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bacio_walter-wk3_problem_identification.docx
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Running head: PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION |
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When it comes to understanding the American consumer and their preference to purchase products that made in the U.S.A; locating data such as the results of the next poll is helpful. In a 2007 Gallup poll: 1,006 national adults, aged 18 and older, were asked some questions about their preference on purchasing American made products versus Chinese made products. When asked about clothing: 60% said that they would pay more for a U.S. made product, versus 38% who said that they would buy a less expensive Chinese product. The research also showed that: 53% of those that would pay more for American-Made products had a household income of $75,000 plus; versus 61% earned between $35,000 to $74,999, and 63% who made less than $35,000 annually. Age-wise: 52% of those willing to pay more were between the ages of 18 to 49 years old; versus 72% of the adults over 50 years old. “This builds on earlier Gallup data that indicate 72% of Americans are paying heightened attention to the country of origin of products they buy and 65% are making an effort to avoid products made in China.” (Saad, 2007)
According to the article, many Americans prefer to buy American-made products even if it means paying a higher price for it. The American consumer is aware that China fails to regulate certain unsafe materials used in the manufacturing of its products. Many products made in China have been pulled off the shelves and banned in the past for containing toxic or illegal levels of lead, pesticides, antibiotics, and chemicals. Primarily, the American consumer does not want to expose themselves or their families to these toxic substances. Although this poll does not identify how many Americans would buy American made products specifically to support American businesses or for patriotic reasons; it is clear that Americans prefer to buy clothing made in America.
After considering the results of this poll, it is evident that our company should not switch to an overseas supplier. We should continue with the expansion plans to build the clothing manufacturing facility. Having a company owned manufacturing facility will allow the production of quality clothing built to U.S. safety standards and to our own custom specifications. But more importantly, this will let us continue selling clothing that is 100% made in America. After a decade of success, our company will continue to grow and expand, both in personnel and capabilities. The same cannot be said if we switched to an overseas supplier. This decision is the same conclusion that I reached in the Week 2 paper. The poll provides insight into the American consumer, which can also be used to come up with a logical solution to the problem. Likewise, the more data that you can find to support your decision such as this poll, the better chances you have of coming up with the best solution to solve your problem.
Clearly defining what the problem is, lets you specifically address it and formulate an action plan which ultimately lets you answer it. In this case, as stated in the Week 2 paper, the company is at a crossroads. The only supplier of Made in the U.S.A shirts went bankrupt and closed unexpectedly. Because of this, our company has to choose between remaining true to our creed, or switching to an overseas supplier which could result in possibly losing our credibility, respect, and customers. Whether our customers are purchasing our clothing because they know that it is made in compliance with U.S. safety standards or they prefer to support an American business; they are buying our clothing regardless. We have built momentum up to this point, and if we were to settle for overseas suppliers, it would all be lost. Using critical thinking and research also makes the logical choice visible. When I wrote the Week two paper, the choice to expand was clear to me even without the research. After doing the research, the obvious solution is lit-up like a Christmas tree. Clearly defining the problem, and combining research with the logical thought process increases the chances of discovering the best option for the problem.
References
Saad, L. (2007). Putting a Premium on American-Made Products: Public more likely to pay twice as much for U.S.-made merchandise than Chinese goods. Gallup Poll Briefing, 7-9.
