Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems for Economy

Negotiation Process

Basic Elements in a Negotiation:

• Communication Process: It's the means through which negotiation results are constructed.
• Persuasion: Involves using words, silences (active listening), and gestures.
• Resolving Differences: Different needs enable value creation through idea generation.
• Result-Oriented: Focused on achieving win-win, win-lose, or lose-lose outcomes.
• Formal Process: Each phase contributes to the final result.
• Impacts Relationships: Cooperation positively affects negotiation outcomes.
• Cooperative Attitude: Parties work together for mutually beneficial solutions.

Closing Techniques:

• Summary Close: Summarize key points leading to a logical conclusion.
• Alternative Close: Offer two choices to move the deal forward.
• Artisan Close:

Exercise 1

a) Adaptation

• Product:
  • Pro: Greater local acceptance.
  • Con: Increased production costs.
• Placement:
  • Pro: Improved accessibility.
  • Con: Logistical complexity.
• Price:
  • Pro: Enhanced local competitiveness.
  • Con: Inconsistent brand perception.
• Promotion:
  • Pro: Greater cultural relevance.
  • Con: Higher marketing campaign costs.

b) Standardization

• Product:
  • Pro: Economies of scale.
  • Con: Less adaptation to local tastes.
• Placement:
  • Pro: Logistical simplification.
  • Con: Less market coverage.
• Price:
  • Pro: Brand consistency.
  • Con: Less competitive in some markets.
• Promotion:
  • Pro: More cost-effective global campaigns.
  • Con: Less cultural effectiveness.

c) Suggested Decision

I would recommend a hybrid strategy, adapting key aspects (like flavor and promotion) to local markets while... Continue reading "Adaptation vs. Standardization in Marketing" »

Structure-Behavior-Performance Paradigm

The structure-behavior-performance paradigm, the basis of traditional industrial organization (IO), examines how companies behave within a given market structure. The new IO, however, inverts this logic, starting with how strategic behavior affects market structure. Both approaches agree that market structure influences market outcomes.

Defining Markets

Standard Production Classification

One method to define markets uses standard production classification. This system builds concentration data, but requires classifying multi-product companies. The procedure is:

1. Classify companies by their main product based on sales.
2. Calculate total sales for each market.
3. Calculate market shares and concentration indices.

Companies... Continue reading "Market Structure, Behavior, and Performance: Analysis" »

Steady State in the Solow Growth Model

In the Solow growth model, the steady state refers to a long-run equilibrium where key economic variables (such as capital per worker, output per worker, and consumption per worker) do not change over time. This occurs when the economy reaches a point where the capital stock per worker, k, is constant because investment (savings) equals depreciation, and no additional net investment is happening.

The IS Relation and Goods Market Equilibrium

The IS relation (or IS curve) represents the relationship between the interest rate (r) and the level of output (Y) that ensures equilibrium in the goods market. It reflects the combinations of interest rates and output levels at which the total demand for goods equals... Continue reading "Macroeconomic Concepts: IS-LM, Solow Model, Natural Rates" »

This document outlines several fundamental business strategy frameworks crucial for analyzing market dynamics, competitive landscapes, and internal capabilities.

PESTEL Analysis: External Environmental Factors

The PESTEL analysis identifies key environmental variables that may influence a business, either positively or negatively. Choosing critical dimensions is essential for effective analysis.

• Political: Government agencies, pressure groups, lobbies, etc.
• Economic: Income, prices, inflation, debt, credit, etc.
• Sociocultural: Population, birth rate, lifestyle, consumption habits, etc.
• Technological: Innovation, technological changes.
• Ecological: Raw materials, sustainability, recycling, etc.
• Legal: Regulations related to competition, consumers, and

Key Business Acronyms

• CCP: Chinese Communist Party
• OCA: Online Choice Architecture
• EBIT: Earnings Before Interest and Taxes
• CRS: Corporate Social Responsibility
• GPS: Global Positioning System
• COGS: Cost of Goods Sold

Scott Galloway on the Modern Business Landscape

Professor Scott Galloway highlights oil as the most important commodity. However, in the current era, he argues that social media platforms like TikTok are the real deal, although he believes TikTok should be banned due to its links with the CCP, which he considers a tool of espionage.

Innovation Strategies of Supermajors

Supermajors, or large oil and gas companies, are employing innovative strategies such as:

• Emotional Resonance: Engaging users through comments and attractive content.
• Offloading

Business Functions and Logistics

• Core Functions: Administration, Human Resources (HR), Technology, Procurement
• Logistics & Operations: Inbound Logistics, Operations, Sales, Service, Outbound Logistics

Key Information Systems

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)

• Integrated system covering: Sales, Production, Finance, HR
• Characteristics: Complex, Costly

Supply Chain Management (SCM)

• Manages: Supply, Production, Distribution
• Covers: Inbound Logistics, Manufacturing, Outbound Logistics
• Focus: Inventory Cost reduction
• Related Concepts: Key Performance Indicators (KPI) for efficiency, Just-In-Time (JIT)

Customer Relationship Management (CRM)

• Types: Operational, Analytical, Collaborative
• Process: Capture customer data, Analysis, Change business processes
• Goals:

International Trade

• Finished Merchandise - Certificate of Manufacture
• Issue - Letter of Credit to Finance
• Arrange Shipment - Bill of Landing
• Warehouse - Customs
• The Flow of Goods - Applied to Imports
• Freight or Cargo - Inspection Shows
• Required Standards - Check the Contents
• The Supplier Provides - The Payment
• The Seller Meets - To Arrange Transport
• The Merchandise at All Times - Most Trade
• Incoterms - Responsible for the Goods
• The Goods to Port - A Quoted Price
• Transport Charges

Shipping

• Cargo Complete
• Consignee
• Contact
• Container Terminal
• Free of Damage
• Free of Charge
• Freight Container
• Guarantee
• Load
• Loss
• Port of Discharge
• Port of Origin
• Quote
• Rates
• Reliable
• Shipper
• Unload
• Vessel
• Volume
• Worldwide

Import and Export

• Advantage
• Buyer
• Ensure
• Export
• Follow-up
• Foreign
• Import
• Investment
• Manage

The Tourist Demand

Evolution of Tourist Demand

1948: The U.N.'s Universal Declaration of Human Rights declared travel as a human right. This has led to the concept of Responsible Tourism we see today.

History: Tourist demand has consistently increased over time. Leiper's Outbound Region model highlights that tourist demand is the outcome of activities and decisions made by individuals in the generating region.

Studies on the Evolution of Tourist Demand

UN (1948): Declared everyone has the right to "relief and leisure, including (...) some periodic paid holidays".

UNWTO (1980): The Declaration of Manila stated the ultimate aim of tourism is "the improvement of the quality of life and the creation of better life standards for all nations." This marked... Continue reading "Evolution & Determinants of Tourist Demand: A Comprehensive Guide" »

Trade

Definition and Types

Trade is the buying and selling of products and services to satisfy the needs of the population. There are two main types of trade:

• Domestic trade
• International trade

Elements of Trade

• Sellers: Individuals or companies that have goods or services they want to sell.
• Buyers: Individuals or companies that buy products.
• Goods: Products that are bought and sold for money.
• Markets: Places where commercial transactions take place (e.g., physical markets, farmers' markets, online marketplaces).

Characteristics of Trade Today

• Large quantities of goods are in constant movement between different regions.
• There is a worldwide network of trading partners.
• Trade, along with transportation, provides jobs for people.
• It is dominated by an ever-