UPS: Business Strategy

The United Parcel Service has been in business since 1907. Over 100 years of delivery services must be a result of a certain method of management and business that has allowed them such success over time. What type of structure do they use within the workplace to manage the flow of packages? What promotion system do they use and how does it affect employees' commitment to work? What type of organizational design does UPS use to manage its employees?These are all questions I would like to answer in terms of UPS' management structure to determine how they eve been successful for so long. Table of Contents 1. Title Page – Page 1 2. Abstract – Page 2 3. Table of Contents – Page 3 4. Section 1: UPS Enterprise – Page 4 5. Section 2: Management Functions – Page 6 6. Section 3: Analysis – Page 12 7. References – Page 13 8. References (Count. ) – Page 14 Section 1: UPS Enterprise Starting as a small messenger company in 1907, UPS, short for United Parcel Service, has grown into a massive publicly traded company today.Their management structure today consists of a management committee to oversee the entire company. The committee consists of the usual CEO, SCOFF, and COO (Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and Chief Operating Officer). Beneath each of them is a tree of management. UPS employs a Human Relations department which deals with ethical decisions for the company and how employees will be treated. They also employ engineering department which determines the flow of packages every day (UPS, 2014). They determine what the manning needs to be for each building to run efficiently every night.They also determine how many packages each building needs to process every day in order to run efficiently and effectively. The operations management section is clearly the muscle of the operation. They are the ones who determine how they are going to get the plan set by the engineering department completed. Th e operations department has many tiers of management stretching all the way down to the front line of package handlers. UPS also practices hiring from within as many of UPS' Coo's have started all the way from the bottom of the company.Some logistics regarding the company begin with the fact that UPS employs approximately 407,000 people across the world, with 348,000 of them within the United States (Statistics Brain, 2014). UPS has grown to offer many different methods of package shipment. Today they offer services such as Next Day Air, 2nd Day Air, Ground and even Sonic Air. Next Day Air being their primary source of revenue among the other methods of shipment. Sonic Air is a method not known to many because of its extremely high cost.Sonic Air allows you to ship to anywhere in the fastest time possible at an extremely high cost. UPS has gained a very large share of the market with approximately 7. 9 million customers using their services daily to ship over 15 million packages dai ly across the world. UPS has developed new improvements frequently with their $53. Billion revenue every year. UPS' world headquarters is in Atlanta, Georgia, with many other regional headquarters around the world in each of the major continents (UPS, 2014). UPS has created a operational layout which resembles their management layout.They use major hubs across the world to process the majority of the packages, which are then loaded onto trucks and distributed to smaller hubs to be delivered to the communities. UPS and Feeds are strong competitors, both ruling the courier service industry. The companies do have their differences though, as Feeds is not a unionized company. UPS is a larger company, although Feeds does operate through the air far more than UPS, but UPS has a stronger ground presence. According to revenue statistics, UPS brings in about $53. 1 billion per year compared to Feeder's $42. Billion, which translates to $5. 9 and $3. 7 billion in profits respectively. Feeds a lso employs approximately 100,000 people less than UPS yearly, which factors into the profits. Overall, UPS has the higher market share, holding a 46%-50% share of the entire domestic market, compared to Feeder's 49% market share on express packages only. In essence, Feeds specializes in express shipments to make a profit, while UPS does everything to include ground and air shipments (Differ, 2013). UPS focuses heavily on businesses as primary clients.UPS actually has a program for all employees which allows workers to get contracts from any businesses around to use UPS' services. Gaining a contract makes UPS money and is an incentive for employees because UPS will pay them a portion of the contract. Overall, UPS is the most dominating force in the courier services industry in the world, making them a very successful business. Section 2: Management Planning is of the utmost importance at UPS, it is the difference between a failing company and success. The United Parcel Service emplo ys industrial engineers at every hub across the world.Their Job is the do all the behind the scenes work to maximize profit and create the most efficient workplace possible. They also incorporate other departments within the company which all account for certain aspects of the success the company has had. Departments such as Finance, Marketing, Industrial Engineering, Operations, and Human Resources are some of the primary reasons for the company's continued success. Financially, UPS is one of the more successful companies in America, and is the most successful in the courier services industry.Financial analysts with UPS have made the company very â€Å"liquid†, meaning they have high flexibility. They are gaining working capital and assets faster as they continue to pay off debt. This working capital goes towards the development of innovations to better the progress and efficiency of the company. From 2005 to 2010, UPS was gaining working capital at a gaining rate of 28% per year. According the financial model, UPS is running a system hat focuses on runs largely on existing equity and splitting the remaining capital on debt and liabilities.They continue to invest profits on working capital to better the company as a whole (Shah, 2010). UPS does focus on marketing in some regards, although they let their products do the marketing for them the majority of the time. UPS does more than Just ship packages, they also develop products such as Barbados scanning systems which get the UPS name out. They have made themselves accessible across almost any medium possible. You can reach UPS via phone, internet, in-person, through UPS drivers, at strutting centers, and retail locations. Having the company so readily accessible really promotes the use of the company for shipping needs.They price competitively, which gives them an advantage with consumers because they are so easily accessible compared to competitors (Shah, 2010). Industrial Engineering is the brain of the operational side of UPS. Millions and millions of packages come through UPS' hubs every day, without Industrial Engineers working behind the scenes it would be nothing more than a giant flow of packages. This department analyzes the intake of packages for each of their respective hubs. They allocate how many workers need to work on each shift for the hub to be efficient and come out positive based on how many expected packages.They also plan for the expected amount of packages for each shift. They have to take into account all of the factors in this determination. Holiday times are the toughest for this department. Often they have to hire â€Å"seasonal† employees to add additional man hours for the holiday flow, called â€Å"peak season†. In 2013, UPS had a major strategic planning failure during the holiday season due to lack of man power. The engineers at the head of he company failed to make correct predictions about the flow of packages that would be coming th rough the system that holiday season.UPS planned to hire an additional 55,000 employees that holiday season, while also leasing an additional 23 airplanes to accommodate next day air shipments in order to make â€Å"before Christmas day' delivery promises (Leonard, 2013). Clearly this was under planned as Christmas day rolled around and many packages were still stalled in the hubs across America forcing managers of the hubs to work hours on Christmas day and Christmas Eve, which are normally holidays for UPS employees (Banker, 2013).This goes to show how important the Industrial Engineers in UPS actually are to the company. They are paid to make the overall operations plan every day of the year, which are then carried out by the operations managers. The operations side of UPS is the muscle of the entire organization. This the department that has to perform in order for the company to be successful. These are the workers that consumers deal with on a daily basis. Planning for this d epartment is done mostly by the Industrial Engineering department, although they can deviate from the plan as necessary.One thing the operations depart works on with planning s how many managers they think they will need in order to get the most from their hourly work force. Integrating airline, ground, and warehouse operations is key to the success of the mission of UPS. Customer service is the greatest advertising tool that UPS has, and the operations department is in control of this as they are the ones out and about working on the front lines. Finally, UPS utilizes a Human Resources department for planning that deals with hiring employees.With UPS' vast network of employees, it is the HER department that is key to keeping these employees happy and satisfied enough to continue to work art for the company and keep the turnover rate low. Once the II department determines how many employees will need to be hired for peak seasons, it's the HER department that is in charge of hiring t hose employees in time for the season. Planning for the HER department is integral for the happiness and productivity of employees. Organization I think UPS has done a brilliant Job in the way they have designed the company to manage itself.Instead of having one large chain of command, UPS has one CEO, but many different departments and many different levels. UPS has its large hubs, which all compete against each other. Hubs like Chicago and Louisville are some of the largest. These hubs flow millions of packages through them every single day, but they wouldn't be able to do that if they didn't have smaller hubs throughout the country. The design allows for the packages to flow into the major hubs throughout the country, and then they distribute them by freight to the smaller hubs, which then load them on to package cars and deliver them out to houses.UPS also utilizes a Human Relations department which takes care of all their recruitment procedures as well as other areas such as sa fety. Finally, they use an engineering department which goes all the behind the scenes work for UPS (Drake, 2012). They project how many packages each building will receive that day and take all things into account such as holidays and what not. They also determine how many people need to be hired to maintain efficiency and effective working methods. These three departments work as their own entities, but collaborate to reach the main goal.When working with the design of the company managers need to consider the fluidity of their design. Because UPS focuses largely on timeliness, their organization for the company needs to also maintain a fluid design which allows for the packages o easily flow through the system. I think UPS has maintained this type of design through the departments which they have installed in the organization. All departments work together but separate, which allows them to do their own work but unloads some of the work from other areas and allows each area to pu t more focus into what they do.Knowing someone who used to work for UPS, I can tell you they are very precise and fluid with their design. He worked in the management side of operations. Every day the engineers would show up in the morning to plan the day for the afternoon shifts. High level managers for the afternoon shifts would come in after lunch and begin to put the plans into action. Following them, the lower level managers would come in to prepare for the day after being briefed by their managers. Hourly employees were given a specific â€Å"start time† for each day when they would show up to work.They also had a â€Å"downtime† which dictates when the building should be completely done sorting packages into their correct destinations. If everything worked correctly, the building would be efficient for that night. The fluid motions of the company are what keep them successful and efficient. One thing I thought was interesting is that the department who plans out the routes for the delivery drivers try to plan routes that use as many right turns as possible, eliminating the wait at stop lights as much as possible. This kind of planning and organization is key to the success of the company.Leadership UPS practices promotion from within to maintain motivated employees. One longstanding principal within UPS management is that promoting the workers that are already within your company is the way to keep the company in good standing. It always gives employees something to strive for and look forward to. The current CEO, Scott Davis, was originally absorbed by UPS when they bought out his previous company. He worked his way up to being a UPS CEO, although he did not start all the way at the bottom like many leaders within the company.One thing UPS does to push employees to stay with them is they offer health insurance to all part time employees who have been with them for over a year. In this day and age, something like that is extremely hard to come across. They also offer $1 5,000 in tuition assistance for part time employees, thus encouraging student to get their degree. All of this is the season they choose to promote from within. They invest a lot of time and money into their lower level employees so that they can get their education and begin to move up the UPS employment ladder.They strongly believe in filling gaps in upper management with employees who already know the system and have been at the level of those guys beneath them (UPS Earn & Learn, 2014). Motivating current employees to do better creates a sense of pride within the company, which in turn creates better leaders. Communication between the leaders of the company comes once again from the management committee that UPS uses. Orders start from the top of the organization and trickle down through the management structure until it reaches the front lines.One issue that UPS has with conflict resolution is that the company is highly unionized. UPS uses a syste m of â€Å"write-ups† for hourly employees. Safety has developed a set of rules that need to be followed by each employee while working, and if those rules are not followed, the manager of that employee must right the person up. The issue with this is that the union can almost always get that persons job back if they end up getting fired because of unsafe working. Directly from a UPS manager, I know that the only thing a person can be fired for and not brought back is fighting or stealing.Above this, disciplinary action becomes more regulated by UPS than unions. Managers are not part of the union and therefore cannot get their Job back if fired from misconduct or poor management. UPS and Teamsters consistently work out collective bargaining agreements for hourly employees which state the terms of raises and the guidelines of employment. For example, if an employee is fired by UPS management, they have 10 days to file a grievance with the union to get heir Job back or the term ination becomes final and there is nothing the union can do anymore.This type of disciplinary action for hourly employees can cause issues in the workplace, as many employees know they have a very slim chance of losing their job no matter their performance. Control Control is something that every department in the company has to be aware of because they all work separately but together as a whole. Human resources controls the morale of the employees, while operations looks to control the efficiency and work ethic of the work force. Some control tools which UPS utilizes is the advantage of am work. One department can take an issue and pass it on to another department to work on.This allows work to remain focused on the right topic rather than dealing with something that is not commonly dealt with in that specific department. Section Ill: Analysis In summary, UPS as a whole uses a structured departmentally system to govern their company. They believe in promoting leadership from withi n and encouraging new employees to better themselves so they can progress with the company. It seems that UPS has created a system that is concurrent with their massive success over time. I believe UPS will continue to stay in business for a long time if they continue to treat their employee's right and manage the way they do now.Keeping things separate but working together seems to be a working concept as each of the hubs function as their own entity in the big picture of things. I cannot think of any recommendations for the company to use at this time, as I believe they are doing things right. One thing that I do believe is an issue is the unionized workforce that can really lag their production because of employee's mindset. However, I know this is something that cannot be taken away by UPS management and cannot be fixed easily, so I think they have done a great Job of working around it.

Discipline in School

Discipline is very important in a civilized life. Discipline can be defined as control over one's desires and obedient' to codes of behavior. If there is no discipline, there is confusion everywhere. Discipline is of great importance in school and at home. If there is no discipline in schools, it is not possible to imp education effectively. It is necessary to maintain law an order in the society. There should be discipline at home also. Children must be taught self-control. Parents themselves should keep discipline. Children should be taught the value discipline in childhood.A country cannot face extern wars if its armed forces are not disciplined . Unfortunately, there are not much discipline today schools, colleges and government offices. That is w India is facing many problems . Discipline is necessary for people in all walks folia Students studying in schools and colleges, Define personnel, industrial workers – all must have disciple Only then a nation can progress| A stu dent needs to be very punctual to his routine. He should be very regular and sincere to his studies. He should be hard working.He should always be ready and active in various other extracurricular activities. He should remain active and smart. He should learn how to face difficult situations and how to win over them. A student is the future of the country. It is he who has to take the responsibility of the country. He should be healthy and fit. Physical education is as important for students as to be studious and sincere at studies. A student should always be in good health and fitness. For this he should get up early in the morning. He should take exercise daily. He should play game of his choice daily.It is well known that a healthy body has a healthy mind. He is mind will be strong and sharp only when he is physically strong, fit and healthy. The biggest task of a student is to study. A student should be very devoted and sincere to his studies. He should be very punctual. He shou ld know the importance of time. He should regularly do his home work. He should have an urge to learn new things. He should have respect for his teachers and elders. He should be very cooperative with his friends. He should help the needy. Discipline demands self-control and dedication.One who cannot control himself cannot control others. He has to dedicate his individuality in the larger interest of society. Discipline is a virtue. It needs to be cultivated from early childhood. It cannot be developed overnight. It takes time and requires patience. When discipline is enforced, it fails to bring the desired result. True essence of discipline is lost when it is enforced . Student life is the formation period of life. The foundation of adulthood is laid down during the time. The man grows with the habits and manners acquired at that time. These things hardly change.So a student should be much disciplined in his student life. One who is disciplined raises high in life. Life of great me n is examples of discipline. The great men have made mark in their lives, because they strictly follow their goals with all the earnestness and sincerity. So, we should try to be disciplined from the early stage of life. Both at school and at home they should be made to follow the rules of discipline. Parents, teachers and elders have significant role to play. A student should always learn good habits. This will lead to the formation of a good society and nation as well. |

Case analysis Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Case analysis - Assignment Example The problems at the company started when Don Smith took over the firm. The biggest mistake that was made by the Mr. Smith when he acquired the company was that he did so through a highly leveraged transaction that drastically increased the long term debt of the company. A company that had a policy under the leadership of Blake of not mortgaging the opening of any new store became burdened by debt. A second issue at Friendly was conflicts of interest between TRC, Smith, and Friendly. Smith was both owners of TRC and Friendly. He approved a lot of dubious contracts including two shared costs programs of an Illinois office, where the company had no presence, and leasing agreement of a jet with TRC. There were also conflicts of interest in the board of directors which had some members that were dual board of directors of both companies. A third major issue at the firm was that its chairman was misusing company funds for personal expenses such as using the private jet for personal reasons . A fourth major issue at the firm was the lackluster financial performance of the company. The company lost over $30 million between 2005 and 2006. In 2007 the company achieved profits, but its net margin was a very thin at 0.9%. The net margin ratio measures the absolute profitability of a company (Peavler). A potential solution for the shareholders of the company is to sell off the shares of the company all at once. The problem with this solution is that a selling frenzy might further erode the price of the stocks driving it to become a penny stock. A second solution for the firm is to force the resignation of Don Smith. The problem with this solution is that his resignation would have to be forced by the board of directors and Smith has them on his pocket. A third solution is for the shareholders of the company to unite in the efforts of Sadar Biglari to turn around the company by getting two seats in

Perceived Stress for Middle School Principals Essay

Perceived Stress for Middle School Principals - Essay Example eform movement was unlike any previous laws enacted in the past, and it literally reshaped the traditional school system that had been a mainstay of American culture for well over two centuries. President Bush actually drew upon his various experiences as governor of Texas in helping to draft the No Child Left Behind Act. This particular reform movement carried many similarities to legislation passed in the Texas during the 1990s, only now to implemented on a national scale (Debray, 2005). Upon coming into office, the Bush administration quickly set forth an ambitious educational reform agenda and, by 2001, it was already evident that legislation would be drafted that would be unlike any previous attempts at educational reform made by other Presidents before him (Sunderman, 2005). During this time, is also became well known that certain provisions within NCLB itself would be completely new to professional educators and the public alike. This included the provision for state mandated testing, the frequency with which such exams would be required, and the disciplines that the tests would encompass. The legislation also mandated a strict focus on improving scores in the areas of mathematics and reading, as well as setting aside funding and penalties for thousands of schools almost immediately upon the signing of the actual legislation (Sunderman & Kim, 2005). One area that quickly became a target was local school districts. They were required to give up control over the student assessment process in deference to new federal guidelines and procedures. The No Child Left Behind Act went so far as to require respective state in the Union to design their own exams and then administer them to every eligible child within their fold. For really the first time in the history of America, this particular reform effort mandated academic improvement as a matter of law, and not just principle (Orefield, 2005). In reality, this quickly became a regulatory issue, as

Teaching Strategies Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Teaching Strategies - Article Example The content knowledge in this strategy is the encouragement of peer to peer communication and interaction. This strategy enables learners to interact with students who speak English as the primary language s that they are enabled to clarify the essential concepts. The instructor uses various activities which helps the learners to go through he guided interaction successfully by grasping key language skills and concepts. This strategy helps learners to practice their pre-reading and also pre-writing skills so that they could have a meta-cognition of English language. This strategy helps the learners to express their thinking processes in verbal and written language. The assessment activities that teachers use in this strategy include think aloud and guides for complete chapter readings (Tissington and LaCour, 2010). Explicit instruction involves teaching the essential language concepts with an aim of building the background knowledge of the learners. At this stage, learners are given tasks which require cognitive skills of English reading. The teacher employs tools and activities which enable learners to classify, analyze, compare, interpret and synthesize the language concepts. This strategy aims at introducing learners to concepts which emanate from familiar themes, prompts and resources. The instructor aims at motivating the learners to link various ideas from their linguistic and social cultural backgrounds so that the interest of the student in learning English is determined. The motivation of the teacher will enable students to overcome the learning challenges (Tissington and LaCour,

Portfolio Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Portfolio - Essay Example Block center O. Dramatic Play center P. Climbing area Q. Window Front 3-D view Back 3-D view 3-D view from sides Reflection I created the models for my classroom using an online classroom planning tool. It was really helpful to be able to use the program to plan how I wanted to set up my room. However, the choices of furniture were limited, so I couldn’t be as detailed as I would have liked. I still want to set my future classroom up like the classroom I designed, although I might switch the art center and the soft/book center so that the art center has better lighting. Culturally Respectful Menu Breakfast Lunch Snack Monday Corn pancakes Milk Spaghetti, salad and pears Milk Banana bread Orange Juice Tuesday Sausage Rolls Milk Cuban sandwich, Arroz con pollo, pineapple Milk Tortilla chips Apple Juice Wednesday Open Faced Omelet Orange Juice Chinese pot stickers, fried rice, steamed vegetables Milk Chinese filled buns Milk Thursday Quiche Lorraine Milk Burritos, refried beans, guacamole salad Milk Rice crackers Apple Juice Friday Huevos Rancheros Orange Juice Yakitori, egg noodles, fruit skewers Milk Cheese buns Milk Reflection I arranged the menu the way that I did to make sure that the children got milk twice a day and fruit or vegetables every day. I also made sure that there are at least three different food groups present each day. On the menu, I offered food from the United States, Latin America, South America, Europe and Asia. I really like how culturally varied the menu is, however if I had to plan a menu again, I would make sure that the students were getting a fruit and a vegetable every day. I would also try to balance the menu so that it was less carbohydrate heavy on certain days. Play Observation for a Child with Special Needs I observed in a 4 year old classroom. The classroom, as well as the child care center it was in, followed Adlerian psychology. The basic idea of Adlerian psychology is to encourage the development of healthy and cooper ative individuals and families. The student that I focused on was a student that was diagnosed with ADHD. One technique that I noticed a teacher use when working with the child was rewarding the child when he had a good behavior and ignoring negative behavior. I believe the goal of this method was to show the student that the teacher would only pay him attention when he was behaving well. This was an effective strategy because it caused the student to behave in more positive ways. Another technique that I saw was keeping a posted schedule and referring the child to the schedule whenever he asked a question about what was coming next. The goal of this method was to provide a stable, structured schedule for the child to refer to. I believe this was an effective strategy because the child often used it and had a reduced anxiety about what was coming up next. I also noticed that the teacher gave clear behavior expectations before all activities. The goal of this method was to remind the student of what behaviors were acceptable in class. I believe this was an effective strategy because it helped the student to remember how he should behave during activities. The teacher also spoke to the student privately when they were doing more complex activities. The goal of this activity was to reinforce the steps needed to complete the activity and to clarify any steps. She went over the steps that he would have to take to complete the activity with him, then asked him if he had any questions and

Racism and American Low Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Racism and American Low - Essay Example In the United States, in the field of law, there are actions that can impact racism. The murder of Trayvon Martin in Florida recently brought up the topic of racism and the law and made it the center of the conversation. Analysis of the stakeholders and decision makers of four U.S. laws reveals layers of racism. The defense that George Zimmerman, the accused in the murder of Martin, used to explain his case is the â€Å"Stand Your Ground Law.† This law exists in Florida for self-defense where an individual could use force to defend himself in case there is a threat for his life. This is now challenged on moral and legal grounds because an innocent seventeen years old black male, was shot and killed on February 26, 2012 by a 28 years old white man who used the â€Å"Stand Your Ground† law as his reason for shooting Martin (Cloud, 36). The argument now arises that if the situation was the other way around and Martin had shot the white man, he for sure would have been arre sted. However, George Zimmerman was free after just a few explanations. On the other hand, according to Time in an article just last week the law is based on a very old law known by castle doctrine. This ancient doctrine gave people the right to use â€Å"deadly force† if a stranger enters your home and intends to harm. In 2005 though, Florida changed this law so it applies anywhere, not just the home (Cloud, 36). This law is discriminatory in the nature. Since Zimmerman has not been arrested, many people protested and are showing that they believe the law is flawed. The magazine article ended with this comment, â€Å"The case will unfold slowly in court and will offer only agony to Martins parents. But even if Zimmerman is eventually charged, it should be Floridas gun laws that go on trial† (Cloud, 39). There are no fast solutions to this problem of laws that are racist but something could surely be done. It is important for law-makers

Tracking, is it viable Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Tracking, is it viable - Research Paper Example On the other hand, the students in the lesser tracks get equipped with skills on welding, bookkeeping, and beauty therapy. Essentially, this paper will illustrate whether the tracking system of learning is viable or not by giving substantial reasons (Powell, 2000). In addition, it will argue out whether this system should apply in the elementary stages of one’s carrier path by including heterogeneous and homogeneous cooperative learning styles. As a necessity, it will seek to bring out the summative and formative classroom assessment by using flip classrooms or homeschooling as examples. Finally, the paper will advise on what the best alternative forms of instructions and guidelines would work well at the elementary level when applying tracking system. Tracking system has proved to be the acceptable and most viable learning system over the years. Various attributes contribute towards making it reliable. For one, this system has been effective in meeting the needs of gifted pup ils within a regular classroom. The main advantage is that it provides the opportunity for the students to associate with their intellectual peers. According to Powell, (2000), this interaction mainly influenced their emotional, social, and intellectual well-being. On the other hand, tracking allowed students to feel lesser isolation and reduced stress levels because of their grouping with students with the same level of abilities. In addition, Epple et al (2000) found that working in a cluster was better than working alone as the group challenged individuals to give quality outputs. On the other hand, the average students have also been beneficiaries of this system through one way or another. For instance, clustering of these students is effective in identifying new leaders when the high performing students move to the high ability classrooms (Gentry 1996). However, high performing students shared a classroom with the middle cluster to widen their educational opportunities in their strong areas.

Socrate's Concept of Good and Evil Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Socrate's Concept of Good and Evil - Essay Example Glaucon was not convinced; and he wished to argue with Socrates that apparently, unjust people live a more successful life than the just people. He wanted explanation as to why gods confer power and wealth to the unjust, powerful and evil persons only? Why virtue is not the scale of judgment of the gods to bless people? Why is it so that unjust people appear to have more material gains and lead a happier life than just people? To clarify this, Socrates explained to him that justice may be an individual virtue or virtue of the State. The main aim of explaining what goodness is all about is to lay down the foundation of a State or a Republic where the rulers serve in the interest of their subjects. Being good is a very complex definition as it touches various aspects of the personality, the nature and the consequences of a person. For example, being good in old age; or while doing justice; or while distinguishing between a friend and a foe requires wisdom. He actually strengthened his argument for the major subject of his rhetoric i.e. the welfare of the State. He believed that the primary duty of the rulers of the State was to be good to them. The state should function according to the interests of the subjects- not the rulers.

Ford Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Ford - Case Study Example Another strategic issue that has been recognized in the case was relating to elimination of its 4, 000 to 5000 employees in the year 2001 by employing early retirement incentive schemes with the intention of mitigating its suffered business losses (Hitt, Ireland, and Hoskisson 127-132). In the year 2006, Ford decided to cut 25,000 to 30,000 hourly jobs along with 12 percent of different management positions as a part of huge restructuring plan that can be considered as crucial strategic issue for the company (Hitt, Ireland, and Hoskisson 127-132). In the year 2006, Ford also faced certain strategic issues regarding decrease in market demand and increased competition in the international market (Hitt, Ireland, and Hoskisson 127-132). ... It has been viewed in this similar context that each and every member of Ford was considered as an integral part on global basis. The company remained much committed towards serving the best quality brands to its customers by a significant level. Furthermore, Ford emphasized upon complying with the needs as well as desires of its valuable customers by offering them with their preferred quality products The modern vision statement of Ford has been observed to work as a team as well as serving the best quality product along with top service to its worldwide customers The earlier mission of Ford was to become the world’s largest car selling company. The company realized that it should manufacture its different products on the basis of customers’ preferences (Ford Motor Company, â€Å"Annual Report†). The modern mission of Ford is to deliver new as well as advanced products with distinct features to its customers. Giving more importance to the customer’s prefe rences as well as their values has been recognized to be one of its most significant missions (Ford Motor Company, â€Å"Annual Report†). Dissimilarities The earlier vision as well as mission statements of Ford was to deliver attractive facilities to its customers around the world as well as creating values among the employees in order to raise its business along with operational standards. Moreover, the early vision and mission statements of the company focused upon creating unity amid the workforce along with enhancing the company’s’ brand value and image towards the customers (Ford Motor Company, â€Å"Annual Report†). In contrast, the modern vision of Ford remains

Victimization At School Essay Example for Free

Victimization At School Essay One type of victimization that can happen at school is school shootings. We have seen too many times where students and teachers have been victimized by other students who bring guns to school and take innocent lives, due to many personal reasons. There is a huge need for stricter gun control laws to make certain that students are safer in their educational institutions. Too many deaths occur where school students are victimized when individuals decide they want to bring weapons to school and use them against innocent victims. Hugh LaFollette explains to us that (LaFollette, 2000) â€Å"The literature of gun advocates supports my contention that guns are inherently dangerous. They advocate the private ownership of guns to prevent crime and to arm the militia. Guns can serve these purposes only because they are effective means of inflicting and threatening harm. † It is fair to say that guns still cause innocent victims to lose their lives and shouldn’t be available for easy access to dangerous individuals. The recent massacre at Virginia Tech and other needless shootings proved that guns can end up in the wrong hands and cause innocent victims to lose their lives. Maggie Rodriguez from The Early Show on CBS tells us that (Rodriguez, 2007) â€Å"Its been eight years since Columbine, Helmke said via satellite from Washington, D. C. Weve done nothing as a country. Its been six months since the Amish school shootings. Weve done nothing as a country. We need to be asking out elected officials what they can do to prevent people from getting these kinds of high-powered weapons. Weapons have been easily accessible and have ultimately reached the hands of the wrong people who have taken the life of many innocent people in our schools. We have seen too many times how guns have been the weapons utilized by deranged individuals, used to cause too many senseless injuries and fatalities, at schools. We also have the argument from those in the pro-gun camp who will easily say that if people are permitted to carry concealed weapons to protect themselves, they can prevent these kinds of fatalities from taking place in our school settings. By allowing everyone to carry guns, we would be placing too many other’s lives in danger. Although, there would be instances such as the killings that took place at Virginia Tech, where guns could have possibly stopped the shooter, there would be more instances where lives would be taken because of this easy access to guns. By keeping guns away from the general public, we would make it more complicated for people like the gunman at Virginia Tech to get their hands on guns to kill innocent victims. Many gun rights groups, that are led by the National Rifle Association will argue that proposals that ask for stricter gun laws breach on the constitutional rights of every law-abiding citizen. They assume that these bans on the sale of specific types of weapons haven’t proved effective in decreasing crime, and that proposals for stricter background checks at all gun shows are formed to eliminate gun shows, themselves. Many gun manufacturers have easily volunteered the support for safety locks, but the NRA has criticized these safety locks for placing a huge burden on gun manufacturers, without benefiting to the public. Georgeann Rooney who is a specialist at a Secret Service National Threat Assessment Center explained a 2002 federal study where 37 school shootings and attacks were looked at from 1974 to 2000. Rooney explains that (Rooney, 2007) â€Å"While the study said there is no accurate profile of students who engage in targeted violence at schools, it noted that many said they felt bullied, persecuted or injured by others before the attacks oIn the Santana High incident, Charles Andy Williams complained about being bullied before he went on a shooting rampage at the Santee campus, leaving two dead and 13 wounded. † The same study showed that â€Å"Most attackers had access to and had used weapons before the attack and prior to most incidents, other people knew about the attackers plans. We learn that â€Å"Most attackers had difficulty coping with significant losses or personal failures and many had considered or attempted suicide. † We see very often that most attackers who take innocent lives on school property have serious mental disturbances. We learn from The National Center of Vital Statistics that (NCVS, 1999) â€Å"The risk of death at school based on 93 incidents that occurred in the nations 119,000 schools over a ten-year period, the annual probability of a school experiencing a student-perpetrated homicide is about 1 in 11,520. † The biggest concern is that there are many people who should be allowed to collect and carry guns, because they pose no threat to society but far too many times student, teachers and other school staff members suffer at the hands of disturbed individuals. Not everyone should be considered dangerous individuals because they carry guns, but by allowing guns to remain in their hands, we are making it too easy for tragic shootings to take place at our schools, when these when these weapons end up in the wrong hands. We learn from News Batch that (News Batch, 2005) â€Å"Gun control was not a major issue in the 2004 Presidential campaign. The percentage of Americans who consider gun control as an important issue has declined from 3% to 1%. Fewer Americans are supportive of gun control in general and handgun control in particular. † By not making gun control issues an important issue, we are ignoring a dangerous situation, where young students suffer to needless killings at school. Even with background checks, it is far too risky to allow individuals to have easy access to guns. The shooter at Virginia Tech was able to purchase guns because he had a background check that was clean because all shooters have criminal records. Gun control activists still believe that it is far to easy for criminals to obtain guns and that an alarming proportion of the population remains armed. Their concern has been fueled by an unprecedented recent rash of school shootings and fatalities. Many experts are blaming this phenomena on violent video games and poor parenting but in each case the youths involved had easy access to the weapons that they used. Gun control advocates support measures which would require locks on all guns, which would apply the provisions of the Brady bill to gun shows. These gun control advocate groups also advocate a federal law allowing only one handgun purchase per month and raising the age for gun ownership from 18 to 21. By increasing the age limit for buying guns to 21, we may decrease the number of shootings that take place but we aren’t eliminating the possibilities for dangerous individuals to get their hands on guns that kill. John W. Mashek (Mashek, 2007) tells us that â€Å"The tragedy at Virginia Tech should open our minds to a problem our nation refuses to confront. The easy access to guns and lethal weapons is a national disgrace. In Virginia alone, gun owners are limited to one purchase a month. I can hear the response from the NRA already: People kill people. Yes, but they do it with guns and too frequently with those easily accessible weapons. † He goes on to say that â€Å"The condolences from the NRA are of little comfort to the mourners of those slaughtered in Blacksburg. The NRA, to put it bluntly, has too many willing friends in Congress from both political parties. Campaign cash flows to them in hefty amounts. Members of both parties should be ashamed. † Without easy access to guns, criminals are less likely to kill. There are many individuals who will argue that â€Å"People kill, not guns. † Yes, this may be true, but without guns, they have less opportunity to kill. When killing is on the mind of a deranged individual, they usually look for guns to commit murders and by not making guns easy to buy, we are decreasing the threat that is upon society. Michael Daily, a daily news columnists asks, (Daily, 2007) â€Å"Still love those guns, Virginia? It is clear that many people are fed up with guns being so available to the general public. There must be serious restrictions placed on buying weapons. These restrictions should make it impossible for the entire general public to purchase guns. It is a fact that guns do kill and we must remove this threat that is causing so many needless shootings at our schools across the United States. Guns can be accessed much too easily and it is up to all Americans to stand up and say that we are tired of worrying about ourselves and our loved ones being taken out by individuals who have problems dealing with society. It is unfair for innocent victims to lose their lives because someone is having a bad day and can easily walk to the gun store and purchase a gun, in a rather small period of time. We must vote for strict gun control laws and make it far less possible for guns to reach the hands of the wrong people who kill and victimize students too often! Reference Page LaFollette, Hugh. (2000). â€Å"Gun Control†. Ethics. Vol. 1. P. 263-81. News Batch. (2005). â€Å"Gun Control Policy Issues†. www. newsbatch. com/guncontrol. htm. Mashek, John W. (2007). â€Å"Guns Kill People. Period. †. A Capital View. US News and World Report. Rodriguez, Maggie. (2007). â€Å"Shootings at VA Tech Spark Gun Debate†. The Early Show. CBS. Rooney, Georgeann. (2007). Secret Service National Threat Assessment Center. The National Center for Vital Statistics. (1999). â€Å"Serious Violent Crimes in Schools†. www. youthviolence. ed.

Strategic Adaptability Essay Example for Free

Strategic Adaptability Essay Strategic adaptability is the ability of an organization to make changes in the way they conduct business and look at the various situations which arise. It is imperative that companies remain flexible enough to make adjustments that will beneficial to the well being of the company. There are many different aspects of the business world which can be benefited by the company remaining open to new ideas and options thereby being able to adapt their strategic plan to the current situation. In the case of Queen’s Hotel, changes in the hospitality industry create the need to stay current and flexible in order to maintain a competitive edge. By adapting to the changes in the hospitality industry, Queen’s Hotel will be able to attract customers by offering better customer service. SendOutCards is a company which conducts business solely online. With the growing popularity and convenience of the Internet, more and more companies are seeing a dramatic increase in the electronic side of their business. Because of the wider competition base, it is necessary for SendOutCards to find ways to set themselves apart from the other companies out there. By offering additional services, such as gift baskets, gift cards and e-cards, SendOutCards will be able to increase their sales and customer base by offering more options which will appeal to more people. 3M is a company which manufactures a wide variety of products and has a bigger opportunity to find ways to be adaptable. They can use the example of other companies which are in similar circumstances and learn lessons without the need to experience the event. By adapting in this manner, 3M will be proactive in making sure they are current with the trends and forces which may impact them. Odwalla is in the food and beverage industry and must look to the consumer for the trends which will affect their business. By staying on top of what people are looking for in their snack bars and beverages, Odwalla can provide products which will not only be natural and healthy, but they will satisfy the ever changing preferences of the health conscience consumer. The forces and trends which affect each of these businesses are many and constantly changing. We will address a few of these trends and discuss how these companies can adapt and improve their business by making strategic changes which will turn what could be a potentially difficult situation into a chance to grow and improve. Trends in the Hospitality Industry Every industry has trends and they play a big role in our society. The bell-bottom trend in clothing, the DVD player in an SUV in the car industry, the flat screen T. V. in your living room, but the most important trend is in the travel industry. What is a trend? According to dictionary. om, a trend is the general course or prevailing tendency; drift. If this is a direct quote it needs to be in parenthesis and not italicized! In marketing, it is the direction the market is heading . In economics, it is the behavior of the society. In this synopsis, three trends will be identified, their relevance in the hospitality industry explained, and how Queen’s Hotel has used the trends to strategically plan ahead. The tren ds-Travel, Internet, Casino hotels Travel: According to Plunkett, the travel business is now emerging as a more streamlined, efficient and focused industry. Many of the biggest, most successful firms are becoming extremely global in nature Is this another direct quote? (Plunkett, 2008). Many people are finding ways to travel, either for vacationing, business, or personal reasons. Internet: The information technology highway has found a way to help the consumer plan all their needs with the click of a mouse. The internet provides a simple way for consumers to shop in the privacy of their home. Casino hotels: Many hotels are now casino ready in most parts of the developed world. Casinos have become a trend that people have come to gamble with. Casinos have become part of the entertainment industry and provide a way for clients to book hotel with such amenity. Relevance of the trends in the hospitality industry Because the hospitality industry has become a way of life, many managers face unlimited opportunities to grow their businesses through the rapidly changing demands of their clients. Many hotels are partnering with travel agents to provide package deals for their clients. The travel agents are able to book hotels, tours, and attractions included with the plane ticket. Customers are able to use the internet to find deals. Not everyone prefers travel agents as they also come with a fee, therefore, many people are using the internet to package their travel needs. The internet has become a way to reward people for doing it themselves with online discounts, etc. According to a web article, 15 million people are addicted to gambling, casinos gross more than $30 billion dollars annually, 49% of 15 year olds, 63% of 16 year-olds, and 76% of 18 year-olds gamble (http://www. overcominggambling. com/facts. html Not correct citing) and this statistic is only in the U. S. Many people are attracted to casino hotels as it’s a form of entertainment. Queen’s Hotel Strategic Plan to the trends Queen’s Hotel realizes that travel, the internet and casinos are popular trends in the hospitality industry. The hotel has a website that allows customers to book online. If they do, they are given a 10% discount. The hotel has partnered with many online travel agents to provide package deals to customers. The hotel is looking to undergo a renovation to add a casino. Adding a casino in a third world hotel will give it an edge. Carlos Gift Basket Giving This trend of giving gift baskets has grown extensively in the 21st century. Gift baskets are easily available for purchase online and even more personalized than other items that you can give someone, such as flowers or candy. They allow the buyer to be more creative in their gift choice and they are a little more exciting for clients to receive. â€Å"They are beautiful and brimming with unique gifts and tasty treats. They are a more personalized gift than balloons, and more practical than sending flowers† (James). This trend has given corporate America other alternatives to market to clients, show appreciation or just to increase customer loyalty. It gives them the ability of giving something to their clients, or potential clients, which doesn’t come across as too over the top or too cheap. Relevance The reason why the trend of giving gift baskets has developed so quickly and has gained lots of popularity is that people feel they have more of a personal touch; and with the ease of ordering your gift basket over the internet, the convenience has made it easier for people to choose their options, on their own time frame, without having to go shopping at different stores or even package it nicely for the intended person. Since SendOutCards does all of their business online and offers a wide range of cards for different occasions at prices which are cheaper than those found at your local stores, the option to offer a service to clients other than cards just makes sense. Adaptability SendOutCards has decided to take the time to take advantage of this part of online business as well. Not only is their business based on the same concept of internet ease and options, they are now giving the option to send out a gift along with your card, in the form of candy, books, gift cards, gift baskets and other items. The gift basket, or gift giving industry, is a simple and convenient way to promote more business and to take advantage of a growing need for online purchasing of gifts. As Jennifer James states in her article on Fabjob. com, â€Å"Not only is the work fun and creative, but you can also start a gift basket business easily from home, by setting up a small space where you design and build your gift baskets† (James). Gift Cards The giving of gift cards has become an automatic option for business owners to give to their clients, or even as gifts. It has become so popular that people tend to give them to their family and friends for holidays and birthdays instead of taking the chance of purchasing something that may not be wanted or appreciated. Gift cards have become increasingly popular and can be found in almost any retail business. They are even found in grocery stores. It is almost to the point that people expect to find a gift card at their local retail store. Relevance According to an article in USA today by Rhonda Abrams in 2004; Two recent studies (by the National Retail Federation and by the accounting firm Deloitte and Touche) show the explosive size of the gift card market: †¢ 74. 3% of consumers will buy a gift card this holiday season †¢ 81% of consumers received a gift card last year †¢ 50. 2% of consumers would like to receive a gift card †¢ 12% of shoppers bought gift cards for their own use †¢ 11. 5% of the average consumers holiday budget will be spent on gift cards. (http://www. usatoday. om/money/smallbusiness/columnist/abrams/2004-12-10-cards_x. htm) This is not listed in References and is not correct citing! As we can see, there is a demand for gift cards and corporations are taking advantage of them. Not only do the companies use the gift cards as a selling point for people to buy gifts, they will have the opportunity to get new business from people using the cards and spending more money than what is actua lly on the card because they cannot cash out the card. According to Abrams article, â€Å"Customers buy more. 1% of gift card users spent more than the face value of the card. The average face value of a gift card in 2003 was $47. 20; those who spent more averaged a whopping $90† (Abrams, 2004). Adaptability This is an area that SendOutCards has tried to take advantage of. They do offer gift cards, but only from other businesses. They have not made the move to offer their own gift cards for their own products. It probably is not as feasible for them to do so as it may be more costly for them to pay for the cards and not have people use them since people could only use it for their products. Since most people don’t send themselves a gift or a greeting card, it would be like giving them a gift card so that they can give a gift to someone else, which defeats the purpose of giving a gift. SendOutCards has taken advantage of offering gift cards from other companies because they know there is a demand for them. They have negotiated a deal with these companies and buy them at a discounted price and have created a win-win situation for both them and the retailers who will see the extra revenue. E-Cards E-cards have developed ever since the internet has taken off. You can find about any card and in almost every language on the internet. According to an article by Keith Regan in the E-Commerce times in 2005, â€Å"According to Branch Internet Services, the first e-mail Christmas greeting cards were sent 10 years ago this season, when Dominos Farms Christmas Light Display worked with Branch to offer Web users the chance to e-mail photos of the holiday display. Fewer than 15,000 cards were sent that year, according to Branch† (Regan, 2005). Free E-Cards are offered all over the internet, but the businesses are not making much money. They were relying heavily on advertisement payments through banners and popup on their websites. Sally Babcock, of the e-card giant American Greetings Interactive said, â€Å"Since its inception, AGI, the online unit of the cards giant, has gone from a paid model to a free, ad-supported approach and has returned to a blended, mostly paid model once again† (Regan 2005). Many customers are seeing them as a real alternative to sending out a card in the mail and are even willing to pay the fees for the services. Relevance Ecards are still very popular amongst many internet users. The problem is that they still don’t have the personal touch that a physical card has. According to Babcock, â€Å"Even those who sell them for a living acknowledge that the day may never come when electronic greeting cards replace paper cards. But eCards are already far more than just a time-wasting diversion or a low-cost alternative to the real thing† (Regan, 2005). Some backers like the ecard approach because of the environmental friendly aspect of it. Adaptability The way SendOutCards has adapted to this industry is to offer a service that the online E-cards have not offered to this point. They offer to actually send out a physical card to a client, family, friend or acquaintance directly to the persons’ home. They have even offered the option for their users to send the card in their own handwriting, which personalizes the card that much more. They know that the e-card business is good for their target market, but the market which SendOutCards wants to target is those who want to make a bigger impression. AGI has tried this in the past but has not been successful in its attempts. Babcock admits, â€Å"Also gaining traction are online options to have cards personalized, printed and in some cases even mailed. In those cases, the customer is paying for convenience, said Babcock. â€Å"AGI also offers a print-at-home line of cards, she noted† (Regan, 2005). SendOutCards wants to be able to make a difference in people’s lives. They have the idea that it is more meaningful for people to go to the mail box, open it up and have the physical experience of reading the personalized card. SendOutCards has made it more affordable to be able to send out a card from your computer than it would cost you to go to the store, pick one out, stamp it and physically mail it out. They will do it for you, which takes about 60 seconds to do it all (Eliason, 2008). This is their niche that the industry has not caught up to as of yet. Being able to adapt to the economy and your competition is what will set you apart from others. SendOutCards has the difficult task to stay on top of its competitors by being able to offer a service that other businesses don’t have. They have taken the example of the gift basket industry and implemented what they could to be competitive in the gift giving industry. They know that they can gain clients who want more than just a greeting card. With this knowledge, they have implemented the procedure of offering other options besides just the greeting cards. SendOutCards also applied the example of the demand for the convenience of a gift card. This is an option which they developed in partnership with various retailers. They receive a discounted price for the gift cards in exchange for offering clients the option to purchase them thus allowing both to make money from the proceeds of the card. This also gives clients a larger variety of options. SendOutCards has an advantage over the E-Card industry by offering not only to package and send an actual card, but to do so in the handwriting of the client. They have developed a system which allows people to send the card without leaving their home to shop for the card and the hassle of finding a stamp to send it. They are trying to appeal to the people who still feel it more personal to send a card by traditional mail rather than by e-mail. Johnson and Johnson, Inc. Johnson and Johnson, Inc. s an example of an organization that has had to adapt with strategy to forces or trends that have surrounded the corporation. Johnson and Johnson recently fell into a safety predicament which required immediate action by the company to salvage its image. Johnson and Johnson found themselves losing customers and sales due to the danger of one of their products. Following the death by overdose of several individuals, including youth and child ren, Johnson and Johnson was forced to recall thousands of unsafe bottles of Tylenol (Macdonald, 2007). The primary changes that the company made were in relation to the bottle the Tylenol came in and the removal of a potentially deadly ingredient in the Tylenol. Immediately Johnson and Johnson recalled the entire defective product line and removed all existing product from the shelves. This act alone cost the company millions of dollars and substantial time in revamping the new bottle and new Tylenol formula. Despite this great challenge, Johnson and Johnson was able to seize the opportunity to remarket their product as a newly revamped and safer product. After recalling and removing the defective product, Johnson and Johnson set out a new marketing campaign to reestablish their public image as a safer and more consumer conscience product. The ad campaign worked. Tylenol is now viewed as one of the safest products on the market. 3M could benefit from such a marketing campaign. 3M is a company much like Johnson and Johnson. They both manufacture and distribute millions of different products used all across the globe. Because of the expanse of the market that 3M is targeting, the potential for safety concerns and problems is dramatically increased. M must constantly keep a watchful eye to be apprised of any issues that should arise. An environmental scan will also keep 3M apprised of any safety concerns which arise within the market that could affect their company. Strategic planners with 3M can learn from those at Johnson and Johnson because of the accuracy and timeliness which they responded to the challenge, thus turning it into an o pportunity. In the future, 3M is sure to encounter environmental factors that will place their products in the path of new regulations or circumstances that could threaten the success of the organization. M must act as Johnson and Johnson did by using accurate environmental scanning and acting in a timely manner to save the company. Southwest Airlines Another paramount example of environmental scanning used by strategic planners to help an organization thrive is Southwest Airlines’ use of fuel hedging. â€Å"Using some simple and some complex investment strategies, Southwest has for a decade locked in the prices it pays for large amounts of jet fuel months and even years ahead of time. Its success at that has protected it from run-ups in crude oil prices and dramatically cut its fuel expenses† (Reed, 2008). One area of grave concern in the U. S. economy is the cost of fuel. People all across the country are looking for alternative fuel and cheaper transportation as a means of saving money. The airline industry, on the other hand, has no other resource available. There is no hybrid airplane neither is there one which can run on alternative fuel. Therefore, airlines are forced to look elsewhere to save money. Southwest Airlines has used environmental scanning to conclude that fuel prices are constantly on the rise and can be locked in a contract to be purchased in mass quantities for a cheaper price. By allocating additional funds to pre purchase fuel at a lower cost, Southwest Airlines is placing themselves in a win-win scenario. The oil company would be glad to secure an agreement for guaranteed sales and the Airline Company will jump at the opportunity to save money on fuel that they are certainly going to use. Fuel hedging has proven effective for Southwest Airlines and a similar approach can be an effective money saving technique for 3M as well. 3M constantly manufactures millions of products. The company is constantly receiving supplies of materials from distributors. M must always be on the lookout for trends in the environment that could affect the prices of the products they use in manufacturing. If the company can accurately predict which products will rise in cost due to extenuating circumstances, they can either look for an alternative product or seek some sort of pre purchase order price for said product similar to Southwest Airlines’ use of fuel hedging. Toyo ta Toyota Motor Corporation is a classic example of an organization that is constantly scanning the environment for forces or trends that can affect their business. This strategy has enabled Toyota to become the number one automobile maker in the world (Liker, 2004). When a customer purchases a Toyota they are getting a quality product. Toyota has been successful in environmental scanning in several areas, but in particular they have excelled in a market that is increasingly concerned with fuel economy. Toyota has constantly been at the forefront of knowing what the customer wants and when they want it. Amid the crisis we are facing with the economy, and especially the rising fuel costs, Toyota is able to provide customers with a fuel efficient car. The difference between Toyota’s fuel efficient cars and those of the competition is timeliness. Toyota had anticipated the need for a fuel efficient car long before it became a priority for the competition. Now while the competition scrambles to make a vehicle similar to a fuel efficient Toyota, Toyota is focusing on bettering their product and placing themselves even further ahead of the competition. This is an example of how Toyota has done accurate scanning of the remote environment. The remote environment includes: economic factors, social factors, political factors, technological factors, and ecological factors. Managers must consider the availability of credit, level of disposable income, and the propensity of people to spend when considering economic factors. Other things to consider are the prime interest rates and the gross national product (Robinson, 2004). Toyota has taken into consideration these factors. They have accurately looked at the environment and what the consumer is dealing with and they have catered to the customer accordingly. 3M would do well to follow suit. Much like Toyota, 3M manufactures products for their customers and is not immune to environmental factors. Because of these facts, 3M must adopt an environmental scanning strategy that will enable them to adapt to forces in the environment and come out triumphant. ODWALLA Functional Beverages â€Å"Functional beverages are drinks that have been enhanced with added ingredients to provide specific health benefits beyond general nutrition†¦Consumers are seeking specific health benefits in their foods and beverages and these functional drinks fit neatly into the ‘healthiness-on-the-go’ market† (Sharon Palmer, 2008). Functional beverages are gaining popularity over soft drinks as more and more people are looking for healthier alternatives. These drinks have added ingredients which help to promote a healthy image. Some of these functional beverages have FDA approved claims while others have only minimal amounts of vitamins and minerals and do not provide any real health benefit (Sharon Palmer, 2008). Many companies are beginning to offer a wider variety of functional beverages. Even companies in the children’s beverage market are capitalizing on the turn towards better for you foods and beverages. ‘[A]s more parents seek healthier beverage options for kids, I foresee the continued trend toward more products being all natural, organic, lower in calories, lower in sugar, or having more specific fortifications within their formulations,’ predicts Phan† (Goldschmidt, 2008) senior brand manager at Hansen’s. With this trend gaining popularity among consumers of all ages, it is more than just a passing phase; it is the new way of thinking. Relevance Because functional drinks are quickly becoming an industry staple, Odwalla Inc. is constantly gaining new competitors. With the increase in the number of competitors, Odwalla must always be innovative in its product development. While Odwalla’s products are all natural and retain as much of the natural vitamins and minerals found in the ingredients used, there is a more pressing need for Odwalla to make these benefits known to consumers as the options available are becoming greater. Strategic Adaptability As Odwalla analyzes the growing competition, they will need to remain innovative with their marketing and advertising. They will want to make sure that consumers are aware of the many health benefits already available in their products. They will want to emphasize the fact that their products have always been all natural and fresh with the least amount of processing possible in order to maintain the inherent nutritional value of the ingredients which go into each and every product made. By highlighting these strong points, consumers will be able to see why paying a little more for a much better product really is a better value. Probiotics â€Å"Probiotics are a host of healthful bacteria that help break down and assimilate food† (Kane, 2008) and can be found in a wide variety of foods. Yogurt contains probiotics and many food manufacturers are adding probiotics to their products because of the great health benefit. â€Å"WITH BENEFICIAL LIVE BACTERIA CALLED PROBIOTICS. yogurt bolsters the bodys ability to fend off certain infections and helps keep the intestines healthy, allowing them to absorb more nutrientsand energy-from food† (Boone, 2008). Relevance Odwalla prides itself on providing its customers with fresh, healthy beverages and snack bars and they are always looking for new ways to make their products the best they can be. Probiotics are both healthy and natural and fit right in line with the goals of Odwalla. Since more and more companies are incorporating these bacteria into their products, probiotic additives are going to become better known by consumers and thus sought out because of their natural benefits. Strategic Adaptability Odwalla has the ability to develop a new product which would incorporate probiotics. This would enhance the benefits already afforded by consuming the all natural products of Odwalla. With more people being educated on the benefits of probiotic bacteria, there will be a demand for products which incorporate this. By adding probiotics, Odwalla would help to fulfill its mission of â€Å"soil to soul† (Odwalla President Discusses Strategy with GreenMoney Journal, 2004) because it would allow more of the natural goodness contained within each bottle of juice to reach the soul of the consumer. Specialty drinks in a declining economy The world’s economy has been stagnant and is now in a state of decline. In spite of a tough economy, consumer products manufacturers have continued to experience growth (CPG Industry: Sales Growth in Challenging Economy, 2008). The economy is not showing signs of improvement and things are only going to be getting tougher. With commodities’ prices continuing to rise, consumer products manufactures will need to adopt successful practices in strategic areas in order to continue to grow (CPG Industry: Sales Growth in Challenging Economy, 2004). Relevance The cost of commodities greatly affects the profit margin of Odwalla. They rely on having fresh products available at all times and can be crippled by shortages due to natural disasters as well as price hikes caused by the increasing cost of doing business. These things take a toll on the bottom line and can lead to financial struggle within the company as well as strained relationships with suppliers. Strategic Adaptability There are different options available to Odwalla to help them through the period of economic hardship. As they contract with suppliers, they can negotiate pricing which will benefit both parties. They have the option of purchasing farms which would produce the produce needed for their products, thereby eliminating the need for a middle-man supplier. Also, plans to produce new products can be put on hold until the economy recovers. By holding off the added expense of developing and marketing a new product, Odwalla would be able to focus on their better sellers and allow them to carry the company through the difficult times. Conclusion The world of business can be challenging and exciting. By staying on top of current forces and trends, managers are able to help their businesses thrive in an ever changing market. Change is not limited to one area or aspect of a corporation and by following the examples of other companies, change can provide a new opportunity for growth and development. Retaining the ability to adapt the strategic goals of the corporation can mean the difference in being an industry leader, or a company which has already had its day and is on its way out.

Life Styles Inventory (LSI) Assignment

Life Styles Inventory (LSI) Assignment Behavior Styles Life Styles Inventory (LSI): Self Description â€Å"The supreme quality for leadership is unquestionably integrity. Without it, no real success is possible, no matter whether it is on a section gang, a football field, in an army, or in an office.† Dwight D. Eisenhower Introduction: Thinking and Behavior The Life Styles Inventory (LSI) identifies the essential thoughts and stimulus that guide individuals behavior. Often referred to as personal styles, management styles and leadership styles, these signify the essence of an individuals effectiveness. The quality of my thinking and behavior contributes greatly to my work performance. Fortunately, I have the power to change ineffective thinking and behavior, the kind that can paralyze an individuals effectiveness. But first I need to know if what I’m doing now is supporting from quality performance. The scoring reveals where I have talent, where I can grow, and where I may be able to develop even stronger skills by simply shifting behaviors that could be holding me back (limiting style). Personal Thinking Styles: Based on the Life Styles Inventory results, my primary personal thinking style is self-actualization. Self-actualization in life is very important to make sure you are pleased with your inner self and behaviors. This goes back to morals and how you were raised. Self-actualization allows me to always be pleased and happy with the decisions I make in life. As a professional, making decisions that I will be happy with is essential. You may not always be pleased with decisions that others make, but I believe it’s important to please self when it involves making personal decisions. My back-up style is achievement. Achievement is setting goals at work and in my personal life. You must be determined, focused, goal-oriented and dedicated to talks given. For example, pursuing a Master’s degree is a personal goal I’m striving to accomplish for self-satisfaction, not for others satisfaction. The style that I think might be working against me to reduce your effectiveness is the perfectionist style. IT can be limiting because nothing is perfect and you have to have a backup plan in case obstacles occur. Being a perfectionist can waste time and money when it comes to the workplace. In some cases perfection is needed. When pharmacists prescribe medication to patients they need to strive to provide the perfect medication for the problem because if they don’t things could go wrong with the patient. There are times where perfection is needed and others when you’re just wasting precious money and time. Impact On Management Style: With the high achieving style being the second high rated style on my inventory list, it has a major impact on my management style. A high achievement style indicates I set goals and is enthusiastic about working towards difficult but realistic goals. In pursuit of goals and achieving high quality results, I’m likely to follow a well-developed plan that has been considered in depth. I carefully examine my options before deciding on a plan of action. To adequately isolate these behaviors or ways of thinking and emphasize strengths, it is essential to understand their impact on quality of performance. As a manager I will have a positive effect on my employees. Being that the poser style is on the bottom of my totem pole, I believe that the humanistic and encouraging style will set well with the employees and contribute to a person’s level of satisfaction proficiency at accomplishing tasks. Having the ability to work effectively with people develop healthy relationships is a important in management. Genesis of Personal Styles Since I’m able to remember, I was taught to be your own person. I was taught to always be the leader and not the follower when it comes to personal decisions. It’s very important to not always want to be a leader and never want to follow in the workplace. My mother and father instilled in me to set goals and achieve those goals no matter how long it took to accomplish what you have set for yourself. As a child in the schooldays, I remember bringing home all the books that I had (Math, Science, Language, etc.). If I didn’t have homework in a subject, I had to read the next chapter for the next day. I thank my parents for instilling in me how important knowledge is. I continue to keep that with me after graduating from high school, second year college, four year college and now striving for my Master’s. I can truly say that continuing my education is a major part of my life. Because of my parents teaching, I’m good. Being in the church was another gre at thing that happened to me. A person’s environment can have a major impact on their life. Conclusion and Reflection The underlying thoughts and motivations that guide an individual’s behavior, that is personal styles, management styles and leadership styles, represent the essence of an individuals effectiveness. Research has shown that the styles measured by the LSI are related to a number of indicators of effectiveness and success, including leadership effectiveness, management effectiveness, problem solving effectiveness, quality of interpersonal relations, organizational level, individual health and well being, and organizational culture. I can use what I learn to initiate positive changes in how I think and act according to the changes that increase my personal and professional effectiveness. The LSI can be used to create change through: (1) identifying the unique thinking patterns that characterize your current behavior (2) understanding which of your thinking patterns are effective, which aren’t and why (3) deciding which thinking and behavior patterns you want to change (4) defining optimal ways of thinking and approaching your work, such as, setting targeted improvement goals and creating a precise approach to convey on change.

Tahitians and the Nootka :: essays papers

Tahitians and the Nootka To Compare these two groups, the Tahitians and the Nootka one must consider that there are considerable similarities but there are certain differences which allow them to be set apart. The Tahitians set themselves apart as evolved and fit the model for intensive farmers, since they are blessed with the rich soil and adequate rain fall. The Nootka too, are somewhat in the scope but they are still categorized as hunter-gatherers. This can be explained in many different ways, the Tahitians climate allows for them to wear less clothing, as it is quite tropical. The Nootka have to go through a chilly North America climate though there is still warm air from Japan. The Nootka land provides them with big game and this can give them warmth in colder days. This account for some of their hunter instinct. The Tahitians are more focused on cultivating their land which, as opposed to that the Nootka. They both cultivate their land to accommodate their needs and fish intensively as a mean of subsistence. Their similarities run way deeper than just these habits based upon the ecological model of culture it will simplify the and also the differences. The most obvious difference is in the language and population density of them two. The Tahitians numbered about 100,000 whereas the Nootka are only around 6000 or a little more. As far as nutrition goes the diet is similar in fish, the Tahitians though are excellent farmers and can cultivate the land very well. The Nootka because of their ecological surroundings are able to hunt game as well as fishing and their unmatched ability to store food makes them a successful hunter gatherer society. Technologically, the two share similarities in that they both are good woodwork. They use wood tools do to the lack of metal. Their tools are complex but limited. Stone, shells, bones and wood make up the materials used for tools, the other materials available are the grass, the branches of the coconut trees for example. Their tools include harpoons and series of hooks and line for fishing. For construction stone drills, wedges and adzes, however the Nootka have hunting weaponry such as bow and arrow, spears and traps for hunting game. They both posses the skill of carpentry, they build houses and make boats and also paper with great skill and workmanship. The Tahitians provide separate housing for the chief and their homes are made by the top carpenters whereas the housing scheme of the Nootka.

Finland: Nationalism, Development, and Values Essay -- World War II, Ru

While Finland is a rather young country in terms of independence, seeing that it was only in 1917 that it became independent, it is a country that has had a constant development of nationalism, values, and national identity. Finnish nationalism is highly shaped by its past before it was an independent country and by its neighbor, Russia. It also is affected by the three Wars which would involve its neighbor Russia. The three wars fought in WWII, events leading up to them, and their end results are all key points in developing Finnish Nationalism. These wars are the Winter War (1939-40) and the Continuation War (1941-44) in which Finland fought the Russians during WWII. Lastly, is the Lapland War (1944-45) in which the Finnish retreated from the Germans. These wars had lasting effects up until 1991 and dissolution of the USSR, making them huge factors on Finnish nationalism (Historical Highlights) . The effects of WWII would be gruesome for Finland and help shape its nationali sm for Finland today. Finland was originally an independent country when it was settled by Laps in about the year 700. This independence was short lived after it was incorporated into the Kingdom of Sweden in the twelfth century for nearly 700 years. Swedish would become the dominant language. Under Swedish rule, Finland would be introduced to Roman Catholicism. This would help to include Finland with the western culture. Also, Finland would come to experience similar economic and social experiences that Sweden would. Finland would nearly have no sense of national identity for a period of time. Finland would essentially be considered a part of Sweden. Then, in 1807, Finland would be conquered by Russia and remain a part of Russia up until its inde... ...allenge to Peacemakers (Mar., 1944), pp.33-38. Kirby, David (2006). A concise history of Finland. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 343. Manninen, Laura. "War and Remembrance: An Aftermath of the Lapland War." Ethnologia Scandinavica 21(1991):53-63. Reese, Roger R. "Surrender And Capture In The Winter War And Great Patriotic War: Which Was The Anomaly?." Global War Studies 8.1 (2011): 87-98. Historical Abstracts. Web. 5 Dec. 2013. Tillotson, H.M. (1993). Finland at peace & war 1918–1993. Michael Russell. Trueman, Chris. "The Winter War 1939." The Winter War 1939. HistoryLearningSite.co.uk, n.d. Web. 9 Dec 2013. . cited Vares, Vesa. "Creating A State And National Identity. Finland And Europe: 1918-1922." Valahian Journal Of Historical Studies 14.(2010): 79-104. Historical Abstracts. Web. 7 Dec. 2013.

Exploration of Self in Matthew Arnolds The Buried Life Essay -- Arnol

Exploration of Self in Matthew Arnold's The Buried Life One of the modes of poetry theme and content was that of psychological exploration of self, as characterized by the poem "The Buried Life" by Matthew Arnold. Class structure and gender roles were vividly looked at in depth, "definitions of masculinity and femininity were earnestly contested throughout the period, with increasing sharp assaults on traditional roles..." (Longman, p. 1888). What it was to be a man (or woman) was frequently in question, and much of Victorian poetry addressed this. Arnold felt that, "literature must directly address the moral needs of readers." (Longman, p. 2017) He felt a need to instruct and educate society to a fuller understanding of its democratic goals. "The Buried Life" can be seen as man's struggle against society's forced class and gender roles. The poem speaks with an "I" point of view, something that was new for the Victorian era, yet which became an increasing mode throughout poetry. We know not who the "I" is in this poem, and I would doubt that it reflects the author himself. The character of this poem, right from the beginning feels a sadness that comes from the inner struggle between what society depicts as "should" and what a person really feels, "I feel a nameless sadness o'er me roll,/ yes, yes, we know that we can jest,/ we know we, we know that we can smile!/ But there's a something in this breast/ to which thy light words bring no rest." (3-7) There is the beginning sense here that he is starting to see conflict within himself, first characterized by his emotions. In the second stanza of the poem, nearly all the lines reflect the characters feeling of powerlessness to put a voice to this inner struggle, to be... ...coolness play upon his face,/ and an unwonted calm pervades his breast." (94-95) Freudian theory would call this poem a conflict between the pleasure principle "craves only pleasures...ignoring moral and sexual boundaries established by society" and the reality principle "that part of the psyche that recognizes the need for societal standards and regulations." (Bressler, p. 180) "The Buried Life" adequately portrays this inner struggle between the self and society, between was is felt and what is acceptable. I believe that is what Arnold was attempting, to enlighten his readers of this inner struggle and sense of self in a time when strong moral character was being questioned. WORDS CITED 1. Bressler, Charles. Literary Criticism. Prentice Hall, New Jersey, C. 1999 2. Longman Anthology of British Literature. Addison-Wesley Educational Publishers, C. 2000.

“Mugged” By: Jim Crocket : Reader Response Essay

In the essay â€Å"Mugged† by Jim Crockett he talks about his relationship with his coffee mug. This essay is about building relationships and how almost everyone has something they cling to. In the beginning he makes it sound like he was mugged by some people and lost all his money, but that wasn’t the case, he lost something more valuable to him, his coffee mug. Jim thinks he has an addiction to coffee itself, but in reality its with the coffee mug. People never see him without his coffee mug, and Jim always knows where its at, wether its on the table, or in his hand. I believe that even though Jim Crockett is attached to his coffee mug, everyone has some sort of attachment to something. I believe Jim Crockett has a somewhat unhealthy attachment to his coffee mug. By reading his essay the reader can infer several things. He seems to be somewhat desperate to control the details of his life. It would seem that Jim Crockett does not currently have any type of meaningful relationship with a significant other or his piers. The way he speaks of his mug â€Å"its shape, curvaceous, tapered, slim-waisted, and a bit heavier on top†seems to suggest that the coffee mug serves as a surrogate for female companionship. Jim Crockett’s denial of his attachment to his coffee mug and his justification of his actions as addiction to caffeine seem to be a defense mechanism. While a seemingly superficial object to most people the coffee represents a constant presence in Jim Crockett’s life. The reader can also assume that Jim Crockett is also environmentally conscious. He speaks of â€Å"organically, shade-grown coffee† and the â€Å"paper cup and insulating sleeve, both little bits of tree stay in the store.† Jim Crockett shows a very divided personality. While somewhat concerned what his peers seem to think of his supposed coffee addiction he is almost oblivious to stopping traffic to pick up his coffee mug that he left on his bumper. It would also seem that Jim Crockett is somewhat apposed to a big business and corporations based on his jobs as a spanish instructor, some writer, farmer, and carpenter all decidedly, independent professions as well as his mentioning of the â€Å"earth/human pillaging multinational cartel.† While Jim Crockett seems to have a rather unhealthy fixation to his coffee mug we all have attachments to some inanimate object. I can relate to his attachment because as a child I received a blanket, it still gives me a sense of security and well being. It would seem that there is a fine line between

Adidas Growth Strategies

IV. Introduction This analysis is more than or less the go with adidas t get into belongs to the adidas sepa compute. The adidas Group sh atomic number 18s harvest-tides under the brands adidas, Reebok and TaylorMade-adidas Golf. Adidas is on the merchandiseplace oer 80 historic period and transports products for every kind of sports. The adidas group was ordered in the year 1949 by Adolf Dassler. A lodge that started with snitching soccer shoes contains now a wide product kind with footwear, app arl and accessories. The brand is further change integrity into three subbrands called adidas accomplishment, original and sport mood.TaylorMade-adidas overly supports wide range of golf equipment and twin(a) golf app atomic number 18l and accessories. On their homepage the adidas Group claims to be a spherical attracter in the sporting safe(p)s indusattempt (adidas group, what we do). The order cig artte be get a lined as a global player because they affirm go t 170 subsidiaries in distinct countries that argon directed from their headquarter in Germany which is the home of the adidas brand. important office of Reebok and TaylorMade-adidas Golf atomic number 18 in the US in Massachusetts and California.Besides the human race(prenominal) subsidiaries of the corporation, products of the group argon lendable in every coun exploit by their online store. Their scheme to success is continuously strengthen our brands and products to make better our competitory position and financial per pulpance. The following paper is going to see external and internal situation of adidas. Further, their takeing and maturation strategies exit be analysed. major(ip) focus on of this paper pull up stakes be on the customer analysis. Growth StrategiesThe military rating of the performance of a society is addresss measured trough growth in sales. Growth strategies determine how companies sine qua non to adjoin their moneymaking(prenominal )ize parcel of land or sales. They atomic number 18 crucial for the success of a smart set and should be selected mete outfully. There atomic number 18 diverse strategic options that companies maintain. Many companies pursue antithetic instances of growth strategies. Main decisions of a company are if they demand to stay in quick trades or degrade into late securities industrys and further if they have existing products or if they develop invigorated products.A combine of those four elements leads to the varied types of growth strategies perceptiveness strategies, product-market amplification strategies, good integration strategies, una likeiation, and diversification. discernment Strategies (existing products/existing markets) Penetration Strategies mean that companies sell their existing products on already existing markets. Companies choosing this outline have to gain competitive advantage through pricing, marketing, etc. They want to gain market share a nd induce the customers of their competitors to buy at their stores. Adidas is definitely use penetration strategies.For over 80 historic period adidas is selling sports snip and accessories. through and through a prosperous established brand part adidas stillness sells their sports snip all over the human beings. Their marketing efforts as described in the part promotion strategies help them to sojourn competitive. Product enlargement strategies/Product discipline ( tonic products / existing markets) You corporation speak of product expansion or product knowledge strategies if a company develops tender products and try to sell them to existing markets. Adidas do excessively use of product expansion strategies through introducing adidas performance, originals and trend in October 2000.The company expand their products through a new style line that focuses more on port than on sports clothes. You stern speak of product expansion because although the style is assor ted it is still in the lop sector. Further, adidas modifies their products continuously. In February 2010 they righteous introduced their new developed womens Body role Technology that defines female-specific heat and sweat zones in order to place fabrics directly where they are packed the most, delivering optimised function to provide supreme comfort during workout. (Adidas, Press Room) The new engineering science will be used in adidas new CLIMA365 sight that will be introduced in Spring/Summer 2010. other expanding of their products is heart rate sensing apparel so that consumers dont need a pacer while running. Through developing new technologies to cleanse their sports apparel consumers feel that adidas is of all time up to check with new sports innovations. On their website adidas in addition created an give birth section called mi. Customers have the possible action to alter products. For ideal you can personalizedize shoes.Besides color and design, it is pos sible for customers both order the left and right shoe in contrary sizes and width. Customers have the opening night to identify with the adidas products through creating their ingest personal adidas clothes. Market expansion strategies/Market growth (existing products/ new markets) In this dodging companies try to sell their products to new markets. Cooperation of adidas with Stella McCartney and Porsche Design Sports can be seen as a market expansion. The reason for evaluating it as market expansion is that the new designate market of these products is fashion.They tar pack consumers that are interested in mellow fashion, who do not have to be interested in the sports sector. Fashion and life-style is in the focus of these apparel lines. straight integration strategies (existing market/ different submit of production) A vertical integration strategy describes The degree to which a firm owns its upriver suppliers and its downstream buyers (Blackwell Reference Online, v ertical consolidation Strategy). In a value scope we have the manufacturer, wholesaler and retail merchant. If a retailer in any case owns a factory and manufactures its products it would be a backward integration.The purpose of vertical integration is to increase the control of the stages of growing. In the early beginnings adidas produced all their shoes and apparel on their own. Through the huge expansion in the last decades adidas dont produce all their apparel on their own. Today they own 9 own factories where they produce almost of their products. Further, they have or so 615 main suppliers from all over the world. exertion is in Europe (27%), Asia (51%) and America (22%). (EVB, Adidas) speciality ( rummyness)The differentiation is a strategy with the main focus of developing a product, work or image that is unique and with attributes that are highly appreciated and valued by customers. Customers will value them higher as products or run of competitors. Through crea ting a unique image companies that make successful use of this strategy can a good deal sell their products for a higher price. So it is easier for companies to present their products as unique because they get more money to cover their costs. Factors that describe companies that make use of differentiation are Access to leading scientific research. exceedingly skilled and creative product using team. Strong sales team with the index to successfully communicate the perceived strengths of the product. corporate reputation for quality and innovation. (QuickMBA, Porters generic wine Strategies) A risk that companies have to face when using this strategy is that competitors will try to imitate the company or change consumers mind/ taste. The brand adidas as mentioned forwards exists over 80 years. They had a long time to create their unique brand image. Adidas stands for quality and expertise in everything that is relate to sports.Through supporting and sponsoring different k ind of sports events much(prenominal) as the UEFA mastermind League in 2008 adidas consumers view of adidas is always connected with sports. Further, in their adidas performance collection they make use of innovation such as the mentioned Body Mapping Technology. wake the consumers that they are using new technologies and endlessly improving their products differentiates adidas from their competitors. Customers feel that adidas uses all their possibilities to offer products that will help them doing a good performance in their sports. variegation (new products/ new markets)Diversification is too a growth strategy. The purpose of diversification is to allow the company to enter lines of business that are different from current operations. (Thomas, Joe, Diversification Strategy) This means that companies try to sell new products to new markets. This strategy is risky because the company is woful in unknown markets where they do not have experience. (Tutor2u, Ansoffs product/ m arket matrix) Further, we can distinguish between homocentric, even and conglomerate diversification. The first form, concentric diversification, is when a company adds related products or markets. naiant diversification is when a company sells products that are unrelated to their existing but would magical spell to their customers. The third option is conglomerate diversification. It occurs when a company goes into a totally different market with new products. There is no relation between the already existing products. This would be for interpreter if a supermarket also sells travels. A successful company such as adidas also wants to enlarge their markets and is prying for new ways to expand their business. Recently, in January 2010 adidas introduced the miCoach interactive training system guide.The course of study miCoach is available over the adidas website. Customers can elect between different training plans such as de-stress or learn how to run. It can be described as ho rizontal diversification because they now offer a service personal training. The micoach pacers that they sell can be seen as concentric diversification because pacers that measure your heart rate are related to sports and sports apparel. Another form of concentric diversification can be seen in their deodorant and shower down change that they are selling at drugstores and supermarkets.It is related to their main market because people who do sports need a good deodorant and have to take a shower afterwards. After analyzing adidas growth strategies you can judge that adidas knows what they are doing. They focus on different growth strategies to gain market share and increase sales. Most of the time they focus on product extension to improve their product assortment. I think that because of a well-established brand name adidas should try more to make use of diversification. They can also sell other products or services because people trust this brand. A lot of people all around th e world are fascinated by sports. uniform the company jumba juice they could for example sell healthy drinks and juice to support a healty sport-oriented life style. world(prenominal) strategy A company that has a global strategy views the world as one market and tries to standardize their marketing activities. Nevertheless, product adaptations are made where they are necessary. As mentioned before adidas is a global company. Their products are available in nearly every region on earth and their target markets are sports oriented customers all over the world. They sell their products successfully under the name adidas in every republic.A comparison of the different outlandish websites shows their standardization for different countries. If you enter www. adidas. com or www. adidas. de or www. adidas. fr it will wholly change the language and some actual topics but the whole design and offer is the same. Adaptations are only made where they are necessary. On the US homepage for example you can find Lacrosse under adidas writ of execution whereas on the German homepage it cannot be found because the game is not played in Germany. Adidas knows their markets and takes care of cultural or country specific differences.The company also says hat they know that they have to adapt to plastered cultural differences. Further, they recognise the consumer buying deportment and the unique retail landscape when operate in different markets. In 2009 the company reorganised their brand construction. They moved from a vertically integrated brand structure to a functional multi-brand structure. Now adidas has a ball-shaped Sales and orbicular Brands function. The Global Sales Function is creditworthy for the commercial activities where as the Global Brands function takes care of the marketing activities of the brands adidas sport performance, adidas sport style and also Reebok.For their 2,200 retail stores they set global guidelines so that they can increase capacity and to create consistent conditions to image longterm profitability. These ii new created functions show that adidas is focused on a global strategy. Together with the new structure of the organisation the adidas Group also refractory on new measures. First, they want to establish joint operating models for adidas in most of their global markets. Second, they want to remove regional headquarters so that they have a more direct fundamental interaction between the global functions and the foreign markets.And third, they decided that they separated the responsibility for the Global Brands and Global sales. Now the CEO of the adidas Group Herbert Hainer is responsible for Global Sales and Erich Stamminger, a share of the executive board takes care of Global Brands. Main objective of these new divisions is to ensure that all chances on their operating markets and categories are taken through a development of well-structured and coordinated Go-to-Market strategies. They have to deve lop advance(a) products and communication strategies that can persuade consumers in the different markets. All in all, you can say that Adidas is a global player.They are selling their products around the world. It is easier for them to develop a global strategy because they see the world as one huge sports market. They target the customers that like to do sports and like the sports style for clothing. Nevertheless, they know the different type of sports consumers prefer in different countries. The only aspect that could be improved by adidas is to focus more on country specific sports. In the US for example football is really popular. They could create a special football line to meet the needs of the customers. Sources Adidas Group, What we do, http//www. adidas-group. om/en/ourgroup/our_business/default. aspx, accessed on 17 April 2010. Adidas, Press Room, http//www. press. adidas. com/desktopdefault. aspx/tabid-11/16_read-10905/, accessed on 24 April 2010. Adidas, The adidas b oloney year by year, http//www. press. adidas. com/Desktopdefault. aspx/tabid-28/41_read-1209/, accessed on 24 April 2010. Ansoff Matrix, What is the Ansoff Matrix, http//www. ansoffmatrix. com/, accessed on 20 April 2010. Blackwell Reference Online, Vertical Integration Strategy, http//www. blackwellreference. com/public/tocnode? id=g9780631233176_chunk_g978140511828629_ss7-1, accessed on 20 April 2010.Cateora, P. R. and Graham, J. L. , International Marketing, 13th edition, 2007, New York. EVB, Adidas, http//www. evb. ch/p25010738. html, accessed on 25 April 2010. http//www. gaebler. com/Growth-Strategies. htm QuickMBA, Porters Generic Strategies, http//www. quickmba. com/strategy/generic. shtml, accessed on 20 April 2010. Thomas, Joe, Diversification Strategy, http//www. enotes. com/management-encyclopedia/diversification-strategy, accessed on 21April 2010. Tutor2u, Ansoffs product/market matrix, http//tutor2u. net/business/strategy/ansoff_matrix. htm, accessed on 20 April 2010. www. adidas. com www. adidas. de