[cncn]

(Original post by PPF)
hmmm, but the question is HOW corporate cultures are formed which is got to do with business aims, treatment of staff and risk of new decisons etc

damn it, didnt read the question properly, yes aims, objectives, mission statement, management behaviour, external factors such as recent break pedal incident etc.

[cncn]

(Original post by PPF)
• Toyota has a gearing ratio of 44.4% evaluate the extent to which Toyota should develop its markets (8)

gearing ratio formula
toyota is mid-high geared
would be able to borrow from banks
toyota has built up large brand name so banks will be willing to lend due to reliability
need to grow to raise battered sales
shareholders may seen future gain from this
market devl definition

evaluation

upward trend- could be risky if change in economy (reccesion) or due to changes in Interest rates

Roce is very low (0.75) better of earning interest from bank deposits

could you argue that banks may be unwilling to lend due to the very low net profit margins recently, additionally wouldn't increasing the gearing ratio be quite risky given the poor financial ratios (net profit, roce etc.) making the situation even more volatile/risky?

[PPF]

(Original post by cncn)
damn it, didnt read the question properly, yes aims, objectives, mission statement, management behaviour, external factors such as recent break pedal incident etc.

brilliant, your getting an A*, i see the spark in you budd!

[PPF]

indeed, but remember analysis and evaluations are mostly for and against, i like to start with for before and then evaluate. so firstly state yes they should, then in evaluation you can say the opposite side as you mentioned.

[cncn]

(Original post by PPF)
indeed, but remember analysis and evaluations are mostly for and against, i like to start with for before and then evaluate. so firstly state yes they should, then in evaluation you can say the opposite side as you mentioned.

got it, i always get a bit over excited and the structure of my answers suffers, haha an A* i wish! we can only hope!

[cncn]

(Original post by PPF)
Analyse how Toyota uses CSR policies to improve its public image (8)

1. Define CSR (doing more than bare minimum legal requirements, being ethical etc.), reference evidence C 'guiding principles' - 'honor every nation, dedicate ourselves to providing clean and safe products, respect culture and customs of every nation'. Follow with discussion about how this is likely to have positive and negative implications for Toyota, positive in the sense that sales may increase due to a USP of being socially responsible, but negative in the sense that profits may be reduced due to increased costs of providing 'safe and clean' products. The CSR policies could also be viewed as cynical due to the recent safety recalls, doing more harm than good for Toyota.

[PPF]

Its possible for Boston Matrix to come up, what do you reckon Toyota is? I would say Cash Cow overall as its got largest market share, Corolla is best selling car and also market growth has been 4th from lowest out of 22 firms i believe in the UK?

[PPF]

(Original post by cncn)
1. Define CSR (doing more than bare minimum legal requirements, being ethical etc.), reference evidence C 'guiding principles' - 'honor every nation, dedicate ourselves to providing clean and safe products, respect culture and customs of every nation'. Follow with discussion about how this is likely to have positive and negative implications for Toyota, positive in the sense that sales may increase due to a USP of being socially responsible, but negative in the sense that profits may be reduced due to increased costs of providing 'safe and clean' products. The CSR policies could also be viewed as cynical due to the recent safety recalls, doing more harm than good for Toyota.

Yup, and also recently Toyota closed a manufacturing plant in NUMMI which led to 4700 job cuts so you could question their ethicality ( i know its not a word lol)

[cncn]

(Original post by PPF)
Analyse Two difficulties Toyota could face in changing its corporate culture (6)

Define corporate culture, state two difficulties: 1. deeply embedded old culture in old/long serving employees (would be very difficult to change their deep-rooted culture of being very product orientated etc.) 2. cost of implementing this change (offices/manufacturing lines may need to be redesigned/changed, physical things that cost money in order to aid culture change etc.) Overall changing culture would be very difficult, and no easy task, Toyota would either have to lay off many old staff and replace with new, younger people on which to apply their new culture (obviously bad for overall employee morale) or implement a gradual, slow change - which would not be immediate.

[PPF]

(Original post by cncn)
Define corporate culture, state two difficulties: 1. deeply embedded old culture in old/long serving employees (would be very difficult to change their deep-rooted culture of being very product orientated etc.) 2. cost of implementing this change (offices/manufacturing lines may need to be redesigned/changed, physical things that cost money in order to aid culture change etc.) Overall changing culture would be very difficult, and no easy task, Toyota would either have to lay off many old staff and replace with new, younger people on which to apply their new culture (obviously bad for overall employee morale) or implement a gradual, slow change - which would not be immediate.

Yeah and there would be a cultural divide as the "Japanese" culture as you say is embedded, this would also lead to disruption of the production process which is really bad for an mnc of such size

[cncn]

(Original post by PPF)
Yup, and also recently Toyota closed a manufacturing plant in NUMMI which led to 4700 job cuts so you could question their ethicality ( i know its not a word lol)

yes definitely

Isn't the Boston Matrix more for actual products rather than companies as it is a product portfolio analysis tool? In terms of their actual models, I think the lexus is a star (luxury, high quality, niche market) and the Corrolla could be the cash cow - becoming more stable, not much growth?

Yes their growth has been terrible, the UK is a very small market for them, but it is still not good, they are getting dominated by the competition, I think the most important thing in the car market is now gaining market share, as the amount of sales in the market is quite steady.

I think an Ansoff Matrix question is more likely than a Boston Matrix question, at least based on the evidence we have been given so far.

[Rizzy J]

(Original post by PPF)
Tutor2u Toolkit

Shout out to Rizzy J! Where are you?

Yo!!! I'm here!!! didn't see this thread till now... Thanks for ppt but got a printed copy of it.

[PPF]

(Original post by cncn)
yes definitely

Isn't the Boston Matrix more for actual products rather than companies as it is a product portfolio analysis tool? In terms of their actual models, I think the lexus is a star (luxury, high quality, niche market) and the Corrolla could be the cash cow - becoming more stable, not much growth?

Yes their growth has been terrible, the UK is a very small market for them, but it is still not good, they are getting dominated by the competition, I think the most important thing in the car market is now gaining market share, as the amount of sales in the market is quite steady.

I think an Ansoff Matrix question is more likely than a Boston Matrix question, at least based on the evidence we have been given so far.

yeah i thought so to but in 2010 Bromptons the firm was said to be a problem child. Not sure TBH because they wouldnt expect us to have knowledge about their product portfolio

[PPF]

(Original post by Rizzy J)
Yo!!! I'm here!!! didn't see this thread till now... Thanks for ppt but got a printed copy of it.

Ahh how you doing? ready for tomorrow?

[Rizzy J]

(Original post by PPF)
Ahh how you doing? ready for tomorrow?

NOO!! started revising today wah bout u?

[snooper]

Hihi..

Do you guys think Appraisal will come up?
What about ratio analysis? I think ratio analysis will likely come up. What about decision trees and Critical Path Analysis?

[Rizzy J]

(Original post by Basinga)
Has anyone got the mark scheme for the Jan paper? It's not on the Edexcel website - thanks in advanceee

(Original post by cncn)
I don't have it either - if anyone could provide this it would be very useful.

Enjoy x

[Rizzy J]

Evaluate the use of TQM for toyota (30)

Bullet points answers would be great!!!

[PPF]

(Original post by Rizzy J)
Evaluate the use of TQM for toyota (30)

Bullet points answers would be great!!!

****, isnt this from Unit 2? You on about lean production?

Reduced average costs ( less inventory )
Shorter lead times
Kaizen improves quality over time

actually i have no clue

[cncn]

(Original post by PPF)
****, isnt this from Unit 2? You on about lean production?

Reduced average costs ( less inventory )
Shorter lead times
Kaizen improves quality over time

actually i have no clue

Yes that is definitely from Unit 2 - there won't be such a specific question but we could mention that with Kaizen, JIT etc.