Genesis' newly established operations management team decided to seek outside assistance in developing a long-term operating plan that also addresses the financial issues identified. A major consideration for Genesis is assessing those short-term and long-term economic factors, which will greatly enhance the company's ability to successfully transition to a viable international business. Grasping and correctly prioritizing these economic factors, supply and demand, interest rates, inflation, unemployment, and exchange rates are pivotal, thereby requiring expert guidance. Therefore, their first major decision was to hire a respected strategy-consulting firm, Sensible Essentials.
After meeting with the client team, Sensible Essentials concluded that the operations management team would significantly benefit from a more in-depth understanding of the financial environment at Genesis. This understanding needed to encompass not only sales, costs, and profitability forecast under the new strategic plan, but also the way expansion would highlight the need to manage working capital and cash flow in order to try to minimize the need for external financing.
As the lead consultant for Sensible Essentials, do the following:
- Describe the financial environment at Genesis.
- Describe how the company's strategy for financing as a startup may no longer be suitable as it seeks to expand its operations globally.
- Identify and explain two ways Genesis can improve its strategy.
- Explain how global financial markets in terms of financial strategy affect Genesis.