Verified Document

SunPower Essay

BUS599 Module 3 SLP SunPower Background

In this particular discussion, a similar pricing model as that adopted in SLP2 will be used. However, unlike was the case in SLP2, SunPower will have to come to terms with the reality of new players joining the industry. The new entrants present new competition. It would be interesting to see the impact new competitors entering the Solar Power industry will have on SunPower’s market share, cost to the consumer, as well as cumulative profitability.

Discussion

Decision 1: Beginning of Year 1: 2007 (See Appendix 3)

SLP3 Module Price: $0.13

SLP2 Module Price: $0.13

SunPower’s market share is typical of a firm at its stage. To enhance its market share, the firm ought to make sound strategic decisions in the light of the prevailing market conditions. The firm could in this case adopt an innovative approach whereby it out-competes rivals in the industry by offering products the competition cannot match in terms of quality and ability to satisfy consumer needs. It is also important to note that the company ought to make well-informed pricing decisions to be able to effectively compete in this space. At this point in time, the company’s end consumer net price for a PV system (installed) is lower than the industry average. However, its unit direct cost is higher than that of other firms in the industry. This is something that the company ought to address from the onset. To be effective as a cost leader, which appears to be SunPower’s preferred strategy, there is need to rein in costs so as to make reasonable profits for each unit of PV system installed. Conclusions made in SLP2 regarding the other variables (i.e. gross margin and return on sales) remain valid at the current price level. However, going forward, even with the price levels remaining identical as those of SLP2 at every decision stage, the said variables are likely to change with the introduction of new competitors.

Decision 2: For Years 2013 – 2017 (See Appendix 4)

SLP3 Module Price - $0.11

SLP2 Module Price – 0.11

At the current price level, the company’s market share increases by 2.4 percentage points. The growth in market share is in this case slower than that of SLP2 whereby the increase in market share was by 3.61 percentage points. The said slow growth on this front could be a consequence of the entry of new competitors whose share of the market is captured as 12.76%. SunPower’s revenue growth is largely impressive in this...

This represents a 172.8% revenue growth. The said growth is similar to that experienced in SLP2. The entry of new competitors did not, therefore, affect SunPower’s revenue growth. Given that the modular price as well as the consumer net price of the new entrants matches that of SunPower, consumers are not likely to switch from SunPower’s products to those offered by the new rivals. For this reason, the entry of new rivals ‘ate’ into the annual revenues of other solar firms in the market whose modular price as well as consumer net price is higher. It should, however, be noted that at $0.08, the unit direct cost of SunPower is still a concern. This is more so the case given that it is higher than that of not only its existing competitors ($0.07), but also than that of new entrants ($0.06). This problem is revealed by the company’s return on sales ratio. In essence, the return on sales ratio expresses “the profit residual slice from a company’s total sales revenue pie” (Tracy and Tracy, 2014, p. 238). In this case, the company has the lowest return on sales in comparison to that of existing firms in the industry, and that of new competitors. This effectively means that the firm is deriving very little profits (in comparison to other firms) from the current level of sales it makes.
Decision 3: For Years 2018 – 2022 (See Appendix 5)

SLP3 Module Price - $0.09

SLP2 Module Price: 0.09

The market share of SunPower grew significantly while that of new entrants shrunk by 4.8 percentage points. At this point in time, the company controls a larger chunk of the market than it even did at the same decision point in SLP2. This could be attributed to many factors – key among them being the fact that SunPower has the lowest consumer net price ($0.11) as well as modular price ($0.09) across the board. It is also impressive that the company has been able to rein in its costs with its unit direct cost being lower than was the case during the last decision point. The said unit cost is also lower than was the case for SLP2 during the same period of time. It is important to note that the said reduction in unit costs have been reflected in the return on sales ratio. Unlike was the case during the recent decision point where the company had a return on sales ratio of 0.08, the company during the current period has a return on sales ratio of 0.27 – which is even higher than that of the new entrants which…

Sources used in this document:

References

Godfrey, R. (2015). Strategic Management: A Critical Introduction. New York, NY: Routledge

Heisinger, K. (2009). Essentials of Managerial Accounting. Mason, OH: Cengage Learning.

Miltenburg, J. (2005). Manufacturing Strategy: How to Formulate and Implement a Winning Plan (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Productivity Press.

Morden, T. (2016). Principles of Strategic Management (3rd ed.). New York, NY: Routledge.

Moschandreas, M. (2000). Business Economics (2nd ed.). Mason, OH: Cengage Learning.

Tracy, J.A. & Tracy, T. (2014). The Comprehensive Guide on How to Read a Financial Report. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.


Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

SunPower Simulation
Words: 1885 Length: 5 Document Type: Essay

Background To remain relevant in a competitive business environment, business entities ought to, amongst other things, embrace optimal pricing structures (Morden, 2016). In this case, I concern myself with the most viable pricing strategy for SunPower so as to not only earn the highest cumulative profit, but also expand market share. This will be done in the light of competitor pricing policies, in which case the said competitors are likely to

A Simulation Exercise SunPower
Words: 1700 Length: 7 Document Type: Essay

SunPower: Simulation ExerciseBackgroundSunPower, a young innovative company, with new proprietary technology. I will be seeking to maximize the cumulative profit of SunPower over an eighteen year period. The strategies selected will be founded on not only periodic reports such as key industry data and income statement, but also on the industry structure and informed prediction of customer/competitor reactions. At the beginning of Year 1, the market share is at 2.4%.

BUS599 SLP 2 Pricing Strategy
Words: 1719 Length: 5 Document Type: Essay

Background This discussion continues with the analysis of how Module Price adjustments impact the total profits and market share of SunPower vis-à-vis industry-wide performance. Further, the discussion highlights how improvements in processes yield unit costs reduction. Like was the case with the previous exercise (SLP1), four major decision points will be taken into consideration in the current exercise, i.e. SLP2. A more conservative pricing approach will, however, be adopted in SLP2. Discussion Decision

Business Plan -- Solar Panel
Words: 5347 Length: 20 Document Type: Business Plan

CSE is capable of fine-tuning, improving or repairing solar panel systems as need be. The company is also capable of providing consulting services. There are many customers who do not fully understand how solar energy systems function and can benefit from the consulting function. Consulting will also act as a marketing tool, driving customers to our sales and installation business. In the early stages, the business is expected to be

Tesla S Target Market Sustainability Matters
Words: 2513 Length: 8 Document Type: Research Paper

Business AnalysisIntroductionThis analysis looks at several aspects of Tesla's operations, market strategies, and product offerings, providing a holistic view of its position within the global shift towards renewable energy and electric vehicles (EVs). After a brief look at the background of the company, the paper examines the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes relevant to Tesla. Then it gives insights into Tesla's typical customer profile, the background needs leading

Tesla Inc. Corporate Strategy and Competitive Advantage
Words: 3130 Length: 10 Document Type: Essay

Comprehensive Analysis of a Fortune 500 Company: Tesla, Inc.—Corporate Strategy and Competitive Advantage Introduction: Background Tesla, Inc. was launched in 2003 in California as a niche market luxury carmaker that specialized in electric vehicles (EV). The Tesla Roadster was its first product. The Roadster was a high-end EV and not a mass market car. Today, Tesla offers the much more affordable Tesla Model 3, which is a mass-market EV designed for the

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now