Thursday, December 26, 2019

Profitability Rations - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 2 Words: 562 Downloads: 6 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Finance Essay Type Argumentative essay Did you like this example? The above mentioned profitability ratios has been used to determine the earning potential of the company. The said ratios are significantly important for share holders. If a company shows good profitability then the shareholders can expect good profit distribution on their investment. For this purpose we should also examine the dividend payment history of the company in order to make a reliable estimate of profit distribution. So far as the Spectrum Manufacturing Company [SMC] is concerned, its profitability is decreasing. The reasons of the decrease in profitability are: Decrease in sales Increase in interest expenses Increase in the amount of depreciation [may not be a concern, since it is non cash expense. Further increase the depreciation will ultimately decrease tax liability] The disadvantages of using above ratios are that these ratios may not provide an accurate estimate of the company profitability if used individually. The ratios calculated above should be used with other techniques in order to get more accurate and reliable estimate of the company financial position. The above ratios also ignore the impact of items which may result in low profitability but may increase share holders wealth maximization. For example, depreciation charged and interest expenses paid will ultimately decrease the tax liability of the company resulting in more profits available for distribution. The are many methods to calculate the leveraging of the company some considers long term debt while others considers both long term and short term debt of the company so this ratio should be calculated as per the requirements. The ratio of ROCE ignores the impact of risk taken by the company. We may use RROCE [Risk Adjusted Return on Capital Employed] in order to get a more re liable estimate. The following additional techniques and tools can be used for the analysis of SMC: Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Profitability Rations" essay for you Create order Cash Flow Analysis [Liquidity Ratios] Peer Group Comparison Inventory turn over ratio Average collection period Price earning ratio Taxation structure of the countries where the company wants to enter Exchange rate risk. The Board of Directors are the agent of shareholders (Principal). It is the responsibility of the BOD to act in the best interest of shareholders. But there are chances that the BOD may not act in the interest of shareholders due to some potential conflict of interest. The conflict of interest may arise due to difference in goals and objectives of BOD and shareholders. However different techniques can be used to reduce the chances of conflict of interest such as profit participation, performance based remuneration etc. The dividend policy is related with the profit distribution of the company. The investor would like to invest in a company which has a good dividend policy. The dividend policy is normally affected by the stage of business and future expansion plans. The dividend policy is important due to the following reasons: The dividend policy plays an important role in attracting the investors High dividends may result in higher share price of the company [market capitalization] Distribution of dividend in the form of cash shows good liquidity position of the company. The debt financing is normally encouraged due to the fact that the interest expenses are deductable for taxation purposes while the dividend paid to share holders is not considered as an expense for taxation purposes. Three main sources of financing: Debt Financing from financial institutions Subscription money from shareholders Subordinated debt form sponsors Government Grants

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

The Issue Of Privacy Invasion - 1568 Words

Q.1. We use many free Internet services (browsers, emails, search engines, news, blogs, etc.) that are supported by commercial advertisements. The users were exposed to more and more targeted ads recently. By targeted ads, we mean the ads are geared toward your personal Internet habits such as your location, your search topics, your browsing habits and interests, etc. Do you welcome targeted ads that might just what you needed? What are your views or concerns? What would you suggest to solve the issues of privacy invasion? Post your answer also on the Discussions board. Ref: To block ads from YouTube, Facebook, etc., you could use browser extensions as described in this article: 10 Ad Blocking Extensions Tested for Best Performance https://www.raymond.cc/blog/10-ad-blocking-extensions-tested-for-best-performance/ Ans.1. while surfing internet, I detected that the ads square measure closely connected to the pages I visited or the things I purchased in past. I feel that they re making an attempt to hit the correct client World Health Organization did same activity in past. My all activities like locations, sites I surfed etc. recorded and basis thereon information solely they counsel me these ads. They keep record of my searched words and imply them in my future looking. It’s proved to be helpful for the advertiser because it is totally centered on bound parameters that customers stuffed in his past. Web privacy involves the right or mandate of personalShow MoreRelatedThe Invasion Of Privacy And Concern For Safety1624 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction: The invasion of privacy and concern for safety has been an increasing worry among people who live in the United States and across the world. The main issue is how does the government’s actions change how people view their own security and even national security. 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So, they sent offers to her mailbox and her parents’ found out and eventually realized what their daughter has been up to. Target has unapologetically invaded the privacy of this young teen. It’s starting to become very common nowadays. We give Target the rightRead More The Right to Privacy Essay1259 Words   |  6 Pagesnbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;In this report I am going to talk about the rights people have to privacy and about the laws that go with privacy. Privacy is the thought that information that is confidential that is disclosed in a private place will not be available to third parties when the information would cause embarrassment or emotional distress to a person. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The right of privacy is limited to people who are in a place that a person would reasonably expect to be privateRead MoreThe Right to Privacy1258 Words   |  6 Pageshave to privacy and about the laws that go with privacy. Privacy is the thought that information that is confidential that is disclosed in a private place will not be available to third parties when the information would cause embarrassment or emotional distress to a person. The right of privacy is limited to people who are in a place that a person would reasonably expect to be private such as home, hotel room and even a telephone booth. People think they should be protected by privacy when theRead MoreTechnologys Impact On Technology And The Use Of Technology1408 Words   |  6 Pagestherefore sparked discussions and debates regarding the safe consumption of the technology. Controversy, ambiguities, and demagoguery are such issues which have become evident attributable to technological development. Technology development has affected how things are accomplished and consequently affected decision-making. â€Å"The discussions have majored in the issue of ethics and safety because technology can be applied negatively.† (Foley, 2006). Market research has distinguished a resurgence with theRead MoreU.s. Forest Service Violated The Privacy Act868 Words   |  4 PagesARGUMENT I. THE U.S. FOREST SERVICE VIOLATED THE PRIVACY ACT BY DISCLOSING PERSONNEL RECORDS THAT CONSITUTE A CLEARLY UNWARRANTED INVASION OF PERSONAL PRIVACY. Privacy matters, and Congress agreed: The Privacy Act’s purpose is â€Å"to provide certain safe guards against an invasion of personal privacy by requiring federal agencies . . . to . . . be subject to civil suit for any damages which . . . violates any individual’s rights under this act.† Law Review UGA (quoting another law review). Under 5Read MorePeggy Lee Vs. Disney Case1725 Words   |  7 PagesDisney case, as well as give the reader the important details involved in the case. The primary discussion points in this case analysis will be as follows: †¢ A Brief Account of the Facts †¢ The Legal Analysis of the Suit †¢ Breach of Contract †¢ Invasion of Privacy †¢ Disney’s Customs, Practice, and Usage †¢ The Financial Analysis of Peggy Lee’s Claim †¢ The Claim †¢ Peggy Lee’s Damages †¢ Peggy Lee’s Award (if she prevails) †¢ Recommendation/ Conclusion INTRODUCTION/FACTS In 1952, voice actress,Read More Libel and Invasion of Privacy Essay1189 Words   |  5 PagesLibel and Invasion of Privacy Libel and invasion of privacy are two very important issues dealing with broadcast media. The two are very similar but different from each. Libel deals more with what was actually printed or broadcast, where as invasion of privacy deals with how the information was actually gathered. Both have laws to regulate and influence what kind of information is gathered and, how it is actually obtained. Libel simply is defamation of character by published word, the

Tuesday, December 10, 2019

Choice of Market

Question: Write an essay on Choice of Market, Timing, and scale. Answer: For being valid in the long ran, it is a prerequisite for every company to expand its market operation. As opined by Wang and Lestari (2013), a favourable market must possess The stability of the government, the overall satisfaction of the citizens with the public order etc. it is also important for the companies to invest in such economies which support the free market system. They introduce laws favourable to the business operations. The lack of regulations on the business operation makes the capitalist countries more favourable among the business houses. The low private sector debt and the low inflation describes that the economy is strong enough to handle the volatility of the business activities. On the other hand, the economies, which are facing political instability, i.e., war, internal revolution, terrorism etc. can pose threat to the business operation. the countries which have controlled economy and public surveillance over the business operation should be avoided by the in vestors (Tolsma and Wolbers 2014). The countries, which are suffering huge public debt, cannot be able to offer a strong customer base to the companies. The instability of the currency can become negatively influential to the companies. The economies of Denmark, New Zealand etc. can be identified as a strong and flexible for the business operators. The recent changes in the Indian economy regarding foreign investment is becoming helpful for the companies with the intention of foreign investment (Schuster and Holtbrgge 2012). On the other hand, the recent case of Brexit can be discussed as a detrimental fact for the foreign investors. this may pose threat to the foreign business of UK (Fletcher 2016). The countries like, Greece is facing a huge public debt, which is restricting the companies to invest there. The countries like, Saudi Arabia, Iraq etc. are facing issues like terrorism, civil war etc. which are affecting their potentiality of grabbing foreign investment. It is importan t for a company to expand its operation in those markets, which are offering them these above discussed advantages. An economy, which is offering a favourable business environment, can best be utilized for the decision of the market expansion. The market entry can be of three different patterns. The first movers can be identified as companies, which enter a foreign market before other companies. The advantages of such entry can be discussed in a number of ways. This helps the companies to capture the demand and establish the brand name. They also have the opportunity of creating the barriers to entry (Fabling and Sanderson 2013). On the other hand, the companies face high cost of pioneering the market, regarding technology, RD, marketing initiatives, est6ablishing the distribution channels etc. such companies need to carry the burden of risk of market failure. In this regard, the name of Digital Research can be mentioned. It was the first mover in the market of personal computer operating system which faced a market failure. On the other hand, the Polaroid gained the advantages of a first mover in the market of instant camera (Schuster and Holtbrgge 2012). The early followers can be identified as the companies, which follow the pioneers in the market. They enter in the market in its initial stage, without much knowledge of the market status. Here, the example of Kodak can be cited it was the follower in the market of the instant camera. Apple can also be identified as the early follower in the market of personal computer (Shaw 2015). The late entrants are the companies, which enters in the market when it is significantly mature. They enjoy the power of information in operating a business. Here, the example of Samsung can be cited as the late entrants in the market of microwave (Wang and Lestari 2013). A company may opt for the large as wel l as a small-scale market entry strategy. However, this requires a rapid entry in the market. It makes the company responsible to bear the new market threats. It restricts the strategic flexibility and makes it harder for the companies to operate. On the other hand, the small-scale entry helps the company to learn market status and develop the strategies accordingly. It enjoys the strategic flexibility (Shaw 2015). It also restricts the company exposure and thus limits the threat. Hence, it can be recommended that the companies need to follow a small-scale entry approach while making a first move. Here, the example of Tesco Plc can be cited. They have spent a billion to acquire the Chinese mobile market operations. Because of the lack of cultural knowledge, it faced a failure. On the other hand, the small-scale entry of the Generalli group in the insurance sector in India has helped them to acquire great market profitability (Xiong 2013). Hence, it can be concluded that the companie s need to collect enough information regarding the host market. To acquire this knowledge, the companies need to operate on a small-scale level. After acquiring the needed data, the companies may follow the strategy of large scale operation. Explain Marketing mix The idea of marketing mix can be identified as the components of a company for seting the policies strategically for its successful operation. As opined by Huang and Sarigll (2014), it is important for the internationally operating companies to pragmatically identify the marketing mix. The marketing mix, popularly known as the 4 Ps of marketing, are the interrelated components of the policies. As opined by (), it is a set of analysis of the product attributes, distribution strategy, communication policy and the pricing strategy of the company. Explain the 4Ps of marketing mixAs opined by Aghdam et al.(2015), product is one of the important components of the marketing mix. A company needs to identify the product or service strategically to avoid the market failure. Here they need to explore the market demand locally and outside of the country and develop the product according to the market demand. On the other hand, it is also important set pragmatic distribution channel of that parti cular product. The idea of place in the marketing mix is the way of having access of that product by the consumer. Here, the company makes its products available with the help of the retailers or the company outlets or simply through the web sources. On the other hand, Mintz and Currim (2015), has described the idea of promotion in the context of the communication channel of the company with its consumers. As discussed by Gordon (2012), with the help of the personnel selling (push strategy) or the media selling (pull strategy) the company can promote its product. The pricing strategies may include the strategy of price discrimination, value pricing, penetration pricing etc. this review of the price also include the evaluation of the regulations of the state authorities, as it affect the pricing decision. Thus, it can be said that, the companies need to alter their marketing mix in accidence to the internal as well as the external environment. There are a number of options within the marketing mix. A company may select pragmatically according to the market scenario. Ethnocentric approach Obtaining a practical staffing policy helps a company to attain a high competitive advantage. One of the main approaches of staffing is the ethnocentric approach. As opined by (), it is appropriate for the international companies to fill the significant management positions with the parent country nationals. It helps the company in transferring the core competencies to the new operating market. It also assists the new entrants in overcoming the lack of qualified personnel in the host nations. However, as mentioned by (), this approach has a few disadvantages too. It produces resentment within the nationals of the host countries. This may lead the company to face a cultural conflict. Polycentric approach As mentioned by Wang and Lestari (2013), the polycentric approach can be utilized in the context of the localization of the companies. Here, the companies follow the strategy of recruiting the nationals of the host country in the management of the subsidiaries in the host countries. The parent country nationals hold the position in the head quarters. As discussed by Tolsma and Wolbers (2014), this strategy helps the firms in localization of the branch as thus avoiding the cultural conflict. It also helps the company in internal cost cutting. However, according to Fabling and Sanderson (2013), this particular approach create a gap between the management of the subsidiaries and the head quarter of the company. As, the host country nationals get the limited opportunity to gain the required experience, it restricts their progress within the subsidiaries. This in turn, affects the company negatively. Geocentric approach: In addition to this, the geocentric approach ignores the nationality concern in favour of the ability of the staffs. It advocates the4 recruit of the best person for the job to perform. It helps the company in avoiding the potential drawbacks of the previously discussed approaches. It helps the multinationals in creating a global integration (Tolsm and Wolbers 2014). Thus, it can be concluded that the companies, which have a vision of operating an international business, should go for the geocentric approach. It can be termed as global business policy of most of the successful MNCs. It helps the companies to gain a competitive advantage. In the recent context of global migration, the companies may utilize the opportunity of recruiting the best-suited person in the chair for the companys further excellence with this approach. References: Aghdam, P.F., Saeidi, S.S. and Marjani, A.B., 2015. Investigating the effect of service marketing mix on increasing the sales in Special Cooperative Company of Iran Khodro. Journal of Current Research in Science, 3(3), p.47.Fabling, R. and Sanderson, L., 2013. Exporting and firm performance: Market entry, investment and expansion. Journal of International Economics,89(2), pp.422-431.Fletcher, N. (2016). Post-Brexit crisis, what crisis? The FTSE 100 is roaring ahead. [online] the Guardian. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/jul/01/post-brexit-apocalypse-why-markets-rising [Accessed 1 Jul. 2016].Gordon, R., 2012. Re-thinking and re-tooling the social marketing mix.Australasian Marketing Journal (AMJ), 20(2), pp.122-126.Huang, R. and Sarigll, E., 2014. How brand awareness relates to market outcome, brand equity, and the marketing mix. In Fashion Branding and Consumer Behaviors (pp. 113-132). Springer New York.Mintz, O. and Currim, I.S., 2015. When does metric use ma tter less? How firm and managerial characteristics moderate the relationship between metric use and marketing mix performance. European Journal of Marketing,49(11/12), pp.1809-1856.Schuster, T. and Holtbrgge, D., 2012. Market entry of multinational companies in markets at the bottom of the pyramid: A learning perspective.International Business Review, 21(5), pp.817-830.Shaw, K., 2015. Foreign Market Entry Strategies. China-USA Business Review, p.395.Tolsma, J. and Wolbers, M.H., 2014. Social origin and occupational success at labour market entry in The Netherlands, 193180. Acta Sociologica, 57(3), pp.253-269.Wang, K.J. and Lestari, Y.D., 2013. Firm competencies on market entry success: Evidence from a high-tech industry in an emerging market. Journal of Business Research, 66(12), pp.2444-2450.Xiong, W.A.N.G., 2013. Review of the Study on Market Entry, Measuring Fragility and Sustainable Development of New-type Rural Financial Institutions [J]. Journal of Hunan University (Social Sci ences), 4, p.014.

Monday, December 2, 2019

Sara Lee in 2011 Retrenchment Strategy

Background information Business companies operate in a very volatile and competitive environment. In such an environment, there are many forces that may work for or against the business company. More often, the forces generated from the environment have a negative effect on the business firm (Thompson, 2011).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Sara Lee in 2011: Retrenchment Strategy specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Therefore, firms have to respond and mitigate these forces so that they can continue to thrive in the market. Firms adopt different strategies that seem suitable to the situation. This depends on the nature of effect that the changes have on the internal and external business environment. These strategies are referred to as competitive strategies (Katz, 2010). Firms can either opt to focus on a single strategy or choose to employ different strategies in what is referred to as integration and differentiati on of strategies. The firm has to be very sensitive when choosing a strategy. This is because the strategy chosen can have long term implications on the operation of the firm. Strategic choices are made depending on what other firms have adopted. This is because the activities of other firms often have an impact on the performance hence contributing to the competitive advantage of the firm. Strategies aim to raise the competitiveness of a given firm in a certain industry (Katz, 2010). Sara Lee is a fairly old company that has been in operation since the year 1939. It began as a small business and kept creating opportunities for growth. The company underwent a transformation with different strategies including the change of business name on several occasions. The changes also included merger and acquisitions as part of the divestitures. Divestitures, as adopted by the management, were aimed at sharpening the business focus of the company. It was aimed at putting the company in a sign ificantly strategic position within the market (Thompson, 2012). Sara Lee Corporation, which is a company that is dealing in food, beverage and household products, got a new management in the year 2005. This indicated that changes were needed to transform the corporation. The Corporation appointed a new president, Brenda Barnes, who came up with a strategic plan that was ambitious. The plan was aimed at transforming the Corporation into a focused firm dealing in beverage, food and household products.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The new president noted that the firm was running many units of product categories that were not strong enough for the collective performance outcome of the company. Therefore, the firm had to reduce the number of units. Though the strategy would result in the reduction of revenues to the company by about $7 billion, it was seen as the best option . Strategic plans will in most cases result to the disruption of the normal activities and functioning of a company. However, this is supposed to have a short-term effect, owing to the vision and objectives of the strategies used in effecting the plan. The retrenchment plan was expected to result into an increase in the after sales tax proceeds (Thompson, 2012). The strategic plan aimed at positioning the selected segments that would strengthen the financial outcomes from the segments and the financial performance of the company. The company was to venture into market segments that were brighter and promising for the products of the company. The retrenchment initiatives rolled out by the company were to be implemented in a systemic manner. This would see the company improve its sales activities, market share, and growth in profits resulting from the selected brands. The company selected brands that showed prospective signs of improvement in marketing for each of the product units (D aft, Murphy Willmott, 2010). The company targeted a revenue increment of about $14 billion in the year 2010. This would mark a 12 per cent increment from the time the new strategic plan was set rolling. This was at the beginning of the year 2005. However, these targets were not reached by the end of the year 2010 as had been projected in the plan. Revenue of only $10.8 billion had been raised out of the projected $14 billion. The operating profit of Sara Lee had also improved by only 8.5 per cent from the projected 12 per cent. Therefore, the company had to extend its retrenchment strategies in order to reach the goals that had not been met. The company launched various initiatives including the diversification of international business. There were several other business growth initiatives like â€Å"project growth† (Thompson, 2012). Strategy identification for Sara Lee For any company to come up with reasonable and implementable strategic plans, it must understand both the internal and external business environment. The firm must also understand the forces of competition and how they can be applied in the firm to raise its competitiveness.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Sara Lee in 2011: Retrenchment Strategy specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The selected strategies must be in line with the main vision and objectives of the company. They must also be aligned to the position that the company is seeking to attain in the industry. All competitive strategies are adopted with the aim of raising the performance and competitive position of a firm in the industry (Daft, Murphy Willmott, 2010). Sara Lee chose three main competitive strategies to help it in the post-retrenchment business development activities. The competitive capabilities that were going to be used by the company included innovation of new products, competitive pricing, and brand building. Others included leveraging and c ategory management that were aimed at improving supplies of the company by fostering good relations with the buyers. The management believed that these capabilities were critical in appeasing and attracting customers to the products of the company. The selected competitive capabilities formed what can be termed as differentiation strategies for a business company. Product differentiation strategies must touch on the five major forces of competition as was explored by Michael Porter (Thompson, 2012). According to Porter, the selected business strategies must put into consideration the price, the suppliers, buyers, substitute products, entrants companies, and industry of operation. Pricing as a strategy is likened to focus on buyers in the Porter’s forces of competition. New products were meant to match and compete against the products being produced by other companies. Branding of the products was meant to bring out the uniqueness of products in the industry in which Sara Lee is operating. In one way or another, the competitive strategy selected by a company will often have a relation with the competition forces. These competitive strategies form the core pillars on which competitive strategies are formed and implemented (Porter, 1998). Different categories of competitive strategies exist, and the strategy that is chosen by a company falls under any of these strategy categories. The two main categories of competition strategies are differentiation and low-cost strategies. Each of these strategies has several other strategic approaches under it. Each strategy has its strengths and weaknesses. Therefore, a company must strive to minimize the negative side of the strategy by fully capitalizing on the positive side of the strategy (Day, 2004). The competition strategy chosen by Sara Lee was retrenchment. This can be categorized as a low-cost strategy. It aimed at cutting the product units that were not helping the firm to achieve enhanced profits. More cost cutting measures were introduced as the company continued to implement the retrenchment strategy.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Sara Lee adopted this strategy for the assessment of the performance of each of the product unit. The management of the firm saw the need for the reduction of the number of units and strengthening the remaining units. This was done in line with the assessment of the industry and the range of products that the Corporation was handling (Daft, Murphy Willmott, 2010). When choosing strategies, the company must stress on its strengths. This is because strengths give a company a strong base on which the strategies thrive. The company must understand that it is not possible to attain the objectives that are laid down effectively. Other forces may present themselves during the implementation thereby preventing the firm from attaining the objectives of strategic plans. This should be embraced and used as a basis to craft other minor strategies. These strategies help in refocusing the activities of the firm towards the achievement of strategic goals. The strategies that are introduced in the course of implementing other strategies are integrative in nature. They either introduce new activities or invigorate the existing activities. A lot of care must be taken while integrating strategies. If they are not properly introduced, the integrated strategies may sway the business from achieving the primary goals that preformed the strategic plan (Day, 2004). The management of Sara Lee introduced a strategic plan in which it laid down the business objectives and targeted outcomes at full implementation. The â€Å"project accelerate† was launched by the company in the year 2008 while implementing the strategic plan. This project was meant to speed up cost saving through the outsourcing of efficiencies in its supply chain and overhead reduction. This integrative strategy was fruitful as it had resulted in accelerated savings for Sara Lee. It became very helpful in enforcing the retrenchment strategy adopted by the Corporation. In the year 2010, Barnes was forced to step do wn as the CEO of the company on medical grounds. The plans that had been laid down by her had not met the targeted outcomes. Nonetheless, the strategy was productive, and the company picked up from where Barnes had left. It embarked on extending the chosen brands within the new markets in different parts of the globe (Hill Jones, 2013). Analysis of performance of the retrenchment strategy of Sara Lee Firms reach decisions of coming up with strategies because of inconsistencies inherent in the prevailing operations. Strategies are thus leading to the improvement in the competitive ability of a business firm. The selected strategy has to eliminate the threats that are posed to the business, as well as providing new channels and options for bettering the position of the company. The incorporation of new strategies into a business involves a series of actions and activities. At times, this calls for a change or adjustment of the structure of an organization. The business picks up slowl y as the strategies are enforced and structures tailored to accommodate the changes. It is important for a company to keep assessing the strategies and making necessary adjustments (Hill Jones, 2013). As mentioned earlier, Sara Lee adopted several competitive strategies to deal with the situation that was facing the firm. It is important to note that the strategies led to some positive results irrespective of the failure to meet the targets that were set in the strategic plan. The retrenchment of the strategy involved several sub-strategies that needed choosing on a number of products and focusing on strengthening them in the market. Focusing on a limited number of products would help the company in building strong brands within the market. It is cost effective to brand a little number of products than dealing with many products. Therefore, the company had problems raising its sales and meeting its financial goals. Exporting the products in the new market was an easy exercise as th e brands had been strengthened. It is easy to take brands to new markets once they have been branded. Sara Lee focused on market diversification where it managed to expand its products like beverages in a various parts of the world. Its beverages have been widely accepted in the international market gaining strong grounds of competitiveness for the company (Day, 2004). Well branded products perform well in the market as compared to private or unbranded products. The retail division of the company found in the North American region concentrated on food products. It attained significant sales for these products. This is a pointer to the fact that customers prefer branded products. Brands end up opening considerable opportunities for a company to thrive. The food industry offered considerable opportunities to Sara Lee (Kotler, Pförtsch, 2006). Economic shocks have negative effects on the implementation of strategic plans by companies. The financial crisis that hit North-America an d Europe in the year 2007 was an impeding factor to the success of Sara Lee. The expenditure by customers dropped drastically due to financial crush that necessitated a drop in consumer expenditures. The population was forced to spend less on beverages and restaurants foods where the company was selling its food products. The sales had to drop, and this prevented Sara Lee from reaching its goals (Hill Jones, 2013). Inventing strategies and setting them rolling do not mean that the management of the company has to sit back. The management of the company has to keep checking or evaluating the strategies. The management of Sara Lee kept checking on the strategies and making changes as the strategy was in the implementation phase. Strategies are made with objectives, and when all the objectives are not met, it does not imply that the strategies were wrong. However, most of the objectives have to be met anyway. Sara Lee managed to meet most of the objectives, and efforts are still ongoi ng to meet the extended targets of the retrenchment strategy (Hill Jones, 2012). Recommendations for future decisions for the company Competition has both positive and negative implications for a company. On a positive note, it helps a company identify its weak areas of performance and the reasons for this weak performance. This also seals the areas of weaknesses for improved performance. A company must be innovative when crafting competitive strategies. This is because poorly crafted competitive strategies will not lead to the attainment of a competitive position. This may further disorient the company leading to it be outcompeted by competitors in the industry (Thompson, 2011). Sara Lee managed to identify the factors that were leading to poor business performance. This helped the company to come up with strategies leading to attainment of most of its business improvement goals. The retrenchment strategy was a wise decision for the company as it helped in improving the performanc e. This also enhanced the position and competitiveness of the firm (Shankar Carpenter, 2012). Competitive strategies being used by a company must have a foundation or integrate with the major competitive points of the company. The industry in which the firm operates is an important consideration. This forms the immediate external environment for a company from where competition is generated. The other consideration is customers. The customers are the determinants of the success of the firm, and they must be supplied with well branded products. Sara Lee managed to execute this aspect. This helped the company to acquire and maintain more customers hence boosting sales. A good relationship between the company and its customers must be fostered. This will ensure timely supplies to the company and delivery of products in the market (Thompson, 2012). Diversification of products has proved to be an efficient mechanism of dealing with competition pressures arising from the new entrants and increased substitute products. However, product diversification has to be accompanied by brand building exercise so that the new products can have a competitive advantage over their substitutes. Banding is an effective means of creating a strong presence and feeling about the product of a given company in the market. Thus, instead of adopting more defensive strategies, a firm has to concentrate on brand building (Hill Jones, 2012). References Daft, R. L., Murphy, J., Willmott, H. (2010). Organization theory and design. Andover: South-Western Cengage Learning. Day, G. S. (2004). Wharton on dynamic competitive strategy. New York, NY [u.a.: Wiley. Thompson, A. A Gamble, J. E. (2012). Sara Lee Corporation in 2011: Has its Retrenchment Strategy been Successful? Retrieved from: https://scribd.com/document/66453130/Case-Sara-Lee Hill, C. W. L., Jones, G. R. (2012). Essentials of strategic management. Mason, Ohio: South-Western/Cengage Learning. Hill, C. W. L., Jones, G. R. (2012). St rategic management: An integrated approach. Mason, OH: South-Western, Cengage Learning. Katz, J. S. (2010). Competing for global dominance: Survival in a changing world. Silicon Valley, CA: Superstar Press. Kotler, P. Pförtsch, W. A. (2006). B2B brand management: With 7 tables. Berlin: Springer. Porter, M. E. (1998). Competitive Advantage: Creating and Sustaining Superior Performance: with a New Introduction. New York: Simon and Schuker Inc. Shankar, V. Carpenter, G. S. (2012). Handbook of marketing strategy. Cheltenham [etc.: Elgar. Thompson, A. A. (2011). Crafting and executing strategy: The quest for competitive advantage; concepts and cases. New York: McGraw-Hill/Irwin. Thompson, A. A. (2012). Strategy: core concepts and analytical approaches. The University of Alabama. This essay on Sara Lee in 2011: Retrenchment Strategy was written and submitted by user Sidney Frederick to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

black footed ferret essays

black footed ferret essays In the past three decades very few endangered species have been restored to viable populations. The black footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) was believed to be the most endangered mammal in the united states. It is a small mink sized carnivore of the Great plains and intermountain basins The ferrets appear to be obligatory predators on the prairie dogs and once occupied a range essentially identical to that of the prairie dogs. They prey on them and also use their burrows for shelter and nesting. The prairie dogs are considered agricultural pests and competitors with livestock since white settlement first began in the American west. Large scale rodent control programs were implemented by the state and federal governments. They drastically reduced the population of prairie dogs (and other species related to the prairie dog ecosystem) through trapping, gassing and poisoning. These poisoning programs were considered a major cause of the ferrets demise. But, the main cause was the loss of the ferrets prey base and appropriate habitat. Their remaining habitat was fragmented thus leaving the ferret population vulnerable to extinction from various causes including inability to find mates, inbreeding depression, environmental events, and disease of ferrets and their prey. The ferrets were believed to be extinct in 1974, but in 1981 a ferret was discovered in Meeteetsee, Wyoming when a ranch dog killed an unusual animal eating from its food dish and the rancher took the carcass to a knowledgeable taxidermist. This was viewed as a rare chance to recover the species. In 1985, a catastrophic disease struck the small ferret population, and most remaining animals were taken into captivity. Captive breeding was initiated, and reintroduction into the wild from the captive population began in 1991. The ferret is just one of more than 900 species listed under the Endangered Species act as either threatened or endangered. ...

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Challenging Traditional European Beliefs essays

Challenging Traditional European Beliefs essays There were many people who came along in Europe who tried to change the way people thought about different beliefs. Some ideas were quiet successful in getting across to peoples minds and some were rejected for being too ridiculous. But there were only a few plans that had a major impact. Marxism, Freudianism, and the womens movement challenged traditional European beliefs before the First World War. Karl Marx, the founder of Marxism, was born in Trier, Russia in May 1818. His Jewish family converted to Protestantism when he was very young, and he came from a petty-bourgeoisie household. Karl earned multiple degrees in law and philosophy, and in 1844, met Frederick Eagles. That same year he published a work called Marxism. In 1848, he published in German The Communist Manifesto. The work established three major points: that the existence of classes is only bound up with the particular, historical phases in the development of production, that the class struggle necessarily leads to the dictatorship of the proletariat, and that this dictatorship itself only constitutes the transition to the abolition of all classes and to a classless society. The four groups that he established in The Communist Manifesto were hunter and gatherer, feudalism, capitalism, and communism. Marx played a crucial role in the revolts of Paris, and was then banned from Paris. He continued to do his work in Belgium, and was later expelled from Belgium. Later on, he was banished from Germany, and resided in England. His ideas were embraced by the authoritarian government in the twentieth century. Marxism was a crucial part in challenging the beliefs of traditional life before World War I. Sigmund Freud early in his life started with hypnosis and then moved to free expression. He allowed his patients in free expression to talk frequently about childhood and sexuality. Freud ...

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Fedex Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Fedex - Research Paper Example New Customer Center offers first-time visitors to set an account and get a FedEx welcome kit (FedEx.com). However, this official web-site of the company does not provide a visitor with an opportunity to learn about corporate history and culture. This shows that the organization’s major goal is to really acquire new clients and provide current ones with an easy-to-use and quick online ordering service. Another aspect of the mission statement consists in striving to â€Å"develop mutually rewarding relationships with its employees, partners and suppliers† (Missionstatements.com). This aim is also reflected in the philosophy of the company, which they call PSP. PSP stands for People-Service-Profit. FedEx believes that if they take care of their employees, the employees will be providing excellent service to customers and be fully devoted to their company in return. The customers, in their turn, will be providing the company with profitability (FedEx-careers.com). So, the company treats people as their greatest asset that will deliver customer satisfaction, which is the key to organization’s success, development and profitability. The company’s founder, Frederick W. Smith, believes that corporate philosophy is one of the most important factors that have led FedEx to success. The philosophy, according to Smith, is the key to getting the commitment of employees. Profit sharing, promotions, and complaint procedures are tools FedEx uses for making their employees happy and, consequently, highly productive. The management system, Smith says, is based on constant quality improvement and tendency to absolute perfection (â€Å"Frederick W. Smith Interview†). Like all the decent corporate cultures, that of FedEx also has a corporate myth. It is a story about a delivery person who, having a wrong key to a drop box, unbolted and took that box to the office in order to deliver the