Political Science

Bata Shoe Companys re-entry into the Czech Republic
From the rich history of the Bata Shoe Company it is possible to tell that it is a viable business with a lot of promise and new markets and opportunities to exploit. It has the resources to do this and a good plan is necessary to ensure that its re-entry into the Czech Republic brings advantage to both the country and the shoe company.

The Czech republic is located in a very strategic location it is opening up to other markets meaning that Bata will also have an opportunity to explore these markets once it is well established. The Republic holds dearly its culture and customs and therefore all people and organizations planning to set up business in the republic should be very careful not to go against, interfere or disrespect the culture of the people. Even the business environment in the republic is governed by a sort of business culture that the business community adheres to.  Many businesses have failed to take off in the country as a result of cultural challenges, especially with foreigners. That said it is important to note that the republic offers a great deal of opportunities for those who are interested in investing there. (Kwintessentail, 2010)

For a long time, the Bata Shoe Company has been involved in the manufacturing and retail business of different types of shoes for its market. In the Czech Republic the Bata Shoe Company is better off investing in the retail market as the country offers a good market for the companys products together with other advantages that come with a retail business as opposed to other forms of businesses. A retail business is easier to set up as it does not require as much capital resources as a manufacturing business. The company can also partner with an already existing company as this will mean that the cost of restarting its operations will be reduced and it will also benefit from the connections and goodwill of the already existing company. (Kwintessentail, 2010)

Bata should also look into investing in already set up retail facilities such as pre existing plants from where it will conduct its operations in order to save time that would be used in the construction of a new plant. Czech Republic has such plants and it will therefore not be difficult to find one which the Bata Company can acquire. A retail business would also be easier to control and run and therefore a good option for the company since it will most likely be starting a fresh.

Business, Cultural and Legal Practices in the Czech Republic
The business culture in the Czech Republic is one that upholds discipline, responsibility and respect both for businesses and for the people. Punctuality, politeness, setting meetings in advance and appearance is very important and so to be able to get through this part, it will be important to really study the business and corporate structures to ensure that there are no obstacles that will hinder the restarting of the business. Building necessary relationships with players in the same and related markets is also important and having a clear proposal and goals as well as all the relevant information will be an added advantage. Urbach Hacker Young International Limited, 2008)

A complete knowledge of the business environment is also necessary such as the laws and regulations that govern retail businesses in the republic. The legal system regarding businesses is a bit complex and therefore the company should be prepared to follow the necessary regulations. The start of the second half of the year 2000 saw the government establish a statute that ensures that those engaged in investment activities get incentives on their projects in their respective industries. The incentives are in the form of tax holidays, material support for those who create jobs, with a higher premium for those who employ people with disabilities, material support for companies that offer to train their workforce, subsidies and also enjoy the benefits that European Union Countries enjoy since the Czech Republic is an EU member. The Bata Company will also get to enjoy these incentives once it has reentered the market. Urbach Hacker Young International Limited, 2008)

Integration into the Market
This refers to how the Bata Shoe Company can become part of the business sector in the republic and in effect the economy. In order for the Bata Company to become integrated into the Czech Republic it must follow all the written down rules and regulations of businesses as stipulated in the Law. Bata will also have to conform to the cultural business practices as expected by the people of the Czech Republic. As for the Business community, Bata will have to associate itself with the relevant players in the industry in order to learn from them as they already know what the market in the republic is like and what kind of business it can handle or not be able to handle.

The Bata Shoe Company can also become integrated into the Czech Republics economy through the employment sector. This will take place because its re-entry into the Czech economy will create employment for the people. It will also become part of the industry as well as other related industries through buying raw materials and other forms of technology from them.

Competitive Advantage
In order for Bata to be able to create and maintain a competitive advantage in the retail business and shoe industry in the Czech Republic, it will need to invest a lot in research, marketing and advertising. Research can be conducted in both the consumer market in order to know what type of shoe products the consumers are interested in and the amount of money that they would be willing to spend on shoes. This will enable the company to know what to produce and to come up with a good pricing plan for its product so as not to overprice their products and at the same time not to under price them. The company should also research on the availability of raw materials for its products as well as the transportation details as this will affect the delivery of the products to the consumers.

In order to maintain its competitive advantage, the company will need to take into a count the kind of competition that it faces from similar businesses and how it can create and develop its own niche in the market and the direction to follow in order to create and maintain loyalty from its customers. Se of the latest technology and quality raw materials will ensure that the business will at all times produce top line products and thereby have a competitive edge compared to other competitors in the market.

Conclusion
The shoe market is a large market and the most important thing is to learn what is required by the main players of the market including the customers tastes and preferences. The foot ware market generates a lot of revenue in the Czech Republic and it is therefore up to the shoe company to develop policies and plans that will ensure that it is able to tap into the revenue in this market. The re entry of the company into the market will definitely lead to increased competition and the company should prepare for this by  coming up with well laid out strategic plans to deal with it as well as good policies to ensure that it will be able to take off and maintain its presence in the market.