Strategic analysis of the case, fisher and paykel healthcare Research Paper

Strategic analysis of the case, fisher and paykel healthcare - Research Paper Example This paper is a strategic analysis of the case of Fisher and Paykel Healthcare. The paper begins with an introduction of the company, its products and the industry in which it operates. As the paper proceeds it unfolds the external environment analysis which examines political/legal, economic, socio-cultural, global and technological factors. The most promising findings of this scrutiny were that aging and obesity has fuelled demand for healthcare products in major economies of the world which has created growth prospects for FPH. The industry environment analysis unfolds that the industry is in the phase of growth and offers great market potential across global markets. But all the market attractiveness is accompanied with high cost of research and development, patents and licensing, and huge marketing and distribution expenses which creates implicit barriers for new entrants. The demand for healthcare has inflated in the past 2 decades with the growing awareness of health issues in US and other global markets, which will serve as a driver of investment in research and development and medical devices production. The internal and external analysis of the company reveals the FPH strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. This analysis bears implications for FPH, consequently it leads to a proposal of growth, price leadership and innovation led differentiation strategies which leverage the FPH core competencies and capabilities, for future market expansion and penetration for all its product categories. Introduction of Fisher & Paykel Healthcare The company was established in 1934 by Mr. Paykel in New Zealand. It started as an imported of electronics from USA. Later in 1977 a separate division was established to support the humidification business at F&P and finally by 2001 the company split up into two separate identities for electronics and healthcare business named as: Fisher & Paykel Appliances, FPA, and Fisher & Paykel Healthcare, FPH. FPH business deals in humidification systems, OSA products and technologies, and neo-natal care. The FPH is attributed to innovative developments in healthcare products. The company’s business intent revolves around patient value and comfort. FPH is looking forward to penetrate the market through a whole array of new products; non invasive ventilation, oxygen therapy, laparoscopic surgery, and humidity therapy. External Analysis: Industry The healthcare industry is characterised with two major segments one which deals with outpatient care through provision of healthcare equipment, it deals with the ultimate consumers/patients; and the other segments deals with technological innovations in those healthcare equipments. The FPH business and operations lie in the later segment; for innovation and development of healthcare technology. The industry is in the phase of growth and offers great market potential across global markets. But all the market attractiveness is accompanied with high cost of research and development, patents and licensing, and huge marketing and distribution expenses which creates implicit barriers for new entrants. The demand for healthcare has inflated in the past 2 decades with the growing awareness of health issues in US and other global markets, which will serve as a driver of investment in research and development and medical devices production. Macro Environment Analysis The macro environment analysis is the examination of FPH’s external factors that might influence and manipulate the eff ectiveness and efficacy capabilities of business operations (Balogun, 2001). These factors are external forces that lie beyond the scope of an organisation’s control, which are illustrated below: 1. Economic Factors: The economic conditions vary across the globe. These are influenced by the business activity

Descriptive questions Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Descriptive questions - Assignment Example Business Operations: Worldwide business operations are handled with the help of technology. IT has played a big role in managing backhand support; the LAN, WAN systems, and connectivity through websites is supported by IT teams in organizations. Management Information Systems (MIS), a system that is used by companies in order to manage their operations, deal with customers and store data is due to advancements in technology. The latest trends include storing the data on virtual cloud, and being able to retrieve and present with the help of DropBox, Skydrive etc., is a great development into IT industry (Slatman, 2013). Food Processes: In food industry, where technology has changed many ways of business operations, both input and output side. For input side, order procurement is an area where with the use of JIT (Just in Time) inventory systems, the storage costs are minimized. Moreover, with the use of bar codes, effective inventory management gives a change to businesses to analyse which items are slow movers and what are fast movers and how effective marketing must be used to create pull factors for such items. At processing stage, machines are being used to monitor the temperature, humidity and other factors. Use of automated machines is increased in order to increase efficiency and decrease the service time. McDonalds, a well-known food chain used a prototype of robots to handle the processes of fries and shakes (Pantelidis, 2009). Sociocultural Forces in IT: Information technology has largely impacted on sociocultural factors. With the use of internet and latest technologies, people share a set of different values: Cultural and Ethnic Identity: with regards to Information Technology, the previous cultural identity of people, that is they are recognized and affiliated with a particular cultural norms and values, seems to vanish. With increasingly virtual world, people seem to own and present their own individual identities. The trend is widespread in West, though the East is in process of adopting it and the pace is quick. With increasing number of internet users, mostly due to the growth in Asia and Middle East, the cultural identity is taking new shape. A mix of cultural and personal identities, the ethnic aspect is equally affected due to change in technology. It is evident in real world the size and pace of immigration taking place. However due to technology, in virtual world, the ethnic identity is obscured by factors such as individualism, personality, self-concept and the like. Question 2 (a) Direct Marketing, one of the oldest form of marketing has been used in different ways. Direct mail, email, promotional material in shape of broachers, leaflets, billboards as well as advertisement on TV are few forms where consumers are tried to inform, persuade and remind about the presence of a product or a service. Many a times it is surprising to see how purely website businesses use TV as a promotional media as opposed to online media (where the consumers are just a click away from website businesses). The presence of such strategy is an example that consumers are complex, hard to comprehend and many a times irrational. Therefore they must not be treated by simple forms of selling, rather with a well-thought strategy with

Foreign Exchange Market Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Foreign Exchange Market - Essay Example So the more dollar exchanged the greater the value of the peso has. The value of each currency is not really fixed; it may start with a bigger value at the beginning of the day and may decrease as the day ends. The market of foreign exchange however can be analyzed in terms of supply and demand. So as mentioned in the first paragraph, the more of that currency is supplied to a country, the lower its value. So for example, when someone buys a product of a different country in their locality doesn't really deal with foreign exchange. It's the person who bought the currency of that certain country to buy that product and sell that product to their locality. So if an American buys a Japanese doll, it's the person who is selling that doll in their locality that bought yen who dealt with foreign exchange market because he will be purchasing that doll in yen and not in their own currency. That's why the more investors in your country are, with that certain currency, the lower the value of their currency is in your own country. So what are the basics in foreign exchange market First is the forex trading or what we also call as currency trading is always done in pairs.

The Situation of a Company Hanson Private Limited Assignment

The Situation of a Company Hanson Private Limited - Assignment Example The biggest issue HPL faces are regarding the size of the investment. The company has never made such a large investment in a single project at one go. This would practically stall investments into all other projects in the pipeline for the medium term. Hence, the company is not in a position to afford any failure in this project. The retail partner is willing to agree to a 3-year contract only. However, with such a large investment, there is a risk of not getting the money back within 3 years. It is possible that the products fail or are rendered obsolete at the end of 3 years. The company faces a risk of the debt trap. Right now, HPL maintains a highly favorable debt position. For adding new capacity, there are constraints in raising money through equity and almost all the financing will have to be done through debt. This raises the risk exposure of the company enormously. Hanson manufactures private label products in the personal care space where the competition is very intense. A large number of branded and non-branded companies are vying for a limited shelf space. Hanson already covers 28% of the private label market in personal care space. Therefore, there is a limit to the scope of further acquiring the market share. The personal care market volumes have increased less than 1% in the past 4 years. The marginal growth (1.7%) has been largely driven by the price increases. However, one of the biggest USPs of private label products has been their low prices as compared to the branded ones.

Foreign Exchange Market Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Foreign Exchange Market - Essay Example So the more dollar exchanged the greater the value of the peso has. The value of each currency is not really fixed; it may start with a bigger value at the beginning of the day and may decrease as the day ends. The market of foreign exchange however can be analyzed in terms of supply and demand. So as mentioned in the first paragraph, the more of that currency is supplied to a country, the lower its value. So for example, when someone buys a product of a different country in their locality doesn't really deal with foreign exchange. It's the person who bought the currency of that certain country to buy that product and sell that product to their locality. So if an American buys a Japanese doll, it's the person who is selling that doll in their locality that bought yen who dealt with foreign exchange market because he will be purchasing that doll in yen and not in their own currency. That's why the more investors in your country are, with that certain currency, the lower the value of their currency is in your own country. So what are the basics in foreign exchange market First is the forex trading or what we also call as currency trading is always done in pairs.

Suspension Bridge Essay Example for Free

Suspension Bridge Essay What is meant by suspension bridge? A suspension bridge is a type of bridge in which the deck (the load-bearing portion) is hung below suspension cables on vertical suspenders. Outside Tibet and Bhutan, where the first examples of this type of bridge were built in the 15th century, this type of bridge dates from the early 19th century. Bridges without vertical suspenders have a long history in many mountainous parts of the world. Structure of suspension bridge – This type of bridge has cables suspended between towers, plus vertical suspender cables that carry the weight of the deck below, upon which traffic crosses. This arrangement allows the deck to be level or to arc upward for additional clearance. Like other suspension bridge types, this type often is constructed without false work. Can a suspension bridge be considered as a work on parabola? Yes, a suspension bridge can be called a work on parabola. As a suspension bridge is designed on parabola as the bridge is also in the â€Å"U† shaped figure as we can see it in our project. Parabola is a curved conical shaped open figure. Parabola can be defined in different ways. First, it is the graph of any quadratic function of the form y = ax2 + bx + c. Another way though, is to define it as the collection of all points that are equidistant from a line and a point not on the line. A parabola is a curve, much like a U shape. The most simple parabola is y = x^2. More info about parabola   and suspension bridge Some facts about parabola and suspension bridge:- The vertical line passing through the vertex is called the axis of symmetry. The eq. for the line is where D=0 Quadratic formula if ax2 + bx + c = 0 then x=-b ±b2-4ac2a Basic design of parabolic bridge:- Dutch scientist Christian Huygens believed that two cables running between two towers could support weight that was much greater than its own weight. The cables suspended between the two towers naturally took the shape of a parabola. The parabolic shape of the cable is created not only by gravity but also by the compression and tension forces acting on the bridge. Todays scientists believe that this is the most efficient design because it requires the least amount of materials to support a heavy load. The modern suspension bridge is composed of a deck, supports, foundations, long wire cables and hangers. Latest Research on Suspension Bridges:- Research on structural topology optimization on a suspension bridges parabolic cable has shown that it is possible to increase its capacity to withstand compressive forces. In order to help stabilize suspension bridges, truss systems are used. The truss system helps the deck resist bending, twisting and swaying. DO you KNOW: The longest suspension bridge in the world (as of 2010) is the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge in Kobe, Japan. It opened in 1998 and spans an incredible 1991 meters (6529 feet) Suspension Bridges Design technology Suspension bridges in their simplest form were originally made from rope and wood. Modern suspension bridges use a box section roadway supported by high tensile strength cables. In the early nineteenth century, suspension bridges used iron chains for cables. The high tensile cables used in most modern suspension bridges were introduced in the late nineteenth century. Today, the cables are made of thousands of individual steel wires bound tightly together. Steel, which is very strong under tension, is an ideal material for cables; a single steel wire, only 0.1 inch thick, can support over half a ton without breaking. Light, and strong, suspension bridges can span distances from 2,000 to 7,000 feet far longer than any other kind of bridge. They are ideal for covering busy waterways. With any bridge project the choice of materials and form usually comes down to cost. Suspension bridges tend to be the most expensive to build. A suspension bridge suspends the roadway from huge main cables, which extend from one end of the bridge to the other. These cables rest on top of high towers and have to be securely anchored into the bank at either end of the bridge. The towers enable the main cables to be draped over long distances. Most of the weight or load of the bridge is transferred by the cables to the anchorage systems. These are imbedded in either solid rock or huge concrete blocks. Inside the anchorages, the cables are spread over a large area to evenly distribute the load and to prevent the cables from breaking free. Suspension bridge: construction that allows automobiles to travel between two points separated by an obstacle. Side span: segment between two pylons at the ends of a bridge. Centre span: segment between two pylons at the centre of a bridge. Side pylon: tower-like vertical construction situated at the side, usually supporting the cables of a suspension bridge or a cable-stayed bridge. Foundation of a pylon: very durable lower part of a tower. Suspender: support cable. Suspension cable: set of braided wire that supports a bridge. Pylon: tower-like vertical support that usually supports the cables of a suspension bridge or a cable-stayed bridge. Stiffening girder: tightener beam

Hazardous And Industrial Waste Disposal Issues Environmental Sciences Essay

Hazardous And Industrial Waste Disposal Issues Environmental Sciences Essay The handling of the hazardous materials is complicated by the increasing magnitude of waste generated each year, the variety of materials that become refuse, the vast array of chemicals that may eventually leak from containers and burial sites; the difficulty of monitoring landfill sites for leachates, the difficulty of adequately sequestering waste to inhibit leaching, the variability of soils and their sorption capacities for leachates, the variability of soil permeability, and the cost of safe disposal versus that of assessing real or imaginary risk (Chian, E.S.K., and DeWalle, F. B., 2001). Due to these complexities, the removal of the hazard from hazardous wastes requires a systems approach (Brunner, D. R., and Carnes, R. A., 2004). For example, the least cost of an activated sludge and carbon adsorption system is a function of both processes operating simultaneously. The optimal design range for the least-cost system could not be ascertained by assessing the performance of the two processes independently. Background of the Study An important consideration over the next several years will be the impact of the toxic effluent limitations which should be discussed in the Philippine Government. A rational approach to defining toxic and hazardous wastes is to view a biological entity in equilibrium with its environment and attempt to quantify those insults on the biological entity that causes a disequilibrium or negative response. In the study of hazardous substances, two parameters of importance are dose and time (Atkins, P. R., 1998). An important point to note about the tests for acute and chronic toxicity is that, although the tests might isolate the relative toxicity of a substance, they are virtually useless for predicting levels at which no toxic effects will occur. The decision to incinerate depends on the type of hazardous solid waste, moisture content, organic fraction, heat content, economics, and the availability of land (Fennelly, P. F., et al., 1999). Whenever feasible, incineration should be considered. This process significantly reduces the volume, generally will also detoxify the waste, and gives a product amenable to compaction and containerization resulting in enhanced ease of handling. Incineration processes include the stationary hearth incinerator, the multiple hearth furnaces, the rotary kiln, the fluidized bed reactor, and the open pit incinerator. Each type of incinerator operates properly only within a limited range of temperatures. Generally speaking, for efficient operation, the materials burned must have a fairly uniform BTU value. This may require the blending and mixing of wastes to be burned and the addition of auxiliary fuel. Capital costs for incinerators are high, particularly for the smaller units. In some cases, com plete elimination of the hazardous agent may be obtained through incineration. The result is that potentially toxic and hazardous substances can be identified, but criteria for safe exposure are lacking; therefore, these wastes have a special stigma imposed on them because of the possibility of unknown effects (Farb, D., 2007). This psychological stigma can often impede rational implementation of treatment and ultimate disposal schemes for these toxic and hazardous wastes. No matter what treatment or ultimate disposal scheme is selected, man-made residuals will eventually reside in the atmosphere, lithosphere, or hydrosphere. Objective of the study An understanding of the reactions and forces controlling the movement of a pollutant in the environment is essential if effective treatment and ultimate disposal of toxic and hazardous wastes is to be attained. For example, decisions involving chemical waste disposal will be based on knowledge of chemical form, persistence, acute or chronic toxicity, genetic effect, flammability and reactivity. Hypothesis (Null Hypothesis) There is no environmental effect from hazardous and industrial wastes. Significance of the study A study of the natural environmental forces and reactions which maintain equilibrium of systems illustrates quite well the basic principles of handling toxic and hazardous substances by transforming them into less harmful substances or isolating them in a repository such that release into the dynamic parts of the environment occurs at such a low rate that toxic effects are not realized. Literature Review The greatest fallacy with the environmental crisis and residuals disposal is that acceptable environment can be obtained by reducing or even abolishing our dependence on technology or by neglecting cost considerations. The fact is that residual wastes and their ultimate disposal will require technological solutions-and many of them. Finally the cost to support waste treatment, recycle, reuse, collection and disposal must be borne by the consumer in the form of higher prices and by the taxpayer in the form of higher taxes. The handling and disposal of toxic and hazardous wastes is a multipronged problem that involves: (a) separation and waste partitioning, including process control through technological improvement, waste stream separation, and recycling; (b) inplant waste treatment, including chemical, physical, and biological treatment; (c) in-plant waste disposal, involving recycling, containerization, and incineration; (d) volume reduction through drying, incineration, and compaction of end-of-pipe residuals; (e) translocation involving storage, containment, and transportation; and (f) ultimate disposal considering isolation through minimization of water movement, and maximization of passive barriers through which migration of hazardous materials might take place. Separation and waste partitioning have the distinct advantage of reducing the volume of solid wastes to be handled. Process control entails separating the hazardous agents at the source. The initiation of control on the toxic wastes at this point is the most cost effective with respect to minimizing the volume and segregating the hazardous wastes. Chemical treatment schemes involving techniques based on chemical precipitation, oxidation, photochemical degradation, and pH adjustment can be employed to isolate or detoxify certain hazardous agents. Toxic heavy metals such as lead and cadmium can be isolated by hydroxide precipitation (Rouse, J. V., 2004). In liquid waste streams, numerous physical treatment schemes are possible for separation and partitioning of the hazardous agents. The bulk form of the solid wastes limits the implementation of most physical treatment techniques. Biodegradation of hazardous substances such as certain hydrocarbons, pesticides, and heavy metals (cyanide, for example), has been the subject of a number of studies. Soils, particularly the surface horizon to a depth of 1-3 ft (0.3-0.9 m), contain large numbers and varieties of aerobic, facultative, and obligate anaerobic organisms which singly or together can provide an effective biological detoxification of certain hazardous agents. Two techniques are usually employed to achieve this component of the multiple barrier concepts. These are containment and encasement. Encasement is usually combined with one or more storage methods. The burial site itself, with proper use of clays or other liner materials, can become a container. This aspect of the multiple barrier concepts is more effective in reducing water movement than maintenance of physical integrity. A method of improving the passive barrier is encasement. The use of concrete as an encasement material is widespread. More recently, an interest in developing technology for encasement in plastics and vitreous materials has been expressed. Various encasement materials include: polyethylene, asphalt, lime/fly ash, portland cement, plaster of Paris, metal silicate, bentonite, and vermiculite. Data Treatment and statistical Tools The study is a quantitative study that will focus on data that presents environmental effects of hazardous and industrial waste. They will get the data from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources from year 1988-2008, to uphold consistency and prevent bias. The researcher will be using T-test to be able to test the significance of the variables. Summary and Conclusion Ultimately, residuals must be returned to air, land, or the oceans. The cost of disposal will be borne by the consumer, because residual wastes are generated when natural resources are processed for mans benefit. There is a large and growing body of technical literature on waste management. Hazardous agents can be removed from wastes, although under some circumstances it is more economical to modify the manufacturing process rather than modify sections of the treatment train. Recommendations The removal of hazardous agents is not simply a process that occurs at any one step in a well engineered system. The materials and design of the disposal site itself afford mechanisms for detoxifying and rendering innocuous the hazardous agents in the waste. Through the use of properly engineered treatment systems and passive but multiple barriers between residuals and the biosphere, it is possible to reduce the transport of potential pollutants to environmentally acceptable levels.