External and Internal Environments Essay Example
External and Internal Environments Essay Example

External and Internal Environments Essay Example

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  • Pages: 6 (1517 words)
  • Published: July 31, 2016
  • Type: Case Study
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The survival and profitability of a corporation depend on effective strategic management of its external and internal environments. Factors such as technological changes and concerns about Internet privacy have a significant impact on daily operations. Successful corporations give priority to developing and implementing an efficient strategic plan to achieve above-average returns.

Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (MetLife) is driven by the need to maintain a competitive advantage, which has led to a deep understanding of its business environment. This analysis will explore the impact of two segments of the general environment on MetLife, identify two competitive forces, assess opportunities and threats in the external environment, and evaluate strengths and weaknesses that influence MetLife internally.

The text discusses the importance of two segments within the general environment on a chosen corporation's influence. It highlights how these segments impact

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the corporation and its industry. The general environment includes economic, sociocultural, technological, and political/legal trends, which indirectly affect corporations. While corporations cannot directly control this environment, changes in any of these segments can ultimately impact them.

MetLife is greatly impacted by economic and technological trends in its day-to-day operations. When the economy is stable and household income increases, consumers have more funds to allocate towards insurance, resulting in a higher demand for insurance services. Conversely, during an unfavorable economic climate, consumers reduce their spending, leading to a decline in the acquisition of products and services.

MetLife's upper management assesses the impact of the economy on business decisions, enabling them to make strategic choices that align with company goals. This helps them offer insurance services at a more affordable price compared to competitors. Technology plays a

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crucial role in converting information into valuable services, and MetLife utilizes it to provide efficient and effective products and services to clients.

MetLife utilizes technology, including computers and software, along with the expertise of their sales representatives. The company employs technology to reduce expenses and uncover enhanced approaches for their products and services. This allows the corporation to ultimately achieve greater profits through technological advancements. Taking into account the five (5) competitive forces, select the two (2) that you believe hold the most importance for your chosen corporation. Evaluate how effectively the company has tackled these two (2) forces in recent times.

Competitive forces are vital in determining a corporation's profitability and are integral to strategy development. All corporations face competition, but successful ones focus on comprehending the competitive forces within their industry and positioning themselves to capitalize on their competitors' vulnerabilities. MetLife often utilizes rivalries among competing firms and the potential of new entrants as means to strengthen its internal capabilities and avoid mistakes. Previously, MetLife maintained a competitive edge over its rivals by adjusting prices for temporary advantages and improving product differentiation.

The corporation enhanced its products and services by incorporating emerging innovations, boosting its market position. Additionally, MetLife achieved consumer loyalty by effectively distinguishing its offerings, reducing the likelihood of customers seeking alternative insurance options. By comprehending the risks posed by new competitors and their root causes, MetLife successfully established entry barriers to deter potential rivals.

To stay competitive in the insurance industry, the company offered comprehensive training to its employees regarding product knowledge. This allowed them to attract and keep clients, preventing competitors like AIA Group and

Aflac from entering the market and trying to influence their clients. Considering these dynamics, it is essential to predict how the company will improve its ability to address these challenges in the future. The emergence of hyper competition has greatly changed how businesses promote and advertise their products.

In order to be ready for upcoming activities, it is essential that upper management at MetLife understands the competition among firms and the potential for new companies entering the market. By actively monitoring both external and internal environments, the corporation can gain a thorough understanding. MetLife can use competitive intensity to create distinct distribution channels that make it easier to analyze direct competitors. This strategy allows the company to utilize technology, like the Internet, for collecting information about local competition, tracking market data, and staying current on industry trends.

MetLife can reduce its expenses and expand its customer base through lowering costs and reaching a wider consumer market. Barriers prevent new businesses from entering the market, while ensuring fair competition for existing corporations. MetLife can strategically leverage new advancements and economies of scale methods to effectively compete with larger firms. Ultimately, as MetLife enhances its economies of scale, it will gain more flexibility and induce internal growth.

Assess the corporation's external threats and opportunities and offer your insight on how to address the most significant ones. It is essential for a corporation to recognize and adapt to the ever-changing and complex external environment as it can greatly affect its performance. The corporation should develop the necessary techniques and capabilities to identify both opportunities and threats in order to effectively navigate this environment.

Market

trends demonstrate that MetLife is presently facing external challenges due to the emergence of banking institutions that provide life insurance products at reduced prices, in addition to the potential risk of ObamaCare replacing employee benefit programs offered by small businesses. Despite these obstacles, MetLife can leverage its diversification growth opportunities by partnering with unrelated corporations to maintain a competitive edge.

MetLife needs to conduct an environmental scan in order to evaluate external threats and discover potential opportunities. This scan will allow the company to determine if it should offer products and services at a lower cost than banks for its existing clients, thus protecting its current market share. In addition, MetLife should also contemplate divesting older businesses that no longer align with its current operations as this would aid in cost reduction.

To improve its brand and increase shareholder value, the company should evaluate its strengths and weaknesses. It needs to develop a strategy that leverages its strengths while addressing any weaknesses. Justified recommendations are crucial as successful companies recognize the importance of strategic management in achieving exceptional returns and gaining a competitive advantage.

By analyzing their internal environment, companies can identify strengths and weaknesses and make adjustments to align with strategic objectives. MetLife excels in collaborating internationally while maintaining leadership in the US market. It also has a substantial client base. However, it lacks global recognition compared to competitors like Hartford (HIG) and Prudential, despite its global presence.

To optimize its strengths and address its weaknesses, MetLife should regularly evaluate its business strategy and conduct a strengths and weaknesses analysis. This analysis will enable the company to connect its

strengths and weaknesses to its internal environment, identifying areas that require improvement. Additionally, it is important to assess the company’s resources, capabilities, and core competencies. Successful corporations are adept at developing core competencies and exceptional capabilities by utilizing their valuable resources.

By effectively managing and aligning their resources, capabilities, and core competencies with their corporate goals, high-performing corporations achieve market success. This leads to a competitive advantage over rivals. MetLife has successfully utilized its resources to achieve high profit margins, satisfy shareholders, maintain a large client base, and establish a global presence. Additionally, the corporation leverages social media networks for selling its products and services. As a result of these strategies, MetLife has earned recognition as a market leader in life insurance, annuities, and employee benefit programs.

MetLife's business strategy execution is dependent on its innovative approach of introducing new products and services in unexplored markets. Moreover, one of MetLife's key advantages is its ability to offer superior offerings to clients, establishing the company as a leading brand in the insurance industry. By analyzing the company's value chain, we can identify areas where they can leverage their resources, capabilities, and aforementioned core competencies. Numerous companies define value as providing exceptional products and services at competitive prices for customers.

The value for corporations is created by the balance between cost and quality, which requires a combination of resources, capabilities, and core competencies to deliver it to customers. MetLife can generate value by offering products and services at a lower price compared to its competitors. This approach can result in higher sales volume, an expanded client base, and ultimately enhanced profitability.

By establishing

strong relationships with employees, clients, and stockholders, MetLife can generate value. These connections give access to external resources and enhance expertise, facilitating the effective utilization of abilities for achieving above-average returns. Additionally, positive client feedback has the potential to attract new customers through word-of-mouth.

The importance of the connection lies in the satisfaction of customers with the product or service and effective communication. MetLife needs to acknowledge that it gains an advantage over competitors by utilizing its resources and abilities to develop skills. Ultimately, this allows companies to generate profits that exceed the average. Both benefits and drawbacks arise from a company's external and internal environments.

In order to succeed, corporations need to leverage their strengths and opportunities while addressing weaknesses and threats. This will enhance efficiency, quality, and customer value, allowing them to maintain competitiveness. It is vital for corporations to align resources, capabilities, and core competencies with the competitive landscape through this strategic approach.

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