Business strategy IKEA group Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Business strategy IKEA group - Case Study Example Using secondary research this report will present the emergent and direct strategies of this company and will also explain the reasons for IKEA to follow them. The report will then explain the importance of written strategic plan and cite the approach companies must take to deal with emergent events. This report also presents the future strategies for IKEA by using Ansoff's matrix. The history of IKEA in the Appendices section shows its steady growth over the years. This report now gives examples of emergent strategies and direct strategies of IKEA and the reasons for following them. (i) The company generally works through a network of worldwide suppliers and doesn't manufacture its own products. But, the company has few factories that set benchmarks for their suppliers on production economy, and quality (Nattrass and Altomare, 1999). The company focuses on achieving efficiency at low cost without compromising on the quality (Rosenhauer, 2008). By setting an example in front of the suppliers, the company can get better products from them and deliver more customer satisfaction. (ii) IKEA is also the joint owner or financer in a number of countries to secure supplies and help suppliers develop (Nattrass and Altomare, 1999). This may increase IKEA's competitiveness as companies can increase their competitive positioning by undertaking key activities in the value chain. The company also makes efforts to form close relationship with the suppliers and helps them develop, and innovate through training programs (Rosenhauer, 2008). This ensures better cooperation with the suppliers who strive to give quality products at a very low price. Relevant and timely training can provide the valuable guidance that can help suppliers produce the right product for the customers. (iii) The global furniture giant is characterized by lesser hierarchical structure and absence of bureaucracy. This helps the company to have centralized control over key functional activities. The Chairman of the company believes that strategic decisions of an organization should be reached in a simple manner (Rosenhauer, 2008). IKEA also delegates important strategy decisions to their store managers (Nesbitt, 2004). Apparently, this freedom to take decisions will make the managers feel more responsible towards their jobs and they will become more loyal to the organization. Emerging Strategies (i) The company has begun to focus on inviting the customers to be involved in the design and production of the products. IKEA is focussed on redefining roles of their stakeholders in the furniture business so that it can effectively beat the competition (Rosenhauer, 2008). The company has also begun to target young people who have a liking for stylish designs available at affordable price (Winfield et al, 2004). By involving the stakeholders in the design the company can provide customers with products that they really want and this will give them a competitive edge. The company will no longer waste its energies in unproductive work and focus on making only those designs that click. (ii) IKEA was driven to change its strategy and pay more attention to taking care of the environment. The company was criticized for the huge packaging waste, using excess of PVC plastic and cutting trees to make its catalogues. This global home furnishings

How sexist, racist, and homophobic language creates a barrier to Essay

How sexist, racist, and homophobic language creates a barrier to communication - Essay Example In most instances, this form of discrimination targets the women. However, the main culprits are the male chauvinists. In some circumstances, men have refused to listen to what women have to say or when they listen; their minds are already registered that they would not act on it. Therefore, either the person can be absent minded or can listen but immediately forget about what transpired. Communication can also be hampered by the realization that the listener is not keen. Based on sexism, some men develop an attitude towards not only towards the message being delivered but also to the person delivering the message. On the other hand, stereotyping based on gender can make an individual develop communication biasness towards the other gender. For example, a woman who has labelled all men as cheaters will not be convinced to any man claiming that they have never cheated. Racism can also be a communication barrier. The perception that a particular race is knowledgeable that another will make a person disregard information from another person of a race that they demonstrate prejudice against. The attitude formed is that the communicator is unable to deliver any important information. It is also possible that a racist will focus on the language use and fail to get the message. Racial disparities emanates from differential origins, therefore, the assents are different. Instead of listening to the person speak, a racially biased person will listen to the language use of the communicator. In addition, a person from a race labelled â€Å"inferior† may fail to capture what the other person is saying, they agree on anything that is said courtesy of inferiority complex. For example, a local inhabitant of the Congo forest who knows some French will perceive that whatever the white man is saying is true hence failing to capture the message as it was deli vered. Communication breakdown can also be contributed by the use of homophobic language. Homosexuals have attempted to air