BMW’s Internationalisation Strategy

BMWs Internationalisation Strategy â€Å"Worldwide movement toward economic, financial, trade, and communications integration. Globalization implies opening out beyond local and nationalistic perspectives to a broader outlook of an interconnected and inter-dependent world with free transfer of capital, goods, and services across national frontiers.† Globalization is a process of interface and merger amongst the people, companies, and governments of different states, a process encouraged by international trade and investment and supported by technology. This process has effects on the environment, culture, political structures, economic progress and prosperity. Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (BMW), English: Bavarian Motor Works is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company which was founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the MINI brand, and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars also is under the management of BMW AG. BMW manufactures motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands. BMW is known for its performance and luxury vehicles. BMW cars are being assembled in South Africa since 1968, when Praetor Monteerders’ factory was opened in Rosslyn, near Pretoria. To begin with BMW bought shares in the company, before fully buying it out in 1975. As a result the company was named BMW South Africa; this was the first fully owned subsidiary of BMW AG which was established outside Germany. Despite U.S. manufacturers, such as Ford and GM divesting from the country in the 1980s, BMW continued to maintain full ownership of its operations in South Africa. Subsequent to the fall of apartheid in 1994 and the import duties being reduced, BMW South Africa halted manufacturing of the 5-Series and 7-Series. This was done in order to focus on manufacturing of the 3-Series which was to be exported. BMW South Africa’s cars were now being exported to right hand drive countries which included Japan, Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, etc.; this also included the African Saha ra. Since 1997 BMW South Africa had started producing vehicles in left hand drive which were to be exported to Taiwan, the United States, etc. Austria In 1978, BMW took a decision to begin a joint venture with the Austrian company Steyr-Daimler-Puch to design, produce and sell diesel engines. When this joint venture ended in 1982, BMW took over the plant in the Austrian city of Steyr under its own group. Over time the Austrian factory had become the back bone for engine production and R&D. United States of America BMWs Spartanburg plant in South Carolina, USA commenced operation and began producing BMW automobiles for the world market in 1994. A huge success of these automobiles soon led to extensive structural enlargements at the Spartanburg plant. Its capacity was enlarged by adding additional shifts, introducing flexible working-hour models and hiring new employees. Today, the Spartanburg plant is open six days a week, with circa 110 hours a week of production. United Kingdom The BMW Group brought its flagship brand MINI into the European market in 2000. The first models to be introduced were the MINI One and MINI Cooper. In 2002, the sporty MINI Cooper S was launched, as did the MINI One D with diesel engine in 2003. In 2004, the MINI convertible was launched. The origin of the MINI is the Oxford plant in the United Kingdom. It is totally incorporated into the BMW Group production network. The plant and Mini brand were acquired in 1994 with purchase of the Rover Group.

Economy and Agriculture in Russia Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Economy and Agriculture in Russia - Case Study Example This in turn would be related to the development of agricultural economy and vertical integration of the agricultural market. The discussion here is based on vertical integration of grain agricultural market in transition economies of Eastern Europe (such as Russia) considering both secondary and primary research methods. The deficiencies in research methods are highlighted and the focus is on the agricultural and economic possibilities in Russia and other East European countries. In the context of Russia and other transition economies, it would be essential to analyze whether the Central and Eastern European countries have sustainable levels of agricultural output. However the impediments for emergence of agro food sector may have to be found out (OECD, 1998). The key issues related to structural reforms of the agro food sector especially within transition economies would deal with credit and finance, foreign direct investment, and efficiency matters in the sector. Support levels provided to agricultural companies and initiatives should increase and transition economies are in focus as these globally emerging economies are the ones which will become more important for world markets than the more stable economies. Funke and Ruhwedel (2005) used data from 14 East European transition economies to evaluate the relationship between productivity and economic growth in these regions. The results obtained from trade data suggest that the growth model of East Europea n transition economies may be explained with outward orientation and integration of world economic patterns. Russia's development and economic growth will have to be considered against the 1998 financial crisis that was triggered with the international financial crisis. With the financial crises, declining income and rising prices and inflation led to stockpiling of products for short term needs. Crisis also increased price competitiveness of agriculture and food industry although there has been a reported overall declining performance of the Russian economy after the 1998 crisis, especially within the agro food sector (Serova et al, 1999). The poor institutional settings within Russia and extensive bartering could be detrimental for the economy. Russia follows protectionist measures and measures to counteract food shortages although Serova et al (1999) claim that this may actually increase the inconsistency of Russia's food policies. Seeth et al (1998) draws out on the case of poverty and economic problems in Russia to bring out new dimensions in poverty research, especially within the context of Russia. The urban and rural households in Russia tend to respond to crisis situations and economic stress with increasing dependence on home gardening and subsistence agriculture. Agriculture is especially important for income and food consumption among the middle income strata although the poorer sections of society have very scarce resources and small plots and gardens that may not be adequate for income or food consumption. Household labour force and opportunities available would be some of the main factors that can

Introduction to English - Essay 1 (1000words) Login to unit provided

Introduction to English - 1 (1000words) Login to unit provided - Essay Example While Shakespeare presented his women as unfaithful and loose, Chaucer chose to show women as long-suffering, faithful and virtuous. Troilus and Cressida is set during the mythological war between the Greeks and the Trojans precipitated by a Trojan prince’s act of stealing the wife of a Greek king. The woman named Helen eloped with Paris, son of King Priam of Troy, and left her husband King Menelaus. Menelaus, together with the fierce Greek commanders and the greatest Greek warrior Achilles attacked Troy to vindicate the king’s honor and wrest the lovely Helen back. King Priam and his sons Hector, Paris and Troilus relentlessly defended Troy and a war lasting for more than a decade subsequently raged. Amidst this turbulent background, Troilus, Priam’s youngest son fell in love with Cressida, the daughter of a Trojan priest named Calchas. Troilus sought Cressida’s affection through her uncle Patroclus who, acting as a pimp more than a kinsman, set up a meeting between the two. On the initial meeting, Troilus proposed his love and Cressida although coyly at first, readily gave in. The sw ift development was marked by of faithfulness and Cressida, declared that â€Å"From false to false, among maids in love, Upbraid my falsehood! when they’ve said ‘as false As air, as water, wind, or sandy earth, As fox to lamb, as wolf to heifers’s calf, Pard to the hind, or stepdame to her son,† â€Å"Yea† let them say say, to stick the heart of falsehood, ‘As false as Cressid.† They ended up in bed together. Soon after, Cressida’s words were put to a test when her father Calchas defected to the Greeks who had camped outside Troy and suggested that a valuable Trojan prisoner be set off with his daughter Cressida. Since the Trojan prisoner was a valuable officer, the set off was readily agreed to by King Priam and his sons to the dismay of Troilus who was not able to stop the deal. Before she left, Cressida and Troilus pledged once more