...ANALYSIS OF IKEA BUSINESS by Student’s Name Code + Course Name Professor’s Name University Name City, State Date Analysis Competitive advantage In modern economies finding the best unique business idea is hard since nearly everything someone is doing to make money. Furniture business is quite competitive and expensive especially when one considers quality and low price over everything. Considering the case of IKEA, making right choices matters and that’s why Kamprad knew exactly the power of high quality, low price, and quick delivery. This paper analyzes IKEA success strategy as well as weaknesses to give a clearer overview of its operation. The cost of the product in comparison with that of a competitor in any market matters. IKEA knew exactly how to balance the cost to be ahead in the competition. Kamprad, the founder of IKEA, concentrated on cost minimization in every aspect of his trading. That’s why he considered buying fabric directly from the textile manufacturer in large quantities. This ensured that there was enough material for a long time manufacturing at past price. This was advantageous since it helped him mitigate the effect of inflations and other production hazards like a strike. The result of such strategy was continuity in production and supply of furniture at a predictable and fair price. This contributed to the fact that IKEA products were 30-50% less than those of competitors. This clearly shows the importance of using high volume...
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...------------------------------------------------- Leeds Metropolitan University ------------------------------------------------- Leeds Business School ------------------------------------------------- Corporate Strategy Critically examine how the success of Ikea has been supported by its organisational culture Mona Thorvaldsen, Kate Mulvana, Joan Kawalewale, Tom A. Trosterud, Jodie Evans MA Public Relation Management & MA Business Studies Semester Two Module Leader: Lawrence Bellamy Contents Page No Chapter 1 – Introduction | 3 | | | | | Chapter 2 – Background | 3 | | | | | Chapter 3 - Appraisal | 4 | | | | | Chapter 4 – Analysis | 9 | | | | | Chapter 5 – Conclusion | 14 | | | | | Bibliography | 15 | Executive summary This report examines the corporate culture of the global furniture leader IKEA and discusses the link between Ikea’s culture and its performance. The cultural web is used as a device for breaking up the complexity of organisational culture and for demonstrating that Ikea enjoys a strong and consistent culture. The report identifies synergy between Ikea’s culture and strategy, arguing that culture has given the organisation competitive advantage. Furthermore it points to the complex set of factors influencing performance, and how Ikea’s culture is one of several components in its success-formula. 1.0 Introduction Organisational culture...
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...MGNT 3650 June 12, 2011 Chapter 1 Closing Case-IKEA How has the globalization of markets benefited IKEA? Globalization of markets has benefited IKEA by making it easy to expand into different countries. Now that the whole world has excess to the internet, everyone is basically wearing and listening to the same things. This is very beneficial to IKEA because there isn’t a lot the company has to do with the style they originally started in Sweden. With the globalization of markets it makes it easier for customers to buy products from IKEA online or at the warehouse with their country “social” demographics and culture in mind. “The worldwide success of a growing list of products that have become household names is evidence that consumers the worlds over, despite deep-rooted cultural differences, are becoming more and more alike - or, as the author puts it, "homogenized." In consequence, he contends, the traditional MNC's strategy of tailoring its products to the needs of multiple markets may put it at a severe disadvantage vis-a-vis competitors who apply marketing imagination to the task of developing advanced, functional, reliable standardized products, at the right price, on a global scale.” How has the globalization of production benefited IKEA? This has saved IKEA time and money. IKEA has producers to supply each of its big markets; it helps by knowing the styles of each market. For example the producer for...
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...The cultural web - IKEA Ikea – Hybrid strategy: “Ikea recognised that it could achieve a high standard product, but at a low cost, whilst concentrating on building differentiation on the basis of its marketing, range, logistics and store operations” (Johnson, Scholes & Whittington, 2005, p.249). Power structures The leadership beliefs in an inverted organisational pyramid, where the customer is at the top followed by staff, with top management at the bottom (Sancovich, 2002). The customer is put on top as they have the real power of what Ikea can and should sell. No one in Ikea flies first class is another aspect of the power culture within Ikea (Sancovich, 2002). This is part of the core beliefs of the leadership, as everyone in the organisation should be treated the same regarding of position. In general, Ikea uses an egalitarian leadership style, hence emphasise of getting rid of status and conventions. Even though Ingvar Kamprad is retired, he is still involved in the organisation he founded in 1943 (Allen, 2005). Hence, it is difficult to change the culture in the organisation as he is still pulling the strings. As all the employees is taught and trained the IKEA way, the desire and need for a cultural change is another unanswered question. How is power distributed in the organisation? What are the core beliefs of the leadership? How strongly held are these beliefs (idealists or pragmatists)? What are the main blockages to change? Organisational...
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...Stirling FK9 4LA, Scotland, UK Department of Business Administration, Lund University, P.O. Box 7080, SE-220 07 Lund, Sweden c Department of Communication Studies, Lund University, Campus Helsingborg, PO Box 882, SE-251 08 Helsingborg, Sweden b a r t i c l e in fo Available online 29 September 2010 Keywords: IKEA Retail internationalisation Retail marketing mix Standardisation Sweden the UK China abstract IKEA is often cited as an example of a ‘global’ retailer which pursues a similar ‘standardized’ approach in every market. This paper systematically assesses the degree of standardisation (and adaptation) of four commonly identified retail marketing mix activities – merchandise, location and store format, the selling and service environment, and market communication – within three countries. These countries – Sweden, the UK and China – represent different cultural settings and are markets in which IKEA has been operating for different lengths of time. The data upon which the comparison is based was generated from personal interviews, in-country consumer research, company documentation and third party commentaries. The conclusions drawn suggest that whilst IKEA operates a standardized concept, degrees of adaptation can be observed in customer facing elements, and in the supporting ‘back office’ processes which support these elements. These adaptations arise from differences in consumer cultures and the length of...
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...Management Close-UP: IKEA IKEA innovative idea began by offering stylish functional furniture with good quality at lower prices in Småland, Sweden in 1943. The concept was presented by an entrepreneur Ingvar Kamprad. Since 1943, the company left behind its competitors in the furniture industry because of using the cost-cutting solution. Today, the IKEA trademark is known as a leader in retail home furniture and the brand is recognized globally. It has more than 235 stores and operates in more than 35 countries. The company’s long-term direction or strategic vision is to “create a better everyday life for the many people”. The factors such as strategic well-organized planning, innovative ideas, competence in furniture market, orientation on customers’ preferences and the modern functional furniture are emphasized by IKEA managers. The management target to keep the prices down is not the easy one. There are many major strategic goals and plans that Ikea tries to implement in order to succeed in furniture industry and surpass its competitors. The Ikea identifies its growth opportunities in the expansion of the brand around the globe. One of the goals for Ikea is to expand its business in U.S. market, because it constitutes the larger market in the world. Currently, there are approximately 12 Ikea stores in USA, especially in the big cities such as Washington, DC, Houston, Baltimore, MD, New York, etc. and its business is growing rapidly. Also, Ikea expanded its operations...
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...Scotland, the UK. Ulf Johansson* *Contact author Department of Business Administration Lund University P. O. Box 7080 SE-220 07 Lund, Sweden e-mail:ulf.johansson@fek.lu.se Åsa Thelander Department of Communication Studies Lund Universitety, Campus Helsingborg, P O Box 882 SE-251 08 Helsingborg, Sweden Paper accepted for presentation at the 1st Nordic Retail and Wholesale Conference in Stockholm (Norrtälje), 6-7/11, 2008 Abstract IKEA is rumored to be a very standardized retailer, i.e., a certain set of marketing strategies is used that are the same around the world. This indeed sets IKEA, operating on markets in Europe, US as well as Asia and Australia, apart among international retailers. Often the theoretical conclusions in international marketing literature, as well as empirical evidence, argue convincingly for the more adaptation (to different markets) in different national markets. But is IKEA so standardized in marketing strategies? So far there are quite few, and very dated, empirical studies of IKEA marketing strategies (yet many refer to IKEA as having a standardized marketing strategy). Here marketing activites are conceptualized to concern: Merchandise - putting together an assortment of products (e.g., national and retailer brands, pricing and pricing strategy, assortment and local variations) Location and store formats - where are outlets established and general set up of the store, i.e., the overall lay-out of the store in terms on number of levels, placing of different...
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...Author Author Strategic Marketing Plan for IKEA in INDIA [Document subtitle] Strategic Marketing Plan for IKEA in INDIA [Document subtitle] Contents Introduction 2 About IKEA 2 1.0 Analysis of Indian Market 3 1.1 Micro Analysis 3 1.1.1 PESTEL Analysis 3 1.2 Micro Analysis 4 1.2.1 SWOT Analysis 4 1.3 Impact on Hofstede Culture Dimension 5 a) Collectivism vs Individualism 6 b) Femininity vs Masculinity 6 c) Avoidance of Uncertainties 6 d) Power Distance 6 1.4 Porter’s Diamond Model 7 2.0 Global Marketing Objective 7 2.1 Porter’s Generic Strategy Mix 8 2.2 Ansoff’s Marketing Strategies 8 3.0 Mode of entry 9 4.0 7 P’s of Marketing 10 a)Product 10 b) Process 10 c) Price 10 d) Physical evidence 11 e) Place 11 f) People 11 g) Promotion 11 References 0 List of Figure Figure 1: SWOT Analysis 5 Figure 2: Hofstede Dimensions 7 Figure 3: Comparison of Entry Mode 9 Introduction India is developing country, populated with 1.2 billion people. India’s economy is of very worthwhile. The current analysis shows India is expected to be considering in Top 5 economies in the world. Due to powerful economic development in past few decades, the living standards of Indian nation are improved and improving day by day. The people of India are establishing themselves in the field of information technology and in other industries. They also step up in urbanization and trend of using foreign band has increased much. The retailing...
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...standardised approach to the world? IKEA in China Ulf Johansson Department of Business Administration, Lund University, Lund, Sweden, and Standardised approach to the world 199 ˚ Asa Thelander Department of Communication Studies, Lund University, Helsingborg, Sweden Abstract Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to analyse the marketing strategy in China of the furnishing retailer IKEA in the context of standardisation and adaptation of marketing activities. IKEA’s strategy in China is compared to its corporate strategy throughout the rest of the world. Design/methodology/approach – The four P classifications are used as a framework to compare the central marketing strategies of IKEA with marketing strategies used in China. The paper builds on both primary and secondary data. Interviews with senior managers at IKEA are conducted and studies on business and retailing in China are used. Findings – The marketing strategies used by IKEA in China are found to be different from the standardised strategies it uses throughout the rest of the world. Several of the changed strategies are central to the business concept of IKEA. Research limitations/implications – The present paper shows the challenges for a standardised marketing concept and its implications. Originality/value – The paper provides, in the context of the standardisation and adaptation of marketing activities, a more nuanced and up-to-date picture of the strategies used by IKEA compared to previous studies. Keywords...
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...OVERVIEW OF IKEA HISTORY Ingvar Kamprad: The founder of IKEA, Ingvar Kamprad, began his business career as a young boy selling matches purchased in bulk individually for a profit to his neighbors near Agunnaryd. As his business grew, he expanded to selling fish, seeds, Christmas decorations and eventually, pencils and ball-point pens which were a new phenomenon in 1935. He was very clever in utilizing his resources - he delivered his goods by bicycle, and later used the local milk delivery vehicle to make deliveries. IKEA: In 1943, with a gift from his father, Ingvar established his business, using his initials, Ingvar Kamprad, the name of the farm on which he was born, Elmtaryd and the village nearby, Agunnaryd for the acronym. At this time, he was selling everything from pens and wallets to watches and nylon stockings by going door to door and selling directly to his customers. By 1945, the first advertisements for IKEA began showing up in local newspapers and he had developed a rudimentary catalog. IKEA Store: The first full IKEA store opened in Älmhult in 1958. With 6700 m2 (72,118 ft2), it was the largest furniture display in all of Scandinavia. In 1963, the first IKEA store outside Sweden opened near Oslo in Norway, followed by the flagship store in Stockholm - a whopping 45,800 m2 (492,987 ft2) circular store inspired by the Guggenheim Museum in New York City. The success of this store, and difficulties in serving customers due to an overfilled capacity led to...
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...Internationalization of IKEA in the Japanese market and Chinese markets Tutor: Authors: Group: Date: Leif Linnskog Wannapa Chaletanone (05-11-1982, Thailand) Wanee Cheancharadpong (03-09-1983, Thailand) 2022 June 4, 2008 Master Thesis EFO705, 10 points (15 credits) – Spring 2008 International Business and Entrepreneurship – MIMA Program School of Sustainable Development of Society and Technology Abstract Date June 4, 2008 Level Master Thesis EFO705, 10 points (15 credits) Authors Wannapa Chaletanone (05-11-1982, Thailand) Wanee Cheancharadpong (03-09-1983, Thailand) Title Internationalization of IKEA in the Japanese and Chinese markets Supervisor Leif Linnskog Problems Why did IKEA internationalize into Japanese and Chinese markets? And what factors did influence IKEA’s success in Chinese market but failure in the Japanese market of the first round? Purpose The aim of thesis is to understand the internationalization of IKEA in Asia by comparing between Japanese and Chinese markets. Method This master thesis based on qualitative approach in order to investigate the internationalization of IKEA in Asian markets as a case study since it is beneficial in understanding the observation and explanation of behavior in the certain cases. Conclusion IKEA is considered as retailer internationalization who expands into Japanese market as a result of deregulation and asset-based advantage while internationalize...
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...gives Dell an in-depth understanding of differences in customers’ purchasing processes (importance of attributes in purchase decision) and the challenges they face in installation and use (the how/what of computer usage). Dell is a master of combining one-on-one knowledge of customers with highly quantitative sales analysis. Michael Dell, himself, estimates that he spends as much as 40% of his time with customers, understanding their problems. The structure of the organization is also designed to capture customer knowledge, with sales and support teams assigned to particular customer segments. Constant monitoring of sales data is also a powerful tool for understanding customers, which allows Dell to adjust product to demand in real time. IKEA Segments: • First-time furniture buyers; renters or first-home buyers • Customers undergoing “life-transitions” • Benefits sought: high-quality, stylish furniture at affordable price Kamprad’s vision of providing attractive furnishings at a reasonable price has universal appeal for customers. But IKEA’s understanding of the customer’s decision process is acute. Furniture buyers are often overwhelmed...
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...Burangi submitted to fulfill the requirements for an MSc in Information Systems particularly the International Marketing Module. The report reflects the success of IKEA in developing its brand internationally. The purpose of this assignment is to give one analysis of the marketing context in which IKEA operates and critical evaluation of its operational options. We would like to thank Fontys and Roehapmton that give us such a good opportunity to work as a group, and we also would like to thank our tutor, Mr. Wijckmans for his instruction. Executive Summary The report gives a detailed account of the IKEA brand development over the years using marketing principles. The first chapter looks at IKEA, the background, evolvement and current position. Chapter two looks at branding in terms of the marketing mix that is product, price, promotion and place. This is the followed by chapter three which looks how IKEA handles cultural differences when conducting business across the world. Chapter four explores the various methods used by IKEA when conducting market research world wide. Chapter five gives an account of the market entry strategy used by IKEA to introduce their brand in new areas. The next chapter then delves into the details of market segmentation, positioning and targeting strategies used by IKEA. The report concludes with a look into the future world trends and their effects on the...
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...International Businesses Strategy of IKEA –Activities of the multinational furniture retailer Seminar paper in “Strategy of International Business” University of Economics Bratislava 2008/2009 Katarzyna Gawor Sona Halasova Friedemann Polzin Table of Contents IKEA – global strategy............................................................................................................2 History................................................................................................................................2 IKEA corporate structure...................................................................................................3 The IKEA Group............................................................................................................3 Inter IKEA Systems B.V. ..............................................................................................5 IKEA Stores...................................................................................................................5 Business strategy...............................................................................................................5 Mission...........................................................................................................................5 Target group..................................................................................................................6 Organizational structure........................................................
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...OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT GROUP PROJECT Report on the Operations Management strategy of Xuan Hoa Furniture and IKEA Prepared for Prof. Noel By - Group 7 - Lê Quang Anh Đỗ Thị Hà Anh Vũ Kim Phượng Nguyễn Thị Mỹ Linh Nguyễn Thị Thùy Linh May 22, 2014 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Operational management is line management of organizations that highly affect the company’s performance. It is a business function that organizes, coordinate and control the resources needed to produce a good, operational management is a business process to create highest level of efficiency and value add. Operations management is a dynamic field and presents exciting new issues and challenges for operations managers. This is also a very important coursework for everyone of us who want to become a successful leader in the future. For that reason, after completing a 3-week Operations Management course, we – Group 7 would like to present a report about our findings on the comparison of the operations management strategy between 2 companies on the field of furniture manufacturing and retailer: Xuan Hoa Furniture and IKEA. Our report is divided into 9 main parts, each one represents a strategic Operations Management decision. And every main part will be broken into 2 part: one from Xuan Hoa Furniture and one from IKEA. 1. General Introduction 2. Operations Strategy 3. Product Design 4. Managing Quality 5. Process Strategy 6. Location Strategy 7. Human Resources and Job...
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