Question

For the Holson Forest Products Ltd The Challenge of International Markets Case Study published by Harvard Business Review, What are the best strategic alternatives Holson has ? Also please explain the rationale ?

How to attach the case study ? I don't see that option. Moreover, file is PDF version and locked and can't be converted to word doc

Answer 1

1. INTRODUCTION OF Holson Forest Products Ltd The Challenge of International Markets CASE SOLUTION

The Harvard business review has published the Holson Forest Products Ltd The Challenge of International Markets Case Study. Like all HBR case studies, the Holson Forest Products Ltd The Challenge of International Markets Case is designed and drafted in a manner to allow the reader to experience a real-world problem and solve it accordingly. The case study, like other HBR case studies, will help the reader and students develop a broader, and a clearer understanding of the business world and dynamics.

The Holson Forest Products Ltd The Challenge of International Markets Case is based on a current managerial and strategic problem being faced by the organization, which must be solved tactfully to allow progression, as well as maintain a competitive position. This paper is written to facilitate the case solution for the Holson Forest Products Ltd The Challenge of International Markets Case Study.

The case solution for the Holson Forest Products Ltd The Challenge of International Markets Case Study first identifies the central issue that is elaborated on throughout the case. The case solution then analyses the case through relevant strategic models and tools including the SWOT Analysis, Porter Five Forces Analysis, PESTEL Analysis, VRIO analysis, Value Chain Analysis, BCG Matrix analysis, Ansoff Matrix analysis, and the Marketing Mix analysis. This analysis is to help in the identification of a feasible strategy and solution for the Holson Forest Products Ltd The Challenge of International Markets Case Study. Alternative solutions are also proposed in the case solution, primarily because alternative solutions often act as contingency plans.

2. PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION

2.1. Harvard business school case studies

All case studies published by the Harvard business review comprise of a central problem that is faced by the protagonist. This problem mostly holds implications for managerial and strategic directions of the company. For readers and students of HBR case studies, it is critical to identify the problem that the Holson Forest Products Ltd The Challenge of International Markets faces. This problem is usually hinted towards in the introduction of the case and develops along the way.

2.2. Solving HBS case studies

As a result, for solving the Holson Forest Products Ltd The Challenge of International Markets case, it is essential to read the case study thoroughly. The identification of the problem correctly is vital for undergoing the analysis rightly, and for developing relevant solutions for the Holson Forest Products Ltd The Challenge of International Markets Case Study. It is also essential to identify all the appropriate parties that are being impacted by the problem as well as the decision. The correct problem identification will ensure that all the solutions developed during the case analysis of the Holson Forest Products Ltd The Challenge of International Markets Case Study are applicable and pragmatic.

EXTERNAL ENVIRONMENT ANALYSIS

The external environment analysis is needed for the Holson Forest Products Ltd The Challenge of International Markets Case Study to make sure that it actively, and proactively responds to the macro-environment. The macro environment or the external environment for the Holson Forest Products Ltd The Challenge of International Markets Case includes those factors which are not in control of the business or the company directly. As a result:

• The Holson Forest Products Ltd The Challenge of International Markets cannot influence these factors in its favour, and in contrast, these factors directly affect the operations and workings of the company.
• As a result, Holson Forest Products Ltd The Challenge of International Markets must make sure to continually assess and review the external environment to make sure that it responds to external factors, and take them into account, during strategic decisions, and strategy devising.
  Businesses like Holson Forest Products Ltd The Challenge of International Markets make use of strategic model tools continually to make sure that they are aware of the external environment.
• These include tools like the pestle analysis and Porter’s five force model, as well as strategic group analysis and pentagonal analysis, to name a few.
  The external analysis for the Holson Forest Products Ltd The Challenge of International Markets Case Study will assess and will apply the strategic models and tools to review the business environment for the company.PESTEL Analysis

3.1.1. Political

Political factors and elements can have a direct and indirect impact on the business. This is seen through the Holson Forest Products Ltd The Challenge of International Markets Case Study.

3.1.1.1. Policy Makings

• Policymakers for the Holson Forest Products Ltd The Challenge of International Markets Case are in all likelihood to intervene in the business surroundings.
• Commercial restrictions and political stability are additionally integral factors that will determine the success or failure of Holson Forest Products Ltd The Challenge of International Markets.

3.1.1.2. Taxation

• Tax policy will influence the cost of doing business for Holson Forest Products Ltd The Challenge of International Markets.
• An increase in organization taxation (on business profits) has a similar impact as an expansion in expenses.
• Organizations can pass a portion of this increase on to shoppers in more expensive rates, yet it will likewise influence the bottom line of the business.

3.1.1.3. Government Support

• The government helps organizations in two primary ways: monetary help and regulatory.
• Holson Forest Products Ltd The Challenge of International Markets can use government assistance and grants for purposes of growing the business, advancement, exporting, and innovative work.
• Holson Forest Products Ltd The Challenge of International Markets can also be impacted by when Governments modify regulations and laws.

3.1.1.4. Political Stability

• Lack of political stability in a country impacts business tasks. Political stability is particularly essential for the organizations which work globally, such as Holson Forest Products Ltd The Challenge of International Markets.
• A forceful takeover could oust a legislature. The takeover could prompt mobs, plundering and general issue in nature. These disturb business tasks for Holson Forest Products Ltd The Challenge of International Markets.
• Purchasing political risk insurance is a way for Holson Forest Products Ltd The Challenge of International Markets to oversee political hazard. Organizations that have worldwide activities utilise such as insurance to lessen their risk presentation.
• The soundness of a political framework can influence the attractiveness of a specific nearby market for Holson Forest Products Ltd The Challenge of International Markets.

3.1.2. Economic

The economic factors are one of the most important of PESTEL factors and can influence Holson Forest Products Ltd The Challenge of International Markets in several ways.

3.1.2.1. GDP

• Economic components have the most evident effect on the profitability and overall appeal of Holson Forest Products Ltd The Challenge of International Markets.
• Even though GDP per capita is a useful economic factor, GDP per capita gives just a fractional perspective on the economic factors that may influence Holson Forest Products Ltd The Challenge of International Markets.
• Higher GDP leads to higher disposable income and hence higher sales for Holson Forest Products Ltd The Challenge of International Markets.

3.1.2.2. Inflation

• Higher inflation will disintegrate the purchasing power of the consumer and the shopper
• Higher inflation will also harm the costs of raw materials and other inputs that are utilised by Holson Forest Products Ltd The Challenge of International Markets.

3.1.2.3. Interest Rates

• Fluctuations in interest rates may translate into higher or lower costs for the purchase or sale of items and administrations provided by Holson Forest Products Ltd The Challenge of International Markets.
• Higher interest rates hurt the disposable cash of consumers.

3.1.2.4. Unemployment Rate

• A high unemployment rate is also unadvisable as it dissolves dispensable income of consumers, and will harm Holson Forest Products Ltd The Challenge of International Markets ’s position.
• The high unemployment rate will lead to lower sales for Holson Forest Products Ltd The Challenge of International Markets and impact its overall profitability and revenues.

3.1.2.5. How can the Holson Forest Products Ltd The Challenge of International Markets decrease the risk of economic instability?

• Holson Forest Products Ltd The Challenge of International Markets can work towards building economies of scale
• Maintaining business costs and controlling the final price of the product can also help Holson Forest Products Ltd The Challenge of International Markets fight economic instability
• Holson Forest Products Ltd The Challenge of International Markets can also work towards building a sustainably managed workforce

3.1.3. Social

Social influences will stem from social components of the macro environment. Under the PESTEL Analysis, they can influence Holson Forest Products Ltd The Challenge of International Markets in several ways:

3.1.3.1. Social patterns and consumer behaviour

• Social patterns affect work trends and patterns and are directly related to the behaviours of consumers.
• Social patterns also have a direct influence on buyer tastes and inclinations, and the specific kind, structure, and volume of interest for an item or service.

3.1.3.2. Social patterns and changing consumer needs

• The checking of social patterns will enable Holson Forest Products Ltd The Challenge of International Markets to reposition its items or administrations to meet the changing desires and needs of consumers.

3.1.3.3. Social trends in education

• Social trends of higher education have allowed firms like Holson Forest Products Ltd The Challenge of International Markets to have access to a pool of higher skilled talent – but at the same time, also face a more criticising consumer base.
• Higher education has also made consumers more aware of different product offerings by companies like Holson Forest Products Ltd The Challenge of International Markets.
• consumers are also more educated and knowledgeable of different substitutes of a product, as well as become more readily available at different touchpoints.

3.1.4. Technological

The technological factors can influence Holson Forest Products Ltd The Challenge of International Markets in several ways:

3.1.4.1. Innovation

• The quick pace of technological change at Holson Forest Products Ltd The Challenge of International Markets may be driven through innovation.
• Business leadership at Holson Forest Products Ltd The Challenge of International Markets tries to push the limits of present limitations.

3.1.4.2. The advent of the internet and online retailing

• The expansion of the Internet and online business has discarded many intermediaries. Holson Forest Products Ltd The Challenge of International Markets can communicate and retail directly to the consumers now, or through modern intermediaries such as eBay as well, for example.
• Holson Forest Products Ltd The Challenge of International Markets may also use current social networks to retail and use e-commerce to boost sales.

3.1.4.3. Social media and business growth

• Holson Forest Products Ltd The Challenge of International Markets can make use of social media to interact and reach with consumers
• Social media can also be used to reach the target market audience more effectively
• Social media is cost-effective and strategically more influential for Holson Forest Products Ltd The Challenge of International Markets

3.1.4.4. Improved value chain network

• For Holson Forest Products Ltd The Challenge of International Markets, technological innovation can be utilised to build on competitive advantage through several different ways.
• Holson Forest Products Ltd The Challenge of International Markets can incorporate less expensive production, improved access to clients, improved marketing, improvement in product quality, and increased levels of business intelligence than the competition.

3.1.5. Environmental

For Holson Forest Products Ltd The Challenge of International Markets, the environmental aspects of the PESTEL analysis may include:

3.1.5.1. Environmental stability and business standards

• Holson Forest Products Ltd The Challenge of International Markets may be expected to incorporate maintainability standards into their business methodologies and to help resource allocation choices.
• Holson Forest Products Ltd The Challenge of International Markets may also be subject to environmental laws – which will impact and guide its operations to become more environmentally friendly.

3.1.6. Legal

Legal components can influence Holson Forest Products Ltd The Challenge of International Markets directly, and can likewise influence the instruments through which an organization buys its stock or connects with the client. The Holson Forest Products Ltd The Challenge of International Markets should be mindful, for example, of the following legal aspects:

3.1.6.1. Labour law

• Labour law refers to the guidelines in regulations that set up minimum and benchmark conditions.
• These include identifying with the work of people.
• Labour laws include aspects of minimum working age, least time-based compensation, etc.
• Holson Forest Products Ltd The Challenge of International Markets must be mindful of these laws in routine business tasks such as hiring, for example.

3.1.6.2. Discrimination law

• Under the discrimination law, Holson Forest Products Ltd The Challenge of International Markets must ensure to avoid episodes of unequal or uncalled for treatment based on an individual's age, inability, sex, national source, race, religion, and sexual orientation.
• Holson Forest Products Ltd The Challenge of International Markets should train its human resource management team in ensuring that there is no:
  • Unequal hiring
  • Discrimination in recruitment
  • Internal discrimination in talent management
  • Bias in training opportunities
  • Unfair compensation systems
  • Prejudiced promotions and succession management

3.1.6.3. Health and safety laws:

• Under this, Holson Forest Products Ltd The Challenge of International Markets is required to give a protected work environment to their workers.
• Working environment security and wellbeing laws build up guidelines intended to dispense with individual wounds and injuries from happening in the work environment.
• all operations of Holson Forest Products Ltd The Challenge of International Markets should be designed to physically and emotionally safeguard and protect the employees and the labour force employed