Table of Contents Executive Summary 3 Introduction 4 Analysis of Alternatives 5 Alternative 1: Introduce a new product 5 Alternative 2: Increase promotion 6 Alternative 3: Raise prices and cut costs 7 Recommendations 7 Appendix: Budgeted Income Statements & the Rate of Growth in Profits 9 Executive Summary Shepard Poles is a manufacturing company that has been providing specialized poles in the market for over ten years. Shepard Poles has about three different product lines: hiking poles, downhill ski poles, and cross-country ski poles. According to the calculation on current operating data, the company has incurred a operating loss of $ 165,000 this year. If any new strategic initiatives are not implemented next year, the unit sales and all costs are expected to rise about 7 percent and 2 percent respectively. However, this situation would make the company incur more loss next year, which is about negative $ 293,586.
The memo should request a set-timed conference call amongst decision makers to evaluate new information and answer questions. The call should suggest developing a plan to disassociate the Taco Bell brand from the consumer health violation, as well as reevaluate current use of approved genetically modified substances in its restaurants. Kraft Foods, Inc. should be second in the communication pipeline. Being late on a Friday, a direct telephone call would be the source of communication in order to streamline answers to this external crisis. The main point delivered should be to get in touch with Aventis and come to a conclusion as to how this contamination occurred.
czdcdcvzdvczdcPLE has developed a prototype for a new snow blower for the consumer market. This can exploit company's expertise in small-gasoline-engine technology and also balance seasonal demand cycles in the North American and European markets to provide additional revenues during winter months. Initially, PLE faces two possible decisions: introduce the product globally at cost of $850,000 0r evaluate it in a North American test market at a cost of $200,000. If it introduces the product globally, PLE might find either a high or low response to the product. Probabilities of these events are estimated to be 0.6 and 0.4 respectively.
Observation Paper: Black Friday Shopping The notorious Black Friday Shopping; an American tradition that grows larger with each passing year. It occurs annually on the Friday following Thanksgiving Thursday; this year being Friday, November 25, 2011. Shopping bargains are advertised approximately a week prior both online and in print. Hundreds of people map out their plans of action and line up outside of the stores hours before their opening. Normally, I would be one of those savvy shoppers but this year I sat back and observed.
America’s unemployment is around 7.5% with about twice as many people either giving up the search for employment or the unemployment benefits running out. So to say that the unemployment is closer to 15% is not that far out of bounds. The American blue collar worker is disappearing very rapidly. In recent months the President of the United States Barrack Obama has made his case for reviving the manufacturing base. “We want to create and sell products all over the world that are stamped with three simple words: ‘Made in America.’ That’s our goal,” the president said last
dsadasdPrime Minister Stephen Harper is heading to the White House on Wednesday for a meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama, when it's expected they will announce details of the contentious Beyond the Border trade and security deal. Business groups say the agreement is badly needed to reverse a continual thickening of the border, while opposition parties and even Canada's privacy commissioner are raising concerns about its potential to infringe on the privacy rights of Canadians. The tête-à-tête also will provide Harper an opportunity to further discuss Canada's interest in joining the nine-country Trans-Pacific Partnership trade group that already includes the United States. Canada, Japan and Mexico announced last month their interest
Problem and Issue Analysis:- 1. Problem statement – should Kraft launch an aggressive SSP campaign in USA and Canada simultaneously or await entry into Canada based on U.S. results and risk losing Canadian market share. 2. Main issues identified – a) Whether to launch SSP into the U.S. And Canadian market simultaneously in 1 month or wait for the results of the launch and risk losing share in the Canadian market. As Kraft Foods had decided an aggressive launch of coffee pods in the USA.
But behind what the casual observer see is a very complex company with the capacity to deliver millions of packages to millions of addresses around the globe overnight. Throughout the course of virtually every day and night, FedEx mobilizes its army of 280, 00 employees 80,000 vans and trucks, and 684 planes to get the job done. For FedEx, getting the job done means managing quality 24 hours a day, with a watchful eye on customer expectations. The company’s goals are simple: 100% on-time deliveries, and 100% accurate information available on every shipment to every location around the world. Although these sound like far-fetched goals, the company goes to great lengths try to make them a reality.
Steel Negotiation Deadlock I. Summary In a iron ore price talks between China and top international miners, Brazil's Vale and BHP Billiton of Australia want to increase 2010 ore prices by 90 percent from the previous year. They are also looking to downsize the contract from a yearlong commitment to a quarterly one. But China’s steel companies would resist any price increases and have even considered a boycott of the foreign suppliers if the issue is not resolved soon. The officials include the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Industry and Information (MII) and China Iron & Steel Association (CISA) hope to maintain the current annual pricing system and keep the price at a reasonable level to ensure the steady and sustainable development of the international iron ore trade and steel and iron industries.
* Reports to Max Brisco, Vice President of Manufacturing. * Managed an in-house warehouse that housed the raw material inventories and, maintained adequate buffer inventories. * Executed purchase contracts with vendors, ensuring specifications were met while achieving the best possible price. Basic Issues: * Materials and purchasing department had over 350 vendors for raw material supply. * Raw material lead time ranged from few days to 6 weeks, causing delay.