Abstract SWOT analysis of the Company. Legacy of CEO Jack Welch. Internal analysis. Focus on customer satisfaction. Competent management. Strengths: 6 Sigma quality improvement program. Market leadership. Weaknesses: inventory and asset turnover. Low revenue growth. External analysis. Opportunities: Dominant market position. New Markets. Value chain position. Threats: Economic retrenchment. Globalization. Government bureaucracy.
From the Paper "SWOT ANALYSIS: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
Introduction
The SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) analysis of the General Electric Company reflects the current position of the firm that entered its post-Jack Welch in October 2001. While the dynamic CEO is no longer with the firm, his legacy remains in the company's strengths.
The SWOT analysis is a two-domain process. The internal domain covers the firm's strengths and weaknesses, while the external domain addresses the opportunities and threats present in the firm's external environment.
Internal Analysis
Strengths
Effective implementation of the Six Sigma quality ..."
Abstract This paper reviews the recent events in corporate America which have created a hype about fraudulent activities in businesses. The paper offers recent examples of such activity including the Enron scandal, America's biggest corporate collapse. The paper includes a background on the developments in legislature and politics put in place to curb the rising levels of unethical practice. The writer concludes that while to date, unethical business has been passed over, today there are means in place for ensuring businesses are accountable to the American public.
From the Paper "The boom of the 90's has changed the business environment in ways that will require a reshaping of corporate leadership. Financial scandals and out-of-hand executive compensation demonstrate not only a lapse of ethics and unprecedented greed, but also a disdain for the rule of law. Thus, the most pressing leadership issue for today is how to ensure that corporate officers behave in an ethical manner. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act is a legislative effort designed to promote ethics by holding executives accountable for financial reports."
Abstract This paper states that Lonely Planet Publications is a highly successful organization that has successfully grown and developed in a niche market providing high quality and highly factual travel information on a global basis. The author believes that the company has a very solid reputation and wishes to continue its growth without sacrificing the internal culture that has been a cornerstone of its success. The author underscores that both the Five Forces and Strategic Group Models de-emphasize the role of innovation and the significance of individual company differences while overemphasizing the importance of industry and strategic group structure as determinants of company profit rates; therefore, in analyzing Lonely Planet specifically, this can lead to dangerously erroneous conclusions.
Table of Contents
Executive Summary
Introduction/Opportunity Statement
Opportunity
Situation Analysis
SWOT Analysis
Threats
Industry and Competition Analysis
Competition
Approach
Potential Competitors
Rivalry Among Established Companies
Bargaining Power of Buyers
Bargaining Power of Suppliers
Threat of Substitute Products
Role of the Macro environment
Strategic Groups within Industries Model
Limitations of the Five Forces and Strategic Group Models
Company Analysis
Mission
Business Operations
Business Level Strategy
Structure
Leadership
Stakeholder Analysis
Problems Identified
Alternative Options
Reasons for Rejecting Other Options
Recommended Option
RE: Maintaining Growth
RE: Sales and Inventory Control System and Better Information
RE: Lots of Things Happening
From the Paper "Lonely Planet, for the most part, was protected against these industry trends and really leveraged the travel market niche by providing readers with highly factual (and highly accurate) information. They did not try to compete on an entertainment level, nor did they go out of their way to endorse outside products, go overboard on advertising, or any other approach that would de-focus the message they were trying to convey?Lonely Planet is about providing factual and highly accurate information to the traveler. Many readers were know to tear out pages perceived to be of little value, to "skin down" the book and make it lighter, smaller, more easily packable. By catering to this market niche, they were able also to make themselves more resilient to the effects of recession."
Abstract This paper provides a complete overview of British Airways. It begins with a SWOT analysis of the company, showing its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. The paper then takes a look at the company's operations, marketing strategies and target market. Finally, the paper looks at British Airways' marketing mix and key success factors before comparing it to a 'no-frills' airline.
From the Paper "British Airways bears certain weaknesses that the company needs to overcome. Amongst these weaknesses is the lack of marketing strategy to win customer loyalty. Despite the great infrastructure hosted by the company, BA needs to carry out better marketing schemes to attract prospective travelers. The company suffers from a deprivation of strategic management for investment in the future which is most important for growth of the airline. The airline industry is growing due to globalization and needs of individuals to travel and explore. BA needs a strategic management strategy to keep its goals aligned with growing market trends to match needs of the future."
Abstract This paper examines how Kmart was the second largest retail chain in the United States before it announced bankruptcy in the early part of the 2002 due to competition from its two main rivals, Wal-Mart and Target. It analyzes the failures in its old strategies and proposes new strategy recommendations for Kmart to reinvent itself and put it back at the top of the industry.
Outline
Old Strategy
New Strategy Recommendations
Kmart Should Solve its Identity Crisis
Reach Target Customers
Complete Reorganization
Urban and Emerging Markets
From the Paper "The biggest flaw of the company strategy lied in its competition techniques and in its inability to adapt to change. The company had no idea what to focus on because it never really tried to carve a niche for itself in the retail industry. What happens then is that companies lose focus and direction and thus start incorporating all sorts of foolish unproductive ideas in the company's strategy even when it is clear that these ideas are not exactly suitable. For example WALMART has its own niche in the industry, it is and will always be recognized as the "Low prices always" king whereas Target will always be a trendsetter and will be known for its style. But Kmart, a king of what? This is where the identity problem sets in, as people do not know what should Kmart be associated with."
Abstract This essay is a case study that pertains to utilitarian and rights-oriented ethics in international business. The ethical issue involves the known environment in which H.B Fuller operates, in Honduras and Guatemala, when selling toluene-based glue that is in high demand in Central America but is as it is also known to be abused by street children to their great detriment. This essay argues that when this situation is examined from a number of points of view, an ethical position that is to the benefit of all players, including the H.B.Fuller organization, can be established.
Abstract This nine-page business ethics paper discusses ethics in advertising, examines the issues involved, and includes a summary of the facts. The author analyzes a list of the potential solutions, provides a pro and con evaluation summary for each potential solution, and selects the best solution. He then provides analysis and justification for his reasoning, while stating ethical and philosophies and identifying obstacles likely to be encountered in implementing the solution.
Tags: BUSINESS / MARKETING AND ADVERTISING, ethics false advertisement
Abstract This paper explains the four functions of management (planning, organizing, leading, and controlling) as they relate to the writer's own organization. It also describes how the writer applies the four functions of management to his supervisor and his own position.
From the Paper "It is not easy to manage an organization. It takes more than just business savvy to know what you are doing when it comes to management procedures. There are a few strategies that can ensure the success of a business organization, but before you can determine those strategies, you have to know the four functions. The functions of management discussed in this paper will be planning, organizing, leading, and controlling. This paper will also give examples of how I apply these functions of management in my own personal organization."
Abstract This paper discusses the advantages and disadvantages of the trend to outsource programming jobs to India. It looks at how this move affects both the American and Indian economies and how this also affects their work ethics.
From the Paper "According to global research agency Gartner Inc, one out of every ten jobs in American software industry by the end of 2004 will completely move to low-cost emerging markets like India, China, Russia since United States companies have moved to cut costs. However, till now India has captured the major proportion of white-collar jobs exported from the U.S. and has proved to be the leading gainer amongst all other developing countries (Jeff). A media report highlighted by the global research has estimated that approximately even 500,000 white-collar American jobs already have found their way offshore to the countries like China, Philippines and Malaysia; yet none has been able to capture more American jobs than India (Jeff)."
Abstract This paper explains that packaging plays two important functions: To be attractive to the consumer and communicate the right brand messages to be functional. The author presents a consumer cost-per-ounce argument and concludes that the 10 oz. aerosol can is the best consumer value. The paper stresses that the cost of producing aerosol cans is lower than that for tubes.
Table of Contents
Economics of Three Options
Incremental Contribution
Test Marketing
From the Paper "The three items, 5 ? oz tube (x), 5 ? oz aerosol can (Y) and 10 oz aerosol can (Z) will be available at the price of $3.95, $3.50 and $4.25 respectively. The company is deciding to set this price for the three items and it is therefore important to see which options would prove to be most feasible in the long run at the current price level. For this reason, we shall calculate the contribution that will be made by each item if they go into the market with this price tag. It appears from general study of prices that there exists a small gap of $0.75 between Y and Z while the oz difference is quite wide and this will only urge the customers to opt for Z instead of Y."
Abstract The paper explains that strategic planning, the ability to measure expected demand, structure a system to address that demand to the satisfaction of all the stakeholders, and then execute the plan, is the sign of a successful management team and a profitable organization. The author points out that, when an organization faces an operational change, the organization must undertaken four key steps through a series of operational evaluations, which can prepare the company to meet the coming demands. These include leadership, objectives identification, strategies development, and writing and executing the plan. The paper relates that, unfortunately, action-oriented managers often skim over these steps as they make their way immediately toward "doing something".
From the Paper "After the leadership person or committee is identified, the second step in the process if determining the objectives needed to adapt to the changing demand. Will the organization need additional resources? Will the organization need to change communication systems, or task evaluation procedures in order to meet the new levels of demands? The strategies are typically directional and topic in nature, and not specific. The specific steps are identified in the next phase of preparing for the change, which is identifying the strategies for obtaining the specific objectives.
Abstract Accounting firm Arthur Andersen's recent involvement in the spectacular Enron scandal has raised a number of questions about whether accounting firms should act as consultants for the same companies that they audit. Clearly, Andersen's experience shows that is difficult, if not impossible, for an accounting company to avoid conflict-of-interest issues when acting as both a consultant and auditor for a single company. This paper paper shows that the conflict of interest is only one of the serious ethical issues faced by the business world in the past years. As such, clients and investors are becoming increasingly aware of ethical issues, a situation that makes reform in the accounting industry a necessity to ensure public confidence in the integrity of the accounting profession.
From the Paper "In examining only the behavior of Arthur Andersen, we run the real risk of losing sight of the larger ethical issues that are involved in the Enron fiasco. The behavior of both Arthur Anderson and Enron executives showed a shocking disregard for personal ethics, as well as professional standards, and corporate ethics. Jennifer Beever notes that the business world has responded by taking a renewed interest in the study of ethics. This is a marked difference previous standards of proper business behavior that adhered most strongly to the pursuit of self-interest (Beever)."
A look at the trends impacting the real estate office and the effect these trends have had on staffing, including the selecting and retaining of employees.
Abstract This paper examines how, like most organizations, the real estate office has needed to change in response to trends and adapt to a new business environment and how one of the major areas that has changed relates to employees. It discusses the importance of finding employees and retaining them and the effect on both staffing practices and selection tools. It analyzes the current practices of the office by focusing on their relationship with the various trends, including globalization, technology and e-business, diversity, and ethics. It also includes an evaluation of these practices, with recommendations for improvement also being made.
From the Paper "The first major trend that has impacted the office is globalization. Globalization refers to the breaking down of global barriers, which results in the business environment becoming a global one rather than just a local one. This means that a business in one country that used to compete only with other local companies, is now competing with global companies as well. This creates a major increase in competition. This competition increase does not apply directly to the real estate office, because the nature of the business means it is still competing only with local competition. However, the increased competition still has a significant secondary effect. This occurs because other service-type businesses facing strong competition have increased their quality of service and are working harder to satisfy clients."
Abstract Effective communication is the key to any business success. The communication process is essential to employee morale, efficiency, and bottom-line profits. Both internal and external publics are addressed in the communication process. The external publics consist of vendors, competitors, customers, and Wall Street. This paper discusses the communication process and looks at the impact of effective communications on Southwest Airlines's external publics.
From the Paper "Southwest Airlines has used effective communication to grow from a small Texas intrastate airline, into the fourth largest airline in the United States (Kim). The mission of Southwest Airlines is dedication to the highest quality of customer service delivered with a sense of warmth, friendliness, individual pride, and company spirit. Southwest is committed to providing its employees a stable work environment with equal opportunity for learning and personal growth. Creativity and innovation are encouraged for improving the effectiveness of Southwest Airlines. Employees are provided the same concern, respect, and caring attitude within the organization that they are expected to share externally with every Southwest Customer."
Abstract This paper states that Starbucks is a well-managed, aggressive company that has achieved consistent growth since its inception. The author believes that because Starbucks has shown vertical integration in the past, as in its roasting facilities, it should consider becoming involved in the coffee-growing portion of the industry, as a move toward further quality and price control. The paper recommends that the company cut its rate of expansion and decrease the channels of distribution because Starbucks has expanded at a rapid rate, opening a store a day in 1999. Charts. Attractive paper.
Table of Contents
The Early Years
New Leadership and Vision - Howard Schultz
Starbucks Strategy
Growth of Distribution Channels
Product Diversification
Human Resources
Retail Outlets
Chart 1 - Starbucks Growth
Industry Analysis
Industry Environment - Defining the Business
Competitive Analysis
Competitors and their Strategies
Barriers to Change
Substitution
Customer Segments
Industry Suppliers
Situation Analysis
SWOT Analysis Matrix
Financial Analysis
Valuation
Sales and Cash
Investment Positives
Investment Concerns/ Financial Recommendations
Chart 2 - Comparative Company Analysis
Case Recommendations
From the Paper "Supermarkets, carrying a vast number of nationally branded premium coffee products, pose the greatest competitive challenge in the whole bean coffee market because supermarkets offer customers the convenience of not having to make a separate trip to a specialty store. In addition to these challenges, the company competes for whole bean coffee sales with numerous franchise operators and locally owned specialty coffee stores in both the United States and Canada. Although competition in the beverage market is fragmented at the time, a major competitor with substantially greater financial, marketing, and operating resources than Starbucks can enter this market at any time and compete directly against Starbucks."
