1

Final Paper

As the global marketplace becomes increasingly more competitive, it is incumbent upon human
resources to broaden its strategic mission and become a strategic partner with executive staff.
This requires human resources to have a detailed understanding of not only the human resources
field, but the strengths and challenges of its organization, and the complexities of its industry.
Through these units of knowledge, human resources can maximize its value by providing
competent advice and counsel to its organization as it strives to achieve its strategic objectives.

The comprehensive Final Paper comprises four parts, with Parts 1, 2, and 3 submitted during the
first three weeks of the course. In Week 5, a cohesive final paper will be due that includes Part 4,
an executive summary, and the previously submitted Parts 1, 2, and 3. This final paper should be
eight to ten pages and should incorporate any comments or suggestions made by the instructor on
Parts 1, 2, and 3.

Focus of the Final Paper

In your final project, you are to choose a major problem/issue affecting an organization of your
choice, and then utilize your detailed knowledge of human resources and strategic planning to
develop a comprehensive plan that minimizes, and hopefully eliminates, this threat to your
chosen organization’s ability to meet its long-range organizational goals and objectives. The
components of this comprehensive project are as follows:

 Executive Summary: Your final paper should begin with an Executive Summary, which is an
abbreviated capture of the entire paper and as such should touch upon all major points while
engaging the reader.
 Part 1 – Overview of Organization/Problem (due in Week 1): Provide an overview of the
organization and the problem/issue that challenges that organization. Next, detail how the
problem/issue affects (or can affect) the future viability of the organization. Finally, discuss the
principle role of human resources in an organization and how human resources can provide
critical advice and counsel to the organization in addressing this challenge. This section of the
paper should be two to three pages.
 Part 2 – Environment Analysis (due in Week 2): Optimal solutions are determined when a
researcher has a thorough understanding of a company and its industry, along with the
strengths and weaknesses that impact its future viability. In the second part of your plan,
perform a SWOT Analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunity, and Threats) on your chosen
organization and provide an analysis of these results in light of the problem or issue under
study. Be attentive to identifying how the problem or issue impacts the organization and its
competitive position within the industry. This section of the paper should be two to three pages.
 Part 3 – Financial Analysis (due in Week 3): Nearly every problem or issue confronting an
organization has a financial or budgetary impact. For instance, staff turnover has not only a
direct cost on recruitment expenses, training costs, and productivity, but also an indirect cost
related to the loss of organizational learning. In Part 3, detail the financial implications to the
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organization related to your problem or issue, including the additional costs that may arise if the
problem or issue is not resolved effectively. This section of the paper should be two to three
pages.
 Part 4 - Recommendations (due in Week 5): The final part of your comprehensive project
incorporates your recommendations. Based on your work in Parts 1, 2, and 3, provide 2-3
recommendations to organizational leadership that would resolve the problem/issue in
question. Be sure to detail any challenges the organization should consider in implementing
your recommendations (culture, motivation, etc.) and your strategy to overcome these
challenges. This section of the paper should be two to three pages.

Note that some of the information related to this project may not be readily available in course
materials, requiring you to research contemporary management trends in the public sector.

Writing the Final Paper

The Final Paper

 Must be eight double-spaced pages in length (not including title and references pages) and
formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Writing Center’s APA Style

Links to an external site. as well as Writing a Thesis Statement

 Links to an external site. resource in the Writing Center for specifications.

Notice Regarding $5,000 Senior Project Scholarship Opportunity:

This Capstone Course Final Assignment may qualify you for a Senior Project Scholarship.
Under the Senior Project Scholarship, students can submit their papers from a Capstone course
as part of the Senior Project Scholarship application

Links to an external site.. The scholarship application is not a course requirement, nor part of

your grade. Submitting the final paper via this course will not be a submission for the scholarship.

The online application for the scholarship opportunity can be found at Senior Project Scholarship

Links to an external site..

For the Senior Project Scholarship, a total of up to five (5) scholarships will be awarded. The
award consists of a scholarship in the amount of $5,000 toward future tuition costs only for the
pursuit of an online graduate degree from University of Arizona Global Campus’ Forbes School
of Business & Technology. You are encouraged to submit your final MGT490 paper and a one-
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page letter of intent, as per the scholarship instructions, for an opportunity to be awarded this
scholarship.

The Forbes School of Business & Technology Senior Project Scholarship Program is open only
to the following:

(a) current students of the University of Arizona Global Campus who are in good standing with
respect to the Student Community Standards as outlined in the current University of Arizona
Global Campus Academic Catalog

Links to an external site., have met satisfactory academic progress guidelines as defined by the
applicable degree program, and have completed their Forbes School of Business & Technology
Capstone Course at the time of application, or

(b) alumni of the University of Arizona Global Campus who have graduated from the University
of Arizona Global Campus within twelve (12) months of the start date of the Entry Period.

In addition, to be eligible, applicants must have a GPA of 3.20 or above. The online application
can be found at Senior Project Scholarship

Links to an external site.. Please note you also need to submit a one-page Letter of Intent (no
more than 250 words, stating your goal in obtaining a Master's degree) along with your
application.

All federal, state and local rules and regulations apply. Void where prohibited or restricted by
law.

Please see the Senior Project Scholarship link

Links to an external site. for more information, application process, deadlines, eligibility,

and restrictions.”

 Links to an external site. resource.

 Must include a separate title page with the following:
o Title of paper
o Student’s name
o Course name and number
o Instructor’s name
o Date submitted
 For further assistance with the formatting and the title page, refer to APA Formatting for
Microsoft Word
 Links to an external site..
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 Must utilize academic voice. See the Academic Voice

 Links to an external site. resource for additional guidance.
 Must include an introduction and conclusion paragraph. Your introduction paragraph needs to
end with a clear thesis statement that indicates the purpose of your paper.
o For assistance on writing Introductions & Conclusions

o Links to an external site., refer to the Writing Center resources.
 Must use at least four scholarly sources in addition to the course text.
o The Scholarly, Peer Reviewed, and Other Credible Sources

o Links to an external site. table offers additional guidance on appropriate source types. If
you have questions about whether a specific source is appropriate for this assignment,
please contact your instructor. Your instructor has the final say about the
appropriateness of a specific source for a particular assignment.
 Must document any information used from sources in APA style as outlined in the Writing
Center’s Citing Within Your Paper
 Links to an external site. guide.
 Must include a separate references page that is formatted according to APA style as outlined in
the Writing Center. See the Formatting Your References List

Week 5 - Final Paper

Xxxx

MGT 490: Strategic Human Resources Planning

Steven Foster

January 16, 2023

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Introduction/Executive Summary

The purpose of this paper is to address the major problem of obesity in Coca-Cola.

From a human resources perspective, Coca-Cola must address the health and wellness of its

employees, customers and other stakeholders. To do this, Coca-Cola must make changes to its

current strategy and develop comprehensive plans to reduce and eliminate obesity. This paper

will provide an in-depth analysis of the obesity problem at Coca-Cola and present a

comprehensive plan to reduce and eliminate the issue. First, the paper will discuss the current

health and wellness initiatives of Coca-Cola and how these initiatives are failing to address

the obesity problem. Second, the paper will present a detailed plan to reduce and eventually

eliminate obesity in the Coca-Cola organization. This plan will include an increase in health
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and wellness initiatives, an emphasis on physical activity and an increase in awareness of the

health risks associated with obesity.

Part 1

Coca-Cola is a global beverage company with a worldwide presence. It is one of the

world's most recognizable brands and has maintained its dominance in the soft drink industry

for decades. It owns and operates 500 brands in more than 200 countries, including Coca-

Cola, the world's most valuable brand. It manufactures, markets, and distributes its products,

primarily carbonated and non-carbonated beverages, to retail outlets, restaurants, and

foodservice distributors (Taylor, 2020). The company also produces syrups and concentrates

for fountain drink machines. Coca-Cola also offers a range of juices, energy drinks, and teas.

In addition, Coca-Cola offers marketing, advertising, and promotional services. It is one of the

world's largest beverage companies, and its products are recognized globally. However, the

company is now facing a challenge in the form of obesity. The growing obesity epidemic has

been linked to the consumption of sugary drinks such as Coca-Cola, and this has led to an

increasing public health concern. This has caused Coca-Cola to face public scrutiny and has

resulted in calls for the company to take action to address the issue.

The obesity issue poses a serious threat to the future viability of Coca-Cola as a

business. As public awareness of the health risks associated with sugary drinks increases,

consumers may choose to reduce their consumption of Coca-Cola in favor of healthier

beverage options. This could have a significant impact on the company's sales and profits,

which could in turn affect the company's ability to remain competitive in the global beverage
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market. In the US, the FDA has proposed a new set of rules that would require companies like

Coca Cola to disclose the amount of added sugar in each product (Chua et al., 2020). This

could have a significant impact on the organization’s ability to effectively market its products,

as consumers become more aware of the health risks associated with high sugar intake. In

addition, health organizations are increasingly pushing for policies that restrict the marketing

of sugary drinks to children and adolescents, which could significantly reduce Coca Cola's

customer base.

Additionally, if the company is unable to effectively respond to the public health

concerns surrounding its products, it could face legal and financial repercussions, such as

fines and lawsuits. In summary, could have a significant negative impact on the future

viability of Coca Cola. The company is already facing increasing pressure to reduce the

amount of sugar in its products and to shift its focus towards healthier alternatives, which

could have financial and reputational consequences. If Coca Cola fails to respond to these

pressures, it could find itself facing a future of diminished profits and increased public

scrutiny.

The principle role of human resources in an organization is to ensure that the

organization is able to effectively address challenges such as the obesity issue that Coca-Cola

is facing. Human resources can provide critical advice and counsel to the organization in

developing and implementing strategies to address the issue (Panigrahi, 2020). This could

include developing and promoting healthier beverage options, implementing educational

campaigns to increase public awareness of the health risks associated with sugary drinks, and
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advocating for public policies that encourage healthier beverage consumption. Human

resources can also ensure that the organization has the resources and personnel necessary to

successfully address the issue.

Part 2

SWOT Analysis of Coca Cola

Strengths:

• Coca-Cola is a globally recognized and respected brand. It has an established

presence in over 200 countries and is the world’s largest beverage company. This gives Coca-

Cola a strong competitive advantage that allows it to leverage its brand recognition and

presence to maintain a strong customer base (Hawkes, 2021)

• Coca-Cola has a large and well-established distribution network that includes

retailers, wholesalers, and distributors. This makes it easier for the company to reach its

customers and expand its market share.

• Coca-Cola has an extensive portfolio of product offerings that includes sodas,

waters, juices, energy drinks, and more. This diversified portfolio allows the company to cater

to a variety of customers and gives it the ability to capitalize on emerging trends.

• Coca-Cola has a strong commitment to innovation and has invested heavily in

research and development. This has allowed the company to remain at the forefront of the

beverage industry and to introduce new products to its customers.

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• Coca-Cola has a strong financial position and generates consistent profits. This

provides the company with the necessary resources to sustain its operations and invest in

growth initiatives.

Weaknesses:

• Coca Cola has faced criticism for its high-calorie products, particularly in light of

the obesity epidemic. This has hurt the company’s reputation and has made it difficult for the

company to market its products to health-conscious consumers.

• Coca-Cola is heavily dependent on its flagship product, Coca-Cola, for a majority of

its revenue. This means that any changes to the product or its sales could significantly impact

the company’s bottom line.

• Coca-Cola has been slow to respond to changing consumer tastes and has been late

to capitalize on emerging trends. This has led to the company losing market share to

competitors who have been quicker to capitalize on new trends.

• Coca-Cola has been criticized for its aggressive marketing tactics, which have been

accused of targeting children and encouraging unhealthy eating habits. This has also hurt the

company’s reputation and made it difficult for the company to reach customers who are

seeking healthier options.

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• Coca-Cola has been accused of unethical business practices, including the use of

child labor and the exploitation of local resources. This has caused the company to face

criticism and has hurt its reputation.

Opportunities:

• Coca-Cola has the opportunity to capitalize on emerging trends in the beverage

industry, such as the growing popularity of health-conscious and natural beverages. This

would allow the company to reach a new customer base and expand its market share.

• Coca-Cola has the opportunity to develop new products to cater to changing

consumer tastes and preferences. This would allow the company to remain at the forefront of

the beverage industry and capitalize on emerging trends.

• Coca-Cola has the opportunity to expand into new markets, such as developing

countries, where there is a large and growing demand for beverages. This would allow the

company to increase its market share and generate additional revenue.

• Coca-Cola has the opportunity to focus on sustainability initiatives, such as using

renewable energy and reducing water usage. This would help the company to improve its

reputation and differentiate itself from its competitors.

• Coca-Cola has the opportunity to invest in technology and digital platforms, such as

e-commerce and mobile applications. This would allow the company to reach a new customer

base and expand its market share.

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Threats:

• Coca-Cola faces competition from other beverage companies, such as PepsiCo and

Nestle. These companies have strong brands and large market shares. This makes it difficult

for Coca-Cola to compete and maintain its market position.

• Coca-Cola faces the threat of increased regulation from governments, which could

limit its ability to market its products and increase its costs.

• Coca-Cola faces the threat of changing consumer tastes and preferences. This could

lead to customers preferring other beverages, such as healthier options or natural beverages.

• Coca-Cola faces the threat of rising raw material and labor costs, which could

increase the company’s production costs and reduce its margins.

• Coca-Cola faces the threat of economic downturns, which could lead to a decrease in

demand for its products and a decrease in sales.

Analysis

The obesity epidemic has had a significant impact on Coca-Cola’s business. The

company has faced criticism for its high-calorie products and has been accused of targeting

children and encouraging unhealthy eating habits. This has hurt the company’s reputation and

has made it difficult for the company to market its products to health-conscious consumers.

Coca-Cola has responded to this by introducing new products, such as low-calorie and no-

calorie options, and by investing in sustainability initiatives (Renz & Vogel, 2022). However,
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the company still faces significant competition from other beverage companies and faces the

threat of changing consumer tastes and preferences. In order to remain competitive, Coca-

Cola must continue to focus on innovation and invest in new products that cater to changing

consumer tastes. The company must also continue to focus on sustainability initiatives, as this

will help to improve its reputation and differentiate itself from its competitors.

Part 3

The financial implications of rising obesity for Coca Cola are significant. The

company faces potential costs related to the marketing of its products, legal costs associated

with any lawsuits, research and development costs to develop healthier products, and the cost

of production and distribution of those products. Coca Cola also faces potential reputational

costs if the public perceives its products as contributing to the obesity epidemic. Coca Cola’s

current financial capabilities are strong (Hawkes, 2021). Coca Cola’s financial strengths

include its strong brand recognition, its global reach, and its well-established distribution

network. Its weaknesses include its dependence on sugary beverages, the potential for

litigation related to the health impact of its products, and the increasing competition from

healthier beverage alternatives.

If the problem of obesity in relation to Coca Cola is not effectively addressed, it could

lead to a variety of additional costs. These costs could include increased healthcare costs as

obesity is linked to a variety of health complications and diseases, such as heart disease,

diabetes, and stroke. This could lead to an increase in premiums and health insurance costs.

Additionally, there could be an increase in costs associated with litigation and potential
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lawsuits against the company, as well as a decrease in profits from consumers who are no

longer purchasing the product due to the negative health implications associated with it.

Finally, Coca Cola may have to incur higher costs in order to promote healthier products and

make changes to their existing products to reduce the risk of obesity. These changes could

include reformulating the sugar content, promoting smaller portion sizes, or removing

artificial sweeteners. All of these changes could result in additional costs to the company.

The ethical implications of the financial implications associated with Coca-Cola’s

problem of obesity are multifaceted. The first ethical dilemma is the impact of the company’s

marketing practices on public health. The company has been accused of targeting children and

adolescents with their sugary drinks, leading to an increase in childhood obesity. This raises

the ethical issue of whether companies have a responsibility to ensure that their marketing

practices are not contributing to a public health crisis. Secondly, company’s responsibility to

its shareholders. The company’s financial success is largely dependent on the sales of its

sugary drinks, which are linked to obesity. This raises the question of whether the company

has an ethical obligation to consider the health of its consumers when making decisions about

how to maximize profits (Xiao, 2020). In addition, another ethical dilemma is the company’s

responsibility to its employees. Many of the company’s workers are exposed to the sugary

drinks on a daily basis, putting them at a higher risk of developing health problems. This

raises the ethical question of whether Coca-Cola should be held accountable for the health

risks associated with its products to its employees. In a nutshell, the ethical implications of the

financial implications associated with Coca-Cola’s problem of obesity are complex and far-

reaching. The company has a responsibility to consider the health and well-being of its
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consumers, shareholders, and employees when making decisions about how to maximize

profits. It is important that the company take steps to ensure that it’s marketing practices and

products do not contribute to public health crises.

Recommendations

1. Increase awareness of the risks associated with drinking sugary beverages. Coca-

Cola should invest in campaigns to educate consumers on the health risks associated with

drinking sugary beverages, including obesity. This could include television and radio

commercials, print and online advertising, and even offering health classes or seminars on the

topic. The goal should be to help consumers understand the link between sugary beverages

and obesity, and to promote healthier alternatives.

2. Develop healthier beverage options. Coca-Cola should invest in the development of

healthier beverage options, such as low-calorie and sugar-free beverages. This could include

the introduction of new product lines, reformulating existing products, or introducing new

flavors. The ultimate goal should be to offer consumers a wide range of options that are both

tasty and nutritious. In addition, Coca Cola should focus on increasing the availability of

healthy beverages such as water, tea, and other low-calorie options. This can be done by

making these beverages more widely available in vending machines, convenience stores, and

other locations. This will ensure that consumers have more healthy options to choose from

and will help to reduce the amount of sugar consumed by individuals.

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3. Reduce portion sizes. Coca-Cola should also consider reducing the size of its

beverage servings. Smaller portions will help to reduce the amount of calories and sugar that

consumers consume, which can help to reduce the risk of obesity. This can be done by

offering smaller portion sizes at a discounted rate and by advertising these smaller sizes more

heavily. This will help to reduce the amount of sugar and calories consumed by individuals

and will also help to encourage healthier beverage consumption.

4. Offer incentives for healthier choices. Coca-Cola should offer incentives to

consumers who choose healthier options. This could include discounts on low-calorie and

sugar-free beverages, or special promotions on healthier items. The goal should be to

encourage consumers to make healthier choices and to create a positive association between

Coca-Cola and healthy living.

Challenges

The implementation of these recommendations will likely be met with some

challenges, including cultural and motivational barriers. Coca-Cola is a global brand with a

long history. As such, it may be difficult to convince consumers to change their long-held

beliefs and habits regarding sugary beverages. Additionally, there may be some resistance to

the introduction of healthier products or smaller portion sizes. However, these challenges can

be overcome with the right strategy. Coca-Cola should focus on providing consumers with

education and information about the health risks associated with sugary beverages.

Additionally, Coca Cola should focus on creating an environment of healthy lifestyle choices

by partnering with health organizations and providing educational materials on healthy habits.
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By providing these incentives and creating an environment of health and wellness, Coca Cola

can encourage their consumers to make healthier choices when it comes to their beverage and

snack consumption. Also, the company should invest in campaigns to promote healthier

alternatives, such as low-calorie and sugar-free beverages. Finally, the company should offer

incentives for those who choose healthier options, such as discounts or special promotions. By

taking these steps, Coca-Cola can help to reduce the risk of obesity associated with its

products.

Conclusion

In this paper, the focus was on the major problem of obesity in the Coca-Cola

Company. The paper began by providing an overview of the organization, including its

history, mission, and current state. This was followed by an analysis of the main issues facing

the company, and the roles that human resources must play in addressing these issues. The

paper then described and discussed the strategic planning process, including the strategic

analysis, formulation, implementation, and evaluation stages. After this, the paper provided a

detailed plan for Coca-Cola to address obesity, emphasizing the importance of engaging

stakeholders and developing a comprehensive, multi-faceted approach. This plan included

suggestions for increasing the healthiness of their products, providing education and

marketing campaigns, and developing strategies to increase physical activity.

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References

Chua, J. Y., Kee, D. M. H., Alhamlan, H. A., Lim, P. Y., Lim, Q. Y., Lim, X. Y., & Singh, N.

(2020). Challenges and solutions: A case study of Coca-Cola Company. Journal of the

Community Development in Asia (JCDA), 3(2), 43–54.

Hawkes, C. (2021). Uneven dietary development: linking the policies and processes of

globalization with the nutrition transition, obesity, and diet-related chronic diseases.

Globalization and health, 2(1), 1–18.

Panigrahi, V. (2020). An Organisation Study On The Coca-cola Company (Doctoral

dissertation, CMR Institute of Technology. Bangalore).

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Renz, F., & Vogel, J. (2022). Analysis of The Coca-Cola Company.

Taylor, M. (2020). Cultural variance as a challenge to global public relations: A case study of

the Coca-Cola scare in Europe. Public Relations Review, 26(3), 277–293.

Xiao, Z., & Zhang, J. (2020). The Analysis of the Effectiveness of Cost Control Strategy on

the Profitability of Coca-Cola Company From the Year 2015 to

2021. Management, 8(3), 232-239.