...1. INTRODUCTION FedEx Corporation is a leading logistics services company, based in the United States. The previous names were Federal Express, Federal Express Corporation, and FDX Corporation. FedEx was found in 1971 by Frederick W. Smith in Little Rock, Arkansas (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fedex). The company officially began operations on April 17, 1973, with the launch of 14 small aircraft from Memphis International Airport. On that night, FedEx delivered 186 packages to 25 U.S. cities from Rochester, New York, to Miami, Florida. The FedEx headquarters then move to Memphis, Tennessee, and now the company had employed more than 290,000 workers. FedEx was the pioneer of the express transportation and logistics industry. In fiscal year 1983, Federal Express reported $1 billion in revenues, making American business history as the first company to reach that financial hallmark inside ten years of start-up without mergers or acquisitions (http://about.fedex.designcdt.com/our_company/company_information/fedex_history). 2. DESCRIPTION OF FEDEX’S STRATEGY CONTEXT BETWEEN 1973 - 2000 2.1. THE INDUSTRY CONTEXT “Know the other and know yourself: Triumph without peril. Know nature and know the situation: Triumph completely” (by Sun Tzu). If strategic management is concerned with relating firm to its environment, then it is essential to know this environment well. While the entire outside world was taken into consideration, emphasis was placed on the direct environment...
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...Question One: “FedEx has built superior physical, virtual and people networks not just to prepare for change but to shape change on a global scale…FedEx is not only reorganizing its internal operations around a more flexible network computing architecture, but it’s also pulling-in and in many cases locking-in customers with an unprecedented level of technological integration (Janah and Wilder, 1997; Annual Report 1999; cited in De Wit and Meyer, 2004, p.647).” In the context of the above statement, critically analyse the Global express transportation and logistics industry in which FedEx operates using Porters Value Chain and Five Forces frameworks. From the results of your analysis evaluate the ‘core competencies’ and ‘dynamic capabilities’ that enabled FedEx to build an efficient and effective transportation, logistics and a virtual information infrastructure. [35 % marks] Question Two: Discuss the events leading up to the January 2000 reorganisation in the context of FedEx’s three major strategic initiatives: (1) A new branding strategy that involved changing the Company’s name to FedEx Corporation, and extending the ‘FedEx’ brand to four of its five subsidiary companies; (2) The need for one point of access to sales, customer services, billing and automation systems; and (3) A new low-cost residential delivery service, FedEx Home Delivery (De Wit and Meyer, 2004, pp. 657-661). Your answer should be based on a critical review of FedEx’s...
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...Question One: “FedEx has built superior physical, virtual and people networks not just to prepare for change but to shape change on a global scale…FedEx is not only reorganizing its internal operations around a more flexible network computing architecture, but it’s also pulling-in and in many cases locking-in customers with an unprecedented level of technological integration (Janah and Wilder, 1997; Annual Report 1999; cited in De Wit and Meyer, 2004, p.647).” In the context of the above statement, critically analyse the Global express transportation and logistics industry in which FedEx operates using Porters Value Chain and Five Forces frameworks. From the results of your analysis evaluate the ‘core competencies’ and ‘dynamic capabilities’ that enabled FedEx to build an efficient and effective transportation, logistics and a virtual information infrastructure. [35 % marks] Question Two: Discuss the events leading up to the January 2000 reorganisation in the context of FedEx’s three major strategic initiatives: (1) A new branding strategy that involved changing the Company’s name to FedEx Corporation, and extending the ‘FedEx’ brand to four of its five subsidiary companies; (2) The need for one point of access to sales, customer services, billing and automation systems (3) A new low-cost residential delivery service, FedEx Home Delivery (De Wit and Meyer, 2004, pp. 657-661). Your answer should be based on a critical review of FedEx’s...
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...discuss and analyze structural transformation of the FedEx corporation through e- business by using different strategic perspectives presented during the course Strategy- Process, Content, Context. Firstly, I will present the brief history timeline of the FedEx Corporation with the main highlights that are important for my discussion. Then in the part Business level strategy I will try to explain how the company related their business with its environment. From its very beginning in 1973, FedEx had transformed itself from the express delivery company to a global logistics and supply- chain company and invested a lot of money into the IT systems1, which in my opinion implies outside- in perspective. Corporate level strategy part deals with the diversification of the FedEx in order to become more than just a express delivery company. Taking into account the international context of the company I will discuss the global convergence perspective and how FedEx positioned itself there. The international context part will discuss how FedEx expanded globally and how FedEx positioned itself under the Global convergence perspective. History of the FedEx Corporation2 Federal Express Corporation was founded in 1971...
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...Between 1973 and 2000, FedEx developed and implemented a strategy that integrated the various business units and processes. Such strategy may be best explained by examining it based on the three levels that De Wit and Meyer (2003) suggested, these being the business, corporate, and network levels of strategy. However, two important elements stand out in Federal Express’ strategy. One of these was evident in all levels and this was the use of technology, particularly the advances in information technology to restructure and reorganize the company, its subsidiaries, its units, and it business functions (Conley et al, 2000, Rigsby & Greco, 2002). Secondly, capital investment was a major part of the strategy. FedEx Strategy at the Business Level Federal Express’ clients ranged from large scale business to individual customers that required a wide range of services. As such, Federal Express needed to find a way to meet the needs of the various groups of customers that it provided services to. By streamlining its operations and by integrating its various systems, the company was able to develop a customer logistics management segment of its business to cater especially to its large-scale business clients that required such service (Conley et al, 2000). This included providing warehousing and distribution services that cut the costs for its business customers. Such strategy demonstrates the company’s way of dealing with the paradox of market adaptation and resource leveraging. Having...
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...Executive Summary This report endeavors to look at FedEx from the strategic initiative point of view and how it was able to adapt to changing business environment to improve itself. While organisations the world over have come and gone a few leave a lasting footprint on the way they have moved in the particular sector. FedEx with its various innovative ideas has left lasting footprint that has forever altered the scope of service within the logistics industry. From its humble beginnings as a delivery company, it has set itself up a global logistics and business services organisation that has shaken the belief held by behemoths regarding the level of innovation and service that they can offer to the customer base. With its out-of-box approach it has made industrial leaders like UPS, DHL etc, and look like new kids in the block. The strategic initiatives that the organisation has taken during various time a frame has exemplified the leadership ability of Mr. Smith to work toward uncertainly and how to respond to them. Introduction A general assumption regarding strategy is that executives by applying a set of tools will be able to predict a future of any business clearly enough to choose a clear strategy or direction to adopt. This overall scenarios and assumptions made usually led to a layout of vision for the future with assumed precision. However, one needs to remember that when the time ahead looks uncertain this approach is at best only helpful marginally and...
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...Description This course examines business and corporate strategy. The focus is on strategic management, the process of choosing and defining purposes and objectives, formulating and implementing a viable strategy and monitoring strategic performance. It deals with the organization in its totality and demonstrates how and why the various functions of business are interdependent and need to be coordinated if the organization is to perform effectively. The course elaborates on the applicability of the strategic management discipline to a variety of sizes and types of organizations. Prerequisites Students are required to complete all 5000-series Required Foundations of Management Core Courses before enrolling in this course. Extended Description and Objectives One of the classic definitions of strategy is as follows: “A strategy is the pattern or plan that integrates an organization’s major goals, policies and action sequences into a cohesive whole. Well-formulated strategies help marshal and allocate an organization’s resources into a unique and viable posture based upon its relative internal competencies and shortcomings, anticipated changes in the environment, and contingent moves by intelligent opponents”. (James Brian Quinn, “Strategies for Change”, Homewood, IL: Irwin, 1980). The field of strategy is concerned with understanding the sources of firms’ success and failure as a prerequisite for improving their performance. Strategy is thus viewed as an important determinant of success...
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...Business Strategy United Parcel Service (UPS) Overview United Parcel Service, Inc. was founded in 1907 as a private messenger and delivery service in Seattle, Washington. Today, UPS is the world’s largest package delivery company, a leader in the U.S. less-than-truckload industry and the premier provider of global supply chain management solutions. It deliver packages each business day for 1.6 million shipping customers to 8.2 million receivers ("consignees") in over 220 countries and territories. In 2014, it delivered an average of 18.0 million pieces per day worldwide, or a total of 4.6 billion packages. Total revenue in 2014 was $58.2 billion. It are a global leader in logistics, and it create value for its customers through solutions that lower costs, improve service and provide highly customizable supply chain control and visibility. Customers are attracted to its broad set of services that are delivered as promised through its integrated ground, air and ocean global network. Its services and integrated network allow shippers to simplify their supply chains by using fewer carriers, and to adapt their transportation requirements and expenditures as their businesses evolve. Across its service portfolio, it also provide control and visibility of customers’ inventories and supply chains via its UPS technology platform. The information flow from UPS technology drives improvements for its customers, as well as for UPS, in reliability, flexibility...
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...this opportunity possible. Thanks also to Mr. Larry McMahan for all of the support and the helping hand he provided whenever I needed it. Mrs. Ellen Tedford, Mr. McMahan’s Assistant, is absolutely the best there is. Thanks Ellen for everything, you’re one of a kind. I would also like to extend a special thank you to Mr. Steve Stapleton for keeping me in touch with the executives and doing his best to get me the face time I needed with them. Kudos to Eric Briggs and Janice Bonat--a staff of two that did the work of 20. Your administrative support and the continuous and timely feeding of current events internal and external to DoD was outstanding. Thanks a bunch! Last, but certainly not least, thanks to all the members of the Strategy Core Team-- Arun, Brave, Erik, Helena, Jim, Karen, Kate, Melissa, Nick, Penny, Jason, Mike, Pat, Rosemary, Roy, Steve Miles, Steve Carkeet, Teresa, and Ting; you guys are truly the best and the brightest. It was a joy to serve with you all. Table of...
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...different ballgame than textile, etc. "Global operations" can refer to, among others, global sourcing, to having manufacturing or service or R&D facilities world-wide, or to supplying global markets, each of which have very different ramifications: Global sourcing Global manufacturing Global distribution . dealing with foreign . facility location . local content regulations suppliers . coordinating networks . managing global . managing international of plants distribution logistics . coordinating networks . managing risk . managing risk of R&D facilities . operations in other countries Page intentionally left blank. Class: 2a Type: Lecture Supply Chain Management & Service The goal in this part is to introduce the two main sections of the course, international manufacturing and international service. For manufacturing we start with the simple proposition that decisions about our company’s competitive strategy leads to a supply chain strategy which then leads to a supply chain structure. We provide a strategic framework that can be used to analyze design, planning, and operational decisions in a supply chain. This framework focuses on supply...
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...organic dog biscuits made of unique, non-grain ingredients and offered in distinctive shapes such as miniature cupcakes, pizzas, etc. At present the company does not have an online strategy; it has only a single extremely basic web page referring customers to an email address. All sales are local and distribution is through breeder’s clubs, dog shows, farmer’s markets, and two small boutiquestyle retail stores catering to very high-wealth individuals. Although growth in the local market remains strong, the company is aware of the potential for eventual saturation. More importantly, it is clear based on the success of their existing product line that there is a tremendous opportunity to grow their sales by expanding beyond the Atlanta metropolitan region. As the owner of a premium, very high quality and high margin brand, having limited capital due to its relatively small size (roughly $500K in annual sales), the company does not yet wish to pursue mass production and distribution via retail pet stores. Instead, it is recommended that the company develop an online business expansion 2 strategy. Competitor analysis, online marketing strategies, and the use of social media have been discussed in Part 1 of this report. Here we will cover e-commerce solutions, search engine optimization strategies, international...
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...(PGDipBus) | APMG8117 Marketing Strategy Assessment 3: B2B Marketing | | Semester: | Semester 1, 2016 | Date issued: | Session 1 | Due date and time: | 16th May, 2016, 5:00 PM | Delivery: | * NO late assignments accepted | Total marks: | | Weighting: | | Word limit | | | | Instructions: | Complete this cover sheet and attach it to your assignment. This is an individual assignment and must be your own work. Collusion, copying or plagiarism may result in disciplinary action We advise that you keep a copy of this assignment. | | | Student Name: | Gaurav Juneja | Student ID No: | 1464684 | Lecturer: | Prof. Asoka Gunaratne | Class time: | | Student declaration: | I confirm that: This is an original assessment and is entirely my own work. Where I have used ideas, tables, diagrams etc of other writers, I have acknowledged the source in every case. This assignment has not previously been submitted as assessed work for any academic course. | Signature of student: | | Date of signature: | | | | Table of Contents Topics | Page. No. | Executive Summary | 3 | Introduction to DHL Express | 4 | SWOT Analysis | 6, 7 | Analysis of Internal Environment | 8, 9 | Analysis of External Environment | 9 | SFAS | 10 | Identification of Problem or Opportunity | 10 | PESTEL Analysis | 11 | Identification of Strategic Options (TOWS Matrix) | 12 | Solution (Pros and Cos) | 12, 13 | Strategy Recommendations and Conclusion...
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...| April 4th, 2014 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 3 paragraphs or less Written to CEO Respectful, professional tone Outline core issues, analytical approach taken by team and key recommendations Include all team members’ names TABLE OF CONTENTS Strategic Analysis | 4-5 | Appendix 1: Firm Overview | 6-7 | Appendix 2: External Analysis | 8-9 | Appendix 3: Internal Analysis | | Appendix 4: Strategic Alternatives | | Appendix 5: Strategic Alternatives- Evaluation and Decisions | | Appendix 6: Recommendations | | Appendix 7: Implementation Plan | | Appendix 8: Contingency Plan | | References | | STRATEGIC ANALYSIS Main body of report Senior management audience Discuss key issues and strategic analysis in more detail then the Ex Summary Outline all alternatives considered Details on all recommendations and the timelines and costs of implementation Use sub-headings to organize and direct the flow of info APPENDIX 1: FIRM OVERVIEW This section provides an overview of Airborne Express. It includes information on their vision statement, mission statement, their current strategy and performance, business objectives and Airborne Express’ present situation. It is intended to help provide context on the discussion, which follows. Vision Airborne Express does not identify a vision statement; however by reading the case it indicates that Airborne Express strives to provide high quality services with low prices in the express mail industry...
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...An Accountant's Measurement Primer! A primary function of accountants is to develop, implement, and monitor measures of economic resources, business processes and utilization of resources by such processes. Wide varieties of stakeholders use these measures in making a range of economic decisions about business organizations. Pension fund managers, as do stockholders and financial analysts, use accounting information reported by companies to assess the economic performance of those companies and form expectations of future performance. Production managers use accounting information to estimate the cost of products they produce and thus, the relatively profitability of producing more of some products and less of others. Executives use accounting information to budget economic resources among operating units. Stakeholder decisions generally have in common the objective of allocating scarce economic resources to their most productive uses, whether it is managers allocating organizational resources among subunits (or alliances of organizations) or capital owners allocating their capital among organizations (or portfolios of organizations). Consequently, it is vital for accountants to understand measurement concepts (theories) in order to achieve accounting's measurement objectives. We start with a working definition of measurement. Measurement is the assignment of numerals and other symbols to represent the magnitude of an attribute of a phenomenon. 2 A phenomenon is an object...
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...Title: |Marketing Strategy | |Distributed on: | |Hand in Date: |Please refer to the assignment hand-in | | | | |schedule | Instructions on Assessment: Syndicate Group Follow the brief given in each case and prepare a presentation for each company. You should carry out your own research using academic journals for theories as well as market reports etc for external analysis. Every group member should contribute to the presentation, which should be about 20 minutes (2-3 mins/participant plus 5 – 10 mins for questions) and include the use of one or two PowerPoint posters. Note: that each member of the group should be prepared to answer questions and take part in a discussion following the presentation. Case Study 1: Apple Inc,’s iPhone: Can iPhone Maintain its Initial Momentum? (Ghauri and Cateora, 2010, p626) Brief: 1. Carry out a SWOT analysis for the iPhone with special attention to its pricing policies; comparing these strategies with product life cycle issues in different markets. Use the case study and the internet to collect information. 2. There has been much controversy over Apple’s pricing strategies regarding the iPhone. Research various international pricing strategies available for Apple and...
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