Report

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Strategic Planning

What Is a Value Proposition?

Individual buyers and organizational buyers evaluate products and services to

see if they provide desired benefits. For example, when you're exploring vacation

options, you want to know the benefits of each destination and the value you

will get by going to each place. Before you (or a firm) can develop a strategy or

create a strategic plan, you have to develop a value proposition. A value

proposition is a 30-second elevator speech stating the specific benefits a

product or service offering provides a buyer. It shows why the product or service

is superior to competing offers. The value proposition answers the questions,

"Why should I buy from you or why should I hire you?" As such, the value

proposition becomes a critical component in shaping strategy.

The following is an example of a value proposition developed by a sales

consulting firm: "Our clients grow their business, large or small, typically by a

minimum of 30 percent to 50 percent over the previous year. They accomplish

this without working 80-hour weeks and sacrificing their personal lives" (Lake,

2016).

Note that although a value proposition will hopefully lead to profits for a firm,

when the firm presents its value proposition to its customers, it doesn't mention

its own profits. That's because the goal is to focus on the external market or

what customers want.

Firms typically segment markets and then identify different target markets, or

groups of customers, that they want to reach when firms are developing their

value propositions. Be aware that companies sometimes develop different value

propositions for different target markets just as individuals may develop a

different value proposition for different employers. The value proposition tells

groups of customers (or potential employers) why they should buy a product or

service, vacation to a particular destination, donate to an organization, hire you,

etc.

Once the benefits of a product or service are clear, the firm must develop

strategies that support the value proposition. The value proposition serves as a

guide for this process. In the case of our sales consulting firm, the strategies it

develops must help clients improve their sales by 30 percent to 50 percent.

Likewise, if a company's value proposition states that the firm is the largest

retailer in the region with the most stores and best product selection, opening

stores or increasing the firm's inventory might be a key part of the company's

Learning Resource

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strategy. Looking at Amazon's value proposition, "Low price, wide selection with

added convenience anytime, anywhere," one can easily see how Amazon has

been so successful (InfoMarketersZone.com, n.d.).

Individuals and students should also develop their personal value propositions.

Tell companies why they should hire you or why a graduate school should accept

you. Show the value you bring. A value proposition will help you in different

situations. Think about how your internship experience and/or study abroad

experience may help a future employer. For example, you could explain to the

employer the benefits and value of going abroad. Perhaps your study abroad

experience helped you understand customers that buy from Company X and

your customer service experience during your internship increased your ability to

generate sales, which improved your employer's profit margin. Thus you may be

able to quickly contribute to Company X, something that Company X might

value.

A value proposition is a 30-second elevator speech stating the

specific value a product or service provides to a target market.

Firms may develop different value propositions for different

groups of customers. The value proposition shows why the

product or service is superior to competing offers and why the

customer should buy it or why a firm should hire you.

Components of the Strategic Planning Process

Conducting a Situation Analysis

As part of the strategic planning process, a situation analysis must be conducted

before a company can decide on specific actions. A situation analysis involves

analyzing both the external (macro and micro factors outside the organization)

and the internal (company) environments. The firm's internal environment—such

as its financial resources, technological resources, and the capabilities of its

personnel and their performance—has to be examined. It is also critical to

examine the external macro and micro environments the firm faces, such as the

economy and its competitors. The external environment significantly affects the

decisions a firm makes, and thus must be continuously evaluated. For example,

during the economic downturn in 2008–2009, businesses found that many

competitors drastically cut the prices of their products. Other companies

reduced package sizes or the amount of product in packages. Firms also offered

customers incentives (free shipping, free gift cards with purchase, rebates, etc.)

to purchase their goods and services online, which allowed businesses to cut

back on the personnel needed to staff their brick-and-mortar stores. While a

business cannot control things such as the economy, changes in demographic

trends, or what competitors do, it must decide what actions to take to remain

competitive—actions that depend in part on the internal environment.

Key Points

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Conducting a SWOT Analysis

Based on the situation analysis, organizations analyze their strengths,

weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, conducting what's called a SWOT

analysis. Strengths and weaknesses are internal factors and are somewhat

controllable. For example, an organization's strengths might include its brand

name, efficient distribution network, reputation for great service, and strong

financial position. A firm's weaknesses might include lack of awareness of its

products in the marketplace, a lack of human resources talent, and a poor

location. Opportunities and threats are factors that are external to the firm and

largely uncontrollable. Opportunities might entail the international demand for

the type of products the firm makes, few competitors, and favorable social

trends such as people living longer. Threats might include a bad economy, high

interest rates that increase a firm's borrowing costs, and an aging population that

makes it hard for the business to find workers.

You can conduct a SWOT analysis of yourself to help determine your

competitive advantage. Perhaps your strengths include strong leadership abilities

and communication skills, whereas your weaknesses include a lack of

organization. Opportunities for you might exist in specific careers and industries;

however, the economy and other people competing for the same position might

be threats.

Moreover, a factor that is a strength for one person (say, strong accounting skills)

might be a weakness for another person (poor accounting skills). The same is true

for businesses.

The easiest way to determine if a factor is external or internal is to take away the

company, organization, or individual and see if the factor still exists. Internal

factors such as strengths and weaknesses are specific to a company or individual,

whereas external factors such as opportunities and threats affect multiple

individuals and organizations in the marketplace. For example, if you are doing a

situation analysis on PepsiCo and are looking at the weak economy, take PepsiCo

out of the picture and see what factors remain. If the factor—the weak economy

—is still there, it is an external factor. Even if PepsiCo hadn't been around in

2008–2009, the weak economy reduced consumer spending and affected a lot

of companies.

Assessing the Internal Environment

When an organization evaluates which factors are its strengths and weaknesses,

it is assessing its internal environment. Once companies determine their

strengths, they can use those strengths to capitalize on opportunities and

develop their competitive advantage. For example, strengths for PepsiCo are

what are called "mega" brands, or brands that individually generate over $1

billion in sales (PepsiCo, n.d.). These brands are also designed to contribute to

PepsiCo's environmental and social responsibilities.

PepsiCo's brand awareness, profitability, and strong presence in global markets

are also strengths. Especially in foreign markets, the loyalty of a firm's employees

can be a major strength, which can provide it with a competitive advantage.

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Loyal and knowledgeable employees are easier to train and tend to develop

better relationships with customers. This helps organizations pursue more

opportunities.

Although the brand awareness for PepsiCo's products is strong, smaller

companies often struggle with weaknesses such as low brand awareness, low

financial reserves, and poor locations. When organizations assess their internal

environments, they must look at factors such as performance and costs as well

as brand awareness and location. Managers need to examine both the past and

current strategies of their firms and determine what strategies succeeded and

which ones failed. This helps a company plan its future actions and improves the

odds it will be successful. For example, a company might look at packaging that

worked very well for a product and use the same type of packaging for new

products. Firms may also look at customers' reactions to changes in products,

including packaging, to see what works and doesn't work. When PepsiCo

changed the packaging of major brands in 2008, customers had mixed responses.

Tropicana switched from the familiar orange with the straw in it to a new

package and customers did not like it. As a result, Tropicana changed back to the

familiar orange with a straw after spending $35 million for the new package

design.

Individuals are also wise to look at the strategies they have tried in the past to

see which ones failed and which ones succeeded. Have you ever done poorly on

an exam? Was it the instructor's fault, the strategy you used to study, or did you

decide not to study? See which strategies work best for you and perhaps try the

same type of strategies for future exams. If a strategy did not work, see what

went wrong and change it. Doing so is similar to what organizations do when

they analyze their internal environments.

Assessing the External Environment

Analyzing the external environment involves tracking conditions in the macro

and micro marketplace that, although largely uncontrollable, affect the way an

organization does business. The macro environment includes economic factors,

demographic trends, cultural and social trends, political and legal regulations,

technological changes, and the price and availability of natural resources. The

micro environment includes competition, suppliers, marketing intermediaries

(retailers, wholesalers), the public, the company, and customers.

When firms globalize, analyzing the environment becomes more complex

because they must examine the external environment in each country in which

they do business. Regulations, competitors, technological development, and the

economy may be different in each country and will affect how firms do business.

Although the external environment affects all organizations, companies must

focus on factors that are relevant for their operations. For example, government

regulations on food packaging will affect PepsiCo but not Goodyear. Similarly,

students getting a business degree don't need to focus on job opportunities for

registered nurses.

The Competitive Environment

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All organizations must consider their competition, whether it is direct or indirect

competition vying for the consumer's dollar. Both nonprofit and for-profit

organizations compete for customers' resources. Coke and Pepsi are direct

competitors in the soft drink industry, Hilton and Sheraton are competitors in the

hospitality industry, and organizations such as United Way and the American

Cancer Society compete for resources in the nonprofit sector. However, hotels

must also consider other options that people have when selecting a place to stay,

such as hostels, dorms, bed and breakfasts, or rental homes.

A group of competitors that provide similar products or services form an

industry. Michael Porter, a professor at Harvard University and a leading

authority on competitive strategy, developed an approach for analyzing

industries. Called the five forces model (Porter, 1980, pp. 3–33), the framework

helps organizations understand their current competitors as well as organizations

that could become competitors in the future. As such, firms can find the best

way to defend their position in the industry.

Competitive Analysis

When a firm conducts a competitive analysis, it tends to focus on direct

competitors and tries to determine a firm's strengths and weaknesses, its image,

and its resources. Doing so helps the firm figure out how much money a

competitor may be able to spend on things such as research, new product

development, promotion, and new locations. Competitive analysis involves

looking at any information (annual reports, financial statements, news stories,

observation details obtained on visits, etc.) available on competitors. Another

means of collecting competitive information is using mystery shoppers, or

people who act like customers. Mystery shoppers might visit competitors to

learn about their customer service and their products. Imagine going to a

competitor's restaurant and studying the menu and the prices and watching

customers to see what items are popular and then changing your menu to better

compete. Competitors battle for the customer's dollar, and they must know what

other firms are doing. Individuals and teams also compete for jobs, titles, and

prizes and must figure out the competitors' weaknesses and plans in order to

take advantage of their strengths and have a better chance of winning.

According to Porter, in addition to their direct competitors (competitive rivals),

organizations must consider the strength and impact the following could have

(Porter, 1980, pp. 3–33):

substitute products

potential entrants (new competitors) in the marketplace

the bargaining power of suppliers

the bargaining power of buyers

When any of these factors change, companies may have to respond by changing

their strategies. For example, because buyers are consuming fewer soft drinks

these days, companies such as Coke and Pepsi have had to develop new,

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substitute offerings such as vitamin water and sports drinks. However, other

companies such as Dannon or Nestlé may also be potential entrants in the

flavored water market.

When you select a hamburger fast-food chain, you also had the option of

substitutes such as getting food at the grocery or going to a pizza place. When

computers entered the market, they were a substitute for typewriters. Most

students may not have ever used a typewriter, but some consumers still use

typewriters for forms and letters.

Suppliers, the companies that supply ingredients as well as packaging materials

to other companies, must also be considered. If a company cannot get the

supplies it needs, it's in trouble. Also, sometimes suppliers see how lucrative

their customers' markets are and decide to enter them. Buyers, who are the

focus of marketing and strategic plans, must also be considered because they

have bargaining power and must be satisfied. If a buyer is large enough, and

doesn't purchase a product or service, it can affect a selling company's

performance. Walmart, for instance, is a buyer with a great deal of bargaining

power. Firms that do business with Walmart must be prepared to make

concessions to them if they want their products on the company's store shelves.

Lastly, the world is becoming "smaller" and more of a global marketplace.

Companies everywhere are finding that no matter what they make, numerous

firms around the world are producing the same "widget" or a similar offering

(substitute) and are eager to compete. Employees are in the same position. The

Internet has made it easier than ever for customers to find products and services

and for workers to find the best jobs, even if they are abroad. Companies are also

acquiring foreign firms. These factors all have an effect on the strategic decisions

companies make.

The Political and Legal Environment

All organizations must comply with government regulations and understand the

political and legal environments in which they do business. Different government

agencies enforce the regulations that have been established to protect both

consumers and businesses. For example, the Sherman Act (1890) prohibits US

firms from restraining trade by creating monopolies and cartels. The regulations

related to the act are enforced by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which

also regulates deceptive advertising. The US Food and Drug Administration

(FDA) regulates the labeling of consumable products, such as food and medicine.

One organization that has been extremely busy is the Consumer Product Safety

Commission, the group that sets safety standards for consumer products.

When organizations conduct business in multiple markets, they must understand

that regulations vary across countries and across states. Many states and

countries have different laws that affect strategy. For example, suppose you are

opening a new factory because you cannot keep up with the demand for your

products. If you are considering opening the factory in France (perhaps because

the demand in Europe for your product is strong), you need to know that it is

illegal for employees in that country to work more than 35 hours per week.

The Economic Environment

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The economy has a major impact on spending by both consumers and

businesses, which, in turn, affects the goals and strategies of organizations.

Economic factors include variables such as inflation, unemployment, interest

rates, and whether the economy is in a growth period or a recession. Inflation

occurs when the cost of living continues to rise, eroding the purchasing power of

money. When this happens, you and other consumers and businesses need more

money to purchase goods and services. Interest rates often rise when inflation

rises. Recessions can also occur when inflation rises because higher prices

sometimes cause low or negative growth in the economy.

During a recessionary period, it is possible for both high-end and low-end

products to sell well. Consumers who can afford luxury goods may continue to

buy them, while consumers with lower incomes tend to become more value-

conscious. Other goods and services, such as products sold in traditional

department stores, may suffer. In the face of a severe economic downturn, even

the sales of luxury goods can suffer. The economic downturn that began in 2008

affected consumers and businesses at all levels worldwide. Consumers reduced

their spending, holiday sales dropped, financial institutions went bankrupt, the

mortgage industry collapsed, and the "Big Three" US auto manufacturers

(Chrysler, Ford, and General Motors) asked for emergency loans.

The Demographic and Social and Cultural Environments

The demographic and social and cultural environments—including social trends,

such as people's attitudes toward fitness and nutrition; demographic

characteristics, such as people's age, income, marital status, education, and

occupation; and culture, which relates to people's beliefs and values—are

constantly changing in the global marketplace. Fitness, nutrition, and health

trends affect the product offerings of many firms. For example, PepsiCo

produces vitamin water and sports drinks. More women are working, which has

led to a rise in the demand for services such as house cleaning and daycare. US

baby boomers are reaching retirement age, sending their children to college, and

trying to care for their elderly parents all at the same time. Firms are responding

to the time constraints their buyers face by creating products that are more

convenient, such as frozen meals and nutritious snacks.

The composition of the population is also constantly changing. Hispanics are the

fastest-growing minority in the United States. Consumers in this group and other

diverse groups prefer different types of products and brands. In many cities,

stores cater specifically to Hispanic customers.

Technology

The technology available in the world is changing the way people communicate

and the way firms do business. Everyone is affected by technological changes.

Self-scanners and video displays at stores, ATMs, the Internet, and mobile

phones are a few examples of how technology is affecting businesses and

consumers. Many consumers get information, read the news, use text messaging,

and shop online. As a result, marketers have begun allocating more of their

promotion budgets to online ads and mobile marketing and not just to traditional

print media such as newspapers and magazines. Applications for telephones and

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electronic devices are changing the way people obtain information and shop,

allowing customers to comparison shop without having to visit multiple stores.

Many young people may rely more on electronic books, magazines, and

newspapers and depend on mobile devices for most of their information needs.

Organizations must adapt to new technologies in order to succeed.

Natural Resources

Natural resources are scarce commodities, and consumers are becoming

increasingly aware of this. Today, many firms are doing more to engage in

"sustainable" practices that help protect the environment and conserve natural

resources. Green marketing involves marketing environmentally safe products

and services in a way that is good for the environment. Water shortages often

occur in the summer months, so many restaurants now only serve patrons water

upon request. Hotels voluntarily conserve water by not washing guests' sheets

and towels every day unless the guests request it. Reusing packages (refillable

containers) and reducing the amount of packaging, paper, energy, and water in

the production of goods and services are becoming key considerations for many

organizations, whether they sell their products to other businesses or to final

users (consumers). Construction companies are using more energy-efficient

materials and often have to comply with green building solutions. Green

marketing not only helps the environment but also saves the company, and

ultimately the consumer, money. Sustainability, ethics (doing the right things),

and social responsibility (helping society, communities, and other people)

influence an organization's planning process and the strategies it implements.

Although environmental conditions change and must be monitored continuously,

the situation analysis is a critical input to an organization's or an individual's

strategic plan.

The Mission Statement

The firm's mission statement states the purpose of the organization and why it

exists. Both profit and nonprofit organizations have mission statements, which

they often publicize.

PepsiCo's mission statement is as follows: "Our mission is to be the world's

premier consumer products company focused on convenient foods and

beverages. We seek to produce financial rewards to investors as we provide

opportunities for growth and enrichment to our employees, our business

partners and the communities in which we operate. And in everything we do, we

strive for honesty, fairness and integrity" (PepsiCo, Mission and Vision, n.d.).

The United Way's mission statement reads, "United Way improves lives by

mobilizing the caring power of communities around the world to advance the

common good" (United Way, n.d.).

Sometimes SBUs develop separate mission statements. For example, PepsiCo

Americas Beverages, PepsiCo Americas Foods, and PepsiCo International might

each develop a different mission statement.

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A firm must analyze factors in the external and internal

environments it faces throughout the strategic planning process.

These factors are inputs to the planning process. As they change,

the company must be prepared to adjust its plans. Different

factors are relevant for different companies. Once a company has

analyzed its internal and external environments, managers can

begin to decide which strategies are best, given the firm's mission

statement.

Developing Organizational Objectives and Formulating Strategies

Developing Objectives

Objectives are what organizations want to accomplish—the end results they want

to achieve—in a given time frame. In addition to being accomplished within a

certain time frame, objectives should be realistic (achievable) and be measurable,

if possible. "To increase sales by 2 percent by the end of the year" is an example

of an objective an organization might develop. You have probably set objectives

for yourself that you want to achieve in a given time frame. For example, your

objectives might be to maintain a certain grade-point average and get work

experience or an internship before you graduate.

Objectives help guide and motivate a company's employees and give its

managers reference points for evaluating the firm's marketing actions. Although

many organizations publish their mission statements, most for-profit companies

do not publish their objectives. Accomplishments at each level of the

organization have helped PepsiCo meet its corporate objectives. PepsiCo's

business units (divisions) have increased the number of their facilities to grow

their brands and enter new markets. PepsiCo's beverage and snack units have

gained market share by developing healthier products and products that are

more convenient to use.

A firm's marketing objectives should be consistent with the company's objectives

at other levels, such as the corporate level and business level. An example of a

marketing objective for PepsiCo might be "to increase by 4 percent the market

share of Gatorade by the end of the year."

Formulating Strategies

Strategies are the means to the ends, the game plan, or what a firm is going to do

to achieve its objectives. Successful strategies help organizations establish and

maintain a competitive advantage that competitors cannot imitate easily. Tactics

include specific actions, such as coupons, television commercials, banner ads,

etc., taken to execute the strategy. PepsiCo attempts to sustain its competitive

advantage by constantly developing new products and innovations, including

Key Points

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"mega brands," which include individual brands that generate over $1 billion in

sales each. The tactics may consist of specific actions (commercials during the

Super Bowl; coupons; buy one, get one free, etc.) to advertise each brand.

Firms often use multiple strategies to accomplish their objectives and capitalize

on marketing opportunities. For example, in addition to pursuing a low-cost

strategy (selling products inexpensively), Walmart has simultaneously pursued a

strategy of opening new stores rapidly around the world. Many companies

develop marketing strategies as part of their general, overall business plans.

Other companies prepare separate marketing plans.

A marketing plan is a strategic plan at the functional level that provides a firm's

marketing group with direction. It is a road map that improves the firm's

understanding of its competitive situation. The marketing plan also helps the firm

allocate resources and divvy the tasks that employees need to do for the

company to meet its objectives.

Market penetration strategies focus on increasing a firm's sales of its existing

products to its existing customers. Companies often offer consumers special

promotions or low prices to increase their products' use and encourage

consumers to buy products. When Frito-Lay distributes money-saving coupons

to customers or offers them discounts to buy multiple packages of snacks, the

company is using a penetration strategy. The Campbell Soup Company gets

consumers to buy more soup by providing easy recipes using soup as an

ingredient for cooking quick meals.

Product development strategies involve creating new products for existing

customers. A new product can be a new innovation, an improved product, or a

product with enhanced value, such as one with a new feature. Cell phones that

allow consumers to charge purchases with the phone or take pictures are

examples of a product with enhanced value. A new product can also be one that

comes in different variations, such as new flavors, colors, and sizes. Mountain

Dew Voltage, introduced by PepsiCo Americas Beverages in 2009, is an example.

Keep in mind, however, that what works for one company might not work for

another. For example, just after Starbucks announced it was cutting back on the

number of its lunch offerings, Dunkin' Donuts announced it was adding items to

its lunch menu.

Market development strategies focus on entering new markets with existing

products. For example, during a recent economic downturn, manufacturers of

high-end coffee makers began targeting customers who go to coffee shops. The

manufacturers are hoping to develop the market for their products by making

sure consumers know they can brew a great cup of coffee at home for a fraction

of what they spend at Starbucks.

New markets can include any new groups of customers such as different age

groups, new geographic areas, or international markets. Many companies,

including PepsiCo and Hyundai, have entered—and been successful in—emerging

markets such as Russia, China, and India. Decisions to enter foreign markets are

based on a company's resources as well as the complexity of factors such as the

political environmental, economic conditions, competition, customer knowledge,

and probability of success in the desired market. There are different ways, or

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strategies, by which firms can enter international markets. The strategies vary in

the amount of risk, control, and investment firms face. Firms can simply export,

or sell their products to buyers abroad, which is the least risky and least

expensive method but also offers the least amount of control. Many small firms

export their products to foreign markets.

Firms can also license, or sell the right to use some aspect of their production

processes, trademarks, or patents to individuals or firms in foreign markets.

Licensing is a popular strategy, but firms must figure out how to protect their

interests if the licensee decides to open its own business and void the license

agreement. The French luggage and handbag maker Louis Vuitton faced this

problem when it entered China. Competitors started illegally putting the Louis

Vuitton logo on different products, which cut into Louis Vuitton's profits.

Franchising is a longer-term (and thus riskier) form of licensing that is popular

with service firms, such as restaurants like McDonald's and Subway, hotels like

Holiday Inn Express, and cleaning companies like Stanley Steemer. Franchisees

pay a fee and must adhere to certain standards; however, they benefit from the

advertising and brand recognition the franchising company provides.

Contract manufacturing allows companies to hire manufacturers to produce

their products in another country. The manufacturers are provided specifications

for the products, which are then manufactured and sold on behalf of the

company that contracted the manufacturing. Contract manufacturing may

provide tax incentives and may be more profitable than manufacturing the

products in the home country. Examples of products in which contract

manufacturing is often used include cell phones, computers, and printers.

Joint ventures combine the expertise and investments of two companies and

help companies enter foreign markets. The firms in each country share the risks

as well as the investments. Some countries such as China often require

companies to form a joint venture with a domestic firm in order to enter the

market. After entering the market in a partnership with a domestic firm and

becoming established in the market, some firms may decide to separate from

their partner and become their own business. Fuji Xerox Co. Ltd. is an example of

a joint venture between the Japanese Fuji Photo Film Co. and the American

document management company Xerox. Another example of a joint venture is

Sony Ericsson. The venture combined the Japanese company Sony's electronic

expertise with the Swedish company Ericsson's telecommunication expertise.

With investment by both companies, joint ventures are riskier than exporting,

licensing, franchising, and contract manufacturing but also provide more control

to each partner.

Direct investment (owning a company or facility overseas) is another way to

enter a foreign market, providing the most control but also having the most risk.

For example, In Bev, the Dutch maker of Beck's beer, was able to capture market

share in the United States by purchasing St. Louis-based Anheuser-Busch. A

direct investment strategy involves the most risk and investment but offers the

most control. Other companies such as advertising agencies may want to invest

and develop their own businesses directly in international markets rather than

trying to do so via other companies.

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Diversification strategies involve entering new markets with new products or

doing something outside a firm's current businesses. Firms that have little

experience with different markets or different products often diversify their

product lines by acquiring other companies. Diversification can be profitable, but

it can also be risky if a company does not have the expertise or resources it

needs to successfully implement the strategy. Warner Music Group's purchase of

the concert promoter Bulldog Entertainment is an example of a diversification

attempt that failed.

The strategic planning process includes a company's mission

(purpose), objectives (end results desired), and strategies (means).

Sometimes the different SBUs of a firm have different mission

statements. A firm's objectives should be realistic (achievable) and

measurable. The different product market strategies firms pursue

include market penetration, product development, market

development, and diversification.

Where Strategic Planning Occurs Within Firms

Strategic planning is a long-term process that helps an organization allocate its

resources to take advantage of different opportunities. In addition to marketing

plans, strategic planning may occur at different levels within an organization. For

example, in large organizations, top executives will develop strategic plans for

the corporation as a whole. These are corporate-level plans. In addition, many

large firms have different divisions, or businesses, called strategic business units.

A strategic business unit (SBU) is a business or product line within an

organization that has its own competitors, customers, and profit center for

accounting purposes. A firm's SBUs may also have their own mission statements

(purpose) and will generally develop strategic plans for themselves. These are

called business-level plans. The different departments, or functions (accounting,

finance, marketing) within a company or SBU might also develop strategic plans.

For example, a company may develop a marketing plan or a financial plan, which

are functional-level plans.

The number of levels can vary, depending on the size and structure of an

organization. Not every organization will have every level or have every type of

plan.

The strategies and actions implemented at the functional (department) level

must be consistent with an organization's objectives and help an organization

achieve those objectives at both the business and corporate levels, and vice

versa. The SBUs at the business level must also be consistent with an

organization's corporate-level objects and help an organization achieve those

corporate objectives. For example, if a company wants to increase its profits at

the corporate level and owns multiple business units, each unit might develop

strategic plans to increase its own profits and thereby the firm's profits as a

whole. At the functional level, a firm's marketing department might develop

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strategic plans to increase sales and the market share of the firm's most

profitable products, which will increase profits at the business level and help the

corporation's profitability. Both business level and functional plans should help

the firm increase its profits, so that the company's corporate-level strategic

objectives can be met.

At the functional (marketing) level, for example, to increase PepsiCo's profits,

employees responsible for different products or product categories such as

beverages or foods might focus on developing healthier products and making

their packaging more environmentally friendly so the company captures more

market share. For example, the new Aquafina bottle uses less plastic and has a

smaller label, which helps the environment by reducing the amount of waste.

Organizations can use multiple methods and strategies at different levels in the

corporation to accomplish their goals just as you may use different strategies to

accomplish your goals. However, the basic components of the strategic planning

process are the same at each of the different levels.

Strategic planning can occur at different levels (corporate,

business, and functional) in an organization. The number of levels

may vary. However, if a company has multiple planning levels, the

plans must be consistent, and all must help achieve the overall

goals of the corporation.

Strategic Portfolio Planning Approaches

When a firm has multiple strategic business units as PepsiCo does, it must decide

what the objectives and strategies for each business are and how to allocate

resources among them. A group of businesses can be considered a portfolio, just

as a collection of artwork or investments compose a portfolio. In order to

evaluate each business, companies sometimes use what's called a portfolio

planning approach. A portfolio planning approach involves analyzing a firm's

entire collection of businesses relative to one another. Two of the most widely

used portfolio planning approaches include the Boston Consulting Group (BCG)

matrix and the General Electric (GE) approach.

The Boston Consulting Matrix

The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) matrix helps companies evaluate each of its

strategic business units based on two factors: the SBU's market growth rate (i.e.,

how fast the unit is growing compared to the industry in which it competes) and

the SBU's relative market share (i.e., how the unit's share of the market compares

to the market share of its competitors). Because the BCG matrix assumes that

profitability and market share are highly related, it is a useful approach for

making business and investment decisions. However, the BCG matrix is

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subjective, and managers should also use their judgment and other planning

approaches before making decisions. Using the BCG matrix, managers can

categorize their SBUs (products) into one of four categories:

stars—Everyone wants to be a star. A star is a product with high growth and

a high market share. To maintain the growth of its star products, a company

may have to invest money to improve them and how they are distributed as

well as promote them. The iPod, when it was first released, was an example

of a star product.

cash cows—A cash cow is a product with low growth and a high market

share. Cash cows have a large share of a shrinking market. Although they

generate a lot of cash, they do not have a long-term future. For example,

DVD players were a cash cow for Sony. Eventually, DVDs are likely to be

replaced by digital downloads, just like MP3s replaced CDs. Companies with

cash cows need to manage them so that they continue to generate revenue

to fund star products.

question marks or problem children—Did you ever hear an adult say they

didn't know what to do with a child? The same question or problem arises

when a product has a low share of a high-growth market. Managers classify

these products as question marks or problem children. They must decide

whether to invest in them and hope they become stars, or gradually

eliminate them or sell them. For example, as the price of gasoline soared in

2008, many consumers purchased motorcycles and mopeds, which get

better gas mileage. However, some manufacturers have a very low share of

this market. These manufacturers now have to decide what they should do

with these products.

dogs—In business, it is not good to be considered a dog. A dog is a product

with low growth and low market share. Dogs do not make much money and

do not have a promising future. Companies often get rid of dogs. However,

some companies are hesitant to classify any of their products as dogs. As a

result, they keep producing products and services they shouldn't or invest in

dogs in hopes they'll succeed..

The BCG matrix helps managers make resource allocation decisions once

different products are classified. Depending on the product, a firm might decide

on a number of different strategies for it. One strategy is to build market share

for a business or product, especially a product that might become a star. Many

companies invest in question marks because market share is available for them

to capture. The success sequence is often used as a means to help question

marks become stars. With the success sequence, money is taken from cash cows

(if available) and invested into question marks in hopes of them becoming stars.

Holding market share means the company wants to keep the product's share at

the same level. When a firm pursues this strategy, it only invests what it has to in

order to maintain the product's market share. When a company decides to

harvest a product, the firm lowers its investment in it. The goal is to try to

generate short-term profits from the product regardless of the long-term impact

on its survival. If a company decides to divest a product, the firm drops or sells it.

That's what Procter & Gamble did in 2008 when it sold its Folgers coffee brand

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to Smuckers. Proctor & Gamble also sold Jif peanut butter brand to Smuckers.

Many dogs are divested, but companies may also divest products because they

want to focus on other brands they have in their portfolio.

As competitors enter the market, technology advances, and consumer

preferences change, the position of a company's products in the BCG matrix is

also likely to change. The company has to continually evaluate the situation and

adjust its investments and product promotion strategies accordingly. The firm

must also keep in mind that the BCG matrix is just one planning approach and

that other variables can affect the success of products.

The General Electric Approach

Another portfolio planning approach that helps a business determine whether to

invest in opportunities is the General Electric (GE) approach. The GE approach

examines a business's strengths and the attractiveness of the industry in which it

competes. As we have indicated, a business's strengths are factors internal to the

company, including strong human resources capabilities (talented personnel),

strong technical capabilities, and the fact that the firm holds a large share of the

market. The attractiveness of an industry can include aspects such as whether

there is a great deal of growth in the industry, whether the profits earned by the

firms competing within it are high or low, and whether it is difficult to enter the

market. For example, the automobile industry is not attractive in times of

economic downturn such as the recession in 2009, so many automobile

manufacturers don't want to invest more in production. They want to cut or stop

spending as much as possible to improve their profitability. Hotels and airlines

face similar situations.

Companies evaluate their strengths and the attractiveness of industries as high,

medium, and low. The firms then determine their investment strategies based on

how well the two correlate with one another. The investment options outlined in

the GE approach can be compared to a traffic light. For example, if a company

feels that it does not have the business strengths to compete in an industry and

that the industry is not attractive, this will result in a low rating, which is

comparable to a red light. In that case, the company should harvest the business

(slowly reduce the investments made in it), divest the business (drop or sell it), or

stop investing in it, which is what happened with many automotive

manufacturers.

Although many people may think a yellow light means "speed up," it actually

means caution. Companies with a medium rating on industry attractiveness and

business strengths should be cautious when investing and attempt to hold the

market share they have. If a company rates itself high on business strengths and

the industry is very attractive (also rated high), this is comparable to a green light.

In this case, the firm should invest in the business and build market share. During

bad economic times, many industries are not attractive. However, when the

economy improves, businesses must reevaluate opportunities.

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A group of businesses is called a portfolio. Organizations that have

multiple business units must decide how to allocate resources to

them and decide what objectives and strategies are feasible for

them. Portfolio planning approaches help firms analyze the

businesses relative to each other. The BCG and GE approaches are

two or the most common portfolio planning methods.

References

InfoMarketersZone.com. (n.d.). How do you develop a unique value proposition?

Retrieved from http://www.infomarketerszone.com/public/182.cfm

Lake, L. (2016). Develop your value proposition. Retrieved from

http://marketing.about.com/od/marketingplanandstrategy/a/valueprop.htm

PepsiCo Inc. (n.d.). PepsiCo brands. Retrieved from

http://www.pepsico.com/Brands/BrandExplorer

PepsiCo Mission and Vision (n.d.). Retrieved from

http://www.pepsico.com/Company/Our-Mission-and-Vision.html

Porter, M. (1980). Competitive strategy. New York, NY: The Free Press, pp. 3–33.

United Way. (n.d.). Our mission. Retrieved from

http://www.liveunited.org/about/missvis.cfm

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