This paper is a financial analysis of Wendy's International, using McDonald's Corporation, the industry leader in the fast food segment of the restaurant industry, as the benchmark firm.
Abstract This paper evaluates the financial position of Wendy's International Corporation, a fast food restaurant, by comparing it to the financial position of McDonald's Corporation. This author reports that Wendy's income performance, while strong, is substantially inferior to that of McDonald"s; and, in this area more than any other, Wendy's needs to improve if the corporation is to narrow the gap. This paper states that McDonald's has a substantially higher inventory turnover and holds less than half as many days in sales than does Wendy"s.
Table of Contents
Executive Summary
Financial Position
Income Performance
Short-Term Liquidity
Long-Term Solvency
Asset Management
Profitability
Market Value
List of Appendices
Common-Size Balance Sheets"McDonald's Corporation
Common-Size Balance Sheets"Wendy's International
Combined Common-Size & Base-Year Balance Sheets"McDonald's Corporation
Combined Common-Size & Base-Year Balance Sheets"Wendy's International
Common-Size Balance Sheet"Wendy's International With Baseline Comparison
Common-Size Income Statements"McDonald"s
Common-Size Income Statements"Wendy"s
Combined Common-Size & Base-Year Income Statements"McDonald"s
Combined Common-Size & Base-Year Income Statements"Wendy"s
Common-Size Income Statement"Wendy's With Baseline Comparison
Short-Term Liquidity Ratios"Wendy's With Baseline Comparison
Long-Term Solvency Ratios"Wendy's With Baseline Comparison
Asset Management Ratios"Wendy's With Baseline Comparison
Profitability Ratios"Wendy's With Baseline Comparison
Market Value Ratios"Wendy's With Baseline Comparison
Du Point Analysis"Wendy's 1998
From the Paper "With respect to short-term liquidity, Wendy's compares well in relation to McDonald's (refer to Appendix B-1). The reason for the Wendy's advantage lies in the corporation's decision to keep such a high proportion of assets in a current status. This strategy is not conducive to the most productive use of the corporation's assets.
"In relation to debt ratios, Wendy's is superior to McDonald's (refer to Appendix B-2). In this area, Wendy's also is superior to McDonald's in relation to interest coverage, as the corporation uses borrowing very little in comparison to McDonald?s."
Abstract This paper looks at the way advertisers take advantage of consumers by creating false needs in their market and feeding on those needs. The paper includes an analysis of television and magazine ads, subliminal advertising and advertising ethics.
From the Paper "Advertising is defined as the action of attracting the public's attention to a product or business. The methods that have developed over the years to attract consumers? attention have been very sophisticated and, in some cases, unethical. As potential buyers of goods and services, we Americans are constantly bombarded with advertising gimmicks in all print and broadcast mediums to the point where we have become jaded to the sales pitches that surround us. It can be argued that the attempts of retailers and businesses to get our attention and convince us to buy their goods and services are not, in themselves, unethical or dangerous; the unfavorable aspects of advertising result when the advertisers use questionable techniques to influence consumers. "
Abstract This paper explores the concept of social responsibility, what it means, and how it is used in today's corporate world. It explores how some businesses use social responsibility for ethical reasons whereas others use it just to look good or to increase profits.
From the Paper In today's contemporary commercial society, many businesses are striving to become more socially responsible. Although the business world has traditionally been based on profit and performance, social responsibility can equal big profits for some companies. Corporate executives are now talking about purpose, principle, and consequence, not only in conjunction with business performance but also in ethical terms.
Abstract In this case analysis, the current business situation of the TV Guide Corporation is investigated. This analysis is done from a marketing perspective, and assesses and applies marketing concepts to a real-life situation at TV Guide magazine. In this case study, a situational analysis, which reviews TV Guide corporation, and its main product, TV Guide, along with additional offerings is shown. A brief history of TV Guide is given; the corporation's current business situation is assessed. A comprehensive SWOT analysis is given. This analysis lists the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) that are faced by TV Guide. A comprehensive recommendation for the marketing strategy is given for TV Guide. Finally, a conclusion summarizes the important information given in the other sections.
From the Paper "Interestingly, TV Guide corporation is much more than its most well known product, the TV Guide. Since the publication of McDonald's article TV Guide has become much more diversified, and global. It operates four main business units. These are: TV Guide Television Group, TV Guide Interactive Group, TV Guide Magazine Group, and United Video Group. TV Guide markets and distributes products to over 100 million cable and satellite homes each and every week.
Perhaps the biggest news in the TV Guide area is the formation of Gemstar-TV Guide international on July 12, 2000. This company formed when Gemstar International Group merged with the TV Guide Company. Gemstar-TV Guide International now has television listing products licensed to over 180 companies, in industries like cable, satellite, Internet, personal computers and consumer electronics."
Abstract This paper examines the Empire Glass Company, a Canadian firm. The time-frame of the case study is the early-1960s and the primary focus is on one of several product divisions within the company, the glass Products Division. In particular it looks at financial planning, budgeting, and managing to budget and within the context of these factors, three objectives are pursued through the analysis. The objectives are to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the budgeting and budgetary control procedures used by the company, assess the company's policy of holding plant managers responsible for meeting budgeted targets and to assess the overall budgeting system at the company in order to make recommendations concerning the future of the company's budgeting system.
From the Paper "Budgets below the company-level, i.e., divisional budgets and plant budgets, do not focus on net income. Rather, these lower-level budgets focus on gross profit. Both divisional and plan budgets are dependent to a great degree on two additional subsidiary budgets?sales budgets and manufacturing budgets. The lowest level sales budget is prepared at the sales district level. These budgets are the responsibility of and are prepared by district sales managers. Sales budgets are the source of income projections for both plant and divisional budgets."
Abstract This paper is based on a case study of Faith Community Hospital and is an attempt to identify several problems at the hospital and the issues arising from those problems. The paper delineates the steps in the identification process and presents an analysis of the problems the hospital is facing. Following the analysis and identification, recommendations for solutions and a plan for implementing the solutions are presented.
From the Paper "As we are told, medical errors are a major concern for the hospital. This problem is made more relevant for Faith Community Hospital because we see that the varied views of both the patients and the staff inflict upon their ability to provide adequate patient care. As we are told "we have particular patients who refuse to take certain medical services." We are told of a current case where Child Protective Services are threatening to take action because of the way the hospital did not provide services, even though this non action was in agreement with the parent's wishes."
Tags: adequate, health, care, mission, statement, values, interpretation, patients, risk, staff, requirements, aim, code, ethics, procedures, control
Abstract This paper discusses the current status of The Continental Group, Inc., from strategic viewpoint. It focuses on each of Continental's divisions, financial services, energy, packaging, and forest products is examined vis-a-vis Continental's long-term growth and particularly its 5-year strategic outlook. The paper makes a final recommendation that Continental should sell its packaging and forest products divisions in order to finance the capital investments necessary for its financial services and energy divisions to grow.
From the Paper "Strategic Planning--Continental Situational Overview The Continental Group, Inc. is a company that has been winnowed down to four primary divisions. These divisions form a corporation that is in desperate need of a corporate identity. While Continental has been somewhat successful managing its enterprises in the past, its seeming lack of a unified corporate vision will impede profitability and growth over the next decade unless a cohesive strategy is formulated and a corporate culture founded on a more unified business structure can be instilled in the corporation moving forward. Continental's 4 primary divisions at the present time are: * Financial Services: this division includes American Life Insurance Company which is a network of brokerage agents and representatives. It also contains a mortgage company, mortgage insurance, and real-estate related financial services. "
Abstract Effective communication with the internal organizational public at all levels is the key to success of an organization. Communicating with the employees results in augmentation of confidence and productivity and the reduction of job insecurity and other related fears. The first part of this paper presents the issue of the merger of two giant companies, Hewlett Packard and Compaq and the dire need for the companies to make their internal communication effective. The second part of the paper discusses the impact of effective internal communication. The third part outlines the essentials for an expedient internal public relations action plan. The fourth and the last part conclude the research paper.
From the Paper "Hence from the above discussion, it is evident that effective communication with the internal public of an organization does not only play a vital role in determining the success of an organizational change but it also confirms its wellbeing. The employees at Hewlett Packard wanted assurance, job security and a sense of belongingness and being wanted by the company. In such changes, job security is always threatened and it is effective and prompt communication that breaks down all barriers and helps in pacifying the frightened and agitated work force. Hence, when the firm started explaining, assuring, in short. communicating effectively with their internal people, it not only received favorable response but also managed to keep the organizational peace alive and employee satisfaction in line."
Abstract This paper looks at the they way three companies in the mobile telephony industry - Ericsson, Nokia and Motorola - have structured the workings of their organization. It shows how these organizations are divided and how their operations run. The paper concludes that all three organizations constantly endeavour to review their organizational structures regularly, along with other management strategies and performances, so as to maintain the leading positions in their respective core business areas.
From the Paper "The company adopts a more flat organizational structure compared to Nokia and Ericsson and grants more authority to the second level management. Within divisions,the Vice Presidents of the respective segments are authorised to adopt the ideal organizational pattern ? as an example, matrix approach for new product development divisions/departments,whereas a line or staff structure for production area. The company favours interdepartmental and cross functional teaming of employees and also adopts employee empowerments schemes to make good the lacunae in organizational structure, caused due to centralization of functions. The flat organization of Motorola enables the implementations of management decisions at a faster rate."
Abstract This paper analyzes The Gap Inc.'s marketing strategy and how successful it has been for the company. The strategy's attempt to make middle-class clothes available to the lower classes at Old Navy; solid middle to upper-middle class-type clothes at struggling middle-class prices at The Gap, and yuppie/upper-middle-class-level clothing at solid middle-class prices at its "high-end" store, Banana Republic, is discussed, as well as how this strategy has effected The Gap Inc.'s sales, profitability, cost-saving measures, and advertising campaign.
From the Paper "Because retail space is one of the largest components of a company such as Old Navy's cost, market segmentation makes plain sense: Old Navy stores tend to be large and in strip malls whereas Gap stores predominate in malls. In this manner, Gap, Inc. is able to rent or purchase retail space more effectively as incomes are highly correlated with geographic factors and pedestrian traffic in places such as shopping malls. Demographic factors also play into the location of Gap Kids and Baby Gap outlets; these are more often than not found in malls where middle class families may stroll and browse shops in a comfortable attitude of relative safety."
Abstract This paper examines how organizational behavior can be affected by any number of trends and in particular, discusses how ethical decision making and the impact of technology on work related stress effect organizational behavior.
Outline
Abstract
Introduction
Ethical Decision Making
Technology and Work Related Stress
Conclusion
References
From the Paper "Ethical behavior can be considered the right or moral behavioral choice. When it comes to decision making it is imperative that managers, leaders and subordinates practice the art of ethical decision making. The problem that is generally encountered is for members of an organization to agree that the decision is actually ethical. What one person believes to be moral another person could believe to be immoral. Archie B. Carroll came up with a distinction between moral, amoral and immoral managers. His logic is as follows: "The immoral manager doesn't subscribe to any ethical principles, making decisions and acting in any situation to simply take best personal advantage. The amoral manager, by contrast, fails to consider the ethics of a decision or behavior."
Abstract This essay serves to examine the wage inequalities between men and women in the modern day workforce. It references two specific examples of gender discrimination; Ann Hopkins? suit against Price Waterhouse in 1982 and Muriel Kraszewski's suit against State Farm. The author also explains in detail the ramifications of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which attempts to protect the rights of women who work in the same jobs as men.
From the Paper "In order to fully gain equal employment and fairness, traditionally male positions must be opened to females. This is the only way to shatter the glass walls and ceilings that are so prevalent in today's society. Many women have fought discrimination and improved their own lives and the lives of countless other women over the span of several generations. The first step in creating equality in the workplace is to inform women of their rights. The next step is for these women to exercise their rights. Women can no longer allow themselves to be excluded from the workforce. Individuals concerned about equality should press for the continuation and strengthening of better paying jobs for women, and this support must not come from women alone. In order for our society to foster this change, we must understand why these changes are necessary. Society requires that men and women work together and this is not likely to change. What must change is the way that we work together. "
Abstract This paper gives detailed information as to how a leader or manager can influence the organization. These methods include employee motivation, working relationship in the organization, leadership skills, inspiration and leaving a legacy for future leaders to follow. These traits provide a framework for successful leadership. Developing these characteristics will improve a leaders ability to guide an organization.
From the Paper "An important aspect of leadership is the ability to influence those around you. This involves maintaining the focus of everybody involved in the organization to achieve the desired mission. There are several issues that can factor into the success of leadership influencing; the morale of the staff, the working relationship a leader has with the members of the organization and the resolution to previous conflicts. The four main activities related to leadership influencing are leadership skills, motivation ability communication and group activity skills."
Abstract This paper examines the different leadership styles that are effective in different situations. The research in this paper provides a framework to help managers motivate, asses, and plan. The author emphasizes the importance of planning and correct communication to avoid crisis and to promote managerial success.
From the Paper "There are many traits and styles of an effective leader. Each leader has a style that they prefer, however every situation requires a different style of leadership. A leader may have to change styles to get a job accomplished. According to an article written by Anne Breen, ? Leadership has often been described as a continuum of two extreme styles, autocratic and democratic. It appears that leadership styles vary from situation to situation.?"
Abstract This paper looks at all aspects of the computer industry, and its importance in our everyday lives. The author looks at the makeup of the current industry by examining several components - new entrants into the industry, the threat of substitutes, the bargaining power of buyers, as well as the bargaining power of the supplier's of the industry's basic materials.
From the Paper "After examining the supplier's and buyer's bargaining power we need to look at the competition. In this industry there are only a few key competitors. Dell, Gateway, IBM, Compaq and HP (soon to be one entity), and Apple are the main rivals in this industry, and the competition is fierce. Dell and Gateway have been the most innovative by including the "just-in-time" manufacturing to meet consumers specific needs, and HP and Compaq are going to merge, becoming the largest computer/printer producing company around. All of these computers are hard to decipher because of there high compatibility with each other (not Apple). The only thing that really sets them apart are their prices and reputation."
