Merger, Acquisition, and International Strategies Essay - 3

Merger, Acquisition, and International Strategies - Essay Example They may vary from managerial, financial, marketing and the ownership ratios which define each entity’s roles and expected targets (Kesner, 2008 pp327-342). Acquisition on the other hand can be viewed as process in which a large company; a firm enjoying a large capital base, investment base, corporate and governance monopoly and/or with economies of scale, buys out new upcoming or underperforming firms with an aim of improving productivity, strengthening its market share and/or to redeem these underperforming firms out of bad debts and unemployment of resources. Acquisition should mutually benefit the acquirer and the target firm in that the acquirer is looking forward to strengthen either its market share, reduce its cost of production and efficient transfer of factors of production within the firm. On the other hand the target firm; the new, small or the underperforming firm which is bought out by the larger and performing firm, is entitled to full share of the buyout and ea ch shareholder given his share income as per the firms memorandum of understanding. International strategies can be looked at as management planning processes to expand local business entity into the foreign market. Depending with the firm’s activities, that is, if it’s a service providing firm and/or it’s a goods producing firm, strategies will differ and the company’s goals on the international market will also influence the strategies to be applied. Expansion of companies to new external markets will involve strategic management, forecasting and analysis of the new markets in that, the company must meet the consumer needs, change value, fight competition to get the market share without compromising the brand’s image. This is according to Kinnunen Jani’s fourth journal: real Options and Strategies (2011, pp117-141).With this in mind, acquisitions and/or mergers may be an appropriate model for easier penetration in to the new international market. To understand the concepts of Merger, Acquisition and International strategies, we shall look at the different merging and acquiring firms in terms of their performances when they were sole entities and after merging. In addition we shall evaluate the international strategies used by these firms; those that have expanded their operations outside the United States and evaluate those that have their operations within the United States, how they fair in the internal trade and possibly advise them on either to merge or to remain in sole proprietorship. We shall look at two telecommunication companies in the United States: AT&T and Comtech telecommunications. Question1. For the corporation that has acquired another company, merged with another company, or been acquired by another company, evaluate the strategy that led to the merger or acquisition to determine whether or not this merger or acquisition was a wise choice? AT&T is the largest provider of communication services and b roadband subscriptions television service. Providing both the mobile and fixed telephony services, it enjoys a commanding market share of 107.9 million mobile customers; the company has seen a lot of transformations in terms of operations ownership and expansion since its inception in 1885. AT&T acquired Bell Company in December 31 1899 for a legal lawsuit. Being a market leader after the invention of the

Leonardo da Vinci Lifepath and Activity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Leonardo da Vinci Lifepath and Activity - Essay Example In Milan, he began various projects for the duke and managed to complete six paintings among them there was one called the Virgin of the Rock, which showed figures from the bible including the Virgin Mary, the baby Jesus together with John the Baptist which he finished in approximately 1485. In Milan, Leonardo did not just work as an artist, but he also advised other people on subjects such as engineering and architecture. He was fond of writing notes and filled many pages with observations and thoughts on everything from the human body to astronomy. Leonardo came up with inventions in his notebooks, which could not be made at the time. For instance, he designed a helicopter, an underwater breathing device, a tank and a submarine which showed that he was way ahead of time (Joanne 6).Leonardo wrote most of his personal notes in mirror writing. He only used normal writing if he wanted his texts to be read by others. It is not clear why he did this, but several reasons have been suggest ed. His friends wrote that he wrote and painted using the left hand. In those times, writing left handed was a mess since the wet ink would smear as his hand moved across the paper; therefore, writing in reverse would stop the ink from smudging. It is also suggested that he did this so that people could not read.Leonardo was said to be tall with long blonde hair whose abilities were beyond the ordinary that he could readily solve any difficulty. In addition, Leonardo was said to be able to sing divinely.... Leonardo came up with inventions in his notebooks, which could not be made at the time. For instance, he designed a helicopter, an underwater breathing device, a tank and a submarine which showed that he was way ahead of time (Joanne 6). Leonardo wrote most of his personal notes in mirror writing. He only used normal writing if he wanted his texts to be read by others. It is not clear why he did this, but several reasons have been suggested. His friends wrote that he wrote and painted using the left hand. In those times, writing left handed was a mess since the wet ink would smear as his hand moved across the paper; therefore, writing in reverse would stop the ink from smudging. It is also suggested that he did this so that people could not read and steal his ideas (Jill 18). Leonardo was said to be tall with long blonde hair whose abilities were beyond the ordinary that he could readily solve any difficulty. In addition, Leonardo was said to be able to sing divinely and his charming conversation worn all hearts. Leonardo did more to create the concept of the artist genius than anyone else of his times. He constantly stressed the intellectual aspect of the art and creativity. Leonardo is said to be so curious, this curiosity made him shift from a project to another (Joanne 8). Back in Florence, Leonardo painted an artwork that became one of the most recognized art images in the world, the Mona Lisa; for a long time no one knew who the woman was. However, it is now known that she was Lisa di Gherardini, the wife of Florentine silk trader named Francesco Del Giocondo. It is said that Leonardo took the painting with him everywhere. Francesco commissioned the portrait with the aim of

Financial Analysis of Samsung

Financial Analysis of Samsung In todays era of digital there are companies drifted towards the digital technology. The company Samsung has made his position in the market by themselves and now days recognised as the most innovative and good quality brand in the sector of electronic industry. The Samsung follow the policy of we will devote out human resources and technologies to create superior products and services thereby contributing a better global society. In this assignment there is financial analysis of the Samsung Company in relation to the last five years summary. The various aspects are discussed critically in this assignment work. In addition to this there is comparison of the Samsung Company with respect to the Nokia Company a big rival of the Samsung Company in the market. There is comparison of the financial positions of both of the companies to make the differentiation between their strategies so they in future they can be benefited by this. Introduction to Samsung Company The Samsung Company is famous company in the area of electronic industry. This company was established in 1969 in Taegu, Korea. The founder of this company was Byung Chull Lee. At the very first time the company has started business with the manufacturing of Black and White TVs. At the early period of time the company was at the steady growth and after the end of year 2004 the company has got about the sale of  £52 billion and has assets about  £38 Billion. At this time the company had employed approximately 113 thousand at the worldwide. In this year the company got the competitive advantage too as it go ahead to its competitive rivals like Kodak, Philips, and Panasonic etc. (Barney and Hesterly, 2008, PC-2 -1). At that time the company involved in the manufacturing of TVs, Computers and Av equipments, Mobile Phones, Networking Equipments, LCD Screens, Notebook computers, Laptops, HDTVs , Washing Machines and other electronic equipments etc. (Barney and Hesterly, 2008, PC-2 -6) . According to the company the success they achieved is purely depend on their contribution that how they manage their company in an effective way by considering the things like contribution to society and mutual prosperity at the worldwide level among the people. The chairman of the company has told that the group of Samsung always guide their employees to pat emphasise over the efficiency and design of the products. Under the observation of the formal chairman the company able to attain the leading position in the electronic market (Barney and Hesterly, 2008, PC-2 -6). In relation to this the below diagram has shown the organisational structure of the company. Financial Analysis of the Company (Samsung) The Samsung is continued to grow and gain profit in the market at high rate. From the financial statement of the last five years of the company has clearly showed that how the company is on the track of the progress. From year 2005 to 2010 there is increase in the net profit of the company. For the year 2005 the company has gained the profit with 31 % but in the next year it was decreased by 1 % and become 30% then for the coming consecutive years there is decrease as that was recession period but still in recession it made the profit of 28% in both 2007 and 2008. For the further improvement in next year of 2009 there is total gross profit is by 33.5 % and fro the next and present year of 2010 the company has the highest profit of 35.3 % as a gross profit of the company. From the financial statement given in the appendixes it is clear that the company has got the improvement in last five years. Till year 2010 there is total assets of the company are 125,677 billion as Korean KRW. Source http://www.corporateinformation.com/Company-Snapshot.aspx?cusip=C410P0400 Ratio Analysis of the company Samsung The following table show the ratios for the company over last five years. The different ratios find in the table are ROE in which there are ratios of Profitability, assets turnover ratio and leverages are included and there is average ration of ROE is given. For the next there is Debt/ equity ratio for the five years followed by the Net debt/equity ratio and in the last column there is total earnings per share are given. The ratios are calculated from the balance sheet and income statements for the last five years of the company. The ratios calculated are shown in the following table for the years 2005-2010. Introduction to Nokia The company Nokia has started in year 1856 at the banks of Nokianvirta River. The company at that time is major force in the industry. After that it undergoes merger with Cable Company to enter into the market of electronic by the name of Nokia Corporation. The new company successfully entered into the market and play a pioneering role in the area of mobile communications. Due to the globalisation the company soon grow at fast pace and there is good position attained by the company. The most strategic decision taken by the company was in 1992 that to concentrate on the telecommunication business only. At present the Nokia Corporation  is engaged in the business of communication and manufacturing of the mobile. This company is at the number one position in the market. The company had over 123000 employees at present working in the company. The company has its roots in 120 countries of the world. The annual sale of the company is 41 Euro billion and has profit about 1.2 euro Billion as on the year of 2009. This company is recognised as the worlds largest manufacturer of mobile phones and even it provides the navigation system too in addition. The market shares of the company was 30% of the global market in the third quarter of year 2010 operating profit of à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬1.2 billion as of 2009. It is the worlds largest manufacturer of  mobile telephones: its global device  market share  was 30% in the third quarter 2010, but this value is less than to year 2009 when it was 34 %. The Nokia is continuing to growing by introducing advance technology accordin g to the global needs of the society and market. Financial analysis of Nokia For the financial analysis of Nokia there is consideration of the annual statements for the last five years of Nokia and also there is consideration of the balance sheet of the Nokia for the last five years from 2005- 2009. The following table is formulated for the explanation purpose to analyse the financial position of the company. Ration Analysis of Nokia The following table shows the ratio analysis of the company on the bases of above table which represents the overall financial statement of the company. From above table of ratios it has been seen that there is deterioration in the ROE ratios from 2007 to 2008 and from 2008 to 2009. There is also deterioration in the ROA ratio with the same pace. Comparison of Nokia and Samsung The both companies are reputed companies in the mobile sector. The Nokia is leading than the Samsung Company. At present the nokia is number one company but there is deterioration in the sales of the company and even in the ratios of the company if it continues it will be hard for the company to compete with its rivals. On the other hand the company Samsung is continue to grow. There is continue growth has seen in the company. As from the financial analysis of the company and the ratios calculated it has seen that at present the company has raised itself from the 15th position to the 5th position and this is milestone in the history of telecommunication industry. The company is continuing on this track to progress. The following presentation shows the comparison between these two companies. Nokia 2009 Samsung 2009 Position in Market 1st 5th Operating income ( 1716) 8973 Net profit 0.63 % 15.4% From above table it is clear that Samsung is making profit regularly. On the other hand there is continues deterioration in the Nokia from last four consecutive years. Vendor Conclusion From the above report it is concluded that the financial analysis is very important for the companies in every field. This is useful in find out the level of company and moreover this is useful in having comparison with the other companies so that for the future welfare possible steps should be taken. The financial analysis make the company knows about the finance they have to spend and where they need to spend this. This even gives the evaluation for the profit and loss for the company.

Nuclear Iconography in Post-Cold War Culture :: Culture War Nuclear Iconography Essays

Nuclear Iconography in Post-Cold War Culture I wish in this paper to sketch a project involving nuclear iconography and post-Cold War culture. At the heart of this project is the claim that the current historical moment forms a legitimation crisis for the scientific, military, industrial, governmental, and "cultural" institutions whose interests are configured in the design, manufacture, deployment, and "use" of nuclear weapons. Within this moment, a variety of progressive and regressive movements have been intitiated through the production and reception of nuclear weapons rhetoric. The role of visual iconography in nuclear hegemony has traditionally received minor attention (e.g., compared with the "nukespeak" of foreign policy, mass media news coverage, and literary works). Recent scholarly articles and books have attempted to correct this verbalist imbalance by examining the genres and discourses of nuclear art (e.g., painting), cinema and photography. Collectively, this work establishes that the Bomb is -- after W.J.T. Mitc hell -- an "imagetext" in which verbal and iconic discourses interanimate to produce ways of (not) seeing and forms of (not) feeling that have historically positioned cultural subjects in relation to the technologies, policies, figures, locations, events, and institutions (in both senses as "customary practices" and "formal organizations") which have constituted the nuclear condition . . . "Now Do You See It?": Post-Cold War Nuclear Iconography I am interested in the role of visual rhetoric in maintaining this "war of position" between military, environmental, arms-control, pacifist, industrial, scientific and federal interests [in post-Cold War culture]. Issues in this research include the nature of verbal and visual codes in nuclear representations (e.g., in critical disagreement over the success of nuclear landscape photography in evoking viewer knowledge of the deadly, invisible radiation which "really" suffuses its depicted objects), the uses to which images are put in various social contexts (e.g., in museum exhibits commemorating the Japanese atomic bombings), and the consequences of images for existing power relations between nuclear authorities and citizens (e.g., in legitimating the "accelerated" -- and arguably incomplete -- cleanup of contaminated nuclear weapons plants by federal agencies and their contractors) . . . . . . A preliminary survey of prominent nuclear weapons images suggests [this] "new" theme in this process, unique to the post-Cold War era . . . . . . "Museumification" This theme describes the inter-related processes by which the partially decrepit and moribund nuclear apparatus is being dismantled, appropriated, recycled, commodified, and memorialized in contemporary culture (e.

Retailing businesses Essay

Different retailing businesses have very different distribution methods based on the types of product that they sell, some arguably more effectively than others. As mentioned in an earlier assignment, there are three main types of distribution channels. The first is the channel that goes from the producer, then to the wholesaler, then to the retailer or sells to the consumer. The second channel starts with the producer who sells straight to the retailer, who then sells to the consumer. The third channel goes directly from the producer to the consumer. Channels one and two are classed as indirect marketing channels, whereas channel three is a direct marketing channel as it goes straight from producer to consumer. All of the distribution channels start with a producer who will create the products, for example the person that milks the cows to get milk. For the first channel, the producer makes the product and then sells it to a wholesaler, such as Costsco who will purchase a huge quantity of products from them. They would do this to make sure that they have enough to sell onto retailers. They would keep a large amount of the product, for example some kind of confectionary, in there warehouse so they’re in a suitable environment to be kept until they’re sold on. Next, the retailer, who could be a small store or a larger store, who would want to purchase a specific amount of products from the wholesalers, not in as bulk form as the wholesaler would have purchased them in. This method would typically be used by used by smaller, more personal stores, that don’t need to buy in such bulk. This channel is effective for confectionary products for example, as Costco can get sweets such as Dairy Milk bars, or Skittles, at an incredibly low price for huge boxes. It is good because it means that the businesses further down the chain will have confidence that they will be able to get the products that they want because the wholesaler gets the items I such bulk and if they sell all of their products, they can replenish easily. For the second channel, the retailer can give their consumers a guarantee that the product is fresher than if they used channel one, as they are getting the product directly from the producer before selling it to the consumer. This is because companies get the products directly from producers so they can guarantee the quality, unlike the first channel where the products go through two separate distributors which could contaminate the product or  raise the risk of it being damaged. An example of this would be the electronics company Sony. Due to the fact that Sony produces their own products and then sells them onto other electronic stores such as Currys/PC World who will then sell the products onto the consumers. The third Channel will typically deal with the consumer directly rather than using a middleman. This means that the customer will get the product or service at that moment on purchase. An example of this could be seen with Gregg’s Bakery. Due to the fact they will have their products made on site and would be able to sell their customers everything they have produced in store without using other stores ford or bringing in any assistance. By doing this it gives Greggs a better look by being able to say that they produce all of their products on site and they can also guarantee that the products are fresh. Different sectors of business will use different techniques when going through the distribution stage differently. This can be from the difference of storing products whilst distributing them and how they actually transport the product to the next person in the channel. For example, how a food retailer and gets their products distributed will be different to how a clothing sto re gets theirs. For a restaurant they use a wide variety of produces such as local farmers and local fishermen, depending on the type of restaurant that they own. They could have very specific producers, for example if they were a halal based restaurant they would have to be very specific about their supplier. Then they will have to either make a deal with the producer/supplier so they can collect produce direct from them. Then they will prepare the food ready to cook it and will store the prepared ingredients safely at the correct temperature. They will then wait for the person at the end of the chain – the consumer – to come to the restaurant to cook it for them. This is good for the producer because money will track back to them through the restaurant gaining the money from selling the meals. The money goes into the restaurant from customers pockets, and then the restaurant will use a portion of this money to re-purchase some supplies from the producer. This is when a good working relationship will develop between them as they will gain more sales and earn more money back. Continuing with a food retailer, Greggs or a restaurant will want to get fresher ingredients than other retailers so that they can make sure they produce all of their products to be as fresh as can be. This  can be done for example by Gregg’s own in-store bakeries having their ingredients delivered in the morning and then they bake them the same morning to make sure they are as fresh as possible. When they order the ingredients from the producers they will have to check that the supplier is storing the produce correctly before purchasing, otherwise they may purchase products that could be unsuitable for them to use and if they did use them, could create problems for them in the future. A good example of this could be seen with restaurants purchasing fish. A lot of the time they would send an employee to get it directly after it has been caught on the boat . They do this so that there are no issues with how the fish is stored, as if it is stored incorrectly whilst distributed it will cause severe food poisoning and could lead to the restaurant getting sued or shut down. A clothing retailer will start the process from the producer then they will involve the their designers and then they would create the products. If the retailer manufactures their own brand clothing for example Primark the producers send the finished garments directly to their warehouses fir distribution into their stores. If it is a clothing retailer that buys garments from fashion houses or via intermediaries then the finished items would go to their wholesalers and then potentially go to retailers depending on what business it is and then finally, they would be bought by the consumers. They would start the process by collecting the cotton from the cotton farmers then they would be shipped off to the factories where weavers and designers will create the fabrics, the fabric factories will then sell them to clothing manufacturing companies who will create something that retailers can sell on to make a profit from the whole process. When they have been created they will choose either to sell them onto a wholesaler or to only sell it in their particular stores. With some businesses having stores in other countries it means they have to have all of their products send to one area then they will have to have those products sent to other stores across to other countries, extending the distribution channels. A retail business such as House of Fraser will be using the second channel. This means that they will get their clothing material/parts sent to them and then thy will create their products, and then send them to their retail stores. Because they have a large area inside their stores to store and display their stock it means they can have a large amount of one clothing item on sale at once. Because  House of Fraser is a bigger company than Greggs they will be using more trucks to get their products to them. Another difference between the two would be that House of Fraser will be able to store their products for a longer period of time due to them selling the non-perishable products unlike Greggs, who make the majority of their products on a daily basis and at the end of the day would have to throw those products away otherwise they would go off. In terms of cost, a restaurant will be willing to spend money in order to get products distributed to them in a safe and hygienic way, as long as they know the full process that the products take. For other businesses, such as Primark, the aim is to get them distributed to them at a very low cost, as long as the products aren’t damaged. This is because the products aren’t perishable and there is no need to store them in any specific way to keep them secure.

An Evaluation of the Factors Affecting the Online Shopping

Abstract Online shopping has grown rapidly in China over the last decade, yet there are only a few studies in Chinese context. This research focuses on B2C (Business to Customer) and C2C (Customer to Customer) to identify the factors that affect online shopping intention of consumers in both positive and negative aspects. However, there are some differences exist that influence online shopping intention among different countries.As a result, this essay evaluates the determinants of online shopping intention of Chinese consumers by comparing consumers in other countries, which will give an insight for online sellers to develop more competitive strategies in China. Contents Abstract Introduction1 Literature Review3 1. Global consumers6 1. 1 Main factors: price, convenience and risks6 1. 2 Additional factors7 2. Chinese consumers8 2. 1 Main factors: quality, delivery and payment security8 2. 2 Additional factors: social influence9 Conclusion11 Bibliography14 IntroductionThere are a grow ing number of people choosing online shopping and this growing trend has emerged all over the world over the last few decades. Online shopping is defined as â€Å"The act of purchasing products or services over the Internet† (Business dictionary, 2012). Similarly, iResearch (2011) defines it as â€Å"The process of transferring commodities or services from the merchant/seller to individual users (consumers) via the Internet. Such a process is called online shopping if any of its capital flow, logistics, or information flow involves the Internet. Benefiting from the rapid economic growth and the development of the Internet, online shopping has become increasingly prevalent in China. The amount of transactions in online shopping, accounts for 1. 1% in 2008 rising to 3. 3% in 2010 of China’s total retail sales of consumer goods (CNNIC, 2011). Moreover, the latest report illustrates that up to December 2012, the number of net citizens in China reached 513 million, of whic h online shoppers are 194 million and the figure has kept a steady development trend with an increase of 20. % compared to the end of 2011 (CNNIC, 2012). It can be seen that online shopping in China has experienced a robust growth and demonstrates a great potential when compared to mature online shopping markets, such as the USA, UK and Japan. However, the development of China’s online shopping has encountered some obstacles, such as the limitations found within delivery and payment systems (Liu, He, Gao, & Xie, 2008, p. 925 & p. 932).Moreover, most research into online shopping has focused on western countries, but very little research has been done in the Chinese context (Kau, Tang, & Ghose, 2003, p. 140; Liu, et al. , 2008, p. 921; So, Wong, & Sculli, 2005, p. 1225). Therefore, in order to reach its potential and to maintain the steady growth tendency of online shopping market in China, it is important to attempt to comprehend the issues influencing the online purchase int entions of Chinese consumers.Thus, the purpose of this paper is to identify and evaluate factors that signify the differences between online purchase intentions of Chinese and global online shoppers. This paper is structured as follows. The next section reviews the related literature about the issues relating to online shopping. Section 1 will identify which factors are prominent or auxiliary and may affect online shopping intention of global consumers while section 2 will compare Chinese consumers with global consumers and evaluate the significance of the differences.Literature Review The e-commerce industry has developed rapidly worldwide over the last few decades including the online shopping market in China which has experienced steady growth. Much research has tried to identify what the factors are and how they affect the online shopping purchase intention; however, a large proportion of these studies have been concerned about the West while only a few studies have focused on C hinese online shoppers and take into account the cultural impact (Kau, et al. , 2003, p. 140; Liu, et al. , 2008, p. 21; So, et al. , 2005, p. 1225). To allow the reader to better understand the factors affecting online shopping intention in China, this section will offer academic research reviews regarding this subject, including different theories, influential factors, and concerns relating to cultural differences. Since online shopping has become more popular, it has attracted widespread attention. Different models and theories have been adopted by many researchers to identify and examine the factors affecting online shopping intention or behaviours. The Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA), the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB)† have been frequently used (So, et al. , 2005, pp. 1226-1228). Chiu, Chang, Cheng and Fang (2009, p. 761) extended TAM â€Å"by introducing e-service quality dimensions, trust and enjoyment in the development of a theoretical model to study customers’ repurchase intentions of online shopping†. Similarly, Liao and Shi (2009, p. 5) conducted the related research which is also based on the TAM framework, but combined it with â€Å"environmental and social constructs to elucidate consumers’ attitude and behavioural intention to use e-retailing†. A number of studies have extensively discussed the factors influencing online shopping intention over many years. â€Å"Convenience, price savings, extensive information, enjoyment, and broad product selection are considered as major benefits of online shopping† (Fang, Chiu, & Wang, 2011 cited Childers et al. , 2001, p. 82). In addition, another research (Liao & Shi, 2009, p. 28) reveals that social influence, such as online consumer reviews or word of mouth play a significant role in affecting individual behavioural intention to shop online, which is consistent with the result of the research done by Chung and Shin (2 010, p. 473) and Lee, Park and Han (2011, p. 187-188). Moreover, many researchers suggest that â€Å"perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness† of shopping through the Internet are important antecedents of intentions (Chiu, et al. 2009, p. 763; Fang, et al. , 2011, p. 486; So, et al. , 2005, p. 1238). Even though online shopping brings some benefits to consumers which attract them to shop online, some factors have a negative effect on consumers’ purchase decision. For example, poor quality products and underdeveloped payment system; in particular, many researchers demonstrate that trust is a vital factor for online consumers to make purchase decisions. Xu, Zou and Wang (2006, p. 202) also point out that trust is considered to be the most important factor.In contrast, an earlier study suggests that in some countries the most important factor is price while trust is not as important as price (Kim, Xu, & Gupta, 2011 cited in Reibstein, 2002, p. 8). Recently, some res earchers have started paying more attention to the Chinese online shopping market and some comparative studies have been conducted in the context of online shopping in China due to the fast development of the Internet and rapid growth sales in online shopping. Areas covered include China and Japan (Atchariyachanvanich & Okada, 2006) and China and America (Ou, Sia, & Banerjee, 2007).It has been demonstrated that the differences between consumers in China and those in other countries, and namely issues dealing with product quality, logistic infrastructure, payment systems and social influence. This section has reviewed literature about the major theories used in research and some factors that research has suggested including the difference between China and other countries. In the following sections, this research will classify and evaluate the dynamic factors and related issues regarding consumers’ online shopping intentions by comparing China to some other countries. . Global consumers With the increasing intensified competition in online shopping, it is more essential than ever for online retailers to understand the factors affecting consumers’ intention in online shopping, which is critical to success. Therefore, a number of studies focusing on influential factors of online shopping appear in many published conference proceedings and journals. This section will categorize the issues influencing global consumers’ online shopping intentions. 1. 1 Main factors: price, convenience and risksThere are some factors which attract consumers to choose online shopping. Firstly, price has long been considered as a significant predictor when customer making a decision and e-commerce allows consumers to compare the prices across different online shops to find out the cheapest product easily (Kim, et al. , 2011, P. 1). Moreover, compared to traditional retail shops, internet-based shops have a cost advantage; as a result, they are able to offer their p roducts at a cheaper price than are available in traditional shops (Atchariyachanvanich & Okada, 2006, p. 281; Liao & Shi, 2009, p. 27). Secondly, many researchers also point out that as well as price the perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness are important factors to attract consumers to engage in online shopping (Chiu, et al. , 2009, p. 763; Fang, et al. , 2011, p. 486; So, et al. , 2005, p. 1238). For example, online shopping provides the opportunity for consumers to easily locate shops and products, especially convenient for target-oriented consumers who have already decided what they want to buy. (Fang, et al. , 2011, p. 485).On the other hand, even though online shopping brings some benefits and attracts some consumers, there are those that are aware of the risks involved and so this may lead to them rejecting it. Kau, Tang and Ghose (2003, p. 141) argue that those risks include: lack of security, the possibility of credit card fraud, uncertainty about the quality of p roducts, and return issues when the products are failed to meet consumers’ expectation. Moreover, due to the distances involved with online shopping and the fact that consumers are unable to touch or see the products seems to be an inherent perception of risk in shopping online (Kim, et al. 2011, p. 1; Kuhlmeier & Knight, 2005, p. 463). 1. 2 Additional factors Apart from the major factors mentioned above, some additional factors influence the intention of online shopping as well. First of all, the amount of availability of extensive information and choices in online shops which the traditional stores are unable to compete with. Therefore, the options of products available in conjunction with the very latest information being available are a relatively important attractant to online shopping over the traditional retail store (So, Wong and Sculli, 2005, p. 235). In addition, some other influential factors were identified by Kau, Tang and Ghose (2003, p. 140), Atchariyachanvanic h and Okada (2006, p. 2281) , and Fang, Chiu and Wang (2011, p. 482), such as time saving, time flexibility, real-time marketing offers, sharing other online customer reviews and enjoyment. Furthermore, Kuhlmeier and Knight (2005, p. 463) suggest that the more experience of using internet the more likelihood of the consumer to become an online shopper. 2. Chinese consumersSince neither can the existing knowledge of Chinese consumers’ behaviour on traditional shopping nor the reported findings about online shopping in other countries can be directly applied to the online shopping market in China; therefore, marketing strategies need to be tailored to the specific market (So, et al. , 2005, p. 1225). This section will highlight and address any differing issues influencing online shopping intention of Chinese consumers by conducting a comparison between Chinese consumers and consumers in other countries. 2. 1 Main factors: quality, delivery and payment security Liu, He, Gao and Xie (2008, p. 31) state that Chinese people are quite sensitive to price and like negotiating with sellers to achieve a satisfactory deal. Similarly, Atchariyachanvanich and Okada (2006, p. 2283-2285) believe that the main reason why Japanese and Chinese consumers shop online is for cheaper price; however, they add that cheaper price is not the most important reason affecting Chinese consumers’ online purchase intention, Chinese consumers rank the security of the website and the ability to read previous customers’ reviews at the top. It seems to highlight Chinese online shoppers’ uncertainty whether the products they buy re genuine and have good quality or not. Beside quality of products, delivery as another essential factor was concerned by Chinese consumers. Just as CNNIC (2012) shows in the 29th report that delivery is one of the main aspects causing consumer dissatisfaction of online shopping; more specifically, 12. 3%, 5% and 3. 6% of Chinese consumers were not satisfied due to delayed delivery, lost or damaged products and bad attitude of delivery staff respectively. As a matter of fact, Chinese logistic infrastructure lags behind some countries; particularly in terms of limited choices of delivery companies and long delivery time.In contrast, the US has a mature and efficient distribution network supporting online shopping, because outsourced third parties can provide professional services, such as FedEx, UPS, DHL, etc. (Ou, et al. , 2007, p. 23). Research carried out by Xu, Zou and Wang (2006, p. 206) shows that online payment security is the most important factor which should be strengthened by e-commerce companies because online shoppers pay more attention to it. Additionally, unsound credit card payment system is more likely to cause financial risk and privacy leakage.In the US, using credit card is the most popular way to pay for online shopping, while in China is still cash payment due to the cash-based culture and immature cr edit card payment system (Ou, et al. , 2007, pp. 21-22). This results from the immature Internet technology which to a large extent impedes the development of online payment system in China. Consequently, the financial risk might be caused by underdevelopment online payment system, which is a significant reason leading to a decision to reject online shopping (Zhou, Dai, & Zhang, 2007, pp. 49 & 55). 2. 2 Additional factors: social influenceBased on Hofstede’s cultural model, online consumer behaviour can be predicted by five cultural difference dimensions, one of them is individualism – collectivism, for instance, America and New Zealand belong to individualism while China belongs to collectivism. This, in turn, has led to different online shopping behaviour among consumers belonging to Eastern and Western cultures (Zhou, et al. , 2007, p. 46). Several studies have revealed that people from a collectivist culture should be more easily influenced by people within their s ocial circles (Liao & Shi, 2009, p. 5). Consequently, social influence should not be ignored in the context of online shopping in China. On the one hand, human interaction cannot be fully satisfied in Internet-based shopping; therefore, it may not be easily accepted by Chinese which are more likely to enjoy interacting with others when shopping (So, et al. , 2005, p. 1237). In addition, it is very common in China that one tends to follow if friends or relatives are interested in online shopping (Liao & Shi, 2009, p. 27).Furthermore, online consumer reviews or electronic word of mouth as a specific way of social influence in the context of online shopping plays an important role in affecting online consumers to make purchase decision (Chung & Shin, 2010, p. 473; Lee, et al. , 2011, p. 188). It seems that social influence is an importance factor affecting online shopping intention of Chinese consumers. Conclusion This project reviewed literature regarding online shopping issues firstl y. It then classified some main factors and additional factors which influence global consumers to choose or not choose Internet-based shopping.Specifically, cheaper price and convenience of online shopping have positive effect in affecting global consumers’ online shopping intentions; however, some risks in terms of products, financial and private information are likely to cause the rejection of online shopping. Finally, it acknowledged and assessed the divergent issues affecting Chinese consumers’ online shopping intention with a comparative approach. Chinese consumers are quite different to global ones due to culture difference and deficiencies within payment and delivery sytems.For example, perheaps because of the high rate of counterfeit and inferior products, Chinese online shoppers pay more attention to the product quality than price. Moreover, in China the logistic infrastructure and payment system are less developed and less mature than in other developed coun tries and this brings greater fear to Chinese consumers to conduct online shopping. Additionally, social influence and associated information from previous consumers who express their opinions online about products and sellers are essential for the Chinese online consumers.As noted above, online shop retailers should not simply apply the existing knowledge about global online consumers to Chinese online shoppers, cultural differences must be taken into account, which is critical to their success and will benefit the development of online shopping market in China. (Words: 2507) Bibliography Atchariyachanvanich, K. , & Okada, H. (2006, 17-20 December 2006). A Study on Factors Affecting the Purchasing Process of Online Shopping: A Survey in China & Japan. Paper presented at the the 7th Asia Pacific Industrial Engineering and Management Systems Conference, Bangkok, Thailand.Chiu, C. M. , Chang, C. C. , Cheng, H. L. , & Fang, Y. H. (2009). Determinants of customer repurchase intention in online shopping. Online Information Review, 33(4), 761-784. Chung, K. H. , & Shin, J. I. (2010). The antecedents and consequents of relationship quality in internet shopping. Asia Pacific Journal of Marketing and Logistics, 22(4), 473-491. Fang, Y. H. , Chiu, C. M. , & Wang, E. T. G. (2011). Understanding customers’satisfaction and repurchase intentions : An integration of IS success model, trust and justice. Internet Research, 21(4), 479-503. Kau, A. K. , Tang, Y. C.E. , & Ghose, S. (2003). Typology of online shoppers. Jouranal of Consumer Marketing, 20(2), 139-156. Kim, H. -W. , Xu, Y. J. , & Gupta, S. (2011). Which is more important in Internet shopping, perceived price or trust? Electronic Commerce Research and Applications. Kuhlmeier, D. , & Knight, G. (2005). Antecedents to internet-based purchasing: a multinational study. International Marketing Review, 22(4), 460-473. Lee, J. , Park, D. H. , & Han, I. (2011). The different effects of online consumer reviews on consum ers’purchase intentions depending on trust in online shopping malls.Internet Research, 21(2), 187-206. Liao, Z. Q. , & Shi, X. P. (2009). Consumer perceptions of internet-based e-retailing: an empirical research in Hong Kong. Journal of Services Marketing, 23(1), 24-30. Liu, X. , He, M. Q. , Gao, F. , & Xie, P. H. (2008). An empirical study of online shopping customer satisfaction in China: a holistic perspective. International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management, 36(11), 919-940. Ou, C. X. J. , Sia, C. L. , & Banerjee, P. (2007). WHAT IS HAMPERING ONLINE SHOPPING IN CHINA?Information Technology Management, 18(1), 16-32. So, W. C. M. , Wong, T. N. D. , & Sculli, D. (2005). Factors affecting intentions to purchase via the internet. Industrial Management & Data Systems, 105(9), 1225-1244. Xu, H. J. , Zou, X. W. , & Wang, H. S. (2006). Consumers'attitudes of e-commerce in China. Scholarship and Professional Work – Business, 7(2), 202-207. Zhou, L. , Dai, L. W. , ; Zhang, D. S. (2007). ONLINE SHOPPING ACCEPTANCE MODEL— A CRITICAL SURVEY OF CONSUMER FACTORS IN ONLINE SHOPPING. Journal of Electronic Commerce Research, 8(1), 41-62.

Karl Marx and George Shaw

Karl Marx and George Shaw Introduction Karl Marx’s article was essential in explaining how the working class and the elite relate to one another through the capitalist machinery, while the play ‘Mrs. Warren’s Profession’ confirms Marx’s assertions by portraying the effects of an exploitative system of labor. The paper will start with the basics of Marx’s theory in the book and relate them to its manifestations in Shaw’s play. Thereafter, the report will identify commonalities between these two writer’s schools of thought and make a conclusion.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Karl Marx and George Shaw specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Comparison Karl Marx argues that the failures of capitalism will eventually lead to its destruction because it is self contradictory. Marx affirms that wages are what a laborer receives for his work; it is thus a commodity like the equipment that the employer uses to get work done or the lease agreement that he pays in order to open shop. Therefore, labor may be regarded as an investment in production. A worker has the option of selling his labor (commodity) to any investor he chooses at any time. However, he has no right to refrain from selling it at all as he will have no earnings and no means to sustain himself; as the author eloquently puts it â€Å"he works in order to live† (Marx 204). A laborer’s life is all about selling his labor for sustenance. In other words, capitalism has minimized his choices and forced him to contend with this scheme of things. The same concepts prevail in George Bernard Shaw’s play Mrs. Warren’s profession. In this Victorian society, men have no option but to sell their labor. However, women experience even worse predicaments than their male counterparts. They can only sell their labor if they are as highly educated as Vivie. Most of them do not even have the option of exchang ing labor for wages. They must reduce themselves to prostitutes or unhappy wives. Capitalism is inherently exploitative in the play because it gives male workers minimal choices and women even worse alternatives. Karl Marx explains that capitalism is exploitative because employers steal the actual value of worker’s input for benefits. When a laborer works for the capitalist, his pay is equivalent to his value as a commodity. The wage is what is necessary to create the laborer as the employer must train and prepare him for the job (Marx 207). However, Marx notes that laborers produce more value than they consume, and this makes the employer-employee relationship unequal. In order to get profit, capitalists take advantage of the surplus value that a worker produces. For instance, if a worker need to give 6 hours of his time in order to match his sustenance, then any extra hours will be a surplus that exceeds the value of what it took to produce the worker. The stolen excess of a laborer’s worth is an employer’s gain (Marx 208). Therefore, no equal exchange takes place between workers and employers; cheap labor is the means with which the ruling class attains its status.Advertising Looking for essay on political sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More These sentiments echo throughout George Bernard Shaw’s play. Vivie learns about Mrs. Warren’s profession from her mother. When Mrs. Warren defends her profession, she says â€Å"How could you keep your self respect in such starvation and slavery? And what’s a woman’s worth? What’s life worth? Without self respect! Where would we be now if we minded the clergyman’s foolishness? Scrubbing floors for one and six pence a day and nothing to look forward to but the workhouse infirmary† (Shaw 219). Mrs. Warren was conscious of the unequal exchange that takes place in most conventional p rofessions for women. The worth that women, in particular, provided their employers were in no way related to the meager earnings the got. These exploitative conditions were similar to the ones that slaves experienced. It should be noted that although George Shaw’s play appears to support prostitution, the industry is still just as exploitative as other conventional ones. This proves Karl Marx’s point that no matter how promising a certain industry may seem workers have no choice but to remain buyers of the capitalist class. The aristocrat Croft explains that he regarded the industry of prostitution as a highly profitable one. He asserted that if he turned away from this opportunity, then he would be behaving like an insensible man. Other people were seizing opportunities to make money in various industries so this should come as no surprise. The callousness inherent in the business world was evident in the profession of prostitution, as well. Mrs. Warren objects to th e exploitative nature of the business world; consequently, she chooses to become a prostitute (Shaw 260). However, she contradicts these objections by perpetuating the same level of exploitation against innocent girls. Mrs. Warren rose to the rank of madam by first starting as a conventional prostitute and then climbing the ranks. By running brothels in different parts of Europe, she is doing the same thing that caused her to become a prostitute in the first place. Just like capitalists who cannot survive with exploiting workers, Mrs. Warren could not become a madam without exploiting other women. Marx believed that workers have the freedom to move from one employer to another but never from one class to another. There were structures that kept the working class in their place. The meager wages that they derived from their work was never sufficient to remove them from this cycle; it was only enough to feed them or meet their basic needs. Likewise, in the case of prostitutes in Georg e Bernard Shaw’s play, they had wealth but no virtue; consequently, society never accepted them. One can see this when the Reverend hosts an event in which he finds it appalling that Mrs. Warren is attending it. Society was limiting their choices and ensuring that women always result to an underpaid and overworked position by frowning upon other alternatives to wealth creation. Capitalists make certain that they always have a constant supply of workers by minimizing their options and keeping them in lack.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Karl Marx and George Shaw specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Karl Marx notes that the interests of the working class will always antagonize those of the elite. Eventually, this may lead to the demise of the capitalist system as it will implode (Marx 209). When workers appear to be getting more wages as a result of growth in their places of work, this is equivalent to getting mor e crumbs from the rich man’s table as he is enjoying the lion’s share of those rising profits. Therefore, capitalism operates in a mutually exclusive way; one group will always benefit at the expense of another. Likewise in the play, Mrs. Warren chooses to become a prostitute because of her discontent with the exploitative nature of work. Many others like her enter this secret profession because their needs antagonize those of their employers. In essence, an implosion occurred in this society because capitalism had failed to live up to its promise. Prostitution was the unnatural response to a system of work that undermines the same people it depends on for survival. The author of the play Mrs. Warren’s Profession clearly indicates that he is a socialist and a firm supporter of Karl Marx’s principles in the book â€Å"Wage, labor and Capitalism†. One can determine this by the playwright’s choice of characters. Mr. Croft is a shrewd capitali st who does not even conceal the unethical nature of his business practices. In one situation, Croft even boasts about his business. He compares himself to his brother who is in charge of a factory that hires 600 girls. Croft believes that prostitution is far superior because even though his brother gets 22% from the factory, none of the girls earn enough to live comfortably. The audience reacts to this self righteousness by disliking Croft. George Bernard Shaw wanted to show that capitalists are often morally repugnant. Vivie’s response to Croft’s assertions enforces these sentiments. She explains that his words are quite offensive and polluting. One can, therefore, realize that the playwright was speaking out against injustices inherent in a capitalist world. In Karl Marx’s writing, he talks about the notion of the alienated worker. Since members of the working class have no choice but to keep selling their labor power to capitalists, most of them must contend with this role exclusively (Marx 206). They focus so much on creation of value for the employer that they even lose their humanity. Such people misplace their individualism and uniqueness thus becoming like machines. The same thing is evident in the play Mrs. Warren’s profession. The women in this play have lost their sense of humanity as society assesses their worth by how much they can clean or scrub (Shaw 66). Those who choose a daring path such as Mrs. Warren have also reduced their humanity to their secularity. Consequently, one can see that capitalism alienates workers and transforms them into machines.Advertising Looking for essay on political sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Employers and many capitalists have created a lot of mystery concerning the way they do business as well as in the value of the things that they create. Karl Marx explains that commodities reflect the social relations and the labor that people put into them. The price of the item often obscures this fact (Marx 209). Capitalists have given money a mythical significance in order to neutralize their effects. Even bourgeois economists minimize the exchange of commodities to financial patterns alone. These individuals do not look at what happens in terms of the social aspects of money. Members of the lower class may, therefore, not be aware of the exploitative nature of wage labor. The shift away from the social relations of labor thus protects the proletariat from potential inquisitions and protests from the working class. Similarly, the same issue of deflecting the real value of commodities exists in the play Mrs. Warren’s Profession. Croft chose not to focus on the exploitativ e nature of his work and instead extolled the profits earned from the trade (Shaw 150). He was justifying his actions by talking about the amount of money made from the trade. However, prostitution still uses vulnerable girls to make profits; this case was not an exception. Conclusion Capitalism promotes class conflicts as explained by Karl Marx, which can only lead to undesirable consequences. George Bernard Shaw’s Victorian society exploits workers and gives females extraordinarily few choices for sustenance. As a result, some of them have lashed out against this exploitation through immoral acts such as prostitution. Marx, Karl. Wage Labor and Capital. Literary Theory: An Anthology. Ed. Julie Rivkin Michael Ryan. MA: Blackwell Publishing Ltd, 2004. 201-210. Print. Shaw, Bernard George. Mrs. Warren’s profession, NY: Broadview, 1902. Print.

the childhood essays

the childhood essays It has been noted that people consider their childhood as a nostalgic period. The childhood is one of the three main stages of life: childhood, adolescence, and adult age. Childhood might be the nostalgic period but is it the happiest? In this paper we shall demonstrate that childhood could be considered as the happiest period. A balanced view, however, cannot ignore the fact that childhood is the first period of life and it might not be happy for everyone. First, the childhood is said to be a period of real dependence. A child is always in someones hands and does not have much freedom at all. Being dependent is not very pleasant. Every child waits for adolescence where they do not have to support their parents any more. Indeed, the relationship between parents and children during childhood depends a lot on the familys situation. For example, a ten-children family in a shanty town of Acapulco wont be the same as a single-children family in Monaco. Childhood can also be a period of frustration. Children keep on receiving information. They learn life. But they dont give any information. So they could feel some frustration. One way to prevent this is to have a sister or a brother. There could be an exchange of information between the two children. Moreover, a brother or a sister gives to the child more freedom because of its brothers or sisters parent attention. But in this case, parents must care about the attention and the love they give to each child. It has to be equal for each child. Despite, each one thinks the other has got more. So its a dangerous situation for the parents. ...

What retirees can expect from their Costco job application

What retirees can expect from their Costco job application By: Scott Lawson Getting a part-time or a seasonal job when retired is becoming a more and more popular choice. Boomers and recent retirees alike often choose to supplement their retirement income through a job. A retail chain like Costco is a great place to start a job search. According to Time.com, Costco was praised by current employees for offering livable wages and benefits available to all employees.Here’s a brief guide for securing a job with Costco including steps and explanations from this Costco job application guide. After we walk you through the main careers to be pursued with Costco, you should be able to complete your job application easily. Let’s go!Costco careers at a glanceCostco is a complex operations chain of warehouses offering furniture, clothing, food, pharmacy goods and much more. Their careers are just as multi-faceted. What we mean by that is, depending on your background and skills, you may find very different pathways laid out before you.Here are the main types of jobs that Costco recruiters are always looking to fill:Warehouse and customer support jobs (Examples: warehouse and depot jobs, call center support positions, web trade positions, packaging positions, meat and merchandise processing jobs, counter jobs, business delivery jobs.)IT jobs (Examples: programmers, junior programmers, web developers and graphic interface designers.)Regional and home office jobs (Examples: human resources specialist, buying, and accounting positions, as well as legal counsel.)Licensed professions positions (Examples: opticians, pharmacy technicians, pharmacists, hearing aid specialists, optometrists, etc.)Popular jobs among SeniorsDepending on your background and the skills you acquired before retirement (or since you retired if you took advantage of the extra time), you may qualify for a position within the IT department or licensed professions. Some of these jobs are available on a part-time basis, but most of them do require a full- time commitment.Most seniors, however, seem to find employment within the warehouse and customer support jobs. This is due to both their background and experience (since there are more people trained for these positions), and the greater flexibility offered.Examples of warehouse, depot and customer support positions are these: cashier, clerk, cashier assistant, food court worker, stocker, and store manager.If you prefer a 4 or 6 hour a day schedule and think you have what it takes, go ahead and apply for a warehouse, depot or customer support job. This type of position involves working with people on a day to day basis and keeping those customer service skills polished.Now the fun part! Here’s the application process.Steps to complete your Costco job applicationGo to the Costo careers portal and click the Apply Now button to be redirected to the jobs page.At the top of the page, click on the Apply to a Specific Position tab. There you can start searching for positions. If you prefer to explore whatever vacancies you can find in your proximity, then you should stay on the second tab.If you’re searching for jobs nearby on the second tab, you can introduce your zip code and the website will return all available positions within a reasonable radius from that location.If you want to find a job within a specific department, you can also click on the following tags to filter only the available positions pertaining to them. Filter  jobs according to Contact Center, Costco Travel, Depots, Warehouse Store and more.If you see results for multiple positions with the same name but different locations, simply click on the name of the store you would like to work. Once you find the position and location, you’re ready to start! Click the red button that says Begin Application.Register for an account on the Costco careers portal, or sign in if you already have created an applicant account in the past. If you forgot your password, you can easily reset it by clicking Forgot My Password.Next, you will be asked to fill in your contact information. Fill in all the required fields, using your primary email address and a cell phone number. Make sure they are able to reach you easily if you get selected.Then, upload your resume to their portal. You should have a CV prepared beforehand somewhere on your computer, and upload it when prompted.You may be asked some questions next, about your previous experience, expected start date and so on. If you get asked hypothetical behavior questions, like ‘How would you react if confronted by an angry customer?’ Focus on describing a calm and sympathetic response. Most questions will focus on facts regarding your background and last job you held. This portion shouldn’t take longer than a few minutes.Review your application details and submit it when you’re sure everything is correct. You’re done!Next, you should simply wait for a phone call from a Costco HR representa tive. If they select you for an interview, you should hear from then within a couple of weeks. Costco is an equal opportunity employer, and there are plenty of seniors who managed to find employment opportunities in their team. Keep a positive outlook and good luck with your application! About the author: Scott Lawson is an HR manager devoted to his career. During his 5-year work span, Scott developed a taste for writing and helping others. This materialized into a website, JobApplicationWorld, that aims to help others tackle the hiring process.

SEE ATTACHMENT4L Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

SEE ATTACHMENT4L - Essay Example Finally, conflicts with a friend is best resolved using analytical skills to determine the root of the problem, and to eventually compromise, on the basis of the terms agreed upon. What are the barriers to win - win solutions? Win-win solutions mean that the terms and conditions are agreeable and amenable on both parties. The barrier to this type of solution therefore is finding a middle ground which would enable both parties to compromise on an agreement. How do you agree to disagree with someone? Agreeing to disagree with someone entails cognitive skills that would have enabled one to assess the source of conflict on issues being discussed. When the argument being asserted does not conform to one’s believes, values, and preferences, then; it is best to disagree with the contentions of the other party. Where they effective in resolution? Some of the avoidance tactics, such as deferring the discussion of the issue to future dates is effective, only in terms of preventing exacerbating the conflicting situation. When anger or emotional intensity have subsided, then, both parties could try to resolve the issue using other conflict resolution strategies, such as problem-solving, or compromising, as

Contemporary artist, designer or filmmaker - Austen Pinkerton Essay

Contemporary artist, designer or filmmaker - Austen Pinkerton - Essay Example The essay "Contemporary artist, designer or filmmaker - Austen Pinkerton" explores the one of the contemporary artist, Austen Pinkerton. One of the notable characteristic of contemporary art was that the theme was normally an issue that affected the present-day world: cloning, politics, economics, issues of gender, race, class, human rights, ethnicity, etc . Contemporary art was also not limited by the materials used or the methodology. The art was vividly emotional, hence the accusation of ‘sensationalism’. By going for the jugular, these artists made main-stream British culture pay attention. Emphasis on the tangible, rather than a vague conceptualism, distinguished British art of the past fifteen years. Austen Pinkerton was the British contemporary artist I selected, for discussing three of his works. He had specialized in acrylic and water colours. Austen said that he took inspiration from the world around him. He used representational elements as the starting point for his compositions. With the help of his memory and imagination, he created a whole new environment, full of narrative and emotion: â€Å"Sometimes I just want to express my feelings, about something or the other in my life or in the world around me.† The main reason for my selecting Austen Pinkerton was that his works were full of aesthetic appeal. I have selected three of his works which can be identified with historical art, having the qualities of aesthetics like beauty, purity and transcendence . The online gallery of his paintings.

Marketing Course Evaluation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Marketing Course Evaluation - Essay Example Likewise, I have learnt that firms should emulate appropriate brand names and pricing strategies in order to enhance the perception, motivation and product awareness that play a significant role in the consumer buying process. In its effort to attain a competitive edge, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company has embarked on merging with other companies in its effort to market products such as C-5, C-130 and C-141. In the same way, the company emulates horizontal market system for example at one time it replaced F-117 with F-22 based on the consumers feedback. Actions that I intend to take to stay current in my field includes, post graduate course in Project Management, Six Sigma Black Belt Certification (CSSBB) as well as masters degree. In order to improve the value of this course to the working adults, it is essential for lecturers to allocate adequate time for theory lessons as well as practical sessions. In addition, marketers should be trained on how to use web 2.0 as a major marke ting tool. Introduction In the contemporary world, firms have emulated a number of strategies to remain competitive and retain their customers. Through the guidance of the marketing managers, companies have emulated aspects such as proper branding, effective product positioning and pricing as well as promotional strategies. ... that I have gained Target Markets One of the skills that I have gained from the course is that for a company to be successful, it has to aim at particular customers. Being one of the major marketing strategy, target marketing in collaboration with the marketing mix that include price, product, promotion and price is essential especially when firms are aimed at expanding their customer base. Market positioning and segmentation The course has also exposed me to product positioning. This entails the process through which marketers create an image or the identity of their products on the minds of their consumers. One of the vital objectives of an effective product positioning is that it creates a strong customer awareness thus generating repeated purchases leading to high sales. On the other hand, market segmentation involves classification of the customers based on one or more characteristics (Kotler et al, 2010). In this way, firms are able to identify groups of customers with similar needs. Examples of market segmentation that this course introduced me into include geographic segmentation, demographic segmentation, psychographic segmentation, segmentation according to benefits and occasions as well as behavioral segmentation. Connecting with customers Building customer value, satisfaction, and loyalty Through the course, I was able to gain adequate skills on how to build customer value by enhancing a positive relationship especially by ensuring that organisations address the problems faced by the consumers in a timely manner. In addition, to ensure that the consumers are satisfied, it is imperative to provide quality products that meet their needs (Paliwoda et al, 2009). One of the major ways of enhancing customer loyalty is by creating a positive company-customer

Analytical Measurements Should be Made to Satisfy an Agreed Essay

Analytical Measurements Should be Made to Satisfy an Agreed Requirement - Essay Example b.Prior to making a final judgement the results thus obtained from measurements should be compared to the existing standards already laid down to interpret the lower and upper limits. For example, in determining the level of alcohol in the blood of a driver charged with driving while drunk, there should be an existing standard level of alcohol in blood considered safe for driving and a limit above which it is unsafe to drive. The result obtained from the blood sample of this driver is then compared to the standard limit. (4, 10) c.A valid measurement is the one which does not result in misleading an observer, or the customer of a laboratory making the measurement. That is to say, that if the customer makes a decision relying on the information obtained by a valid measurement then the decision is correct. (4, 10) d.A valid measurement in itself may not be particularly accurate or precise, but if a conclusion is to be reached as to how the result differs from a standard then the measurement will have sufficient accuracy and precision to satisfy customer’s requirement. The correctness of a decision reached by relying on the information obtained through analytical measurement indicates the validity of measurement. (1, 4, 10) e.The aim of the agency making Valid Measurement, normally a laboratory, is to provide their customers with results that are not ambiguous and confusing and meet customer requirements. That is why Analytical Measurement should be made to satisfy an agreed requirement. (10) In analytical measurements the quality of data extracted is all that matters and good information thus gained is an outcome of good measuring techniques applied. For data to be of good quality the technique employed should be validated by being precise, repeatable, reproducible and stable. (8,9) g. A precise technique does not have deviations in the result of same measurement. There should be no change in methodology of measurement and neither should there be a change in what is being measured. The repeatable technique should render the same result when the same object is measured over a number of times. A reproducible technique is the one which when repeated produces the same result. A stable technique does not change over a period of time and if repeated, in times to come, it should be able to give same results as in the past. (2, 5) h. Laboratory of the Government Chemist (LGC) and National Physical Laboratory (NPL) have jointly developed Valid Analytical Measurement (VAM) principles, as part of their VAM programme to sketch a design for laboratories involved in making analytical measurements. Out of the six principles as laid down "Analytical measurements should be made to satisfy an agreed requirement" (4) is the first. (4) i. To realize the importance of agreed requirements consider that there a number of tests which can be performed to carry out a measurement. An analyst, being an expert, must enter into a dialogue with the customer to discuss the quality of results, time and cost of these tests. The analyst must have the knowledge to identify customer's requirements. Moreover, it is important to gain an insight into the criticality of the measurement by virtue of discussion with the customer. As such, it becomes necessary to know for what purpose the result will be used. (4, 5, 6) j. All critical and non-critical issues must be explained to the customer prior

International criminal matters, policies, regulations, standards, Essay

International criminal matters, policies, regulations, standards, - Essay Example orism by the international community was in the year 1937 when the then League of Nations adopted the conventional for Prevention and Punishment of terrorism. Even after the League was abolished, the newly formulated United Nations or the UN adopted several resolutions to strengthen its member nations with more powerful international laws to tackle terrorism in an efficient and jut manner. The terrorism prevention branch of the United Nations office on Drugs and Crime, as mandated by the General Assembly of the UN, provides assistance to requesting countries in legal and related aspects of counter terrorism, especially for the purpose of implementing the International Law which could strengthen their national criminal justice system and to apply the provisions in compliance with the law. The UN has tried to simplify the process for understanding the law and its provisions for its member nations by developing certain tools like manuals for this purpose. These tools are also very helpful for legal practitioners to fight legal cases against global terrorism in an efficient manner. As per UN plans to counter global terrorism, all member nations have resolved to fully co-operate in the fight against terrorism which is in accordance with their obligations under international law. As per the law all member nations are required to find, deny safe havens, extradite or prosecute any person who supports, facilitates, participates or attempt to participates in financing, planning, participating or perpetration of terrorist activities. Member states are required to ensure extraditions of perpetrators of terrorist activities in accordance with the rule of international law. The security council of UN has adopted several resolutions regarding the fight against terrorism. One of the most important resolutions is resolution number 1373 (Bianchi 86) which was adopted after the unfortunate terrorist attack on USA on September 11, 2001. This resolution clearly states that

Pathophysiology exams questions Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Pathophysiology exams questions - Assignment Example 2. Stenosis is an abnormal narrowing of the blood vessels. Stenosis is accompanied by unusual blood sounds resulting from the narrow blood vessels. Regurgitation or incompetence is a condition where the left atrium during systole becomes incompetent in functioning. Prolapsed is a condition where the valves of the heart fall out of place. This is caused by the displacement of the left valve during the systole because of the thickening of the mitral valve prolapsed. 3. Asbestosis is a general term given to heart disease resulting from a person inhaling too much dust. It is a chronic pneumoconiosis disease, which affects the parenchymal tissues of the lungs making the lungs to undergo slow and repetitive fibrosis. Straight, thin amphiboles asbestos fibers penetrate deeply into the lungs alveoli thereby interacting with blood, oxygen and carbon dioxide. The interaction of the amphiboles leads to the provocation of body’s immune system leading to rejection of defensive cells known as macrophages, which are responsible for destroying the fibers. Amphiboles also stimulate fibroblast cells of the lungs to lay continuously on the alveoli walls leading to thickening of the walls thus preventing or reducing the process of breathing which can lead to heart failure. 4. Clubbing results from people experiencing chronic low blood oxygen levels. The fingertips enlarge and nails appear extremely curved from front to back. The bulbous swelling gives the fingers a club shape. The normal angle of the finger changes from 160Â º to 180Â º due to this disease mostly associated with people with heart disease. Adults experience this disease because of liver disorders, gastrointestinal disorders pulmonary disorders and heart diseases. 5. Sleep apnea is a condition in which one pauses in breathing while asleep. Narcolepsy is a condition, which usually attacks people of ages 15-30 years, and it encompasses excessive sleepiness and regular daytime sleep attacks. Cataplexy

International criminal matters, policies, regulations, standards, Essay

International criminal matters, policies, regulations, standards, - Essay Example orism by the international community was in the year 1937 when the then League of Nations adopted the conventional for Prevention and Punishment of terrorism. Even after the League was abolished, the newly formulated United Nations or the UN adopted several resolutions to strengthen its member nations with more powerful international laws to tackle terrorism in an efficient and jut manner. The terrorism prevention branch of the United Nations office on Drugs and Crime, as mandated by the General Assembly of the UN, provides assistance to requesting countries in legal and related aspects of counter terrorism, especially for the purpose of implementing the International Law which could strengthen their national criminal justice system and to apply the provisions in compliance with the law. The UN has tried to simplify the process for understanding the law and its provisions for its member nations by developing certain tools like manuals for this purpose. These tools are also very helpful for legal practitioners to fight legal cases against global terrorism in an efficient manner. As per UN plans to counter global terrorism, all member nations have resolved to fully co-operate in the fight against terrorism which is in accordance with their obligations under international law. As per the law all member nations are required to find, deny safe havens, extradite or prosecute any person who supports, facilitates, participates or attempt to participates in financing, planning, participating or perpetration of terrorist activities. Member states are required to ensure extraditions of perpetrators of terrorist activities in accordance with the rule of international law. The security council of UN has adopted several resolutions regarding the fight against terrorism. One of the most important resolutions is resolution number 1373 (Bianchi 86) which was adopted after the unfortunate terrorist attack on USA on September 11, 2001. This resolution clearly states that

Tragedy in Death of a Salesman Essay Example for Free

Tragedy in Death of a Salesman Essay Arthur Miller depicts a salesman, named Willy Loman in the play Death of a Salesman. Faced with hardships and troubles, Willy maneuvers in ways that cause his unfortunate outcome. In the tragedy, Death of a Salesman, the main protagonist Willy Loman’s fatal flaws were his unrelenting pride and his inability to face reality, which ultimately led to his demise. This novel is a tale about the tragedy that was the life of Willy Loman. A tragedy is a â€Å"serious drama† that depicts a â€Å"conflict† between the protagonist and a â€Å"superior force† such as which ends up with â€Å"disastrous consequences† that elicits â€Å"pity†. (Merriam Webster) Death of a Salesman is a tragedy because the main protagonist is a man filled with unrealistic hopes and dreams that lead to his demise. Although the story portrays a tragedy, I believe Willy Loman attempted to find optimism in defeat. By definition, a tragic hero is â€Å"a great or virtuous character in a dramatic tragedy that is destined for downfall, suffering, or defeat.† (Dictionary.com) Willy’s life resembled that of a tragic hero, he was not one by definition because there was nothing great or virtuous about him. He was an average person who lived a tragic life. As one critic suggests, â€Å"Willy Loman is too far down the social scale to be considered a classical â€Å"tragic hero† he represents the average man.† We learn that he made mistakes just like any other human being. In fact, one of the mistakes he made changed the very way he lived his life and perceived himself. In the beginning of the story, Willy cheats on his wife and is caught by his son Biff, which negatively affects their long-term relationship. As a result, Willy always feels guilty, leading to a constant struggle between father and son about almost everything. One example of this is in Act II, after arguing Biff says to his father, â€Å"Dad, you’re never going to see what I am, so what’s the use of arguing? If I strike oil, I’ll send you a check. Meantime, forget I’m alive† (129). A lot of times they argued because Willy always wanted to see the positive even when in realit y things were not as he believed. The tragedy is that his life was full of delusions and misguided dreams. In the beginning of the story, Willy explains to his wife why they cannot leave the crowded city to live in New York They dont need me in New York. Im the New England man. Im vital in New England(4). However, as the story continues we see that Willy had a false perception of himself. In fact, he was not well liked. Instead, he was  laughed at and pitied. In actuality, his boss had wanted to fire him, but just did not have the nerve to do it. This is seen when Willy goes to his boss asking to be given a position as a floor salesman, his boss tells him, â€Å"I don’t want you to represent us. I’ve been meaning to tell you for a long time now†(83). After Willy’s life long commitment to the company, he is fired and even then, he does not wake up to the understanding that in society he is nothing special. Biff tries to make his father realize that he is nothing special by saying, Pop! Im a dime a dozen, and so are you! This infuriates Willy who counterattacks, I am not a dime a dozen! I am Willy Loman, and you are Biff Loman! Another one of Willy’s flaws was his unrelenting pride. For example, when Charley offers him a job he refuses saying he already has one even though in truth he was just fired. After further discussion Willy finally responds saying, â€Å" I can’t work for you, that’s all, don’t ask me why† (98). We see irony here because a little after this Willy is willing to ask Charley to borrow money but refuses to take a job from him. Willy Loman’s flaw was his hubris and his inability to face reality. He had the right idea just the wrong dreams. Ultimately, his unrelenting pride and his inability to face reality led him to his demise. One must acknowledge that throughout the whole story he strived to make up for his mistakes and do the right thing. He had mostly good intentions, however, he made mistakes just like any other human being. However, contrary to most people, he judged himself harshly for his mistakes and constantly criticized himself. He tried to overlook his mistakes or hide them for the rest of his life. As the play goes on, we learn that he has a hard time facing reality that is complicated by his unrelenting pride and at the same time, he suffers from self-loathing. As the play goes on and Willy’s identity as a salesman is stripped from him, we begin to understand better the importance of his life insurance policy. After Willy loses his job, which was his primary identity, he is forced to face reality that he could never be like his brother who was his hero. He could never be the father he wanted to be or thought his sons deserved. He wanted his son Biff to look up to him and excel in life. He realized that he was not the star salesman he always believed himself to be. We see this as he becomes increasingly preoccupied with his life insurance policy, which symbolizes the only other way he can provide for his family; he has been a failure at everything else.  He always had the best intentions and the play ends with Willy trying to provide for his family in the only way possible, as the critique states, â€Å"Willy of course ends the play with nothing he can sell – except himself, hoping that his expired life insurance policy will pay up.† According to Dictionary.com, the definition of a tragic hero is â€Å"a great or virtuous character in a dramatic tragedy who is destined for downfall, suffering, or defeat.† Although Willy was not a virtuous character, in the end, he tried to do what he thought was right by providing for his family in the only way he thought possible. His life was tragic because he tried to cope by living in denial about his failures. In the end, he faced reality in the only way he thought he could, by taking his life. Works Cited 1. Miller, Arthur, and Gerald Clifford. Weales. Arthur Miller: Death of a Salesman, Text and Criticism. New York. Penguin, 1996. Print. 2. Tragedy. Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster. Web. 09 Apr. 2012. . 3. Tragic Hero. Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com. Web. 08 Apr. 2012. . 4. Literary Criticism Attached

Issues And Assumptions Of Hotel Mangement

Issues And Assumptions Of Hotel Mangement The following report is a thorough analysis of the outrigger Hotels and Resorts case that describe the current Information Technology (IT) being used by this firm and the Information System resources that are being employed by Outrigger Hotels and Resorts. We will first start by giving a brief background history of the company and then analyze the current business structure and the Information System currently being employed. Key Issues and assumptions are identified from the case and thoroughly analyzed. Additional SWOT (strength, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) analysis questions are answered and finally, additional recommendation on how Outrigger can improve their current IS and IT infrastructure are provided to improve the future outcome of Outrigger Hotels Resorts. INTRODUCTION: Outrigger Hotels and Resorts is a management company that is owned by its holding corporation, Outrigger Enterprises. It is one of the largest, privately-held leisure lodging and hospitality firm in the Asia Pacific and Oceania. With rapid growth, Outrigger is expanding its presence throughout the Hawaiian Islands and the south pacific. By the dawn of the 21st century, the industry was estimated to have exceeded $295 billion in sales (Outrigger, 2010). With more than 60 years of hospitality experience, Outrigger has a diverse product portfolio that include highly successful, multi-branded line of hotels, condominiums and vacation resort properties, including Outrigger Hotels resorts, OHANA Hotels Resorts and Outrigger Condominium Collection (Outrigger, 2010). It is considered as one of the leading destination and vacation spots in the Hawaiian market with above average performance levels of the global industry (Piccoli, G., 2005, p. 106). KEY ISSUES AND ASSUMPTIONS: Main focus is to gain competitive advantage. Currently in waves 1 and 2 of the Waves of Innovation development of its electronic interfaces with their wholesalers. But not all wholesalers were interested in automating The firms integrated CRS/PMS (Central Reservation System/Property Management System) IT infrastructure Stellex, failed to migrate with a modern platform that was thought to simplify connectivity with the other off-the-shelf computer systems Having a Central Reservation Office (CRO) operating in Denver, Colorado. Reservations were centralized for all properties in Hawaii and beyond Hawaii, reservations was taken at each property. Issues with distance, high telecommunication costs and unacceptable reliability of international network led to a decentralized structure. Competitive pressures raising the importance of integration as larger branded hospitality and resort companies are entering the market. travel agents and wholesalers were finding the condominiums hard to sell advancements in technology and the overall internet boom proving a challenge for outrigger to keep up with and jeopardizing Outriggers future stability Detailed description: The main concern that Outrigger had was to analyze the current outriggers business strategy and to come up with an appropriate IS vision, IS architecture, and a strategic IS plan for outrigger hotels and resorts that not only gives Outrigger competitive advantage but also ensures future stability and success of the firm. When looking at IT and how it is used by industries and enterprises, waves of innovation chart is used (provided in the appendix, figure 4) that identifies the current evolution of IT within a firm (McNurlin, Sprague, Bui, 2009, p. 46). Currently, it is our assumption that Outrigger Hotels and Resorts are in Wave 1 and Wave 2. Their main goals are to reduce costs (Wave 1) and in leveraging investments (Wave 2) that focus on cutting cost through organizational effectiveness while increasing corporate assets and profitability (McNurlin, Sprague, Bui, 2009, p. 47). Outrigger achieved in reducing costs by automating manual processes to wholesalers such as billing and invoicing generating organizational effectiveness. They gained competitive advantage by implementing the electronic interface to be used by wholesalers. As shown in Figure 4, both Wave 1 and Wave 2 are below the line as this identifies that systems were developed mainly for administration, finance, and manufacturing (McNur lin, Sprague, Bui, 2009, p. 47). Furthermore, with the outsourcing of their website and web services, they introduced online chat to better help their customers and provide more information to them. Although this can be regarded as Wave 5 under the Waves of Innovation as it shows how IT is used to communicate directly with consumers, thereby leading to new marketing, distribution and service strategies (McNurlin, Sprague, Bui, 2009, p 47). Also what can be considered under Wave 5 is the adoption of a dynamic package that Outrigger serves that appeals to travellers, suppliers, even travel agencies. It provides the option and flexibility to choose air, hotel, car rental and even activities, ticketed independently and then priced out as a bundle to the buyer. This is another example of how Outrigger is reaching consumers and creating opportunities (Wave 5 in Waves of Innovation) by directly communicating with their prospective clients, making use of internet and e-commerce (McNurlin, Sprague, Bui, 2009, p. 47). Outrigger Hotels and Resorts historically maintained a highly centralized organization structure. As the firm grew in size from Hawaii locations and expanded internationally such as Australia, Outrigger remained consolidated and offered centralized services where possible such as in accounting, IT, finance, engineering, purchasing etc. The challenge that was presented with their Australian resorts was of distance and real-time coordination of the reservation system with the central reservation service. Within the IT infrastructure, the firm felt that its current centralized IT infrastructure was the source of competitive advantage. Their software Stellex was an integrated Central Reservation System/Property Management System (CRS/PMS) which was upgraded to Stellex 2.0 in 1992 to provide revenue management functionality and reservation center support. But with the expansion of the firm internationally, they ran into issues such as high telecommunication costs to and from Hawaii and the unacceptable reliability of international networks. Therefore, they did not extend their centralized model to their operations in Australia and the Pacific. Outriggers IT professionals did minimal application development wrote customized reports, and configured and interfaced with off-the-shelf applications. Even their website development and web services were outsourced and hosted by a third party in Portland, Oregon. Their main competitive advantage that outrigger had was the development of real-time electronic interfaces with wholesalers as mentioned above. Outrigger felt that with the use of technology, electronic interfaces will generate substantial efficiencies, including automatic billing and invoicing without human handling and thus lowering costs. But not all wholesalers were interested in automating reservation processing. The lack of interest was generated from those doing small operations or those for whom Hawaii and the Pacific represented a small percentage of business. Not only that, but the electronic interfaces proved to be expensive to maintain and replace and didnt provide the expected goals that Outrigger envisioned to gain to get beyond their competitors (Piccoli, G. 2005, P 113). System integration is the trend that allows different departments to have communication and information flow amongst each department and thus making technologies and systems co-exist with one another to work together. This is usually accomplished by implementing and ERP system that provides the accessibility of working from a single computing platform integrating different departments and functions across an organization (McNurlin, Sprague, Bui, 2009, p. 333). With stellex software though, it failed to migrate with the modern platform that integrated other off-the-shelf application prompting outrigger to re-evaluate Stellexs role. Additionally, Stellex also failed to interface with outriggers Point of Sales (POS) system which were old and needed to be upgraded first. Therefore, the whole project was aborted. Outriggers management is also in need of change management. They had this misconception that they did not want to extend their centralized model in operations because of high telecommunications cost and the unacceptable reliability of international networks. They had no central servers, stand alone systems and their use of outsourcing was limited to website development and hosting. Their data management systems consisted of data marts setup to hold detailed information for a maximum of three years, and later they would consolidate this data for aggregate analysis. Overall, Outriggers management felt that their IT function was enabling them complete success and that their IT function would be able to operate more efficiently than its competitors. QUESTIONS: What are Outriggers most important internal business strengths and weaknesses, as well as, the external opportunities and threats to their competitive environment? Strengths: Through Partnerships and management agreements with third party owners, Outrigger added properties on Maui and Kauai and grew to 26 locations in the Hawaiian Islands. Furthermore, through partnerships, joint ventures, acquisitions, and new developments the firm grew internationally adding properties in Guam, Fiji, Tahiti, Australia, and New Zealand thus becoming geographically dispersed. They also begain to diversify their product portfolio by adding condominium resorts The changing of their name from Outrigger Hotels Hawaii to Outrigger Hotels and Resorts and rebranding their off beach hotels in Waikiki to launch a new hotel brand name OHANA Hotels of Hawaii. OHANA became the largest Hawaii-owned operator in Waikiki catering to budget travelers looking for value on off-beach properties. Even though they were expanding their firm and buying properties (both on-beach properties/condominiums and off-beach budgeted properties) their commitment in their identity remained the same. Providing hospitality and sense of place to their guests visiting and a leisure experience that is rich in culture and the characteristics of their destination. 2004 data showed outrigger as being the stronghold in the Hawaiian market with performance levels above the average of the global industry. By 2005, Outrigger had a portfolio exceeding US $1.4 billion and approximate revenues of US $45 million. It awarded their success of their destination markets and to the well-being of airlines serving its destinations. Being quite isolated from any large population pool, Hawaii is a classic destination market with an exclusive fly-in customer base. Their Stellex software proved to be an anchor from which all operational systems connected, including telephone switches, call accounting, and in-room entertainment. All the Hawaiian islands had access to Outriggers centralized IT system which was served from the Honolulu-based data center, through the firms Wide Area Network. Their management of their multicultural and multilingual employees and guests in a multicultural environment adding to the richness and culture of their organization. Also, engaging in a non-unionized business in a heavy unionized Hawaiian labor market. Operating properties that have good location, strong travel distribution network and employees who provide hospitality from the heart adds value and creates a differentiated product. David Carey Use of outsourcing was limited to website development and hosting. Weaknesses: Even though condominiums represented an increasingly important share of the total portfolio of properties, travel agents and wholesalers found them hard to sell. Not only are condominiums expensive, but they were also complex and proved to be a non-standard product from what Outrigger offered. It appealed to independent travelers and are built to serve as primary or vacation homes for the tenants offering little office or staging space for management companies to operate in. They also lacked typical hotel services and departments such as food and beverage, room service, laundry, and daily maid services. Thus, there was a lack of reasoning involved on Outriggers behalf when they decided to expand their firm into condominium market and acquiring expensive properties. As Outrigger started to diversity their product portfolio, the profile of their customers and competitors also changed. Traditionally targeting to middle class travelers and families with income below $100k a year, they became to target towards leisure travelers. A typical guest staying at their premium brand was often a multigenerational customer with a sense of loyalty to the brand and an income exceeding $75,000. Their guests became exclusive leisure travelers. Outrigger still relied on the traditional system of faxing. Reservations were taken at each location and almost all the reservations were faxed to the property. Although Outrigger was expanding rapidly, they had yet to find an integrated solution for international properties namely for operations in Australia and Pacific. Having centralized stand alone systems or legacy systems. It created high telecommunication costs to and from Hawaii, as well as international networks proved to be unreliable. Their Stellex software failed to migrate to a more modern platform that was thought to simplify connectivity with the other off-the-shelf computer systems. Point of Sales (POS) systems were not centralized and couldnt be interfaced with Stellex software as they were old and needed to be upgraded first. This resulted in inefficiency as a manual charge voucher had to be manually written. Data marts were setup to hold detailed customer information for three years, but later this data would be consolidated and it would only provide aggregate analysis. Outsourcing was done to website only. Opportunities: Investments in condominiums provided a way for expansion to expensive properties. It created value to on-beach property location spots Condominiums also appealed to independent travelers and couples who desired privacy. Hawaii is a classic destination market Competitive pressures will raise the importance of integrated system and the benefits that come along with it within Outriggers IT infrastructure. Better integrating of its international properties is a crucial stepping stone to the firms continued success. With the increasing competition in its key markets, outrigger should also look towards strengthening their electronic presence and relationships with their distributers, improve their trademark hospitality and customer service. Threats: More competition from larger brand competitors entering into the market. Hawaii is the classic destination spot and many competitors are entering into the Hawaiian market. More larger branded hospitalities and resorts are entering into the Hawaiian market Not all the wholesalers were interested in automating the service of billing and invoicing for small operations IT infrastructure needs to be upgraded and changed to keep up with modern platforms. Competitive pressures will raise the importance of integration systems within Outriggers IT infrastructure The change in the overall hospitality distribution is also rapidly changing. Historically, travel agents would provide significant amounts of information, counseling, and reassurance to leisure travelers, but more and more consumers are turning to the internet for this information. Thus, Outrigger should challenge populating the new electronic world and create a powerful presence. The emergence of online agencies such as Expedia has created significant opportunities and threats. Explain the strengths and/or weaknesses of Outriggers existing infrastructure i.e. Information Systems Technology, People (users and IS staff), and Data. Include your assessment of its performance today as well as how well equipped it is to support future needs. Outrigger existing infrastructure includes the overall establishment with their Stellex software. It was introduced in 1987 as a COBOL application and guaranteed complete redundancy and 24/7 uptime. Later in 1992, and update to stellex, Stellex 2.0 was introduced by Outrigger which ran on Sun Microsystems UNIX platform and provided revenue management functionality and reservation center support. They also implemented JD Edwards ERP system as a foundation for their back-office operations. This led to Outrigger having a competitive advantage by having centralized IT infrastructure (Piccoli, G., 2005, p. 111). All of the properties in the Hawaiian Islands had access to the Outriggers centralized IT systems and was served through their Wide Area Network based in Honolulu. Stellex provided the anchor to which all other operational systems connected, including telephone switches, call accounting, and in-room entertainment. Due to the high telecommunication costs to and from Hawaii and the unreliability on the international networks, Outrigger did not extend this centralized model to its operations in Australia and Pacific. The properties in Australia and New Zealand which were all condominiums, used standalone Property Management Systems (PMS). None of the properties in Hawaii had a server on property and these other regions used standalone PMSs and on-property reservations. Additionally, Outriggers IT professional engaged in interfacing off-the-shelf applications and writing customized reports with minimal application development. The use of outsourcing was limited to the Web site that was developed and hosted by a third party in Portland, Oregon. But to maintain the integration of the direct channels, Stellex served as the booking engine behind Outriggers Web site. The development of electronic interfaces with wholesalers was considered a key initiative and was custom-developed by the firms IT group using XML (Piccoli, G., 2005, p. 113). This provided real-time electronic interfaces for wholesalers allowing them to check availability, to get reservations instantaneously, to provide automate billing and invoices, and ultimately lowering any estimated costs. However, not all wholesalers were interested because of Outriggers small percentage of business. In 2001, business intelligence software, a data mart and analytical tools, were acquired from E.piphany and the application ran on Windows 2000 platform. Their data management system could hold data for up to three years, and then it would get consolidated for aggregate analyses (Piccoli, G., 2005, p. 118). Being able to harness the analytical power of E.piphany to do forecasts and generate business intelligence, outrigger could better use the data for marketing and operational analysis as well as incorporate information into their daily operations with improved efficiency and service to their customers. With regards to their IT staffing and organization as a whole, an organization chart has been provided in the appendix section detailing the distribution of duties and responsibilities among Outriggers IT staff. The overall IT function was organized along user needs one IT professional in charge of Australian properties application needs. The hardware support was contracted out to local vendors. Outriggers senior executives found technology a great asset to enable communication and felt confident that the IT function was enabling the firm to compete effectively and that they were operating more efficiently than their competition (Piccoli, G., 2005, p. 116). As the firm was expanding aggressively, they still had yet to find an integrated solution for their international properties. Some even questioned the viability of reinvesting in Stellex. The IS group felt that their legacy system namely their ERP, integrated PMS/CRS, and electronic interfaces with distribution partners was serving the firm quite well. They were prompted to re-evaluate the role of Stellex after a failed attempt to migrate a more modern platform thought to simplify connectivity with the other off-the-shelf computer systems in the portfolio. Outrigger engaged in limited formal technology training and relied mainly on on-the-job training when it came to software applications. This approach however created difficulties for people who were hired from outside the firm. With the latest advancements in technology, even the guests who arrive to resorts expect to have access to their technological needs. Eg wireless access and thus outrigger should look into future to provide that feasibility to their guests. Additionally, it would be best to strengthen their internet presence and populate the electronic world strengthening their electronic relationships with their distributers, improving their own trademark hospitality and customer service. Although currently their firm is doing well, but for the future, a better integrated system that connects all the international properties is a crucial step in enabling the firms continued success. Developing a right kind of information strategy and developing a clear vision for the role of IS and a solid IS architecture are a crucial step in enabling these goals. Based on your assessment of the case, state your key recommendations and rationale to Outriggers senior management to ensure that it competes successfully. To compete successfully in the future, a key recommendation for Outrigger is to implement a change in their overall current IT and IS systems and strategy and look towards the advantages that are offered by a complete ERP system. An ERP system aims to integrate corporate systems by providing a single set of applications from a single application (McNurlin, Sprague, Bui, 2009, p332). Although Outrigger has already implemented the JD Edwards ERP as their back-office operations, its more advantageous to have the ERP system integrating the whole overall different departments and properties together with one module and have information flows in real time. These days, an ERP system is used extensively in almost every major organization whether it be in manufacturing or distributing services, an integrated ERP system allows a firm to gain competitive advantage. Not only that but competitive pressures have raised the importance of integrating business processes and thus, the underlying info rmation system. Additional motivations for ERP implementations are provided in Figure 4 outlining the advantages of an ERP system implementations. To realize the benefits of ERP, Outrigger must therefore change its organizational structure and culture. APPENDIX CASE 1: OUTRIGGER HOTEL RESORTS Outrigger Organization: Figure : Organization Chart Outriggers Infrastructure: Figure : Timeline of Major Infrastructure Developments at Outrigger Waves of Innovation: Picture2.jpg Figure : Waves of Innovation Motivations for ERP implementations: Figure : Motivations for ERP implementations