Coca Cola Strategy
Executive Summary
The Coca-Cola Company is an almost $2 Billion company that is arguable the world’s largest beverage provider. With presence in over 200 countries Coca-Cola has grown to become a household name since its start in Atlanta, Georgia in 1886. Coca-Cola’s mission “To refresh the world...To inspire moments of optimism and happiness...To create value and make a difference” is achieved in conjunction with its vision that is surrounding six “Ps”. People, Portfolio, Partners, Planet, Profit, and Productivity all working together to be a great place to work, offer drinks consumers want while being conscious of the world and Coca-Cola stakeholders.
In order to be a continually successful company, Coca-Cola understands the need for environmental analysis to include internal and external forces driving the business. Social factors such as the fact that consumers are becoming more health conscious and economic factors such as inflation, recession and unemployment rate should be considered in the environmental scan. The industry environment should also be considered which includes demographics, competitors, and consumer preferences. Internal and external environments can be evaluated with the help of a SWOT analysis.
The SWOT analysis for The Coca-Cola Company reveals that the major strength of the firm is the brand name and the recognizable aspects of it. A weakness as well as an opportunity is the increased awareness of healthy options even with beverages. Another opportunity is that of additional flavors. A threat, as with all companies, is Coca-Cola’s competitors. Keeping ahead of competitors in terms of technology, flavors, and overall customer service will help alleviate the threat of competing firms.
Generic, grand, and global strategies are recommended in addition to value disciplines. Focus strategies of both cost leadership and differentiation are recommended along with market growth. Each of the three value disciplines of operational excellence, product leadership, and customer intimacy are recommended as there are benefits for each in different areas of the Coca-Cola business. These strategies will support the implementation plan that begins with building upon the already successfully developed business structure of Coca-Cola, and continuing a successful path for the growth of the business.
The same strategies will be applied for organizational change management. Both long term and short term goals will be addressed and a risk management plan put in place. The risk management plan will identify and prioritize risks that include new government regulations and potential major changes to the operations. The Coca-Cola Company will look at expanding its product line globally creating a wider consumer market and consider offering new products in other segments of the market. Patent infringement and poor product performance will also be addressed in the risk management plan.