The Desert Island Problem

The ss Minnow was a little cruise ship manned by a small crew and several groups of passengers. It was caught in a tropical cyclone which blew it thousands of miles off course for several days. In the second day of the storm, the radio and all communication means were destroyed after the ship had sent out a distress call, expressing the fear that the ship would go down. Many days later, after the ship had been tossed through the South Pacific, the ship ran aground on an island which the Captain realised was a remote and uncharted and probably undiscovered new volcanic island.The implication of all this is that eventual rescue is remote but cannot be ruled out if they survive long enough: search and rescue would be based on the last plotted position thousands of miles away on the belief that the ship may have sunk at that point; the island is not near any trade route. This is before the days of GPS and satellite tracking. The Hapsburg family (a group of six) has lots of money, gold, j ewellery, and are willing to offer these for anything they want. The Doonesbury clan (all twenty of them) brought their own canned food, which will last them a couple of weeks with careful hoarding.The dozen Klungs have, upon coming aground and realizing their situation, enterprisingly gathered all the coconuts on the very small island, and now hold the monopoly on them. The ten Corleone brothers broke into the ship’s store and grabbed all the ship’s food, which will last them two week if they do not share them. The Rotweilers (husband and wife) have a shotgun between them, which can be used to hunt birds for food but which they are threatening to use to hold up the others if they do not get the lion’s share of the available food.They have enough buckshot for three dozen rounds which means that they can kill many of the others but not even half of them. The Clements are the largest group, equal to everyone else put together, but have nothing. The Captain and his trusty First Mate, Gilligan, have fishing tackle from the ship, which hold the key to long term survival by fishing and some flares which will be crucial for getting attention if a plane or ship comes near.They have hidden these in a spot on the island which only they know about. There is a freshwater spring on the island which is the source of drinking water but food shortage will fast put an end to them unless they are rescued (in which case the flares may be crucial), or they use the Captain’s fishing tackle. If all the current food is put together, they may have enough for one, may be two weeks, with a bleak chance of rescue in that time.If some group manages to buy, extort or steal the bulk of the food, they may last longer, five to six weeks with a far greater chance of being found and rescued. The Captain and Gilligan figure they can use their hidden fishing tackle and flares as leverage, but they must persuade the others to cooperate in a scheme that gives them a bes t chance of survival. What is this scheme, and what reasons would you give for adopting it, if you were the Captain and Gilligan? Is moral appeal at all relevant?

Curleys Wife’s Diary Essay

In the novel by John Steinbeck their was one character that really expressed his feeling to me and that character was Curley’s wife. Why am I such an emotional bucket? I’m not grumpy, im just lonely, noone gives me any attention, but all they want to do is just hurt me, by secluding me out because I am different, because I am a woman, my whole life has been denied to me, since I met that man in the club I thought my life was made, then my mother goes and denies my happiness and freedom to do whatever I want, even something good like going into the pictures, I did make a mistake because of my mothers fault, I married curley, that horrible horrible man was meant to be my escape from mother,†¦my Revenge†¦,but it didn’t happen, I just dug myself a deeper hole, I met curley in that club where I met the man, I met him the same night and i only really did it to get back at mother, that’s what she gets for ruining me life, Now,because of her I will never get my dream, and it could have been a reality, if that bag had’nt stopped my letters,†¦Everyone is so mean to me, they donâ₠¬â„¢t pay any attention and attempt to completely blank me from their life.Like when I was in the niggers tiny little hut,But I showed that stupid nigger why he shouldn’t treat me like dirt, because I am more important then him, even a secluded girl like me has more respect then a god damn nigger. I threatened to hang that man, he shouldn’t even be working here, he has a stupid back problem and looks like dung, he Should be shot.Also that stupid smelly sheep man Candy was there, what is he still doing in this ranch? He should have been kicked out ages ago, his a dumb smelly old man with no purpose , I Remember when I first showed George and lenny around the ranch.I was trying to make new friends is all and everyone was angry at me, including george, who tried to make that dumb bear ignore me as well. Then later when I asked where curley was, they all gave me bad looks, because I am a woman and I am different an they can not cope with that.I remember when I was sitting with lennie, the bear. I Saw that puppy he had killed and he was so panicy, trying to hide it from me, when I found it though he told me all his problems and he wasn’t so bad, we talked but all he seemed to care about as rabbits, he didn’t seem to pay attention to my troubles. But I guess he is dumb, All the men think I am trying to flirt. Sometimes I am talking to someone and they give me bad looks and tell me to go back to curley, as if he is my owner or something, and if they do not say that, instead curley beats me up, Lennie was telling me once that he likes to stroke things,†¦ and he also said that that’s how the puppy died and how all his pets die, and how he once had an aunt called clara who gave his special clothes for him to stroke. I think he is dumb or crippled in the head,. He told me that once he got in trouble with a girl in weed because he touched her dress and he was chased,

Ban Cell Phones While Driving Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Ban Cell Phones While Driving - Research Paper Example Nobody has any doubt in using the cell phones during our daily activities; however, cell phone usages at the time of driving should be restricted considering the accidents it can cause. Not only can the driver who used the cell phone, but innocent people also lose their life because of the accidents developed out of the driving with a cell phone. In other words, the consequences of rash driving are affecting both the driver and the innocent people. The driver who uses cell phones can argue that he is ready to accept the consequences; however, he cannot compensate others if they lose their lives because of irresponsible driving. There is nothing wrong in using the cell phones while driving a vehicle. But, if it is essential, the driver should park the vehicle somewhere before using the phones. Even if he failed to attend an incoming call while driving, he can call back the person and after parking the vehicle. â€Å"Using a cell phone while driving is as dangerous as driving with a blood-alcohol level of .08- the point at which drivers are considered intoxicated in most U.S. states†(Bauer). Many people believe that using cell phones while driving has nothing to do with the driving prowess of the driver. They are unaware of the fact that driving requires more than 1005 concentration. The coordination of hands, legs, and the brain is important for safe driving. Cell phone usages while driving will force the driver to give some attention to the words of the person on the other end of the phone.

Assignment 1 Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 24

1 - Assignment Example American economic growth is, hence, evident due to the rise in per capita income and increased pool for taxation. Obama applauded American troop’s mission in Iraq and Afghanistan for great success. The troops were returning home to serve and help boost Homeland security. The president remarked the growing economy, reducing debts and the nation’s success to a rise from the collapse. He challenged the citizens to commit and support the State in generating more income and creating more employment opportunities. The president explained following as the necessities of a middle-class economy. First, the economy needs to help working families to feel more secure in a transforming world in terms of healthcare provision and general welfare (The White House 1). Secondly, the economy should strive to ensure the citizens maintain earning higher wages through affordable and free education systems. Finally, the economy should generate high-wage jobs that solve the unemployment issues. The state of union, according president Obama’s speech on January 20, is strong. The White House (Office of the Press Secretary). Remarks by the President in State of the Union Address January 20, 2015.web. January 27, 2015.

The Response of Law Enforcement Agencies and Efforts to Combat Research Paper

The Response of Law Enforcement Agencies and Efforts to Combat Juvenile delinquency and the Effects both have on Society - Research Paper Example After the predication that a new wave of increased juvenile delinquents that would involve itself in serious crime. This era had many terms that described juveniles. The fear that numbers of juveniles would increase in the years that followed made many of the juvenile systems readjust their objects (DIANE Publishing Company 12). Because of the perception that the future juveniles would prove to be hardened criminals without morals and values, the juvenile systems opted to adopt punitive measures in the juvenile system. In real sense, the predicated new wave of merciless juvenile delinquents never appeared. However, the adolescents who committed offences in this era faced a system that treated them like the adults who were committing crimes. During this period, most of the delinquents facing charges received trial in courts that did not factor out that their age limited their competence in undergoing the trial process (Lipsey, et al 2). The results of the punitive juvenile system were devastating. Many of the delinquents ended up with life sentences without parole. Cries from the public about the treatment of juveniles in the justice system called for a change. In addition, psychologists proved that the maturity of the human brain occurred at 22 years. According to the new revelation, it was obvious that juveniles had deficiency in making sound decisions under immense emotional impulses. The scientific evidence and cries from the public forced the juvenile system to reconsider the rehabilitative purpose (Dood and Cesaroni 101). The implementation of the rehabilitative juvenile system needs to consider approaches that will influence the lives of the juveniles positively (Regoli, et al 70). Many approaches that have been in use have proved ineffective.... That juvenile delinquency is a problem in society especially when juveniles indulge in felony cases. Different juvenile systems are using different strategies in combating delinquency. From an examination of the issue, it is clear that there is need for new approaches. Integration of different approaches will offer success. The role of law enforcement officers is critical in addressing juvenile cases. Their attitudes and decisions determine the justice accorded to juveniles. The community has top work in conjunction with law enforcement agencies in combating delinquency. Rehabilitation facilities should present juveniles with opportunities to rebuild their lives and get their focus to the right track. Dealing with delinquents is a delicate matter. It determines whether the juvenile will undergo a worthwhile recollection or indulge in serious crimes. Some law enforcement units have noticed the need of readjustment of their cultures. New approaches such as the community prosecution are proving effective. The law enforcement agencies can still achieve much more in combating delinquency through research and adoption of evidence-based strategies.

Section 37 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 Essay

Section 37 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 - Essay Example The HSWA 1974 is divided into four key parts, and it is also divided into various sections. Part one of the Act focuses on the Health &Safety Commission and Executive, the general duties of the act, enforcement and penalties, codes of practice, and the power of making regulations. The second part of the act deals with the establishment of the employment medical advisory service. Part three on the other hand does the relations of the act to the building regulations. Finally, the forth part of the act does the coverage of other general issues and various amendments (Bennett 2012, p. 102).The 37th section of this legislation covers prosecution of managers/ directors, which is the main focus of this essay. The essay seeks to discuss the development of section 37 of the legislation analyzing the circumstance under which it operates. It also seeks to take considerations if the use of the legislation gives an effective mechanism for imposing secondary liability. Section 37(1) of the 1974 Ac t gives directives for the prosecution of managers/ directors. Section 37 of the HSWA States that in case a health and safety harm occurs to employees with the consent or connivance of a manager or director, then the manager or director together with the organization should be prosecuted under this particular section of the HSWA Act (Lofstedt 2011, p. 73). The section directs that employers should ensure that the safety and health of their employees is not affected by the work they do. Once the workers are affected by the kind of work they do in an industry in terms of their health and safety, then the act stipulates that the managers or directors be prosecuted. The act also tends to cover the employees’ duties at the work place. Employees in their duties at the work place are expected to take much care for good of their own safety and health and that of others who may be at risk of being affected by their acts. Employees are also expected to co-operate with their employers a nd other people at their work places when they are carrying out their statutory obligations (Lofstedt 2011, p. 73). The Health and Safety at Work act of 1974 provides that every organization or industry should have clearly stipulated health and safety policy if it has employed five and above employees. The organizations are also required to carry out assessments on their workers, partners, customers, and any other individual who may be at risk of being affected by the activities carried out by the organizations. The act also requires the organizations to have full access to health and safety advice that is competent. This is for the protection of its people or the staff members who may be affected by the activities carried out by the organization in terms of health and safety (Lofstedt 2011, p. 73). The HSWA act works alongside other regulations and Legislations in protection of health and safety of the workers. The Factories Act of 1961 and the Offices, Shops and Railway Premises A ct of 1963 are examples of Legislations that work alongside the HSWA act of 1974. Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations of 1994, and the Health and Safety Regulations of 1992 are among the regulations that are operated together with the HSWA act of 1974 (Smith, 1998). In its other provisions, the act requires that employers have a working environment that is safe in operation and maintenance to avoid any harm related to health and saf

Deregulation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Deregulation - Essay Example aeronautics board (CAB) regulated all airline services for flights without the states (but not within) controlling the fares, travel times and even routes. They attempted to control prices by lowering the short distance travels and raising those of a long distance. They were also obligated to ensure that the airlines got fairly good returns. The period of 40 years within which air transport was regulated saw a steady growth in the industry, in terms of people travelling, employees and even returns. However, the rigidity of the system was opposed by the consumers who were exploited as well as some airlines. The major reasons for deregulation were to offer room for competition and to increase the desirability of the system. After much deliberation and slowly, the deregulation campaign won by slowly and gradually stripping CAB of its powers until it was later dissolved. The whole campaign relied on competition to equalize prices, ensure effectiveness and offer efficiency. After some period of time, it was argued that the deregulation act was unconstitutional. The U.S court appealed that the employee rights were severed by the act and in a bid to ensure that there were no job losses due to deregulation, the employee protection program was instituted. It later was involved in making of guidelines to ensure that the same did not take

Sarbanes Oxley Research Paper Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Sarbanes Oxley Paper - Research Proposal Example The investor of equity and money markets were under heavy scrutiny and investor had lost confidence in the accountability and truthfulness of the financial data coming out on daily basis from the public corporations registered in the financial markets such as NYSE and NASDAQ. Congress and the Security and Exchange commission intervened in the situation by creating a new financial regulation called the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) of 2002. The Sarbanes Oxley Act purpose was to increase investor confidence by reforming accounting practices to improve accountability, auditor independence, internal controls, and executive responsibility to ensure financial fraud at the executive level of public companies was became punishable by jail time (Aicpa, 2008). This report analyses business compliance, the Sarbanes Oxley Act and its ethical implications. The two congressmen who created the principles and concepts of the Sarbanes-Oxley framework were Paul Sarbanes and Michael Oxley. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act covers multiple issues which are arranged into eleven titles (Soxlaw, 2006). Out of the eleven titles six of them deal with business compliance. The five most influential parts of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002 are sections 302, 401, 404, 409 and 502. Section 302 deals with the topic of corporate responsibility of financial reports. The Act mandated a series of new certification concerning newly released financial reports of public corporations. Some of the new certification protocols included the signature of the CEO which this person liable in case of financial fraud, information regarding internal controls, and new auditor reports to ensure there were no untrue statement, material omission and that the reports were presented in fair manner (Soxlaw, 2006). Section 401 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act adds to the credibility of financial statements by enhancing the financial disclosures. One of the key

Financial crisis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Financial crisis - Essay Example Here it is important to discuss the causes of market instability i.e. the greedy nature of people which encouraged them to opt for the expensive mortgages. For instance, individuals who required a high standard home could easily get it on credit basis while the brokers used to eliminate their loan responsibilities when selling home (Guina). This ultimately caused people to drown into heavy loans. Consequently the housing market which was previously acting as a major economic participant declined. Investors were then restricted to change their residents in order to gain profits. When investments slowed down then the financial institutions such as banks increased their lending requirements. This subsequently affected the credits functions (Guina). As a result the Economic Bailout was designed so that the government could purchase the securities and mortgages. This was aimed at providing assistance to banks so that they can easily lend money. Author also states that the economy was the undergoing intense instability which might have causes total economic crash down. Analysis Author has made a hypothesis that the financial crisis of 2008 was predominantly caused by credit mismanagement and lack of cash reserves. In order to strengthen his claim he has further discussed the market instability and the peculiar way in which business operations were being performed at that time. Research indicates that the initiation of cheap credits which were extended to the individuals in order to avail maximum life opportunities were actually causing hindrances in the normal market operations. Cheap crediting system increased the demand of certain goods in the market such as the houses and cars which subsequently caused inflation. This was then related with the rising unemployment (Guina). Most of the claims presented in the articles are about the credits which represents that the author has maintained a firm position over the hypothesis. This further illustrates that the primary m otive of author was to evaluate the credit issues in the American society rather than covering the entire financial crisis. Moreover, the discussion over the political influence and prevailing monetary system is has been missed by the author. The article actually reveals entirely new perspectives on money and banking. For instance, it discusses the role of brokers and how they eliminate themselves from the risky mortgages (Guina). This significantly affects the individual buyer as he has to bear the complete responsibility of loan while handling all the risks. Since money and banking are closely related with one another therefore the impact of purchasing mortgages which are not backed by securities also influences the bank’s cash reserves and the overall money management. The Economic Bailout was discussed in the article so as to reflect what government has done in order to deal with the financial crisis. However, the author must have also mentioned the effectiveness and effi ciency of analytical frameworks. For instance, if the government had implemented the fundamental concepts of demand and supply then such intense inflation must have never raised. Additionally, the poor cash reserves must have presented a better economic progress in the contemporary world (Mishkin). The government should eliminate all the cheap credits from the financial institutions. This will actually facilitate in smoothing the

The Hard Times in Life Essay Example for Free

The Hard Times in Life Essay Thinking of truly difficult times is life is far from difficult. Reminiscing on difficult times will always bring back sad memories and feelings. It seems as though the most difficult times are the easiest to remember. Personally, the most difficult time of my life was the first few days after my father’s bicycle accident. For almost three days, I could not see my father who had gotten hit head-on by a red Chevrolet truck. It was truly the most difficult thing I’ve ever experienced not knowing whether or not I would see him alive again. It started out like any other typical Tuesday. I had just gotten home from the state choral competition in Jackson and my father was setting off on his weekly Tuesday night ride. I came home around 6 o’clock, just in time to see my mom coming out the door crying. This was one of the few times I had ever seen my mom cry. Obviously curious as to why she was crying, I asked what was wrong. She blatantly said, â€Å"your dad’s been hit.† It took a while for her words to sink when, but after a few seconds I knew exactly what she meant and it was truly gut-wrenching to hear. She told my brothers and I that we couldn’t go to the hospital with her and that’s when I broke down. It was so nerve-wracking to think of what all was happening at the hospital and whether or not he would be okay. The next few days weren’t any better. My uncle, aunt, cousin, and grandmother, all of whom are on my mom’s side of the family, came and stayed the night with us, while my mom stayed at the hospital. It was nice to have support from my family being there but it was hard because I had to go to school the next day enduring all the horrible feelings and thoughts throughout those day. My other grandmother and grandfather, uncle and aunt, from my father’s side, came that Wednesday. Again, I was thankful to have so much family around, but it was just too much. Going 3 days without seeing my father was awful. Hearing what all had happened to him brought tears to my eyes. The worst feeling was the feeling that I could do nothing but wait. Seconds, minutes, and hours felt like days, months, and years. That Friday was the first day I was able to see him. Seeing my dad lying in a hospital bed, bruised from head to toe, with a broken leg and broken arm, truly broke me down and humbled me. I try to never take anything for granted anymore and I constantly remind myself that I am certainly so blessed by God to still have my father around.

The Brand Positioning Of The Organization Marketing Essay

The Brand Positioning Of The Organization Marketing Essay Brand equity is the intangible asset that the consumer associates with a product. We can determine it through financial impact of the product, brand extensions and consumer attitude. Zara garments were not designed and manufactured to be highly durable or classic clothes that would always be in style. They are described as clothes to be worn ten times and yet they contributed more than 70% of the Inditex group sales. This is a vital statistic considering that Inditex group owns seven other fashion brands. With regards to brand extensions the Zara brand was successfully used to launch Zara Home in 2003. Zara Home was well received and has grown internationally to have a presence in 23 countries and 250 stores (Matassa, 2008). Additionally Zaras strong brand equity can be manifested through its consumers attitude. This is clearly shown by Zaras global average of 17 visits per customer per year compared to the three visits per year received by its competitors. That is an avowal of huge brand loyalty. Brand positioning refers to the targeted consumers preference to buy your brand instead of others. Zara has been able to carve out its own niche through cost leadership as the high-end fashion product at a reasonable price. If we compare Zaras prices to those of its major competitors such as Benetton, Gap and HM it is far cheaper yet as fashionable. Zara has been able to develop a sustainable competitive advantage through its shortened supply chain response that enables it to consistently move a design from conception through to production then into its distribution centers in as little as three weeks. This has largely contributed in setting Zaras service apart from its competitors. In fact, 75% of the merchandise in an average Zara store is changed over duration of three to four weeks. Zara customers are therefore aware that if they spot a garment they like, they have to go and purchase it on the spot because it might not be there on their next visit. Discuss the brand strategy of the organization From Zara we can identify the broad strategies applied to strengthen the brand being as follows: the marketing mix, its people, short lead times and scarce supply. However, that is not to say that the Zara brands success lay solely on the mentioned factors. The organization as a whole has been able to clearly-define its brand values and allowed them to permeate throughout the entire organization. Zara has a distinct ownership for management of the brand right from the top management level. This has meant that critical activities such as sales, operations, customer service, product development and others are made use of in supporting the whole organizations strategic management process (Kotler Armstrong, 2009). The marketing mix is represented by the traditional 4Ps: product, price, place and promotion. With regards to product, the Zara strategy has been to anticipate the latest fashion in apparel and to produce them before other competitors. Secondly, the garments are manufactured to be non-durable so as to prompt the consumer not to store them in their wardrobes but to wear them and to visit Zara shops frequently for replenishment. Thirdly, the company ensures that its stores have a wide variety of products because each store receives new products at least twice per week. Clothes that have low demand are quickly spotted, removed and replaced by new trendier designs such that customers are always spoilt for choice. This product appeal is increased by the lower price that Zara charges in comparison to competing brands such as Gap, Benetton and HM. Zara has been able to use its low cost leadership as a sustainable competitive advantage to strengthen its brand positioning. The company operates using a vertical supply chain which covers all phases of the fashion process from design to manufacture to logistics to distribution and finally to its own retail stores (Matassa, 2008). The price attribute of Zaras products is lowered here by the fact that the company can minimise its inventory costs through use of just-in-time manufacturing. Also, the fact that Zara owns 90% of its retail stores implies that it is able to make the 50-60% gross margins that retailers make. This increases profitability for the brand which helps to sustain the low prices offered. The other component of the marketing mix that Zara uses well within its brand strategy is place. Here we encounter two very key considerations, the location of its stores and the distribution system being utilised. Zara stores are deliberately located on the best-known streets in a selected citys prime retail district. This is to make the brand visible to as many of its targeted market as possible while lowering the need for traditional advertising. According to Schewe and Hiam (1998) place also covers aspects such as market coverage, logistics and distribution and service levels. Zara has a high-tech distribution system with distribution centers centrally located from its manufacturing plants. Different stores are also supplied with different products depending on their requirements and assessed demand. The efficiency of the distribution system is so high that along the entire Zara supply chain it is difficult to find inventory. Products flow quickly, and without stopping, from fact ories to distribution centers to stores, where they are put immediately on the sales floor. This distribution system is heavily reliant on Zaras effective communications and information technology infrastructure. When it comes to the final P of marketing, promotion we witness one of the biggest differences between Zara and its competitors. Zara spends approximately 0.3% of sales on advertising while its competitors spend on average 3 4% of sales on advertising. The company prefers its marketing promotion to be done by word of mouth and from the appeal of its stores. Word of mouth has proved to be more effective for Zara than advertising or using celebrities has been for its competitors. Zara stores are laid out to dazzle. The store racks, the window displays and store layout are designed and tested at the headquarters in La Coruna before being deployed to all stores. This is done every four to five years. To ensure consistency the team from La Coruna is the one that does the redesigning at all company-owned stores. This is meant to attract customers inside the stores, and once in to display the fabrics, colors and designs to the best effect. The company also has a stylish and modern website from where customers can view or download the latest Zara catalogue. Other factors that we had mentioned earlier that Zara utilizes to enhance its brand equity and positioning are its short lead times and scarce supply of apparel. Small and frequent shipments keep product inventories fresh and scarce thus compelling customers to frequent the store in search of whats new and to buy now because next time they come they will not find that item. This is one of the core reasons why globally Zara has an industry high average of 17 visits per customer per year compared to three visits per customer per year for its competitors. The short lead times for products from factory to store sales floor ensure that Zara is able to react quickly to fashion trends. This differs from the method preferred by its competitors. Most fashion brands prefer predicting fashion to reacting to fashion. Reacting to fashion trends is less likely to fail than predicting if one is able to deliver the products while the demand still exists. Zara has perfected this ability as evidenced by its new products failure rate of 1% which is much lower than the industry average of 10%. Finally, Zara empowers its staff and has established a strong brand culture e.g. decision-making is encouraged among its young designers and bad decisions are not severely punished; store managers, product managers and commercials work together to ensure that stores are supplied with the correct products and quantities etc. Seller-customer intimacy is also encouraged so that the store managers are made aware of the customer preferences and tastes which could be used in coming up with new products. Problem The major problem with Zaras brand strategy would be its persistence with a centralized distribution system especially when we consider that the brand is rapidly expanding across the globe. Though the company has an effective distribution system, this foray into new markets in Asia, Latin America and the United States is bound to add complexity and also increase cost if Zara insists on relying on its original hub in Spain. A centralized distribution system will not effectively cope with the rapid expansion and different needs of the new markets. It would probably be more prudent if Zara establishes new production and distribution centers in these far away markets such as the US, Asia and Latin America. Recommendations The first recommendation is as we have stated above, Zara will need to decentralize its distribution system to these new geographical markets. This will not only increase efficiency in delivery but also aid Zara in maintaining its competitive edge of short product lead times from design to manufacturing to retail sales. Secondly the existing distribution centers in Europe are being overwhelmed by the rapid increase of the number of stores being opened. To prevent these distribution centers from becoming bottlenecks, Zara will have to establish more distribution centers to cater for its expanding European market. Thirdly, a foray into the markets in Asia and America would have to be carefully considered because of the huge cultural differences, especially with regards to Asia. Income levels could be going up within Asia but that does not translate necessarily into a market for fashion.

Eulogy for Mother :: Eulogies Eulogy

Eulogy for Mother My mother was a complex, multi-faceted person. Many of you here today knew my mother personally, and many of you knew my mother indirectly through one of her family members. You may have known her as a coworker, a friend, or a support person. Of course, all of my mother’s family here today each knew a part of her, a â€Å"facet† of her--as a mother, a sister, an aunt, a grandmother, a cousin. I, of course, knew my mother as a mother. As I have reached adulthood and become a mother myself, I have also known her as a friend. My mom shared much of herself with me, and I saw sides of my mother as she struggled with her cancer that I had never seen before, especially her strong belief in positive thinking and the importance of quality of life. I was privileged to know so many facets of my mother, but certainly I did not know all. There were parts of her life that I didn’t see, relationships that I didn’t know about. Last night, at the wake, so many stories were told to me about my mom’s strength, courage, humor, kindness, her quietness, her loyalty as a friend. It was so special to hear of these things that my mom said and did, to know some of these other parts of her life. I hope that her friends and family will continue to share these stories with me and with each other so we can continue to know and remember my mom. So, therefore, I would like to share a little about my mother as I knew her--as her oldest child, her first daughter, her â€Å"firstborn† (as she called me), as her â€Å"Suzy†. As a young child, I knew my mother as strict and consistent. The house was orderly. Rules were clear and expected to be followed. Of course, I was compelled to always test this side of my mother--I can’t tell you how many hours I spent sitting on a chair in the corner of the kitchen, staring at our yellow tile!! Even then, my mother did not believe in spankings and corporal punishment as such, but she did use the occasional â€Å"wap† on the arm or behind when she felt it was necessary. If you watch the old family movies, you will see me in many scenes pouting and rubbing my arm (Testing those limits again!!).

Effects of the Atomic Bomb :: World War II History

Effects of the Atomic Bomb The effects of the atomic bomb were terrible. There's no doubt in my mind that the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki were a costly mistake. Atomic bombs produce heat millions of degrees high, and visible ultraviolet and inferred rays.(Lapp 844) Everyone and everything exposed to their blast is affected. No one is left untouched, whether it be emotional or physical; in many cases both. However, many members of the science community argue that the atomic bomb was a great advance in technology, and see their effect on Hiroshima and Nagasaki as a scientific experiment. People from the defense department in government also see the bomb as great weapons in national defense. When reading my paper, you must decide for yourself the moral issues involved with using atomic bombs in warfare.The day after the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, it rained all day. The rain was pitch black, and very cold.(Pacific War Research Society (PWRS) 245) A huge cloud of dust covered the sun a nd made what was left of the city very dark. Realizing the bombs effect on climate, a group of scientists came up with the "Nuclear Winter Theory" in 1983.(Glasstone NPG) The theory states that if only one half the nuclear warheads in the United States were exploded, there would be enough smoke and dust in the atmosphere to block sunlight for several months destroying all plant life and creating a subfreezing climate until the dust dispersed.(Glasstone NPG) According to the "Nuclear Winter Theory," that would be the end of human civilization!(Glasstone NPG) Although the US Department of Defense acknowledges the validity of this theory they say that it won't affect it's defense policies on how many warheads are kept.(Glasstone NPG)Although atomic bombs can have a catastrophic effect on climate, we learned that their effect on buildings is almost as bad. With the bombings in World War 2, we saw their effect on historic landmarks, houses, and office buildings. When the bomb was dropped only one mile away from ground zero, the blast cracked walls over twelve inches thick.(Lapp 843) The shockwave after the bomb was felt over a mile away. Heat incinerated everything within a 500 yard radius of the hypocenter. In Hiroshima, the blast demolished all buildings except those that were earthquake resistant.(Lapp 843) Some buildings just "vanished" into air.(PWRS 243)However terrible the effect of atomic bombs on climate and buildings, what stands out most in our minds about atomic bombs is usually the people.

How Digital Processes Change Photography Essay -- Essays

How Digital Processes Change Photography New technology is an ever present, always advancing force in today’s world. For this reason it is no surprise that in the last decade we have begin to see the rise of digital imaging in our lives. Put simply, digital imaging is the process of changing a visual imaging into a format that a computer can understand and interpret. Whether or not the image is captured by a digital device, such as a digital camera or camcorder, or it is transformed into a digital file after its development, such as by scanning, digital processes are changing the face of photography and the way we interpret it. However, as with any new change or development, digital imaging comes with its own set of advantages, and its own set of vices. Before the era of digital imaging the process of creating a photographic image had gone on for nearly a century with relatively little advancement. Besides from improvements in film quality and development every few decades, photography was, for the most part, becoming a stable form of art. Not only could people go and get professional photographs taken, but the technology was easy enough to understand that with Kodak’s introduction of a consumer friendly camera in 1888 people could begin producing their own photographs as well. (US News, p49.) Soon followed the 35mm camera, then color film and so- on and so-forth but the primary idea never changed. However, just prior to the 1980’s the world began to see the advancement of digital imaging with the introduction of computer programs that could edit an image after it had been scanned into digital format. This was a dawning of a new era in photography, even though the world would not see the birth of the digital cam. .. ... to the cover of a national press. As fore-mentioned, this brave new world of digital imaging was showing its good and bad side. As time marches on so does the flow of new technology. Even though the old form of analog photography may never become obsolete it is abundantly clear that digital imaging is here to stay. WORKS CITED 1) Curtin, Dennis P. Choosing and Using a Digital Camera. New York: Curtin. 2001 2) Mills, Lara. â€Å"Fast and flexible: digital photography may revolutionize the creative landscape, although not for everyone.† Marketing Magazine 101 (1996): 16-17 3) â€Å"Photography’s Storied History.† US NEWS & WORLD REPORT 131 (2001) : 48-9 4) Webb, Warren. â€Å"A Digital Picture is Worth†¦Ã¢â‚¬  EDN 45 (2000) 71-8 5) Chinnock, Chris â€Å"Low-end Digital Cameras still Poised for Rapid Growth.† Electronic Design 47 (1999) 56

Ikea report Essay

Executive summary This report describes the importance of market research, the target market and market segmentation. How a business can use a situation analysis and SWOT to provide a direction for Ikea. This examines how types of customers and buyer behaviour will impact marketing strategies. Evaluates as a key marketing strategy for Ikea as a case study. Analyses marketing strategies can be used to achieve marketing objectives and describes some ethical and legal things that a business must manage and respond to while marketing. Business Overview Ikea is a well-known global brand with hundreds of stores across the world. In order to improve performance, it must assess its external and competitive environment. This will reveal the key opportunities it can take advantage of and the threats it must deal with. Ikea responds to both internal and external issues in a proactive and dynamic manner by using its strengths and reducing its weaknesses. Through this, Ikea is able to generate the strong growth it needs to retain a strong identity in the market. Ikea’s passion combines design, low prices, economical use of resources, and responsibility for people and the environment. The company’s products, processes and systems all demonstrate its environmental stance. For example, clever use of packaging and design means more items can fit into a crate, which means fewer delivery journeys. This in turn reduces Ikea’s carbon footprint. Ikea believes that there is no compromise between doing good business and being a go od business. It aims to go beyond profitability and reputation. Ikea is intent on becoming a leading example in developing a sustainable business. This will create a better everyday life for its customers. Market research When Ikea conducts market research it is important that the business first determines its information needs. The business should have some idea about the type of information it is looking for. It could vary from customer profiles or brand awareness through to attitudes towards certain new products. Once its information needs are established, the business can determine the most appropriate research method. This is primarily done by IKEA group although individual stores would use sales reports in order to  gather data about the types of customers and popular products that are particular to the area or store. The Target Market The target market is a group of customers for whom a particular product has been developed. The business hopes that these people will buy the product when it is made available in the marketplace. Some products appeal to all consumers, while others have limited appeal. A business needs to understand the nature of consumer markets. The three types of markets Ikea appeals to are Consumer, Mass and niche. The products in Ikea produce are universal to all and with their flat pack design they fall into the niche market. Ikea focuses on meeting the customer demands and satisfying their needs. Ikea’s main focus is that of the selling orientation. Market segmentation Market segmentation is the process of breaking down a total market into small markets It allows businesses to focus their efforts and resources on a section of the market. By focusing on a particular target group, It would consider the features that consumers of this target group would be looking for in a product, the appropriate promotional strategies to generate awareness of and sustain interest in the product, and the most suitable pricing policies and distribution channels. Market segmentation and product/service differentiation,Demographic segmentation, dividing consumers into groups based on selected demographics, so that different groups can be treated deferent Situation analysis and SWOT Situation analysis is the way in which a business can examine the current position within the market and provides them with direction for their marketing campaign. SWOT is the first stage of planning and looks at the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats involved in a project or business venture. For example, one of Ikea’s key strengths is its strategic aim to use no more material than necessary in the production of each item. One particular table, the NORDEN table, uses knotty birch wood. The knots in this wood usually mean it is rejected by other retailers and manufacturers as unsuitable for use. However, IKEA has made the knots part of its design feature. Types of customers. psychographic segmentation, this is based on lifestyle and personality, values and interest, Ikea does not divide the store into sections but you have to walk through the whole store before you can exit, this is a strategy to sell more products. The types of customers vary from people, households, firms, educational institutions, government, clubs and societies, religious organisations. The customers that account for most of Ikea’s sale is the bold customer. Ikea is a business that is not aiming towards a purchase occasion but the usage rate of their product, being household items they aim for their products to last well and function to a good quality standard. Ikea has a good user loyalty with a wide range of buyers from the types of customers. Consumers see how affordable Ikea products are and how well they last, as long as they don’t mind putting the product together. The buying process would not be different from Ikea customers but the free yearly catalogue gives purchasers time to plan a trip to Ikea as the Ikea stores are not usually located conveniently due to the large floor space required to house their product. Ikea stores are not usually located outside the inner metropolitan area for this reason. There are psychological, sociocultural, economic and government reasons why people shop or don’t shop are Psychological segmentation Branding. Ikea is ranking 41 in the world’s most valuable brands. The brand name alone is worth 8 million. The brand image for Ikea stands for affordable, contemporary design and its flat pack product range that gives Ikea its identity. The brand name or logo essentially provides a message to the people of the quality and value associated with that product, when they see it they immediately form judgements on the quality, a strong brand name is essentially enhancing the relationship between a business and its customer. Marketing and strategies Product Ikea’s products are tangible, Product matters because it is the reason that customers go to Ikea in the first place. Ikea has the market in flat pack furniture and the unique design attracts customers and meets their needs, this product could include the prestige of owning the product which would also relate to psychological factors. Place Place matters because it is how the customers access the product. The Ikea experience is more than just products, it is a retail concept laid out in such a way that families, singles, couples etc. can enjoy shopping for furniture. A day at Ikea has been described as more of an outing than a shopping trip. Price Price matters because it is at the heart of the Ikea concept. Flat pack furniture cannot compete on price with upmarket, fully assembled pieces, so it is essential that Ikea continues to keep its prices below the competition. Price including pricing methods, market and competition based, Competition based pricing is the commonly used pricing strategy. Promotion Promotion is the most public aspect of marketing and it matters because it helps to drive customers into the stores in order to buy furniture. Ethical and legal. Ikea is recognised as a business that is both legally and ethically a responsible business that looks beyond profit and develops a positive workforce with these practices, advertising is very powerful in developing the wrong or wright idea and misleading advertising is bad ethics. Developing products in 3rd world country is considered unethical because they get payed well below minimum wage. Ikea produces environmentally responsible products, the flat pack design would be argued that it minimizes wastage and the cardboard would be environmentally friendly. The role of consumer law deals with Deceptive and misleading advertising which could be false information about products features and content, false special offers which don’t exist and  overstating the benefits that a product will provide to the consumer. Price discrimination, giving preference to some retail stores by providing them with lower prices than is offered to the competitors of those retailers. The competitor and consumer act aims to discourage the price discrimination in the business environment. Implied conditions and warranties is a great way for a business to ensure the product will last at least the warrantee time, this attracts customers and the consumer expects the business to fulfill their legal obligation to provide a refund or replacement or the product if there is a manufacturing problem within the warranted date, regardless the business by law. Resale price maintenance, this aims to balance the profit maximization of a business, Ikea ensures that the quality of a product in one country doesn’t differ from another. A manufacturer cannot refuse to sell the goods to a retailor if the retailor intends to sell the product for below the recommended price.

The Geranium

Date: 15/02/10 Title: The Geranium Text type: Short story Author: Patricia Grace This short story, ‘The Geranium', by Patricia Grace and published 1993, is a perfect example of Battered woman syndrome and the mental effects it has on a person in this case Marney. In the geranium, the main character, Marney is a stay at home mother. She cleans intensely all day and seems rather dull. She does not leave the house even when one of the girls tells her to â€Å"come for a stretch. † You know she is hesitant and you can feel that there is something stopping her from leaving. There seems to be a routine of non-stop cleaning, because when her friends, Sandra and Joe, come over this doesn't stop her from making sure things are clean, she even sets down paper to stop the floor getting dirty again. Her life is so boring that the highlight of her week is the arrival of the â€Å"paper that came on a Wednesday. † The paper is a widow to the outside world that she is no longer able to access. Although the paper shows her all kinds of things she could do and clubs she could enter, she can’t because of a mental block built up by the continuous abuse from Bob. The conflict becomes more clear with the return of Bob her husband. When Bob comes home he immediately starts demands what she has been doing all day. He asks questions about whether she’s been digging and cleaning and who’s been over. He is so controlling that he has to know ever little detail to make sure he does not â€Å"find out different. † When he finds out about â€Å"The Geranium† he tells her to â€Å"chuck that thing out. † This is a clear demonstration of his control, because Marney throws it away without question even though earlier we see that she really wanted it. These demonstrations of Bob’s dominance show us the reason for Marney’s resistance to leave for the shops earlier and why she finds the housework so important. The conflict is resolved when Marney throws out the Geranium at Bob’s command. This part of the story is significant because it is Marney’s chance to stand up for something she wants. We see earlier in the story that the Geranium is something that she has wanted; it is something to bring some colour into her dull, boring, grey life. A bit of change to brighten her days. But she is damaged from her abuse, and shows she has no freewill. Immediately faltering under Bob’s orders she â€Å"put it into [a] scrap bucket† as if it was of little matter to her. The â€Å"sink emptying† is her life being drained away. She watches as her life is taken away from here, because she was unable to speak up. She has let her chance slip away and has been doomed to the same dull days. I think the ideas that Patricia Grace is trying to get across is that; domestic violence isn’t all physical, that it can happen very much behind the scenes and the ways in which it can affect people. Although we get hints that Marney is physically abused such as; when Grace mentions that Marney â€Å"would put on her cardigan to hide her arm,† and when Bob grips her arm until it hurts, we never actually get any evidence of serious physical abuse. When the Sandra and Joe come over they dress Bob up as an amazing guy compared to their drunkard partners. Bob always has the groceries, and doesn’t come home drunk all the time. But behind the scenes he is very different from the picture the girls have made. He is threatening towards Marney and extremely controlling. He has scared into such an intense routine that she is no longer able to change that routine and is stuck to doing whatever he wants her to. This shows us that domestic violence can occur without the knowledge of the people that surrounding. Grace has showed us the way abuse can affect someone through the way Marney is. She has been so controlled by Bob that she can no longer even think for herself. She has ‘Battered Woman Syndrome’ and is completely under his control that she can not even reach out for help. These effects of her abuse show us how badly the aftermath of abuse affect someone just as bad as the abuse itself. The thing that I didn’t enjoy about this story is the style of writing. It is written in a boring way to emphasis the way Marney’s life is, and although it serves the purpose it left me feeling uninterested. What I did like the storyline. The way in which the conflict developed. I liked the way it starts off with what seems like Marney going about a normal day and then it turns into a day that that brings forth all her abuse and problems. Mainly starting with the arrival of her friends. These developments give us a great insight into a day in the life of Marney. And it is not a pretty picture.

Psychology and Personality Traits

Traits Personality is a complex hypothetical construct that has been defined In a variety of ways such as what does It mean to say that someone has an optimistic personality? This assertion Indicates that the person has a fairly consistent tendency to behave In a cheerful, hopeful, enthusiastic way(Wayne &Doug, 2013). As a person, there has many personality fit on you, so we have been asking take the online personality test and analyze five factor (Extroversion, Neurotics, Openness, Agreeableness and Conscientiousness)in the score. Someone was extroversion, we can say that person is outgoing,scalable, friendly and assertive. This kind of person, they always go to party and they always can find friendly quickly. In the tests there has six branch of the extra RSI en d less,G regal soundness,Ease rotten sees,Ex. me NT-seeks Eng,actively level and cheerfulness. ), every branch has their own score and choose average of them to build your score for extroversion.My comment of extroversion s hows my score on extroversion is average, indicating I am neither a subdued loner nor a Jovial chatterbox. I enjoy time with others but also time alone. Some point I agree like I can find friend quickly and I Like spend some times Just for private or I have positive mood and feeling and I Like to try some crazy things but there has some point has a little bit different . Friendless†¦ 63, Your level of friendliness is average. They make friends quickly and it is easy for them to form close, intimate relationships.In the friendless, I think there has a little different from me. I can make friends quickly but I am not easy to close because when I started go to school, many people think I am cough girl, cool eyes, hot temper.. Before they make friend with me, they think am just Like Big Boss, always control other people and never smile but when they has chance to know me , they know I am person who are not like what am I look like. Even my best friend, she said she don't know how s he can make friend with me.But it Just like the comment saying, I can make friends quickly, I don't know why but when I talk to someone, they always think I am funny and they always has some same thought with me, so my mother never worry about my sociability. —–Assertiveness†¦ 28,Low corers tend not to talk much and let others control the activities of groups. Your level of assertiveness Is low. This one think It Is not me, totally not me As said before, I Like control and I always acting Like a big boss. In my circle of friends, I am just like leader or like their mom, take care everything and help everyone.So, I can say let others control is impossible in my life, if there has someone wants to control, I will show or acting I am the better that them and I can handle everything. Neurotics If talk about neurotics, some words we can associated are anxious, hostile, self- unconscious, Insecure and vulnerable. Those who score high In neurologist tend to overreact(Mor occo&Almeida,2004) and exhibit more impulsiveness and emotional instability than others(Weedier,2009). There has six part in Neurotics: Anxiety, Anger, Depression, Self-consciousness, Immoderation and Vulnerability.The comment I got said : amour score on Neurotics is average, indicating that your level of emotional reactivity is typical of the general population. Stressful and frustrating situations are somewhat upsetting to you, but you are generally able to get over eel angry when some unfair thing happened or something did not go my way, feel sad when some bad things happened and did not feel nervous in social occasions also can handle someone say some bad things about me, I am not fragile that can influenced by other people is Just like me.I did not find anything different in Neurotics, all I get is average, I am not strong enough but I am not weak. Openness to experience Curiosity, flexibility, vivid fantasy, imaginativeness, artistic sensitivity and unconventional attitudes(Wa yne &Doug, 2013) are another words which can describe money was openness. Elf people who are high in openness, they must be tolerant of ambiguity and have less need.They tend to think and act in individualistic and nonconforming ways. In this case, my score is 9 and it is low in the total score is 99,the comment they give to me is think in plain and simple terms, others describe me as down-to earth, practical, and conservative. In these six branch, there has some saying connecting with me such as medium range of imagination, no interest in arts, I can change arbitrary between psychological liberalism and conservatism as I think. Psychology and Personality Traits Traits Personality is a complex hypothetical construct that has been defined In a variety of ways such as what does It mean to say that someone has an optimistic personality? This assertion Indicates that the person has a fairly consistent tendency to behave In a cheerful, hopeful, enthusiastic way(Wayne &Doug, 2013). As a person, there has many personality fit on you, so we have been asking take the online personality test and analyze five factor (Extroversion, Neurotics, Openness, Agreeableness and Conscientiousness)in the score. Someone was extroversion, we can say that person is outgoing,scalable, friendly and assertive. This kind of person, they always go to party and they always can find friendly quickly. In the tests there has six branch of the extra RSI en d less,G regal soundness,Ease rotten sees,Ex. me NT-seeks Eng,actively level and cheerfulness. ), every branch has their own score and choose average of them to build your score for extroversion.My comment of extroversion s hows my score on extroversion is average, indicating I am neither a subdued loner nor a Jovial chatterbox. I enjoy time with others but also time alone. Some point I agree like I can find friend quickly and I Like spend some times Just for private or I have positive mood and feeling and I Like to try some crazy things but there has some point has a little bit different . Friendless†¦ 63, Your level of friendliness is average. They make friends quickly and it is easy for them to form close, intimate relationships.In the friendless, I think there has a little different from me. I can make friends quickly but I am not easy to close because when I started go to school, many people think I am cough girl, cool eyes, hot temper.. Before they make friend with me, they think am just Like Big Boss, always control other people and never smile but when they has chance to know me , they know I am person who are not like what am I look like. Even my best friend, she said she don't know how s he can make friend with me.But it Just like the comment saying, I can make friends quickly, I don't know why but when I talk to someone, they always think I am funny and they always has some same thought with me, so my mother never worry about my sociability. —–Assertiveness†¦ 28,Low corers tend not to talk much and let others control the activities of groups. Your level of assertiveness Is low. This one think It Is not me, totally not me As said before, I Like control and I always acting Like a big boss. In my circle of friends, I am just like leader or like their mom, take care everything and help everyone.So, I can say let others control is impossible in my life, if there has someone wants to control, I will show or acting I am the better that them and I can handle everything. Neurotics If talk about neurotics, some words we can associated are anxious, hostile, self- unconscious, Insecure and vulnerable. Those who score high In neurologist tend to overreact(Mor occo&Almeida,2004) and exhibit more impulsiveness and emotional instability than others(Weedier,2009). There has six part in Neurotics: Anxiety, Anger, Depression, Self-consciousness, Immoderation and Vulnerability.The comment I got said : amour score on Neurotics is average, indicating that your level of emotional reactivity is typical of the general population. Stressful and frustrating situations are somewhat upsetting to you, but you are generally able to get over eel angry when some unfair thing happened or something did not go my way, feel sad when some bad things happened and did not feel nervous in social occasions also can handle someone say some bad things about me, I am not fragile that can influenced by other people is Just like me.I did not find anything different in Neurotics, all I get is average, I am not strong enough but I am not weak. Openness to experience Curiosity, flexibility, vivid fantasy, imaginativeness, artistic sensitivity and unconventional attitudes(Wa yne &Doug, 2013) are another words which can describe money was openness. Elf people who are high in openness, they must be tolerant of ambiguity and have less need.They tend to think and act in individualistic and nonconforming ways. In this case, my score is 9 and it is low in the total score is 99,the comment they give to me is think in plain and simple terms, others describe me as down-to earth, practical, and conservative. In these six branch, there has some saying connecting with me such as medium range of imagination, no interest in arts, I can change arbitrary between psychological liberalism and conservatism as I think.

Case Study Analysis of Casual Togs

Introduction The present-day business environment is characterized by increasing competitiveness in different industries. In this regard, it is vital for organizations to ensure that all their functions or departments are aligned towards being ahead of their competitors (Rugman et al., 2012). There is a wide range of problems that may adversely affect the progress and competitiveness of organizations. These include structural problems, communication, management issues and failure to embrace change. Given that there is no fixed approach to management that is ideal for all organizations, each company has to ensure that it adopts the most ideal approach, which can be determined by several factors in the internal and external factors that are specific to the company (Hill et al., 2014). Businesses also need to ensure that they are flexible enough to promptly change in response to the adjustments that might be taking place in the tastes and preferences of their clients or even the tactics that their c ompetitors in the industry are using. Companies that are not flexible enough might fail to maintain their relevance towards their target market segments and lose their competitive edge (Carter et al., 2013). This report presents a case analysis of Casual Togs, a women’s apparel company that is known for its moderately priced products. Most of the company’s products are blouses, shorts and knit dresses. In the analysis, the report highlights the problems that are being faced by the company and the factors that might have contributed to these issues. The importance of addressing these issues in a business is that it provides a guidance or basis for formulating strategies that will help to improve the company’s performance. The report also provides recommendations for Cy, Casual Togs’ principal stockholder, on the changes that he needs to make in the company. It also provides recommendations on how the company should change its management practice, structure and response to change, so as to avoid a recurrence or the problems it faces. The major problems facing the firm With reference to the case study of Casual Togs, there are a number of problems that are currently being faced by the company. One of these is that many of its products are being returned by consumers because of their low quality. For any business, the quality of products that are offered to clients is among the key attributes that determine its performance in the market (Bhardwaj & Fairhurst, 2010). For Casual Togs, this also led to the loss of a major portion of its old loyal consumers. It also posed a challenge to the company in attracting new clients. Consequences of this issue include a drop in the company’s revenue and its overall brand position in the industry. It has also been outlined in the case study that the company also faces stiff competition from companies that have long been in the apparels industry as well as new upcoming ones. Another issue that faces Casual Togs lies in the human resource department. The company has failed to attract the necessary skills for it to run successfully. This is evidenced by the halt in the construction of the company’s distribution centre in the middle of the construction, which was attributed to the fact that the company did not get a qualified person who could supervise the construction project. In addition to this, two of the company’s designers resigned. This contributed to a drop in the company’s overall production in its nine centres by approximately 15%. The fact that Andy Johnson, the company’s budget manager and Sol Green, the market analyst could not speak to one another also clearly depicts a communication flaw among the employees in the firm. Judy, who was the company’s vice president, is also depicted in the case study as being aggressive in her communication with other employees. There are several incidents mentioned in the case study that highlight the failure by a section of the company’s executives and employees to embrace change. For instance, Judy objected most of the proposed changes, arguing that they were either too expensive or that they had been suggested by incompetent individuals. Another incident was when Andy rejected suggestions that were made by Bill Smith, his assistant, on new approaches that could be used in the collation and analysis of daily sales printouts so as to make better sales forecasts. Even though there are several other issues that are faced by Casual Togs in its operations, three main issues have been outlined in this section. These include the decline in the company’s competitiveness, human resource issues and the resistance to change among a section of the company’s staff. Causes of the Problems The first problem about the company is the fact that it is losing its old customers, and more of its products are being returned as a result of either poor quality or late delivery to customers. For any business to effectively win over the loyalty of its target customers, it has to be dependable in terms of the products and services it delivers (Dervitsiotis, 2011). Prolonged incidences of poor quality products and services or inconsistencies tend to repel customers. As earlier mentioned, there is high competition on the apparel and fashion industry, which also increases the purchasing power of buyers. Failure of one company meet consumer expectations, regardless of how slightly the gap may be, will make even the loyal customers to switch brands (Talib et al., 2011). Late delivery of products to customers also denotes the incompetence of the department that is concerned with the delivery of the company’s products. Another issue that is affecting Casual Togs lies in the human resource management approaches. With reference to the case study presented, there is evidence of a lack of equal of opportunities for career advancement in the company. An example is Andy, who had worked with the company for 15 years without any promotion because was not related with the other managers and was also of a different nationality. According to Choi et al. (2012), one of the causes of employee turnover is the failure of organizations to provide all the employees with a chance to attain their ultimate career goals. The aggressive nature with which Judy addresses employees in the organization also intimidates the employees and lowers their self esteem. This has an adverse effect on the organizational commitment of employees and has and ultimately, affects their levels of productivity (Adler, 2013; Lutgen-Sandvik & Tracy, 2012). The issue of rigidity and failure to embrace change has also contributed to the problems being faced by Casual Togs. One of the organizational aspects that have led to this is the fact that Cy, the company’s president gave all the departmental heads the freedom to make decisions that they considered to be fit for the organization. Whereas it can be argued as an approach that is relevant to the present-day business environment, it poses a challenge to decision making when rapid change are to be made because the opinions of every departmental supervisor have to be considered (Myers et al., 2012). These factors have affected the effectiveness with which Casual Togs adjusts in response to the changes in the market, leading to its dwindling performance. This shows the need for organizations to be flexible enough to maintain its relevance to the target markets (Dervitsiotis, 2011). This section has presented some of the main factors that have led to the existence of the issues that faced by Casual Togs. These include the failure of the company to adhere to quality in the design of its products and the failure to motivate employees, which adversely affects their levels of commitment. Several measures have to be put in place to ensure that the earlier mentioned issues have been overcome. Suggestions for changes to be implemented by Cy, Casual Togs’ President In regard to the issues that have been earlier identified, there are different approaches that ought to be used to change the current situation of the organization. With regard to the quality issues that have led to a loss of clients by the company and increased returns of goods, the direct measure that has to be taken is to ensure that the designers of the company’s apparel products pay attention to detail so as to enhance the quality of the products (Bhardwaj & Fairhurst, 2010). There is also a need to intensify the quality management process to ensure that defective products are minimized (Rosenfeld, 2012). As presented in the case study, market research that is carried out mainly focuses in the levels of sales that should be expected in certain seasons. However, it is also vital for the organization to incorporate the on-going trends in fashion so as to effectively address customer needs (Witell et al., 2011). Human resources in any organization are among the most valuable assets, and have a key contribution towards its overall success. However, it is vital for organizations to motivate them so as to increase their productivity and organizational commitment (Bratton & Gold, 2012). One of issues that are evident at Casual Togs is that employees from a certain nationality are more likely to be promoted than the other employees. In this regard, Cy, the company’s president, needs to ensure that an equality policy is implemented to provide all employees with an equal chance of promotion within the organizational ranks (Giuliano et al., 2011). This will not only motivate employees to work more, but will also attract talented job seekers. The management meetings that were held between managers and other departmental leaders within the organization were informal, marred with emotionally charged arguments, shouting and door slamming. This is a clear indication of the failure to recognize authority an order during these meetings. It is also quite unlikely that such meetings met the intended objectives. To avoid recurrence of such scenarios, the company’s president needs to change the way board meetings are held from informal to formal (Diefenbach & Todnem, 2012). This will instil a sense of order, and will increase the possibilities of attaining the goals set to be met in the meetings. In the presented case, there is evidence of interference of departmental operations by managers or vice presidents of different departments. An individual from a different department could question an action carried out in another department that has no connection to his. Whereas there is need for cross-functional communication and cooperation within an organization (Hongjun & Yajia, 2012), such interferences as those depicted at Casual Togs are destructive. To limit this, the company’s president needs to change the structure of the organization (Deb, 2009). Suggestions to prevent future issues at Casual Togs To prevent future problems from occurring at the organization, it is necessary for Casual Togs to ensure that it makes the necessary adjustments. These include structural changes, management practices and their response to changes taking place in the competitive environment. Suggestions for change are provided in further detail below.Management PracticeThere are a number of changes that ought to be made in the management practices of Casual Togs. The individual in management that raises concern in the case study is Judy, the vice president. Her aggression towards employees, as well as her interference with operations across all departments within the organization, has to be addressed. Given that she is among the majority shareholders in the company and related to the president, there is no possibility of sacking her from the position she holds. Instead, she needs to be encouraged to attend management seminars so as to improve her employee management approach (Bratton & Gold, 2012). R ather than being autocratic in her management and aggressive in communicating with other employees in the organization, she needs to change and become a persuasive or democratic in her management and assertive in communication (Adler, 2013). In persuasive management, managers provide a clear explanation to their employees as to why they have made a certain decision. In democratic management, employees are allowed to make suggestions in the decision making process, and the opinion with the highest votes is selected (Hill et al., 2014). By being assertive in communication, points or arguments are firmly put across to other employees, but respect is still maintained (Adler, 2013). Cy’s approach of management is too lenient to departmental heads within the organizations. This has also affected the way in which he handles suppliers, who often take advantage of his leniency to secure tenders even though they are supplying products at a higher price. Even though his consultative approach to management allows departmental heads to take part in decision making, there is still a need for him to exercise authority, especially when holding meetings with them (Diefenbach & Sillince, 2012).Structural ChangeBefore making a suggestion on the structural changes that ought to be implemented in the organization, it is vital to describe the organizational structure of Casual Togs as depicted in the case study. Based on the informal nature of meetings between departmental heads and the company’s president and the lack of a clear hierarchy of authority in the firm, it can be argued that the organizational structure of the company is adhocratic (Deb, 2009). Even tho ugh such a structure is ideal in encouraging creativity and innovation among employees and effectively adjusting with the changes in the market, it also has several demerits. These include a difficulty to solve routine problems that may arise in the organization, an unclear line of authority and high exposure of the organization to risk (Diefenbach & Todnem, 2012). With reference to the case study, even though Judy is the vice president, she seems to have more authority that the company’s president, Cy. In this regard, the company needs to consider changing its structure to a more formal and well structured bureaucratic structure (Dervitsiotis, 2011). Even though such structures are known to limit innovation and creativity within the organization, it may be ideal for Casual Togs for a number of reasons. These include easing the decision making process, reduction of the exposure to risk and the acknowledgement of a certain structure of authority that has to be adhered to (Bratton & Gold, 2012). Implementing such a structure is likely to eliminate the emotionally charged informal meetings’ scenarios and also the interference of individuals like Judy in all organizational departments.Responding to Changes in the Competitive EnvironmentBased on the fact that the apparels industry is highly competitive and dynamic, it is also necessary for the company to be flexible enough and ready to implement changes that will maintain its relevance to the target markets (Rugman et al., 2012). One of the measures that have to be undertaken to attain this objective is to intensify market research and carry it out on a regular basis. This could be through seeking customer feedback or studying the changing trends through observation. Market research also involves studying the tactics or strategies that are being used by competing companies in the industry (Witell et al., 2011). It is through these market research efforts that the Casual Togs will be able to adjust its product designs and marketing strategies to fit the market preferences while at the same time ensuring that it effectively competes with other players in the market. Maintaining a competitive edge in the industry also depends on the skills that the company has in its human resource force (Dervitsiotis, 2011). It is important for Casual Togs to hire employees that are not only qualified, but also innovative enough to come up with designs that will be well accepted by the target markets. Innovation can also be nurtured among employees in the organization by utilizing appropriate motivational and reward strategies (Wright et al., 2012). Workers at Casual Togs also need to be informed on the inevitability of change in organizations, and why they should always be ready for it. By so doing, resistance to change among employees will be reduced. Some of the changes that may need to be implemented at Casual Togs include technological advancements in the production of its apparel and alteration of product designs to reflect the needs in the market (Myers et al., 2012). Conclusion and RecommendationsConclusionThis report has presented a case study analysis of Casual Togs, a fashion business that mainly deals in the manufacture and distribution of women’s apparels. After two decades of operation, the company’s performance in the market dropped due because of a number of reasons, which have been highlighted in the report. One of these is the poor quality of products, which led to an increase in the volume of returned products. It also led to the withdrawal of many old customers. Another issue that has been identified is the failure to keep employees motivated enough to increase their organizational commitment. The causes of these issues at Casual Togs have also been presented in the paper, as well as some suggestions on how the president of the company can make the necessary changes to improve the situation at the company. Suggestions that have been provides comprise of management changes, structural changes and how the company can respo nd faster to changes and competition in the market. Further recommendations that can improve the company’s brand position are presented hereunder.RecommendationsIn order for the company to appeal to a wider market and increase its returns, it needs to consider expanding its product line. As opposed to the current products that only target ladies, Casual Togs can also consider introducing men’s and children’s clothes. As presented in the case, the products that the company distributes are mainly shorts, blouses and some knit dresses. Introduction of other female apparel like skirts, trench coats and pants can also be advantageous for the company. The case has also highlighted the high costs of production that the company incurs. Though some of these costs are inevitable, the company can reduce the overall costs by using appropriate lean production strategies, which are aimed to minimize the cost and maximize production. Some of the approaches that can be used include minimization or even elimination of errors in the design and production of products and standardization of work processes. In terms of human resource management, the company needs to ensure that it hires and strives to maintain talented and innovative employees that will contribute towards its progress in the market. Some of the approaches to motivation include offering them a reasonable remuneration and rewarding them for unique contribution. Given that the fashion industry is quite competitive, failure to motivate and retain skilled employees may tempt them to cross over and work for competitor companies, which may be detrimental for Casual Togs. References Adler, G., 2013. Management Communication. New Jersey: Prentice Hall. Bhardwaj, V. & Fairhurst, A., 2010. Fast fashion: response to changes in the fashion industry. The International Review of Retail, Distribution and Consumer Research, 20(1), pp.165-73. Bratton, J. & Gold, J., 2012. Human Resource Management: Theory and Practice (5th edition). London: Palgrave. Carter, M.Z., Armenakis, A.A., Feild, H.S. & Mossholder, K.W., 2013. Transformational leadership, relationship quality, and employee performance during continuous incremental organizational change. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 34(7), pp.942-58. Choi, S., Cheong, K.K. & Feinberg, R.A., 2012. Moderating effects of supervisor support, monetary rewards, and career paths on the relationship between job burnout and turnover intentions in the context of call centers. Managing Service Quality, 22(5), pp.492-516. Deb, T., 2009. Managing Human Resource And Industrial Relations. Excel Books. Dervitsiotis, K.N., 2011. The challenge of adaptation through innovation based on the quality of the innovation process. Total Quality Management & Business Excellence, 22(5), pp.553-66. Diefenbach, T. & Sillince, J.A., 2012. Crossing of Boundaries–Subordinates’ Challenges to Organisational Hierarchy. Research in the Sociology of Organizations, 35, pp.171-201. Diefenbach, T. & Todnem, R., 2012. Reinventing Hierarchy and Bureaucracy: From the Bureau to Network Organizations. Bingley: Emerald Group Publishing. Giuliano, L., Levine, D.I. & Leonard, J., 2011. Racial Bias in the Manager-Employee Relationship An Analysis of Quits, Dismissals, and Promotions at a Large Retail Firm. Journal of Human Resources, 46(1), pp.26-52. Hill, C., Jones, G?. & Schilling, ?M., 2014. Strategic Management: Theory: An Integrated Approach. Mason: Cengage Learning. Hongjun, L. & Yajia, G., 2012. Study on Chain Companies Human Resources Management. Information and Business Intelligence, 267, pp.227-32. Lutgen-Sandvik, P. & Tracy, S.J., 2012. Answering Five Key Questions About Workplace Bullying How Communication Scholarship Provides Thought Leadership for Transforming Abuse at Work. Management Communication Quarterly, 26(1), pp.3-47. Myers, P., Hulks, S. & Wiggins, L., 2012. Organizational Change: Perspectives on Theory and Practice. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Rosenfeld, S.A., 2012. Competitive Manufacturing: New Strategies for Regional Development. New Jersey: Transaction Publishers. Rugman, A.M., Oh, C.H. & Lim, D.S., 2012. The regional and global competitiveness of multinational firms. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 40(2), pp.218-35. Talib, F., Rahman, Z. & Qureshi, M., 2011. A study of total quality management and supply chain management practices. International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, 60(3), pp.268-88. Witell, L., Kristensson, P., Gustafsson, A. & Lofgren, M., 2011. Idea generation: customer co-creation versus traditional market research techniques. Journal of Service Management, 22(2), pp.140-59. Wright, B.E., Moynihan, D.P. & Pandey, S.K., 2012. Pulling the Levers: Transformational Leadership, Public Service, Motivation, and Mission Valence. Public Administration Review, 72(2), p.206–215.

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