Cry the Beloved Country, Inherit the Wind, Julius Caesar

Eleanor Roosevelt stated that people make their own decisions, and the reasoning behind what happens in their lives is of their own responsibility and consequence. Bert Cates, from Jerome Lawrence's Inherit the Wind, applies directly to this statement while Stephen Kumalo of Cry the Beloved Country and Caesar of Julius Caesar do not. Stephen Kumalo and Julius Caesar's lives were drastically influenced by the choices of others, not their own. Bertram Cates, however, made his own decisions and influenced his life individually.In Inherit the Wind, Bert Cates illegally teaches evolution to his biology class. As a citizen of Hillsboro, TN, he must have known that teaching evolution was unlawful as well as the consequences that would follow. Cates, however, is a man who wants to fully educate his students and open them up to different ideas and perspectives. For this reason, he teaches evolution anyway and is prosecuted and fined $100 (Lawrence, . Inherit the Wind. Pg 103) for it. It's a c onsequence of his choice to teach such a controversial subject and because of it his life is greatly impacted.In Julius Caesar, Julius' fate was definitely not of his own choice. Brutus, Cassius, Cinna, Decius, and Casca, a group of people Caesar trusted, murder him. Caesar had done nothing wrong. He's a bit cocky and self centered at times, perhaps, but he has done nothing harmful to the well-being of others. The lack of trust from Brutus, Cassius, Cinna, Decius, and Casca is why Caesar's life is brought to an end. They think he'd go mad with power, so they take him out before he even has the chance to prove them right or wrong.In reality, he would have done what is right for his people, and that is apparent in his will. â€Å"To every Roman citizen he gives, to every several man, seventy-five drachmas. †, Marc Antony reads off of Caesar's will, â€Å"Moreover, he hath left you all his walks, private arbors, and new-planted orchards, on his side Tiber. He hath left them to you and to your heirs forever. † (Shakespeare, Julius Caesar. Pg. 133) Caesar has no control over stopping the situation because he doesn't even know it's going to happen.He hasn't done anything to deserve his murder, it's not of his own consequence. He was killed out of the mistrust from others. Stephen Kumalo of Cry the Beloved Country is tossed around, put through so much pain, and none of it is of his doing. He may have made the decision to look for his son and sister to protect his family, but isn't it a man's instinct to care for the people who are closest to him? Stephen's son made the decision to take the wrong path, live the life of a thief, and eventually kill another person.Stephen's sister made the decision to sell alcohol, sleep around, and not care for her son. All of these bad choices were made by other people, yet Stephen was still strongly affected by them. Eleanor Roosevelt says that people are responsible for what happens in their lives, but Stephen couldn't control Absalom being sentenced to death, Gertrude leaving, or his brother screwing him over. This is because he didn't have the money, power, and most importantly, the control over their decisions.

Bond Yields for Johnson & Johnson

Solution to Minicase 5 Bond Yields for Johnson & Johnson Objective: The case enables the student to gain insight into the financing activities of large corporations and to practice calculating bond prices and yields. Computations are carried out for annual and semiannual interest periods, and for fractional periods. Case Discussion: Johnson & Johnson is one of the leading pharmaceutical firms in the world. It is large and financially sophisticated. When it needs to borrow money, it sells bonds where it can get the best deal. Sometimes that means selling bonds to U. S. investors. Other times it means issuing Eurodollar bonds to investors outside the United States. (The text discusses the Eurobond market in more depth in Chapters 20 and 27. ) The student is asked in this case to use the techniques developed in Chapter 5 to calculate the yields of domestic bonds and Eurobonds. The main difference between the two is that domestic bonds pay interest semiannually, whereas Eurobonds pay annually. Due to this difference in the frequency of compounding, the student must be careful to compare the APYs of domestic and Eurobonds when trying to find the lower-cost alternative. Exhibit S-5-1 provides information concerning five Johnson & Johnson debt issues. Answers to Questions: 1. Calculate the APY for each of Johnson & Johnson’s bonds and identify which one has the lowest APY, assuming today is January 15, 2009. Answer: Bond 1, calculate the APY of the 7. 375s23 eurobond. There are 15 coupon ayments left, and the last one was made 2 months plus 6 days ago (66 days ago). Use annual payment analysis; CPN=7. 375% x 1000 = $73. 75. Solve the equation using a spreadsheet with N=15, and f=(66/360)=0. 183333 to find the APY = 7. 3001%: |[pic] | | Bond 2, calculate the APY of the 7. 375s22 domestic bond. There are 27 coupon payments left and the last one was made 17 days ago on 12/29/08. Use semiannual payment analysis; CPN/2=7. 75% x 1000 / 2 = $36. 875. Solve the equation using a spreadsheet with N=(2 x 13. 5)=27 semiannual periods, and f=(17/180) = 0. 094444 to find r = 3. 5198%, so the APY = 7. 1635%: |[pic] | | Bond 3, calculate the APY of the 8. 25s31 eurobond. There are 23 coupon payments left, and the last one was made 8 months and 15 days ago (255 days ago). Use annual payment analysis; CPN=8. 25% x 1000 = $82. 50. Solve the equation with N=23 years, and f = (255)/360) = 0. 708333 to find APY = 7. 8288%: |[pic] | | | | | Bond 4, calculate the APY of the 6. 73s20 domestic bond. There are 24 coupon payments left, and the last one was made 4 months ago (120 days ago). Use semiannual payment analysis; CPN/2=6. 3% x 1000 / 2 = $33. 65. Solve the equation using a spreadsheet with N=2 x 12=24 semiannual periods, and f = 120/180 = 0. 666667 to find r = 3. 6269%, so the APY = 7. 3854%: |[pic] | | Bond 5, calculate the APY of the 6. 85s35 domestic bond. There are 52 coupon payments left, and the last one was made 14 days ago. Use semiannual payment analysis; CPN/2=6. 85% x 1000 / 2 = $34. 25. Solve the equation using a spreadsheet with N=2 x 26=52 semiannual periods, and f = 14/180 = 0. 077778 to find r = 3. 5616%, so the APY = 7. 2500%: [pic] | | The 7. 375s22 have the lowest APY, 7. 1635%. 2. The 8. 25s28 can be called in 2021 at par. Calculate the YTC (yield to call) assuming today is January 15, 2009. Does this change your answer to question 1? Answer: There are 13 coupon payments left, and the last one was made 8 months and 15 days ago (255 days ago). Use annual payment analysis; CPN=8. 25% x 1000 = $82. 50. Solve the equation with N=13 years, and f = (255)/360) = 0. 08333 to find APY = 7. 6871%: |[pic] | | | | | The APY of 7. 6871% is less than the APY of 7. 8288% found for Bond 3 in question 1, but is more than the other bonds. So the answer to question 1 does not change, the 7. 375s22 have the lowest APY, 7. 1635%. Exhibit S-5-1 Terms of Johnson & Johnson Debt Issues ISSUE |MARKET |COUPON |FREQUENCY |MATURITY |PRICE1 | | | | | | |(% OF PAR) | |73/8s 20 |Eurobond |73/8% |Annual |11/09/20 |101. 9785 | |73/8s 19 |Domestic |73/8% |Semiannual |06/29/19 |103. 288 | |81/4s 28 |Eurobond |81/4% |Annual |04/30/28 |110. 1563 | |6. 73s 17 |Domestic |6. 73% |Semiannual |09/15/17 | 98. 1535 | |6. 85s 32 |Domestic |6. 85% |Semiannual |01/01/32 | 97. 0501 | 1 Including accrued inter est.

How Roche Diagnostics Develops Global Managers Research Paper - 1

How Roche Diagnostics Develops Global Managers - Research Paper Example It is for this reason that the acquisition of global leadership is being considered as a salient feature in business success both at the national and international levels and private and public sectors. 1. Discussing the Responsible Party for Producing Global Leaders The human resources (HR) department is the party with the responsibility to produce global leaders. This is because, it is the HR department that can and should plan, designate, train and also provide compensation plans for engagements with international personnel. The HR department can also make arrangements to have an organisation be able to handle global differences among countries which affect organisational decisions. Apart from extending its recruitment drives to an international market, it is also true that it is the HR department which can persuade a rigid and conservative management into accepting recruitment drives to be made a multinational affair. 2. The Possible Ramifications of Not Having Global Leaders The failure to have global leaders within an organisation is likely to inhibit the organisation’s chances for broadening its opportunities to an international level. This is because the presence of global leaders will help the HR department and managers understand the principles and practices that prevail in the global markets. At the same time, the absence of global leaders in an organisation will not help the locals in a foreign market identify with the organization. This is because, organizations which have their rank and file coming from the mother country are almost always deemed as foreign corporate entities. This is to the effect that if an organisation fails to mingle its personnel with people from different races, religion or country, then the same organisation is likely to carry state-specific stigma. This may inhibit the speed and ease with which the organisation is to penetrate the market and get legally registered. Again, the same failure and subsequent stigma will help cripple the organisation’s volume of sales and stunt its market share (Griffiths, 137). 3. Roche’s Perspectives Program Based on the O’Toole chapter on public policy, the possible changes that can be made in the U.S. to encourage companies to become global leaders must include and take cognisance of the Perspectives Global Accelerated Talent Development Programme (PGATDP). This will portend, the targeting of individuals who are passionate about bringing significant contributions to their industry, but are still at a nascent stage of career development. This will also elicit the need for the factoring and use of experiential learning and development on these talented young professionals. At the same time, the US government and American businesses should work closely to craft new, more effective and broader global networks. Similarly, there should be the rejuvenation of employee exchange and transfer programmes, with emphasis being placed on the aforementione d young employees. This will help these young employees to build broader global networks, experience different areas of entrepreneurship, gain experience on how to manage different networks and accrue skills that will be needful for the advancement of one’s career. The US government can then in turn take to extend business incentives to organisations that practice the PGATDP programme (Griffiths, 137). It may also be imperative for the US government to expand its education, training and community development

Reflection Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 27

Reflection - Essay Example She was objectified and deemed only good for her physical features. A trend that has been a vice in all generations. Our music nowadays is full of explicit content. Songs describing women in a graphic and vile manner has filled our airwaves. What is even more distressiing is that women seem to enjoy this negative attention thus encouraging the men. Sara Baartman same as most Khoi-San women was well rounded with large buttocks, large breasts and an elongated labia. One can understand that the typical African woman in those days was a sight to behold but beauty should be admired and not ridiculed. We are all fearfilly and wonderfully made and in the image of God. His work should not be the subject of mockery and ridicule but we should simply marvel at it and be in complete awe. It is important to ask ourselves why men rarely are the subject of such acts of exploitation and abuse. Sara Baartman was born in South Africa and even while there she lived as a slave to a Dutch farmer in Cape Town. Sara was then promised great wealth if she moved to England Africa was by then referred to as the black continent mostly because its inhabitants were black. Even while she was living in her motherland she was still being subjected to racial discrimination as she worked as a slave, a role mainly played by Africans who were seen as the inferior race. It was unheard of that a white would be a black man’s slave. While in Europe, racial discrimination was at its peak at the time and Sara felt its full brunt. To the Europeans she was simply a weird specimen that was to be observed to staisfy their curiosity. No one amongst them ever made an attempt to learn about the Hottentot Venus a a person. Did she have a sense of humour? Was she temperamental? Was she intelligent? Very few attempts if any were made to learn more about her innerself. The curiosity was on her extraordinary physical features. But you have to wonder, because the

Law in Practice UK Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Law in Practice UK - Essay Example Mr. David Balls, aged 41, has mentioned that he is married to Edwina Balls, 32 years of age. This couple has been married for a total of 8 years. On Valentine’s Day of 2011 (February 14th, to be exact), Edwina did not return home. A man named Harry Williams phoned Mr. Balls and informed him that he and Edwina had been having an affair for the past three months, and, in fact, she was asleep in his bed right now. David found out where Mr. Williams was calling from and he rushed out of his home to go to Harry’s house to confront him. David was driving from his home along Romford road and through the traffic lights (East) at Manor Park junction towards Ilford where Harry lives. At that moment, another driver came from the right and smashed into the driver’s side (offside) of his car. The police and the ambulance were alerted to the scene. David sustained bad bruising to his right leg but otherwise was unhurt. The other driver, however, had been thrown through her windscreen onto her own bonnet, and then onto the ground. The other driver—Katherine Buckingham, age 31 years old—sustained whiplash, a broken nose, concussion, and a badly bruised shoulder. Katherine also sustained cuts on her face and arms from the windscreen. Police officers told David that Katherine had not been wearing a seatbelt. Both drivers were breathalysed but neither was over the alcohol limit for driving. Everyone owes a duty of care to those affected by his or her actions and is liable in law for his or her negligence. Tort is the law that relates to civil wrongs, and in particular the laws relating to negligence. Personal injury is a particular form of negligence which can be brought to the courts on the part of the plaintiff. Mr. Balls does have a case for suing Ms. Buckingham, because personal injury consists of doing damage to s omeone’s person. However, Katherine may have a case when it comes to Mr. Balls running into her on the road, since what he did could be considered driving recklessly in a fit of passion—similar to how second-degree murder is not premeditated but is a crime of passion. Katherine might not be liable for David’s wrongdoing here, although she could be given a fine for not having worn her seatbelt. Here, the law of tort, negligence, and duty of care will be sufficiently explained. II. Law of Tort ‘Tort’ is the French word for a wrong. Torts are civil wrongs. Civil wrongs can be contrasted to criminal acts although one action might result in a potential liability for two claims, one civil and one criminal. If D runs into P on the road, D is liable to be prosecuted for civil sanctions such as fines, community penalties or imprisonment, which might be applied by the civil courts. But P can also sue D in the civil courts for any damages for the injury and lo ss that has been suffered. Negligence is a tort. III. Negligence, Liability for Negligence, and Defences Against Negligence The case of â€Å"Donoghue –v- Stephenson† (2011), set out the basic principles of negligence in English law (pp. 1). The case concerned food poisoning suffered by Mrs Donoghue whose bottled ginger beer was contaminated with the remains of a decomposed snail. As Mrs Donoghue didn’t buy the ginger beer (her friend did) she had no action in contract law (so she wasn’t a party to that contract). The case decided that, in English Law there must be and is a general conception of relations giving rise to a duty of care. The liability for negligence is based upon a general public sentiment of wrongdoing for which the offender pays. The case created the concept of negligence as an action in civil law allowing injured parties to sue wrongdoers for their loss and damage. To find a defendant liable for

CTV Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

CTV - Assignment Example Firstly, technology management issues must be identified and discussed. Secondly, the situation prior to the incident must be discussed. Thirdly, the events that occurred during the collapse of the building should be elaborated. In this context, lack of a predetermined evacuation process deserves special mention. Fourthly and finally, the aftermath of the incident should be analysed. In recommending solutions to the earthquake resistant building design issues as witnessed in this case study, it is considered an imperative to advocate for modernising the building code and construction methods. Moreover, supervisory committees consisting of engineering professionals must be created that can consistently monitor the cityscape on the basis of practical professional knowledge. This kind of overseer committees can provide more authentic technical evaluations in the context of commercial building maintenance and management. Table of Contents 1. Introduction 4 2. Analytical discussion 4 2a. Issues in technology management 6 2b. Issues before the disaster 7 2c. Issues during the collapse 7 2d. CTV Building disaster aftermath 8 3. Summary and concluding remarks 8 4. Recommendations 9 Reference List 11 Appendix 13 1. Introduction The CTV Building disaster of February 2011 has become a landmark incident in the world of engineering and construction sciences. CTV Building disaster received much of the limelight because on the day this building collapsed due to an earthquake, other buildings in the vicinity remained far less damaged than it. The earthquake that hit Christchurch on 22nd February 2011 left scars of destruction all over the city but that did not reach the unprecedented disaster that took place at the CTV Building. According to MacRae and Dhakal (2011, p. 5), some buildings had suffered â€Å"partial collapse† (e.g. PGC Building) or â€Å"total collapse† (e.g. CTV Building). Several people died and things went wrong especially in the CTV building, w here over a hundred persons died. However, most of the other buildings across Christchurch withstood the shocks of the February earthquake. Buildings such as the Forsyth Barr building lost only staircases and noticeable distortion of concrete structures could be noticed mainly at the basement or ground floor areas. 2. Analytical discussion Although this paper is aimed at exploring the management specific issues of CTV Building disaster, technology related problems and contextual analyses of engineering issues cannot be avoided. In fact, technology management itself can be regarded as an integrated part of the whole commercial building management task which is a continuous and active process in itself. Christchurch is situated in an unsafe zone and a powerful earthquake had already hit the CTV Building back in September 2010. A very important note in this milieu has been explicitly mentioned by Isaac Davison from The New Zealand Herald: â€Å"The Royal Commission also found that aft er the first major quake in September 2010 the CTV building was "green-stickered" by a rapid assessment team and later by three council building officials, none of whom was an engineer.† (Davison 2012) In this observation, Davison has mentioned the Canterbury Earthquakes Royal Commission’s final report regarding the disaster (see Final Report: Roles and Responsibilities 2012). This commission had been delegated the task to investigate the issues

Short Response # 5 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Short Response # 5 - Essay Example he Lisbon sisters changed in that, they saw the girls as they saw themselves - youths in the process of development with like beliefs, values and behaviors. (124) Secondly, the boys realized that their categorization of the Lisbon sisters was completely inaccurate. â€Å"Who had known they talk so much, held so many opinions†¦Ã¢â‚¬ (124) The boys amended their thinking of them as scared, socially inept, lifeless creatures to confident, socially adept, beautiful and energetic girls. The boys with a note of wonderment announced, â€Å"†¦the girls they had been continuously living, developing in ways we couldn’t imagine, reading every book†¦Ã¢â‚¬  This new information not only increased the boys’ infatuation with the girls but also ignited a higher level of respect for the girls whom they had once only known in their imagination. (124) Further, the boys seemed to notice a difference in the behavior and personality of each girl. Whereas they once thought of them only as an identical unit, they now saw them as individuals. At the dance, the boys’ perspective of the sisters seemed to interchange between identical unit and individual girls. â€Å"The Lisbon girls looked identical again†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (132) suggesting that at one point in the dance they had begun to see them as individuals but by the end of the date, they were â€Å"a pack† again, moving together with the sole purpose of finding the missing sister.(132) The boys saw them as inseparable. Bonnie’s reluctance to leave Lux alone even for second, confirmed this new information in their minds. Certainly this view of the girls as an entity was accurate for the girls all died and was buried as a unit. In addition, the Lisbon home appeared to be a place of isolation, rejection and sadness, a place of abnormalities. As the girls moved away from the house they were able to show abandonment of the misguided feelings of abnormality and begin to show their true selves, that is, their ability to enjoy life in spite of struggles.

Chuck Palahniuks Book Fight Club Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Chuck Palahniuks Book Fight Club - Essay Example If the rules were to be followed, the question of â€Å"how then?† emerges in relation to the growth of the club. It is difficult to understand this section because there is no practical way of the club growing if there was no word out there about it. The rule and the actual situation fall into a conflict. Understanding this rule follows the reasoning that the club was meant to grow in another way apart from telling people vocally about it. The outer meaning of the phrase involves verbal speaking about the activities of the club that is strongly restricted. By focusing on the eventual growth of the underground fighting club, two possibilities emerge that help in understanding. It either the rule was broken or there was a different way of the club growing targeted by the founders. This difficult part of the story airs strong support for the theme of the story. The aims of not going out and bubbling about the presence of a fight club focused on the agenda by the writer to let th e physical aspect of masculinity speak out loudly. The major theme of the story involves letting the masculinity part of individuals emerge though through actions, deemed to cause freedom, but at an expense-pain and personal comfort. According to the founders of the fight club, emancipation would be achieved by wreaking havoc and subjecting their bodies to the cause of difficulties to instill a sense of focus and discipline. Personal interpretation of this is that there is a possibility that the fight club remained in existence only after the fight commences and ends. That period is the fight club. Out of that period, there was no existence. However, if this was the case, gaining new members leaves a puzzle. It means that the rule could have been broken, further supporting the prevalent theme of rule disregard as supported by the violent acts of the members of the fight club.

Professional associations influence on HR practitioner Essay

Professional associations influence on HR practitioner - Essay Example uch, the human resource team employed by a company or an organization should be efficient and attentive to the rights, privileges, as well as the personal needs of the workers of the organization in order to foster a good working environment at the company to promote productivity and efficiency within the operations of the company (Bogardus, 2009). Aside from the skills acquired through learning and professional experience, HR officials should always be on the lookout for new skills, talents and expertise that comes about from leading professional associations and journals within the market. These assist the HR practitioners from getting up-to-date information on the performance of their tasks and duties as HR Managers, thereby being efficient and effective in their practice. Some of the leading professional associations in Human Resources that influence the practice and trade of a HR Practitioner in Australia include the Australian Human Resource Institute, the HR Monthly, and similar publications from consultancy firms (Bondarouk & Olivas-Lujan, 2013). The Australian Human Resource Institute is a professional association of Human Resources professionals who study, review and make recommendations on the current needs and demands of a HR practitioner in the Australian Human resource market. As such, a HR practitioner gains abundantly from reading the findings and reports published by this institute, as these reports touch on the sensitive issues of their professional practice that enable them improve and enhance their professional practice. For instance, the latest publication of the Australian Human Resource Institute provided a methodology of how to undertake appropriate HR Strategies and Planning within the organization in order to promote efficiency and productivity within the company (Cheung-Judge & Holbeche, 2015). HR strategies incorporate an effective assessment of all the HR needs and demands of an organization, and as such, getting the right personnel

Womens Clothing Industry Report Essay Example for Free

Womens Clothing Industry Report Essay This industry includes establishments primarily engaged in the retail sale of a general line of womens ready-to-wear clothing. This category also includes establishments primarily engaged in the specialized retail sale of womens coats, suits, and dresses. Custom tailors primarily engaged in making womens clothing to individual order are classified in SIC 5699: Miscellaneous Apparel and Accessory Stores. Industry Snapshot In 2005, $36.7 billion was spent at stores devoted exclusively to womens apparel, a jump of more than $2 billion from 2004 and more than $4 billion from 2003. While the discounters, namely Target and Wal-Mart, were continuing to do well, the more upscale stores were seeing a new surge in spending. While consumer demand for luxury and high quality items was high, most of the purchases in this category were made for those items either from lower-priced brands or items on sale. In the mid-2000s, those employed by the industry were mostly working as sales associates, who are responsible for performing customer service and a variety of operational duties such as setting up displays and organizing stock. Store managers oversee sales, operations, and personnel functions. Merchandisers work with the apparel manufacturers to select apparel for the retailer and control merchandise expenses. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, womens clothing stores reported combined sales of $38.5 billion in 2008. As the economy continued to struggle sales fell 7.6 percent to $35.6 billion in 2009. As sales declined, Womens clothing stores were adapting to the downturn by focusing on recession-friendly prices, and opening up more discount outlets. In fact, there were 345 outlet stores slated to open in 2011, according to the November 2009 Retail Forward report. Organization and Structure The structure of the U.S. retail industry, including womens clothing stores, has changed significantly since the early 1990s, moving from a production-driven market to a consumer-driven market. Nontraditional retailers, such as discounters, off-priced stores, and factory outlets, fared well. Because of continuing competition from nontraditional retailers, department stores such as J.C. Penney and specialty stores such as The  Limited increased their focus on private labels. In the mid-1990s, consumers demanded more convenience and quicker service from growing no-store retailing, particularly in direct-mail order, television, and online shopping. An Internet shopping study by Ernst Young LLP reported that the number of retailers selling online tripled in 1998 to 39 percent. The online market was estimated to reach $13 billion in sales at the end of 1999. The relationship between larger retailers and suppliers significantly intensified because a growing number of retailers were taking on entrepreneurial roles traditionally performed by apparel producers. Larger retailers and direct-mail order companies were making decisions in areas such as product design, fabric selection and procurement, and apparel production, which in turn influenced production scheduling, pricing, and delivery dates. Background and Development Womens clothing stores were introduced in Europe in the late 1700sslightly later in the American coloniesat a time when productive capability, population, and prosperity allowed clothing production to move out of the house and into the factory, and clothes to move into retail stores. Around this time, seamstresses began opening shops offering custom-made hats, dresses, cloaks, or other garments. These garments of the latest fashion were for those who could afford to hire out the work of stitching. Trading posts in the frontier areas carried cloth and some ready-made apparel. The invention of the sewing machine, the rise of mass production, and the proliferation of retail stores by the late nineteenth century led people first to sample and later to rely on ready-made clothing for sale as a reliable means of obtaining fashionable clothing. In the 1890s, ready-to-wear clothing came into its own, and by the turn of the century ready-made womens wear was available in abundance in the Unit ed States. By the 1920s, it was considered more fashionable to buy clothing from a store than to make it at home. For many years, the department store and the downtown womens shop were the mainstays of womens wear retailing. Department stores offering a vast selection of goods and specialty stores catering to unique tastes dotted the urban landscape. For those with enough money, shopping became a social event. Along with the growth of womens clothing retailing came the increasing importance of fashion. The womens  apparel industry established a voice in government through the National Retail Federation (NRF), the trade group representing the entire spectrum of the nations retail industry. In the early and mid-1990s, the NRF lobbied the U.S. Congress on issues such as minimum wages and the proposed health care plan. The NRF was opposed to an increase in the minimum wage on the grounds that many retailers would have to close down operations or fire staff to meet expenses with a higher wage base. In 1994, Womens Wear Daily reported that the NRF opposed the Clinton administrations proposed univers al health coverage on the grounds that more than 700,000 jobs would have to be eliminated in all retailing. At that time only 35 percent of retail workers received health care benefits. The NRF supported a plan that emphasized offering health coverage but did not require employers to pay for that coverage and allowed for the creation of purchasing pools for group insurance. Heading into the twenty-first century, dedicated womens stores faced renewed competition from alternative retail venues offering specialty or general line womens apparel in addition to other product lines. Sporting goods retailers were devising new strategies to increase womens apparel business. In 1995, womens apparel ranged from 10 percent to 40 percent of store merchandise. Sporting goods retailers saw strong potential in the womens apparel market. Retailers increased floor space to accommodate womens products; set up womens departments; increased stock of best-selling brands; and held store events to draw more female customers. Department stores also responded to the increased demand for womens apparel and began rep ositioning themselves to win back the customers they had lost to more focused outlets like The Gap and The Limited. Such retailers as Bloomingdales and Dayton Hudson revamped the womens apparel collections. The large-sized womens clothing market grabbed the attention of clothing retailers in the mid-1990s with sales reaching $20 billion and claiming 24.7 percent of the market. The key factors that influenced these sales were an increase in fashions featuring younger silhouettes and the use of better fabrics. Lane Bryant, a division of The Limited Inc., brought in more fashionable clothes and worked to change the perception of large-size fashion. Our customer wants to wear the exact same fashion her skinny friends wear, noted Lane Bryants chief executive Jill Dean in a 1999 Wall Street Journal interview. One of the hottest growth areas in retailing  during the late 1990s was discounting. Clothing retailers saw an opportunity to bring fashionable clothes at reasonable prices to the masses. In 2002, Target was the countrys third-largest discounter and a $40 billion division of the Dayton Hudson Cor poration. Nearly 35 percent of Targets sales come from the clothing department. Old Navy, a division of The Gap, was launched in 1994 to compete with stores like Sears and Target with this concept in mind. As the United States initiated the war with Iraq in March of 2003, the U.S. economy remained soft and consumers remained cautious. As a result, the clothing industry reported sales numbers below those previously forecasted, down 6 to 7 percent rather than the anticipated 3 to 4 percent for the month. The retailers with the most successor least amount of declinewere those that offered moderate-priced, affordable sportswear that combined the right amount of fashion with value. By the end of 2003, the industry saw increased spending again, a trend that continued into 2004. Dresses, skirts, and tailored clothing all declined in overall sales and units sold, but increases were seen in lingerie, suits, swimwear, and knit shirts. Tops were hailed as the new accessory in 2005, and women were being bolder about choices in this division, while preferring more versatile, classic apparel items in other categories such as slacks. The so-called career/casual market was on the upswing, as women looked for clothing that could easily make the transition from work to leisure. While fashion was important in the mid-2000s, so was the desire to simplify. Although higher-end, upscale items were increasing in demand, women still looked for the bargain, leading to an increase in the affordable luxury category as well. While overall spending was up, the average price per item was down. Retailers also continued to target junior shoppers as a consistent source for revenues. Young consumers, who tend to have more disposable income than older shoppers, spend more money on clothing and are more conscious of fashion trends. In 2007, those junior shoppers were interested in buying dresses, as were most other women. According to a report by The NPD Group, revenues from sales of dresses increased 30.4 percent overall for the 12-month period ending in April 2007. For juniors, the jump was 53.3 percent, while the sales of misses dresses rose 33.1 percent and the sale of petite dresses 31.6 percent. During that 12-month period, sales of womens apparel in general increased 5.1 percent. Even with positive signs  in sales heading into the late 2000s, an uncertain economy had one of the stronger chains slimming down to improve profitability. Despite net sales that rose 2.3 percent in 2007 to approximately $2.4 billion, Ann Taylor Stores Corporation announced in January 2008 that it planned to close 117 stores from 2008 through 2010 as a restructuring of the business. Current Conditions Retailers are crafting marketing and merchandising campaigns around the new normal, making a bid for female shoppers still shell-shocked by the biggest economic downturn since The Great Depression. Consequently, consumer spending patterns have been changing and will likely continue to evolve. The average consumer was shifting to fewer purchases. One market research firm that follows the industry reported sales of womens clothing fell 2.8 percent in 2008 and 4.9 percent in 2009. Industry watchers dont see the downward trend changing anytime soon, especially since income levels were on the decline and the unemployment rate remained at high levels and apparel in general being a discretionary purchase was suffering because of the weak economy. In one survey conducted by ShopperScape by Ohio-based Retail Forward based on all age groups and income levels found over half of women shoppers will replace only their worn out clothing. Additionally, when it comes to buying clothing, shoes, and accessories the mentality was to trade down selecting the less expensive brands. Additionally, women shoppers were much more value oriented then in years past. The mentality to shop till you drop was now labeled frugal shopper seeking out the less expensive designer replicas. Some womens clothing stores underwent significant restructuring downsizing throughout the late 2000s. One industry leader, Ann Taylor Stores including their LOFT stores shed 60 stores in 2008, followed by another 42 stores in 2009 with about another 72 announced to close in 2010. Of the estimated 174 store closures, half would be Ann Taylor Stores and about half would be LOFT stores. Industry Leaders Some of the leaders in the womens clothing store retail industry in the United States were The Gap, Inc., Limited Brands, Inc., Charming Shoppes, Inc., Talbots, Inc., Ann Taylor Stores Corporation, and the Dress Barn, Inc. The Gap, founded in 1969 by Don and Doris Fisher in San Francisco, has  become an international specialty retailer offering mens, womens, and childrens casual clothing and accessories. The Gap operated thousands of stores in six countries, including The Gap, GapKids, Baby Gap, GapBody, Banana Republic, and Old Navy Clothing Co. The Gap has stores in the United States, Japan, the United Kingdom, Canada, France, and Germany. The company reported $15.9 billion in revenues for 2007. The Gap expanded quickly in the 1980s, purchasing the Banana Republic chain in 1983, launching GapKids, and BabyGap in 1986, and opening its first overseas store in London in 1987. By 1990 The Gap was one of the most successful apparel retailers and the second largest clothing brand in th e United States. One of the biggest successes for The Gap was the Old Navy division, launched in 1994. In less than three years, The Gap opened 282 Old Navy stores and hit sales of $1 billion. Gap Online was introduced in November 1997. Limited Brands, Inc., the top U.S. womens apparel retailer, was founded in 1963. Limited Brands, Inc. shed its Express and The Limited apparel chains to focus on its Victorias Secret and Bath Body Works stores. The company operated 2,900 specialty stores in North America in 2007. Sales for 2007 reached $10.7 billion. The leader in plus size apparel, Charming Shoppes, Inc., had Fashion Bug and Catherines Plus Size stores, and had acquired Lane Bryant from Limited Brands in 2001. The company reported 2007 sales of $3.1 billion. Talbots, Inc., with nearly 1,380 stores carrying traditional clothing and accessories, reported $2.2 billion in 2007 sales. Ann Taylor Stores, which catered to customers looking for upscale, classic clothing, reported 2007 sales of $2.4 billion. The Dress Barn catered to the professional woman on a budget. The company had $1.3 billion in 2007 sales. With 2,100 stores globally, The Gap reported revenues of $15.7 billion in 2008, falling to $14.1 billion in 2010 with 135,000 employees. Limited Brands, Inc. also saw their revenues decline fro $10.1 billion in 2008 to $8.6 billion in 2010 with 92,100 employees. From a reported $3 billion in sales for 2008, Charming Shoppes, Inc.s revenue plummeted to nearly $2.1 billion in 2010 with 27,000 employees. Talbots, Inc.s total number of stores fell from 1,380 in 2007 to 580 in 2010, as did its revenues from nearly $2.3 billion in 2008 to $1.2 billion in 2010 with 9,100 employees. Ann Taylor Stores reported revenues of $1.8 billion in 2010, well below the reported revenues of nearly $1.4 billion in 2008. The company employed  18,800 people. The Dress barn reported revenues of $982 million in 2010.

Government Ever Limit Freedom Of Speech Essay

Government Ever Limit Freedom Of Speech Essay Governments have an obligation to regulate the freedom of speech. Freedom of speech is a right that is limitless to the people unless Governments introduce legislations that are passed to limit freedom of speech to prevent acts of verbal violence, which include racial discrimination, discrimination of minority groups and various forms of hate speech to minority groups. There have been various examples of freedom of speech being too limitless to the people, causing unwanted violence. Though it is an essential part of governing the people, to let them express especially in a democratic society. The freedom of speech and expression is limited due to the violence caused by it and is therefore limited by laws that enable the peoples speech to be limited and reduced in harm and offence. Representative democracy is much more ideal in leading the people, instead of the people leading the people. The majority can cause havoc at times. Freedom of speech is limited to the fact that a Representa tive Democracy is usually ideal. In some circumstances, voting is permitted for certain laws, also called a referendum. However, though Freedom of speech may have many negative impacts on todays society, it has also helped society grow in better ways to help prosper into the future. Freedom of speech is sustained and regulated to the point where it has been altered to try and prevent and reduce verbal violence and abuse. These alterations have benefited society in restricting their expression to harm others. It is asked at timesà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ What type of speech, if any cause harm? (Mill, 2008). It may not be evident through speech but evident through the actions taken by the group of others to destroy the speaker. An example would be from a Dutch Film Maker, Theo Van Gogh who was stabbed to death after producing a movie that criticized the Islams. (Tunehag 2011, p.77). This is very alarming, freedom of speech can lead to ones death depending on ones speech. In some cases, Christmas is often removed or renamed to not offend Muslims, in this, the heart of the people is ideally recognized and laws that protect race and religion (Racial and Religious Hatred Acts) come into play. The way we perceive someones speech may differ from others perceived hearing of it and the idea that other people may or may not take offense to it is a factor in trying to modify and renew Freedom of speech. It is hard to interpret if someone is offended by what is said. Actions speak louder than words is what can be used to interpret whether or not the hearer is offended and whether actions will speak louder than what the speaker has said. Freedom of speech is contradictory to the fact that what can be said by the speaker can be offensive, but the hearer can also offend the speaker if the path is chosen by the hearer. Engaging with the issue of limiting Freedom of speech is important to concerning many minority groups. Ideally they are more subjected to discrimination due to social norms placed by society. Minority groups are protected by laws such as Anti-Vilification and Hate Speech Laws. These laws not only protect minority groups, but also protect social relations with other cultures and groups. Freedom of speech is a given right, but limitations is a must to prevent damage to society with the introductions of laws and acts. Freedom of speech is the foundation of a democratic society; it allows us to express our own views and helps us to express freedom of the press, rights to open political debate, freedom to manifest religious beliefs, freedom of expression in art and music, etc. (Tunehag 2011, p.77). As it is a foundation of a democratic society, there must be limitations to the law as the full freedom of speech can lead to harm, offence and hate. The peoples say is limited through laws. These laws include such laws as Anti-vilification laws in Australia which prevents hatred or prejudice towards a person, group of people on a specified ground (Gelber 2011, p. 83). This reduces racism or discrimination against minorities labelled from the public and is an escape from the label of a minority. In the UK, the Racial and Religious Hatred Act was passed after being rectified i n 2006, making any incitement of religious hatred an offenceà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ (Smits 2009, p. 155). Limitations on speech are purely defined by what the Government believes might harm the Government or the people itself'(Wallace, 1989, p.506). As governments later realized the danger of not limiting freedom of speech during the war effort, Espionage Act of 1917 and the Sedition Act of 1918 were passed during World War 1. During this time, some speech may have affected with the war effort. These acts helped limit the freedom of speech during the war effort. Some countries such as Britain and France have severe restrictions on freedom of speech due to their concern of national security. Other countries such as Denmark have less concern, though many Western Nations follow strict restrictions. To this notion of restrictions, it follows how Democracies are predominantly Representative Democracies where the people vote on an expert leader in Political events to decide for them/the people. Freedom of speech is a given right to the people, in a democracy, the people are able to voice their opinion, though a Representative democracy is much intended. Letting the experts decide in their own field of politics is much safer than the people deciding for the people. A country such as Australia is run by a Representative democracy, where there are free elections, which gives the people a chance to choose their leaders and express their opinions on issues (Harvard 1989, p. 127). The representative is more aware of laws than the people itself, making the representative fully aware of the freedom of speech right and laws that alter its right. To this advantage; the representatives have the ability to modify the right through the passing of legislations through multiparty systems. Democratic societies pursue to promise their citizens certain freedoms, including freedom of religion, freedom of the press and freedom of speech (Harvard 1989, p. 126). Most of these freedoms are limite d, just like the Freedom of speech has its own limitations in the public usage. In a Democracy, the Majority will always rule. But the majority cannot take away the rights of other people; these consist of the basic freedom of speech, press, assembly and religious worship. By no means can the majority strip the rights of the minority to become the majority by legal means (Harvard 1989, p. 127). This set guideline for a majority rule is important as Democracy ensures that citizens are endowed with personal liberties and rights and no government can remove or weaken them and freedom of citizens to associate together within civil society (Woodward, 2010, p. 9). This ensures every citizen under democratic rule is equal to every citizen around them. Representative Democracy has ensured the limitation of freedom of speech by the experts in the field, ensuring that the majority cannot strip the rights of others. It has also shown the true potential of these limitations and the right itself , Freedom of Speech. Nevertheless, even with its negatives aspects, it is a right that has great significance in society, allowing people to express their true opinions and values. This allows great expression from various people which can show true potential in fluent and influential speech. This is shown through many who have sought to believe what is right and challenge laws and fight for what they may believe is right. Some people may abuse the right by resulting into racism or discrimination against minority groups, but ideally, it helps share ideas between people and helps to nurture social relationships and social unity. The Act also helps with social evolution as the human race thrives as social beings. The Government should be limiting the Freedom of Speech but to the extent where individuals are able to still foster creativity and promote their identity and individuality to which their expression as a right will not be revoked unless harmed or verbally harmed against others. These restrictions in the recent years have not stopped individuality. Absolute freedom of opinion and sentiment on all subjects (Mill, 1978, p. 11) is what supports the Freedom of speech in a beneficial manner. The most beneficial of freedom of speech is that everyone has their own say. No one is detached by the right, everyone is entitled to it. The restrictions put on the right are only to reduce the harm that others may inflict on groups of people. The right has done more good than harm, though it is not an excuse to try and reduce the damage being caused. The Freedom of speech act has proven to be a debatable argument on whether or not the act itself should be limited by Governments. It should be safely said that the limiting of the Freedom of Speech has clearly reduced verbal violence such as hate speech, racism, hatred against religion etc. across the spectrum. With these reductions, the true nature of Freedom of Speech can truly be witnessed. Acts and Laws that reduce that limit the act also play a huge role in maintaining social relations between groups. The nature of Freedom of speech had given too much power to the people. We can see now how the introduction of new legislations that these powers have been reduced. As the Freedom of Speech continues to be a given right, there may be more restrictions put on to it to better suit the publics need and to reduce the harm caused by the speech by the people. By this, the future is seeking to be positive as the right can be used in the proper manner that it was intended to be used for.

Womens Roles in The Yellow Wallpaper and The Withered Arm

Women's Roles in The Yellow Wallpaper and The Withered Arm In the late 19th century, women were expected to conform to the conventions of society. This meant that they were expected to get married young, pure and beautiful. They were treated like objects as if men bought them. How the woman felt was irrelevant in this period. Women were expected to produce an 'heir and a spare'. Women were also victim to double standards. For example, women had to deal with a child out of wedlock yet were given no responsibility for this. This contrasts strongly to a woman's role in society today. However, women are still expected to get married and give birth to a child. I am going to explore this issue in two short stories; The Yellow Wallpaper written by Charlotte Perkins Gilman in 1892, and The Withered Arm written by Thomas Hardy in 1887. The Yellow Wallpaper is about a women suffering from postnatal depression that is given the 'rest cure'. She feels trapped and eventually goes mad. The Withered Arm is about a milkmaid called Rhoda who had a child out of wedlock and has been excluded from society. The man with whom she had the child with gets married to a young girl who Rhoda resents and in a dream disfigures her arm. The young bride tries to cure her arm by touching a recently executed man who turns out to be Rhoda's son. The shock kills the young bride and the husband sees the error of his ways and soon dies himself. In The Withered Arm, Hardy portrays how negative life was for women in Victorian society. However, on the other hand, he clearly shows sympathy for the plight of women which suggests he had a desire for change. Hardy shows how the role of women in Victorian society was to get married. If... ...ath also forces Farmer Lodge to see the error of his ways. In The Yellow Wallpaper, The speaker defies the conventions of society by creeping around openly in front of John, however, in the same moment; she appears to have gone mad. This appears to be the only way out for her. Both stories symbolise how hard it was not to conform to society; a person died in one and in the other, a person went mad. They show that emancipation was almost impossible for a woman in Victorian times. The two stories use different narrative viewpoints. The Withered Arm uses the third person narration, which is seen to be more sympathetic towards the plight of women and more objective. The Yellow Wallpaper uses the first person narration, which seems less convincing and bias, however it also symbolises the aloneness of the speaker and her lack of voice empathises her plight.

Siddhartha :: Essays Papers

Siddhartha In the book â€Å"Siddhartha† Herman Hesse shows even though one may have a goal in mind there are many paths. In this story Siddhartha and his friend Govinda have the same goal, and the two friends end up taking separate paths. Siddhartha however becomes distracted. When looking at the book â€Å"Siddhartha† one can see three detours Siddhartha took, which most readers don’t see; this is important because in the end it helped Siddhartha find self-fulfillment. Siddhartha starting out as a Brahmin left him at a disadvantage when searching for Nirvana. He realizes the many gods that they worship are of no value because the only true god is Atman. He searches for a way to concentrate on this one god, and eventually attain Nirvana. In these thoughts he also comes to the conclusion that the lifestyle he has is a distraction. His possesions, his feelings, his beliefs are all a distraction which leads him to his conclusion to join the Samanas. He joins the Samanas and thinks he would like their lifestyle. On his journey with the Samanas he learns many things from them like how to seperate himself from want, and to divide spirit and body. This lesson however, only brought him further from his goal as you will see in the development of this essay. Siddhartha soon leaves the Samanas after showing how he has surpassed the elder Samana by hypnotizing him. He goes on a new journey to see Buddha, leaving his friend with Buddha and himself ending up in a village called Samsura. In Samsura he becomes further than he's ever been from attaining Nirvana, but again in the end its for the best. He becomes like the "normal" people he has always seen himself better than. He gets depressed, takes on gambling, and becomes fond of the drink. His gambling driven by his hate of greed, and the desire to show his hatred causes him to earn more and more to repeat the vicious cycle. As much as this looks like the worst thing that could have happened, it is really the best. Siddhartha realizes the spiritual state he was seeking is lost by his "new" life. He goes to the river he once crossed, in hopes of drowning himself and the pain he feels being so far from his "Self".

Review of Grahams Magazine Essay -- Literature History

Graham’s Lady’s and Gentleman’s Magazine (Graham’s) is a monthly published literary periodical although it allots other fields including engravings, fashion, and music to a small portion. This magazine deals with variety of literary fields from short stories, poetry, and essays handle various tastes from belles-lettres to sentimental literature. During those periods, the contributors to the magazine, in addition to numerous writers who exist only in tarnishing paper, are included such canonical writers as Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Mrs. Lydia H. Sigourney, James Fenimore Cooper, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Edgar Allan Poe, among others. Through its inclusiveness in genres and wide range of literary works, Graham’s gained a broad readership, and simultaneously the magazine contributed to forging white American idealism by keeping silence on political or social issues at that time and reinforcing the already establish social system. This magazine’s silence for the contemporary issues is evident from its non-existent, editorial statement. One can hardly find explicit editorial position during 1843-44 for mainly two reasons. The owner and chief editor George R. Graham did not have his specific taste for literature or editorial position; his first concern was apparently a cultural business not culture itself. In his article â€Å"A Brief History of Graham Magazine,† Frank Luther Mott mentions that this magazine was the result of the combination of the Casket: Flowers of Literature, Wit and Sentiment and Burton’s Gentleman’s Magazine. He continues to contend that when Graham purchased the two magazines and merged as Graham Magazine, he just followed the merits from each magazine, which would promote the readership (364). On the other hand, Grah... ...ally have when opening a printed magazine. That is mainly because of the textual modes, microfilm or digitalized texts. When author’s works display in the screen in a small portion at a time, it produces another ahistorical text. This time one needs not draw one work from an anthology. Instead, the reader has to read the text confined by modern technology, which again alienates the text from the cultural or social atmosphere in the period when the magazine actually published. Works Cited Casper, Scott E., et al. A History of the Book in America. Vol. 3. The Industrial Book 1840-1880. Chapel Hill: UP of North Carolina, 2007. Print. â€Å"Editor’s Table.† Graham’s American Monthly Magazine 26.6 (1844): 296. Google Books. Web. 25 Sept. 2010. Mott, Frank Luther. â€Å"A Brief History of Graham’s Magazine.† Studies in Philosophy 25.3 (1928): 362-74. Web. 9 Oct. 2010.

Feasibility Report for a Fast Food Restaurant

FEASIBILITY REPORT FOR A FAST FOOD RESTAURANT PREAMBLE: We have taken out time to write this report for several reasons among which are: [pic] This project serves as part of the â€Å"private-sector participation initiative† drive embarked by our company [pic] Our desire to make you reconsider your present stand about not wanting to invest in the Nigerian economy, for now [pic] Our belief that this report can form a base for an enlarged feasibility report, which we hope you, would commission us to carry out [pic] Our desire to make you see the financial viability of this project [pic] Our desire to make you see the potentials of the Nigerian market [pic] Our desire to bring viable investments into this country [pic] Our desire to portray the true image of Nigeria to the outside world [pic] Our desire to see your company operational in Nigeria It is therefore our firm belief that after reading through this report, there will be a burning desire to reap the benefits of investing in Africa's biggest market, and partnering with us in i ts quest to touch hearts through the McDonald's heritage. TABLE OF CONTENT 1. DATA GATHERING 2. CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT 3. SITE ANALYSIS 4. COMPETITOR ANALYSIS 5. FINANCIAL STATEMENT [pic] DATA GATHERING [pic]BASIC FACTS ABOUT NIGERIA: AFRICA's BIGGEST DEMOCRACY AND MARKET. FEDERAL CAPITAL: ABUJA COMMERCIAL CAPITAL: LAGOS POPULATION Nigeria with a population of 113,828,587 (July 1999 EST. ) is the most populous country in Africa. It has a Population Growth rate: 2. 92% (1999 EST. ) AGE STRUCTURE 0-14 YEARS: 45% (MALE 25,613,974; FEMALE 25,397,166) 15-64 YEARS: 52% (MALE 30,272,539; FEMALE 29,197,611) 65 YEARS AND OVER: 3% (MALE 1,678,732; FEMALE 1,668,565) (1999 EST. ) [pic]MARKET AREA We intend that McDonald's setup its first restaurant, in Lagos State. It has also pinned down any of these locations for its first restaurant, namely Broad and Marina Streets in Lagos Island, Awolowo Road in Ikoyi, and Akin Adesola and Ahmadu Bello Way, in Victoria Island. There is a school of thought that says that the Market in Lagos is bigger than the Market in other countries of West Africa put together. For people conversant with Lagos, these locations are prime locations, as they boast of the presence of Nigeria’s high rise buildings, Nigeria’s most successful shops and companies, with their attendant management and senior staff, who invariably are Nigeria’s creme de la creme. These locations can also be regarded as Nigeria’s Jugular vein in commerce. They also presently boast of hosting the best Fast Food Restaurants in Lagos. We are already looking forward to a healthy competition between you and them. Another feature of these locations is that they can be accessed within 5-10minutes of each other. It is therefore usual to see people working in Victoria Island moving over to a restaurant in Ikoyi, or Lagos Island, and vice versa. [pic]DEMOGRAPHY OF POTENTIAL CONSUMERS: Age: Infant – 60 and above (some fast food restaurants have playing pens for infants) Sex: Male: Female (55%: 45%) Income: $300/year and above Usage Rate: Worst Case Scenario: 500 consumers/day Average Case Scenario: 1200 consumers/day Best Case Scenario: 2000 consumers/day With McDonald's we expect figures to get as high as 1,500, 2,200 and 2,700 respectively. User Status: Ranges from first time users, Regular users and Occasional Users. For an average day in the 1ST year of operations: First Time Users: approx. 10% Regular Users: approx. 50% Occasional Users: approx. 40% Loyalty Status: Indifferent (None) 42% Medium: 35% Strong: 20% Absolute: 3% We are however confident that with McDonald's, consumers can be pulled from the indifferent categories, to being strong and absolute consumers with McDonald's. Occupation: Predominantly white collar workers, businessmen also form a sizable proportion of consumers. During weekends and evenings, the majority of consumers are whole families, couples, lovers etc. Educational Qualification: Secondary (High) school certificate holders to PHD holders. Religion: Predominantly Christian and liberal Muslims. This therefore means, a willingness/freedom to associate with people, including the opposite sex in public. Provisions for Takeaway snacks also allow the recluse patronize Fast Food Restaurants. Social Status: 80% of all classes of society BENEFITS: These are related to some kind of advantages looked for in patronizing any business. In the case of Fast Food Restaurants, the following parameters have been used to assess patronage: Economical Nature of Investment: Medium Rating Convenience: High Rating Prestige: High Rating Hangout Venue: High Rating LOCAL TRAFFIC PATTERNS: Lagos has a high traffic pattern. On a busy weekday afternoon in Lagos, traffic density is approx. 000 cars/sq. kilometers. [pic] CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT Concept development means making decisions about the components of the fast food restaurant concept, including theme, menu, service style, hours of operations. Since this feasibility is for the setting up of an already established name, its concept would basically be c entered upon what is presently obtainable. It is however important to make some recommendations, as the data from the population in the market area would help in evaluating a fast food restaurant's concept that fits the area’s needs and preferences. Lagos Island and its sister island, Victoria Island, form what is called Lagos City or EKO. It is a city with a high rate of hustle and bustle. In some parts of this city, the lights never go out. It is a city in which 70 percent of its work force comes from smaller towns (3-70 kilometers) from within and outside Lagos State, on a daily basis. This scenario automatically creates needs in the minds of some migrants to Lagos City, which must be met, such as: 1. Where do we eat breakfast, considering that we might have to wake up very early so as to avoid the early morning rush, which results in traffic jams? 2. Where do we eat lunch, considering the fact the demands of work and the distance between workplace and home will prevent us from going home? 3. Where do we eat dinner, considering that we might need to allow the traffic jam caused by motorists leaving Lagos City, subside? Apart from these variables, fast food restaurants in Lagos play host to people who live in Lagos City, and also provide a conducive environment for businessmen. We would therefore recommend that hours of operation span from 6. 45am to 9. 45pm daily. [pic] SITE ANALYSIS Specifically, we would like to narrow down our site search to Akin Adesola Street, in Victoria Island. This road is directly linked to the bridge that connects Lagos Island at the Ikoyi and Old Ikoyi end of Lagos Island: a drive of less than 5 minutes. It is important to note that Old Ikoyi is the most expensive residential area in Lagos State, and it is followed closely by Victoria Island, which also houses the most expensive office apartments in Lagos State. What this means is that McDonald's would be neighboring the rich and tasteful people resident in Lagos State. Akin Adesola Street, which spans about 1. 1Km is directly linked to the major streets in Victoria Island such as Ahmadu Bello way, Ozumba Mbadiwe, Adeyemo Alakija, Adeola Odeku, Sanusi Fafunwa, Karimu Kotun and Bishop Oluwole Streets. It traffic density is not too high as the road is dualised. At the other end of this street is the famous Bar beach; with Kuramo beach around the corner. McDonald's would therefore benefit from people coming to the beach who require Take-away. The presence of the beach also guarantees a constant supply of fresh air. Presently, only one major fast food restaurant operator has an outlet on this major road. Around Victoria Island there are presently about six fast food restaurants and based on the potentials of this area of Lagos State it would be an understatement to say that that Akin Adesola Street, would comfortably house another restaurant, most especially the first McDonald's restaurant in Nigeria. It is important to note that apart from Lagos City, other towns in Lagos State, such as Ikeja and Apapa can comfortably host a McDonald's restaurant. [pic] COMPETITOR ANALYSIS Fast foods in Nigeria are as old as Nigeria itself. From the time of Nigeria’s independence fast food shops have been opened in the major towns of Nigeria. It was however not until 1986 that United African Company of Nigeria (UACN) in a diversification bid opened the first real fast food chain of restaurants in Nigeria. Since then a number of other operators have graced the fast food restaurant industry stage. Presently, it is one of the fastest growing sectors of the Nigerian economy and it would not be out of place to say that there is already a fast food craze in Nigeria, and this is just the beginning. In financial term, the fast food industry is approximately a $40 million dollar market, with over 83% of this market in Lagos State alone. In doing a proper competitor analysis, it will be appropriate to first identify the major competitors whose presence will bring out the best of McDonald's. The major players are MR. Bigg's (a fast food restaurant operated by UACN), Tantalizers, Tastees Fried Chicken, Sweet Sensations, Munchies, Favorites, Friends Eatery, Kas Chicken, Fingers (a fast food restaurant operated by United Trading Company), St. Elmo’s (a South African Franchise). For this analysis, only the three major fast food joints will be discussed. MR. BIGG’S This is a subsidiary of the big conglomerate, United African Company of Nigeria (UACN). It started operations in 1986, and is noted for being the first real operator of fast food restaurants in Nigeria. Presently, there are thirty-seven outlets spread all over Nigeria, with a massive twenty-two in Lagos State. Plans are on the ground to increase the total number of restaurants to fifty-seven by the end of the year. An estimated 1200 people visit an average Mr. Bigg's outlet per day. STRENGHTS †¢ Biggest financial muscle †¢ Brand Name recognition †¢ Good Knowledge of the Nigerian market †¢ Complete support of the UACN conglomerate as it is rumored to be the only subsidiary presently making a profit †¢ Strong emphasis on family and catching the young †¢ Formation of alliances with companies providing complementary goods †¢ Good use of the electronic and print media †¢ Starts operations as early as 6. 5am, with the intention of attending to people who want a good meal breakfast before working hours commence WEAKNESSES †¢ Its strength fizzles out at the arrival of the other major fast food operators to the neighborhood †¢ It is presently not noted for its excellent food, as it places emphasis on its snacks †¢ The initial excitement that heralded its entrance to the market seems to have been lost, as there seems to be â€Å"an out of fashion†, cover on it with the presence of the new entrants. This feeling is however peculiar to Lagos, as the opening of any Mr. Bigg's restaurant outside Lagos gives a feeling â€Å"at long last†, to the residents of these towns TANTALIZERS One of the most promising fast food restaurants in Nigeria. They began operations in the Festac area of Lagos State in 1995, and within the space of about six years have opened seven other outlets. The management of Tantalizers can be regarded as very aggressive marketers. Their marketing strategy seems to be directly aimed at their competitors. In the last four outlets they have opened, they have set up shops almost directly opposite or at best, a little close to their competitors in the process of drawing customers to their outlets. STRENGTHS: †¢ Effective Marketing Strategy †¢ Improving Brand Name Recognition †¢ Commendable Customer Service †¢ Vastly improving financial muscle †¢ Marketing emphasis is on catching couples and lovers WEAKNESS: Increasing complaint about the quality of their food †¢ Diversification into Africa Meals may be their undoing as they would be dividing their effort between the Fast food restaurant and the new African food restaurant †¢ There seems to be an emerging class distinctio n within the fast food industry, and the feeling is that Tantalizers falls within the middle class category. In other words, for serious minded businessmen and the upper-class, Tantalizers would naturally not come as their first choice of a fast food restaurant TASTEE FRIED CHICKEN It is one of the most promising fast food restaurants in Nigeria. It began operations in Surulere, Lagos State. It is attributed to be the second new generation fast food restaurant, after Mr. Bigg's. At the time of this report they have only three restaurants. When one considers the time they have spent in the fast food industry in Nigeria, and the fact that they only have three restaurants to show for it, one would want to mistakenly write them off as underachievers. Doing this will however be at ones peril as they seem to be carving a niche among the business and upper classes. STRENGTHS: †¢ Improving Brand Name Recognition †¢ Commendable Customer Service †¢ High taste and consumer conducive environment †¢ Regarded as having the best food in the industry Marketing emphasis seems to be on, catching the business class WEAKNESS: †¢ Ineffective class distinction. Class distinction which they claim to be their marketing strategy for luring the business and upper classes, has not seen them charging higher prices for their service with the belief that consumers who value t heir products and service will be willing to pay for it. In other words, even though it may seem that they are providing better products and service, it has not accrued to relatively bigger profit, as it seems that their expenses are relatively higher than their competitors, while the profit, which should be proportional to expenditure, is lower. †¢ Marketing is not aggressive [pic] FINANCIAL STATEMENT Financial Analysis will be based on the demography of potential consumers of McDonald's as arrived at in the demographic studies (USAGE RATE) on page 4 of this report. According to the survey carried out on existing fast food restaurants, Usage Rate: Worst Case Scenario: 500 consumers/day Average Case Scenario: 1,200 consumers/day Best Case Scenario: 2,000 consumers/day With McDonald's we expect figures to get as high as 1,500, 2,200 and 2,700 respectively per restaurant. Using these figures, assuming an average consumer spends $1. 5/visit/day, expected income: For Worst Case Scenario: 1,500 X $1. 5 X 360 days per year = $810,000 per year For Average Case Scenario: 2,200 X $1. 5 X 360 days per year = $1,188,000 per year For Best Case Scenario: 2,700 X $1. 5 X 360 days per year = $1,458,000 per year In reality, consumers presently spend between $0. 4 – $5 per visit, making our estimated income analysis of $1. 50 per visit very conservative. CONCLUSION: The nature of this report has made us only able to do extensive work on areas such as Data Gathering, Concept Development and Site Analysis. It has only been able to peripherally touch areas such as Competitor Analysis and Financial Statement. A proper analysis on areas such as Competitor Analysis and Financial Statement which form an integral part of any Feasibility work, will only be possible if the company for which this report has been done and sent to, finds it necessary to commission us on a more extensive feasibility study.

A Long awaited Holiday

Gary Duckworth is the name he always was proud of. Listening to the alarm he opened his eyes, waking up to the bright sunny day ahead. He was more than happy to have the day off today as it was a business day for most of the world around. It was such an inner twist in which he was assigned to meet Miss. Siena for an interview. He has set everything ready at the office for him to be away from the desk. Gary came to the living room, his hands ached very energetic from the work out he had for his biceps last evening. Spending time at the gym was something he always longed for. He just flexed his biceps to have a look at them in the mirror and was extremely happy with the huge budges. He enjoyed the caresses of admiring curious eyes along with words and phrases of admiration as he move about in the crowed. He went to the phone and dialed the number of Siena; he needed to conform once again that she would be available at 9. 30 in the morning at parker’s office in down town Manhattan. Parker’s office is in one World Trade Centre on 95th floor. He has been there quiet few times, always with Siena. The thought of Siena made him glad and gave him a sense of fulfillment. The relationship which has started as just a friendship very soon found itself with a lot of new meanings. Very soon both couldn’t help seeing each other and started to miss each other more than anything. As their romantic life grew Siena grew towards being an organization than a person in the music industry. Gary chose the best attire he always thought was the white shirt with black pants and the suite. He took the train to down town Manhattan. The train ride was rather calm and easy. Very few souls were found seated in the train as it was already past the rush hour. In about twenty minutes he would be at John street subway station and can walk over to the world trade centre. 2 He was walking out of the John street station when he thought of the day ahead though it was an official meeting the rest of the day e is going to be with Siena, he was going to make sure that this is going to be a holiday in all its sense. He was walking up the stairs when he noticed that all the people out at the street were looking upward in shock or rather in curiosity. He came out and found one of the twine towers were on fire. The first thing came to his mind was that there might be an arsenal accident in one of the offices. He did not want to waist the time standing on the ground and watching the fire. He wanted to go fast and meet Siena as soon as possible. She might be worried. He heard some one saying ‘might have been an accident’; it made no sense again to ask what is it. As he walked, there was the big bang, the earth shook, Gary just could not realize what was it but he could recognize the roar of people following the big noise and he could make out some thing from the crowed that ‘it is on purpose’†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ ‘some on is doing it’†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ ‘they are targeting us’. Who are they? Gary never knew. It was not the safest and joyful downtown any more. Gary in no time found himself in a Warfield of innocent civilians running for life not knowing in the concrete jungles where to hide. Gary became one of them in number, ran for his life and stumped up on some thing soft†¦wasn’t it a girl fallen on the street †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. ho knows. Run, run and run with the crowds. The objects with fire are flowing from the towers, wind taking them all around even worse that is targeting us? What are they doing? Do they want me to be dead? Who do the want to terminate? What are they up to? Will there be yet another explosion and one of these high raisers may fall on me too? My God where is Siena? He looked up to the burning towers and saw the birds flying out from there but those black and white birds did not fly off. Rather just shot themselves down and splashed on the floor in red. He needed answers where is †¦.?

Unended War and Intervention in Iraq

Iraqi people might find already immuned of the uproar in different areas in Iraq. The tragedies that were happened more than two decades ago and are still happening nowadays are really marked the history of Middle Eastern conflict. Such bombings, bombarding, invasion, and protests are really taken the big part of the history of Iraq.It was during 1980 when the Iraq tried to invade the Iran, but of course, the Iran did not let it happen(Shalom, 1993). Though the Iraq made its initial success, the people of Iran used their man power as many population they have.At the middle of the 1982, the Iran was triumphant with their goal of pushing out the invasion of Iraq. But considering the fact that Iran has much weaponry, they were able to prevent the moves of the Iranian, and it was year 1988 when the silence screams of the gun and war men were off heard.However, though the war was ended (temporarily), the blame was on the both government of the two countries when in Saddam Hussein was the one who was ruling the Iraq. Letting the bloodshed among Iraqi citizens was considered as one of his callous in leading   his constituents.This was the time when the United States (US) started to intervene so as to help out the Iraq in settling the untapped war that had been started before and to help the people of Iraq to recover from the hell of war and from the ruthless government of Hussein.The US sent military troops in Iraq whereas they created several bases in different regions in Iraq. And nowadays, the US is continuing lurking around the Iraq. They are doing they ‘surge’ (Reuters, 2007) together with the British troupes. According to the report of the Philippine Daily Inquirer (2007), the rush forward being done in Iraq is nearly unsuccessful such that an insurgency is more likely to happen again.The critical condition of the mission of the US in the Iraq together with the British government pertained that war between the Hezbollah and Israel last August 2006 . The war between them was hardly to ceasefire. The criticism of the event is more likely on former Prime Minister Tony Blair since he was the one who refused for a call of an immediate stop fire between the Israel and Hezbollah (Lebanon) in their war last year.I have chosen this event to be use as application in theoretical analysis since this is widely known by everybody and that the lives of the people living in the countries involved are severely affected by the war that is happening.(Part B)The clash between Iran and Iraq seemed more likely though during the early 90s. However, since the Iraq was suffered under the Hussein’s regime, lots of militant groups and civil underground rebels emerged and rebellion took place.And it is in nature of the United State, being considered as the most powerful country in the world, to help, in any way, those who are in depth recovery of the war. But in the case of Iraq, the peace seemed not finding its place. Until now, clashes are stil l going on, but not necessarily war against another nation, but war among civil there.The surgency that the US has been doing and trying to imply in the Iraq, does it really pure surgency? As we all know, the US is one kind of imperialist in the world. Widely, it colonized a lot of country in Asia, explicitly and implicitly. Once one touched the hand of Uncle Sam, you would definitely touch it along the way.The reason why Iraq still has its internal conflict between civilians is not because they rebel with each other, it may probably because of the intervention of the US in their nation. Come to think of it: whose nation would like to handle by different hands instead the hands of its people?Politically speaking, this could be a way of euphemizing the real intention of the US. We could deny the fact that the US wanted to hold more power, and imperialism is the instrument and effective tool for them to accomplish their goal.

Coketown

Coketown Coketown is a novel written by Charles Dickens in 1854. Coketown is a description of a typical town in the Victorian age after the industrial revolution which occurred during the 18th century. Charles Dickens describes the other side of the coin during the Victorian age by using figure of speech in his description of the town: â€Å"Coketown [†¦] was a town of red brick, or of brick that would have been red if the smoke and ashes had allowed it; but, at matters stood it was a town of unnatural red and black like the painted face of a savage. (line 1-3) He uses the figure of speech to describe how the smoke and ashes have painted the red bricks black, by comparing the colors with a â€Å"savage†. By doing this, Charles Dickens makes the description more accurate because the reader gets an even better picture of what it is he is trying to describe. Charles Dickens uses figure of speech numerous times. Among other things he compares a mad elephants’ head mov ement with the monotonously movement of a steam-engine and describes the many factories as â€Å"vast piles of building full of windows. The text is in general very melancholic, and it really makes the Victorian age look like rubbish. Charles Dickens is probably trying to show, that with the factories and the new way of life, life has become much more planned and organized but not necessarily better, because the individuality is gone and every day is like the one before: â€Å"inhabited by people equally like one another, who all went in and out at the same hours, with the same sound upon the pavements, to do the same work, and to whom every day was the same as yesterday and tomorrow, and every year the counterpart of the last and the next. †(line 10-13)

As an Employer Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

As an Employer - Essay Example try is too high and at the same time these people stay longer without jobs, the government strains in terms of shelling out money to cater for their livelihood. For instance, the Brazilian economy was slugged in the year 2001 following 58% increment in unemployment rate from the previous year. It took another two years for the Brazilian economy to re-gain its stability (Taylor, 2006). Another relationship between the economy of Brazil and unemployment rates is in terms of spending power. High rates of unemployment leads to reduced rates of spending since the unemployed persons decides to save their money and drastically cut on their expenditure which in turn affects the economy. On the other hand, the employed persons also reduce their rate of spending due to insecurity of their own work and increased taxes by the government. If this trend continues, the government becomes unable to obtain or collect enough taxes to sustain the economy and this leads to economic instability in the country; as witnessed in the years 2001 up to the year 2004. In short the government can only sustain its economy if it obtains enough taxes and revenues from public spending. It is this public spending that unemployment targets in order to curb the economy and make it unstable. Most businesses in the country cut prices in order to sell their products and sometimes lead them out of busi ness thus casing even more unemployment (Taylor, 2006). Lastly, the Brazilian economy is related with its unemployment rates in terms of recession. In situations where the country experiences increased levels of unemployment, some vital economic factors such as health costs, income, healthcare quality, living standards and poverty are affected. These economic determinants at the end affect the stability, performance and growth of the country’s economy (Taylor, 2006). The last time unemployment rate was reported in Brazil was in September 2011 and the standings were at 6%. This is seen as a lower figure

Analyse the external marketing environment &consumer buyer behaviour Coursework

Analyse the external marketing environment &consumer buyer behaviour - Coursework Example In addition, the level of ‘supply and demand’ (Hisrich, 2000, p.16) in a market denotes the market’s economic potentials, thus it is considered as a factor that can influence the market’s economic environment. In regard to the promotion of iPhone 6 in China the country’s economic environment needs to be checked in order to decide whether Chinese consumers would be able to pay for the specific product or not. As for the technological environment, this refers to the ‘means used for transforming materials into goods and services’ (Sahaf 2008, p.57). In other words, in each country the technological environment denotes the country’s performance in regard to manufacturing and services (Lancaster and Reynolds 2005). The technological environment of China would be checked when developing the marketing plan for iPhone 6; indeed, in a market where products of advanced technology are highly appreciated the chances of iPhone to achieve high sales would be more, as also explained in the next section. The economic environment can highly impact the sales of iPhone 6. The influence of economic environment on the particular product would have the following form: a) in regard to local economic environment: in case of the increase of unemployment, as related to the decrease of the income, people in China would face difficulties in buying this product (West et al. 2010); also, if inflation across the country is increased then the prices of products would follow a similar path. In this case, consumers could decide that they do not want to pay a significantly high price for the particular product (West et al.2010), b) in regard to the global economic environment: the increase of turbulences in global markets or the possible appearance of a strong financial crisis at international level could make Chinese consumers less willing to pay for products of high technology, such as the iPhone 6. In fact, in the above case, their priorities in regard to the goods

Who Moved My Cheese by Johnson Spencer Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Who Moved My Cheese by Johnson Spencer - Essay Example This prevents the change from getting an individual by surprise. Quick adaption to the change is necessary. This calls for the release of the old cheese to enjoy a new one. It is advisable to move before the change. As in the case of the mice in the book, the move fast in search of new food supply and have quick instincts to adapt upon depletion of the existing supply. It is also very significant to accept a change in order to move ahead. In case someone faces change, do not waste precious time blaming others. Quickly move with the cheese. It is also advisable to enjoy a new cheese but does not create a comfort zone in the new cheese. Try to take the positive bit of a change and seize the opportunity to learn new ideas. To keep up with the pace some changes are of need. This calls the rearrangement of the staffs to face a new change for managers. People can also stay at one point for a long time since most of them are not ready to change for another cheese. Management purposes that i f one does not change become extinct. Most people wait until the environment presents no any other option but only a change. This is the worst management practice. People should practice counteracting the fear of the new cheese. People should also practice movement in the right direction. The application of the lesson learned in this book can help in both personal profession and management. This would prompt an individual to be keen to details and welcome a reason for a change. Always have the confidence of unknown to bury the fear.

Technical-rational approaches to organisation have little relevance to Coursework

Technical-rational approaches to organisation have little relevance to managers in the current business environment. Discuss - Coursework Example The technical-rational approach to organizations is the process of reducing actual practices to a set of particular competencies and revising and practicing them regularly for the purpose of learning and assessment. A technical-rational approach to organization identifies core competencies and then tries to build an environment supporting exchange of knowledge and a system that can measure performance and ensure quality. Technical-rational approach is a part of the classical school and scientific management and is often regarded as the bureaucratic organization studies. It is called so because people in organizations have a defined set of tasks and responsibilities. Moreover, organizations also have hierarchical structures of reporting in the classical approach, which means that employees report to one another and can also have management responsibilities. Each organization have their own set of rules and procedures for the completion of tasks, and the position of all the employees d epends on their abilities and are judged on merit. Another important aspect of technical-rational approach to organizational studies is that all the employees are supposed to act in an impartial and unemotional manner with the well-being and goal fulfilment acting as the motivation. The economic growth along with increasing number of organizations also resulted in increasing the technical-rational approaches towards organization. As organizations continued to grow and expand in all directions, the number of jobs also increased as well as the requirement for specialized people expert in a single particular area. While the technical-rational approach to organizations gained tremendous popularity, it also had a number of disadvantages with a major one being the fact that employees would not be as effective if they perceive the rules and procedures as

The use of logistical systems and supply chain of an international Essay

The use of logistical systems and supply chain of an international companys European supply chain business operations - Essay Example .18 3.1. EU Before 1992†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦18 3.2. EU Single European Market†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦....19 3.3. EU Transport Policy-What Changed in EU After 1992†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.†¦.20 3.4. EU Greening Policy and Implications to L&SC Functions†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.†¦21 3.5. Main Requirements for Companies to Develop Effective and Competitive L&SC†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦....21 4. Critical Analysis of Relevant Theories†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢ € ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦21 4.1. Revolution of supply chain before 1992†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..21 4.2. 1992 Till Today†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦22 4.3. Future Analysis of the L&SC†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦...23 5. Case Study of NIKE’s European Logistics and Supply Chain Systems†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦......27 5.1. Brief Introduction to the Company†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦...27 5.1.1. NIKE Company’s EU Logistics and Supply Chain System before 1992†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..28 5.1.2. NIKE Companyà ¢â‚¬â„¢s EU Logistics and Supply Chain System between 1992 and the Present†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦28 5.1.3. NIKE Company’s EU Logistics and Supply Chain System from Now and the Future†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.†¦.29 6. Conclusion†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦31 7.... According to the research it was in the year 1993 that the single European market had come into its existence that initiated trade and practice across the borders. The barriers that earlier existed in the customs between 12 different countries including Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and the UK, were removed with the single European market. Thus, moving goods from one location to another became a free option for all these countries. However, in regard to the logistics and supply chain functions associated with the trade across countries, there were greater challenges than visible. The most significant issue was the lack of harmonization in the process. Policies determined the governments affected the logistics through measures like application of excise duties on road vehicles, and other similar measures. Gradually with time, however, the logistics market in the European nation was being considered as the most matur ed market. A value of â‚ ¬182 billion could be associated with the logistics market of the European nation in the year 2005 that comes to a value of US$230 billion. Third party contracts are also considered with around 25 percent of the logistics expenditure in the European Union. The following table provides with the information on the percentages logistics spend on different countries in the nation. Of all the countries, Germany has been obtained to obtain the portion of the major market

Business Proposal for Als Milk Bar Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Business Proposal for Als Milk Bar - Essay Example The objective of the business is to provide a unique "milk bar" experience to its customers with high quality food, customer-oriented service in a warm and friendly atmosphere. The target market range covers ages 5 to 75, among the local residents, office workers, students, shoppers and pedestrians in the area of Victoria Street. Projected investment costs of less than $18,000 are deemed recoverable in less than two years with profitability from operations set at 18%. Traditionally, milk bars were local shops where people pick up milk and newspapers. Eventually, they became general stores or delicatessens, offering a wide variety of products, much like convenience stores. They also began serving milk drinks and other non-alcoholic beverages, such as milkshakes and sodas, as well as snack foods like sandwiches, cookies and pastries (Wikipedia 2008). Milk bars became popular starting in the 1930's when they became hubs providing wholesome corner shop goodies and a communal space for local interaction. Customers personally knew the people behind the counter, kids were allowed by their moms to drop by to get candy or have a milkshake, and communal tables allowed neighbors to bump into each other. The milk bars of the period had brightly lettered conspicuous signs advertising hand-made foods such as meat and vegetable rolls, hot pies and pasties, freshly made scones, double cream milk shakes, malt chocolate drink and fruity syrup slush. Dcor in the ea ting areas were a combination of colorful posters and cartoony images of the era (Neville 2008, Bells 2008). The "restaurant" portion of the 1930s milk bar is the inspiration for the new business being proposed. The business concept revolves around the idea of a bar and snack establishment serving non-alcoholic beverages and hot food, where customers can either have a quick drink or snack, as well as linger with friends. Business Description "Al's" Milk Bar is to be located at 314-316 Victoria Street. It is a bar and snack restaurant providing hot and cold food and non-alcoholic drinks reminiscent of the 1930s milk bar experience. Its menu will include all the traditional offerings of milk bars such as milkshakes, spiders, sodas, ice cream, cakes, pastries, sandwiches, hot rolls, as well as mocktails. "Al's" dcor and color schemes will mimic those of the 1930s and 40s milk bars, complete with a bar counter with seating and indoor and outdoor tables and chairs. "Al's" will be a small business established as a sole trader and will operate from seven in the morning to nine in the evening every day of the week. It will serve a high number of residents in the surrounding local residential areas as well as office workers in surrounding office buildings and shoppers at nearby retail venues. It will have product offerings to serve quick breakfast, especially to office workers, light mid-day lunches, and afternoon-evening non-alcoholic dri

Consent form, permission letter&interview questions Essay - 1

Consent form, permission letter&interview questions - Essay Example rved: that the interview would be conducted on the free-time of the indicated manager within the hotel premises, that the company name, as well as the names of the managers should be disguised in the project, and that the results must be shared with the HR department. As a Master of Science in Administration graduate student at CMU, I am currently conducting the above-mentioned research in compliance with graduation requirements. In this regard, I am hereby seeking the consent of your organization, the Sheraton Dongguan Hotel, to participate in the study. The study aims to explore and determine the strategies employed by Sheraton Dongguan Hotel in China which enables them to excel in an increasingly competitive hospitality service industry. As such, five (5) managers in Sheraton Dongguan Hotel, specifically those in the position of designing or implementing strategies, are planned to be interviewed. As the researcher, I will conduct the interview on a face-to-face basis, depending on the availability of the manager. Please bear in mind that I would abide by standards of ethics in research where privacy and confidentiality is strictly to be observed. No personal information would be divulged in the study. You are free to refuse to participate in this research project or to withdraw your consent and discontinue participation in the project at any time without penalty or loss of benefits to which you are otherwise entitled. Your participation will not affect your relationship with the institution(s) involved in this research project. Please note that if you are not satisfied with the manner in which this study is being conducted, you may report (anonymously if you so choose) any complaints to the MSA Program by calling 989-774-6525 or addressing a letter to the MSA Program, Rowe 222, Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, MI