Computer Hardware And Software

Computer Hardware And Software In this topic Management Information System is about the information systems knowledge is essential for creating competitive firms, managing global corporations, adding business value, and providing useful products and services on the way to customers. What is an information system? The information system is defined technically as a set of interrelated apparatus that collect, process, store and distribute information to support decision making and control in an organization. In other also determination supporting decision making, coordination, and manage, information systems may also help manager and workers analyze problems, visualize complex subjects and create new products. So information system contain about significant people, place, and things within the organization or in the environment surrounding it. Selecting the global system is from other countries, such as United States, Europe and Asia. Then local is just at state to state or city to city. While want to work outstation or management company, it must know local environments, with different, culture of countries, and local knowledge, time deliver service on a global, and time intense platform. In this question ask that become a mangers hot develop a company in many countries. By the way, management, organization, and technology are one point to show global application how to work and manage it. Question 1 Why is selecting computer hardware and software for the organization an important management decision? What management, organization and technology issue should be considered when selecting computer hardware? Answer of Question 1 Nowadays, computer is a device that accepts information and manipulates on a program or sequence of instructions on how the data to be processed. The computers also include the means for storing data. Computers variable have two parts are software and hardware. Computer hardware is physical foundation for the firm`s information technology infrastructure. Information technology infrastructures include software, data and networks. Computer hardware requires their storage or operation. Then, computer software is detailed instructions that control the operation of a computer system. However, hardware is without software to perform the tasks to associate with computers. Subsequently, in this question ask that why is selecting computer hardware and software for the organization an important management decision? Computer hardware is accordingly representing an important organizational benefit that must be properly managed. Managers need to balance the cost of acquire hardware capital with the need to provide a responsive and reliable platform for delivering information system applications. The most important issues in managing hardware assets are understanding the new technology requirements for electronic commerce and the digital firm, it also determining the total cost of ownership of technology assets, and identifying technology trends impacting the organization`s information technology infrastructure. While the software is represents a major organizational software asset that should be carefully managed. System software coordinates the different parts of the computer system and mediates between application software and computer hardware. As a result, the application software is used by application programmers and some end users to develop specific business application. Then, operating system is system software that to manages and controls the activities of the computer. This system acts as chief manager of the information system, allocation, assigning, and scheduling system resources and monitoring the use of the computer. Computer system resources allow to be used more efficiently such as multiprogramming, multiprocessing, virtual storage and time sharing are operating system capabilities. In PC operating systems have to developed complicated capability like support for multiple users on networks. PC operating system is leading area include Window XP, Window 98 and Window Me, Win dow CE, Window 2000, OS/2, Unix, Linux, Mas OS and DOS. Software also have general trend, can toward user-friendly, high level languages that both increase professional programmer productivity and make it easily for end users to work information systems. Principal programming languages used in business include C, C++ and Visual Basic and each is designed to explain specific types of problems. Software assortment should be based on criterion such as efficiency, compatibility with organization`s technology platform, vendor support, and whether the software tool is appropriate for the problems and tasks of the organization. Another view computer hardware and software technology can enhance or organizational performance. Two of them are major organizational assets that must be carefully managed. By the electronic commerce and electronic business have put new strategic importance on technologies that can store vast quantities if operation data and make them immediately available online. So manager and information systems specialists need to pay individual attention to hardware capacity planning and scalability to ensure that the firm has enough computing power for its current and upcoming needs. Then they also need to balance the costs and benefits of owning and maintaining their own hardware and software versus renting these assets from external service providers. In the online storage service provider (SSPs) rent out storage space to subscribers over the Web, to selling the computer storage as a pay-per-use utility. Type of application service providers (ASPs) is rent out to the software applications an d computer services from private network or remote computer centers to subscribers over the Internet. The companies will pay technology service provides only for the amount of computing power and services by a utility computing model. Cost is one of the point for calculating the total cost of ownership (TCO) of the organization`s technology assets can help to provide managers with the information they want to manage these assets and decide whether to rent or own these assets. Finally, the total cost of technology resources includes not only the original cost of computer hardware and software but they also same costs to upgrades, maintenance, technical support, and training. Management Computer hardware technology is to profound impact on business performance. Thus, it represents an important organizational asset that must be properly managed. Then, the alternative computer hardware topologies are available to processing and storing data while they are using this technology for their business. Computer system have many modern and can be categorized into six major components such as a central processing unit (CPU), primary storage, input devices, output devices, secondary storage, and communications devices (in figure 1). Figure 1:hardware components of computer system CPU is the part of computer where the manipulation of symbol, letter occurs and numbers. CPU has two types of components such as an arithmetic-logic unit and a control unit. CPU is a closely tied primary memory, or primary storage, which are stores data and program instructions temporarily before or after processing. However, more than a few difference kinds of semiconductor memory chips is RAM ( random access memory) is use for short term storage of data and program instruction, then ROM (read only memory) eternally stores important program instructions. Computer processing power depends in part of speed in microprocessors, which is computer`s logic and control on a single chip. The input devices have included keyboards, computer mice, magnetic link and optical character recognition devices audio input devices and radio frequency identification devices. Maintenance of computer hardware is one of a series of cost components that mangers must consider when selecting and managing hardw are technology assets. Total cost of ownership (TCO) is designates the total cost of owning technology resources including cost of hardware, maintenance, and training. Anywhere, to improve firm of management and information systems specialists, so they must pay more attention to hardware capacity planning and scalability. For this system of capacity planning, is the process of predicting when the computer hardware system become saturated. For issue of capacity planning, most of the users that using the system can accommodate at one time. Second issue is the impact of existing and the future software application. Then, is a performance measure like minimum to response time for the processing business transaction. Currently, capacity planning is ensures for the firm has enough computing power and upcoming needs. Salability is refers for the ability of a computer, product, or system to expand to provide a large number of users without breaking down. Organization Computer hardware technology can either improve or delay organizational performance. Computer hardware selection should consider how well the technology meshes with the organization`s culture and structure with its information processing requirements. Technology Information technology today is not incomplete to computers but must be viewed as an array of digital devices networked together. Thus, type of computer and arrangement of processing that should be used by business in the nature organization. Computers type as well as mainframes, PCs, midrange computers, workstation, or supercomputer. While, computers also can be networked together to distribute processing among different machines. Network computer can help organization to maintain the central control over computing, linking PCs, workstations, peer-to-peer, or other computers through the internet or sharing data by private network, and disk space. Different ways of configuring hardware components in management side. Question 2 If you were a manager in a company that operates in many countries, what criteria would you use to determine whether a new system should be developed as a global application or local application? Why? Answer of Question 2 In this question is asking that if I am a manager will chooses global application or local application to operating a new system in many countries of the company. What is global application mean? Global application is for a world order is sweeping away many national corporations, national industries, and national economies control by domestic politician. Most of the countries like United States, Europe and Asia, many of their local firms will be replacing by fast-moving networked corporations that rise above national boundaries. Global application is the overall market forces, or business drivers, that are pushing to industry toward the global competition. So, want to be a good manager must known how to management, organizational and technology using a new system to operate the company in many countries. To develop a global application in new system, a manager would need to learn the cultures, face political and legal uncertainties, global environmental and social expectations, develop a global position and reorganize business strategies. The global market may run up against governmental or cultural restrictions. One of the criteria to be considered to develop the global application is global cultural which include the forms of religious, nationalistic, ethnic, regionalism, and geopolitical position. The differences of culture influence the concept of a shared global culture and reject the penetration of domestic markets by foreign goods and services. The expansion of international communication has created a world culture with stable expectations or norms. However for some of the middle and low level, software systems will equip with their local languages. Every country have their own terms of business trade, therefore political stability and a growing global knowledge base that is widely and essential for the world culture during develop of global application. These common factors are also creating the conditions for global markets, global production, coordination, distribution, and global economies of scale. In addition, different cultures produce different political and legal issued. Many countries are using different laws to lead the movement of information, information privacy of their citizens, origins of software and hardware in systems, and radio and satellite telecommunications. For instance in Germany, a vendor cannot accept payment via credit card until two weeks after an order has been sent. While in Malaysia, a vendor is accept payment via credit card before order goods deliver. Moreover, the criteria of social expectation are another point will need to be concentrate. Different of working hours are vary across countries. So the specific like the reliability that phone network not reliable. For the developing global business have four basic international strategies such as domestic exporter, multinational, franchiser, and transnational. The domestic exporter strategy is characterized by heavy centralization of corporate activities in the home country of origin. For second strategy is multinational, it is concentrates financial management and control out of a central home base while decentralizing production and marketing operations to units in other countries. Third strategy of franchiser is an interesting mix of old and new. Last strategy is the transnational, this for managed the activities from a global perspective without reference to national borders, optimizing sources of supply and demand wherever they become visible. In the information technology, the global telecommunications must improve because they are giving for international firms more flexibility to shape their global strategies. Thus, the protectionism is serve local markets better encourage companies to disperse production facilities. To develop a global company in many counties, how a firm organize and how to control the information support structure by manger? By the way, the entire branch in other counties needs to follow these principles. There are including organize, develop, and establish. For organize value adding activities along lines of comparative advantage. For example, marketing or sales functions should be located where they can best to present, for least cost and maximum impact. Other organizes like production, finance, human resources and information system. Second is develop, it to operate system units at each level of corporate activities regional, national, and international. Local company and global company, theirs develop not same to manage. For local company, there should host country system units of some magnitude. Then the global company is using regional systems units to handle telecommunications and system development across national boundaries that take place within major geographic regions. Last is establish, at world center of operations is a single office responsible for development of international system. Management Managers are responsible for devising an appropriate organizational and technological framework for international business. Global business strategies have four basic for global firms organizational structure. Transnational firms should develop networked system configurations and permit considerable decentralization of development. Second strategies are franchisers, nearly to duplicate systems across many countries and use centralized financial controls. Multinationals is third strategy, it typically rely on decentralized independence among foreign units with some movement toward development of networks. Lastly is domestic strategy is exporters typically are centralized in domestic headquarters with some decentralized operations permitted. To develop a global firm or company and information systems support structure, be a firm or company needs to known these principles. To identifying core business process is to perform a business process analysis. There have three type are organize develop and establish. Hence, organize is the value adding activities along lines of comparative advantage. After that, develop and operate systems units at each level of corporate activity regional, national, and international and establish is at world headquarters a single office responsible for development of international system, it is a global chief information officer (CIO) position. Managers must know how to handle the most vexing problem facing managers developing the global information systems architectures. Applications developed just about the global by different divisions, different people, and for different kinds of computing hardware. If the problem are magnified in an international environment, then just to imagine the challenge of integrating system based on Window, Unix, Linux and many other hardware in many different operating units in many different countries. Organization Global information systems pose challenges because of culture, political, and language diversity magnifies in organizational culture and business processes and encourages proliferation of disparate local information systems that are difficult to integrate. Usually, international systems have evolved without a conscious plan. The remedy is in the direction of a small subset of core business process and focus on building systems to support these processes. Usually, for managers must have to get somebody on board widely dispersed foreign units to participate in the development and operation of these systems, being careful to maintain overall control. Technology Global systems also must using hardware, software, and networking pose special technical challenges in an international setting. Mean that want finding some way to standardize a global computing platform when using have variation form operating unit to operating unit and from country to country. The universal acceptance of the internet around the global has greatly reduced networking problems. While, the internet does not guarantee that information will flow seamlessly throughout the global organization. Because all business units not use the same applications, and the quality of internet service can be highly variable. Other way, the hardware and telecommunications issues are systems integration and connectivity. Integration is to go either with a proprietary architecture or with open systems technology. Then the global networks are particularly difficult to build and operate. However, firms or company can build their own global networks or also can create global networks based on i nternet.

Family and Doctor Essay

Before I go with the topic to express â€Å"Why I want to be a part of Yashoda’s Young Doctor’s Camp†. I like to tell a small incident that had changed my goal and the way I really got admired. The incident took place when I was studying in class 6. I was suffering with high fever, and then usually my parents took me to the nearby doctor. This was the time when my brain was concentrating seriously, I observed that all the patients were keen to meet the doctor and express their disarray. They relied on the doctor totally which was easily understood by their smiling faces after consulting the doctor. They also believed that he was the only one who can cure their disarray. This made me to think that the profession of a doctor has a high position in the society and he is the one who will be trusted forever. Then I have decided to have my goal to become a doctor. I started to work hard from that moment towards my goal. Even I used to have a feeling in my mind that I can really do my best to prove myself. From then I started to work hard in the field of science . This showed me immense results . I was able to maintain a huge patience in my all works. And even I started to analyze what should be maintained to have a good health. Being a doctor is really tough and it will need huge patience and hard work. I want to relate to another incident that took place in my life when I was 2 years old. Don’t be shocked that how I can remember what happened when I was two years old it is not magic, but my father revealed it to me. I used to live with my grandparents those days. I was suffering with heavy motions those days. My grandfather was cautious about the viral infections and took me to the hospital for treatment. The doctor gave me a medicine named with ‘G’. My grandpa gave the prescription to the pharmaceutical shop person. H e gave the medicine to my grandpa and it was given to me. But, the results after using the medicine were different; my disarray was not cured for even after some days. This made my grandpa to check the medicine he found that a single letter ‘I’ was misplaced with a letter ‘r’. This incident when my father was saying I was amazed to know that a single letter plays a vital role. I learnt that a doctor should be always aware about his actions and I started to think before once before I do anything. This will make me to take good decisions. But I think this will not be the trait of the real doctor’s as they are really very much experienced in their profession. This made me also realize that to become a good doctor we should be experienced in the profession. So I think by now you might have made a picture what kind of girl I am. I possess patience, I believe in truth; I will take the responsibility for my action’s and I will believe in the word â€Å"trust†. And I believe that being a doctor is like giving a commitment to serve for the society. So, before I go on with expressing my curriculum performance, I have to say a few lines on Yashoda Hospitals. They were really awesome and the doctor’s are really friendly and caring. You can ask me how I can say this feedback. I have an original experience with Yashoda hospitals. W hen my uncle had an accident in the industry almost his hand fingers were crashed. When we immediately rushed to the nearby hospitals they said that the whole hand should be removed. The pain felt by my aunt when she heard this was still in my heart. Then my father had a thought with him to take to the Yashoda hospital will be a good way. Only a single second after his words, we rushed to the Yashoda hospital. We observed that the crews of Yashoda Hospital were really caring towards the patients. Then we met the doctor and he said that no problem to the hand it will be cured with an operation. This stunned me that there are different kinds of treatments going on. And this even made me clear that Yashoda hospital doctors are the ones with immense character and also they believe in the proper treatment. And I forgot to mention that I take care of the animals suffering with hunger as instructed by my biology teacher to take care of the poor ones by giving them food. This was one of the reasons why I rushed to my teacher when she said I am eligible for a camp with Yashoda hospital doctors. And then coming to my curriculum I am good at Physics, Chemistry and Biology. I even do my bit good to get higher grade in maths. Coming to the languages I know I can speak in Telugu, English and a bit of Hindi. I am helpful and friendly with my friends. I will respect the elders. And I am always ready to learn anything. I have high confidence in myself. I will concentrate in my studies to show good performance through my higher grades. I even take almost everything serious except a fight with my sister. I will read books a lot. I will usually gather good science facts and the collection of things which I felt amazed will be with me always. I don’t get irritated fast. I will even take good exercise and balanced diet to keep my body fit. I will also gather the up to date information about the new techniques in the treatment of patients. I am lso a bit patriotic because I feel that doing something to the mother land is really a great job. This was one of the main reason why I chose to be a doctor because I can serve my country. I believe in the principles of Abdul kalam and Mother Teresa. I would also state one of the main aspects of mine which my mom says wrong, but I feel it is right; the query is that I usually work hard by sitting to study at least for 5 hours a day. But my mom says you should study even hard, but I believe in studying with concentration and practical experiences rather sitting like a book worm. I believe the fact that if you love your work you will excel in it. I think these are the qualities I posses and it is up to you whether you select me. I want to experience originally how a doctor behaves and correct myself if am doing a mistake now itself so that I can excel in my profession better in the next coming years. I believe that these are the traits that are of a doctor. If I missed anything, I will learn it through Yashoda hospital doctors in the camp. I hope that I will get selected for this camp, and I believe that one day I will surely be a good doctor.

Case Analysis of Wal-Mart Mexico

1. Introduction 1. 1 History: Wal-Mart first stuck its toe into Mexico in 1991 through a joint venture with Cifra, Mexico’s leading retail company, initially limited to developing Sam’s Club warehouse stores in Mexico. The tremendous success of the first Sam’s Club stores and the impending passage of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) encouraged further collaboration, and Wal-Mart and Cifra expanded their joint venture through the 1990s. Wal-Mart purchased a majority stake in Cifra in 1997. Prior to the joint venture, Cifra’s lineup included Aurrera autoservicios (superstores selling food, clothing, and a variety of other items), Superama supermarkets, Suburbia department stores, and Vips restaurants. To this roster, Wal-Mart added Wal-Mart superstores (shifting Aurrera to a budget niche and relabeling its stores Bodega) and Sam’s Club warehouse stores, as well as introducing two new restaurant formats. Wal-Mart-Cifra had fewer grocery stores (though more stores of all formats) than either of competitors Gigante and Comercial Mexicana as of 1993, but had overtaken them by 2000 and today has 326 Wal-Mart, Aurrera, Sam’s, and Superama stores. Wal-Mart rolled out its â€Å"every day low prices† (EDLP) policy in Mexico in 1999-2000. It controlled 49 percent of Mexican supermarket sales in 2001. Wal-Mart also began to post price comparisons with other chains, a practice that in 2002 got it expelled from ANTAD, Mexico’s National Association of Supermarket and Department Stores. Today, 62 percent of Wal-Mart Mexico’s shares are owned by the U. S. based parent, Wal-Mart Stores. 2. Vision The vision of the Company summarizes their commitment to Mexico: â€Å"Contribute toward improving the quality of life for Mexican families. † Their basic belief is Respect for the Individual, Service to Our Customer, and Strive for Excellence, with Integrity being the underlying principle. 1. 3 The Mission Statement The mission upholding the Company’s permanence and success is value creating. All their efforts, strategies and actions are aimed at this objective. . Organizational Chart: Exhibit: 1 Exhibit: 1 2. Divisions of Wal-Mart Mexico: Wal-Mart Mexico’s size and geographic coverage dwarf those of its competition. It operates 694 stores in 73 Mexican cities. The Retail formats of Wal-Mart Mexico are: †¢ Bodega Aurerra †¢ Wal-Nlart Supercenter †¢ Sam’s Club †¢ Superarna †¢ Suburbia and †¢ Vips Although 360 of these stores are self-service (the others are restaurants [Vips] and department stores [Suburbia]), Wal-Mart Mexico has 55 percent of the Mexican retail market. The three major formats (Aurerra, 30 percent; Wal-Mart Supercenter, 27 percent; and Sam’s Club, 29 percent) together provide more than 86 percent of its revenues. 44 percent of the entire countries population is concentrated in 25cities metro areas. A bit more than 18 percent live in the capital city’s metro area. Mexico’s rural population accounts for about 34 million or about 33 percent of the country’s total population. The retail industry does not have a ingle outlet in the rural concentrations, which leaves the market to neighborhood Stores, public markets, or street vendors, which, as individual businesses, do not have a significant presence in the market as a whole. |FORMAT |NAME |#OF STORES |# IN 25 MOST IMPORTANT |% IN 25 MOST IMPORTANT | | | | |URBAN AREAS |URBAN AREAS | Warehouse |Bodega Aurerra |161 |117 |73% | |Suparmarket |Superama |50 |50 |100% | |Hypermarket |Supercenter |86 |74 |86% | |Savings Club |Sam’s Club |61 |42 |68% | |Restur ant |Vips |209 |190 |91% | | |El Porton |46 |42 |91% | |Apparel |Suburbia |53 |53 |100% | |Total | |666 |568 |85% | 3. Target Segments: One of the secret of Wal-Mart Mexico’s success is that it has a clearly defined target market. The Aurerra format (162 stores) is targeted at lower- to lower-middle income classes; these Bodega stores offer 48,000 SKUs. Sam’s Club (61 stores) offers a much more limited variety of products (4,000 SKUs) and targets consumers and businesses buying in volume. The Wal-Mart Supercenter stores (89 units) offer the widest variety of goods (80,000 SKUs). Superama (48 stores) contributes only 3 percent of the company’s sales; these stores offer a variety of goods (35,000 SKUs) but are located in residential areas for convenience. Wal-Mart Mexico’s Suburbia 50 department stores target the middle class, offering fashionable apparel at reasonable prices; these stores contribute 6 percent of the company’s sales. The Vip’s chain of restaurants (284 locations) represents 3 percent of the company’s sales. The vast majority of Wal-Mart Mexico’s stores are located in the 25 most important metro areas in the country. 4. Geographic Coverage [pic] [pic] 5. Responsibilities To the Stakeholders The Customer — The word ‘always' can be seen in virtually all of Wal-Mart Mexico’s literature. Their belief is that the customer is always right, and the stores are still driven by this philosophy. Their commitment to the customers is to Offer the right merchandise assortment, in the right amount, and at the right time at Everyday Low Prices, Always. they ensure and improve the quality of their service to provide the best possible shopping experience. Shareholders – Look after and grow the equity they have been entrusted with, observing the highest standards of integrity and the Corporate Governance best practices is their commitment towards their shareholders. The actions include †¢ foster transparency, timely presentation of information to the shareholders and ethical company management, which in turn contributes towards increasing the value of the Company, all within a control environment and with Corporate Governance best practices. †¢ Through the Statement of Ethics and Compliance program, they ensure that Integrity is an ever-present and global principle. †¢ They develop and every day instill a culture of compliance with beliefs, laws, standards and policies. The Employees – Wal-Mart Mexico believed in listening to employees and challenging them to come up with ideas and suggestions to make the company better. Its first contribution as a corporate citizen is its employment of more than 109,000 people throughout the country and the extensive training programs (4. 2 million hours in 2004) it provides for those employees. The firm highlights its diversity since 48 percent of its employees are female. At each of the Wal-Mart stores, signs are displayed which read, ‘Our People Make the Difference. ‘ One of Wal-Mart's goals was to provide its employees with the appropriate tools to do their jobs efficiently. They provide a sound organizational culture (Integrity, Respect for the Individual, Service to Our Customers, and Strive for Excellence). Personal and professional development for their people is a priority, as well as providing job security for them and economic stability for their families through continuous growth as a company and the diversity of our operations. They have also created programs to improve the quality of life for our Associates, promote gender equality, and benefit the Associates as well as their families. The Community– Wal-Mart is involved in many community outreach programs and has launched several national efforts through industrial development grants. They create and foster programs that promote development and improve the quality of life for all families throughout Mexico. Their initiatives to do so are †¢ Through their programs and on-going support of organizations, they contribute towards generating sustainable changes and creating solutions for malnutrition and food safety issues throughout the country. †¢ They convert community actions into local commitment, allowing each business unit of the Company to become an agent of change. †¢ Wal-Mex also provides direct financial assistance to support high impact projects regarding nutrition for communities in need. The Suppliers — The commitment towards their supplier is to support their development, growth and Consolidation. The purchasing agents of Wal-Mart are very much focused people. ‘Their highest priority is making sure everybody at all times in all cases knows who's in charge, and it's Wal-Mart'. ‘Even though Wal-Mart was tough in negotiating for absolute rock-bottom prices, the company worked closely with suppliers to develop mutual respect and to forge long-term partnerships that benefited both parties'. Actions include the following †¢ They provide development opportunities to suppliers through constant growth. †¢ Through Regional Trade Fairs Wal-Mart Mexico develop local suppliers as a means of providing additional support for small and medium enterprises. They have created areas of development for the textile and garment-making industry, the production chain for perishables, and new regional products. †¢ Our information systems help suppliers to plan production and buy of raw materials, thereby creating greater operations efficiencies and market competitiveness. 6. Financial Analysis: [pic] Financial Highlights 7. Strategic Analysis 7. 1 SWOT Analysis: A scan of the internal and external environment is an important part of the strategic planning process. The SWOT analysis provides information that is helpful in matching the firm's resources and capabilities to the competitive environment in which it operates. Thus, it is instrumental in strategy formulation and selection and simultaneously to develop a competitive advantage. Strengths: ? Good Corporate Citizen: Wal-Mart Mexico has a positive reputation in Mexico as a good corporate citizen, having received prestigious awards for its actions. It publishes an annual social responsibility report, highlighting its activities as a corporate citizen in Mexico. Wal-Mart Mexico has been certified as a â€Å"Socially Responsible Enterprise† since 2001, one of only a handful of companies in Mexico to receive such an honor. ? Market Leader: It is by far the leader in the Mexican retail industry after less than a decade and a half of operations there providing low-price goods to everyone. ? Largest Private Employer: Wal-Mart is Mexico s largest private employer, with 109,057 employees in valuable jobs in many local communities with 55 percent of the Mexican retail market. Wal-Mart argues that its first contribution as a corporate citizen is its employment of more than 109,000 people throughout the country and the extensive training programs (4. 2 million hours in 2004) it provides for those employees. The firm highlights its diversity since 48 percent of its employees are female. ? Large Market Share: Today, 62 percent of Wal-Mart Mexico’s shares are owned by the U. S. based Parent, Wal-Mart Stores. ? Largest Foreign Subsidiary Wal-Mart Mexico is the largest foreign subsidiary of Wal-Mart Stores and provides approximately 25 percent of the parent’s foreign sales. Environmental Performance Wal-Mart Mexico’s environmental performance includes investing over $8 million in 2003 and 2004 to open 73 water treatment plants and a variety of recycling, energy conservation, and pollut ion-reduction activities. It also emphasizes that more than 90 percent of the products sold in its stores are supplied in Mexico. ? Local Suppliers Wal-Mart Mexico sources from local suppliers. It has leveraged its volume buying power with its suppliers. It negotiates the best prices from its vendors and expects commitments of quality merchandise. So it can minimize the cost of the goods and can offer the customers a lower selling price as well. Good promotion and sponsorship Wal-Mart Mexico also is involved in a number of philanthropic activities, including programs focused on education, nutrition, homelessness, and health. In 2004, it sponsored a National Wal-Mart Mexico Volunteer Day, and 2,476 of its associates participated. ? Good Location Good location is one of the very important criteria for being successful in the industry. The vast majority of Wal-Mart Mexico’s stores are located in the 25 most important metro areas in the country. The retail industry does not have a single outlet in the rural concentrations, as these areas do not have a significant presence in the market as a whole. Increased sales Volume Wal-Mart Mexico’s large volume of sales also indicate its strength. The firm’s net income has increased dramatically from 2002 to 2004, from $485 million to $702 million. the total square meters of space have increased between 2001 and 2004, as have sales per square meter and net income per square meter. ? Proper Segmentation Wal-Mart Mexico has a clearly defined target market. The Aurerra format is targeted at lower- to lower-middle income classes; these Bodega stores offer 48,000 SKUs. Sam’s Club targets consumers and businesses buying in volume. The Wal-Mart Supercenter stores, Superama are located in residential areas for convenience. Wal-Mart Mexico’s Suburbia department stores target the middle class, offering fashionable apparel at reasonable prices. Weaknesses: ? Location: Though majority of the stores of Wal-Mart Mexico’s location are very good, one of the stores has been located near a world historic site, the pyramids of Teotihuacan, has elicited global disapproval from activist groups and is a public relations disaster drawing large local protests. For many, it is just another example of Wal-Mart’s lack of sensitivity to community and humanity. ? Lack of clear Strategic plan Though Wal-Mart Mexico has a clear Vision, Mission and strategy they do not have an integrated version of these. Thus, they need a clear strategic plan for the future. ? Easily copied strategy Competitors are learning to respond to Wal-Mart’s size, efficiency, and success. Wal-Mart stores operate according to their ‘Everyday Low Price' philosophy. All of the main competitors are now competing with Wal-Mart now offers some version of its â€Å"every day low prices† (EDLP) formula. Wal-Mart’s competitors insist that there is now no significant price difference, and many Mexican consumers seem to have drawn the same conclusion. Opportunities: ? Scope of Diversification The convenience stores like corner stores, public markets, and street vendors business is relatively new in Mexico, there is a scope of diversification in future for Wal-Mart Mexico. Joint ventures Through a 50—50 joint venture with Office Depot and a 51—49 joint venture with Radio Shack, Grupo Gigante runs 98 Radio Shack stores throughout Mexico. Seems that Wal-Mart Mexico has an opportunity to follow such approaches to be more successful in future. ? Improved services Like Soriana, another competitor of Wal-Mart Mexico it can provides: discount specials, loyalty card programs, big-ticket item raffles and contests (e. g. , a BMW X5 automobile), outgoing employees, and mariachi band entertainment in order to appeal to female middle-class consumers. ? Foreign Penetration Grupo Gigante is successfully penetrating foreign markets. Wal-Mart Mexico can also follow the same like its competitor in order to enter in a new era. ? Strategic Plan Though Wal-Mart Mexico does not have a clear strategic plan, there is a scope to make a good one to do better in future. Threats: ? Aggressive Competitive moves of Competitors The competitors of Wal-Mart Mexico proved themselves as quick respondents. They took various desperate initiatives to response with Wal-Mart Mexico’s approaches. As result shows that The Comercial Mexicana (CM) has slipped to third in terms of market share in the Mexican retail sector. Grupo Gigante currently has 13 percent market share in the Mexican retail industry. Soriana’s sales have grown at an annual rate of 17 percent since 1994, and it has no debt. Some of their initiatives are: i. Appealing logos of competitors Chedraui’s corporate logo indicates â€Å"Chedraui: It Costs Less. † Its mission is simply â€Å"to provide the products that customers want at the best price. † ii. Foreign Penetration Grupo Gigante is successfully penetrating foreign markets. iii. Joint Ventures Through a 50—50 joint venture with Office Depot and a 51—49 joint venture with Radio Shack, Grupo Gigante runs 98 Radio Shack stores throughout Mexico. iv. Superior Services Soriana provides: discount specials, loyalty card programs, big-ticket item raffles and contests (e. g. a BMW X5 automobile), outgoing employees, and mariachi band entertainment in order to appeal to female middle-class consumers. v. Prices differences Comercial Mexicana and Soriana now aggressively publicize price differences with Wal-Mart and Aurrera. Wal-M art’s competitors insist that there is now no significant price difference and now many Mexican consumers seem to have drawn the same conclusion. ? ANTAD The Asociacion Nacional de Tiendas de Autoservicio y Departamentales (ANTAD) is the trade association that represents the retail industry in Mexico. Wal-Mart left ANTAD in October 2002 because the association’s new ethics code explicitly stated that members should not publish any type of promotions stating another member’s prices. Since Wal-Mart is not a member of ANTAD, all ANTAD members now publish their lower prices compared to Wal-Mart’s, when they have them. ? Sinergia Because of Wal-Mart’s huge purchasing power, three other retailers—Comercial Mexicana, Gigante, and Soriana—have formed a purchasing cooperative. This cooperative, Sinergia, first introduced in 2002 to compete against Wal-Mart. The cooperative was first thought of as a competitive-directed measure for purchasing imported goods, mainly electronics, where Wal-Mart has been enormously successful, but it now has been extended to such other types of merchandise as groceries and packaged food. ? Specialized Retailers The Mexican retail sector is fragmented; there are a wide variety of retail formats, many of which are informal. Because many shoppers in Mexico do not have access to automobiles, and may not have large refrigeration space to store perishables, very small independent grocery stores have thrived for decades throughout Mexico. This business is controlled by the two Mexican beer makers. Cerveceria Modelo, with the Extra stores and 7-Eleven; and Cerveceria, Cuauhtemoc Moctezuma, with Oxxo (about 3,OOO stores). The concept is beginning to include gas stations, and many small entrepreneurs have a limited regional presence. Major national chains exist in the department, pharmacy, and electronics store formats. ? Mexican Economy The Mexican economy is very volatile; the retail sector is subject to this volatility. Throughout the latter half of the 1990s, inflation and interest rates still annually averaged well over 10 percent. The peso continues in decline in value relative to the dollar. The economic volatility has a negative impact on consumers and business alike. Mexican consumers are very price sensitive because of the economic challenges that the country faces. ? Various Criticisms Despite extensive social responsibility activities and its record as the largest private employer in the country, the potential for criticism of its purchasing practices and supplier and employee relations, as well as its impact on local small businesses and communities, loom as a significant threat 7. PEST Analysis: PEST Analysis The purpose of PEST analysis is to analyze the external environment and identify the strategic opportunities and threats in the organizations operating environment that will affect to it pursues its mission. This analysis requires assessment of the environment in which the company op erates. It also analyzes the country or national environment of the country and takes into account the wider socio economic and macro–environment that may affect the company and the industry. Political Factors Government: Mexico is a federal republic—hence its official name Estados Unidos Mexicanos—operating under a centralized government. Governmental powers at the federal level are divided between executive, legislative, and judicial branches, but in political practice the executive, that is, the presidency, has had strong control over the legislative branch. Only in recent years has the legislative branch seen its power increase because of the strengthening of the multiparty system. The president is elected by popular vote for a six-year period and is both the chief of state and head of government. The president appoints cabinet members. The legislative branch is a bicameral National Congress consisting of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate. The Chamber of Deputies has five hundred members, elected for three-year terms; the Senate has 128 members, elected for six-year terms. In the judicial branch the Supreme Court of Justice is the highest tribunal. The federation is made up of thirty-one states and the Federal District (the capital). Each state has a governor, who serves a six-year term, and a unicameral legislature. Both are elected by popular vote. Before 1997, the chief of the Federal District was appointed by the president, but has since been elected directly by popular vote. The Federal District also has an Assembly of Representatives. The local administrative level is the municipality, which is governed by a popularly elected mayor and a municipal council for three-year terms. Suffrage is universal and mandatory (but not enforced) for those over the age of eighteen. Leadership and Political Officials: The modern presidency stands in a long tradition of pre-Columbian rulers (tlatoani), Spanish colonial viceroys, and nineteenth century and revolutionary caudillos. The president holds great discretionary powers. Power and leadership are attained through the management of personal relations, which are ruled by principles of loyalty, trust, and reciprocity. These informal networks are interconnected in a pyramidal way and form the real centers of decision making. Vertical patron-client relations can be found in all segments of society. Interactions between politicians, union leaders, top bureaucrats, and ordinary people also take place through these networks. In recent years, academic credentials and technocratic knowledge have become more important than political and electoral experience. Besides being chief of state and head of government, the president has traditionally been the leader of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), which held power from 1929 to 2000. During much of the twentieth century, Mexico was a one-party democracy. The PRI emerged from the revolution and incorporated mass organizations of workers, peasants, and urban middle classes. Because of its particular origins, its longevity in power, and the influence of diverse interest groups, the PRI is difficult to classify ideologically. There are two other significant parties in Mexico. The conservative National Action Party (PAN) began enjoying electoral success at the state level in 1985. The social-democratic Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD) emerged as a breakaway movement from the PRI in 1987 and began governing Mexico City in 1997. Both the PAN and the PRD aim at democratization, but the PRD also proposes a more equal distribution of wealth. The dominance of the PRI in federal elections was finally broken on 2 July 2000, when the candidate of the PAN won a stunning victory with 43 percent of the vote. Social Problems and Control: Both petty and organized crime increased in the 1990s. Muggings and burglaries, increasingly violent, became widespread. Drug-related violence constituted another serious cause of concern. Public security has thus become a key issue for ordinary citizens and the authorities. At the same time, the police and the judiciary system are widely believed to be ineffective and lack public credibility, partially due to unresolved high-profile political assassinations and corruption. This has led to incidents of people taking the law into their own hands. Paid neighborhood watches are common wherever people can afford them. Private security guards no longer patrol only at banks and government buildings but also at medium-sized offices and shops. In response, the government founded an additional police force in 1999, the National Preventive Police. Military Activity: Mexico has had civilian presidents since 1946 and has not been involved in international disputes in recent decades. The primary role of the military is the maintenance of internal order. The Ministry of National Defense (the army and air force) and the marines together comprised an armed force consisting of almost 240,000 members in 1998. Military expenditures have increased substantially in recent years and amounted to $2. 5 billion (U. S. ) in 1996, accounting for almost 1 percent of the GDP. In recent years the military has been involved in two serious problems: the armed uprising in the state of Chiapas and the struggle against drugs. Mexico is a major supplier of marijuana and heroin to the U. S. market and is the primary transshipment country for cocaine from South America. In 1998 the government spent $147 million (U. S. ) to combat drug trafficking, an amount that has increased spectacularly in recent years. Economic Factors Mexico City is a place to love and loathe, with everything one expects to find in the world's third-largest metropolis (only Tokyo and NYC are bigger). Mexico's best and worst ingredients are magi-mixed in this polluted and bustling megalopolis of music and noise, brown air and green parks, colonial palaces and skyscrapers, world-renowned museums and ever-spreading slums. Mexico has been progressing economically since the Mexican Civil War in 1939 when its economy was devastated. Today, tourism, industry and agriculture play a major role in the country’s economy. Mexico has seen the fastest economic development in Western Europe since the 1960’s. Tourism has played a major role since the 1960’s and in the last 40 years, tourism has been the fastest growing economic sector of the country’s GDP, helping to accelerate growth overall. Millions of visitors flock to Mexico and contribute almost $50 billion USD to Mexico’s economy each year. Agriculture contributes less than 5% of the nation’s GDP, which is high compared to other countries in Western Europe. Fishing is another important economic sector for Mexico. Industry contributes about 35% of Mexico’s GDP, but industry is still somewhat dependent on foreign investment. The most common products from this sector are motor vehicles, steel, textiles, chemicals and ships. Mexico is among the world's most open economies, but it is dependent on trade with the U. S. , which bought about 82% of its exports in 2007. Top U. S. xports to Mexico include electronic equipment, motor vehicle parts, and chemicals. Top Mexican exports to the U. S. include petro leum, cars, and electronic equipment. There is considerable intra-company trade. Trade disputes between the United States and Mexico are generally settled through direct negotiations between the two countries or via WTO or North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) panels. The most significant areas of friction involve agricultural products such as livestock and sweeteners. To address the issues that affect these industries in a manner consistent with the principles of free trade, the United States and Mexico have established technical working groups. During the last three decades Mexico has grown with an annual average rate of 4%, even with the changes from an inward-looking developing economic strategy towards a more open economy with a far-reaching trade liberalization program. But the story at the sub-national level is different; these changes have modified the regional development strategies and consequently the growth paths of the 32 Mexican states. There is evidence of an uneven growth, greater disparities and important differences in welfare standards among regions. Socio-Cultural Factors Orientation: Mexicans make several cultural subdivisions within the nation. The most common one identifies northern, central, and south or south-eastern Mexico. The extensive and desertlike north was only sparsely populated until the middle of the twentieth century, except for some important cities such as Monterrey. It has traditionally housed only small indigenous populations and is generally regarded as a frontier culture. Densely populated central and western Mexico is the cradle of the nation. Highly developed Indian cultures populated this region in pre-Columbian times and it was also the heart of the colony of New Spain. Many prominent colonial cities are major urban and industrial centers today. Southern Mexico has a tropical or subtropical climate and some rain forest. It is characterized by a strong indigenous heritage and is also the poorest part of the country. Demography: The preliminary results of the 2000 population census calculated the total number of Mexicans as 97,361,711. In 1950, the total population amounted to approximately 25 million, with the figure reaching nearly 50 million in 1970. These numbers demonstrate the rapid rate of demographic growth that was so characteristic of Mexico during the second half of the twentieth century. The growth rate has slowed, but the population is still very young. The average life expectancy in 1999 was estimated at sixty-nine years for men and a little over seventy-five years for women; the infant mortality rate was almost twenty-five per one thousand. In the late twentieth century, emigration to the United States (mainly of the illegal variety) became a significant phenomenon. Linguistic Affiliation: Spoken by more than 95 percent of the population, Spanish is the official language of Mexico and was introduced through conquest and colonization. Mexican Spanish has its roots in the Spanish of Spain. In terms of grammar, syntax, and spelling there are no important differences between the two, but the pronunciation and sound are different. Certain words from the principal Indian language (Nahuatl) are incorporated into Mexican Spanish, especially in the domains of food and household. Some of these words have also been incorporated into other languages such as the English ‘chocolate' from the Nahuatl ‘chocolatl'. The national culture of Mexico boasts sixty-two indigenous languages. In 1995 at least 5. 5 million people spoke an indigenous language. The level of bilinguism, however, was high at 85 percent. Symbolism: The most important icon of Mexican national culture is the Virgin of Guadalupe, which illustrates the pervasive influence of Roman Catholicism in the national culture. She is viewed as the â€Å"mother† of all Mexicans. The dark-skinned Virgin is the Mexican version of the Virgin Mary and as such represents national identity as the product of the mixing of European and Meso-American religions and peoples. Her image was used in the struggle for independence against the Spanish. Mexicans have developed a particular sense of uniqueness, which is expressed in the popular saying como Mexico no hay dos (Mexico is second to none). This sense is also expressed in numerous elements of popular culture such as food and music. Ethnic Relations: Social policies aimed at the emancipation of Indian groups and the elimination of profound socioeconomic inequalities have been employed since the 1930s. Nevertheless, indigenous populations are among the poorest and most marginalized groups in Mexico. Prejudice among broad sectors of the population toward Indians persists. Elites in provincial towns in predominantly indigenous regions are often openly racist. This situation has strained ethnic relations and there has been a rise of indigenous movements in recent years that demand a new space in the national culture. Most significant has been the outbreak of armed indigenous rebellion in the state of Chiapas, where the Zapatista Army for National Liberation declared war on the government in January 1994. Food: Mexico possesses an extensive and sophisticated culinary culture, with a great variety of regional dishes. Three products constitute the heart of most Mexican dishes: corn, hot peppers (chiles), and beans, products that stem from pre-Columbian times. Corn is consumed in all possible forms: as a cooked or roasted corncob (elote), cooked grain of corn, porridge (atole), as wrapped and steamed dough with filling (tamal), but most importantly as a tortilla, a thin, round â€Å"pancake. Tortillas are made from corn dough and come in many sizes, although the traditional tortilla that accompanies most meals has a diameter of approximately six inches (15 centimeters). When tortillas are filled with meat or other ingredients they are called tacos or quesadillas, which are especially popular in cent ral Mexico. Much of the sophistication of Mexican cuisine comes from the use of more than one hundred different types of chiles, which range from the large and â€Å"sweet† chile ancho to the small and extremely hot chile habanero. Mexican Family Values: The family is at the centre of the social structure. Outside of the major cosmopolitan cities, families are still generally large. The extended family is as important as the nuclear family since it provides a sense of stability. Mexicans consider it their duty and responsibility to help family members. For example, the will help find employment or finance a house or other large purchase. Most Mexican families are extremely traditional, with the father as the head, the authority figure and the decision-maker. Mothers are greatly revered, but their role may be seen as secondary to that of their husband. Machismo: Machismo literally means ‘masculinity'. There are different outward behaviors to display machismo. For example, making remarks to women is a stereotypical sign of machismo and should not be seen as harassment. Mexican males generally believe that nothing must be allowed to tarnish their image as a man. Hierarchical Society: Mexican society and business are highly stratified and vertically structured. Mexicans emphasize hierarchical relationships. People respect authority and look to those above them for guidance and decision-making. Rank is important, and those above you in rank must always be treated with respect. This makes it important to know which person is in charge, and leads to an authoritarian approach to decision-making and problem- solving. Mexicans are very aware of how each individual fits into each hierarchy–be it family, friends or business. It would be disrespectful to break the chain of hierarchy. Technological Factors Most scientific research in Mexico is conducted in the public universities, mainly in the National Autonomous University and the Autonomous Metropolitan University, both in Mexico City. The National Polytechnic Institute, also in Mexico City, is the foremost research institute in engineering and technology. In recent years there has been government support for developing research centers outside the capital. There is also an extensive network of specialized autonomous research institutes that are dependent on state finances such as the National Institute of Astrophysics, Optics, and Electronics and the College of Mexico. Just over half of the almost $2 billion (U. S. ) of federal expenditures in science and technology in 1998 was channeled through the Ministry of Public Education and another 34 percent was channeled through the Ministry of Energy. The majority of the latter funds are spent on research into the exploitation of oil. Public policy concentrates on three areas: promotion of quality and quantity of scientific research, establishment of linkages between science and industry, and the promotion of technological innovation. The National Council of Science and Technology is the most important funding agency for the physical and social sciences. In 1998 it had a budget of $287 million (U. S. , with 47 percent allocated to individual postgraduate grants, 25 percent to scientific research and technological development, and 22 percent to the National System of Researchers (SNI), a program of financial incentives to productive academics. In 1998, more than sixty-five hundred researchers were in the SNI. Information on corporate funding of research and development is unavailable but is estimated to be very modest compared to Mexico's main trading partners. Mexico's future development will have to be progressively more based on the effective generation and utilization of knowledge, in order to meet economic, social and environmental challenges. The role of the scientific & technological communities in knowledge supply and in its effective integration in innovation systems cannot be overemphasized. If it wants to invest coherently in its own S&T assets, and assert its own intellectual and scientific capacities in the global knowledge society, Mexico must strive to go beyond the level of being an â€Å"economic province† of the much larger and US-dominated NAFTA. Overall investment levels in S&T remains low, although substantial investment in local human resources and infrastructure is required to ensure the absorption, adaptation and application of world-class technology. For instances, Mexico's investment on RTD is the lowest of the OECD 2 (0. 31% of GDP), compares unfavorably with 0. 38% for Turkey and represents only one-seventh of the OECD average. This figure can also be compared with those of China (0. 7%), India (0. 8%) or Brazil (at least 0. 8%). Human resource formation, a critical output of research projects, also remains disappointingly low. Mexico trains fewer Ph. D. per year than comparable countries, with 3 Ph. D. s per million inhabitants, compared to 5 in India, 6 in Brazil and 19 in South Korea. Moreover, there is a significant regional disparity in the allocation of scientific resources, with 75% of all doctoral degrees being awarded by institutions in the Mexico City area. 8. Problem Symptoms: From the above strategic analyses it could be interpreted that, Wal-Mart's current strong competitive position and its past rapid growth performance can't guarantee that the company will remain as the industry leader or maintain its strong business position in the future, since there are huge threats for the Walmart in the Mexico city. Competitors are now taking aggressive competitive moves and successfully imitating their strategies and diminishing the Wal-Mex advantage. 9. Current Strategies: Low Cost Provider Wal-Mart stores operate according to their ‘Everyday Low Price' philosophy. According their vision to contribute to improve the quality of life for Mexican families, they invest to be near and offer them the best products at Every Day Low Prices. Wal-Mart has emerged as the industry leader because it has been better at containing its costs which has allowed it to pass on the savings to its customers. It continues to improve upon its key business processes, managing them centrally and investing in them heavily for the long term payback. 10. Strategy Implementation The key features of Wal-Mart Mexico's approach to implementing the strategy is the approach to implementing the strategy by building solid working relationships with both suppliers and employees, being aware and taking notice of the most intricate details in store layouts and merchandising techniques, capitalizing on every cost saving opportunity, and creating a high performance spirit. This strategic formula is used to provide customers access to quality goods, to make these goods available when and where customers want them, to develop a cost structure that enables competitive pricing, and to build and maintain a reputation for absolute trustworthiness. Wal-Mart Mexico has been regarded as an industry leader in ‘testing, adapting, and applying a wide range of cutting-edge merchandising approaches Wal-Mart’s secret of having phenomenal track record in Mexico is that it has brought a set of superior management techniques and technologies. Press accounts have emphasized Wal-Mart’s low-price strategy, high-technology distribution network, and intense pressure on suppliers for discounts—â€Å"the same formula† as in the United States, Wal-Mart de Mexico also has connected with and replicated the U. S. Company’s huge, Automated distribution network. With NAFTA eliminating most trade barriers, Wal-Mex has direct links to U. S. -based distribution centers, but also has built twelve distribution centers within Mexico31. In addition to heightened efficiency, this multiplies Wal-Mex’s power as a purchaser, since Wal-Mart consolidates orders for all goods from outside the United States. Another contributor to Wal-Mex’s success is its use of a wide range of formats to appeal to varied classes of consumers, and particularly lower income consumers. Wal-Mart succeed to achieve economies of scale which reduces its costs of sales. With this system, goods are continuously delivered to stores within 48 hours and often without having to inventory them. Lower prices also eliminate the expense of frequent sales promotions and sales are more predictable. Cross docking gives the individual managers more control at the store level. Wal-Mart has been led from the top but run from the bottom, a strategy developed by Sam Walton and carried on by a small group of senior executives. . Although recent growth has led Wal-Mart to add more management layers, senior executives strive to maintain its unique culture. 11. Limits to the success story Mexican retailers have proven to be quick studies. All three of the main national autoservicio chains competing with Wal-Mart now offer some version of its â€Å"every day low prices† (EDLP) formula. Comercial Mexicana and Soriana now aggressively publicize price differences with Wal-Mart and Aurrera. In addition, some of the larger suppliers (especially soft drink and snack food manufacturers) have begun to print suggested prices on their packages, deterring retailers from charging more. Wal-Mart’s competitors insist that there is now no significant price difference, and many Mexican consumers seem to have drawn the same conclusion. Similarly, squeezing suppliers has become commonplace for large Mexican retailers. Executives from competing chains report that they have also begun to shift toward centralized, highly automated distribution and tracking systems, and to create detailed procedure manuals. The net result of Mexican chains’ emulation of Wal-Mart is that Wal-Mex’s share of sales among the top five Mexican retailers has remained steady for the last two years. Closer to home, Wal-Mart has struggled in northern Mexico, particularly the Monterrey area. Executives of another chain offered several analyses of Wal-Mart’s difficulties in the region. Soriana and the Texas-based HEB were already entrenched by the time Wal-Mart arrived. Wal-Mart made some early merchandising mistakes, opening no-frills Bodegas that had done well in central Mexico but left more sophisticated northern customers cold. Finally, as polarization between rich and poor increases in Mexico, Wal-Mart’s approach of selling to a broad middle faces structural limits. 12. Suggested Strategies ‘One little bad thing can wipe out lots of good things'. So every move in its business operation ought to be well thought-out and executed. Wal-Mart needs to address few areas in order to maintain or to capture an even stronger long term business position: Single-business strategy — Wal-Mart's success is mainly based on its concentration of a single-business strategy. This strategy has achieved enviable success over the last three decades without relying upon diversification to sustain its growth and competitive advantages. Given its current position in the industry, Wal-Mart may want to continue its single-business strategy and to push hard to maintain and increase market share. However, there is risk in this strategy, because concentration on a single-business strategy is similar to ‘putting all of a firm's eggs in one industry basket'. In other words, if the retail industry stagnates due to an economic downturn, Wal-Mart might have difficulty achieving past profit performance. Other than this some other suggested strategies could be: 1. Expanding into states where it had no stores; 2. Continuing to saturate its current markets with new stores; 3. Perfecting the Super center format to expand Wal-Mart's retailing reach into the grocery and supermarket arena 4. And last but not the least following the current low cost strategy through minimizing the operating cost and as well as the selling cost. 13. Conclusion The ever-changing market presents continuing challenges to retailers. First and foremost, retailers must recognize the strong implications of a ‘buyers' market' . Customers are being offered a wide choice of shopping experiences, but no one operation can capture them all. A closer look at Wal-Mart’s performance in Mexico indicates that it is neither invincible nor exceptionally exploitative. Imitation by competitors, income polarization, and economic hardship that steers consumers toward the informal sector will limit Wal-Mart de Mexico’s reach in the future. Hence, technology, demographics, consumer attitudes, and the advent of a global economy are all conspiring to rewrite the rules for success. Success in the next decade will depend upon the level of understanding retailers have about the new values, expectations, and needs of the customer. If Wal-Mart continues its customer-driven culture, it should remain a retail industrleader well into the next century. ———————– Ernesto Vega Chairman of the Board Eduardo Solorzano President and CEO Xavier del Rio Executive Vice Present, Real Estate Rafael Mature Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Jose Angel Gallegos Executive Vice Present, Human Resources

Marketing And Marketing Environment Marketing Strategy...

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Analyzing Violence and Crime in USA - 1357 Words

Introduction The evolution of humanity has been marred with much violence and turmoil. In America, the roots of the country were established in a very bloody manner and seemingly resonates in todays world as violence permeates the national landscape. The purpose of this essay is to investigate the causes of violence in America and look specifically at the youth of this country and the effects that are produced because of their behavior. Essentially, this essay will try to communicate how the proliferation of violence committed by American youth demonstrates tight connections among culture, media, and capitalism creating unique circumstances that result in excessive violence and rage relative to other youth around the world. This essay will first introduce the subject of juvenile crime and youth violence and indentify similarities to these situations around the world. Next, this essay will explore the idea and role of capitalism and hot it contributes to the problem. 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This paper will analyze three sources: an article written by Dov Cohen, titled â€Å"Culture, Social Organization, and Patterns of Violence,†on the trends of violence based on location, a Ted Talk given by Dan Gross, titled â€Å"Why GunRead MoreZero Tolerance Policy Review On The Us Education System1519 Words   |  7 PagesZero Tolerance Policy Review in the US Education System Over the past two decades the US schools have faced serious occurrences of violence. Accordingly, the prevention of school disruption and violence has evolved into an essential and crucial consideration. Beyond the avoidance of toxic violence, it is commonly agreed that on one hand teachers are not able to teach and on the other hand students are not able to learn in an educational institution portrayed by disturbance. A national survey conductedRead More Is the Death Penalty Ethical? Essay1235 Words   |  5 Pagesreducing crime? 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The Tragedy Of Oedipus The King - 1365 Words

Although Sophocles’ Oedipus the King seems to be a play merely focused on the tragedy that is the tale of Oedipus, it is actually a commentary on defying the gods for the reason that one is blindly believing in supernatural entities and allowing those entities to govern one’s fate. The tragedy of Oedipus the King revolves around a king’s downfall as he tries to save his people from utter destruction. His curiosity and drive to save his city brings him to the realization that not only has his entire life been a lie, but that he is ultimately what is bringing the city to ruin. The reader learns that this is due to his empire essentially being built on the fulfillment of a terrible prophecy in which he commits patricide and copulates with his†¦show more content†¦I can’t accept him, can’t deny him, don’t know what to say, I’m lost, and the wings of dark foreboding beating-- I cannot see what’s to come, what’s still to come†¦(550-540) Using imagery of a bird and it’s dark heavy wings, Sophocles alludes to the fear of being uncertain about the existence of gods. The words dark and foreboding play into the overall vagueness of the concept of supernatural beings. One only knows what an oracle or prophet decides to tell them because again they loom over mortals. Oedipus: ...why look to the Prophet’s hearth, the fires of the future? Why scan the birds that scream above our heads? They winged me on to the murder of my father, did they? That was my doom? (1054-57) Oedipus is the epitome of the Athenian opinion and even atheism/agnosticism as he constantly patronizes believers of the gods. Instead of saying that they ensnared him to kill his father, he uses wordplay to also insinuate that Oedipus blames his misfortune on the gods and not himself, and for this reason he dismisses them. He is alluding to the gods ruling on Olympus while they toy with human’s lives. Oedipus’ irrationality is what leads him to attempt to take control akin to the Athenians of the time. Subsequently, the topic of fate versus freewill arises as Oedipus tried to take control of his narrative. Sophocles writes fate and freewill in a way that makes them coexist in a paradoxical manner. OedipusShow MoreRelatedThe Tragedy Of Oedipus The King977 Words   |  4 PagesThe Greek drama â€Å"Oedipus The King† evidently leads to the unveiling of a tragedy. Oedipus, the protagonist of the play uncovers his tragic birth story and the curse he had been baring his whole life. 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It fits all the characteristics as definedRead MoreThe Tragedy Of Sophocles Oedipus The King Essay1490 Words   |  6 PagesSophocles’ â€Å"Oedipus the King,† successfully demonstrates Aristotle’s definition of tragedy. According to Aristotle â€Å"tragedy† is vastly different from what one would likely describe if requested in modern times. It is common today to hear one speak of a tragic vehicular crash, but what is being spoken of as a tragedy, is an accident, not a tragedy. Thus, it is important to understand what Aristotle thought when he spoke of a â€Å"tragedy.† Based on Aristotle, POETICS, CHAPTER VI, The tragedy is an imitationRead MoreThe Greek Tragedy of Oedipus the King 971 Words   |  4 PagesA Greek tragedy is one with a tragic outcome that is an inevitable result of the key characters personal flaws. It is a calamity he or she was destined to. However, is it possible that a hero’s laudable qualities could lead to his or her catastrophic fate? Oedipus demonstrates several admirable qualities that are portrayed throughout Oedipus the King by Sophocles. Compassion, diligence, and justness are three qualities that contribute to the internal struggles that Oedipus faces resulting in hisRead MoreOedipus The King : A Master Of Tragedy889 Words   |  4 PagesSophocles were well-known as a master of tragedy. Sophocles was born at Colonus, not far from Athens. Sophocles wrote over 100 different dramatic stories. â€Å"Oedipus the King† is one of his great stories that has a mix of heroics to it and yet, we feel sorry for Oedipus and his fate that was handed to him. We ask ourselves after reading â€Å"Oedipus the King† who was this man and why did he think he could run from his destiny of fate. Was Oedipus responsible for his final fate and could he have changedRead MoreThe Tragedy Of Oedipus The King By Sophocles2776 Words   |  12 Pagesthem with. In the tragedy, Oedipus the King by Sophocles, Oedipus’ fate starts with a prophecy. No matter how much Oedipus tries to do the â€Å"right† thing, the prophecy comes to term. It is argument-able that Oedipus was led to his tragic ending by fate. It is also possible that his tragic ending was brought open by his own actions. The idea of fate and free will both played an important role in Oedipus’ downfall. Even though he was a victim of fate. It did not control him. Oedipus was destined to killRead MoreThe Tragedy Of Oedipus The King2114 Words   |  9 PagesSophocles’ play Oedipus The King is the second tragic drama in his series of The Three Theban Plays and follows the events of misery of protagonist Oedipus, the new king of Thebes, after he killed his father and marries his mother without having a sense of awareness of their true identities in relation to him. The true downfall of the king of Thebes begins, however, at the point when he does eventually realize what deeds he has done and decides to punish himself by self-mutilating and blinding himself

International Business and Comparative Strategies Theories

Question: Discuss about the International Business and Comparative Strategies Theories. Answer: Introduction This section of the study deals with the existing theories and models of international business. The section is divided into three parts. In the first part, the discussion has been carried on the competitive strategies taken by the companies for international business. In the second part, the evaluation is made on different international business models and in the third part, the discussion made on the key factors and theories of international business and management. Literature on Best International Business and Competitive Strategy Competitive advantage, in the context of the business framework, helps a business to sustain in the competitive market (Dunning, 2015). The competitive advantage in the international context not only creates a sustainable position for the business organization, rather the business organization gains a relatively attractive position in the market. According to Beamish and Lupton (2016), in the international business context there are two generic approaches to competitive advantage. The approaches are generic approaches, but fundamentally, these two approaches are very different from each other. The two approaches are the cost strategy and the differentiation competitive strategy. According to this particular thesis, if one wants to combine both the thesis then they could not do that. Combining both these strategies is impossible. If the business organization or the firm adopts the cost strategy then, the firm has to make sure that they retain certain standard for the product that is being produced by the organization (Grant, 2016). The organizations adopting the differentiation strategy at times find it difficult to maintain a low and at the same time, find it difficult to compete with other firms, who are producing standardize goods. The changes that have been there in the international business market are rapid changes and the changes are taking place, much after Porter has come up with his theory (Meyer Peng, 2016). The recent studies on the competitive strategy, reveals the fact that there should be a combination of both the strategy. According to the recent studies, combing both the approaches is not at all impossible, but rather it is feasible. If both these approaches can be combined together then the business organization could easily survive and sustain in the complex and the competitive market. The combination of both the strategy is referred as the hybrid strategy and it is opposed to the pure strategy that was propounded by Porter (Cantwell, 2015). According to the recent studies that have been conducted the hybrid strategy, address the needs of the customer in a better way. According to researchers, the hybrid strategy not only addresses the needs of the customer in a better rather to be more precise it addresses the needs of the customers in appropriate way. According to the present studies if organizations are adopting the hybrid strategies, then one should have this fact in their mind that this particular strategy is difficult to imitate. In case of the organizations operating in the foreign markets, the organizations have to be very careful about choosing the competitive strategy (Fleisher Bensoussan, 2015). The competitive strategy that they will choose could be treated as a vehicle that will help the organization gain a position in the international business market. The strategy that the company will choose will help the organization to gain financial return from the competitive market at the same time. Therefore, in the international market, choosing the competitive strategy is very important and the organizations have to be very careful while choosing it. Review Industry Best Practice Models Where Available In the present business world, the best way of business expansion is involving in international business (Zander, McDougall-Covin Rose, 2015). Most of the large business organizations in different countries are applying different models of international business in order to expand the business at the international level. The most popular models of international business and management are as under: Franchising Joint venture Merger and acquisition Turnkey All of the models of international business are very effective in current business scenario. All of the models are discussed below: Franchising: This model of international business is very common and old model. This particular model originated in North America and became very popular for rapid expansion of market or business. This particular business model is very much effective for the businesses, which deal with the products or services that can be transfer easily. According to Morschett, Schramm-Klein and Zentes (2015), franchising is such a business technique in which the franchisor (who is the actual owner of the business and has trademark on the products or service) allows the franchisee (who operates the business in the other country or place on behalf of the franchisor) to distribute and sale the products of the franchisor by using the trademark. Grber and Petersen (2016) noted that the success of the franchising business model depends on the efficiency and success of the franchisee because franchisee is the person, who directly deals with the business in the foreign countries. Buckley (2016) mentioned that many giant business organizations especially from the fast food industry opted for this particular business model for expanding the business in the international market. For example, McDonalds has expanded its business in different foreign countries by adopting the franchising model. In the same way, Starbucks has also expanded its business in different countries. Joint Venture: Joint venture is another common international business model adopted by different business entities. In the words of Jackson and Srensen (2016), joint venture is a business model, in which two or more investors enjoy the business ownership as well as control over the business operations. Tallman and Pedersen (2016) stated that the major advantage of this particular business model is sharing of the business risk. As there are two or more business ownerships, the risks are also shared by both of the owners. At the same time, the model also helps to achieve the financial strengths of the organization. However, Chaney (2016) commented that the owners of the business do not have direct control over the management of the business and sometimes it becomes very difficult to recover the capital from the business. On the other side, Buckley (2016) stated that there are many companies, which have achieved tremendous success by adopting the joint venture business model. For example, virgin mobile expanded its business in India by involving in joint venture with Tata Teleservices. Another most popular joint venture happened between Sony and Ericsson, through which both the companies expanded the mobile communication business in different countries. Merger and acquisition: In this particular business model, two business organization merge together to gain some market and operational advantages in the business. Mellahi and Frynas (2015) believed that merger and acquisitions is the strongest model of business expansion or globalization. This business model was very popular from 1980 to 2000. Radebaugh, Sullivan and Daniels (2015) mentioned that the companies can minimize their risks by adopting the merger acquisition business model. At the same time, Coviello (2015) opined that companies can enhance the market power by applying merger and acquisition business model. For example, Facebook has increased its market coverage and power by acquiring Whatsapp. Similarly, Microsoft and Nokia merged together to gain competitive advantage in the international market. Turnkey: Turnkey is also very common model of international business. Chaney (2016) mentioned that turnkey is such a business model in which the business is in such a condition that allows immediate action or operation of the business. Grant (2016) stated that turnkey business model is generally adopted by the real estate business organizations. For example, MB Haynes has adopted the turnkey business model in order to reach its business expansion to the higher extent. Therefore, from the above discussion it can be said that there are different effective international business models that helped the business organizations to strengthen their market grip. Most of the big business organizations have adopted these four international business models. There are some negative points in the business models. However, the advantages are more, which have made the models more profitable for the companies. Conceptual Model of the Key factors or Theories The above discussion has cleared out that the concept and models of international business have several advantages that help the companies to improve and enhance their market positions. However, Cantwell (2015) argued that the effectiveness of the international business models is largely dependent on the two types of factors internal factors and external factors. The key factors of international business are discussed below: Internal factors: There are different internal factors that affect the performance of an international business organization. The factors are business location, product or service quality, price of the products or services, types and quality of labour and land (Fleisher Bensoussan, 2015). If the company expand its business in such a location where demand for its product is less, no business model will be effective. In the same way, if the quality of the product and services is low and price is high, then the customers will never agree to purchase the product or service. The implementation of the business model depends on the effectiveness or quality of the labourer (Morschett, Schramm-Klein Zentes, 2015). If the labourers are unskilled or less knowledgeable, then the business models cannot be implemented successfully. External factors: The external factors that affect the international business or the companies are political situation, social condition, technological advancement, economic situation and legal boundaries. In order to expand a business in the foreign country, it is very important that the foreign is politically stable. At the same time, is the legal boundaries are less then it becomes easier to expand the business in the international market. For example, after passing the FDI policies and regulations, many companies in USA and UK have expanded their business in India (Dunning, 2015). On the other side, technological advancement influences the international business. If a country is technologically advanced then more business organizations become interested to expand their business in that country (Mellahi Frynas, 2015). For example, Tata Motors merged with Jaguar Landover in order to expand its business in technologically advanced country that is UK. Apart from these factors, the international business of the companies also depends on the economic and social conditions of the countries. If the economic condition is stable and there is growth in the economy of a country, then it is profitable to expand the business in that country (Coviello, 2015). On the other side, while expanding the business in some foreign country, it is essential to identify whether the products and services of the company matches with the social culture of the country or not. For example, Standard Chartered changed some of its policies related to the interests on the deposit or investment, when it expanded its business in Pakistan because as per Islamic banking, interest is prohibited (Cantwell, 2015). However, in order to operate the international business properly, the business organizations have followed some theories of international business and management. Some of these theories are absolute advantage theory and comparative advantage theory. Absolute advantage theory was developed by Adam Smith in the year 1976 and this theory suggests that a company or country gets involved in the international business only when it gains absolute advantage in production (Grber Petersen, 2016). However, as per the comparative advantage theory, a company takes part in international business if it gains comparatively higher advantage in production (Meyer Peng, 2016). Therefore, the theories provide the idea of how and when the international business should be done by the companies. Summary In this study, it has been identified that international business is one of the lucrative way to expand the business. The study has determined that in order to sustain in the competitive market, the business firms adopt the competitive strategies. On the other side, it has also been found out that there are several business models for international business and management. The business models are franchising, joint venture, merger and acquisition and turnkey. At the same time, the international business of a company also depends on various internal and external factors. Along with that, there are some theories that help the companies to conduct the international business successfully. Reference list: Beamish, P. W., Lupton, N. C. (2016). Cooperative strategies in international business and management: Reflections on the past 50 years and future directions.Journal of World Business,51(1), 163-175. Buckley, P. J. (2016). The contribution of internalisation theory to international business: New realities and unanswered questions.Journal of World Business,51(1), 74-82. Cantwell, J. (2015). An introduction to the eclectic paradigm as a meta-framework for the cross-disciplinary analysis of international business. InThe Eclectic Paradigm(pp. 1-22). Palgrave Macmillan UK. Chaney, T. (2016). Networks in international trade. InThe Oxford Handbook of the Economics of Networks. Coviello, N. (2015). Re-thinking research on born globals.Journal of International Business Studies,46(1), 17-26. Dunning, J. H. (2015). Reappraising the eclectic paradigm in an age of alliance capitalism. InThe Eclectic Paradigm(pp. 111-142). Palgrave Macmillan UK. Fleisher, C. S., Bensoussan, B. E. (2015).Business and competitive analysis: effective application of new and classic methods. FT Press. Grber, L., Petersen, B. (2016). International Business Theories (October 2012) Faculty.world. Grant, R. M. (2016).Contemporary strategy analysis: Text and cases edition. John Wiley Sons. Jackson, R., Srensen, G. (2016).Introduction to international relations: theories and approaches. Oxford University Press. Mellahi, K., Frynas, G. (2015).Global strategic management. Oxford University Press. Meyer, K., Peng, M. (2016).International business. Cengage Learning. Morschett, D., Schramm-Klein, H., Zentes, J. (2015).Strategic international management. Springer. Radebaugh, L. H., Sullivan, D. P., Daniels, J. D. (2015).International business: Environments and operations. Pearson Education. Tallman, S., Pedersen, T. (2016). 31. Publishing in top international business and management journals.How to get Published in the Best Management Journals, 262. Zander, I., McDougall-Covin, P., Rose, E. L. (2015). Born globals and international business: Evolution of a field of research.Journal of International Business Studies,46(1), 27-35.