Shakespeare s Twelfth Night Gift Exchange, Debt And The...

Luisa Sorto British Literature 2322 Professor Hassell December 3,2016 Modern sexusality in Shakespearian time In modern age, society finally accepts homosexuality,other sexual orientations, and gender identity became a more acceptable concept.However, even though it became acceptable once again in the twenty first century. Literature throughout the ages depicted different sexual orientation and gender identification. The play Twelfth Night made produced by William Shakespeare discusses the topics of sexuality during the early 17th century. The articles Gender Trouble in ‘Twelfth Night by Casey Charles agrees that the main central theme of this play is associated with gender identification and sexuality. However,the article â€Å"Rings and Things† in Twelfth Night:Gift Exchange, Debt and the Early Modern Matrimonial Economy by Stephanie Chamberlain examines the play having more to do with economically obligations that was occurring during that time instead of sexuality orientation. Due the different claims of the two authors, it makes the reader question what is this play by Shakespeare identifying as its central idea of focus. Is it about sexuality and how society might be disgusted by some individuals or the economically and materialistic problems that society faces? Before we discuss the articles. First let’s discuss what the plot of Twelfth Night is. The story starts with a guy name Orsino wanting to marry a girl named Olivia and a shipwreck happened where a girl

White Collar Crime And Corporate Crime - 1158 Words

White-Collar Crime consists of occupational crime and corporate crime. Occupational crime refers to offences committed against legitimate institutions businesses or government by those with respectable social status. It includes the embezzlement of corporate funds, tax evasion, computer crime and expense-account fraud. It is not every day that we hear about white-collar crimes but these non-violent crimes are on the rise to the top. Federal Bureau of Investigation states that USA, for example recorded white collar crimes amounting $300 billion every year (Cornell University, 2010). White-collar crime is relatively a new idea. It has many aspects that are practical for study and further interpretation to clear some of its dark areas. White-Collar Crime was once introduced by Edwin Sutherland in 1939 during his speech in American Sociological Society. The following crimes actually performed are Bribery, Extortion, Insurance, Fraud, Embezzlement, Cybercrime etc. People who participate i n these criminal activities are highly powerful and respectful among the society. The following activities include description about White-collar Crime, Investigation of White Collar Crime and The Consequences of committing a White-collar Crime. White-collar crime was defined by Edwin Sutherland as a crime committed by a person of respectability and high social status in the course of his occupation. Since this term was invented by Sutherland in 1939 during his speech for AmericanShow MoreRelatedEssay on White Collar Crime and Corporate Crime1509 Words   |  7 PagesWhite Collar crime is not a crime unto it self, but instead a criteria that has to be met in order for a crime to be considered as White- Collar Crime; (Blount, 2002) hence the reason why Corporate Crime is also considered as White- Collar Crime. At the same time, White Collar Crime and Corporate Crime can be seen as distinct criminological categories, however, in order to reveal this, this essay will firstly be exploring Sutherlands definition of white collar crime and the perplexity with thisRead MoreHow Does the Criminal Justice System Respond to White Collar and Corporate Crime?2543 Words   |  11 PagesRESPOND TO WHITE COLLAR AND CORPORATE CRIME? White-collar crime poses a vexing problem for the criminal justice system (CJS). It is an enormously complex global issue that is growing rapidly and is a cross-border problem. White-collar crime is viewed differently in contrast to conventional crime as generally the public associate crime with street crimes such as robbery, burglary or homicide. Affluent and privileged persons who enjoy an elevated social status and who engage in crimes are rarelyRead MoreWhite collar and corporate crime548 Words   |  3 Pagesdoes white collar and corporate crime tend to go undetected, Or if detected not prosecuted White collar and corporate crimes are crimes that many people do not associate with criminal activity. Yet the cost to the country due to corporate and white collar crime far exceeds that of â€Å"street† crime and benefit fraud. White collar and corporate crimes refer to crimes that take place within a business or institution and include everything from Tax fraud to health and safety breaches. Corporate crimeRead MoreWhite Collar and Corporate Crime Pose for Explanations of Criminality1010 Words   |  4 PagesWhat Kinds of Problems do White Collar and Corporate Crime Pose for Explanations of Criminality Until relatively recently, the concept of the criminal was that of a person who, somehow disadvantaged and disenfranchised from society, decided to ignore societal laws and concentrate on increasing his personal worth at the expense of society. The idea of the criminal as the outsider became an accepted part of criminological theory, so much so that almost all modern theories of criminology focus onRead MoreThe Nature And Organization Of Corporate Environmental Crime961 Words   |  4 Pagesessay examines the nature and organisation of corporate environmental crime. Part II explores the offenders of corporate environmental crime. Part III determines the risk factors for corporate offending. Finally, Part IV analyses environmental regulations. I. 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In A Looking Glass Of A1448 Words   |  6 PagesExercise 3: White Collar Cr ime In a looking glass of a sociologist, we can see white collar crime in our everyday world. When it presents itself; the victims are left hurt and the rest in awe of their awful actions. White Collar Crime is defined as â€Å"White collar crime overlaps with corporate crime because the opportunity for fraud, bribery, insider trading, embezzlement, computer crime, and forgery is more available to white-collar employees.† stated by James Henslin. White Collar Crime can be seenRead MoreEssay on An Explanation of Corporate Crime856 Words   |  4 PagesAn Explanation of Corporate Crime This analytical source review will analyse and detail the views and opinions of four different sources including: The sociology of corporate crime: an obituary, Corporate Crime, Corporate Crime at the tip of the iceberg and White Collar and Corporate Crime. The topic this review will be primarily concerned with is corporate crime, the topic will be examined and the notion of ignorance towards the subject will be addressed. HoweverRead MoreFinancial Aspects Of The Accounting Scandal1000 Words   |  4 Pagesresulted in profits instead of losses. However, when WorldCom stocks started to decline the CEO at the time of this scandal, Bernie Ebbers, sought to pursue revenue growth and with an autocratic corporate culture persisting within the company, practices such as this were able to happen. An autocratic corporate culture would incorporate aspects such as centralized power in a certain few and observes the company to make sure they follow protocol. Another factor that played a part in this scandal was theRead MoreWhite Collar Crimes And Street Crimes1431 Words   |  6 PagesCrimes are one of the many things that all humans have in common. Whether it be a serious crime or not, everyone can commit a crime and go to jail for it. There are two types of crime that can be considered complete opposites of each other. They are white collar crimes and street crimes. White co llar crimes are considered nonviolent crimes committed by a person of respectability and high social status in the course of his/her occupation such as fraud, embezzlement, or bribery. On the other hand,

Epidemiology Of Varsity Sports Essay Example For Students

Epidemiology Of Varsity Sports Essay Epidemiology Of Varsity Sports Essay Varsity sports is in many schools as important as academics, especially in the United States. These schools rely a great deal on the success of their teams for financial stability and enrollment interest. The athletes as well take their sport very seriously, if only for the sake of their pride. It therefore follows that each team strives to be the very best, and only 100% effort is enough. Unfortunately, when competition climaxes, more often than not injuries result. This study is a synopsis of the data collected in a number of past articles concerned with injuries incurred by collegiate athletes in many different varsity sports. For the purpose of this study, an injury has been defined as any abnormal condition that has caused an athlete to be removed from practice or competition for one or more days, because performance has been impaired (Hanes and Murray, 1982). The following statistics will deal with injuries of collegiate sports incurred by athletes involved in Mens and Womens Basketball, Baseball, Gymnastics and Track and Field, Mens Soccer, and Wrestling, and Womens Field Hockey. BASKETBALL The study of the nature and extent of athletic injuries Occuring in Womens Basketball by Hanes and Murray in 1982 found an injury rate of 41.7 per 100 players. Of these injuries 56. 9% were ankle sprains, 24.1% were muscle strains. 76.2% of the sprains and strains occurred to the lower extremities. Injured fingers ( which were the only upper extremity injuries) accounted for 14.3% of the injuries and 4. 8% of the injuries were reported as facial. All information for this study was collected through the use of injury forms completed by the coaches, and information forms by each player, injured or not. In a separate study for the American Journal of Sports Medicine by Clarke and Buckley in 1980 on injuries incurred in collegiate Womens Basketball, there was an injury rate of 20.3 per 100 players. There was a reported incidence of 53% sprains, and 4% strains. 40% of all injuries sustained were to the lower extremities. In the same study Clarke and Buckley found similar results in Mens Varsity Basketball to that of the Womens. The men reported 20.7 per 100 players suffering injuries, 54% of those being sprains, 6% being strains with 37% of the injuries Occuring to the lower extremity. All the data collected by Clarke and Buckley was received from the National Athletic Injury/ Illness Recording System (NAIRS). BASEBALL Clark and Buckley have also examined Mens and Womens Baseball in their study The reported injury rate for this particular sport was 9.2% (mens) and 8. 7% (womens). Sprains occurred 37% and 40% respectively, strains accounted for 28% and 12%. Mens baseball saw 69% of the injuries in the lower extremity, womens baseball reported 82% of the injuries in the lower extremities. FIELD HOCKEY Womens Field hockey had a similarly low injury rate according to Clarke and Buckley, at only 5.5%. Sprains once again were the most common injury, comprising 37% of the incidence rate, and strains made up 21%. As might be expected by the nature of the sport, the lower extremities received 72% of the injuries. TRACK AND FIELD The incidence rate of the Mens and Womens Track and Field teams were 10% and 12% respectively. Although as Clarke and Buckley found, this sport alone saw different injuries come to the forefront. It was muscle strains that seemed most prevalent, Occuring 48% (mens) and 26% (womens) of the time. Sprains accounted for only 18% and 16% of the injuries. But as would seem fitting the men were inflicted with 72% of the injuries to the lower extremities, and the women 92%. The Problem Of Gender Discrimination EssayWRESTLING After a five-year study of two University wrestling teams, Snook (1982) found wrestling to have the highest incidence of injury of all those examined in this article, with an injury rate of 35.7 per 100 participants. The type of injury was fairly evenly divided between sprains (31.03%) and strains (27.58%) as it was between injuries to the upper (43%) and lower extremities (55%). SOCCER As should be expected, Mens soccer saw a very high incidence of injury to the lower extremities. According to Davis (1977) 85.02% of all injuries occurred to the legs and ankles, with sprains comprising 31.03% and strains comprising 27.58%. There was an overall injury rate of 33.21 per 100 players for his study. Clarke and Buckley similarly found that 76% of the injuries (an overall rate of 13.2%) occurred to the lower limbs, with 49% of those being sprains, and 12% strains. GYMNASTICS According to Clarke and .

Alliance Boots Future Strategic Directions Organisation Business Essay Example For Students

Alliance Boots Future Strategic Directions Organisation Business Essay It is a transnational company with strong acknowledgment and repute as one of the taking pharmaceutical and beauty companies in the universe. Alliance Boots gross is more than A ; lb ; 22.5 billion in surplus ; it besides has assorted mercantile establishments in more than 20 states. Alliance Boots core countries of concern are pharmaceutical and beauty, formed in 2006 as a amalgamation Boots Group and Alliance UniChem and late a planetary amalgamation with Walgreens. The company chief intent is to assist its clients to look and experience better than of all time, by supplying exceeding client and patient attention with great value for its client. Outline1 Product trade names2 Administration Structures3 Alliance Boots Strategy Options4 Selling scheme5 Ansoff s Matrix6 Alliance Boots SWOT Analysis7 Strength:8 Failings:9 Opportunities:10 Menaces:11 Porter s Five Forces:12 Menace if replacement:13 Competitive Competition:14 Alliance Boots PESTEL Analysis15 Globalization Drivers16 Market:17 2. Cost:18 3. Government:19 Future Strategic Partnership20 Recommendations21 Decision Product trade names Alliance Boots Pharmaceutical Wholesale Division is sing a rapid growing and planetary gross revenues ; the company believes that its merchandise invention and development competences are some of the resourceful factors, which enable the company to develop new and existing merchandises for planetary ingestion. Some of these merchandises are, No7, Soltan and Botanics, 17, Almus and Alvita that were successfully launched late. Administration Structures Alliance Boots have over 185,000 employees and legion pharmaceutical mercantile establishments. The purpose of the company is to work closely with maker of pharmaceutical, beauty and wellness merchandises and usage experient druggists to supply services to their clients. Alliance Boots central office is in Zug Switzerland. Alliance Boots Strategy Options It is of import that when a planetary concern administration wants to follow a sustainable development scheme for its merchandises and trade names, such scheme demands to be applicable across a broad scope of different merchandise types, besides has to be flexible to get by with the rapid turnover of merchandises. Alliance Boots besides believe that: The company scheme is capable to get by with three chief paths by which merchandises are introduced at Alliance Boots ( ain industry, 3rd party supply of Alliance Boots trade names and proprietary trade name ) . The company scheme is supplying leading on where and how to better its merchandises and such betterment must be commercially successful. Selling scheme Alliance Boots believe that by seting its clients foremost for all its pharmaceutical and beauty merchandises with outstanding quality and service at a competitory cost will assist the company to accomplish first-class profitable borders in the planetary competitory market. Ansoff s Matrix Ansoff s Matrix is a alone selling tool, which provides strategic picks to concern administrations in order to accomplish the aim for growing. Ansoff s Matrix has four chief classs viz. : Market incursion: Market incursion creates a good avenue for a company like Alliance Boots to sell bing merchandises in bing markets. It is of import for Alliance Boots to go on advancing its merchandise with the new characteristics and good quality.This is assisting Alliance Boots to put to a great extent and concentrate more on research and development in new market research making more distribution channel. Market development: Alliance Boots use Market development as a growing scheme to sell its bing merchandises into new markets, including new geographical markets, for illustration merchandise exportation to a new state. It besides includes new merchandise packaging new distribution channels ( e.g. Boots Pharmacy shops across UK and selling via e-commerce and mail order ) . Its ability to aim new market makes Market development a alone scheme. Merchandise development: Alliance Boots use Product development as a growing scheme making a alone avenue for its concern to present new merchandises into bing pharmaceutical markets with great outlook that they will derive more clients and market portion. Such scheme may affect the development of new capablenesss and requires Alliance Boots to develop improved merchandises to bing markets. The Road Not Taken EssayEconomic Factors: The planetary economic recession has a immense impact on health care, with a immense addition in the monetary values of planetary health care impacting the manner clients spend on their health care merchandises particularly Beauty merchandises. The lifting fuel costs besides have a immense impact in the supply concatenation channel of Alliance Boots taking to monetary value addition. Social Factors: The societal factors are making more consciousness about how everyone should take attention of himself or herself through, exercising, eating wonts, type of nutrient that is good for the organic structure and many more. For illustration, authorities run that is advancing healthy feeding ( eatwell.gov.uk 2012 online ) as a consequence in the rapid increasing degree of fleshiness within the UK ( Department of wellness 2012 online ) .Such information is hiking Alliance Boots gross revenues by promoting its clients to seek its healthier merchandises at a cheaper monetary value than other companies. Technological Factors: The development of the cyberspace is assisting on-line retail gross revenues, Alliance Boots are doing usage of the cyberspace engineering to its advantage with the cyberspace is now bring forthing more than a 3rd of all gross for Alliance Boots merchandises and services. Alliance Boots Centre for Innovation is puting enormously in the development of imaginative merchandises and engineerings that focus on: Wayss to observe dainty and proctor client s well-being issues. Environmental Factors: Many states are now committed to green energy of all time than earlier due to the hazard of planetary heating is going a world, Many companies like Alliance Boots have been told to play cardinal function in cut downing C footmark and increasing energy efficiency ( Bream 2008 ) . Because of this, Alliance Boots will hold to put more in greener merchandises ( merchandising of organic wellness merchandise ) and cut downing their impact of C footmark on the environment. Legal Factors: There are assorted legal issues that are confronting the manner companies operate globally, for illustration, Alliance Boot Cases include application to the European Court of Justice in sex favoritism instance of Neath versus Hugh Steeper Limited. New Torahs keep emerging mundane particularly on healthy merchandise and drinks, which mean Alliance Boots will hold to be more cautious about its packaging and labelling policies, which will be an excess fiscal liability on the Alliance Boots. Globalization Drivers This can be classified into: Market: Growth of planetary and regional channels Constitution of universe trade names 2. Cost: Fast-tracking technological invention Transportation system and distribution channel 3. Government: Decrease of duty barriers and non-tariff barriers 4. Competitive: Huge rise in planetary strategic confederations with other companies. Future Strategic Partnership Walgreen Co. , US largest apothecarys shop concatenation is the latest hereafter strategic partnership and way that Alliance Boots are taking. Under this new scheme, Alliance Boots and Walgreen Co are conveying together the strengths and proficiency of both companies to make alone planetary pharmaceutical companies with a strong focal point on wellness and wellbeing. Recommendations In order for Alliance Boots to go on keeping its planetary presence as one of the dominant forces in the Pharmaceutical companies, the following are the vivacious hereafter strategic waies that Alliance Boots must take for its concern. Delivering of new advanced medical research utilizing the following coevals engineering. A new planetary attack to selling by patronizing assorted events related to the wellbeing of Alliance Boots clients. Expansion of general ware ranges which in return will make gross revenues with greater growing potency and effectivity. Decision In decision, strategic direction with a dedicated market focal point is a driver to construct a successful hereafter globalization and a successful amalgamation procedure of the pharmaceutical industry. Alliance Boots continue to internationalize its cardinal merchandise trade names, selling them to distributers, independent pharmaceuticss and retail spouses including on-line shopping sites globally.

Concepts of negotiation

Introduction Negotiation is a familiar term that transcends common business parlance. In the context of business, negotiation is found as a sub-branch in marketing where it refers to the wider steps applied toward agreement in decisions about buying and selling.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Concepts of negotiation specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Several situations normally arise where individuals have to negotiate (Gregor, pp79). This may entail negotiating within ones-self or with other parties. In this case, it is therefore important that one understands their ability in terms of negotiation skills and if possible find ways of bettering it. Body The modern day marketer is faced with several situations that require great skills of negotiation. How are you able to strike a deal with your prospective clients? How effective are you in convincing the buyer that whatever you are offering is the best deal availabl e? Are you able to respond to the growing wave of market complexities in the scramble for a market share? Such are the questions that a marketer is forced to come to terms with. It therefore brings the concept of negotiation into greater perspective. In negotiating within ones-self, one has to weigh the benefits and the costs inherent in all the available options and pre-evaluate the effects of a given decision (Graham, pp76). That is what normally creates the conflict of interest between ideals and interests. Negotiation between two parties is a common day occurrences. A marketer has to be acquainted with certain skills to enable effective negotiation transpire. Filching is an important aspect in the subject of negotiation (Graham, pp45). It involves making the buyer feel that the bargain they are proposing is very unreasonable. Since it is common norm that people will always seek to spend less while marketers will always want to maximize their profits, the two parties have to stri ke a bargain. Flinching will help the marketer in persuading the buyer to concede faster to his stance. Negotiation is also enhanced when the marketer endeavors to get as much information from the buyer as possible. From that information, he can make a dim perspective of the buyer’s psychological orientation that will help him know how much to stress (Gregor, pp83).Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More It therefore elicits a lot of demonstration of inner feelings, ideas, views and other intrinsic aspects to the alternate party (Gregor, pp69). As such, a marketer should not make the buyer feel that he is quite desperate to sell. He should be ready to walk away without giving room for too much concession. After all, he is out on a profit mission. Moreover there will always be better bargains. The process of gauging one’s negotiation ability is not an easy process. How ever, through the use of certain simple ways, it is possible to assess it. By experimentally convincing a buyer to purchase a product and successfully striking a bargain that goes to your interest can be a clear indication that one is not worse off (Gregor, pp71). Conclusion It can therefore be said that negotiation is a virtue that is endowed on different people in different proportions. As a very important aspect in a world of limited resources, negotiation skills come in handy in various aspects of the day to day life. Business people as well as other partakers in business will always be engaged in situations that require them to critically apply their negotiation parameters (Graham, pp56). It is therefore quite imperative that the horn such skills so as to be able to bargain more and transact better in an increasingly competitive world. Works Cited Graham, Larry. Marketing Strategies: A New Outlook. New York: Paragon Books, 2003. Gregor, G MC. Marketing in the Wider Perspective. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1999. This essay on Concepts of negotiation was written and submitted by user Teagan Cantrell to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Adidass Strategy

Adidass Strategy Free Online Research Papers What is adidass corporate strategy? â€Å"To lead the sporting goods industry with brands built on a passion for sports and a sporting lifestyle. To provide athletes with the best possible equipment to optimize their performance. Leveraging opportunities across their brand portfolio 1.Market penetration – gaining market share across all markets in which they compete 2.Market development – expanding into new markets and addressing new consumer segments To have a leading market positions in all regions where we compete. Leading though innovation and design Customizing distribution 1.Mono-branded stores run by retail partners 2.Shop-in-shops that Adidas establish with their key accounts 3.Joint ventures with their retail partners 4.Co-branded stores with sports organizations or other brands Creating shareholder value† Was there a common strategic approach used in managing the companys lineup of sporting goods businesses prior to its 2005–2006 restructuring? No, Adidas was trying to regain the number one position within the sporting goods industry by investing in many different areas of sporting goods. â€Å"Adidas’s 1998 acquisition of Salomon had several businesses that adidas’s management viewed as attractive-its Salomon ski division was the leading producer of ski equipment: TaylorMade Golf was the second-largest seller of golf equipment; and Mavic was the leading producer of high-performance bicycle wheels and rims.† Adidas was not focused on athletic footwear and started selling bike wheels and rims that had nothing in common with their main business of athletes’ footwear. Also the ski division was out of line with their many main business goals and strategies. Has the corporate strategy changed with restructuring? Yes, Adidas sold the divisions that were not inline with their main strategy or didn’t have noting in common with their main business. â€Å"Adidas announced near the end of its second quarter 2005 that it would divest its winter sports brands and Mavic bicycle components before the end of the year.† Adidas started focusing on its main business strategies and divisions that were in common with the strategies. â€Å"Adidas’s October 2005 announcement that it would acquire Reebok International Ltd for three point eight billion was the final component of a restructuring initiative that would focus the company’s business lineup primarily on athletic footwear and apparel and golf equipment by 2006.† With the restructuring and acquisition of Reebok the company strategy has changed. The new Adidas will start focusing on their core business strengths in the athletic footwear and apparel business. The combined companies will offer the spectrum of their product mix to gain a greater combined market share. â€Å"The brand adidas will continue to have a clear focus on sport performance and will highlight team sports, while brand Reebok will be positioned as a fitness oriented, sports-lifestyle brand with the focus on individual performance. The positioning will also be reflected in the distinct brand communication to reach different consumers.† What is your evaluation of adidass 1998 acquisition of Salomon SA? Adidas should have not acquired Salomon SA since they did not have the knowledge to run the division and it made adidas to diverse. â€Å"A Merrill Lynch analyst suggested that the Salomon acquisition might prove troublesome for adidas since other athletic shoe companies had dabbled in the hard goods segment, but they have been unsuccessful to date in making inroads.† By adidas becoming too diverse, they were unable to capitalize on any value chains and unable to cross promote their products. The acquisition did give adidas more market share â€Å"Adidas’s 1.5 billion acquisition of Salomon allowed it to surpass Reebok to become the world’s second-largest sporting goods company† This was not a good business decision because adidas already owned Reebok and just because they gain market share showed that the end result would not be profitable (bigger is not always better). Did the acquisition achieve the Robert Louis-Dreyfuss objective of putting together the best portfolio of sports brands in the world? NO. Louis-Dreyfus used 100 percent debt financing to create adidas-Salomon thinking that the new business units would boost adidas’s pretax profit by 20-25 percent, however, Louis-Dreyfus’s projections never materialized. In 2000 Louis-Dreyfus resigned since his objective failed. What does a 9-cell industry attractiveness/business strength matrix displaying adidas-Salomons business units look like? A 9-cell industry attractiveness/business strength matrix for the time would have showed that the combination of adidas and Salomon AS would not be a good fit. Adidas brought to the deal a company that had underestimated the competitor (Nike), falling to the eighth position of athletic footwear market within the United States. Their was no competitive advantage for adidas within an maturing industry. Both adidas and Salomon had challenges within their industries that were not fix or address before or during the merger. Did adidass business lineup prior to the divestiture of Salomon and Mavic exhibit good strategic fit? No, at first it looks like a very good fit since both companies are in the sporting goods industry and having well known brand names. Both of them have strong apparel lines and having presence in similar geographical regions. However, it’s obvious that the hard-goods categories of Salomon and Mavic would not create synergies with the apparel and footwear industries of adidas. Skill transfers between the businesses would have been a problem to because each business was so different. What value-chain match ups existed? Adida’s knowledge in the apparel and footwear industries were a good match up for running TaylorMade, Salomon, etc. footwear and apparel lines. What opportunities for skills transfer, cost sharing, or brand sharing were evident? Adidas should have gain more bargaining power that should have resulted in cost savings for all the companies. Advertising cost could have been shared since all the companies are in the sporting goods industry. TaylorMade can use adidas’s apparel and footwear manufacturing strengths to its advantage to come up with more apparel and footwear products to increase its market share. Cost reduction learned from adidas could be used at TaylorMade to save money. What strategic fits will be possible once Reebok International is acquired? Reebok will give adidas’s company the ability to position adidas as a technologically superior shoe designed for athletes and adidas can then focus on the high-end of the markets. Reebok would be positioned as leisure shoes that would sell at middle price points. Adidas can keep endorsement contracts with respected athletes and Reebok’s endorsements would be from more edgy celebrities. This is a great strategic fit since both companies are in the same line of business, but in different segments of the market and so they compliment each other. Another great fits is that Reebok would keep its CEO to lead Reebok after the acquisition so both companies will have the management that knows how to run their part of the business. Did adidass business lineup exhibit good resource fit between 1998 and 2004? No, because the businesses were too different in order to gain any economies of scale from combined production. Management skills and employee skills could not be moved from one company to the other without retraining. What were the financial characteristics of each of three major segments? Exhibit 5 Adidas 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 Net Sales 80% 79% 78% 79% 80% 83% 85% Gross profit 75% 71% 71% 71% 75% 82% 86% Operating profit 88% 78% 75% 74% 79% 87% 94% Salomon 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 Net Sales 10% 10% 10% 12% 12% 11% 10% Gross profit 8.47% 9% 10% 12% 12% 10% 9% Operating profit 2% 7% 9% 13% 12% 6% 1% TaylorMade 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 Net Sales 10% 10% 11% 9% 8% 6% 5% Gross profit 9.74% 10% 12% 11% 4% 7% 6% Operating profit 10% 14% 16% 13% 9% 6% 5% Salomon was far behind Adidas and TaylorMade with operating profit declining from 2002. As of 2004 Salomon is getting to the point where it is just able to cover expenses. Which businesses might have been considered cash hogs and cash cows? Adidas is the cash cow with 75% gross profit. Solomon is the cash hog with only 9% operating profits then TaylorMade is the second cash hog How did adidas-Salomons performance vary by geographic region? On average from 1998 2004 Europe with 51% of adidas’s sales Asian with 16% of adidas’s sales Latin American with 3% of adidas’s sales Based on your analysis of adidas-Salomon businesses, did the 2005 restructuring make sense? Yes It allowed adidas to focus back on its core business of athletic footwear and apparel. At also allowed adidas to get rid of businesses that it was unable to manage. Does it appear the acquisition of Reebok International will produce positive results for shareholders? Yes, since adidas sales has gained more market share in china, overtaking Nike within that business region. What strategic actions should adidas CEO Herbert Hainer initiate to improve the companys financial and market performance now that the restructuring is nearing completion? Grow in other location out side of Europe. Adidas must increase market share in North America. Either sell or get the Salomon’s division more profitable. Focus on getting more business within the basketball area’s were Nike is slam dunking them at the hoops. Work Cited adidas-group.com/en/investor/strategy/default.asp Crafting and Executing Strategy: The Quest for Competitive Advantage- Concepts and Cases, 15th ed., by Arthur A. Thompson Jr, A. J. Strickland III, and John E. Gamble (New York: McGraw-Hill/Irwin, 2007). Crafting and Executing Strategy: The Quest for Competitive Advantage- Concepts and Cases, 15th ed., by Arthur A. Thompson Jr, A. J. Strickland III, and John E. Gamble (New York: McGraw-Hill/Irwin, 2007). Crafting and Executing Strategy: The Quest for Competitive Advantage- Concepts and Cases, 15th ed., by Arthur A. Thompson Jr, A. J. Strickland III, and John E. Gamble (New York: McGraw-Hill/Irwin, 2007). businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/aug2005/nf2005088_0844_db008.htm Crafting and Executing Strategy: The Quest for Competitive Advantage- Concepts and Cases, 15th ed., by Arthur A. Thompson Jr, A. J. Strickland III, and John E. Gamble (New York: Mc Graw-Hill/Irwin, 2007). Crafting and Executing Strategy: The Quest for Competitive Advantage- Concepts and Cases, 15th ed., by Arthur A. Thompson Jr, A. J. Strickland III, and John E. Gamble (New York: McGraw-Hill/Irwin, 2007). Research Papers on Adidas's StrategyAnalysis of Ebay Expanding into AsiaMarketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever ProductOpen Architechture a white paperDefinition of Export QuotasBionic Assembly System: A New Concept of SelfPETSTEL analysis of IndiaIncorporating Risk and Uncertainty Factor in CapitalThe Project Managment Office SystemTwilight of the UAWRelationship between Media Coverage and Social and

Make by your self Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Make by your self - Essay Example It is the chief common and enveloping form of communal influence. Communal psychology investigates in conformity tends to differentiate linking two varieties: informational conventionality plus normative conformity. In the case of peer pressure, a human being is persuaded to do incredible things, such as illegitimate drugs, which they may not desire to do; however, which they perceive as "essential" to keep an optimistic association with other citizens, such as their associates. Conformity from peer demands usually results from recognition within the cluster members, or from conformity of some associate to conciliate others. Conformity is from time to time in appearance only openly appearing to be conventional or it might be a total conformity that changes an individual both in public and confidentially. Compliance shows a public conventionality to group preponderance or standard while the person continues to confidentially differ or dissent, investing on to their innovative beliefs or an option set of beliefs conflicting from the preponderance. An alternative representation is in verbal communication of a connectionist network representing the communication of two cognitive sentimental processing schemes, representing the two persons that comprise the dyad. Humans are described as social animals for the reason that in every feature of life they live jointly, they form a diversity of groups in addition to improve relations with each other. Communication with others is a usual result of existing in society. In the course of action of interaction, the social order plus its rules has a societal impact on e ach person. If citizens face with any type of social bang such as group force, large part of them show conventionality by altering their behaviors, thoughts, decisions in anticipated way. A being becomes conventional if he or she

Influences on the Work of John Keats Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Influences on the Work of John Keats - Essay Example As emphasized, these adversities allegedly contributed to his understanding of the role of the artist as the explorer of how art’s power can bring meaning and consolation to people’s suffering. (Poetry Foundation, 2014, par. 5). The current discourse hereby contends that the biggest influences on the work of John Keats include personal experiences on loneliness, love, and illness. The biography of John Keats revealed that the poet wrote his famous odes, with thoughts of longing for his brothers. One of his brothers, Tom, reportedly died of tuberculosis, while George, another brother, departed to America (Stanford University, 2011). The works were described to have been strongly influenced by emotions ranging from loneliness, longing, and despair, to wit: â€Å"The poems known as the Great Odes—â€Å"Ode to a Nightingale,† â€Å"Ode on a Grecian Urn,† â€Å"Ode to Melancholy,† â€Å"To Autumn,† and others, written in the spring of 1819, after Tom’s death and George’s departure—describe the misery into which the poet had plunged after the loss of his brothers. Likewise, the themes in some of these odes have been influenced by the poet’s adeptness to focus on humanities and the arts as a means of dissociating himself to feelings of isolation. More specifically, in the â€Å"Ode to a Nightingale†, the narrator describes his fascination with the expressive power of music, and in the â€Å"Ode on a Grecian Urn†, the speaker talks about his admiration of how sculpture reflects the stories frozen in time. The influence of romance or love were also noted to be present in some of Keats’ works. As love had been a strong emotional force that provided the impetus and inspiration for other literary artists, John Keats’ romantic experiences shared similar influence. Accordingly, one influential person in Keats’ life was Isabella Jones (Poem Hunter, 2014). As  emphasized in various works, the poet used to visit her frequently during the winter of 1818-1819; he also stated that their relationship was intimate.  

Literature review Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 9

Literature review - Essay Example The statement of aims and objectives in the main body is clearly provided and thus guarantees a score of 3. First and foremost is the research method used in collecting data for this study. According to the research paper data was collected from only those nursing students who had earlier participated in similar â€Å"peer learning partnerships†. This appears to be a narrow and restrictive criteria for carrying out this particular study since students who have already participated in such activities are generally conditioned to answer and/or show emotions a particular way as opposed to students who have never been part of such a study. Spontaneous responses, hence, are lessened to some extent. Moreover the paper fails to specify its data concerning the students involved within the study in a quantitative manner. There is no detailed mention of how many students joined in the research study or whether they were initially comfortable with the ground rules laid out for them. The study does not specify the number of dropouts (if any). There is also no detail why the students might have felt the need to be no longer part of the research study. The study does not make any mention of the response rate of the students under observation. It only mentions that in a moderated group environment the students tended to speak at the same time which again led to confusion when taking down responses in an organized manner. The nurses only provide data concerning their feelings and emotions when in a student-mentorship relationship. For most of the students in the group this would be classified as a positive experience since they would have decided it prior to joining the research study group that they were getting enrolled in this study as a positive experience and self study as well as self development. Hence, there are largely positive undercurrents to such a study as opposed to signs

RFID and Bar Coding Technologies

RFID and Bar Coding Technologies Introduction Barcode is an optical machine-readable representation of data, which shows certain data on certain products. Originally, barcodes represented data in the widths (lines) and the spacing of parallel lines, and may be referred to as linear or 1D (1 dimensional) barcodes or symbologies. They also come in patterns of squares, dots, hexagons and other geometric patterns within images termed 2D (2 dimensional) matrix codes or symbologies. Although 2D systems use symbols other than bars, they are generally referred to as barcodes as well. Barcodes can be read by optical scanners called barcode readers, or scanned from an image by special software. The first use of barcodes was to label railroad cars, but they were not commercially successful until they were used to automate supermarket checkout systems, a task in which they have become almost universal. Their use has spread to many other roles as well, tasks that are generically referred to as Auto ID Data Capture (AIDC). Other systems are attempting to make inroads in the AIDC market, but the simplicity, universality and low cost of barcodes has limited the role of these other systems. It costs 0.5 ¢ (U.S.) to implement a barcode, while passive RFID still costs about 7 ¢ to 30 ¢ per tag. In hospitals bar codes are now used in a number of ways. In blood banks, as has been the case for a number of years now, they have the ability to track blood back to the initial donor. Because of whats happened in the past three or four years in discovering the risk of AIDS, thats very important. And for keeping track of patient numbers, the checking in or out of patients through the bar code on the little wristband that all hospital patients wear is much the same as the check-in/check-out process of buying products. This coding process has just started within the last year or so because its a more efficient way to make sure that when the patient gets two aspirins, he gets billed for those aspirins. In many hospitals about 30 to 40 percent of their total supplies never get charged out to patients because the paperwork involved in billing for two aspirins costs far more than the aspirins, so nobody worries about it. The problem with that is quite obvious. The federal government is getting a great deal tougher on hospitals to increase room rates to cover items like that. The bar code is very efficient at keeping track of supplies. Again, its an easy way to get information into a computer and then do something with it. Additionally, youve been in the department stores, such as Dillards, which now use security tags. And, if youve done what Ive done namely, pay for a sport coat but the clerk forgets to take off the tag, then walk out the door and the whole building comes down on you because that tag is still on there then you know what electronic bar codes are about. These security tags have little transformers in them, which are really another form of bar coding. The same is true if you are, for example, a bank tied in with a grocery store. We now have developed credit cards with bar codes on them such that when you go into the grocery store to cash a check, they dont have to look at your identification or make a telephone call or key your number into a little checker unit. They simply scan it, and instantly the checkout process becomes an information-gathering process, keeping track of what youre buying so that, at the end of that process, out comes not only a tape of your purchases but also some coupons toward purchases for the next time you come in. And the coupons that come out are a function of what you bought. Some ingenious things are now starting to happen along those lines, but its all a function of the same thing. We have the ability to do something with that gigantic bunch of information that heretofore was impossible to process. The bar code is simply a way to do that very efficiently. the last two years of being able to put information into a computer directly by simply talking into a microphone. That ability is probably number of years off, but it is coming. Something along those lines will happen as it becomes more important that you get the data quicker and faster. Information is the new currency of the world. I really believe that. I believe its the key to outsmarting the competition. If you think about it and think about your own concerns and your own businesses, I think youll agree with me. Bar codes provide the information vehicle that you need to make some decisions that involve merchandising and ultimately servicing your customer better. The nichemanship that bar codes help create permits a flexibility that will win out. And well beat the competition hands down. Bar codes are commonsense solutions for many problems involving the collection of information. Defeating the foreign competition will be a relatively simple proposition because of the flexibility we will have and the superior information we have about what our customers really want. 3. Literature Review A review of the literature reveals that very few empirical investigations have been undertaken to quantify the benefits of RFID and Bar coding technologies. The number of articles that discuss RFID technology and its adoption has risen from almost zero in the early 1990s to nearly nine thousand by 2005. Of those studies that have been conducted so far only one dimensional barcodes were studied (Vijayaraman Osyk, 2006). This does not appear to be an accurate representation of the technologies currently used in supply chains and firms. Have companies and researchers become so consumed with the hype that surrounds RFID that they have forgotten about the most widely used technology on this planet bar coding, with five billion barcodes scanned each day across the world and already implemented across diverse businesses and product ranges (Wyld, 2006). Barcodes are part of every product that we buy and has become theâ€Å"ubiquitous standard for identifying and tracking products† (Wyld, 2006, p. 157) Traditional bar coding is coupled with the Universal Product Code (UPC) and every day accounts for billions of scans all over the world. According to a survey conducted by Zebra Technologies in 2006, over 96% of European companies cited improved efficiency as the main benefit of using bar coding. Other reasons that European companies gave for using barcodes were: increasing the accuracy of ordering and invoicing (32%), cost reduction (26%), and the fact that newer technology isnt ready yet (16%) (â€Å"Accuracy tops UK†, 2006). Within the Auto-ID family, a new two-dimensional system of bar coding has evolved which allows barcodes to hold more data than the traditional method. Product data is encoded in both horizontal and vertical dimensions and, as more data is encoded, the size of the barcode can be increased in both the horizontal and vertical directions thus maintaining a manageable shape for easy scanning and product packaging specifications (â€Å"2D Barcodes Explained†, 2007; Shaked, Levy, Baharavl, Yen, 2001). Two-dimensional barcodes are already being used for concert tickets by sending a barcode to a mobile phone and then scanning the message at the door by a laser gun. In Japan, mobile phones are being adapted to scan two-dimensional barcodes placed in magazines adverts. The barcode is scanned and connects the mobile to the internet and shows the user the film clip or plays the ring tones. Further developments in the lasers used to scan barcodes help improve the efficiency and speed in which barcodes can be scanned (Dearne, 2006; Ishii, 2004; Suzuki, 2006). Example, they are adversely affected if they are brought into contact with metal and liquids. The signal frequency that RFID uses is also subject to interference as they are commonly used by other technologies, and RFID standards as yet have not assigned a lone frequency for RFID transmissions (Clarke et al, 2005; Forcino, 2004; Ranky, 2006) Barcodes, though, can be printed on durable materials and are not affected by substrate materials or electromagnetic emissions, all of which lend them a competitive edge in some industries and environments. Improvements in how barcodes are printed are evolving all the time as manufacturers strengthen the barcode system. Two-dimensional barcodes can be read even when damaged, so this further shortens the gap between the two technologies (â€Å"Barcode scanners†, 2007; Dover, 1995). Developments in the range at which barcodes can be scanned similarly reduce the apparent performance gap between RFID and bar coding (â€Å"Wide ranging barcode scanner,† 2007). It is questionable why there has been no significant research around these developments that can purportedly improve the quality and performance of existing systems. 4.Methodology This report is depending on the secondary data include both raw data and published summaries. Most organizations collect and store a variety of data to support their operations consumer research organizations collect data are subsequently by different clients. A growing variety haves been deposited in and are available from data archives. In addition, the vast majority of companies and professional organizations have their own Internet sites from which data may be obtained. 4.1Questionnaires: Questionnaire can be conducted in different form: telephone, Internet or postal. The data from each of these techniques needs to be reliable and valid. Bell (1997), suggests there are seven questions types, verbal or open, list, ranking, scale, category, quantity and grid. Questionnaires can be use to gather information from respondents on for example there: Beliefs Demographic characteristic Knowledge Attitudes. The questions fall into two main categories, demographic and content questions, the demographic seek information about the respondents such as age, occupancy, and so on. The content questions are dealing with the subject being surveyed, and ask about the respondents opinions, attitudes, perceptions and behaviors. 4.2 Interviews Interviews are time consuming it is a highly subjective technique and therefore there is always the damage of bias. Analyzing responses can present problems, and wording the questions is almost as demarking for interviews as it is for questionnaires. Interviews can be divided into many sub areas, and how they are conducted will classify then either as quantitative or qualitative. Structured interviews, use questionnaire but the interview meet respondents and ask the questions face to face. The interviewer must not deviate from the schedule of questions., semi-structured interviews, the researcher will have a list of themes and questions to be covered. Each form has its own advantages and disadvantages. The needed data and each form has its nature shall highly influence which form shall be used and there will be always a reference to the form used to gather given data. 4.3 Field Survey The research methodologies comply of both quantitative and qualitative modes of dates collection and include: background, literature review, questionnaire. In addition research on the literature review of books, Journals and web pages around subject areas. The research shall not follow either positivism nor phenomenological shall it be a hybrid of both- pluralism. Also the writer research methods are deductive where the writer shall be formulating certain hypothesis and then shall test those hypotheses through data collected. 5.Barcode applications in practical life Uses barcode technology has no limits; it is medicine for trade and education for tourism. For example, bar code scanning can be used on some merchandise to give the buyer more information about the product. This is what started applying a global fast food, and had ensured that with each fund and a small meal that contains health information on the meal. In the field of medicine can provide some medical drugs contain a link to the property and its medical. Barcode can also be used in tourism by providing tourist guidebooks containing the bar code symbol for the particular tourism can benefit from it to access the required information or to find out more about the region. It also began the spread of bar code scanning as an alternative to postage stamps and seals. Even in foreign restaurants do put the code bar code menu to be translated from one language to another. Finally barcode applications in education, many of them to provide the student with the code bar code after the end of the lecture scans the code, and routing mobile phone site article on the network to work after the exam to download calendar of what has been explained, or ask a question is confused by his understanding. The technological developments in mobile barcode technology have made it available to all. Enough to have a supported mobile phone camera and supports the third generation to be able to take advantage and experience of the barcode technology. Known as a barcode label product globally and locally in the form of the device can designed to be read being picked up and sent to a file of information within the computer and to obtain information for a particular product with the utmost precision, speed, and a code number of data products, which facilitates the operations as follows: It contacts the abolition of manual data and easy access to data with speed and accuracy in identifying the products and Electronic control of production lines and handling of raw materials. Moreover, control the movement of electronically stores with ease and speed of trading through the distribution channels and thus reduce costs and satisfy customers. Also it is easy handling and circulation of goods at point of sale and easy follow-up product at any point during the stages of manufacturing, storage, supply, distribution and sale and the final follow-up services. It is communication through the exchange of information electronically criteria. Furth more, it is collecting and presenting information in a fast, accurate and reliable in strategic planning for the production of marketing. Also it reduces the size of inventory and reduce losses resulting from the expiration of products and increase the value added of the product and raise its competitiveness in both domestic or world ma rkets through find a way to exchange data globally agreed. In additional it is coding of products in accordance with the Code is the image of a civilized world and keep abreast of globalization and trade developments international and WTO requirements. Also the numbering of the product in the form of bar code and a simple, inexpensive process to facilitate data retrieval automatically and raising the efficiency of customer service to expedite the sale and payment. In point-of-sale management, the use of barcodes can provide very detailed up-to-date information on key aspects of the business, enabling decisions to be made much more quickly and with more confidence. For example: Fast-selling items can be identified quickly and automatically reordered to meet consumer demand, and Slow-selling items can be identified, preventing a build-up of unwanted stock, The effects of repositioning a given product within a store can be monitored, allowing fast-moving more profitable items to occupy the best space and historical data can be used to predict seasonal fluctuations very accurately. Items may be re-priced on the shelf to reflect both sale prices and price increases. This technology also enables the profiling of individual consumers, typically through a voluntary registration of discount cards. While pitched as a benefit to the consumer, this practice is considered to be potentially dangerous by privacy advocates. Besides sales and inventory tracking, barcodes are very useful in shipping/receiving/tracking. When a manufacturer packs a box with any given item, a Unique Identifying Number (UID) can be assigned to the box. A relational database can be created to relate the UID to relevant information about the box; such as order number, items packed, qty packed, final destination, etc. The information can be transmitted through a communication system such as Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) so the retailer has the information about a shipment before it arrives. Shipments that are sent to a Distribution Center (DC) are tracked before being forwarded to the final destination. When the shipment gets to the final destination, the UID gets scanned, so the store knows where the order came from, whats inside the box, and how much to pay the manufacturer. The reason barcodes are business-friendly is that the scanners are relatively low cost and extremely accurate compared to key-entry, with only about 1 substitution error in 15,000 to 36 trillion characters entered. The exact error rate depends on the type of barcode. 6. References: Tony Seideman, Barcodes Sweep the World, barcoding.com Wonders of Modern Technology George Laurer, Development of the U.P.C. Symbol, bellsouthpwp.net Nelson, Benjamin (1997). From Punched Cards To Bar Codes. Varchaver, Nicholas (2004-05-31). Scanning the Globe. Fortune. http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2004/05/31/370719/index.htm. Retrieved 2006-11-27. Selmeier, Bill (2008). Spreading the Barcode. pp. 26, 214, 236, 238, 244, 245, 236, 238, 244, 245. ISBN 978-0-578-02417-2. Bishop, Tricia (July 5 2004). UPC bar code has been in use 30 years. SFgate.com. http://www.sfgate.com/cgibin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2004/07/05/BUG6Q7G4AJ1.DTLtype=business. Retrieved 22 December 2009.

Financing the Purchase of a Website - The Small Business Administration (SBA) :: Sell Websites Buy Websites

Financing the Purchase of a Website - The Small Business Administration (SBA) Reprinted with permission of VotanWeb.com One of the Small Business Administration's primary objectives is to help small businesses obtain financing. Although the SBA itself does not make direct loans, it has set up a number of loan programs to assist small businesses. In connection with most of these programs, the SBA provides guarantees to the private sector lenders who actually make the loans. With this guaranty in place, these lenders will generally make loans for the purchase of websites that they would not otherwise make. The discussion below focuses on those programs that are most commonly used by buyers in connection with financing the purchase of a website. Section 7(a) Program The Section 7(a) Loan Guaranty Program is one of the SBA's most important and widely used lending programs. Loans may be used for a wide variety of business purposes, including the purchase of websites and most other types of assets. Although in most cases, there is no limit on the size of the loan which can be requested from the lender, there is a limit on the amount of the loan that the SBA will guaranty. Generally the SBA will guaranty up to $1,000,000 and 75% (85% for loans under $150,000) of the loan. Thus, a $1,333,333 loan would be the largest fully guaranteed SBA loan under the Section 7(a) program. Eligibility for this type of loan guaranty is dependent on a number of factors. The website must be operated for profit, do business in the , and have a reasonable amount of equity invested by the owner. Note that all owners of 20% or more of the website must personally guaranty the loan. The size of the website must also be below certain size limits established by the SBA. These size limits vary by industry. Additional considerations include the website 's cash flow, and the owner's character, management capability, and equity contribution. Other details include: Loan Maturities - Term is based on the ability to repay, the loan purpose, and the useful life of the website. The maximum maturities are (i) the shorter of 25 years or the useful life for most hard assets and (ii) 7 years for working capital. Principal Repayments - Loan principal is structured to amortize over the period of the loan. Thus there is no "balloon" balance owing on the loan's maturity date. Interest Rates - Interest rates can be either fixed or floating, and are negotiated between the borrower and the lender. Financing the Purchase of a Website - The Small Business Administration (SBA) :: Sell Websites Buy Websites Financing the Purchase of a Website - The Small Business Administration (SBA) Reprinted with permission of VotanWeb.com One of the Small Business Administration's primary objectives is to help small businesses obtain financing. Although the SBA itself does not make direct loans, it has set up a number of loan programs to assist small businesses. In connection with most of these programs, the SBA provides guarantees to the private sector lenders who actually make the loans. With this guaranty in place, these lenders will generally make loans for the purchase of websites that they would not otherwise make. The discussion below focuses on those programs that are most commonly used by buyers in connection with financing the purchase of a website. Section 7(a) Program The Section 7(a) Loan Guaranty Program is one of the SBA's most important and widely used lending programs. Loans may be used for a wide variety of business purposes, including the purchase of websites and most other types of assets. Although in most cases, there is no limit on the size of the loan which can be requested from the lender, there is a limit on the amount of the loan that the SBA will guaranty. Generally the SBA will guaranty up to $1,000,000 and 75% (85% for loans under $150,000) of the loan. Thus, a $1,333,333 loan would be the largest fully guaranteed SBA loan under the Section 7(a) program. Eligibility for this type of loan guaranty is dependent on a number of factors. The website must be operated for profit, do business in the , and have a reasonable amount of equity invested by the owner. Note that all owners of 20% or more of the website must personally guaranty the loan. The size of the website must also be below certain size limits established by the SBA. These size limits vary by industry. Additional considerations include the website 's cash flow, and the owner's character, management capability, and equity contribution. Other details include: Loan Maturities - Term is based on the ability to repay, the loan purpose, and the useful life of the website. The maximum maturities are (i) the shorter of 25 years or the useful life for most hard assets and (ii) 7 years for working capital. Principal Repayments - Loan principal is structured to amortize over the period of the loan. Thus there is no "balloon" balance owing on the loan's maturity date. Interest Rates - Interest rates can be either fixed or floating, and are negotiated between the borrower and the lender.

Columbia Business Environment

According to (Walter, J. (2006), any business worthy its salt must carry out a business analysis audit before venturing into expansion plans. This often saves an organization time and resources which would be lost if the decision to expand or relocate business is not based on sound business practices. The case below analyses the business environment in Colombia, by addressing the political, cultural, economic, and domestic and industry analysis of the country. Finally the paper gives a verdict based on the findings of the analysis which is basically a recommendation on the economic investment options for a business aiming at venturing into the Colombian market. Location. Colombia, neighbors Caribbean Sea, Panama, Venezuela, a well as North Pacific Ocean. With a population of about 40 million people, the country has a good domestic market. Colombia enjoys a mixture of climates such as coastal- tropic climate as well as in the eastern plains it also has cool highlands climate suitable for agricultural activities. Political environment Major political parties currently include, Democratic Alliance, Liberal Party, Patriotic Union, and Social Conservative Party (Kline, & Harvey, 1985). Political leaders include the president, Carlos Franco Echavarria, Antonio Navarro Wolff, Otty Patino, Carlos Alonso Lucio, Jose Fernando Bautista, Aida Abella and Dr. Eugenio Merlano de la Ossa. The country has democratic ties with the US and has ambassador in the US as well as hosts an ambassador from the US. In terms of religion the people are largely Roman Catholics, which constitute over 90% of the population with other religions forming the 10 percent. Currently the country is grappling with civil riots, poverty, lawlessness, depreciating currency as well as unstable political environment. The country has been faced with civil strife for the past 40 years something which has led to the displacement of over 200,000 people internally (Amnesty International, 2002). Currently, the presidency is from right –wing and many pundits have predicted that, as long as he continues to favor socialist ideals, the long waited reforms especially those addressing the plight of the poor in Columbia will continue unresolved. Economic conditions. The economy is predicted to grow at a rate of 6. 1something attributable to stable domestic consumption as well as favorable private investment situation. In the year 2005 the GDP was 5. 13 and a 6. 1 growth this year is appositive indicator of a favorable economic environment. The best performing sectors are trade, infrastructure and industry. Columbia’s GDP has been growing at a rate of 3. 1 to 3-6 in the last 3 years that is from the year 2004 to presently. Improved global economic environment is the reason behind a lot of economic activity being experienced in Colombia (Bagley, & Michael, 1987). In addition, the domestic market is growing in a sharp contrast to the impoverished people. The growth rate can be termed as encouraging with the country experiencing strong and predictable exchange rates, as well as low and favorable interest rates. On top of the above, the credit conditions have improved significantly as compared to the situation in the 90’s. Major economic sectors include textiles, oil exploration, beverages, chemicals, cement; as well as minerals like gold, coal, and emeralds (Thoumi, Francisco 1987). Labor conditions. The labor market in Colombia is ready and oversupplied. However major challenges lay ahead because of the deplorable labor movement conditions in that country. In a nut shell it is evident from the available literature that, labor organizations are non operational in Colombia, joining trade union is equitable to courting death something which has greatly affected the labor relations in the country. On top of that, employees’ morale in the country is on an all-time low due to the fact that, the workers in that country do not have a strong bargaining power (Peeler, &John, 1976). The situation becomes more complex due to the involvement of military groups which besides being armed, seem to operate undeterred by law enforcement agencies. There have been reported numerous abductions, threats and assassinations all directly related to labor issues something which calls for great planning on the side of a foreign company wishing to invest in Colombia. The above have had a negative effect on the economic environment of the country and have been the leading causes for investors shunning from investing in the country. Besides the above named conditions of crime, there has been of late a wave of economic crime such as hijackings of shipments, ransom demand kidnappings, counterfeit goods trade, all of which have made production costs to go up due to high risks. Colombia is active in regional and international organizations such as UN, Andean community, the Rio group and OAS (Martz, & John, 1962). The country’s political system is a democracy of bicameral congress and independent executive as well as judiciary. The biggest political parties are the Liberal and Conservative currently the president is, Alvaro Uribe. The people speak their ethnic languages of their respective ethnic groups but Spanish is the official and national language, such ethnic groups and languages include; Mestizo, Whites, Blacks, mulatto and Amerindian. The literacy level is very high with 91% of the population being literate which implies that skilled labor is readily available in the country. The people are known to be hospitable and rarely has there been reported animosity related to foreigners. Evidently, Colombia is not a politically stable country something which has resulted from continued guerrilla warfare as well as paramilitary activities. Urban crime rate is very high as well as the insecurity conditions in the whole country. Corruption is reported to be very high couple with drug trafficking and all other manner of social crimes. It is correct to say that Columbia is one of the most unsafe places to invest in and therefore the business should postpone its expansion plans in Colombia and perhaps relocate to other neighboring countries with same strategic business advantages as Columbia but less risks and therefore operational costs..

The High Priest of Globalization essays

The High Priest of Globalization essays Everyone remembers the times in early childhood when their dad would hand them a picture book and ask them what they saw. Unbeknownst to the child, the picture contained a hidden picture or message. Although difficult to see, it was there. Even if refused by acknowledgement, it still existed. Such is the case with todays government. The so called "world leaders" are only puppets acting under the control of the great puppeteers. Whether it is soaring gas prices, a fluctuating economy, or shifts in political power; secret entities of elite caliber are the masterminds behind all world affairs. These expert manipulators covertly gather behind closed doors and make decisions that affect the lives of every human being on the face of the earth. By exploiting political positions, exclusive members of the Trilateral Commission secretly direct, manipulate, and are making advances to eventually control the governments of the world, as a whole. The Trilateral Commission is an American based, political super power that claims to have its interest asserted in shaping and protecting foreign policy. The founder of the Trilateral Commission and chairman of the Chase Manhattan Bank, David Rockefeller, wrote to the New York Times and said: My point is that far from being a coterie of international conspirators with designs on covertly conquering the world, the Trilateral Commission is, in reality, a group of concerned citizens interested in identifying and clarifying problems facing the world and in fostering greater understanding and cooperation among international allies. It is easy to say that their cause is benevolent, but are there ulterior motives? Is the Trilateral Commission attempting to mold public policy and construct a framework for international stability in the coming decades? Commission members such as David Rockefeller and former President Jimmy Carter are in such influential positi...

Stakeholder Relationships Student Copy Essays

Stakeholder Relationships Student Copy Essays Stakeholder Relationships Student Copy Paper Stakeholder Relationships Student Copy Paper Secondary stakeholders c. Primary stakeholders d. Investors e. Customers 4. A firm that makes use of a recognizes other stakeholders beyond investors, employees, and suppliers, and explicitly acknowledges the ;o-way dialog that exists between a firms internal and external environments. A. Stakeholder model of corporate governance b. Stakeholder bias c. Code of ethics d. Stakeholder interaction model e. Corporate interface model 5. The degree to which a firm understands and addresses stakeholder demands can be referred to as a. A stakeholder orientation. A shareholder orientation. C. The stakeholder interaction model. D. A two-way street. E. A continuum. 6. Which of the following is not a method typically employed by firms when researching relevant stakeholder groups? A. Surveys b. Focus groups . Internet searches d. Press reviews e. Guessing 7. A stakeholder orientation can be viewed as a(n) a. Necessity for business success. B. Continuum. C. Popularizing concept. D. Good marketing p loy. E. Expensive proposition. 8. Shareholders provide resources to an organization that are critical to long term success. Which of the following does the book suggest that suppliers offer? A. The promise of customer loyalty b. Material resources and/or intangible knowledge c. Infrastructure d. Revenue e. Leadership skills 9. Which of the following is not associated with the stakeholder interaction model? A. Involves a two-way relationship between firm and stakeholders b. Recognizes the input of investors, employees, and suppliers c. Explicitly acknowledges dialogue with a firms internal environment d. Explicitly acknowledges dialogue with a firms external environment e. Accountability, oversight, and control all fall under the definition and implementation of corporate a. Profit. B. Loyalty. C. Care. D. Governance. E. Diligence. 15. Major corporate governance issues normally involve the response that is most correct) a. Strategic-level b. Tactical-level c. Divisional-level d. Marketing-level e. Accounting-level decisions. (Choose 16. Which of the following is a major ethical concern among corporate boards of directors? A. Compensation b. The non-traditional directorship approach c. Dividend reporting d. Corporate social audits e. Debt swaps 17. One policy to address the issue of executive pay was implemented by J. P. Morgan, it stated that a. There should be no limit on what top executives can earn. B. Managers should earn no more than twenty times the pay of other employees. C. Top managers should make the same amount as other employees. D. Employees can determine how much managers make. E. The government should determine the worth of each managers service. 18. The specific steps for implementing the stakeholder perspective do not include which of the following? A. Identifying stakeholder groups b. Identifying stakeholder issues c.

Comparing the school of thought Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Comparing the school of thought - Essay Example Vision is the central concept of this school of thought (Pearce, and Robinson, 2004; Sadler & Craig, 2003). This vision of course emanates from a leader who formulates the appropriate strategy to attain fulfilment of the former. This strategy formulation happens to use the leader’s intuition, wisdom, experience, judgement, and insight (Mckenna, R. et al, 2007). This presupposes that that the strategy should exist in the mind of the leader in the form of a vision of the organizations future. The leader accomplishes the strategy design using partly aware process. With the leader being heavily guided by the vision single-mindedly and he should keep close control over implementation, reformulating it as necessary (Sadler & Craig, 2003). A leader cannot be called as such without followers. Combine the leader and his or her followers, and a group is created. Something must however bind the members and the leader and such wonderful link is called a culture. Thus, organizations should have a culture or an evidence of shared belief. An organizational culture is therefore defined as the shared belief of persons in the business entity (Sadler & Craig, 2003; Wilcox, 1998; Franklin & Baun, 1995) which these people reflect in their traditions and habits. This would explain the presence of ore tangible manifestations like signs, logos, symbols, uniform, one flag and even design of building or facilities to reflect a common understanding on some (Sadler & Craig, 2003). The best example of having common belief is a church whose members have someway doing things which they themselves give significance. When applied to business organization, culture is thus viewed as a separate school of thought from entrepreneur. Based on this background, it must be easy to see the strategy formulation as a process of social interaction using the shared beliefs and values of the members of the organization to

Business Analysis Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Business Analysis - Research Paper Example This being the case, a proper review and assessment of the financials of Donna Karan ought to start with a review of the LVMH financials (Google, 2012). It is noteworthy that the key competitors listed for Donna Karan International are ANN Inc .and Giorgio Armani (Hoovers, 2012). Most of the other firms that are grouped with Donna Karan, meanwhile, are private firms, including Calvin Klein, Marc Jacobs, Louis Vuitton North America, Roc Apparel Group, and Lands' End Inc. (Google, 2012). As with ANN and Giorgio Armani, given the private nature of the entities, there is a dearth of information relating to their financials (Hoovers, 2012; Google, 2012). The data on LVMH is more comprehensive financially, and it is from the parent firm that we are able to glean insights into the nature of the financials of LVMH, and indirectly Donna Karan, from the financial statements. From the perspective of the parent firm a few players stand out as the real competition, with comparable market capitali zations. LVMH has the most recent valuation of about US 82.73 billion dollars. This compares with its competitors Christian Dior, at US 25.9 billion dollars; TSI Holdings, at US 56.27 billion dollars; and Hermes, at US 30.45 billion dollars. We can see that among the competitors, LMH has the largest market capitalization, and therefore the largest clout among the firms. A look at the movement of the share price of LVMH over the past five years shows that the share price is about 25 percent off the highs it achieved in 2008, but generally the price is on an upward trend from its lowest points in 2009. At the current price/earnings ratio of 18.63, the share price is undervalued in comparison to competition, such as Lancy, with a P/E ratio of 25.7, even as it is overvalued in comparison to Shejiang Semir, with a P/E ratio of 14.63. Given the high P/E ratio of Lancy, one can make the assumption that there are elements in the underlying financials of LVMH/Donna Karan that has resulted in analysts undervaluing the share price to the level that it stands at present, commanding that kind of P/E ratio. The table below details the comparison of top competitors in the space of Donna Karan/LVMH. It is surprising that LVMH is not commanding a higher share price and P/E ratio, given that its EPS is high in comparison to Lancy (Google, 2012b): Valuation Company name Earnings per  share P/E ratio Mkt Cap LVMUY LVMH Moet Henness... 1.78 18.63 82.73B CHDRF CHRISTIAN DIOR S A F 25.90B MMO1V Marimekko Oyj 0.26 55.63 116.82M 002612 Lancy Co Ltd 1.27 25.70 6.55B 3608 TSI Holdings Co Ltd -204.41 56.27B HESAF HERMES INTL SA 30.45B LTAN Le Tanneur & Cie SA -0.13 27.43M DPT S.T. Dupont SA 0.01 64.86 153.22M 002563 Zhejiang Semir Ga... 1.54 14.63 15.13B TAM Etam Developpemen... 1.83 7.89 115.27M 065060 GNCO Co., Ltd. Table Source: Google, 2012b From the growth ratios, meanwhile, one can see that LVMH has been on a growth tear, plowing back money into growing the business, with the att endant advantages that such growth can bring, including economies of scale, and the ability to rapidly expand profits in the future, from a large revenue base (Reuters, 2012)..    Company Industry Sector Sales (MRQ) vs Qtr. 1 Yr. Ago 25.98 13.75 14.56 Sales (TTM) vs TTM 1 Yr. Ago 22.41

Education Assessment in Practice Research Paper

Education Assessment in Practice - Research Paper Example In my application of the ongoing assessments in my role as an educator I have decided to ensure that I meet all the five dimensions of a good and quality classroom assessment. In my role as an educator, I plan to explore different technologies available for assessment in assessing my students. This technology and instruments will be helping me to design an assessment that can attempt to reveal what my students are thinking. Various technologies that I am planning to adapt to help me with the assessments are in place. Some of these technologies are use of a response device designed to work with multiple-choice and true-false questions, use of group scribbles, and the use of a network-graphing calculator. I am also planning to be evaluating my applications of this assessment tools to ensure a continued improvement in the way I will be assessing my students. I will be using the simple response device designed to work in multiple-choice and true-false questions with information about my students. If this kind of device is carefully designed and used in a meaningful way, it is believed that answers obtained to these types of questions can give information that can be used to assess students and suggest on the measure that need to be taken to improve their learning (USDE, 2012). I will be posing multiple-choice questions to my class, ask my students to use response devices to answer the questions and then have them discuss those questions with their peers who have different answers. My main objective to using this kind of assessment will be trying to raise the levels of engagement of my students in the learning process. Another type of technology that I am planning to be applying in my assessment as an educator is the use of Group Scribbles. According to USED (2012), this is a more sophisticated system that supports peer instruction by capturing complex responses from students. This could allow my student to contribute in classroom discussions using the enhanced chan ces that the technology offers. If I plan to explain how an idea can be applied, I will be asking groups of my students to explain different ways in which this idea can be applied and share their explanations by placing them on a white board. This will ensure that my students learn by explaining their work to other students and through the feedbacks they receive or provide. I also plan to be using rubrics to express what is expected of them in any kind of assessment I decide to give them. This rubrics will be helping my student to understand how quality is judged in the different undertakings they are assigned to undertake in different fields they are working in. I could also use the rubrics to give assessment scores and ratings that will always be demonstrating the measure they are intended to measure and which will always ensure consistency no matter who is selected to mark the assessments. This will ensure that my students obtain the fairest assessment available thus motivating t hem to enhance their learning. Discuss which element of formative assessment is the most difficult to get right away According to Iron (2007), the four elements of a formative assessment are goals which are clear to students; the feedback which measures the student’s current learning state; formative feedback which can be used as a means for closing the gap between the student’

Toyota and Hilton Hotels Essay Example for Free

Toyota and Hilton Hotels Essay Preliminary Links Toyota and Hilton Hotels are the two companies chosen to answer the questions given for this assignment. The product service divide is more of a continuum in these two companies, with Toyota using large doses of intangibles to enhance its products, and all Hilton hotels offering strong product elements in their superlative service. The Internet sites of the 2 companies, including their web pages for investors have been used for this assignment, with a standard text on Services Marketing, which also covers product elements of the Marketing Mix. The web site of the New York Stock Exchange, where both companies are listed, has also been used. Marketing Comparisons   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Both companies have brands for multiple segments (Payne, 2002). Toyota has automobiles for various purposes, while Hilton has different kinds of hotels for each category of guests. However, individual product brands are subordinate to corporate brands in both cases (About Toyota, 2006 and About Hilton Hotels, 2006). Hilton remains within the premium segment space in its service category, and does not operate any budget hotels, while Toyota offers economy models and commercial vehicles apart from its luxury range. Toyota therefore has a broader product range than Hilton. Distribution channels for automobiles and hotels are distinct. Recruitment and training of front-line staff matter more for Hilton, while Toyota relies on agency and franchise personnel for most of its marketing: the People element of the Marketing Mix is therefore critical for Hilton, but incidental for Toyota.   The Process element of the Marketing Mix (Payne, 2002) also matters for a hotel business, while there is less variability in customer interaction for Toyota. Process is more important for internal efficiencies in Toyota, whereas they impact directly on service levels in the business of Hilton. Promotion is more developed in Hilton with international guest room reservations available in real time on the web site, whereas Toyota prefers to make isolated compartments of its marketing activities in various countries. This difference may be related to greater global uniformity in the decision process for reserving hotel rooms than that for investing in automobile purchases. Overall, each company has to focus on different elements on the Marketing Mix, as relevant for their respective strategies.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Toyota faces a more intense competition than Hilton, as the latter has locations as advantages for many of its properties, and has significant capacity utilization guaranteed by airlines, travel agents, and similar industry associates. The numbers of brands that can challenge Hilton are fewer than the equally reputed manufacturers with which Toyota must contend. However, Hilton must contend with more brand switching opportunities, while Toyota customers are tied in for much longer periods. Toyota’s financing business ties in customers, which is a resource that Hilton lacks (Listed Company Directory, 2007). Word-of-mouth promotion matter equally for both companies, but Toyota has to make a greater effort for after-sales service. Toyota must provide customer finance amenities through arrangements with financial institutions, something which does not concern Hilton. However, the latter must provide lines of credit for major clients, whereas Toyota enjoys an immediate realization of sale proceeds convention (considering the automobile business in isolation and as distinct from the financing arm).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Physical Evidence and Preferential Customer elements (Payne, 2002) are vital ingredients of the Hilton Marketing Mix, whereas Toyota can rely more on its distribution chain to provide these values to customers. Maintenance of public areas and exteriors, even during lean season, is an additional cost burden to be borne by Hilton, but this would be significant in the pricing structure of Toyota’s products: Toyota manufacturing plants are not generally in customer views!   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Both companies are free to price their products without regulation, but Hilton must contend with the deep discount norm for its industry, while Toyota is not as dependant on promotions and deals, except for occasionally unsuccessful models.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Both companies have composite and effective marketing functions as evidenced by the strengths of their brands, though they have to deploy different strategies to suit their respective business lines. Comparison of Operations   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Both companies believe in strong centralization and group control. Both Toyota and Hilton have sound and extensive headquarter organizations (About Toyota, 2006 and About Hilton Hotels, 2006), and exercise invasive degrees of standardization on their operations in various countries. However, Toyota has to contend with more ethnicity, and is more present in the third world, whereas Hilton basically caters to rather uniform business and vacation classes, with a strong focus on the developed world.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Though Toyota does have manufacturing plants around the world, construction of new properties and maintenance of existing ones presents larger engineering and project management challenges for Hilton. Storage and transport of finished goods, on the other hand, must concern Toyota, whereas they would not figure in agendas at Hilton. Purchasing is more complex for Toyota, with more sophistication involved in sourcing semi-precious metals, steel, and other strategic materials. Toyota has also to implement more transparency in its operations, since it is registered under the ISOI 14001 series (About Toyota, 2006).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Toyota also has to maintain more tracks of its customers and product locations because of the possibility of recalls, whereas Hilton does not have to contend with such possibilities. Toyota also has more regulations with which to contend, while Hilton has more freedom to set its quality standards.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Toyota is strongly influenced by technology, with new models, standards, and materials causing regular discontinuities in routine operations, whereas Hilton enjoys a more stable environment in this respect. There have been some improvements in telecommunications and entertainment, which have occasioned guest room upgrades at Hilton, but these are simple and minimal compared to emission standards, engine performance, and design changes with which Toyota must deal all the time.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   It would appear that Hilton is in a less complex type of enterprise, while Toyota has to deal with more inter-relationships and different business atmospheres. Comparison of Human Resources Management   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The relative natures of business make people more important for Hilton than for Toyota: this is reflected in the competencies promoted in the respective web sites (About Toyota, 2006 and About Hilton Hotels, 2006). Technology and systems weigh so heavily in Toyota’s success that it can rely on smaller numbers of subject-matter specialists, whereas even one customer upset at the behavior of low-level staff, can dilute the Hilton brand. The Human Resources challenge for Hilton is to inculcate the core brand values in every employee at all its properties. The People and Preferential Customer elements of the Marketing Mix matter more for Hilton than for Toyota.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Recruitment is highly centralized in Japan for Toyota, while Hilton must retain local expertise for this purpose in all major countries and regions. Searching for quality talent is a more exhaustive task for human resources professionals in Hilton, since the process has to reach in to lower levels of the organization. Production-line jobs at Toyota are easier to specify and for induction training purposes, and the numbers and importance are on the wane in any case, because of the spread of robotics. Artificial intelligence cannot replace the human element at Hilton. Both companies are equally vulnerable to industrial relations in certain countries, which tolerate militant postures by Unions-the U.K. would be a prime example of this common concern. Toyota and Hilton are in similar situations when it comes to negotiating with external leaders for their blue-collar workers.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Career planning, appraisal, and remuneration matters are probably more international at Hilton, and relatively ethnic in a Japanese sense at Toyota. Senior Executives at Hilton are more eclectic than at Toyota, so their mobility options are also greater. Diversity issue matter more at Hilton, because Toyota conforms to a more conservative and closed pattern as a clearly Japanese entity.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Human Resources Management at Toyota has an additional function compared to their peers in Hilton, with respect to training of franchisee and distribution chain employees. Hilton follows the business model of strongly branding all the properties which it operates, apart from the ones which it owns, while Toyota is clear-cut in leaving customer service to associates in its distribution chain. However, disgruntled customers at show-rooms will hurt the Toyota brand, so the company has to be able to influence people who are not their own employees. Comparisons of Accounting and Finance   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Both companies are publicly listed on U.S Exchanges (About Toyota, 2006 and About Hilton Hotels, 2006). However, Toyota offers only Advance Depository Receipts, retaining equity ownership exclusively in Japan. We may therefore expect that both companies have to follow similar treasury standards. The accounting, disclosure, and governance standards of the United States, which are amongst the best in the world, would apply to both companies. Both companies have adequate investor information on the web sites, and must follow accounting practices of comparable if not the very same standards.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   There are however, major differences in corporate finance strategies. Toyota invests capital in entities which it does not own fully, whereas Hilton develops revenue lines from properties which it does own. Both companies are in capital intensive lines of business, and both are vulnerable to seasonal fluctuations in cash inflows.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Neither company is backward integrated in to ownership of key suppliers. Public statements about future business prospects indicate that both companies have exhaustive planning and budgetary control systems in place, though information on their internal processes is not available.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Both companies have ambitious capital expenditure plans, and exhibit high credit-worthiness and potential for leverage. The lines of business and investor environments are too different for relevant comparison, but Toyota has greater return and value appreciation potentials.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Toyota has a finance business apart from its core activity of automobiles (Listed Company Directory, 2007). This tangent is to help customers and sellers pay for the company’s products. Hilton does not require any such service for its clients and associates. One may conclude that the Toyota needs more complex accounting procedures because of the need to keep track of dues from customers. Both companies have adequate representation of the finance function in their top management groupings, and neither is known to have been cited for financial irregularities, or for audit and disclosure lapses. It is possible to conclude that the accounting and finance companies of both companies meet the best international standards. Toyota has been recognized by the New York Stock Exchange for excellence in investor relations, which is an additional and significant feather in the cap of its finance function: Hilton cannot claim any such public recognition of excellence in its finance function as yet. Comparison of Information Management   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The online reservation amenity and the reward program for loyal customers show, from the respective websites, that Information Management is more fully used by Hilton. The Toyota website lacks multi-media Information Technology use, which could have enhanced browser experiences. It may be that the company uses Information Technology more fully for secret internal processes, but such technology application is lacking in the public space for the company. Hilton also has concrete evidence of using Information Technology to enhance customer value through its express check-out facility, whereas Toyota makes no mention of such conveniences at its show rooms, or for after-sales-service alerts. Toyota has not used opportunities of newsletters and clubs for its customers, which Information Technology offers. The customer response facility on the web site is better and easier to use in the case of Hilton (About Toyota, 2006 and About Hilton Hotels, 2006). Hilton does not allow customers to feel any difference in properties which it operates without owning, whereas Toyota has no perceptible use of Information Technology to standardize customer experiences at all the show rooms and outlets where its products are retailed. Hilton does a better job of enhancing its brand through useful information on related matters, such as places of interest near its properties, whereas Toyota seems to be pre-occupied with hard product features of its models alone. However, both companies use Information Technology to build images of being attractive employers, and devote spaces on their websites for corporate and recruiting issues.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Overall, Toyota needs a superior accounting and finance function, and encounters more complex operations, while marketing is of equal importance to both companies, and while Hilton excels in Human Resources Management, and Information Technology. Comparison of and Recommendations for Productivity   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The productivity comparisons for these two companies and my recommendations in this regard, relate primarily to business definition, and to levels of integration and disengagement. Hilton suffers chronic underutilization of its competencies. Enhanced airport services, airline operation, and conducted tours, are the sorts of horizontal integration it should consider to generate more revenue from its base of fixed costs. It may be justified in staying away from actual travel work such as airline operation because it would call for large influxes of fresh commitments, but by improving retail services at airports, and by conducting packaged events for premium customers groups, it can certainly capture significant new values and high margins, without adding to the present infrastructure.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Hilton should also move faster out of North America in to emerging markets and popular adventure and eco-tourism destinations, because this would leverage its expertise in constructing and operating hotels, more fully. The company must have accumulated know-how which is used only marginally in the mature markets in which it is focused now.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Finally, Hilton should copy other chains and build its culinary expertise and resources in to processed food brands, brands of alcoholic beverages, especially wines, and specialty outlets for fine dining.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Overall, Hilton’s productivity is hampered by a narrow business definition. It has acquired assets and built capabilities to support the corporate brand that have large and profitable applications outside the field of hotels.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Toyota has gone to the opposite extreme of Hilton, and spreads its resources too thinly for optimal returns. The fixed costs of design, dealer support, and after-sales-service imply that it should exit from economy-priced product and customer segments. The expansion of premium-priced segments in major markets justifies exclusive focus on them, in productivity terms. It is significant that Toyota has experienced losses through recalls of one of its cheaper models in the recent past (Listed Company Directory, 2007). Developing pressures on the environmental conservation front demand that it concentrate more on new technologies for its engines, at the cost of resources presently tied up in low value segments, even if they contribute high volumes. The company is still in the process of creating new manufacturing capacities (Listed Company Directory, 2007), so this is an opportune time for it to consider restricting its involvement in segments with relatively low returns.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Rising customer expectations and the spread of some of its hitherto proprietary technologies to competitors, also point to the need to try and serve fewer customer groups, albeit to do this with greater effectiveness for the segments in which it decides to remain. Such an approach may require that it move away from shared dealerships to owned-showrooms in star markets, while withdrawing support activities for other markets that do not yield top returns. Business contraction will improve productivity for Toyota: the company is better off than Hilton in this parameter, but needs to review some of its operations in order to sustain the edge. Comparison of and Recommendations for Quality   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Toyota is a step ahead of Hilton in terms of quality, primarily because of its ISO 14001 registrations (About Toyota, 2006). It is one of the first companies in the automotive sector to seek ISO registration. The company has reduced the amount of land it needs for manufacturing, and the quantity of paint it consumes, because of ISO procedures. The registrations have also resulted in important productivity gains in areas such as recycling and waste management. The ISO system leads to continuing improvement, so by maintaining its ISO status, Toyota can look forward to continuing quality gains. Though the company continues to suffer from occasions for model recalls (Listed Company Directory, 2007), the probabilities of such events are low.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The decentralization of Toyota’s operations is also responsible for its strong ratings in terms of quality. The company brands similar models very differently in each country, and is sensitive to ethnic needs and perceptions. The company is able to meet top quality standards by considering the views and needs of local customer groups with care. Though the ownership and top management of Toyota is centralized in Japan, the company is sensitive to the peculiarities of all customers and geographical groups which it tries to serve. It is a mark of Toyota’s excellence in quality that it has been able to garner market shares from established manufacturers of luxury automobiles, and has brands with top ranks in premium segments.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Though Hilton is a quality brand in general terms, it does not follow the ISO system, and suffers set-backs as a consequence. One of its hotels has recently been forced to suspend operations because of a virus outbreak (Listed Company Directory, 2007). The company also faces litigation from the family of a person killed inside a room-sized air-conditioning unit in one of its properties (Listed Company Directory, 2007). These are recent examples, and the company is vulnerable to more incidents of this nature at any time.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Overall, company is not a matter to be left to chance, or something which can be limited to certain compartments of the business alone. Hilton will need to adopt a system which makes quality more assured in all aspects of its operations. The recent incidents reported indicate that while the company may be well versed in such quality aspects as house-keeping of its rooms, it lacks appropriate standards in other technical areas related to security and public hygiene. Every enterprise will have limits and gaps in its areas of expertise, and only a system such as ISO can raise quality standards uniformly. However, the recent incidents are exceptions and Hilton is generally associated with high quality standards. The popularity of its reward system for regular guests, and the premium rates it charges are indicators in this respect. Overall, Toyota has a more reliable quality system in place, compared to Hilton, and the latter can catch up through a systematic and concerted effort. References About Toyota, 2006, Company Website accessed January 2007 from:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   http://www.toyota.com/about/shareholder/ About Hilton Hotels, 2006, Company Website accessed January 2007 from http://www.hilton.com/en/hi/brand/about.jhtml Listed Company Directory, 2007, New York Stock Exchange Web Site, accessed January 2007 from http://www.nyse.com/about/listed/listed.html    Payne, A. 2002 The Essence of Services Marketing, Prentice-Hall