Individual Research Project - GAP in Bangladesh
Plants that make the clothing sold by Gap are often sub-standard and some have collapsed killing workers. What can the company do when it does not own the manufacturing facilities, but buys products from them? The company's reputation is at stake.
Clothing manufacturers in Bangladesh from who Gap purchases its supplies often provide unsafe working conditions. When accidents occur, Gap suffers blame, though it does not own or manage the facilities. What can the company do to protect its image as well as those who manufacturer its products?
This research project will identify the risks that are associated with GAP as it operates in Bangladesh. There are factors that will shape, change, and cause GAP to re-assess their operations for how they conduct business in another country such as Bangladesh. It is critical for GAP to identify, understand, and deal with these factors in order to be proactive, and successful, as well as to maintain a good reputation. Through this research paper, I will identify specific country business risks associated with GAP in Bangladesh, will determine the type of risks that they pose, and will address those risks effectively with recommendations for improvement.
GAP's company profile will be assessed, providing information on the company's distinctive characteristics, operating requisites, and the culture and philosophy of the company. The country analysis framework is intended to provide an analysis of the country's indicator, the tensions and imbalances, heritage and structure, ideology, institutions and change, and firm specific constraints and strategies. Economic Ideology will be discussed regarding efficiency vs. fairness, and the economic risks will be assessed as well as firm strategies, and options for business success.
This research will also address the economic, political, and cultural differences in the country environment, the basis for these differences and the business risks they entail. Various tools and diagnostic models will be used for analyzing the social issues and changes that affect GAP's operations. In closing, the research will evaluate alternative strategies that GAP can use to adjust their operations, and will provide recommendations to successfully manage national cultural and government relations issues.