Coca Cola in India

Executive Summary

This management report deals with the challenges a western manager starting at The Coca Cola Company in India is about to face. It first points out and analyzes several factors that will influence the way of conducting business. Then it provides recommendations on how to solve cultural specific problems as well as how to handle external factors that influence the business. To begin with, there is a short country overview which points out the most important facts and figures regarding India in order to get a rough understanding of the country. This part is followed by a chapter talking about business environment. It will point out the cultural impact on the way of managing a business and also elaborate external factors that impact the Coca Cola Company in India. The whole chapter shall provide the reader with an understanding of how Indian organizations are structured, business communication needs to be conducted and how to negotiate effectively. One will start to understand how much culture impacts a manager's way of conduct within a business. Next the paper will concentrate on external factors including the Indian non-alcoholic beverage market, Indian consumers and supply chain complexities. I concentrated on the supply chain as it is highly complex and dramatically influences Coca Cola's performance in India. The supply chain chapter will explain and analyze the rural supply chain, logistics challenges, taxation burdens and retail market problems. Once all those aspects have been analyzed, this course project will point out economical and cultural