The Future Pipe Group: An Analysis

This suggests that the key to survival in the industry is becoming very efficient and effective. A rule of thumb is that if you have a new product you buy for 80 cents and sell for a dollar, that's not a bad product, so margins are thin. Likewise, if a company turns its pipe inventory six times, it has on average a two-month inventory in stock. If the market price (your resale price) drops 10 percent in that period and it is two months until the company can replace that material, that 10 percent reduction is a 50 percent reduction in the company's gross margin.

Worldwide, the construction industry is growing at an annual rate of about 4%, while the building materials business generates about $79 billion annually. More than any other economic sector, construction is the world's biggest employer. Traditionally (at least dating from 1956 to around 1970) American building contractors accounted for 90% of the world's construction. The construction power shift has moved from the United States to Japan. Gigantic builders such as Shimizu, TAISEI, OBAYASHI, Mitsui Fudosa, and Kumagai Gumi now control a sizable share of the international construction business.

One peculiarity that is not often mentioned in guidebooks is that the order of information presentation is notably different. Whereas some nations (Japan, America, England) place action plans at the end of a report, this is not the case in France. Another oddity discovered was that it is essential to learn how to pay attention to contextual clues, especially when the French say no (Kenny & Lacy, 1994).

In other countries, it's usually helpful to appear positive, to be perceived as ready, willing and able to get things done. At least to try to get things done. In France, many opening statements and negotiations will begin with "no" or "it's impossible" and proceed from there.

At the same time, there is a great respect for titles, and it is very bad business (learned the hard way) to address a person by his or her first name. When a person is ready to be addressed by his or her first name, they will let you know. And it is no good to ask them to call you by your first name, since that creates a negative social air. It took some months in France before realizing that many people introduce themselves using their last names first. For example, Maurice Jouvet might shake hands and say Jouvet Maurice, so it is best to make sure whether the name is the first or the last.

Employee-employer relations are also quite different in France. In the United States, and in certain Asian countries and parts of Europe, there is the assumption that both employee and employer have somewhat of an equal footing, since the relationship is one of equal opportunity, one that is affected by the market place law of supply and demand.

 

Ordercustompaper.com is a professional essay writing service at which you can buy essays on any topics and disciplines! All custom essays are written by professional writers!