Acme Valves, Inc.: Strategies for Improving Sales and Profits

Introduction

Acme Valves, Inc. has been a successful player in the oil field supply industry for the past 15 years. Despite its long-standing presence in the market, the company has recently faced challenges with declining sales and profits over the last four quarters. It is crucial for the CEO of Acme to make strategic decisions to address these issues and steer the company back on a path to success.

The Dilemma

The CEO of Acme is faced with the decision of how to proceed in order to improve the company's performance. The options include:

• A. Continue with the proven strategy because its returns over the long run are important.
• B. Focus on improving efficiency of production and cost control.
• C. Conduct an analysis of the external environment.
• D. Immediately begin making incremental adjustments to the traditional business strategy in an effort to improve sales.

Decision

Answer:

The correct answer is: C. conduct an analysis of the external environment.

Explanation:

It is essential for Acme Valves, Inc. to assess the external environment in which it operates in order to identify potential factors affecting its sales and profits. Conducting an analysis of the market, competitors, and industry trends will provide valuable insights for developing a strategic plan to address the challenges faced by the company.