...SUMMARY: FROM COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE TO CORPORATE STRATEGY: 1. Passing the Essential Tests a) How Attractive Is the Industry? An attractive industry with a high ROI will be difficult to enter because entry barriers are high, suppliers and buyers have only modest bargaining power, substitute products or services are few, and the rivalry among competitors is stable. An unattractive industry like steel has flaws i.e. many substitute materials, powerful and price-sensitive buyers and excessive rivalry that may be state supported. b) What Is the Cost of Entry? Diversification cannot build shareholder value if the cost of entry into a new business eats up its expected returns. A company can enter new industries by acquisition or start-up. The more attractive a new industry, the more expensive it is to get into. c) Will the Business Be Better Off? A corporation must bring a competitive advantage to the new unit, or the new unit must offer potential. When the benefit to the new unit comes only once, the parent company has no reason to keep the new unit over the long term. Once the results of the one-time improvement are clear and the diversified company no longer adds value, sell the unit and free up corporate resources. 2. Four Concepts of Corporate Strategy – (a) Portfolio Management: Is based primarily on diversification through acquisition. The corporation acquires sound, attractive companies with competent managers who agree to stay on. The acquired units are autonomous...
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...wAnalysis external environment for fast-food industry Presume that China is the potential market for a new fast-food enterprise to open, I would like to analyze relative conditions related to the extension of the market. General macroeconomic conditions In 2014, the economic conditions in China is enthusiastic. According to the data from National Bureau of Statistics of China, Total Retail Sales of Consumer Goods in January and February have experienced a generally increase, going up by 11.8%. Compared with the increasing pace in 2013, it was slowed down in the first two month in 2014. This may means the motivations for consuming in 2014 would be weaker. At the same time, the consumptions in restaurant also decreased by 0.5%, which may be a detrimental signal for restaurant industry. While it is possible that this phenomenon is triggered by the pledge of consumptions in luxury restaurant instead of fast-food industry. If this hypothesis is correct, the food consumption in fast-food restaurants may go up as the industry is actually an alternative to be a substitute for this high monetary required cuisines. Population demographics China, generally speaking, is the country owning the largest population which represents 19.30% of global population at 1,384,694,199. Also, China is one of the country with high population density at 139.6 people per square kilometer and almost 70% of people will live in urban area by 2035. The large population base guarantees adequate passengers...
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...Introduction This essay shall discuss what the Disney difference is and how it affects the company’s corporate, competitive and functional strategies. As Disney have plans on doing business in Russia, the discussion turns to the challenges they are likely to face and how the management team can best prepare themselves for such challenges by planning early. We will then be turning our attention to Hong Kong where Disney has announced its expansions plans of Hong Kong Disney Land. Lastly, the discussion takes to the how strategic management process is to be used to “keep the magic coming” in a given economic climate. 1a: Disney Difference Disney difference, to sum up, is the “experience”. Disney tries to achieve this experience by bringing happiness to its consumers. Vice President & General Manager of Disney Institute, Jeff James (2012) stated, "We create happiness by providing the finest in entertainment for people of all ages, everywhere." Disney implementation of this happiness factor can be seen in many ways. For example, Cinderella Castle, in Disney Theme Park allows the visitors to dine with Disney Princesses, immersing a storybook setting for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Thus instead of just having to watch/read the cartoon/story book, which could only allow one to be only exposed visually to the character, Cinderella, the Disney fan is now able to dine with her as well. This “imagination-comes-to-life” offering of Disney translates into happiness for the customers...
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...sure it runs 24 hours a day Lots of projects with good operating history; but DEBT FUNDERS ARE NOT SURE! Key Biomass Risks Three Key Risks: Fuel Fuel Fuel Other Risks Legislation Construction/Technology Risk Offtake provisions Operating Risks Fuel Key Risks Scale of the Plant - Is there enough? What will the price be in the long term? How do you get it to the plant at all times? Counter Party Risks? Is there enough? Brigg Sleaford Snetterton What will the price be in the long term? In depth knowledge of the market Needs third party confirmation Long term fuel contracts Ability to utilise back up fuels How do you get it to the plant? Need to fully explain the fuel logistics strategy A track record of managing fuel for a UK biomass plant Appropriate contingency planning No substitute for having done it before Counter Party Risk Wide range of fuels with wide range of suppliers Some large scale suppliers in the market Strength of counter part vs number of contracts Legislation Grandfathering Biomass Cap End of...
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...CHAPTER 6 Corporate-Level Strategies Learning Objectives CONTENTS After reading this chapter, you should be able to: Introduction 1. Understand corporate strategy and identify its components. Corporate Strategy 2. Evaluate and identify different approaches to corporate strategy development. The Portfolio Approach 3. Understand how organisations can create and sustain the multibusiness advantage. Corporate Strategy and Adding Value 4. Appreciate how different corporate strategies could add value to a corporation. 5. Appreciate the complexities of developing corporate strategy at the international level. The Core Competence Approach Creating and Sustaining the Multibusiness Advantage Corporate-Level Strategy in the International Perspective Summary Study Questions References and Further Readings 109 110 CHAPTER 6: Corporate-Level Strategies Opening Case The case study organisation is one of the largest international hotel chains operating in more than one hundred countries with its internationally recognised brands. However, the company does not have a culturally diverse workforce at the senior level. It usually recruits executives to the key decision-making positions either from the United Kingdom or the United States. In this respect, it is defined as Anglo-Saxon. Some people argue that the company should get the best from other nationalities involved in the development of an organisation’s strategy. Different...
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...business environment requires strategic thinking in companies to develop good corporate strategies. Only when developing effective strategies, corporate can remain the competitive position. By creating strategy, organization can remain the competitive advantage which other companies are unable to implement. Corporate strategy is not only for large firms but also for small business. However, there is a quotation suggests that “Strategic management is nothing more than a set a o myths, parables and homilies that give senior management a feeling of comfort that they can control the destinies of their organizations. It has neither theoretical substance nor empirical content and is delusional in its intention. The future is not only unpredictable it is also unknowable”. This assignment shall argue the citation by considering different factors. First, the assignment will identify the meaning of strategy and it does matter. And then the essays will have brief discussion of industry matter for the performance of an organization. Finally, the assignment will draw conclusion through the relevance of strategy in management practices. 1. What is strategy and does it matter? There are many ways to define strategy by various researchers. Henry Minzberg (1971) defines “Strategies are both plans for the future and the patterns from the past”. According to Johnson and Scholes (2005), strategy as follows: "Strategy is the direction and scope of an organisation over the long-term: which achieves...
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...do with technical and specific information. “Strategic marketing means looking at the whole of a company’s portfolio of products and markets, and managing the portfolio to achieve the company’s overall goals”. (Jain, 1987). “ Strategic marketing as seen as a process consisting of:analyzing environmental, market competitive and business factors affecting the corporation and its business units,identifying market opportunities and threats and forecasting future trends in business areas of interest for the enterprise ,and participating in setting objectives and formulating corporate and business unit strategies. Selecting market target strategies for the productmarkets in each business unit, establishing marketing objectives as well as developing, implementing and managing the marketing program positioning strategies in order to meet market target needs”. (Drucker, 1973) Its role is to direct the firm or company towards attractive economic opportunities. The opportunities that are adapted to resources and knowledge and offer a potential for growth and profitability. Strategic marketing includes the way to reach the customers with products and services. It provides competitive advantage by considering segmentation, branding, marketing messages, and positioning. With segmentation, firm can concentrate specifically to particular market as per their buying behavior or lifestyle. As a result, it saves time and money that could be wasted on marketing blindly. The 4 P’s of strategic marketing...
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...your research term paper | |include (but are not limited to) the following: | |Ethics and Corporate Citizenship Themes | |Understandings of corporate citizenship | |Links between ethics and corporate citizenship | |Performance measurement | |Accountability and governance | |Stakeholder engagement, consultation, reporting and governance | |Corporations, territory and governance | |Globalization Themes | |Corporate power | |New technologies...
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...School of Business, University of Southern California MOR 465: ADVANCED METHODS IN STRATEGY ANALYSIS Spring, 2006 T, TH 10 am – 11:50 am BRI-8 Professor: Juan Carlos Araque Office: Bridge Hall 301 Phone: USC Office: (213) 821-5708 Email: araque@marshall.usc.edu Office Hours: Thursday 9:00 am - 10:00 am Advanced Methods in Strategy Analysis is an advanced strategy elective designed for business major undergraduates interested in the strategic management of businesses and corporations. The course represents an extension of the frameworks and materials learned in BUAD 497. In particular, MOR 465 focuses on four main substantive areas of interest: Module 1: Basics of Corporate Strategy Module 2: Competitive Rivalries Module 3: Managing Strategic Change Module 4: Academic Research on Strategy Module 1: Basics of Corporate Strategy extends the frameworks and cases taught in BUAD 497 on “Corporate Strategy”, meaning issues that companies with multiple strategic business units face. We focus on the following issues in this module: 1. 2. 3. 4. The basic tenets of corporate strategy; Diversification and the notion of core competences; Vertical integration, Transaction Cost Economics (TCE) & the “make or buy decision”; and Corporate governance and “managing” the managers We examine these issues through both Harvard Business Review readings and Harvard and Stanford Business School cases. Module 2: Competitive Rivalries examines in more detail how firms compete with each-other in fast-moving...
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...Aligning Sourcing and procurement strategy to corporate strategy/strategic supplier selection analysis, Collaboration methods and mechanisms INTRODUCTION Organizations are operating in an environment characterized by continuous economic, social, natural and political disruptions to their sources of supplies and services/ consumers and markets. To survive in this turbulent and highly competitive market place, these organizations must continually monitor their competitive positions alongside their internally controllable functional strategies to ensure they are proactively aligned with the overall corporate strategy. To succeed therefore in this fact evolving global competitive business environment, an innovative business concept Supply Chain Management was introduced to help align the functional strategies with the overall business strategies and suppliers. During World War I and II, the success of a firm was not dependent on what it could sell, since the market was almost unlimited. Instead, the ability to obtain from suppliers the raw materials, suppliers and services needed to keep the factories and mines operating was the key determinant of organizational success. Consequently, attention was given to organization policies, strategies and procedures of the supply chain functions which resulted to activities termed logistics, souring, procurement, material management. By the open of 1970’s, organizations faced two most challenging problems: an international shortage of almost...
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...Business-Level and Corporate-Level Strategies Christie Jones Christopher Zapalski Business Admin. Capstone 5-15-15 I am going to be discussing about corporate and business level strategies for C Company. The paper will also talk about valuing the organization, long-term success, differences in fast and slow cycle. C company was an organization in which they gather, valid, electronic data, automat collections, and retrieval system. The company develop and design, personal computer, electronics and software. They have had success and continue to do so. The business strategy for the company is cost leadership. They want to have success and ensure the competitiveness. C company has a competitive edge with products and prices. They also care about the business – level strategy by success, cost efficiency, and sustainability make this company part of who they are. Differentiation is another business-level strategy. They try and provide different characterizations and features for their products. They would make it low cost while still having high quality products. This all can be done with teho features, image, products reviews and features of the products etc, Theses business-level strategies would help have service, quality of control with production, cost of sales, develop and research, and a place where they could advance the arts that go into the products if you know what I mean. You need business level as well as corporate-level strategy for a company...
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...01 What Is Strategy, and Why Is It Important? Multiple Choice Questions 1. | Keeping in mind Apple's competitive advantage, which of the following products was introduced by Apple in 2007? A. | iPad | B. | iPhone | C. | iPod | D. | iTunes | | 2. | _____ is best described as an integrative management field that combines analysis, formulation, and implementation in the quest for competitive advantage. A. | Supply chain management | B. | Integrated technology management | C. | Strategic management | D. | Inventory management | | 3. | _____ is best described as a set of goal-directed actions a firm takes to gain and sustain superior performance relative to competitors. A. | Behavior modification | B. | Strategy | C. | Credo | D. | Competency management | | 4. | Which of the following stages of the strategic management process involves an evaluation of a firm's external and internal environments? A. | Strategy analysis | B. | Strategy implementation | C. | Strategy formulation | D. | Strategy control | | 5. | In _____, a firm frames a guiding policy to address the competitive challenge. A. | strategy control | B. | strategy implementation | C. | strategy formulation | D. | strategy analysis | | 6. | Through _____, a firm puts its guiding policy into practice by employing a set of coherent actions. A. | strategy control | B. | strategy implementation...
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...mission and goals, (2) assess the environment, (3) appraise company capabilities, (4) craft the strategy, (5) implement the strategy, and (6) evaluate and control the strategy. Business Policy is a set of prescribed and discretionary statements, limiting actions of individuals in the firm, as set forth in directives and guides. Mission is the reason for which the firm exists, and what it will do. Basically, it describes the products/services to be supplied, the markets to be served, and the technology applied (if important). Vision Statement answers the question, What do we want to become? Goals express the aspirations of the firm, general ends that cannot be measured. Ex. “In unrelenting pursuit of perfection.” Objectives are specific targets to be accomplished by a specified time. Ex. “Profits will grow at the rate of 5% annually for the next five years.” Long-term objectives (5 years or more) are strategic objectives and define the desired character of the company, at the specified time. Strategy is simply the means or general actions to be taken to achieve long-term objectives. Strategic management is the work of the General Manager. General Manager is a person who is responsible for a profit center, as opposed to a functional manager who is responsible only for a cost or revenue center. Generic Strategy is the name for a group of similar specific strategies. Levels of Strategy 1. Corporate level. What types of businesses should we be in? 2. Business level. How do we compete? 3....
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...ENFB71-104 Entrepreneurship and Innovation Session 3: Entrepreneurial Strategy Baden U’Ren buren@bond.edu.au Level 4, Room 9 5595 2212 Overview Review of the readings Innovation and Entrepreneurship Entrepreneurship in a Corporate Context Entrepreneurial Strategy What is Innovation? Something NEW that creates VALUE What is Innovation? “Innovation is the specific tool of entrepreneurs, the means by which they exploit change as an opportunity for a different business or service. It is capable of being presented as a discipline, capable of being learned, capable of being practiced” - Peter Drucker Source: Schaper & Volery (2007) Entrepreneurship and Small Business 2nd Edition. Wiley. p.69 Creativity ideas, concepts & inventions Innovation the process of development and commercialisation Entrepreneurship couples opportunities and resources Innovation Exploit Incremental Explore Radical Kirzner The producer-entrepreneur •Alert and responsive to opportunities that exist •Exploits disorder (gaps) to move the market back to equilibrium Schumpeter The innovator-entrepreneur: •Creates products and processes to disturb market equilibrium •Creates opportunities Innovation & Performance Some ‘stylised facts’ about the relationships between innovation and performance: Relationships between R&D, patents, new products and performance are strongest at the industry level, weakest at the firm level Returns from...
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...the Virgin Groups corporate strategy has allowed it to sustain competitive advantage. The first area that is covered is the composition of Virgins portfolio, namely what businesses Virgin is in and what is the logic of their portfolio. Within the composition section it puts forward two models that help to show why Virgin has chosen particular avenues for achieving growth and sustaining competitive advantage. The Core Competence Theory and Parenting Concept are then reviewed critically in regard to Virgin. Porters three tests are then related to the Virgin Group. Next the co-ordination of Virgins portfolio is addressed, how Virgin has managed its portfolio in its quest for growth and a sustained competitive advantage. Within the composition section of the essay is the issue of control versus the co-operation of Virgin and its business units. It then handles the four concepts of corporate strategy and how Virgin can and has used them to add value to its business units. The link between Virgins Corporate and Marketing strategy is then discussed before the other side of the argument is considered, looking at how Virgins corporate strategy destroyed rather than added value. Finally having synthesised the various diverse elements the essay concludes by using the knowledge gained to raise questions for Virgin about their future corporate strategy. The Virgin Group itself does not compete, it is only its Strategic Business Units that do. ‘Successful corporate strategy must grow out of...
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