ACCT5919 Business Risk Management
Syndicate Report
HEBLON PLC CASE STUDY
Semester 2, 2013
Wenjia Wu 3489021
Wing Kin Lam 5011203
Xuan Zhang 5024642
Xin Su 3468927
1. Introduction
This report will examine the key risk management issues in Heblon PLC (Heblon), with emphasis on the risk identification process. Established in 1950s in the UK, Heblon provides high quality wooden furniture in traditional manufacturing industry. After several decades of development, it currently has 250 employees, and relies on individual craftsmanship and labour intensive production processes. Heblon achieved sales revenues of £10 million in the previous year and occupied small market share of the furniture industry.
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Based on the facts provided in Heblon, various types of risks, including strategic, operating, financial and legal risks are identified as followed. Risks | Types of risks | | Strategic | Operating | Financial | Legal | Competitive pattern | √ | | | | Expertise of management | √ | √ | | | New technology | | √ | | | Human resources | | √ | | | Wood supply (raw material) | | | | √ | Financing structure | | | √ | | Increasing cost | | | √ | | Unsatisfactory customers | | √ | √ | | Bargaining power of retailer | | | √ | |
In risk identification, it is necessary to analyse the situations and sources of the risks. Five most significant risks, namely, environmental issue, change in consumer behaviour, technology development, higher competition in industry and concentration of distribution, are identified from Heblon’s business environment.
Environmental issue
The protest of deforestation due to global warming has caused the reduction of hardwood supply in furniture manufacturing. Therefore, the lead time for the delivery and the price of materials would increase. As the pressure is expected to grow continuously, the risk is likely to occur in the future.
Change in consumer behaviour
Since consumers are becoming more fashion and design conscious nowadays, the demand for the traditional or reproduction style furniture may be reduced. Although there is no real impact on company
The following short case will give you a good idea of how risks surface in business and project planning and what companies do about it. Consider that you are the Risk Manager as you look at this case, as it will be a good exercise for the time when you will be that Risk Manager!
impact of the identified risks to the organization based on key business drivers (loss of life, loss of
In IKEA, the Unsolicited Proposal came from many directions. Firstly, in 1952 the boycott by Swedish retailers to IKEA, obliged to IKEA to seek new sources of furniture. Second, the Swedish furniture market demand fall by the early 1970s. Third, IKEA had identified as we said before two big markets to
As previously stated the buyers in the furniture manufacturing industry are furniture retailers. Therefore they will require furniture to continue business. There are no substitutes that provide the same use as furniture. In relation to the furniture industry as a whole, there are still very little substitutes to furniture aside from a higher use of closet space or unorthodox measures by consumers. An example of this would be one's choice to live without furniture, which in most cases is very unlikely. Furniture has become a household necessity and consumers have little or no desire to change their lifestyles by eliminating that need. Therefore the threat of substitutes to the furniture manufacturing industry is very low to the point where it is almost non-existent.
Social- the effects on the environment for manufacturing furniture products e.g. spillage concerns, deforestation etc. Online shopping is taking over so buyers can now compare prices and order online which makes it very hard to increase prices
The household wood furniture industry is healthy and growing. Total industry sales in 2007 were estimated to be $31 billion at manufactures prices. Three categories of furniture divide the industry. First upholstered furniture which makes up 50% of sales, Secondly wood furniture at 40% of the industry market share which has grown 2.5% in 2007 and is projected another 4% in 2008, this second category includes dining room and bedroom furniture. Third and last is the other category at 10% this includes ready to assemble and casual furniture. Haverwood has established themselves as a medium to high priced furniture company through 1,000 carefully selected high
5) Threat of substitutes is low, in comparison with technology that constantly evolves, furniture cannot be easily substituted. But its insignificant impact is fully neutralized by high competition problem.
At the end all the risk are finance related, because the liability’s cost money and this will have an effect in the company’s earnings, so what is important is not only to try to avoid such events but also to be prepare in case they happen and have a plan, is like the saying “Hope for the best but be prepare for the worst”.
Within business, there will always be operational risks to consider. "Operating risk is the basic
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The profits have increased for the company with the custom line accounting for 60% of volume and 75% of dollar sales according to this case study. The standard line has seen a continued increase in sales as well. What comes with the increased profit due to the increased manufacturing is the need to put higher amounts of capital into storing the higher inventory. With the company being at capacity, the lead times may not be meeting consumer demands either. The expansion that is needed would initially cost Chad’s Creative Concepts greatly. Without some type of expansion (which would most likely require a new plant), soaring inventory costs will need to be attended to.
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In order for a home building project to survive its purpose, risk analysis is essential so that occurrences that may affect the projects in the end can be identified, analyzed, assessed, managed and monitored. Because of the risky processes that are involved in the projects of home building construction, risk analysis and mitigation is the most useful tool in achieving good project and planning in home buildings as well as other constructions. If good risks management procedures are well conducted, the team’s level of confidence will be boosted, and this will enable or project to run and smoothly achieve its goals while facing and tackling each risk. Risk management will also come in handy as time will be saved as well as the