Overcome the Identified Weaknesses and Threats

Performance SWOT analysis IKEA is amongst the biggest retailers of furniture in the world. It has grown rapidly since it was founded in 1943. It sells more than 10,000 furnishing products from well over 300 stores in around 40 countries. The company has in excess of 600 million visitors to its stores, and it is very successful website attracts in excess of 600 million visitors every year. IKEA is a Scandinavian company famous for furniture from living rooms to children's bedrooms. The majority of IKEA's furniture is flat-pack, ready to be assembled by the consumer. Strength IKEA is an environmentally friendly business with a keen focus upon sustainability. In years gone by the company had been accused of encouraging wastefulness since it made a very large numbers of furniture products at low prices. As part of an integrated public relations campaign – IKEA now focuses on sustainability and made it an underpinning principle of its business philosophy. * A democratic design reac hing an ideal balance between function, quality, design and price. IKEA Cost Consciousness means that low prices are taken into account when each product is designed from the outset. * IKEA likes satisfied customers.The business manages to score highly in customer satisfaction surveys. Many marketing research companies rank IKEA in their top 10 companies for customer satisfaction. They managed to enhance their brand association with such great results. * IKEA has maintained long-term partnerships with its suppliers. By committing to buying large volumes over a number of years IKEA can negotiate lower prices. This ensures that the company has access to high-quality materials at reasonable prices. This also benefits the suppliers because they enjoy the greater security of having guaranteed orders. Weaknesses The business is experiencing problems in one or two home markets. For example in the European market of the United Kingdom, IKEA has recently opened more stores which means that t he number of visitors is divided by a greater number of retail outlets. So in the past the consumers would travel many miles to visit stores and each store had a large number of visitors, now these consumers have not really increased in number, but are now able to visit a more local store. This has reduced the footfall per store and any sales density * The size and scale of its global business. This could make it hard to control standards and quality.Some countries where IKEA products are made do not implement the legislation to control working conditions. This could represent a weak link in IKEA's supply chain, affecting consumer views of IKEA's products. The IWAY code is backed up by training and inspectors visiting factories to make sure that suppliers meet its requirements. * The need for low cost products. This needs to be balanced against producing good quality. IKEA also needs to differentiate itself and its products from competitors. IKEA believes there is no compromise betw een being able to offer good quality products and low prices. Opportunities * IKEA can further capitalize on the â€Å"green† movement and IKEA's customers' desire to have less of an impact on the environment to denoting the demand for cheaper and greener products .* IKEA has a number of areas of focus to its work with sustainability, each of which it supports in various ways such as offers tips and ideas online for costumers to create a more sustainable home , developing strong social responsibility by giving to a wide range of different charities and reducing carbon footprint by packing in less material. IKEA is traditionally famous for its diversification strategies. For example in the past they have sold food products and opened restaurants in their stores. So the online opportunity of trading through highly advanced e-commerce technologies is an ideal avenue for IKEA. Obviously this helps the business to overcome problems with out-of-town stores since consumers can stay at home to shop and then request that goods are delivered to their doorstep. Threats * Businesses such as IKEA will struggle against the larger portfolio suppliers such as Tesco in the United Kingdom and Walmart in the United States.For example Tesco's sells not only groceries, but TV sets and mobile phones, so it is only a matter of time before the business diversifies into a range of bedroom furniture or kitchens. * Like any global marketing company IKEA has to compensate for the global economic situation. The business needs people to move through the family life cycle. Empty nesters need to equip their homes with furniture. So interest rates need to be low enough so that they can afford to borrow money to equip their new homes. There needs to be plenty of low-cost housing for them to be able to do this.Do they have job security? The changing economic environment will impact and influence IKEA’s furniture business. * IKEA is trading in relatively mature consumer markets, an d has entered all plausible free markets countries. The new and emerging nations of India and China sometimes make it difficult for IKEA to embed itself as a supplier to new consumers. For example, there are often foreign ownership rules which mean that IKEA might have to take a local business partner. The new partner could take more than 50% of its business and this is not always acceptable to its board.

Analysing Strategic Issues in Geely Automobile †Industry Structures and Dynamics Essay

Geely Automobile Holdings Ltd. , formerly known as Guorun Holdings Ltd. , embarked on a major restructuring in 2003. By establishing two joint-venture associated companies in Ningbo and Shanghai with Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Ltd. , a major privately-owned auto manufacturer in China, the company had successfully entered into China’s booming sedan industry. In the same year, the company set up an auto parts subsidiary in Taizhou of the Zhejiang province, further consolidating the foundation of the company’s investments in China’s automobile industry, thus successfully transforming the company’s key businesses into automobile manufacturing and the related areas. In May 2004, the company’s two associated companies agreed to acquire other auto-related assets under Zhejiang Geely Holding. After the acquisitions, the automobile research and development organizations under Zhejiang Geely Holding, all operating production plants, car models, and respective engines and gearboxes being launched or to be launched would have been included in the two associates formed by the company. This restructuring should enable the company to share the same interests and benefits with Zhejiang Geely Holding in their future developments in auto-related businesses. Analysing strategic issues in Geely Automobile – Industry structures and dynamics (5 forces) Michael E. Porter’s five-forces model assess the nature of competition in an industry, it looks at the strength of five distinct competitive forces, which include the Degree of Rivalry, The Threat of Entry, The Threat of Substitutes, Buyer Power and the Supplier Power. When these forces are being taken together, they determine long-term profitability and competition. Porter’s work has had a greater influence on business strategy than any other theory in the last half of the twentieth century. (Porter,1998) Out of them, the rivalry between existing sellers in the market, the potential threat of new sellers and substitute products entering and becoming available in the market are chosen to facilitate a greater discuss on.

Globalization revisited Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Globalization revisited - Essay Example This is valuable as concepts for democracy and equality are espoused influencing leaders of other countries who incorporate them into their own governments. The more educated people spread their elevated ideas to others, the more the society becomes as a whole. Over time, this has and will continue to create a more globalized world. The somewhat less beneficial effects are initiated by big business. They hope to reach as many markets as possible to increase their profits. While the youth may enjoy these modern developments there is a great deal to be said about preserving a countries rich national culture. These elements also lead to a more globalized world but at what cost. Coca Cola sold in parts of Africa and China, Disneyland and such other American things may not necessarily contribute to the culture but rather direct every nation to be as the United States is. Is this really beneficial? Perhaps the US would benefit more by learning from other cultures, rich in tradition and values rather than being so profit driven. This leads to man’s lust for power. Imperialism started 500 years ago with ancient empires conquering other lands. Their desire to have as much power possible led to great expansion and the conquering of other lands. The Ottoman Empire, British Empire and Roman Empire all led to domination over the conquered peoples and forced influences on their own cultures (Hussain 2011). Today as the empires are broken up into individual nation states we see the lust for power rise to the surface in other ways. The United States, seen as the greatest defender of democracy, also hopes to impose it on other countries. Such is evidenced today by our militaristic intervention in Iraq and Afghanistan. While we don’t wish to maintain any level of control in these countries as some do by hoping to include Canada and Mexico as part

Participation Questions week 4 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Participation Questions week 4 - Essay Example Investing in rapidly growing companies or building portfolios that assume a fairly high amount of risk are some components of aggressive finance strategies. What is difference between the aggressive and conservative financing model? Conservative funding strategy focuses on funding both its seasonal and permanent requirements with long-term debt. This type of financing model focuses on minimizing risk and preserving capital. Aggressive financing will focus on placing a higher number of assets in equities instead of safer debt securities*. Under what circumstances would you use either one? Selecting the conservative strategy will not lead to an increase in value, but it might guard against inflation. However, some funds may use an aggressive strategy then switch to a conservative later on in time. (529 plans is an example**) Therefore, depending on the overall objective, aggressive financing will allow investors to achieve maximum return sooner than the conservative strategy. I agree with you but do companies make use of short term debt only to meet seasonal requirements? I would say that it is equally applicable to all other forms of short term finance needs. The major benefit a company can expect from aggressive financing is relatively higher return as compared to long term debt. This is because short term debt is cheaper (debt servicing cost is low) than long term debt. However, it is associated with higher risk. I agree that Conservatory financing is used to finance both long term and short term requirements with long term debt. But there will still be some portion of working capital requirements that has to be met using short term financing. But yes, as you said, it is much safer and consists of relatively lower risk than the aggressive financing. According to the text, an Aggressive financing strategy is a strategy under which the firm funds its seasonal requirements with short-term debt and its permanent requirements with long-term debt. A

Hearsay and exemptions to hearsay Research Paper

Hearsay and exemptions to hearsay - Research Paper Example The notion of preliminary hearing is also acknowledged as â€Å"probable cause† hearing which acts as a proceeding in which the prosecuting authority ought to ascertain in court that they possess feasible grounds to arrest a particular individual being accused as criminal. In relation to the Wisconsin Laws, the aspect of preliminary hearing has been primarily designed for the advantage of those imprisoned individuals, who are unable to post any sort of bonds ensuring that they are not detained in jail due to any irrelevant charges imposed over them. Nevertheless, the imprisoned individuals who are not able to post any kind of bonds are allowed to request for a preliminary hearing in order to dismiss the case based on specified grounds (Siegel, 2009). It has been viewed that the major aim of preliminary hearing is to verify the reality that whether a prosecutor possesses sufficient proof in order to validate further illicit proceedings against any accused individual. Furthermor e, the other main target of preliminary hearing is that it tends to establish the reality that there lay every possible ground to believe that an individual has been imprisoned on the basis of the filed charges against committing a criminal act (Herman, 2006). In this discussion, whether hearsay can be used in preliminary hearings on the basis of Wisconsin laws will be taken into concern. Moreover, certain grounds relating to the exemptions of hearsay will also be portrayed in the discussion henceforth. A Brief Overview of Preliminary Hearing The role of preliminary hearing in criminal cases can be well justified in relation to the present hearsay laws in the US statutory procedure and the recently amended Wisconsin Act. A defendant is usually allowed to experience a preliminary hearing only when he/she has been detained for the conduct of any sort of felony offense or performed certain disregardful actions in federal courts as well as in the state laws. The perceptions of prelimina ry hearing has been introduced as well as developed for the purpose of delivering significant benefits to the imprisoned individuals who are not capable to post statutory bonds assuring that they are not detained in jail due to any irrelevant charge. According to the facets of preliminary hearing, it has been apparently observed that if a particular defendant seems to be in jail at the time of conducting preliminary hearing and the responsible state fails to present any feasible grounds to prove the criminal offenses, the defendant would be entitled to enjoy the right to get dismissal from his/her case. Moreover, along with the dismissal of case, the defendant would also be entitled to get immediate release from the jail. Similarly, if a particular defendant is not present in jail at the time of performing preliminary hearing and the responsible state fails to ascertain possible reasons to the circumstances, the defendant would bear the right to get dismissed from his/her case and a lso to get immediate release from imprisonment (Siegel, 2009). The defense attorneys characteristically make the use of preliminary hearings as a helpful tool for collecting valuable evidences regarding any case in opposition to the defendant. This is due to the reason that the attorneys view the aspect of preliminary hearing as a sort of deposition by which they can discover what exactly the defendant confides about committing a felony or a criminal offense. With regard to the benefit of those imprisoned indiv

Comparing and Contrasting Operating Systems Assignment

Comparing and Contrasting Operating Systems - Assignment Example The Novelle Netware OS, however, is older than any of these platforms and has been mainly used as a networking OS. The difference and to the disadvantage of the Windows platform is in regard to the security issues. Viruses and worms are far rarer in Linux and OSX than in Windows. Linux is universally held as a very solid OS and much preferred as server and firewall system. OSX, on the other hand, is a highly customized UNIX system, which also makes it a more security aware infrastructure. According to Thomas, Chanelle and Sicam, the total number of viruses and worms found in the wild infecting Linux systems are less likely than 1,000 while Windows must tackle, approximately 1,000 new viruses every month (185). Meanwhile, Novelle used to be the king in terms of security and reliability but that it has undergone very little upgrades since the 1990s. Another important difference between the operating systems being discussed is the cost. Linux is an open platform, hence, it is free. Windows 2000, Novelle Netware, and the OSX on the other hand, come with expensive price tags. For example, when a consumer upgraded from NT4 to Windows 2000, he had to buy Client Access License besides the software upgrade of $400 or $500 (Boswell 31). However, what made Windows 2000 more attractive for users is the availability as well as the sheer number of compatible applications. Linux users are relatively low compared to the Windows platform and the number of applications developed for it over the years is fewer as well. This is also the case in the OSX’s experience. With regards to Novelle, it has stopped being relevant in the OS market because of its poor graphical user interface and have remained as choice server system only for very few administrators. This factor is still the most significant for users. Despite all the advantages that Linux and OSX has over

Power Point Presentation in Lectures Research Paper

Power Point Presentation in Lectures - Research Paper Example From the practical perspective, the utilization of Power Point presentations in classroom enhances students' learning, facilitates their participation and engagement, reduces boredom from educational process and improves student-teacher interaction. Students normally feel comfortable to direct questions to specific parts of the Power Point presentation, which evidently indicates they are engaged with the lesson and the presentation tool used in the classroom. The power point presentation also benefits the students who are absent. Teacher can print a copy of the Power Point lesson and give this to students upon their return to class. Power Point presentations can be used on a teacher's web site. Parents and students can access the site and get key information that has been discussed in class. This technology can even be integrated with a web based programs like Blackboard, and assessments can be given over the material presented in the Power Point lesson. Stein, Silbert, and Carnine in their book Designing Effective Mathematics Instruction: A Direct Instruction Approach, made the point that the organization of the learning environment was critical to the success of learners: "The way in which teachers organize the learning environment determines how successful learners will be in constructing the meaning that teachers intend to convey" (Stein et al., 1997, p2). Following this line of thought, it is evident that careful preparation of the learning environment (such as through the development of power point) contributes to student learning. This idea is supported by Stein and his colleagues who note: "The use of power point is the perfect tool to allow for the teacher to follow their scripted lesson while engaging with the students and also provides that visual guide for the student to follow and help stay connected with the lesson being taught" (Stein et al., 1997, p.123). The process of establishing a well-structured classroom enviro nment that incorporates new technologies can help model the expectations mentioned above that are expected outside of the classroom while also creating a very constructive and effective learning environment within the classroom. The constructivist approach of actively constructing knowledge through personal experience contrasts with the traditional approach to learning which states that students are empty containers who store knowledge in the same form they receive it. From the perspective of using Power Point presentation in the classroom, constructivists rely on teaching practices that are rich in student-teacher interactions that help the student come to the understanding of what they need to learn. These interactions help the student construct meaning and understanding. The role of the constructivist teacher is to assist students as they create constructions or frameworks of their understandings. It has been stated that there are six ways in which teachers can assist their students' performance: modeling, contingency, managing, feedback, instructing, questioning, and cognitive feedback (Goos, Galbraith, Renshaw, Geiger, 2003).

Sociological Views on Poverty Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Sociological Views on Poverty - Essay Example It would then be followed by a critical examination of the arguments taken by authors and commentators and would end in a conclusion that shall emphasize the role of the global interrelation and effort to resolve the problems of poverty. Poverty as stated by Ruby Payne in her book, Framework for Understanding Poverty, is the condition in which the person does not have enough resources. She further clarifies that there are different types of resources with which poverty could be identified with. First and the most popular concerns financial resources which refers to monetary value that shall enable the individual to purchase services and goods. The others include emotional, mental, spiritual, physical, support systems such as friends and family networks, role models and knowledge of habits. However, financial resources have been the most popular since it was the most obvious, regardless of this; the other resources are also important and relevant if one would like to counteract poverty as a whole. (2005, pages4-8) Since usually poverty is seen as a lack of financial resources, it has been customary for people to respond to poverty through financial support. This is primarily done through donations and grants. It is also in line with this view that people thinks that people are poor because they do not work hard enough in able to sustain their basic needs. People who looked like rubbish or are not presentable are often seen as poor. (Payne, 2005, page 4-9) Another author, Farley, believes that poverty is something that is rooted on sociological relationship such as the economic production, the political system, the institution that is present in the society, the predominant culture prevalent in the society. Thus, poverty in this view is not a problem in the individual level but in a societal level which could only be remedied through sociological programs and changes. To further clarify his view, he provided an introduction to two relevant perspectives that shall explain his belief. (2000, 173) The Functionalist perspective is a view, wherein the whole society is likened to a living organism wherein each cells are relevant and relatively connected to one and another. As the name of the theory implies, it insist that each part of the society is present due to a certain function that it must perform. (Kitano, 1985:40). In line with this perspective, poverty is viewed as a necessary part of society. Poverty has a function in the society in which it could be found. Looking closer, poor people resembles certain characters that set them aside from the rest of the society. The differences in values and in culture have made the poor different from other members of the society. Now this attitude would be inherited by their children thus explain the expansion of poverty. Most commonly the poor people think as if they could not change their life and life style since they were born that way. (Eitzen and Baca-Zinn, 1994 page 173-175) However, this kind of approach to poverty is too limited and very illogical. Poverty might indeed be natural but this does not mean that it should be left in its own. Time before

Case Study Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Case Study Assignment - Essay Example nt that would justify entering the China market would put to rest any counterarguments and indicate that Google’s move was still consistent with their unofficial company motto: â€Å"Don’t Be Evil†. Google could address the arguments that entry into the China market and abiding with the government’s law for censorship is the only logical, viable, and ethical solution for providing services to the China market and allowing access to the Google search engine, as against totally preventing their entry. Google could justify that among a magnanimous amount of information that could be accessed, only a few controversial issues where explicitly identified by Chinese government and they do justice to the government and to their Chinese clientele through abiding by these regulations. B. Being silent is another strategy that would still indicate that Google does not need to explain their entry into the China market since obviously, the organization has made every possible cost-benefit analysis and justifications that led to the decision. By being silent, Google affirms conformity to the same corporate mantra and as long as they do not violate any international law, the organization adheres to ethical, moral and legal standards. The focus is to advertise their focus on serving the global market to indicate that they are more concerned of unifying the world, than, being contributory to restrictive access. Actually, they could issue a public statement to justify their entry to the China market and at the same time design a promotional campaign that Google focuses on serving the global market by addressing the distinct needs and requirements of varied