Individuals Come First

We live in a society where we operate through groups. In our families we indentify ourselves as individuals. Communities or other groups in the society are made up of individual members. It should be noted that without individuals, society would not be in existence. On the same note, it is people who enact laws that govern behavior and mode of conduct in society.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Individuals Come First specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Traditions that people follow nowadays were not instituted by any group, but rather by individuals who decided to lay down procedures that would govern every other person in society. Moreover, the society as a whole is identified using a given language, because individuals in the society decide to use the language in their day-to-day activities. This is contrary to the belief held by others that society’s needs are more important than individual needs. Though t hrough traditions, customs and various types of education people have been made to believe that society matters come first before individual matters, the opposite is true. Inherently, human beings will want to focus on the purpose of their lives and not that of society or a certain group. Even when people belong to various groups in the society, individual focus takes center stage. The continuous search by human beings to define themselves will continue to rule what people do and how they conduct their activities. Different societal groups start and collapse, people can move from one location to another and adapt to different traditions and customs, states come and go but individuals remain. People will still demand for freedom and privacy to carry out their life in their own best way possible, without being restricted by society. Therefore, it is wrong to argue that society will at any instance come first before individuals. By trying to satisfy individual needs, people indirectly fulfill the needs of the society as a whole, since society and other communal groups are just but a collection of individuals. These individuals have to be taken care of first, before the whole group is looked into. There is no person who will want to extend a helping hand to the society before satisfying his or her own needs. From the very basic unit of society, the family, individualistic wants come first before any other needs. It has been argued that culture and language modify people in society while taking societal needs first. However, it can be noted that due to dissatisfaction of some members with their culture, they have exhibited defiant behavior leading to change in the way of doing some things. Families, religious groups or other societal organizations would not have wanted the changes to be accommodated. Incidentally, because individuals have the final say, the changes have been accepted. Therefore, individuals modify language and culture to suit their needs.Advertisin g Looking for essay on philosophy? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More It is important to note that individualism is the reality of life, and it did not start with the emergence of capitalism. Since time immemorial, life has neither been about society nor about government, but about individuals who form these groups. The main motive that has driven progress and development in human society is the urge of people to advance their personal needs. Man has been known to resist any ideologies or institutions which hinder in any way the endeavors of personal development. As a matter of fact, man’s continuous opposition towards institutions brought about by various states has led to civilization. Similarly, resistance to various modes of governance has resulted from the shear perception that they are oppressive to individuals or groups of individuals. This shows that individuals have a very crucial role than the society in human li fe. Notably, before the emergence of societal groups, man still lived and conducted life in a more or less organized way. Some groups which have emerged in human society in the name of regulating human behavior and enhancing societal interests are actually doing the opposite. Governments were introduced when the wealthy people in the society, masquerading as saviors, wanted to rule the poor and protect their status quo. The idea of free market operation is another example of how individualistic interests are being advanced. People will want to have the opportunity to sell more or buy more if they have the ability. They will care less about the group in which they belong or the state from which they come. It is not peculiar to get people who come from a specific community or ethnic background, identifying themselves with others from different communities because they have common individual interests. Leaders claim to represent the public but when an opportunity of advancing their own interests comes, they jump and take advantage of it at the expense of the public. In the society, progress of the whole community is a summation of total individual progress of all members. Consequently, it is the individual in a group who matters and not the group per se. In this regard, it is fundamentally wrong for people to argue that individuals will play second fiddle in human society. This essay on Individuals Come First was written and submitted by user Puff Adder 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.

Beowulf to Batman essays

Beowulf to Batman essays True Blue Revolutionaries or Tired Beowulf Reruns Beowulf to Batman: The Epic Hero and Pop Culture by Roger B. Rollins compares the design of the epic poetry to the design of todays pop culture. The epic poem refers to Anglo-Saxon poems such as Beowulf. Pop culture refers to movies, shows, and comics of today such as Batman and Spiderman. The main point of Rollins essay is to show the significance of epic poetry to the modern day pop culture. He does so by showing the connections between the two, and the similar purposes the stories serve. One basic similarity that Rollins mentions is Neither epic poets nor the creators of pop culture are true revolutionaries.(2) Different plots, heroes, villains, and other details make the stories appear to be new and innovative. Though the heroes, villains, and story lines are never the same, it is apparent that the same basic recipe is used to create each different story. The main ingredients for these stories are actually quite simple; first a level cup of Good versus Evil. Then a ja r of fighting for righteousness and apprehending the wrongdoer.(1) And of course a nice finishing coat of Good or Evil also known as value satisfaction. Add a little pinch imagination and two tablespoons of creativity, and a healthy helping on interesting details and there you have if an epic poem or a pop romance. Good versus Evil is incorporated in virtually every epic poem and pop romance. The hero in each story is represents good he is the embodiment of what the average citizen should strive to be. These heroes represent the Good; they are usually honest, clean, upright respectable people an archetype for the model citizen should be. The Good also represents what we would like to be. For example they can be extremely intelligent like Batman, outrageously handsome like James Bond, or amazingly strong and brave like Be ...

Life Ambition Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Life Ambition - Essay Example And in the beginning I found being a scout very tough. It wasn't easy, trying to remember so many knots or then trying to figure out whether the star in the horizon was the North Star or some other star. Eventually, I started getting used to it and very soon started enjoying it. But scouting wasn't only about fun and games though; I learnt a lot of new and interesting things. I also leant many things that are not thought in books. I learnt about duty, about honor and how to serve others. It also taught us how to model our lives according to great people, people like Nelson Mandela who overcame the odds and made a difference. I didn't have to look far for such a role model; I just had to look at my family. For me one of the best role models I have is my dad. In some ways I always wanted to be like my dad. He was one of the first people in our family to get a college degree. No one thought he could, and most of them said what's the point of studying so much But he didn't listen, he still went, studied a lot and finally got a college degree. Now whenever they meet him, they look up to him. Here was someone who had overcome all the odds and did something. This is why dad would always tell me how important education was. Right from the first day I joined school he always told me how important it was is in life. How it wasn't just about how to learn to read and write, everyone could do that he said.

Inventory management. Amazon Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Inventory management. Amazon - Research Paper Example The competitive advantage possessed by a company is also determined by similar factors. Efficient management of logistics allows a company to focus on other activities such as adding value to existing products, etc which indirectly increase the productivity of the organization. However, in today’s business scenario, the retail market has evolved and efficient logistics management is no longer just an advantage, it is the norm. Companies have found several different ways in which to achieve this, usually in alignment with their business models. The use of IT technologies has been one of the main factors that have hastened this process since companies are now able to communicate between offices regardless of the distance that separates them (CILTUK, 2007: 10-11). In order to understand the practical issues concerning inventory management, we examine the case of Amazon in the below report. Aims and Objectives of the research The following case study which examines the case of Amazon reflects on the growth of the company with respect to various theories associated with logistics management, in particular with the subject of inventory management. It attempts to relate the issues faced by the company and its subsequent successes to the research available in the field. It also explores the alternatives available for the company that might help it grow further. With the above information, the study also attempts to predict the future direction of the company based on the current status of the company and available business scenarios. Literature Review Company and market overview Amazon was setup in 1994 by Jeff Bezos as an online book store. Similarly, it was established in Europe as a book store in 1998. As a result of its successes, it was launched in other countries as well. Amazon International consists of a number of subsidiaries such as Amazon Japan and its operations in Europe. Its Europe operations ha ve needed an improvement to match its expected growth rate. In particular, its distribution strategy has been looked at more closely and an attempt has been made to emulate the American structure. Due to advancements in technology, Amazon has been able to enter a number of markets. However, technology, coupled with the opening up of new markets across the world has also led to an increase in the number of competitors in the field. Lessons from American Distribution strategy Reducing the costs incurred due to the purchase and holding of inventory or stocks is one of the main challenges for a retail store. However, the challenges faced by an online store are unique. Amazon was setup at a time when most of its competitors, other book stores, were brick and mortar stores or mail – order catalog businesses. The challenge of maintaining a low cost for stocks, at the same time satisfying customer demands is magnified for an online store. Amazon initially tackled this problem by hold ing minimum stocks while relying of wholesalers to satisfy most of its demand. This helped reduce the holding cost of stocks. At the same time, Amazon also tied up with publishers so that the unit cost of stocks would also decrease (Waters, 2003: 52). A combination of the two helped the company's capacity grow from 1 million book titles to 2.5 million book titles in the early years. This also helped ensure that orders were completed

Coca-Cola Company Financial Results Analysis Essay Example for Free

Coca-Cola Company Financial Results Analysis Essay This paper will attempt to discuss the North American market for The Coca-Cola Company in the impact to volume growth or declines for the period, discuss the drivers of profitability during the quarter at The Coca-Cola Company and the likely long-term impact of these drives on profits, discuss the EPS results for the quarter in comparison to historic results and long-term growth targets, and discuss the emerging markets for The Coca-Cola Company and the likely future impact on earnings per share. Coca-Cola Company Financial Results Analysis Discuss the North American market for The Coca-Cola Company in the impact to volume growth or declines for the period The North American market for The Coca-Cola Company is growing positively. Increasing mobility of the company and continuing a positive image for emerging new middle class clients is fueling Coca-Cola into claiming the title of number one beverage producer in North America. Providing that outside factors do not put a slump on the economy, strategic focus of building a strong brand, creating a positive value for the products, and keeping with sound investment practices will ensure the continuing growth of The Coca-Cola Company. For the first quarter of 2012, the North American market for The Coca-Cola Company impact on volume was positive. First quarter reported that the North America Group’s volume grew 2% in the quarter. (Muhtar Kent, 2012) The net revenues increased by 5% with â€Å"as reported† volume growth of 1%. (Muhtar Kent, 2012) The volume growth reflected the effect of having one less day for the quarter in the current year. There was also a positive price/ mix of 3% and a 1% benefit due to the structural change in relation to the acquisition of Greayt Plains Coca-Cola Bottling Company. (Muhtar Kent, 2012) Sparkling beverage volume, drinks with carbonation, grew by 1% for the quarter and still beverage volume grew by 6%. (Muhtar Kent, 2012) There was a reported decline in operating income in the first quarter. (Muhtar Kent, 2012) Due to the cycling of lower commodity costs in prior periods as well as having one less day for sales in the current year quarter, comparable currency nuetral operating income declined 9% in the quarter. (Muhtar Kent, 2012) This decline may be linked to current year timing in comparison to the prior year, which was comtemplated in The Coca-Cola Company’s internal planning process. (Muhtar Kent, 2012) Discuss the drivers of profitability during the quarter at The Coca-Cola Company and the likely long-term impact of these drives on profits. The drivers for profitability came from strong brand programming, positive pricing of products and overall structure change. Smart investing is also another driver of profitability. The advertisement seen at events and on television programming has helped push The Coca-Cola Company’s products into the view of the consumers. The planning processes have positioned The Coca-Cola Company into staying conservative with its investments and watch the market fluctuations as to creating long term investment growth possibilities. (Muhtar Kent, 2012) Things on the radar for The Coca-Cola Company include watching the employment rate in the countries where they are located and the economic environment globally, in relation to if the markets are improving or declining. (Muhtar Kent, 2012) Keeping brands and investments healthy and positive are the main drivers that will impact the long term profitability of this company. Discuss the Earnings per Share results for the quarter in comparison to historic results and long-term growth targets. The earnings per share reported for the first quarter was $0.89. (Muhtar Kent, 2012) In comparison to April 30, 2011, the diluted net income per share was up by 9%, up from $0.82. (Muhtar Kent, 2012) The Coca-Cola Company launched a new program that was to starting the first quarter of 2012 and ending in 2015 called the â€Å"Productivity and Reinvestment program†. (The Coca-Cola Company Reports Full-Year and Fourth Quarter 2011 Results, 2012) This program ihas been set to provide an incremental yearly savings of $550 to $650 million. (The Coca-Cola Company Reports Full-Year and Fourth Quarter 2011 Results, 2012) This goal is fueled by the more than $500 million annualied savings from the previous productivity program launched in 2009 and ending in 2011. (The Coca-Cola Company Reports Full-Year and Fourth Quarter 2011 Results, 2012) The Company’s 2020 goal of designing and implementing the most effective and efficient business system is well on its way towards becoming a reality. Discuss the emerging markets for The Coca-Cola Company and the likely future impact on earnings per share Volume growth for newer markets in China, Japan, and Thailand are on the forefront of The Coca-Cola Company’s main list of places to increase their product presence and strengthen their brand. Having a good price mix of investments and watching the economic status of these countries will help the Company to make sound investment strategies and increase their earnings per share in these regions. China will be an important player in the growth of business for The Coca-Cola Company. This is one of the fastest and largest markets to gain control of and strong marketing practices, along with bringing new jobs to this powerhouse economy will only increase the likelyhood of achieving a positive earnings per share return. In Japan, expanding the current market of items like coffee, sparkling beverages, and teas would help to increase sales in this country. Keeping the brand present as this country tries to recover from a natural disaster in 2011 will help to ease The Coca-Cola Company’s presence back into the line of things for the consumers in this market. Working closely with bottling groups and keeping good ties are helping to spur coke in a positive direction as Japan attempts to recover from the prior year’s decline due to natural disasters. The Coca-Cola Company’s outlook remains positive as it attempts to keep moving forward in the market of beverages. The Company’s long term goals of increasing its efficiency in branding, increasing its productivity, creating new jobs globally, and working on restructuring the company is helping to keep the Company as a top contender in the beverages category and will help maximize its efforts to increase profits for itself and the shareholders.

SWOT Analysis Carvel Corporation

SWOT Analysis Carvel Corporation 1) Analysing Your Business The basic design school model most closely associated with the name of Andrews is a prescriptive conception. It is intended as a practical guide for dealing with a complex environment in which there are external as well as internal contexts relevant to the enterprise. The approach is best encapsulated in the SWOT model (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats), probably the most commonly applied method in strategy making. It is often reproduced in à ¯Ã‚ ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å¡ow charts which separate out the key steps in strategy making. SWOT analysis is a technique specifically designed to help with the identification of suitable business strategies for an organization to follow. It involves specifying and relating together organizational strengths and weaknesses and environmental opportunities and threats. In practice this is often an activity that is not carried out well. It is all too easy, having identified all the important points, not to know what to do with the data generated. Many organizations evaluate opportunities utilizing an analysis framework referred to as a SWOT. SWOT is an acronym for strengths, weakness, opportunities, and threats. The ultimate goal of a SWOT analysis includes, on one hand, the matching of vital operational strengths with major environmental opportunities. On the other hand, it provides a basis for improving weaknesses or at least minimizing them and avoiding or managing environmental threats to operations. Ideally, a SWOT study helps identify a distinctive competence, something the organization does exceptionally well. There is one format for evaluating internal strengths and weaknesses in light of external opportunities by considering the application of major organizational resources. Each factor-capacity, personnel, marketing, finance, and management-is rated in relation to an opportunity on a quantitative basis. This approach is used to analyze resources as strengths or weaknesses in relation to opportunities in the organiza tions environment. For each strength and weakness identified, strategy implications are drawn. Analysis of strengths and weaknesses flows logically from the identification of the resources relative to the opportunity. From the information gathered from the external analysis, we seek to establish which influences represent opportunities, and which are, or might develop into, threats. When these are considered alongside the internal strengths and weaknesses, we are able to construct a swot statement. A swot statement is a summary of the internal and external analyses. The swot factors are not strategies; they are observations resulting from the previous analyses. The strengths and weaknesses are based on the internal analysis of an organization and the opportunities and threats are based on the analysis of the environment which is external to the organization. One key distinguishing characteristic between the strengths and weaknesses on the one hand and the opportunities and threats on the other is the degree of control that managers may have. With the internal strengths and weaknesses managers can often exert control whereas with regard to the opportunities and threats, managers are less likely to be able to control such factors. If for example the organization has strong balance sheet strength) this will have resulted from managerial decisions. If, instead the organization is seen as being over-staffed (a weakness), managers can address the issue through reducing staff numbers. Conversely, by way of example, changing government policies, product changes by competitors or a war breaking out (all of, which might produce opportunities or threats to an individual organization depending on the circumstances) are beyond the control of managers. The SWOT represents a position statement stating where the organization is at the time of the analysis in relation to its environment. It is not the strategy itself and should not involve making statements about what should be done next. Instead it provides a firm platform for planning for the future of the organization, i.e. formulating the strategy which is the next stage in the strategic process. In presenting the SWOT a number of rules should be followed: Too much detail should be avoided so that the key points can be clearly seen. Keep each point short and to the point so that an overview can quickly be gained. The detailed justifications for the points presented in the table should be presented separately. Many of the points presented in the SWOT may be relative rather than absolute and consequently a matter of some judgement. Thus it is difficult to say at exactly what level a high level of financial gearing becomes a weakness or a share of a particular market becomes strength. The SWOT should not concentrate solely on hard facts (such as financial measures or market growth statistics) that can be measured or proved. Softer factors such as organizational culture or the leadership skills exhibited by managers may be more difficult to measure but they are nevertheless important for organizational performance. The analysis should prioritise and combine points. The most important points should be shown first and points that are not key or strategic in nature should be excluded. In some cases it may be necessary to combine smaller points to make one large overarching point. For example, if a SWOT is partly based on a financial analysis of an organization which indicates a strong financial position, the SWOT should not have individual points on high level of profitability, low gearing, adequate liquidity, etc., for to do so would confuse the presentation. The point presented in the SWOT should be that is that the organization has a strong financial position. The justification for making such a point would be provided by the assessments relating to profitability, gearing liquidity and so on. The process sometimes involves an additional stage of condensing the strengths, weaknesses; opportunities and threats (SWOT) into a survey of the key issues. These are the most pressing or most important elements of the SWOT statement those which require the most urgent action or which the strategy should be particularly designed to address. Once we have established the organizations internal strengths and weaknesses, and its external opportunities and threats, the challenge becomes to select a strategy that will address the weaknesses and threats whilst at the same time, will build upon its strengths and exploit its opportunities. It is important to understand that a detailed internal and external analysis is a necessary pre-requisite for the SWOT information it emerges from the internal and external analyses. The second stage in the strategic process involves taking the important information gathered from the strategic analysis and using it to make an intelligent and informed selection of the most appropriate course of action for the future. It is at this stage that we come to appreciate the importance of the strategic analysis. If we have gained insufficient or flawed information from the analysis, then we cannot be sure that the strategy selection we make will be the right one. Selection therefore begins with an examination of the strategic analysis. Once we are acquainted with it, we normally generate a list of the options open to the organization, paying particular attention to how each option will address the key issues. After this, we evaluate each option using a number of criteria. Finally, the most appropriate strategic option is selected. A strategy is a plan that integrates an organizations major goals, policies, decisions and sequences of action into a cohesive whole. It can ap ply at all levels in an organization and pertain to any of the functional areas of management. Thus there may be production, financial, marketing, personnel and corporate strategies, just to name a few. If we look specifically at marketing then there may be pricing, product, promotion, distribution, marketing research, sales, advertising, merchandising, etc. strategies. Strategy is concerned with effectiveness rather than efficiency and is the process of analysing the environment and designing the fit between the organization, its resources and objectives and the environment. The strategic process refers to the manner in which strategy is formulated. There are several approaches. First, the rational approach, making use of tools such as SWOT analysis and portfolio models. Second, the flexible approach, which employs multiple scenario planning. The creative approach reflects the use of imagination in planning. The behavioural approach reflects the influence of power, politics and personalities. And finally, the incremental approach is based on small adjustments or changes to previously successful strategies. 2. COMPANY HISTORY Carvel Corporation had one of the oldest and most endearing histories of all the ice cream companies in the U.S. In 1934 Tom Carvel, a Greek immigrant, parlayed a flat tire on his ice cream truck into what would become a multimillion dollar franchise business. As the story had it, after a flat tire forced Tom Carvel into an abandoned parking lot one summer afternoon in 1934, Mr. Carvel quickly realized he could sell far more product in a stationary location than he ever could in the streets of Hartsdale, NY. Mr. Carvel soon borrowed $100 and opened the first Carvel Ice Cream store. Mr. Carvel used a combination of fresh ice cream and innovative products and manufacturing techniques to establish himself as the local, family-oriented ice cream parlor in the New York City area. In 1947, Mr. Carvel franchised his first store and proceeded to become one of the pioneers in fast food franchising. In fact, it was only after Tom Carvel refused his partnership offer that Ray Kroc used Mr. Carvels store design as the model for his McDonalds chain. Throughout the 1960s and 70s, the gravely voiced Mr. Carvel used his folksy and savvy style to dominate the greater New York area. By standardizing procedures and providing franchisees with exclusive product designs and marketing material, Mr. Carvel expanded all along the East Coast. By the early 1980s, there were over 800 Carvel stores in operation along the East Coast and in some Midwestern states such as Ohio and Wisconsin. Included in the company chain were over 40 stores in California. However, by the mid 1980s, the recess ion and the strain on Tom Carvel to manage his business began to take its effect on the franchise. Sales and quality control began to decline, and events forced Mr. Carvel to consider changes. In 1989, at age 88, faced with diminishing sales and increasing store closures, Tom Carvel reluctantly sold his company to Investcorp, aBahrainian-based investment banking group. The Investcorp strategy centered on acquiring previously gainful companies whose profitability had diminished in recent years due to recession. Following that strategy, between 1988 and 1992 Investcorp had purchased Macys, Sax Fifth Avenue, Tilecorp, and Carvel. By infusing new capital and bringing in a new management team headed by CEO Steve Fellingham, the former president of Kentucky Fried Chicken, Investcorp focused on growth and revamping Carvels listless image. Management was forced, however, to walk a fine line between creating a new, vibrant image for Carvel and alienating long-time, loyal customers who had grown up with Mr. Carvels occasionally awkward but always folksy style. In 1992, Carvel introduced the Ice Cream Bakery concept to its customers. Under this program, the company continued to offer long-time favourites such as Cookie Puss and Fudgie the Whale, but also introduced a new product line that featured specialty cakes and novelty ice cream treats for special occasions. By focusing on creating Carvel ice cream as a bakery dessert item, Carvel hoped to reduce both the cyclical sale pattern of the company and the perception that an ice cream cake was only for special occasions. To this end, Carvel instituted its current mission statement: Working together, we will make Carvel the leading choice for unique, quality frozen desserts by consistently exceeding customer expectations. In 1993, the company initiated its grocery store program in which Carvel displayed its own dedicated freezers in the bakery departments of supermarkets up and down the East Coast. By 1994, in the face of industry-wide declines, Carvel decided it was time to bring its Ice Cream Bakery to the Peoples Republic. 3. PRODUCT LINE Carvel Corporation offered a wide variety of ice cream products. The companys fundamental product, though, remained its soft serve ice cream and fountain line. Included in this category were: cups and cones shakes floats sundaes hard ice cream-soft ice cream that is frozen in the shock box in tubs so that it can be scooped and served as traditional ice cream. In order to promote the everyday nature of the business, though, management had introduced 4. COMPETITION Carvel Beijing faced a very fragmented market in Beijing. Generally speaking, several domestic and international companies had penetrated the market and achieved moderate brand awareness. However, no brand had yet to break from the pack and establish itself as the market leader in ice cream. The following breakdown describes the most dominant of these fragmented players: Walls was a Holland-based company and one of the market leaders in Europe and Australia. In Beijing, Walls product line was limited to cups, cones, and various other novelty treats. Mainly, their distribution was limited to roughly 3,000 rollhards from which they sold novelty ice creams, namely cups and cones. Walls was also available in several supermarkets. As one of the first western ice creams in Beijing, Walls still enjoyed the benefits of its first mover status. Beijing customers still considered Walls to be the preeminent Western ice cream in Beijing, simply due to breadth and duration of its presence. On average, Walls sold its products for  ¥4, but recently it had raised its prices to  ¥5. It was estimated that Carvel had taken much of its market share from Walls. Buds was a San Francisco-based ice cream company that enjoyed a wide presence and brand awareness in Beijing. Although only a regional brand in the U.S., in China, Buds enjoyed the reputation of being the pre-eminent American brand because it was the first American brand to appear in the PRC. To date, in a country where consumers still prized a companys tradition and longevity, both Baskin Robbins and Carvel had not yet been able to dispel Buds image. Like Walls, Buds did not have any retail store outlets. Instead, Buds sold only from nearly 600 rollhards scattered throughout Beijings markets and supermarkets. Buds only produced cup and cone products, and its prices matched those of Walls. Small cups were  ¥4.2, hard ice cream was  ¥6, and pints sold for  ¥23. Baskin-Robbins represented the most significant long term competition to Carvel Beijing for several reasons. First, Baskin- Robbins was Carvels chief rival in the U.S. and its products enjoyed more national brand awareness than Carvels. Secondly, Baskin- Robbins was the only competitor in Beijing that produced an all ice cream cake and had retail stores in which to promote them. Finally, Baskin-Robbins had a longer and broader presence in Beijing and appeared to have the positioning strategy that Carvel had targeted. Baskin-Robbins presence was mainly limited to its two retail stores. Like Carvel, Baskin- Robbins offered its customers a true ice cream parlor experience. While Carvels cakes were of better quality, Baskin-Robbins relied on its tradition of hard ice cream cones and fountain products to drive sales. Currently, Baskin- Robbins charged  ¥9 for a single scoop ice cream cone and  ¥107 for a cake comparable to Carvels small round. Baskin-Robbins did not have any wholesale outlets at this time. 5. SWOT ANALYSIS (S)trengths Carvel had the best ice cream cake in Beijing and one of the best ice creams. Carvel had received positive reviews from its customers. Training and operations had progressed well and the company was ready to increase production. (W)eaknesses Vaguely defined management roles and objectives hampered definitive marketing policies. Inability to source inputs locally continued to hamper the bottom line. Too many potential customers still did not know of Carvel Beijing. (O)pportunities Carvel was looking into involving the foreign embassy community in its sales promotions as a means of increasing both sales and potential outside business contracts. The approaching summer allowed Carvel to have a seasonal grand opening to reintroduce the brand to first time customers. Wang Mengs offer to use 6,000 New Continent vendcarts offered Carvel the opportunity to increase greatly the brands exposure at minimal cost. (T)hreats The cash flow and sales problems threatened to scuttle the proposed business plan for 1995. The competition, including Wang Meng, were quickly realizing the potential of ice cream cakes in Beijing, and Carvels competitive advantage in this area would be challenged. The dynamic political and economic environment in China presented inherent uncertainty. Beijing residents enjoyed a wide variety of dessert products. Besides ice cream products, there were numerous bakeries that offered a variety of traditional Chinese-designed cakes and pastries. These flour-based cakes were richly designed with traditional Chinese figures and styles and sold on average from  ¥100 to  ¥250 for an ornate wedding cake. Other traditional treats included pastries with a sweetened jelly or fruit paste filling. Chinese also enjoyed various types of traditional dried fruits, and they often ended each meal with a platter of fresh fruit and tea. There were also many styles of Chinese and Western candies. Furthermore, a traditional sweet treat called suan niu nai literally meaning sour milks), a yogurt-like product, was sold throughout the city for  ¥1.5. Chinese of all status enjoyed suan niu nai at all hours of the day, but it was more closely associated with the less affluent segments of society. Finally, the growth of McDonalds, Burger K ing, and Kentucky Fried Chicken had presented Carvel with other possible substitute products. More and more consumers were trying these fast food giants own desserts, such as apple pies, shakes, and their own ice cream cups and sundaes. In short, there were a wide variety of dessert and snack treats from which Chinese consumers could choose. What concerned Phil Fang, though, was that all these alternative treats were cheaper and more widely recognized than his product line. 6. CONCLUSION Having done this analysis, Fang had to plot his strategy for the rest of 1995 and beyond. More important, he had to make some very tough decisions on where he wanted to position Carvel Beijing as it entered its first and, arguably, most important summer in Beijing. Among the most pressing issues he had to face were: how to price the product: competitively or as premium product how to design and position the cakes: as American products or as more traditional Chinese products how to confront the financial problems: with short term or long term policies how to respond to Wangs vendcart proposal how to produce the mix: as the original American mix or as a less sweet mix more appealing to traditional Chinese tastes What complicated these decisions were the problems associated with a multinational joint venture: issues of personality, culture, and the joint venture agreement itself. In the end, though, it was Phil Fang who would have to overcome these challenges and seize upon the unique chance to create the first truly national brand of ice cream in the Peoples Republic of China. A good strategy is designed to fit organizational capability with environmental opportunity. It is best summarized by the SWOT approach and has very close links with the case study approach pioneered by the Harvard Business School. This school sees strategy as based on the classical approach. It is the rational product of a senior manager, usually the chief executive officer, consciously and deliberately à ¯Ã‚ ¬Ã‚ nding a à ¯Ã‚ ¬Ã‚ t between the internal strengths and weaknesses of an enterprise and the external threats and opportunities it faces. A strategy is viewed as an explicit, simple and unique conception. Formulation precedes implementation and is separate from it. There is often a range of options from which the strategy to be implemented is chosen. The one which provides the best à ¯Ã‚ ¬Ã‚ t or best design is chosen. Changes from Macro Environment Many changes from the macro environment have the potential to cripple even the best of strategies and must therefore be wa tched. Managers should note any changes in the environmental factors cited above as conducive to innovation. Potential changes in exchange rates, especially unanticipated large ones, central bank policies that raise interest rates, and taxation laws, along with demographic and sociopolitical changes, all have the potential to impact firm strategies. Managers should examine them carefully for potential threats and opportunities. In particular, they should examine the potential impact of changes in tax policies concerning the Internet. This analysis of a firms current performance, appraisal of its business model, appraisal of its competitors business models, analysis of industry attractiveness, assessment of its macro environment, projection of the evolution of the Internet, and a forecast of its environmental changes is sometimes called a strengths and weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis.

Employment Essay

1. Using your adopted business or current place of employment as your primary example, please answer the following question. Do you think that most people are satisfied or dissatisfied with their work? What factors primarily contribute to their satisfaction or dissatisfaction? Using my current place of employment, I am going to say that I think most people are satisfied with their work. The factors that seem most important are that they enjoy the kind of work they’re doing and they do enjoy the coworkers. I think most of the people I work with would say they don’t love their job but they don’t hate it either. Most of the employees have a strong work ethic as far as being employed there many years and absenteeism is not a problem. Attitudes are not the greatest among us all of the time, but that is to be expected. 2. How can a participative management program enhance employee satisfaction at your current place of employment? In this type of program, employees are given a voice in how they do their jobs and in how the business is managed. I think this would help enhance employee satisfaction by making employees feel more committed to goals they have helped create. Morale is boosted when a commitment goes more noticed. I think employees would also feel more satisfaction because they would feel more involved and like they mattered. 3. Describe what you would tell a low-skill worker performing a simple and possible mundane task or job who wants more challenge and enjoyment from work. Using my current place of employment as an example, I would tell that specific employee to voice his/her concerns to management. If they show a sense of confidence in their performance to management, then maybe management will also have confidence allowing the employee to take on a more challenging position or task. I would also suggest to the employee to set goals for him or herself. When goals are met, there is much more satisfaction felt. 4. Some evidence suggests that recent college graduates show high levels of job satisfaction. Levels then drop dramatically as they reach their late twenties, only to increase gradually once they get older. What might account for this pattern? Maybe they are not being challenged enough for them or maybe the job has become too monotonous for them. After some time, maybe enjoyment is lost for the job. After the â€Å"honeymoon stage† of initially getting the job, everything becomes routine, and people start to become unhappy. 5. What motivating factor works the best for you  at your current job? The most important one for me is money. I have a family to support and bills to pay. They are my priorities that I have to take care of or were left without our basic needs and wants. My next most important factor is the friendships I have developed with my coworkers at my job. They are essentially a 2nd family to me. I am closer to some then others and have developed a sense of trust in these friendships.

The Silver Linings Playbook Chapter 23

The â€Å"Pat† Box By 11:00 p.m. my mother has not returned home, and I start to worry because every night at 10:45 p.m. I'm supposed to take pills that help me sleep. It isn't like Mom to foul up my medication schedule. I knock on my parents' bedroom door. When no one answers, I push the door open. My father is sleeping with the small bedroom television on. The blue glow makes his skin look alien – he sort of looks like a big fish in a lit aquarium, only without gills, scales, and fins. I walk over to my dad and shake his shoulder lightly. â€Å"Dad?† I shake him a little harder. â€Å"Dad?† â€Å"Whaddya want?† he says without opening his eyes. He is lying on his side, and the left side of his mouth is smashed into the pillow. â€Å"Mom's not home yet. I'm worried.† He doesn't say anything. â€Å"Where is she?† Still, he does not say anything. â€Å"I'm worried about Mom. Do you think we should call the police?† I wait for a reply, but only hear my father snoring softly. After turning off the television, I leave my parents' bedroom and go downstairs to the kitchen. I tell myself if Dad isn't worried, I shouldn't be either. But I know it isn't like Mom to leave me alone without telling me where she will be, especially without talking to me about my medications. I open the kitchen cabinet and take out the eight bottles of pills that all have my name printed on the labels. So many long, depressing drug names are on the labels as well, but I only know the pills by their colors, so I open all the lids and look for what I need. Two white-and-reds for sleeping, and also a green one with a yellow stripe, but I do not know what the green one with a yellow stripe does. Maybe antianxiety? I take all three pills because I want to sleep, and also, I know that is what Mom would want me to do. Maybe Mom is testing me. Since my father talked down to her earlier today, I really want to please Mom even more than on regular days, although I am not sure why. I lie in bed wondering where Mom could be. I want to call her cell phone, but I don't know the number. Maybe she had a car accident? Maybe she had a stroke or a heart attack? But then I think a police officer or a hospital doctor would have called us by now if any of those things had happened, because she would certainly have her credit cards and license on her. Maybe she got lost while driving? But then she would have used her cell phone to call home and would have told us she was running late. Maybe she got sick of Dad and me and ran away? I think about this and realize that excluding the times when she teases me about Tiffany being â€Å"my friend,† I haven't seen my mother laugh or smile in a very long time – in fact, if I really think about it, I often see Mom crying or looking like she is about to cry. Maybe she got sick of keeping track of my pills? Maybe I forgot to flush one morning and Mom found some of my pills in the toilet and is now mad at me for hiding pi lls under my tongue? Maybe I have failed to appreciate Mom just like I failed to appreciate Nikki, and now God is taking Mom away from me too? Maybe Mom is never coming home again and – Just as I start to feel seriously anxious, as if I might need to bang the heel of my hand against my forehead, I hear a car pull into the driveway. When I look out the window, I see Mom's red sedan. I run down the stairs. I'm out the door before she even reaches the back porch. â€Å"Mom?† I say. â€Å"Is-jus-me,† she says through the shadows in the driveway. â€Å"Where were you?† â€Å"Out.† When she enters into the white circle cast from the outside light, she looks like she might fall backward, so I run down the steps and give her a hand, bracing her shoulders with my arm. Her head is sort of wobbly, but she manages to look me in the eyes; she squints and says, â€Å"Nikki-sa-fool t'ave let you getta-way.† Her mentioning Nikki makes me feel even more anxious, especially what she said about my getting away, because I have not gotten away and would be more than willing to go back to Nikki now or whenever, and it was me who was the fool, never appreciating Nikki for what she was – all of which Mother knows so well. But I can smell the alcohol on her breath; I hear her slurring her words, and I realize it's probably just the alcohol talking nonsense. Mom does not usually drink, but tonight she is obviously drunk, and this also makes me worry. I help her into the house and sit her down on the couch in the family room. Within minutes she's passed out cold. It would be a bad idea to put my drunk mother in bed with my sulking father, so I put an arm under her shoulders and another arm under her knees, lift her up, and carry her to my bedroom. Mom is small and light, so it is not hard for me to carry her up the stairs. I get her into my bed, take off her shoes, throw the comforter over her body, and then go to get a glass of water from the kitchen. Back upstairs, I find a bottle of Tylenol and tap out two white pills. I pick my mother's head up, get her into a seated position, shake her lightly until she opens her eyes, and tell her to take the pills along with the glass of water. At first she says, â€Å"Jus lemme sleep,† but I know from college days just how much this pre-bed water and headache medicine can reduce the morning hangover. Finally my mother takes the pills, drinks half a glass of water, and is back asleep in no time at all. I watch her rest for a few minutes, and I think she still looks pretty, that I really do love my mom. I wonder where she went to drink – with whom she drank and what she drank – but really I am only happy that she is home safe. I try not to think about her downing drinks at some depressing bar, with middle-aged men all around. I try not to think about Mom bad-mouthing my father to one of her girlfriends and then driving home drunk. But it's all I can think about: how my mother is being driven to drink – how I'm driving my mother to drink, and my father isn't helping much either. After grabbing my framed picture of Nikki, I climb the stairs to the attic, set Nikki up next to my pillow, and get into my sleeping bag. I leave the lights on so I can fall asleep looking at Nikki's freckled nose, which is exactly what I do. When I open my eyes, Kenny G is standing over me, his legs bridging my body, a foot on either side of my chest; the sexy synthesizer chords are softly lighting the darkness. The last time Mr. G visited my parents' attic flashes through my head – my father kicking and punching me, my father threatening to send me back to the bad place – so I close my eyes, hum a single note, and silently count to ten, blanking my mind. But Kenny G is undaunted. The soprano sax enters Mr. G's lips once more and â€Å"Songbird† takes flight. I keep my eyes closed, hum a single note, and silently count to ten, blanking my mind, but he continues to blow his horn. The little white scar above my right eyebrow starts to burn and itch as the melody flutters toward climax. Desperately, I want to pound the heel of my hand against my forehead, but instead I keep my eyes closed, hum a single note, and silently count to ten, blanking my mind. Just when Kenny G's smooth jazz seems unconquerable – Seven, eight, nine, ten. Suddenly silence. When I open my eyes, I see Nikki's still face, her freckled nose – I kiss the glass, feeling so relieved that Kenny G has stopped playing. I exit my sleeping bag, look all around the attic – moving a few dusty boxes and other items, searching behind hanging rows of out-of-season clothes – and Mr. G is gone. â€Å"I've defeated him,† I whisper. â€Å"He didn't make me punch my forehead, and – â€Å" I see a box marked â€Å"Pat† and begin to experience that bad feeling I sometimes get just before something unpleasant is about to happen. It feels as though I have to go to the bathroom very badly, even though I know I don't. The box is at the far end of the attic. It was hidden under a braided rug I moved when I was searching for Kenny G. I have to navigate my way back through the mess I made during my search, but soon I reach the box. I flip open the flaps at the top, and my Collingswood High School soccer jacket is on top. I take it out of the box and hold the dusty thing up. The jacket looks so small. I'd rip the yellow leather sleeves off if I tried it on now, I think, and then set the relic down on another nearby box. When I next look into the â€Å"Pat† box, I am shocked and scared into rearranging the attic so it looks exactly how it was before I began searching for Mr. G. When the attic is restored, I lie in my sleeping bag, feeling as if I am in a dream. Several times during the night I get up, move the braided rug, and look in the â€Å"Pat† box again, just to make sure I had not hallucinated before. Every time, the contents condemn Mom and make me feel betrayed.

Definition and Examples of the Interrobang

Definition and Examples of the Interrobang The interrobang (in-TER-eh-bang) is a  nonstandard mark of punctuation in the form of a question mark superimposed on an exclamation point (sometimes appearing as ?!), used to end a rhetorical question or a simultaneous question and exclamation. A blend  of the words  interrogation  and  bang, interrobang is an old printer’s term for the exclamation mark. Though editor Martin K. Speckter is generally credited with the marks invention in 1962 (its name was suggested by a reader of Speckters magazine,  Type Talks), a version of the interrobang had already been used for decades in the speech balloons of comic strips. Mac McGrew has characterized the interrobang as the first new punctuation mark to have been introduced in three hundred years and the only one invented by an American (American Metal Typefaces of the Twentieth Century, 1993). However, the mark is rarely used, and it hardly ever appears in formal writing. Examples and Observations James Harbeck Whats up with English punctuations?! Usually we have a glut, but for certain situations, we dont have a mark?! Say what?! –Where Is the Interrobang?!  Songs of Love and Grammar. Lulu, 2012 Martin K. Speckter To this day, we don’t know exactly what Columbus had in mind when he shouted ‘Land, ho.’ Most historians insist that he cried, ‘Land, ho!’ but there are others who claim it was really ‘Land ho?’ Chances are the intrepid Discoverer was both excited and doubtful, but neither at that time did we, nor even yet, do we, have a point which clearly combines and melds interrogation with exclamation. –Making a New Point, or How About That . . .. Type Talks, March-April, 1962 New York Times From 1956 to 1969, Mr. Speckter was president of Martin K. Speckter Associates Inc... In 1962, Mr. Speckter developed the interrobang, since recognized by several dictionaries and some type and typewriter companies. The mark is said to be the typographical equivalent of a grimace or a shrug of the shoulders. It applied solely to the rhetorical, Mr. Speckter said, when a writer wished to convey incredulity. For example, the interrobang would be used in an expression like this: You call that a hat?! – Martin Spekter obituary: Martin K. Speckter, 73, Creator of Interrobang. The New York Times, February 16, 1988 Keith Houston [F]everish interest in Martin Speckters invention followed the release of Remingtons interrobang key [on typewriters in the 1960s]... Unfortunately, the interrobangs status as a cause cà ©là ¨bre during the late 1960s and early 1970s proved ephemeral, and its popularity reached a plateau even as Remington Rands interrobang key let the average typist make use of it. A creation of the advertising world- and considered by some an unnecessary one at that- the interrobang faced resistance in literary and academic spheres and was beset by more prosaic technical difficulties at almost every turn... [A] combination of factorsthe six-year delay in getting the new character from composition to printing; the sheer inertia of punctuation practice; doubt as to the grammatical need for a new symbol- sent the interrobang to an early grave. By the early 1970s it had largely fallen out of use, and the chance for its widespread acceptance seemed to have been missed. Shady Characters: The Secret Life of Punctuation, Symbols, and Other Typographical Marks. Norton, 2013 Liz Stinson In  many ways one could say that the interrobang has now been superseded by the emoticon, which makes similar use of glyph combinations in order to add emphasis and feeling to the sentence that precedes it. –The Secret History of the Hashtag, Slash, and Interrobang. Wired, October 21, 2015 William Zinnser According to its sponsors, the [interrobang] is getting support from typographers who recommend it for its ability to express the incredibility of modern life. Well, I certainly agree that modern life is incredible. Most of us, in fact, now go through our days in a state of Really?!- if not Are you kidding?! Still, I seriously doubt if we are going to solve the problem by creating new punctuation marks. That only clutters up a language more... Besides, let in one mans interrobang and you let in every nut who is trying to express the incredibility of modern life. –For Clear Expression: Try Words. Life, November 15, 1968

Greatest Inventions essays

Greatest Inventions essays When asked what is the most important invention, many questions come to mind, and these inquiries must be answered before responding to the initial question. What is meant by the word invention? Essentially, anything that did not exist previously, whether it is a mechanical device or art, literature, or music, is an "invention". Is the most important invention a tool, a mechanical gadget, a concept or an idea that impacted or improved humanity as a whole (in terms of evolution, a new way of thinking, and connectedness)? What makes the invention or innovation important to humankind? What is the definition of most important? Not everyone has the same definitions and answers to the common questions involved in the discussion of humanitys connectedness and awareness of the world around them. The final answer immensely depends on the definition of important and the impact the invention had on humankind. There is not a single invention that is more important than the others, because they all contribute to the significant effects of change and evolution in civilization. If I had to narrow down my choices of the most important invention, after considering the massive array of discoveries and innovations that have surfaced over the far and recent centuries, I would choose the scientific method and the invention of the telescope and the microscope. They are both inventions that have not only transformed the way people live but the way they experience life. The scientific method is an important invention because it requires that we ask questions of nature with experimentation. It is an invention because humans actively and consciously thought it up. The greatest thing is, that one idea turned into many more ideas and concepts. The Ancient Greeks were impelled to understand the world around them and they believed that they could understand the world rationally because they supported the notion of co...

SLP 1 - Strategic Review Simulation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

SLP 1 - Strategic Review Simulation - Essay Example In order to understand the outcome of the strategies adopted by Schmoe during his tenure it is important to gain insight into how strategies can help companies flourish and how each element of strategy making can affect the possible outcomes of the business (Henry, 2008). Clipboard Tablet Co is observed to be the presently manufacturing computer tablets manufacturing and advertising different tablet models namely X5, X6 and X7 as their recent brands in the market. It has been observed that tablet X5 is proponed by the customer’s who are price conscious. The second model X6 is proponed by the customers who are quality conscious. However the third model X7 is proponed by those customers who give accent to price as well as quality of the product for purchasing. The availability of the three different models by the company is as follows: X5 for seven years ending 2015, X6 for last six years, and X7 for five years till the completion of 2015. Beforehand the company decided the fina ncial value of these brands as: X5 for $265, X6 for $420 and X7 for $195 respectively. However, it was observed that the brands X5 and X6 were profitable in the duration between 2010 and 2015 with an increase in the market value. On the other side the brand X7 was unprofitable and attain loss till 2013 afore achieving the profit in 2014 and 2015. Financial review The marketing of X5 in was equivalent to 968,979 in 2011 and 1,647,592 in 2012 that had an increment up to 70%. The interest that was accomplished from the marketing also had an increment from 276,159,075 in 2011 to 469,563,809 in 2012 which up to 70%. It clearly indicates the good performance of brand with an elevation in the financial value as well as in the interest. An increase in the profit of this brand is observed again up to 30% during 2013 on account of the first time customers who availed 86% of total sale volume. Though after 2013 the marketing of X5 started to abate with an abated interest while in 2014 a revers e growth is observed up to 14% and up to 48% in 2015. The marketing value from the first time customers when compared between 2015 and 2012 reveals that it had increased up to 66% in 2012 while abated up to 72% in 2015. However the repeat purchase elevates only up to 26% in 2015 in comparison with a high increase of 96% in 2012. Financially, the prices for manufacturing of X5 elevated by 42% and 23% in 2012 and 2013 respectively but it had abated by 19% and 37% in 2014 and 2015 respectively. The price of research and development had an incision of 33% in 2012 and remains constant for many years due to which the first time customers lost their interest. In 2011, the worth of X5 was found to be 16% which increased up to 30% in 2012 and 34% in 2013 which reveals the good performance of the company with high marketing. Conclusively, the overall the interest is found to descend in 2014 with 32% while in 2015 it remains only 17%. The brand of X6 began laboriously in 2011 with an acquisiti on of increment in marketing up to 129% in 2012 comparatively in 2011. The growth in first time custom

International Etiquette Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

International Etiquette Paper - Essay Example In-spite of having a well known government, the country was considered powerless during the period of 1912-1949. However, the dominance of the country in the Second World War against the Japanese smoothens the way for China to become a powerful nation. After that period, Mao Zedong, Chairman of the communist party formed PRC. Hence, with the changing time frame, the country established itself as amid the super powers of the globe (The Ohio State University, â€Å"Part 2: Themes in Chinese History†). Business in China is quite different from other nations of the globe. People in this part of the world focus more on conducting business by building effectual relationship. The people of the country provide maximum value to punctuality. Both English and Chinese languages are widely used in this nation while conducting business (The Canadian Trade Commission Service, â€Å"Business Etiquette in China†). In China, business and works are not conducted on national holidays of the nation. The regular business hours in the country ranges from 7-8 hours each day from Monday to Friday and Saturdays along with Sundays considered as off days. The standard operational hours of business comprise 08 hours to 1800 hours each day with lunch period ranging in between 1200 hours to 1400 hours (Travel China Guide, â€Å"Business Hours in China†). In order to analyze this particular section, it can be affirmed that it is quite important that people end or disconnect their phone calls politely while being in a business meeting or having an important conversation regarding business. However, maintaining contacts through emails, phones and fax is highly appreciated by business group of people in China (Travel China Guide, â€Å"Business Hours in China†). As mentioned above, business people in China values maximum punctuality especially when participating or attending in any sort of meeting. Being on time for having business related conversations or