Management Appreciation - Toyota - Essay Example

Management Appreciation Task: Management Appreciation Introduction Toyota motor is among the major auto motive manufacturers in the entire globe. It has a potential of serving over 150 countries. It has its headquartered in Japan and employs about more than 316,121 individuals. Its prime markets include North America, Asia, Japan, and Europe. Factors outside the regular operations of a business or organization constitute of a business environment. They affect the business organization’s decisions directly, and the organization has no control over it. For instance, variation in the consumer’s taste will consequently end up shifting the demand of a particular product such as fashion (Armstrong 2006). SWOT analysis Is a forecasting tool that is used to comprehend the Strengths of a particular organization its Weaknesses, Opportunities, and involved Threats (BHC 1999). It includes identifying the objective of that particular business or organization and specifying the internal and external aspects that are supportive or unfavorable towards achieving that objective. SWOT is also used during the process of strategic planning. Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats make up the acronym SWOT (Austrainer 1999). The SWOT Matrix Model of Toyota Motors Fig. 1.0 favorable Internal unfavorable   Strengths Robust financial performance Brand image Resilient performance in Asia region Research and developmental activities Toyota production system Weaknesses low profitability of ‘financial service’ sector Costs associated with post retirement gains for workers. Opportunities Increase in demand for hybrid electric vehicles Availability of opportunities in Asian market. New models Threats Economic showdown Appreciating of the Japanese yen against the dollar. Tightening of emission standards Competition in the world automotive market. External The SWOT Matrix Model at first sight this might look like a simple and easy model to apply, but to do an effective and meaningful SWOT analysis, one requires time and a significant input and requires teamwork since it cannot be done by just one person effectively (PMI- Plus, Minus, Interesting 1999). PESTEL analysis The decisions of managers of any business are affected by various macro environmental factors. PESTEL analysis describes suitable framework of these factors to be used in the environmental scanning section of strategic management (Havergal & Edmonstone 1999). PESTEL is an acronym for political, economic, social, technological, and legal analysis. These factors can be categorized into: Political factors, economic factors, Social factors, technological factors, environmental factors and legal factors: PESTEL analysis of Toyota Fig. 1.1 Favorable Opportunity 1. Political- support from Japanese government, as well as tax breaks. 2. Technological- development of hybrid gas-electric vehicles. 3. Social- the launching of Aygo stylish model is projected to take the youth market share. 4. Environmental- development of environment friendly vehicles e.g. electric cars, hybrid fuels and components with the help of eco-VAS. 5. Economic- Building up to 100,000 Highlanders a year at the plant, will mean 1,000 jobs, this will be a significant support to the economy. Threats 1. Governments persuading optional forms of transport - cycling and use of public transport 2. Competition- saturation and intense marketing campaigns from competitors 3. Dynamic exchange rates affect profits and raw material cost 4. Changing demographics for instance large families are declining thus reducing demand for large cars for family. 5. Environmental degradation due to pollution. Unfavorable Solutions to the external factors affecting the organization; The company ought to be more flexible and change with the social demographics e. g designing smaller cars for the small families (Rogers 1999). Come up with new technologies that are environmental friendly to avoid pollution to the environment Innovating ways to counter competition by understanding the market, redesigning their marketing strategy and knowing their competitors (Ferrell, Hartline, Lucas & Luck 1998). Executive Assistant Responsibilities An executive assistant is the epicenter of a number of managerial duties that fall under the senior management executives. His/her duties include managing a wide range of administrative tasks such as; scheduling, prioritizing of tasks, representative of the executive, executes the executive’s instructions among others (Parkinson 1993). SWOT and PESTEL techniques help the executive assistant to come up with useful procedure for evaluating the environmental forces on the team or an organization (Boone & Kurtz 1992). It also helps in researching information for future predictions revolving around a given product and marketing campaigns (PMI- Plus, Minus, Interesting 1999). They assist in determining one’s place in the market and make forecast. It is necessary for organization and preparation of meetings and campaign brainstorming. 2. Teamwork in Toyota motors Teamwork is a crucial segment for successful operations in an organization. Toyota, like any other organization, faces teamwork challenges. They include; Undervaluing of team members- Team leaders and managers ought to accept the fact that team members are their most valuable assets and should appreciate them and made to feel that through their contribution value is gained in the Toyota Company as a whole (Altbach, Berdahl, & Gumport 1999). Lack of communication- poor communication disintegrates the team thus reducing efficiency. Communication increases glue between members and team leaders. Poor responses to conflicts in the team- leaders who ignore conflicts within a team will live dodging until conflict is resolved. Hence conflict resolution training is necessary for successful teamwork. Lack of workforce empowerment- discourages workers to grow in their positions on merit Disrespect at the workplace-leaders need to respect their workers and encourage them to respect and treat each other with dignity. Lack of, or poor training and development of the team leaders and their members- Periodic refresher courses are necessary for continuous improvement, equipment training of the team by certified vendors and safety seminars will positively impact on them. Impact of technology on Toyota Technological change has seen the transformation in the automotive industry throughout the world and Toyota is no exception. From hand made cars to robot mass production. Nowadays cars are no longer hand made by car manufacturing companies, or if any, they come with a hefty price tag since the cost of production is normally higher. Companies have now resulted to using robots to perform the lifting, welding and piecing together during assembling of cars. Humans only ensure operations are up to the required standard. The industry has been simply taken over by technology leading to cutting down some of the jobs meant for the workers. Machines are reasonably effective than humans, safer cost effective and accurate. Besides change in the technique of manufacturing cars, there has been a tremendous shift in the use of technology, for example, the use of ABS System Brakes, a shift from the previously used drums. ABS has proved to be quite efficient in wet and snowy conditions. Due to technology computers are in cooperated in cars to control the ABS system, engine, climate and cruising. Technology, if correctly used, is essential for development of Toyota motors. References Rogers, J 1999, Facilitating Groups Management, Futures Ltd, London. Havergal, M & Edmonstone, J 1999, The Facilitator’s Toolkit, Gower Publishing Ltd, United Kingdom. Boone, L & Kurtz, D 1992, Contemporary Marketing, Fort Worth, Dryden Press. Ferrell, O, Hartline, M, Lucas, G & Luck, D 1998, Marketing Strategy, Orlando, Dryden Press. BHC 1999, Swoting Your Way to Success, viewed 14 march 2012 . Armstrong, M 2006, a handbook of Human Resource Management Practice, Kogan, London. Parkinson, J E 1993, Corporate Power and Responsibility, Clarendon Press, Oxford. Altbach P G, Berdahl, R O & Gumport, P J 1999, .American Higher Education in the Twenty First Century: Social, Political and Economic Challenges, The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore and London. Austrainer 1999, developing Your Strategic SWOT Analysis, viewed 14 march 2012 . PMI- Plus, Minus, Interesting 1999, SWOT Analysis- Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats, viewed 14 march 2012, . Read More