Free Essays on Foreign Policy And Violece

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. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "An analytical study of the approaches to operations management" essay for you Create order

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. These impoverished communities are not only contributors to the pollution, like we all are, but they are victims of pollution (Shah, 2005). Due to constant demand of the wealthy, many areas that are impoverished are used as an area devoted to supplying the needs of those at any cost or a dumping ground of unwanted goods. Many times these actions are taken from a social and economic stance rather than a humane and environmental stance. TodayRead MoreAnimal Endangerment And Extinction Of Habitat925 Words   |  4 PagesIII. Over Farming/Land Misuse IV. Environmental Pollution V. Deforestation I. Animal Endangerment/Extinction A. Destruction of Habitat B. Pollution C. Hunting and Fishing II. Abused/Abandoned Animals A. Confined, Major Culprit Climate Change B. Huge Amounts of Manure, Pollutes Soil C. Dead Animals, Pollutes the quality of life for individuals who live close. III. Over Farmed/Land Misuse A. Soil Erosion B. Land Degradation C. Genetic Erosion IV. Environmental Pollution A. Grave and IrreparableRead MoreA Common Fear Of Population Growth1425 Words   |  6 Pagesindustrial development has stalled and most workers still make a living from survival agriculture. The association between population and the environment is a complicated one, human cultures’ bearings on the environment are a function of three major interrelated essentials: wealth or utilization, technology, and population size. Societies environmental influences take two major forms. First and foremost, we use resources such as land, food, water, soils, and amenities from the ever-wholesome ecosystemRead MoreConsumption Overpopulation and Its Effects on the Environment1082 Words   |  5 Pagesother, and how many people would not have enough food to last the party. Which basically makes it so the guests are down to a certain number. Our planet is a close similarity to the already mentioned party. Just like how a large room can only offer a certain amount of resources. Despite this idea, the concepts of overpopulation, and resource degradation still are at large and are a risk. The concept of the word consumption overpopulation refers to the pollution and decline of the surrounding areaRead MoreThe Negative Impact Of Urbanization In Wildlife, Wildlife And Wildlife1162 Words   |  5 PagesRolando Mascareno Professor Gary Pivo GEOG 256 16 November 2017 Urbanization and Wildlife Biodiversity, the abbreviation of biological diversity, is the set of all beings of the planet, the environment in which they live and the relationship they have with other species. It is composed of living organisms, as well as all ecosystems, and all the relationships they establish with each other and how living organisms can change from one place to another over time. As the human population and technologyRead MoreThe Theory Of God s Glory1200 Words   |  5 Pagescreation may fulfill the purposes God intended for it. We must manage the environment not simply for our own benefit but for God†²s glory (KJV) Some may argue that humans are more important than the rest of the creation, so we should focus our efforts on meeting the needs of people rather than addressing environmental issues. However, many of our environmental problems negatively impact people. If we fail to care for the environment in which we live, God†²s people will suffer as a result. Caring for theRead MoreWater Is An Important Factor That Affects Sorption1584 Words   |  7 Pagesa new location (Rao, 1999). Just as degradation has a measure in the half-life of a compound, sorption also has a measure in the partition coefficient (Koc), which is a ratio of pesticide concentration in a soil bound state versus dissolved in soil-water (Rao, 1999). In fact, â€Å"the solubility of a pesticide and its sorption on soil are inversely related; [in other words], increased solubility results in less sorption† (Rao, 1999). Both sorption and degradation are effected by soil type and pH, bothRead MoreIn The Last 100 Years, The Amount Of Greenhouse Gases In1405 Words   |  6 Pagescausing a phenomenon known as the greenhouse effect. Human activities such as industry, transport, energy generation and deforestation all produce these greenhouse gases. In the last 20 years, concern has grown that global warming is inevitable and now considered most probably caused by man-made increases in greenhouse gas emissions. In this essay, I will analyze Dr. Chukwumerije Okereke’s claims of intersectional oppression and domination of the environment concerning distributional injustices causedRead MoreClimate Change And Its Effects On Our Society1545 Words   |  7 Pagesfact that our global ecological and weather patterns are changing in ways that occur at a much more rapid pace than natural cycles typically allow. According to a 2016 Monmouth University Poll, most Americans acknowledge, at least to some exte nt, that â€Å"the world’s climate is undergoing a change that is causing more extreme weather patterns and the rise of sea levels.† Since humans rely so heavily on their environment to provide a plethora of goods and services, it is crucial to examine our role inRead MoreEnvironmental Conditions Change The Way That Pesticide Moves And Interacts With An Environment1386 Words   |  6 PagesVolatilization and Environmental Conditions Environmental conditions change the way that pesticide moves and interacts with an environment. Rainfall, temperature, and wind can all move pesticides out of their target zone. These environmental factors can also impact the escape of pesticide through volatilization. Volatilization is a means of major pesticide loss and its rate of loss can often exceeds that of degradation, runoff, or leaching (van der Werf, 1996). For example, in an Oregon study, soil

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.

Understanding Earth and its History

Understanding Earth and its History We live in an interesting time that allows us to explore the solar system with robotic probes. From Mercury to Pluto (and beyond), we have eyes on the sky to tell us about those distant places. Our spacecraft also explore Earth from space and show us the incredible diversity of landforms our planet contains. Earth-observing platforms measure our atmosphere, climate, weather, and study the existence and effects of life on all the planets systems. The more scientists learn about Earth, the more they can understand its past and its future.   The name of our planet comes from an Old English and Germanic term eorà °e. In Roman mythology, the Earth goddess was Tellus, which means the fertile soil, while the Greek goddess was Gaia, terra mater, or Mother Earth. Today, we call it Earth and are working to study all its systems and features.   Earths Formation Earth was born  some 4.6 billion years ago as an interstellar cloud of gas and dust coalesced to form the Sun and rest of the solar system. This is the birth process for all stars in the universe. The Sun formed at the center, and the planets were accreted from the rest of the material. Over time, each planet migrated to its present position orbiting the Sun. The moons, rings, comets, and asteroids were also part of solar system formation and evolution. Early Earth, like most of the other worlds, was a molten sphere at first. It cooled and eventually its oceans formed from water contained in the planetesimals that made the infant planet. Its also possible that comets played a role in seeding Earths water supplies.   The first life on Earth arose some 3.8 billion years  ago, most likely in tidal pools or on the seabeds. It consisted of single-celled organisms. Over time, they evolved to become more complex plants and animals. Today the planet hosts millions of species of different life forms and more are being discovered as scientists probe the deep oceans and polar ices. Earth itself has evolved, too. It began as a molten ball of rock and eventually cooled. Over time, its crust formed plates. The continents and oceans ride those plates, and the motion of the plates is what rearranges the larger surface features on the planet. The known contents of Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Europe, North and South America, Central America, and Australia, are not the only ones Earth has had. Earlier continents are hidden underwater, such as Zealandia in the south Pacific.   How Our Perceptions of Earth Changed Early philosophers once put Earth at the center of the universe. Aristarchus of Samos, in the 3rd century B.C.E., figured out how to measure the distances to the Sun and Moon, and determined their sizes. He also concluded that Earth orbited the Sun, an unpopular view until Polish astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus published his work called  On the Revolutions of the Celestial Spheres  in 1543. In that treatise, he suggested a heliocentric theory that Earth was NOT the center of the solar system but instead orbited the Sun. That scientific fact came to dominate astronomy and has since been proven by any number of missions to space. Once the Earth-centered theory had been put to rest, scientists got down to studying our planet and what makes it tick. Earth is composed primarily of iron, oxygen, silicon, magnesium, nickel, sulfur, and titanium. Just over 71% of its surface is covered with water. The atmosphere is 77% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, with traces of argon, carbon dioxide, and water. People once thought Earth was flat, but that idea was put to rest early in our history, as scientists measured the planet, and later on as high-flying aircraft and spacecraft returned images of a round world. We know today that Earth is a slightly flattened sphere measuring 40,075  kilometers around at the equator. It takes 365.26 days to make one trip around the Sun (commonly called a year) and is 150 million kilometers away from the Sun. It orbits in the Suns Goldilocks zone, a region where liquid water can exist on the surface of a rocky world.   Earth has only one natural satellite, the Moon at a distance of 384,400 km, with a radius of 1,738 kilometers and a mass of 7.32 Ãâ€" 1022  kg. Asteroids 3753 Cruithne and 2002 AA29 have complicated orbital relationships with the Earth; theyre not really moons, so astronomers use the word companion to describe their relationship with our planet.   Earths Future Our planet will not last forever. In about five to six billion years,  the Sun will begin to swell up to become a red giant star. As its atmosphere expands, our aging star will engulf the inner planets, leaving behind scorched cinders. The outer planets may become more temperate, and some of their moons could sport liquid water on their surfaces, for a time. This is a popular meme in science fiction, giving rise to stories of how humans will ultimately migrate away from Earth, settling perhaps around Jupiter or even seeking out new planetary homes in other star systems. No matter what humans do to survive, the Sun will become a white dwarf, slowly shrinking and cooling over 10-15 billion years. Earth will be long gone.   Edited and expanded by Carolyn Collins Petersen.

Terbium Facts - Tb Facts

Terbium Facts - Tb Facts Get Tb facts or terbium facts and figures. Learn about the properties of this important element: TerbiumBasic Facts Atomic Number: 65 Symbol: Tb Atomic Weight: 158.92534 Discovery: Carl Mosander 1843 (Sweden) Electron Configuration: [Xe] 4f9 6s2 Element Classification: Rare Earth (Lanthanide) Word Origin: Named after Ytterby, a village in Sweden. Terbium Physical Data Density (g/cc): 8.229 Melting Point (K): 1629 Boiling Point (K): 3296 Appearance: soft, ductile, silvery-gray, rare-earth metal Atomic Radius (pm): 180 Atomic Volume (cc/mol): 19.2 Covalent Radius (pm): 159 Ionic Radius: 84 (4e) 92.3 (3e) Specific Heat (20Â °C J/g mol): 0.183 Evaporation Heat (kJ/mol): 389 Pauling Negativity Number: 1.2 First Ionizing Energy (kJ/mol): 569 Oxidation States: 4, 3 Lattice Structure: Hexagonal Lattice Constant (Ã…): 3.600 Lattice C/A Ratio: 1.581 References: Los Alamos National Laboratory (2001), Crescent Chemical Company (2001), Langes Handbook of Chemistry (1952), CRC Handbook of Chemistry Physics (18th Ed.) Return to the Periodic Table

The Business Environment Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

The Business Environment Assignment - Essay Example There is tremendous increase in the sales of fast food bars as compared to restaurants revealed by recent surveys. People are still very much interested in fast food. (Mintel Report-March 2004) Barry's Burger Bar (BBB) is a business in a busy university town in England. BBB operates in a very competitive environment. The market structure within which BBB operates dictates the pricing policies, advertising strategy and profitability potential. Barry has been considering changing his prices in order to increase his sales (total revenue). In this assignment we would determine the Business Strategy for BBB as consultants. Although Barry is quite free to make his own policies regarding marketing and pricing but he should have to consider the main factors that are influencing market. For this purpose he need to conduct a brief survey on his own or with the help of his associates to collect the data about his competitors and market forces. By collecting reliable data correct business strategy can be formulated. For this purpose analysis and scenarios Model can be employed (Lynch Richard Corporate Strategy 2003) Brief Analysis: BBB is situated in a busy area and its frequent customers are students and University staff. As it is understandable that purchasing power of students is comparatively low. As they have to finance their studies and their day to day expenses either with the support of parents or by doing low paid part time jobs. These conditions reduce the purchasing power of the students. So if Barry is planning increase the price then he may loose

Part of a Marketing Plan Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Part of a Marketing Plan - Assignment Example Cotton On is one of the few organically Australian ready-to-wear (RTW) fashion label. Fairly young in the industry at less than 30 years old, they now have shops all over Australia, New Zealand, and America. It has uniquely mirrored the same image that Australia has project all over the world, relax, simple and comfortable. Its primary target is the youth, 15-30, who feels wants a simple no-nonsense style that is flexible yet fashionable. Through the years, there have been constant effort from the brand to reinforce their image through TV commercials, print ads, and out-of-home advertisements. However, the fashion industry has witnessed an incredible shift of media consumption from traditional to digital. Many of this digital adaptors belong to the same target market that Cotton On caters to, young from the broad C. Many businesses have taken advantage of this by, early on, exerting the same effort digitally as they do above the line. Unfortunately, Cotton On came in late. They, in fact, established their online store less than three years ago. Outside of the online store, very little effort has been exerted to utilize the digital media to reach the Cotton On target market. This lack of digital presence resulted to one of the biggest digital scandal in the business world when facebook members started spreading complaints and protests against Cotton On Children’s line. The protest claimed that Cotton On’s pieces contained â€Å"disrespectful† messages. One word. That’s all it takes for a person to know someone inside and out, its history, its sensibilities, its personality, and its relationships. That word is the brand name. Coca-Cola. iPod. Nike. Google. Their identities are so strong and so embedded to the minds of the consumers that no single study, perhaps not even a compound of a thousand, can comprehensively explain how each company built it. Cotton On, despite being a young label, has experienced a certain

Eulogy for Grandmother :: Eulogies Eulogy

Eulogy for Grandmother The phone call came at 6:45 on the evening of the 16th. At 8:58 I sent out an e-mail message to friends about my Grandmother's death. Many of those friends are former and current church members of congregations I have served as pastor. By the next morning I was receiving e-mail messages back. The ones from former and current church members had a common theme. In addition to expressing their sympathy they all said that they felt they had known my grandmother: "We remember your grandmother from the stories you would tell us of her." That is the nature of memories. They can be collective, shared, or private. They may be special moments - remembrances of her as a sister, a wife, a mother, or a friend. But, when we share those memories they become a part of someone else. The memories become the possession of others. When the Bible tells us to be kind to foreigners in our midst because we were once slaves in Egypt it assumes we have made that memory our own. We were once slaves in Egypt. The sacred memory has been passed down to us. Today, I want to share just a few memories of my Grandmother. She was a determined woman. Yes, she was a woman who could be patient, but that was restricted by the limits of her determination. When I was small she decided it was time to clean the attic. She had asked my Grandfather to place the wagon underneath the attic window so she could drop the stuff she wanted to be rid of. Well, my Grandfather was busy with other things. One day she decided she had waited long enough. She went to the attic and opened up the window and began to hurl items from the window. Imagine my surprise to items raining from the sky. Imagine my Grandfather's surprise upon his return. Then there was the time she was after my Grandfather to clean out the chimney. My Grandfather was up working in the fields when a chimney fire broke out. I was still a baby and my mother picked me up and went running next door to Aunt Mid's house. My Grandmother called the fire department (instead of calling for my Grandfather). My grandfather saw the fire trucks coming up the road from town - followed by cars of just about everybody who lived along the way! My Grandfather saw to it that the chimney stayed clean after that. Eulogy for Grandmother :: Eulogies Eulogy Eulogy for Grandmother The phone call came at 6:45 on the evening of the 16th. At 8:58 I sent out an e-mail message to friends about my Grandmother's death. Many of those friends are former and current church members of congregations I have served as pastor. By the next morning I was receiving e-mail messages back. The ones from former and current church members had a common theme. In addition to expressing their sympathy they all said that they felt they had known my grandmother: "We remember your grandmother from the stories you would tell us of her." That is the nature of memories. They can be collective, shared, or private. They may be special moments - remembrances of her as a sister, a wife, a mother, or a friend. But, when we share those memories they become a part of someone else. The memories become the possession of others. When the Bible tells us to be kind to foreigners in our midst because we were once slaves in Egypt it assumes we have made that memory our own. We were once slaves in Egypt. The sacred memory has been passed down to us. Today, I want to share just a few memories of my Grandmother. She was a determined woman. Yes, she was a woman who could be patient, but that was restricted by the limits of her determination. When I was small she decided it was time to clean the attic. She had asked my Grandfather to place the wagon underneath the attic window so she could drop the stuff she wanted to be rid of. Well, my Grandfather was busy with other things. One day she decided she had waited long enough. She went to the attic and opened up the window and began to hurl items from the window. Imagine my surprise to items raining from the sky. Imagine my Grandfather's surprise upon his return. Then there was the time she was after my Grandfather to clean out the chimney. My Grandfather was up working in the fields when a chimney fire broke out. I was still a baby and my mother picked me up and went running next door to Aunt Mid's house. My Grandmother called the fire department (instead of calling for my Grandfather). My grandfather saw the fire trucks coming up the road from town - followed by cars of just about everybody who lived along the way! My Grandfather saw to it that the chimney stayed clean after that.

Monastic Art Essay

Monastic Art is subdivided in two genres the monastic ascetic art form and the aesthetic art form (Sekules 77). The portrayal of saints in the monasteries is a common theme and narrows it down to the whole religious visionaries and deities which produced those visions. The entire monastic sphere was dedicated to placing oneself in a position to receive sacred communication from God; hence it is not surprising that monasteries and convents heavily sought for visual representation of their favorite saints or God. In medieval times, monastic art was commonly etched on ceilings, walls, and frescoes to draw the viewer into a realm of holiness to enrich the artistic and religious experience. As aforementioned monastic life could either be ascetic which falls in line with the austere lives of the monks or it could be highly beautified which displayed all the wealth and glamor of the Medieval Catholic Church. Most monastic art are derived from the Byzantine model were paintings were very embellished, attractive, symbolic, and magnificent in size. At the Abbey of Santa Maria la Real de Las Huelgas, Spain, there are the Berenguela knitted cushion covers and skillfully decorated gloves, overlaid with gold and scarlet (1275). This highly decorated covers are in memoriam of Prince Fernando de la Cerda (Shadis 168). Benedictine Monasteries The Rule of St. Benedict required them to withdraw from the world into a communal life organized around prayer so that their spiritual inclinations were not directed to other areas of conformity† (Sekules 61). Because of this policy art work conforms to the standards of the monastery. Jesus Christ, Catholic saints, monasteries, the virgin Mary, holy mother and child paintings are all regular images of the medieval monastery. Benedictine monasteries boasted a wide array of art such as An Illumination of Stephen Harding (1225) at the Abbey at Citeaux. In this classic, monastic painting there are two models of monasteries, handed by two Benedictine monks, one of which is the Englishman Stephen Harding himself, which are delivered up to the virgin Mary to sanction or reject. Benedictine cloisters featured â€Å"inscriptions in windows, stonework, paintings, and manuscripts† (Luxford 11). This type of veneration is called Cisternian illumination where there is a mystic connection and communication with the divine. Golden auras and golden thrones with elaborate architectured monasteries characterize this work. Another famous Benedictine art form is Benedict of Nursia (1435) displayed at the Abbey at Florence, Italy. This painting done by Frey Angelico exhibits the simple face of St. Benedict with a holy halo encircling his head, in a grave, solemn, pensive mood, similar to what one would expect in a monastic setting. Women in Power-Medieval Feminism: The Empowered Woman Before Mary Wollenstonecraft even crafted the Declaration of Women (1791), the embryonic signs of an emerging feminist movement were already visible. Due to religious, social, and cultural dogmas and restraints, women were confined to the private sphere, unable to take part in the activities and pursuits of men. Nevertheless, a few women have propelled themselves and unwittingly their female counterparts to a whole new dimension in the Middle Ages. The woman is a recurrent depiction in Medieval Art and Architecture, not to mention in an age where in the Marian cult (and even in the Greco-Latin mythology) was venerated as goddess, saint, and intercessor. Personification of places, whether cities or countries especially as regal or armed women, are one of the oldest forms of power symbolism†(Sekules 13). Several countries have depicted women at war as their national icons for example Roma, Germania, Brittanica, Sclavenia, Columbia, Athena, Italia Turrita, Hispania, Polonia, Europa etc. The women are either portrayed as martial, royal, or both. Medieval art demonstrated the empowerment of women, where women sometimes moved out of the home space and actively engaged in business, art, warfare, and politics. Joan of Arc One of the women who stands out is Joan of Arc. Historically, Joan of Arc is lauded as a liberator of France who bravely warred against England to set free her countrymen who labored under the British yoke. â€Å"Quite apart from her saintly character, Joan’s credibility as a military leader may have gained greater currency thanks to the classical tradition that personified the authority of war in female form† (Sekules 165). Art enables social criticism. Martin Le Franc sides with Joan of Arc unique personality both as a feminist and as a woman. Through his medieval portrayal of Joan of Arc both as a heroine, military hero, and spiritual icon, he embraces her as a daring woman. â€Å"Martin Le Franc in Le Champion des Dames, a work directly inspired by the quarrel about Le Roman de la Rose, takes Joan’s part against her detractors. Their arguments focus on her belligerence, her transvestism, and her condemnation by the Church† (Warner 220). In the late-Medieval painting â€Å"Le Champion des Dames† (1450), one observes Joan of Arc holding two white flags and flanked by them in a biblical setting. Although critics say that this portrayal is anachronistic, it voices volumes in asserting the sanctity of a patriot and prophetess who received visions and supernatural messages. â€Å"Christine was an admirer of Joan (of Arc’s) achievements and a defender when she needed it† (Sekules 165). Joan of Arc, a powerful woman, inspired another medieval woman in power, Christine de Pisan, who highly esteemed Joan as a valiant, holy, and still feminine woman. Christine De Pisan Another medieval woman which broke from the social norms and launched out into the space of art, literature, and religion is Christine de Pisan (1365-1434). One could argue that because of her aristocratic status she enjoyed many more liberties than the average woman of the Middle Ages; however open prejudice and misogynist ideologies against the woman existed and was encouraged against both the lower and upper classed woman. Christine de Pisan was literate, cultivated her artistic talent, and was mistress of her household (Christine de Pisan). Although today these characteristics seem ordinary, back in the medieval times, it was a rarity for a woman, even an aristocratic one to be qualified with all these talents. Christine de Pizan was born in Italy but married to a Frenchman. De Pisan was a prolific author as she produced several essays, poems, books, ballads, and epistles. The art piece of â€Å"Christine de Pisan Writing† is not as common as it seems for women were often relegated non-scholastic tasks for the general public deemed them inferior. In the depiction of De Pisan writing, the setting is clearly at an abbey or monastery. De Pizan was also the breadwinner of her family following her husband’s passing; therefore she emerged as one of the few women who made a livelihood from writing. Numerous medieval portraits of Christine de Pisan exist where she is either consulting with people in power such as Joan of Arc (Christine de Pisan Livres des Faits des Armes et de Chevalerie, 1409), diligently writing at an abbey (Christine de Pisan Writing), or educating her others (Christine de Pisan Instructing Her Son and Christine de Pisan Lecturing a Group of Men). Convents or nunneries in the medieval period. It can be argued that nunneries and convents â€Å"offered women an element of freedom† (Medieval Convent or Nunnery). At the convents, the nuns had most commodities at their disposal and were not bound to family responsibilities, for here they concentrated on God and pursued holiness in the secluded religious life. Nuns were also enfranchised to vote in an abbess or mother superior, who in turn would govern the affairs of the female community. Since medieval times, the nunnery also was fitted with hospitals, gardens, chapels, dormitories, libraries, and a school. As a result, nuns had the unique opportunity to be holistically educated and independent. This peculiar branch of female liberation fosters artistic exploration. Art work often has appeared at convents where nuns have drawn or invented masterpieces such as †¦ Second to Nun Paintings Medieval paintings also tended to focus on holy women: whether they be goddesses or cloistered nuns and mothers. One major medieval masterpiece shows Hildegard von Bingen (1098-1179), a nun of St. Benedict of wrote books, plays, sermons, and poetry; practiced medicine, and functioned as advisor to monarchs and popes. Hildegard is indeed a medieval and modern-day feminist who was not afraid to hold and wield power even among men folk. A celebrated illustration of her is represented in Illumination from the Liber Scivias, 1151 where she receives a vision and transcribes it as a deity reveals it to her. This dynamic woman dictates the divine messages in a book called The Scivias. This portrait conveys the reality of the enlightened woman in all spheres. She too can be an instrument not only for familial purposes but in multifaceted way, contributing to society, religion, and culture. References: Christine de Pizan . Retrieved 06 May 2010 Les Enluminures Presents Women in Medieval Art . Retrieved 06 May 2010 Luxford, Julian M. The Art and Architecture of English Benedictine Monasteries 1300-1540 A Patronage History. Boyell Press, United Kingdom, 2008. Medieval Convent or Nunnery . Retrieved 06 May

SWOT Analysis of the Logistics Process of Shun Yue Cement Company Limited - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 10 Words: 3147 Downloads: 5 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Marketing Essay Type Analytical essay Did you like this example? Summary of Case Study 1 From the case study which titled à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“SWOT Analysis of the logistics process of Shun Yue Cement Company Limitedà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ . Shun Yue Company Limited is a middle-size firm in China that focusing in the logistic, transportation and also marketing and sale of cement. However, recently the development of technology is growth rapidly in the different region of the logistics industry. As a result, it actually will bring more unlimited challenges and more complex situation to the company. So, Shun Yue Company Limited should concern with this issues and find the way to focus on its management and processes to overcome the challenges of logistics manufacturing business in the future. In China, the real estate industry and infrastructure amenities are developing at a high speed, cement production constantly retains a great growth rate as well. As an overview, in 1996 the cement construction in China improved from 491 million tons up to 1240 million tons in 2006 and the annual growth rate increased from 3.15 % grow to 16.98 %. Logistics is a portion of supply chains, it also describe as a process of intentionally handling the procurement, storage and movement of raw materials, request part and also finished stocks from suppliers. It requires right merchandise in the right location at the right period for the lower cost. Shun Yue Company Limited is one of the successful cement businesses in China. This is because they have their own techniques and strategies to control and plan their inventory effectively and efficiency. To make sure purchasing and ordering process going smoothly, the organization need pay enough attention on provide the raw materials to suppliers and essential services for the customers, make inventory as well as investment expenses at a minimum level and improve the logistics operation as the goal, fulfill the customers need and demand, Just-in-time (JIT) purchasing needs purchasers and suppliers to build relationships long lasting. On the other hand, selecting suppliers is one of the most significant considerations before doing purchasing and ordering activities company should use a typical registering system to regulate the data that suppliers offer and categorize all potential suppliers for stuffs being purchased. Besides that, a company that cans success because of they always keeps a real partnership with suppliers and customers. Both parties need to negotiate or discuss the price as well as quantity and quality of the inventory to satisfy each otherà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s to gaining win-win situation. Furthermore, information system is also as a logistics system. Information during logistics process can be used, collected, evaluated, removed, stored and handled by an individual or a computer. It can understand the connection and collaboration among all links in system and influence the final objective of logistics activities. For example, the order processi ng system, company records, industry data and management data help Shun Yue Company Limited to maintain and control the inventory system. Modern logistics industry needs to concentrate regarding customersà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ demand at current and in the future growth. They attempt to fulfill consumers, repute them as a focus and do well in marketing task. Shun Yue Company Limited has a good relationship with other shareholders such as customers, suppliers, investors and the others in a supply chain. They are dependent of each otherà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s and have a mutual interest or benefit. It will increase and generate values and better the competitiveness of the whole supply chain. In conclusion, with the systematic controlling and planning of the inventory and better management of purchasing activities can lead to increasing profitability. Shun Yue Company Limited successfully continuous development will be a forever lasting objective for the maintainable improvement of logisti cs industry. SWOT Analysis Strengths Shun Yue Company Ltd always pay attention on provide the raw materials to suppliers and essential services for the customers, it make the inventory as well as investment expenses at a minimum level and improve the logistics operation. To fulfill the customers need and demand, the company able to implement Just-in-time (JIT) operation strategy to satisfy the purchasing needs of purchasers and suppliers. The company able to produce the high standard of cement quality and its was located in the suitable geography area which is in Anhui Province. Shun Yue Company Ltd was able to keep a real partnership with its suppliers and customers. It always got the feedback from the customers. The good relationship help the company can ensure their quantity and quality of the inventory and both of the parties will achieve a win-win situation. Weakness Shun Yue Company Ltd has a very high amount in its inventory to avoid the lack of good main ly through safe stock. This also leads to the high logistic cost of the company. Under the condition of the changes of market demand, sometimes, the quantity of safe stocks will increase to more than a half than inventory of other manufacturers. This directly increase the add amount in consumerà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s price. Consumers have to afford the high price of the product. Next, the consumersà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ satisfaction and their loyalty have been influenced due to the late information sending. Normally, all the customers dislike accepting any accident on the delayed delivery. Lastly, the companyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s Logistics department also failed in controlling the risks and the employee was lack of experience in system integration. Opportunities Nowadays, online business is become more common way for the consumers when purchasing their products. Since Shun Yue Company Ltd already owned his own website in publishing news, introducing the products, displaying different kinds of colorful activities, informing modern related new technologies of cement logistics and keep in touch with its target customer groups. Shun Yue Company Ltd should continue to manage and improve its online business and it may lead the company become more effective in managing their customer orders. Hence, there is a needs for the company to increase their companyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s market share in China. A cooperation with China Construction Group may help the company achieve competitive advantage compare to the others competitors which do not have its own website. Threats There are some high risks and threats in the future development of Shun Yue Company Ltd. Due to the main product of the company is cement, the environmental pollution such as air pollution and water pollution will exists and become more serious day by day. The energy consumption and cross infection has become the big challenge for the company in order to survive last longer. Besides, in construction field, the biggest competitor for Shun Yue Company Ltd is Anhui Conch Cement Co. Ltd. Traditionally the majority market share and international exports was gained by the larger competitors. Summary of Case Study 2 From the case study which titled à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Operations Management Toyota Motor Corporationà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ , Toyota Motor Company was established by Kiichiro Toyoda, a Japanese in 1937. Toyota Motor Company is one of the leading and well known automobile manufacturers in the world. There are a lot of Toyota plants around the world and Toyota Motor Company have a presence in more than 170 countries. Besides that, Toyota Company have over 300,000 of employees worldwide and they have profit earnings of about 16 billion US dollar per annual. Toyota Motor Corporation had using a various kinds of the most advanced operations management techniques in the production and distribution of its products in order to pursuit for the success of the business. For example, Toyota c ompany had first implemented the just in time inventory control system in the early 1930s. At the same times, when the Just in Time system of the operation was launched in full scale. The Toyota company started their operations at its Honsha plant in 1938.However, The Toyota company has recently facing with the problem of faulty cars, which they has to calls back the several million of Toyota cars around the world. The company has been engaged in law suits from the U.S. Government focusing on the weaknesses in the manufacturing the cars which was blamed for a number of accidents and deaths within the U.S. As according to the case and accidents of the Toyota Company, they are facing with the serious financial problem and also lost their publicity image in the automobile industry. And thus, they was losing their position as the leading automobile manufacturer in the world. The Toyota Motor Sales company limited was established separately from the Toyota Motor Company in year 195 0s as following the financial crisis facing by the Toyota. However they are merged to become Toyota Motor Corporation in year 1982. Today, the Toyota company headquarters is located in Japan. And they are running their operation across the global market. The success of the Toyota Company is bringing by the efficient of the company operation strategies and it may involved the lean manufacturing techniques and Just-in-time inventory management system. Lean manufacturing and Just-in-time inventory management system assists the Toyota company to creating the cars with the elimination of the expenditure of resources which does not add value for their customer. The production cost of the car is reduced along with the reducing of the waste of the resources. Besides that, the Toyota company is needed to manufacturing the cars only when the time there are order or demand from their end customers so that the Toyota company has low or even zero inventory in their warehouses. Therefore, the Toyota Company can reduce the cost of holding input and output. This two management ways is aim at manufacturing and delivering the kinds of quality for the end customers in a quick and efficient condition. In conclusion, the Toyota Company had done well in their inventory planning and controlling system, such as the lean manufacturing and Just-in-time inventory management system. And all of this have brought the Toyota Company from the difficult time of the financial crisis that they facing to become success today and are one of the well-known automobile Company in the world. Besides, it also recommends that Toyota Company should improve their cars quality check process in order to long lasting their success in the market. SWOT Analysis Strengths Toyota company was able to reduce the cost of production by avoid the waste in their resources. Indirectly, through the cost reduction, the company was able to generate high revenue. Toyota company was implemented their own mar keting strategies and techniques to identify and fulfill their consumers needs and satisfaction. Toyota Company used the lean manufacturing and Just-in-time inventory management system which help the company to create the cars with the elimination of the expenditure of resources and it does not increase any add value for their customer. This efficient manufacturing approach assists the company to maximize its profit and help to ensure the growth of the product. Furthermore, Toyota Company has achieved a very low or even zero inventories in their warehouses, that is one of the reason why Toyota Company can reduce the cost of holding input and output. Weakness In the automobile industry, Toyota was lost their publicity image due to the problem of faulty cars, which the company has to calls back around 8 million of Toyota cars around the world to correct the driverà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s floor mat. Toyota failed to assure their cars quality check process and the safety of the car. Du e to this failure, Toyota also met a serious financial crisis when the government started to relate the number of the accident and death towards the quality of Toyota cars. Indirectly, Toyota was losing its position as the leading automobile manufacturer in the world. Opportunities According to the corporate responsibility, Toyota Company is tending to become more environmental friendly. This provides an opportunity for the company to keep clean engine emission. In order to keep the environment clean and reduce the pollution, the environmental group work that conduct by the company may help to improve and create the image for the public. Besides, the innovation capabilities on automobiles of the company in the existing situation also will become an opportunity to gain the competitive advantage from the competitors. Toyota was suggested to invest in solar energy which may help the company to get a chance to regionalize and specific their worldwide operations. Threats In t he automobile market, Toyota faces a very tight competitive rivalry with others car manufacturer. Due to the entry of new entrants from others country such as Korea and China, the overall position of Toyota in worldwide industry will drop due to the high competitiveness. Besides, the increase in price of the raw materials also will impact the financial of the company. As all the competitors was facing the same threats, Toyota have to come out more strategies in order to enhance its profitability and reduce the high risk when price increase. Case Study Summary 3 From the case study with the title à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“IBM Inventory Management Program and Control Techniquesà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  we know that IBM is a multinational and consulting corporation which held by an American. The IBM head quarter is located in New York, United States and it was founded in year 1911. They are including in a wide range of activities such as manufactures and markets computer software and hardware, prov ide consulting services and offers infrastructures. Currently, IBM has research and developing a new method or approach call à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Impactà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  which is helpful to assist distribution company in controlling their inventory about how much and when the time to make purchases. IBM company always required that their company purchase or keep as low as possible of the inventory on their hand. In management function, a companys internal operation stability is based on their inventory. It is better and possible to keep low inventory in the warehouse or on hand by purchasing with a small and sufficient amount frequently or by using JIT system, purchasing the inventory according to the demand from the customers. At the same time, the purchasing or keeping of lower inventory on hand may increase the risk of failing to fulfill the customer demand and orders. Furthermore, the access of a large number of small amount orders to the vendors will cause the disruption of the bus iness operation. On the other hand, if the amount of the inventory is larger it may be making the business operation to be much more smoothly, the one condition is the capital investment should allow. The IBM total inventory management system is made up of three important subsystems and all of this may include ordering, forecasting and reviewing systems. The ordering system related to how much amount to order and balance the cost to find the minimum cost strategy for each item. Meanwhile, the forecasting system is to know when to order, have an idea bear in mind about when the item is going used up. As following to the forecasting system, we need to forecasting and planning the quantity or usage rate of an item. This forecasting system helps to set order points and maintaining sufficient inventory in the account. Finally, the reviewing system is to look for the quantity send from the ordering system and then is sending to the customers who make the order for approval. These three important subsystems are running continuously in order to making the inventory management system of the IBM Company to become efficiently and effectively. On the other hand, the IBM also have a well-planning on their warehouse storage. They needed to make decision on whether to establish or rent an additional area or space to deal with the increasing inventory or rent out and use the space for warehouses that are more saved on the costs when the inventory is reducing. In addition, there are certain inventory or items that is critical to the IBM company that need special care or handling in order to avoid damages, pilferages or either to follow the law set by government. In conclusion, a well inventory management system that including planning and controlling of the company inventory is important for the business operation success. A well inventory management helps the organization to reduce the cost of holding extra or large amount of inventory on hand or cost of warehouse st orages. Besides that, it also helps to increasing the efficiency of the business to produce the product with high qualities and timely to meet the customer order and demand. IBM corporation had carefully planning and controlling their inventory for the used, and thus this is main reason the IBM corporation are now the well-known and best global brand around the world. SWOT Analysis Strengths A new method called à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Impactà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  which is helpful to assist distribution company in controlling their inventory about how much and when the time to make purchases. IBM also have a well-planning on their warehouse storage. They needed to make decision on whether to establish or rent an additional area or space to deal with the increasing inventory or rent out and use the space for warehouses that are more saved on the costs when the inventory is reducing. BM is the leading systems integrator. IBM is able to forecast long-term warehouse capacities. Weakness IBM only produces the expensive service and software solutions for the enterprise. Enterprise will involve in buying hardware, software and services from IBM If they want to build a reliable IT infrastructure in their companies. At the same time, it became the high cost expenses for all enterprises. This is the reason that infrastructure investment is always postponed in times of uncertainty or slowing economy growth.IBM only paid attention on providing the customized solutions for large and medium enterprises. It only capture a small share in the market although is a very profitable business model. Opportunities To increase the opportunities in balancing the fluctuations in different economies, IBM should improve in the globalization. The important key factors that will help IBM outstanding in the market and maintain its competitive advantages are the innovation. In the market that always having changes, a corporation with some IT related companies will help IBM to create and design the new products and they can use the patents to generate more profit. There is various types of services and enterprise solution provided by IBM, in order to ensure the higher profit margins and develop a better growth, IBM should try to focus on several part which may bring more benefits to the company. Threats The threats from the hackers which may explode the confidential information outside the company may cause IBM facing a financial crisis. IBM should strengthen the protective software to avoid the threats. The high competitive rivalry in cloud computing market also will affect the growth of IBM. This is because there is a lot of growth potential inside the market. Due to the high profit, many new entrants will be attract to enter to cloud computing market and threaten to take the market share from the IBM. Case Study https://www.theseus.fi/bitstream/handle/10024/34241/Chen_Jia%20ni.pdf?sequence=1 https://www.ukessays.com/essays/marketing/operations-man agement-toyota-motor-corporation-marketing-essay.php https://bitsavers.informatik.uni-stuttgart.de/pdf/ibm/generalInfo/E20-8105_IMPACT_Inventory_Management_Program_and_Control_Techniques_1962.pdf Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "SWOT Analysis of the Logistics Process of Shun Yue Cement Company Limited" essay for you Create order