...HRM Issues/Diversification Strategies Global demand for steel expanded continuously throughout the 1960s, a demand domestic producers elected to not meet, choosing only to match domestic consumption requirements. This presented an opportunity for up-start foreign producers to strengthen themselves without directly competing against producers in the United States. Throughout this expansion, the relationship between management and labor soured. The Nucor Corporation broke into the industry with a workforce that consisted of farmers, mechanics, and other motivated workers. The company experienced various pains, eventually won community trust and respect within the industry. Trends in Steel Industry and how it may Impact Nucor’s Strategy “Due to growing demand for scrap metal, its cost has become increasingly volatile in the 1990s. In 1994, for example, prices climbed as much as $50/ton to $165-170/ton while 10 million tons of American scrap were exported to offshore customers. In 1996 prices reached $200/ton, and were expected to climb, but instead declined to $170-180/ton by the end of 1997” (Boyd & Grove, p. 6, 2000). Like many industries, the slumping global economy has significantly impacted demand in the steel industry as well. As the automotive and construction industries recover, the steel industry should begin to see a gradual upswing in demand. However, the steel industry will encounter difficulty trying to maintain growth revenues greater than 15% until other...
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...Assignment #4: HRM Issues/Diversification Strategies BUS 599 Strategic Management Conduct an Analysis of Case #10 Nucor Corporation and prepare a (4-5 page report). Discuss the trends in the steel industry and how it may impact Nucor’s strategy. The trend had been major steel production using blast furnaces. New technology using arc furnaces adopted by Nucor led to increased production and cost savings. The arc furnace technology took less labor, increased production, and was considered the new most cost-effective strategy among the steel industry. It was Nucor’s decision to adopt this process and be the first to introduce this new process to the United States. Many steel companies were going out of business due to reduced demand for steel and failing economies across the globe in the late 90s into the 2000s. Nucor chose to buy these failing plants when easily convertible to their production lineup. This also in many cases was a cheaper route than building new plants. The acquisition strategy proved to be essential as these failing firms were already setup for steel production at mass quantities and Nucor was able to inherit their ties and partnerships as well as their presence in their surrounding geographical area. The constant drive for efficiency and cost effective production was another strategy chosen to increase competitive advantage, market share, and ultimately become the number one steel producer among heavy competition. Discuss the organizational structure and...
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...Diversification Strategies Diversification Strategies The question of whether a business should diversify or not sounds fairly simple. Businesses are always looking for ways to reduce risk in the marketplace as well as ways to improve performance and diversification is often a way to achieve those goals (“Business Diversification,” n.d.). Upon further examination though, the question is more complicated and could have a tremendous impact on whether a business succeeds or fails (Heller, R. 2006). This paper examines two companies that implemented diversification strategies with very different results: one successful and one that wasn’t. It will conclude with possible reasons why their outcomes were different and suggested actions the unsuccessful company could have taken that would have resulted in a successful outcome. Hallmark Cards, Inc. Hallmark Cards was first incorporated in 1923 and is now the world’s largest greeting card company. They distribute their cards and other products in more than 30 languages to more than 100 countries and in 2006 had $4.1 billion in sales. In the US alone, their products are sold in over 40,000 retail outlets, they have over 20,000 employees, and they continue to be privately held (“Hallmark Cards, Inc.,” 2007). Even in the early years of the company’s history, Hallmark saw a need to diversify and it continues that strategy today. Early diversification efforts were related to products like wrapping paper...
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...Diversification BUS 508: Contemporary Business Dr. Micky Mouse Assignment2: Diversification Strategies Submitted by Minnie Mouse Research two corporations that have had different outcomes (one successful and one unsuccessful) with their diversification strategies. Compare and contrast each corporation’s diversification strategy and evaluate the reasons for each one’s success or failure in the venture. Compare and contrast the two businesses—core business, their size, financials, global presence, use of e-business (marketing, sales, etc.). A great example of companies that utilized completely opposite paths in the business world is Wal-Mart and Kmart. Recently, Kmart is on an endless downhill spiral while Wal-Mart has risen to the top of the retail industry and is their financial strength is strong. Wal-Mart is the largest business enterprise in the world as well as the nation’s biggest employer and the number one retailer in the U.S. There are over 5000 Wal-Mart stores and they report sales over three-hundred billion dollars. Two million people are employed by Wal-Mart in twenty-eight countries in the world. Fortune magazine’s 2010 Most Admired Companies Survey ranks Wal-Mart among the top ten retailers. Kmart is now the #3 discount retailer behind Wal-Mart and Target. There are 1,300 Kmart stores located in 49 US States as well as Puerto Rico, Guam, and the US Virgin Islands. ...
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...Diversification Strategies Diversification strategies are used to expand firms' operations by adding markets, products, services, or stages of production to the existing business. The purpose of diversification is to allow the company to enter lines of business that are different from current operations. When the new venture is strategically related to the existing lines of business, it is called concentric diversification. Conglomerate diversification occurs when there is no common thread of strategic fit or relationship between the new and old lines of business; the new and old businesses are unrelated. Diversification is a market strategy, which is about expanding the business of the company in some way. It stretches from adding new products or services, which in some way are related to the corporation’s previous products or services on the market, too establish oneself with new, on a from the corporation’s point of view, completely unknown market (Grant). Although the idea of diversification as a strategy for growth and risk reduction is rather old, it was only after 1950 it became popular to let the corporation expand over different markets and product lines. This growth strategy continued to attract more and more companies, until it culminated in the 1970s when it became popular to build conglomerates, that is, companies expanding by adding more and more unrelated business to the corporation, often via acquisitions. In the following decades, the...
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...Running head: STRATEGIES Diversification Strategies Pamela L. McGhee Dr. Kimberly Anthony The Business Enterprise – BUS 508 Strayer University, Savannah Campus 30 October 2011 Diversification IBM a Fortune 500 company celebrated its 100th birthday this past June. IBM employs over 400,000 employees and is considered to be a $100 billion dollar or more giant in e-business global marketing technology. With the inception of the computer, IBM’s core business was mainframe computers, which almost bought the company to its knees in bankruptcy. IBM looked at the PC as just a gadget and with any gadget over time would fade into oblivion. IBM would find out the hard way that the PC would rapidly transform the world into the Information Age in the business arena and in that of our personal lives. IBM quickly moved into software, hardware and other services. IBM has been a Fortune 500 company since the 1970’s, and has survived, whereas over a-third of those in the Fortune 500 during that era have either merged, been acquired, sold in pieces, or just completely disappeared off the face of the earth. IBM launched an extensive e-business marketing campaign using its own initials Internet Business Machines during the 1990’s. IBM informed businesses that the Internet would be the new way to conduct business. By 1997 IBM had well over 10,000 e-business customers. IBM’s global e-business has expanded to Russia, China, Brazil and India. (Savov, 2011) Abercrombie...
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...Diversification Strategies Kenneth Thomas Strayer University Contemporary Business 508 November 2, 2011 Dr. Dennis Darlark Diversification Strategies Diversification strategies in today’s business world can allow a company to increase its presence and product line to increase shareholder value in an ever changing economy. A well thought out mix of product development and acquisitions through mergers can reap a company many inherent rewards while expanding on their core business, while a plan that was not properly executed or researched can cause a diversification attempt to severely devalue the company’s net worth. In the following pages I will show two examples, first 3M whose strategies in diversifying brought forth a favorable outcome and the AOL Time Warner merger which did not prove to be the success everyone had hoped. Successful Diversification This section will help describe the success of 3M. “When most people think of 3M Co., adhesives and hooks used to hang posters or pictures typically come to mind.”(Pohl, K. 2007) 3M can be classified as “a diversified technology company with a presence in industrial and transportation; health care; display and graphics; consumer and office; safety, security and protection services,” (Reuters, 2011). The products that have come from these service areas have propelled the company into a global presence. 3M has operations in over 65 countries and product sales in nearly 200 countries. (3M, 2011) Global sales...
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...Diversification Strategies According to investopedia.com, “Diversification is a technique that reduces risk by allocating investments among various financial instruments, industries and other categories. It aims to maximize return by investing in different areas that would each react differently to the same event. Most investment professionals agree that, although it does not guarantee against loss, diversification is the most important component of reaching long-range financial goals while minimizing risk.” Diversification strategies are used to increase a company’s operations by adding markets, products, services, or stages of production to the existing business. The purpose of diversification is to allow the company to enter lines of business that are diverse from current operations. There are three types of diversifications: concentric, horizontal and conglomerate. When the new venture is related to the existing lines of business, it is called concentric diversification. When a firm develops or acquires new products that are different from its core business or technology but appeals to their current customer that is called horizontal diversification. Conglomerate diversification is when there is no common thread of strategic fit or relationship between the new and old lines of business; the new and old lines of business; the new and old businesses are unrelated (Enotes.com). Diversity at Southwest Airlines can be explained by the company having a modern and multi-faceted...
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...Assignment 2: Diversification Strategy The purpose of this paper is to compare and contrast two companies; One successful and one unsuccessful. The two companies chosen for this purpose is General Motors (unsuccessful) and Toyota Motor Corporation (successful). The content of this paper will analyze, compare and contrast the outcomes, and recommend actions that General Motors could have made to make their diversification venture more successful. The analysis will include the company’s core business, the size of the companies, and the 2009 financial statements of the companies, the company’s global presence, and their use of e-business. The analysis will also contain the primary reason for the different outcomes. History of General Motors General Motors was founded by William Durant on September 16, 1908, in Flint Michigan. GM’s core business is making and selling automobiles. At the beginning, General Motors designed automobiles for the Buick Motor Company, but in a short amount of time General Motors acquired more than 20 companies. These companies include Oldsmobile, Cadillac, and Pontiac, to name a few. General Motors went through many phases of development from 1910-1929. General Motors new design over Ford’s Model T design set the pace for production, design, and the marketing innovation of vehicles. General Motor’s first diversification took place when it added Chevrolet, Vauxhall, and Opel. General Motors used its philosophy and strategy for marketing by...
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...Diversification Strategies BUS 508 Contemporary Business Professor Lewis Janisa Carter February 1, 2012 Introduction In today’s highly competitive and challenging business environment many variables are to be considered when it comes to the success or failure of a business. Business firms must consider the worlds fast changing societal needs and appropriately employ the diverse strategies needed to flourish. This paper will compare and contrast two businesses, one successful and the other unsuccessful. By doing so, I will take a closer look at diversification strategies and evaluate the reasons that determine a business’s outcome. I will also discuss the importance of business plans, marketing plans, and strategic plans as they are key elements to the success of a business. And finally, I will offer the failed business new diverse strategies that would help with future success. Compare and Contrast Two Businesses and their outcomes Amazon.com Amazon.com was founded by Jeff Bezos in 1994, and launched in 1995. Amazon.com is an American multinational electronic commerce company. It was one of the first American Ecommerce companies to sell over the internet. Ecommerce has multiple advantages over “brick and mortar” and order catalogues. With Ecommerce customers can...
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...Diversification Strategies When companies begin they develop a business plan that details what they intend to specialize in. For some, once they have reached a goal in one market they make decisions to venture out into other markets. In the world of business, that venturing out is called diversifying the company. According to Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary, to diversify is “to increase the variety of the products of; or to engage in varied operations.” (Merriam-Webster, 2012) In a business, when you produce a variety of goods or invest in different markets it is a strategy that provides a back-up in the event that one good or investment goes south. Diversification strategies can be either beneficial or harmful to a company. Comcast Corporation and Eastman Kodak Company are two companies that made the decision to diversify themselves, but it led to different outcomes. Comcast Corporation was originally founded in the early 1960s under the name, American Cable Systems, Inc. Initially, the company only served Tupelo, Mississippi. The company was also one of only a few community antenna television (CATV) services in the nation. The “CATV business was predicated on the fact that rural areas were underserved by commercial television stations which catered to large metropolitan areas.” (Comcast Corporation, 1999) The CATVs used huge antennas that pulled in distant signals to display the shows on television. If a household did not have one of those antennas they had...
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...Southwest is the fourth largest airline in the USA in terms of domestic passenger miles flown. Why is Southwest successful and the other airlines in the USA are not? There are many different reasons but I listed a couple below: • Southwest's unique culture, called "goofiness" by some individuals, keeps the morale of its employees high • Southwest is very serious about keeping its costs down • Southwest's employees have never gone out on strike • Southwest leads the industry in on-time performance • Through 2002, Southwest's stock price increased 29 per cent per annum for the preceding ten-year period. Southwest's business strategy is to be the low cost provider with frequent service and no frills to customers who drive most of the time instead of flying. Southwest's average trip is less than 500 miles and is 50 per cent less in length than its major competitors. Southwest devotes significant monies to training and development. Each major work area has its own training department –mechanics, in-flight activities, customer service, operations and reservations. Even though Southwest is the most unionized airline, their work environment is free of rigid rules. According to Herb Kelleher, the genesis of the Southwest culture was created in 1971 - the first year of operation for Southwest. Southwest was encountering cash flow difficulties in its first year of operation. Mr. Kelleher and his management team faced the dilemma of either selling planes or laying off people to save...
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...enough to reach his strategic goal of building a sports complex for his business to occupy. Dyer needs to double his business in order to support this goal. In using S.W.O.T. analysis to evaluate NOCO’s current situation it is clear that NOCO has a number of things working for it already; customer retention is very high, awareness of NOCO in its’ current market is close to 100 percent and Dyer has access to enough trainer resources to continue his company’s growth. Some of the obstacles NOCO faces in working toward expansion are loss of customer base to high school sports programs after they reach 14 years old, a narrow selection of programs for current customers, lack of diversification and limited awareness of the company’s programs and philosophy in adjacent towns. Dyer could employ many operational strategies help reach his ultimate goal of a new sports complex. There are several opportunities available for NOCO to take advantage of with minimal threat or competition to worry about. Dyer has noticed that as the kids in his programs begin high school and start to participate in school sports, they tend to lose interest in the soccer programs he offers. Dyer might try product development by offering camps and training programs for the older students outside of their school and school sport schedules. Summer camps geared toward a general sport theme as opposed to just soccer might appeal to the older kids that are involved in various sports and want to stay fit and sharp over...
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...The way to fruitful long haul contributing is the conservation of capital. Warren Buffett, ostensibly the world's most excellent mogul, has one standard when contributing - never lose cash. This doesn't mean you ought to offer your venture property the minute they enter losing region, yet you ought to remain definitely mindful of your portfolio and the losses you're ready to persevere in an exertion to expand your riches. While it is difficult to stay away from danger completely when putting resources into the business sectors, these five strategies can help protect your portfolio. One of the foundations of Modern Portfolio Theory (MPT) is diversification. In a business downturn, MPT pupils accept a generally expanded portfolio will beat a thought one. Speculators make deeper and all the more extensively broadened portfolios by owning countless in more than one asset class, along these lines decreasing unsystematic danger. This is the hazard that accompanies putting resources into a specific organization instead of deliberate danger, which is the danger connected with putting resources into the businesses by and large. As per some money related specialists, stock portfolios that incorporate 12, 18 or even 30 stocks can take out most, if not all, unsystematic danger. Shockingly, methodical danger is constantly present and can't be differentiated away. On the other hand, by including non-associating asset classes, for example, securities, items, monetary standards...
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...d) How much will Eastbridge receive (in US$) if the share price of Cambridge is £7.50 and the spot rate is US$1.60 in one month time? e) What will happen if in one month time, share price of Cambridge drop to £5.00 and Eastbridge decided to hold on to the shares and sell at a later date when the share price is more favourable? Assume that the spot rate in one month time is US$1.68. Question 2 What types of risk are present in a portfolio? Which type of risk remains after the portfolio has been diversified? Question 3 How, according to portfolio theory is the risk of the portfolio measured exactly? Question 4 Discuss about the integration of market worldwide and its impact on international portfolio diversification. Question 5 Giri Lyer is a European analyst and strategist for Tristar Funds, a New York-based mutual fund company. Giri is currently evaluating the recent performance of shares in Pacific Wietz, a publicly traded specialty chemical company in Germany listed on the...
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