Finance - Hedging Strategies Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Finance - Hedging Strategies - Assignment ExampleThe essence of hedgerow strategies is to reduce business risks while deterring the creation of additional risks. Multinational firms encounter a multitude of risks, particularly as a result of their competitive exposures across the globe. General Motors has along experienced competitive exposure due to the Japanese yen. This exposure has a lot to do with the depreciating Japanese yen. However, the company is but to establish clear guidelines to deal with the competitive risk caused by the yens continued depreciation. In essence, the companys hedging strategies do non provide lucid hedging strategy guidelines. General Motors treasurer and finance vice-president Eric Feldstein had to establish robust hedging strategies to counter the risk present by the depreciating Japanese yen. General Motors was incurring substantial losings as a result of market changes with regard to the US dollar and Japanese yen (Desai & Veblen, 2006). General Motors, therefore, sought to minimize currency risk to maximize its profitability. GM established a nonoperational policy that involved hedging one-half of its commercialised exposures on a regional basis. This means that GMs hedging strategy involved a clear distinction between commercial and financial exposures. GM defined its commercial exposures as cash clings related to its ongoing business, for instance, payables and receivables and its financial exposures as dividends and debt repayments. The primary purpose of GMs general hedging strategy was related to its contradictory exchange risk wariness policy. This hedging strategy aimed at reducing the volatility between cash flow and earnings by hedging cash flows i.e. transaction exposures only and disregard translation (balance sheet) exposures. In addition, GMs strategy aimed at minimizing the cost, as wellspring as management time devoted to the management of global foreign exchange. This policy was an outcome of an int ernal audit, which showed that resource investment in active foreign exchange management had not led to substantial operation of passive benchmarks. This led to policy changes, as well as the adoption of a passive approach in place of the active one. Lastly, GMs hedging strategy aimed at aligning the companys foreign exchange management with GMs operation of its automotive business (Desai & Veblen, 2006). This move reflected the assumption that financial management needs to conform to the geographic, operational footprint of GMs overlying business. Overall, GMs hedging strategy has effectively reduced its foreign exchange risks, enabling the company to operate efficiently in the Japanese market. JP Morgan is a US-based financial company that rolled out its business in other regions of the world. While companies establish hedging strategies to protect them from risks, particularly future risks, malign practices can cost massive losses to a company. One such company is JP Morgan, whi ch used derivatives as its primary hedging strategy resulting in losses of up to $ 2 billion. JP Morgan adopted the use of risky derivatives rather than less risky bonds used by its competitors such as Bank of America, Citigroup Inc. and Wells Fargo & Co. (Griffin & Moore, 2012). The after financial companies do not trade in credit-default swaps with regard to their indexes. However, JP Morgan accumulated massive credit-default indexes, which resulted in, price moves within the financial manufacture. Unlike JP Morgan, other financial industry players use

The Teaching Profession Essay Example for Free

The commandment Profession EssayTeaching is described by antithetical instructors in dissimilar ways and maven which make an impact to me is that, Teaching is the noblest of on the whole profession. My cousin, Ms. Gertrudes is now a mathematics teacher in Muntinlupa city. We analyze in the same university where we sh ared together many gigantic things including teaching. According to her, teaching is the most noble among all the professions since all professionals underwent education with a teacher. by the internet I arranged an interview with Ms. Gertrudes where I gained more insights about her view of teaching as a noble profession, furthermore it opened up a new realization on teaching in relation to our hunting lodge today. From this point of view, I will lay the foundation of my reflection on the interview with basic education teachers.How teachers mould the minds and intents of every learner reflects the kind of participation we piddle. Inside our classroom for instance, fast track bookmans represent various responsibilities in the society teachers, nurse, house wife, policeman, and engineer, among others. Some of us are passive and some are active, having different background and different reactions, merely we were here for the propensity to learn how to teach. The teacher not just facilitates nurture but could influence the mind of future politicians, engineers, doctors, policemen, priests and nuns, educators, legislators, and ordinary citizens among others. In an interview with Ms. Mondragon she said, I considered it (teaching) as a means for which God used me as an instrument to touch lives and in the fulfill, I myself is transformed by my students lives.Indeed, teaching and learning is a collaborative extremity which exemplifies the unification of a problematic society that we are experiencing now, yet consecutively striving through demanding times in finding solutions to the problems. A teacher must assume this tremendous re sponsibility if we still aspire for a more liv subject society a responsibility to be formed and be transformed so as to form and to transform the lives of people. A teacher seeks to transcend the ordinary limits of him or her by drop outing the ultimate ethical to use that liveness as an agent of transformation. This role of a teacher is highly dignified as Ms. Gertrudes puts it, every singular is a prime mover in our society however, the teacher is noblest since he or she teaches how to be noble. Such phenomenon in teaching and learning permeates from one individual to the other like a anchor ring that never end as Henry Adams once said, A teacher affects eternity no one knows where his influence stops.A society consisting of good citizens, according to Socrates is a good society, and the highest end of every individual is to induce good. Aspiring to be an educator is learning to become a good student first. Only in this manner I understand that learning is a process of beco ming a good teacher influences students to become good if not the best teachers to become educators of a society who stretches its vision farther towards the future. However, going through this process is a painful one. An intricate silk cloth is not made overnight such as an effective teacher is a result of historic period upon years of rigorous training. Evidences of this are testimonies of teachers especially those at the beginning years of teaching who would describe teaching as difficult, not easy to be an adviser, a thankless career, or challenging among others. In a conversation with Sir Sapul he said, it is not even acceptable that a teacher seat commit mistakes, in class or outside. It is a reality that the society has set the highest standards of how they would look at teachers they should be perfect.It is an expectation that every individual is called for but the challenge is directed specifically for teachers to respond. I study that each one shares the same responsi bility to strive-to-learn to become a better soulfulness who is humble enough to accept undergoing a painful process a process which describes the beauty of our purpose. The more experienced teachers would say, I choose teaching as a profession for whap of the early days, the early formation of the youth is important to prepare the future of the nation and the church, teaching is my ministry, teaching is my passion. Teaching for them is a mission already carved in the nous of a teacher, a value system stabilized through timehow beautiful The younger ones will marvel in the same path as they go along the way saying, it is my destiny, I want to help children to become better persons and be successful in their emotional state, I see that teaching is Gods plan for me, I can change the life of every person especially the younger generation, this is what I want, this is what my heart says.Life will eventually give more meaning to every hearts desire as it grow and ripen in out-of- pocket season. When that time comes, a teacher only counts his or her blessings and continues to grow in grace. The entire life cycle of a teacher, can be likened to a butterfly. unrivaled has to be an egg and undergo the stages to become an adult. Weeks after gloriously fluttering its wings the butterfly dies leaving behind new eggs, but a teacher on the other hand is immortalized by the life that he or she experience led. The teacher takes the more crucial role in shaping the individual human person and the world. As the famous saying goes, you cannot give what you do not have therefore, every teacher has to be well prepared for that great endeavor that lies ahead. The domain of personal growth and professional development in the NCBTS emphasizes the ideal that teachers value a high personal regard, concern for personal development, and continuous improvement as teachers.According to Corpuz and Salandanan, the personality that teachers project determines the impression they make upon students and colleagues. Asking some teachers about their idea of how students perceive them they responded, well prepared, has principles, fastidious, loveable and caring, patient, honest, sympathetic, approachable, friendly, possesses a good sense of humor, punctual, dynamic and creative, and benignant. These responses determine the teachers self-awareness in relation to his or her work and to his or her role in the society.Through the course of the process, a teacher accumulates determine that he or she feels important to be nurtured and to be developed. Teacher responses include hard work, compassion, creativity, simplicity, service, responsibility, commitment, patience, honesty, generosity, kindness, humility, love, commitment, tenacity, courage, and self-discipline. These are personal values that they wanted to have as teachers yet in the interview, they mentioned that teachers should possess attributes to become an effective teacherA teacher should have integrity and good moral values.A teacher should be able to motivate in making the students able to love the subjects.A teacher should have passion for teaching.A teacher must be full of vitality and enthusiasm.A teacher should be globally competitive, flexible and work oriented.A teacher should be honest, hard working, generous, committed and dedicated.A teacher should have love for students.The teacher has personal values that they uphold but it is also very important that we hear from the students what they value from their teachers since it is the learning of students which is the foremost concern of teachers, only that the process of learning is controlled primarily by the learner as pointed out by Corpuz and Salandanan. In order to teach effectively a teacher should consider authoritative principles of teaching and learning. The principal elements that make teaching and learning possible and attainable are the teachers, the learners, and a conducive learning environment. The learner is d ifferent from one some other in terms of their demonstration of cognitive and appetitive powers, multiple intelligences and varied learning styles, children with special needs and children of indigenous peoples group. This is the reasonableness why a teacher should have a good stock of positive personal and professional attributes to be geared up for battle.A teacher to be effective must possess a sense of service as a professional teacher, dedicated to the job and wave that missionary shade since the teacher himself or herself is one of the elements in making learning attainable. As Ms. Mondragon quoted St. Marie Eugenie of Jesus, Education is allowing the good to break through the rock that imprisons it in order to switch its radiance. It is not only the student that is imprisoned in the rock but sometimes a teacher lacking in proper conceptualization for the life of a teacher is imprisoned in steel, when the students are free enough, they absorb the negativities that they ar e exposed into and their light fade out altogether. But an over(p) teacher would say, I am a successful teacher since I see my former students effecting change in the lives of people they are working with. It is then a personal commitment that a teacher should develop a philosophy of his or her own.According to Sir Montilla, Education is a journey towards a holistic and vibrant transformation within a human person. Molding and preparing ones life to be more equipped, outfitted, and comprehensive towards the pedestal of success, with strong creed to the triune God in contributing for the betterment of the community and for the progress of society. As the famous saying goes, the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step such that personal change is required in order to move forward towards the ladder of success offer to God all accomplishments, and create concern for the development of the society. Another teacher said, Every individual is able to strive for success in their academic performance and their life. It is difficult to fathom what one child is capable of, the assessment and evaluation in school are but ways to estimate what the child is capable of having in that specific moment.When a child is free, he or she is able to soar in great heights unimaginable to us. If we allow a child to dream, we allow him to see what he or she is capable to dream and so we guide them that they develop trust in themselves until they will one day get that dream. Sir Soriano has this to say, Teaching is in the heart of the educational process. The educational process to me is an extensive continuum which extends throughout an individuals life span. It involves things that we can say about learning and teaching. The very core of it is on the process itself. Such process allows us to experience the joy, the pain, fears, difficulties, danger, yet we strive to redeem ourselves and rise beyond our own limits.As to Bro. Beuchesne, Every person is a child of God, who has the right to be respected and properly educated, to develop his particular talent and use them for the betterment of society. Our life is like a web or a fabric the thread of which are intricately arranged so that each one touches the other, its beauty is seen only as a whole. Each thread is as important as another, just as every individual has its own role in the society which affects the others and as much important as the other even the flap of a butterfly affects the universe how much more with a human personEvery individual is a gift from God that should be taken cared. There are ways that are done differently by one another which needs to be guided, respected and accepted. Teaching is loving the learner. I can say that as a student, if the teacher makes me feel important, I can learn better and most inspired.Learning to me is a lifelong process that improves with time. The goal of the teacher is to give the best he or she can and become an inspiration to learn. In a so ciety such as we have, a greater responsibility lies on the hands of a teacher who is committed and competent in facilitating the learning of every unique individual human person. Enormous passion coupled with positive personal attributes and an undying missionary spirit is incumbent for a teacher to sustain himself in answering the call to render valuable service and in influencing the students to love learning. As Saint Jean-Baptist de la Salle have said, To touch the hearts of your students and to inspire them with the Christian spirit is the greatest miracle you could perform, and the one that God asks of you, since this is the purpose of your work.We can try to look at what is happening in our society today and I am personally sad to see it being destroyed subtly. If not now, maybe one day we will realize the contribution we made for that destruction. As a responsible teacher would do, a personal reflection is called for to ponder upon the role of the teacher that shaped this society we have today. Can the teachers redeem themselves in their role of reshaping our society? Indeed, only those who retained the zeal for the mission of teaching will carry on the spirit, and it is sad that they are only few.

Detroit Electric Essay Example for Free

Detroit electric car Essay1. What organizational structure do you believe is being utilize to produce Detroit voltaic vehicles? Detroit Electric concentrates theirs efforts on research and development of the motor, vehicle design, marketing and distribution. The company does not produce cars the actual manufacturing of cars is outsourced. From the fictional character I conclude that technology design is the core business of Detroit Electric. Technology changes rapidly and therefore Detroit Electric has to be flexible in conditions of change and uncertainty. expert excellence and efficient use of resources is the key to compete and to avoid wastage as the cost of RD is high. Based upon the above observation, I believe that the organizational structure used is the matrix model. 2. How has differing organizational structures influenced the pace of development between these two companies? Ford and Detroit Electric be both car companies. The major difference is that Ford manufa ctures cars whereas Detroit Electric does not. Fords organizational structure will most likely resemble other manufacturers structure, i. e. functional plane sectionalization.A major disadvantage of this structure is that because specialists are working with and encouraging each other in their areas of expertise and interest, organizational goals may be sacrificed in favor of departmental goals hence, the inability to coordinate efforts amongst competing department to achieve the goal of producing electric vehicles. Detroit Electrics matrix structure on the other hand gives the organization the flexibility to respond to challenges faster in conditions of change and uncertainty hence their relative pace (fast)in developing electric cars.3. What issues may arise from this cooperative arrangement of international companies? The first issue is control. How does Detroit Electric ensure that their exact specifications are followed by their licensees? Regular audits will have to be conduc ted and these audits are costly. Who will bear responsibility if problems arise (faulty products) due to blow of any of its licensees do not follow procedures? The second issue is differences in objectives. For example, Detroit Electrics performance and quality standards objectives may differ from their licensees.

The Performance Of Unilever

The Performance Of UnileverIn 1999, Unilever implemented what they considered to be an ambitious dodging named Path to Growth which they believed achieved a lot in terms of steel focus, global buying, operating margins and capital efficiency (Cescau Rivers, 2007b). However, according to the then Group honcho Executive Patrick Cescau, the schema failed to transform growth performance (Cescau Rivers, 2007b, 1). Consequently, adjustments were made to the strategy between 2005 and 2006, aimed at reorganizing and streamlining Unilevers organization and to add aw arness of the Unilever brand (Johnson Scholes, 2006).In terms of innovation, Unilever delivered bigger and better innovations, rolled out faster and to to a greater extent food markets (Unilever, 2009, 5). The tremendous success in fast and effective rollout of innovations was enhanced greatly by the 1 organizational structure (One Unilever) introduced into the business as a result of the adjustments made to Path to Gro wth (Unilever, 2009a). For example, the Dove Minimising Deodorant has been rolled out across 37 markets and Clear Shampoo across 37 markets. The success in this bea has alike been reward by the business publication Fast Company which of late recognized us as the fourth most innovative company in advertising and merchandising.In terms of constitute saving, the business foc procedured on discontinuing and cutting out activities that failed to add value. The restructuring was one such activity. In 2009 alone, Unilever, achieved comprise savings of 1.4bn, which was better than expected and also improved working capital by 1.9bn (Unilever, 2009a.Despite these and other successes including mergers and acquisitions, ope symmetrynal and sustainability and corporate responsibility, Unilever also failed to achieve some of their targets. For example, in two key markets, India and Spain, we took longer to respond to changing market dynamics and to the intense level of competition especiall y from low-cost local competitors (Unilever, 2009a, 6). In the processed and packaged goods industry in which Unilever operates, this is a significant failing as the battle for market shargon is fierce (Ehlers Estes, 2007). Companies primarily achieve this primarily by cost leadership strategies, therefore the need for Unilever to wait on their cost cutting drive cannot be overestimated.Another significant challenge is their inability to develop their brands to top quality status. In their own estimation, product quality is acquiring better, but we need more of our products to show superiority and there is ample scope to sharpen our communications and to set the innovation bar even higher(prenominal) (Unilever, 2009a, 6).Financial PerformanceTo put Unilevers performance into context, let us look at some of their financial ratios for both the financial year ended 31 December 2009 and ratio averages for a basketball team year period which admits 2006 to 2009.Figure 1 Sales Growth (%) of Unilever, Processed Packaged goodishs Industry and SPs 500. Data writer Yahoo FinanceFigure 1 shows Unilevers performance comp atomic number 18d against its competitors and the SPs 500 benchmark which has been widely regarded as the best single gauge of the large cap US equities market since the index was first published in 1975 (Standard and Poors, nd). The chart on the left shows the close to 5% decrease in growth of Unilevers gross revenue speckle the industry average recorded an increase between 2008 and 2009. This reveals that the competition is making inroads in regaining lost market sh be during the period of the scotch downturn. The five year average for Unilever is still showing a positive although it is significantly below industry average.Figure 2 below shows the earnings per share sic for the last three long time for Unilever.Figure 2 Earnings per share for Unilever (2007 2009) Data source Yahoo FinanceThe earnings per share ($) shows the service credited (predicate) to each share held by Unilever for the last three years (McLaney, 2006). Despite a recovery from 2008, the 2009 EPS has fallen again and to levels below 2007s.Figure 3 shows the equipment casualty/Earnings ratio compared with competitors and the SP benchmark.Figure 3 P/E ratio (2009) Source Yahoo FinanceThe price earnings ratio is the number of years that it would take at the current share price and rate of earnings, for the earnings from the share to cover the price of the share (McLaney, 2006, 58). This is one of the most important measures investors use to assess a company. Unilever is once again operating below industry average and way below a benchmark of companies in the stock market. This implies that investors are less confident of growth in prospective earnings (McLaney, 2006, 58) of Unilever compared with industry average and the benchmark of leading companies.In terms of profitability, Figure one shows the position.favourableness Ratios %UnileverIndustrySPG ross margin30.4038.50Net margin9.209.8010.505 yr Gross margin48.6046.8037.805 yr Net margin10.109.5011.30ROCE15.6015.009.30ROE30.6029.8020.50 submit 1 Profitability Ratios Source Yahoo FinanceGross margin figure for 2008 2009 was unavailable for Unilever. The net margin which shows the proportion of profit left for Unilever after all expenses have been taken into account is around the industry average for the period 2008 2009. The 5 year average positions for both gross and net margins are favourable for Unilever, compared to its competitors. Its 5 year gross margin is also significantly better than SPs 500.The return on capital employed (ROCE) and return on impartiality (ROE) positions are also marginally better than the industry average and significantly better than SPs 500. While the ROCE is a measure of profit as a contribution of total assets less current liabilities, the ROE looks at matters more specifically from the shareholders work outpoint, and reports on profit earn ed by shareholders after all charges have been accounted for (McLaney, 2006). evade 2 below shows the liquidity and gearing positions of Unilever and comparisons with other companies. adapt and LiquidityUnileverIndustrySP 500Debt/Equity Ratio0.830.811.37Interest Coverage48.3021.0027.10Current Ratio0.901.201.40Quick Ratio0.600.801.20Table 2 Gearing and Liquidity. Data source Yahoo FinanceThe Debt/Equity Ratio as with all Capital Gearing ratios is concerned with the relative sizes of the funds provided by shareholders on the one hand, and by loan creditors on the other (McLaney, 2006, 56). The higher the ratio, the riskier the business is concerned to be. In this case, the ratio is around industry average and less than the benchmark of top companies, so it should not cause too concern. The interest coverage shows that Unilever can comfortable conform to interest payments as they fall due way above the industry average.In terms of liquidity, the current ratio is a measure of whether t he current assets are able to meet current liabilities obligations as they fall due. This does not appear to be the case if payment is requested immediately (which a ratio of at least 11 result be able to do). In practice however, it is unrealistic to expect to ask for their payments at once unless the business was in serious problems. Therefore, although lower than the competition the current ratio and the quick ratio (which looks at the most liquid of assets, normally excluding inventory) should not cause panic although ship canal to increase it must be looked at.Brand AwarenessAccording to Unilever, brands and innovation are at the heart of everything we do. We develop our products to keep pace with changes in consumer lifestyles and to draw in to people at all income levels. Success means getting bigger and better innovations into the market faster, supported by the very best marketing (Unilever, 2009, 8). These statements are indeed backed up by initiatives undertaken in the last few years in the UK to increase brand consciousness. Some of these initiatives will be soon exposit.According to Mathiesen (2009, 19), a recent running play for Lynx for Men, one of Unilevers mens deodorants, resulted in a 56% increase in (prompted) brand sensibleness in the UK. This campaign was done through with(predicate) mobile marketing. The campaign sought to achieve the following objectives (Mathiesen, 2009)To enhance awareness of the Lynx brandTo market to the 16-24 year old manful who are traditionally hard to reach through traditional advertising methodsTo promote the Lynx brand as attractive to women and modernThe success is not only evidenced by the 56% promoted awareness, according to Mathiesen (2009), 86% could recall the Lynx advert and 44% of people felt more positive intimately Lynx after gulling the add.Not only are Unilever working on improving product branding, they have most significantly moved to increase the company brand image. In March 2009, Un ilever UK and Ireland began putting the corporate branding on its product brand advertising including TV, posters and press (Unilever, 2009b), starting with Flora. This move was influenced by research which showed that consumers in the UK and Ireland have relatively low awareness and knowledge of our company, compared to some of our competitors. They are open to the idea of us promoting Unilever more overtly and see this as a sign of honesty and transparency. For a company as large as Unilever, it is surprising that a lot of people who use a lot of their products on a daily basis do not know the name of the company. The same could not be said of its competitors like draw near or Kraft, for instance. In an industry as competitive as the processed and packaged goods industry, where the extent of competitive rivalry is very high, brand awareness is a vital source of achieving and sustaining competitive advantage (Porter, 1998b).Brand TheoriesIndeed, the importance of Unilever focusing on promoting brand awareness is supported by relevant theory. MacDonald and Sharp (2003, 1), citing Rossiter and Percy (1987) described brand awareness as creation essential for the communications process to occur as it precedes all other steps in the process. Without brand awareness occurring, no other communication effects can occur. In other words, a consumer is likely to buy a brand if they are made aware of it. MacDonald and Sharp (2003, 1) also go on to discuss memory theory where brand awareness is position as a vital first step in building the bundle of associations which are attached to the brand in memory (citing Stokes, 1985).Brand awareness is very important when a consumer is making what are usually very quick purchase decisions. According to MacDonald and Sharp (2003), where a customer can identify certain brands, he or she spends very unretentive time looking at unfamiliar brands. Consequently, an unfamiliar brand name or one that is not aggressively promoted risk s being ignored, irrespective of the quality of the product. veritable(a) after a consumer has formed a consideration set and chosen the few brands from which she will make her purchasing decision, consumers decide to purchase only familiar, surface established brands (Keller, 1993). The decision is usually made very quickly as well. According to Dickson and Sawyer (1986), it takes approximately 12 seconds on average for a consumer to thought process product alternatives and make a alternative from unalike brands.MacDonald and Sharp (2003, 2) also explained that brand awareness affects customers perception of quality. They cited Hoyer and Brown (1990) who found in a consumer choice study that over 70% of consumers selected a known brand of peanut butter from among a choice of three, even though another brand was objectively better quality (as determined by blind taste tests) and even though they had neither bought or used the brand before. This result is even more surprising con sidering the subjects were given the opportunity to taste all of the brands. Just being a brand dramatically affected their evaluation of the brand (MacDonald and Sharp, 2003, 2). Therefore, Unilever has tremendous opportunities to follow the popularity of their tremendous brand image for most of their products to the corporate brand image. With effective marketing strategies they can generate enough consumer trust and loyalty to dominate good shopping trolleys of families. This is because in the industry that Unilever operates in and the kind of products it offers, consumers (buyers) have high bargaining powers. There is also low switching costs which means that a consumer may decide to switch from competitors deodorants to Lynx for the simple reason that the consumer has been used to buying Knorr stock.Recommended Strategy for UnileverVisionWe work to create a better future every day. We help people feel good, look good and get more out of life with brands and services that are g ood for them and good for others. We will inspire people to take small everyday actions that can add up to a big difference for the world. We will develop untried ship canal of doing business that will allow us to double the size of our company while reducing our environmental impact (Unilever, nd).SWOT AnalysisBased on an internal analysis of Unilever, their strengths and weaknesses were identified. The opportunities and threats confront Unilever were also determined by undertaking an external analysis. The internal analysis included a review of its financial performance, its marketing function, employees, operations, precaution, and management information (including technology and RD) which helped to pinpoint Unilevers strengths and weaknesses (Lynch, 2005). The external analysis used the PESTEL and Co. framework which stands for Political, Economic, Socio-Cultural, Technological, Ethical, Legal and Competition. From this analysis, the opportunities and threats facing the busin ess were identified.StrengthsGlobal companyEconomies of scaleGood profit marginsCompetitive pricesStrong brand image for productsInnovationDeveloping and emerging marketsWeaknessesRoom for improvement in enhancing brand awarenessNegative sales growthCompany still not a household nameLiquidityOpportunitiesFocus on sustainability and corporate responsibilitySpeed of technological developmentLow switching costsThreatsLow consumer confidenceLow consumer spendingVolatile political climate in developing and emerging (DE) marketsGlobal economic downturnFierce competitionFigure 4 SWOT AnalysisIn terms of Unilevers strengths, as was seen from the financial analysis above, they made good profit and their level of gearing is in line with competitors. They maintain a very strong presence in the developing and emerging markets with nearly 50% of their revenues approach from areas such as India and China. However, they need to increase their brand awareness although they are doing it with targe ted advertising campaigns.In terms of opportunities, Unilever are well positioned to exploit the opportunities that result from being seen as a company that takes its environmental responsibilities seriously. For example, to meet their aim of growing their business while reducing their environmental impact, our Code of Business Principles and other available and business polices are knowing to ensure that we consistently maintain high social and environmental standards an d we have established processes to track performance in these areas. Our strategy benefits from the insights of the Unilever Sustainable Development Group, comprising five external specialists in corporate responsibility and sustainability that guide and critique the development of our strategy (Unilever, 2009a)In terms of threats facing Unilever, the threat of political volatility especially in emerging markets are mitigated by Unilevers already strong presence there. There have lie with of operating in these m arkets for a good number of years, therefore, they can cope with the volatility. However, the economic downturn has proved constraining to not only Unilever but its competitors. This has also adversely affected consumer confidence and consequently consumer spending which companies like Unilever depend on for their success. Competition is fierce due to low profitability, fairly equal market share and undifferentiated products (Ehlers Estes, 2007).To be successful in the processed and packaged goods industry, there must exist high brand awareness, effective cost management to be able to charge low prices and the commitment to meet ethical standards. Unilever have the strengths to achieve these and are well on their way to overcome weaknesses relating to brand awareness. Once brand awareness increases and the economic conditions become better then this should impact positively on their business as consumer spending and confidence returns. strategical Options and ChoiceBased on the SWO T analysis above Unilever are faced with different strategic growth options which are provided below, based on Ansoffs matrix (Johnson Scholes, 2006)Market penetration of existing products into existing marketsMarket development of existing products into new marketsNew product development introducing new products into new marketsDiversification new products into new marketsStrategic Option 1 (Market penetration of existing products) is recommended with details as followsMaintain and sustain competitive advantage in the DE markets where which is expected to continue to growFocus on enhancing brand awareness in the developed markets like the UKDevelop cross selling and other initiatives to increase usage by existing customersThe rationale behind this strategy is that with such fierce competition, Unilevers rivals will unsurprisingly be doing all they can to increase their market share and that will include offering products at low prices. Unilever, by employing the market penetrat ion strategy, will effectively be doing business as usual, while employing cost cutting measures designed to bolster profits. This strategy is less risky especially in an environment of a global economic downturn (Johnson Scholes, 2006).It is also recommended that the strategy be achieved through organic growth as opposed to other activities like mergers and acquisitions which have high potential for failure. In terms of competitive strategy, it is recommended that a combination of cost leadership and differentiation be employed. Although Porter argues for a single generic strategy (1998b), this is not always the best option because customers will require different thing from the same product. For example, for the success of the Lynx brand is because it combines low price with perceived coolness. This combined generic strategy has great chance of success as it enables Unilever to be price competitive while also using obtained brand loyalty to keep customers from rivals.Choosing the right strategy is important. However, more important is the successful proceeding of the strategy. This will involve effective deployment of Unilevers resources (those used in the internal analysis above) to achieve set objectives. Communication is also key to ensure that those responsible for implementing the strategy buy into it sufficiently to be motivated enough to implement it successfully (Johnson Scholes, 2006). Finally, it is important that once implemented the strategy should be monitored regularly with a view of making changes or enhancing it as required to achieve set objectives.

KFC Customer Survey

KFC Customer SurveyThe main aim of this assignment is to carry egress a client stare twain in the stores of the KFC and away(p) obtainable nutrient joints to find out whether the deal are exiting for the introduction of local flavored transportation by KFC. Through this, to identify the becharm of differences in the culture, on the success of the multinational nutrient retailing. This is a process to analyze the social aspect of a crabbed country influencing the acceptance of the food served by a retailing comp whatsoever from a different cultural background.ObjectivesThis whole study is carried either to prove or disprove that people are willing to accept local menu full points along with the standard menu items being offered by KFC in its several eating houses across the globe.establish on the customer willingness to accept or to study their appetite for local items in KFC and how these items could aid out to attract many people and how it will support the increase in sales if at all accepted by the customers, and at the same how at all if awardd these items are going to foster the main branded items of the KFC which are already doing replete(p) in its menu.Identifying different variety of the local menu items being offered by several similar emblem of quick serving restaurants, analyzing deeply the menu items and their ingredients, the customer appealing value by those ingredients used there in. after an in depth abstract of these items and menu ingredients , trying to do research studies, which of them to be adopted and which can be innovated , to develop a new product.Research questions and justificationKFC entered India in the year 1995, as Kentucky Fried Chicken, simply due to the several agitations by the people from many sectors against it stating that KFC is not adhereing to the food safety norms that were prevailing in India and the issues of ill treating the chicken in the farms which supply meat to KFC (ICMR, 2005)etc, this wa s alike followed by the agitation from the farmer leaders stating that companies like kfc encourage farmers go away from farming the normal crops to rear chicken. Adding to this about of the vegetarians from Mumbai treating kfc serve only non-vegetarian food and they never turned up in the restaurant. Due to all these reasons which ignored to study the business, cultural influence on the food consumption kfc had to leave India and it reenterd India after chaning its name to the now KFC from its past Kentucky Fried Chicken. This shows the importance of the study of cultural influences on the new market entry decisions. in that respect are several issues to be answered through this research questions.First of decision should be made on whether the people are willing to accept any such item which is local in flavor. To identify this questionnaire is made with a question,Is that advisable to introduce local flavors in KFC?This is make along with other questions which marvel about th e position of the KFC in the minds of the customers how they are perceiving its services and the ambience at the restaurants. This is to a fault should be done along with the questions which inquire the acceptance of the present living menu items.Question also should be raised, to identify the taste of the palettes of the target country which casing of food they are most interested or which role of recipe they had their heart throbs for. This should be done so as to get in place the menu item which will be voted most by the general people who eat outside most of the times.Literature reviewThis is basically a comparative study which also should be take into good will the strategies of similar restaurants like KFC. So similar type restaurants like McDonalds, Texas chicken, Burger king, Subway , which are into similar format as KFC intro the quick serving restaurants, but still these form different menu items in each of them.McDonalds sell burgers as its main item but at the same this is taken as one of the referral because it is the first restaurant which broke its conventional standard item concept and introduced the local menu item in India which is named as Aloo Tikki this item is truly much popular in the outlets of McDonalds, India knowledge,2009. Texas chicken is one such restaurant which delas with only chicken snack items exactly similar to the KFC, hence if the items from this restaturant is also examine which one is being liked most by the people from this restaurant.Burger king is also one of the famous quick serving restaurant in India which whole relies on the burger menu items only. Coming to the subway the food sold here is full of green in nature they serve for the gourmets who are calorie aware also. Knowing the tastes of the people travel toing such varied restaurants can enhance the knowledge of the taste of the people. Along with the consensus of which famous item is liked by them it should also be known whether they like the menu i tems which are local being offered by them. This will once again reconfirms the decision of introductions of the local menu item into a target market by KFC.Marie-Ccile Cervellon and Laurette Dube, 2005, made a research on how different cultures influenced the likes and dislikes in consuming a particular food. They discussed in flesh out the theoretical and practical results on the dominance of the culture. This study was done in basically to study the inter-influence of cultures on food between the French and the Chinese cuisines.American Heart connexion, 2010, in their curriculum to teach their nutritional experts, briefly explain its how the differences in the cultures, differences in the ethnicity they belong to, differences in the family backgrounds, depend upon the choice of food white plague by their patients. This will really help them in formulating the complete diet chart.But there are very few studies which discuss on the influence of cultures for the success of multi national fast referred retailing giants. Though McDonalds is already serving with different menu items in different countries. Initially it got its lessons from its failure in the Chinese countries, where the eight initial intervals and its standard menu, which was not eventually accepted thoroughly by the Chinese people. Then it came out with a principle to introduce the conclave menu with both the local and standard menu variants.Methodology and Data collection methodsThe research is intended to use two kinds of data to carry out the research namely, primary(a) and secondary data. Assessing the data that was already been used by the others which was collected through primary sources for some other purpose is known as secondary data. Primary data is the most recent or new data that is collected specifically for the purpose intended book will for the research.Based on the aim and objective of the present study, the data should be collected afresh to decide upon whether to introdu ce a new customized menu for India by KFC. This should be taken from the people who are intended to be the customers of KFC. The whole comply would be done in two stages where in the first stage of the primary data collection is done at the outlets of the KFC only. This could be done through the responses of the customers who walk in to KFC, from whom the primary data is collected through a survey questionnaire. Basically this research is intended only to decide upon whether is it advisable to introduce a local menu item along with the standard items that were present with the KFC. This survey process shall be conducted by any survey agencies with the aid of the survey questions designed by me and the company together , this also can be done through any free online survey website or by directly mailing the questionnaire to those mail ids which were already present with the KFC which it maintains them as part of their promotional action at law to mail them for greeting them on thei r special occasions, or which were collected through several of their contact points.The second stage of the survey process is aimed at material introduction of the local menu item, this is to be carried out after the initial stage was complete and once any such decision was taken to introduce the local menu item and then if this is the time to decide which menu item should be introduced, based on the taste of the customers who regularly eat outside of their homes in quick serving restaurants like KFC. This survey could be done at other such outlets which are similar to KFC or those which have good appeal on the gourmets, and any other such hotels or restaurants which are famous for their exclusive or multi cuisine recipes. This survey also will be carried out online for a specific period of time till the intended sample size of the objective is fulfilled. Actual aiming sample size for online survey is 2000 people. afterward concluding the two types of surveys which will be done th rough different channels, the data collected here will be qualitatively analised using the statistical charts. This will enable us to go through an easy process of decision making as the figures here will disclose the intention of the people who participated in the surveys. Based on these results the recommendation ot the company whether there is a necesiity for the introduction of the local item is necessary or it is better to continue with the alert standard items with the KFC. Once it is decided to introduce the local flavour or local menu item decision to zero down on which type of item should be introduced should be made. This is based on the second survey, though there will be no concrete decision can be made to go out with the items or the spices being used in the survey list as is , KFC can get a clue which type of items can be liked by the people who visit the restaurants of KFC.For the second issue which is aimed at studying the cross cultural issues of introduction of In dian food in other countries, and the cross cultural issues to be taken care for KFC. The whole data is collected through secondary source only which involve internet, This whole study is based on the exploratory method of research. Exploratory research frequently relies on secondary data for its research like reviewing the available literatures and/or data, also depends on qualitative approaches which include data collected by other researchers through informal discussions with the people involved or connect to the fast food industry and the study of culture on the eating habits, employees, and the management or the competitors who can reveal different things which may be reclaimable for carrying on the whole research successfully. And more such formal approaches of thorough in-depth interviews which were already available from the said focus groups, using of different projective methods, can also depend on the case studies or pilot studies which are already done by several inte llectual individuals based on the primary information. estimable issues and proceduresFair practices are followed through out the study process while collecting the data , analyzing the data. All such disclosures which ever are necessary and strategic will be made to fulfill the analysis process. No data is suppressed or over described through the process. No stereotypic analysis will be made based on the fraud made by Ramalinga raju and his aids who had still had due respect till the case is to be finalized. No data will be collected or used which is copyright material, without the permission or only if it is free to use.Data Analysisboth qualitative and quantitative to analysis of the data should our recommended league proposal to analyse the data in this research process. He grounded Theory approach (Strauss and Corbin, 1998) which uses the open coding, axile coding and selective coding all the tools which will be used to analyse the data obtained from in-depth interviews and ex tensive participation of the survey participants. to arrival at a particular theory through a less formalised and with less procedurals while maintaining rigourous data in a systematic way is only contingent with this grounded theory approach and the sees its advantage for the data analysis more quickly.Apart from this as a part of the research process that data will be analysed by statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS), which is a software package which he is being used for data management and statistical analysis. This will help in the research process to profile the respondents to the survey.Resource RequirementThe college library facilities and the learning support services are the best resources for the publishing copies as well as the electronic copies of the required a literature which will be useful for literature review.Usage of both telephone and Internet facilities are very essential to carry on the fieldwork, survey which he is intended to carry on at the an y of the outlets of the KFC. Continuous interaction with the store managers and other executives of the restaurant is very essential as there are key contributors for the whole research process.Frequent travelling is also can be expected to visit the place of fieldwork to negotiate and convened our research process with the help of the store manager and other authorities of the KFC.ReferencesStrauss, A., Corbin, J. (1998). Basics of qualitative research Grounded theory, procedures and techniques. Newbury Park, CA Sage.Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, 2003. Research Methods for vexation Students, 3/E. Financial Times Press.Saunders et al., (2007), Research Methods for Business Students,4e.prentice hall publication.India Knowledge,2009. Made for India Succeeding in a Market Where One Size Wont explosion All. Found at http//knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/india/article.cfm?articleid=4358. accessed on 25feb2010.Marie-Ccile Cervellon and Laurette Dube,2005. Cultural influences in the origin s of food likings and dislikes. Elsevier Ltd. Volume 16, Issue 5, July 2005, Pages 455-460.American Heart Association,2010. What or Who Influences Your Food Choices? Lesson Idea. American Heart Association press.cgull8m,2007. McDonalds Strange Menu Around the World. Found on http//hubpages.com/hub/McDonalds_Strange_Menu_Around_the_World, accessed on 24feb2010.

Examining the Strategic Plans for Growth PepsiCo

Examining the Strategic Plans for Growth PepsiCoPepsiCo, Incorporated is a Fortune 500, American multinational corporation headquartered in Purchase, New York, with interests in manufacturing and grocery storeing a wide variety of carbonated and non-carbonated beverages, as well as salty, sweet and cereal-based snacks, and other foods. Besides the Pepsi brands, the community owns the brands Quaker Oats, Gatorade, Frito-Lay, SoBe, Naked, Tropicana, Copella, Mountain Dew, Mirinda and 7 Up (outside the USA).The various strategic plans for managing and developing the growth of PepsiCo ar as follows-INTENSIVE GROWTH (Identifying the opportunities to achieve further growth within the current business) return -market expansion grid is useful framework for detecting new intensive growth opportunitiesMarket penetration strategy(The bon ton first considers whether it could gain more market share with its current products in the current markets) Headquartered in Purchase, New York, with Re search and Development Headquarters in Valhalla, The Pepsi Cola Company began in 1898 by a NC Pharmacist and Industrialist Caleb Brad ham, but it only became known as PepsiCo when it merged with Frito Lay in 1965.Major products of both the companies were before they got merged were-Pepsi-Cola Company Pepsi-Cola was formulated in 1898, Diet Pepsi (1964) and Mountain Dew (introduced by Tip Corporation in 1948).Frito-Lay, Inc. Fritos brand corn chips (created by Elmer Doolin in 1932), Lays brand potato chips (created by Herman W. Lay in 1938), Cheetos brand cheese flavored snacks (1948), Ruffles brand potato chips (1958) and Rold Gold brand pretzels (acquired 1961).So, the Pepsi -cola and Frito-Lay both were amongst the renowned and best sellers till they got merged.Market development strategy (next it considers whether it can rein or develop new markets for its current products)-Pepsi-Cola was considered a takeover target not only because it ran a distant second in the soft inebri ation sector to industry giant Coca-Cola Company, but withal because little of the companys stock was in the hands of management. Following the creation of PepsiCo, however, the new companys directors held a much larger proportion of shares, with Lay holding a 2.5 percent stake himself. A second force behind the merger was Frito-Lays desire to more aggressively espouse overseas markets. The companys sales had largely been restricted to the United States and Canada, but it could now take advantage of Pepsis strong international trading operations, through which Pepsi products were sold in 108 countries. convergence development strategyA third force was the perceived synergy amidst salty snacks and soft drinks. As Kendall succinctly related to Forbes in 1968, spud chips make you thirsty Pepsi satisfies thirst. The plan was to jointly market PepsiCos snacks and soft drinks, thereby giving Pepsi a potential advantage in its ongoing battle with Coke. Unfortunately, these plans were lastly scuttled by the resolution of a Federal Trade Commission antitrust suit brought against Frito-Lay in 1963. The FTC ruled in late 1968 that PepsiCo could not create tie-ins surrounded by Frito-Lay and Pepsi-Cola products in most of its advertising. PepsiCo was also barred from acquiring any snack or soft drink maker for a period of ten years. integrated growthINTEGRATIVE GROWTH (Identifying opportunities to build or acquire business that are related to current business) Each company faces challenge of selection between different marketing strategies of growth. PepsiCo has a bunch of strategies called integrated growth strategies toExpand Global Leadership Position of the Snacks Business. PepsiCo is global snacks draw of the world, with No. 1 engaging category of the share position in the virtually each key region around the globe. They have advantaged position for entire value chain in over more than 40 developing and developed regions in which they operate as the capital ization on the local manufacturing and the optimized go-to-the-market capabilities in every region, then also the ability to have introduced the relevant products locally by using the global capabilities.Ensure Sustainable, Profitable Growth in Global Beverages. When combined with actions they are winning to refresh their brands across the entire beverage category, they believe this game-changing transaction will enable them to accelerate their top-line growth and also improve their profitability. They continue to view the substantive areas of the global beverage growth, specifically in the developing markets or in the evolving categories. They will thus invest in the attractive opportunities and concentrating in the geographies and the categories in which they the leader or the close second and where competitive game thus remains widely open.Unleash the Power of Power of One. Combination of the snacks and the beverages-with the global high-demand and the local brands thus makes the company an essential and needful partner for the small-format as well as the large-format retailers.Rapidly Expand Our Good-for-You Portfolio. By investing to thus accelerate growth of the platforms, and they are using the knowledge from the initiatives to improve their beverage offerings and the core snack and thus also developing high nutritious products for the undernourished people around the world. wrap up to deliver the commitments and the Environmental Sustainability Goals. They actively work with their farmers to promote sustainable agriculture and thus developing the packaging alternatives in both the beverages and snacks to thus reduce meeting on environment.Cherish the Associates and Developing Leadership to thus sustain the Growth. By implementing tailored training programs to provide managers and the senior executives with leadership and strategic capabilities that are needful in the rapidly changing environment.diversification growthDIVERSIFICATION GROWTH (identi fying opportunities to add attractive business unrelated to current business) the US based company thus conducted the restructuring exercise in the year 1997-98 by thus spinning-off the restaurants and the bottling businesses. Restructuring was thus aimed to achieve the improved and increased focus on companys snack food operations (Frito-Lay) and core beverage (Pepsi-Cola). By thus successfully adopting new focus strategy since the year 1997, the company has thus emerged as second largest packaged consumer goods company (terms of the revenues) in world. By thus acquiring the leading beverages companies like the Tropicana (July 1998), the South Beach Beverage (October 2000) and the Quaker Oats company (December 2000), company has thus significantly reinforced the competitive position in beverages segment.

Lessons Learned :: Personal Narrative Friendship Essays

Lessons Learned Hey hun, how did ya sleep? my husband Max said as he gave me a apace peck on the cheek. Fine. What time is your meeting? I asked The Board is meeting at noon and then I have another briefing at 2. He withalk a sip of his orange juice and asked, What do you have planned for today? Well... ya know its Lucys birthday, I thought I would go see her. Okay I gotta go, try to be home before 5. Well go out to dinner. Ohh and can you pick Emily up from school at 4, I wont be able to, he said as he tightened his tie, grabbed his briefcase and then vanished through the kitchen door, not waiting for my reply. I went up the stairs to change out of my pajamas. I grabbed a faded pair of jeans and pulled my sun-streaked hair into a loose ponytail. I grabbed the gift that I had bought for Lucy and headed out the front door. In a few minutes I was heading away from my sub-division and steering my Lincoln Navigator onto the expressway. I let my mind drift upon thoughts of my best friend. Lucy albumen and I had been best friends since the day we met in kindergarten. She caught my eye while standing in the corner crying for her mom. I wanted to cry too, but was too afraid. I thought she was pretty cool because she could wear her long stringy blonde hair down, and I had to wear mine tightly pulled back and slapdash braided. I still remember her standing there in her new Jordache jeans and sucking her thumb when I went up to her and said, My mom told me that only babies suck their thumbs. She chop-chop pulled the drool soaked finger out of her mouth and stopped crying. From then on she was always following my lead. I thought of how I could always change her to do the things that I knew were wrong but wanted to find out about anyways.