Saturday, October 5, 2019
Project Summary Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words
Project Summary - Essay Example Kahiki foods are one of the most respected players in the food industry. Over the years, the organization endured rough terrain in business to end up a multi-billion dollar food company. The organization attained massive milestone and increased in both efficiency and productivity. In addition, since 2007, Kahiki foods reduced financial constraints by realigning the cost of production and enhancing efficiency through reducing the time lags in the queuing system. However, while seeking to excel in the food industry, Kahiki foods has severe communication problems. First, the employees at Kahiki foods overwhelmingly complain of one way communication. This implies that there is no feedback from the management with regards to an array of issues. The impact of one way communication is detrimental on the performance of the employees and their general welfare. This is because; the employees feel neglected as management fails to disseminate appropriate information to the necessary quarters. Personal issues among the employees, as well as management, also hinder appropriate communication at the establishment. Professionalism is paramount at the work place as it assists the daily operations, as well as organization’s growth, to flow accordingly. However, when employees and management allow personal issues into the communication pattern, a problem will erupt. For instance, two people failing to communicate on eminent business matters based on pe rsonal disagreements tarnish the company’s development agenda (Downs, Adrian & Downs, 2004). This does not only slow down the growth rate of an organization but also damage the company’s interactions with outsiders. Language barrier is also prevalent in Kahiki foods emanating from the fact that the organization has a global appeal. Kahiki foods attain human resource from all corners of the world. This implies that people from different walks of life
Friday, October 4, 2019
Non word Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words
Non word - Assignment Example She spent $5,000 to purchase her steno machine, $2,000 on a new computer, and $500 on miscellaneous office supplies. She financed these purchases by withdrawing $7,500 from her personal savings account. When she closed the account, the bank representative mentioned that she would have earned 4% interest next year. If Bev hadn’t opened her own business, she would have earned a salary of $25,000. In her first year, Bev’s revenues were $30,000. Which of the following statements is correct? _B___ 22. Studies indicate that the price elasticity of demand for cigarettes is about 0.4. A government policy aimed at reducing smoking changed the price of a pack of cigarettes from $2 to $6. According to the midpoint method, the government policy should have reduced smoking by 2. A firm hires two workers and rents 15 acres of land for a season. It produces 150,000 bushels of crop. If it had doubled its land and labor, production would have been 325000 bushels. Does it have constant, decreasing, or increasing returns to scale? It has an increasing returns to scale. This is because the marginal returns were 175000 bushels produced when the labor and land were increased. The double production inputs should have at least resulted to a double output which was the case. In fact, the number was more than 300,000 bushels which would have been the expected
Thursday, October 3, 2019
My opinion about Catherine Hayles’ book Essay Example for Free
My opinion about Catherine Hayles’ book Essay My opinion about Catherine Hayles’ book Introduction            I disagree with the conclusion of Catherine hayles book and her latest advice.The picture that Catherine Hayles frames is that human being fear to be post human .In her argument She puts information as the core that only requires a conveying media and that media can be machines or human being. She shows how post human is necessary by giving it a positive outlook than human. Hayles argues that human being will be replaced by post human and the human race will face extinction. In her conclusion she states that post human are superior than human being and goes further to feeble the human being by saying that they are not autonomous in thinking . In a further extent Hayles in her book says that computers machines and programs will wipe away the human race.There are many things I don’t agree with Catherine Hayles I will lay down my argument disagreeing with her argument.            Human being are superior over all creation and they cannot be replaced by any other creation.Catherine Hayles argues that human being will morph into something else, something like a cyborg where machines will be overall and incharge and commernder of the other creation.This view is far away from truth, human being cannot be replaced by a creation that has been made by Him. Human being were created to subdue the earth and all the other creations are inferior to Human. It’s not possible to create something and be inferior to it. God is superior to us and so we are superior to machines. Catherine Hayles needs to elaborate and explain why can we create something and it turns to our god.            Posthuman cann’t think as human being does. Hayles lays down her argument saying that post human do think as human being . This she tries to argue that the deeds and actions that can be done by a human being due to thinking can also be done by robot because it thinks too. Do posthuman have self will like human being does? This is a question not answered in her book. Human being thinks in a natural way and posthuman thinks as a result of radio frequency identification (RFID). There is a big gap between posthuman and human being and nothing can bridge this gap.            Looking at the contribution she made the last in her book , her ambition are much higher. The first chapter she read the book of Hans Moravec’s Mind Children:The future of robot and human intelligence and she got a shock. The thing that captured her mind was Moravec’s assertion which stated that near future the consciousness of human being will be transferred to that of computer.There are two prepositions that are implicated here; (1) That existence of information is not reliable to a particular substrate. (2) The consciousness of human being is information. These two preposition are the one that Hayles through her narrative contests three devoted topics; The cyborg emerged as a result of cultural artifacts, how the body was lost by information and the construction that resulted the emergency of post human.            Hayles goes further in defining post human using two other ways, first was that posthuman are susceptible, coordinating and self organizing its self in a larger system. She argues that we are dictated by the environment we live in and thus integrated into that environment. She says that human being needed posthuman and thus the technology is the one that pushes for it. The innovation is the one that created posthuman and human being now depends on posthuman. She alludes posthuman in a manner above it’s definition, she says that the information from body is tranferrable from body to machines.It’s very clear is literature and has no facts in it human and posthuman mutually require each other to survive but posthuman requires human to live.            Hayles opposes the formulation of the second definition of post human and endorsing the definition of the first one. She argues that we think of apocalyptic visions where machines will be equal and become our superior. Hayles didn’t see the danger to obviate the stated machines and the repercussion of changing definition. Hayles argument doesn’t give any hope for survival of human being, that’s very pathetic.            Another argument she grounds herself with is that there will be full integration of one’s self with a machine and that the content that evolution excluded. She says that body has a sediment history and it do have an architecture in it, a physical structure whose constraints and possibilities have been formed by an evolutionary history that intelligent machines do not share. ( C. H ayles,284, 2009.) In my views, human being cannot be fully identified with machines.            Hayles did mention about Joseph Weizenbaum’s statement that making a judgement and the capacity to make is a matter that should be left as an ethical principle, to the human alone. I don’t agree. What are the impacts of feeding more and more information and functions to technology and computers? How is it possible for us to lose our humanity for we resign the skill to practice the decision of of a particular nature?            If we take machine and look at themselves, the analysis of Hayles shows that posthuman have the same consciousness as human and they help in our thinking and they do perform the functions that we don’t need to but quiet want to.Infact they do function and perform better than human being .But we should not forget where they originated from. All machines and their relatives they came from the effort of human mind production. Human being has created them to aid in maximizing his own efficiency and he have, with no doubt accomplished his motive. Without human being machines would not be in existence and thus for them to exist human being has to exist first and the cognition ability would not be there . Ayn Rand character has one that we can link to this art and says in Atlas Shrugged: â€Å"I thoughtof the men who claim that machines condition their brains. Well there was the motor to condition them, and there it remained as just exact ly what it is without man’s mind-as a pile of metal scraps and wires, going to rust.†(page 745, Atlas Shrugged) This statement show sense in Hayles and I agree on: Human is conditioned by machine and we appreciate them in our lives and enhance them but I differ in that human being is still dorminant . Machines without the human being they would go extinction and get to rust.            If the cyborg and the cyborg varieties were to exist as put by the Hayles they would still require human skills and characteristics for their ‘brain’ to function, to have conscious and to think like human being. Hyles didn’t explain this and how if human being were to go to extinction the post human would survive, else she have a task to do.            Hayles the premises that she posits as another cause of fear of post human is the liberal humanist opinion of the human kind matters autonomy. Human being are able to see all the possibilities which are open to choose and they have the will and they can synthesize these sources. Schopenhauer’s there is an outline in THE WORLD AS WILL AND REPRESENTATION(BOOKIII). Human being are able to think, they are able to process data , they are able to create it and pull judgements built on their feelings. This Information comes from several sources in machine but in human being they come purely on them. Machines they are devoid of thinking and they have no conscious like ours. Hayles in her argument doesn’t have the real world instances , and those that she uses are not very clear they are not specifically illuminating. In her early books she says that she finds saying that â€Å"Well my sleep agent wants to rest, but my food agent say s I should go to the store†( Hayles 2009,6).This is certainly an odd approach of talking and She draws a very significant deductions from it. â€Å" Each person ,†She claims, â€Å"who thinks this way begins to envision herself or himself as a posthuman collectivity, an ‘I’ transformed into the ‘we’ of autonomous agents operating together to make self†(Catherine. H, pg 6 2009) There are questions that rises about personal disorders of the multitude. The example of ability of multiple to celebrate and creatively dissociate leads to rejection of therapy that tries to integrate their adjusts. People definitely will be talking around themselves in a fresh ways. But moral agents asks what thinking together about themselves meant. Hayles put it that â€Å"serious consideration needs to be given to how certain characteristics associated with liberal subject, especially agency and choice, can be articulated with in posthuman context†(C atherine.Hayles, pg5, 2009) and she left it like that . She didn’t show any alternative of her implications.            In conclusion Hayles argument is lacking enough facts and is based in prepositions that she lays to win the heart of literature, and in my views she didn’t succed. If you consider streams with standing waves, which visibly forms the front side of the rocks which projects superficial above the water. They retain their normal shape and their normal integrity despite being changed by the molecules of water .I still find the machines being continuously changing their integrity but can’t replace human being and they can’t lead extinction of human kind. References Harrison, Ariane Lourie. Architectural theories of the environment: posthuman territory. New York, NY: Routledge, Taylor Francis Group, 2013. Print. Hayles, N. Katherine. How we became posthuman: virtual bodies in cybernetics, literature, and informatics. Chicago, Ill.: University of Chicago Press, 1999. Print. Leithauser, Brad. Penchants places: essays and criticism. New York: A.A. Knopf :, 1995. Print. Younkins, Edward W.. Ayn Rands Atlas shrugged a philosophical and literary companion. Aldershot, England: Ashgate, 2007. Print. Bateson, Catherine. Being Bee. New York: Holiday House, 2007. Print. Gronebaum, Melissa. Arthur schopenhauers die welt als wille und vorstellung. S.l.: Grin Verlag Gmbh, 2014. Print. Harrison, Ariane Lourie. Architectural theories of the environment: posthuman territory. New York, NY: Routledge, Taylor Francis Group, 2013. Print. Hayles, N. Katherine. How we became posthuman: virtual bodies in cybernetics, literature, and informatics. Chicago, Ill.: University of Chicago Press, 1999. Print. Leithauser, Brad. Penchants places: essays and criticism. New York: A.A. Knopf :, 1995. Print. Younkins, Edward W.. Ayn Rands Atlas shrugged a philosophical and literary companion. Aldershot, England: Ashgate, 2007. Print. Source document
Massimo Dutti Marketing Analysis
Massimo Dutti Marketing Analysis Massimo Dutti was founded in 1985 as a company whose main activity was the sale of fashionable mens clothing. Ten years later, the commercial format was bought by the Inditex Group (Industria de Diseà ±o Textil S.A.), one of the worlds largest fashion distributors, who owns brands like Bershka, Pull and Bear and Zara. The Inditex Group as a whole has more than 4,530 stores in 74 countries in Europe, the Americas, Asia and Africa. The group also partially and wholly owns more than a hundred companies related with the different activities in the business of textile and fashion design, manufacture and distribution. Its unique management model, based on innovation and flexibility, and its vision of fashion has resulted in fast international expansion and an excellent performance of all its commercial formats. Today, Massimo Dutti has more than 490 stores in 41 countries. The company entered UK in 2003 with its first store in London. The new megastore occupied three floors of a building placed in downtown Regent Street, which had more than 2,000 square meters of business area. Massimo Dutti offers quality international fashion design for men, women and children, with a variety of collections that range from sophisticated urban fashions to casual wear. Its universal design connects with independent urban men and women whose lifestyle portrays an impeccable image. During 2008 Massimo Dutti extended its assortment of complements and accessories to help customers find the small details that mark the difference in style and add the finishing touch to the desired look. Highlights in this product extension are the new line of eye and sunglasses, The Eyewear Collection, with more models for men and women, and the launch of a new womens perfume, En Esencia. The company also added the childrens line in 2008 which includes collections for boys and girls and was launched in Paris. During the same year, the chain entered six new countries: Poland, Romania, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Guatemala and Israel. It also continued its expansion in the Asian Pacific region, opening its second store in Hong Kong, in Harbour City, one of the citys main shopping areas. With this establishment, Massimo Dutti now has three stores in China, where it opened its first store in 2007 in Macao. In total they opened 44 new stores in 38 new countries to develop their international presence. (Appendix B.1, B.2, B.3) This report examines the environment in which the company is situated. The macro environment covers the trends in the changing environment and how they could potentially affect the Massimo Dutti supply chain. It also suggests various opportunities and threats that the company may have to face. The second section of the report analyses the various stakeholders i.e. the suppliers, consumers, competitors etc in under the micro environmental analysis. The third section of the report analyses the internal environment and includes the supply chain analysis, the marketing resources, financial resources and the human resources employed within the organisation. The report concludes by suggesting a strategic direction the company should take in order to reach its full potential. Macro Environment Analysis Massimo Dutti being a global organisation is affected by a number of macro environmental factors. These factors are the basis on which a company develops its understanding of the markets, business position and the strategic direction for its operations. In recent years the macro environment has been increasingly being put into consideration because of higher marker volatility, the global slowdown and the economic recession. These factors not only pose a great threat to businesses but can also create many opportunities which a company can identify and take advantage of. For instance, if a business is able to assess its current environment and predict potential changes, it will be better placed in its marketplace than its competitors to respond to changes in the environment. Thus understanding and operating with the macro environment i.e. the external environment in which the business operates, is increasingly becoming the key to organisational success as it can help to maximise opportunities and minimise threats which the organisation faces. In other words a macro environment scanning can help us to identify various opportunities and threats in the organisation. There are a number of macro environmental factors which affect the UK clothing retail market. These factors are known as the PEST factors or the political, economic, social and technological factors which help the scanning of the environment. (Appendix A.1) (P)olitical Environment The clothing retail sector in the UK has seen a number of changes in their political environment in recent years. The first change is the recent expansion of the EU territory which has facilitated import and export amongst various countries within the EU. As a result of this trade between these countries legal agreements and setting up new operations and stores has become more attractive than ever. For Massimo Dutti it translates to wider markets and a wider consumer base both within and outside the UK. This type of an impact is visible in a long term with a positive and increasing impact to the company. The second change is the change in interest rates and government taxation which is the result of the global economic recession. The government has implemented a range of measures to stabilise the financial markets and stimulate the economy including part-nationalisation of some banks, VAT cuts, and suspending public sector borrowing rules. Also In March 2009, the Bank of England cut interest rates to a record low of just 0.5% where they remain at the time of writing. The government also gave the go-ahead for the more drastic policy of quantitative easing in an effort to kick-start the economy. (Appendix A.2) The impact of this government policy has resulted in a higher degree of disposable income in the hands of the consumer and has thus facilitated the retail sector. On the other hand when interest rates eventually start to rise they could do so quite suddenly and sharply thereby increasing the risk of less spending on mid-market luxury retailers like Massimo Dutti. (Appendix A.3) (E)conomic Environment- Recession the UK Clothing Retail There have been numerous amounts of economic changes since 2007 which are the result of the global economic slowdown and the recession. Until recently the British economy was enjoying the longest period of growth and had outpaced most of the rest of Western Europe. But the global economic downturn, tight credit and falling house prices brought the UK into the recession in the back half of 2008. This economic downturn resulted in a change in the economic factors that affected the UK retail sector as a whole. The fashion industry in particular has been more vulnerable to such a downturn than other retail settings. Due to the recession the economy has shown frequent fluctuations in the currency rates. This change has affected the retailers as they have absorbed these fluctuations. This is because they are situated in a price-led market i.e. have to provide competitive prices in the market to survive further putting more pressure on their profit margins. Also due to the decrease in the disposable income of the consumers only the cheap fashion / fast-fashion sector has benefited. Companies like Pennys, Primark and TK max have recorded highest sales due to the recession. The implications of such a trend are that less money is spent on designer clothes as well as accessorises. Consumers may stop spending on high end luxury brand and accessories and go in for fast-fashion clothing thereby posing a risk to Massimo Dutti. It can also be noted that spending on clothing has reduced than compared to other spending sectors. The global economic slowdown has impacted heavily on clothing retailers as it has hit consumers willingness and ability to spend on discretionary items. Thus companies like Massimo Dutti may face a slowdown in sales volumes. Unemployment has climbed consistently since mid-2008, reaching 7.8% by Q2 2009 and it could rise to over 10% in 2010. Youth unemployment (18-24-year-olds) exceeded 17% by the second quarter of 2009 and in the short term will continue trending upwards. This impacts heavily the purchasing power of those concerned and hence reducing an important market segment for mid-market luxury retailers. (Appendix A.2, A.4) (S)ocial Environment- The Changing Demographics The social environment relates to consumer attitudes and opinions towards different product types and brands in the marketplace. It also relates to changes in consumer behaviour and their demographics i.e. age, sex, gender, family size etc. Changes in social trends can impact on the demand for a firms products and the availability and willingness of individuals to work. Thus it is very important for the firm to identify these factors and translate them into opportunities and get rid of all potential threats. A large number of consumers have changed the way they shop for clothes and in the main those changes involve cutting back in some way by spending less, by mostly buying discounted lines, or by buying from value retailers or less expensive shops. According to a research by Mintel over one in four people have not changed their shopping habits for clothes since the recession started but many consumers have, and the most significant changes are all savings-related i.e. spending less, shopping around more, not buying at full price, buying more from value or less expensive retailers. (Appendix A.5) This cutting back on expenditure by the consumer means that they wish to spend more on value retailers rather than mid-market luxury retailers. According to Mintel the mid-market segment has also squeezed as a result of a price-led consumer market. For instance mid-market players like like-for-like and Dorothy Perkins have gone down in sales. Like-for-like traded down 2.4% in the Q1 of year 2009-10 and Dorothy Perkins was still heavy with summer markdowns when rivals were relatively clean with new autumn ranges. Gaps international quarterly sales to August 2009 dropped by 5% which is an important competitor for Massimo Dutti. Other mid-market players like HM and MS have traded up as they are price-led retailers. (Appendix A.6) On the other hand high-end designer buyers tend to buy more from the mid-market than from the upmarket high street retailers as a result of the ongoing recession. This is because of lack of particular brand loyalty, financial inability to buy everything from designer brands and the tendency of buying basics (i.e. T-shirts, jeans etc) from the mid-market retailers. (Appendix A.9) Another trend in change is that the 25-54s have traded down the most amongst all other consumer age groups. This age band has been among the worst hit by the recession because of their larger financial commitments. This age group is the main target market for Massimo Dutti and hence affect the company sales the most. (Appendix A.7) Because of a combination of various above discussed factors customers are much more likely to now buy more from familiar brands/shops they trust. (Appendix A.8) (T)echnological Environment The technological environment consists of changes in technology related to the manufacture, sourcing, distribution or sales of a various components of products in that industry. A change in technology for various processes in the industry sometimes creates barriers to entry and also leads to innovation. Thus it is very important for firms to adapt to the changing trends of technology. Online fashion has become significantly more popular as choices have improved. These days many consumers prefer to shop online as it not only saves time but also offers a full view of the collection at a single click. Fashion sites are also engaging more effectively with the customers through; better product imagery, establishing online communities; utilising user generated content, introducing virtual changing rooms etc. These types of innovations help the consumers to establish a better three dimensional understanding of the products they want to buy and hence provide a better opportunity for the marketers to capture the consumer. (Appendix A.10) Another trend is M-commerce. It is a potential source of growth for the future, particularly among the young a key demographic for fashion. But it will depend on more retailers launching mobile applications and on consumer ownership of smart phones. (Appendix A.10) Other Factors There are some other factors other than political, social, economic and technological factors that affect the UK clothing retail market. One of them is the environmental concerns facing the fashion industry today. Many environmentalists have raised objections against fast-fashion goods as they not only end up in landfills faster than usual but also because of the time, effort and resources utilized in their production. According to a research it shows that on average in the UK 30kgs of clothes per person are dumped into landfills as a result of the fast-fashion. It accounts for about 1,000kg of CO2 a year roughly half that emitted by a small diesel car. Each year the average person in the UK spends about  £650 on 50 or so items of clothing and accounts for a large part of our carbon footprint. When they are manufactured, when they are transported, when they are washed and even when they are thrown away, clothes are responsible for significant greenhouse gas emissions. 90% of the c lothes people buy in the UK are transported from abroad, mainly from China, India and Bangladesh and it only adds to the environmental impact of clothing. Also, working in the textiles industry often means long hours, low pay, poor safety records and the use of child labour. This it raises environmental and ethical concerns (Appendix A.11). It raises concerns for the Inditex group as a whole as their prime focus recently has been the introduction of fast-fashion products into the markets through their various brands. Massimo Dutti Opportunities With the help of the macro environmental analysis opportunities of the company can be identified. These opportunities can be maximised so the company can be placed ahead of its competitors in the market. These opportunities are: As a result of the EU territory expansion Massimo Dutti is able to reach wider markets both within and outside the UK increasing the scope of operations in the company. It also means that it is easier to source materials from the partner countries, which is an important aspect of Massimo Duttis business strategy. The stimuli provided by the government in 2009 as a result of the economic recession have helped the people to overcome the problems of disposable income and hence has boosted the retail sector. However the impact is very long term and takes time to show signs of recovery. Shoppers of high-end designer clothes tend to buy more from the mid-market than from the upmarket high street retailers as a result of the ongoing recession. This has helped retailers like Massimo Dutti to capture new demographics. As a result of the rising concerns over the recession people have started spending lesser and lesser on clothes but have started to spend more on accessories which help them to look different with the same amount of clothes. Massimo Dutti thus has a competitive advantage because of their recent launch of men and women accessories as an addition to its prior range. Online shopping is one of the recent emerging trends in the fashion industry. This opens up markets for consumers who previously were unable to shop at specific stores. This also reduces the need for a physical location of its stores. This provides a huge opportunity for mid-market retailers whose sales can be boosted in the presence of online sales. M-commerce is another technological factor affecting the industry. It can tap the key demographic i.e. 25-50 year olds and therefore has a great potential for companies like Massimo Dutti whose main target market is this demographic. Massimo Dutti Threats Due to the Economic recession and currency rate fluctuation it has been difficult for retailers to keep up with a price-led market. This impacts the already low profit margins thereby posing a threat to the retailers. As a result of the decreasing disposable income mid-market brands have suffered because people have shifted from them to fast-fashion cheap retailers who provide fashion clothes at a cheaper price. Another trend in change that has impacted Massimo Dutti is that the 25-54s have traded down the most amongst all other consumer age groups. Being the key demographic of the company it has affected sales and may continue to do so in the future. As many environmentalists have raised objections against fast-fashion it poses a threat for companies like Inditex (Massimo Dutti) as their core business model revolves around the concept of fast-fashion goods. Micro Environmental Analysis The micro environmental factors are those which are related with the firms immediate area of operation that affects the performance and decision making in that organisation. These factors also affect the overall costs of the organisation; the quality of products supplied and directly contributes to organisational success. There are 3 major stakeholder groups which affect these factors. These are the suppliers, consumers and the competitors. The Suppliers There are a number of ways in which the suppliers affect the performance of a firm. These may be related to the quality the supplier provides, the quantities that can be sourced from the suppliers, lead-time demands of the market or the ethical and environmental concerns followed by the suppliers. All these factors are responsible for having the right product at the right time to satisfy the demands of a firms consumer. Based on these factors firms must decide on issues such as who to source from, responsibility it takes for these suppliers and on the terms and conditions it adopts. Inditex has over 1,186 suppliers around the globe making it vulnerable to many factors. One of the most important trends in change is the adaptive process of suppliers to operate in low cost regions. This is because the textile industry inherently is a labour intensive industry and hence was the first to move to low labour cost regions. Five years ago, China was the only source for low cost products but now Vietnam is competing against inland China and parts of India for that same position. This is because of the increased internationalisation of the clothing companies in Europe in the past decade. As buyers are forced to spread their volumes across different regions, these regions or countries enter into competition with one another. This led to the creation of special economic zones in many countries, mostly with cheap labour. Besides cheap labour and resources these zones have no other connections to the local economy. On the other hand they are directly influenced by the high deg ree of fluctuations caused due to favourable or unfavourable conditions in foreign markets. China is one of the key suppliers to the European apparel industry but is less competitive than eastern European countries because of added logistics costs. (Appendix B.4, B.5) Another factor that has affected the suppliers is the requirement of buyers for environmental compliance and labour standards. Recently the government has launched a campaign to tackle the environmental and social impact of the fast fashion culture. As a result of this many retailers have introduced changes in their supplier regulations. For example Marks and Spencer, Tesco and Sainsburys have pledged to increase their ranges of Fair-trade and organic clothing, and support fabrics which can be recycled more easily. Also Tesco is banning cotton from countries known to use child labour. All these changes in the buying behaviour of the retailers have forced suppliers to follow stricter guidelines on environmental and ethical issues. (Appendix B.6) The Consumers The customers are a key to sales of all retail formats. An organisation must monitor its consumers and the trends in change that affect the consumers. By gathering data on shopping patterns of the consumers the retailers can identify possible changes required to the marketing strategy. It can be in the form of a changed target market, the change in distribution channels or by responding to the new product or pricing needs of the consumers. The target market for Massimo Dutti is women of 25-45 years old and men of 25-50 years old catering to the upper middle and upper socio economic class and upper middle cultural interests. The customer plays an active role in the Inditex business model. At Inditex production activity begins once customers demand reactions have been analysed. Unlike the traditional fashion company business model which started at the designers drawing table, Inditex activities starts by assessing the customers demands and continues to the store. The economic downturn is helping to boost sales of value clothing retailers. Consumers have been forced to cut back on other categories of spending like holidays abroad and restaurant meals. But consumer research shows that clothing is to be the most vulnerable area of spend amongst adults who have been forced to cut back their expenditure due to the recession, although value clothing appears to be one area of clothing expenditure that is responding positively to the trend. In response to economic worries, consumers are saving more and they appear to be trading down on clothing as a consequence. Specialist fashion discounters or value clothing retailers (led by Primark, TK Maxx and Matalan) are the main beneficiaries of the strong growth in value clothing sales, and have seen their sales rise by 7% to  £5 billion in 2009. (Appendix B.7, B.8) The GfK NOP consumer confidence index, published on 31st March 2010, showed that overall UK consumer confidence fell to -15 in March, from -14 in February. The 2,000 adults interviewed by GfK NOP also took a more negative view of the overall economic situation over next 12 months. The index also indicated that consumers are becoming more cautious about of their own personal financial situation. (Appendix B.9) The Competitors Another important factor which affects the micro-environment of an organisation is its competitors. The success and behaviour of any business will depend on the degree of competition in its market. In the case of fashion retail market the competition is intense because of a large number of players in the market. This puts a downward pressure on the price of the product offerings. Thus it is very important for a organisation to identify and monitor its competitors in order to obtain a competitive advantage. The major competitors to Massimo Dutti as a brand are Gap, Banana Republic, Mango and HM (Hennes Mauritz). Gap Banana Republic (Gap Inc.) Gap Inc. is a clothing retailer from the US that has expanded into Europe via operations in the UK, France and Ireland. Clean, classic, American designs are the words on which the brand was founded and the current offer continues to reflect these values. The commercial formats at Gap Inc. include Gap, Gap Kids, baby Gap, Gap Maternity and Gap body under the brand name Gap. Other brands which do not include the brand name Gap are Banana Republic and Old navy. Gap and Banana Republic have 140 stores in the UK. As a result of the tough trading conditions in all its markets, Gap saw the sales decline by 12% in 2008. However, Gap maintains a mid-market stance and as a result has looked to more muted colours in the current recessionary climate as consumers seek items that will last longer. In August 2009 the company also ventured into the UK e-commerce arena, announcing the availability of Gap branded items on the ASOS website. (Appendix B.10, B.11) Mango Mango is one of Spain largest clothing specialists and has also built up a sizeable international business in Europe, Asia and the Americas. Mango predominantly targets women aged 18 to 30 with a fashionable and sophisticated offer. Mango designs, manufactures and markets womens and mens clothing and accessories. Mango currently has a total of 1,220 stores in 91 countries worldwide. In the UK it operates 42 outlets which are mostly franchised. Mango follows the same multi-brand strategy as of Inditex. Mango has admitted that the global recession has led to a decline in the sales volume in early 2009 in markets such as Spain, Ireland, the UK and Russia. Consumers have been cutting back on their spending, particularly on discretionary items such as clothing. In reaction Mango has launched Think Up, an affordable sub-range for the weaker consumer climate. Recently, the group has expanded into menswear and has also hinted that it may launch a chain that targets younger shoppers. (Appendi x B.12, B.13)
Wednesday, October 2, 2019
The Impeachment of Andrew Jackson Essay example -- American Politics,
America was created on the principles of honesty, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Andrew Jackson exemplified these founding principles. This man insightfully closed a corrupt bank, preventing a possible financial meltdown in the world economy. He espoused the principle of federal law ascendancy and upheld nationalism by sending troops to prevent a civil war. Lastly, he did what was best for both settlers and Native Americans by issuing the Indian Removal Act. Demonstrating unparalleled foresight and dexterity, Andrew Jackson did what was necessary to move the country forward, thus making him one of the greatest presidents of the United States. Despite popular belief, Andrew Jackson actually prevented a catastrophic financial meltdown in the world economy by closing a corrupt bank, The Second Bank of the United States. It all started in 1819, nine years before Jackson’s election. â€Å"At that time, the Bank was lending credit to smaller state banks. Suddenly, it demanded that all state banks pay back their credit, which caused the Panic of 1819, leading to a decade-long depression†(sparknotes.com). From this, Jackson truly felt that was a disaster was brewing and set out to shut it down. In addition, only the wealthy who invested in this bank gain profit while the common people do not. In regard to bank loans, the wealthy obtained lower interest rates while the poor, who actually need the money, have a tougher time getting any loan. Here the ordinary man was not represented. Instead, it slowed down economic expansion and restricted the rise and success of the working class. Not only did it pose a do mestic threat, our national bank could cause international conflict and affect the global economy. Jackson stated ... ...sions seem unorthodox, but its true purpose emerges in years to come. He transformed our economy into a safe, secure, and prosperous money-making machine. He always stayed firm in federal law dominance and prevented a civil war that would have tore our young country apart. Finally, he maintained domestic tranquility with the Indian Removal Act, satisfying both the white settlers and the Native Americans. Strong-armed and unafraid, Jackson truly was the man of the people. In his farewell address to the country, Jackson reminded the people, â€Å"eternal vigilance by the people is the price of liberty,†(sparknotes.com) and encouraged change as a positive boost to the nation. America will forever remember him as one of the greatest presidents of the United States of America. Works Cited sparknotes.com The Americans u-s-history.com pbs.org iamthewitness.com
Tuesday, October 1, 2019
Gender in Chinua Achebes Things Fall Apart Essay -- Chinua Achebe Thi
This paper will look at the contradictions in the work of Chinua Achebe in relation to his placement of woman and femininity. Kristen Holst Petersen states that ‘the African discussion is between feminist emancipation versus the fight against neo-colonialism, particularly in its cultural aspect...which comes first, the fight for female equality or the fight against Western cultural imperialism’. This paper will attempt to highlight these contradictions in relation to Achebe’s Things Fall Apart. Above all the tribe values physical prowess, it places a great deal of importance on individual achievement, these attributes are in fact intended to ensure the security and permanence of the group. For like most early societies this is a society that is dominated by a passion for survival. Umofia therefore cultivates the notion of the heroic ideal based on physical prowess. The centrality of the yam in the novel highlights the tribe’s respect for physical strength. As a result of the intense muscular effort required for its cultivation the yam crop comes to represent an annual triumph wrested from nature, a signifier of the dialogue between the human world and the natural environment. However a reader soon realizes the contradictions between the constraints of the social ideal, that privileges the interests of the group, and the truths of individual human yearnings. Unoka, Okonwko’s father, embodies the counter-values that stand in opposition to the rigid social ideal of the tribe. His unorthodox style of living is, it may be argued, a conscious subversion of the manly ideal. His oppositional values are those of art, in tandem with a playful irony and an amorality that resounds with his relaxed disposition to the world. ... ...cultural experience. Of course Things Fall Apart warrants a feminist reading, but to read it only in this manner would be reductive, and in my opinion, would miss the point of what Achebe was trying to do. In writing back to novels such as Heart of Darkness and Mister Johnson Achebe has presented us with a particularized African society to critique. To level the accusation as Petersen does that ‘the obvious inequality of the sexes seems to be the subject of mild amusement for Achebe’, is in my opinion unwarranted and unfair. Select Bibliography Achebe, Chinua. Things Fall Apart. Ibadan: Heinnemann, 1962 Kabbani, Rana. Imperial Fictions: Europe's Myths of Origin. London: Pandora, 1986. Petersen, Kristen. "First Things First: Problems of a Feminist Approach to African Literature". In Griffith, Ashcroft, Tiffin Ed The Post-Colonial Studies Reader. Gender in Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart Essay -- Chinua Achebe Thi This paper will look at the contradictions in the work of Chinua Achebe in relation to his placement of woman and femininity. Kristen Holst Petersen states that ‘the African discussion is between feminist emancipation versus the fight against neo-colonialism, particularly in its cultural aspect...which comes first, the fight for female equality or the fight against Western cultural imperialism’. This paper will attempt to highlight these contradictions in relation to Achebe’s Things Fall Apart. Above all the tribe values physical prowess, it places a great deal of importance on individual achievement, these attributes are in fact intended to ensure the security and permanence of the group. For like most early societies this is a society that is dominated by a passion for survival. Umofia therefore cultivates the notion of the heroic ideal based on physical prowess. The centrality of the yam in the novel highlights the tribe’s respect for physical strength. As a result of the intense muscular effort required for its cultivation the yam crop comes to represent an annual triumph wrested from nature, a signifier of the dialogue between the human world and the natural environment. However a reader soon realizes the contradictions between the constraints of the social ideal, that privileges the interests of the group, and the truths of individual human yearnings. Unoka, Okonwko’s father, embodies the counter-values that stand in opposition to the rigid social ideal of the tribe. His unorthodox style of living is, it may be argued, a conscious subversion of the manly ideal. His oppositional values are those of art, in tandem with a playful irony and an amorality that resounds with his relaxed disposition to the world. ... ...cultural experience. Of course Things Fall Apart warrants a feminist reading, but to read it only in this manner would be reductive, and in my opinion, would miss the point of what Achebe was trying to do. In writing back to novels such as Heart of Darkness and Mister Johnson Achebe has presented us with a particularized African society to critique. To level the accusation as Petersen does that ‘the obvious inequality of the sexes seems to be the subject of mild amusement for Achebe’, is in my opinion unwarranted and unfair. Select Bibliography Achebe, Chinua. Things Fall Apart. Ibadan: Heinnemann, 1962 Kabbani, Rana. Imperial Fictions: Europe's Myths of Origin. London: Pandora, 1986. Petersen, Kristen. "First Things First: Problems of a Feminist Approach to African Literature". In Griffith, Ashcroft, Tiffin Ed The Post-Colonial Studies Reader.
U.S. Gaap vs. Ifrs
Thao Vu Accounting 303 October 9, 2012 US GAAP vs. IFRS The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) developed the United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) has been used in US corporations for over 75 years. It allows financial statements from all corporations to be compared accurately and efficiently, and serves as a guideline for accountants. GAAP is slowly being taken out for the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as global business goes across the world. GAAP applies only to United States financial reporting. GAAP and the international rules have close similarity.The differences can lead a financial statement user to believe incorrectly that a company A made more money than company B because they report using different rules. The difference between GAAP and IFRS is the means of inventory valuation. In this case, GAAP permits accountants to use Last-in First-out, First-in First-out, and weighted average. Under IFRS, LIFO is not allowed. If U nited States corporations are forced to switch to LIFO under a universal accounting standard, they will have large increases in income tax. The use of LIFO allows them to avoid larger income taxes in times of inflation.Another example of the different procedures between IFRS and GAAP is in the evaluation of intangibles. GAAP focuses mostly on recording them at a set price, and amortizing that value over the amount of useful life of the intangible. IFRS stresses constant re-evaluation of the price, and recognition at the intangible's fair value (Miska). One of the greatest benefits of adopting IFRS is the fact that the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) and the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) would be working together to develop the best, most effective accounting principles.Converting to an accounting standard that is less rule-based, and more principle oriented would definitely save American businesses trouble as well. IFRS authorize three basic accounting models: I. Current Cost Accounting, under Physical Capital Maintenance at all levels of inflation and deflation under the Historical Cost paradigm as well as the Capital Maintenance in Units of Constant Purchasing Power paradigm. II. Financial capital maintenance in nominal monetary units, i. e. globally implemented Historical cost accounting during low inflation and deflation only under the traditional Historical Cost paradigm III. Financial capital maintenance in units of constant purchasing power, i. e. , Constant Item Purchasing Power Accounting – CIPPA – in terms of a Daily Consumer Price Index or daily rate at all levels of inflation and deflation under the Capital Maintenance in Units of Constant Purchasing Power paradigm and Constant Purchasing Power Accounting – CPPA – during hyperinflation under the Historical Cost paradigm. What are the advantages of IFRS?First, it allows a company to compare itself to competitors overseas, because they will all be us ing the same financial language (IFRS FAQs). Second, a company that has offices all around the world will be able to use one set of standards rather than many different sets unique to each country. Third, it may make it easier for companies to grow globally because the accounting methods will be the same everywhere and time won’t need to be spent learning new rules. The projects listed below are a move toward achieving a common accounting framework, a step in the globalization of business and investment. Financial instruments * Revenue recognition * Leases * Statement of comprehensive income * Fair value measurement * Derecognition * Consolidations * Post-employment benefits| * Balance sheet – Netting * Financial statement presentation * Discontinued operations * Financial instruments with characteristics of equity * Insurance contracts * Emissions trading schemes| Currently, the first three projects (in bold) are priority projects – due to the existing divergen ce of US GAAP and IFRS and the need for improvements in the standards they replace.In conclusion, going from GAAP to IFRS will take time, money, training, and patience, but it will be well worth it in the long run for the United States and international businesses. Globalization of business is growing and students and professionals need to become aware of what the IFRS will mean in their careers. As of 2011, IFRS will be eligible for testing in the CPA exam; so, it is important for students to understand the implications of the newest set of global standards (IFRS FAQs).In a profession that needs a lifetime commitment to learning, IFRS is not different than Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) and GAAP before it; it is one more academic step for accountants to overcome and master during their professional career. Sources â€Å"IFRS FAQs. †IFRS. com. 2011. Web. 09 Nov. 2011. Imhof, Rori. Accounting Standards Go Global. Articlebase. com. Web. 10 Nov. 2011. Kaiser, James G. â€Å"US GAAP ; IF RS Convergence. †PWC. com. Web. August 2012. Miska, Kevin. US GAAP vs. IFRS. Articlebase. com. Web. 20 Nov. 2010. U.S. Gaap vs. Ifrs Thao Vu Accounting 303 October 9, 2012 US GAAP vs. IFRS The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) developed the United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) has been used in US corporations for over 75 years. It allows financial statements from all corporations to be compared accurately and efficiently, and serves as a guideline for accountants. GAAP is slowly being taken out for the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as global business goes across the world. GAAP applies only to United States financial reporting. GAAP and the international rules have close similarity.The differences can lead a financial statement user to believe incorrectly that a company A made more money than company B because they report using different rules. The difference between GAAP and IFRS is the means of inventory valuation. In this case, GAAP permits accountants to use Last-in First-out, First-in First-out, and weighted average. Under IFRS, LIFO is not allowed. If U nited States corporations are forced to switch to LIFO under a universal accounting standard, they will have large increases in income tax. The use of LIFO allows them to avoid larger income taxes in times of inflation.Another example of the different procedures between IFRS and GAAP is in the evaluation of intangibles. GAAP focuses mostly on recording them at a set price, and amortizing that value over the amount of useful life of the intangible. IFRS stresses constant re-evaluation of the price, and recognition at the intangible's fair value (Miska). One of the greatest benefits of adopting IFRS is the fact that the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) and the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) would be working together to develop the best, most effective accounting principles.Converting to an accounting standard that is less rule-based, and more principle oriented would definitely save American businesses trouble as well. IFRS authorize three basic accounting models: I. Current Cost Accounting, under Physical Capital Maintenance at all levels of inflation and deflation under the Historical Cost paradigm as well as the Capital Maintenance in Units of Constant Purchasing Power paradigm. II. Financial capital maintenance in nominal monetary units, i. e. globally implemented Historical cost accounting during low inflation and deflation only under the traditional Historical Cost paradigm III. Financial capital maintenance in units of constant purchasing power, i. e. , Constant Item Purchasing Power Accounting – CIPPA – in terms of a Daily Consumer Price Index or daily rate at all levels of inflation and deflation under the Capital Maintenance in Units of Constant Purchasing Power paradigm and Constant Purchasing Power Accounting – CPPA – during hyperinflation under the Historical Cost paradigm. What are the advantages of IFRS?First, it allows a company to compare itself to competitors overseas, because they will all be us ing the same financial language (IFRS FAQs). Second, a company that has offices all around the world will be able to use one set of standards rather than many different sets unique to each country. Third, it may make it easier for companies to grow globally because the accounting methods will be the same everywhere and time won’t need to be spent learning new rules. The projects listed below are a move toward achieving a common accounting framework, a step in the globalization of business and investment. Financial instruments * Revenue recognition * Leases * Statement of comprehensive income * Fair value measurement * Derecognition * Consolidations * Post-employment benefits| * Balance sheet – Netting * Financial statement presentation * Discontinued operations * Financial instruments with characteristics of equity * Insurance contracts * Emissions trading schemes| Currently, the first three projects (in bold) are priority projects – due to the existing divergen ce of US GAAP and IFRS and the need for improvements in the standards they replace.In conclusion, going from GAAP to IFRS will take time, money, training, and patience, but it will be well worth it in the long run for the United States and international businesses. Globalization of business is growing and students and professionals need to become aware of what the IFRS will mean in their careers. As of 2011, IFRS will be eligible for testing in the CPA exam; so, it is important for students to understand the implications of the newest set of global standards (IFRS FAQs).In a profession that needs a lifetime commitment to learning, IFRS is not different than Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) and GAAP before it; it is one more academic step for accountants to overcome and master during their professional career. Sources â€Å"IFRS FAQs. †IFRS. com. 2011. Web. 09 Nov. 2011. Imhof, Rori. Accounting Standards Go Global. Articlebase. com. Web. 10 Nov. 2011. Kaiser, James G. â€Å"US GAAP ; IF RS Convergence. †PWC. com. Web. August 2012. Miska, Kevin. US GAAP vs. IFRS. Articlebase. com. Web. 20 Nov. 2010.
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