Personal statement of character Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Personal statement of character - Essay Example hat the maker of drugs should have the traits that are required to understand the philosophy behind the administration of drugs and their role in healing. When I first considered being a pharmacist, I did not base my decision on my mere aptitude at math and chemistry; it was also my personal qualities that motivated me to pursue a profession which is a crucial cog in the healing process. One of the most important qualities that can be of great assistance to me in my career as a pharmacist is my compassion for others. During my nursing profession, I often found myself empathizing sincerely with the patients and understanding their pain and suffering. My experience as a nurse has made me sensitive to the suffering of the people and the pain that they have to bear due to disturbances in their normal physiological functions. Bearing this in mind, my focus when preparing drugs would be solely to mitigate the pain and affliction of these people. I am a compassionate by nature and my poised and calm personality can be a great asset during my professional practice as a pharmacist. My experience as a nurse has equipped me with the skill of appeasing patients- an attribute that I feel is necessary for satisfying frightened and stressed customers. I am also good at sports and have remained an active sportsperson in tennis and basketball in my school and college years. Being a team member and working with the rest of the team members have equipped me with a very valuable trait- team work. The profession of pharmacy requires that the pharmacist interacts with a number of professionals from the health care field. These include doctors, drug retailers, lab technicians etc. Working in teams for the success of the team and assisting team members to improve their performance has not only made me more helpful but has also made me more goal-driven. My ambition has enabled me to deliver excellent results when working on my own. Table tennis is a sport that requires players to develop

Real Estate Intern Report Essay Example for Free

Real Estate Intern Report Essay The company analyzed and discussed in this analysis is one of many health insurance companies registered under the Security Exchange Commission. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated or commonly referred as, â€Å"United Health Group,† or the â€Å"Company is the central tenant which this paper will focus on.† The Company, which was formally known as Charter Med Incorporated, was founded by a group of physicians and health care professionals in 1974. Their main objective was to give consumers a broad variety of options on health care coverage. A decade later, UnitedHealth Group becomes publicly traded, concentrating heavily on modern day technology. As a public traded company, UnitedHealth Group can be denoted as their ticker symbol, UNH. UnitedHealth Group’s core structure posits the goal of helping people live healthier lives by innovating thinking. The foundation of the Company is derived from the best practices in the medical care business. By achieving this goal, UNH uses incorporates an innovative and progressive clientele for their business management team to advance the health of patients. In order to reach out to potential patients, the Company operates under two platforms: UnitedHealthcare, which offers health benefits, and Optum which provides health services. UnitedHealthcare segments include Employer Individuals, Medicare Retirement, Community State and International. In contrast, Optum’s sections consist of OptumHealth, OptumInsight, and OptumRx. To fully understand the Company’s strategy, we must first understand its mission. UnitedHealth Group mission is â€Å"helping people live healthier lives and making health care work better (UnitedHealth Group, Inc. 2012, p. 1).†After we have establish a sense of understanding, we can further conduct a series of analysis by using tools such as PESTEL, Porter’s Five Forces, and SWOT analysis. As a result, we will be able to interpret UnitedHealth Group’s strategy and its competitive advantage. PESTEL 1). Political A). â€Å"The laws and rules governing our business and interpretations of those laws and rules are subject to frequent change, and the integration into our businesses of entities that we acquire may affect the way in which existing laws and rules apply to us†¦agencies administering, interpreting and enforcing current and future regulations governing our business could force us to change how we do business, restrict revenue and enrollment growth, increase our health care and administrative costs and capital requirements, or expose us to increased liability in courts for coverage determinations, contract interpretation and other actions (UnitedHealth Group, Inc. 2012, p.17).† B). In general, health care industry is and will continue to be heavily regulated in order to protect consumers. Insurance companies and other identities must be licensed in order to operate and hold jurisdiction where business are practiced. The complexity of regulations impedes companies such as UnitedHealth Group from generating revenue. As a result, the regulations force the Company to change how they do business. For example, UnitedHealth Group signed a contract with the Department of Defense to provide coverage to those in the military who are active or retired. The service known as TRICARE Managed Care Support will serve more than 2.7 million beneficiaries in 21 states (UnitedHealth Group, Inc. 2012, p.4). Thus, the losses leveraged from other services or products did not satisfy proper regulation. 2). Economic A). â€Å"Unfavorable economic conditions may impact demand for certain of our products and services. For example, high unemployment rates have caused and could continue to cause lower enrollment or lower rates of renewal in our employer group plans and our non-employer individual plans (UnitedHealth Group, Inc. 2012, p.25).† B). Because the economy changes daily, it is impossible to predict the certainty of unemployment rates. Unemployment rates are inversely related to the success of company operations. Simply, if rates increase, then membership levels decrease. To manage the inconsistency of unemployment rates, UnitedHealth Group offers a spectrum of products and services. When the economy is strong, traditional plans that typically â€Å"include a full range of medical benefits and network options from managed plans such as Choice and Options PPO† (UnitedHealth Group, Inc. 2012, p.3), tend to thrive. Conversely, when unemployment is high and the economy is weaker, essential benefits product which offer less than traditional plans but still provide basic services such as guides to physicians, become copious. 3). Sociocultural A). â€Å"As we continue to expand our business outside the United States, acquired foreign businesses, such as Amil, will present challenges that are different from those presented by acquisitions of domestic businesses, including adapting to new markets, business, labor and cultural practices and regulatory environments that are materially different from what we have experienced in our U.S. operations (UnitedHealth Group, Inc. 2012, p.24).† B).Although the Company’s main operations are in the United States, it has expanded its operations to other nations. Conducting business internationally faces many factors such as â€Å"political, economic, legal compliance, regulations, and operational risks and exposures that are unique and vary by jurisdiction (UnitedHealth Group, Inc. 2012, p.17)†. But having already been exposed to these elements in parts of Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia the recent acquisition of Amil, whose services are dispersed throughout Brazil, will face minimal encumbrances. Additionally, Amil’s products and services are much similar to those offered by UnitedHealth Group and thus effortlessly adapting to the new markets. The new market, which consist of over five million people, have been exposed to Amil’s health and dental benefits and have access to 45,000 contracted physicians (UnitedHealth Group, Inc. 2012, p.5). 4). Technology A). â€Å"Our ability to adequately price our products and services, to provide effective service to our customers in an efficient and uninterrupted fashion, and to accurately report our results of operations depends on the integrity of the data in our information systems †¦technology initiatives and recently enacted regulations, changes in our system platforms and integration of new business acquisitions, we periodically consolidate, integrate, upgrade and expand our information systems capabilities (UnitedHealth Group, Inc. 2012, p.26).† B). Technology is fundamental to UnitedHealth Group. In their earlier years, the Company provided physicians with office software that managed and controlled cost. Investing in technology can be costly, but for UnitedHealth Group it serves as a competitive advantage. One way UnitedHealth Group stays above average is by utilizing its information system’s user-friendly resources that help consumers control their decision on health care. These resources â€Å"provide greater transparency around quality and cost, such as the Premium Designation ® program and Health4Me for Apple ® and Android ® phones, myHealthcareCost Estimator, Health Care Lane and myuhc.com (UnitedHealth Group, Inc. 2012, p.2).† 5). Environmental A). â€Å"Relatively low interest rates on investments, such as those experienced during recent years, have adversely impacted our investment income, and a prolonged low interest rate environment could further adversely affect our investment income†¦delay in payment of principal and/or interest by issuers, or defaults by issuers, could reduce our net investment income and we may be required to write down the value of our investments, which could materially and adversely affect our profitability and shareholders’ equity (UnitedHealth Group, Inc. 2012, p.25).† B). As mentioned previously, UnitedHealth Group has an impact in the national and global economy. Due to its operations conducted on the international scale, UnitedHealth Group has significant exposure to environmental factors that directly affect shareholders’ equity. These factors include currency exchange, government intervention, and political instability. Because of the nature of the global economy, the Company must take preventative actions to protect their investments. This is exemplified when one takes note that the Company may choose to allocate its investments into smaller portfolios to help reduce exposure to the market. Additionally, the acquisition of Amil puts pressure on the company’s profitability. Fluctuating currency rates have an adverse effect on the Company’s cash flows. Thus, currency exchange may benefit UnitedHealth Group if not hindered by local government making transfer of funds difficult. 6). Legal A). â€Å"The Health Reform Legislation and the related federal and state regulations will impact how we do business and could restrict revenue and enrollment growth in certain products and market segments, restrict premium growth rates for certain products and market segments, increase our medical and administrative costs, expose us to an increased risk of liability†¦or put us at risk for loss of business†¦may also create new or expand existing opportunities for business growth, but due to its complexity, the impact of the Health Reform Legislation remains difficult to predict and is not yet fully known (UnitedHealth Group, Inc. 2012, p.11).† B). Health care regulations affects the whole industry who range from consumers to providers. Because insurance companies are so controlled, it obstructs the way businesses are run. Regulations that apply to health care companies, such as UnitedHealth Group, increases loss of business. For example, legislation will â€Å"includes an annual, non-deductible insurance industry tax to be levied proportionally across the insurance industry for risk-based products (UnitedHealth Group, Inc. 2012, p.35).† As a result, the Company is force to pay an upwards of $8 billion and gradually increasing every year. Porter’s Five Forces 7). Current Competitors (High) A). â€Å"†¦competitors include Aetna Inc., Cigna Corporation, Coventry Health Care, Inc., Health Net, Inc., Humana Inc., Kaiser Permanente, WellPoint, Inc., numerous for-profit and not-for-profit organizations operating under licenses from the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, and, with respect to our Brazilian operations, several established competitors in Brazil, and other enterprises that serve more limited geographic areas (UnitedHealth Group, Inc. 2012, p.14).† B). The companies stated above are a select few who construct the health care insurance industry. The thin selection of insurance companies causes companies to compete highly with each other to gain market shares. Health care insurance companies are much alike offering similar coverage to their clients. In order to have the upper hand, UnitedHealth Group spends an ordeal amount of money on technology to differentiate their products. Thus created plans for members to be â€Å"provided access to clinical products with the goal of helping them make better health care decisions, and thus better use of their medical benefits, with the ultimate goal of improving health and decreasing medical expenses (UnitedHealth Group, Inc. 2012, p.14).† 8). Threat of New Entrants (High) A). â€Å"In particular markets, competitors may have greater capabilities, resources or market share; a more established reputation; superior supplier or health care professional arrangements; better existing business relationships; or other factors that give such competitors a competitive advantage†¦merger and acquisition activity has occurred in the industries in which we operate, both among our competitors and suppliers†¦Consolidation may make it more difficult for us to retain or increase our customer base, improve the terms on which we do business with our suppliers, or maintain or increase profitability (UnitedHealth Group, Inc. 2012, p.22).† B). Due to the limited amount of insurance companies, other companies compete for market shares. Top companies like UnitedHealth Group hold sizable portions in segmented markets. Moreover, mid-size companies merge together in order to increase their shares in the market. Similarly, bigger companies acquire smaller companies to broaden their consumer base such as UnitedHealth Group with Amil. 9). Power of Suppliers (Medium) A). â€Å"We contract with physicians, hospitals, pharmaceutical benefit service providers, pharmaceutical manufacturers, and other health care providers for services†¦Failure to develop and maintain satisfactory relationships with health care providers, whether in-network or out-of-network, could materially and adversely affect our business†¦ (UnitedHealth Group, Inc. 2012, p.22).† B). A strong connection with suppliers is crucial to the company’s business because it has a strong positive correlation between prospective clients. UnitedHealth Group is one of the largest amongst other insurers and attracts an abundance of health care providers. As a result, an increase in suppliers dilutes their bargaining power. 10). Power of Buyers (High) A). Under our risk-based benefit product arrangements, we assume the risk of both medical and administrative costs for our customers in return for monthly premiums†¦The profitability of these products depends in large part on our ability to predict, price for, and effectively manage medical costs (UnitedHealth Group, Inc. 2012, p.16).† B). It is human nature to desire a variety of choices. Although health care insurance companies are scarce, their products and services are not. In the case of UnitedHealth Group, a full range of services are offered to employers and individuals. As a result, consumers have the choice and power to select a plan that suits them well. â€Å"As the commercial market becomes more consumer-oriented, individuals are assuming more personal and financial responsibility for their care, and they are demanding more affordable products, greater transparency and choice and personalized help navigating the complex system (UnitedHealth Group, Inc. 2012, p.2).† Acknowledging this helps UnitedHealth Group to stay competitive. 11). Threat of Substitutes (Low) A). â€Å"Our information systems require an ongoing commitment of significant resources to maintain, protect and enhance existing systems and develop new systems to keep pace with continuing changes in information processing technology, evolving systems and regulatory standards, emerging cyber security risks and threats, and changing customer patterns (UnitedHealth Group, Inc. 2012, p.26).† B). Technology serves as a great substitute compared to basic products sold by insurance companies. Technology consists of software programs that track your health, new medical treatment devices, and the ever changing Internet. The issue with technology is that it can get very expensive for both the company and the consumer. Therefore, only those who can afford it are amongst a few. Conversely, companies who are not developing new information technology will lose their competitive advantage and ultimately give up their market shares. Consumers are likely to find a cheaper and better alternative otherwise. SWOT 12). Strengths A). â€Å"UnitedHealthcare provides network-based health care benefits for a full spectrum of customers in the health benefits market. UnitedHealthcare Employer Individual serves employers ranging from sole proprietorships to large, multi-site and national employers, as well as students and other individuals†¦ (UnitedHealth Group, Inc. 2012, p.1).† B). UnitedHealth Group sustains a competitive advantage through its diversified products and services. Coverage is offered to large scale employers, military personal, the elderly, and those who cannot afford health care through government sponsorship. The Company reaches to consumers throughout the nation and even internationally. 13). Weaknesses A). â€Å"†¦legal actions we face or may face in the future could further increase our cost of doing business and materially and adversely affect our results of operations, financial position and cash flows†¦certain legal actions could result in adverse publicity, which could damage our reputation and materially and adversely affect our ability to retain our current business or grow our market share in select markets and businesses (UnitedHealth Group, Inc. 2012, p.23).† B). The health care industry has have a negative connotation. The public views insurance companies as scammers that rob society. Companies gain a bad reputation when they get investigated by the Government. UnitedHealth Group’s goal is to provide people with healthier lives, not rob them financially. Consequently, â€Å"negative publicity may adversely affect our stock price, damage our reputation in various markets or foster an increasingly active regulatory environment, which, in turn, could further increase the regulatory burdens under which we operate and our costs of doing business (UnitedHealth Group, Inc. 2012, p.18).† 14). Opportunities A). â€Å"UnitedHealthcare International acquired Amil, which provides health and dental benefits to over five million people and also operates 22 acute hospitals, as well as specialty clinics, primary care, and emergency services across Brazil, principally for the benefit of its members (UnitedHealth Group, Inc. 2012, p.5).† B). The acquisition of Amil will provide UnitedHealth Group with newer market segments, more consumers, and increase the company’s revenue. Amil will also offer diversified product portfolio that contain a range of products offerings, benefit designs, and indemnity products. Furthermore, Amil will include various administrative services which include network access, care management and personal services (UnitedHealth Group, Inc. 2012, p.5). 15). Threats A). â€Å"Several of the provisions in the Health Reform Legislation will likely increase our medical cost trends. Examples of these provisions are the excise tax on medical devices, annual fees on prescription drug manufacturers, enhanced coverage requirements†¦the prohibition of pre-existing condition exclusions and the implementation of adjusted community rating requirements (UnitedHealth Group, Inc. 2012, p.19).† B).As mentioned in the PESTEL breakdown, under the analysis of the legal realm, Health Reform Legislation causes a serious threat to the well-being of UnitedHealth Group’s business. Excess taxes take away from the company’s profits thus rendering them unable to reinvest into their company. Lastly, prohibition of excluding pre-existing conditions may increase the risk and medical cost in the future. Competitive Strategy 16a. â€Å"We believe the principal competitive factors that can impact our businesses relate to the sales, marketing and pricing of our products and services; product innovation; consumer engagement and satisfaction; the level and quality of products and services; care delivery; network and clinical management capabilities; market share; product distribution systems; efficiency of administration operations; financial strength and marketplace reputation (UnitedHealth Group, Inc. 2012, p.14).† In order for a company to have sustainable competitive advantage, they must abide their company’s vital principals. UnitedHealth Group does not only accomplish their objective, but they surpass other companies’ strategy. First they exceed in sales by offering premium services such as UnitedHealthcare and Optum products. The company also provides a variety of these products and services ranging from value-oriented plans to essential-oriented plans. Secondly, UnitedHealth Group has an exclusive network system that only clients have access to. Clients have access to physicians and hospital that meet their unique needs. Moreover, the Company serves to large national employers, public sectors employers, and midsize employers to individuals. As a result, UnitedHealth Group is â€Å"providing nearly 27 million Americans access to health care (UnitedHealth Group, Inc. 2012, p.2).† Lastly, UnitedHealth Group is a massive health insurance company which has enabled them to control ample market shares. Their recent acquisition with Amil shows how strong UnitedHealth Group is financially. Overall, UnitedHealth Group is a leading company in health care insurance proven by their business factors. The Company uses a differentiation strategy to maintain its competitive advantage. Article 16b. UnitedHealth to buy most of Brazils Amil for $4.9 billion The company is making a bold move taking on the fast growing markets of Brazil. UnitedHealth Group has made record on being the first to acquire manage Care Company across seas. The acquisition will bring UnitedHealth Group more leverage and revenue to its operations. â€Å"Amil has more than 5 million clients in Brazil and owns 22 hospitals and 50 clinics. It forecast revenues of $5 billion for 2012, up 15 percent from 2011. UnitedHealth had revenues of nearly $102 billion in 2011 and expects the deal to slightly increase its 2013 earnings per share (reuters.com). Ultimately Amil’s operations will be similar to UnitedHealth Group in that it will provide its products and services to new market segments. In addition, â€Å"Brazils healthcare system consists of public and private plans, similar to the U.S. model. The number of Brazilians covered under private plans has grown more than 50 percent over the past 10 years to nearly 48 million people, roughly a quarter of the count rys population (reuters.com).† Work Cited Humer, Caroline. UnitedHealth to Buy Most of Brazils Amil for $4.9 Billion. Reuters. Thomson Reuters, 08 Oct. 2012. Web. 25 Sept. 2013. UnitedHealth Group, Inc. (2012). Form 10-K 2012. Retrieved from SEC EDGAR website http://www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml View as multi-pages

The Black Death Essay -- essays research papers

The Black Death   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Considered one of the worst natural disasters in world history, the Black Death came through Europe in 1347 A.D. It ravaged cities and town, causing a death to the masses, and no one was considered safe. The Plague is any epidemic scourge or calamity for which remedies are difficult to find, and according to the encyclopedia, plague is a common term for a disease of rodents that occasionally cause severe human infection. Named for the black spots that appeared on the victims’ skin, the original disease originated from Oriental Rat Fleas and black rats. It first infected Mongol armies and traders in Asia, and then began moving west with them as they traveled. There was no natural immunity to the disease, and standards of public health and personal hygiene were nearly nonexistent. It is believed that if people had not fled to nearby cities in hopes of escaping the plague, it might not have ever spread like it did. In the end, it passed through Italy, France, England, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Poland, Finland, and even up to the island of Greenland. City dwellers were hit the hardest due to the fact of crowded streets and the lack of sanitation. Up until the mid-15th century, recurrent epidemics prevented the recovery of Europe’s population to pre-plague levels. The Black Death was an important turning point for the history of Europe. This time was â€Å"the beginning of the end of the medieval period and the start of a social transformation of the continent.† The social and economic impacts of the plague were so huge, economics, politics and the European society would never be the same again.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The plague took on three different forms, each with its own unique way of killing. The most common, bubonic, was considered the mildest form, with a mortality rate of thirty to seventy-five percent. A person with this would be seen with enlarged lymph nodes in the neck, arm and groin regions, with headaches, nausea, body aches, and a high fever. The pneumonic plague was the second most commonly seen form of the Black Death. Only five percent of its victim’s survived, infecting the lungs, causing a person to cough and vomit blood. The least common form, but most deadly, with a one hundred percent death rate was the septicemic plague. Even today, if a person were to come up with this form of the... ...omes fell, resulting in the piles of accounts which survived the period of the Black Death. Many villages and hamlets were deserted and never inhabited again. Feudalism seemed to end with the coming of the Black Death, and many believe the two are directly related. Feudalism is known as the system of service in return for a grant of land, burdening the peasant with many obligations to his lord. The payments involved in feudalism were to be paid upon entering any land holdings, marriage, death, or any other occasions by which the individual lord and peasant agree. The plague seemed to speed up this process by dramatically reducing the number of peasants, and communication accelerated the matter.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Landlords tried their best to keep a cap on the rising wages and changing social ambitions of the peasants, but there was too much chaos in the system at the time. Lords and peasants were both looking for the highest wages they could possibly take. Because of this, no matter who you were before the plague hit Europe, anyone who survived the plague, additional wealth from the rise in wages and accumulated holdings of land hold by plague victims was in store.

J.C. Penney: Creating America’s Favorite Store Essay

INTRODUCTION: In 2013, this department store has been celebrating being in business for 110 years. It also once lured its customers in with its famous discount pricing strategy and coupons. The retailer is J.C. Penney, a fixture at shopping malls across the country. In 2012, J.C. Penney rebranded itself by making the announcement that it wanted to become America’s favorite store by creating a specialty department store experience (JCP, 2013). Founder James Cash Penney began the company with a Golden Rule: treat others the way you want to be treated Fair and Square (JCP, n.d.). The well-known retailer has grown to nearly 1,100 stores and boasts a workforce of more than 116,000 full and part-time employees (Strand, 1998). JCP operates in the continental United States, Alaska, and Puerto Rico. Loyal consumers flocked to the giant big box store where it sold women, men, and children’s clothing along with jewelry and household items such as appliances and home furniture. Over the years, the giant retailer has polished its marketing finesse. JCP’s current catchy advertising line: â€Å"Creating America’s Favorite Store† (JCP, n.d.). In corporate America, there are four different market structures: pure competition, pure monopolistic, l responsibility, Decision making, oligopoly, and monopoly. J.C. Penney falls under the pure competition market structure which is defined as many sellers supplying identical products (Douglas, 2012, Ch. 7). J.C. Penney humble beginnings started as a dry foods store and branched out over the years as a successful chain department store competing against other stores such as Sears, Macy’s, and Dillard. J.C. Penney’s corporate culture includes social responsibility to its consumers, its employees, its suppliers, and to the environment. However, over the two several years, J.C. Penney has endured an economic downturn which began after the hiring of former Apple executive Ron Johnson in late 2011 and his subsequence firing in early 2013 (â€Å"J.C. Penney’s Chief Executive Ron Johnson Ousted,† 2013). Executives, such as Johnson, have the power to influence the purchasing power of consumers through several different variables such as product pricing, product design and packaging, product availability, and product promotion (Douglas, 2012, Ch. 3). This paper shall explore the company’s managerial economics decision which includes taking a look at its corporate social responsibility, consumer demand, the change in its pricing strategy over the past two years, attitudes toward risk, and the price elasticity of demand. SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY COMPANY: J.C. Penney sets high corporate social responsibility for itself. On the company’s official website, it lists the company’s social responsibility which includes establishing strong environmental responsibility. Under the company’s corporate governance, JCP touts itself as a stewardship to the environment and approved its core principles in 1991( JCP, 2013). Among some of JCP’s core principles include: continuing to review its operations practice in assessing its potential impact on the environment or related human health or safety issues; working with suppliers and merchandisers to develop packages and products that are environmental responsible and safe; and taking steps to reduce the use of non-renewable energy. Among some of the company’s recent progress include: making a conscious effort to reduce packaging and paper usage, setting up an elaborate waste management recycling program, and promoting energy conservation (JCP, 2013). JCP’s corporate social responsibility shows that the company follows the Triple Bottom Line concept shortened to TBL. This concept follows the three pillars: people, profit, and planet (Faragher, 2008). Author Jo Faragher (2008) explained in her article â€Å"Sustain To Gain†, that the triple bottom line means a â€Å"business is run not just on economic performance, but also on how it affects the community and the environment† (p. 20-22). Companies such as JCP find that they cannot operate while ignoring its responsibility to the environment. By being environmentally responsible, JCP’s actions may entice certain consumers who may only spend their money on companies that care about their community and the environment. Despite a long-standing and strong corporate governance, JCP profits spiraled in 2012 following a series of poor economic managerial decisions. 2012 SEC ANNUAL REPORT: The latest figures for J.C. Penney’s sales and profits are from 2008 to 2012. According to the company’s latest United States Securities and Exchange Commission filings for 2012, the report states that the company’s market price common stock has fluctuated substantially and may continue to fluctuate significantly (JCP, 2013). Below is a graph with values indicating the company’s struggle for profits in 2012 following the hiring of Ron Johnson. The former Apple executive launched a new pricing strategy following his appointment as CEO of J.C. Penney in late 2011. In its first quarter in 2012, the company’s profits lost $163 million dollars, sales skidded to 20%, and traffic to its stores decreased by 10% (Zmuda, 2012). By the end of 2012, the company net sales decreased by more than five million dollars compared to 2011 prior to Johnson’s appointment. Unfortunately for Johnson, his confusing pricing strategy did not catch on with loyal JCP shoppers. In addition, Johnson was stubborn and did not believe in conducting research with his new marketing strategy at a few select stores before he rolled it out to all the stores (Kumar, 2013). Johnson’s biggest cheerleader at the time of his appointment was William Ackman, Founder and CEO of Pershing Square Capital Management, LP. Ackman serves on the Board of Directors of JCP and owns 18% of the company as well as other derivatives that further would boost his exposure (Glazer, Lublin, & Mattioli, 2013). Below is a graph with figures showing JCP’s total net sales in 2012 which decreased by more than five million dollars versus in 2011 (JCP 2012 SEC, 2013). In this case, poor management decisions impacted the company’s profits. | | |2012 |2011 |2010 |2009 |2008 | |Total Net Sales: | |$12,985 |$17,260 |$17,759 |$17,556 |$18,486 | |Sales Percentage: | |-24.80% |-3% |1.20% |-5.00% |-6.90% | |Operating Income: | |-1,310 |-2 |832 |663 |1,135 | |Income loss | | | | | | | |Continuing operations | |-985 |-152 |378 |249 |567 | | | | | | | | | |($ in millions) | | | | | | | CONSUMER DEMAND AND PRICING STRATEGY: Former Apple executive Ron Johnson took the helm at J.C. Penney in late 2011. At the time, Johnson’s predecessor was Mike Ullman whom was fired after more than seven years at the top strategist for JCP (â€Å"J.C. Penney’s Chief Ron Johnson Ousted,† 2013). Johnson’s experience on paper looked great. He worked for Apple and Target and his appointment was considered a coup for JCP (Kumar, 2013). Ackman touted him as the man who would turn J.C. Penney’s stores into sellers of name-brand clothes with few discounts (Glazer, Lublin, & Mattioli, 2013). In the article â€Å"The Man Who Went Too Far At J.C. Penney†, author Nikhil Kumar (2013) stated that â€Å"for decades it has served the great American middle class, luring them in with discounts and coupons† (p. n/a). Johnson’s first action in changing JCP included eliminating the company’s old pricing strategy which he considered as fake prices because the company was constantly marking down prices (Kumar, 2013). Johnson eliminated the fake prices and called his new pricing strategy as fair and square. Here is an example of Johnson’s new pricing strategy. Instead of marking up a t-shirt at the price of $14 dollars and then slashing the price to $6 dollars with its markdowns and coupons, Johnson suggested to just marked the t-shirt at $7. Johnson explained that his new pricing policy not only simple, but fair and square (Kumar, 2013). Unfortunately, the new strategy did not meet with enthusiasm from loyal consumers. In managerial economics, the pricing strategy is important for consumers especially for loyal shoppers. A change in pricing also means a movement in the consumer demand curve (Douglas, 2012, Ch. 4.1). Pricing is considered a decision variable and plays a part in consumer demand (Douglas, 2012, Ch. 3). In managerial economics, decisions makers can follow a model called the utility-maximizing model of consumer demand. In the textbook â€Å"Managerial Economics†, author Evan J. Douglas (2012) explained this model as a way â€Å"individual consumers make decisions to buy products based on the expectation that the purchase will allow them to gain the most psychic satisfaction, or utility, from their limited incomes† (Ch. 3.1). Limited income is also another way of describing discretionary income, money that is available to consumers after paying the necessary expenditures such as mortgage, utility, and other bills. In the case of JCP, the company experienced a diminishing marginal utility. The marginal utility of a product means that as one product goes up, another product that is a substitute goes down (Douglas, 2012, Ch. 3.1). With the confusing pricing strategy, loyal shoppers and prospective shoppers turned elsewhere to shop such as Sears, Target, and Macy’s to achieve their satisfaction in spending their money. In managerial economics, consumer’s satisfaction is explained as the total utility. In describing this relationship between Product A which is JCP versus Product B, Sears, the graph will show the indifference curves to be convex which means as Product A goes down while Product B go up (Douglas, 2012, Ch. 3.1). Thus, the consumers’ total utility continued to achieve while JCP’s marginal utility diminished. Perhaps another mishaps of Johnson’s new pricing policy included using the concept of penetration pricing which is the practice of setting relatively low price to achieve more consumers’ sales, therefore in return, the end result is gaining more market shares (Douglas, 2012, Ch. 9.1). Before Johnson came on board, he believed that JCP’s old pricing policy devalued the company’s brand, but it also caused confusion because the company was constantly sending out flyers and coupons that added little to the shoppers’ experience (Kumar, 2013). In the end, Johnson’s risky move did not pay off and the company saw a decline in profits in 2012. ATTITUDES TOWARD RISK: Johnson’s mistake was not road-testing his pricing ideas plan before implementing it. Risk analysis is part of managerial economics. Johnson did not take into account adjusting for risk using the certainty equivalent factor looking at the decision and the amount of money that a decision-maker feels is equivalent to the expected value of a decision (Douglas, 2012, Ch. 2.1). There are several different attitudes toward risk running from the gamut of being risk neutral to an individual who is a risk seeker. Johnson’s attitude toward risk appeared to be more of a risk seeker defined as an individual who seeks a risky action because in return that risky action means a high rate of return (Douglas, 2012, Ch. 2). Another more transparent decision rule that should have been followed for Johnson was using the Maximin Decision Rule (MDR) which is the practice of choosing choose the alternative that has the highest maximum value and the lowest minimum outcome (Douglas, 2012, Ch. 2.2). Although it appeared that Johnson did not seek out an alternative to his plan, perhaps, his best practice should have involved following the MDR concept. PRICE ELASTICITY OF DEMAND: Along with the decision variables of product, pricing, placement, and promotion, in managerial economics, decision makers also need to consider the price elasticity of demand or PED. The sensitivity of quantity demand is known as the elasticity of demand. The price elasticity of demand is affected by prices where high prices suggest consumers would buy less of the product and lower prices mean consumers would buy more of the product (Douglas, 2012, Ch. 4). PED is influenced by a multitude of factors such as availability of substitutes, household income, consumer preferences, expected duration of price change, and the product’s share of a household’s income (Andreyeva, Long, & Brownell, 2010). According to the website www.About.com Economics: The higher the price elasticity, the more sensitive consumers are to price changes. A very high price elasticity suggests that when the price of a good goes up, consumers will buy a great deal less of it and when the price of that good goes down, consumers will buy a great deal more. A very low price elasticity implies just the opposite, that changes in price have little influence on demand (About.com Economics, 2013). In the case of JCP, the company witnessed the opposite with the price elasticity of demand. Even though Johnson’s new pricing ideas were meant to streamline the shopping experience for the consumers, the end result did not take place. Consumers did not understand nor did they liked the ideas. In the end, the faithful consumers abandoned the company and looked elsewhere to spend their money. Shoppers felt the new pricing ideas were confusing adn did not feel that they adhere to JCP’s The end result: profits suffered in 2012 with a 25% sales slumped compared to 2008 when the company brought in nearly $19 million dollars in total net sales (JCP, 2013). RECOMMENDATIONS: Steps have been taken to rectify the managerial decision makings that took place in late 2011. In less than two years, Johnson is out, along with his team of executives. The Board of Directors for JCP replaced Johnson earlier this year with his predecessor Mike Ulman (Kumar, 2013). Although Ulman received criticisms under his leadership, JCP and the Board of Directors returned to the old strategy In addition, the company returned to its popular pricing strategy that it abandoned in 2011 following the appointment of Johnson. That pricing strategy involved increasing prices of private label lines followed by slashing prices as a means of bringing up sales and margins (â€Å"Department Store JCPenney Revives Abandoned Pricing Strategy†, 2013). Companies tend to go back to the same marketing strategies that worked in the past. Prior to Johnson’s departure, he admitted that his bold, but risky pricing ideas were a mistake and acknowledged that ending the retailer’s markdown and couponing were a mistake that cost him company’s profits and his job. Before JCP commit to changing its marketing strategy, it needs to consider and perhaps ask consumers what they want. At times, decision makers forget to consider and ask consumers what they want versus just believing or thinking consumers want change. Johnson’s rejected retail industry procedures which included testing changes in limited stores before rolling them out to all the stores (Glazer, Lublin, & Mattioli, 2013). This was not the case for loyal shoppers. They wanted to feel that they were getting a bargain versus just paying for one simple price. These are necessary changes the company has implemented following the firing of Johnson in early 2013. JCP is now looking to regain its standing in the department stores war. At the helm is Ulman who lead the company for the past seven years prior to being replaced two years ago. During his time as CEO, JCP saw profits gain (JCP 2012 SEC, 2013). CONCLUSION: J.C. Penney is reinventing itself and wants consumers to remember that it is â€Å"Creating America’s Favorite Store†. It has a new CEO who was reinstated and returned to its old pricing plan. It is a company that has a strong corporate governance, but due to poor managerial economic decisions, J.C. Penney went through a spiral for nearly 18 months before the bleeding stop. The poor economic decisions led to profits loss along with low morale within the company (Kumar, 2013). In managerial economics, decisions such as pricing, product, placement, and promotion affect the consumers demand curve. JCP experienced it firsthand. References About.com Economics (2013). Price elasticity of demand. Retrieved on June 2, 2013 from http://economics.about.com/cs/micfrohelp/a/priceelasticity.htm Andreyeva, T., Long, M. W., M.P.H., & Brownell, K. D., PhD. (2010). The impact of food prices on consumption: A systematic review of research on the price elasticity of demand for food. American Journal of Public Health, 100(2), 216-22. Retrieved from ProQuest Central. doi: 903343408. Department store JC penney revives abandoned pricing strategy. (2013). Retail Week, Retrieved ProQuest Central. doi: 1324133045. Douglas, E. (2012). Managerial Economics (1st ed.). San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education. Faragher, J. (2008). Sustain to gain. Personnel Today, pp.20-22. Retrieved from ProQuest Central. doi: 229932707. Glazer, E., Lublin, J.S., & Mattioli, D. (2013, April 9). Penney backfires on ackman. Retrieved on June 2, 2013 from http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324504704578412440293890624.ht

History of Philippine Cinema Essay

A. The Golden Age of Philippine Films The 1950s were considered a time of â€Å"rebuilding and growth†. But remnants from the preceding decade of the 40s remained in the form of war-induced reality. This is seen is Lamberto Avellana’s Anak Dalita (The Ruins, 1956), the stark tragedy of post-WWII survival set in Intramuros. The decade saw frenetic activity in the film industry which yielded what might be regarded as the first harvest of distinguished films by Filipinos. Two studios before the war, namely Sampaguita Pictures and LVN, reestablished themselves. Bouncing back quickly, they churned out movie after movie to make up for the drought of films caused by the war. Another studio, Premiere Productions, was earning a reputation for â€Å"the vigor and the freshness† of some of its films. This was the period of the â€Å"Big Four† when the industry operated under the studio system. Each studio (Sampaguita, LVN, Premiere and Lebran) had its own set of stars, technicians and directors, all lined up for a sequence of movie after movie every year therefore maintaining a monopoly of the industry. The system assured moviegoers a variety of fare for a whole year and allowed stars and directors to improve their skills. Read more: Essay About Philippine Cinema Critics now clarify that the 50s may be considered one â€Å"Golden Age† for the Filipino film not because film content had improved but because cinematic techniques achieved an artistic breakthrough in that decade. This new consciousness was further developed by local and international awards that were established in that decade. Awards were first instituted that decade. First, the Manila Times Publishing Co. set up the Maria Clara Awards. In 1952, the FAMAS (Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences) Awards were handed out. More so, Filipino films started garnering awards in international film festivals. One such honor was bestowed on Manuel Conde’s immortal movie Genghis Khan (1952) when it was accepted for screening at the Venice Film Festival. Other honors include awards for movies like Gerardo de Leon’s Ifugao (1954) and Lamberto Avellana’s Anak Dalita. This established the Philippines as a major filmmaking center in Asia. These awards also had the effect of finally garnering for Filipino films their share of attention from fellow Filipinos. B. The Decline of Philippine Film If the 1950s were an ubiquitous period for film, the decade that followed was a time of decline. There was â€Å"rampant commercialism and artistic decline† as portrayed on the following: In the 1960s, the foreign films that were raking in a lot of income were action pictures sensationalizing violence and soft core sex films hitherto banned from Philippine theater screens, Italian â€Å"spaghetti† Westerns, American James Bond-type thrillers, Chinese/Japanese martial arts films and European sex melodramas. To†¦get an audience to watch their films, (the independent) producers had to take their cue from these imports. The result is a plethora of films†¦giving rise to such curiosities as Filipino samurai and kung fu masters, Filipino James Bonds and†¦the bomba queen. The studio systems came under siege from the growing labor movement which resulted in labor-management conflicts. The first studio to close was Lebran followed by Premiere Productions. Next came Sampaguita and LVN. The â€Å"Big Four† studios were replaced by new and independent producers who soon made up the rest of the film industry. The decade also saw the emergence of the youth revolt best represented by the Beatles and the rock and roll revolution. They embodied the wanting to rebel against adult institutions and establishments. Certain new film genres were conceived just to cater to this â€Å"revolt†. Fan movies such as those of the â€Å"Tita and Pancho† and â€Å"Nida and Nestor† romantic pairings of the 50s were the forerunners of a new kind of revolution – the â€Å"teen love team† revolution. â€Å"Nora Aunor and Vilma Santos, along with Tirso Cruz III and Eddie Mortiz as their respective screen sweethearts, were callow performers during the heyday of fan movies. Young audiences made up of vociferous partisans for ‘Guy and Pip’ or ‘Vi and Bot’ were in search of role models who could take the place of elders the youth revolt had taught them to distrust† Another kind of youth revolt came in the form of the child star. Roberta (1951) of Sampaguita Pictures was the phenomenal example of the drawing power of movies featuring [these] child stars. In the 60s this seemed to imply rejection of â€Å"adult corruption† as exposed by childhood innocence. The film genres of the time were direct reflections of the â€Å"disaffection with the status quo† at the time. Action movies with Pinoy cowboys and secret agents as the movers of the plots depicted a â€Å"society ravaged by criminality and corruption† . Movies being make-believe worlds at times connect that make-believe with the social realities. These movies suggest a search for heroes capable of delivering us from hated bureaucrats, warlords and villains of our society. The action films of the 1960s brought into the industry â€Å" a new savage rhythm that made earlier action films seem polite and stage managed.† The pacing of the new action films were fast as the narrative had been pared down to the very minimum of dialogues. And in keeping up with the Hollywood tradition, the action sequences were even more realistic. Another film genre that is perhaps also a embodiment of the revolt of the time is the bomba genre. Probably the most notorious of all, this genre appeared at the close of the decade. Interestingly, it came at a time when social movement became acknowledged beyond the walls of campuses and of Manila. In rallies, demonstrations and other forms of mass action, the national democratic movement presented its analysis of the problems of Philippine society and posited that only a social revolution could bring genuine change. The bomba film was a direct challenge to the conventions and the norms of conduct of status quo, a rejection of authority of institutions in regulating the â€Å"life urge† seen as natural and its free expression â€Å"honest† and â€Å"therapeutic† Looking beyond the obvious reasons as to the emergence of the bomba film, both as being an exploitative product of a profit-driven industry and as being a â€Å"stimulant†, it can be analyzed as actually being a â€Å"subversive genre†, playing up to the establishment while rebelling and undermining support for the institutions. Even in the period of decline, genius has a way of showing itself. Several Philippine films that stood out in this particular era were Gerardo de Leon’s Noli Me Tangere (Touch me Not, 1961) and El Filibusterismo (Subversion, 1962). Two other films by Gerardo de Leon made during this period is worth mentioning – Huwag mo Akong Limutin (Never Forget Me , 1960) and Kadenang Putik (Chain of Mud, 1960), both tales of marital infidelity but told with insight and cinematic import. C. Films during Martial Law In the 60s, the youth clamored for change in the status quo. Being in power, Ferdinand Marcos answered the youth by placing the nation under martial rule. In 1972, he sought to contain growing unrest which the youth revolt of the 1960s fueled. Claiming that all he wanted was to â€Å"save the Republic†, Marcos retooled the liberal-democratic political system into an authoritarian government which concentrated power in a dictators hand. To win the population over, mass media was enlisted in the service of the New Society. Film was a key component of a society wracked with contradictions within the ruling class and between the sociopolitical elite and the masses. In terms of comparisons, the Old Society (or the years before Martial Law) became the leading symbol for all things bad and repugnant. The New Society was supposed to represent everything good – a new sense of discipline, uprightness and love of country Accordingly, the ideology of the New Society was incorporated into local films. †¦Marcos and his technocrats sought to regulate filmmaking. The first step was to control the content of movies by insisting on some form of censorship. One of the first rules promulgated by the Board of Censors for Motion Pictures (BCMP) stipulated submission of a finished script prior to the start of filming. When the annual film festival was revived, the censors blatantly insisted that the â€Å"ideology† of the New Society be incorporated into the content of the entries. The government tried to control the film industry while keeping it in â€Å"good humor† – necessary so that the government could continue using film as propagandistic vehicles. So despite the censors, the exploitation of sex and violence onscreen continued to assert itself. Under martial law, action films depicting shoot outs and sadistic fistfights ( which were as violent as ever) usually append to the ending an epilogue claiming that the social realities depicted had been wiped out with the establishment of the New Society. The notorious genre of sex or bomba films that appeared in the preceding decade were now tagged as â€Å"bold† films, simply meaning that a lot more care was given to the costumes. Martial Law declared in 1972 clamped down on bomba films as well as political movies critical of the Marcos administration. But the audience’s taste for sex and nudity had already been whetted. Producers cashed in on the new type of bomba, which showed female stars swimming in their underwear, taking a bath in their camison (chemise), or being chased and raped in a river, sea, or under a waterfall. Such movies were called the wet look†¦

The Federalist Papers by Hamilton, Madison, and Jay essays

The Federalist Papers by Hamilton, Madison, and Jay essays Between October 1787 and August 1788, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay wrote and submitted eighty-five seemingly persuasive essays to various New York newspapers. Their essential goal was to convince the people of New York to support the new Constitution that was drafted in Philadelphia in 1787. If they could not sway the people of New York the new country would have been split in half therefore welcoming tension between the two sides as well as foreign invaders. Their success resulted in the uniting of a single power under which we still stand today. The authors were all but subtle in the introduction of the essays. They put the fate of the new Constitution in the hands of one of the bigger, more populous states as well as one of the three most important states. They sought federalism, the mixture of unitary and confederate governments, thus granting the states local power, but also a strong centralized power. They believed that between individual freedom and social order and between a tyrannical government and a government too weak to be effective was a middle ground in which the new Constitution would settle. (Gilbert-Rolfe, 1). The Federalist Papers are probably the most important documentation of the road traveled to the ratification of the new Constitution. This is in fact where we originated as a country. They play such an important role in American history, without them there may well have not been a United States. In America: Past and Present, Divine, one author, points out some of the more important papers written. In paper no. 10, Madisons first contribution, he states the problem with the influence of factions or political groups, which is especially relevant to political problems faced today. (Gilbert-Rolfe, 10). He believes the new Constitution will solve this problem and that is another reason to vote for it. Today in America we have the same prob...

Marketing Management The WritePass Journal

Marketing Management Marketing Management 1. Marketing Plan Outline1.1 Corporate Mission:1.2 Corporate Objectives:1.3 Market Overview:1.3.1 Market:1.3.2 Product:1.3.3 Customer Target:1.3.4 Competition:1.4 .Marketing Mission:1.5 Marketing Objectives 2011-2012:1.6   IMC Campaign 2011-2012:1.7   Budget 2011:1.8   Controls:2. Critical Evaluation of the Marketing Plan2.1  Ã‚   Saudi Political Situation:2.2 Saudi Economical Situation:2.3 Saudi Social Environment:2.4 Saudi Technological advancements:2.5 Saudi Legislative Scenario:2.6 Environmental Awareness in Saudi:2.7   The Jeddah Gate Customer:2.7.1 Liberal Elite:2.7.2 Investors:2.8 Competitor Threats:2.9 Jeddah Gate SWOT: 3.   Impact of Technology and New Media3.1 The rise of technology and new media in Saudi:3.2 Growth of the internet in Saudi:3.3 Impact of technology and new media on Emaar’s future marketing plans:4. Sustainability:  BibliographyRelated 1. Marketing Plan Outline 1.1 Corporate Mission: To transform Emaar into a one-stop, global solution provider for lifestyle, including homes, work, play, leisure, retail, health, education, finance, industry and more. (www.emaar.com.ae) 1.2 Corporate Objectives: To become one of the most valuable lifestyle real estate developers in the world beyond real estate development. Adopt a strategy of business segmentation to create different business clusters functioning as different growth engines. (www.emaar.com.ae) 1.3 Market Overview: 1.3.1 Market: Saudi Arabia’s real estate market is relatively underdeveloped and its expanding population, a lack of affordable housing and few home financing options has seen significant demand build up. The Kingdom faces housing demands of over 1.3mn housing units by 2015 (National Commercial Bank Capital Research Department 2008, p11). The markets relative infancy has also shielded it from the worst of the global financial crisis leaving it economically stable compared to its neighbors in the Gulf (The PRS Group, Inc. 2010. P4) In the midst of all the political upheaval in the Arab world; the Kingdom has taken a pre-emptive approach and recently announced further benefits for its people, such as interest free housing loans and a bigger budget for infrastructural development amongst many others (us-sabc.org). So far the Kingdom has not seen any major uprising from the population; however the situation is unpredictable and can change without warning (www.ft.com). 1.3.2 Product: Jeddah Gate (JG) project establishes a new and innovative way of thinking about urban cities and living. The layout of the project deviates from the traditional concepts of residential complexes and introduces a community residence aspect for the first time in Saudi Arabia; where people can live, work and play in one location (www.emaarme.com.sa). Main features of the JG community: 550, 000 sq. m. total area, 6000 residential units, 75000 sq. m of retail space, 230,000sq.m†¦ commercial space and Schools Public Facilities (www.emaarme.com.sa). 1.3.3 Customer Target: 1.3.4 Competition: 1.4 .Marketing Mission: In 2011-2012 Jeddah Gate will focus on communicating the USP of work, live and play within the community; to increase customer awareness, increase traffic at sales center and help in generating sales. (Jeddah Gate Marketing Plan 2011) 1.5 Marketing Objectives 2011-2012: Leverage the concept of live, work and play and growth of Jeddah Gate as a project, as a community and as a symbol of success in all aspects of ATL BTL communications. To generate 240+ in target market registered traffic every month and increase sales conversion ratio above 2% (Registered traffic is: sales center walk in, calls to call center, online registration, event attendance). Coordinate with Sales team to achieve the 2011-2012 sales revenue targets:    1.6   IMC Campaign 2011-2012: 1.7   Budget 2011: 1.8   Controls: Closely monitor the effects of the marketing campaigns through keeping track of the rate of traffic at the JG sales center, incoming calls for information in the call center and conduct professional research to evaluate the level of awareness created. 2. Critical Evaluation of the Marketing Plan 2.1  Ã‚   Saudi Political Situation: The political environment in Saudi has been quite stable over the years, being a purely monarchical government no serious political unrest has occurred (The Economist Intelligence Unit Limited 2010 p3). A stable political environment has helped the country prosper; according to The Global Competitive report (2010-2011 p37) conducted by the World Economic Forum, Saudi Arabia has risen to the second highest place in the MENA (Middle East Africa) region in terms of global competitive advantage due to several economic initiatives undertaken by the regime such as improvements to the institutional framework, a stronger corporate governance framework, investing in the private sector and reforming legal issues (Mohamed A Ramady 2010 p3) . The current political upheaval in the MENA region cannot be ignored; so far Saudi Arabia has witnessed very minor protests by a minority of the population, however the risk of serious political unrest in Saudi is not highly probable due to the strict anti-protest laws in place by the government (ft.com ) Keeping the above in mind it can be assumed that the current Saudi political environment is the optimum situation in which a real estate development company such as Emaar Middle East can grow and be successful. The planned development projects of Emaar such as Jeddah Gate will receive full governmental support and backing making it easier to operate i.e. getting quicker building permits than usual, land deeds and financial backing which will help in generating revenue. 2.2 Saudi Economical Situation: By virtue of its size and available resources, Saudi Arabia is the largest economy in the GCC that is still relatively untapped. The main source of the Saudi economy is oil, however in the current years, one of the key economic objectives of the government is to diversify the economy and reduce dependency on revenue generated by only oil (Datamonitor 2008 p15). With the economy going strong; the government has injected the revenues generated by oil back into the country, with public spending focusing on education, housing and social measures (Global Investment House 2011 p1-6). Keeping in mind the growing population, changing demographics, larger personal disposable income and growing housing demand of over 190,000 units per year (National Commercial Bank Capital Research Department 2008, p11), the funding allocation for housing has been given a higher priority. In August 2010 the government announced a five year $385bn budget to strengthen the country’s infrastructure and real estate projects (www.oxfordbusinessgroup.com). A new pending mortgage law will enable Saudis to obtain mortgages long term loans with very low interest rates. When this law is passed it is believed that the demand for housing will further increase and open the market to a wider section of the population in the Kingdom (http://arabnews.com). The Jeddah Gate project will greatly benefit from the current and future demand in housing, the economic boom and the upcoming new mortgage law; especially since it offers a product that is unique to the market and more people will be financially able to purchase a home. 2.3 Saudi Social Environment: The Saudi society is conservative and very traditional. However, considering that nearly 70% of the Saudi population is below the age of 30, the trend is slowly changing towards a more modern outlook without losing sight of religion and culture (Colliers International 2009 p6) The Saudi people tend to be very private; because of this they prefer living in villas rather than apartments. Nevertheless, the younger generation is more open to purchasing an apartment to live in than the older generation (Colliers International 2009 p28). The Jeddah Gate project needs to clearly understand the needs and wants of this young generation and ensure that the marketing strategy undertaken is in line with those needs and wants, because by fulfilling the needs of the consumers, the Jeddah Gate project will be able to create trust and loyalty amongst the Saudi consumers as well as generating revenues. 2.4 Saudi Technological advancements: Since 2000 the Saudi government has started giving importance to the science and technological advancements in the country. A new science and technology policy has been placed for 2001-2020 which helps in the growth of technology in Saudi. (Datamonitor 2008 p21). The government’s financial position provides it with the advantage to invest in the required technological advancement, a good example would be the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology which was established in 2009 and has the vision of becoming the icon of aiding the advancement of technology not only in Saudi Arabia but in the world.   (kaust.edu.sa) Real estate sector is also indulging in technological advancements and Emaar is the pioneer of high tech projects such as Jeddah gate. The JG project provides its customers â€Å"Smart Homes† which are technologically advanced and allow the residents to use the Building Automation System where they can set the ambience of their residential or business units including curtains, intercom, surrounding sound system and other features, with the click of a remote (ameinfo.com). The marketing team needs to incorporate this advanced technological feature in the communication section of their marketing plan to attract potential tech-savvy customers. 2.5 Saudi Legislative Scenario: The legal system in Saudi is Shair’ah based i.e. Islamic Law. However, in the recent years the Saudi government has taken steps to reform certain aspects of the legal system, especially related to the business world and foreign investment. Even though certain laws are reformed the execution process is slow in comparison to other countries in the GCC, making it hard for companies to obtain the required licenses on time, causing delay and financial loss in some cases (Mohamed A Ramady 2010 p34). The Jeddah Gate project can be affected by some legal delays such as obtaining land deeds and or building permissions. These delays should be preempted by the team working on the strategy and be taken into consideration when communicating with the customer to ensure that all customer expectations are met without creating any dissatisfaction. 2.6 Environmental Awareness in Saudi: Saudi Arabia started addressing environmental issues seriously after the 1980, when the country’s industry had started to grow.   Most of the environmental concerns addressed were related to the conservation of biodiversity and protection of wildlife (Datamonitor 2008 p26). The proper implementation of environmental plans, along with the proposed education and awareness-raising programs, will encourage the growth of sustainability conciseness in the Kingdom (Datamonitor 2008 p26) As for the real estate sector, the green building concept is fairly new. The Green Building Council has been set up in 2009 to promote and facilitate the green building practice in Saudi Arabia (saudigbc). However, currently most of the mega projects in Saudi, including Jeddah Gate are not practicing green building concepts. 2.7   The Jeddah Gate Customer: 2.7.1 Liberal Elite: Groups of wealthy Saudi families connected through interactive social networks. Western educated and influenced, this group share experiences and follow the same purchasing trends. They are well traveled, cultured and sophisticated and part of the see and be seen crowed (Colliers International 2009 p35). This group can be considered the trend setters, opinion leaders and early adopters (rogerclarke.com) in the market .This is the primary target for the Jeddah Gate project, since the liberal elite will be able to relate better to the community living concept of freedom and modernity. 2.7.2 Investors: Groups of wealthy individuals who understand the benefits of investing in Saudi real estate, they would want to be a part of the upward trend of Saudi real estate market. Western educated and influenced, this group is very business savvy (Colliers International 2009 p36). This target audience should be approached for the Jeddah Gate project; however the marketing communication and sales pitch should be business focused with facts and figures explaining the return on investment. 2.8 Competitor Threats: Ironically, the only direct competition a project like Jeddah Gate faces is from other projects being constructed by Emaar in other cities of Saudi Arabia such as the Khobar Lakes project in the Eastern province of Saudi (Jeddah Gate Marketing Plan). Nevertheless, Emaar should never lose sight of the indirect competitions i.e. singular residential towers etc†¦ and always monitor the growth of these projects so that they are able to counter any decrease in sales due to competition. As the housing demand grows Emaar has to make themselves aware of any new projects that may come up in the future, in order to able to take preemptive action to remain the first property developer in the mind of the customers. 2.9 Jeddah Gate SWOT: 3.   Impact of Technology and New Media 3.1 The rise of technology and new media in Saudi: Compared to its neighbors in the Gulf, Saudi Arabia accepted the advent of new media much later. Internet was officially introduced in 1999 and had limited usage (internet.gov.sa). This was mainly due to the overall cultural restrictions of the society where the conservatives in the country felt that the easy access of all sorts of information may be a source of corruption for the young generation (http://opennet.net). Nevertheless, when internet with restrictions i.e. blocked adult websites, online casinos etc†¦ was finally introduced to the Saudi market the usage grew at a very rapid pace (businessweek.com). 3.2 Growth of the internet in Saudi: The usage of internet is rapidly growing in Saudi Arabia. In 2010 38.1% of the population was using the internet and still growing. (internetworldstats.com). Considering the young population of Saudi, it’s no surprise that social communities such as Facebook and Twitter are highly popular. In August 2010 there were 2,575,740 Facebook users in the Kingdom and growing rapidly. (internetworldstats.com) Also a new trend of online shopping has been emerging in the recent years. Many Saudis go to websites such as Amazon to fulfill their retail needs; they book hotels, buy their tickets online (ameinfo.com). The internet is also used for entertainment purposes i.e. websites such as YouTube, gaming websites, music downloads etc†¦ are quite popular. In addition, Saudis use the internet to seek information through sites such as Google, yahoo etc. †¦ (ameinfo.com ) 3.3 Impact of technology and new media on Emaar’s future marketing plans: Keeping the above in mind, it can be assumed that the future of internet and social media will be very bright and be one of the primary ways to interact with young Saudi consumers. Emaar must consider this rising trend in their future marketing strategies. Emaar will have to incorporate on a larger scale the use of web related marketing campaigns, in addition they would need to revamp their website to allow customers to view the product/project online and have the option of booking an apartment or villa online by making an initial web payment. Since the access of both positive and negative information on the web is easily available, Emaar must also in the future, look into web PR campaigns e.g. set up an Emaar blog which would counter any negative information pertaining to the project or company and promote positive news about the project and company. Using web related marketing tools will help Emaar in communicating with the customers quicker and to a larger audience. In addition if sales are conducted through web marketing which is much cheaper than above the line marketing campaigns, the return on investment would be significantly higher. It can be assumed that the internet is the future and if Emaar fails to utilize this growing phenomenon and communicate with the customers through the medium they relate too then Emaar will be losing potential customer and revenue. 4. Sustainability: Since the 1992 Earth Summit, there has been a rapid growth in awareness towards the need to address issues of sustainability (www.developmenteducationreview.com). In developed countries sustainability consciousness is on a constant growth trend, where more and more companies have to adhere to the demands of the society and be more active when it comes to sustainability (Ali M. Al-Yamiand A.D.F. Price. 2009, p109). Keeping in mind global sustainability consciousness and the spread of awareness throughout the world, it can be assumed that it is only a matter of time when sustainability will take an important role in the Middle East as a whole and in Saudi Arabia in particular. In fact, the Saudi government has created a preliminary guide for building standards that they intend to circulate over the next two years. The objective of the proposed standards guide is to reduce the cost of construction, power, and water consumptions and extend the age of current buildings (Jesse Lapierre. 2009, p2). Hence we can gather that the future of green buildings in the Kingdom is promising and should be taken into consideration for all upcoming projects. In relation to sustainability in real estate sector, throughout the world a number of countries now practice the principles of sustainable construction. The reason for this is that Green Buildings can provide financial benefits such as energy savings, water savings, reduced waste etc†¦ (Gregory H. Kats. 2003, p3). In addition, for the real estate developers Green Buildings can generate revenues through higher selling price/rents and lower operation costs (http://sustainablecitiescollective.com). Even though Emaar has been a part of some charity related programs and follows very strict ethics standards. However, currently corporate social responsibility (CSR) does not play a significant role in Emaar’s marketing strategies especially for the projects in Saudi. If we look at the current triple bottom line (Andrew W. Savitz, Karl Weber 2006) plan for Emaar in Saudi, it can be noted that, the main focus is on the profit and then the people, whereas the planet is not as seriously considered. Emaar being the largest real estate developer in the GCC should aim to be the pioneer in creating awareness about CSR and striving towards green building for all future projects in Saudi. Being the first developer to be CSR conscious would provide Emaar with an edge over future competitors, because they can use this opportunity for PR, use it as a unique selling point, and show the Saudi consumer that Emaar is a company that cares about the planet.   Bibliography 1   Ali M. Al-Yamiand A.D.F. Price. (2009). An Overview of Sustainability in Saudi Arabia. An Overview of Sustainability in Saudi Arabia, p109-118 2  Ã‚   Andrew W. Savitz, Karl Weber (2006). The Triple Bottom Line: How Todays Best-Run Companies Are Achieving Economic, Social, and Environmental Success and How You Can Too. United States of America: Jossey-Bass- A Wiley Imprint. p3-6. 3   Chris Cheatham . (2010). The Profit Motives for Green Building. Available: http://sustainablecitiescollective.com/chrischeatham/16637/profit-motives-green-building . Last accessed 23rd March 2011. 4  Ã‚   Colliers International. (2009). Jeddah Real Estate Market Report. Jeddah Real Estate Market Report. 0 (0), p6-150. 5   Communications and Information Technology Commission CITC. (2011). Internet in Saudi Arabia . Available: internet.gov.sa/learn-the-web/guides/internet-in-saudi-arabia/view?set_language=en. Last accessed 24th March 2011. 6   Datamonitor. (2008). In-Depth PESTLE insights. Saudi Arabia Country Analysis Report, p11-28. 7   Emaar. (2010). Mission, Vision, Strategy, Values. Available: emaar.com/index.aspx?page=about-mission. Last accessed 7th March 2011 8   EmaarME. (2008). Overview. Available: emaarme.com.sa/ProjectsPages/p1/index.htm. Last accessed 8th March 2011 9   EmaarME Jeddah Gate Marketing Plan (2010), p1-26. 10   Global Investment House. (2011). Saudi Arabia Unveils Expansionary Budget for 2011. Saudi Arabian Budget 2011. 0 (0), p1-6. 11 Gregory H. Kats. (2003). Green Building Costs and Financial Benefits. Green Building Costs and Financial Benefits, p2-10. 12 Internet World Stats. (2010). Saudi Arabia Internet Usage and Marketing Report. Available: internetworldstats.com/me/sa.htm. Last accessed 22nd March 2011 13   Jesse Lapierre. (2009). Saudi Arabia: Green Building. Saudi Arabia: Green Buildings p1-5 14   King Abdullah University of Science Technology. (2011). Vision Mission. Available: kaust.edu.sa/about/vision_mission.html. Last accessed 20th March 2011. 15 MD Rasooldeen. (2011). Shoura to pass mortgage law without delay: Al-Asheikh. Available: http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article304339.ece. Last accessed 11th March 2011. 16 Mohamed A Ramady (Springer). (2010). Policies, Achievements and Challenges. The Saudi Arabian Economy. 2 (7), p2-41. 17   Nadeen El Ajou. (2009). Emaar Middle East showcases Smart Community living at Jeddah Gate and Al Khobar Lakes . Available: ameinfo.com/193088.html. Last accessed 11th March 2011. 18   National Commercial Bank Capital Research Department. (2008). Kingdom Under Construction. Real Estate Sector. 0 (0), p6-8. 19   OBG. (2011). Saudi Arabia: Spending gets a boost. Available: oxfordbusinessgroup.com/economic_updates/saudi-arabia-spending-gets-boost. Last accessed 13th March 2011. 20   OpenNet Initiative. (2004). Internet Filtering in Saudi Arabia. Available: http://opennet.net/studies/saudi. Last accessed 24th March 2011. 21   Peter Burrows . (2008). Internet Censorship, Saudi Style. Available: businessweek.com/magazine/content/08_47/b4109068380136.htm. Last accessed 24th March 2011. 22 Richard Milne. (2011). SP says turmoil could still spread. Available: ft.com/cms/s/0/bd50b568-45c0-11e0-acd8-00144feab49a.html#axzz1HRU1fpkX . Last accessed 11th March 2011 23 Ros Wade . (2008). Education for sustainability: Challenges and opportunities. Available: developmenteducationreview.com/issue6-focus3.   Last accessed 19th March 2011. 24   Roger Clarke . (2009). A Primer in Diffusion of Innovations Theory . Available: rogerclarke.com/SOS/InnDiff.html. Last accessed 28th March 2011 25   SGBC. (2010). About Saudi Green Building Council. Available: saudigbc.com/about.htm .   Last accessed 22nd March 2011. 26 Siba Sami Ammari. (2011). Saudi Arabias internet users spend around $3bn in 2010 on buying products and services through e-commerce. Available: ameinfo.com/256866.html. Last accessed 23rd March 2011 27  Ã‚   Siba Sami Ammari. (2009). Survey shows 97.5% of Saudi Arabia and UAE internet users use Google . Available: ameinfo.com/200706.html. Last accessed 24th March 2011 28  Ã‚   The Economist Intelligence Unit Limited. (2010). Saudi Arabia. Country report (0), p3-27. 29  Ã‚   The PRS Group, Inc. (2010). Saudi Arabia Country Forecast. Saudi Arabia Country Report. 1 (1), p2-70. 30  Ã‚  Ã‚   U.S.-Saudi Arabian Business Council. (2011). King Abdullah Returns to Kingdom, Enacts Measures to Boost the Economy . Available: us-sabc.org/custom/news/details.cfm?id=957 . Last accessed 12th March 2011 31  Ã‚  Ã‚   World Economic Forum. (2010). The Global Competitiveness Report 2010-2011. The Global Competitiveness Report 2010-2011. 1 (1), p37.

Lyndon B Johnson Fast Facts

Lyndon B Johnson Fast Facts Lyndon Baines Johnson succeeded to the presidency upon the assassination of John F. Kennedy. He had served as the youngest Democratic Majority Leader in the United States Senate. He was extremely influential in the Senate. During his time in office, major Civil Rights legislation was passed. In addition, the Vietnam War escalated.   Following is a quick list of fast facts for Lyndon B Johnson. For more in-depth information, you can also read the Lyndon B Johnson Biography Birth August 27, 1908 Death January 22, 1973 Term of Office November 22, 1963 - January 20, 1969 Number of Terms Elected 1 Term; Completed Kennedys term of office after his assassination and then was elected again in 1964 First Lady Claudia Alta Lady Bird Taylor - While serving as First Lady, she advocated beautifying Americas highways and cities.   Chart of the First Ladies Lyndon B Johnson Quote Just like the Alamo, somebody damn well needed to go to their aid. Well, by God, Im going to Vietnams aid. Major Events While in Office Vietnam Conflict Continues (1963 - 1969)Civil Rights Act (1964)Twenty-Fourth Amendment ratified outlawing the poll tax (1964)Medicare and Medicaid (1965)Twenty-Fifth Amendment ratified concerning the order of succession for the presidency (1967)Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. assassinated (1968)Robert Kennedy assassinated (1968)Pueblo Incident (1968) Related Lyndon B Johnson Resources These additional resources on Lyndon B Johnson can provide you with further information about the president and his times. Essentials of the Vietnam War. Vietnam was a war that brought great pain to many Americans. Some would consider it to be an unnecessary war. Discover its history and understand why it is an integral part of American History. A war that was fought at home as well as abroad; in Washington, Chicago, Berkeley and Ohio, as well as Saigon.Chart of Presidents and Vice Presidents. This informative chart gives quick reference information on the presidents, vice-presidents, their terms of office, and their political parties.

Food Safety and Sanitation Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Food Safety and Sanitation - Assignment Example Boxes with watermarks may signify that the food item has bees let to partially thaw in the course of transit. It is advisable at all times to open at least one box per shipment and test out the core food item temperature with a thermometer that provides instant results. Again, it is extremely vital to always confirm the net weights of the food items, and in case of any uncertainties, it is advisable to ask guidance from the quality assurance board. In order to ensure that your employee is consistent with these guidelines, it would be best if he trained practically. This is to mean that he/she accompanies you severally for him to observe the entire process. It is also vital for him to take down the necessary details, for instance, the appropriate temperatures for each item in case he happens to forget them. A number of factors characterize rejection of shipment, for instance, if the dates on the item are not suitable for your food service establishment if the qualities of the products are not up to standard. When receiving food items such as fish, one only ought to smell the sea and not the product. Another factor is if the temperatures of the products do not meet shipping specification and if the net weight does not match one’s order. Another important aspect is if the animal products lack inspection stamps that indicate that they have been inspected by a legal medical officer. Lack of this stamp is a serious issue since one cannot determine whether the product is fit for consumption. Identify the different types of storage found in a food service establishment. What are some examples of each and what food items would you store in each? In addition, what are the proper temperatures that are needed in each in order to be in line with standard storage guidelines?

Historical Developement of Separation of Powers Essay

Historical Developement of Separation of Powers - Essay Example In 17th century England, it emerged for the first time as a coherent theory of government, explicitly set out, and urged as the 'grand secret of liberty and good government'" (Vile, M.J.C.; 1967; Chapter 2). In the upheaval of the Civil War, the doctrine emerged as a response to the need for a new constitutional theory when a system of government based upon "a mixture of King, Lords, and Commons" seemed no longer relevant. "Growing out of the more ancient theory, the doctrine became both a rival to it and a means of broadening and developing it into the 18th century theory of the balanced constitution" (Vile, M.J.C.; 1967; Chapter 2). The revolutionary potentialities of the doctrine were fully realized in America and France, but when its viability as a theory of government was tested "its weaknesses were revealed; this one revolutionary idea could also become a bulwark of conservatism." (Vile, M.J.C.; 1967; Chapter 2) The attack on the doctrine came in two waves: First, the middle class "which had most fervently supported it", now saw within its reach control of political power through extension of the franchise, and the need for a theory that was essentially a challenge to the power of aristocracy diminished; however, until the Second Reform Act in England, the doctrine was sought only to be re-examined (Vile; M.J.C.; 1967; chapter 2). ... Changing ideas about the role of government and its structure were "accompanied by a changing emphasis in ideas about the nature of sovereignty". (Vile, M.J.C.; 1967; Chapter 2). In earlier centuries, the need for a single omnipotent source of power had been stressed by "theorists of absolutism", and rejected by liberal constitutionalists, who swore by division of power and the limitations on power imposed by the constitution or by a higher law. "Rousseau's association of unlimited sovereignty with the people led to reorientation of ideas" (Vile, M.J.C.; 1967; Chapter 2) .If franchise could be restricted to those with a stake in the community, the idea of an unlimited, indivisible sovereign power became for the liberal individualist not a threat but a safeguard; "it became in the hands of Bentham and Austin an instrument for reform of government which would increase the freedom of the individual". However, "the desire for a unified system of government, whether to achieve reform or f or positive State action, led to a rediscovery of the role of discretion and prerogative in government." (Vile, M.J.C.; 1967; Chapter 2) Realization that the functional concepts of the doctrine of separation of powers were inadequate to explain the operations of government was heightened by emerging awareness of the nature of bureaucracy; "the impact of Prussian bureaucracy in the 19th century, establishment of a non-political civil service in England, dissatisfaction with the spoils system in the United States, development of the Weberian theory bureaucracy, (all) led to a reassessment of the 'executive' function". (Vile, M.J.C.; 1967; Chapter 2). Thus the demand for establishment of "harmony" between the legislature and the executive

SUPPLY CHAIN PROCUREMENT IN THE US ARMY Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

SUPPLY CHAIN PROCUREMENT IN THE US ARMY - Essay Example ng, Budgeting and Execution (PPBE) Process, which is vested with proper planning of the supply system, program investigation, and implementation, and resource budgeting. This is the arm that is responsible for identifying the need for resources. The second division of the department of defense is the joint chief of staff integration that is vested with the responsibility of identifying gaps in the supply system and coming up with ways of filling those gaps. The last arm is the defense acquisition system which is vested with the procurement process of weapons and other resources that may be needed by the military. The military supply chain management of the DoD is composed of 7 components, which are suppliers, procurement, manufacturing, order management, transportation, warehousing and customers (soldiers). The success factors of the army are customer needs, information need, environmental concerns, deployment, mission, and interoperation. The primary aim in the military supply chain is to acquire the best machinery for combat, and at the same time working within the budgetary allocations. The process of the supply chain procurement of the army starts with the acquisition from supplier, then on the process, which can be warehousing or transportation and finally on the order management after order from the soldier (customer). The supply chain for the army may have a problem in implementing a customer-centric and process-centric supply chain in that the supply chain is very rigid and dependent on the regulations of army procurement (Weisgerber, 2014). There is no single step procurement process the way it is in the corporate and this means the procurement can also be long. The strategy of the US army is something that is subject to confidentiality because it touches on the security of the state. The suppliers are normally outsiders and are not privy to the confidential information, although they sign confidentiality agreements. It is, therefore, hard to align the

Project Management Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Project Management - Term Paper Example enities, lease deadlines and renewal arrangements, lease and vendor contracts, correspondences for lease arrangements and tenant payment history together with their contacts. The system will therefore automatically detect upcoming vacancies in the apartment block well in advance to facilitate timely reservations and ensure seamless flow of revenue. For a successful implementation of this project, there must be in place human, physical and financial resources. With regards to the required human resource, software developers will be hired on a contractual basis. This is because the core business is property management and therefore software developers’ services will only be necessary until the fully implemented after which a technician’s services will be sought for system maintenance purposes. Room must be availed for the installation of the necessary hardware such as server, computers and other relevant accessories. All these will require financial resources for both the development of software, purchase of hardware and training of staff on the new system. Milestones will be measured through a proper reporting channel to the project manager from all the involved teams. The project will be divided into individual activities with each activity headed by a team leader. All the component activities will follow a strict time and progress reporting guideline. Software development should take a month during which the installation of the required hardware shall be complete. Since these two activities are independent, they can be undertaken simultaneously. Upon completion of these two significant activities, a test run of the system shall be done to verify the compatibility of the soft and hardware. Success of this activity will provide the green light for training of staff on how to use the new system which should last 14 days. During the training period, the new system will run alongside the existing one before a full crossover to the new system. A monitoring and

Integrating Business Model Canvas in Feasibility Assessment of Share Essay - 136

Integrating Business Model Canvas in Feasibility Assessment of Share Economy Businesses - Essay Example The Business Canvas Model’s Inspiration is an artist who does his work on canvas painting. The chassis of the model takes into consideration the consumer, the product offered, the infrastructure and the monies of a business model. The Canvas Model is a visualization of a business model that seeks to explain how a firm creates, delivers and captures value. There are nine building blocks within the Business Canvas Model. Its popularity is mainly with entrepreneurs for business innovation. An alignment of a feasibility study with a business model is a strategic business-planning tool. Being a share economy business, most of AirBnB’s customer segments are interdependent usually consisting of personal and business travelers (PPTPOP 2014). Identifying the different markets such as the mass market, niche market, segmented, diversified, or a multi-side platform is a crucial stage in the process (Osterwalder and Pigneur 2013, p.164). The company caters to a multi-sided market. I t offers shared rooms; private rooms or a guest could just rent out the entire place. Feasibility analysis is necessary to find out the gap in the current market (Hass2 008, p.48). The personal travelers were the initial target for Airbnb as they were the most alive to pricing and more amenable to where they stayed. Airbnb's offering is especially popular with business travelers who want to stay in a place for more than a week and want to feel more homely than in a hotel. The main channels for customer acquisition for AirBnB are its website and application, social media, public relation, and word-of-mouth. A share economy business encourages collaborative consumption in the economy (Botsman and Rogers2010, p. 132).  Identifying how the value proposition of the company is a fundamental stage in the feasibility study (Johnson 2010, p.158).

War on Terrorism Or The Defense of Modernism Essay

War on Terrorism Or The Defense of Modernism - Essay Example It is a war in defense of our way of life against enemies who oppose that way of life, and who oppose it from common cultural and religious motives. Whatever specific aims, hopes, and delusions the al-Qaeda hijackers may have had, they could not have succeeded, they could not have drawn so many recruits, raised so much money, and found support and sanctuary, unless their motivations appealed to a wide group of people. The war on terrorism is unlike the Cold War; the battle lines are not drawn in ideologically explicit terms. Had we asked in the 1950s, "Why do the communists hate us What are they after" the answers would have been clear: Their Marxist ideology of socialism, dictatorship, and world conquest calls for the elimination of our free capitalist system, and endorses the use of any means to achieve that end. It's all spelled out in The Communist Manifesto, Das Kapital, and an endless stream of Communist Party propaganda. The motivations of the 9/11 hijackers in particular, and of al-Qaeda in general, are not as transparent. They are complex and at times contradictory, rooted as they are within a highly complex history that reflects as many conflicts within Islam as it does between Islam and the West. It is now commonly known that the September 11th terrorists were members of Bin Laden's worldwide al-Qaeda organization. This is an extensive network of terrorist groups such as Egypt's al-Jihad, which was responsible for the assassination of Anwar Sadat in 1981 and the World Trade Center bombing in 1993 and among others. This organization represents the violent extreme of a fundamentalist movement that has been gaining ground among Muslims since the 1970s. While the goals of the movement are fairly clear, it should be noted that they reflect the opinions of a majority of Muslims about as much as David Koresh and his followers reflected the views of the average Christian. One goal is to drive the Western powers out of the Middle East, removing Western military, economic, and cultural presence from the region. Bin Laden's three immediate demands, repeated in virtually every statement, are 1. To stop American support for Israel. 2. Lift sanctions against Iraq. 3. Remove American troops from Saudi Arabia. A second goal is to unify the Islamic world and rally it in opposition to the West. "This war is fundamentally religious," bin Laden said last November, in one of his statements broadcast by al-Jazeera TV. "The people of the East are Muslims. They sympathized with Muslims against the people of the West, who are the crusaders. Under no circumstances should we forget this enmity between us and the infidels. For, the enmity is based on creed. Muslims must stand together. We must be loyal to the believers and those who believe that there is no God but Allah." (al-Jazeera, 2005) This is why troops in Saudi Arabia are such an important issue to bin Laden: they are stationed in the land of Islam's two holiest sites, Mecca and Medina. A third goal of the Islamists is to create a strict form of Islamic

Integrating Business Model Canvas in Feasibility Assessment of Share Essay - 136

Integrating Business Model Canvas in Feasibility Assessment of Share Economy Businesses - Essay Example The Business Canvas Model’s Inspiration is an artist who does his work on canvas painting. The chassis of the model takes into consideration the consumer, the product offered, the infrastructure and the monies of a business model. The Canvas Model is a visualization of a business model that seeks to explain how a firm creates, delivers and captures value. There are nine building blocks within the Business Canvas Model. Its popularity is mainly with entrepreneurs for business innovation. An alignment of a feasibility study with a business model is a strategic business-planning tool. Being a share economy business, most of AirBnB’s customer segments are interdependent usually consisting of personal and business travelers (PPTPOP 2014). Identifying the different markets such as the mass market, niche market, segmented, diversified, or a multi-side platform is a crucial stage in the process (Osterwalder and Pigneur 2013, p.164). The company caters to a multi-sided market. I t offers shared rooms; private rooms or a guest could just rent out the entire place. Feasibility analysis is necessary to find out the gap in the current market (Hass2 008, p.48). The personal travelers were the initial target for Airbnb as they were the most alive to pricing and more amenable to where they stayed. Airbnb's offering is especially popular with business travelers who want to stay in a place for more than a week and want to feel more homely than in a hotel. The main channels for customer acquisition for AirBnB are its website and application, social media, public relation, and word-of-mouth. A share economy business encourages collaborative consumption in the economy (Botsman and Rogers2010, p. 132).  Identifying how the value proposition of the company is a fundamental stage in the feasibility study (Johnson 2010, p.158).