Case Analysis Sonoco Products Company

1.3. In order to estimate the peso discount rate, assume that the International Fisher Effect (IFE) holds. Groupe Ariel's Euro hurdle rate for a project of this type was 8%. Assume that inflation rates are expected to be 7% in Mexico and 3% in France.

Nuware Inc. is being analyzed in this situation because a large institutional client of the research firm Wyburn Malone is looking to enter an equity position in Nuware Inc. In making their decision, Wyburn Malone has been asked to restate the statements of Nuware Inc. Due to the apparent earnings growth displayed by the company, even in a period of difficult business, Nuware has become a strong investment opportunity. As with all Wyburn Malone’s research projects, the focus of this analysis centres on determining whether Nuware management has utilized over aggressive or too conservative accounting practices, resulting in earnings that are not real in nature.

In the large corporation of Regions Bank, there are many specific details involved in creating and maintaining the perfect organizational structure. It takes efforts from the managers and leaders to implement a design to promote stock holder profits, growth, and stability. In this organization there is a cycle that is used that involves four functions of management. Regions Bank also utilizes two strategies to create and maintain a healthy organization.

8. What are the pros and cons of each key organizational structure? Which do you think would be the best fit for you? Explain your answer.

An organization must align its strategy and structure to allow itself to achieve performance improvements over time. The four different structures, simple, functional, multidivisional, and matrix, are all suited to allow companies with different strategies to succeed but the company must decide which of these is correct for itself. A small start-up company will overburden itself with excessive cost if it seeks to implement a functional structure because it clearly will not have the talent on hand to create whole departments of HR employees or accountants. On the other hand, a company that grows to become a large multi-national

2.     Given the markets the company is operating in, what is the best structure for the sales force? How did you decide?

There are many benefits and disadvantages of the traditional structure within a corporation. The greatest benefits you get with the traditional structure of a corporation are specialization and efficiency. Within the structure there is a high level of specialization and each field of expertise or specialty is like a company within a company. Each one is pretty much charged to carry out a specific role or duty. Often times you start out at an entry-level position within the

In the early 2000s, when price competition prompted Sonance to increase customer variability through retail channels Sonance sacrificed its brand identity. Having no

In the past, the booming economy had allowed for year to year increase in their sales because people had larger discretionary incomes. But due to the recession, smaller independent retailers had to markdown their items in order to stay in business because designer outlet stores are getting more traffic; so will Harry Rosen follow in suit? Or in order to maintain the integrity of the quality products they offer, will they continue their higher pricing and settle for a lower market share?

Reflect on your reading for the week, specifically Analytical Exercise 8. Is another form of structural configuration better suited to multiproduct, multiservice companies? If not, is there a form of departmentalization for multiproduct, multiservice companies which would match somewhat the divisional structure configuration?"

Given today’s economy, and the bleak economic outlook, I do not believe Williams-Sonoma will continue to exist with its’ current strategies and objectives to serve its’ below target market consumers. Bottom line is many consumers cannot afford the products being sold by the company. Although, the company’s target market is in the 10% of wealthiest consumers, and had total earnings of over 3.5 billion. (2010 shareholders meeting). Other avenues of generating revenue must be explored. I fear that even the 10% will eventually become more cost conscious in the

Hanover-Bates Chemical Corporation produces chemicals for the chemical plating industry. It has plants in Los Angeles, Houston, Chicago, and Newark. The production process involves taking chemicals purchased from other suppliers and mixing them into user-based formulas. The Hanover-Bates has a strong balance sheet and trades on the over-the-counter market. There are seven sales districts within the organization with a total of forty sales representatives. Each receives a salary, fringe benefits, and commissions of 0.5 percent of their dollar sales volume up to their sales quota. Field sales efforts are extremely important and quality control is critical with supplying the plater with the

Cross-functional teams are vital in many businesses, because it increases productivity, enhances communication between departments, and leads to overall success in a company. Boldflash is a company that has fallen behind on this front, and is thus struggling to keep up with its competitors. Roger Cahill, the new vice president of the Mobile Division, is faced with the challenge of finding a way to restructure the departments in his division in order to increase productivity and improve the product development process.

This case discussed the events that occurred during a change in DSS Consulting’s organizational structure. Three retired school district administrators established DSS Consulting during the late 1990’s. The company offered administrative support to small school districts located within the mid-west and mountain west region. They specialized in handling the negotiating of labor agreements as well as implementation of permanent system solutions designed to enable those organizations to run efficiently.

2. Compare this research design with a survey research design. What advantages, if any, did this research design have over a survey?