Challenges in the Global Business Environment Assignment - 2

Challenges in the Global Business Environment - Assignment Example In few countries, for example in United States the unethical practice is offering bribery to officials and this is considered as highly unacceptable (Bruner et al, 2003). This paper will focus on the challenges faced by the Coca-Cola Company and how the company has eliminated it by using the code of ethical conduct and appropriate strategies. The US beverage business is a multifaceted and global combination of various businesses which supply a large amount of energy drinks that is consumed by world population. It includes local, regional and international regulations for the production and sale of soft drinks and other energy drinks, including their quality and safety, advertising and marketing, and business lobbying activities. The US beverage business comprises of soft drinks, sport drinks, juice drinks and energy drinks. The target group is young adults, teenagers and people between the ages of 18-34 years. The company chosen is Coca-Cola which was formed by Dr. John Stith Pemberton and today it is considered as the number one beverage corporation in the entire world. It is the most renowned brand in the world with almost 500 brands and above than 1.6 billion (bn) products are sold to consumers each day in further than 190 countries. It offers variety of nonalcoholic beverages such as light and diet soft drinks, juice drinks, waters, coffees, teas, and sports and energy drinks. To maintain sustainable growth, it was the first company in the US to go global (Lussier, 2011). Other than diet coke and coca-cola, it also sells other commercial brands such as Minute Maid, Dasani water and PowerAde (Ferrell et al, 2009). The key issues which are critical for success of the Coca-Cola Company are: to capture the sustainable expansion with exact focus on rising global markets in country such as Russia, India, Brazil, and China; to execute innovation enabled approaches; and creating

Studying and analyzing how General Electric applied Quality Management Research Paper

Studying and analyzing how General Electric applied Quality Management (QM) - Research Paper Example Quality improvement embraces the notion that there should be a relentless, continual pursuit of excellence so as to eliminate sources of waste, inefficiencies, rework, or errors (Kuballa 2006, p.6). The core values of quality improvement encompass customer focus, systems review, data driven focus, involvement of all stakeholders, continual improvement, and process optimization (Cheng 2008, p.182). Quality management subscribes to principles such as customer focus, leadership, process approach, involvement of the people, continual improvement, fact based approach to decision making, and mutually beneficial stakeholder relationships (Hill and Jones 2010, p.5). The paper explores the influence of quality improvement and performance in organizations and to investigate the link between quality improvement practices and organizational performance. Quality Gurus Edwards Deming Deming is renowned for developing a system of statistical quality control. Deming asserted that most of the problem s that confront management are systematic. His philosophy centers on advocating that quality must be incorporated into the product at all stages so as to attain a high level of excellence. Deming argued that enhanced quality results to increased productivity, which in turn, enhances lasting competitive strength. Deming incorporated what he called as the â€Å"Deming Chain reaction† and outlined fourteen points of the system at diverse levels. As quality is enhanced, costs reduce, while productivity increases resulting to enhanced market share and long term corporate survival. Deming’s theories include theory of optimization, theory of variation, theory of knowledge, and theory of Psychology. Joseph Juran Juran defines quality as fitness for use encompassing aspects such as design, conformance, availability, safety, and field use. Juran incorporated managerial dimensions of planning, organizing, and controlling directed at attaining quality. Juran advocated ten steps di rected at quality improvement. Philip Crosby Crosby stresses motivation and planning as key components in improving the quality. However, he shied away from endorsing statistical process control and problem techniques that Deming and Juran advocated. Crosby proposed fourteen points critical to effective, quality practices that companies can adopt. Crosby asserted that quality is free since the minimal cost of prevention is comparatively lower compared to cost of detection, correction and failure. Armand Feigenbaum Armand Feigenbaum incorporated a Total Quality Control approach in which he defined as an effective system essential to integrating the quality development, maintenance, and improvement efforts of diverse groups in organizations geared towards enabling the production and service within economical levels. This facilitates customer satisfaction. Kaoru Ishikawa Japanese companies structured their own approach to TQM by Ishikawa, which was based on the literature of Deming and Juran. The new approach to quality was fashioned to suit their culture and operating environment together with