Strategic Management of International Management Consultancy Report

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the strategic management of an international management consultancy, focusing on the case of Tarmac, UK. It begins with an overview of international management consultancy firms and their role in the global market, emphasizing their specialization in areas like production, sales, and human resources. The report then delves into an analysis of Tarmac's internal environment using SWOT analysis, identifying strengths such as adaptability and a diversified workforce, and weaknesses like reliance on feedback services. Opportunities like monthly newsletters and threats such as conflicts of opinion are also discussed. The analysis extends to resource and capability analysis, covering finance, human resources, and physical resources. The external environment is examined through PESTLE analysis, considering political, economic, social, technological, legal, and environmental factors. Porter's five forces are applied to assess competitive rivalry, the threat of new entrants, and the bargaining power of customers and suppliers. The report concludes with an analysis of Tarmac's strategic position, leadership, communication, and workplace culture. Recommendations for the organization are provided, followed by an implementation plan and a critical reflection on the findings.

Running head: MANAGEMENT
STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT OF INTERNATIONAL MANAGEMENT
CONSULTANCY
Name of the student:
Name of the university:
Author note:

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Table of contents
Section 1: An analysis of the company's strategic position.......................................................2
Overview of the company......................................................................................................2
Tools for identifying internal environment of the company..................................................2
SWOT analysis...................................................................................................................2
Resource and capability analysis.......................................................................................3
Tools for identifying external environment of the company.................................................4
PESTLE analysis................................................................................................................4
Porter’s five forces.............................................................................................................6
Strategic position analysis of the company............................................................................8
Leadership and communication.........................................................................................8
Workplace culture..............................................................................................................8
Company’s position...........................................................................................................9
Clients’ needs.....................................................................................................................9
Section 2: Recommendations to the organisation......................................................................9
Section 3: Implementation of Recommendations....................................................................12
Section 4: Critical Reflection...................................................................................................13
References................................................................................................................................15

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Section 1: An analysis of the company's strategic
position
Overview of the company
International Management Consultancy firms possess tie ups with offices in the
overseas for expanding the scope and arena of the business. Supervision from the head office
is assistance in terms of executing the operations in an efficient and effective manner. These
firms act as an agent for the companies to sustain the market position in the competitive
ambience. This is through the means of analysing the current strategic position and proposing
recommendations (Ansoff et al. 2018). As a matter of specification, the specialization areas,
which the operations cater are production, sales, distribution, purchasing, human resources
and supply chain. Social media marketing is adopted for globalizing the operations. These
firms have achieved accolades and glory through the provision of effective solutions to the
clients and the customers on strategy development, marketing, operations, IT, mergers and
acquisitions and others (Noe et al. 2017).
This report would focus on one of the employer scenarios, which deals with
sustainable construction at Tarmac, UK. Tarmac has attained glory by producing quality
building and construction materials like cement, lime powders, aggregates, asphalt, and
concrete building products. Apart from this, consulting services are also provided by the
company. Contracting services and placing materials are supplied for achieving better
placement in the local and international markets (Tarmac.com 2019).
Tools for identifying internal environment of the company
SWOT analysis
Strengths
Adaptability skills has been disseminated among the staffs, which acts assistance in
responding properly to the changes taking place in the market. Investments from the local and
international clients expands the supply chain network. Mention can be made of the

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diversified workforce, which enhances the workplace culture of Tarmac. Design thinking is
practiced, which helps in implementing innovative ideas for executing the tasks according to
the requirements (Tarmac.com 2019).
Weakness
All of our operations is based on feedback services. Socialization is done through the
acquisition of Google communities and social networking sites. In this, one of the weakness
is that sometimes the clients and the customers do not have proper access to these
communication channels. As the conversations on these sites are very open, we are concerned
about hacking of the secret and private information. There are no anti-virus as of now, which
can protect the privacy of the secret codes and information (Tarmac.com 2019).
Opportunities
Monthly newsletters acts as an agent for the stakeholders to communicate with the
company personnel regarding the issues, which they are facing while executing the project
related activities. Leadership academies are in progress, which reflects the preparation of the
corporate minds. Training and development programs would be valued if post training tests
are conducted by the managers (Tarmac.com 2019).
Threats
If proper means are not adopted by the management of Tarmac, conflicts and
differentiation of opinions would act as an obstacle in the process of implementing the
proposed changes. Unless and until strategic planning is adopted, uncertainties would not be
reduced in terms of achieving sustainability and balance in the internal and external
environment. Absence of risk assessment and management would aggravate the intensities of
the uncertainties (Tarmac.com 2019).

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Resource and capability analysis
Finance
Joint venture with the associate agencies and companies has acted assistance for
Tarmac in terms of averting the instance of financial instability. On the contrary, joint
ventures has mounted the values of assets and liabilities. Recession phase aggravates the
complexities of the company in terms of maintaining the financial stabilities. In case of the
losses through the competitive rivalry, the company is reluctant towards sharing whole of the
profits. In such a case, the rival companies hold half share of the profits bore by Tarmac
(Tarmac.com 2019).
Human resources
Diversified workforce is actually a strength in terms of expanding the scope and arena
of the business. Training and development programs are an integral part of the Tarmac
business, which helps in enhancing the preconceived skills, knowledge and expertise of the
employees. Reference can be cited of the leadership academies, which trains the staffs about
the ways and means of adapting, changing, supporting and reporting (Tarmac.com 2019).
Physical resources
Infrastructure is a vital part of the business in Tarmac. Easy availability of the raw
materials is assistance in terms of enhancing the efficiency and productivity in the operations.
Variety in the technologies generates confusion among the staffs regarding its mechanism.
Sometimes, quality of the raw materials is a challenge, which is reduced through the means
of quality tests and controls. For this, experts are hired for averting the instances of defects
and malfunctioning (Tarmac.com 2019).
Tools for identifying external environment of the company
PESTLE analysis
Political

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Political instabilities hampers the process of import and export of construction
materials to the foreign markets. Along with this, new policies implemented by the
government is assistance for Tarmac in terms of affecting the economy (Tarmac.com 2019).
Economic
Economic stability of UK is a support for companies like Tarmac in terms of deciding
on the extent of construction projects, which needs to be executed for generating high
revenue and profit margin. Example can be cited of the recession, when the construction
work is less. This is the stage where strategic planning and management plays an important
role (Tarmac.com 2019).
Social
Ensuring the safety of the customers is the mission of Tarmac, UK. Community
engagement in the planning process and implementation is a planned and reasoned action
towards achieving high scale customer satisfaction. Feedbacks from the clients and the
customers is assistance in terms of assessing the appropriateness of the plans, policies and
programs. Typical evidence of this lies in the Call Connect Forums, which enhance the
parameter of Customer Relationship Management (Tarmac.com 2019).
Technological
Latest and modern technologies are used by Tarmac in terms of achieving
infrastructural development. Examples can be taken of Google communities and social
networking sites, which expands the customer base. Transparency in the communication
contradicts the instances of conflicts and misunderstanding. Data Protection Act (1998) is
followed for ensuring that the privacy, security and confidentiality is maintained in the
information. Mention can be made of the aspects, Information Modelling, which has caused

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the advent of digital transformation into the construction activities in the company
(Tarmac.com 2019).
Legal
Taxation rules are followed by Tarmac for producing accurate accounting records.
This approach is assistance for practising fair competition with the contemporary brands,
which is indicative of trust, loyalty and dependence from the clients and the customers
(Tarmac.com 2019).
Environmental
According to the architectural planning, 64% of the large cities in UK comprises of
9% of the land mass. However, presence of 54% population is a concern in terms of
sustaining the resources and materials for the use of future generation. Global mega trends
has compelled the company personnel to put on thinking caps regarding the maintenance of
balance in the ecosystem (Tarmac.com 2019).
Porter’s five forces
Competitive rivalry
Collapse in the economy has produced mixed response within the construction firms
regarding the projects. In the era of 2013-14, there were reduction in the value of capital
investment. Example can be cited of Balfour Betty, which shifted their focus towards the
acquisition of the gas fire stations. It also makes use of the business Parsons Brinkerhoff for
providing end to end solutions to the clients and the customers, SSE (Tarmac.com 2019). On
the other hand, the larger consultancy firms are diversifying their portfolios for maintaining
the topmost position. Mention can be made of the bids, which are providing the clients with
new options for availing the services. In this context, the focus on establishing brand identity,

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which is done through the means of contracts and acquisitions. Therefore, competitive rivalry
is high for Tarmac, UK (Tarmac.com 2019).
Threat of new entrants
Construction industries are very capital intensive. Absorption of the travel costs is not
an issue, because of the diversification, which prevails in the portfolios. Comparison is done
with the portfolios of the other countries, which helps in improvising on the strategic
planning and development. Profitability is dependent on the economies of scale. Consumer
switching costs is much low. Retaliation score is an issue for the small firms, which lack
heavy capital investments. Lasserre (2017) is of the view that regulations and licensing is the
major drive behind low threat of new entrants.
Bargaining power of the customers
The buyers are considered to be the end users for the construction industry. The
government bodies and influential people are considered to be the prospective clients of the
industry. Tender and bid process is adopted for enhancing the purchasing decision and power
of the customers. Morden (2016) states that these processes are assistance in gaining an
insight into the approaches of the customers towards price, portfolio, trust in the brand
services, brand loyalty and word of mouth. Therefore, the buying power of the customers are
high.
Bargaining power of the suppliers
The suppliers have great bargaining power, as variety of products are emerging in the
markets. New products have globalized the services of the construction industry.
Consciousness towards persevering the traditionalism helps companies like Tarmac to retain
the prospective clients and customers in an ambience of competition. However, Morschett,

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Schramm-Klein and Zentes (2015) is of the view that non-negotiable prices of some of the
construction materials adversely affects the purchasing power and decision of the suppliers.
Threat of substitutes
Threat of substitutes are low in case of the construction industry. However, boat
homes, mobile caravans are some of the products, which can be substituted. On the other
hand, buildings and large civil construction services cannot be substituted. According to the
recent trends, robots have been replaced in place of the staffs, which is a compromise with
the talents possessed by the human resources (Frynas and Mellahi 2015).
Strategic position analysis of the company
Leadership and communication
Feedbacks and surveys enhances the parameter of customer relationship management
for Tarmac, UK. Google communities and social networking sites are used for gaining an
insight into the issues faced by the clients and the customers for availing the services.
Monthly talking sessions are organized for enhancing the awareness about the issues, which
they are facing while executing the allocated duties and responsibilities. Online networks is
assistance in terms of storing bulk information and sharing them among the clients and the
customers. These networks connect the internal and the external environment (Tarmac.com
2019). Leadership academies are established for training the staffs about the process of
enhancing the adjustability skills.
Workplace culture
Diversity prevails in the workforce, which enhances the workplace culture of Tarmac.
Approach towards sustaining the resources for the future generation reflects the mentality
towards ensuring the wellbeing of the clients and the customers. This sustenance, if
considered with strategic planning and development, value is attached towards the operations.

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This is indicative of loyalty, trust and dependence, which can be attained through proper
communication channels (Tarmac.com 2019).
Company’s position
Tarmac is one of the leading sustainable building materials and business solution
providers in UK. In terms of the supplies, the company achieves higher competitive edge than
the contemporaries. The sales revenue through the construction equipment increases by 15%.
Spontaneity is maintained in the process of levying solutions to the clients and the customers
(Tarmac.com 2019).
Clients’ needs
Guidance manuals are provided to the clients for enhancing their awareness about the
plans and programs. For this, the channels of social media and emails are adopted, which is
assistance for increasing the trafficking of the audience towards the brand image. Contracts
are one of the means for enhancing the parameter of customer relationship management.
Databases in this regards is one of the means for keeping tracks of the supply chain network
logistics (Tarmac.com 2019).
Based on this analysis, Tarmac needs to address the issues
of leadership and
communication strategies.
Section 2: Recommendations to the organisation
Recommendation 1- To hire experts for safe installation of the information models
Smart Hiring experts would be assistance in terms
of averting the instances of malfunctions,
virus attacks and hacker interventions
Measurable Experiments and tests by the experts and the
positive reports would reflect the

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measurability of the recommendation.
Achievable Enhanced productivity of the business, in
the form of digitalization would make the
recommendation achievable.
Realistic Upgradation in the standards and quality of
the construction projects would make the
recommendation realistic. Mention can be
made of adopting effective communication
channels like that of social media, emails
and others.
Time 1 year
Recommendation 2- To adopt emails as one of the communication channels
Smart Emails would help the managers in
establishing communication with the head
of the departments regarding the execution
of the plans
Measurable Increased awareness about the plans and the
programs among the staffs would reflect the
measurability of the recommendation.
Achievable If the managers conduct meeting on the
received emails from the directors, it would
make the recommendation achievable.
Realistic Satisfaction of the personnel through storing
the information securely in the emails

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makes the recommendation realistic.
Time 6 months
Recommendation 3- To increase frequency of the leadership training programs
Smart Increasing the frequency of the leadership
training programs would be assistance in
terms of enhancing the professional skills,
abilities and competencies of the employees.
Measurable Better performance of the students in the
assignments and projects reflects the
measurability of the recommendation
Achievable If the staffs are capable of handling the
foreign clients, then the recommendation
can be easily achieved.
Realistic If the managers are capable of making
estimates of the sales growth and
productivity, then the recommendation
would seem realistic
Time 1 year
Section 3: Implementation of Recommendations
Strategic planning is needed by Tarmac in terms of implementing the proposed
recommendation. Organizing meetings would be beneficial in terms of gaining an insight into
the approaches towards the implementation of the recommendations. The vision of this

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meeting would be to disseminate the vision to the stakeholders and shareholders. Aguinis,
Edwards and Bradley (2017) is of the view that involvement of the stakeholders in this
meeting would diversify their thinking skills and judgmental capabilities. As there is diversity
in the workforce, therefore, verbal and non-verbal communication can be adopted for
addressing the specific needs, demands and requirements of the clients and the customers.
Taking into consideration the preferred communication styles would be a planned and
reasoned approach towards mapping the scope and arena through which the skills of the staffs
would venture. Engert, Rauter and Baumgartner (2016) states that this would vary from
visual, auditory to kinaesthetic skills. Based on this skills assessment, communication
channels can be selected.
Disclosing the plan of selecting email as one of the communication channels can be
one of the key activities in the meeting. The clients can be given presentation regarding the
process through which communication would be done through the means of emails. In this,
involvement of the IT experts would be a tactful approach towards planning for the
installation of anti-virus, so that the secret information and codes can be protected from
hacking. Aguinis, Edwards and Bradley (2017) proposes that separate meetings can be done
by the managers of Tarmac with the IT experts, board of directors and account managers,
which would be assistance in terms of developing the budgets for the installing the
information modelling database. This meeting would also help in conducting risk
management, as an implication of this installation.
Feedbacks can be taken through social media for increasing the frequency in the
leadership training programs. This would be one of the means for increasing the trafficking of
the audience towards the brand image of Tarmac. Articulation of the vision to the
stakeholders through transparent communication would be a planned action towards
enhancing the leadership skills, abilities and competencies of the staffs. Frynas and Mellahi

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(2015) proposes that consideration of the
Herzberg’s motivational theory would be
effective for catering to the need of enhancing the self-esteem of the employees. Post training
tests would upgrade the standards and quality of the staffs, which reflects the consideration of
Transformative leadership style.
Section 4: Critical Reflection
Since childhood, I possessed the dream of being engaged with projects aimed at social
work. Currently, I am working as a consultant in one of the firms under the International
Management Consultancy. Here, my duty is to provide solutions to the firms, which are
flexible for resolving the issues in the process of executing the operations in an efficient and
effective manner. Prior to this, I was employed in an organization as an IT manager, which
assisted me to resolve the issues of defective software and machines. However, the trainers
and supervisors played an active part in training me about the ways and means of providing
the consultancy services. I took part in the training programs on leadership, project
management and others, which altered my notions and perceptions on business, especially
management.
During the workshops on leadership and communication, I gained many skills.
Among these, I can cite the reference of the soft skills of gaining trust, developing people,
encouraging and empowering others, which is necessary for enhancing the stability in the
relationship. In this, I have learnt about the importance of strategy, which helps in the
achievement of positive outcomes. According to me, disclosing the information about ways
of communicating is also crucial for assessing its feasibility in terms of the identified and
specified goals.
Engaging into various kinds of experiments and activities has enhanced my thinking
process. In this context, I was instructed to develop realistic and achievable goals, which
helped me to execute the operations in an efficient and effective manner. Debates with the

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team mates helped me to evaluate my strengths, weakness, opportunities and threats.
Although there were difference of opinions at many aspects, negotiation means were adopted
for reducing the conflicts. This assessment acted assistance for me to set routines for me in
terms of reducing the time taken for conducting the tasks. This seemed to be an exciting
activity for me, as I emerged successful in completing the tasks in lesser times.
After evaluation, I came to the conclusion, that I lack self-confidence, which indicates
that I need to indulge in more challenging and enduring tasks. Therefore, I asked the trainers
and supervisors to assign me tasks from other domains. In the initial stages, I failed to work
according to the expectations. However, actions plans and routines helped me to alter my
perceptions towards approaching the tasks and projects.

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References
Aguinis, H., Edwards, J.R. and Bradley, K.J., 2017. Improving our understanding of
moderation and mediation in strategic management research. Organizational Research
Methods, 20(4), pp.665-685.
Ansoff, H.I., Kipley, D., Lewis, A.O., Helm-Stevens, R. and Ansoff, R., 2018. Implanting
strategic management. Springer.
Engert, S., Rauter, R. and Baumgartner, R.J., 2016. Exploring the integration of corporate
sustainability into strategic management: a literature review. Journal of cleaner production,
112, pp.2833-2850.
Frynas, J.G. and Mellahi, K., 2015. Global strategic management. Oxford University Press,
USA.
Lasserre, P., 2017. Global strategic management. Macmillan International Higher Education.
Morden, T., 2016. Principles of strategic management. Routledge.
Morschett, D., Schramm-Klein, H. and Zentes, J., 2015. Strategic international management
(pp. 978-3658078836). Springer.
Noe, R.A., Hollenbeck, J.R., Gerhart, B. and Wright, P.M., 2017. Human resource
management: Gaining a competitive advantage. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Education.
Tarmac.com 2019. About us. Available at: https://www.tarmac.com/ [Accessed on 12th Aug
2019]