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Homework answers / question archive / Q1)The case examines the entry and expansion strategy of DHL International, a globally renowned logistics company, in China

Q1)The case examines the entry and expansion strategy of DHL International, a globally renowned logistics company, in China

Business

Q1)The case examines the entry and expansion strategy of DHL International, a globally renowned logistics company, in China. It details the recent trends in the logistics industry in China and gives a brief profile of other foreign logistics companies operating in the country including FedEx, UPS and TNT. The case describes how DHL established itself as a leader in the industry by capitalizing on the growing trade and commerce in China and utilizing the local knowledge of its joint venture partner - Sinotrans. It highlights DHL's strategy of offering innovative services, expansion through increased investments and advertising initiatives. The case also explores the future prospects for DHL in the light of emerging opportunities in the industry. It includes a detailed note on the logistics industry in China?

Issues:

» Gain insights on the impact of changing economic trends and China's entry into WTO on the Chinese express and logistics industry

» Understand the entry and expansion strategies of large multinational logistics services company in an emerging market like China

» Understand the business strategy of DHL for the Chinese market

» Analyze the nature of competition in the express and logistics industry in China?

Q2)The case discusses the mega merger of world's third largest brewer - Belgium based Interbrew with the world's fifth largest brewer - Brazil based AmBev, creating the largest brewery in the world in terms of volumes produced. After giving a brief note on the two companies, the case discusses the rationale for the merger and the benefits which the two companies were expecting from it. The case then explains the merger deal in detail. It finally discusses the possible challenges which the merger could face in the near future. The case also provides a detailed note on the structure of the global brewery industry, the major players - their market shares and their brands and the recent trends in the industry?

Issues:

» To Get insights into the structure of the global brewery industry

 

» Understand the rationale behind merging the two leading brewery companies in the world

 

» Examine and analyze the synergies in the merger deal between Interbrew and AmBev?

 

» Critically examine the drawbacks of Interbrew-AmBev merger deal?

Q3)IBM had one of the best research facilities in the world and employed world-class research scientists. Over the years, researchers at IBM Research developed a number of products that became the foundations of the IT Industry. However, IBM either failed to commercialize most of the innovations that came out of its labs or was late in marketing them. This led to a number of smaller companies growing big on IBM's innovations. In the 1980s and the early-1990s, IBM transformed itself under the leadership of CEO Louis Gerstner. The transformation involved comprehensive changes, prominent among which were the changes made in the research culture that facilitated faster technology transfer?

Issues:

» To understand the relationship between research and product development, especially in large technology companies

 

» To appreciate the importance of a close relationship between the research wings and the business units of companies to ensure faster commercialization of inventions

 

» To examine the importance of culture in organizations and how it supports innovation

 

» To analyze the difference between invention and innovation, and the relationship between the two?

Q.4)Delta Air Lines was the third biggest airlines in the US in the early 2000s. After the September 11 attacks, which led to the decline of the airline industry in the US, many of the major carriers in the industry went bankrupt. Delta was one of the few major carriers that managed to stay afloat. However, in mid 2004, the airline announced that it might have to file for bankruptcy protection if it failed to obtain pay cuts of $1 billion from its pilots, who were the only unionized employees at the airline. The case discusses the problems at Delta and their role in the financial decline of the airline. Issues like the pilot union impasse, increasing operational expenses and legacy costs, falling yields and severe competition from low cost airlines are discussed in detail. The case also outlines the restructuring plan of Delta, and the future of Song, the airline's low cost subsidiary?

 

Issues:

» To appreciate the issues facing airlines in the early 2000s, which were thought to be the most difficult years in the history of airlines

 

» To analyze the problems facing a major full service carrier in the US airline industry

 

» To understand the power of unionized labor in the US airline industry

 

» To study the increasing power of low cost airlines in the US and the sources of their competitive advantage

 

» To examine the restructuring plan of an airline on the verge of bankruptcy and to analyze its potential efficacy in restoring the airline to profitability?

Q5)The case study gives a detailed account of the attempts made by Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (SMFG), Japan's third largest bank, to acquire UFJ Holdings (UFJ), the fourth largest bank in Japan. The Japanese banking industry has witnessed several major mergers and acquisitions in the past ten years. Though unsuccessful, SMFG's aggressive bid to acquire UFJ marked a new beginning in the tradition bound Japanese corporate world. Finally, Japan's second largest bank, Mitsubishi Tokyo Financial Group (MTFG) merged with UFJ, to form the largest bank in the world in terms of assets. The case also includes a detailed note on the Japanese banking industry describing the financial problems faced by the Japanese banks in the recent past and the ongoing consolidation in the industry?/

Issues:

» Gain insights on the banking industry in Japan

 

» Examine the reasons that led UFJ into financial problems and identify ways to solve them

 

» Explore the reasons that led SMFG to make attempts to acquire UFJ

 

» Critically examine the merger proposals of both SMFG and MTFG to acquire UFJ and draw suitable conclusions

 

» Study the takeover regulations in Japan

 

» Analyze the synergies of the merger between MTFG and UFJ

 

» Examine the drawbacks of the merger between MTFG and UFJ?

Q.6)Inspite of major difficulties, Unilever was committed to building and sustaining a successful business in China. The company therefore adopted several measures like enhanced research and development, modern management systems and large scale organizational restructuring to anticipate and integrate the needs and aspirations of the Chinese customers into its growth plan. In the mid 1980s and 1990s, the large number of joint ventures entered by the company failed to earn profits for the multinational and also proved unsuccessful in integrating Unilever to mainstream Chinese economy. Therefore, in 1999, the company entered into large scale consolidation and integrated its various units under one holding company?

 

Special localized strategies like hiring of local employees, setting up an R&D unit, and planning for stock market listing were initiated to strengthen the company's position in China. Unilever China responded to the complex needs of the country's consumers by developing a portfolio of brands-both local and global, and incorporated traditional Chinese sciences with technological enhancements. The company aimed to identify itself as the brand that was quality conscious and consistently endeavored to meet local needs and tastes. Global brands-Dove, Lux, Ponds, Lipton-promised international expertise in their formulation and development but had local professionals to manage them to ease communication between the company and its customers. Similarly, local brands such as Hazeline and Lao Cai soy sauce benefited from Unilever's extensive knowledge and resources, without losing their local character. Thus, Unilever China endeavored to balance global and local needs by developing solutions that satisfied the demands of its target consumer segment?

Issues:

» Understand the approach taken by multinationals to tap new markets

 

» Determine the various issues involved in the setting up of a new company in a foreign market

 

» Appreciate the localization strategies that need to be adopted to counter local issues and problems

 

» Appreciate the complexity of a growing market like China

 

» Evaluate the growth of a European FMCG major in China

 

» Discuss the strategies that Unilever adopted in China and examine the reasons for its initial failure

 

» Compare and discuss Unilever's market expansion policies viz-a-viz that adopted by Procter and Gamble

Q.7)Ericsson, enjoyed immense success until the 1990s. The company was amongst the pioneers in the telecom industry. Yet, it could not adapt to the changes in consumer tastes and preferences in the late '90s. Ericsson failed to adapt its mobile handsets to consumer tastes, and this led to a fall in sales of its handsets. Its competitors meanwhile took over Ericsson's space in the market. As sales fell, Ericsson's other businesses were also affected. Finally the company adopted some tough measures to restrict the downslide in its sales. Ericsson understood that it was a company that was good at manufacturing good quality and high technology equipment, but was not good at marketing its products to individual customers.

Therefore Ericsson entered into a joint venture with Sony to form Sony Ericsson, as its new mobile handset unit. Ericsson also restructured itself. Unprofitable or unmanageable businesses were sold off and some new companies were acquired to fill in the gaps in its product range. Eventually, in 2003, the company once again registered profits?

Issues:

» To study the strategies that Ericsson used to turnaround

 

» To understand the factors that caused the slide of a successful company

 

» To understand how important it is even for a successful company to keep changing with changing times

 

» To understand the importance for a company to be more customer-centric and less product-centric

 

» To understand the strategies that a company has to use if it wants to be successful in competitive times?

Q.8)The case discusses the problems faced by Italy's government controlled airline company - Alitalia that led to its poor financial performance since the fiscal 2000. It examines the efforts taken by the company's top management to turn around the company and explores why they have been largely unsuccessful. The case details the role played by Italian government in the company's business matters and the poor labor relations in company.

With the leadership change in March 2004, the case identifies the issues faced by the new CEO and its management team. It includes a comprehensive note on the European civil aviation industry with a focus on Italy?

Issues:

» Understand how internal, industry-specific and macroeconomic factors can negatively affect the financial performance of a company

Q.9)The case discusses the merger of Air France and KLM, the two leading airlines in Europe. It describes recent trends and studies the ongoing consolidation in the European aviation industry.

The case presents in detail the need and rationale behind the decision to merge and the perceived synergies by both the companies from the merger.

It also discusses the possible threats to the merger including cultural differences and various other issues. Finally, the case ends with a debate whether the merger will be successful or not in the future?

Issues:

» Mergers, Consolidation in European Civil Aviation Industry?

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