Tag Archives: situation analysis

by | Monday, November 14, 2022 · 8:36 am

More Electric Vehicles Make it to Market

There is no doubt that electric vehicles (EV) are seeing an increase in inventory and sales. Globally, electric vehicle sales doubled in 2021 and sales are still strong in 2022. In the second quarter of 2022, EV sales were 5.6% of the total auto market, up 2.7% from the same time a year ago. Consumers are embracing the EV market for its clean energy and solid performing vehicles.

Pricing remains a sticking point with consumers though as many EVs are priced in the range of $50,000 – $100,000 and up. Sure, consumers want to help the environment, but they also face a very real limitation on spending for EVs.

To help position it as a more general option, General Motors plans to release an EV Chevy Equinox in fall 2023 at the lower price point of $30,000. Today, there are few models of any type of EV below $35,000. Complicating the pricing, the costs of battery materials (such as lithium and nickel) have risen significantly. On average, U.S. buyers paid $66,000 for an EV, an increase of 28% from a year ago according to J.D. Power research.

The Inflation Reduction Act is one option to help consumers lower the costs. It offers up to $7,500 in federal EV tax credits, but only for models that meet certain domestic-production requirements. While both new and used cars qualify, there are other restrictions that can limit how much tax credit a consumer receives including income limits and vehicle list prices.

Are you ready to make the leap to an EV vehicle?

Group Activities and Discussion Questions:

  1. Poll students: What is their perception of pricing for EVs in today’s market?
  2. Have students research prices for EV automobiles and SUVs. Build a spreadsheet with information about select vehicles such as Volkswagen, Tesla, Kia, and Toyota.
  3. Have students research the Inflation Reduction Act for federal EV tax credits. What are the caveats?
  4. Show video from WSJ about the EV discounts: https://www.wsj.com/video/series/george-downs/the-climate-bill-unlocks-new-ev-discounts-but-not-everyones-a-winner/26F2FC57-3150-4311-AE3E-705E554AB4D6
  5. Another classroom discussion can focus on how the Inflation Reduction Act fits into an environmental scan for the EV market.

Sources:  Colias, M. (8 September 2022). GM courts mainstream buyers with $30,000 electric Chevy Equinox. Wall Street Journal.; Forbes growth sector: Electric vehicle sales and the new electric economy have arrived (24 September 2022). Forbes.

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by | Tuesday, August 23, 2022 · 7:58 am

World Population Grows to 8 Billion in 2022

Marketers understand the importance of doing research and analyzing demographic factors such as population, gender, education, age, economics and geography. This is why they continually track environmental factors – these factors are important in an organization’s strategy and growth.

Recently, the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs estimates that the global population, while growing slowly at under 1%, will still reach 8 billion people by mid-November, 2022; 8.5 billion by 2030; 9.7 billion by 2050; and 10.4 billion in 2100. This equates to a 31% increase in Earth’s population by the end of the century.

Half of the world’s population lives in seven countries: China (1.426 billion), India (1.417 billion), United States (338 million), Indonesia (276 million), Pakistan (236 million), Nigeria (219 million), and Brazil (215 million). And, next year (2023), India will exceeds China’s population and become the most world’s most populous country.

Population growth is very unequal though; just eight countries will account for more than half of the global population growth before 2050: Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, and Tanzania.

While some countries will experience economic growth per capita, the increasing number of older citizens will pose problems with health care and senior care. By 2050, people ages 65 and older will account for 16% of the global population, up from 10% in 2022.

And let’s not forget the importance of social factors on population. The coronavirus pandemic plays an important part of the slow population growth as well as economic impacts.

The world keeps spinning!

Group Activities and Discussion Questions:

  1. Discuss the importance of environmental scanning.
  2. Show the World Population Clock: https://www.census.gov/popclock/
  3. In class, have teams of students examine different topics within the site.
  4. Video of U.N. Population Report: analysis: https://youtu.be/bZZ9gFnCzCM
  5. The U.N. World Population report can be accessed at https://www.un.org/development/desa/pd/sites/www.un.org.development.desa.pd/files/wpp2022_summary_of_results.pdf
  6. Optional: Assign students to read the report and report on critical information. The report may be divided into sections for different teams.
  7. Based on their analysis, what are the issues and risks that might occur for organizations?
  8. What should organizations do to prepare?

Sources:  Hackett, C. (21 July 2022). Global population projected to exceed 8 billion in 2022; half live in just seven countries. Pew Research Center; Tsui, K. (11 July 2022). World’s population to hit 8 billion before year’s end. Washington Post.; other news sources.

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by | Wednesday, June 22, 2022 · 2:28 pm

“Shrinkflation” Takes Hold in Product Sizing

The small things matter. Small in this case meaning the quantity in a package. In case you haven’t noticed lately, prices are going up and contents are going down.

If you’re not sure about this, consider the new sizes of common household products such as toothpaste and toilet paper. Example: A Crest toothpaste once contained 4.1 ounces of teeth-whitening product, but now contains 3.8 ounces. Gatorade was 32-ounces, but not it is down to 28 ounces. And (in case you are counting sheets) a roll of Cottonelle toilet paper has shrunk to 312 sheets, compared to its former count of 340 sheets.

Meal portions at restaurants have also been impacted. At Subway restaurants, the chicken wraps and sandwiches have less meat now. Domino’s Pizza reduced the order size of boneless wings to 8 pieces from the usual 10 pieces. Burger King is also downsizing its nugget meals from 10 to 8 pieces. What is going on?

At first glance none of this seems too alarming, but this movement is called “shrinkflation” and tends to not retreat once implemented. Shrinkflation is when manufacturers cut down on the product size or volume in a package, rather than raising the price on the customary size. This happens during times of increasing raw materials and supply chain cost increases. It’s not illegal, but it does seem a little sneaky. And, once the new sizes and prices have been accepted, new standards are in place for consumers and their wallets.

Are your foods shrinking?

Group Activities and Discussion Questions:

  1. Poll students: What have they observed in their purchases? Are the sizes or prices the same?
  2. Show video about shrinkflation: https://youtu.be/q13_06F4_HI
  3. Discuss why manufacturers are making these changes. What are the reasons?
  4. How is shrinkflation accounted for in pricing?
  5. Discuss various pricing models: demand-oriented, cost-oriented, profit-oriented, and competition-oriented.
  6. Which pricing model is being used with shrinkflation?
  7. Offer an outside assignment for teams of students. Have them visit a local store and examine products that illustrate shrinkflation.

Sources:  Patton, L. (12 May 2022). Fewer nuggets, smaller salads: Shr9inkflation hits U.S. Restaurant Diners. Bloomberg.; Skores, A. (16 May 2022). Inflation up, product size down. Dallas Morning News.; other news sources.

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