FrigoGlass

There are several elements to the general external environment. The three to focus are technological, economic, and legal-political (Hitt, Ireland, & Hoskisson, 2013). Regarding legal-political, because Frigoglass operates in Western Europe, and the Brexit saga continues, there may be problems with the ability of Frigoglass to employ people if they have any offices in England. Brexit means that England will be removed from the European Union and from the traveling freedoms and work opportunities that being part of the European Union affords. Without that extra backing, some even say the British economy may decline. This however, is uncertain, but it could play a role in how Frigoglass does in Western Europe, especially in England.
Regarding the economic factor, the United States just gained a new president in Donald Trump. The economy has not fully recovered and his introduction of a new tax system may place a big burden on the upper middle class and lower class. With potentially less spending money, the bulk of Frigoglass’ American customers may not be willing to pay for things they feel they may not need. Regarding the technological factor, other companies have adopted the same model in terms of refrigeration and may prove to be a competitor for Frigoglass. An example of this is SubZero Wolf.
Competitive advantage is something all businesses want because it allows them to gain a potentially greater profit margin (Huggins & Izushi, 2012). Competitive advantage is ultimately what can make a business better than the competition within the minds of customers. Although first coined for businesses, it can be used for anyone and anything from employees to countries. A competitive advantage can be offering services at the lowest price for consumers or something as simple as having excellent customer service (Huggins & Izushi, 2012). These things are what separate great companies from not so good companies in the eyes of consumers.
A competitive advantage that Frigoglass has is that it supports its local communities through indirect and direction job creation. They give training opportunities within the local community and that is often invaluable for consumers wishing to maintain their community and give back to their community. Additionally, Frigoglass works on a global scale working in Europe, Americas, Asia, and Africa. Their reach is an integral aspect to serving customer needs. The fact that they have offices all over the world and places where customers can purchase what they need makes them superior to other companies that only operate locally or in one country/continent.
Frigoglass focuses on four key areas: Market, Environment, Workplace and Society. They aim towards a highly collaborative effort that allows for communication and creation of a friendly environment. Because the company wants to be innovative and expansive within their global and local reach, they aim to develop highly motivated individuals within a main concern of safety in mind. They are the kind of company that promotes effective management of resources through careful selection of employees via thoughtful recruitment strategies that later translate into a cohesive and competitive workforce aimed at communication, safety, and efficiency.
Social responsibility can best be seen in their local outreach. They aim to train and employ people within communities allowing for communities to grow and evolve. Training and job opportunities are an important aspect to any community as it allows people within the community to earn a living and learn new skills. These skills can then be applied to improve outcomes within the community and promote a positive environment.


References
Hitt, M. A., Ireland, R. D., & Hoskisson, R. E. (2013). Strategic management: Competitiveness & globalization. Mason, OH: South-Western Cengage Learning.
Huggins, R., & Izushi, H. (2012). Competition, Competitive Advantage, and Clusters: The Ideas of Michael Porter. OUP Oxford.