Smart Car Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Smart Car - Case Study Example smart car; Should Mercedes rethink its ambitions in the small-car segment and what are the chances that the "smart" car will be a commercial success and ,finally, can the "smart" car sustain a competitive advantage in the competitive microcar market The paper would end with strategy based marketing recommendations to make MCC's strategic process of strategic choice and analysis with in organizations in relation to its competition. The paper also takes a theoretical look at strategy making within the marketing function in the smart car before making the above referred recommendations. Swiss watch making is recognized by one brand name: Swatch. Swatch made it possible for the Swiss watch industry to emerge out of a bankruptcy threatening recession in the 1970s, when over-confident manufacturers stuck to old technology ignoring the impact of new quartz technology which had allowed cheap, accurate watches from the Far East to capture the market. Swatch has traversed substantial distance since its formation in 1983, when the two Swiss largest watchmakers, ASUAG and SSIH, realized that under the onslaught of the new technology they were facing liquidation. Some of the prestigious brands such as Longines, Omega and Tissot, owned by these two watch makers, became ideal targets for foreign acquisition. The two companies panicked and decided to join hands and invited Nicolas Hayek, CEO of the business consulting firm Hayek Engineering, to organize the strengthening exercise. Hayek brought about one of the most amazing turn arounds in business health through his two pronge d strategy in the face of fierce criticism. He amalgamated the two companies to form SMH (the company changed its name to Swatch in 1998); the Hayek Pool - Hayek himself and partners from Swiss industry - took over the majority of the shares, and Hayek became CEO. Then he radically altered the production lines and marketing. The now well known plastic Swatch watch was launched in the Swiss market in 1983, with 12 models with a price range narrowly defined between 39 and 50 francs. The basic product design was simplified from over 90 components to just 51 components, and remarkably all components could be welded together by robots on a single assembly line - the first on Swiss watch manufacturing landscape. This reduced skilled labour cost to almost naught as a proportion whereas in contrast in traditional Swiss watch making, the same cost used to account for as much as 10 % or more of cost of finished product. This made Swatch highly competitive in world markets. To add simplificati on and rationalization of production was the marketing ingenuity of Hayek. Hayek has ensured that strategic marketing plays an

Semester Project Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Semester Project - Assignment Example The restaurant’s cookery is no longer up to standard, and a high quantity of food has been wasted for the reason that there is significant decrease in demand from our customers. Lindsay, the senior chef, mistreats the two employees by putting much pressure on the amount of work they should do per day. David and Kingston perform cooking, cleaning and serving customers roles against their agreement with the company only to cook. This pressure at work has led to a lot of fatigue and their energy wasting away. Their health is at risk and is deteriorating day by day. The two have gotten to the peak and were almost quitting their jobs. The attitude of these employees towards their supervisor is negative; thus, making them be careless at work in rendering services. This has drastically pulled down the Ummedda Restaurant’s profile after a report on its inefficiency in customer service was published on the Daily Newspaper (Mejia, Balkin & Cardy n.p). As the company’s manager, I feel like the senior chef is the failure. She has proved incompetent in handling her juniors and portraying the right leadership skills. Lindsay has failed by trying to discipline the employees without consulting. On the other hand, David and Kingston’s rights have been violated according to the company’s policies. The two have faced workplace bullying that has negatively influenced their mental and physical health. Above all, all these employees have failed to report to the authority of the problem and its cause; thus, failure is on both parties. Currently, my image as a restaurant manager is badly tarnished due to the numerous criticisms that I face from the public out of the scenarios at the workplace based on the determination of the cause of the problems. Claims are that there is a lack the necessary management skills and as a manager, I should consider going for further training. In most occasions, I have been