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Company: AMD
Single business: 95% or more of firm revenues comes from a single business.
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (AMD) is a semiconductor company that designs,
manufactures and markets microprocessors for the computing, communications
and consumer electronics markets. The company also markets embedded
microprocessors for personal connectivity devices and other consumer markets.
The leading semiconductor company has manufacturing and testing facilities in
the United States, Europe and Asia, and sales offices throughout the world (AMD
2006).
Company: McDonald's
Dominant-business: between 70 and 95% of firm revenues comes from a single
business.
Founded by Ray Kroc in 1948, the fast-food giant primarily franchises and
operates McDonald's restaurants in the food service industry (McDonald’s 2006;
Reuters 2006). It also operates Boston Market and Chipotle Mexican Grill-Chipotle
and has a minority ownership interest in United Kingdom-based Prêt A Manger
(Yahoo Finance 2006).
Though the single product business strategy might undermine business prospects,
McDonald’s Corp. is no stranger to onshore and offshore threats from health
campaigners and national governments. The company’s positive responsiveness
to the markets (such as consumers’ increasing preference for a healthier menu
and environmental pressure groups) would inevitably ensure its survival.
Disney is able to achieve operational efficiency for its four main business units by
sharing technological and marketing resources. The main strengths of Disney’s
internal resources refer to human resources and financial stability. The recent
acquisition of Pixar is a lesson that drives home the company’s intent.
Besides, the company can control costs, and still sustain positive performance of
its theme parks, media network, studio entertainment and consumer products
businesses. Financial risks have been minimised by sharing initial investment
costs with a maximum number of outside participants.
Company: Siemens
Unrelated Diversification: Less than 70% of firm revenues come from a single
business, and there are few, if any, links or common attributes among businesses
(Lynch 2006; Dobson, Starkey & Richards 2005; Hit, Ireland & Hoskisson 2004).
Founded more than 150 years ago, Siemens has a broad and well-balanced
operational portfolio, that includes power generation as well as transmission,
telecommunications, information, transport, automation and also healthcare
(Siemens 2005). These activities are divided into six business areas:
• Information and Communications
• Automation and Control
• Power
• Transportation
• Medical
• Lighting
• Financing and Real Estate
Reference
AMD (2006). SEC Filing: Form 10-K. www.amd.com [Accessed: 27 March 2006]
Apple Computer Inc. (2005). SEC Filing: Form 10-K. www.apple.com [Accessed:
28 March 2006]
Dobson, P., Starkey, K. & Richards, J. (2004). Strategic Management: Issues and
Cases. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing, pp. 87-125.
Hit, M., Ireland, D. & Hoskisson, R. (2004). Strategic Management. 6th Ed.
Oxford: South-Western Educational Publishing Gary, S. (1998). The Dynamics of
Diversification. Quebec: International Dynamic Conference-1998, pp. 4-6.
Lynch, R. (2006). Corporate Strategy. 4th Ed. London: Prentice Hall, pp.416-418.