Strategic planing assessment 2 Essay Example

Dell’s SWOT Analysis

SWOT Analysis is a managerial and analytical tool used by both local and international companies. The primary purpose of this article is to conduct Dell’s SWOT analysis. Dell is a multinational company operating in multiple market segments across the world. The company deals with both computer hardware and software. In the recent years, Dell has been facing stiff competition from rival firms within the industry. The primary source of Dell’s survival in the international market is the provision of quality products to the markets, and the company’s brand has a global reputation.

Starting with company’s strengths, Dell has direct contact and interaction with customers helping the company to understand the market needs. Additionally, Dell majors in customized systems winning the small, medium and large corporations trust as well as government agencies. At the same time, the company offers quality products matching to clients’ demands and performance translating to affordable prices (Softchoice Corporation SWOT Analysis p. 7). Moreover, the company marketing strategies keeps the company’s pace that aligns with technological changes within the industry. Apart from having a series of strengths, the company has several weaknesses. Complex governing structures is the major weakness for the company, which makes the company unmanageable at some point. The company’s traditional manufacturing culture also inhibits the company from tapping the incubating technological opportunities; low differentiation. The company also has poor customer services, which is the major weakness the company is holding currently. Finally, the company only employs qualified workers from other organizations illuminating poor R & D (research and development) (Dell Inc. SWOT Analysis p.2)

Dell offers a variety of services to the clients, and hence, providing the company significant growth opportunities. The company also focuses on positioning the products and services in developing countries, and hence, giving the company an opportunity to strengthen the brand in emerging markets (Dell Inc. SWOT Analysis p.2). To penetrate into non-free markets in some countries, the company has an opportunity to obtain patents through acquisitions or joint ventures. On the other hand, the company faces multiple threats during transition and growth. Incubation of new technologies has become Dell’s major threat particularly in from technological firms emerging from developed and industrialized countries. Growing demand for small devices such as smartphones and tablets in the global markets competes with Dell’s laptops segment, which is the primary stream of sales (Dell Inc. SWOT Analysis p.2). Slow growth for desktops and laptops, and intense competition within the industry, which stagnates the company from penetrating smoothly into the market. The table below summarizes Dell’s SWOT analysis.

PEST Analysis for Computer Industry in China

China is an industrial nation and among the most developed countries in the world, in particular technologies. Computer technology in China has become the core pillar that holds the country’s economy. In recent years, computer industry in China has been growing rapidly attracting thousands of firms to venture into the business. Rapid growth within the industry has been changing the industry’s business environment. This section analyzes Chinese computer business environment using PEST (political, economic social and technology) analytical tool. Politically, China has a stable government with a promising business climate. The essence of China to reform and the creation of stable government is to develop country’s economy as well as the construction of industries (Computer Hardware Industry Profile: China p. 21). The government encourages open trade policy, attracting foreign investors in the country in particular computer industry. Thus, the entry of foreign computer manufacturers in China enhances technological growth.

From an economic point of view, China is among the global countries recording highest GDP (gross domestic profit); foreign direct investment in China is the cornerstone of the Chinese rapid economic growth (Software & Services Industry Profile: China p. 11). With the current rate of industrial growth, the computer industry will thrive. However, the low demand for computers specifically personal computers (PC) and high demand for Smartphone and tablets in China inhibits the rapid industrial growth. Social factors such changes of people’s living styles and demand for new technologies significantly affects computer industry. In modern times, computers have become an essential component in every institution including families, and hence, boosting the demand. In future, the trend for computer utilization is expected to go up despite facing stiff competition.

Finally, technological development in China is another business factor driving computer industry in China. Computers are the end product of modern technologies, and hence, plays a vital role in computer industry growth and development (Computer Hardware Industry Profile: China p. 16). Unlike in the last three decades, today computer industry is developing very fast. The disadvantageous factor is that unpredictable technological changes limit the companies from manufacturing massively.

Relevant Legislation and How It Affects Business Operations in China

Local tax and importation duty is one of the relevant legislation with significant effects on Chinese business operations. The government imposes taxes to imported goods (either finished or raw materials) in an attempt to protect local firms, to regulate and control dumping and to monitor foreign trade. Heavy taxation on imported goods such as computers limits foreign companies from saturating Chinese market.

Code of Practice

Code of Practice is a practical guide for the members of the staff within an organization; guides employees’ how to execute their tasks ethically. Code of Practice relates to values in several ways. Values represent personal attributes and working behaviors that align with organizational malpractices (code of practice). Secondly, code of practice magnifies personal values, specifically excellent working qualities. Finally, the code of practices guides members of staff to embrace organizational culture by embracing team diversity.

Porter’s competitive (Computer Industry)

Porter’s five models are analytical tools used by companies to investigate the immediate competitive environment. Porter’s five models focus on five forces prone to any organization; threat to entry, substitutes, buyers’ power, suppliers’ power, rivals (competition) (Porter pp 51). The threat of new companies into the industry is a force that inhibits the existing companies from dominating the markets. On the other hand, when the new business faces difficulties to enter there is stiff competition, or the exciting firms are strong. Substitute goods and services are also threats for they might replace the organizational goods in the larger market especially when the prices of commodities are high. Buyers power is the third force addressed by Porter; buyers normally have power when the market is competitive (saturated by suppliers) (Porter pp 51). The company can only attain power when demand for commodities is high, and the number of suppliers is low. Suppliers’ power exists or evaporates when dominating suppliers can reduce the power of other organizations; a small number of suppliers gives an organization power at vice versa. Finally, competitive rivalry pools together the other four forces; when competition within the industry is intense, it illuminates that most of the organizations have market powers.

Assessment 2 B

Strategic Plan for Health Focus

HealthFocus is an international company specialized in offering health and nutrition consultation services; The Company is one of the largest database institutions in the world (HealthFocus p.2). Additionally, the company conducts scientific research in an attempt to address health issues underlying in the 21^st century.

The company has three primary objectives:

• To provide current health issues related data

• To explain the nutritional issues and their importance

• “To identify current issues in consumer health and nutrition behavior and attitudes identify current issues in consumer health and nutrition behavior and attitudes (HealthFocus pp.2)

Performance indicators

HealthFocus International started operations in the mid-1990s. Since then, the company has been growing dynamically across the planet (HealthFocus p. 1). The company employs qualified workers with a capacity to execute and fulfill organizational objectives. The company’s code of practices has been the cornerstone of the company’s performance. HealthFocus embraces diversity; employs workers from diverse social-cultural backgrounds.

Methods of monitoring the implementation of the plan

HealthFocus has been using the porter’s five forces model to monitor the company’s strategic plans. The industry is highly competitive across all international markets. The company offers diversified online health data services to strengthen company’s brand.

Works Cited

«Computer Hardware Industry Profile: China.» Computer Hardware Industry Profile: China, 7/ 1/2014, pp. 1-31.

HealthFocus International, HealthFocus Trend Survey 2016, pp. 1 -14, Accessed on 24 June 2017 from http://www.organicagcentre.ca/DOCs/Lynn_Ciacco.pdf

Softchoice Corporation SWOT Analysis.» Softchoice Corporation SWOT Analysis, 03 Mar. 2017, pp. 1-8. EBSCOhost,

Software & Services Industry Profile: China.» Software & Services Industry Profile: China, 11/1/2015, pp. 1-39.

Porter, Michael, Porter’s Five Forces and the Market for Angel Capital.» Preserving the Promise, 2011. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-809216-3.00007-5.

Dell Inc. SWOT Analysis.» Dell, Inc. SWOT Analysis, 22 July 2016, pp. 1-8. EBSCOhost,