Toyota Company Strategic Planning

Toyota Company Strategic Planning TOYOTA COMPANY 1.0 Companys Description Toyota Motor Corporation is engaged in manufacture of passenger cars and their assembly, minivans, recreational and sport vehicles worldwide. Toyota has a network of more than 45 manufacturing companies and 12 plants affiliated in Japan. Toyota is working on its strategic global vision program of 2010. This program describes the long term Toyotas policies like recycling of goods and pro-environmental stance. Toyota has its global vision to respect the different people and communities and providing the new marketing opportunities in Asian markets and aims to get more than 35% of vehicle by the tapping the emerging markets. In automobile industry the need of the local customization and global strategy required the regional production. After 1990 Toyota has become first organized car manufacturer. The main targeted markets of Toyota industry are the Europe, North America and Asia with capability to customize the regional markets. Toyota has reacted very quickly and bypassed the regional and trade barriers; based upon the local suppliers to impact the cost efficiencies. 2.0 Strengths of Toyota Toyota possesses much strength due to its quality products and reputation. Prices of the Toyotas products are not affordable as the automakers in America, however Toyota has continued to succeed because customer rely and depend on its products. Toyota has been number one in sale of cars in 2007 and also 2008 better. Toyota has two different significant opportunities. Toyota has a step ahead of its competitors due to its hybrid products; as eco-friendly consumers demand the new brands. Toyota has scope to develop and design the technology for the advance models. Other opportunity lies in untapped market of youth; Scion has brought an inspiring revolution. The Marketing, product design and credit assistance are other hallmarks of Toyota which will prove to be great opportunities in future. Globally Toyota has several regions for its business and purchasing power of large Chinas population has been recognized. This has created a place for the Toyota to set up its headquarters in China. The purchase of Toyotas full size truck is increased in South America due to strengthen of its economy. In Middle East the demand of full size Toyotas SUVs is increased. This has resulted in the acknowledgement of opportunities of Toyota. Toyota has acted according to the streamlines of its export system. 2.1 Global Strategy Toyota is ranked among five best companies of automobile industry with total 500 companies. Toyota has made success in global strategies. It has a clear agenda to distribute the channels, production, marketing and supply chain aspects. Toyotas best production system and continuous improvements are the essential pieces of its global strategy. Concept of Kaizen (continuous improvement) has empowered the company to think about the new strategies and methods no matter in any area of the company. TPS (Toyota Production System) makes a link between the global automaker to manage the supply chain system, inventory management, production capabilities and planning methods. This TPS has empowered the Toyota to dominate the global automobile industry. Actually the Toyota is based in Japan but it has established itself throughout the world. No doubt the Toyota is most well known automobile brand of the world. Toyotas market is based upon the mission: Stable long-term growth, while striving for h armony with people, society and the environment (Toyota Motor Corporation Home Page). Toyota is providing thousands of jobs in America. Cultural, economic and social issues have allowed the Toyota to move beyond the brand equity and shaped an international marketing place for Toyota and achieved the success as a global corporation. 3.0 Rivalry of Toyota When Nissan and Toyota entered in American market the cost advantage for Toyota increased over the American companies. The market share of Toyota in Japan was higher which forced the Nissan to cut the costs of their best cars. Both Nissan and Toyota made rapid increase in shares in Japan. Toyota also impacted the car companies of America. Detroit made efforts to manufacture the small cars but could stay before the products of Toyota Company. Other rival companies included the Ford, General Motors and Volkswagen. It is best know that cars of Americas companies are cheaper in price but not reliable as compared to products of Toyota. Before Toyota the Volkswagen was main dominant company in USA market. Volkswagen being the best foreign car supplier company had shared 60% in USA market. For example Volkswagen Beetle was the best car in America before the Toyota introduced its Toyota Corolla in 1975. Volkswagens cars have the vibration problems but Toyota possessed the powerful cars witho ut vibration problems. The yen currency also played an important role to sell the Toyota more cars than Volkswagen. Japans yen was weaker as compared to German mark which made the Japans currency and goods cheaper for the purchasers in America. 3.1 Bargaining Power: Toyota has facilitated the Buyers and supplier of Toyotas cars as rental car companies liked to buy large number of cars which did not affect the overall prices of cars. When raw material for cars (steel, fiberglass and plastic) is lowered due in price there are many supplier and bargaining power of supplier is neglible. The sale of Prius exceeded when overseas units were added to it. The launch situation of Pirus in America and Europe market occurred in a same as in Japan. Local municipalities and people who love to use the new technologies always purchase the Toyota cars. 3.2 Competitor Analysis Toyota operates in car bodies and motor vehicle center. This analysis is done by comparing the Toyota Motors with other three main companies as shown below 3.2.1 Honda Motors: The sale of the Honda Motors during the year 2010 was noted to be 101.92 $ with 76% Automobile business. 3.2.2 Nissan Motors: The sale of the Nissan Motors cars was $ 89.31 billion during the year 2010 with automobiles 93%. 3.2.3 Motors Liquidation Company: This Company is based in USA and its sale during the year 2008 was noted as $148.98 billion with 99% automotive products. 3.2.4 Toyota Motors: The sale of the Toyota motors was $225.14 billion which decreased to 7.7% versus 2009, when companys sale exceeded to 2010 years sale. Consumers of Toyota cars prefer to purchase the Toyotas cars because these are reliable motor cars. During the 2008 survey Toyota and Lexus model won the 11 segment awards out of total 19 (Toyotas Home Page). This show the commitment of Toyota to its quality products; which also shows that quality of the Toyota Products is the same wherever they are manufactured. It can be said that these products are manufactured by the Toyota. 4.0 Current Attractiveness of Toyota 4.1 Relations with suppliers Toyota has established good relations with its suppliers to build a harmonious and mutual society. As the business of Toyota has been expanded on a global scale the Toyota is stressing more on close relationships to achieve the customers satisfaction. Toyota does respect of its suppliers throughout the world to promote the development and mutual growth. Toyota believes in CSR activities and issued a guideline for the suppliers in 2009. Toyota is focusing to make joint manufacturing activities with suppliers to improve the working practices. To promote the sale of cars in next five years on the basic principle of Customer first, dealer second, third manufacture Toyota is acting on the policy to benefit their dealers. Toyota has more than 170 distributers and 8000 dealers located in overseas countries. In this way Toyota engages its partners in many ways. 4.2 Acceptable car building by Toyota When Prius the first hybrid car was produced with new technology, it was expected to sale this car in various countries. Prius was welcomed at different locations which proved its popularity but usage conditions like culture, regulations and traffic situations were required to do more for the acceptance of Prius a global brand of Toyota. The potential problems and deep understanding of advantages was needed to be focused upon in two next years. 4.3 Innovative Cars A hybrid system enabled the Toyota to produce the large medium and minivans for their customers. All designers of Toyota dreamed to build an innovative car which offered more enjoyment during driving and riding with low fuel consumption. Estima Hybrid is a example of such cars. Manufacturing of such cars was started before the Prius with great technical issues but Toyota was successful to introduce this kind of cars. As mentioned above Toyota wanted to expand its Hybrid system to evolve the automobile industry in next 5 years of 21st century. Company wants to produce more than 300,000 units per year in next few years. Toyota Company wants improvement in its Environmental Action Plan 2011 in six key areas: Change in Climate and Energy, Air Quality, substances, recycling and resource utilization, Environmental management and Societal Cooperation. Company wants to reduce the Carbon dioxide emission to ensure that environment is kept clean by adopting and observing all economy fuels values. 5.0 Companys Strategies There are main four marketing mix components which are shaped in a way to fight the firms in market and provide the easy access to companys products and services. 5.1 Product Strategy The company is focusing on strategies to compete the other firms by adopting a mass production program to sell its product in global market. A hybrid product can enhance its production to meet the demands of changing market. 5.2 Location Strategy Toyota is a global producer of automobiles and their components, Toyota has positioned itself at the most central locations where it has clear and very optimistic control over the companys products and their delivery to customers. In next three years Toyota Company aims to achieve the 35% of market share. 5.3 Promotion Strategy Toyota Company is determinant towards pricing mechanism which can give it an edge over its competitors. Company can get highest level in automobile industry by using the best pricing method to get the hold of market. 5.4 Pricing Strategy Toyota Company is producing new vehicles of best quality which can be purchased at a reasonable price. The new pricing strategy is aimed to attract more customers throughout the world. 5.5 Target Market Strategies Each unit of Toyota is designed in a way to attract the targeted markets. The design of the vehicle cars is based on their speed, external appearance like color and shape. There are two seat model cars with high speed, small in size designed for the adventurous young people. Young people like to make drives on smooth tarmac roads, rough and rugged terrains (Thomas, 2001). People in America have made complaints about the Toyotas products in design and flair as compared to GM and Ford. Launch of V8 pick up resulted in response to this ambitious and a big volume of sale is in progress. Overall Toyota is giving hard time to its competitors as it experienced a recall and holding the leadership position in market. 5.6 Corporate Strategy Stability, growth and efficiency are the main components of the companys financial strategy. Company is optimistic towards the automotive market in producing the fuel-efficient, electro and segment vehicles in next coming years. Company is focusing to invest in the technologies for the sustainability and growth of advanced units to meet the customers needs. Adequate liquidity is the next step of Toyota Company to invite more investments to improve its technology for the next generation technology (Annual report of Toyota 2009). Automakers in USA are in struggle to improve their strategies and operations to match the Toyotas strategies and operations. US automakers have said that three dimensions of Toyotas business plan they seek to emulate. These three dimensions include the Toyotas Production System with manageable legacy costs, high quality vehicles and dealers network. Although the Toyota Production System (TPS) has encountered serious quality issues yet Toyota is dominating the American markets. Toyota is also replacing the GM products by giving the timely attentions to correct the issues with a best teamwork. Toyota has learn very painful lessons and concentrated on its TPS system with continuous improvement while other automakers have felt difficulty to implement these systems. Toyota has leant more about the US market and GM motors are also following to make the small cars like Toyota. GM could not continue to work at a joint venture with Toyota. 6.0 Potential Challenges for the Rivals of Toyota The new firms need a strategy development to face the challenges of rivalry from Toyota. This strategy consists of creation of new brands and exploiting the new resources with new aspiration and distinct from Toyota. Mercedes is in effort to tackle these issues to make A-class small vehicles. Porter (1980) has defined the strategic group where firms or groups follow the same dimensions with similar strategy. The concept of strategic group was well developed in the following years (McGee and Thomas 1986). The use of the Porters five forces is very useful to examine the forces which act on the automobile industry. New entrants in automobile industry face the issues of capital requirements, brands equity, legislation and ability to distribute their products. Another force which offers barriers for the new entrants are the bargaining powers of buyers and customers. Toyota is well established automobile with best brands it will be hard for the new firms to get the share of automobile mark et in a short time. Customers always buy the car of well known company and avoid purchasing the car of new entered company. Conclusions In this paper we have discussed the history of the Toyota Company with new development in car industry. Competitors of the Toyota are also given with data of their sales and compared it with Toyota Company. The sale of the Toyota recorded in the financial year 2009 was higher than the year 2010. Toyota Company is focusing upon the global strategy to attract the worlds most famous markets throughout the world and achieving more than 35% shares of car markets. Automakers in USA are try to match the Toyotas products by offering the best quality cars with reasonable prices. It is discussed that how the Toyota is providing best cars and services to its customers and suppliers by a strategic planning. Porters five forces are also included in this paper to analyze the impacts of these forces on automobile industry. We have learnt that Toyota is a leading the automobile industry due to its best strategic planning throughout the world.

A man without feeling :: essays research papers

A Man Without Feeling   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Is Hamlet capable of feeling? In Shakespeare’s Hamlet the author creates a world of appearance vs. reality. Part of this world is Hamlet who becomes perplexed by what he must do: which is to avenge his fathers’ death. However Hamlet is incapable of experiencing the feelings he should. Thus has to put on an act for everyone around him to appear normal. Another endeavor Hamlet has to deal with is his relationship with Ophelia. He chooses to disregard the relationship by pretending that there is no basis for it and that it was based on false pretences. He is forced to act this way because he has no other choice. Hamlet cannot experience any true emotions and so he does not know what he truly feels towards Ophelia. In the end Hamlet has to make the ultimate sacrifice to maintain his appearance as a good and noble prince- his life. He avenges his father’s death and returns everything to how it once was. However Hamlet does not do this because he kn ows it is what should be done or because he truly feels compelled to do it by his passion or his reason, but because it is what would be expected and what others would do. Hamlet cannot feel and therefore has to put on an act during the entire play.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A predominant theme in this play is how appearance contrasts with reality. Where reality represents the truth an true emotions and appearance has the connotation of deception and false emotions or a lack there of. All of the characters put on an appearance except those who have nothing to hide, in this case everyone except Horatio and Fortinbrass. Now Hamlet admits that he is putting on an act during the play, and in numerous scenes his deception of those around him can clearly be noted. Yet if Hamlet is suppose to represent a hero why does he put on an act, since he should have nothing to hide? He does this for the simple reason that he does not know what he should do based purely on what he feels, since he feels nothing. The way he acts is navigated by those who Hamlet views as noble leaders, Fortinbras, Alexander the Great, Caesar and of coarse his father. â€Å"I find thy apt;/ And duller shouldst be than the fat weed/ That roots itself in ease on Lethe wharf ,/ Wouldst thou not stir in this.

How Politics is Played Told by One Who Knows the Game Essay

Good politicians get to know a lot of politicians. Lyndon Johnson would take four showers a day and brush his teeth over and over again so he would be in the same room with a bunch of politicians and he could talk to them briefly and make good connections. Lyndon Johnson also hired a man who would later turn corrupt named â€Å"Bobby† Baker who answered phones for the White House cloak room (a cloak room is like the break room for politicians.) With Bobby Baker, Johnson was able to know the inner workings of politics. Ronald Reagan also worked very hard to have good relationships in politics although he talked about Washington as if he’d never visited the place. Lyndon Johnson used a specific method to get to know important people called retail politic. In retail politics, a politician wins over one person at a time by learning about them specifically. Unlike LBJ and Reagan, Jimmy Carter lacked the charsima to win over people. Then Speaker of the House Tip O’Neill asked for seats to the inauguration ceremony, Carter offered him seats in the back of the hall; this incident hurt his support from the Speaker for many years. The author ends this chapter by explaining that he himself got to his position by networking with many important people. Good politicians get to know a lot of politicians. Lyndon Johnson would take four showers a day and brush his teeth over and over again so he would be in the same room with a bunch of politicians and he could talk to them briefly and make good connections. Lyndon Johnson also hired a man who would later turn corrupt named â€Å"Bobby† Baker who answered phones for the White House cloak room (a cloak room is like the break room for politicians.) With Bobby Baker, Johnson was able to know the inner workings of politics. Ronald Reagan also worked very hard to have good relationships in politics although he talked about Washington as if he’d never visited the place. Lyndon Johnson used a specific method to get to know important people called retail politic. In retail politics, a politician wins over one person at a time by learning about them specifically. Unlike LBJ and Reagan, Jimmy Carter lacked the charsima to win over people. Then Speaker of the House Tip O’Neill asked for seats to the inauguration ceremony, Carter offered him  seats in the back of the hall; this incident hurt his support from the Speaker for many years. The author ends this chapter by explaining that he himself got to his position by networking with many important people.

Professional ethical dilemma paper Essay

The dilemma I went through had something to do with integrity, friendship, and professionalism. I was in a quite major project with a classmate, let us call him JK, and my classmate was financially supportive of the project. I am not very close to JK, but we are nice to each other and he has beautiful insights. However, he refused or made excuses when it was his turn to get down to work. I feel that it was just plain laziness, but finds it hard to point it out to him straight out. Needless to say, I was doing all the work and he was just sharing on some expenses. For instance, he would buy the food when we have to work on the project and just sleep through most of the project while I do all the work. He felt that his financial contributions will suffice to be counted in the project, and it was hard to decide what steps to take because I want to remain a helpful and nice classmate while teaching him the value of hard work. Analysis   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Looking at the issue, there is really no difference of power between the people involved—me and JK. We were classmates, and so we are equals. Despite his repeated offers for financial contributions, I also cannot say that he is financially superior than me. The issue was the cooperation between the two of us to successfully complete the project. We were touching on each otherÅ› values because he was loosing his integrity, honesty, and sense of cooperation. When the teacher asks for updates, he pretends to be very cooperative when in reality he has not even written a single page for the project. The problem is that when I tell the teacher that he has not been cooperating he will fail the subject—the project is his last hope. Yet if I do not speak up he will get a grade he does not deserve, taking credits that actually belong to me. Outcomes   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   I decided to talk to JK about the problem. I told him that I do not need his money, and that what I need is his actual work as contribution to the project. I specified to him that I need pages to be done, edited, and proofread. I pointed out to him that I need ideas, insights, analyses, and that I need the extra hand for all that work. I ended by telling him that if he cannot do that, I can do the project all by myself and just tell the teacher that he is no longer part of the project.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Fearing that he will loose his last chance to pass the subject, he started cooperating. I gave him a copy of the whole work that we have done so far, and he promised to catch up. I realized it was hard for him, and that he is not a fan of writing either. I realized it was the reason why he diverted his contribution to giving money. Discovering this, I delegated him to writing the drafts and doing the research, while I typed, constructed paragraphs, edited, and proofread.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In the end, I saved myself from gaining an enemy—which is what me and JK will most likely end up if I told the teacher about him, and I also saved JK from failing the subject. I would say that I also saved the teacher from the extra work of minding JKÅ› attitude, and re-educating him. Going back to myself, I also became aware that nothing is impossible with communication. Sure, JK did not become the perfect partner after we talked. Yet, it became easier for me and him to work for the completion of the project. Post-Course Views   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Looking at the topics and lessons that the course have covered and taught me, I would say that given another situation similar to this professional ethical dilemma, I will still do the same action that I did. It was unethical that I did not tell the teacher, but I had other plans. I initiated to solve the problem, talked JK out of it, and we solved the problem and completed the project between ourselves. Yet if JK did not respond to the signals and warnings I sent, and it happened now, I will choose to speak to the teacher and push JK out of the project. It was the right thing—the ethical thing—to do as it keeps me honest with the teacher, myself, and JK. It also teaches him a valuable lesson about hard work.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Having learned professionalism, ethics, and other values at work, I would say that it is easier now to make ethical and morally right choices. Because I am older and wiser now, I know that it is no longer too hard for me to speak up and correct others’ mistakes.

Chicago Will Be Ours essays

Chicago Will Be Ours essays "Their home! Their home! They had lost it! Grief, despair, rage, overwhelmed him - what was any imagination of the thing to this heart-breaking, crush reality of it ... Only think what he had suffered for that house - what miseries they had all suffered for that house - the price they had paid for it!" "The Jungle", by Upton Sinclair, gives a heart-breaking portrayal of the hardships faced by the countless poverty stricken laborers in the slaughterhouses of Chicago. As in the quote above, a struggling family underwent months of back- breaking labor only to lose their house at the drop of a hat. It was a desperate and unmerciful time when an accidentally fractured ankle cost a man his job and his family food and shelter. In the early 1900's, strikes, riots, labor unions, and new political parties arose across the country. The Government, with its laissez-faire attitude, allowed business to consolidate into trusts, and with lack of competition, into powerful monopolies. These multi-mil lion dollar monopolies were able to exploit every opportunity to make greater fortunes regardless of human consequences. Sinclair illustrates the harsh conditions in Packingtown through a Lithuanian immigrant family and their struggles to survive. Ona, a young and frail woman, and Jurgis, a hardworking and strong man and the husband of Ona, come to America with some of their family to find work and to make a new and better life for themselves. With everyone finding employment right away, the family begins their lives in America with optimism, enthusiasm, and ignorance. Taking a huge risk, they purchase a small rickety house. Slowly, they awaken to the harsh realities of their surroundings. There's the mortgage to pay, interest on the mortgage, food, clothing, shoes, and coal that needs to be bought, but there just wasn't enough money to pay for it. Antanas, the father of Jurgis, and the women and children trudged out into the cold and h ...

Christmas Around The World Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Christmas Around The World - Essay Example Perhaps what makes the concept of Christmas universal to all people is its idea of sharing. Taking after the gesture of the three Wise Men in the nativity scene, gifts has become one of the pillars of the Christmas season. People, at this time of the year, delight in giving gifts, from the simplest such as Christmas card, to the most expensive. Today, according to Ace Collins, (2003) â€Å"shoppers spend more than $4 billion per Christmas shopping day, or about $2.8 million each minute, during the holiday season in the United States alone.† (101) Gifts are also attributed to Santa Claus or Father Christmas and Saint Nicholas in other cultures. His iconography evolved through the years and has become one that visits houses on Christmas Eve to deliver gifts to children and families who have been good. As mentioned beforehand, there are unique Christmas customs across countries, so it would take a very long list to chronicle each of them, hence, we would discuss them in generalities. For instance, the Far East such Japan, Korea and the countries with different religions have a more secular celebration giving emphasis to gifts, the Christmas tree and preparing Christmas dinner. However, in countries like Ethiopia, Guatemala and Mexico, the spiritual aspects predominate – midnight mass, Christmas carol, religious procession and other solemn ceremonies. Countries such as the United States with its multicultural population have varying degrees of religious and secular celebrations and activities. Unique traditions significantly mark specific country celebrations. For example, the Philippines celebrates the longest Christmas season, starting as early as October. Two basic Christmas meanings or purposes predominate around the world - the religious and the secular. On the one hand there is an emphasis on the birth of Jesus and its significance to the world while on the other there is an emphasis on the abundant feasting, frolicking and good cheer.

Improving Customer Service at Hotels Term Paper

Improving Customer Service at Hotels - Term Paper Example This research will begin with the statement that service delivery is the main issue which arises most often in case of the hotel industry. The persons responsible to deliver the state of the art service are either not efficient enough to do so or the service delivered is not effective enough. They sometimes lack the skill to generate client satisfaction. The clients often show dissatisfaction with the menu list or the price list charged against the dishes the hotels offer. Many hotels charge a much higher price for their breakfast for example in case the customer prefers to have an omelet then he or she will be charged double the price that is being charged on the street. Some other problems are related to crunch in parking space and the high rate charged for providing the internet connections. The customers who visit frequently to the hotels especially the business clients mainly face the problem of lack of outlets for charging of their phones and laptops since they do not find the place for charging their gazettes. When the hotel authorities fail to provide satisfactory services to the customers as per the terms and conditions that are agreed upon, they often claim for a refund and this is critical for the authorities. The hotel authority is also alleged for the false and misguiding information that is provided about the company in the website, magazines etc, the amenities and the price structure of the hotel is sometimes misleading since the price and the amenities that are provided in the advertisement is not offered in reality. Therefore the customers or the clients have to suffer while visiting the hotel on the basis of the advertisement that is published, the behavior of the employees or the staff in the hotel is not always up to the expectation. At times they behave very rudely with the clients and it hampers the goodwill, image, and reputation of the hotels. The hotels are required to focus on the quality of the service that is provided. They need to t ake urgent care in taking measurements to improve the quality of the services offered and the food that is provided by the hotel to its customers or the clients.