...Background: IKEA was founded by Ingvar Kamprad who embedded his strongly held values and beliefs in IKEA’s culture. IKEA was created out of Kamprad’s family kitchen selling goods such as fountain pens, cigarette lighters and binders that later turned into a catalog business operations selling furniture. In developing IKEA’s furniture retailing business model, Kamprad was confronted with a cartel of furniture manufacturers that kept prices high by controlling the Swedish industry. This issue later became the vision of the company “creating a better life for the many people”. IKEA also introduced their key feature of self-assembled furniture where customers bought furniture in flat packages and put them together at home. This was known as the “knockdown” concept that allowed IKEA to save on transportation and storage costs. Conflict with the cartel of furniture manufacturers in Sweden forced IKEA to source materials from abroad. To maintain IKEA’s quality and delivery, IKEA taught their processes and provided machinery to their suppliers in Poland. After expanding their suppliers globally, IKEA created a general procurement principle that that stated IKEA should develop close ties by supporting its suppliers with a long-term relationship. By the mid-1990s IKEA worked with 2,300 suppliers in 70 countries. IKEA has 24 trading service offices in 19 countries that monitor production, test new product ideas, negotiate prices, and check quality. Since 1980’s IKEA has been looked upon...
Words: 1480 - Pages: 6
...9-906-415 REV: NOVEMBER 14, 2006 CHRISTOPHER A. BARTLETT VINCENT DESSAIN ANDERS SJÖMAN IKEA’s Global Sourcing Challenge: Indian Rugs and Child Labor (B) After more than a decade spent struggling with the issue of child labor, Marianne Barner felt good about how IKEA had responded. But occasionally, she found herself wondering whether the progress the global furniture retailer had made was real and durable. Just as it had in the mid-1990s, in 2005 the company could still find itself on the defensive in dealing with the issue. Even more troubling to Barner was that after 10 years of working to prevent child labor among IKEA’s suppliers— introducing a clear code of conduct, developing internal controls and third-party audits, training its suppliers, supporting their corrective actions, and instituting stiff sanctions against offenders—the company was still finding cases of child labor in its supply chain. The latest issue had been drawn to Barner’s attention by Kaisa Mattson, the head of IKEA’s compliance office in south Asia. Like Barner herself a decade before, Mattson was facing the decision of whether to terminate a relationship with a long-standing major supplier. This one, however, had violated not one but several items in IKEA’s detailed code of conduct, known as “The IKEA Way on Purchasing Products”—or IWAY for short. Venkat Industries was a textile mill with over 10,000 workers, and a recent audit had shown that it had stopped using the water treatment plant it had...
Words: 8055 - Pages: 33
...child labor, they can’t ignore the challenge this program may bring. • IKEA has gained some positive accomplishments to the child labor issue and took actions to eradicate child labor. It is a good chance to further publicize their efforts. • Marianne should prepare herself well by analyzing the situation of that year (May 1995) before going to the program; Rangan Exports should be investigated by both independent 3rd party auditors and IKEA before the program. • It is the opportunity to communicate with the public regarding Ikea’s long-term strategy with accurate milestones to prevent child labor, in response to their social responsibility. • If Marianne is not outspoken, an eloquent person from the senior management who is familiar with IKEA’s child labor issue and company’s stand should go to the program. 2. Should IKEA continue to deal with Rangan Exports? • No. Rangan Exports apparently violated the contractual commitment it had made not to use child labor. Legally speaking, IKEA should terminate the contact right away. • In 1994 after the Pakistan child labor issue, IKEA already had a clause to all supply contracts, stating that if the supplier employed children under legal working age, the contract would be cancelled (a “black-and-white” clause). • By halting the contract with Rangan Exports, IKEA sends a clear message to other suppliers that principles must be adhered to. • Indian rugs accounted for a tiny part of IKEA’S turnover. Even if cutting off Rangan...
Words: 825 - Pages: 4
...IKEA’s Global Sourcing Challenge IKEA, one of the world’s largest specialized furniture retailers, has been presented with a large issue within their operations. In 1995, a German TV station released an investigative report which exposed one of the suppliers for IKEA rugs for exploiting child labor in their factory. A recent addendum was signed by all IKEA suppliers which forbid the use of child labor (Bartlett & Sjoman, p. 1, 2006), so this incident has called the company to make an action based on the accusations at hand. The amount of turnover that is accounted from Indian rugs for IKEA is small on the full scale, and made the company question whether or not the product line was worth the profit potential. The following will be an analysis of the history of IKEA’s manufacturing, external forces related to the presented issue, rising issues, and recommendations for the company’s future moves. History of IKEA’s Manufacturing Though IKEA is one of the largest brands in the furniture industry, the company has been involved with some environmental issues related to their manufacturing. In the 1980s, IKEA’s products were subject to investigation as they were observed to emit more than allowed levels of formaldehyde (Bartlett & Sjoman, p. 5, 2006). The issue occurred from suppliers buying materials from sub suppliers, which resulted in the product not passing the regulations placed by legislation. The company began to change the way they worked with their suppliers...
Words: 1231 - Pages: 5
...Sweden). IKEA is currently the world's largest furniture retailer and arguably the most successful global retailer. Being one of the biggest global retailers, IKEA benefited a lot by the globalization of its business; IKEA’s target market is the global middle class who is looking for low-priced but attractively designed furniture and household items. The company started as a home-furniture retailer in Sweden over 60 years ago. Throughout the years with the use of effective globalization, “IKEA managed to increase its business revenue and profit by selling and making home-furniture in different countries all over the world, and it has over 300 retail stores in more than 30 countries”. Other than that, they sell roughly 10,000 different products, which attract customers from different places all over the world. The basic assumption behind IKEA's global strategy was “one-design-suits-all”. This case “IKEA’s Global Sourcing Challenge: Indian Rugs and Child Labor ” is about IKEA’s development from a backyard company to one of the world’s largest furniture retailers, which has to deal with the issues of child labor and how they should behave considering economical issues and the company’s policy. Business Manager Marianne Barner has to face tough decisions on How to effectively enforce their anti-child labor policies while keeping the best interest of the child in mind? Indian rugs are...
Words: 2411 - Pages: 10
...Case Study of IKEA’s Global Sourcing Challenge In 1995, IKEA met a problem that its main supplier, Indian rugs, used the child labor to produce products, although they had signed an attachment of the contract to ban employing child labor. In addition, a German documentary maker was about to broadcast the problem of child labor on German television and also invited an employee from IKEA to have a live discussion in the TV program. Marianne Barner, the leader of IKEA, must find a great solution to this serious issue to both save her business and the corporation’s brand image. In this issue, IKEA was not the one who produced products, so they might not realize the use of child labor in the process of production. In addition, child labor did not attract lots of attention from the society at that time, so they did not pay attention to the use of child labor when they were finding their suppliers. However, they sold terminal products so they were to blame. As a result, Marianne had to make several decisions, respectively about whether IKEA should accept the invitation to join the TV program, how to deal with the broken contract with Rangan Exports, how to deal with the child labor on the long term and whether IKEA should use Rugmark. To address this problem and make these decisions, IKEA has four choices. One is that IKEA could utilize its own relationship with its suppliers to solve the issue. The second choice for IKEA is to invite Rugmark Foundation on its behalf to monitor the...
Words: 1445 - Pages: 6
...eaElena Fischer Case: Ikea’s Global Sourcing Challenge 1. Should Ikea dissolve its relationship with its carpet supplier? I think IKEA should in fact, exit the Indian rug market. While it would translate to higher cost for consumers, it would remove any conflict of interest for both society and management in terms of child labor. With the public knowledge that IKEA rugs have in fact been made using child labor, rug sales will decrease and customers will feel uncomfortable purchasing products with the wonder of whether or not child labor was used to create the product they are about to purchase. If IKEA dissolves the relationship, socially conscious consumers will feel ease when buying a rug, with the knowledge that no children were used to weave the rug, even with the slightly higher price. Exiting this market will also put pressure on Indian government to take more efforts in preventing child labor by implementing more labor laws, or better enforcing the current ones. While the Rugmark Foundation programs implemented with suppliers to supervise the use of the label helps regulate child labor, it does not get rid of it all together and is only a short-term fix. The only way I see IKEA saving their image, following their values and ethics, and preventing the use of child labor in the making of their rugs, they need to withdraw because it is the only action that truly shows their seriousness with the issue and zero toleration policy in being a part of their company....
Words: 723 - Pages: 3
...1. Marianne Barner should accept the invitation and ask for a chance to present IKEA’s view of child labor on the broadcast. Facing the crisis directly rather than escaping the problem is a smart way to solve the crisis. She should use this broadcast to transfer anti child labor message to the public for IKEA and defeat the accusing from the German media face to face. Especially after inspecting India, Nepal and Pakistan, Barner grabbed first hand information to reveal how deep this socioeconomic problem embeds in these countries. She also should announce all the efforts IKEA makes on this issue, such as an anti child labor clause in the supply contract, a third party monitor system to child labor practices at the suppliers in India and Pakistan, and an action of joining the Regmark to deal with the child labor problem on products from India. 2. Barner should stop the business with Rangan Exports according to the anti child labor clause in the contract. This action will be a strong symbol to clarify IKEA’s stand on the child labor issue. It will help IKEA win trusts from the public. Learning from the incidence happened in 1980s, which caused IKEA lost 20% business in Denmark, IKEA should realize how important a positive publicity is to IKEA’s business. A positive social image is the foundation of companies dealing with B2C business. On the other hand, stopping contract with Rangan Exports is also a serious example to educate the other suppliers in India or other...
Words: 598 - Pages: 3
...Mengyao Wang Prof. J. Salmon International Business September 23rd, 2014 Evaluating Strategies for Combating Child Labor in India Found by Ingvar Kamprad in 1943, IKEA is now the world’s largest specialized furniture retailer. One of the key factors for IKEA’s success is offering affordable prices for the majority of people. To sustain its low-pricing strategy, IKEA managers decided to outsource its producing tasks to factories in other countries with relatively lower labor cost. However, this decision pushed IKEA into the accusations of using child labor. In the mid-1990s, when child labor issue arouse for the first time, IKEA promised that “if the supplier employed children under legal working age, the contract would be cancelled” (6) and appointed a third party to monitor its suppliers’ factories. However, in the spring of 1995, a German film maker documented how one of IKEA’s major suppliers used child labor and invited IKEA to participate in an living discussion. This essay evaluates the possible strategies for IKEA in respond to the invitation and the child labor issue. Do Not Participate in the Discussion Program I would recommend that Marianne Barner, as a business area manager for carpets, do not participate in the program. This documentary aimed directly at IKEA and one of its suppliers, so it is highly possibly that the question lists prepared by the Germany documentary maker are used to mislead audiences and the evidences provided are weighted against...
Words: 982 - Pages: 4
...“IKEA Solution” IKEA is a Swedish company producing home furnishing products at low prices to make them affordable to people. The company was founded in 1943 by Ingvar Kamprad and kept growing tremendously from 2 stores in 1964 to 114 stores in 1994 to 231 stores in 2007 in 24 countries welcoming a total of 522 million visitors. Besides its success stories, the company has faced environmental and social issues. IKEA’s Global Sourcing Challenge involving Indian rugs as well as child labor is a complicated case of social issues. Whenever a company founds itself involved in a child labor controversy, it can severely damage the customer’s perception of the company. This impact can prove to be irreversible. In 1994, a Swedish television network showed a documentary film about children working in Pakistan, targeting IKEA. In India, IKEA faced criticism about child labor from various international organizations. In the spring of 1995, another film is threaten to be shown on German television about children working at looms at Rangan Exports, a company used by IKEA and the producer then invited IKEA to send someone to take part in a live discussion during the airing of the program. These events urged the company to consider environmental and social issues more seriously, and therefore, find a solution. Just like any other globalizaed company, IKEA needs to get the cheapest supplies and therefore go to countries that offer cheap labor. However, developing countries involved...
Words: 738 - Pages: 3
...IKEA’s Global Sourcing Challenge: Indian Rugs and Child Labor 1. List and describe the key components of IKEA’s business strategy? * Low price is one of IKEA’s most important components of business strategy. Its low price attracts many people to purchase products there, especially young householders looking for well-designed but inexpensive furniture. It is the low price that helps IKEA stick on its version: “selling affordable, good-quality furniture to mass-market consumers around the world”. To stay constant low price, IKEA matches products to supplier capabilities and also makes cost consciousness a really strong part of the IKEA’s management culture. * Opening display stores is also a key component. Customers can go to the display stores to look around and inspect furniture and other products before buying. This is really helpful for customers to choose the right products they need and also helpful to reduce products returns at the same time. * Self-assembled furniture is a key feature of IKEA. This concept helped IKEA gain so many customers. Customers buy furniture in flat packages and assemble the furniture at home. This idea save IKEA’s transport and also storage costs. With money saved, IKEA could offer constant low prices for its customers. * Advising by issuing catalog is a significant idea. By sending is catalogs to customers, IKEA get the chance to introduce every products to its target market. Many people who go to IKEA to purchase are driven...
Words: 804 - Pages: 4
...IKEA’s Global Sourcing Challenge: Indian Rugs and Child Labor Nathan Johnson Case Analysis MGT 400 – 10/27/09 1) How should Marianne Barner respond to the invitation for IKEA to have a representative appear on the upcoming broadcast of the German Video Production? The offer to have a representative appear on the upcoming broadcast of the German Video Production seems like a total setup. This movie sounds like it is totally geared towards tearing down the corporation’s credibility, etc. If a representative goes, most likely there will be set questions created by the group that made this video in attempt to incriminate IKEA on camera. I would recommend that Marianne Barner thank the German Video Production company for the invitation but to politely decline and say something to the extent that IKEA is currently investigating the operations of its suppliers to ensure compliance with IKEA’s policies. Thereby, as kindly as possible you extend politeness and it is implied that IKEA is now aware of the child labor IKEA is actively seeking to resolve the issue. 2) What actions should she take regarding the IKEA supply contract with Rangan Exports? The most logical approach towards addressing this issue would be to perform some sort of investigation on ALL of IKEA’s suppliers to make sure that all of them are in compliance. If IKEA singles out Rangan Exports, they could risk some sort of discrimination suit. Additionally, if there are more suppliers in violation of their...
Words: 1016 - Pages: 5
...more “applied/practical” understanding of contemporary issues facing companies who market (or intend to market) their products/services across national boundaries. The course focuses on real-life challenges that companies encounter in the context of their international marketing function (broadly defined). In general, these challenges relate to identifying, evaluating, and making tradeoffs across national, organizational, and personal contexts. Thus, we will discuss formulation- and implementation-related challenges as well as generate solutions to ‘international marketing’ dilemmas. COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES Learning Methods: Case discussion; Role plays; Mini-debates; Mini-lectures Assessment methods: Class participation; Case presentation; Final exam CLO1. Understand the international marketing environment; Contemplate and analyze international marketing opportunities. CLO2. Gain an understanding of international marketing effort related to the market entry and marketing mix strategies CLO3. Identify, interpret and evaluate information sources related to multinational marketing with the emphasis on information technologies (Internet). CLO4. Understand the principles of global retail management, such as site location, environmental impacts on retail planning and execution, global sourcing,...
Words: 3323 - Pages: 14
...Jacquelynn Mantel, and Teressa Paulus Indiana Wesleyan University Assignment ADM510 Team Project Paper Team Project Paper Rubric: The Team Project report was graded according to the rubric below |Criteria |Points Possible |Point Achieved | |Spelling, grammar and mechanics - Excellent |15 | | |Description of the Organization – good detail |20 | | | Opportunities for Global Expansion – great research |30 | | |Challenges to Global Expansion |30 | | |Expansion Options and Recommendations – team did a great job with the analysis and support |30 | | |APA citations & references page |15 | | |TOTAL |140 | | IKEA in India: An Opportunity for Success IKEA has become one of the most recognized and...
Words: 3790 - Pages: 16
...OM 367: Strategic Supply Chain Management Professor Stephen M. Gilbert Classroom: CBA 4.348 Class Meeting Time: TTH 12:30-2:00 Office: CBA 3.424 Phone: 471-9456 (O) e-mail: steve.gilbert@mccombs.utexas.edu Mail Box: Dept. of IROM, CBA 5.202 Fax: 471-3937 (O) Office Hrs: T-TH 10:30-11:30, and by appt. COURSE DESCRIPTION Supply Chain Management involves the flows of materials and information among all of the firms that contribute value to a product, from the source of raw materials to end customers. We will integrate issues from marketing (channels of distribution), logistics, and operations management to develop a broad understanding of a supply chain. By taking a strategic perspective, we will focus on relatively long term decisions involving the investment in productive resources, configuration of processes, product designs, and development of parterships with suppliers and channels of distribution. Although the development of analytical tools is not one of the primary objectives of the course, students should be comfortable with quantitative analysis. By the end of the course, you should have developed an appreciation for the major strategic issues trade-offs in supply chain management as well as the ability to use conceptual frameworks to make decisions. TEACHING/LEARNING METHODOLOGY The detailed course outline starting on page 6 lists, for every class session, the reading(s), case(s), assignment(s), and anything else of importance. Please read this outline carefully...
Words: 3965 - Pages: 16
