...Slide One Hello, my name is Miguel Chavez and this is my presentation on the Benefits of Outsourcing for DeVry Univeristy ENGLISH 230. The purpose of this speech is to provide a business audience a clear perspective on the benefits of outsourcing. Slide Two First, lets discuss what is outsourcing? As found on ivestopedia.com outsourcing is a practice used by different companies to reduce costs by transferring portions of work to outside suppliers rather than completing it internally. It is sometimes more affordable to purchase a good from companies with comparative advantages than it is to produce the good internally. In the long-term outsourcing presents cheaper prices on consumer goods, allowing individuals as well as companies to spend money in other ways. Slide Three Many individuals are not aware of the benefits of outsourcing. As seen in this graph from publicagenda.org 69% of Americans believe that outsourcing is bad for the economy where as 17% believes it helps. Slide Four Lets look at the benefits of outsourcing. The first is Cost. In order for companies to remain competitive, they must find the easiest way to reduce costs. Lowering labor costs is just one way of doing this; also boosting efficiency will help cost reduction. “As a result of moving these support jobs oversees, a reduction in cost is seen for the company in the form of lower labor costs. This in turn will lower the cost of the goods and services to you, the consumer, and...
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...problem facing Dell Computers is to ensure that consumer demand is being met and that their competitive advantage and value chain are being maintained. Having multiple manufacturing plants is an example how their competitive advantage is maintained and the value chain is operating successfully. Maintaining a lean production practice and providing a high level of Internet based sales in the personal and business sector are two sources of pride for Dell Computers. Knowing their customer needs and thoughts enables Dell to be on the cutting edge of product design and innovations; delivering their products quickly to their customers and at high level of mass customization. Dell Computers has established a strong relationship with all suppliers, which allows the company to maintain only the needed supplies. Having such a strong relationship with its suppliers, allows the company to focus their research budget on the best way to reach the consumer. The desktop, notebook and other production items are not produced until the order is received from the consumer. Corporations have access to a website that has been tailored specifically to their needs and that allows them complete access to all previous orders with ease. The streamlined production process also has significant accounting benefits. The materials are received as needed but the payment for the supplies is not due to the suppliers for up to 90 days later. The most significant disadvantage to the production system is the extra...
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...International Management Part 1: The Global Manager’s Environment Part 2: The Cultural Context of Global Management Part 3: Formulating Strategy Part 4: Global Human Resources Management The University of Western Australia Strategic Planning and Strategy Strategic Planning • The process by which a firm’s managers evaluate the future prospects of the firma and decide on appropriate strategies to achieve long-term objectives Strategy • The basic means by which the firm competes., that is, its choice of business or businesses in which to operate and the ways in which it differentiates itself from its competitors 63 How does globalisation, risk, political-legal-ethical and culture affect the value chain that a firm manages and operates to create ‘value’ = strategic planning +strategy = STRATEGIC FIT between ‘inputs’ and ‘outputs’ Porter, M (1985) Competitive Advantage: creating and sustaining superior performance. NY: Free Press The University of Western Australia Steps in Developing International and Global Strategies Mission and Objectives Environmental Assessment and Scanning (PEST, PESTEL, Risk) Internal and Competitive Analysis (SWOT) Global Integrative and Entry Strategy Alternatives (Export, JV, Strategic Alliance, CAGE) Strategic Choice, Implementation, Feedback, and Control (Governance) Copyright ©2014 Pearson Education Realize that much of international business is conducted through strategic alliances...
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...Executive Summary The Ford motor company has been a progressive leader throughout the history of the company. In order maintain this leadership, it has had to adapt to the ever changing business environment and market conditions. With the emergence of new information technologies and ideas from new high-tech industries, it must evaluate how these tools can be utilized to further the business. Recently, virtual integration has been proven very successful to companies like Dell and Cisco. However, this approach is best suited for companies that have very few layers of suppliers as well as more centralized production. The Ford motor company cannot simply change their entire supply chain to fit this model. That being said, some of these theories and practices can still be incorporated into Ford’s current supply chain. These must be calculated changes, involving various departments within Ford’s organization, collaborating with their most valued and dynamic suppliers. With Ford already moving somewhat toward this direction with suppliers who provide complete subsystems for their automobiles, further changes in these areas should prove feasible with limited risk. Issues • Determining whether or not to incorporate the virtual integration model used by other recently successful firms such as Cisco and Dell • Uncertainty on how to utilize emerging information technologies to interact with suppliers • Many tiers of suppliers, all with different levels of sophistication •...
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...Business : A Reader. New York: Routledge In this book the discussion surrounds around new approaches and role to international marketing. The author goes into good detail on the competition from emerging markets, marketing mix, global sourcing, and supply chain management. The author makes the reader look deeper into how globalization has brought down trade and investment barriers and has basically connected the world into very far countries by the use of global supply chains and emerging markets. The author has also given a very basic look into how emerging market from developed economies such as Brazil, China, India, and Russia are emerging very quickly from fast economic growth. An experienced author in the field of Global marketing the book provides a very basic setting for research into global marketing. The author touches on main points and does not provide solid information for research into competition, marketing mix, global sourcing or supply chain management. Browne, S., Laird, S., & International Trade Center, (. (U.S.). (2011). The International Trade Centre : Export Impact for Good. New York, NY: Routledge. In this book the author attempts to discuss trade, growth, and competitive advantages and the value chain. The author emphasis that exports growth can be a major component of economic progress. The author tries to get the reader to understand the different stages of development by using illustrations of resources, geography, use of technology, history, and...
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...Blue Nile Case Group D Monday and Wednesday 11:00-12:15 Anthony Allen, Laura Blakeman, Daniel DeMaiolo, Carla Hill, and Mason Shattuck 1 Industry Analysis: Dominant Economic Features Definition of Jewelry Retailing Industry & Nonstore Retailer Subsector According to the United States Census Bureau, the Jewelry Retailing Industry (NAICS code 448310) “comprises establishments primarily engaged in retailing one or more of the following items: (1) new jewelry (except costume jewelry); (2) new sterling and plated silverware; and (3) new watches and clocks. Also included are establishments retailing these new products in combination with lapidary work and/or repair services” (United States Census Bureau Jewelry Industry Definition, 2008). While Blue Nile competes in the larger Jewelry Retailing Industry, it also competes in the narrower Nonstore Retailers (Subsector 454) category because of the e-commerce component of the business model. The United States Census Bureau comments that “industries in the Nonstore Retailers subsector retail merchandise using methods, such as the broadcasting of infomercials, the broadcasting and publishing of direct-response advertising, the publishing of paper and electronic catalogs, door-to-door solicitation, in-home demonstration, selling from portable stalls and distribution through vending machines. Establishments in this subsector include mail-order houses, vending machine operators, home delivery sales, door-to-door sales, party...
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...ASSESSING METHANOL PRODUCTION IN CHINA FOR METHANEX by Gabriel Wong Bachelor in Business Administration, Simon Fraser University, 2000 PROJECT SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION In the Faculty of Business Administration © Gabriel Wong, 2010 SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY Summer 2010 All rights reserved. This work may not be reproduced in whole or in part, by photocopy or other means, without permission of the author. APPROVAL Name: Gabriel Wong Degree: Master of Business Administration Title of Project: Assessing Methanol Production in China for Methanex Supervisory Committee: __________________________________________ Dr. Pek-Hooi Soh Senior Supervisor Assistant Professor __________________________________________ Dr. Aidan Vining Second Reader CNABS Professor of Business and Government Relations Date Approved: __________________________________________ i ABSTRACT Methanex is the world leader in methanol production and marketing. China is an important market; by 2014 it is forecasted to account for 50% of global demand. The purpose of this project is to determine whether Methanex should invest in methanol production in China. The project approach uses a multi-goal analysis focusing on three goals: (1) Consistent with Corporate Vision, (2) Sustainment of Existing Competitive Advantages, and (3) Profitability. Based on the analysis, the...
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...achieve world-class supply chain efficiencies targeted primarily at driving down costs. Wal-Mart isn’t just the largest retailer in the world, over the past several years it has popped in and out of the top spot on the Fortune 500 list—meaning that the firm has had revenues greater than any firm in the United States. Wal-Mart is so big that in three months it sells more than a whole year’s worth of sales at number two U.S. retailer, Home Depot.[1] At that size, it’s clear that Wal-Mart’s key source of competitive advantage is scale. But firms don’t turn into giants overnight. Wal-Mart grew in large part by leveraging information systems to an extent never before seen in the retail industry. Technology tightly coordinates the Wal-Mart value chain from tip to tail, while these systems also deliver a mineable data asset that’s unmatched in U.S. retail. To get a sense of the firm’s overall efficiencies, at the end of the prior decade a McKinsey study found that Wal-Mart was responsible for some 12 percent of the productivity gains in the entire U.S. economy.[2] The firm’s capacity as a systems innovator is so respected that many senior Wal-Mart IT executives have been snatched up for top roles at Dell, HP, Amazon, and Microsoft. And lest one think that innovation is the province of only those located in the technology hubs of Silicon Valley, Boston, and Seattle, remember that Wal-Mart is headquartered in Bentonville, Arkansas. A Data-Driven Value Chain The Wal-Mart efficiency...
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...Introduction: Distribution and supplying has always been a challenge with companies which are into distribution. Sysco has been a global leader for its distribution efficiencies. It supplies food products to restaurants within the USA. Sysco has also been associated with selling and marketing food products across the paraphernalia of restaurants, health care institutes, restaurants, and to other food industries. It supplies equipment and supplies for the hospitality and food industry. The firm serves out of 196 distribution facilities located throughout the USA, Bahamas, Canada, Ireland & Northern Ireland which take care of approximately 425,000 customers. Sysco boasts of a very diverse product line, employing around 50,300 employees Sysco sells ingredients necessary to prepare meals and also ancillary items associated with the food equipment. This has helped in bringing the Sysco difference to the lives of their customers and success to the business. ((Walker & Phillips, 2009) Sysco’s closest competitors are Bunzl plc, Jeronimo Martins SGPS, Booker Group PLC to name a few. Sysco has been able to achieve its position as a market leader in the food distribution industry due to the efficiency of operation and competitive advantages, including sustainable operational processes. Comparison of distributors: | Price SYSCO Sherwood | Quality Sysco Sherwood | Value Sysco Sherwood | Seafood | Choice affordable | best ...
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...example to discuss how ‘the sector matrix’ framework is useful for analysing demand and supply linkages in an industry. The end of the 20th century has experienced rapid changes in the way of trading, due to the expansion of capitalism. The Oxford dictionary defines capitalism as “an economic and political system in which a country’s trade and industry are controlled by private owners for profit, rather than by the state”. Due to high competition, firms have desperately been trying to reduce costs of production in order to maximise profits. Published in “Competitive Advantage” in 1985, Porter’s value chain is a great example to show how much importance firms gave to the supply side of the market in this period. Porter described the value chain as “a set of products and services linked together in a sequence of value adding economic activities”. In other words, it analyses the stages in which a product is created from raw material until it’s finished, each stage adding value to the product. Gereffi’s ‘Global Commodity chains’ uses the old strategy chains and links them with their political and geographical context, adding a spatial and territorial dimension to the demand and supply in a market.________________________________________ In 1998 in their article “Breaking the Chains? A sector Matrix for Motoring”, Julie Froud, Colin Haslam, Sukhdev Johal and Karel Williams tackled the settled chain concepts by showing its limits regarding complex industries such as motoring or healthcare...
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...in 2005, Walmart was able to generate cost savings and profits from different areas of its supply chain. Having faced challenges to convince all its stakeholders to participate in this strategy, there is long way from setting a firm foundation for their strategy supply chain wide and to reach a consensus with its stakeholders on the need to focus on sustainability. However, with 2006 coming to an end, Ruben and Elm are pressured to evaluate the performance of their sustainability strategy based on both business and sustainability factors, and to decide whether to continue or halt the programme. Analysis of sustainable strategy Being profit-driven, Walmart has to ensure that business value is derived from the sustainability strategy, in order to maintain its dominant retail position. One benefit was cost reduction throughout the value chain of its products. Waste was effectively eliminated and efficiency in production, packaging, transportation, store operations and customer use was realized. There was introduction of an additional revenue stream by selling the firm’s carbon credits through reduction in carbon emissions. Furthermore, it allowed Walmart to seek strategic level input from outside parties, creating collaboration with various companies to come out with new and innovative green products. Assurance of supply is also achieved, where Walmart was able to lock-in available supply or contribute to the preservation of scarce resources. Better suppliers’ quality was realized...
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...Acknowledgement: This research has been supported by grants from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation and the U.S. National Science Foundation (CISE/IIS). Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Sloan Foundation or the National Science Foundation. Abstract This article analyzes the distribution of value from innovation in the global supply chains of the Apple iPad and iPhone. We find that Apple continues to capture the largest share of value from these innovations. While these products, including most of their components, are manufactured in China, the primary benefits go to the U.S. economy as Apple continues to keep most of its product design, software development, product management, marketing and other high-wage functions in the U.S. China’s role is much smaller than most casual observers would think. A key finding for managers is that they need to beware of relying too heavily on single customers. With its control over the supply chain, Apple has the power to make and break the fortunes of many of its suppliers. A key finding for policymakers is that there is little value in electronics assembly. Bringing high-volume electronics assembly back to the U.S. is not the path to “good jobs” or economic growth. Capturing Value in Global Networks: Apple’s iPad and iPhone In an earlier article in Communications of the ACM [7], we conducted a micro-level economic analysis...
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... 4 Internal Analysis 8 Alternatives 9 Recommendation 10 References 11 Introduction Loblaw Companies is facing the greatest competitive challenge of its recent history with the launch of Wal-Mart into their markets. Having originally entered the market in 1994 through the acquisition of 122 Woolco Stores, Wal-Mart is planning to open their first SuperCenter in Canada imminently. Known for their Every Day Low Price (EDLP) value proposition, exceptionally efficient supply chain, logistics and ERP process execution, marketing aimed at budget-conscious buyers, and product selection, Wal-Mart is a strategic threat to Loblaw. While Wal-Mart is a strategic competitive threat, Loblaw must also stay focused on coordinating their competitive strategy to also stay ahead of dominant grocery competitors including Sobeys, Metrics, A&P, and Canada Safeway. In addition, wholesale clubs, specialty chains, convenience stores and online shopping are additional considerations to keep in mind when defining a strategic response o Wal-Mart. Any competitive response on Loblaw’s part must support and strengthen competitiveness in each of these other channels, or the company risks becoming out of balance from a competitive standpoint. Pricing as a competitive differentiator for Loblaw is not to be taken in isolation; there must also be a concerted approach to look at the company first from an operational performance perspective. In conjunction...
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...Distribution Strategy (Group D _ Session 7 _ Assignment) San Fabian (SF) - MacDowell Philippines (MP) - Paulo Remita Incorporated (PR) Problem Statement After 19 years of an established “exclusive-distribution” agreement with San Fabian; MacDowell Philippines decided to terminate the deal. MacDowell Philippines decided to take over the Wholesale role of San Fabian (SF) and would participate directly in large Commercials as well as Government Projects. Accordingly MP (MacDowell Philippines) products line will be made available to Construction Supply dealers across Philippines. MP claimed to be forced to take that step to help increasing Sales since they experienced an operation capacity around 50%. Situation Analysis As Mr. Paul Cheng _ President of SF was looking at that situation imposed by MP; he went back in time when the relationship started between both corporations in 1967 and continued since then and saw how that engagement was considered to be a “ Natural Fit “ or in other words a “ Win to Win “ situation. There were things SF wanted in MP and other things MP was missing that could be briefly explained as follows: a) SF MP * SF was missing the roofing product line * MP was the only manufacturers who accepted the “exclusive-distribution” agreement b) MP SF * SF was a growing co. with a solid, good reputation * SF didn’t carry any competing product line * SF could offer a national coverage * SF would be able to pay...
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...consideration Natureview Farm yogurt originated in 1989 and was based on the family recipe that used only natural ingredients, and no artificial flavors or thickeners. That was one of the main points of differentiation from bigger competitors such as Dannon, Yoplait, and Breyers, and gave the Natureview farm yogurt the privilege of a niche producer. Moreover, Natureview Farm’s yogurt’s average shelf life was 50 days, 20 days longer than that of competitors. That way special production process and ingredients helped Natureview Farm to save on efficient supply chain that competitors needed to reduce shipping time to their distributors. Strong reputation for high quality and great taste, as well as high perception of natural ingredients helped the company to grow quickly to national distribution. The Natureview brand occupied the organic & natural segment that was not served adequately through the normal retailing chains at that time. Natureview Farm was considering two growth strategies: through Supermarket Channel and through Natural Foods Channel. Supermarket Channel usually dominated by large manufactures such as Dannon and Yoplait. The product takes just four steps before it gets to final consumer. In this channel an 8oz cup sells for $0.74. However, in order to sell its yogurt in the supermarket channel, Natureview farm has to pay a “slotting fee” for each flavor of the same size cup. Moreover, the company - manufacturer is obligated to participate in promotions...
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