The Great Lakes Company

Perform an analysis of the social/Demographic, Technological, Economic, Environmental/Geographic, and Political/Legal/Governmental segments to understand the general environment facing Great Lakes. Describe how Great Lakes will be affected by each of these external factors There were alarming statistics about leaded gasoline. It was said to have a lot of effects on people and society as a whole. This is as far as their health is concerned. For instance, it caused blood pressure and other health risks to adults and on the other hand, affected their body systems.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on The Great Lakes Company specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Children were also greatly affected. This can be explained from the fact that they absorb large amounts of ingested lead in their bodies. Also, children in developing countries ended up having low intelligence. In other countries like Egypt, it caused a lot of heart a ttacks and in extreme cases premature deaths. As a result of this, there was a lot of international attention and pressure. Many experts started advocating for lead to be phased and in the process reduce lead poisoning. On the other hand, it was also meant to reduce human exposure to lead. This will force the company to devise better ways of involving all stakeholders to come up with a long term solution. On the other hand, the company will continually be blamed for any health complications. Technologically, many cars in developing countries are still using leaded gasoline. This means that they have not embraced technology well to come up with better ways of eliminating lead as an additive. As much as this is being advocated for, the demand for leaded gasoline is still high. Also, Great Lakes did not anticipate that it will have to deal with this issue in any way because of such complexities. This can be explained from the fact that other developing countries don’t have refin eries to produce unleaded gas. On the other hand, most cars don’t have catalytic converters. Leaded gasoline has been said to have a lot of environmental effects. For instance, it has adverse effects on the quality of air. It is extremely harmful. Lead particles are inhaled in air and absorbed by the soil. As a result, environmental groups have been putting pressure on the company to stop selling leaded gasoline.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Most of these environmentalists have been arguing that the company should ban TEL by 2010. This seems to be unrealistic because developing countries can’t refine unleaded gas. On the other hand, it has forced the company to commit itself to a lot of environmental responsibilities. There is a suggestion that the company should use profits from Octel to transit away from TEL. The company admits that although lead additive is its greatest money maker, it is still harmful to the environment. This has forced Great Lakes to agree that the eventual elimination of leaded gas line is necessary. Should the company stop the production of leaded gasoline, many countries will be affected. This is because most of them have not made a transition from the use of leaded gasoline to unleaded gasoline. Most governments lack regulation on the way forward as far as leaded gasoline is concerned. This can be explained from the fact that many developing nations have not been able to eliminate lead as an additive. Any positive developments in the elimination of lead as an additive have been overshadowed by lead problems in most developing nations. This has put the company in a tricky position as they are not certain on the way forward. Demand for leaded gasoline is still high, and the company can not just discontinue production without a clear path to follow. Analyze the lead additives industry in the US using the five fo rces of competition model. Describe the impact of each of the five forces on the industry and based on this analysis, determine if the industry is attractive or unattractive The external environment is very tricky and unpredictable in that case. This is because the lead additives industry is being blamed for many environmental problems. Environmentalists want it banned by 2010.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on The Great Lakes Company specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The industry environment, on the other hand, is very flexible as many companies are reinventing themselves to produce less harmful products. There is no competition in the industry as most of them have switched to other products. This industry is attractive because there is a lot of demand from developing countries (Hitt et al., 2010, 8). This industry is attractive based on good returns that Great Lakes’ has continued to get. It will continue being attractive because of the high demand for lead additives from developing countries. These nations don’t have the necessary refineries to refine leaded gasoline. This is a very lucrative industry in the short run as later on people will move to unleaded gasoline. For a company to survive in this industry, it needs a good strategy. This means that more attention should be paid on environmental issues and in the long run transit to unleaded gasoline as technology is moving in that direction. The lead additives industry has the necessary assets and skills to transit and engages in more environmentally conscious activities. For instance, it is argued that it will be less costly for Great Lakes to transit from producing leaded additives. The industry has the necessary resources to attract the best skills that will help it to come up with the best way forward.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Strategy implementation will not be a problem because there is a general good will to help the industry move forward (Hitt et al., 2010, 13). This means that all stakeholders will have to be involved in proper strategy implementation. On the other hand, governments are committed to ensuring that they enhance the use of unleaded gasoline. As long as developing countries don’t find a better solution to enhance their refineries, the lead additives industry will still register high returns. This is because most vehicles in those countries are still using leaded gasoline. Describe who Great Lakes’ immediate, impeding and invisible competitors are and how Great Lakes measures up against these competitors Ethyl Corporation (which bought Dow chemical) is Great Lakes immediate competitor. In the early stages, the company was able to maintain its top presence in the business. Great Lakes’ has continued to develop and produce a variety of specialty products for the market. The National lead company is also another competitor. Although there is a lot of demand for leaded gasoline in developing countries, the company does not have any impending and invisible competitors. This is because its major competitors are no longer involved in the production of tetraethyl lead (TEL). Tetraethyl lead is the additive for gasoline. The company has continued to flourish in all scenarios thereby controlling 90% of the market. This market has not attracted a lot of competitors because of numerous environmental issues. Such trends are expected to continue because of large capital costs. This is in terms of building new plants and a lot of unsavory publicity. The company faces competition from other chemical producers. To remain more competitive, it has continued to develop and produce a variety of chemicals for sustainability. Describe the main capabilities of Great Lakes The company can continue supplying lead additives to other developing countries. This is for the f oreseeable future as demand is expected to remain high. Also, competition is expected to be minimal. On the other hand, the company has the capabilities to increase its profits in the long run. This is because developing countries will only switch to unleaded gasoline when it’s economically feasible for them to do so. Great Lakes’ is still in a better position to ensure that it adheres to good environmental practices. This is because environmental concerns have continued to be raised against the company thereby affecting its operations in a broad way. A lot of responsibilities have been put on the company to bring about these environmental changes. The company can still get out of lead additives production and rescue its reputation. In this case, it will be able to take a big financial hit. On the other hand, the company can phase out its participation in the market place. This can be done with a five-year deadline. Also, it is also in a good position to push developin g countries to switch to unleaded gasoline. Reference List Hitt, M., Ireland, D., Hoskisson, R. (2010). Strategic Management: Concepts and Cases: Competitiveness and Globalization. USA: South Western Educational Publishing. This report on The Great Lakes Company was written and submitted by user Hudson Mejia to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Free Essays on Go Down, Moses

In the story â€Å"Go Down, Moses† by William Faulkner, many situations come about. The story takes place when sharecroppers were around. Many of the blacks and whites worked hand in hand with each other and there was no apparent sign of racism. One situation that arises was wether or not Gavin Stevens should help Mollie Beauchamp get what she wants. Gavin Stevens, the attorney, at first didn’t want to help Mollie Beauchamp get what she wanted because she has been through so much in her life. He figured that the death of Samuel would result on her behave. Having her not worry about what Samuel would do next is one of the main reasons why Gavin Stevens didn’t want to help at first. After a while of thinking, Gavin then decided that helping her get what she wanted would be the right thing to do. He decided that she needs closure to this event and was willing to help her through it. Mrs. Worsham helped Stevens make the decision on wether to help Mollie Beauchamp or not.. She grew up with Mollie on the plantation, so they grew up acting like sisters. She didn’t want to see Mollie go through so much pain that she helped convince Stevens of his decision. When she convinces him, it’s the first time in the story where Stevens starts to take responsibility. Another situation was how Mollie Beauchamp viewed Roth Edmonds actions towards her child. Mollie Beauchamp viewed Roth Edmands ordering her grandson off the plantation as being rude. She thought as Roth as being the pharaoh. Having all power. She figured, Since he was the owner of the plantation, that he had sold him into slavery. â€Å" â€Å"It was Roth Edmonds sold him† she said. â€Å"Sold him in Egypt. I don’t know whar he is. I just knows Pharaoh got him. And you the law. I wants to find my boy.†Ã¢â‚¬Å" This direct quote from the story shows how upset Mollie is at Roth Edmonds for taking her boy off the plantation. Mollie confuses this event from tha... Free Essays on Go Down, Moses Free Essays on Go Down, Moses In the story â€Å"Go Down, Moses† by William Faulkner, many situations come about. The story takes place when sharecroppers were around. Many of the blacks and whites worked hand in hand with each other and there was no apparent sign of racism. One situation that arises was wether or not Gavin Stevens should help Mollie Beauchamp get what she wants. Gavin Stevens, the attorney, at first didn’t want to help Mollie Beauchamp get what she wanted because she has been through so much in her life. He figured that the death of Samuel would result on her behave. Having her not worry about what Samuel would do next is one of the main reasons why Gavin Stevens didn’t want to help at first. After a while of thinking, Gavin then decided that helping her get what she wanted would be the right thing to do. He decided that she needs closure to this event and was willing to help her through it. Mrs. Worsham helped Stevens make the decision on wether to help Mollie Beauchamp or not.. She grew up with Mollie on the plantation, so they grew up acting like sisters. She didn’t want to see Mollie go through so much pain that she helped convince Stevens of his decision. When she convinces him, it’s the first time in the story where Stevens starts to take responsibility. Another situation was how Mollie Beauchamp viewed Roth Edmonds actions towards her child. Mollie Beauchamp viewed Roth Edmands ordering her grandson off the plantation as being rude. She thought as Roth as being the pharaoh. Having all power. She figured, Since he was the owner of the plantation, that he had sold him into slavery. â€Å" â€Å"It was Roth Edmonds sold him† she said. â€Å"Sold him in Egypt. I don’t know whar he is. I just knows Pharaoh got him. And you the law. I wants to find my boy.†Ã¢â‚¬Å" This direct quote from the story shows how upset Mollie is at Roth Edmonds for taking her boy off the plantation. Mollie confuses this event from tha...

Analysis of Jon Krakauer's Into the Wild Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Analysis of Jon Krakauer's Into the Wild - Essay Example These privileges include a loving family, a college degree, a car that he adored as well as money worth $25,000 in his savings account (Krakauer 6). This spurs the question as to why and how would such a young man shut all contact with his parents and family, abandon his vehicle, give out all his money, and leave to spend the next two years as a lonely and homeless drifter. Prior to all this prestige, Chris abandons them, and ventures into the unknown world to look for the rare adventurous life without fully planning and preparing for it. This paper will specifically outline how the young man bearing the name Chris McCandless related with nature during his adventures especially in the wilderness and how the nature treated him back. Chris's McCandless relationship with nature as presented in the film Alaska has long been a magnet that attracts dreamers and misfits, and people who think that their miserable shortcomings will be patched up by wild adventure. Chris experienced the same i llusion because he believed that the wilderness was the best destination. McCandless saw the wilderness as a place free from modern society and its evils as well as a purer state where he could find his identity, and be completely free (Krakauer 13). However, it is not true that the real experience of day-to-day living in the wilderness is as real as Chris and others like him to imagine. The unreality of the wild escapades is shown by Chris’s relationship with nature, which turned out to be unpredictable because at one time the nature seemed very soothing while at other times the same nature was cruel. In the beginning of his adventure, nature attracted McCandless with rare relaxation when he came across natural thermal pools on the Alaskan Highway. Chris bathed in the soothing water and rested in this particular destination as he pondered his next move (Krakauer 27). On the third day, nature presented Chris with the unexpected by offering him a friend named Alex who too was attracted by the pool that had become Chris’s companion for the few days that Chris had remained in the pool next to the highway. However, nature’s reality began to bite as McCandless spent a lot of time trying to find food to keep his soul alive so that he had time to consciously appreciate the wilderness and its adventures as anticipated before. The lack of food depicts itself through his written journal which consists of lists of the food that he found and ate every day. For a period of six weeks, Chris feasted regularly on spruce grouse, squirrel, duck, goose, and porcupine. He survived by fate because he had to try all means to hunt in order to get food, and the hunting task in itself was a tedious experience that exhausted Chris (Krakauer 86). Prior to food and hunting, nature did not offer Chris the desired satisfaction because he walked for more than five hundred miles towards the tidewater, but later reconsidered his plans and came back to where he had spotted the bus and settled there. Surprisingly, Chris’s settlement was not for long because a few weeks later, he changed his mind and decided to go elsewhere. However, the unpredicted nature was at it again and Chris’s journey was cut short by the flooded river (Krakauer 245). He was a weak swimmer and all he could do was turn back to his unsatisfying environment, and unwillingly Chris had to obey nature by turning back to his bus that had become his home. The reason why Chris seems dissatisfied with nature is because he