Conceptualizing a business
Roneika Stewart
BUS/475
October 18, 2011
Kwadwo Ofori-Brobbery

Conceptualizing a Business The Union Pacific Railroads is one of the most leading transportation companies across the United States. The railroad provides service in Mexico. The railroad covers 23 states in the western two-thirds of the country and serves many of the fastest growing U.S population and providing a safe mode of freight transportation (Union Pacific, 2011). Union Pacific franchise provides strong pricing opportunity, dependable service, and shareholders with higher return. This paper defines the Union Pacific Railroad service, states the company’s mission statement, values, and address customer needs.
Mission Statement According to Union Pacific Railroad (2011), “Men and women are dedicated to serve, the Union pacific works together for the good of our customers, shareholders, and one another; our commitment defines us and drives the economic strengths of our company and our country. Union Pacific’s vision represents the experience for people who the company inspired. The vision also connects the importance of rail transportation to America’s economy, acknowledge the generation prior to us and promise for the generation that will follow. ” The Union Pacific strives to build America. The Union Pacific Railroad transport freight across the western part of the United States by rail. The railroad service has been in high demand for many years and years to follow. Therefore the company will provide the best service and practice safety to maintain the high volume customers and add customers throughout the years.
Guiding Principles The Union Pacific takes pride in its reputation for employees. The source of reputation is a bond with consumers, shareholders and community partners. Union Pacific Railroad conducts business under the code of business conduct and set corporate standards and ethics governed by corporate governance and guidelines. The railroad also has by-laws the company must abide before making any major decision. The company trains employees on business code of conduct and ethics to abide by the ethical and business conduct of foreign countries. Union Pacific developed a global hotline in 2007 for employees to follow rules and regulations based on each country. In 2008 Union Pacific grossed about 74 % of net profit from foreign trade by using foreign currency on the market to exchange back in the United States, currency offsetting losses suffered when the American dollar decreased. A successful company does more than provide their service in the market-place; a company that cares about the consumers it takes social responsibility and image of the reputation in the market-place. Union Pacific promotes and ethically balanced workplace throughout the company placing stakeholders and consumers first while enforcing commitment to employees by offering safe working conditions, benefits, and compensation. Employees complete an ethical training each year and should report any violations to management. Legal obligations are obligations a company have government mandated requirements for doing business. The Union Pacific Railroad ranked second in innovation and fourth in global competitiveness (Union Pacific, 2011). Although fortune is striving to rename the category, fortune ranked Union Pacific the most favorable company in transportation and logistics. Union Pacific commitment to diversity means treating people fairly valuing differences and maintaining supportive environment (Union Pacific, 2011). The organization respect employees; focus on employee’s developmental needs, and build on their strengths; reward managers for their managerial and technical skills.
Customer Needs Union Pacific customers, includes transportation and logistics companies, some local stores in America. The Union Pacific directly service stores such as Wal-Mart, Sysco foods, Ups, and Grocery Supply and indirectly services other local stores. Other local stores are customers of different transportation companies. The Union Pacific railroad transports a mixture of commodities including agriculture, automobile, energy, and intermodal. On the other hand their competitors are limited on what they transport. To market the company wide variety of service the Union Pacific has divided their market team into six subgroups. The Union Pacific has an agriculture group that markets only the agriculture side of the business including, grain products, beverage, condiments, and food, it represents $3.0 billion in annual revenue; the automotive group handles the transporting of automobiles it represents $1 billion in annual revenue; the energy unit represents $3.5 billion in annual revenue; industrial group; the intermodal group has $3.2 billion annual revenue; last but not least, the Mexico group transport freight from America to Mexico (Union Pacific, 2011). The service the railroad provides is needed throughout the United States. As long as corporations are doing business they will need a service to transport their products. The service is needed for most business in the United Sates. If the people of the world continue to remain employed the railroad will continue its success. The Union Pacific stands out from its competitors because they provide services for a mixture of commodities. Their logo is different from competitors, the railroad is working together to build America. The Union Pacific strives to meet the needs and priorities of customers, therefore the railroad has implemented a management team to oversee freight is deliver to customers in a timely manner.