Jaguar Land Rover plc - Essay Example

JLR has managed to capture markets in North America, UK, Europe and China. JLR has a large sales and distribution network. Jaguar and Land Rover compete in 101 and 174 respectively. Its large distribution network comprises of 18 National Sales Companies, 61 export partners, 83 importers and 2,241 franchise dealers. (JAGUAR LAND ROVER PLC. 2011; BANERJEE, B. 2008) Financial Results: JLR Plc has shown improvement in its financial results over the years. In 2008 when it was acquired it was a loss making company, with the improvement in technology, cost cutting strategies, increased volume, product and market mix and favorable exchange movements Tata Motors has managed to make JLR Plc a profitable business for the group.

In 2011, due to its expansion in new markets of China and Russia where demand of premium cars was high, helped improve the company’s performance. An increase in revenue- retail and wholesale both, earning before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) and net income have also been recorded in 2011 as compared to previous financial years due to efforts made in development of new products, entering new markets and resulting increase in volumes, decrease in costs and better working capital management.

(JAGUAR LAND ROVER PLC. 2011; BANERJEE, B. . Information could be required about ROI, RI, payback periods of a product etc. Mangers require financial information like revenue and costs to determine profit. In this analysis cost of goods sold is involved which is closely related to inventory management that is an important aspect of management’s work. In an automobile business like JLR inventory management and valuation (completed products and work in progress) is the key to success, holding large inventory increases cost or keeping less inventory results in stock outs, both effecting customers.

(DRURY, C., & DRURY, C. 2005) On the other hand JLR managers need information to take routine decisions and also strategic long term decisions. Information is required relating to profitability to know which products to retain and which should be abandoned. Cost information is crucial aspect of the business too. Based on this information managers take decisions about company’s cost cutting strategies and enables them to compete in highly competitive markets. (DRURY, C., & DRURY, C. 2005) Activity Based Costing: Cost information and its analysis is an important aspect of any business to gain a competitive edge over other business.

The breakup of costs and easy, fairer allocation of costs incurred can provide a true picture about the profitability of the products. In automotive business like JR Plc, a large portion of costs are incurred in administrative activities which are difficult to apportion directly to the products. ABC can change the way organization measure their performance and view their performance. (ANDERSON, S. W., & YOUNG, S. M. 2001) Data collection and employee