Scotts Miracle Gro
Unit 7 Scotts Miracle Gro: The Spreader Sourcing Decision Case Study Analysis
Kaplan University
School of Business and Management
MT460 Management Policy and Strategy
Author: Ashley Toores
Date: September 17, 2012
Introduction
The world’s leading supplier of do it yourself garden and lawn care, Scotts Miracle Gro was created in a 1995 merger between Miracle Grow and The Scotts Company and is backed by the established history of its founding companies. In 1951 Horace Hagedon started Miracle Gro, which was the leading brand in lawn care chemicals before the merger, while The Scotts long history dates back to 1886 when Orlando McLean Scott founded the company that in 1907 started distributing grass seeds and started producing seed spreaders in the 1930’s (Pearce & Robinson, 2011). According to Scotts Miracle Gro (2010), the company’s vision is “to enable people of all ages to express themselves on their piece of earth”. Reaching this vision takes strategic plans and proper implementation.
In a firm utilizing strategic management, functional tactics are utilized by management to aid in the overall company strategic goals and objectives. According to Pearce and Robinson (2012), functional tactics are the key, routine activities that a firm encounters in each functional area of its business that attempt to translate the grand strategy into action designed to meet specific short term objectives. Many times functional tactics are outsourced to external companies worldwide allowing the firm to save money and focus attention on aspects of the business that give them the most competitive advantage.
Synopsis of the Situation In 1992, the Scotts Company strategically acquired Republic Tool & Manufacturing Company to aid in their seed spreader development that included various models (Pearce & Robinson, 2011). This acquisition gave the company the ability to differentiate themselves by offering consumers the seed spreader that best fits
Kaplan University
School of Business and Management
MT460 Management Policy and Strategy
Author: Ashley Toores
Date: September 17, 2012
Introduction
The world’s leading supplier of do it yourself garden and lawn care, Scotts Miracle Gro was created in a 1995 merger between Miracle Grow and The Scotts Company and is backed by the established history of its founding companies. In 1951 Horace Hagedon started Miracle Gro, which was the leading brand in lawn care chemicals before the merger, while The Scotts long history dates back to 1886 when Orlando McLean Scott founded the company that in 1907 started distributing grass seeds and started producing seed spreaders in the 1930’s (Pearce & Robinson, 2011). According to Scotts Miracle Gro (2010), the company’s vision is “to enable people of all ages to express themselves on their piece of earth”. Reaching this vision takes strategic plans and proper implementation.
In a firm utilizing strategic management, functional tactics are utilized by management to aid in the overall company strategic goals and objectives. According to Pearce and Robinson (2012), functional tactics are the key, routine activities that a firm encounters in each functional area of its business that attempt to translate the grand strategy into action designed to meet specific short term objectives. Many times functional tactics are outsourced to external companies worldwide allowing the firm to save money and focus attention on aspects of the business that give them the most competitive advantage.
Synopsis of the Situation In 1992, the Scotts Company strategically acquired Republic Tool & Manufacturing Company to aid in their seed spreader development that included various models (Pearce & Robinson, 2011). This acquisition gave the company the ability to differentiate themselves by offering consumers the seed spreader that best fits
References: ACE. (2012). What are the advantages and disadvantages of drop spreaders and broadcast spreaders?. Retrieved from http://www.westlakehardware.com/what-are-the-advantages-and-disadvantages-of-drop-spreaders-and-broadcast-spreaders Begginers Guide. (n.d.). What are the advantages/disadvantages of contract manufacturing. Retrieved from: http://www.beginnersguide.com/manufacturing/contract-manufacturing/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-contract-manufacturing.php Balasubramaniyan, S.M.(2004) Offshoring positive outweigh negative. Retrieved from: http://www.networkworld.com/supp/2004/offshoring/0705faceoffyes.html Scotts Miracle Gro (2010). Vision and mission statement. Retrieved from http://thescottsmiraclegrocompany.com/aboutus/vision_mission.html Scotts Miracle Gro. (2010). Research and development. Retrieved from: http://thescottsmiraclegrocompany.com/aboutus/innovation/randd.html United States Environmental Protection Agency. (2012). Lean thinking and methods. Retrieved from: http://www.epa.gov/lean/environment/methods/sixsigma.htm Appendix Figure 1. SWOT Analysis.