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Item Restricted CREATION OF ASSESSMENT CENTER FOR QNP COMPANY(Nazarbayev University, Graduate School of Business, 2023-11-23) Elmira, Bakytkhanova; Aigerim, Samarkhanova; Ulpa, Nazar; Aryslan, AitbayevThis practicum project explores the unique needs of "Qazaq National Product" LLP, a specialized industrial safety consulting company in Kazakhstan. The company has specified key outcomes, including the development of a competency model and enhancements to the regulations governing the employee performance evaluation system, all based on this model. The company's strategic objective includes the establishment of an assessment center to enhance candidate selection, assess employee potential, and build a robust talent pool. The research methodology involved an in-depth analysis of internal standards, extensive stakeholder consultations, and empirical data gathering to pinpoint pivotal competencies critical to success in industrial safety consulting. The proposed competency model offers a strategic framework for identifying high-potential employees and establishing a robust talent pipeline. The practicum project incorporates two distinct methodologies, Psychological Capital (PsyCap) and the International Project Management Association (IPMA), to assess employee competencies. PsyCap focuses on positive psychological attributes contributing to employee well-being and performance, while IPMA emphasizes project management competencies 3 aligning with the company's project-oriented structure. Surveys were designed to assess project managers, covering job satisfaction, leadership, and PsyCap. The strategic analysis tools, including SWOT analysis, Porter's Five Forces, and the 7S framework, provide insights into the company's internal and external factors. The SWOT analysis identified strengths such as technical expertise and financial support, weaknesses like underdeveloped incentive systems, opportunities in developing a project management system, and threats related to changes in the CIS markets. The research question focuses on evaluating the effectiveness of the current assessment center at QNP Education, aiming to improve the employee performance evaluation system based on the developed competency model. The methodology utilizes Psychological Capital and IPMA, with three surveys designed for project managers. IPMA's "Eye of Competence" model categorizes competencies into People, Practice, and Perspective, providing a comprehensive framework for assessment. The situation analysis delves into the history and structure of Qazaq National Product, its mission, and the specific challenges it faced, leading to the collaboration with the Nazarbayev University Graduate School of Business for consultancy on the creation of an assessment center. 4 The practicum project proposes a research question focused on evaluating the effectiveness of the current assessment center implemented by QNP Education for identifying core competencies in employees. The findings indicate the integration of PsyCap and IPMA in the competency model, aligning with best practices in assessing psychological attributes and project management competencies. The recommended methodology involves using an integrated approach that combines continuous competency review, enhanced data analytics, and phased 360-degree feedback implementation. This comprehensive strategy is designed to enhance the assessment center's effectiveness and align with the organization's strategic goals. The measures of effectiveness are categorized into the customer, internal, innovation and learning, and financial perspectives of the Balanced Scorecard. They highlight the impact of assessment centers on employee competence, customer satisfaction, talent management, employee development, training, and cost efficiency.Item Restricted EXPANDING HORIZONS: RESEARCH ON IT INTERNSHIP BEST PRACTICES AND DESIGN OF THE “CODE & TRAVEL” PROGRAM(Nazarbayev University, Graduate School of Business, 2023-11-23) Aigul, Musrepova; Fatima, Omarova; Amina, BimagambetovaThis academic paper explores a dual-focused investigation aimed at enhancing the quality of university education, specifically addressing the organization of annual student internships and the development of the “Code & Travel” program at IT Park University (ITPU), an online institution founded by EPAM Systems in Uzbekistan. The first aspect of this study delves into a detailed analysis of the best practices employed by universities worldwide for organizing annual student internships at the end of each academic year. This part of the research encapsulates the findings, strategies, and techniques that leading universities employ to enhance the educational experiences of their students and prepare them for the professional world. The second component introduces the groundbreaking “Code & Travel” initiative, designed to offer ITPU students international internship opportunities in leading IT companies, akin to the concept of the “Work & Travel” program in the USA. Our collaboration with EPAM Systems sparked the inception of this joint initiative, as we explored possibilities for cooperation, ultimately giving rise to the introduction of this research. Conceived in 2022 (Создан Цифровой Университет IT-Park University, 2022), the vision for ITPU was to establish a 3 prominent IT university in Central Asia. ITPU enlisted our assistance to formulate strategic priorities, with a specific emphasis on advancing annual internships post each academic year. The overarching goal was to glean insights from global best practices and provide tailored recommendations for the enhancement of ITPU's educational framework. During discussions on strategic priorities, the client introduced the concept of the “Code & Travel” initiative, providing us with the opportunity to concentrate on this specific project following the broader scope of our initial work. This visionary program, tailored exclusively for ITPU students in the realm of IT, took shape as a distinct project.Item Restricted EXPLORE THE ALMATY MARKET FOR MBA PROGRAMS(Nazarbayev University, Graduate School of Business, 2023-11-23) Zhanat, Balgabayev; Ali, Ahmad; Assylbek, DauletzhanovThe business education landscape is always changing, driven by the changing needs of sectors and the aspirations of individuals trying to progress their careers. Demand for Master of Business Administration (MBA) programs has increased significantly in Almaty, reflecting the city's strategic position as a hub of economic activity. As a master's student at Nazarbayev University's Graduate School of Business in Astana, this diploma project begins with a thorough examination of the present set of MBA programs available in the Almaty market. The pursuit of an MBA has become a cornerstone for many individuals seeking to advance in their careers, broaden their skill sets, or embark on entrepreneurial ventures. Almaty, being a key economic player in the region, offers a selection of MBA programs that cater to a wide range of student profiles. Moreover, Almaty accounts for 34% of all master's degree students in Kazakhstan. Understanding the details of these programs, such as their duration, language of instruction, format, and compatibility with industry trends, is critical for prospective students as well as academic institutions. The purpose of this research is to delve into the complexities of existing MBA programs in Almaty, providing a thorough analysis of key attributes such 3 as program duration, language of instruction, format, student profiles, faculty and facilities, number of courses, specializations, tuition fees, entry requirements, and graduate profiles. By examining the existing landscape, we want to get significant insights into how well these programs correspond with current market trends and, more importantly, discover any noticeable gaps that require correction. Globally, part-time and online MBA programs are becoming more and more popular, which means Almaty's programs have a chance to expand their formats. More flexible learning choices, including online or hybrid courses, can be provided to meet the demands of working individuals who want to combine further education with career advancement. The MBA program at Nazarbayev University may soon be offered in Almaty, and the study's recommendations are designed with strategic success in mind. Focusing on professionals in their early to mid-career stages allows NUGSB to reach a market eager to advance or change directions in their careers. The proposed program design offers a forward-looking curriculum that is in line with the trends found in the research, combining classic MBA subjects with cutting-edge business technologies. The program's capacity to accommodate a range of learning demands is ensured by its flexibility through the use of online or hybrid formats, as well as its inclusion of short, intensive courses or modules.Item Open Access GO-TO-MARKET STRATEGY FOR MERSYS EUROPE TO ENTER THE EDUCATIONAL SECTOR IN KAZAKHSTAN(Nazarbayev University, Graduate School of Business, 2023-11-23) Adil, Zakenov; Aizhan, Ospanova; Anuar, Andasbayev; Arsen, Galimzhanov; Maria, HongIn the rapidly advancing digital era, education and training have transcended the confines of the conventional classroom. The emergence of EdTech platforms, which leverage electronic technologies to deliver educational content beyond traditional classroom boundaries, has revolutionized global learning and skill development. German-based company Mersys offers educational institutions its own solution to ease the process of education with the Campus learning management system (LMS). Mersys focuses on offering worldwide access to top- tier education, with a particular emphasis on emerging markets. Being already present in Kazakhstan, particularly in schools of Astana, Mersys wants to increase its share in other regions of the country too. The main question that arises though is why Mersys is not selling well. If Kazakhstan is an attractive space to operate in, what go-to-market strategy should the company choose for expansion? The aim of this study is to help Mersys identify Campus’ competitive advantage, define its customer segment, and determine the pricing strategy to grow across the Kazakhstan educational market. Furthermore, it is necessary to determine whether Mersys should enter the market on its own or through a distributor, whose responsibility is to be in charge of sales and provide servers. Key findings of primary and secondary data showed that Kazakhstan can be considered as a moderately attractive market with high barriers of competition and strong power of 2 customers, yet relatively moderate obstacles to enter. Also, it is a common practice in schools and other educational centers to use several other EdTech platforms. Analyses of competitors revealed that among local widely used LMS and student information system companies, the admissions module is underserved. Pricing analysis revealed the recommended minimum price and benefits of entering the market with a partner, while also helping to determine the pricing strategy for both short-term and long-term phases.Item Restricted BUSINESS STRATEGY FOR THE TREEPLE STARTUP EXPANSION IN KAZAKHSTAN(Nazarbayev University, Graduate School of Business, 2023-11-23) Asselya, Bizhanova; Gulnaz, Dyussupzhanova; Madina, Balashova; Nazerke, KarebayevaThis report presents an analysis of the Treeple company, a travel marketplace based in Kazakhstan, as the part of a practicum project conducted by the Master of Business Administration students of Nazarbayev University Graduate School of Business. Treeple is a travel marketplace platform established in early 2023 in Kazakhstan. It operates as a service connecting local tour operators with potential customers. It is a seed-stage startup that faces challenges such as low brand awareness, high customer acquisition cost, low retention rate and operational difficulties. The project focuses on the expansion strategy of Treeple in Kazakhstan. The aim of the project is to identify possible strategic directions for development and increase profitability. Firstly, we analyzed the tourism industry in Kazakhstan. It allowed us to identify the current state of local tourism. We conducted the survey among foreigners and citizens to identify the general attitude and trends in local tourism. Secondly, we analyzed the company’s internal processes and competitors. We also conducted interviews with Treeple partners to know the Treeple’s share in their revenue and to identify tour operators' needs. The CEO of the company had an idea to offer products like customized CRM for tour operators, white label websites, data analytics about travel trends, connection of tour operators with service providers, and quality verification. Based on the interviews, we identified 3 the lack of interest for such kinds of products. We calculated the income statement and NPV of the company by using the data given by the CEO of the company. We calculated the average customer acquisition cost and average customer lifetime value. Finally, as a result, we developed recommendations and classified them into categories such as commission, marketing, value creation for customers, operations, and additional revenue streams. The new NPV calculation was developed based on our recommendations.Item Embargo COMBINING EDUCATIONAL CENTER YES (YOUR ENGLISH SCHOOL) AND COFFEE SHOP “BARISTA” IN CO-WORKING SPACE(Nazarbayev University, Graduate School of Business, 2023-11-23) Dinara, Mussayeva; Saltanat, Sanakbek; Abylay, Adambayev; Assylkhan, KorzhumbayevThe research paper provides a specific overview of an unique educational co-working space approach, combining “Your English School” (YES) educational center and “Barista” coffee shop. Our collaborative workspace solution includes the identification of the number and type of courses and the pricing policy that ensures the project's growth and sustainability. Informed with SWOT, Marketing research, and Net Present Value (NPV) analysis, the strategy involves introducing preparation courses for enrollment to Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools (NIS), Republican Physics and Mathematics School (RPMS), and Bilim Innovation Lyceum (BIL) schools, responding to a notable demand from market dynamics and customer preferences. We're recommending a pricing approach, initially aiming for 100,000 KZT per month per course. Justified by positive Net Present Value (NPV) over a five-year projection period, there's also a suggestion to lease a 500 sq.m. office space, requiring an initial investment of 50 million KZT. The breakeven calculation indicates that YES Educational Center needs to deliver 4,104 courses at an average price of 74,216 KZT per course to cover costs and reach the breakeven point. 3 Given the established business and operational processes of the "Barista" coffee shop, the proposal suggests that a Coworking educational center should offer a dedicated facility to the “Barista” coffee shop by providing a rented space specifically designed for catering purposes. Moreover, this will help avoid complexity between mixing the two business lines in terms of profits and losses tracking. To further broaden the scope of the business, it is advised to explore the potential of renting out underutilized spaces and venturing into training courses for enrollment to domestic and international universities. The main objective is not just to maintain competitiveness but to build a strong base for continuous growth and success while maintaining financial feasibility. The research paper introduces a balanced scorecard and strategy map, aligning objectives with specific measures and targets across financial, customer, internal process, and learning and growth perspectives. Moreover, the paper provides a comprehensive Implementation Plan for establishing an educational co-working space. The proposed actions are tailored to meet the evolving demands of the education market, positioning the project for long-term success and community impact.Item Restricted GROWTH STRATEGY FOR A PLATFORM-BASED COMPANY NAIMI.KZ(Nazarbayev University, Graduate School of Business, 2021-12-13) Yertayeva, Assylayim; Muzatova, Aikerim; Zhumabekova, Marzhan; Kaliyev, Aibek; Burkhanova, MadinaNaimi.kz is a platform-based company that provides diverse types of online on-demand services in Kazakhstan. Meetings with the company representatives drew us to the conclusion that Naimi.kz is a leading player in this field with a wide customer base. The purpose of this report was to consider the expansion of Naimi.kz domestically and internationally. We decided to start our research with internal analysis. Digital platforms such as Naimi.kz have to deal with common challenges in both domestic and international markets (e.g., high degree of network clustering, vulnerability to multi-homing, and high risks of disintermediation), and most of these challenges are likely to become aggravated when platforms expand internationally. Accordingly, we leveraged the available data on Kazakhstani market to first gain an in-depth understanding of Naimi.kz’s key vulnerabilities and corresponding strategies, which will not only be valuable for the company to strengthen its competitive position domestically but also essential for it to devise an appropriate growth strategy internationally. The company has got off to a good start, developed smoothly over the past 6 years and is currently running into a more intensive competitive landscape. Currently, there are many competitors in the market, some of which are internationally recognized, even if they are inferior to Naimi.kz in terms of the quality of services provided. According to the recent study by the “Brif Research Group” (2021) on 2,002 Kazakhstani people aged 18-55 throughout 14 regional centers and 3 cities of republican significance, Naimi.kz ranks third in terms of both the level of spontaneous awareness (20%), and level of knowledge with a hint (60%), well behind OLX and Market.kz. Additionally, the share of the actual regular users of Naimi.kz is much lower than the rate of awareness about the company—only 12% of the respondents use Naimi.kz compared to the 70% usage rate of OLX. So, these observations lead us to the research question—what would be a good growth strategy for Naimi.kz to succeed and become a market leader in the domestic and international markets? The internal analysis of the company as well as the analysis of the competitive landscape of the Kazakhstani market will be delineated below in the report and will help to answer the question in place.Item Restricted RECOMMENDATIONS ON EXPANSION STRATEGY OF GREENTAL SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP(2022-12-14) Dunayev, Adil; Zhakenova, Assel; Bekmukhambet, Dinara; Ilyassova, Vera; Abutalipov, YeldarGreenTAL is social entrepreneurship based in Nur-Sultan, that employs a socially vulnerable category of population, with the branch in Pavlodar city. The main goal of this business is to employ people from socially vulnerable groups and create value, namely, manufacturing wooden eco toys. GreenTAL manufactures different goods from wood and textile, but its Pavlodar branch specifies on producing wooden toys, and the goal of our project was to suggest an expansion strategy for the company, that would focus on the wooden toys market and make a description of the internal processes to open up local manufacturing branches similar to Pavlodar branch in other regions of Kazakhstan, as well as to address process optimization issues, investigate revenue streams and recommend on marketing strategies. As a result, we used skills that we acquired during our MBA studies to conduct market research and internal and external analysis and provide a set of recommendations on an expansion strategy, as well as described internal procedures, created job descriptions, redesigned website, and helped to get support from the government to get listed on Alibaba B2B marketplace.Item Restricted EXPANSION STRATEGY OF ESTET DENTISTRY CLINICS(Nazarbayev University, Graduate School of Business, 2021-12-13) Barlybayev, Aktore; Kalmen, Assel; Momynov, Assylbek; Gafarova, Dilyana; Armiyeva, NurgulEstet Dentistry Clinics is a family-owned business established in Karaganda more than twenty years ago, which has its branch in Nur-Sultan. Currently, the management of the clinics is planning to expand and open the second larger dental clinic in Nur-Sultan as the first branch is already working at its full capacity. However, the main question is to find a way to launch a new larger branch in Nur-Sultan more efficiently as well as to optimize and improve existing business processes. The purpose of this report is to analyze and solve their current issues, figure out the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of the clinics, and develop an action plan based on the recommendations provided. To answer the research question, the qualitative and quantitative data from primary and secondary resources were used.Item Restricted VIABILITY OF EDIL-ORAL. KZ'S BUSINESS MODEL OF EXPANDING THE BUSINESS TO ELECTRIC MOTORS ASSEMBLY(Nazarbayev University, Graduate School of Business, 2021-12-13) Kozhageldiyev, Azat; Nyssangaliyeva, Ainella; Shamshinova, Akmaral; Mussina, Dinara; Seitova, Merey"Edil-Oral.kz" LLP has been operating in Kazakhstan since 2009 and has been offering maintenance and repairing services for companies in the oil and gas industry. The company plans to broaden its activities and functions by launching the assembly of electric motors (Explosion Proof) in Kazakhstan. The customers of electric motors are expected to be "Samruk-Kazyna" JSC's subsidiaries and affiliates, and oil and gas operators such as NCOC, TCO, KPO. This project aims to evaluate the viability of the assembly of electric motors in Kazakhstan. In this regard, the team has conducted research based on primary and secondary data, analyzed external and internal environment, developed a financial model to determine NPV and break-even value, and attempted to propose an implementation plan. The findings of the research and analysis indicate that although the demand for electrical motors exploited in the oil and gas sector seems scarce (1 high-voltage and 39 low-voltage motors), the industry is still attractive due to inconsiderable threat from competitors and new entrants, preference towards the locally producing companies and support from Kazakhstani government. Additionally, as a result of such endeavor, Edil-Oral would provide opportunities for new workplaces and, overall, contribute to the economy of Kazakhstan. The analysis also shows that Edil-Oral possesses the required comprehensive skills and knowledge to organize such an assembly line and resources and capabilities to exhibit competitive advantage.Item Restricted COAL PHASE-OUT TRANSITION IN KAZAKHSTAN. RECOMMENDATIONS AND SUGGESTIONS BASED ON WORLDWIDE EXPERIENCE(Nazarbayev University, Graduate School of Business, 2021-12-13) Issatay, Dariko; Zhumabekov, Darkhan; Baimyrza, Zhuldyzay; Ussenov, YessetThe long-standing partnership between ADB and Kazakhstan includes also the energy sector. ADB provided various technical assistance grants and advisory support services mostly in the power sector. To date none of Kazakhstan’s development partners have worked and been working with the government in addressing the issues related to the current and future challenges in the coal industry. This study aims to inform the Government of Kazakhstan (GOK) and policy makers about the magnitude of not only existing but also upcoming challenges that coal sector will inevitably face. From the positive side - GOK and other stakeholders do recognize better on the need to move faster with the transition from coal. However, there are not much of discussions on the potential policy options. This study set out with the objective to provide an overview of the overall situation in the coal industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan, with a focus on how to effectively manage the gradual transition away from coal. The main part of this study is aimed at examining the transition path from coal in selected group of countries such as Australia, France, Germany, Indonesia, People’s Republic of China and the United Kingdom that may be useful from Kazakhstan perspective. The effects of falling production, worker redundancies, and mine closure have been felt by many communities in both high- and low-income nations. What can be learned from these situations is the subject of this research. It presents the most recent evidence on technological development for more efficient uses of coal. It also touched upon critical socioeconomic and legislative issues that will arise once the transition goes fully underway. Based on the analysis and research the study attempts arriving to various sector development suggestions, quantify their costs and benefits. Although many of these suggestions might not be realistic to implement in a short period of span, nonetheless the study argues that at least a few short-terms measures in moving forward with transition and out from coal [if adopted] could lay down an important first.Item Restricted CONNECTED HOME: SNOW MELTING ANALYSIS FOR THE CITY OF ASTANA(Nazarbayev University, Graduate School of Business, 2022-12-14) Savig, Josiah; Kamzabek, Dana; Orynbassarova, NazymWith the unpredictability of weather conditions increasing in recent decades, colder densely populated areas around the world are struggling to keep up with the demand to keep their cities clean, businesses operating, and citizens safe during periods of heavy snowfall. Many developed urban centers rely on a system of hauling snow outside city limits, though many have been incorporating or switching entirely to snow melting machines to better meet residents’ needs. Through data provided by Connected Home and BI Group and our own research and analysis, we have found that the implementation of certain snow melting machines may prove to be both economically and ecologically beneficial, along with alleviating street traffic congestion.Item Restricted POTENTIAL MARKET ANALYSIS FOR UZBEKISTAN(Nazarbayev University, Graduate School of Business, 2022-12-14) Abrayeva, Damira; Maukenov, BexultanZapis.kz is an online platform with automation system (CRM) in the service and beauty business, as well as a marketplace which helps to connect customers with businesses. Zapis.kz has a website and a mobile app. The platform helps consumers make appointments with any beauty and health professional online. Customers are both consumers and businesses. For businesses, Zapis.kz helps to systematize all internal processes and effectively manage all resources. The company is growing steadily within our country. But now they want to enter the markets of other countries. However, to enter the market of another country, it is necessary to carry out the necessary analyses and market research. And so, the question arose about growing business in the market of Uzbekistan. Zapis.kz already provides services to one beauty salon, which is in Uzbekistan. And our team received this request. We needed to find out how to grow business in the Uzbek market, analyse the number of potential customers, and calculate approximate costs and income. We carried out market analyses (SWOT, PESTEL analysis, price range of services in beauty salons), also found out what tools are used in Uzbekistan to attract customers and to arrange appointments with them to provide services from beauty salons. We found out the average prices for the services of other necessary specialists to open a branch in Uzbekistan and calculated the costs.Item Restricted ULY DALA BIODEGRADABLE BAGS: FINANCIAL AND MARKETING RESEARCH ANALYSES(Nazarbayev University, Graduate School of Business, 2022-12-14) Aidar, Aigerim; Zhanbulatova, Asel; Toxambayeva, NurizaGlobal polyethylene production and widespread use poses a threat to the environmental situation in the world. Only in 2018, the global manufacturing of plastics exceeded the 3.59 billion tonnes threshold (Zhu and Wang, 2020). Kazakhstan is not an exception. According to National Bureau of Statistics, in 2021, Kazakh manufacturers produced over 54 thousand tons of polyethylene bags. It is estimated worldwide that by 2050, half of post-consumer waste of 26 billion tonnes in plastic will be abandoned in the open environment. Such an environmental disaster will create a perpetual waste management issue (Guglielmi, 2017). A social project Uly Dala LLP was established with the aim to manufacture a suitable alternative for polyethylene bags and eliminate the vast waste from consumer use. Despite the noble goal, the company faces several challenges, one of which is to increase the sales and profit of the company. Currently, Uly Dala LLP operate at negative profit. Established in March 2019, social project Uly Dala LLP (further Uly Dala) are manufacturers of ecological products made from biopolymers. The company manufactures biobags of various sizes and carrying capacities, garbage bags and disposable gloves for a wide range of uses, including domestic consumption. Biopolymers are produced from granulated organic raw materials (corn agricultural waste). The main advantage of the products made from biopolymers is their environmental friendliness, which leads to full decomposition into harmless components such as water, humus and carbon dioxide within 100 to 150 days. Since the beginning of its work, Uly dala has been actively cooperating with the Atameken National Chamber of Entrepreneurs, which provides support to start-up businessmen. Since the employees belong to the group with special needs, their wages are subsidized by the government. The company has also taken concessional lending and doesn't bear rental cost for the place where the manufacturing facilities are operated. One of the problems the company is trying to solve today is negative profits. Biodegradable bags are more expensive than plastic bags. There are not many companies that are motivated to spend more capital on being environmentally friendly. According to the CEO, the bulk of the product sales come from Ukraine and Russia.Item Restricted ASTANA HUB COMMERCIALIZATION PROJECT(Nazarbayev University, Graduate School of Business, 2022-12-14) Aubakir, Ablaikhan; Kalmuratova, Aigerim; Nurzhaubayeva, Aishabibi; Adilkhan, ArslanThis paper examines alternatives and recommendations for the commercialization of the international IT technopark "Astana Hub". Astana Hub established in 2018 operates on the basis of government funding and provides its services on a free-of-charge basis. To become a self-sustainable organization, the technopark plans gradual commercialization via the provision of paid services. Investigating data from interviews with heads of Astana Hub structural units, materials on Astana Hub services and products, financial statements, and essentially study on commercialization models of similar technoparks around the world, this study demonstrates that Astana Hub possesses the necessary resources and services for commercialization. The analysis showed that Astana Hub's currently available products ensure several commercialization options. The most viable options could be the adjustment of the current revenue generation model, switching the business incubation program's compensation from Revenue Sharing to an Equity Stake model, and establishing a syndicate investing initiative with Astana Hub's partners. The paper provides recommendations for commercialization model and key measures for its successful implementation.Item Restricted CARBON FOOTPRINT IN THE INDUSTRY OF EURASIAN RESOURCE GROUP (ERG) REC AND DEVELOPMENT OF ITS STRATEGY MODEL(Nazarbayev University, Graduate School of Business, 2022-12-14) Abbas, Syed Muhammad; Atti, Daystar Selorm; Dana, KanafinaThis paper sheds light on potential solutions to an ever-growing problem of Carbon Dioxide CO2 emissions due to their adverse effects on the climate and business activities. The case in the picture is Eurasian Resources Group (ERG) - one of the top industrial enterprises in Kazakhstan. It was founded in December 1995 as one of the world's largest and most diversified businesses in mining and processing natural resources. It has fully integrated energy, transportation, and marketing operations. As of 2021, the group’s collective emissions stood at 31.5 million tonnes of CO2. Since ERG exports its products to the outside world, mainly European Countries, its business is widely affected by the laws and regulations of the importing countries. One such regulation is the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism by European Parliament which drew guidelines from the Paris Agreement supervised by the United Nations. As the scrutiny and regulations increase on carbon emissions, countries and jurisdictions are popping up with the penalizing mechanism known as Carbon Pricing or Tax. Many European countries have applied Carbon taxes that range from 1-114 Euros per tonne of CO2. To avoid these taxes, ERG needs to develop ways to reduce its emissions that would allow it to grow further by saving these carbon expenses. There can be several approaches to emissions reduction. For example, the largest source of emissions is the energy generated by coal-fired power plants. If somehow that source is replaced with green energy (Solar, Wind, Hydro, Biofuels), a significant chunk of emissions would disappear. However, due to a lack of infrastructure, it is not now possible to 2 eliminate fossil fuel-based energy. We have looked at alternative ways to reduce emissions and persisted in implementing carbon capture technologies to mitigate the problem for ERG. Over the last decade, several mega players in the industry have increasingly adopted Carbon Capture. To conduct this research, we got secondary data from the ERG and interviewed companies that provide services in the carbon capture space. Three companies were brought to initial and ongoing discussions through email and video conferencing based on the requirements, compatibility, and technical feasibility. The companies are named CO2 Capsol, Carbon Clean, and CO2 Solutions by Saipem. So far, we have received initial pricing from CO2 Capsol and are awaiting responses from Carbon Clean and CO2 Solutions by Saipem. Once we get an answer from all the inquired companies, then after comparing in terms of price, capacity, efficiency, and other technical metrics, ERG will be able to achieve its long-term strategic vision of reducing carbon emissions by using the expertise of the above-mentioned top companies in the carbon capture sphere. It will also help ERG to boost its Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) scores, allowing it further get investments and strengthen stakeholders’ support. As it is a work in progress, the study and communication between the companies will materialize into an effective solution in the coming years.Item Restricted OPTIMIZATION OF ROUTE NETWORK TO ENHANCE OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY OF QAZAQ AIR(Nazarbayev University, Graduate School of Business, 2019-12-10) Heuijin, Lee; Irgaliyeva, Dana; Mshanov, Nurlan; Toleu, ManarbekQazaq Air was launched in 2015 as a regional airline to support government’s task to enhance safety and accessibility of interregional air traffic aiming to boost economic development. Currently, the company is undergoing the transition from the stage of formation to the stage of active development. Although the company demonstrated a dynamic growth in recent years, they are in serious deficit in operational profit amounting to almost 7 billion KZT. Given that, Qazaq Air is seeking for new destinations to improve the operational profits and enhance flight operation. After careful analysis of the airline industry and the company’s operations, the practicum team applied several models for implementation to enhance the Qazaq Air performance. The pricing model theory was used for most profitable route monopolized by the company and the newsvendor model was used to improve the least profitable route. Moreover, based on the performance indicators derived from the data analysis a new route network is recommending subsidized routes.Item Restricted NEUROREHABILITATION ROBOTIC ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE PLATFORM(Nazarbayev University, Graduate School of Business, 2019-12-10) Suraganov, Ayat; Sagadiyeva, Aigerim; Kuanyshbaiuly, MukhtarObjective of the practicum project is to provide management and financial consulting to help improve performance and efficiency of the startup ReLive by First Project. ReLive is an innovative solution for the rehabilitation of patients after a stroke, which includes a device for reading electroencephalographical (EEG) signals, software for reading and recognition of EEG signals, microcontroller, and upper limbs exoskeleton. The practicum project was conducted by Bake partnership represented by Full time MBA students of Nazarbayev university. It involves quantitative and qualitative data, critical assessments of the project, risk analysis and financial forecast. The result of the practicum project involves key findings, recommendations and implementation plan for the company.Item Restricted BEELINE KAZAKHSTAN IOT SOLUTION FOR AUTOINSURERS(Nazarbayev University, Graduate School of Business, 2019-12-10) Makatova, Aisulu; Zhanguttinova, Assem; Akhmet, Aibek; Mamyrbayev, UalikhanThis paper intends to help Beeline Kazakhstan in expanding its portfolio of Internet of Things solutions to businesses in Kazakhstan. First part of the report compares alternatives on the market of IoT and evaluates the Connected Cars for usage-based insurance market as a chosen opportunity. The second part of the report delivers an analysis of the commercial viability of the project, outlines the value proposition to stakeholders and offers market entry strategies. The main issue associated with the project is the initial costliness of the offered solution through third-party partners that reduces the project’s commercial viability. The final recommendation for the company includes communicating value created to car drivers and insurance companies, giving data-driven recommendations for the product, price, place and promotion and offering additional ways to monetize offered solutions.Item Restricted MARKETING STRATEGY FOR NEW PARA-PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCT “SAUMET”(Nazarbayev University, Graduate School of Business, 2019-12-10) Uteshov, Daniyar; Zharmagambet, Zhuldyz; Serikova, ZhuldyzThis project is devoted to study the issue of launching a new product on the market of Kazakhstan. During reading the project you will know about the product, stakeholders, all analysis held to answer the main questions of the project and overall recommendations for the project future. Product: Saumet is a new para-pharmaceutical product that has a DNAprotective effect to protect the body from the negative effects of external and internal environmental factors and the correction of dystopian disorders of various etiology, based on natural mare's milk. Key stakeholders: State- source of funding and project initiator, PI “National Laboratory Astana” - developer, LLP “Evrazia Invest LTD”- manufacturer and holder of all business processes. Research problem: The main question of the business owners is how to maximize profit on the project after its launch. The question is too broad and requires deep research. Due to time constraints and lack of information from key stakeholders, the scope of the project has been reduced. We will investigate part of the research problem and narrow the geographic region of the project to Kazakhstan’s market only. So, there are four questions to be answered: 1. What are the main opportunities and threats of the project for the Kazakhstan’s market? 2. How attractive is the product for Kazakhstan’s consumers? 3 3. In view of competition, economic and other factors, how should the product be priced? 4. What would be appropriate channels for Distribution of the product? To investigate the project we used methodology such as: literature overview, frameworks from our FTMBA courses such as Marketing Management, Strategy, Corporate finance, Rising capital and Valuation. We have done such analysis as Three Cs, STP (segmentation, targeting, positioning), Four Ps, PESTEL, SWOT and etc. To investigate whether the project is financially attractive, we have made valuation of it and such indicators as NPV and WACC will show the result. The project was calculated on the attractiveness of the project and calculated such indicators as NPV, WACC. In section Key findings, there are such findings as consumer behavior patterns, trends followings, benchmarks for product and competitor analysis where shown absence of similarities which cause difficulty to make comparison and analyze. As for the financial part, the main finding is unclarity with costs and method to identify right price for product. In conclusion you will be introduced to how we could answer the questions which were set up by research problem. The recommendations section describes the areas for further research