...Dr. Andreea AVADANEI Marks&Spencer Report 2011 With a 21 million customers visiting weekly its stores and group revenue of £9.7bn in 2011, Marks&Spencer (M&S) is one of the most important UK retailers. Expanded all across Europe, Asia and Middle East, M&S has a store network of 152 wholly-owned and partlyowned locations and 209 franchises (2011), transforming more and more into a strong international business presence that offers great value clothing, extremely high quality food and a variety of home products. M&S strategy is to become a global multi-channel retailer (Bolland, 2011) in order to reduce its dependency on the UK market conditions and economic climate and to create a powerful brand serving a worldwide customer base. With an extraordinary understanding of customers selective needs based on a complex combination of market analyses and research feedback to identify trends and factors influencing their choices and decisions, M&S provides quality, value and innovation, positioning customers at the heart of the entire business. This report presents an overview of M&S activity and perspectives using a) a comprehensive PESTEL analysis to point out the trends and the environmental influences affecting the business, b) Porter’s five forces framework to explore and evaluate M&S attractiveness, c) a detailed SWOT analysis to highlight the company’ main advantages and hot spots and to identify any opportunity it can capitalize on and challenges that may endanger its future...
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...the most important drivers and barriers affecting its development. Answer Drivers and barriers affecting development of any industry revolve in the fraternity of globalization. Globalisation in business is the worldwide movement toward economic, financial, trade, and communications integration (Frank, 1998). It implies the opening of local and nationalistic perspectives to a broader outlook of an interconnected and interdependent world with free transfer of capital, goods, and services across national frontiers. Drivers in the business concept are critical forces which can be built within business strategy to enable a company to attain its set goals (Gilbert, 1994). Barriers to industry development are forces that deters the business organization from attaining the desired goals and these are encountered both in the internal as well as external business environment (Hough et al 2011) It is therefore imperative to evaluate key drivers and barriers affecting development in a bid to craft strategic tools that can stimulate strategic thinking, generate strategic foresight, provide a basis for testing existing strategies, explore and understand complexities of the future (Trompenaar et al, 2003). This can aid decision making and contribute to preparation for the future. As such, this essay seeks to explore key issues in strategic management and key theoretical models in the South African (SA) Wine Industry and that of the United Kingdom (UK) in order to stimulate strategic thinking...
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...Write a short critical essay explaining how the poor economic climate in the UK might affect the marketing mix of a start-up retail venture in the high street. I will look critically at setting up a retail business on the high street in the current economic climate and the affect this may have on the marketing mix. I will first give a brief overview of the economic situation in the UK and high street retail in general. The UK economy has undergone a protracted period of instability since the banking crisis of 2007/08, which sparked economic downturn for the UK and caused a dramatic fall in both consumer and business confidence. Between 2008 and 2012, the UK experienced two periods of recession and has been subject to austerity measures, such as public spending cuts, welfare reforms and increased taxation, imposed by the UK Government in an attempt to reduce the country’s budget deficit and reverse economic decline. These measures coupled with high inflation, rising levels of unemployment and low wage growth have contributed to less disposable household income and subsequently lower consumer spending across most of the UK. The economic constraints of the last five years, such as falling consumer spending, increasing operating costs for businesses (20% rise since 2006) alongside less available, affordable borrowing to businesses have led to large numbers of high street retailers closing their doors. The Centre for Retail Research (2013) reported that 54 retail companies...
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...Discuss the main factors affecting product pricing in the UK? The Oxford English dictionary defines price as “ a value that will purchase a definite quantity, weight, or other measure of a good or service”. Simply put, the price of an object represents the overall demand for that product at a specific time. However, every firm had a different ideology about price and they way they set price. One of these main factors that affect price is the actual objective of the firm. Traditional theory suggests that firms will charge a profit-maximizing price where price is determined when marginal cost equals marginal revenue. They operate to seek a maximum return on the investment and costs they have input. The diagram below shows how firms produce at the profit maximisation point (MC=MR) and what costs they incur (point C). It also shows that most firms that follow a profit maximizing strategy incur a profit (price is greater than cost) . Figure 1 From Wikipedia.org Figure 1 From Wikipedia.org Although profit maximization looks like the most viable business objective that a firm can adopt, the majority of firms tend not to follow it. Research done by economist Shipley in 1981 states that “of 728 firms studied only 15.9% are true profit maximizers” (Sloman, Wride (2009). Economics. 7th ed. London: Pearson Education. p7.). Baumol in 1959 and Williamson in 1963 stated that this was because managers were more focused on sales revenue since their salaries were matched with how much was...
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...Political-legal 7 Regulatory pressure 8 Conclusion 8 References 11 Introduction The UK property market has experienced remarkable development in the last 50 years; with a notable shift in the trends investors tend to use, (Halifax, 2010). The housing market in the UK has seen great change when comparing the figures over the last 15 years. According to Beckett (2014), the rise of housing prices have led to the creation of a good investing opportunity both in the residential and in the commercial property market. The housing boom has been in chaos since the market crashed in the 2007, but as many industries continue to struggle, the UK housing industry is to experience a recovery, many experts speculate. This is due to the increase in the need for housing due to the increase in demand of properties, both for commercial and residential use; and the decrease in supply. Even with most individuals in the UK still struggling to recover from the 2007 market crash, market watchers estimate that the base line is bound to increase and revive the industry. The property industry though has been experiencing a constant boom through the years. A survey by De Montfort University in 2005 showed that the development finance was at £23 billion; this was up from £9 billion, 6 years earlier, (Gibertson, 2006). The trend has been in constant growth despite a few setbacks due to the strain in the economic pressures the European Union is trying to twist out from, and the unstable political situation...
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...energy-efficient tram or used a Park & Ride bus service. FirstGroup plc (known as First) is the UK’largest surface transportation company. It has s revenues of over £ billion a year. It employs over 135,000 staff throughout the UK and 5 North America and moves more than 2.5 billion passengers a year. •First is the largest UK rail operator carrying almost 270m passengers every year. This is one quarter of the passenger network. First operates rail passenger services, which include regional, intercity and commuter services such as First Great Western, First TransPennine Express, First Capital Connect, First ScotRail and Hull Trains. •First is Britain’largest bus operator running more than one in five of all local bus services. s A fleet of nearly 9,000 buses carries around three million passengers a day in more than 40 major towns and cities, such as Manchester, Leeds and Glasgow. •The company also operates First GBRf, a rail freight business and the Croydon Tramlink network which carries almost 25 million passengers a year. •In North America, First is the largest provider of student transportation carrying nearly 3 million students every day. First is the leader in providing reliable, safe, innovative and sustainable transport services. Although First is a global business, it aims to be local in its approach. This means that local issues are dealt with by people that largely live and work in that location. This ensures a clearer...
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...marticulation number: 201011524 FTUG 44201, Business Environments Dr Marcjanna Augustyn DUE dATE: 04.05.2012 A Report showing the key political, economic, social and technological factors that are likely to influence: FlyBE limited Contents Page Title Page ________________________________________________ Page 1 Contents Page _____________________________________________ Page 2 List of Tables and Diagrams __________________________________ Page 3 Executive Summary _________________________________________ Page 4 Introduction ________________________________________________ Page 5 Methodology ______________________________________________ Page 6 Findings/Results ________________________________________ Page 7 – 16 Conclusion/Recommendation _________________________________ Page 17 References _________________________________________________ Page 18 List of Tables and Diagrams Table 1: “Key Financials and Employees” (FAME database) ___________________________ page 7 Table 2: “Number of passengers travelled through UK airports for the years 2007 till 2011” ______________________________________________________________________________ page 9 Table 3: “Interest Rates” _____________________________________________________ page 10 Table 4: “Estimated increases in rate of APD paid by a family of four” __________________ page 11 Table 5: “Percentage of people aged 65 and above”__________________________________...
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...the company: * Environmental legislation affecting GM is outlined. * The internal and external drivers of GMs policies are analysed. * The policies themselves are discussed. * Recommendations and conclusions relevant to the future of environmental protection from the automobile industry’s point of view are made. Contents 1. Executive Summary 2 2. Introduction 4 3. General Motors 4 4. Main Legislation (International, National and Local) Affecting General Motors 4 5. Analysis of the Main Drivers of GM Environmental Policy 9 5.1. Internal and External Drivers 10 6. General Motors Environmental policies 11 7. Analysis of General Motors Environmental Policies 12 7.1. Specific 13 7.2. Measurable 13 7.3. Achievable 14 7.4. Realistic 14 7.5. Timely 15 8. Recommendations 15 9. Conclusions 16 10. Table of Figures 18 11. List of Tables 18 12. List of References 18 13. Bibliography 20 2. Introduction This report investigates and analyse the impact of General Motors (GM) on the environment, the company’s environmental policies and an outline of the main environmental policies affecting GM. The problem of global warming and the depletion of natural resources is a major concern in the 21st century. GM as a major automobile maker plays an important role in the preservation of the environment and as a result in dealing with the issue of climate change. Environmental damage is without...
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...Business School Department of Business System NEW ADVANCES IN BUSINESS 12-13TYAABSS007-3: INNOVATIVE MOTIVATION IN ECONOMIC CRISIS: THE FLEXIBLE BENEFITS SCHEMES BY Mai Ngoc Nguyen 1215894 An assignment submitted in partial fulfillment of the assessment for the New Advances in Business (12-13TYAABSS007-3) unit March 2013 * Contents Contents 2 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 3 LIST OF FIGURES 3 LIST OF TABLES 3 1 Introduction 4 2 Literature review 6 3 The economic crisis and the transition in methods of motivation: The need for an innovate benefits package 9 3.1 Impacts of the economic crisis on employees and employers 9 3.2 The transition in methods of motivation: The need for an innovative benefits package 12 3.3 The traditional benefits package and its motivating effectiveness 14 4 The flexible approach to benefits provision in a gloomy economy 16 4.1 Effectiveness of the flexible benefits schemes in motivation 17 4.2 Factors affecting the motivating effectiveness of the flexible benefits schemes 18 4.3 Current issues influencing the adoption of the flexible benefits schemes 20 5 Conclusion 21 APPENDIX - Changes in the British WorkForce 22 REFERENCES 23 FURTHER READING 27 * EXECUTIVE SUMMARY In recent years, in the UK, both employees and employers have to bear negative impacts from the recession, especially employees with their financial difficulties and diverse needs. It is more important than ever for motivation. However...
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...Supervisor: John Hird ----------------- Daniel Szuster Table of Contents Introduction 5 Methodology 7 The Meaning of Green 8 Introduction 10 Theoretical Framework 11 Background Information 13 Theoretical Framework 14 Green Marketing 15 Environmental management 15 Why green marketing? 17 Marketing defined and corporate social responsibility 22 What is Green Marketing? 25 Green marketing strategies 28 Implications for organisations 30 Green Consumerism 34 Consumer behaviour research 35 The green consumer 38 The green buying process 41 Influences on purchase and consumption decisions 47 Global Warming and the Impacts of Climate Change 49 Human caused global warming 49 The impacts of climate change 50 The opposition to human caused global warming 52 Background Information 53 British Airways 54 Past and present 54 Carbon Offsetting 55 Datamonitor’s SWOT analysis 58 The British Green Consumers 59 Perception and Attitudes in Relation to the Environment 59 Information on the environment 62 Solutions to environmental problems 65 SWOT Analysis 67 Strengths 68 Weaknesses 71 Opportunities 73 Threats 75 Conclusion 76 List of Literature 78 List of Websites 80 Summary 81 Appendix 82 Introduction “During humankind’s recorded history, extensive and sophisticated consumption systems have evolved to meet the needs of the earth’s human population...
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...Sustainable Development: Climate Change, and Corporate Social Responsibility: An Emerging Role for ISO Standards Dan Gagnier ISO/TC 207 Chair Stockholm 2002 Presentation Outline • Introduction – A couple of Words about the Earth Conference – ISO/TC 207 ----a Pioneer TC • Climate Change – The extent of the problem – The policy and business response – Where do ISO Standards fit? • CSR • Conclusions General Implications Embedded in Action Plan • Reduction of species loss will have greater impact on a company that has a greater percentage of its reserves in environmentally fragile areas. • Reducing poverty ie. a company with a large presence in the developing world has to consider how its work on sustainability issues can contribute directly to poverty alleviation in its operating areas. • Global companies should take as much action as they can within their sphere of operations to address global climate change, as well as seeking out more pragmatic, long-term alternatives to Kyoto. • Productive new/focused partnerships a key theme of the summit, driven by a recognition that no one can solve macro sustainability problems alone. Sorting out partnerships and getting them right will become more urgent. Major Trends & Ten Year Agenda • Trend for an increasing cultural presence of major NGOs; civil society voices will be louder than ever. This is supported by data showing that public trust continues to move to NGOs as the most trustworthy institutions • Accountability...
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...Supervisor: John Hird ----------------- Daniel Szuster Table of Contents Introduction 5 Methodology 7 The Meaning of Green 8 Introduction 10 Theoretical Framework 11 Background Information 13 Theoretical Framework 14 Green Marketing 15 Environmental management 15 Why green marketing? 17 Marketing defined and corporate social responsibility 22 What is Green Marketing? 25 Green marketing strategies 28 Implications for organisations 30 Green Consumerism 34 Consumer behaviour research 35 The green consumer 38 The green buying process 41 Influences on purchase and consumption decisions 47 Global Warming and the Impacts of Climate Change 49 Human caused global warming 49 The impacts of climate change 50 The opposition to human caused global warming 52 Background Information 53 British Airways 54 Past and present 54 Carbon Offsetting 55 Datamonitor’s SWOT analysis 58 The British Green Consumers 59 Perception and Attitudes in Relation to the Environment 59 Information on the environment 62 Solutions to environmental problems 65 SWOT Analysis 67 Strengths 68 Weaknesses 71 Opportunities 73 Threats 75 Conclusion 76 List of Literature 78 List of Websites 80 Summary 81 Appendix 82 Introduction “During humankind’s recorded history, extensive and sophisticated consumption systems have evolved to meet the needs of the earth’s human population...
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...How political, legal and social factors impact on businesses. In this assignment I will be conducting a PESTLE (Political, Environmental, Social, Technological, Legal and Economical) analysis of two companies, McDonalds & Samsung. I will be looking at the factors which affect the business at this current time and also factors that may potentially affect them in the future and what they can do as a response and the benefits and drawbacks that may come with their response. McDonalds “McDonald's is the world's largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, serving around 68 million customers daily in 119 countries across 35,000 outlets” and was founded in the United States in 1940 and currently have more than 1,200 restaurants in the UK. Political Politics can heavily affect the way in which McDonalds operate, as regulations set by the government have to be followed by organisations or could result in consequences, fines and bad publicity. Firstly, one political factors could be, that the governments are trying to cut down the rate of obesity in the UK (it is estimated that around 25% of the UK is classed as obese and that is set to rise to 50% by 2050) by: encouraging the UK population to eat healthier and to cut down on fast foods and sugary foods and to inform the population more about the health risks associated with obesity e.g. (diabetes & strokes). McDonalds have responded to this by; introducing healthier recipes and products – such as a wider range...
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...The Walt Disney Company is the world’s largest amusement park operator. It was founded on October 16, 1923, by Walt and Roy Disney as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio, Taking on its current name Disney in 1986. Chapter 1: Case – Disney Theme Park Contents I. Case Background 1 II. Statement of the Problem 3 III. Alternatives 3 IV. Recommended Solution 3 V. Answers to the case questions 4 Question No. 1: 4 Question No. 2: 4 Question No. 3: 5 Question No. 4: 5 VI. Leanings 5 I. Case Background The Walt Disney Company is the world’s largest amusement park operator. It was founded on October 16, 1923, by Walt and Roy Disney as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio, Taking on its current name Disney in 1986. And Disney has 5 theme parks outside the USA; there are Tokyo Disneyland (1983), Tokyo DisneySea (2001), Disneyland Paris (1992), Hong Kong Disneyland (2005) and Walt Disney Studios (2002). Disney is motivated to set up parks throughout the world to expand its sales of merchandise goods as well as attendance to their theme parks. After lunched Hong Kong Disneyland in 2005, Disney has signed a letter of intent to build another park in Shanghai China in 2008; The Park will attract different potential visitors in Shanghai. Overview Disney Theme Park - Points of Interest (Michael Sandberg's Data Visualization Blog) Getting people excited about their data one visual at a time * Walt Disney had infinite confidence in his new park and unapologetically...
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...SO23 8SB Dear Mr Courtice, Re: Analysis of the Royal Theatre of Winchesters competitive market forces Further to our recent meeting, I have undertaken an analysis of the macroeconomic market affecting the theatre of Winchester as well as the competitive environment of the market the theatre operates. Further an analyse of the theatre it self has been conducted, and assessed the theatres ability to deal with this changes. Below you will find an outline of the two most significant factors impacting the theatre. An area for concern is the decrease in disposable income for the AB-socio economic group. This is where most of the customers to local theatres can be found and it have resulted in customers being more aware of its spending. Furthermore, customers might choose a competitive product such as a cinema ticket instead due a lower price. As a result of the increased unemployment in the UK, as well as the decreased disposable income consumers may defer trips to the theatre regarding the difficult economic climate. The reluctance to spend money on theatre tickets increases the risk posed by substitutes to the theatre of Winchester. Possible substitutes are: west end theatres, cinemas, TV shows, new technology and big events. Additional, there are several other theatres in UK, which can offer the same actors and plays as Theatre of Winchester, in a similar size and setting. Hence, the competition of attracting customers is high since the attendance is low because of decreased...
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