Ashland Inc. (NYSE: ASH) is a Fortune 500 company which operates in more than 100 countries throughout the world. Presently based in Covington, Kentucky, in the United States, the company traces its roots back to Ashland, Kentucky (for which it is named).

The broad scope of the research topic is the foremost concern when it comes to the identifiable limitations and barriers of the research activity but the holistic approach likewise will enable the researcher to contribute fully to the academe as well as to the involved business industries that will be analyzed. Meanwhile, when it comes to the selected data gathering procedures, limitations and shortcomings could be expected in the data gathering procedures. Beginning from the sampling techniques that will be used to identify the participants of the study up to the facilitation of the survey forms and the interview sessions, difficulties will be expected. But with the support of the academe to the research activity and the explanations that will be provided regarding the important contributions of the study to the business industry upon completion, will serve as gateway to the successful research accomplishment. Other political, economic, as well as social issues and constraints are also expected while conducting the research activity which will be evident in the different stakes of the participants and the companies they represent.

While the massive anti-aging industry provides a ray of hope for some consumers, it seems that many are realistic.

Recent Mintel research found that 69% of consumers believe how you age is mostly genetic, and external products are more hope than help.
Additionally, eight in ten consumers think diet and exercise are the most important factors associated with aging skin and 78% say using sunscreen is the real key to preventing visible signs of aging.

While many consumers say aging is controlled by diet, exercise and genetics 69% also report that the earlier you start using age prevention remedies, the better off you are.

“There’s a sizable gap between opinion and practice,” says Kat Fay, senior beauty analyst.

“While there are no guarantees when it comes to anti-aging skincare purchases, many women buy the products anyway with the hope of achieving visible results. They adopt the ‘it’s better to try something than do nothing’ approach.”

The $832 million anti-aging skincare market has experienced decelerated growth in the past year, but sales are expected to increase 46% in current prices from 2010-15 according to Mintel. It seems even when times are tough, women are still reluctant to cut back on their favorite anti-aging and beauty products.

Currently, just 24% of consumers report using anti-aging skincare products. Another 21% have used wrinkle-reducing facial skincare products in the past year and 18% report using skin rejuvenating products. Meanwhile, 39% of consumers who are concerned with aging have not taken any action to prevent or reverse the signs of aging.

“Respondents aged 25-54 report the most likelihood to use facial skincare products with anti-aging, wrinkle-reducing, and skin rejuvenating properties,” adds Kat Fay.

“This makes sense, as at age 25 many people are likely beginning to see the first signs of aging and want to prevent further signs. Through middle age they are trying to reverse the signs; and after age 55 they are likely more resigned to aging and less inclined to spend.”

For consumers who are concerned about aging, the entire face is the biggest concern (48%) followed by the eye area (41%), the stomach (40%) and the neck (31%).


Research Questions and Background of the Study

As seen in the study of Doole & Lowe (2006), the strategies used by most companies in different markets allows them to predict the future of their business. Actually, these different modes of strategies will helped the organisation to have a good understanding of how the market operates. Moreover, the diverse markets will help in introducing to the organisation the cultures and characteristics of the markets thus it became knowledgeable with how to amend in the different setting. Actually, Doole & Lowe (2006) justified that the diverse strategies contributes in lessening the impact of business factors in starting up a business.

In a multinational market, the level of assimilation, and also the simplicity and rate of stream of supplies, are small, while public and local governments are influential and institutional investors are frail. Although for many products the world economy represents one market, saturation, together with a large number of competitors, cultural differences, and local government barriers and business practices, make competition around the globe rather complex.

The transformation of the world economy from a multinational to a global market has unleashed unprecedented competitive forces across national borders and local markets, dictating a new competitive paradigm and organizational structure for international businesses (Mourdoukoutas 1999).

Businesses are continuously developing. Multinational companies recognized the similarities between international markets and most of them tried it to integrate into the overall global strategy. Such changes actually affect the overall performance of a certain business. With this regard, this paper will be discussing the impact of global integration to a mobile phone service company. Global integration simply corresponds to the identification of similarities between international markets and integrates it to overall global strategy. Meaning to say, different variables in global perspective should carefully assessed by businesses who wanted to adopt global integration.

The primary drive of companies and firms to integrate globally is their intention or desire to expand and widen their target markets. The expansion and widening of the target markets of international firms indicates that the firm has enough resources to sustain and maintain its operations and production. Expansion of the company also indicates that the company has acquired enough knowledge in maintaining the operation of the company, thus, more learned and experienced in its own industry. This is a major factor to recognize, for with the desire to expand, the company aims for more profit and sales, which would enable to company to become more established in its industry. Second major factor to recognize and emphasize is the role of diversification, which is related to the presence of different cultures and races in the company. Several positive effects are attributed to diversification, and includes efficient resource allocation through internal capital markets, the increase in the ability of firms to internalize market failures, and increase in productivity (as cited in Li & Jin, 2006). In addition, diversification can also increase the generation of ideas, for more individuals become involved in the processes of the firm. Employees are also exposed to more cultures, practices and knowledge, thus, developing its organizational culture. Third major influence is the open opportunities for firms to engage in new business ventures, which would provide them with chances for more profit and prestige. New business ventures involve the production of new products or the innovation of a specific product or service. Fourth major influence or drive is the fact that firms may achieve fame or prestige if it globalize. The establishment of name, product/service, and reputation in specific countries and continents gives the business organization a chance to be regarded as one of the most successful business organizations in the whole world, thus, becoming more established in its own industry. Last major influence is the possibility of attracting new and more talents and skills in the company, which would give the organization the edge of performing well over other companies.
 

jamescord

MP Guru
Ashland Inc. (NYSE: ASH) is a Fortune 500 company which operates in more than 100 countries throughout the world. Presently based in Covington, Kentucky, in the United States, the company traces its roots back to Ashland, Kentucky (for which it is named).

The broad scope of the research topic is the foremost concern when it comes to the identifiable limitations and barriers of the research activity but the holistic approach likewise will enable the researcher to contribute fully to the academe as well as to the involved business industries that will be analyzed. Meanwhile, when it comes to the selected data gathering procedures, limitations and shortcomings could be expected in the data gathering procedures. Beginning from the sampling techniques that will be used to identify the participants of the study up to the facilitation of the survey forms and the interview sessions, difficulties will be expected. But with the support of the academe to the research activity and the explanations that will be provided regarding the important contributions of the study to the business industry upon completion, will serve as gateway to the successful research accomplishment. Other political, economic, as well as social issues and constraints are also expected while conducting the research activity which will be evident in the different stakes of the participants and the companies they represent.

While the massive anti-aging industry provides a ray of hope for some consumers, it seems that many are realistic.

Recent Mintel research found that 69% of consumers believe how you age is mostly genetic, and external products are more hope than help.
Additionally, eight in ten consumers think diet and exercise are the most important factors associated with aging skin and 78% say using sunscreen is the real key to preventing visible signs of aging.

While many consumers say aging is controlled by diet, exercise and genetics 69% also report that the earlier you start using age prevention remedies, the better off you are.

“There’s a sizable gap between opinion and practice,” says Kat Fay, senior beauty analyst.

“While there are no guarantees when it comes to anti-aging skincare purchases, many women buy the products anyway with the hope of achieving visible results. They adopt the ‘it’s better to try something than do nothing’ approach.”

The $832 million anti-aging skincare market has experienced decelerated growth in the past year, but sales are expected to increase 46% in current prices from 2010-15 according to Mintel. It seems even when times are tough, women are still reluctant to cut back on their favorite anti-aging and beauty products.

Currently, just 24% of consumers report using anti-aging skincare products. Another 21% have used wrinkle-reducing facial skincare products in the past year and 18% report using skin rejuvenating products. Meanwhile, 39% of consumers who are concerned with aging have not taken any action to prevent or reverse the signs of aging.

“Respondents aged 25-54 report the most likelihood to use facial skincare products with anti-aging, wrinkle-reducing, and skin rejuvenating properties,” adds Kat Fay.

“This makes sense, as at age 25 many people are likely beginning to see the first signs of aging and want to prevent further signs. Through middle age they are trying to reverse the signs; and after age 55 they are likely more resigned to aging and less inclined to spend.”

For consumers who are concerned about aging, the entire face is the biggest concern (48%) followed by the eye area (41%), the stomach (40%) and the neck (31%).


Research Questions and Background of the Study

As seen in the study of Doole & Lowe (2006), the strategies used by most companies in different markets allows them to predict the future of their business. Actually, these different modes of strategies will helped the organisation to have a good understanding of how the market operates. Moreover, the diverse markets will help in introducing to the organisation the cultures and characteristics of the markets thus it became knowledgeable with how to amend in the different setting. Actually, Doole & Lowe (2006) justified that the diverse strategies contributes in lessening the impact of business factors in starting up a business.

In a multinational market, the level of assimilation, and also the simplicity and rate of stream of supplies, are small, while public and local governments are influential and institutional investors are frail. Although for many products the world economy represents one market, saturation, together with a large number of competitors, cultural differences, and local government barriers and business practices, make competition around the globe rather complex.

The transformation of the world economy from a multinational to a global market has unleashed unprecedented competitive forces across national borders and local markets, dictating a new competitive paradigm and organizational structure for international businesses (Mourdoukoutas 1999).

Businesses are continuously developing. Multinational companies recognized the similarities between international markets and most of them tried it to integrate into the overall global strategy. Such changes actually affect the overall performance of a certain business. With this regard, this paper will be discussing the impact of global integration to a mobile phone service company. Global integration simply corresponds to the identification of similarities between international markets and integrates it to overall global strategy. Meaning to say, different variables in global perspective should carefully assessed by businesses who wanted to adopt global integration.

The primary drive of companies and firms to integrate globally is their intention or desire to expand and widen their target markets. The expansion and widening of the target markets of international firms indicates that the firm has enough resources to sustain and maintain its operations and production. Expansion of the company also indicates that the company has acquired enough knowledge in maintaining the operation of the company, thus, more learned and experienced in its own industry. This is a major factor to recognize, for with the desire to expand, the company aims for more profit and sales, which would enable to company to become more established in its industry. Second major factor to recognize and emphasize is the role of diversification, which is related to the presence of different cultures and races in the company. Several positive effects are attributed to diversification, and includes efficient resource allocation through internal capital markets, the increase in the ability of firms to internalize market failures, and increase in productivity (as cited in Li & Jin, 2006). In addition, diversification can also increase the generation of ideas, for more individuals become involved in the processes of the firm. Employees are also exposed to more cultures, practices and knowledge, thus, developing its organizational culture. Third major influence is the open opportunities for firms to engage in new business ventures, which would provide them with chances for more profit and prestige. New business ventures involve the production of new products or the innovation of a specific product or service. Fourth major influence or drive is the fact that firms may achieve fame or prestige if it globalize. The establishment of name, product/service, and reputation in specific countries and continents gives the business organization a chance to be regarded as one of the most successful business organizations in the whole world, thus, becoming more established in its own industry. Last major influence is the possibility of attracting new and more talents and skills in the company, which would give the organization the edge of performing well over other companies.

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I am also uploading a document which will give more detailed explanation on the Annual Report on Ashland Inc.
 

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