Expanding to Switzerland

Expanding to Switzerland

International Business BUS424XS

June 5, 2005

Karen Cooper

-------------------------------------------------

Table of Contents Page

Physical Forces 3

Sociocultural Forces 5

Economic and Socioeconomic Forces 6

Competitive and Distributive Forces

Marketing and Management Assessment 7

Maps and Charts 8

References 9

Expanding to Switzerland

Physical Forces

Switzerland is a landlocked country that is mostly composed of rugged mountains with some plains. Switzerland has three types of topographical regions. They are the Jura Mountains that are in the northeast, the Alps, and the Swiss plateau with 40% of the country being covered by mountains. The highest point in Switzerland is the Dufourspitze of Monte Rosa at 4,634 m (15,203 ft). The Swiss plateau is also referred to as the Mittelland. This area is fertile plains and rolling hills with the Jura Mountains on one side and the Alps on the other side. This area covers 30% of Switzerland and is where the farming and industry is located. The cities Zurich, Bern, Lausanne, and Geneva are located on the plateau. Switzerland also has 1,484 lakes, more than 12,900 smaller bodies of water, and many waterfalls. The largest lake is Lake Geneva with an area of 581 sq km (224sq mi), but the southern shore is in France. The largest lake completely with in Switzerland is Lake Neuchatel which has an area of 218 sq km (84sq mi). Switzerland is also home to more than 1,000 glaciers and the largest area of permanent ice in the Valais. Switzerland is bordered by Austria, France, Germany, and France. See Chart #1 on page 8. Like most countries, Switzerland faces may natural hazards. These hazards are landslides, avalanches, and flash floods.

The weather north of the Alps is temperate and will vary with altitude, wind exposure, and other factors. The average annual temperature is 9 degrees Celsius. There is...