employ more graduates and experience staff

as a senior. This to implement new methods that available and eventually making the

school a better education centre. New measurement in discipline should be enforced and

also more usage in the computer should be encouraging to the students as well as reading

habits programs too. My research is less to the management as my experience in IIS is

more to the living life of a teacher and the school community instead of management

alone.

54
Responsibility and Experience

Responsibility that was given to me as a practical student is as a substitute teacher.

Although my field of degree was different which is a degree in International Business but

as my practicum place is to be completed in this school, I have try my best to carry and

learn as mush as I could in order to gain experience as a teacher in an international

school. My scope of research had been narrowed to students reacting as my clients and

the educational field reacting as product which I need to identify the strength and the

weakness together with solutions regarding the educational field instead of involvement

with older clients and doing research on products. My responsibility was to attend classes

whenever there is a teacher absent or ill. What I learn is how to control situations and also

dealing with parents who are anxious to know the reason why their child is weak in the

certain subject. Besides that, there is quit a number of teacher that are not computer

literate. I was given the responsibility of scheduling class teacher, subject teacher and

classroom time table by using the computer Microsoft programs.

I’ve learn a lot on how to work in a team where cooperation between the teams members

is important so that the objective of the particular event is successful.

55
 Bibliography

Byars, L. (1991).Strategic Management, Formulation and Implementation-Concepts and

Cases. New York: Harpercollins.

Kotler, P. (1998). Marketing Management-Analysis, Planning, Implementation, and Control

(9th ed). Englewood.Cliffs: Prentice-Hall.

Pearce, J. and Robinson, R (2005).Strategic Management (9th ed).

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