The Great Lakes: Great Decision
Rita Stroud-Lipsey
Strayer University
Professor: Dr. Barry Adkins
BUS 499—Business Administration Capstone
January 13, 2012

Introduction
The main purpose of this essay is to analyze the social/demographic, technological, economic, environment/geographic and political/legal/governmental segments to understand the general environment facing Great Lakes. It will also describe how Great Lakes will be affected by each of these external factors. It will then analyze the lead additives industry in the U.S. using the Five Forces of Competition Model. The Five Forces will display the impact it has on the industry based on the analysis, in which it can then be determined if the industry is attractive or unattractive. Next this essay will describe who Great Lakes’ immediate, impending, and invisible competitors are and how Great Lakes measures up against these competitors. For the conclusion it will describe the main capabilities of Great Lakes.

Great Lakes: Great Decision
Perform an analysis of the social/demographic, technological, economic, environmental/geographic, and political/legal/governmental segments to understand the general environment facing Great Lakes. Describe how Great Lakes will be affected by each of these external factors.
Social/Demographic
Social/Demographic: Great decisions are constantly being debated for the Great Lakes as to what factors tend to affect the Social and Demographic segment. Socially our society determines the affects that is make on the Great Lakes. Recently a study of the people migrating in and out of these states indicated a decrease in population for the lakes. Migration can be a key source of population information. It can provide information for determining economic growth for housing, and market opportunities. The market for such a large region has its advantages and a disadvantage includes the recent closings of major production factories. With the Great Lakes holding 20% of the earth’s fresh water, the affect of contamination through chemicals is added to the list of concerns.
Technology
Technology: Without the implementation of aggressive technology poor water quality will remain a problem for the Great Lakes. Federal and state regulations often hinder the decisions needed to fight for new technology to improve the restoration of the water ways. Research combined with innovated technology helps with the development and growth for plant life and all forms of habitat along the water ways.

Economic
Economic: Economics would be the biggest key factor affecting the Great Lakes. Economically the manufacturing industry is struggling to remain in existence. There should be long-term goals set for the future and the focus of maintaining a healthy ecosystem. These are just some of the issues of concern that would help drive back the diminishing population. Making decisions to keep the Great Lakes as a strong economic investment is not easy task. The new federal budgets for any industry are at stake and coming up short. Our economy has force up to accept working with smaller budgets. This puts the Great Lakes at high risk for underdevelopment, scientific studies (industrial pollution), public/private use (drinking water), industrial expansions and the fishing industries’ future. The effects of these issues on our economy are forcing us to look for other means of useful resources. Gas drilling is effected by the decisions of congress, should it or should it not be introduced into the economy of the Great Lakes? The decision to build wind farms along the shores of the Great Lakes seem to be another big controversy. Once again it’s the finances that are always the front-runner of the debate.
Environmental/geographic
Environmental/geographic: Environmentally its pollution of all forms for the Great Lakes that poses as a threat. One issue is dealing with contamination. Another issue affecting the Great Lakes is erosion and Costal hazards. Trying to maintain the cultural beauty along with cost, these lakes create extreme challenges. Geographically years of glacial formation has affected the corridors through changing of rock formation. Factories have move to other countries for cheaper labor and mask production.

Political/Legal/government Political/legal/governmental: “The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) is a bipartisan plan to restore the Great Lakes. Sustaining progress under the GLRI is a wise investment that will create jobs and generate significant economic benefits for the eight-stat Great Lakes region and our nation as a whole.”(GLRI) “The Great Lakes deserve that investment and a lot more. Congress contents to maintain its support for the GLRI and to strengthen federal collaboration with states, tribal and local partners. Congress must place a higher value on the lakes. Mr. Obama sought $350 million in funding in the 2012 budget after getting $475 million and $299 million in 2010 and 2011, respective” (Save the Great Lakes, (2007). “On Jan. 31, the Great Lakes Commission and the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative — partnerships of United States and Canadian mayors and other government officials — will release their own study with proposals to revamp the waterways to block invasive species, stimulate cargo transport and recreational use and improve water quality” (Lydersen, K. 2012).
Analyze the lead additives industry in the U.S. using the Five Forces of Competition Model. Describe the impact of each of the five (5) forces on the industry and based on this analysis determine if the industry is attractive or unattractive. Threat of New Entrants: The business industries for the Great Lakes still manage to meet the supply and demand by holding its share of the market. Researcher’s and studies continue to examine the probabilities of how to achieve an upward trend in the business industry for the Great Lakes. When the threat of entry is present the profitability is affected. Bargaining Power of Suppliers: The suppliers do not consider Industry firms a customer. “Conversely, failure to integrate law into the development of strategy and of action plans can place a firm at a competitive disadvantage and inperils its economic viability” (Bagely/Savage, 2011. P. 3, para.2). Bargaining Power of Buyers: Buyers are the customers of an industry or firm. If the Great Lakes strategy is to defend their selves against the downsizing economy, they must not show signs of weakness. Buyers possess a credible backward integration threat-can threaten to buy producing firm or rival. Threat of Substitute Products: The threat is of an outside industry coming into the Great Lakes producing a similar product without any concerns of bring harm to the waters. Another threat is the expansion of canal corridors that could be an open invitation to a host of problems. Intensity of Rivalry among Competitors: Intensity is always in high gear for competition. Industries are constantly being challenged by competitors. Industry and firms will implement a strategic plan of action when the opportunity arises for improvements in its market position. The lead additives industry in the U.S. forces the conclusion that this is an attractive industry. The serious effects of pollution from industrial discharges have created great concerns. The Great Lakes Areas of Concern (AOCs) has eroded areas that affect the environmental and economic integrity of the water ways productive resources. Even with the slow growth in the economy the Great Lakes continue to attract new businesses. As a competitive manufacturing industry and the overall industry profitability The Great lakes has the ability to support its supply and demand. While the analysis of the general environment is to focus on environmental trends, it is evident that economically manufacturing has proven to display some uncertainty. The analysis of the industry environment is to focus on the factors and conditions influencing an industry’s profitability potential. For this how an industry is able to apply its core competencies in order to achieve a profit above average.
Describe who Great Lakes’ immediate, impending, and invisible competitors are and how Great Lakes measures up against these competitors.
During the research on the Great Lakes there was difficulty trying to retrieve information on immediate, impending, and invisible competitors. As far as other lakes with an industrial center, commercial fishers, and the amenities of the Great Lakes there is no other to compare. Changes in industry structure often impact the competition.
Main capabilities
There is some doubt about the Great Lakes capabilities of survival. The strength lies in the credibility of humans and how they will stimulate the economy. Innovative technology can add advantages to any industry, country, or firm seeking long-term existence. The continued research and development of the Great lakes will enhance the purpose it serves and the resources it possess.

References
Bagley, C.E., & Savage, D. (2010). Managers and the legal environment, Custom edition. (2010). Mason, Ohio: Cengage Learning.
Lydersen, K., (2011). Chicago waterways study stirs debate on their future, The New York Times, Retrieved from http://nytimes.com/2012/01/us./chicago-waterways-study-stirs-debate-on-their-fut...
Save the great lakes. (2011, December). Retrieved from http://www.toledoblade.com/Editorials/2011/12/28/Save-the-Great-Lakes-.html