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Content analysis Dissertation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Content examination - Dissertation Example The orderly component implies the correct systems ought to be followed in choosing an information test that gives an equivalent chance to every thing of the more extensive substance to be remembered for the examination. All the while, every thing viable ought to be dealt with the equivalent. In the mean time, the target portrayal implies that future analysts ought to have the option to use the results of the examination effectively in their investigation. At long last, the quantitative necessity implies the scientist should take incredible consideration in his/her answering to encourage further utilization of his/her investigation, translation and discoveries (Wimmer and Dominick, 1983). Content investigation is related with the center substance that, as clarified by Patterson (1984), alludes to what is composed or stated, yet not to what is expressed between the lines. In this way, the applied structure for the substance investigation should join the accompanying components: 1. Info rmation as given to the analyst 2. Information setting 3. The information on the specialist builds his/her recognition , 4. The goal of the substance examination 5. Translation of the information as the prime scholarly undertaking 6. Legitimacy considered as the critical assessment factor (Krippendorff, 1980). Holding this viable, the structure of this examination will serve diagnostic, methodological and point of view purposes. So as to secure the point of view to help conceptualisation, it critical to introduce the system of the down to earth content investigation for the two chose driving Saudi papers, Alriyadh and Alyoum, during the occasions that happened in Bahrain between February 14 and March 16, 2011. The system of this investigation is expository in that it helps the basic assessment of the discoveries of the substance examination as procured through the researcher’s understanding. Moreover, the structure of this examination is likewise methodological, as it control s the turn of events and the orderly improvement of the substance investigation technique utilized in this examination and talked about later. Thought of the definitions, the necessities of the substance examination and the system introduced above gave a successful technique for assessing the substance of Alriyadh and Alyoum, and gave unwavering quality and legitimacy to this investigation. The proof, as per the structure, for the utilization of the translation of the substance investigation is furnished with the assistance of information testing, classifications of the exploration and their estimation. This is talked about later in this section. For deciphering the inductions and undertakings of the Krippendorff model precisely, it is critical to consider the setting of the information accessible. Thusly, the goal here is the thing that the analyst needs to research (Krippendorff, 1980). For example, in this investigation, a questionable goal may be the political treatment of the i ssue in Bahrain by the Saudi Arabian government, or all the more explicitly, the connection between the Saudi Arabian government and the Bahrain and Saudi pressâ€particularly Alriyadh and Alyoumâ€at the hour of the Bahrain fights. 1.2. Information Sampling The information test for the substance examination of the printed press in Saudi Arabia has been removed from the two driving every day papers, Alriyadh and Alyoum. These have been chosen in view of their enormous flow and topographical scattering. Alriyadh is dispersed in the capital city of Riyadh, which is additionally the political center point of the

Essay About South African Samples - How to Write an Essay About South African Samples

Essay About South African Samples - How to Write an Essay About South African SamplesYou may be asked to write an essay about South African samples. The obvious question is, how will you do it? Read on to find out.Writing is a skill that is best learned through practice. Some people do not practice. In fact, some students believe that writing is something that they do not do all that often. However, we do not want to let our lack of practice to prevent us from learning how to do something. Let us learn how to write about South African samples.There are lots of samples for you to look at. Search the internet and make a list of samples. Try them out on paper. When you get it right, come back to your list and add a few more samples. Then take it back to your list and try to see if any of the samples work. Keep doing this until you have completed a whole bunch of sample essays.Before you even begin writing an essay about South African samples, you should determine which examples you want to use. This is important because the choice of the sample is important. In other words, your choice of sample should be based on the theme of your essay. Remember, your essay is supposed to have a purpose. So you will want to select a sample that helps to support your argument in some way. For example, if you are arguing that Samoset beans are better than of the other varieties, choose the Samoset bean as your choice of sample.Finally, let us examine the method by which you will be able to edit and proofread your essay. You should go back to your list of samples and run them by someone else. You should then ask to have them checked by another person. It is necessary that you keep in mind the fact that once you have a copy of your essay proofed and edited, you will be able to check your work over to see if there are any mistakes. It will save you the time of having to go back and re-check your work and to not to mention the time it takes to read over and proofread your work.This br ings up an important point that you must remember when you are creating your essay about South African samples. You need to get the spelling right. If you are writing about Samoset beans, then you need to use the terms used in the samples to spell the word correctly.Style is also important. This is especially true when you are working with samples because you cannot go wrong with the style of the samples. For example, a certain choice of font will help you convey your message to the reader. You need to keep in mind the point about having your essay edited before you submit it for publication.Hopefully, you will now be able to produce an essay about South African samples that will convince the reader. Just remember to keep practicing so that you can write well, correct your spelling and style, and finally edit and proofread your work before submitting it for publication.

An analytical study of the approaches to operations management - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 8 Words: 2448 Downloads: 7 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Management Essay Type Narrative essay Did you like this example? This report is aimed at comparing and contrasting the approaches to operations management in at different types of organisations. Operations management is a core contributor to a firms success and developing competency is widely recognized as a key factor in determining the strategic and competitive advantage of the firm. The author has chosen two broad categories of organizations i.e. product based and service based to analyse the practises and mutual differences between the approaches. The report begins by identification of different types of operations/transformation process in the chosen organizations and analysis of their suitability and adequacy. This is followed by a critical analysis of principles and concepts in terms of capacity planning, inventory management, supply chain design, performance measures and total quality management. The report concludes with an evaluation of the combination of these factors and its impact on competitiveness, innovation and sustainability of the different types of organizations being studied in this academic exercise. Operations Management an overview Operations management is an important area in managing a firm. It can be defined as the area of management related to design and operation of business processes in production of goods or services. In a nutshell, it is the transformation of resources into product and/or services as depicted in figure 1. The competitive advantage of a firm is directly impacted by the efficiency of utilization of available resources satisfying customer demand. (Slack et al 1995, Voss, 1995) Figure 1: Operations Management ( from sussex.ac.uk) Operations management serves the function of managing the process of converting inputs in terms of materials, labor, and energy into outputs in the form of goods and/or services. It is critical to ensure that the strategic direction of the firm is maintained by executing the tactical decisions of resource utilization to en sure that competitive advantage is maintained (Schmenner et al, 1998). A suitable example of efficient operations management is Apple Inc. Apple is a multinational corporation that designs and markets computers and related products and services. The firm manages its operations in a way that it ensures that the demand is met by the supply but at the same time it doesnt need to stock large quantities of products in warehouses (figure 2) i.e. Apple has a fast inventory turn over rate. (Gamet, 2009) Figure 2: Warehouse solution for a fast inventory turn over organization Operations Management encompasses a number of theoretical concepts, suitability and application of which varies within and across the organizations (Figure 3). Key factors include but are not limited to capacity planning, inventory management, supply chain design, performance measures and total quality management. In goods based organizations the concepts of inventory, supply chain, quality and capacity planning a re highly critical. Where as, in service based organizations factors relating to human resources, performance and quality management are given prime importance. (Bayraktar et al, 2007) Figure 3: Factors in Operations management The concept of operational strategies encompasses the plans for ordering raw material, converting them to finished product, storing and selling to the customer. Its implementation is often mismanaged in the fast changing environment in the highly globalized markets at present. The management problems in the area of operations management comprise of quantitative, social, technical issues and their complex mixtures (Liet al, 2000) Quantitative problems may include factors relating to planning, critical path analysis, supply chain management etc. Technical issues may consist of factors relating to automation, optimization, scheduling etc. Social factors may include human resource management, outsourcing etc. It is worth noting that these issues are not iso lated and independent of each other but they affect the effectiveness of the overall operations management in the business. Therefore it is essential to manage these problem areas to ensure that the overall operations management is not impacted adversely by these factors. To stay competitive a business needs to evolve so as to ensure that alternative course of actions can be adopted as per the available resources while effectively managing change (Volberda, 1999). The Human resources i.e. people in an organization are extremely important in operations, process and performance management process. The success of an organization is directly proportional to the success and satisfaction of its employees. Therefore from an operational point of view it is important for the business to employ and retain the right people for growth, profitability and sustainable business (Pfeffer, 1998). Analysis of operations process in different types of Organizations To understand how operations differ in different types of organization the case of an Aircraft manufacturer versus an airline operator is considered. The basis of this analysis is competitive priority and marketing strategy. The different types of operations process in these organizations will be identified and their adequacy to meet the customers needs assessed to understand the key factors of operations management. The very first and the most basic difference in the organizations chosen in this case study is that the aircraft manufacturer deals in the production of aircrafts and allied services for its customers while the airline operator deals solely in the provision of logistic services. For the purpose of simplicity and ease of understanding, the author has considered only the production of aircraft and provision of logistics to mark a clear distinction between goods based and services based organizations. To maintain competitive advantage both types of companies need to ensure that their operations are managed efficiently for keeping the costs under control and thereby offering the goods and services to their customers at competitive rate while ensuring maximum profitability (Frohlich et al, 2002). The aircraft manufacturer invests heavily in research and design as it needs to do it right the very first time. Due to the scale of operation, the various functions are distributed globally, thus efficient inventory, capacity and supply chain management are essential. Total quality management and performance are also needed to maintain the competitive and marketing advantage (Chow, 2002). The airline operator on the other hand relies on the aircraft supplied by the manufacturer to provide service to its customers. The operator doesnt need to maintain an inventory of planes but it has to ensure that it utilizes its capacity to maximum possible for providing competitive fares to its customers. The performance metrics for the airline are different as it has to ensure timely flight ope ration which again is essential from the marketing strategy point of view (Rae, 2001). The adequacy and suitability of the key theoretical principles and concepts in operations management are discussed in the next section of this case study. Evaluation of Operation Management concepts in different Organizations As discussed in the previous sections of this report, Operation Management is a key function in organizations whether they are product based or service based. In this section we look at the operations management practices in these industries. Product Based Industries We take a look at the operations management practices in a manufacturing company. These practices include utilization of techniques such as Kaizen, Just in Time, Kanban etc for managing operations. Inventory management and capacity planning are of prime importance to ensure that the raw materials and finished goods are maintained at optimum levels. Thus, various functions within the organization in teract with the Operation Management function (Slack et al, 2007). The engineering or technical function interacts in the space of understanding process needs and analyzing the new options available. The Product development function deals with understanding of capabilities and constraints as well as managing and introducing products. The marketing function deals with understanding of market requirements. The information technology function deals with provision of systems for design, planning, control and improvement. The Human resource function interacts in understanding the recruitment, development and training needs as well as employee welfare. The Accounting and finance division deals with cashflow and financial analysis of performance and decisions. Thus it can be noted that operations management sits in the centre of the various functions and thus is essential for the sustainability and growth of the organization (as shown in figure 4). Figure 4: Positioning of Operations Ma nagement in an organizations business functions. Service Based Industries Efficient Operations Management is equally important in service industry. As the inputs in service industry are intangible human resources and intellect the operations management challenges are different. Techniques such as Agile development, collaborative and distributed working are key factors in maintaining the competitive advantage and sustainability. (Johnston, 1999) Like manufacturing, various functions within the organization interact with the Operation Management function. The interactions and interfaces are similar but the relative functions vary due to the nature of industry. The technical function operates in the space of understanding process needs, maintaining intellectual property and analyzing the new options. The Service development function deals with understanding of human resources capabilities and constraints as well as managing and introducing products. The information technology fun ction is of great importance as it forms the backbone of the modern service industry. The relative roles of marketing, human resource and finance function remain the same. Integrated Products and Services This is a new and emerging industry segment, which has been pioneered by industry veterans like Rolls Royce. A fundamental shift is occurring at the firm which is moving away from selling products to the provision of services. Instead of selling engines and then providing maintenance contracts, the company is now offering power by the hour contracts. Under this new system, it leases engines to airlines while remaining responsible for their maintenance. In this sector, lower costs are achievable only by applying service experience of the existing products in the design of next generation of products. (Anon, cam.ac.uk, 2011) Impact on competitiveness, innovation and sustainability Effective operations management practises are vital for maintaining competitive advantage, i nnovating in the market and sustainability of the organization. History is filled with examples of firms that employed novel operations management practises and succeeded in creating a niche of their own in the market space. A prominent example is the Ford Assembly Line. The assembly line was not the brainchild of Henry Ford but he simply adopted and implemented it in a way that mass production of cars became possible. By implementing the Moving Assembly Line, Ford was able to bring production costs to an all time low and at the same time fuel the competition so much that many low volume competitors had to close shop (Womack et al, 1990). A more modern example is of Toyota which has revolutionized the manufacturing industry by pioneering and/or implementing systems like Lean, Six-Sigma, Kaizen, Just in Time to name a few. These systems were conceived primarily due to numerous constraints presented to Toyota in its home country, Japan, where land and resources were scarce and expe nsive (Smith, 2003). Employing these operations management practises has enabled Toyota to become the number one automobile manufacturer in the world, conquering Asian, African, European and American Markets alike. In the Services domain, operations management is playing an equally important role. Due to the differences in the basic nature of end product, the principles and their implementation differs in the domain of operations management. The input in service industry is intellect rather than raw materials. Therefore concepts like inventory management which is a key component in manufacturing operations management does not apply to services. Methodologies like agile development, distributed and collaborative working are of greater importance in service industry (Coram, 2005). International Business Machines (IBM), which is one the worlds oldest services based firms is a pioneer in employing market leading operations management practises in this industry. It makes uses of in novative tools to manage visibility, control and automation needed to deliver quality service, managing compliance and risk, and maximizing return on investments. It also provides software and implementation to firms operating in manufacturing as well as in services space (Johnston, 1999). Conclusion Operations Management is a key business process in any organization, whether it deals in products or in services. The principles or concepts of operations management and their implementation differ in these industries. Manufacturing industries rely on inventory management, capacity planning and production optimization techniques to innovate, maintain competitive advantage and safeguard sustainability. Service industry relies more on efficient utilization of its human resources and technology backbone for its operations management practices. In recent times it has been seen that a clear distinction between products and service industry is blurring and most businesses now offer a co mbination of products and services to their customers. This trend is even evident in more traditional manufacturing industries such as Rolls Royce which is moving away from selling products to offering power by hour contracts in the form of leases. Thus integrated products and services is clearly emerging as a unified entity. Operations management will prove to be an integral business process and a key differentiator between leaders and followers in these changing times. References Slack et al (1995) Operations Management, Pitman Publishing: London. Voss, C.A. (1995) Operations management from Taylor to Toyota and Beyond?, British Journal of Management, Vol.6, Special Issue, S17-S29, December. Schmenner, R.W. and Swink, M.L., On theory in operations management, Journal of Operations Management, Volume 17, Issue 1, December 1998, Pages 97-113, ISSN 0272-6963 Gamet, J., Apple Beats Competitors at Inventory Turn Over, macobserver.com, Mar 2009 Available from: htt ps://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/apple_beats_competitors_at_inventory_turn_over/ Accessed: 21st February, 2011 Bayraktar, E., Jothishankar, M.C., Tatoglu,E. Wu, T., Evolution of operations management: past, present and future, Management Research News, Vol. 30 Iss: 11, pp.843 871, 2007 Li, H. and Li, L. X. (2000), Integrating systems concepts into manufacturing information systems, Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Volume 17, Issue 2, pages 135-147, 2000 Volberda, H. W., Building the flexible firm: how to remain competitive, Oxford University Press, 1999 Pfeffer, J., The human equation: Building profits by putting people first, Harvard Business Press. 1998 Frohlich, M. T. and Westbrook,R., Demand chain management in manufacturing and services: web-based integration, drivers and performance, Journal of Operations Management, Volume 20, Issue 6, November 2002, Pages 729-745, ISSN 0272-6963, Chow, C. and Shields, M. The importance of national culture in the design of and preference for management controls for multi-national operations, mit.dspace.org, 2002 Rae, D. EasyJet: a case of entrepreneurial management?, Strategic Change, Volume 10, Issue 6, pages 325-336, September/October 2001 Slack, N., Chambers, S. and Johnson, R., Stratgeic Operations Management, 5th Edition: Harlow: FT, Prentice Hall, 2007 Johnston, R., Service operations management: return to roots, International Journal of Operations Production Management, Vol. 19 No. 2, pp. 104-124, 1999 Anon, Integrated Products and Services IPAS, University of Cambridge Available from: https://www-edc.eng.cam.ac.uk/research/knowledgemanagement/km1/ipas/ Accessed: 23rd February, 2011 Womack, J., Jones, D., Roos, D., The Machine That Changed The World, New York : Rawson Associates : Oxford : Maxwell Macmillan International, 1990. Smith, B., Lean and Six SigmaA One-Two Punch, American Society for Quality, 2003. Coram, M.; Bohner, S.; The impact of agile methods on software project management, 12th IEEE International Conference and Workshops on Engineering of Computer-Based Systems, 2005. 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Environmental Degradation And Its Effects On Our Environment

We, as humans, have always had a prevalent impact on our environment and our world as a whole. Not only has our societal presence caused negative global impact, but our expedited population growth has also had an extreme physical impact on earth. An example of the effects of our extensiveness is, â€Å"†¦86% of the world s resources are consumed by only the wealthiest one fifth of humanity†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (globalissues.org). this means that 4/5ths of the planet already has limited access to resources that are naturally found on earth. In addition to our excessive consumption of the earth natural resources, environmental degradation is the result of extreme pollution and wastes that have made their way into our atmosphere. Because of our severe impact on nature, it is crucial that we stop the accelerated deterioration of our environment by decreasing our misuse of earth’s natural resources, reducing the use of unnecessary technology in our environment and practicing more ec ologically responsible lifestyles. This â€Å"can help protect the environment and sustain its natural resources for current and future generations† (thrall.org). The earth’s immense population is one of the biggest factors for environmental degradation. In the reading ‘Easter’s End’ by Jared Diamond, he discussed the extinction of the Polynesian people of Easter Island. One of the biggest reasons why they went extinct was because they wiped out their only forest, ran out of life-sustaining soil and turned to cannibalism. ThisShow MoreRelatedPoverty And Poverty1302 Words   |  6 Pagesthat poverty and environmental degradation are connected. 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Approaches to Multicultural Counseling free essay sample

A discussion of the Family Systems theory and its use in multicultural counseling approaches. This paper examines the multicultural counseling approaches used in the application of the family systems theory. Family Systems theory is defined, and three counseling approaches that utilize the theory in a multicultural context are reviewed. They include family therapy, family literacy and cross cultural marriage workshops. Family systems theory asserts that people can change behaviors if they are aware of the impact current and historical family behavior has on the definition of his or her choices. In the context of the family systems theory the word Family may be composed of the immediate family that the person presides with, the extended family of relatives and friends, and the community in general. (Bowens Family Systems Theory 2002, 1) The family systems theory was pioneered by Dr. Murray Bowen, and has many characteristics. First and foremost the theory is a way of understanding present situations in terms of past relationships. We will write a custom essay sample on Approaches to Multicultural Counseling or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The theory seeks to understand the entire family as an emotional unit composed of linked relationships that have existed over different generations. Family system theory claims that an individuals behavior is directly correlated to how that individuals family functions. (Bowens Family Systems Theory, 3)

Zara SWOT Analysis

Literature Review Zara is one of the companies that operate under the Inditex Group. The company began its operations in the year 1974. As of today, Zara has managed to open approximately 1900 stores in more than 70 countries across the world. The company is headquartered in La Coruna, Galicia in Spain.Advertising We will write a custom article sample on Zara SWOT Analysis specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More For the ease of operation of its international subsidiaries, the company has established operational headquarters in each region in which it has set up its stores. The largest operational area of the company is retailing of fashion goods for women, men and even children. However, the company specializes in the retailing of women fashion products (Kurtz Boone, 2011). The company has ventured in the fast fashion segment in the larger fashion industry and is considered to be one of the pioneer companies in the fast fashion industry . The regions where the company has successfully established retail stores include the larger Europe, Oceania, South and North America, and Asia. These regions represent areas that represent the largest fashion markets in the world (The Soundings Group, 2011). Industry Analysis Zara operates in the fashion industry, specifically the fast fashion segment of the global fashion retailing industry. The fashion industry lies within the larger lifestyle and retail industry. The number of firms in the industry is quite large and they are differentiated by virtue of subcategories. The subcategories include ‘men/women/children’s’ clothing and footwear and fashion, among other sub-categories. The growth in the scale of the industry comes as a result of the efforts by firms in the industry to develop newer categories of products, which eventually extend to newer market segments.Advertising Looking for article on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get yo ur first paper with 15% OFF Learn More It is important to note that the fashion industry has a lot of players, who are motivated by the opportunities that prevail in the industry. The opportunities in the industry are promoted by the fact that there is globalization of culture, where fashion is a critical part of the culture. Fashion keeps changing within short cycles of time and so are the firms that are operating in the industry required to match up with the pace of change in the industry in order not to lose in the competition. Factors that promote the fashion industry and especially the fast fashion sector in which Zara operates in include the emphasis on the importance of fashion in the contemporary globe, the globalization of cultures, the growth of the population across the globe and the attachment of a lot of value on brands and fashion by the modern consumers (Tiplady, 2006). The fashion industry is a volatile industry. Its volatility is steered by the fact that mo st of materials that are used for the production of goods in the industry are drawn from the developing economies. Therefore, instabilities that often occur in the developing world easily result in the shooting up of the price of raw materials. Such a case in the textile industry was witnessed in the year 2004. This case denotes that the company is often vulnerable to the socio-political and economic dynamics that occur in different parts of the world. Zara has shown positive progress in terms of limiting the competitive pressures that come from its direct competitors by matching any event going out of hand to outwit the strategies that are used by its competitors in the market.Advertising We will write a custom article sample on Zara SWOT Analysis specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The internationalization strategy has proved to be worth in the expansion of the operations and the scale of business by the company, thereby increasin g the level of competitiveness of the company in the market. Price regulation and cycles of efficient delivery of products form part of the competitive strengths of Zara (The New York Times, 2012). SWOT Analysis This is an evaluation of the environment in which a firm operates. The â€Å"internal† environment is assessed by evaluating the weaknesses and the strengths of the business, while the â€Å"external† environment is assessed by evaluating the threats and opportunities available to the business. This assessment helps the firm identify its current position and shape its future. SWOT represents â€Å"strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats† (Simoneaux Stroud, 2011, p. 76) that face a business. In this regard, a SWOT analysis is a tool that helps in reviewing a business plan to ensure that it remains alive. Through the results of a SWOT analysis, a firm is placed in a position to create goals in line with the business plan. Necessary strategies an d objectives are also formulated to guide the business in its current and future positions. Since change is ever happening in all industries, the SWOT analysis comes in handy in managing change, as well as forming the basis upon which realistic goals are set (Simoneaux Stroud, 2011). SWOT Analysis for ZARA Strengths The vertically integrated structure of the company as is embraced by the Inditex Group enables the company to be proactive in terms of the expansion of operations. Zara utilizes a low cost supply chain in managing its retail operations across the regions in which it operates (Choi, 2012).Advertising Looking for article on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Operating under the Inditex Group remains to be a competitive factor for Zara since the utilization of the Inditex brand helps Zara to gain a competitive base in the new market in which the company stages it operations. This is argued to be one of the reasons why the company has managed to expand its operations in the four main regions of the world in which it operates today. By using the name of Inditex as its core brand in the international market, Zara has managed to build a resounding image in the markets in which it operates. The brand of Zara is, therefore, stronger and widely known in the market, which makes the company more competitive in the fast fashion industry (Bjerreskov et al., 2010). The other factor of strength in the company is that it remains proactive in terms of the development of strategy in the industry and the market in which it operates. With the retail fashion industry being a large industry, Zara chose to venture into one of the main sub-sectors in the indu stry; the fast fashion segment. It is, therefore, considered to be a pioneer in the fast fashion segment, a factor that makes most customers prefer the company over other companies that have ventured into the segment later. Coupled with sound human resource policies, the company is often in the forefront in terms of innovation in fashion. Innovation in Zara is boosted by the fact that the company has managed to fully adopt and use information technology in its management and design activities (Tiplady, 2006). The internationalization of the operations of Zara, which came as part of the expansion strategy of the company, gives the company an advantage over other companies in the industry. Unlike its competitors, Zara has managed to establish a global supply chain network that ensures that its stores are fed with the products on a timely manner, thereby appeasing customers always (Bjerreskov et al., 2010). It can be seen in terms of spreading the risk of the company, especially with t imes of economic uncertainties that have become common in the contemporary economic environment. The company has operations in four continents of the world, with retail stores established in more than 70 countries across the world with approximately 2000 active stores. The scale of business has, therefore, broadened by the virtue of the ability of the company to traverse the world and establish its operations across the world. The level of creativity in the company is quite advanced and is used as basis on which the company differentiates and segments its operations in the market to maintain market dominance. Although the company focuses on one product line, women fashion, it also designs and produces a ray of men and children fashion. The two other segments act as backup to the market segment in which Zara has fully ventured in. Each segment is highly differentiated in terms of operation, making the products and services in every segment to be distinct and unique in the market (Pah l Mohring, 2008). Weakness The marketing strategy of the company has often been on the limelight. Zara makes use of a marketing strategy that has no advertisements. This is risky in times when aggressive marketing is embraced across the fashion industry. Failure to embrace aggressive marketing can slowly result in the loss of competitiveness by Zara in the market (Pahl Mohring, 2008). It is quite difficult to attain and sustain customer loyalty in the segment of operation in which Zara has fully ventured into. This comes from the fact that the needs and demands of customers who feature in the market keep changing. Consumers in the industry can, therefore, easily turn their attention to seemingly newer and cheaper fashions in the market (Pahl Mohring, 2008). Opportunities Globalization is a key factor in as long as the operations of the fashion industry are concerned. Globalization of culture is one of the attributes that highly promotes the demand for fashion in the world. Global ization of culture is enhanced by growth in the culture of consumerism across the globe. Zara is, therefore, presented with a lot of marketing opportunities in as far as the zeal for people to test other cultures through fashion remains to be experienced in the world. Opening of trade in the world promotes the landscape on which firms can easily advance and expand their operations in newer and developing markets across the globe. Zara can, thus, easily expand its operations in the markets that are emerging (Pahl Mohring, 2008). The fashion industry is broad and the diversity in the needs of fashion makes the broader industry. Zara can, therefore, venture into other segments in which other companies have not fully ventured into. The level of creativity in the company is also desirable and can help the company in the development of new fashion and new market segments (Bjerreskov et al., 2010). The modern economic environment has been invigorated by the presence of information and com munication technology. The availability and adoption of information and communication technology in the company is bound to help in the promotion of marketing activities through adoption of e-marketing initiatives. E-marketing is one of the pillars of marketing in an industry that is as dynamic as the fast fashion industry (Choi, 2012). Threats Trends in the global fashion industry denote the quick pace at which the consumers of fashion keep changing their demands. This implies that fashions or goods and services in the fashion industry can fade at a quicker pace, thereby rendering the stocks of a company unsellable to the customers. This forces the company to keep changing its tactics in the market and keep investing in the design and development of newer fashions, which is an expensive affair for the company. It raises the cost of operation for the company (Pahl Mohring, 2008). Fashion is considered as an industry that deals mostly in secondary goods. On the other hand, economic uncertainties have been on the rise in the contemporary economy, which negatively affects the global markets. Examples are the recent global financial crisis and the global recession that hit hard on the global markets. Such uncertainties and the general rise in the rate of inflation in the global economy impact negatively on the sales trend in the fashion industry (Pahl Mohring, 2008). The other threat to the company is the increase in the number of firms that are venturing in the fast fashion industry across the world. This makes the competitive environment to be quite complex, bearing in mind that there are other key competitors in the industry that the company is battling with. Conclusion From the analysis in the paper, several deductions can be made concerning the scale of competitiveness in the global fashion industry and the competitive position of Zara. The global fashion is quite dynamic. The dynamism of the industry provides both opportunities and challenges to the compan ies that are operating in the industry. Zara has been quite active in terms of developing and implementing strategies that help it take advantage of the opportunities that prevail in the market. The company operates by basing more on strengthening its operations instead of matching the factors of competition that are posed by the competitor firms in the industry. References Bjerreskov, D. H., Bohlbro, D., Lars, K. J., Nielsen, B., Jack, M. (2010). Value-added logistics in supply chain management. Copenhagen: Academica. Choi, T.-M. (2012). Fashion supply chain management: Industry and business analysis. Hershey, PA: Business Science Reference. Kurtz, D. L., Boone, L. E. (2011). Contemporary business. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley. Pahl, N., Mohring, W. (2008). Successful business models in the fashion retail industry: Strategic audit of HM compared to ZARA. Norderstedt, Germany: GRIN Verlag. Simoneaux, S. L., Stroud, C. L. (2011). SWOT analysis: the annual check-up for a business. Journal o f Pension Benefits: Issues in Administration, 18(3), 75-78. The New York Times. (2012). How Zara grew into the world’s largest fashion retailer. The New York Times. Web. The Soundings Group. (2011). Zara: A global success story ( 2011). Web. Tiplady, R. (2006). Zara: Taking the lead in fast-fashion. Bloomberg BusinessWeek. Web. This article on Zara SWOT Analysis was written and submitted by user Kyra T. 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.