Global Household Brand Essay Example for Free

Global Household Brand Essay Executive summary After a review of the â€Å"Global Household Brand† article, I was assigned the task of reviewing your business and to provide a well-detailed critique on global households’ brands. I will develop a strategy; identify the likely cause of the company’s financial woes. The major factor on the poor financial performance of the company is that of competitive strategy and differences in operational effectiveness. Ineffective management strategies have led the company to lose lots of profit (Michael E, 1998). Its lack of a clear strategy on how to effectively compete with big marketers has made it either to exit the market or to end up in the financial mess.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     The company must continuously improve the level of its operational effectiveness, and income must be increased and regulated. Sustainable performance will largely be dependent on global household brand having a strategic position (Tony P, 2000). There is need to evaluate consumers’ trend.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Company and Industry Overview Global household brands has lost the image she built as a leading producer and marketer of a variety of â€Å"niche† dentifrice products that includes polident, powdered aspirin, household cleaning brands among a few others to company characterized with lack of customers and loss making one. The company initially thrived on venturing in new markets and exiting them when the competition became a little bit stiff. The restructuring of the company together with other measures to bring a change in the financial fortunes of the company have only helped to worsen the situation.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   However, the firm has intention of reinventing itself to turn around its fortunes so as to be competitive and generate revenue in a continuous and sustainable manner. In the mid 1990s, when various big marketers such as Clorox, S.C Johnson, and Arm and Harmer began competing against global household brand’s 2000 flush automatic toilet bowl cleaners, X-14 mildew as well as soap scum removers and carpet fresh carpet refreshers, the company decided to exited the group of products due to their inability to gain substantial market share.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   During this period the company was not anywhere close to the red line, actually it was worth around $1.5 million. The exit made by global households brand did not seem to affect its profitability within the markets. The items it dealt with were in areas considered less competitive which enabled her to rake in high amounts of profits on their line up to branded products. During the period 1995-98 the profits started to drop by about 10-15% per annum.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Their potential to stay at least in the market was waning. The sale of their brands as well as the hiring and restructuring their management executive did not seem to over turn the events. Eventually after global household brand had had their sales drop from $130million to $ 70 million they decided to hire Goldman Sachs to sell their brand of products. After about one and a half years with Goldman at the helm, the sales figures were not anywhere near $100 that Goldman had promised. The deterioration in the sales figure was as a result of lack of competitive marketing strategy and difference in operation effectiveness. This was in spite of the company being given the green light about their customers respect for their brands of products. Analysis In the mid 1990s the company was worth about $1.5 billion. In the period 1995 to 1998 the sales of the firm was falling at a rate between 10 and 15% per annum. This in effect demonstrates the ability of the company to generate high profits. During the late 1990s onwards the firm did not efficiently output. The consistent drop in the sales figure was a testimony to this. In spite of all the changes and various measures the firm was taking, it was still not able to generate the projected profit margins. Despite the fact that the consumers have greatly respected their brand of products it was not able to capitalize on this factor to turn into huge profits. Strengths Consumers for its high quality of products very well recognize global households brands. This in addition to the mature nature of the household cleaning products industry is a plus for the company. The company is also much leveraged in the industry. The company also has a superior marketing V.P with such attributes as unique talents and is also very experienced as well as brilliant strategies. This is in addition to the talented R and D director it has on its board. All these factors will aid the management in turning around the fortunes of the firm. With all these talent and experience at their disposal the company would be starting from a vantage position in its path to recovery. The industry also seems to be very mature meaning the future of the company with its continued operations is bright. Weaknesses The firm has not effectively and in most cases deliberately not considered heavily investing in advertising and marketing to compete with her competition. The new operations manager also seems to be having a bad inter personal relationship with other employees within the firm. Global sales department has not met its past targets. Opportunity Trends The general trend within the industry seems to be in favor of household cleaning products. The overview of the general industry seems to suggest that it is leveraged and that household cleaning products industry is mature. This presents the company with the chance to exploit and increase its revenue. The maturity of the company shows that if it can invest largely without so many risks involved as uncertainty. Competitive Analysis Such companies like Clorox, S.C Johnson among others seem to be the greatest competition for the firm. They have heavily invested in their marketing strategies and in the end endeared themselves to their customers. Strategic options Global households, has been constantly pioneering various ranges of products over the past years. Before the entry of the big marketers it was the seen as the pioneer of household cleaning products. In addition to this, it has produced quality products. In fact, a recent survey suggests that most customers acknowledge the high quality of their products. The strategy of quitting and finding a new brand of products has been its main stay and now that it has run out of options and its very existence is threatened it must consider other options (Michael E, 1998). Since global households brand has come to the acknowledgment that it has to alter its business strategy so as to keep alive in the industry, it has few options left. First, it can adopt the differentiation strategy. This would require global household brand to build customer loyalty. In order to accomplish this, it has to position its products as well as services in unique ways that would appeal to the customers. In other words, the products will seek to be better than those of its competitors. The second option that the business may explore is that of focus strategy. This alternative takes into account the heterogeneity of many markets and industries. As such, there exist a lot of various customer segments with varying needs, wants as well as characteristics. The basic principle under this strategy is to put emphasis on selecting one segment(s), identify customers with special needs, interests and wants among other things and approach them. Global households brand could also employ the third option of horizontal integration. Under this strategy will be selling its products in various markets. In order to acquire the market coverage, it will have small subsidiary firms created. This would enable it compete with compete with its competitors effectively. Recommendations Within the last few years, global household brand has undergone a number of drastic changes. It has been forced to sell part of its brands, and almost the banks are about to call the loans given to it. One of the primary reasons global households has failed to meet its sales target is its inability to effectively market and appeal to the market. This is what her competition have done and thereby edged her out. Since the competitors have done the marketing really well, GHB has to effectively market itself or just face the possibilities of winding up. The second problem facing the company has been that of management. The manager has to learn to develop interpersonal relationship with his juniors. Alternatively, the New CEO or management team should meet people who worked at the Block drug before and find out what really problem was. This would enable them to have a better understanding of the firm’s woes as well as its triumphs. The management should also approach the financing Bank, and talk them out of calling the loans on the investors. Finally the $5million should be reduced with picked interest       References: Michael E. Porter, on competition, 1998, Harvard Business School Press Tony Proctor, 2000, Strategic Marketing: An introduction, Rout ledge. Alfred D. Chindler, Peter Haqstom, Orjan Solvell, 1999, the Dynamic Firm. The role of technology, strategy, organization, and regions, Oxford University Press.

Flaws In Twains Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn :: essays research papers

Flaws in Twain's "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" Mark Twain's novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is by any means a classic. However, there are several flaws. First of all the coincidence that everything happens with in my mind detracts some from the story. The other major problem is that the book seems to drag on and on the closer you get to the end, as if Twain had a page quota to fill and was not worried about the story. The other problem brought up on our hand-out was Huck's lack of seriousness in what was a very serious situation for Jim. As for the coincidence part, it appears most obviously as you read towards the end. For example Huck ends up at Aunt Polly's, and I was thinking, yeah...right those chances are about one in a million. And then after Huck tells Aunt Polly that he is Tom, Tom shows up...uh-huh, I bet. It is things such as those I just mentioned that make it very difficult for me to read a book without becoming frustrated. It is probably because I am used to real life and like it or not real life is just not that perfect. My other gripe was that Twain seems to ramble on and on and on an..... To me it seems as if the story that he was writing became faint shortly after the time when Huck says, â€Å"It's me. George Jackson, sir†(pg. 95). I do have to give him that the feud was interesting filler, but you can only take so much filler. Then when John Wayne (The Duke) and Elvis (The King) come along there seem to be four or five stops along the river that except for one little detail, are the same. Please excuse the jump back, but how coincidental is it that you have a Duke and a King on the same raft in the middle of the Mississippi river (yes I do know they are not really royalty but that does not matter)? Even during all of this complaining I have done I did find humor in such things as when Huck was observing some local â€Å"loafers† and their discussions about borrowing and lending chewing tobacco. â€Å"Here, gimme back the chaw and you take the plug.† (pg. 138). I can just picture four or five guys laying around chewing tobacco with spit/tobacco juice running down their chins, probably in dirty overalls with no shirts on underneath and boots, to complete the look, three or four days of beard waiting to be shaved, and oh yeah, a nice old straw

Leadership of General George S. Patton Essay

Leadership of General George S. Patton by Eugene V. Struzik III May 23, 2011 Abstract The purpose of this research paper is to explore the different leadership styles that General George S. Patton Jr. used throughout his life, (November 11, 1885 until December 21, 1945). General Patton is often thought of as one of the most controversial generals in history. This paper will concentrate on events that happened in his life and how his determination, will and hard work helped him overcome and became a better leader. It is evident that in a review of the research General Patton was able to achieve many his success by determination and hard work to be the best in everything that he set his mind to accomplish. He was never happy, except when he was given the challenge of commanding men into battle. General Patton was a leader, a warrior and the most feared General by the Germans. General George S. Patton was a man who is often referred to as a great general, and leader of men who was equally just as controversial. His career in the Army was often a struggle for him to advance and receive the recognition that he deserved. This paper will cover the leadership styles of General Patton during the early, then during World War I. Next it will cover World War II and finally I will give my opinion on the subject. George S. Patton, who was sometime called Georgie, was an average child with the hopes and dreams of becoming a great military leader like his Grandfather, Great-Grandfather and many of his other relatives (Regan, 1960). He worked hard with his academic career to tried to get into West Point the United States Military Academy, but he was not accepted at first. Not deterred by this set back, he went to Virginia Military Institute (VMI) for a year (Reda, 2004). Even though he was going to VMI, he continued tirelessly to get accepted into West Point. Finally Patton was accepted into West Point, but he found it far more challenging then he imagined it would. The major reason that he had difficulty with the studies was because he was suffering from dyslexia, a disorder that caused everything to look backwards (Reda, 2004). Although faced with these difficulties, George never gave up, even when he was forced to repeat his plebe year, due to poor academic performance. However this failure to progress only strengthened his resolve and determination to better. In an effort of almost memorizing everything from his textbooks, he was able to achieve an appointed Cadet Adjutant. Another area that he had an interest in was sports. He encourage the introduction of sports into the school as a way for men to stay focused on studies as appose to getting in trouble (Regan, 1960). His efforts lead to the creation of the first football team and the fencing team. He felt that sport would help him and his classmate overcome the boredom of every day life at West point. In addition, it would help them overcome physical challenges through determination and it would teach them sportsmanship. In an amazing testament to hard work and preservation, George Patton graduated from West Point. Although he did not graduate at the top of his class, he was ranked number 46 out of 103, which is amazing considering the fact that he failed his first year in the Academy. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant and assigned to the US Calvery. It was also during this time in Patton’s life that he would marry his beautiful and wealthy wife, Beatrice Ayer. Her father was not fond of her marring a military man, because he felt that this would keep his daughter far away from her family. In fact her father, Frederick Ayer, offered George a job in the family business if he would just resign his commission in the Army. However, that was not something that George Patton, was able to do. He was living his dream of being an officer in the United States Army. George’s determination and hard work would reach a high point when he participated in the 1912 Olympics. Although George was not a natural athlete, he simply did what he always did work twice as hard as everyone else in an effort to be better than everyone else. It was his will and his desire to be the best that propelled him into getting fifth place during the Olympics. This raw determination to achieve a goal and accomplish the task ahead would become his trademark. Once again George Patton’s determination and desire to excel paid off. Lieutenant Patton was able to get a position as an aide to General Blackjack Pershing during the Punitive Expedition. The interesting thing about this appointment was General Pershing was not taking people to his staff. In fact, it was a letter that Lieutenant Patton wrote to General Pershing requesting to be considered for an appointment to the General’s staff that gave George the opportunity of a lifetime. Here he would learn what it took to be a good Calvary Officer and he would make important contact that would serve him well in the future. This leads into the second main point of this paper, which is Patton emerging into a leader. It is 1917, and the United States has just declared war on Germany. Patton got another chance to serve under General Blackjack Pershing. Pershing gave Patton a promotion to the rank of Captain and appointed him the Tank commander for the American troops. This was not an easy task for Captain Patton, since he had to develop a training program, and tactics for the new technological advancement of the tank. This was Patton’s first leadership challenge that would set the tone for how he dealt with all of the other challenges in his life. He was the â€Å"first tank commander† (Reagan, 1960), with this job he took on the daunting task of creating the first Tank Command in Europe. â€Å"Patton single-handedly created the, the AEF Tank Training Center. He created the, the ideas, the tactics, the design, the uniforms, the procedures. Virtually, everything that was done came from Patton† (Reda, 2004). Patton realized the need for training and the benefit that he would get on the battle field. Drawing from his own experience, Patton viewed the tank as the calvary of the future. It would be during this First World War that he would develop many of his leadership skills. As was pointed out by Captain VonShell, â€Å"Instill a sense of security in the men, by so doing you will help them overcome their fears† (1933, p. 17). Patton exemplified this behavior, by being the first person to ride on a tank for in combat even though there was machine gun fire raining down on him (Reda,

The War On Drugs Essay - 578 Words

The â€Å"War on Drugs† is the name given to the battle of prohibition that the United States has been fighting for over forty years. And it has been America’s longest war. The â€Å"war† was officially declared by President Richard Nixon in the 1970’s due to the abuse of illegitimate drugs. Nixon claimed it as â€Å"public enemy number one† and enacted laws to fight the importation of narcotics. The United States’ War on Drugs began in response to cocaine trafficking in the late 1980’s. As the war continues to go on, winning it hardly seems feasible. As stated by NewsHour, the National Office of Drug Control Policy spends approximately nineteen billion dollars a year trying to stop the drug trade. The expenses shoot up, indirectly, through crime,†¦show more content†¦An eighth grader has the ability to obtain heroin or cocaine as effortless as he or she could marijuana. The scary thing is that drugs are so much stronger, pure r, and more deadly than they were decades ago. Can you even imagine children using them and the way they are harming their bodies? As far as school and their education, what child will learn if they come to school high or intoxicated? Or if they even go to school for that matter. The programs that the schools have provided, such as D.A.R.E., have proved themselves to be ineffective. There are just as many kids, and that is exactly what they are, using drugs that have taken the program than the kids that had not participated. It seems that the more the government tried to educate against drug, the more negative attitudes arose against the police and law enforcement. And with that escalates the positive attitudes towards using drugs and alcohol, as well as a rise in criminal behavior. As a result in the drug war, education becomes limited to those who actually care to learn. The drug war has dramatically affected the number of imprisoned Americans, as well as its prisons. According to DrugSense.Org, 1,576,339 people have been arrested for drug law offenses this year alone. And out of those, 9,261 have been incarcerated. As for marijuana offenses, 747,183 people have been detained. In fact, most of the non-violent offenders sitting in state, local and federal prisonsShow MoreRelatedThe Drug War On Drugs1378 Words   |  6 Pagesnon-violent drug charges. These people’s lives are now forever changed because of a mistake they made. This mistake is continually made every single day and Americans are being punished in extreme ways for a non violent crime. The United States needs to decimalize all drugs because the drug war is costly, causes high incarceration rates, and isn’t effective as European drug solutions. 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Read MoreThe War On Drugs And Drugs2027 Words   |  9 Pagesincreased federal spending in an attempt to curb the number of drug users and the sale and importation of illicit narcotics the war on drugs began in earnest. The war on drugs has also played a major role in politics as well as having a significant impact on the economy. While there are many arguments in favor for the war on drugs and an equal number of arguments against it I will attempt to show an unbiased look at the war on drugs and drug prohibition and how it has affected society as a whole. SinceRead MoreWar On Drugs And Drugs1952 Words   |  8 PagesWar on Drugs The war on drugs has come a long way without any remarkable success. America has been dealing with the drug menace for many years to a point that four of its presidents have declared the war on drugs part of their main agenda. Sadly, it has been a lost war in various perspectives. 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