Sunday, December 29, 2019

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald - 605 Words

In The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Jay Gatsby can be identified as a man of superior wealth and motivation. Daisy Buchanan’s love fuels Jay’s motivation to be a wealthy and prestigious man- which compares to F. Scott Fitzgerald’s life. Another character that matches Gatsby’s upscale lifestyle is Tom Buchanan. Gatsby and his motivations to live an exceptional life parallel Benjamin Franklin’s desires. Both Franklin and Gatsby hold themselves to busy lives that demand for success. Benjamin Franklin sets daily expectations for himself that call for â€Å"moral perfection†. Franklin writes â€Å"I made a little book, in which I allotted a page for each of the virtues.. I might mark, by a little black spot, every fault I found upon examination to have been committed respecting that virtue upon that day† (The Autobiography, 142). Similarly, Jay Gatsby keeps a book of his schedule. â€Å"General Resolves: No wasting time at Shafters or [a name, indecipherable].. Bath every other day. Read one improving book or magazine per week..Save $5.00 [crossed out] $3.00 per week† (Fitzgerald, 173). Both Gatsby and Franklin set high expectations for themselves in order to achieve greatness. Their daily schedules contain similar goals. Gatsby sets aside a time in the day to focus on his etiquette so that he may one day use it to climb the social ladder. Undoubtedly, Gatsby possesses a drive to perfect his life. He saves his money so that he may be able to take care of his love, Daisy. The richShow MoreRelatedThe Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald1393 Words   |  6 PagesF. Scott Fitzgerald was the model of the American image in the nineteen twenties. He had wealth, fame, a beautiful wife, and an adorable daughter; all seemed perfect. Beneath the gilded faà §ade, however, was an author who struggled with domestic and physical difficulties that plagued his personal life and career throughout its short span. This au thor helped to launch the theme that is so prevalent in his work; the human instinct to yearn for more, into the forefront of American literature, where itRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1343 Words   |  6 PagesHonors English 10 Shugart 18 Decemeber 2014 The Great Gatsby F. Scott Fitzgerald s 1925 novel The Great Gatsby is a tragic love story, a mystery, and a social commentary on American life. The Great Gatsby is about the lives of four wealthy characters observed by the narrator, Nick Carroway. Throughout the novel a mysterious man named Jay Gatsby throws immaculate parties every Saturday night in hope to impress his lost lover, Daisy Buchanan. Gatsby lives in a mansion on West Egg across from DaisyRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1155 Words   |  5 PagesThe Great Gatsby The Jazz Age was an era where everything and anything seemed possible. It started with the beginning of a new age with America coming out of World War I as the most powerful nation in the world (Novel reflections on, 2007). As a result, the nation soon faced a culture-shock of material prosperity during the 1920’s. Also known as the â€Å"roaring twenties†, it was a time where life consisted of prodigality and extravagant parties. Writing based on his personal experiences, author F. ScottRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1166 Words   |  5 Pagesin the Haze F. Scott Fitzgerald lived in a time that was characterized by an unbelievable lack of substance. After the tragedy and horrors of WWI, people were focused on anything that they could that would distract from the emptiness that had swallowed them. Tangible greed tied with extreme materialism left many, by the end of this time period, disenchanted. The usage of the literary theories of both Biographical and Historical lenses provide a unique interpretation of the Great Gatsby centered aroundRead MoreThe Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald845 Words   |  3 PagesIn F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby, colors represent a variety of symbols that relate back to the American Dream. The dream of being pure, innocent and perfect is frequently associated with the reality of corruption, violence, and affairs. Gatsby’s desire for achieving the American Dream is sought for through corruption (Schneider). The American Dream in the 1920s was perceived as a desire of w ealth and social standings. Social class is represented through the East Egg, the WestRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald Essay970 Words   |  4 Pagesrespecting and valuing Fitzgerald work in the twenty-first century? Fitzgerald had a hard time to profiting from his writing, but he was not successful after his first novel. There are three major point of this essay are: the background history of Fitzgerald life, the comparisons between Fitzgerald and the Gatsby from his number one book in America The Great Gatsby, and the Fitzgerald got influences of behind the writing and being a writer. From childhood to adulthood, Fitzgerald faced many good andRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald2099 Words   |  9 Pagesauthor to mirror his life in his book. In his previous novels F. Scott Fitzgerald drew from his life experiences. He said that his next novel, The Great Gatsby, would be different. He said, â€Å"In my new novel I’m thrown directly on purely creative work† (F. Scott Fitzgerald). He did not realize or did not want it to appear that he was taking his own story and intertwining it within his new novel. In The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, he imitates his lifestyle through the Buchanan family to demonstrateRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1607 Words   |  7 Pages The Great Gatsby is an American novel written in 1925 by F. Scott Fitzgerald. One of the themes of the book is the American Dream. The American Dream is an idea in which Americans believe through hard work they can achieve success and prosperity in the free world. In F. Scott Fitzgerald s novel, The Great Gatsby, the American Dream leads to popularity, extreme jealousy and false happiness. Jay Gatsby’s recent fortune and wealthiness helped him earn a high social position and become one of the mostRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1592 Words   |  7 PagesMcGowan English 11A, Period 4 9 January 2014 The Great Gatsby Individuals who approach life with an optimistic mindset generally have their goals established as their main priority. Driven by ambition, they are determined to fulfill their desires; without reluctance. These strong-minded individuals refuse to be influenced by negative reinforcements, and rely on hope in order to achieve their dreams. As a man of persistence, the wealthy Jay Gatsby continuously strives to reclaim the love of hisRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1646 Words   |  7 PagesThe 1920s witnessed the death of the American Dream, a message immortalized in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. Initially, the American Dream represented the outcome of American ideals, that everyone has the freedom and opportunity to achieve their dreams provided they perform honest hard work. During the 1920s, the United States experienced massive economic prosperity making the American Dream seem alive and strong. However, in Fitzgerald’s eyes, the new Am erican culture build around that

Saturday, December 21, 2019

Analysis Of Mary Shelley s Frankenstein - 1597 Words

While the idea of contrasting right and wrong has been a popular theme in literature, it is most noticeably show in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. Frankenstein follows the story of a young scientist who tries his hand at God and, to his misfortune, has to deal with the consequences. Victor Frankenstein is a promising young scientist in the field of chemistry, until he creates life in an inanimate body and the Creature he makes wreaks havoc on all he holds dear. Between the several characteristics and journeys undertaken in Frankenstein, there are distinctive elements that can be contrasted which enhance the importance of themes within the novel. First, one of the most recurring themes in Frankenstein is alienation and seclusion felt by the†¦show more content†¦If he is a monster, it is society that made him so. He is, then, only a metaphor of a monster† (Bissonette 103). Bissonette chooses to highlight the effect society has on the Creature and how the Creature transitions from good because it epitomizes the issue of acceptance and love within the novel . Also a major contrast between Victor Frankenstein and the Creature is their purpose for living. Victor, despite making major breakthroughs in chemistry and making a name for himself, wants to be remembered as the one who can reanimate a dead corpse. Victor’s objective is to create a creature that, â€Å"would bless me as its creator and source; many happy and excellent natures would owe their being to me† (Shelley 33). This overreaching ambition is the reason Victor creates the Creature and, also, his fatal flaw. On a more humble side, the only thing the Creature wants from the world is to be loved and accepted. In the beginning, the Creature is born innocent and pure but eventually, through the vices and cruel experiences of society, turns into the cold monster known by the end of the novel. The Creature is able to see the love and reverence people are capable of having for one another, but knows he can never be a part of it, â€Å"[t]he mild exhortations of the old m an, and the lively conversations of the loved Felix, were not for me† (Shelley 84). After he finally understands he will not be able to have a connection with another being, it isShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Mary Shelley s Frankenstein1411 Words   |  6 PagesIn the early 1800s Mary Shelley set pen to a paper and started to develop a novel that little to her knowledge would become world renowned. In 1818 she finished and published the novel to sell to the European public. The novel caught the world off guard in the way that a female was able to write about such harsh, dark, and evil things in a European society whose authors like John Locke and Charles Montesquieu preached enlightenment, self exploration, and individualism all in an optimistic enablingRead MoreAnalysis Of Mary Shelley s Frankenstein1615 Words   |  7 Pagesa whole and how accurate a depiction they might think it to be, they will miss out on many of the qualities of the painting that reside below the immedia tely apparent surface level. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is a text dedicated to expounding upon the dangers of such superficial analysis. In Frankenstein, Mary Shelley openly condemns the surface level and appearance oriented methodology under which the human mind operates. The very protagonist of the novel is inspired solely by reputation and howRead MoreAnalysis Of Mary Shelley s Frankenstein 1758 Words   |  8 PagesFrankenstein was published over 200 years ago. Ever since it was published, it has been one of the most famous books known to literature. History.com Staff states that this book, by 21-year-old Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, is frequently called the world’s first science fiction novel (History.com Staff). According to Wikipedia, Shelley was an English novelist. She was born August 30th, 1797. She died on February 1st, 1951 (Wikipedia). Shelley came up with the idea of Frankenstein as she andRead MoreBiblical Analysis Of Mary Shelley s Frankenstein 1376 Words   |  6 PagesLiterature 16 November 2015 Biblical Analysis: Frankenstein Frankenstein by Mary Shelley often refers to the bible on a number of occasions. However, it is worth noting that many references used by Mary Shelley in Frankenstein can often be identified in Genesis. Much like Genesis, the story of Frankenstein is a viable creation story. The book of Genesis first explains the creation of man and woman, and also recounts the fall of humanity. Unlike Genesis, Frankenstein begins with the fall of humanityRead MoreAnalysis Of Mary Shelley s Frankenstein And Frankenstein1410 Words   |  6 Pagescompassion and sympathy through the love of a person whom cares very deeply about them. In Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, the three main characters Robert Walton, Victor Frankenstein and Frankenstein (The Monster) are shown throughout the story, longing and in search for a companion. Throughout the story, the characters struggle with the battle of wanting either sympathy or compassion from a person or both. Mary Shelley shows the true indication of Human Nature by showing the importance of sympathy andRead MoreAnalysis of Mary Shelley ´s Frankenstein991 Words   |  4 Pagesalive. If it can learn, eventually speak, or came about because of another, it’s a person. The Creature of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is no exception. Victor’s creation needs nourishment, education, and morals, which should be provided by it’s creator, it’s parent, just like any other child. The way that needs of an individual are met shapes the outcome of their life. In her novel, Shelley demonstrates this impact that parents have on their child’s life through the contrasting upbringing of VictorRead MoreAnalysis Of Mary Shelley s Frankenstein 1701 Words   |  7 Pages Frankenstein is a novel that is practically devoid of any female presence, yet author Mary Shelley pens a story that is lush with portrayals of feminine ideology. Throughout the course of this novel, the audience is introduced to three different female characters. The first is Elizabeth Lavenza— Victor Frankenstein’s wife. She is presented as a passive and weak woman who embodies the traditional role of women in the 19th century. Caroline Beaufort is present in the novel, but her role is limitedRead MoreAnalysis Of Mary Shelley s Frankenstein 1038 Words   |  5 PagesAlexi Torres English III Dr. W.W. Allman December 1, 2015 Frankenstein In Mary Shelley’s, Frankenstein, she shows that good people can turn evil, but are not born this way. Humans being rude and isolating someone can make a person go insane and do things they are not proud of. Shelley shows this through the creature that Frankenstein creates and gives examples showing his evilness, but also shows that the creature tries to explain many times that he wants a friend and cannot find one becauseRead MoreAnalysis Of Mary Shelley s Frankenstein 1088 Words   |  5 PagesCreature’s Argument In the novel, Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley, the Creature s only need is for a female companion, which he asks Victor Frankenstein his maker to create. Shelley shows the argument between the creature and Frankenstein. The creature says: I demand a creature of another sex, but as hideous as myself (Shelley 139). Shelley shows what the creature wants from Frankenstein and what his needs are. Shelley gives us an idea of the sympathy that Frankenstein might feel for the creature evenRead MoreAnalysis Of Mary Shelley s Frankenstein 843 Words   |  4 PagesThe Wretch Frankenstein is a novel written by English author Mary Shelley about a peculiar scientist named Victor Frankenstein. Victor, who is a scientist endeavoring to make history, engenders a monstrous but attentive creature in an eccentric scientific experiment. The monster that he engenders faces abnegation and fear from his creator and society. The monster is the worst kind of scientific experiment gone awry. The creature has compassion for society but additionally wants to take revenge on

Friday, December 13, 2019

First Love by John Clare Free Essays

First Love â€Å"First Love† by John Clare is a poem that explains something that everyone will usually endure in his or her life; the emotional journey of falling in love for the first time. The brief 24 line poem attacks the emotions of the reader and lures the reader into the poem by envisioning or reminiscing of the reader’s first love. John Clare writes about how he falls in love for the first time and his perspective from the first meeting to the end. We will write a custom essay sample on First Love by John Clare or any similar topic only for you Order Now The poem is structured with a rhyming scheme of every other line in an abab pattern. The poem is broken into three phases of a first love: the meeting of one’s first love, then the connection and being with the person, and finally the end of the first love. The poem begins with â€Å"I ne’er was struck before that hour. † This opening line suggests that the writer has been struck by love at first sight. He continues to support this with saying how it is sudden and sweet. The implication here is that it is young first love. With each line, the writer continues to support the next. With the implication of young first love, he supports this youthfulness with a simile writing in the next line; the girls face like a sweet flower. This can be transcribed as a young lady growing up to be a woman. The next two lines express how she took his heart and took his breath away; turning him pale. This was such a shock to him that he could not move and was paralyzed to the point his legs couldn’t move. In addition to shock, he could also mean that he didn’t want to leave or stop looking at here. The last two lines of this stanza, represents when she looks at him, he could do nothing but melt and molded towards being with her. This is the change everyone goes through when falling in love. Your life changes and must adjust to the new relationship. The second stanza begins with â€Å"And then my blood rushed to my face. † He is expressing his feelings stating how he blushes when around his love. A majority of people have been blinded by love. John Clare writes of this loss of vision by stating his eyesight is taken away and could not see a single thing. In addition to the blindness, his reality is distorted when during the day everything else doesn’t matter; a type of tunnel vision for his first love. The mention of his eyes and chords translate to being able to see the love in his eyes so strong it speaks and sings of his heart. The two of them have a connection so strong that words verbally spoken are not necessary. Their connection is translated through words from his eyes. This stanza comes to a transitional close with burning blood around his heart, meaning that his first love has hurt him. The final stanza begins with â€Å"Are flowers the winter’s choice? † Like a great deal of poems, one of the seasons is pulled into the poem. However, not in a pleasant way; winter is cold just like his love being cold towards him; poetically the cold shoulder is love’s bed always snow. John Clare is not sure that his love’s listening to him, and feels that he will never find another love like her. The cold shoulder and her not listening to him, has caused pain. This pain feels, to him, like someone ripped his heart from his chest. He ends the poem with a line meaning he can never love again. In conclusion, this poem is a perfect hopeless romantic poem that tells the story of meeting a first love, the connection and being with the person, and finally the end of the first love. The passion and meaning placed in this poem expresses clearly how John Clare feels about his first, last, and only love. I believe that the feelings he places in this poem helps readers relate more than other poems; probably making this one of the most relatable poems ever to a general audience. How to cite First Love by John Clare, Essay examples

Thursday, December 5, 2019

A Report on Strategic Analysis of a Retail Company

Question: Discuss about A Report on Strategic Analysis of a Retail Company. Answer: Introduction The new era of coffee is not just made up of coffees but much more. It consists of Cappuccinos, Caff Lattes, Frappuccino and Espresso Macchiato. This is an American founded company which has more than 1, 82,000 employees working in 9,768 licensed stores across 63 countries. The corporation offers a few mixes of espresso, high quality drinks, stock, and nourishment things. Starbucks moreover offers a scope of customer items in espresso and tea, frozen yogurt and readymade beverages. The organization, through its claimed and authorized stores, is present in the Middle East, Asia-Pacific, America, Africa and the Europe (Talley 2008). As the company started extending, another stress was set on recruiting talented staff and leaders for directing the gigantic dynamism in the corporation. Endless measures of resources were dedicated to build an authoritative substance satisfactory to strengthen predictable future size of Starbucks. Schultz trusted that numerous business dreamers vanished for the reason that they were not able to make the best potential actions as well as contexts to warranty a suitable formation for their business visions to be turn into reality. (Talley 2008). An essential time came in the year 1991, when a large number of customers in many big cities started having Starbucks products consistently. This was a triumph over other companies. Strategic Purpose of Starbucks The most appealing organization for some benefit boosting corporation in the society campus would be the one that could have a perfect restraining infrastructure. Starbucks in terms of fiscal matters refers to the situations where a settled firm could be the unique provider of some product or management in a particular corporate sector (Stephanie 2007). Mission, Vision and Values of Starbucks Commercial ventures in which imposing business models are made typically have an absence of monetary rivalry for the merchandise or administrations that they give and ordinarily have no reasonable alternatives. This hypothesis of restraining infrastructure would be one end of the business engaging quality scale, while the other endpoint would be characterized by the hypothesis of impeccable rivalry (Stephanie 2007). Starbucks portrays a financial exemplary that employs a theoretical corporate zone structure where neither creator nor buyer has even a little corporate zone potency or capability to impact treasuring. The circumstances in which impeccable rivalry emerges are depicted by an extensive number of set up firms with vague things and by no ability to isolate their thing. It is additionally common in situations where all of the strengths following up on the business are of vast extent. As a collective society, impeccable competition is attractive given its productivity in assigning possessions and capability to amplify social welfare. In any case, this structures the inverse opinion on ones business engaging quality scale since this is the greatest unwanted position from the viewpoint of a benefit amplifying firm (Talley 2008). This scale will help us to characterize the engaging quality of the claim to fame espresso industry in connection to these two extremes. Strategic functions Application In Starbucks there are three theoretically efficacious generic techniques: focus, differentiation and overall cost leadership. Overall cost leadership suggests the quest for cost diminishments in every aspect of the industry by firmly monitoring overheads, maintaining a strategic distance from peripheral, customer service, sacrificing research and development and less profitable consumers, publicizing and different regions not apropos to the direct assembling of an item. The basic technique of differentiation includes establishment of a thing that is appreciated by the industry as being exclusive. It could take countless diverse arrangements counting still not constrained to merchant systems, innovation, brand picture, client administration, merchant systems and highlights. The last bland system stated is focus that emphases on a specific gathering, geographical marketplace, or section of an assumed product line (Stephanie 2007). External Analysis of Starbucks Analysis of the broad macro-environment The industries point of interest for supreme quality snacks and coffee products are mostly resolute by factors that includes discretionary cash flow, per head coffee utilization, states of mind towards being well, global estimation of demographics and espresso. This trade is especially sensitive to the macro-environment element which influences the expansion in personal dispensable. The primary carter of this application increment would be the expansion of additional money, such as the budget enhances and buyers initiate to calm down their fiscal strategies. Market income is positively affected by this driver. Per capita coffee usage is depending on rise in 2017. As special coffee beans are the essential contribution to the capable series of the trade associates, overarching unpredictable costs of coffee beans decides market expenditures and efficiency edges. Global price of espresso has risen strongly in late years because of developing interest in different nations and the subsequent supply deficiencies. Amidst five years to 2018, coffee beans prices are expected to be lessened, that will probably interpret into lower market costs and higher benefit. There is a normal movement en route for adhering to a good diet and eating regimen among the shoppers in 2016, and it might be a potential risk to the business as they turn out to be further mindful of issues identified with mass and corpulence. Michael Porters five force analysis Michaels five force model to the surroundings encompassing Starbucks currently keeping in mind the end goal to build up an exact comprehension of the present claim to fame espresso industry. Power of Industry Competition This industry suffers a dominant rivalry, by means of having the biggest shares and closest rivals as well consisting of much share of the complete trade, creating critical heft on Starbucks. A buyer does not consist of even a few expense of changing to diverse competitors that may carton high force in argument. These businesses do not have over-limit as of now and every one of these variables contributes to the force amongst adversaries to be decently high. Prospective for new Players Entrance of new contenders into the industry is a sensible danger faced by Starbucks for the hindrances to sector are not satisfactorily extraordinary to prevent fresh candidates to move into the sector. At the restrained level, little cafs could compete any semblance of Dunkin and Starbucks Brands as there are no substituting costs for the purchasers. (Talley 2008). Danger of Substitute Products The dynamism made by substituted items in the coffee industry has reduced. Numerous establishments that displayed the strength espresso production with a risk in the type of additional products have actually come into the business and now resist directly by presenting their own finest coffee determinations. The essential substitute items as yet representing a risk to the strength espresso industry are the jazzed delicate drinks offered by Coca-Cola and Pepsi. Though, these substitute items portrays little risk to the premium espresso industry. Investors Power Numbers of buyers are there in this sector and not a single purchaser can request value concession. Regardless of the fact that there are no swapping costs with extraordinary approachability of extra items, commerce innovators like Starbucks costs its product mix in association to enemies stores with winning business sector cost. Suppliers Power Starbucks, through its scale plus size, has the ability to exploit its contractors yet it keeps up a Reasonable exchange confirmed espresso under its coffee and farmer equity (C.A.F.E) platform that provides its contractors a reasonable organization status that earns them certain modestly, little control. Contractors in this trade as well characterize a little risk of succeeding against Starbucks by advanced vertical mix that carries down their energy. Internal Analysis of Starbucks Core Competency of Starbucks The essential Competency of Starbucks has made it capable to viably influence their foundation item separation methodologies by proposing a finest product blend of excellence snacks and drinks. Starbuck's image value is based on offering the premium class espresso and other correlated items, and by giving every client an innovative "Starbucks Experience", assembles a high level of client determination with a faction taking after. Starbucks centre ability is its human asset administration's qualities based methodology to build extremely robust external as well as internal connections with investors, that energies the efficacious arrangement of ones commercial policy of organic extension into global market. Business Functions of Starbucks Starbucks serves the biggest piece of share in the industry of special coffee and this makes the company capable to establish sectors trend that Starbucks has done in earlier years with beverages. Their unrivalled retail stores provide them effective capacities above their rivals. Yet, supply chain operations are amongst the strongest capabilities of Starbucks (Sweet 2007). Chain actions are better than rivals in the strength espresso industry for a couple of essential reasons. To start with, the conveyance rates of Starbucks are the best in the trade. Both their bread kitchen conveyance model, combined with their advanced gauging process, empower them to precisely distinguish where espresso is required and when. This permits them to set aside a few minutes conveyances. Moreover, their complex assembling and dispersion process permits them to keep up solid stock turns as contrasted with rivals in the claim to fame espresso industry. Most imperative to their supply chain operations better capacities is their capacity that secures the uprightness of their espresso beans from the impeding impacts of oxygen and time through a shut circle arrangement of bundling. Competitive Strategy in the modern trend. Generic Strategies of the company In present time Starbucks fits the strategy of differentiation while in the previous years it was closer to the strategy of focus with an importance on differentiation inside the specific objective buyer area. Though, the industries those who focuses on differentiation strategy demonstrates high marketing potential, yet till 1998 Starbucks did not ever ran a television ad. These appearances of differentiation advices that from the start Starbucks is adhere to the strategy of focus instead of differentiation. It was just an illusion in the past. Competitive advantages over others to meet customer needs Various times focus shifts on to cost based superiority instead of differentiation based. So, the general driving force of corporate benefit is to minimise cost. To gain this Starbucks has improved its distribution network and are trying hard to lead in less conveyance costs (Sweet 2007). While the pattern in the claim to fame espresso industry is to focus on the overall public, Starbucks ought to concentrate on a client section that offers the best measure of value versatility. So as to take into account these clients, Starbucks has established a more cultured record of their most steadfast client's inclinations and taken them into account. As in, in an overview taken in 2003, 35% of review responders trusted that Starbucks could make them feel more like an esteemed client by actualizing enhancements to their administration. In the same overview, 82% of its clients appraised a spotless store as a standout amongst the most critical attributes to making client fulfilment. Strategic Choice and Evaluation Examination using Ansoffs Matrix The position of Starbucks in the Ansoffs growth market lies at Market Expansion+ New Market as the organization According to ANSOFFs growth matrix, the STARBUCKS coffee shop lies in the (MARKET EXPENSION Existing Product + New Market), because company is making great benefits in practically every coffeehouse in various areas of the world. Exhausting its espresso market in Middle East, and Asia could be extremely useful for the organization's benefit in light of the fact that there is gigantic potential for the espresso market as there is no acclaimed coffeehouses in that part of the world. Much the same as of late they have opened their two coffeehouses, one in China and other is in Kuwait. Ansoffs Matrix Market Penetration This is related to the current products growing sales in the present market. Such as, to achieve greater customer satisfaction Starbucks now writes customers name on the coffee mugs. New Product Development A special premium coffee has been launched made up of exclusive and rarely available beans. New Market Development This is related to the existing products launch into new markets that mounts sales potentially. Starbucks is already a part of it as everyone knows that it has its products in the global area. Diversification This is the most challenging and risky strategy to increase sales. This is related to the launch of new products in new markets. Level Assessment using Ansoffs Matrix Diversification level assessment: Suitability As by now the Starbucks food range was only intended to compliment drinks and not a major basis of buyers meals. Hence, this kind of diversification is quite alike to existing range of products and thus suitable for the market Acceptability As it has the potential to rapidly increase the revenue sales diversification is easily acceptable. Feasibility. Per customer in store quantity tends to increase with diversification in food items that is vital for outlets. Conclusions and Recommendations The greatest development of Starbucks is in its global sector. The company has effectively made critical moves in the market of China however there still is a great deal of unidentified impending expansion in these trades. The company must rise in local markets by growing its potential (Sweet 2007). Also as purchaser tastes and way of life movement towards more snacks and refreshments choices, Company must modify its menu and extend to give more healthy options. SWOT Analysis Strengths: Starbucks has the strongest market position as well as international recognition. Its products are of highest quality. All stores have been located at attractive areas. It is also known for its employees who have high knowledge. Weakness: Products of Starbucks are little expensive. Overcrowding leads to Self-Cannibalization. The culture of Europe and America clashes with other countries. Opportunities: Starbucks has an opportunity to expand in the emerging markets. It could also expand its products line. Starbucks carries a powerful brand image and it could be used to expand into parallel lines of its trade. Threats: Enlarged Competency in this sector is a major threat in the future. Also there is an effective variations in the high quality coffee beans which Starbucks may not be able to control Bibliography Adamy, J. (2007, November 15). At Starbucks, Too Many, Too Quick? . Retrieved December 10, 2007, from Wall Street Journal: https://online.wsj.com/article/SB119508847922393547.html Adamy, J. (2008, February 2). With Starbucks, Investors Need Patients. Retrieved February 4, 2008, from Wall Street Journal : https://online.wsj.com/article/SB120191741501337213.html Argenti, P. A. (2004). Collaborating with Activists:How Starbucks Works with NGOs. Berkeley: Haas School of Business . Ball, Y. (2007, November 16). Starbuck's Volatility Jumps. Retrieved December 10, 2007, from Wall Street Journal : https://online.wsj.com/article/SB119518613509895489.html Gaffen, D. (2008, January 8). Starbucks Jolted by Hope and Caffeine. Retrieved January 10, 2008, from Wall Street Journal : https://blogs.wsj.com/marketbeat/2008/01/08/starbucks-jolted-by-hope-and-caffeine/ Harding, V. V. (2000). The Starbucks Effect. Boston: Harvard Business School. Koehn, N. F. (2005). Howard Schultz and Starbucks Coffee Company. Boston: Harvard Business School. Lasswell, M. (2007, December 28). War and Wharton, Starbucks and Peanuts. Retrieved January 2, 2008, from Wall Street Journal : https://online.wsj.com/article/SB119880610980954525.html Shultz, H. (1997). Pour Your Heart Into It: How Starbucks Built a Company One Cup at a Time. New York: Hyperion. Shultz, H. (2008, January 8). Text of Letter from Schultz. Retrieved January 10, 2008, from Wall Street Journal: https://online.wsj.com/article/SB119974711738273245.html Specialty Coffee Association of America. (1988, January 23). Specialty Coffee Association of America. Retrieved September 24, 2007, from SCAA Annual Surveys: https://www.scaa.org/ Stephanie Kang, J. A. (2007, November 1). Wall Street journal. Retrieved December 10, 2007, from Starbucks TV Campaign is Culture Shift: https://online.wsj.com/article/SB119525707133396369.html Sweet, L. (2007). The Gospel according to Starbucks: Living with a Grande Passion. Colorado Springs: Waterbrook Press. Talley, K. (2007, December 18). Caterpillar, Starbucks Fall after Downgrades. Retrieved January 2, 2008, from Wall Street Journal: https://online.wsj.com/article/SB119790646646833889.html Talley, K. (2008, January 3). Starbucks, Intel Pace Downshift. Retrieved January 10, 2008, from Wall Street Journal: https://online.wsj.com/article/SB119928318876162155.html

Thursday, November 28, 2019

Scholarship That Help To Improve Our Services

Scholarship Scholarship 01 Jun 2016 Value: 250$ 2,500$ Starts on: June 1st 2016 Closes on: October 24st 2016 Tenure award: One Year Number of awards: Unlimited Previous winners: in  the Hall of Fame Background Since we have launched  Robot Don, machine learning tool that facilitates essay writing, we would continuously receive vulnerabilities reports, minor bugs and usability suggestions. Aside from the essay writing software, our contributors have been trying  Ã‚  and have even found some serious flaws. To honor the bright external contributions that help us build better products we have launched an Scholarship. Rules Scope of services Any of service or feature available through 1) robotdon.com or 2) is intended to be in scope of this scholarship. Qualifying suggestions Any design or implementation issue that affects the operations, logics and/or usability of the software is likely to be in the scope of the scholarship. Examples may include: Authentication or authorization flaws Server-side code execution bugs Algorithm implementation flaws. Usability suggestions Application start: âÅ"” The contest starts June 1 2016 and will be held on a year round basis. âÅ"” Submission sent prior June 1 2016 will not be accepted. Eligibility Anyone whose submission meets the qualifying suggestions is eligible. International submissions welcome, including from students (undergraduate or postgraduate) enrolled in a degree at any university. Non-students submissions are eligible. Usability suggestions. Please direct any questions about the program to . Rewards Awards range from a minimum of US$250 up to $2,500 with an unlimited reward pool. There is no limits to the reward amount per a period of time (week, month, etc). Monetary rewards aside, bugs ideas reporters who work with us to resolve flaws in our products will be credited on the Hall of Fame. If we file a bug or an idea, we will acknowledge your contribution on that page. If  you are looking for right place to order your  essay you can choose  scholarship essay writing service by . How to participate Please, send your reports through email: . Title: BIH report. Entries format: any. Legal note Employees of and their family members are not eligible for the scholarship. There is no cost involved to enter for either students or universities/colleges. Rewards will not be issued to individuals on a sanctions lists, or who are in countries (e.g. North Korea, Sudan and Syria) on sanctions lists. You are responsible for any tax implications depending on your country of residency and citizenship. There may be additional restrictions on your ability to enter depending upon your local law. Your testing must not violate any law, or disrupt or compromise any data that is not your own. may amend the program’s terms or revoke the program at any time without prior notice.

Sunday, November 24, 2019

Why Was the SAT Called the Scholastic Aptitude Test

Why Was the SAT Called the Scholastic Aptitude Test SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Shockingly, catchy slogans were not a part of the original Scholastic Achievement Test. If you’re a high school student trying to get into college, you’ve definitely heard of the SAT, and might already be studying for it. But have you ever wondered what â€Å"SAT† itself actually stands for? And does it reveal anything about what the SAT claims to measure? Well, it turns out the SAT has gone through many name changes, which reveal changes in the test’s design and purpose. Read on for the full story behind the SAT’s name. The â€Å"Scholastic Aptitude Test† (1925-1994) You may have been told that SAT stands for â€Å"Scholastic Aptitude Test.† Although this is where the initials â€Å"SAT† come from, the test existed even before College Board gave it that name. Going way back to the late 1800s, there was little agreement among colleges what skills and knowledge students needed to be prepared for college. Because of this, universities had their own entrance exams, making it hard for schoolmasters to know how to help their students get into college. The College Board was created in 1899 to help solve this problem. It aimed to improve communication between colleges and secondary schools regarding admissions requirements. It also provided a series of uniform exams, covering several subjects (including topics like German and Latin!), first given in 1901. The exams were designed to create a more uniform standard for college admission. Incidentally, this explains how the College Board got its name, as well. After a few decades, the College Board began to be more interested in â€Å"comprehensive examinations,† which would examine a student’s intelligence and reasoning, rather than their knowledge of particular subjects and facts. Thus the â€Å"Scholastic Aptitude Test† was born. Created in 1925, it was designed not be a test of achievement in school subjects but the ability to apply knowledge to discrete situations. â€Å"Scholastic† refers to ability in school, but the emphasis here was on â€Å"aptitude† – the ability to learn and apply knowledge to different situations, rather than to memorize facts. We’ll discuss those terms in more detail later in the article as we reveal why College Board eventually dropped these words. The topics tested on the original Scholastic Aptitude Test included definitions, arithmetic, and paragraph reading – which still exist on the SAT today. However, the original SAT had analogy and logic questions that are no longer a part of the test. The Scholastic Aptitude Test was used by more and more colleges as part of their admissions processes. Without the ACT (which wasn't created until 1959) it was the only such test in the US. It became known as the S.A.T. due to its initials. â€Å"Scholastic Assessment Test† Becomes the SAT (1994 – Present) The Scholastic Aptitude Test kept its name for 70 years, even as the ACT came into play in the 1960s. However, the S.A.T. faced something of an identity crisis in the 1990s. The test was redesigned in 1990 (first administered in 1994) and renamed the â€Å"Scholastic Assessment Test."The rename was to reduce the perception that the S.A.T. could definitively predict a student’s aptitude for college work. They now claimed to simply â€Å"assess† a student's potential. (We should note this was also quite redundant – assessment is another word for test, so the new name was literally the "Standardized Test Test.") The College Board's temporary name during the 1990s. From a Washington Post article written at the time, â€Å"According to the president of the College Board at the time, the name change was meant 'to correct the impression among some people that the SAT measures something that is innate and impervious to change regardless of effort or instruction.'" The test was also given the longer name SAT I: Reasoning Test, to distinguish it from the SAT II: Subject Tests, which had formerly been called â€Å"Achievement Tests.† (This is why some people still refer to the SAT Subject Tests as â€Å"SAT IIs.†) However, in 1997, College Board changed their minds yet again, and said the letters don’t actually stand for anything, so the test is not called the S.A.T., just the SAT. As quoted in the New York Times, College Board said of the change, â€Å"The term Scholastic Assessment Tests, as the tests are collectively known, is always supposed to be in the plural and neither test alone can properly be called the Scholastic Assessment Test." In other words, the College Board really doesn’t want people to have the wrong impression of what the SAT actually is or what it tests. However, since the initials â€Å"SAT† are so recognizable, they kept them. But now they are just that: initials. If Not "Aptitude," What is the SAT Supposed to Measure? So if the SAT doesn’t have any meaning, you might be wondering, what is it designed to measure? According to College Board, â€Å"The SAT is a globally recognized college admission test that lets you show colleges what you know and how well you can apply that knowledge.† In other words, the SAT still tests what the original Scholastic Aptitude Test set out to measure back in the 1920s – the ability to â€Å"understand the relation of discrete facts to one another and to apply them to new and unexpected situations.† College Board simply shied away from the word â€Å"aptitude† in the 1990s because it implied that students had a set amount of intelligence the SAT could measure. Perhaps â€Å"ability† might have been a better word – ability means â€Å"talent, skill, or proficiency in a particular area,† but unlike aptitude, which is innate, ability can increase with work and practice. But alas, College Board decided to drop the issue altogether by dropping the real name of the SAT. So even though the letters â€Å"SAT† don’t officially stand for anything, their original meaning isn’t too far from what the SAT tests today. What’s Next? Want to know more about the test formerly known as the Scholastic Aptitude Test? Learn about SAT timing, SAT scoring, and get a guide to what’s actually tested each section – Reading, Math, and Writing. Did you know the SAT is changing again in 2016? Even though its name is staying the same, the test isn’t. Get a complete guide to the changes. Exactly how long should you study for the SAT? Get an expert guide here. Disappointed with your scores? Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points?We've written a guide about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Strategic management for engineers and technologists Case Study

Strategic management for engineers and technologists - Case Study Example The differentiating factor of Harley Davidson had been its heavy customization offering to customers and its distinctive design (b). INDUSTRY Harley Davidson has been among the leading players in the motorbike industry. Two-wheeler plays significant role in leisure industry in addition to meeting transportation-needs. For instance, sporting bikes and high way cruising bikes are used for leisure and sporting purpose etc (Mason, 2012). Worldwide motorcycle industry accounts for around $63.5 billion in 2010 according to the Report Linker, (2012). The growth status of the industry has been none over the last four years as reported by aforementioned research (Report Linker, 2012). However, the report forecasts growth of around six percent in for 2010-2015 (Report Linker, 2012). KEY SUBSTITUTE PRODUCTS The close substitute of the motor bikes is car. Mintel research reports transportation expenses on the motor bikes, cars both used and new ones. The research reported significant rise old ca rs and two wheelers contribution in expenditure as compared to new cars as given below: 2001 2011 % change ?m ?m 2001-11 Consumer expenditure on new cars 32,200 26,895 -16.5 Consumer expenditure on used cars 25,400 38,165 50.3 Two-wheelers 1,774 2,226 25.5 Petrol, oil & antifreeze 19,391 34,582 78.3 Car & van hire 1,545 2,019 30.7 Other transport & motor vehicle running costs* 15,156 26,200 72.9 Total 95,466 130,087 36.3 (Mason, 2012) KEY COMPETENCIES Possession of key competencies is critical to remain among the dominant or even sustaining position in any industry. Key competencies that that motor bike firms require to develop include: Innovative expertise and research and development: Innovation capabilities have taken crucial role in the firm’s core competencies in every industry and same is the case with this industry. Innovation plays a significant role in motor bike industry as well. For instance, Japanese motor bikes invaded the US industry with innovative capability t o develop smaller, faster, fuel efficient models of the motor bikes (b). HD with its capabilities innovated improved mechanism when European Laws mandated noise control. HD managed to change its core gear production competency that was giving noise output (Modern Machine Shop, 1996). Over the period of time motor bike industry has witnessed significant innovations in form of Razr Scooters, BMW C1, Segway etc (Keller, 2012). Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) being recent innovation is to take significant market in years to come (Report Linker, 2012). Technology, speed, engine, environmental compatibility, weight and design are areas of continuous innovation in the motor bike industry. Supplier and distributor relationship Management: Supplier relationship management is critical for such mechanical products. Components outsourced are required to be strictly in line with specification in order to ensure fine fitting of final product. Similarly distributor relationship management is also extremely important. Consumer’s purchase decision receives strong impact from the distributors’ recommendation as motor bikes require significant investment. Hence, well established distributors relationship management plays dominant role in firm’s position in the market. Information Technology Systems: Technological advancement has significantly impact different industries. Research and development, managing huge manufacturing plants, financials, marketing hence all areas are dependent on effective

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Need of Nursing Theories in the Present Scenario Essay

Need of Nursing Theories in the Present Scenario - Essay Example Need of Nursing Theories in the Present Scenario Florence Nightingale, who laid the foundation of modern nursing, did not provide any theory of nursing in specific sense. However, her contributions in adult nursing can still be comprehended and used. According to William K. Cody and Jannet W. Kenney, the philosophy of theoretical nursing greatly depends on evidence based practice. Moreover, values and techniques of person centered care play a very important role. In the book Philosophical and Theoretical perspectives of Advanced Nursing Practice, the writers the writers have laid down that theory, research and practice are all interrelated in the realm of nursing (Cody & Kenney, 2006). Analyzing the question under discussion, we have to diagnose the trends of modern nursing in this context. It should be examined that how the general theoretical approach can be utilized in modern times and what is the actual situation in the health sector. Some theories are, of course, timeless and can be used for the phenomenon of transformation of modern nursing. Melanie McEwen and Evelyn M. Wills have elucidated this concept in their book Theoretical Basis for Nursing. The existing theories, no doubt, provide a fundamental framework for a modern nursing approach. Some of the theories provide valuable information and roadmap for the evolution of modern nursing. However, consistent assessment of the concepts along with theory development and evaluation is also important. Melanie McEwen and Evelyn M. Wills have also interrelated different important theories from other disciplines in sociologic, behavioral, and biomedical sciences.

Monday, November 18, 2019

Introduction to Business Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Introduction to Business Law - Essay Example In matters concerning offer and acceptance, communication is of paramount importance. In the given case, Eddie telephoned Adele on Monday to ask for quote for the delivery of 12 wild boar piglets to the Eagle Pub. This is not an offer. It is a mere inquiry and it does not amount to an offer. Adele informed Eddie that the piglets would cost ?1,100 each and would be delivered on Thursday morning at a cost of ?150. This is again just a piece of information and not an offer. Eddie was satisfied with the price but wanted the delivery to be made on Wednesday. From the facts, the conduct of Eddie is such that it can be construed that this was an offer. Adele promised to give an answer on the next morning via fax. She sent a fax next morning confirming that the delivery was possible on Wednesday and it would cost ?13,350 in total. According to the given facts, Eddie was not in his office on Tuesday morning. If the courts are convinced that the aforementioned offer by Eddie was a valid offer, his absence from his office on Tuesday morning would be immaterial. A question can be raised whether Adele’s fax’s communication to Jane was enough. It would also be immaterial. It is because of the establishment of ‘Postal Rule’. In Adams v Lindsell 1818 EWHC KB J59, the defendants offered the plaintiffs through a letter to sell some fleeces of wool and asked them to answer via post. The plaintiffs received the letter late due to misdirection but posted their acceptance right away. Before their acceptance could reach the defendants, the defendants contracted with another party to sell the wool. Almost a similar scenario was encountered in Henthorn v Fraser 1892 2 Ch 27. The courts, therefore, specified a definite time of acceptance via post. The acceptance of an offer would be deemed to have been made when the letter of acceptance is posted and is out of the power of the offeree. This rule can also be stretched to communications with fax. Adele’s acceptance was made when she sent the fax to Eddie’s office. It does not matter whether Eddie saw the fax or not. Since the offer was accepted, the object was legal, both parties had consideration and there was an intention to create legal relations, a contract had formed and was legally binding on both the parties. It had formed at the time when the acceptance was made. Eddie is wrong in his thinking that he owes nothing to Adele. His contract with Peter is a breach of contract with Adele. He can be sued for damages by Adele for his breach of contract. The damages would amount to a sum that puts Adele in such a financial position in which she would have been if there was no breach by Eddie. However, Adele would not be able to recover the loss of ?400. It is because the loss was too remote. In Hadley v Baxendale 1854 9 Exch 341, the defendant contracted to take the plaintiff’s mill shaft to London where it was to be used as a model to build a new one. Due to defendantà ¢â‚¬â„¢s fault, the shaft was returned late and it caused the plaintiff to lose profits. The plaintiff sued to recover damages for loss of profits. It was held that the loss caused was too remote and it could not have been recovered. Therefore, by the application of above case, Eddie would not have to compensate Adele for lost profits of ?400. Answer 2 In the given case, Adele went to Bambi Stores Ltd to purchase some animal feed. She was absolutely unalarmed and unwarned when she was hit by a fork-lift truck driven by

Friday, November 15, 2019

The GAP: PESTEL, SWOT and Porters Five Analysis

The GAP: PESTEL, SWOT and Porters Five Analysis Elements of Analysis: The GAP Case PESTEL Analysis Utilizing the PESTEL (Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Environmental Legal factors) model, the key drivers and areas of significant impact for the competitive advantage in the GAP case are (Johnson, Scholes Whittington 2005, pp. 65, 68): Political – This seems only to be a factor with regards to operational differences between geographic/geopolitical regions, i.e., the US vs. the UK, and social welfare policies that affect actual garment construction. Social – This is a major driver of success as â€Å"fashion† and â€Å"style† would likely fall under this auspice. Specifically, the ability of the firm to generate the perception that its products reflect the fleeting sense of a trend is central to being a leader in retail fashion. Technological – This is a significant factor as the lack of a fully function European e-commerce platform was an opportunity cost that can be measured in lost market share valued in the multi-million pound range. SWOT Analysis Strengths The Gap has existed marketing power and presence and has prime, established retail locations throughout the US and UK. Weaknesses The inability to establish e-commerce on the UK side has lost not only sales opportunities but likely tarnished the image of a company that wants to be seen a ‘hip and trendy’ in a digital age in which competitive parity is ‘bricks and clicks’. Opportunities Through existing resources and brand equity, the Gap has the opportunity to regain one of the top spots in the mind of the consumer for fashionable clothing. One of the chief means of doing so is to quickly replicate the success of the online presence of the US business in the UK. Threats Perhaps the biggest threat is that one of the smaller boutique venues will achieve sufficient success to legitimately chip away at the mindshare of the consumer that Gap currently has on a scale that will be very difficult to reclaim. Porter’s 5 Forces As with the PESTEL framework above, only the most salient factors are indicated (Porter 1980, p. 4): Potential Entrants –The rise of small-scale boutique firms allow profit-taking from firms that do not have the ‘overhead’ of a corporation such as The Gap. This allows for greater flexibility and speed in the delivery of fashion to market. The Threat of Substitute Goods – Similar to â€Å"potential entrants†, there are not only other products that perform the same function but, in times in which economics dictate allocation of scarce consumer resources amongst items that, to some extent, fall under the category of highly discretionary spending. Contrary to this, one might argue that ‘fashion will always be in style’ and thus in-demand, the attractiveness of the industry will attract more entrants. Eventually, a form of homeostasis will be achieved but only at the expense of the exit of some less profitable firms. Industry Rivalry – The combination of the above two factors creates what is arguably a hypercompetitive environment characterized by larger firms seeking to sustain competitive advantage through enduring presence while small, flexible and fast firms seek to take perhaps a temporal portion by capitalizing on that which is most trendy. The Four P’s (Price, Promotion, Place Product) The concept of the marketing mix or â€Å"the 4 P’s† gives tremendous strategic insight into how the firm goes to market with its portfolio of goods and services. Price – Pricey but not so much that they cannot be seen as â€Å"luxurious necessities† for those for whom being ‘cool’ or ‘sexy’ is a real or aspirant lifestyle. Promotion – Consistent with other aspects of the marketing mix, television advertisements feature hip and trendy music, often done by somewhat older (yet still cool) musicians with engaging music. These featuring dancing or at least, rhythmic maneuvers, in which one must assume the clothes worn are as much a part of the causative agent for such behavior as the apparent youthful attraction and attitude of the performance crew. Place – Sold only through Gap stores in mainstream retail locations such as shopping malls and through, at least in the US, Gap-branded online channels. Product – Positioned as perhaps something that could be labeled as [young] ‘sexy casual’, such an offering virtually defines its market as those who are young and view (or want to view) themselves as fashionable and trendy. Products include shirts, jeans, sweaters, accessories and more and all geared at generating such a â€Å"feel† or experience for the wearer. Overall Business Strategy In general, a firm can have one of two broad strategies: cost-leadership or differentiation. With regards to differentiation, a firm may choose to segment based upon the customer by focusing on a niche or specialty market or they may choose product differentiation as by innovation or similar pursuit (Porter 1980, p. 35). Using this general approach, the Gap clearly pursues a strategy of seeking competitive advantage by differentiating product offerings (what it does) to those for whom a sense of ‘urban/sub-urban-esque’ fashionable â€Å"personal style† is very relevant to their lifestyle (the target market) through a combination of exclusive retail locations and a corollary online venue (the where of it’s strategy). Corporate Social Responsibility The idea of corporate social responsibility is best expressed by the notion of, â€Å"†¦ the extent to which an organization exceeds the minimum obligations to stakeholders as specified through regulation and corporate governance† (Johnson, Scholes Whittington 2005, p. 191). With regards to the GAP case, such a perspective is evident when they actively seek to position themselves not simply as seeking to establish sustained competitive advantage but the advantages conferred to everyone through sustainable business. Specifically, through their alliance to support AIDS awareness and suffering, they achieve profits and good works. Antithetically, one critique would likely be to question not the outcome but the motive for doing so. The Resource-Based View The essence of the resource-based view of the view establishes the lens of the â€Å"VRIO framework†. That is, for a firm to achieve sustained competitive advantage, its resources must be valuable, rare, inimitable and organizational in nature (Barney 2007, p. 138). With this in mind, it seems to follow that the best sources of such are resources which are intangible rather than tangible. From this perspective, the ability of GAP to attract and retain designers who can consistently replicate and market what is or is about to become â€Å"fashionable† at competitive costs would meet such criteria. Strategic Recommendations The essence of the Gap to maintain/re-establish sustainable competitive advantage is to be able to be both â€Å"big† and â€Å"small† simultaneously. The competition seemingly enjoys the element of first-mover advantage with regards to their ability to operate under the radar only to appear with trendy products in the market that less insightful firms can then attempt to copy. Correspondingly, the ability of the boutique firm to mass-produce and distribute a successful product is far less than that of the Gap with it established manufacturers and well-oiled distribution channels. Thus, the Gap needs to adopt fast, flexible methods of getting fresh and accurate insights into production and into stores. In the classic business decision, the Gap has but two options: make or buy. That is, they can either allocate resources in the form of time, talent or treasure (aka, money) to acquire these abilities or they may choose to outsource these functions to other firms. Perhaps a hybridized solution is to form strategic alliances with such smaller firms that have these resources in abundance but lack the marketing and manufacturing power of the Gap. Such a solution would achieve the goal of the acquisition, even if temporary, that the Gap seems to lack as it seeks to create lasting sources of competitive advantage in the face of the hyper-competitive, mature yet dynamically fickle industry of upscale casual fashion apparel. Mature vs. Dynamic Firm The Gap competes in a arguably mature but changing and constanting renewing industry. A â€Å"mature† industry can be characterized by the following (Barney 2007, p. 94): Slowing growth in total industry demand. The development of experienced repeat customers. A slowdown in the increases in production capacity. A decrease in new product introductions. An increase in the level of international competition. An overall reduction in industry profitability. With these criteria, the retail fashion clothing industry is perhaps somewhat unique in that each year brings something of a second-chance to capture the market. Though the degree of competitiveness and production capacity indicate a mature industry, the new arrivals to the target customer segment in regards to age, affluence and attitudes provide a potentially rich new customer base. These factors lead to the classification of the industry as being â€Å"mature† but yet quite â€Å"dynamic† in the sense that technology and the preferred tastes of an ever-changing consumer segment create a need for the Gap to acquire marketing insights and speed and flexibility in production to bring such high-margin, high-risk products as fashion clothing to market. Key References Barney, J. (2007). Creating and Sustaining Competitive Advantage, 3rd edition. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Prentice-Hall. Johnson, G., K. Scholes, and R. Whittington. (2005). Exploring Corporate Strategy, 7th edition. Harlow, England: Prentice-Hall. Porter, M. (1980). Competitive Strategy: Techniques for Analyzing Industries Competitors. Boston, Massachusetts: The Free Press.

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

The Role of the Teachers Essay -- essays papers

The Role of the Teachers Engaging the Children’s Attention "It is interesting to note that during the next twenty or so years, the first generation of teachers who have never known a world without television and computers will be taking control of the educational system" (Dusewicz, 1982, p.11). This new generation of educators will need to modify their approach to teaching in order to better suit the ample technological resources available to aid in student learning. One way to meet the rising demands of educational instruction is to implement a variety of technological multimedia into the curriculum. Multimedia is defined by the ERIC (EBSCO) database as â€Å"the integration of more than one medium in a presentation or module of instruction† (2005). The first step in implementing innovative multimedia in the preschool classroom is to engage the wandering attentions of a large group of young children. One way this can be accomplished is by combining a variety of technological media such as images, sound, motion, interactivity, and tex t/words in such a way to communicate information (Cole, Means, Simkins, & Tavalin, 2002). Images in the form of maps, photographs, drawings, etc. have the potential to enhance student learning by implementing a visual aspect to the teaching method. Text can be in the form of simple one word expressions or detailed paragraphs rich in information. In the preschool classroom, it is most efficient to utilize text on a one word level so children can become familiar with the alphabet. This is the first step in building a foundation for recognizing the connection between objects or concepts and written words. To further personalize multimedia through technological resources, a variety of fonts and word art ... ...(1982). The impact of computerization on children's toys and games. Journal of Children in Contemporary Society, 14, 73-82. This article examines computerized toys and how they impact the children who use them. Snelbecker, G. E. (1982). Impact of computers and electronic technology on the teaching methodologies and the learning process. Journal of Children in Contemporary Society, 14, 43-53. This article explores key issues to consider before implementing technology in schools. The Baltimore Sun (2004, April). Earlier Learning: The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved on April 27, 2005, from www.thebaltimoresun.com. This article discusses the importance of early childhood education programs for the foundation of important life skills. Henry, S. (2005, May). The Family Channel: The Washington Post. Retrieved on May 3, 2005, from www.thewashingtonpost.com.