Premium Essay

Grayson Chemical Case

In:

Submitted By simmonsa1
Words 346
Pages 2
The Grayson Chemical Company Case Analysis
Problems
Grayson lost its competitive edge. It has become stagnant and market standing in the industry has decreased. The management at Grayson is resistant to change.
Incompetent managers were being promoted simply because they were next in line. Another problem is that when he polled the board to gage the direction in which he should go, he got a variety of answers. The board isn’t even on one accord. There is no unity, so there is no direction.
Causes
Incompetent mangers are being promoted because the board doesn’t like change and that is the way that it has always been done- by the book. Because of this philosophy, the company has failed to stay abreast of new ideas and fallen far behind the competition. The board doesn’t have any unity and can’t agree on issues because the organization is disorganized and has no clear focus. This is apparent in the fact that although the company has been losing profits for years, it took them several years to agree to go outside of the company to hire someone with fresh ideas.
Alternatives
Baker could just leave it like it is and let it continue has it has been. He would soon be out of a job though. Baker could also try implementing a few new ideas and make gradual changes to help them get used to the idea of change. He could also go with the style that has worked for him in his previous jobs, but incorporate the board and management into the changes.
Recommendations
I suggest that he stay with the style that has previously worked for him. He made his former company an industry leader with his strategy. He was hired because they heard about his methods and results. He should involve the entire corporation and enlist their assistance with the new direction. Those in opposition can look for employment elsewhere, because if something isn’t done, everybody will

Similar Documents

Free Essay

Grayson Chemical

...Case Study: Grayson Chemical Company Presented by: Allan Bermudez Marlon Abito Zarny Zaragoza CASE STUDY: Grayson Chemical Co. Executive Summary: Grayson Chemical Co, a 40-year old company manufactures industrial chemicals sold to other industrial companies. It has been run by a stable management in which there had only been two presidents. However, within the past few years, the company is suffering from declining earnings and sales. This has brought pressure from the board of directors, investment bankers, and stockholder groups to name a new president. The company had become stagnant – (although at Grayson, they refer to this as conservative) and had steadily lost market standing and profitability. Finally, the board decided to hire a new CEO and was able to hire a dynamic manager from another major corporation. CASE STUDY: Grayson Chemical Co. Tom Baker, 47 and an MBA, has helped his former company into a leadership position. He has chosen to join Grayson after another executive was chosen for the top job in his former company. Baker knows what he needs to do and that is to develop a topnotch management team that could provide leadership to turn the company around. Unfortunately, the situation at Grayson is not very favorable. Decisions are made by the book or taken to the next higher level. Things were done because “they have always been done this way,” and incompetent managers were often promoted to higher level jobs. Baker met with three members of the board...

Words: 1202 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Doc, Pdf

...CASE : The grayson Chemical Company CASE : The grayson Chemical Company Case summary The case study talks about Quantum's dilemma in wanting to strike a balance between corporate culture and liability exposure. Quantum's TGIF beer bust, an informal party that involves everyone in the company, had been effective in boosting team spirit and cooperation. However, many concerns were raised as to whether the parties may bring undesirable consequences that the company need to be accountable to. I. Problem A. Marco 1. Grayson has become stagnant, failed to change, and is no longer competitive. 2. The current people at Grayson are not acceptable to change. 3. There is a culture of doing things by the book. B. Micro 1. Incompetent managers promoted. 2. Board does not have a consensus of opinion. II. Causes 1. Grayson has not been proactive with its environment. 2. Corporate culture is very resistant to change. 3. Board does not speak with one voice. So entire organization is somewhat disorganized in its operations—no clear direction or focus III. System affected The entire organization is affected. The organization is still functioning; however, to be a healthy company and to grow, changes are needed. 1. Structural – with major changes, the structure...

Words: 391 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Factors Influencing Business Location

...Factors that influence the location of my business The location of a business is where it is situated. Where to locate a business is a crucial decision because this will have an important impact on profits. Typically businesses will seek locations that maximise revenues and minimise costs. In choosing a business location my business shall consider these push and pull factors: 1. Closeness to market. This is the case with fresh produce - so that for example, many supermarkets operate their own bakeries. 2. Cultural factors. The culture of a country refers to customary practices and beliefs that people uphold. Jarvis (2002) has observed that culture is made up of institutions and other forces that affect society's basic values, perceptions, preferences, and behaviours. Culture affects the way consumers think and use certain products. For example you cannot open a mini-skirt boutique in an Indian society which prefers long gabs. 3. Communications links. Transport is an important factor supporting access to markets. Hence the need to locate along major road or railway for easy movement of goods. Modern companies also need to locate where they have access to excellent information technology links. 4. Closeness to raw materials. Locating close to the raw material supplies can reduce where raw materials are heavy and large quantities are used up in production costs. This is particularly true for industries like steel, which uses large quantities of iron ore in the production...

Words: 805 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Trips Agreement

...Trips Industrial designs geographical indications INTEGRATED circuits Undisclosed information ADV.MANISHA PANDYA ROLL NO.17 * BUSINESS LAW GROUP* LLM SEM II SUBMITTED TO PROF.TIWARI CONTENTS Chapter I * INTRODUCTION * GATT*WTO* TRIPS* * ------------------------------------------------- Implementation in developing countries Chapter II * What are intellectual property rights? * Geographical indication * Early agreements –History * Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) * ------------------------------------------------- Marketing * International trade * SECTION 3: GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATIONS Art. 22, 23, 24 Protection of Geographical Indications * Industrial design right * SECTION 4: INDUSTRIAL DESIGNS Article 25 * SEC 7: PROTECTION OF UNDISCLOSED INFORMATION   Article 3 Chapter III * CONCULSION BILOGRAPHY & WEBOLOGY Chapter I GATT * WTO * TRIPS* The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) was a multilateral agreement regulating international trade. According to its preamble, its purpose was the "substantial reduction of tariffs and other trade barriers and the elimination of preferences, on a reciprocal and mutually advantageous basis." It was negotiated during the United Nations Conference on Trade and Employment and was the outcome of the failure of negotiating governments to create the International Trade Organization (ITO). GATT was signed...

Words: 14655 - Pages: 59

Premium Essay

Alzheimer’s Disease: Not Just a Loss of Memory

...presence of these psychotic symptoms can lead to early institutionalization (Bassiony, et al, 2000). Learning about Alzheimer’s disease and realizing that it is much more that just a loss of memory can benefit the families of those with the disorder as well as society as a whole. This paper is to look at the disorder, as well as to discuss the history, symptoms, diagnosis, current researches and hopes of a cure for Alzheimer’s disease. History Around the turn of the century, two kinds of dementia were defined by Emil Kraepin: senile and presenile. The presenile form was described more in detail by Alois Alzheimer as a progressive deterioration of intellect, memory and orientation. As a neuropathologist, Alzheimer studied the case a 51 year-old woman. When she died, Alzheimer performed an autopsy and found that she had “cerebral atrophy” (deterioration of the brain), “senile plaques” (protein deposits) and “neurofibrillary tangles” (abnormal filaments in nerve cells) in her brain -- three common pathological features of those who have...

Words: 2500 - Pages: 10

Premium Essay

Sickness

...it is the presence of these psychotic symptoms can lead to early institutionalization (Bassiony, et all, 2000). Learning about Alzheimer’s disease and realizing that it is much more that just a loss of memory can benefit the families of those with the disorder as well as society as a whole. The purpose of this paper is to look at the disorder, as well as to discuss the history, symptoms, diagnosis and hopes of a cure for Alzheimer’s disease. History Around the turn of the century, two kinds of dementia were defined by Emil Kraepin: senile and presenile. The presenile form was described more in detail by Alois Alzheimer as a progressive deterioration of intellect, memory and orientation. As a neuropathologist, Alzheimer studied the case a 51 year-old woman. When she died, Alzheimer performed an autopsy and found that she had “cerebral atrophy” (deterioration of the brain), “senile plaques” (protein deposits) and “neurofibrillary tangles” (abnormal filaments in nerve cells) in her brain -- three common pathological features of those who have...

Words: 2453 - Pages: 10

Premium Essay

Alzherimer's Disease

...those with the disorder as well as society as a whole. The purpose of this paper is to look at the disorder, as well as to discuss the history, symptoms, diagnosis and hopes of a cure for Alzheimer’s disease. History Around the turn of the century, two kinds of dementia were defined by Emil Kraepin: senile and presenile. The presenile form was described more in detail by Alois Alzheimer as a progressive deterioration of intellect, memory and orientation. As a neuropathologist, Alzheimer studied the case a 51 year-old woman. When she died, Alzheimer performed an autopsy and found that she had “cerebral atrophy” (deterioration of the brain), “senile plaques” (protein deposits) and “neurofibrillary tangles” (abnormal filaments in nerve cells) in her brain -- three common pathological features of those who have Alzheimer’s Disease (Ramanathan, 1997). Today, as research on Alzheimer's disease progresses, scientists are describing other abnormal anatomical and chemical changes associated with the...

Words: 2422 - Pages: 10

Premium Essay

Pathophysiology: Sjogren's Syndrome

...is a largely symptomatic condition which occurs very commonly worldwide and has the tendency to develop under many circumstances1. It is usually termed as keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) or simply keratitis sicca, and is caused by numerous diseases. Inflammation of the conjunctiva and accessory glands can be seen in up to 80% of patients with KCS. The terms sicca syndrome and sicca complex are also used frequently to describe dry eye associated with Sjogrens syndrome1. To avoid any confusion of these terms, the term KCS is used to refer to dry eye generally and to indicate that there is a dry eye condition present. Regardless of the underlying disease causing the dry eye, an alteration in the tear film is distinct and consistent in each case and it is this change in the tear film that causes the resultant damage to the cornea and conjunctiva1. Sjogrens syndrome is divided into two categories: Primary Sjogrens syndrome and secondary Sjogrens syndrome. The former involves only dry eyes (xerophthalmia) and dry mouth...

Words: 2850 - Pages: 12

Premium Essay

Maketing

...The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at www.emeraldinsight.com/1352-2752.htm YouTube: an opportunity for consumer narrative analysis? Stefano Pace ` Universita Bocconi, Milano, Italy Abstract Purpose – The aim of the paper is to discuss a possible extension of narrative analysis to a new medium of expression of consumer behaviour, specifically YouTube. Design/methodology/approach – Marketing and consumer behaviour studies often apply narrative analysis to understand consumption. The consumer is a source of introspective narratives that are studied by scholars. However, consumption has a narrative nature in itself and consumers are also storytellers. YouTube is a new context in which subjects tell stories to an audience through self-made videos and re-edited TV programs. After defining the pros and cons of different approaches to the study of YouTube, narrative analysis is presented as a possible means of understanding YouTube. Findings – Some preliminary evidence is presented by discussing several YouTube videos. These indicate that YouTube content can be better understood as stories, rather than example of other approaches, such as visual analysis, media studies, videography, and others. Research limitations/implications – From the analysis conducted, preliminary managerial implications can be drawn. It seems unlikely that normal TV broadcasters will be substituted by YouTube videos. For the most part, YouTube content draws its sense and shared...

Words: 7435 - Pages: 30

Premium Essay

Strategy & Society

...HBR Spotlight Making a Real Difference by Michael E. Porter and Mark R. Kramer Strategy G & Society The Link Between Competitive Advantage and Corporate Social Responsibility overnments, activists, and the media have become adept at holding companies to account for the social consequences of their activities. Myriad organizations rank companies on the performance of their corporate social responsibility (CSR), and, despite sometimes questionable methodologies, these rankings attract considerable publicity. As a result, CSR has emerged as an inescapable priority for business leaders in every country. Many companies have already done much to improve the social and environmental consequences of their activities, yet these efforts have not been nearly as productive as they could be – for two reasons. First, they pit business against society, when clearly the two are interdependent. Second, they pressure companies to think of corporate social responsibility in generic ways instead of in the way most appropriate to each firm’s strategy. harvard business review | hbr.org DOUG FRASER 78 HBR Spotlight Making a Real Difference The fact is, the prevailing approaches to CSR are so fragmented and so disconnected from business and strategy as to obscure many of the greatest opportunities for companies to benefit society. If, instead, corporations were to analyze their prospects for social responsibility using the same frameworks that guide their core business...

Words: 8193 - Pages: 33

Premium Essay

Doc, Docx, Pdf, Wps, Rtf, Odt

...Coping with Continuous Change in the Business Environment CHANDOS KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT SERIES Series Editor: Melinda Taylor (email: melindataylor@chandospublishing.com) Chandos’ new series of books are aimed at all those individuals interested in knowledge management. They have been specially commissioned to provide the reader with an authoritative view of current thinking. If you would like a full listing of current and forthcoming titles, please visit our web site www.chandospublishing.com or contact Hannah Grace-Williams on email info@chandospublishing.com or telephone number +44 (0) 1993 848726. New authors: we are always pleased to receive ideas for new titles; if you would like to write a book for Chandos, please contact Dr Glyn Jones on email gjones@chandospublishing.com or telephone number +44 (0) 1993 848726. Bulk orders: some organisations buy a number of copies of our books. If you are interested in doing this, we would be pleased to discuss a discount. Please contact Hannah Grace-Williams on email info@chandospublishing.com or telephone number +44 (0) 1993 848726. Coping with Continuous Change in the Business Environment Knowledge management and knowledge management technology ANTONIE BOTHA DERRICK KOURIE AND RETHA SNYMAN Chandos Publishing Oxford · England Chandos Publishing (Oxford) Limited TBAC Business Centre Avenue 4 Station Lane Witney Oxford OX28 4BN UK Tel: +44 (0) 1993 848726 Fax: +44 (0) 1865 884448 Email:...

Words: 69553 - Pages: 279

Premium Essay

Creating Shared Value

...Corporations can create shared value by using their core capabilities in ways that contribute to both social progress and economic success. Some developing countries have experienced phenomenal economic growth, but that growth has not been inclusive. In recent decades, developing countries have experienced a rapid rate of economic growth. Although this has led to higher incomes and better health for many Developing countries, we still have far to go to make this growth truly inclusive. Developing countries are expected to fall short on several Millennium Development Goals: by 2015, it is expected that 40 percent of Developing countrie’s children will remain undernourished, and Developing countries will have progressed only halfway toward its goals for decreasing infant mortality. Inequality, poor public health, and environmental degradation will increasingly constrain their economic growth. Corporations play a critical role in achieving inclusive growth. Government is often seen as the answer to society’s problems, but spending by the Government of Developing countries alone will likely be insufficient to address these critical issues. governments can encourage contributions from the private sector by passing legislation and using its purchasing power to create a supportive, enabling environment. Philanthropy can also help catalyze change, but charity has a limited ability to sustainably achieve scale. The private sector, however, possesses skills and technologies necessary...

Words: 7401 - Pages: 30

Free Essay

Forage for Though

...Forage for Thought: Mobilizing Codes in the Movement for Grass-fed Meat and Dairy Products Klaus Weber Northwestern University Kathryn L Heinze Northwestern University Michaela DeSoucey Northwestern University This study illuminates how new markets emerge and how social movements can effect cultural change through market creation. We suggest that social movements can fuel solutions to three challenges in creating new market segments: entrepreneurial production, the creation of collective producer identities, and the establishment of regular exchange between producers and consumers. We use qualitative data on the grassroots coalition movement that has spurred a market for grass-fed meat and dairy products in the United States since the early 1990s. Our analysis shows that the movement’s participants mobilized broad cultural codes and that these codes motivated producers to enter and persist in a nascent market, shaped their choices about production and exchange technologies, enabled a collective identity, and formed the basis of the products’ exchange value.• The creation of new markets is an important engine of economic and cultural change. But new markets do not emerge naturally; rather, they often arise from collective projects that mobilize the necessary economic, cultural, and socio-political resources (Fligstein, 1996; Swedberg, 2005). A growing body of research suggests that social movements can play a central role in fueling such projects (Carroll and Swaminathan...

Words: 19166 - Pages: 77

Free Essay

Batman Dark Knight: Philosophy

...BATMAN AND PHILOSOPHY THE DARK KNIGHT OF THE SOUL Edited by Mark D. White and Robert Arp @ WILEY John Wiley & Sons, Inc. To the memory of Heath Ledger (1979-2008) Copyright © 2008 by john Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved Published by john Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New jerney Published simultaneously in Canada No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a reaieval system, or transmit­ ted in any fonn or by any means. electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scan­ ning, or otherwise, except as pennitted under Section 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without either the prior written pennission of the Publisher, Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvern, MA 01923, (978) 750-8400, fax (978) sion should be addressed to the Pennissions Department,john Wiley & Sons,Inc., III or authorization through payment of the appropriate per-copy fee to the Copyright 646-8600, or on the web at www.copyright.com. Requests to the Publisher for pennis­ River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030, (201) 748-6011, fax (201) 748-6008, or online at http://www.wiley.comlgo/pennissions. Limit ofLiabilirylDisclaimer ofWarranry:While the publisher and the author have used their best efforts in preparing this book., they make no representations or warranties with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the contents of this hook and specifically disclaim any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. No warranty...

Words: 8400 - Pages: 34

Premium Essay

Mcdonald Ethics

...www.hbr.org HBR SPOTLIGHT Strategy and Society The Link Between Competitive Advantage and Corporate Social Responsibility by Michael E. Porter and Mark R. Kramer • Reprint R0612D HBR SPOTLIGHT Strategy and Society The Link Between Competitive Advantage and Corporate Social Responsibility by Michael E. Porter and Mark R. Kramer COPYRIGHT © 2006 HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL PUBLISHING CORPORATION. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Governments, activists, and the media have become adept at holding companies to account for the social consequences of their activities. Myriad organizations rank companies on the performance of their corporate social responsibility (CSR), and, despite sometimes questionable methodologies, these rankings attract considerable publicity. As a result, CSR has emerged as an inescapable priority for business leaders in every country. Many companies have already done much to improve the social and environmental consequences of their activities, yet these efforts have not been nearly as productive as they could be—for two reasons. First, they pit business against society, when clearly the two are interdependent. Second, they pressure companies to think of corporate social responsibility in generic ways instead of in the way most appropriate to each firm’s strategy. The fact is, the prevailing approaches to CSR are so fragmented and so disconnected from business and strategy as to obscure many of the greatest opportunities for companies to benefit society...

Words: 9203 - Pages: 37