...UNDERSTANDING NATURAL GAS MARKETS Table of Contents PREVIEW Overview ...................................................................... 2 The North American Natural Gas Marketplace ............... 4 Natural Gas Supply ....................................................... 8 Natural Gas Demand ................................................... 12 Natural Gas Exports .................................................... 15 How Natural Gas is Traded .......................................... 16 Conclusion: A New Era For U.S. Natural Gas Markets ... 20 Glossary ..................................................................... 20 References ................................................................. 23 Understanding Natural Gas Markets Overview Natural Gas is an Important Source of Energy for the United States. Natural gas is an attractive fuel because it is clean burning and efficient, and ample supplies of natural gas are available from domestic resources. Recently, natural gas production in the U.S. has increased substantially due to technological advancements in natural gas extraction methods. This increased production has displaced traditional supply sources and resulted in reduced prices for natural gas consumers. The prospect of ample natural gas supplies, continued low prices, and the favorable environmental and economic position of natural gas-fired electric generation plants are leading to expectations of growing U.S. demand for natural gas,...
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...Hedging Strategies: McDonald’s Vs. Nodal’s Logistics Name: Mohssen Owlad Lecturer: Professor Mar Paronich Date: 21/07/13 INTRODUCTION Most companies around the world, which are dependent on any facility or transaction outside of the country of the origin, would encounter global market risks. Companies might be impacted by some global market risk, including foreign currency fluctuation and changes in interest rates. Therefore, when a company investment goes abroad and involves a foreign currency, global market risks are expected. All the companies employ several financial instruments and hedging activities to protect their investments. Different companies prefer various hedging strategies based on nature of their businesses and the risks’ areas they are exposed to. Hedging strategies can be applied to reduce devaluation effects and foreseen fluctuations in interest rates. In this assignment two different hedging strategies used by different companies will be discussed. McDonald’s Co. and Nodal’s Logistics are two companies that have applied certain hedging strategies to mitigate the impact of severe changes in currency and interest rates. McDonald’s Co. has its own risk management objective and strategy to tackle hedging transactions and all relationships between hedging instruments and hedging items. McDonald’s Co.’s derivatives that are appointed as hedging instruments have focused on interest rate swaps, foreign currency forwards and foreign currency options, cross-currency...
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...implement and execute its low-cost/no frills strategy? Which of Southwest's strategy execution approaches and operating practices do you believe have been most crucial in accounting for the success that Southwest has enjoyed in executing its strategy? Southwest airlines have a number of key policies, practices and core values that enable them to effectively execute their strategy. Most importantly, the airlines focus on its people and culture along with a focus on the core values of LUV and fun creates an environment in which employees can effectively implement the strategy. The family type culture and approach to recruiting employees with the right attitude ensures a low turnover for the company and an attitude that fosters employees helping out wherever they are needed is a great example of cross-functional systems enabling strategy implementation as identified by Beer (2000). The strategy of gradually expanding into new geographic markets and adding flights to areas where other providers were cutting back have helped ensure Southwest achieves high levels of market saturation in its current markets. Combined with curtailing flights on marginally profitable routes these strategies have enabled Southwest to gain better productivity from their fleet of aircraft. Strategies focusing on low operational cost methodologies such as single model aircraft fleet and fuel hedging have enabled the airline to effectively implement its low-cost strategy. A strong focus on vertical communication...
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...and Contrast the Linear and the Adaptive Approaches to Strategy Formation A strategy is commonly explained as a broad plan developed to take an organization from where it is to where it wants to be. A well-designed strategy will help an organization reach its maximum level of effectiveness in reaching its goals while constantly allowing it to monitor its environment to adapt the strategy as necessary. Strategies are established to set direction, focus effort, define or clarify the organization, and provide consistency or guidance in response to the environment. Each organization ends up developing its own nature and model of strategic formation, often by selecting a model and modifying it as they go along in developing their own planning process. Certain models such as the Linear and Adaptive approaches are identified by Chaffee (1985), for the purpose of strategy development, and hence they will be further outlined as the topic develops. According to Chaffee the linear approach consists of making decisions and formulating plans of action that will set and achieve viable goals. This tends to predominate in top-down organizations and assumes that future conditions will be fairly stable or predictable. It is a planned determination of goals, initiatives and allocation of resources, along the lines of the Chandler definition, which recognizes the importance of coordinating management activities under a well-structured strategy. Interactions between functions were typically handled...
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...consistently with organizational objectives - Integrate the different parts of an organisation - Proper interchange/flow of information within the organization - Enable strategic plans implementation (L.D. Benyayer, 2014) Evaluate the planning and control system use at Johnson & Johnson Strengths - Decentralized Management o Decentralization, split by business unit – easier to control and have a better view of each unit o All subsidiaries report directly to executive committee members. o Subsidiaries are managed by locals, which enables the organization to gain proper knowledge of the local market, cultural affinity, norms and values. o Each director has to analyze their own business unit strategy and is in charge of monitoring. Allows them to get a grasp of the bigger picture instead of solely working through their day-to-day activity. - Long term approach (5 to 10) o Even though the company has to face a very volatile market, they try to maintain a long-term basis. o Retrospective learning: J&J accords a lot of importance to learning from its mistakes o Motivational factors for directors of subsidiaries: Financial incentives in order to promote motivation o Train someone in JJ and send him to work at a subsidiary to «...
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...When a firm creates, formulates, and implements a strategy that adds value and competitive advantage that is a strategic business plan. A strategic business plan is the layout or outline that specifies how a firm is going to reach their plans or goals over a certain period of time. The plan can be very specific or very broad. It can focus on one part of the business, as well as a whole focusing on all functions within a company. This plan is important to an organization’s long-term success because it gives the company a direction or purpose in which to set goals and carry them out. A strategic business plan assists a company in providing products and services in a more efficient and effective manner. Without a strategic business plan a firm will have a difficult time maximizing the potential of its resources. New opportunities and key resources for growth or improvement will be limited or perhaps even missed. A strategic plan is important to both small and large businesses. I believe that for any company, no matter the size, it is equally important to have a strategic business plan in place. This will assist in understanding customer needs and be able to adapt to constant changes and new trends taking place within the company. With a successful strategic plan, a company has a great opportunity for becoming very successful. Innovation plays a key role in developing a company that has potential for growth and success. Innovation provides the company with ways to maintain a competitive...
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...OUTLINE a. Module learning outcomes b. Themes and topics c. Learning supports 3. MODULE DELIVERY SCHEDULE a. Session arrangements b. Student engagement c. Office hours arrangements 4. ASSESSMENT DETAILS a. Assignments b. Module assessment components i. Pre module assignment ii. Group project iii. Examination 5. GRADING a. University grading policy b. Grade descriptors for assessment components 6. CONCLUDING COMMENTS APPENDICES 5 6 10 12 16 19 21 3 Welcome message Welcome to this unit on Business Policy. Dr Yousef Eiadat will be joining me in teaching this course. In this unit we aim to build skills in Strategic planning – the analysis behind strategic decisions, the crafting of strategies and the implementation of them to ensure organisational success. Strategy involves managing the interface between an organization and its external environment. To this end, the first three topics develop skills in strategic analysis, leading to consideration of the positioning of an organisation in its strategic environment. These cover internal and external analysis, and the options in setting strategic...
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...TYPES OF MARKETING STRATEGIES MARKET LEADER STRATEGIES 1. Expand total market 2. Defend market share 3. Expand market share MARKET CHALLENGER STRATEGIES 1. Define strategic objective and opponents 2. Choosing an attack strategy MARKET FOLLOWER STRATEGIES MARKET NICHE STRATEGIES ================ A. 1. MARKET LEADER STRATEGIES EXPAND TOTAL MARKET • New Users E.g.: perfume:--> non-users (mkt-penetration strat) --> men (new market strat) --> other countries (geo-expan strat) E.g.: J&J Baby shampoo: birthrate declining --> ads target adults --> leading brand • New uses Cereals: as snacks --> increase frequency of use OJ: “not for breakfast anymore” Du Pont nylon: parachute-->pantyhose-->blouses & shirts --> auto tires -->seat belts --> carpeting Arm & Hammer: baking--> fridge deodorant --> quell kitchen grease --> carpet/pet deodorant --> bath tub relaxant --> toothpaste --> ???? • More usage: Michelin: want French to drive more --> rate restaurants (best in south --Provence & Riviera) --> publish guidebooks with maps and sights along the way 2. DEFEND MARKET SHARE • decide where to defend • continuous innovation along Mktg Mix Position defense: - purely defensive not enough --> must take offensive counter-measure Eg: Coke --> multi segments of cola mkt --> enter wine market --> acquire fruit drink companies --> desalination equipment --> plastics Flanking defense: - guarding territory not enough - create outposts/flanks: --> protect weak front --> invasion base for counter-attack...
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...clients. For many firms, the “80/20 rule” applies where the largest concentration (80%) of your revenue is being derived by a relatively small subset (20%) of your customers. These clients, due to the leveraged impact they have on your bottom-line and infrastructure costs, need to be carefully managed and made a key focus of your business strategy. This is equally true for a huge multi-million dollar conglomerate or a relatively small professional practice. While a continuing focus on new business acquisition is of paramount importance – “Grow or Die” – the strategy decision of how you marshal your limited resources of time, money and effort is a crucial one. Deciding to manage your top clients as “strategic accounts”, and investing your resources to build your relationships with them, provides a multiplier effect of benefits. To name a few: lowers acquisition costs for new business, engenders a higher level of customer loyalty, creates revenue stability and profitability enhancement, inspires ongoing future business, and develops a strong referral generator and free PR. Small businesses and professional practices can learn and incorporate strategies and practices from the larger, established strategic account departments of larger firms. Strategic account management is a mindset and a methodology, a series of carefully thought out decisions and processes that enforce and ensure that you truly place your top clients at the core of your business. This discipline needs to be internalized...
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...Strategic Plan Strategic planning is an important tool for any organization. By having the right strategic plan, a company could reach their goal as well as meet their customers’ demands. A strategic planning helps a company develop basic goals which company will try to reach in certain a time period. In the strategic planning, company will usually consider the mission statement, vision, and values of company. Through this paper, an individual will gain information how US Airways business, product the airline provide, and services US airways. The reader will also gain information about how US airways work on developing right mission statement. The reader will also gain information how important mission, vision, and values to US airways in direction of their strategic plan. Mission Statement The mission statement is short and memorable, like a catch phase. The purpose of a mission statement is to endorse the meaning of the company and associate with company business. The company main customer’s bases are individual who like to fly. The mission statement of US airways is “Fly with US”. It is very obvious that the company is an airline operator, providing travels all around the world for its valued customers. The mission state or the slogan “Fly with US” could vary with different meanings for individuals. The individual could perceive this statement in many different ways. An individual could look at US as top airline for United State . This could also mean by flying...
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...sure you have a strategy? Donald C. Hambrick and James W, Fredrickson Executive Overview After more than 30 years of hard thinking about strategy, consultants and scholars have provided an abundance of /rameworks for analyzing strategic situations. Missing, however, has been any guidance as to v^hat the product of these tools should be—or virhat actually constitutes a strategy. Strategy has become a catchall term used to mean whatever one wants it to mean. Executives now talk about their "service strategy," their "branding strategy," their "acquisition strategy," or whatever kind of strategy that is on their mind at a particular moment. But strategists—whether they are CEOs of established firms, division presidents, or entrepreneurs—must have a strategy, an integrated, overarching concept of how the business will achieve its objectives. If a business must have a single, unified strategy, then it must necessarily have parts. What are those parts? We present a framework for strategy design, arguing that a strategy has five elements, providing answers to five questions—arenas: where will we be active? vehicles: how will we get there? differentiators: how will we win in the marketplace? staging: what will be our speed and sequence of moves? economic logic: how will we obtain our returns? Our article develops and illustrates these domains of choice, particularly emphasizing how essential it is that they form a unified whole. Consider these statements of strategy drawn from actual...
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...Inbox My Profile What's New Help Logout Welcome Kimberly Raetano (IRN:9038043721) Home Classroom Library Program Account PhoenixConnect MMPBL/590 Materials Discussion Assignments Grades MMPBL/590 STRATEGIES FOR COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE Start Date: 01/17/2012 Print COURSE DESCRIPTION This course focuses on creating the value proposition as a driver of sustainable competitive advantage. Topics include translating key emerging trends into business opportunities; strategic challenges of global expansion; opportunities and constraints posed by regulatory change; competitor intelligence; scenario planning/planning for multiple futures; maximizing core business value; differentiating the value proposition; distribution channel development and integration; tailoring the value chain; building successful strategic alliances; and off-shoring models and approaches. Week 1 - Topic 1: Mission, Vision, and Values Objectives Distinguish between strategy and tactics. Explain the essential components of the strategic management process. Analyze the relationship among leadership, culture, stakeholder interests, and strategic outcomes. Create vision, mission, and values statements. Materials MIND MAP Mind Map Concept Outline EBOOK EBOOK COLLECTION: Chapter 1 - Pearce & Robinson. (2005). Strategic management (9th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill. EBOOK COLLECTION:...
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...Workshop 4 Problems Kevin Rock MBA 465 Strategic Management BSA 555 November 1, 2011 David R. Gray, Ph.D 1. Why are acquisition strategies popular in many firms competing in the global economy? Because of globalization; deregulation of multiple industries in many different economies and favorable legislation; the number and size of domestic and cross-border acquisitions continues to increase; especially from emerging economies 2. What reasons account for firms’ decisions to use acquisition strategies as a means to achieving strategic competitiveness? To increase market power; overcome entry barriers to new markets or regions; avoid costs of developing new products and increase the speed of new market entries; reduce the risk of entering a new business; become more diversified; reshape their competitive scope with different portfolio of businesses; and enhance their learning. 3. What are the seven primary problems that affect a firm’s efforts to successfully use an acquisition strategy? Difficulty of effectively integrating the firms involved; incorrectly evaluating the target firm’s value; creating debt loads that preclude adequate long-term investment; overestimating the potential for synergy; creating a firm that is too diversified; creating an internal environment in which managers devote increasing amounts of their time and energy to analyzing and completing the acquisition; developing a combined firm that is too large (thereby necessitating extensive...
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...Strategic Management Process Paper Vivian Shellmire MGT 498 March 21, 2011 Eligah King Strategic Management Process Paper The global marketplace has ushered in an emergent Era of corporate citizenship. Merging corporations often create an environment within a company where different structures coexist side-by-side. The reality, parties in collaboration tend to promote cultural capital. In fact, human nature is a factoring barrier making it a difficult challenge to retain highly esteemed talent and maintain production efficiency. Corporate responsibility obligates an organization to design a plan, a strategic process that fosters open-mindedness, confidence, passion, and optimism. A strategy plan incorporating mutual company goals, a philosophical mission statement, and an expected code of conduct can ensure consistency. A responsive way to alleviate conflict among parties would be to include a framework articulating clear concise policies, procedures, and implementation which emphasize corporate values and standards. General Motors Company for example, after acquiring partnership with Opel International encountered structural challenges. Opel’s (2011) promotion states, “We are inspired by the freshness and potential of unique talents. They excite our admiration and energize our emotion that is why we team up with new and established performers and support them, in their personal endeavors and the causes they believe in.” Ironically...
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...THE SHIPPING INDUSTRY ACCOUNTING TEAM Summary: Sarah (the name given by us) has been working in McKay, Sanderson, and Smith Associates a mid-sized accounting team located in Boston that is specialized in commercial accounting and audits for past five years. Her specialty is accounting practices for shipping companies, ranging from small to certain big fleets along east coast. About two months ago her company merged with another two other accounting firms which has offices in Miami, Seattle, Baton Rouge, and Los Angeles. They avoided centralizing their business around one office in Los Angeles. Instead they formed a new firm called Goldberg, Choo, and McKay Associates in order to leverage the synergies of their collective knowledge. This merges affected Sarah when she was told that she would be working with the other three members from the other two firms to become the firm’s new shipping industry accounting team, by her boss. The other members were Elias in Miami, Susan in Seattle, Brad in Los Angeles. She had earlier met Elias at a meeting in New York but not the other two. This shipping team activity involved e-mailing each other about new contracts and prospective clients. They were asked to submit the joint monthly statement reports and issues. Sarah submitted her own monthly reports which summarized the activities of her own clients. This coordination of monthly reports took much more time since different accounting documentation procedures across the three firms were...
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