“Leadership, Innovation and Change at Procter and Gamble”
Procter and Gamble has capitalized on innovation and creativity to lead the consumer and household product industry. This paper will explore some strengths and weaknesses, as well as opportunities and threats that Procter and Gamble had utilized to sustain its success and competitiveness. This case study will also explore some characteristics of innovative organizations and why they have chosen to be innovative. I. Situation Analysis
William Procter, a candle maker, and James Gamble, a soap maker, formed this global and Fortune 500 Corporation in 1837 (corporate profile). Procter and Gamble (P&G) is headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio. These two entrepreneurs and inventors were immigrants from England and Ireland respectively; who have chosen for some reason to settle in the Cincinnati area. The company manufactures a wide variety of consumer goods including beauty, household, health and wellness products. According to CNN Money, “in the early parts of 2007,P & G was the 25th largest U.S Company by revenue, 18th largest by profit, and 10th in Fortune’s Most Admired Companies list”. “Touching Lives, Improving Life” is the corporate motto which is exemplified in their 138,000 employees and loyal customers worldwide. The worldwide demand for P&G’s products and services has forced management to focus on global marketing and innovation. This worldwide marketing and innovation success was achieved by making sure that what they produce is of highest quality and most importantly is what customers need. P&G is very adaptable to changing customer demands by carefully and clearly defining its innovative strategies; however, it almost lost its market dominance to competition in the mid 80’s had it not been its aggressive play-to-win strategy.“Senior P&G management admitted that they had not had a breakthrough innovation since 1985, and the company’s continued market dominance in