Analysis of Starbucks

Analysis of Starbucks Free Online Research Papers Starbucks Coffee, Tea and Spices started out in 1971 as a local coffee bean roaster and retailer in Seattle, Washington by three partners, two of which were teachers and the other a writer. These three men were inspired by a mutual friend to open their first store. In 1983, Howard Schultz joined the company and saw the potential of this small coffee bean retailer. Many times he went to the owners with his visions and dreams for their company and how it could grow and many times he was met with rejection. The owners felt that there was not a need for a beverage business as â€Å"coffee was something to be prepared in the home.† Time and time again Howard approached them with his visions and then quit in 1985 to open his own coffeehouse. Opportunity knocked in 1987, and with help from investors he bought Starbucks Coffee, Tea and Spices and changed the name to Starbucks. For the next twenty one years, Starbucks grew to become the largest coffeehouse company in the world with over 16,226 stores worldwide including 11,434 stores located in the United States. Even though the company recently closed 600 of its under-performing company-owned stores they still have plans to open 200 more stores in 2009. Starbuck’s headquarters is stationed in Seattle, Washington. MISSION STATEMENT2 Establish Starbucks as the premier purveyor of the finest coffee in the world while maintaining our uncompromising principles as we grow. The following six guiding principles will help us measure the appropriateness of our decisions: Provide a great work environment and treat each other with respect and dignity. Embrace diversity as an essential component in the way we do business. Apply the highest standards of excellence to the purchasing, roasting and fresh delivery of our coffee. Develop enthusiastically satisfied customers all of the time. Contribute positively to our communities and our environment. Recognize that profitability is essential to our future success. Environmental mission statement We fulfill this mission by a commitment to: Understanding of environmental issues and sharing information with our partners. Developing innovative and flexible solutions to bring about change. Striving to buy, sell and use environmentally friendly products. Recognizing that fiscal responsibility is essential to our environmental future. Instilling environmental responsibility as a corporate value. Measuring and monitoring our progress for each project. Encouraging all partners to share in our mission. PRODUCTS 1) Coffee Offers more than 30 blends and single-origin coffees 2) Handcrafted Beverages Fresh-brewed coffee, hot and iced espresso beverages, coffee and non-coffee blended beverages, and Tazo teas. 3) Merchandise Assorted home espresso machines, coffee brewers and grinders, a line of premium chocolate, coffee mugs and coffee accessories, and a variety of gift items. 4) Fresh Food Baked pastries, sandwiches and salads. 5) Starbucks Entertainment A selection of the best in music, books and film. 6) Global Consumer Products Bottled Starbucks Frappuccino beverages, chilled cup coffee, espresso drinks, Tazo teas and super premium ice creams. 7) Starbucks Card Reloadable stored-value cards. 8) Brand Portfolio Starbucks Entertainment, Tazo Tea, and Ethos Water. COMPETITORS3 1) DUNKIN 2) MCDONALDS 3) NESTLE 4) YUM BRANDS 5) DARDEN RESTAURANTS Starbucks is ranked #4 by sales in the restaurant sector. McDonalds is #1, but then McDonalds has a more extensive menu. Trailing behind is Yum Brands (YumYum Donuts) as #2 and Darden Restaurant in #3 spot. Another competitor of Starbucks is Nestle, who offers their own brand of premium coffee, hot chocolate and ice cream. Starbucks believes in order to increase their sales and draw in more customers they need to make some changes as competition is fierce, especially in this economy. They feel that by closing under-producing stores, redesign the space behind the counters, using automatic espresso machines to speed up production time and transform the â€Å"Customer Experience† they can achieve this goal, among many changes. Another way they are trying to attract customers is they want the customers to feel like Starbucks is their â€Å"third home† and even provides free Wi-Fi to its customers. They want customers to experience Starbucks, not just come in and buy coffee. This is going to be quite a challenge for Starbucks as the economy is unstable, the presidential election is right around the corner, people are losing their homes and their jobs. The consumers are also tightening their spending. While I research and learn about Starbucks and what the big deal is with this high priced coffee company, I found myself really admiring Howard Schultz and how he has guided and mentored this company. And, after researching and learning how and why people spend, I realized that I buy Starbucks out of habit, not loyalty. Until today I could not explain why I only buy Starbucks whole bean coffee, 4 bags at a time. The coffee is good but does it warrant paying $11 per bag? Then I realized that I buy out of habit. The outcome of this session long project will be interesting to me to see if, after this is all done, will I still buy Starbucks out of habit or will I become another loyal customer? PRIMARY ATTRIBUTES 1.) Quality3- Starbucks prides itself on the quality of its products. Whether it’s their fresh roasted coffee or their premium salads and sandwiches the company stands by its commitment to quality ingredients and affordable prices. It only purchases coffees that have been grown and processed by suppliers that meet strict environmental, social, economic and quality standards. 2.) Convenience4- Starbucks stores can be found in urban and suburban areas, as well as many rural communities worldwide. An expanded number of Drive-Thru and Off-Highway stores also provide a convenient alternative for customers. Consumers can also find Starbucks kiosks in many of their favorite places such as Barnes Noble bookstores, Hyatt Hotels and United Airlines facilities. Starbucks also strives to provide several different amenities for their consumers that aren’t found at other coffee breweries. These amenities include free electricity for consumers and many provide free wireless internet access. POSITIONING MAP High (Convenience) | Coffees Fresh Food Handcrafted Beverages |Merchandise __________High (Quality)______________________________Low (Quality)_____________ | | ______________________________Low (Convenience)_________________________ PRIMARY TARGET MARKETS 1.) Yuppies- Professional, middle to upper class, working individuals. Most often in families without children. 2.) College Students- Young Adult to Middle Aged students who attend colleges and universities. Most often in need of extra energy and caffeine. 3.) Upper Class- Individuals whose income exceeds $80,000 a year. Can include families with or without children. 4.) Middle Class- Individuals whose yearly income falls between $25,000-80,000 a year. Can include families with or without children. 5.) Young Adults- Individuals between 16 and 25 years of age. Can include families with or without children. Product Categories 1.) Premium Coffees- Freshly ground and roasted coffees in more than 30 blends and flavor combinations 2.) Handcrafted Beverages- Includes hot and iced espresso beverages, coffee and non-coffee blended beverages and Tazo teas. 3.) Merchandise- Includes home espresso machines, coffee brewers and grinders, premium chocolates, coffee mugs and accessories and various gift items. 4.) Fresh Food- Includes premium salads, sandwiches and pastry assortments. 5.) Entertainment- Includes movies, books and films sold in Starbuck stores. Product-Market Grid Coffees Handcrafted Bev. Merchandise Fresh Food Entertainment Yuppies 3 1 2 College Students 2 1 3 Upper Class 1 2 3 Middle Class 1 2 3 Young Adults 1 2 3 _____________________________________________________________________________________ Strategy The Starbucks Company seems to hold fast to their Product Development strategies. Although Starbucks is interested in expanding their target market, it feels that more focus should be placed on expanding on products currently offered. Starbucks5 often tests new products as part of its ongoing innovation and transformation. For example, Starbucks starts testing by selling an 8 oz short brewed coffee for $1 and giving free refills on all brewed coffee. The company will continue to test new products and ideas to be offered to Starbucks consumers. Competitive Advantage By providing its consumers with a combination of extreme convenience and quality products Starbucks definitely holds a competitive advantage over other coffee-retailers. By combining attributes that consumers find attractive, Starbucks can create brand loyalty and keep consumers from choosing other coffee retailers for their coffee needs. Distribution Starbucks is continually expanding their distribution outlets. In 2004, they had 20,000 outlets that sold their specialty products, including Wal-Mart, Target, a variety of other grocery stores and pharmacies. In 2005, the number of stores involved in the Starbucks’ distribution channel increased to 31,000, exhibiting almost a 50% improvement and drastically expanding their ability to reach customers (Knol.com). Logistics Most of the distribution of Starbucks products in the U.S. is conducted by a trucking system. The company houses several distribution centers throughout the nation and moves a majority of their products by land. They do, however, have several roasting plants outside the U.S. and must rely on other modes of transportation such as airplanes and freighters. The majority of the Company’s direct distribution accounts are through national broad line distribution networks with SYSCO Corporation and U.S. Foodservice TM. Starbucks foodservice sales, customer service and support resources are aligned with those of SYSCO Corporation and U.S. Foodservice. Starbucks and Seattle’s Best Coffee are the only super premium national-brand coffees actively promoted by SYSCO Corporation (US Securities and Exchange Commission). Products other than whole bean coffees and coffee beverages sold in Starbucks retail stores are obtained through a number of different channels. Beverage ingr edients, other than coffee and milk, including leaf teas and the Company’s selection of ready-to-drink beverages, are purchased from several specialty manufacturers, usually under long-term supply contracts. Food products, such as fresh pastries, breakfast sandwiches and lunch items are generally purchased from both regional and local sources. Coffee-making equipment, such as drip and coffee press coffeemakers, espresso machines and coffee grinders are generally purchased directly from their manufacturers. Coffee-related accessories, including items bearing the Company’s logos and trademarks are produced and distributed through contracts with a number of different suppliers. Starbucks also has special agreements with Kraft foods for distribution in local grocery stores and warehouse club stores throughout the U.S. in which Kraft manages all distribution of products for those locations. Physical Facilities The Starbucks website does state that they own several distribution centers throughout the U.S. and that they have even built international distribution centers. I was unable, however, to find any information regarding physical size or interior/exterior attributes. There was also no specific information regarding the locations of these distribution centers. I was able to check some state websites and locate distribution centers in California, Oregon and Nevada. But again no other details were released. Distribution Advantage Although there was no specific information regarding the number of distribution centers for the company Starbucks it still seems that the company does have the competitive advantage in regards to distribution of their products. Most of these advantages come from their partnerships with other companies and organizations such as Kraft foods, Barnes Noble, and SYSCO. These companies either take over the distribution of products or help with distribution for the company. This allows Starbucks to produce more product and results in more competitive prices for their consumers. The company is constantly expanding their distribution outlets as well. This allows consumers to find all their favorite Starbucks products at many convenient outlets (starbucks.com). If Starbucks continues to increase their product variety, distribution outlets and distribution channels, soon they will not just have the competitive advantage, they will become an unstoppable force in the coffee industry. Promotional Mix Starbucks generally does not use conventional advertising methods because the company as found that there is too much competition for consumers attention in TV, radio and print media. In fact the company did not begin to use conventional advertising methods such as TV advertising until 2007. The company tends to rely more on increased distribution and brand recognition as well as its charitable contributions. The company, as mentioned before, is continually increasing their distribution outlets in order to continually improve their brand recognition and maximize accessibility of their products. By placing more products in places continually visited by consumers they are able to make their coffees more widely known to consumers then their competitors’ brands. Another source of unconventional advertising is their use of charitable work to advertise their brand image. Starbucks usually picks one or two charity events in the community it serves to promote the company. The company feels that this will also inspire people inside and outside the company and reinforce the company’s value and image (Lorenzini, 1993). The company’s principals state that â€Å"every store is part of a community and we take our responsibility to be good neighbors seriously,† (starbucks.com). It was in 2007 that the head of marketing at Starbucks, Anne Saunders, left the company for other opportunities. This allowed the company to head in another direction and explore new avenues in marketing and advertising of products. Today you are finally able to see commercials advertising the Starbucks brand and its products to consumers. Marketing Mix Until its introduction into television advertising, Starbucks had little means of advertising individual products. In fact, you actually did not know what products the company produced until you saw them in stores or at local kiosks. Even with it’s induction into the television world, Starbucks remains anything but conventional. Starbucks does run a few standard promotional TV campaigns. Campaigns in which the goal is obvious, promotes the product and makes the consumer feel they must buy it. These products include specific lattes or their new double shot canned espressos. If you have been watching this holiday season, however, you will notice that the ads promote something different, they promote something simpler: passing the cheer. They are promoting the season and the celebration of the holidays, there is no plug for a specific product or hint of a sales pitch. Way to go Starbucks! Promotional Advantage The companies’ lack of conventional advertising methods did put them at a competitive disadvantage for several years. In fact the company held no advantage in marketing at all. They relied on everything but advertising to sell their products and unfortunately in this day and age it is almost impossible to survive without more advanced marketing strategies. Competitors such as McDonalds and Dunkin Doughnuts have had an advantage in regards to promotion for several years. The companies new found advertising methods do have the potential to give them the competitive advantage in promotion. If they continue to explore different avenues of advertising they will increase their brand recognition with consumers and eventually increase brand loyalty. Pricing Strategies It was extremely difficult to find any information regarding the pricing strategies of Starbucks. General information found on the internet stated that Starbucks â€Å"prices its products competitively with prevailing high-end coffee prices. Starbucks represents an attractive combination of affordable prices, high quality and convenience,† (Song-Ming Kim, 2002). The only information I was able to find that was not a generic response to pricing was in regards to their drink size. They referred to it as Goldilocks pricing, as in the story of the three bears and finding something that was not too big or too small but finding something that is just right. â€Å"That’s why Starbucks offers their drinks in three sizes. The psychology is based on avoidance of extremes. If I offer two sizes, regular and large, most people will go for the regular. If I then add a third size, extra large, people will be drawn to the one in the middle. Even if no one ever buys a single extra large (and the extra large size in Starbucks is a pint of coffee !) just having it offered will persuade many customers to upgrade. A quick calculation shows the power of this approach. Suppose that selling regular size makes a net profit of 5% of sales after fixed costs i.e. it is just keeping the lights on. Persuading just one person in 4 to take the next size up doubles this,† (Drysburgh). Pricing Advantage It is becoming evident that Starbucks no longer has any pricing advantage in the coffee market it if it ever had one to begin with. Recent emerging competitors such as McDonalds and Dunkin Doughnuts are now becoming known for their good, inexpensive coffees. Starbucks has taken steps to become a stronger competitor in regards to pricing. They are currently researching a campaign that would include offering a cup of coffee for just $1, a cup that would include free refills. This definitely is something that no other competitor is offering at the moment. This strategy will definitely bring in more consumers but may hurt the sales of other products that produce more revenue for the store. This new pricing strategy is still in the experimental stage. References Drysburgh, Alastair. Profits Leak Detective: How Are Starbucks Taking Over the World?. Retrieved on January 2nd, 2009 from profitsleakdetective.com/articles/how-are-starbucks-taking-over-the-world.html. Kim, Seong- Min. 2002. Business Policy and Strategy: Starbucks. Retrieved on January 2nd, 2009 from http://www2.hawaii.edu/~seongmin/Starbucks.pdf. Knol.com. Retrieved on December 26, 2007 from http://knol.google.com/k/-/analysis-of-starbucks/ow5jbvr76bz9/8#. Lorenzini, B. 1993. Grounds for Success. Restaurants and Institutions 103(23).160. UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. 2007. TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934. Retrieved on December 27, 2007 from media.corporate-ir.net/media_files/irol/99/99518/200710K.pdf. Research Papers on Analysis of StarbucksOpen Architechture a white paperAnalysis of Ebay Expanding into AsiaMarketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever ProductThe Project Managment Office SystemRelationship between Media Coverage and Social andDefinition of Export QuotasGenetic EngineeringPETSTEL analysis of IndiaBionic Assembly System: A New Concept of SelfTwilight of the UAW

Belief, Doubt and modern mind

Belief, Doubt and modern mind One of the oldest and most influential beliefs in human history and in the creation at large has been the belief concerning the origin of life and universe and the different theories that tried to give an explanation to the origin of life and the universe.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Belief, Doubt and modern mind specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More With the efforts to try and find solutions to one of the greatest mysteries, the ancient societies tried to come up with different suggestions that became a foundation for the creation of religion and religious beliefs, since most of the mysteries could not be easily explained and hence the human race hose to believe that there must have been an existence of a different and more powerful being that was involved in the creation and the presence of life and the universe. From the different scholars who have laid their views on the trends that have been taking place concerni ng religion and the beliefs, there are a lot of issues that may be noted, especially the fact that there have been a lot of changes in the beliefs, a factor that has led to a separation in humanity resulting to two different groups in the line of religious beliefs. One of the groups has chosen to allow change take its effect by arousing a lot of doubt in them towards religion. The other group, however, chose to stand for their religious believes irrespective of the changes around them. For example, Freud totally opposed religion stating that it is just a form of mental and psychological delusion and that there is actually no proper basis for religious beliefs. He argues that humans are not willing to go an extra mile to explain their world so they have come up with different beliefs to try and stop them from going through the pain of the explanations and hence rely on religious beliefs that are quite baseless and unfounded. However, he tends to believe that there is a lot of evidenc e to support the facts that oppose religion since there are a lot of inventions and discoveries that have been made to explain the world as it is rather than relying on beliefs. He is hence one of the main proponents of the doubt against religion and the integration of the modern mind into life (Freud 17-45). In the same way, Russell argues that religion is founded on myths rather than on facts and that there is no need to stand so strongly for what you cannot prove. Most of the arguments in the religious beliefs concerning explanations relating to the world and life are actually baseless and seem to be just a way of escapism from the reality and from trying to explain better the issues being considered.Advertising Looking for essay on philosophy? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Therefore, traditional beliefs are viewed as being outdated and irrelevant in the modern life. Therefore, there is a need to embrace moderni ty and facts that have been proven beyond doubt by scientific and technological inventions. Russell is hence a great proponent of the embracing of the modern mind that is totally opposed to the traditional ways and beliefs in religion to explain life and the world. He hence believes that the worlds may be able to run better and with more organization and coordination if all the traditional ways were evaded and new ways were adopted. The new methods would more specific and reliable as they would include scientific and technological facts that have been tested and approved (Russell 36-103). Similarly, another strong opponent of religion is Nietzsche who believes that religion is just a baseless platform that is only enjoyed by the weak and those of little understanding. This scholar argues that the only people who stick with old and outdated beliefs are those who have somehow lost and are relatively disadvantaged in the society and hence they try to use religion as a way of escape fro m the reality. However, there is a need for people to seek more knowledge and understanding of different aspects of life so as to be able to embrace life and all its occurrences in a more positive and clear manner. There is therefore no need to keep on with beliefs that have no foundation but rather there is a need to go for more elaborate and clear facts that have found proof in the modern world (Henderson 61-121). On the other side, there are many scholars who have experienced the effects of modernity in different ways and have acted under different designations in the world and yet they have given religion a consideration in their lives. Malcolm, for example embraces religion and state that it should be given its due place in life irrespective of all the changes and inventions that have been made in the world. Religion is actually a part of the society and humanity and not necessarily a theoretical approach to try and explain the world. He also states that religion is a fundament al part of humanity and that not only are human beings social beings but also spiritual beings and hence there is a need for them to believe in a supernatural, spiritual being that is in control of the universe and life and hence to be able to be fulfilled socially (Malcolm 1). In a similar manner, Joyce argues that life is more baseless without religion and that religion has a very relevant and fundamental place in the society. Modernization cannot be used as a scapegoat from religion. Scientific inventions and technology has a limit beyond which it cannot be able to explain the world and life and hence the facts indicated in religion as being the ultimate explanations to the universe still stand.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Belief, Doubt and modern mind specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Therefore, there is a need for the society to embrace religious beliefs and still maintain a place for religion even as it emb races modern life and the modern mind. Actually, there is no need to avoid implicating the whole issue on religion since there is no good reason for there to be any doubt concerning religion. Therefore, modernity is actually supposed to compliment religion rather than supplementing it (Joyce 45-83). Also, according to Lewis, religion is inevitable since life is full of conflicts between the good and the evil and that only by embracing religion can a society be able to live with soberness and order. Without religion, there would be chaos and a lot of disorderliness and life would be without meaning (Lewis 24-59). In the same way, Luther portrays a lot of religious belief in the aspects of his livelihood and his faith. He is a very influential and popular leader yet he gives religion its rightful place irrespective of the occurrences and happenings around him especially due to scientific and technological inventions. He believes that these factors should be integrated with religion so as to have a fulfilled life (Luther 1). In general, even with the many scientific inventions and the technological advancements, there is a need for there to be a consideration of the basic factors in life, of which religion is one. Religion has stood the test of time and irrespective of the changes in life and in the world, there is a need to give it a place in the society so as to have order, soberness and even factors that unite and identify the society. With these factors in place, the society is bound to be united as one and to progress even as the world progresses. Without this factor of belief, there will be a lot of advancements in the world but unfortunately the society will crumble and disintegrate under these very same forces of change. I have observed that though there have hence been a lot of changes in the society which have resulted to a lot of doubts and uncertainties on beliefs and left many confused on the issue of religion and the associated beliefs leading many to seek to apply the scientific knowledge and facts in explaining life rather than sticking with what they see as traditional and outdated, other have stuck with religion and opted to integrate modernization with their beliefs. In the same way, I propose that for the sake of the unity of the society, there should be a way of integrating religion with modernity so as to allow a multifaceted progress and development.Advertising Looking for essay on philosophy? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Freud, Sigmund. The Question of a Weltanschauung, 17-45. New York: ACM, 1932. Print. Henderson, Bobby. Open Letter to Kansas School Board, 61-121. London: John Willey Sons, 2005. Print. Joyce, James. Araby, 45-83. London: John Willey Sons, 1914. Print. Lewis, C.s. The Screwtape Letters, 24-59. London: Prentice-Hall, 1941. Print. Luther, Martin. Letter from Birmingham Jail (1963). Web. Malcolm, X. Letter From Mecca (1964). Web. Russell, Bertrand. Why I am Not a Christian, 36-103. Thousand Oaks: Saga Publications, 1957. Print.

The Cries of a Woman Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Cries of a Woman - Research Paper Example Hemingway’s approach of writing style conceals the significance of the tale revealing the interactions involving men and women of the time, which is symptomatic of a patriarchal society. On the surface, Hemmingway's narrative gives the notion that this couple has mixed feelings over what to do regarding a pregnancy. Through Jig readers realize there is no resolution left to be achieved within the community of 1930's, as society during this time is rigid. The societal composition of this time disregards the capability of females to make such choices individually. Pro-choice was not also a concept during this era, marked by male dominance in the legal and societal scene (Rankin 234). It would be a while before females would in fact empower to decide with their bodies and future. Jig is denied freedom of choice and this has left her in her circumstances. Her absolute reliance upon the American has bestowed him the power over her to act, as he desires (Hemingway 232). Sadly, Jig w ould encompass many years before the condition would revolutionize. Hemingway creates a female character who is remarkable and who has her opinion, even though she does not have a say in her future as well as her imminent abortion. When Jig comments about the hills at the other side of the station and says they look like white elephants, the American disregards her view. This is the girl’s way of suggesting the true emotions regarding her dilemma, which she remains incapable of communicating straightforwardly to the American. The man cannot put himself in her place and thus replies to her thought about the white elephants by saying â€Å"I’ve never seen one† and her sardonic reply is â€Å"No, you wouldn’t have† (Hemmingway 229) He describes the abortion as a very easy procedure, he says â€Å"it’s not really an operation at all†¦It’s just to let the air in† (Hemingway 230). When Jig enquires about what would ensue after t he abortion, and whether they would be happy, the man retorts in an affirmative manner and says that he had known many people who had done it. Jig holds up her end of the unpleasant conversation, although she appears resigned to what the American believes to be right, the abortion. Jig observations, attitude, and sarcasm create a female character who is fearful, angry, and entrapped by the wish for â€Å"things to be like they were† (Hemingway 230). Jig is a credible woman struggling against a man whose swallow and self-centered wish is to have only her, but not their child and thus regarding abortion like the only possible answer. By agreeing to the man’s wish of an abortion, Jig represents the inferior part in the relationship. The man overly simplifies abortion as a painless operation and views the pregnancy as an obstacle to their relationship. The exchange reveal that the man wants their essentially swallow relationship to continues as it has and that Jig wants to move it to a firmer ground (Nolan 19). Throughout the story, the man presents the rigid concept of masculinity; he is portrayed as a worldly, omniscient, knowledgeable and always in control of himself as well as the situation at hand. He is also cool and feigns indifference, for instance, when he tells Jig that he does not care whether she aborts the kid or not.

Lincoln electric Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Lincoln electric - Essay Example From developing the potential of employees, their production quality would increase, thus realize an increased customer confidence in their produce. The knowledgeable sales team could outwit that of the competitors, thus an increased sales level. From capitalizing on existing relationships with customers and distributors, increased sales and coverage of their produce would be realized, thus increased earnings levels (Sabo). Four principal functions of management at Lincoln Electric in establishing the culture, mission, vision, and company strategy. Planning was laid down in establishing these, causing change where necessary, for example streamlining to the production of welding products. In organizing, the company plans the work of the employees, and then leaves the execution of duties to them, rewarding any increase in performance. In leading, the company’s management has established close relationships with the workers, thus increased cooperation. In controlling, the company has established a strictly no-nonsense atmosphere, at every area within the company’s premises – including the gate area, to the parking lots, to the working areas. Lincoln’s approach to organizing and motivating their employees, as based on the ideas of early behaviorism: the company has capitalized on the basic behavioral traits of employees – of wanting to see their contribution recognized and rewarded – to motivate and encourage the productivity of their employees.

Dance Critique Essay Example for Free

Dance Critique Essay Ballet â€Å"Cry† simply showed to us real life of all African women. Every single American people know what kind of life they went through. Therefore it touched their heard. Alvin Ailey’s â€Å"Cry† presented wonderfully combined movements, technique and emotion. Ms. Donna Wood uses tragic face, a mask of sorrow. It is a face born to cry, but when she smiles it is with an innocent radiance, joyfulness that simple and lovely. She never tries consciously to please an audience. He was not only concentrating in movements and physical performance, but also using flowing white gown with a long white scarf for the dancer. A long sleeve white blouse is slim, to show the dancers body. Especially her movement and technique. It made dance more interesting to audience. This beautiful piece of modern dance consists of three sections. Ms. Donna Wood performed solo dance for 16 minutes from section to section. Her ways through the dance are different in movement quality that she gives to each passage. In this tribute to black women, the free sprit or the African women comes through in the energy of her dancing. In the first section started on dark stage, only dancer has a spotlight. Music was soft and smooth. We could hear only piano while dancer was walking forward in straight posture with graceful movement. Started with smooth then mixed up with sharp and pedestrian movements. She uses long white scarf on the floor by showing to us hard work. In dance we say †low† level. For example, she scrubs the floor, uses as a headband representing to carry something. Emotionally sad ness, she worked hard, she contracts in pain, she flutters her hands like captive birds and she tried to get out of struggling life, but she never gives up. There is pain here as well as power, and the music, so oddly modern to me. In the end of the first section she starts picking up her dress, shows her leg and fills the stage. Basically first part of work showed their slaver life and unhappy living. In the second section background lightening became blue and the stage color gets brighter. Still we can see and feel some dark sides of lightening. Music tempo was faster and stronger and Ms. Donna Wood has stronger movements. The most interesting in this section was singing human voice. She starts to sing and has a little smile on her face. Most of her movement shape was very sharp, edgy and angled especially her arms at first. She represents them to be united and get free. By jumping and crossing arms, she sinks to earth and then she rises. Strong steps and ecstatically raised arms, dances freely off the stage, toward freedom. In short, in this part of work the young women life get better and better, but still it wasn’t completed. In the third section Ms. Donna Wood looks like an African goddess and her body has an unexpected gracefulness. Even stage color was bright reddish, warm atmosphere around the dancer, like a sunrise in the morning. Stage would fill with colors. Music and performer are singing together. A sound of music tempo gets faster. She has the happiest face ever, no pain and no slavery. She jumps, she swings her leg and arms, and even she pulls her dress up and shows her leg an entire dance. Sound and lightening create the environment and good mood. She uses high level of dance than in previous two sections. She moves in between melody. I liked how she uses the stage in this section. She has the high energy to cover so much space by dancing alone. Finally, Ms. Donna Wood gives us her version of black power and black pride in â€Å"be free†. In conclusion, the solo dance â€Å"Cry† performed by Ms. Donna Wood has 3 sections for 16 minutes work. An African women’s journey through the agonies of slavery to an ecstatic stage of grace. She dances with an articulated beauty, serene, together and womanly. She holds herself a little aloof from the audience, but she is reserved rather than shy. She is wonderfully proud, from the poise of her head set perfectly on a long, strong neck. The simplicity of the staging was exemplary, and the lighting made most telling contribution in varying the effect of each section and matching work. Ms. Donna Wood’s angular, cleanly shaped gestures slashed through the air for an exciting finale. Alvin Ailey made it for her and as a birthday present for his mother.

Oedipal Complex in Hamlet Essay -- Shakespeare Hamlet Essays

Hamlet and the Oedipal Complex    In Shakespeare's Hamlet, the title character's main, and only flaw, is his delay. This seems to constitute the central part in Hamlet. By the definition of tragedy, there should exist a flaw in the character of the main hero, who is a great personality that is engaged in a struggle that ends catastrophically. Various reasons for Hamlet's delay are given. Important issues like madness, melancholy and cowardice are discussed, but the evidence reveals that he is capable of swift action, we deem him as an intelligent man and can therefore conclude that he is only pretending madness. To regard him simply as suffering from melancholy is not a sufficient explanation as he is eager to avenge the death of his father, but cannot bring himself to take action. It is obvious that the reason for not carrying out the revenge is not due to any moral apprehensions or fear of divine retribution. There is something special about this task that makes it impossible for Hamlet to carry out th e deed. The inability to take action stems from distinctive feelings within Hamlet, his Oedipal Complex. Hamlet has the perfect opportunity to kill Claudius in Act 3 Scene 3, yet he fails to seize it. He fears that killing Claudius will automatically send Claudius to heaven without punishment. Hamlet himself remarks: "And now I'll do't. And so `a goes to heaven; and so I am revenged. That would be scanned: A villain kills my father, and for that I, his sole son do this same villain to heaven." (3.3.74-78). Hamlet may believe he is delaying from fear of sending Claudius to a "heavenly" afterlife; however, there are times when Hamlet could have killed Claudius when he was not at prayer. Claudius is not ... ... he is delaying out of fear is invalid. Hamlet also may have plenty of time to kill Claudius when he is not in prayer, so any interpretation that includes Hamlet's concerns for Claudius' afterlife is also invalid. Both of these interpretations rely on Hamlet being conscious of his actions. If Hamlet is not conscious of his behaviour, it must be because his desire stems from that part of him in which he is unaware, his id. Works Cited and Consulted Guerin, Wilfred L., Earle Labor, Lee Morgan, Jeanne C. Reeseman, and John R. Willingham. A Handbook of Critical Approaches to Literature. New York: Oxford University Press, 1992. Leong, Virginia. "The Oedipal Complex." 06 December 1997. (07 December 1997) Shakespeare, William. Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. The Riverside Shakespeare. ED. G. Blakemore Evans. Boston: Haughton Mifflin Company, 1974.

Tragic Hero

Arthur Pendragon; Fit For A King? Arthur was crowned king not only at a young age but also completely unexpectedly. Arthur did not ask to be king, he was still a child and did not feel he was worthy of such a position. Arthur’s lack of confidence and trust in himself defines him as a king and his ability to rule. Arthur’s dependency on others proves to be King Arthur’s tragic flaw. As a child Arthur was brought up as Sir Kay, his foster brother’s, Squire. He grew up serving to others demands, it was never necessary for him to make his own decisions. Arthur just did what he was told and tried to please Sir Kay.This flaw first appears in the book The Sword and the Circle, Sir Kay tried to take credit for pulling the sword out of the stone when in reality Arthur had been the one to retrieve it. Sir Kay took all the glory and was going to allow him to be unjustly crowned. Arthur did not speak up or question Kay’s story; He did not receive the credit he deserved until Sir Kay admitted to not being the one to have relinquished the sword. Even after Arthur was appointed king he did not make decisions on his own. He had Merlin by his side to help him. When Merlin left King Arthur to rule on his own Arthur did not know what to do.He was left in a state of uncertainty and fell into what seemed like depression. Also In the book The Sword and the Circle, Arthur discovers the love affair between Lancelot and his wife, Guinevere, and punishes them both but Lancelot ends up rescuing Guinevere. Sir Lancelot asks for King Arthur’s forgiveness and as much as Arthur would like to Gawain will not allow him to accept the apology. Later Sir Mordred and Sir Gawain convince Arthur to go to war against Lancelot. This leads to the splitting of the Knights of the Round Table and the battle between Sir Mordred and King Arthur, which eventually lead to King Arthur’s death.If Arthur had stood by his decision and was not so easily convinced by Gawain the battle could have been avoided and Arthur could have changed the course of his and his kingdom’s fate. On many other accounts King Arthur’s decisions depended on the influence of others, this being one of his tragic flaws can be held accountable for the downfall of King Arthur and his Kingdom. Although technically Arthur was born to be king he did not possess the attributes to be one. He had to compensate in other ways to make up for his weakness, but overall this personality fluke immobilizes Arthur from becoming the great king he had the potential to be. Tragic Hero * Macbeth as a tragic hero: Discuss In Macbeth written by William Shakespeare, Macbeth who is the main character is a tragic hero that suffers from Hamartia which is ambition in Macbeth’s character and that leads him to his downfall, A tragic hero character according to Aristotle must be moral, have virtues and suffers from Hamartia which is a flaw in character that eventually leads to his defeat and downfall at the end of the play. Macbeth is a great person who was a brave warrior in addition a great leader who won several wars for his king as the dramatist shows him in the first pages of the play.Macbeth is great physically and morally, in one hand his physical skills achieved in the battle scenes as the dramatist shows him as a brave warrior who always achieve victory to his country besides he was called ‘’ Brave Macbeth’’ and ‘’ Belladonna’s bride groom’’, in the other hand Duncan his king well-likes, trusts and respects him because of his moral greatness and kindness and that’s what makes his wife Lady Macbeth affirmed that he is morally great when she says ‘’ he is the too full of the milk of human kinds’’.Ambition is the tragic flaw / Hamartia of Macbeth which leads to his defeat; he was affected by the prophecies of the three witches. However the first prophecy of the three witches fulfilled and that Macbeth will be the Thane of Cawdor this was the first step for Macbeth to be ambition to the idea of becoming a king.Here begins the evil side of Macbeth to show as he changes from being a noble man to evil one, he has virtues and morals at the beginning of the play and he was honourable man who was respected and admired by his king and then he became an evil man who want to do anything just to take the crown for himself and be the king instead of Duncan, this clarify that he is aware of what he has done and he committed the tragic mistake opened eyed.In a ddition his wife Lady Macbeth was very interested in becoming a Queen so she starts to encourages and convinces him to decide upon a solution which can makes them be a King and Queen, she succeed in convincing him that his fate is to be the king, which made him kill the king Duncan, that shows the character of Lady Macbeth as a very ambition woman who was determine that Macbeth must be the king. After Macbeth committed the first crime of killing the kind Duncan Macbeth’s character begin to overthrow and he starts to become upset from the idea that he become a murderer and he begin to say that all he water in the world cannot wash Duncan blood of his hands, this shows that he starts to realize the guilt that has been done by him and the crime affected him that he starts to imagine Duncan’s murder scene over and over which shows the reversal of his character and that he didn’t care about the consequences of the crime at the beginning but now he realize what heâ₠¬â„¢s done was terrible, besides after he killed Banquo half of him wishes that he had never done the murders and the other half tells him that he already committed the crimes and he cannot go back and what’s done cannot be undone.

Airport Security: the Post 9/11 Age

Airport Security: The Post 9/11 Age Airport security in the world we live in today is drastically different then the security we knew before the events of September 11, 2001, when four passenger airliners were high-jacked over the skies of the United States, causing a global terror pandemic that still has long lasting effects today. We will look at, discuss and break down some of the key features of airport security in Canada as well as the United States, that have been improved, as well as certain security programs and features which were freshly implemented as a direct result.We will discuss â€Å"no-fly lists,† personnel training and armament, and the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority or â€Å"CATSA,† including their security screening techniques and procedures (screening, responsibilities, Air Marshalls). The â€Å"No-Fly List† was created shortly after the events of 9/11, by the United States government’s Terrorist Screening Center (TSC). The list includes the names of people who are deemed unsafe, or a threat to Airline security and are no longer permitted to board a commercial airline for the purpose of travel coming in or out of the United States.The list now contains roughly 10,000 names (2011), the number people on the list fluctuates based on threat, and intelligence reporting. Canada also has a similar list called the â€Å"Passenger Protect,† a similar initiative to that of the United States list, implemented on June 18, 2007 in order to identify people who could be a threat to the security of aviation, and prevent them from boarding Canadian domestic flights as well as International flights to or from Canada.The Passenger Protect program has two main parts: a set of â€Å"Identity Screening Regulations† which requires all passengers 18 years of age and older to present a valid form of government-issued Identification in order to board a flight, as well as a â€Å"Specified Persons List† whic h has a name, birth date, and gender of the individuals believed to pose a security threat. The list contains roughly 1,250 names. Individuals who have been denied boarding and are in fact on the list can submit an appeal to a branch of Transport Canada, called the Office of Reconsideration.The program works by the government supplying the Specified Persons List to Airlines, who then compare names of people on the list with individuals who intend on boarding flights. When the airline finds a name match, they then reference the individual’s government-issued identification to confirm. The identification is then once more confirmed in person at the airport check-in area, when a confirmation has been established Transport Canada is immediately notified.Training is also provided by Transport Canada to the airlines to teach staff and agents how to implement the ID verification process, and establish procedures to ensure the rights of the passengers are respected. Of course with a system like this, controversy is brought up by civil liberty organizations citing their concerns for civil liberties, racial profiling, privacy, and the perceived failure of the no-fly list created in the United States. In the United States, several anomalies’ referred to as â€Å"false positives† have risen.A â€Å"false positive† happens when an individual who is actually not on the no-fly list, has a name matching or similar to a name on the list. One notable case of a false positive includes a United States Marine in April of 2006, who was flying home from Iraq when he was prohibited from boarding his flight home, as his name matched one on the no-fly list. The lists, although very controversial both here in Canada and in the United States play an important role in establishing airport/airline safety and security, and ensuring an event such as the attacks on September 11, 2001 will not re-occur.Secondly, the way Security Personnel are trained and armed has b een drastically affected in the post 9/11 world. In the United States, immediately after the attacks for several weeks to months afterwards, fully armed guards, either Local Police or National Guard would patrol airports in full tactical gear wielding assault rifles or tactical shotguns. In Canada the response was similar, however not as fully extended as in the United States.In Canada today, the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) which is thoroughly explained in the next topic, handles all screening procedures by hiring third party private security firms to conduct screening. Our general airport security providing safety is executed by local Police forces. The RCMP once used to handle all general airport security, now only handles a few airports including Edmonton International Airport. Edmonton International Airport has a detachment of the RCMP located on site to ensure a quick and proper response to emergencies, ecurity and policing needs. The Police members on sit e are trained in emergency preparedness in order to be able to respond to a wide range of situations, including terrorism attacks. In addition to human Police officers, many airports such as Edmonton’s, implement canine members for certain situations such as sniffing out drugs, weapons, people, and explosives. In Edmonton specifically, at the RCMP airport detachment, they have Badge, a German Sheppard trained in attacking criminals, searching for lost people or baggage, as well as the ability to sniff out 15 different explosives.As well as the main goal of airport security of keeping a safe and problem free environment, security also includes Emergency Response Services (ERS). Fire and medical services are always ready at a moment’s notice 24 hours a day, 365 days a year for emergencies such as fires, aircraft mayday emergencies, and terrorist attacks. The Emergency Response Services are always highly trained and outfitted with top of the line vehicles and equipment to deal with any situation, and all have requirements and policies on stringent response times.An example of the preparedness by the ERS in Edmonton is their ability to make it from the fire hall located on site to the mid-point on the furthest runway in 3 minutes. Finally, as a direct result of the attacks of September 11, 2001 we seen the formation of the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority or â€Å"CATSA,† in December 2001, introduced by then Finance Minister Paul Martin, which included a very comprehensive plan aimed at enhancing economic and personal security in Canada.In April of 2002 CATSA took over responsibility of passenger and employee screening, although they still hire private security companies to do much of the screening, CATSA still oversees training and equipment available. CATSA states their mission is â€Å"to protect the public by securing critical elements of the air transportation system†¦ † Their responsibilities can be grouped into four major areas; Pre-board screening, hold baggage screening, non-passenger screening, and Restricted Area Identity Cards.Pre-board screening is done by Private Security firms hired and governed by CATSA, their tasks include getting all carry-on items coming onto an aircraft to go through X-ray, individuals must then pass through metal detectors and physical searches can and will be executed if an alarm is raised either through the metal detector, or random selection. Full body scanners are also used to reveal weapons, objects or explosives hidden under or within clothing. CATSA also implements the use of Explosive Detection Trace (EDT) technology at security checkpoints; this involves a quick swabbing of carry-on items or hands to test for explosives.Hold-Baggage Screening (HBS) is another major area of CATSA, this is what happens to our baggage once it has been checked in and is on its way to be loaded onto the aircraft. This is the process of screening all checked baggage using a co mbination of state-of-the-art explosive detection technology, as well as highly trained security personnel. During HBS the density of baggage is tested as well as additional testing for trace amounts of chemicals. HBS is currently in full deployment in 89 airports across Canada since 2006, for all domestic and international flights.CATSA is responsible for the instillation, deployment and renovations of HBS systems as well as regulatory compliance monitoring. Another major area of CATSA is non-passenger screening (NPS), this is required by Transport Canada starting back in 2004 and involves the random screening of people who work at the airports, these people can include flight crews, airport crews, caterers, maintenance workers, and baggage handlers. This subjects employees to unpredictable security screenings at entry points within airport restricted areas, the screening process is similar to that of the passenger screening, and also includes an Identification check.CATSA states t hat they screen 2,500 employees a day out of the 100,000 employees who have access to secure areas in Canadian airports. They also state that this program is continually evolving, as the only constant is â€Å"the cooperation needed between screening officers and non-passengers. † The fourth noted area of CATSA is the Restricted Area Identity Card (RAIC) program, which is constantly advancing through the use of biometric scanners. The RAIC program uses state-of-the-art duel biometric scanner identification programs to ensure the identity of the personnel who have restricted access.The program includes cards with built-in microchips to store biometric information of fingerprint and iris scanner templates. The RAIC program has been fully functional since January 31, 2007 in over 28 major airports in Canada. It’s notable that the biometric technology used here is also utilized in non-passenger screening and these two programs work in conjunction with one another. CATSA al so jointly implements the Canadian Air Carrier Protective Program (CACPP) with Transport Canada; this program is similar to that of the U.S. Sky Marshall Program. This program strategically places highly trained, armed, undercover RCMP members, also known as In-Flight Security Officers (IFSOs), on Canadian registered commercial airliners. IFSOs mandate is to be able to successfully prevent the aircraft from being taken over by an unauthorized individual(s), as well as gather and interpret intelligence on terrorist and criminal activity within civil aviation. In conclusion, airport security in North America and the world will continue to grow and prosper.In the post 9/11 world today, policies and procedures will only grow tighter and more stringent in an effort to prevent terrorism. From no-fly lists created to prevent the wrong people from boarding passenger planes, to tighter and better trained local Police and Security personnel on the front lines preforming screening, security an d emergency response services. To government initiatives like the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority providing important and well-rounded security systems from x-ray scanners to In-Flight Security Officers, the airline industry has never been more stringent in counter terrorism.References Airport screening: 9/11 response. (n. d. ). In CBC News; the fifth estate. Retrieved October 25, 2012, from http://www. cbc. ca/fifth/fastenseatbelts/security. html No fly list. (n. d. ). In Wikipedia. Retrieved October 25, 2012, from http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/No_Fly_List Passenger Protect. (n. d. ). In Wikipedia. Retrieved October 25, 2012, from http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Passenger_Protect Security Screening. (n. d. ). In Canadian air transport security authority. Retrieved October 25, 2012, from http://www. atsa-acsta. gc. ca/Page. aspx? ID=7&pname=Screening_Controle&lang=en Canadian air carrier protective program. (n. d. ). In Transport Canada. Retrieved October 25, 2012, from ht tp://www. tc. gc. ca/eng/aviationsecurity/page-186. htm Gazette magazine – the canadian air carrier protective program . (n. d. ). In RCMP-GRC. Retrieved October 25, 2012, from http://www. rcmp-grc. gc. ca/gazette/vol70n3/air-eng. htm Emergency response. (n. d. ). In Fly EIA. Retrieved October 25, 2012, from http://www. flyeia. com/emergency_response. aspx

South African Apartheid Quotes About Bantu Education

South African Apartheid Quotes About Bantu Education Bantu Education, the separate and limited experience encountered by non-whites in South Africa when pursuing an education, was a cornerstone of the apartheid philosophy. The following quotes illustrate the diverse viewpoints about Bantu Education from both sides of the anti-Apartheid struggle. Apartheid Quotes It has been decided that for the sake of uniformity English and Afrikaans will be used as media of instruction in our schools on a 50-50 basis as follows:English medium: General Science, Practical Subjects (Homecraft, Needlework, Wood and Metalwork, Art, Agricultural Science)Afrikaans medium: Mathematics, Arithmetic, Social StudiesMother Tongue: Religion Instruction, Music, Physical CultureThe prescribed medium for these subject must be used as from January 1975.In 1976 secondary schools will continue using the same medium for these subjects.Signed JG Erasmus, Regional Director of Bantu Education, 17 October 1974.There is no place for [the Bantu] in the European community above the level of certain forms of labour ... What is the use of teaching the Bantu child mathematics when it cannot use it in practice? That is quite absurd. Education must train people in accordance with their opportunities in life, according to the sphere in which they live.Dr Hendrik Verwoerd, South African min ister for native affairs (prime minister from 1958 to 66), speaking about his governments education policies in the 1950s. As quoted in Apartheid - A History by Brian Lapping, 1987. I have not consulted the African people on the language issue and Im not going to. An African might find that the big boss only spoke Afrikaans or only spoke English. It would be to his advantage to know both languages.South African Deputy Minister of Bantu Education, Punt Janson, 1974.We shall reject the whole system of Bantu Education whose aim is to reduce us, mentally and physically, into hewers of wood and drawers of water.Soweto Sudents Representative Council, 1976.We should not give the Natives any academic education. If we do, who is going to do the manua labour in the community?JN le Roux, National Party politician, 1945.School boycotts are but the tip of the iceberg – the crux of the matter is the oppressive political machinery itself.Azanian Students Organisation, 1981.I have seen very few countries in the world that have such inadequate educational conditions. I was shocked at what I saw in some of the rural areas and homelands. Education is of fundamental importan ce. There is no social, political, or economic problem you can solve without adequate education.Robert McNamara, ex-president of the World Bank, during visit to South Africa in 1982. The education we receive is meant to keep the South African people apart from one another, to breed suspicion, hatred and violence, and to keep us backward. Education is formulated so as to reproduce this society of racism and exploitation.Congress of South African Students, 1984.

Lesser Known Planning Tools Ansoff, Boston, and the Strategy Clock

Lesser Known Planning Tools Ansoff, Boston, and the Strategy Clock These tools are still widely taught but have largely fallen out of favor over time, as better and more detailed planning and strategic management tools have been developed. Nevertheless, these tools do offer some frameworks for assessing various kinds of strategies, and being familiar with them can serve as a good starting point for developing effective strategic planning methods. Remember, it doesnt matter how difficult your task is, our writers are ready to  help you with any writing assignment you need! The Ansoff Matrix The Ansoff Matrix was developed in the mid-1950s by Igor Ansoff, a Russian-born applied mathematician described by The Economist as â€Å"the father of modern strategic thinking†. Ansoff’s original work was not actually concerned with business management at all but was developed to aid NATO in strategic problem-solving at the height of the Cold War in the early 1960s (Ansoff was an analyst for the Rand Corporation and a Vice-President at Lockheed before moving into the academic field). In practice, various potential alternatives for growth strategies developed by planners are arranged in the matrix according to the generic strategies they represent, where they can then be analyzed in a systematic way through other methods. The biggest shortcoming of the Ansoff Matrix is that it is actually more an information-management tool than a planning or analytical tool; that makes it very helpful for assessing businesses from an external perspective (such as part of a competition analysis), but of limited use in strategic planning. A market penetration strategy is one in which business markets existing products to existing customers. The options available to the company in this strategy would involve promoting the product, adjusting the price, updating or repositioning the brand, and so on; no new product is introduced, and the business is simply cultivating its present customer base. A product development strategy is one in which new products – but products that are still natural evolutions of existing products, rather than being something totally unrelated – are marketed to the existing customer base. A market development strategy is when new markets are sought for existing products. A diversification strategy involves the development of new products and new markets at the same time. Market and product development strategies are opposites of each other, as are market penetration and diversification strategies. The Boston Consulting Group Product Portfolio Matrix (Boston Matrix) The Boston Matrix was developed by the Boston Consulting Group in the 1970s as a tool for assessing a company’s product portfolio and is based on two variables, market share and market growth. Each product is placed into one of four categories: Stars  are products with high market share in high-growth markets. These products generate high levels of revenue, though not always high margins. Cash cows  are products with high market share in low-growth markets. These products generate stable revenue and high margins because they require little investment to maintain their competitive position. Question marks  (in some versions, they are called problem children) are products with low market share in high-growth markets; they have potential because of that but are currently generating poor revenues and margins. Dogs  are products with low market share in low-growth markets. They do not generate worthwhile income (and may actually be losing money for the company) and do not have prospects for improving. In general, a company would want to rid itself of any Dogs and keep its Stars and Cash Cows; Stars may eventually become Cash Cows, and Cash Cows provide the source of funds to support promising Question Marks. Some Question Marks can become Stars, others will not, and become Dogs. One additional advantage of using the Boston Matrix is that the format (in most cases, with the amusing graphics excluded) can be used to plot a competitor’s products alongside a company’s own products, thus creating a simple, clear competitive analysis. The biggest inherent disadvantage of the Boston Matrix is that it tends to lead to oversimplification because it has only two variables; it is best used as a tool that provides input to a larger portfolio analysis, rather than the sole basis of the analysis. Another problem of the Boston Matrix, which is not really a problem with the tool itself but rather the way in which it is used, is that it is often misapplied; using it as a tool to assess entire strategic business units has for reasons that are not entirely clear become somewhat of a management fad. In this  usage, the oversimplification almost always leads to a bad decision, because business units are not products, but are rather more complicated. The Strategy Clock Unlike the Ansoff and Boston Matrices, which are designed for product and marketing planning,  the strategy clock is a firm-level competitive analysis tool  along the same lines as Porter’s Generic Strategies or Five Forces analysis. First published in 1996 (C. Bowman D. Faulkner,  Competitive  and Corporate Strategy), the strategy clock presents options for competitive positioning according to price level (cost advantage strategy) or the level of perceived added value (a differentiation advantage strategy): Of the eight options on the clock, options 6, 7, and 8 are almost certainly doomed to failure, so in practice, the company would want to determine first if it is following or is heading towards one of these strategies. Option 6, increasing the price of a standard product, can only be successful if competitors do the same, or lower the value of their products. Option 7, a high price on a low-value product, can only be successful in a monopoly situation. Option 8, offering a low-value product at a standard price, is an automatic failure because it provides the competition two opportunities to take away market share, either through lower prices or higher-value products. The three most successful strategies, options 3, 4, and 5, can be best illustrated with some well-known examples, auto manufacturers: Toyota  pursues a hybrid strategy, maintaining relatively low prices while offering a high level of value, mainly through having a very wide range of products. BMW  pursues a differentiation strategy, dividing it between providing high value at moderate prices at the lower end of its product range, where the value added comes mostly in the form of brand equity and product quality, and high value through premium pricing at the upper end of its product range. Ferrari  pursues a strategy of focused differentiation, providing high value at premium prices to a specific market segment. The only real drawback to the strategy clock is that  it only provides any useful information when it includes more than one competing company; like the Ansoff Matrix, this makes it perhaps more useful as a case study or competition analysis than as a reflective strategic analysis and planning tool. We hope that this article has been of help to you. However, we are not ignorant of the depth and width of the field of strategic management. If you would like to know more about anything we have discussed in this article or a related topic just get in touch with us. We would love to write you an informative and unique article on any topic of your choice. Place your  order NOW. More tools (ADL Matrix, Gap Analysis, and Directional Policy Matrix) can be found  here.

Philosophy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 2

Philosophy - Essay Example Many philosophers have come up with diverging ideas on the concept of life and society and one of the acclaimed ones is Mary Warnock. According to her, philosophy does not involve the resolution of societal problems. Rather than this, it is the questioning of the legitimacy of some of the societal notions known to man. I find this very inspiring from the fact that many people in society look at philosophers and expect them to resolve their problems in an effort to make the environment a friendlier place. People should shun this mindset, focus on the mental engagement of understanding other complex issues in society, and think whether the purpose displayed in them is genuine or whether there is a better manner to improve this. I further concur with the sentiments of another professional philosopher by the name Mikhail Bakunin. The philosopher argues that it is important to recognize the thoughts of others but not act as per they say. This is a very important concept as far as survival and relationships are concerned. Through this, I find it very efficient to relate with people listening to what they have to say and by no means being a judge of their character and ideologies. Rather than this, I find it imperative to recognize and acknowledge their sentiments while putting a personal boundary. Failure to do this would lead to actions that would eventually leave one confused due to mixed ideas. From the sentiments of Philip Kitcher, every society should have an internal urge or rather desire to seek and recognize the truth. However hurting the truth may appear, it is the only way that society can gain a better understanding of self. I concur with this idea by stating that despite the fact that there are flaws in the contemporary environment and people only look up to the upright characteristics, there is a possibility that they may also bear errors as they are reconstructed repeatedly by humanity. People are often afraid of following the law and trying to appeal t hese notions but the faster they gain reconstruction, the better-placed humanity is. This matter requires increased attention in an effort to get a society that does not only lean on the contemporary and future notions, but also relates to the already set ones and evaluates their competency. Another issue that affects the contemporary society and that I find personally interactive is that relating to gender. It is a widespread notion from ancient times that the female is generally weaker. In an effort to indulge in this issue deeply, Katha Pollitt, another acknowledged philosopher states that people go around the concept of gender without caring about the feelings or rather the sentiments of females. I personally relate to this and state that women are supposed to bear the right to communicate their sentiments on various issues in society and gain an audience. Katha states that many people engage in the evaluation of whether women are better, worse or equal to men. She states that t his is not the question for evaluation. I also find it important to recognize the achievements that women have made in the past and offer their acknowledgements. Adolf Hitler was one recognized dictator in the 20th century. He bore sentiments that are rather disturbing since he claimed that human beings should not receive any form of widespread knowledge but rather information supplied to them

Price Elasticity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Price Elasticity - Essay Example This is because a sophisticated machine such as a CD needs proper parts to function accurately. Much is dependant on the installment of proper parts into a CD and unless each of them lives up to industry standards the end product (i.e. the CD) will not be permitted to be released in the market. Given the significance of the raw materials therefore no CD company can possibly compromise on them just in order to bring their prices down. Cheaper parts, most know, may bring down prices but ultimately prove a nightmare for consumers. Software corruption and malfunction can result of a simple cut down on budget. Since most CD companies are reluctant to take such risk and thereby ruin their reputation amongst buyers they (usually) stick to being safe than sorry and thereby choose to use the more expensive parts if they have to. (Lamb, 2004) Given how dependant the CD industry is on both the supply of building materials as well as the demand of the consumers we find that the price elasticity of both demand and supply is rather high on the CD industry. All private markets generate what are called 'externalities' or 'spillovers'. Such externalities include any sort of charge or benefit that the price of the merchandise or services sold by the market does not include.