1. The company business model, value proposition and profit formula?
Kuwait Forex Company (KFC) is one of the global firms that mainly deals with foreign exchange business activities and operations. The firm was founded in early 1977 in Kuwait. The current managing director of the firm is Ahmad Al-Kharafi. The company business model is mainly based on the provision of financial services and it currently covers and operates in around fifteen countries globally. Some of the central and major business services offered by the firm include remittance of funds in a number of countries worldwide, provision of retail and large trade services as well as provision of money drafts in various currencies globally. According to a number of studies and reports, it is evident that Kuwait Forex Company also involves in money transfer services and it was the first firm to introduce Western Union money services in Kuwait.

Based on various reports and publications, value proposition of the firm indicates that the firm enjoys high revenue generation and profitability margin due to its large volume of customers globally. For example, in early 2008 the firm enjoyed around fifty percent (50%) increase in its total remittances. The firm also recorded a sixty five percent (65%) increase in its forex trading operations leading to around thirty nine (39%) percent increase in its overall business volumes and revenue generation by the end of 2008. The firm is also operating in a number of countries globally including countries in Europe, Asia as well as North America and Asia. The firm has around two hundred and thirty five branches with more than 700, 000 customers globally. The firm also has around one hundred and twenty five banks in around thirty two countries globally. Despite the global financial crisis of early 2007/2008, the firm managed to record a global market share increase of three point five from one point four in the previous years. The firm management is also currently developing and venturing in new products and new global markets in order to increase its profitability margin. The firm main business strategy include the use of flat-lining marketing procedures and policies especially through the use of current technological devices. The use of current technological tools has also led to provision of high quality services and products in the firm. The firm profit formula is mainly based on the provision of various services, the use of new technologies as well as the application of flat-lining marketing procedures.

2. Sustainable competitive advantage?
Kuwait Forex Company (KFC) involves a number of business strategies in order to promote its competitive advantage in the finance industry. For example, the firm currently provides a number of services and products such as the provision of draft cheques, swift transfer services, Western Union money transfer services as well as traveler’s transfers and express transfer services. The firm also involves in the provision of credit card settlement services and cash advances, purchase and sale of foreign currencies business operations and provision of travelers cheques services. However, it is also true that the provision of remittance services is the largest contributor towards the firm revenue generation and profitability thus promotes the firm competitive advantage. The firm also offers high quality and cost effective services thus covers the needs of various customers globally.

3. Strategy execution and strategy planning process?
KFC strategy execution and strategy planning process include the evaluation of various stakeholders’ needs and desires through effective stakeholder management system. The firm mainly aim at providing services and products that satisfy the needs of its customers in various geographical areas globally. The top management of the firm also considers the opinions and perspectives of various stakeholders towards major decision making processes in the firm. Interaction leadership also promotes customers confidence in the firm. This is because the firm promotes effective market research in a number of its branches globally. This is mainly done in order to allow the firm customers to provide their feedback about the firm products and services. The firm also plans to expand its operations in various countries globally.

4. Internal and external factors affecting the company?
There are various internal and external factors affecting the firm including how to promote the firm geographical expansion. The firm also face internal challenges such as low motivation and consideration of the employee’s views and perspectives towards major decision activities in the firm. The firm also face external problems from non-governmental bodies and other environmental groups in Kuwait. There are also business legal problems that face the firm such as evaluation of political environment of various countries where the firm operates. There are also other challenges in the firm especially towards the use of new technologies. Poor pricing, failure of the firm mobile banking procedures and other business uncertainties in the global markets also form some of the challenges affecting the firm operations and activities.

5. How a company uses its strategy, for example, how do they deal with changes to the macroeconomic environment?
The firm involves the use of various strategies and policies in order to deal with its challenges in the macro-environment. For example, the firm has implemented an organization structure and model that involves assigning different personnel function roles and duties. This has improved effective and efficient provision of services in the firm. The top management of the firm are also located in the firm headquarters in Kuwait in order to promote utilization and location of various resources of the firm equitably. All the firm branches are also operated based on separate legal procedures in order to provide the needs of various customers of the firm.

6. Company’s internal environment including core competency, distinctive competency, resources and capabilities?
KFC core competency and capabilities include the use of innovative procedures especially the use of new technologies to improve its services and products. Some of the innovative services offered by the firm include salary smart services and other payroll solutions to Kuwait ex-patriots. The firm also on products addition and the use of various marketing strategies in order to attract new customers in the firm. The firm also enjoys high revenue generation and fast network expansion in various countries globally. This has also increased the firm customer acquisition margin globally. The firm management is also based on interaction leadership style thus considers the view of various stakeholders in the firm

7. Five competitive forces?
KFC is one of the competitive financial firm in Kuwait based on a number of factors such as strong customers and suppliers bargaining powers. Furthermore, the firm involves in diversification as well as provision of high quality and environmental friendly services and products in the society thus lacks high level of competition from rivalry firms in the finance industry. The firm also has a strong bargaining power of the buyers, customers and the suppliers mainly due to its use of current technological procedures in its business operations and activities. Moreover, the firm do not face the threat of products substitutes since its business services are based on high levels of innovation and creativity