Technology Management Strategy

Introduction Any organization has various resources to use in achieving its objectives, technology is one of them and others include financial and human resources. Therefore the organization must consider managing technology to be one of its basic functions, whereby it develops technology strategy just as it does for other functions of marketing, finance and human resources.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Technology Management Strategy specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More s a result the organization will be able to determine; the unique technological competences as well as capabilities that it needs to attain and maintain competitive advantage. It will also be able to determine the technologies it can use to put in to operation the core design concepts and the levels of investment to put in technology. Analyzing the evolution the reasons for Corning’s technology strategy from 1850 to the late 1960’ Th rough the period of 1950s to 1960s Coning Inc stuck to its founder’s product concept of majoring in glass making, where it developed its technological competence and capability. By 1874 the company was already acknowledged as a producer in first quality glass, where it was producing signal glass for rail roads. In 1908 introduced a heat-resistant glass known as Nonex, in 1929 ventured in casting of giant mirrors which are used in telescopes. In 1938, embarked on fiber glass that it had left in 1920s, where it incorporated a company to effectively exploit the area. In 1947 opened a separate facility where it made TV bulbs and cathode ray tubes. In 1957, advanced in the technology of high-resistant heat glass where it introduced a line of cookware. The company’s strategy was based on innovation and pioneering in development of new technology. This was achieved through investing in long-term research that sometimes paid off, after many years or decades. A case in point is when it introduced a specialized research lab in 1904 and employed a full-time researcher. This paid off four years later by the introduction of a revolutionary type of glass that is heat resistant. Another success of research was the introduction of the revolutionary â€Å"ribbon machine† in 1926, which improved the company’s processes. On resuming research in fiber glass in 1934, sales increased from $3.7M in 1939 to $56.2M in 1944. Between 1954 and 1961 the company invested millions of dollars in color TV bulb technology and when the sales took off the company was the major supplier making sales of up to 2.7million units by 1965. The company used internal sourcing that helped it to develop sustaining technologies to continue with what it could do best- strategic action. In addition its internal RD department was capable of assimilating external information that it used to advance its quality.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More For example in 1965 the company made major advances in developing the technology of heat-resistant glass whereby it came up with corning ware. This was a line of cookware that was used on stove tops. This also was a major pay-off as the company made sales worth $15million of corning ware in 1959 and $25million in 1960. The company also had a large technological depth strategy whereby it had a range of technological options to its disposal. Therefore the firm’s capacity to predict developments and shifts in technology in time was enhanced. This increased the firm’s flexibility in technology and ability to respond to new consumer demands in the market compared to its competitors. The company’s timely response can be seen in various adjustments it made, such as in1882 sales of rail road globes formed a significant percentage of the company’s sales. By 1908 the sales had fallen significantly however the firm had introduced Nonex and pyrex, which were revolutionary types of glass that were heat –resistant. Both of these were products of specialized research lab that was introduced four years earlier (Burgelman, Christensen, and Wheelwright, 2008) Technology alliance was also a key strategy that the firm used to sustain its technology leadership. In 1938, the company entered in a 50/50 joint venture and collectively incorporated a company called Owens-Corning fiber glass. This was a strategic alliance as Corning Inc. had realized that it was behind in certain areas that were important in the technology development. This resulted in significant increase in sales of the incorporated company from 3.7million dollars in 1939 to 56.2 million dollars in 1944. In addition, in 1938, the join venture through continuous research successfully synthesized silicon resins. The product was used as lubricants and also acted as substitutes of rubber in many functions (Burgelman, Ch ristensen, and Wheelwright, 2008). Corning’s technology strategy during the period of1970 to 2000 By early 1970s the company had started investing in fiber-optics technology, which was a clear shift from its glass making technology. Here the company saw potential though it was still early to realize the benefits and also the company did not have complimentary assets to cater for the large costs that come with innovation. The company nearly shut down this project, however in 1973 it got in to a strategic alliance with Siemens in a joint venture partnership. Through this they were able to make optical fiber cables. The access to complimentary assets from already established Siemens enhanced Corning’s capacity to exploit the opportunities, whereby it built a pilot plant that was full-scale and also invested more than $100million by late 1981 in optical waveguides.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Technology Management Strategy specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Another shift in 1970 was venturing in to automobile industry of which after four years of research $100M worth of sales were made. In addition Corning also invested heavily in medical products which saw sales move from $3million in 1970 to $30 million after four years. It also made major acquisition of $125 M of Medpath to enhance its medical line. As a result of shift from the glass industry the company needed to develop core competencies in these new industries, hence in 1983 the company dropped operations of automobile industry and focused its resources in the remaining two. This can be explained through the concept of dominant technology trajectories whereby it states that industries go through cycles (Kristinsson Rao, n.d). There is emergence stage whereby an innovation is discovered, then development stage whereby various designs of the same innovation are realized by different firms. Lastly these various designs com pete in the market and through process and product designs, as a result some firms drop out of the industry. One or a few firms become dominant suppliers and the remaining resort to niche markets. This is seen by the way Corning drops out from automobile industry in 1983 and out of medical industry in 1996. At the emergence stage there were different firms that were venturing into the telecommunications industry (optical waveguides), including some of the 150 firms in the industry. Each firm is trying to come up with new commercial processes and products through research in this technological trajectory (Kristinsson Rao, n.d). In 1996 Corning Inc. set clear goals to pursue telecommunications innovations and as a result it aggressively invested in photonics and optical fibers. Different technological trajectories emerged with Corning Inc.‘s being one of them. As the industry heads to maturity the main players are now clearly identifiable, as they have distinctive and quality p roducts. In line with this Corning came up with a range of sophisticated products, that put it amongst the main players. Then there is the dominance stage, whereby the technology trajectory of one of the firms achieves dominance. Corning Inc. became dominant by the end of 2000, whereby it made sales of $5biilion out of the total market worth of $7billion. In addition the company made acquisitions of other rival companies which were significant to deepening its expertise in the innovations (Kristinsson Rao, n.d). Challenges faced by Joe Miller, Corning’s Chief Technological Officer, faces in 2003? One of the challenges is competence trap or core rigidity, whereby a firm can be so focused and competent in a given area such that in case of drastic changes in the industry then the firm might fall. Here Corning Inc was so much competent in telecommunications industry such that when the industry nose-dived, the company ran out of options.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Another challenge can be explained through the S-curve concept, whereby the curve has four phases, which are initial stage, growth, and decline. The industry had reached decline stage, therefore the chief Technological Officer had to decide whether the firm should exit the industry or it should re-invent itself. Other challenges were, determining if the decline was temporary, determining other potential industries that the firm could venture in to incase the current one failed (Forster, n.d) References Burgelman, R. A., Christensen, C. M. and Wheelwright, S. C. (2008). Strategic Management of Technology and Innovation. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Irwin. Forster, R. D. Description of the S curve (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.12manage.com/description_s_curve.html Kristinsson Rao The Emergence of Dominant Technology Trajectories in the US Medical; Device Industry (n.d.) Web. Management of Technology–Design and Implementation of Technology Strategy. n.d. Web. This essay on Technology Management Strategy was written and submitted by user Empath to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Demographic Trends of Gun Ownership in the U.S.

Demographic Trends of Gun Ownership in the U.S. The perception of who owns guns in the U.S. is heavily shaped by stereotypes perpetuated by news media, film, and television. The armed black man (or boy) is one of the most pervasive images in our media culture, but the image of the armed white southerner, the military veteran, and the hunter are common too. The results of a 2014 Pew Research Center survey revealed that while some of these stereotypes hold true, others are way off the mark, and possibly quite damaging in their mischaracterization. 1 in 3 Americans Live in a Home With Guns Pews survey, which included 3,243 participants from across the country, found that just over a third of all American adults have guns in their homes. The rate of gun ownership is slightly higher for men than for women, and fairly even across the nation, with the exception of the northeast, where just 27 percent have them, as compared with 34 percent in the west, 35 percent in the midwest, and 38 percent in the south.  Pew also found similar rates of ownership among those with children in the home and those without about a third across the board. Thats where the general trends end and significant differences emerge around other variables and characteristics. Some of them may surprise you. Older, Rural, and Republican Americans Are More Likely to Own Guns The study found that gun ownership is highest among those over 50 years of age (40 percent) and lowest among young adults  (26 percent), while ownership among middle-aged adults mimics the overall trend. At 51 percent, gun ownership is far more likely among rural residents than all others and lowest in urban areas (25 percent). Its also far more likely among those who affiliate with the Republican party (49 percent) than among those who are Independents (37 percent) or Democrats (22 percent). Ownership by ideology conservative, moderate, and liberal shows the same distribution. White People Are Twice as Likely to Own Guns Than Blacks and Hispanics The really surprising result given the way violence is present within racial stereotypes has to do with race. White adults are twice as likely to have guns at home than are blacks and Hispanics. While the overall rate of ownership among whites is 41 percent, it is just 19 percent among blacks and 20 percent among Hispanics. In other words, while more than 1 in 3 white adults lives in a house with guns, just 1 in 5 black or Hispanics adults do the same. It is gun ownership among white people, then, that drives the national rate up to 34 percent. However, despite this disparity in ownership by race, blacks and Hispanics are far more likely than whites to be the victims of gun homicide. That rate is highest for Blacks,  which is likely influenced by the over-representation of homicide by police among this racial group, especially since they are the  racial group  least likely to actually own guns. Pews data also reveal a significant trend at the intersection of race and geography: nearly half of all white southerners have guns in the home. (The low rate of ownership among blacks in the south brings the overall rate for the region down by nine percentage points.) Gun Owners Are More Likely to Identify as a Typical American Perhaps most fascinating (and troubling) among the findings is the set of data that show a connection between gun ownership and American values and identity. Those who own guns are more likely than the general population to identify as a typical American,  to claim honor and duty as core values, and to say that they often feel proud to be American. And, while those who own guns are also more likely to consider themselves outdoor people, just 37 percent of gun owners identify as hunters, fishers, or sportsmen. This finding would seem to debunk the common sense notion that people keep firearms for hunting. In fact, most do not actually hunt with them. Pews Findings Raise Questions About Gun Crime in the U.S. For those concerned about the high rate of gun crime in the U.S. compared with other nations, the findings pose some serious questions. Why are police far more likely to kill black men than any others, especially given that most of those killed by police are unarmed? And, what are the public health consequences of the centrality of firearms to American values and identity? Perhaps its time to frame media representation of black men and boys which overwhelmingly portrays them as perpetrators and victims of gun crime as a national public health crisis. Certainly, this pervasive imagery has an effect on the expectation among police that they will be armed, despite the fact that they are the  least  likely racial group to be. Pews data also suggest that tackling gun crime in the U.S. will require the decoupling of American values, traditions, rituals, and identity from firearms, as they seem to be tightly linked for many gun owners. These associations likely fuel the scientifically debunked good guy with a gun thesis that suggests that gun ownership makes society safer. Sadly, a mountain of scientific evidence shows that  it does not, and its important that we understand the cultural underpinnings of gun ownership if we really want to have a safer society.

The Clash - Smart Custom Writing Samples

The Clash - Smart Custom Writing Literary Analysis of Jean-Paul Sartre?s ?The Wall?Jean-Paul Sartre authored â€Å"The Wall† a collection of short fictional stories that was published in 1939. This book is set in Spain and its Civil War acts as the backdrop. In this book, three men have been sentenced to death by the Spanish Fascists. They are put in reclusion or a cell, and a static character, the Belgian doctor observes their mental torture on the last night before being subjected to the firing squad. The three men are Pablo Ibietta, Juan, and Tom. Pablo is the protagonist and the narrator of the story (Sartre 1). He is being tried for war crimes and his refusal to reveal the whereabouts of his friend, Ramon Gris, an anarchist. Juan’s criminal charge is having a brother who is an anarchist while Tom is a member of International Brigades. Juan is the protagonist and believes that he will be killed because he is not innocent. Sartre has used narration to reveal the reactions, psychological state, and thoughts of the three men as they await execution. In this book, the author uses imagery to show the intense emotions of the three convicts. The wall has been used to show the end of life and freedom. The wall symbolizes the end of freedom and good life for the three men. It also symbolizes the â€Å"blockade† that is between them and their lives. On a literal meaning, the cell is reclusion of walls. The firing squad will use the wall to terminate lives. This is a wall in a wall or the use of a wall as an object to put a â€Å"wall† (death) to the lives of the three men. They are locked in and cannot have contact with the other world and this translates to reclusion or total separation. The cell is an enclosure that stands between them and their dreams. The only thing that is connecting them to their past is memories. Pablo is detached from life. He knows that the woman he loves, the life, does not matter anymore. The main theme in this book is â€Å"death.† The wall symbolizes death, an imminent end that all people must face. They cannot think beyond the wall and thus have resigned themselves to death even before they face the firing squad. It is significant to note that the men are psychologically dead even before the guards take them to face the firing squad. The other theme is innocence. Pablo and Juan are innocent. Juan tries to justify his innocence when he admits that his brother is an anarchist, and claims that he does not belong to any political party (Sartre 1). They have been convicted because of their relations with anarchists. The other themes in this story are love, society versus individuals and reality. The author drags the story through suspense, and literary intensifies the conflict that surfaces among the convicts and their imminent death. Sartre, Jean-Paul. The Wall. 1939.Web. 17 November 2010.

The Causes of World War III Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The Causes of World War III - Essay Example For instance, the wake of World War I and World War II showed possibility of World War III. The use and testing of nuclear weapons and the commencement of Cold War as well as its development was enough evidence that there could be a possible World War III. This war was planned after anticipation by the civil authorities and military who explored in fiction in various countries. There were ranging concepts of destruction of the planet and even use of atomic weapons. Other leaders such as Podhoretz Norman has suggested that Cold War could be associated with World War III since it was fought on a global scale with United States, NATO, Warsaw Pact, and Soviet Union countries who provided military, political and economic support. However, World War III is today a popular culture and those who could start it forms perennial topics of discussion. Authors have talked about possible causes of the World War III while others have strongly disagreed and criticized. This paper therefore seeks to discuss why Wright Mills thought there could be World War III and the reason why under, military industrial complex that created elite in the United States trying to take power over, Ted Goertzel does not agree with Mill on his concept of the causes of the Third World War. According to Wright Mills, there were dire warnings on the imminence of the Third World War in the 1950s. As the world faces the nuclear weapons introduction, other critical authors as well as Wright Mills have exaggerated the weaknesses of the social civilian forces and the military power in the American society as the major anticipated causes of World War III. Since thirty years after Wright Mills published his book on the causes of the Third World War, there has been assertion of the mass society and the non nuclear conflicts which have remained the primary threats to the peace of the world. Wright Mills thinks in his book that the Third World War may be cause by the likely hood of militarism, arms race, nuclea r war, and the industrial military complex. Peace movements have however made attempts to calm the fears of emergence of World War III. Wright Mills goes ahead to warn that in the history of our instantaneous epoch, there is a likely hood of World War III emerging in the world. Mills believed in the imminence of nuclear catastrophe. In addition, other nuclear pacifists have also predicted occurrence of disaster for quite a long time. There were predictions of short time remaining just before a nuclear night comes to surface. According to Wright Mills, the explosion of the Soviet Union bomb is a likely indication that World War III may take place. He also thinks that the power elites of the Soviet Union and the United states back in the 1950s were thrusting relentlessly and mindlessly drifting towards war. He also developed the analysis’ implications on the survival of the planet and asserting that the power elite of the United States and their counterparts in Kremlin led the media manipulated and indifferent masses down the Armageddon through the primrose path (Ted, 1989). According Wright Mills, the industrial military complex increasingly dominated American life and should be seen in the indicators of the economy. The intervals of military that buildup in the last thirty years such as the Reagan and the Vietnam War years were exceptional and likely to suggest the emergence of the Third World War. Mill says that these two exceptional wars were as a result of political civilian forces. These were associated with ideological and political reasons and not at the military urging. The overwhelming pressure by the public against the military increasing spending may

How does the role of the environmental health practitioner (EPH) play Essay

How does the role of the environmental health practitioner (EPH) play a part in protecting the health of the public - Essay Example They are liable for developing, implementing and enforcing health policies using specialist skills and knowledge to maintain and safeguard standards relating to people’s health and wellbeing. Environmental health practitioners implement prevention and strive for health wellness and promotion. Health prevention aims to promote healthy behaviours and foster safe environments that minimize the risk of diseases. Environmental health practitioners thus focus on the different areas of environmental health in protecting the health of the public, which include (1) Food safety, (2) Health and Safety, (3) Housing, Environmental Protection and (4) Public Health. The duty of the environmental health practitioner is to check food safety in all the stages of production from storage to distribution. They do this by implementing health protection by actions such as visiting food premises and advising managers on hygiene and safety. Moreover, they follow a regulatory framework for preventing infectious diseases in place. They also ensure food safety by educating food handlers, as well as raising consumer awareness on how to avoid food poisoning at homes. Additionally, environmental health practitioners ensure that food handlers and food premises follow laws and regulations regarding to food safety, imported food control, inspect premises to make sure that health standards are maintained, check to see that food is safe and take any suspected food if found, investigating possible offences and taking companies and individuals to court if they break any of the food safety laws (Meggitt 2003: 168). Moreover, environmental health practitioners enforce smoke-free legislation, investigate food poisoning outbreaks, develop policies to limit the number of fast food premises near schools and promote healthier menus (Mckimm & McLean 2011: 626-631). In regard to food safety, environmental health practitioners carry out food hygiene and standards inspections (Fiona & Wright 2014:

Sample Business Plan Essay Example for Free

Sample Business Plan Essay Executive Summary Business Description Business Success Consulting is a new business located in North Creek, British Columbia, specializing in consulting services for small and medium sized businesses. Primary services will include market feasibility studies, business plans, operational reviews, re-engineering, strategic planning, seminars and workshops. Our mission is to provide our clients with business services that help them become more successful and to become a leader in consulting to small and medium sized businesses. To keep our overhead costs low, Business Success Consulting will be located in the home of Mark B. Assets. The home is equipped with a computer, fax machine and photocopier. Ownership and Management Business Success Consulting is a sole proprietorship, owned by Mark B. Assets. As the business expands the firm may develop strategic alliances with other companies. Mark B. Assets is a Certified Management Consultant and a member of the Institute of Management Consultants of British Columbia. He has a commerce degree from the University of Brigham and a Masters in Business from the University of South Seymour. Mark B. Assets has been a consultant for 15 years with Smith and Smith specializing in small and medium sized businesses. Business Success Consulting will initially only have one employee, Mark B. Assets. Additional staff support will be obtained on a subcontract basis. Secretarial service will be contracted out as required to TempServ company in North Creek. Key Initiatives and Objectives Business Success Consulting is currently in the process of obtaining a bank loan for $30,000 to finance the start up of the business. Our key objective during the first 12 months of operation is to develop a profitable consulting business. To do this, a strong client base will be developed through networking with local business leaders and business associations, affiliating with small business loan divisions of the local banks, and holding seminars and workshops. During the first four months of operations eight small business seminars and four small business workshops will be developed. Marketing Opportunities Due to high overhead costs Smith and Smith recently restructured to focus more on large corporate and government clients. This meant the elimination of their small business division. Large consulting firms such as Smith and Smith typically target larger businesses and government contracts; thus creating an opportunity for smaller consulting firms such as Business Success Consulting to provide small and medium sized businesses with affordable consulting services. There are currently no other firms that specialize in this type of consulting located within the region. Mark B. Assets left Smith and Smith to continue to provide small and medium sized businesses with much needed affordable consulting services. Competitive Advantages The key competitive advantages of Business Success Consulting are the small business experience and expertise of Mark B. Assets as well as the businesss relatively low overhead costs compared to competitive consulting firms. Mark B. Assets is a Certified Management Consultant with extensive consulting experience for small and medium sized businesses. Overhead costs are comparatively low because Business Success Consulting will be based at the home of Mark B. Assets and labour costs will be low as there are no other full time employees. Marketing Strategy Our target markets will be small and medium sized new and existing businesses in the surrounding region. Business Success will market its services by placing an ad in the yellow pages, listing with all local business and industry associations, developing a brochure to be distributed to lending institutions and clients, becoming an active member of a number of business and consulting associations, networking with the local business community, and developing workshops and seminars for small businesses. Our seminars and workshops will be used to promote our other consulting services. Attendees will be able to pick up our corporate brochure and ask any questions regarding the services we provide. The corporate brochure will outline Business Success Consultings services and fee structure. The brochure will also highlight the past experience and level of expertise of Mark B. Assets. The brochures will be distributed at our workshops and seminars, to lending instituutions, associations, key business leaders, and to potential clients. Business Success Consulting will not do much advertising except for placing an ad in the local yellow pages. Within the next three years, Business Success Consulting may develop an Internet site highlighting key services, level of expertise and fee structure. Mark B. Assets will join local business associations to maintain contacts in the business community as well as to stay well informed about the business issues that are important to local businesses. Summary of Financial Projections The revenue of Business Success Consulting are projected to increase from $121,770 in 1998 to $181,170 by 2000. Revenues will see strong growth of 22% annually as the business grows and expands. The Cost of Sales are 55% including total wages (including subcontractors) at 45% and goods and materials at 10%. The Net Income is projected to increase from $12,330 in 1998 to $17,279 in 2000. Corporate profits will be taxed at the corporate rate of 22.8% while Mark B. Assets wages of $40,000 per year will be taxed at prevailing personal tax rates. Confidentiality and Recognition of Risks Confidentiality Clause The information included in this business plan is strictly confidential and is supplied on the understanding that it will not be disclosed to third parties without the written consent of Mark B. Assets. Recognition of Risk The business plan represents our best estimate of the future of Business Success Consulting. It should be recognized that not all of major risks can be predicted or avoided and few business plans are free of errors of omission or commission. Therefore, investors should be aware that this business has inherent risks that should be evaluated prior to any investment. Business Overview Business History Business Success is a management consulting business that is scheduled to begin operations on March 1, 1997. Business Success will be a sole proprietorship, owned by Mark B. Assets. Mark B. Assets left the large consulting firm of Smith and Smith to specialize in consulting to small and medium sized businesses. Large consulting firms such as Smith and Smith typically target larger businesses and government contracts creating an opportunity for Business Success to provide small and medium sized businesses with affordable consulting services. Vision and Mission Statement Our mission is to become a leader in small business consulting by providing our clients with business services that help them become more successful. Objectives Our primary objectives over the next year are to: 1. Obtain a bank loan of $30,000 to cover the start up costs and initial operating costs for Business Success Consulting. 2. Generate one new client contract a month by networking with key industry leaders and local lending institutions, conducting seminars and workshops for small and medium sized businesses, and joining key business and industry associations. 3. Generate a net profit of $12,000 in the first year by developing a strong client base and keeping overhead costs to a minimum. 4. Develop and conduct eight business seminars  and four business workshops that meet the needs of the local business community. Ownership Business Success is a sole proprietorship, owned by Mark B. Assets. As the business expands, strategic alliances may be formed with other companies. Location and Facilities To keep our overhead costs low, Business Success Consulting will be located in the home of Mark B. Assets. The home, located at 1875 Wilson Street in North Creek, is equipped with a computer, fax machine and photocopier. Secretarial service will be contracted out as required to TempServ company in North Creek. Where possible, all meetings and presentations will be held at the clients location. If this is not feasible, the company has arranged to rent the boardroom of a local law firm as required. Presentation equipment such as overhead projectors and liquid crystal display (LCD) units will be rented from North Creek Community College. Any sub-contractors hired for specific projects will not work in our office but will work from their own offices. This will greatly reduce our overhead costs allowing us to price our services competitively. As Business Success Consulting grows, consideration will be given to acquiring office space. Products and Services Description of Products and Services The primary types of services we will provide include market feasibility studies, business plans, reengineering strategies, organizational reviews, strategic planning, seminars and workshops. Our services include the development of: 1. Market Feasibility Studies We develop market feasibility studies for businesses that want to market new products or technologies. Some of these companies are looking for government funding to commercialize the technology or product. Our market feasibility studies include a full assessment of potential markets, competitive analysis, and the financial viability of commercializing the product. 2. Business Plans We will develop full business plans for start up and existing businesses requiring financing, introducing new products, entering new markets, and  restructuring. 3. Other Services Our other services will include operational revviews, strategic planning, and development of corporate re- engineering strategies. 4. Seminars and Workshops We will offer seminars to small and medium sized businesses. The seminars will focus on key management issues for small and medium sized operators such as market analysis, product commercialization, how to write a business plan, marketing strategies, customer service etc. Attendance will vary but should average 20 to 30 people each. The workshops will be developed to help small and medium sized businesses write business plans. This service is currently unavailable in the area. Workshops will be held in the evenings and on weekends making it easier for busy operators to attend. Key Features of the Products and Services Business Success Consulting will specialize in small and medium sized firms. While other consulting firms in the region offer small and medium sized businesses consulting services, none specialize in this area. With todays unpredictable political and economic environments, it is increasingly difficult for entrepreneurs to successfully start new businesses and for existing small and medium sized businesses to remain profitable. Our services will differ from our competitors in that Business Success Consulting will offer creative, innovative, and effective solutions to business problems. Too many consulting firms try to develop standard models to solve key business problems. Business Success realizes that business problems have a variety of solutions; what may be right for one business would not necessarily meet the needs of another business. Production of Products and Services Initially subcontractors will be hired as needed to work on specific projects. Subcontractors will be hired based on their area of expertise and experience. Due to office space limitations, sub contractors will work out of their own offices and will be linked directly to our office via e-mail and the Internet. Within the next three years, full time consulting and administrative staff will be hired. While all reports will be produced and  edited by Mark B. Assets, the physical reports will be formatted, printed and bound by TempServ, a local secretarial agency in North Creek. Should the company take on any other full time employees, consideration will be given to leasing office space in the North Creek area. Future Products and Services We will continually expand our services based on industry trends and changing client needs. We will also get feedback from clients and seminar attendees on what is needed for future seminars and workshops. Comparative Advantages in Production Our comparative advantages in production are our low overhead and labour costs. Business Success does not have to pay for under utilized staff or facilities. We also have an advantage in that we can pick the most qualified sub- contractors for each project. The sub-contractors will be picked based on their expertise. This allows us to draw from a larger labour pool and skill set. Subcontractors will be hired as needed which means that during down times our firm is not over staffed. Industry Overview Market Research To fully understand the market we are targeting we talked to local business leaders, the Small Business Association, the Chamber of Commerce, the local economic development office, and all small business lending departments at the local banks. In addition, we read local newspaper and journal articles, and collected industry statistics from Statistics Canada. Size of the Industry There are 500 consulting businesses in British Columbia; there are 34 consulting firms in the North Creek area alone. While there is some overlap in the types of services provided, most firms have developed their own market niches. Firms tend to become well known and recognized for their skills in a specific area such as organizational re-engineering, marketing, training, employee benefits, government program evaluation, or in a specific industry such as forestry, hospitality, health care, information technology,  or communications. Key Product Segments Consulting is a very diverse industry. There are hundreds of different services that consultants provide to all industries and industry sectors. Key Market Segments Key market segments vary by consulting specialty. The key markets for consulting services are corporations, municipal, regional, provincial and federal governments, crown corporations, and institutions such as hospitals and educational facilities. The total size of these markets is unknown because they are continually changing and there are no provincial or federal tracking mechanisms in place to accurately determine how much these market segments spend on consulting services annually. Purchase Process and Buying Criteria The buying process for consulting services varies by type of client and by type of service. Businesses find and chose consulting firms using several methods. 1. Referral Businesses find consultants through their lending institutions, business or industry associations, friends or colleagues, and the yellow pages. Businesses contact these consulting firms to obtain proposals and price quotes for the required services. A consulting firm is chosen based on the needs of the client such as price, quality of proposal, as well as the reputation, past experience and level of expertise of the consulting firm. 2. Request for Proposal Government and other businesses requiring consulting services sometimes distribute a Request for Proposals to a number of consulting firms that they would like to bid on a specific project. These consulting firms submit proposals for the projects they wish to bid on outlining the sccope of the work, the methodology, a work plan and price quote. These proposals are evaluated based on a predetermined set of criteria developed by the client. The proposal evaluation criteria varies by project and client but usually includes price, quality of proposal, and the reputation, past experience and level of expertise of the consulting firm. 3. Open Bidding System (OBS) The OBS is an opening bidding system for government contracts. Anyone can access this service and submit a proposal  for any contract they feel qualified to bid on. Business plan services are usually purchased by start up businesses or by small and medium sized businesses requiring financing, commercializing a new product, or entering new markets. These businesses seek business planning assistance from their lending institutions, industry and business associations, or directly from consulting firms. Description of Industry Participants Consulting firms are divided into large firms with more than 100 employees, medium sized firms with 20 to 100 employees and small firms with less than 20 employees. The majority (66%) of consultants in Canada are employed at large firms, 6% and medium sized firms and 28% at small firms according to a recent Industry Canada report. The large consulting firms are usually U.S. based firms and include Andersen Consulting, Coopers Lybrand, Deloitte Touche, Ernst Young, KPMG, and Price Waterhouse. Small firms typically have less than 10 employees. Key Industry Trends The consulting industry is growing for two key reasons. One is that demand for consulting services is increasing as companies downsize and contract out work that was historically done in-house. Corporate downsizing has also resulted in many managers being laid off. It is difficult for many of these people to find similar employment and as a result, many of these managers start their own businesses. Approximately 10% become consultants, many providing consulting services to the firms they just left. Those who start other types of businesses may require specialized consulting services to improve their chances of success. Therefore corporate downsizing has resulted in an increase both in the supply of, and demand for, consulting services. The number of business starts in North Creek has risen 10% annually over the last several years. Approximately 100 new businesses with be started in the area in 1997. This trend is projected to continue for at least another 5 years. Industry Outlook With the continued economic and political uncertainty in this province, the demand for consulting services will grow as many companies are reluctant to hire additional employees. More and more work will be contracted out to outside consultants as companies maintain tight control over labour costs. This trend is also true in the government sector which is under increasing pressure to reduce costs by reducing their employment levels. While the number of business starts has increased so have the number of bankruptcies. Approximately seven out of 10 new businesses will fail within the first two years of operation, primarily due to poor management. Some people who start new businesses lack basic business skills. The demand for small business training and assistance will grow as these entrepreneurs seek the assistance they require in order to reduce their risk of business failure. Marketing Strategy Target Markets Our target markets will be small and medium sized new and existing businesses in the surrounding region. We will also submit proposals in response to any Request for Proposals we receive as well as for any relevant provincial and federal government contracts. Description of Key Competitors There are a total of 34 consulting firms in North Creek, British Columbia. Only 14 of these consulting firms offer services similar to Business Success Consulting. The other 20 consulting firms in the region specialize in other areas of consulting such as employee benefits, training, marketing, information technology, health care or forestry. There are four large consulting firms (more than 30 employees) that offer consulting services to small and medium sized businesses. However, these large firms cannot cost effectively service this market due to high overhead and labour costs. Small and medium sized businesses usually cannot afford the high hourly fees charged by these firms. Business from this target market does not represent a significant portion of the revenues generated by these four large firms which all specialize in other areas of consulting. There are 10 smaller consulting firms (less than five employees) that offer consultiing services similar to Business Success Consulting. However, none of these firms  specializes in consulting to small and medium sized businesses. All 10 firms offer a wide range of consulting services. The majority (70%) of these firms are operated by people who have been laid off from large firms and who have limited consulting experience and qualifications. Analysis of Competitive Position Business Success Consulting will be the only consulting firm in the region specializing in providing consulting services to small and medium sized businesses. Business Success Consulting has a competitive advantage in this area due to the excellent consulting experience of Mark B. Assets. Mr. Assets is a Certified Management Consultant with 15 years consulting experience, including 10 years focussing on small business consulting. However, as a new business, it may take time to establish a strong client base and develop a reputation as a small business specialist. Mr. Assets already has an excellent reputation in this area and Smith and Smith, his former employer, will redirect any of this type of business to Mr. Assets new firm. Pricing Strategy Business Success Consulting services will be priced competitively with other small consulting firms. Typically the fees charged by small firms are much lower than those charged by the large firms due to lower overhead costs. Our fees will be based on several factors including the time and resources needed to complete a project, overhead costs, and the fees charged by other competitive consulting firms. Our hourly rates average $90.00 per hour compared to $180.00 per hour for the large consulting firms. Our hourly fees will remain the same for all projects. However, total project costs will vary depending on the time needed to complete the project as well as the direct expenses incurred as part of the project.

On The Waterfront, Terry Malloy :: Movie, Film Analysis

Terry Malloy as a â€Å"Hero†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When Terry Malloy was first introduced, he did not make any indications that he would strive for the respect that he gained throughout the story. His tough-guy behavior and compassionate attitude has made him what he is: a hero. He never revealed what he was truly made of or what he was capable of. He always had low self-esteem about himself—repeatedly calling himself a â€Å"bum.† Despite his stubbornness to change and his ignorance to others, Malloy proves himself by doing what he knows is right to be a true hero.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Throughout the whole film, Malloy displayed himself as a bum. He rarely works, and he is a has-been boxer. Others occasionally criticize him about his boxing career; explaining to him that he was no good. Because a lot of the criticism got to Terry’s head, he was unable to associate with others. This proves so with the relationship he has with Edie Doyle. He is barely able to hold the relationship with Edie, even though she is the one whom Terry loves so much. Up to this point, Malloy does not display himself as a hero, or even close to being one.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When Malloy put himself to the test, he rarely came out successful. This all changed when he saw the death of his brother, Charlie the Gent. Malloy decided to stand up for what he knew was right and went to speak with Johnny Friendly face to face. As the scene unfolded, the depiction of Malloy being a hero was relevant. He stood up for his brother, and his girlfriend. He knew what the outcome would be if he confronted the â€Å"hoods,† yet he did what he had to do for the people on the dock, and above all, for the people he cared about the most; and for this, he gained the respect and loyalty that he deserved.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  As the film progressed, Malloy’s character seemed to have changed. He became more sensitive towards Edie, and he stuck with his wits and testified against his own former friends, â€Å"the hoods.† But with every good thing, there must be something bad that comes out of it. When Malloy lost the respect of his co-workers and friends by testifying against the hoods, he became a target for blame that the people of the town needed to show that they were still behind the hoods. Yet when Malloy went on the dock and professed what he truly thought of Friendly and the others, the people of the town realized that what Terry was saying is correct, and they eventually regained there respect for Terry.

Gilead by Marilynne Robinson Essay

In the novel Gilead, author Marilynne Robinson offers insight into the challenging process of forgiveness through the character, John Ames. As the narrator and protagonist, John provides the reader with an intriguing, first-person perspective on the difficult development from bitterness to forgiveness in his relationship with Jack Boughton, otherwise known as John Ames Boughton, the narrator’s namesake and godson. However, John does not make this progression by his own merit. First of all, he gains perspective into several situations that Jack faced in his life as an adult, and feels empathy for the man. Secondly, John receives wise guidance from his wife, Lila, thereby realizing that because Jack is an ordinary man like any other, he is in need of grace. And finally, through experiencing an abundance of spiritual direction, John realizes that because God shows mercy to Jack, he too must follow that loving example. In Marilynne Robinson’s novel Gilead, John Ames reaches a place of forgiveness and reconciliation with Jack Boughton only by opening his heart to empathizing with Jack’s situations, by following the guidance of his wife, and by observing and obeying the example of Jesus Christ. At an early point in the novel, the reader is given insight into the dissention John Ames feels towards Jack Boughton when he is told that Jack plans on returning home after several years of absence. John says in his narrative, â€Å"I don’t know how one boy could have caused so much disappointment without ever giving anyone any grounds for hope† (Robinson, 72). John’s words carry with them a degree of irritation that enables the reader to discern his dislike for Jack. However, one may begin to notice a shift in John’s attitude towards Jack as he continues to narrate his story, showing an increasing awareness that he must forgive Jack. This development occurs in small increments through several episodes in the story, but the biggest and most incredible shift happens when John learns of Jack’s life outside of Gilead. Jack informs John that he has a wife and a young son. â€Å"I was slightly at a loss, which he must have expected, and still I could tell it was an effort for him not to take offense. You see, the wife is a colored woman. That did surprise me† (Robinson 217). Jack explains the struggle he had in securing a stable home environment for his family, and the negative implications this had on how his wife’s family viewed their marriage. Throughout Jack’s narrative, it becomes clearer to John how Jack, after previous transgressions, has accepted responsibility for his family. This maturity positively affects John’s impression of Jack and he begins to see Jack in a new light. Jack continues to tell John of his endeavors in the hopes of receiving clarity regarding whether or not to tell his father about his family. However, when John is unable to offer any solid advice, Jack responds by saying, â€Å"‘No matter, Papa. I believe I’ve lost them, anyways’† (Robinson 232). John is understandably shocked in hearing this story and can find no other response but to wrap his arms around Jack and lovingly embrace him. â€Å"I could just feel the loneliness in him. Here I was supposed to be a second father to him. I wanted to say something to him to that effect, but it seemed complicated, and I was too tired to think through its possible implications. It might sound as if I were trying to establish some sort of equivalency between his failings and mine, when in fact I would have meant he was a better man than I ever thought he could be† (Robinson 231). John expresses a measure of empathy that he has never shown Jack before and acknowledges how he has allowed old grudges and transgressions to get in the way of forgiving this young man for far too long. Yet it was simply by listening to Jack’s story and by being vulnerable that John was able to reconcile with Jack. However, if it had not been for his wife, Lila, John may not have been at a place in his life to forgive Jack. At the beginning of his chronicles, John, in his stubbornness, shows no intention of forgiving Jack. Nonetheless, as formerly mentioned, the reader observes a shift in his thinking. For example, John records that in his encounters with Jack, he begins â€Å"trying to be a little more cordial to him than [he had previously] been† (Robinson 123). This shift does not occur simply out of a guilty conscious or out of a personal conviction to make things right, but through the aid of his second wife Lila. According to Gordon Leah, Lila â€Å"brings a totally fresh attitude into his ministry and attitudes and becomes a conduit for a new attitude to the one man who has been, as he says, a thorn in his heart for so long, Jack Boughton, the maverick son of his old friend Pastor Boughton† (55). At one point in the story line, Jack says to John, â€Å"So, Reverend, I would like to hear your views on the doctrine of predestination† (Robinson 149). John states that that specific question is probably his least favorite topic of conversation in the entire world, and â€Å"unable to answer the question and aware of the tension existing between [himself] and Jack†¦ prevaricates, until his wife, Lila, eventually, after some thought, answers the question with the simple words: ‘A person can change’† (Leah, 53). Although this comment may initially appear insignificant, Lila’s input into the conversation brings a fresh attitude to John’s closed-minded thoughts. Her words bring about the revelation that forgiveness is necessary in John’s relationship with Jack, and that he must be the one to initiate it. Lila’s words make John consider the fact that although Jack acted irresponsibly in the past, John must give him the chance to demonstrate that he has changed. The place of forgiveness that John Ames is eventually able to reach is not only a result of guidance from his wife, but, more importantly, is also the result of spiritual direction from God. John Ames shows a deeper understanding behind the importance of forgiveness in his life, when he reflects on the opportunity God gives him every time he encounters Jack. He says, â€Å"When you encounter another person, when you have dealings with anyone at all, it is as if a question is being put to you. So you must think, What is the Lord asking of me in this moment, in this situation? If you confront insult or antagonism, your first impulse will be to respond in kind. But if you think, as it were, This is an emissary sent from the Lord, and some benefit is intended for me, first of all the occasion to demonstrate my faithfulness, the chance to show that I do in some small degree participate in the grace that saved me, you are free to act otherwise than as circumstances would seem to dictate.† (Robinson 124) In this passage, John recognizes that while he has the ability to cling to his resentment and unresolved conflicts with Jack, the example of God’s mercy gives him a higher standard. He is being called to follow Christ’s example of bestowing grace to undeserving persons, and to ignore that calling is to reject the very grace that is shown to himself through God. He puts this idea beautifully into words when he says, â€Å"I think there must also be a prevenient courage that allows us to be brave – that is, to acknowledge that there is more beauty than our eyes can bear, that precious things have been put into our hands and to do nothing to honor them is to do great harm† (Robinson 246). John becomes aware of the fact that because God offers all humans unfathomable forgiveness for their sins, he too must forgive Jack. He does not say this in a tone of reluctance or in a haughty manner that would serve to prove his own spirituality, but as â€Å"a positive appreciation of the beauty of the other person, the object of God’s grace and of [his] forgiveness† (Leah 56). John is finally able to express his newfound understanding that Jack is just as worthy of his forgiveness as any other man, and acknowledges that this comprehension comes only through recognition of the grace and mercy God first showed us. When one observes the evolution from resentment to reconciliation that John Ames makes in his relationship with Jack Boughton through the novel Gilead, it seems to be a remarkable and almost impossible change of attitude. However, this development does not occur out of his own conviction to resolve his problems with Jack, or a need for reconciliation with the man, but through several other contributing factors. First, when John learns of the difficult adulthood Jack has faced, and witnesses how he has matured through these situations, he is able to show empathy towards him. Secondly, John’s wife, Lila, helps him appreciate the fact that Jack, like any other human being, is in need of forgiveness and mercy. And finally, John learns that just as God has forgiven Jack, he too must show mercy to this man. In Marilynne Robinson’s novel Gilead, John Ames is able to forgive and reconcile with Jack Boughton through a process of opening his heart to understanding Jack’s story, being guided by his wife on a path of compassion and empathy, and by realizing that he is called to follow God’s example in showing mercy and forgiveness to the sinners around him. Works Cited Robinson, Marilynne. Gilead. Trade pbk. ed. Toronto: Harper Perennial, 2005. Leah, Gordon. â€Å"‘A Person Can Change’ Grace, Forgiveness And Sonship In Marilynne Robinson’s Novel Gilead.† Evangelical Quarterly 80.1 (2008): 53-58.

Going to College Essay

Going to college really does open a new chapter in everyone life, the beginning of new friendships, opportunities and growth. As a college student, a new student will be introduced to new areas of interest, broaden his vision of possibilities, establish and accomplish goals, develop lifelong friendships and define him or her in ways that he can imagine. Anyone on Earth already asked, or will ask himself where he would be in 10, 20 or even 30 years down the road. It is hard enough imagining what his life is going to be like in a year or two. Questions like â€Å"Where do you want to be today, tomorrow and in the future?† might be hard ones for young teenagers, who just graduated from high school. Attending college will help anyone answer those questions, develop a realistic plan for accomplishing his goals, and equip him with the knowledge and skills he will needs to see his goals through to the end. We usually assume that a college degree is necessary when it is not actually. We can also noticed that, because we place so much emphasis on degrees, people who have not attended college think of themselves badly, and this lack of self-confidence can really impede their success. There are some people for whom the college is actually not the best way to learn. However, a college education is an opportunity for everyone to learn what he loves. A new student can actually take the time to enjoy learning what he is truly passionate about. If he is interested in a variety of things and he is not sure where to focus, he can take his time to try them all. Nobody should look at college as a long-term contract that he is not going to be able to get out of once he starts. Anyone should feel like he needs to decide on a major area of study before starting college. College is a time for everyone to test himself, explore his interests, see what the possibilities are, and to see what he can achieve. Most other students attending college are going to be in the exact same boat . There are also a variety of resources, provided by most universities, to help anyone through college, including academic advisors, professors accessible on campus, tutoring academic support, full-time counseling staff and more. While the prospect of attending college may seem a bit daunting and even suffocating, a graduated high school teenager should not forget that he will still get to live his life. He will be able to participate in a variety of extracurricular activities, social groups, maintain a job, or even pursue a career while completing his studies. He may even find that college ends up being much more enjoyable and fulfilling than he ever expected. There are additional reasons as to why it is important to go to college. When students experience a post-secondary education, they have the opportunity to read books and listen to the lectures of top experts in their fields. This stimulation encourages students to think, ask questions, and explore new ideas. So, â€Å"why should you go to college?† The reasoning does not begin and end with the job aspect. A good education is beneficial from many different viewpoints. If any teenager is still asking himself why he should go to college, it is important to remember the significant amount of opportunity available for college graduates. The global economy is becoming increasingly more competitive, and in order to give him the best chance for a well-paying job, he must first understand the importance of college education. Attending college provides students with the knowledge and experience they are unable to receive from a secondary education, and finding a way to fund a higher education now can pay off in a huge way in the years to come.

CIVILISATION FRANCcedil;AISE

CIVILISATION FRANCcedil;AISE CIVILISATION FRAN‡AISEL'ORGANISATION TERRITORIALELa France a une superficie de 550000 Km2 et c'est le pays le plus  ©tendu de l'Europe occidental.Le 2/3 du territoire fran §aise sont des planes.Les point le plus haut de l'Europe occidental est le Mont Blanc qui se trouve dans la France, aux alpes.-Les alpes-Les Pyr ©n ©esMASSIFS-Le JuraMONTAGNEUX-Les Ardennes-Le massif centralIl y a 5500 kilomtres de rivages c ´tiers en France. Une partie dans la c ´te M ©diterran ©e, l'autre dans la c ´te atlantique et la dernire dans la c ´te du Mer du Nord.Oc ©anique (Ouest)LES CLIMATS M ©diterran ©en (Sud)Continental (centre-est)Il y a plus ou moins 58'4 millions d'habitants la France. Plus de la moiti © des fran §ais habitent dans des villes. 20% ont moins de 20 ans et plus de 30% ont plus de 60 ans. Paris, avec sa banlieue a 10 millions d'habitants.La r ©publique fran §aise comprend la m ©tropole qui est divis ©e en 22 r ©gions et 96 d ©partements ainsi que quatre d ©partements d'Outre-mer (DOM): La Guadeloupe, La Martinique, La Guyane et La R ©union.Population density in the French Republic at the 1...Pr ©fecture = capitale administrative.-La m ©tropole (le pays)-Guadeloupe-DOM Antilles(D ©partements d'Outre-mer) -Martinique-GuyaneFRANCE -R ©union-Polyn ©sie fran §aise-Nouvelle Cal ©donie-Territoiresd'outre-mer -Terres australes et antarctiques fran §aises(T.O.M.)-Wallis et Futuna-Maillot-Collectivit ©s territoriales statut particulier-St. Pierre et MiquelonAvant la r ©volution la France  ©tait divis ©e en provinces. Aprs la r ©volution (1789) les provinces se suppriment et s'instaurent les d ©partements. En 1960 l'agglom ©ration parisienne devient gigantesque et la r ©gion parisienne est divis ©e en cinq d ©partements. Avant les ann ©es soixante il y avait une tradition centralisatrice. Au cours des 25 derniers ann ©es l'administration territoriale change, elle attribut des pou voirs aux collectives territoriales.l'‰tatNIVEAUXD'ADMINISTRATIONLa r ©gionCollectivit ©s Le D ©partementlocalesLa communeEn 1972 les 22 r ©gions de la...

6 remote entry level jobs that are hiring today

6 remote entry level jobs that are hiring today Getting to work from home used to be a luxury afforded to only certain workers in certain fields, but technology has made it possible for a wide variety of people to clock in from the comfort of the desks in their very own living rooms. In fact, according to a recent Gallup poll, 43% of employees work remotely sometimes. The ability to work remotely can be a huge perk- you save money on thing like commuting costs, a work wardrobe, and even coffee and lunch, which you can now make in the comfort of your own home. Hiring remote workers has become more popular in recent years, but there are certain fields that are particularly likely to be hiring workers for remote entry level jobs. Here are just a few. Associate account managerAssociate account managers take care of the basic operations of a company and often serve as liaisons between different departments- a job ideal for working from home if operations take place in different parts of the country. While experience in sales or marketi ng is sometimes required, associate account managing might also be an entry-level job.Copy editorWriting and editing jobs have long been popular among telecommuters, and with all the content that gets churned out all day, every day as news generates, editors are particularly in demand right now. They’re the folks who ensure that the words we read on business sites and blogs are strong, grammatically correct, and concise. There are many copy editing jobs at the entry level right now, and telecommuting is a very common perk.Operations coordinatorIf you’re more the management type than the wordsmith, consider finding a position as an operations coordinator. This job involves dealing with team members and handling billing, invoices, and payroll for all the teams in an organization. Like with an account manager gig, you don’t need to be in a physical office to do the job- especially if the company has many locations.TranslatorIf you’re fluent in more than one language, you can use your skills from the comfort of your own home across a wide variety of industries. If you have a stellar attention to detail and a great command of grammar, style, and slang in both of your spoken languages, translation is a great opportunity to use your skills and fit in work on your own schedule.Roadside assistance app representativeIf your car has ever broken down and you’ve used your phone to access a roadside assistance app to get moving again, you’ve relied on the kindness and skills of a person on the other end of the line to get you out of your bind. Roadside assistance app representatives are needed to handle the behind-the-scenes work that gets the job done- using people skills and computer skills to get people on the road again. Ironically, travel is often not a requirement for these jobs.Sales representativeSales representatives promote products to customers on the phone and on online, so not much more than a phone and a computer are n eeded to do this job. If you’re an ace with your computer and love talking to people all day, this may be the remote entry-level job for you. Sales reps who love what they sell are the best at their jobs, so if you have a passion for a product, this is also the gig for you.

RYAN AIR THE LOW FAIR AIRLINES Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

RYAN AIR THE LOW FAIR AIRLINES - Case Study Example On the one hand, in August 2006, an Air Transport World magazine reported that Ryanair was the most profitable airline in the world, based on its operation and net profit margins, and on a per-airplane and per-passenger basis (Higgins 2007: 2). In November 2006, the company announced new record half-year bottom line of â‚ ¬329 million for the first half of fiscal 2007 (Higgins 2007: 2). Furthermore, traffic increased by 23 per cent to 22.1 million passengers, while yield jumped by 9 per cent as total revenues increased by 33 per cent to â‚ ¬1.256 billion (Higgins 2007: 2). In addition, even as fuel costs increased by 42 per cent to â‚ ¬337 million, Ryanair’s after-tax margin increased by 1 point to 26 per cent (Higgins 2007: 2). Ryanair expects high demand in the future, so it plans to expand routes and its fleet. On the other hand, Ryanair faces legal battles and acquisition challenges for its Irish rival, Aer Lingus (Higgins 2007: 1). Ryanair also faces stiff opposi tion for its union-busting policies and long working hours and low salary, although it claims the opposite (Higgins 2007: 6). There are, additionally, environmental challenges that threaten to impinge on Ryanair’s low-cost, no-frills business model. These environmental threats can increase operational costs. This paper analyses the case of Ryanair. It evaluates Ryanair’s strategy compared to competitors, by analysing its low-cost business model through the stakeholder approach analysis. It also determines the key internal and external issues of Ryanair. Furthermore, it evaluates O’Leary’s leadership using the transformational leadership framework. Finally, it examines the sustainability of Ryanair’s future strategies. 2. Evaluation of Ryanair’s strategy compared to competitors Ryanair’s business strategy compared to competitors will be analysed using the stakeholder approach. 2.1 Stakeholder approach The society, in general, is becomi ng more concerned of the role that business plays in managing stakeholder relations and responding to the environment. Many customers also prefer to deal with companies that actively reduce their ecological footprints (Rueda-Manzanares, Aragon-Correa, and Sharma 2008: 188). Similarly, shareholders, as well as financial and insurance companies, seek to lessen liabilities associated with environmental risks that come from corporate operations, such as pollution and harmful human health effects. The European Union has, in response, as well as the United Kingdom (UK) passed environmental regulations, sanctions, fines, penalties and legal costs for companies that are not operating in an environmentally responsible manner (Henriques and Sadorsky 1996 cited in Rueda-Manzanares et al. 2008: 188). These political institutions recognise that stakeholders clearly know their rights and responsibilities and are willing to generate partnerships and networks that can result to win-win situations. Companies that neglect crucial stakeholder relationships, however, may compromise competitiveness in the long-run, particularly now in a globalised world, where stakeholder interests matter (Rueda-Manzanares et al. 2008: 188). Stakeholder theory has rise amidst the public clamour for corporate governance and business ethics (Elms et al. 2010: 405). The theory can be rooted from the integration of business strategy and ethics and gained greater attention from management scholars for the past fifteen years (Damall, Henriques, and Sadorsky 2009 cited in