Innovation

In recent years PepsiCo. has had to be more innovative than ever before. A company that is known for unhealthy foods and beverages is now working to stay competitive in a more health conscious world. PepsiCo.'s CEO says that the company is working to develop natural sweeteners to serve customers who like soda but want a lower calorie option, without losing out on taste. They have also added healthier brands to their portfolio with Tropicana, Quaker and Gatorade. PepsiCo. is continuing to build these brands by constantly developing new products within the lines. PepsiCo. has also worked in recent years to create products that fit with the various tastes around the world. To help with their new innovation goals, PepsiCo. opened a new Food and Beverage R&D Center in Shanghai. The new facility is designed to house R&D for products in their expanding Asian markets. The building is "equipped with an advanced culinary center and test kitchens focused on developing and tailoring PepsiCo food and beverage brands for distinct, locally relevant taste preferences throughout the region" PepsiCo. is listed as number 50 on Forbes list of 100 most innovative companies. 

Strategic Leadership

PepsiCo.'s current President is Zein Abdalla, who assumed the roll in September 2012. I believe that PepsiCo. is a learning organization because the have many of the traits that characterize a business as such. PepsiCo. inspires employees by making saying that the company and all of it's people  "have a responsibility to help develop solutions to such key global challenges as obesity and malnutrition". This goal inspires employees and creates a common mission for them to connect over. PepsiCo.'s works to have leaders within the organization that motivate employees to work hard and engage in self-directed learning to better themselves and the company. They also work to give employees on all levels responsibility because they believe that it is essential for employee morale and performance. PepsiCo. does not seem to share all knowledge between divisions but trains employees with "cross-divisional, functional competency" to give them some information about other areas of the business.  PepsiCo. is facing major changes in the food and beverage industry and their leaders are focusing on creative and innovative approaches to develop new products that fit into this changing market by empowering and motivating employees work towards these goals.