Environment Scan and Industry Analysis

Environment Scan and Industry Analysis Industry Description At early stages of development, the company at issue began operating as Great Cups of Columbus in Ohio area. The main concept of the company lied in delivering coffee in over-sized cups to adhere to their motto: â€Å"A Great Coffee of Coffee, at a Great Price†. Further development of company’s strategies focused on the analysis of its major competitors, such as Starbucks.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Environment Scan and Industry Analysis specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More To stand the competition, the managers started developing and, as a result, the company managed to expand its market share within a decade. With regard to economic variables, it should be stressed that the company is affected by such forces as economic rates, energy price, GDP tendencies, and acceptability. In this respect, higher employment rates might lead to changes to coffee consumption and to incre ase in food products sales at the account of retail coffee delivery. According to the information received from the U.S. Census Bureau (2006), there is a 7.6 % annual increase in sales of the company’s products. The company’s revenues, therefore, increased from $ 7 billion in 2000 up to $ 11 billion in 5 years (Specialty Coffee Association of America, 2005). Regarding the societal and demographic factors, it should be stressed that coffee is considered one of the most consumed products in the United States and abroad. Therefore, greater demand for coffee can be ensured through increasing the quality of product and services for consumers. Currently, the company continues its expansion policy by developing new coffee stores in different regions and considering new cultural and social layers of the US population (Great Cups Coffee Company, 2011). As a result of the proposed strategy, consumer’s analysis has triggered the coffee producers to focus on sustainable cof fees that are more concerned with environmental factors. As compared to alcohol and tobacco products, the coffee has strengthened its position at the market due to the enhanced brand loyalty and development of a new concept of the product as a noble beverage. Within the industry matrix, the major criteria for company’s success involve such aspects as convenience of location, product quality, service speed, product range, and pricing strategy. Porter’s Five Forces Analysis The consideration of the factors determining the successful development and profitability of industry is important because it allows the managers to predict future potential and shortcomings of industry expansion (Ahlstrom Bruton, 2009).Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More With regard to these issues, the Great Cups Coffee Company should be more focused on such forces as locati on and price that are interconnected in the fight for a competitive advantage. The proposed Strategic Group Map developed below considers the above-mentioned aspects. The graphic diagram demonstrates the competitiveness of the leading coffee industries with regard to price and location. From the above-established indices, it is seen that Great Cups is the most successful in terms of its pricing and location policy whereas Starbucks is more focused on price rather than on location and, therefore, its competitiveness is much higher than the Great Cups. Second, lower price of the Great Cups’ products does not ensure its advantage over other producers due to the lack of the brand image, as compared to Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts. Therefore, this gap should be fulfilled to continue their market expansion. Despite the disadvantages, the Great Cups Coffee has a beneficial position in terms of reasonable price, high quality products, and market segmentation. In order to prevent the risks, specific emphasis should be placed on societal environment analysis to present coffee as a brand, but not as a commodity to be consumed. A Summary of Opportunities and Threats to Retail Coffee Chains Participating in the Coffee Industry Due to the great competition and a range of directions for development, the Great Cups Coffee Company has great opportunities for market expansion due to the rapid growth in the coffee industry. The emergence of new distribution channels, as well as product expansion, can provide a new option for developing the image of the product and create the shift from consumerist ideology (Hunger Wheelen, 2003). In addition, expansion of stores and exploration of new geographic locations is also crucial because it allows managers to predict the needs of new clients’ base. Finally, developing a limited product portfolio and presenting store names should also widen the company’s opportunities and provide a competitive advantage.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Environment Scan and Industry Analysis specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More As per the threats, the company should constantly invent new strategies to face rigid competition because coffee is considered among the most consumed products all over the world. Further, pricing strategy and demand rates must be considered as a solution to the brisk competition. The Great Cups Coffee’s major competitor is Starbucks that successfully uses its pricing and location philosophy to be the leading coffee provider (Gillespie, 2005). Finally, the company should also pay attention to the cultural environment and moral codes within an organization to strengthen the values among the employees. Both consumers and employees should be aware of the strong mission of an organization that relies on improvement of the overall climate and quality of services. References Ahlstrom, D., Bruton, G. D. (2009). Inte rnational Management: Strategy and Culture in the Emerging World. US: Cengage Learning. Gillespie, E. M. (2005). Starbucks sees growing demand for drive-thru coffee. The Associated Press. Web. Great Cups Coffee Company (2011). About Great Cups. Web. Hunger, J. D. Wheelen, T. L. (2003). Essentials of strategic management (3rd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. Specialty Coffee Association of America (2005). Specialty Coffee Retail in the USA 2005. Web.Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More U.S. Census Bureau (2006). Advance monthly sales for retail and food services: July 2006 release. Web.

Environment Scan and Industry Analysis

Environment Scan and Industry Analysis Industry Description At early stages of development, the company at issue began operating as Great Cups of Columbus in Ohio area. The main concept of the company lied in delivering coffee in over-sized cups to adhere to their motto: â€Å"A Great Coffee of Coffee, at a Great Price†. Further development of company’s strategies focused on the analysis of its major competitors, such as Starbucks.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Environment Scan and Industry Analysis specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More To stand the competition, the managers started developing and, as a result, the company managed to expand its market share within a decade. With regard to economic variables, it should be stressed that the company is affected by such forces as economic rates, energy price, GDP tendencies, and acceptability. In this respect, higher employment rates might lead to changes to coffee consumption and to incre ase in food products sales at the account of retail coffee delivery. According to the information received from the U.S. Census Bureau (2006), there is a 7.6 % annual increase in sales of the company’s products. The company’s revenues, therefore, increased from $ 7 billion in 2000 up to $ 11 billion in 5 years (Specialty Coffee Association of America, 2005). Regarding the societal and demographic factors, it should be stressed that coffee is considered one of the most consumed products in the United States and abroad. Therefore, greater demand for coffee can be ensured through increasing the quality of product and services for consumers. Currently, the company continues its expansion policy by developing new coffee stores in different regions and considering new cultural and social layers of the US population (Great Cups Coffee Company, 2011). As a result of the proposed strategy, consumer’s analysis has triggered the coffee producers to focus on sustainable cof fees that are more concerned with environmental factors. As compared to alcohol and tobacco products, the coffee has strengthened its position at the market due to the enhanced brand loyalty and development of a new concept of the product as a noble beverage. Within the industry matrix, the major criteria for company’s success involve such aspects as convenience of location, product quality, service speed, product range, and pricing strategy. Porter’s Five Forces Analysis The consideration of the factors determining the successful development and profitability of industry is important because it allows the managers to predict future potential and shortcomings of industry expansion (Ahlstrom Bruton, 2009).Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More With regard to these issues, the Great Cups Coffee Company should be more focused on such forces as locati on and price that are interconnected in the fight for a competitive advantage. The proposed Strategic Group Map developed below considers the above-mentioned aspects. The graphic diagram demonstrates the competitiveness of the leading coffee industries with regard to price and location. From the above-established indices, it is seen that Great Cups is the most successful in terms of its pricing and location policy whereas Starbucks is more focused on price rather than on location and, therefore, its competitiveness is much higher than the Great Cups. Second, lower price of the Great Cups’ products does not ensure its advantage over other producers due to the lack of the brand image, as compared to Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts. Therefore, this gap should be fulfilled to continue their market expansion. Despite the disadvantages, the Great Cups Coffee has a beneficial position in terms of reasonable price, high quality products, and market segmentation. In order to prevent the risks, specific emphasis should be placed on societal environment analysis to present coffee as a brand, but not as a commodity to be consumed. A Summary of Opportunities and Threats to Retail Coffee Chains Participating in the Coffee Industry Due to the great competition and a range of directions for development, the Great Cups Coffee Company has great opportunities for market expansion due to the rapid growth in the coffee industry. The emergence of new distribution channels, as well as product expansion, can provide a new option for developing the image of the product and create the shift from consumerist ideology (Hunger Wheelen, 2003). In addition, expansion of stores and exploration of new geographic locations is also crucial because it allows managers to predict the needs of new clients’ base. Finally, developing a limited product portfolio and presenting store names should also widen the company’s opportunities and provide a competitive advantage.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Environment Scan and Industry Analysis specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More As per the threats, the company should constantly invent new strategies to face rigid competition because coffee is considered among the most consumed products all over the world. Further, pricing strategy and demand rates must be considered as a solution to the brisk competition. The Great Cups Coffee’s major competitor is Starbucks that successfully uses its pricing and location philosophy to be the leading coffee provider (Gillespie, 2005). Finally, the company should also pay attention to the cultural environment and moral codes within an organization to strengthen the values among the employees. Both consumers and employees should be aware of the strong mission of an organization that relies on improvement of the overall climate and quality of services. References Ahlstrom, D., Bruton, G. D. (2009). Inte rnational Management: Strategy and Culture in the Emerging World. US: Cengage Learning. Gillespie, E. M. (2005). Starbucks sees growing demand for drive-thru coffee. The Associated Press. Web. Great Cups Coffee Company (2011). About Great Cups. Web. Hunger, J. D. Wheelen, T. L. (2003). Essentials of strategic management (3rd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. Specialty Coffee Association of America (2005). Specialty Coffee Retail in the USA 2005. Web.Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More U.S. Census Bureau (2006). Advance monthly sales for retail and food services: July 2006 release. Web.

Environment Scan and Industry Analysis

Environment Scan and Industry Analysis Industry Description At early stages of development, the company at issue began operating as Great Cups of Columbus in Ohio area. The main concept of the company lied in delivering coffee in over-sized cups to adhere to their motto: â€Å"A Great Coffee of Coffee, at a Great Price†. Further development of company’s strategies focused on the analysis of its major competitors, such as Starbucks.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Environment Scan and Industry Analysis specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More To stand the competition, the managers started developing and, as a result, the company managed to expand its market share within a decade. With regard to economic variables, it should be stressed that the company is affected by such forces as economic rates, energy price, GDP tendencies, and acceptability. In this respect, higher employment rates might lead to changes to coffee consumption and to incre ase in food products sales at the account of retail coffee delivery. According to the information received from the U.S. Census Bureau (2006), there is a 7.6 % annual increase in sales of the company’s products. The company’s revenues, therefore, increased from $ 7 billion in 2000 up to $ 11 billion in 5 years (Specialty Coffee Association of America, 2005). Regarding the societal and demographic factors, it should be stressed that coffee is considered one of the most consumed products in the United States and abroad. Therefore, greater demand for coffee can be ensured through increasing the quality of product and services for consumers. Currently, the company continues its expansion policy by developing new coffee stores in different regions and considering new cultural and social layers of the US population (Great Cups Coffee Company, 2011). As a result of the proposed strategy, consumer’s analysis has triggered the coffee producers to focus on sustainable cof fees that are more concerned with environmental factors. As compared to alcohol and tobacco products, the coffee has strengthened its position at the market due to the enhanced brand loyalty and development of a new concept of the product as a noble beverage. Within the industry matrix, the major criteria for company’s success involve such aspects as convenience of location, product quality, service speed, product range, and pricing strategy. Porter’s Five Forces Analysis The consideration of the factors determining the successful development and profitability of industry is important because it allows the managers to predict future potential and shortcomings of industry expansion (Ahlstrom Bruton, 2009).Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More With regard to these issues, the Great Cups Coffee Company should be more focused on such forces as locati on and price that are interconnected in the fight for a competitive advantage. The proposed Strategic Group Map developed below considers the above-mentioned aspects. The graphic diagram demonstrates the competitiveness of the leading coffee industries with regard to price and location. From the above-established indices, it is seen that Great Cups is the most successful in terms of its pricing and location policy whereas Starbucks is more focused on price rather than on location and, therefore, its competitiveness is much higher than the Great Cups. Second, lower price of the Great Cups’ products does not ensure its advantage over other producers due to the lack of the brand image, as compared to Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts. Therefore, this gap should be fulfilled to continue their market expansion. Despite the disadvantages, the Great Cups Coffee has a beneficial position in terms of reasonable price, high quality products, and market segmentation. In order to prevent the risks, specific emphasis should be placed on societal environment analysis to present coffee as a brand, but not as a commodity to be consumed. A Summary of Opportunities and Threats to Retail Coffee Chains Participating in the Coffee Industry Due to the great competition and a range of directions for development, the Great Cups Coffee Company has great opportunities for market expansion due to the rapid growth in the coffee industry. The emergence of new distribution channels, as well as product expansion, can provide a new option for developing the image of the product and create the shift from consumerist ideology (Hunger Wheelen, 2003). In addition, expansion of stores and exploration of new geographic locations is also crucial because it allows managers to predict the needs of new clients’ base. Finally, developing a limited product portfolio and presenting store names should also widen the company’s opportunities and provide a competitive advantage.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Environment Scan and Industry Analysis specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More As per the threats, the company should constantly invent new strategies to face rigid competition because coffee is considered among the most consumed products all over the world. Further, pricing strategy and demand rates must be considered as a solution to the brisk competition. The Great Cups Coffee’s major competitor is Starbucks that successfully uses its pricing and location philosophy to be the leading coffee provider (Gillespie, 2005). Finally, the company should also pay attention to the cultural environment and moral codes within an organization to strengthen the values among the employees. Both consumers and employees should be aware of the strong mission of an organization that relies on improvement of the overall climate and quality of services. References Ahlstrom, D., Bruton, G. D. (2009). Inte rnational Management: Strategy and Culture in the Emerging World. US: Cengage Learning. Gillespie, E. M. (2005). Starbucks sees growing demand for drive-thru coffee. The Associated Press. Web. Great Cups Coffee Company (2011). About Great Cups. Web. Hunger, J. D. Wheelen, T. L. (2003). Essentials of strategic management (3rd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. Specialty Coffee Association of America (2005). Specialty Coffee Retail in the USA 2005. Web.Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More U.S. Census Bureau (2006). Advance monthly sales for retail and food services: July 2006 release. Web.

M26 Pershing Tank in World War II

M26 Pershing Tank in World War II The M26 Pershing was a heavy tank developed for the U.S. Army during World War II. Conceived as a replacement for the iconic M4 Sherman, the M26 suffered from an extended design and development process as well as political infighting among the U.S. Armys leadership. The M26 arrived in the final months of the conflict and proved effective against the latest German tanks. Retained after the war, it was upgraded and evolved. Deployed during the Korean War, the M26 proved superior to the tanks used by Communist forces but struggled at times with the difficult terrain and suffered from various issues with its systems. The M26 was later replaced by the Patton series of tank in the U.S. Army. Development Development of the M26 began in 1942 as production was beginning on the M4 Sherman medium tank. Initially intended to be a follow-on for the M4, the project was designated T20 and was to serve as a test bed for experimenting with new types of guns, suspensions, and transmissions. T20 series prototypes employed a new torqmatic transmission, the Ford GAN V-8 engine, and the new 76 mm M1A1 gun. As testing moved forward, problems emerged with the new transmission system and a parallel program was established, designated T22, which utilized the same mechanical transmission as the M4. A third program, the T23, was also created to test a new electric transmission which had been developed by General Electric. This system quickly proved to have performance advantages in rough terrain as it could adjust to rapid changes in torque requirements. Pleased with the new transmission, the Ordnance Department pushed the design forward. Possessing a cast turret mounting the 76 mm gun, the T23 was produced in limited numbers during 1943, but did not see combat. Instead, its legacy proved to be its turret which was later utilized in 76 mm gun-equipped Shermans. Panther Tank. Bundesarchiv, Bild 101I-300-1876-02A A New Heavy Tank With the emergence of the new German Panther and Tiger tanks, efforts began within the Ordnance Department to develop a heavier tank to compete with them. This resulted in the T25 and T26 series which built upon the earlier T23. Devised in 1943, the T26 saw the addition of a 90 mm gun and substantially heavier armor. Though these greatly increased the tanks weight, the engine was not upgraded and the vehicle proved underpowered. Despite this, the Ordnance Department was pleased with the new tank and worked to move it towards production. The first production model, T26E3, possessed a cast turret mounting a 90 mm gun and required a crew of four. Powered by the Ford GAF V-8, it utilized a torsion bar suspension and torqmatic transmission. Construction of the hull consisted of a combination of castings and rolled plate. Entering service, the tank was designated M26 Pershing heavy tank. The name was selected to honor General John J. Pershing who had founded the U.S. Armys Tank Corps during World War I. M26 Pershing DimensionsLength: 28 ft. 4.5 in.Width: 11 ft. 6 in.Height: 9 ft. 1.5 in.Weight: 41.7 tonsArmor ArmamentPrimary Gun: M3 90 mmSecondary Armament: 2 Ãâ€" Browning .30-06 cal. machine guns, 1 Ãâ€" Browning .50 cal. machine gunArmor: 1-4.33 in.PerformanceEngine: Ford GAF, 8-cylinder, 450–500 hpSpeed: 25 mphRange: 100 milesSuspension: Torsion BarCrew: 5 Production Delays As design of the M26 came to completion, its production was delayed by an ongoing debate in the U.S. Army regarding the need for a heavy tank. While Lieutenant General Jacob Devers, the head of U.S. Army forces in Europe advocated for the new tank, he was opposed by Lieutenant General Lesley McNair, commander Army Ground Forces. This was further complicated by Armored Commands desire to press on the M4 and concerns that a heavy tank would not be able to use the Army Corps of Engineers bridges. With the backing of General George Marshall, the project remained alive and production moved forward in November 1944. While some claim that Lieutenant General George S. Patton played a key role in delaying the M26, these assertions are not well supported. Ten M26s were built in November 1943, with production escalating at the Fisher Tank Arsenal. Production also commenced at the Detroit Tank Arsenal in March 1945. By the end of 1945, over 2,000 M26s had been built. In January 1945, experiments began on the Super Pershing which mounted the improved T15E1 90mm gun. This variant was only produced in small numbers. Another variant was the M45 close support vehicle which mounted a 105 mm howitzer. An M26 Pershing of A Company, 14th Tank Battalion, is transported aboard a pontoon ferry across the Rhine on March 12, 1945. National Archives and Records Administration World War II Following American losses to German tanks in the Battle of the Bulge the need for the M26 became clear. The first shipment of twenty Pershings arrived in Antwerp in January 1945. These were split between the 3rd and 9th Armored Divisions and were the first of 310 M26s to reach Europe before the end of the war. Of these, around 20 saw combat. The M26s first action occurred with the 3rd Armored on February 25 near the Roer River. Four M26s were also involved in the 9th Armoreds capture of the Bridge at Remagen on March 7-8. In encounters with Tigers and Panthers, the M26 performed well. In the Pacific, a shipment of twelve M26s departed on May 31 for use in the Battle of Okinawa. Due to a variety of delays, they did not arrive until after the fighting had ended. Korea Retained after the war, the M26 was re-designated as a medium tank. Assessing the M26, it was decided to rectify the issues of its under-powered engine and problematic transmission. Beginning in January 1948, 800 M26s received new Continental AV1790-3 engines and Allison CD-850-1 cross-drive transmissions. Along with a new gun and host of other modifications, these altered M26s were redesignated as the M46 Patton. USMC M26 Pershing tank advancing in Korea, September 4, 1950. National Archives and Records Administration With the outbreak of the Korean War in 1950, the first medium tanks to reach Korea were a provisional platoon of M26s dispatched from Japan. Additional M26s reached the peninsula later that year where they fought alongside M4s and M46s. Though performing well in combat, the M26 was withdrawn from Korea in 1951 due to reliability issues associated with its systems. The type was retained by U.S. forces in Europe until the arrival of new M47 Pattons in 1952-1953. As the Pershing was phased out of American service, it was provided to NATO allies such as Belgium, France, and Italy. The Italians used the type until 1963.