Competitive Strategy Essay - Tools and Techniques for Strategic Management
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This essay analyzes and evaluates four critical strategy development tools for effective application in businesses, using McDonald's as a case example. The tools include PESTEL analysis, SWOT analysis, Five Force Analysis, and Ansoff matrix.
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Student name [Course title] competetive strategy Institutional Affiliation(s)
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P a g e|1 Competitive strategy essay Various strategy development tools, techniques and models are available that support strategic management of firms and to assist them in decision making processes. They are designed and developed for supporting managers in every stages of strategic management procedure to achieve organisational gaols ( Qehaja , et al., 2017). To understand how these tools are effectively applied on businesses, this essay will use a case example of McDonald’s operating in fast-food industry. This essay will analyse and evaluate four critical strategy development tools after identifying its uses as per current literature. PESTEL analysis PESTEL or macro environment analysis tool is used by business managers to examine and evaluate external factors facing the firm which requires to be considered for gaining competitive position in marketplace. Many of the firm uses this tool while entering new marketplaces as it guides management in making business plans that can suit new market external environment. Acronym PESTEL typically stands for political, social, technological, environmental and legal factors of business organisations that needs to evaluated at regular intervals to identify any significant changes that may impact organisational performance(Ritson, 2011). PESTEL analysis of McDonalds reveals external factors that affects the firm’s performance while operating in an international business environment. Political factors of McDonalds show that company responses to every governmental regulation and policies along with showing effective CSR policies within its management. Economic conditions though hampered company sales especially during the times when US and European nations faced financial crises and recession period. Alongside, since McDonalds operates in various countries, any significant changes in country economics disrupts its overall operation strategies. Social factors again seem challenging to the firm due to increased concern seen among consumers against fast-food consumption. Technological factors, however can be seen employed by the firm since it utilises advanced technical equipment’s and innovative systems for food production, storing, and waste management areas. Environmental factors also affect McDonald operations as any climatic change may hamper the production of its major raw material i.e. food products. Lastly, legal constraints like suppliers’ unethical practices, changing policies of outsourcing countries and other food related standards critically affects McDonalds operations. .
P a g e|2 SWOT analysis SWOT is another strategy development tool that assists management while preparing business plans after considering present strengths and weakness of the firms along with future opportunities and threats that may affect organisational development. This tool is considered very effective for existing businesses while assessing their current business situation for determining a strategy that can move organisation in positive direction. However, to keep SWOT analysis updated, businesses must consider those factors that keeps changing and thus may require reassessing strategies for realising operative performance(Helms & Nixon, 2010). Strength analysis of McDonalds reveals that the firm is leading contender within fast-food industry, holds a strong brand image and implements standardised processes that shows its strong internal strategic factors contributing in bringing organisational viability. Weaknesses can also be seen especially concerning the market focus area and some of its products manufacturing processes. Along with it, the firm shows very little flexibility in its business process along with following low product diversification strategy to enter new markets. This further makes company vulnerable to face Western market decline. Opportunities that lay in front of McDonalds includes expansion scope in diversified countries due to strong brand recognition along with market development opportunities in Middle East region where it has not entered yet. Threats that can be associated with McDonalds businesses as it has to face aggressive market competition, changing perspectives of its consumers along with GMO trends and governmental regulations disrupting its business operations(Greenspan, 2017). Five Force Analysis Five forces analysis developed by Porter is one of the most significant development tools that helps management in analysing business competition related forces present within the industry it performs in. This tool is majorly used for determining market competition, intensity among rivals and how business competitors behave to gain competitive position. Alongside, this tool also recognises potential forces related to bargaining power of suppliers and buyers to analyse firm’s competitive position in the market. By assessing forces behind threats from new entrants and substitutes, firms can further build competitive strategies that can help them build market position along with looking for ways that can transfer strong forces into firms’ opportunities(Indiatsy, et al., 2014). Since McDonalds work with large number of suppliers like Dr Pepper Snapple, Coca Cola, International Paper Company, etc. bargaining power of suppliers remains a weak force for the firm. However, rivalry seen among other competitors remains a stronger force since the company has to face constant competition from other rivalry companies like Pizza Hut, Subway sandwiches, Starbucks, Burger King, etc. Threats of new entrant force remains moderate for the company. On one hand, fast food restaurant can be opened with very little investment and does not have many legal barriers, intense rivalry seen among
P a g e|3 present market players makes new entrances force rational for McDonalds. Bargaining power of consumers, however remains strong force for the company due to availability of various other fast-food brands available in marketplace. Threats from substitutes like freshly cooked food also impacts company sales many times reflecting it as a stronger force once again(Dudovskiy, 2016). Ansoff matrix Ansoff matrix is another significant strategy development tool that are used by firm’s management for determining risk related factors pertaining business operations. This tool is extensively used while formulating growth related strategies as it describes potential growth-related opportunities that are available for businesses as well as regarding new products or market prospects. According to Ansoff theory, for every organisation there are four growth related possibilities which includes product development and diversification along with market penetration and development(Gianos, 2013). McDonalds Ansoff matrix show that they supplement their main stream with fast food products along with other new additives. Such market penetration strategy allows the firm to enter new markets with ease along with gaining consumer loyalty and market recognition. Product development strategy of McDonalds reveals that it introduces healthy and nutritious food for launching its product in developed and intensified market countries. Cost effective strategies are also implemented by the firm by combining more than two continental food alongside local taste at affordable prices. The market development strategy of McDonalds show that the company enters more into developing and developed countries, offering more franchises in fresh markets. The firm also follows promotions and advertisement approaches to expand its businesses in new market(Ahmed, et al., 2016).
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P a g e|4 References Ahmed, R. R., Sheikh, D. M., Bhutto, M. T., Memon, S. A., Ahraz, S., Murtaza, G., Farkhanda, M., 2016.Strategic Marketing Plan for McDonald’s.[Online] Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/301553341_Strategic_Marketing_Plan_for_ McDonald's_2016 [Accessed 23 04 2019]. Dudovskiy, J., 2016.McDonalds Porter’s Five Forces Analysis.[Online] Available at:https://research-methodology.net/mcdonalds-porters-five-forces- analysis/ [Accessed 23 04 2019]. Gianos, J. F., 2013. A Brief Introduction to Ansoffian Theory and the Optimal Strategic Performance-positioning Matrix on Small Business (OSPP).Journal of Management Research ,05(02), pp. 107-118. Greenspan, R., 2017.McDonald’s SWOT Analysis & Recommendations.[Online] Available at:http://panmore.com/mcdonalds-swot-analysis-recommendations [Accessed 23 04 2019]. Helms , M. M. & Nixon, J., 2010. Exploring SWOT analysis – where are we now? : A review of academic research from the last decade.Journal of Strategy and Management,03(03), pp. 215-251. Indiatsy, C. M., Mwangi, M. S., Mandere, E. N., Bichanga, J. M., George, G. E., 2014. The Application of Porter’s Five Forces Model on Organization Performance: A Case of Cooperative Bank of Kenya Ltd.European Journal of Business and Management ,6(16), pp. 75-85. Ritson, N., 2011.Strategic Management.s.l.:Ventus Publishing. Qehaja , A. . B., Kutllovci , E. & Pula , J. . S., 2017. Strategic Management Tools and Techniques: A Comparative Analysis of Empirical Studies.Croatian Economic Survey,19(01), pp. 67-99.