The “hongs” or Trade Houses of Hong Kong

Hong Kong, the pearl of Asia has been the center of trade and finance in Asia since the early 20th century. In a short history of about 150 years, Hong Kong has become the source of growth for many nearby economies. In a certain sense, it can be even said that it is a merchant city founded and managed by Traditional â€Å"hongs† or trade houses of Hong Kong were the pillar of the economy. Jardine Matheson and Hutchison were major hongs that led the economy and the Hong Kong & Shanghi Bank were the financier of these hongs and has today grown to become one of the largest bank in the world. These firms were the critical factors of the growth for Hong Kong's economy. Their role however has changed overtime. They are no longer the de facto leaders of Hong Kong as they were in the mid 1800's. Their role has diminished as Hong Kong grew to become more international, and the 1997 handover to the People's Republic of China has further altered their position. Some hongs that adapted well to the changing times prospered while others either The territory of Hong Kong is located at the mouth of the Pearl River, a little southwest of the Guangdong Province of the PRC. Hong Kong was ceded to the British after the Opium War in 1842. Many believe that the British hongs were behind lobbying the British government into fighting the Chinese Government and the settlement of the island. Kowloon was annexed in 1860, and the New territories were leased for 99 years in 1898. In 1984, the British and the PRC government agreed that Hong Kong as a whole would return to Chinese soverienty in 1997. However, a system of one country two systems were also agreed upon where Hong Kong would retain its status as a free port, with it's laws remaining unchanged for 50 years. It's main mphasis is to preserve Hong Kong's laws and economic freedom, thus to enhance the position of Hong Kong as a economic center. The Large British owned hongs were originally trade and warehouse companies established by the British in the early days of Hong Kong colonialism, they have since grown in to major commerical conglomerates. They hold interest in cargo handling, manufacturing, real estate, and even retailing. They are the engine of the Hong Kong economy. Since Britain took over the port city in 1842 to use as a gateway to the Chinese markets, the business of Hong Kong had been business, and the power was eld by the hongs. The first traditional hong was the Jardine Matheson. It was once seen to be more influential than the colonial government but nowadays it has become a minor player compared to Li Ka Shing's Hutchision Whampoa. Li Ka Shing, the Chairman or â€Å"Taipan† of Hutchision Whampoa, became the first Chinese to own a traditional hong. Li's drive and business ability helped foster Hutchision into a global conglomerate. Hong Kong Bank grew from a small trader's bank into one of the Jardine, Matheson & Co. was founded by 2 Scottish merchants, William Jardine and James Matheson in Guangdong in 1832. It was an opium trader that were the pioneers into the China trade. Eventually James Matheson takes control from 1836. It played a key role in the founding of Hong Kong and became the first to purchase land from the colonial government in 1842. Jardine expanded into other trade products in other Asian countries like Japan and South East Asian countries and also enters the ship/cargo handling industry and the real estate business. After World War II, Jardine moved their head office from Shanghi back to Hong Kong and it offically goes public in the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 1961. The 1970's saw Jardine orming many ventures and aquisitions such as the joint venture with the Robert Fleming of UK to create the Jardine Fleming & Co. , a holding company the aquires many foreign and local firms and diversifies Jardine's business. The mid- 1980's saw some mismanagments and misguided aquisition especially after the 1984 Sino-British announcement on the return of Hong Kong. Jardine wanted to diversify more abroad in fear of the Chinese takeover because their relations with the PRC was not good. It aquired the British construction giant Trafalgar House and ther various retail chains in Europe o that Jardine could emphasize more in Europe, but these investments would turnout to be disappointing in the future. The current taipan, or CEO is Alasdair Morrison. He has tried to undo many past mistakes and to rejuvenate the 160 year old hong. Morrison has sold off many losing companies and has a greater emphasis on profitability. The management has been changed to more aggresive and experienced managers such as Ronald J. Floto who previously worked as Kmart Corp. and is known for his turn-around ability. But most importantly, Morrsion has been trying to improve ties with Beijing. He realises that the China market as an indespenable location and has tried repeatly to mend the differences made by the previous Today, the Jardine Matheson group is a multinational enterprise that operates in over 30 countries and employs some 160,000 people. It is divided into eight core companies : Jardine Pacific(general trading), Jardine International Motors(Car dealership), Jardine Fleming, Jardine Lloyd Thompsion(Insurance), Jardine Strategic, Dairy Farm(supermarket and convenience stores), Hong Kong Land(Commerical property), and the Mandarin Oriental(luxury hotel chain) . Last year's sales were US$11. 2 billion and a operating profit of US$190 million was made. The profits fell 34% from last year, and share prices have fallen almost 60% since it moved its primary listing from Hong Kong to Singapore. The main problem with Jardine is that it needs to use its large cash resources to boost market shares in existing profitable businesses and make aquistions in core business while assests in Asia are still cheap from the Asian crisis. It also needs to refocus on Asia, because it is where it's main expertise and connections are, but the controlling family, the Keswicks with nly a 4. 9% share are reluctant to invest heavily back to Asia and especially China. The Keswicks have held control through cross ownership to build a financial defense against hostile takeovers. Li Ka Shing has tried but failed to take over Jardines in 1988 but many still believe that Li has not given up but is rather waiting for an opportunity. Although the current taipan, Morrison is trying to shape up Jardine again, many are doubtful as long as the Keswicks still retain the controlling shares. Jardine Matheson has had a astonishing past, but many fear that the golden days of the past John D. Hutchison Company was founded in 1828. Being one of the first major traditional hongs in Hong Kong, it had made vast investments in port facilities and other infrastructure projects in the colony. In the 1960's, in an effort to revitalize the hong, John Douglas Clague, the last British CEO of Hutchision made huge investments in not only in Hong Kong but It reoragnized itself to the Hutchision International and up til the early 1970's, many believed that Hutchision would indeed make a comeback as a dominant firm in the colony. However, losses started to occur from 1973, and being overstretched and hort in liquidity it lost the favors from its investors and creditors(most importantly the Hong Kong Shanghi Bank). Eventually the Hong Kong Bank would step in to take up 33% of Hutchision International and within 2 years merge with a subsidary, the Whampoa Dock Company and create the Hutchision Whampoa. Hong Kong Bank was looking for a suitable investor to take over the pre-opium war hong and eventually they chose a rising real estate tycoon, Li Ka Shing. There are many reasons that Hong Kong Bank chose Li Ka Shing, but two reasons stand out the most, His reputation as a honest nd able businessman and his contacts with the government in Today, Hutchison Whampoa has grown into one of Hong Kong's largest blue chip companies with over 70,000 employees worldwide. The Group operates five core businesses : Property Development and Investment, Ports and related services, Retailing and manufacturing, Telecomminications and Media, and Hutchison Whampoa Property develops residential and commerical properties for sale and lease. Its portfolio includes some of Hong Kong's largest private housing projects and several landmark developments in the Mainland. The group's expertise in port investment and management stems form its pioneering operations in Hong Kong. Its port operations arm, Hutchison International Port Holdings, is now exporting its professional experience and expertise to ports in different Watsons operates three of Asia's most innovative retail chains:Park'N Shop supermarkets, Watson's personal care stores, and Fortress, selling domestic electrical appliances. The manufacturing division produces and distributes a wide range of food and beverages throughput Hong Kong, the mainland and other Hutchison Telecom operates a wide range of intregrated elecommunications services worldwide and is one of the world's major providers of mobile communications The Group has major shareholding in Cheung Kong Infrastructure, which holds interests in infrastructure and related businesses, and power plant projects such as the Hong Kong Electric. It is the sole supplier of electricity to Hong Kong Island. Husky Oil, is one of Canada's largest privately owned oil and gas For the fiscal year ending in December 31 1998, The Hutchison Whampoa Group had a net profit after tax of HK$8. 7 billion. It was lower than HK$12. 2 billion from 1997. The Asian crisis which rought on pressures on the entire Asian region. It experienced a period of unprecedented asset and price deflation coupled with severe recessionary conditions. These conditions had the hardest impact on the Property/Development and Retail/manufacturing operations of the group in 1998. Li Ka Shing's another main weapon in Asian business is his strong ties to the Chinese Government. He has been favored since being the first Chinese to take over a western hong in the late 1970's. He also played a large role in the transition period for the `97 handover of Hong Kong. Currently he has a trong influence in the policies that effect Hong Kong both through his contacts with Beijing and the Chief executive, Tung Headquartered in London, HSBC holdings is one of the world's largest banking and financial services organizations. The HSBC Group's international network comprises more than 5,000 offices The HSBC Group is named after its founding member, The Hong Kong and Shanghi Banking Coporation limited. Hong Kong Bank, as it is known for short, was established in 1865 to finance the growing trade between China and Europe. The inspiration behind the founding of the bank was Thomas Sutherland, a Scot who was then working as the Hong Kong Superintendent of the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company. He realised that there was considerable demand for local banking facilities in Hong Kong and the China coast and he helped to establish the bank in March 1865. Then, as now, the bank's headquarters were at 1 Queen's Road in Hong Kong and a branch was opened in April 1865 in Shanghai. Throughout the late nineteenth century and the early twentieth century, the bank established a network of agencies and branches based mainly in China and South East Asia but also with epresentation in the Indian sub-continent, Japan, Europe and North America. In many of its branches the bank was the pioneer of modern banking practice. From the outset, trade finance was a strong feature of the bank's business with bullion, exchange and merchant banking also playing an important part. Additionally, the bank also issued notes in many locations throughout the Far During the Second World War the bank was forced to close many of its branches and the head office was temporarily moved to London. However, after the war the bank played a key role in the reconstruction of the Hong Kong economy and set about further iversifying the geographical spread of the bank. The post-war political and economic changes in the world forced HongkongBank to analyse its strategy for continued growth in the 1950s. The bank diversified both its business and its geographical spread through acquisitions and alliances. However, the bank remained committed to its historical markets and played an important part in the reconstruction of Hong Kong where its branch network continued to expand. In 1965 the bank purchased a controlling interest in Hang Seng Bank, which had been established in Hong Kong in 1933. By the 970s the policy of expansion by acquisition of subsidiaries with their own identities and specialisations was firmly in During the 1980s the bank concentrated on moving into those markets where it was not yet fully represented. Hongkong Bank of Canada was established in 1981 and HongkongBank of Australia Limited in 1986. In 1987 Marine Midland Bank, based in New York State, became a wholly owned member of the Group and its principal subsidiary in the United States. HSBC Holdings plc, the parent company of the HSBC Group, was established in 1991 with its shares quoted on both the London and Hong Kong stock Already almost two years have passed since the handover Hong Kong to the PRC. It is hard to judge the impact of the handover to the Hong Kong economy, due to the Asian Financial Crisis in 1997. What is definite however is that Hong Kong has suffered a difficult 1998 and is still in the process of recovering. The good news is that the fallen prices of 1997 got rid of a lot of the bubbles that was being accumulated in the territory. Large landowners like Li may have had some losses but 1999 saw the economic prices and activities picking up again. Many say that the worst is over and that recover is in process. Already land prices have recovered a lot of its losses during the 1997-8 The problem in the territory is more a political one. Many incidents have brought attention to the problem of implementing the â€Å"one country, two system† policy, which is fundamental in the Hong Kong Basic Law and which will guarntee the independent governing of Hong Kong. The main attraction that has made Hong Kong what it is today is it's efficiency and lassie faire approach of the government. If the mainland interferes too much in Hong Kong, it status will decline as the international free port city that has made it so prosperous.

Awareness Of Sensory Loss Essay

In centripetal loss ( touch. mobility. vision. hearing ) this can hold a negative impact to an person like for illustration in mobility an single can see hapless mobility. tilting to one side or trouble with their coordination. the person may hold trouble to feed or dress themselves. or may non be able to take part in an activity and in some fortunes an person may non be able to manage/maintain their personal day-to-day life. Another is eyesight or vision. an person who suffers from this disablement may hold a really difficult clip pass oning or even to show themselves to what they want to make and what their wants are without the aid of another individual. This instance is the same with an person who is deaf or have limited hearing. Sometimes when you suffer from these disablements. people easy judge you in a manner that they try to sequester you or belong you to hold a below mean intelligence and presume that you can non make or believe for yourself or believe the same as other people which may do farther unwellnesss for the person such as depression. anxiousness and isolation. There can besides be a positive impact of holding these disablements because aid is ever available. AIDSs and benefits are available to back up you. there are care systems in topographic point that an person may utilize to back up them with twenty-four hours to twenty-four hours life and promote the person to hold a positive mentality on life. assisting the single lead every bit much as an independent life as possible which in the long tally will guarantee the person is happy and secure. 1. 2 Some stairss that can be taken to get the better of the negative factors could be ; With an person with sight damage guarantee the person has their spectacless on if prescribed. guarantee the spectacless are clean and the person is able see through them. Guarantee the country is clear of any obstructions to forestall the person from stumbling over or knocking into things. if the environment remains the same and points are non moved the person may happen it easier to travel around as they will be familiar with where things are and will be able to avoid them. An person who has a hearing damage may happen it easier to hear you if they are taken in to a quiet and good illume environment to speak. besides guarantee the persons hearing AIDSs are in and working and the volume is turned up to their liking. Always make the single aware of different groups and administrations that can assist them. guarantee people include the person when they can alternatively of speaking over them or go forthing them out of activities as if they are non at that place. If this does go on so dispute any favoritism and explicate why it is incorrect. 1. 3 Peoples puting restrictions on an person with centripetal loss can be disenabling. for illustration. believing that a blind/poor sighted single can’t manage entirely or can’t see what others are making toward them or others. or that of a deaf/poor hearing single are amusing because of the manner they talk or are mocked for continually inquiring for a individual to reiterate themselves. These attitudes and beliefs can forestall the individual being including in society as an equal. This can so hold a negative consequence on the person which can do a concatenation reaction of mental unwellnesss such as depression. anxiousness and isolation. 1. 4 You can get the better of disenabling attitudes and beliefs in centripetal loss by disputing favoritism instantly and explicate why it’s wrong. theoretical account good pattern. You can besides acquire involved in societal activities that promote positive attitudes. Outcome2 2. 1 Sight loss – Always place yourself to the person and guarantee you make it clear that you are talking to them and non person else. they can’t read your organic structure linguistic communication so you need to be clear about your significances and waies etc. A noisy environment can do it hard for them to concentrate on your voice so it may be better to seek cut down background noise. Hearing loss – Be respectful to the person when seeking to acquire their attending e. g. use a light touch on the arm. flex down to the persons level so they can see your face. if they lip read they will necessitate to see your face to be able do out what you’re inquiring them. you need to talk clearly at a normal gait and tone. you may necessitate to be patient and repeat things. Deaf blind – some of the above plus you need to cognize the degrees of hearing loss and sightlessness and their preferable method of communicating. 2. 2 Persons with centripetal loss such as hearing or sight can profit from different types of effectual communicating. Persons with hearing loss may profit from utilizing gestural linguistic communication or images to pass on. Those with sight loss may profit most from vocal communicating and touch. 2. 3 Information can be provided in many different ways to an person with centripetal loss listed below are a few illustrations of ways information can be passed on to the person. Centripetal loss –braille. tape recordings hearing loss – British mark linguistic communication. Makaton. ocular AIDSs e. g. images. lip reading. Deaf/blindness – . Braille is a system of raised points which can be read by touch. The Moon alphabet consists of brocaded forms which can be read by touch. Objects of Reference are objects that have particular significances assigned to them. They stand for something in the same manner that words do. Result 33. 1 The chief cause of centripetal loss is aging. as we age our senses become less and less. Centripetal loss can besides be caused by an unwellness such as dementedness or by holding an accident and sustaining hurt. 3. 2 Congenital centripetal loss means the person was born with it. whereas acquired centripetal loss is when the centripetal loss has developed as is the consequence of ageing. serious hurt or unwellness with the person. 3. 3 The per centum of the general population holding centripetal loss is 45 % . harmonizing to hypertext transfer protocol: //www. sense. org. uk/content/research-deafblindness Sense estimates that there are around 250. 000 deafblind people in the UK. Outcome 4 4. 1These are a few of the many indexs and marks to place sight loss. hearing loss and deaf/blindness.Sight loss†¢Increased sensitiveness to visible radiation and blaze†¢difficulty distinguishing colorss†¢Clumsiness. knocking into things in familiar milieus†¢difficulty separating objects from one another†¢holding books/papers near to face†¢regular headaches/eyes aching†¢reduced dark vision†¢Trouble reading little print i. e. on medicines†¢difficulty recognizing faces of household and friends†¢squinting when watching the telecasting†¢loss of involvement in avocations such as needlecraftHearing loss†¢difficulty hearing clearly when in a group conversation or noisy room†¢Asking people to reiterate themselves all the clip†¢people looking to mutter when they are speaking usually†¢not hearing the telephone ring or the door bell†¢having to hold the volume on high on the telecasting or wireless†¢hearing bett er in one ear compared to the other†¢Adult voices easier to understand than children’†¢getting tired or stressed due to holding to concentrate harder when listening Deaf and Blindness†¢to response to sound or illume†¢sensitive to being touched†¢difficulty doing sense of milieus†¢Withdrawal and isolation†¢developmental hold†¢use of other senses. gustatory sensation. odor and touch. to derive information †¢personalised methods of communicating4. 2 When concerns are raised sing centripetal loss or alterations. the first class of action should be to reach their g. p. oculus specializers who after scrutiny may mention them to a specializer at the infirmary for farther hearing and vision trials. Result 5 If you are concerned about centripetal loss or you know person who is you can describe this to your carers. seniors. troughs if in a attention place scene. Sing persons populating in their ain place you can seek advice or describe the job to your local g. p. societal worker or speak to household members. There is a web site called sense you can look on for aid and support sing centripetal loss and you’d like advice and information about the support and services available. you can name Sense on 0300 330 9256 or e-mail: [ electronic mail protected ]/* */!function(t. e. r. n. c. a. p){try{t=document. currentScript||function(){for(t=document. getElementsByTagName('script'). e=t. length;e--;)if(t[e]. getAttribute('data-cfhash'))return t[e]}();if(t&&(c=t. previousSibling)){p=t. parentNode;if(a=c. getAttribute('data-cfemail')){for(e=''. r='0x'+a. substr(0. 2)|0. n=2;a. length-n;n+=2)e+='%'+('0'+('0x'+a. substr(n. 2)^r). toString(16)). slice(-2);p. replaceChild(document. createTextNod e(decodeURIComponent(e)). c)}p. removeChild(t)}}catch(u){}}()/* ]]>*/

Coffee-The Supply Chain Essay

Nowadays, people use different methods of mass media to express their concern about which sources cause (the ) pollution, and which consequences will be lead from it. This essay will try TO FIND OUT ABOUT (learning) these causes and effects of the pollution. There are different sources, which badly affect our environment. Different kinds of car, trucks on THE street day by day not only cause (the) noise in cities, but also damage clean air. Industrial plants, factories throw into the air huge amountS of waste. Green forests in the past are being cut down for producing wood production or for new areas of land. Dirty water from living buildings/PEOPLE’S HOUSES, from industrial zones is soured/POURED directly into rivers. We now face different kinds of pollution: air, water, noise and lack of green areas. From THE reasons mentioned above, our environment is changing. The air become less clean than ever before, many people now wearing/WEAR maskS when THEY WALK IN THE STREETS going on streets. THE Temperature becomes higher, cities’ air/THE AIR IN CITIES becomes hotter, and water in oceans becomes warmer. Many old green forests are like a bald hill when looking/YOU SEE THEM from ANairplane. The effects cannot be good for the environment itself, as well as for the people. Floods are so dangerous, but they are now very popular/COMMON everywhere in the world and are mentioned daily on TV. At the same time, some green areas return into death/TURN BACK INTO DEAD deserts. Just only these things are capable to damage/OF DAMAGING our world. There are many efforts are begin held for environment protectionWHICH ARE BEING STARTED TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT. But there is one more important thing WHICH must be cared/CARRIED about: we must stop harmful to our /STOP CAUSING HARM TO THE EVIRONMENT BY OUR ACTIONSenvironment actions, before taking/MAKING any effort to protect it Nestlà © is a pioneer in purchasing coffee direct from growers. A growing percentage of the company’s coffee is bought direct from the producer and it is now one of the world’s largest direct purchasers. In countries where this is not possible Nestlà © operates in a way that takes it as close to the growers as possible. Nestlà © began its direct buying policy in 1986 and the amounts involved have steadily increased. In 1998, around 15 per cent of its green coffee purchases were bought directly. As an example, in the Philippines, farmers bring their produce to Nestlà ©Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s buying centers situated in the coffee growing regions. Quality is analyzed while they wait and growers are paid on the spot. In 1998, direct purchases accounted for over 90 per cent of the green coffee destined for its two instant coffee factories in the country. Today, a jar of instant coffee can be found in 93 per cent of British homes and increasingly consumers are trying out different types of coffee, such as cappuccino, espresso, mocha and latte. The expanding consumer demand for product choice, quality and value has led to an increase in the coffees being made available to a discerning public. ‘Value’ is the way in which the consumer views an organization’s product in comparison with competitive offerings. So how does coffee get from growing on a tree perhaps 1,000m up a mountainside in Africa, Asia, Central or South America, to a cup of Nescafe in your home, and in millions of homes throughout the world? This case study explains why Nestlà © needs a first class supply chain, with high quality linkages from where the coffee is grown in the field, to the way in which it reaches the consumer. A supply chain is only as strong as its links. Different relationships exist between organizations involved in the separate stages of the chain – whether it is in the structuring of product distribution, arrangements for payment and arrangements for handling, or in storing the product. At the heart of these relationships is the way in which  people treat each other. Long-term business relationships need to be based on honesty and fairness – parties to a trading agreement need to feel that they are getting a fair deal. Creating wonderful cups of coffee is not only Nestlà ©Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s business; it is the business of everyone involved in the supply chain. It is in everyone’s interest – the farmers’ and Nestlà ©Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s – that farmers receive a fair income from their coffee. This ensures that they will continue to grow coffee, and to invest in increasing their yield and quality, and this in turn guarantees the supply of quality coffee which companies like Nestlà © require.

Mintzbergs 5 Ps for Strategy (1987) presents an incomplete view of the Essay

Mintzbergs 5 Ps for Strategy (1987) presents an incomplete view of the topic - Essay Example Strategy formation is seen as a conception process in planning. Plan represents the alternative course of action, a set of guidelines to deal with situations (Mintzberg, 1987a). Strategy encompasses leaders establishing organization direction based on a course of action that is predetermined. This means that planning involves integrating the whole set of decisions and formalizing them before implementing them. Planning is executed through systematic process that characterizes the planning aspect. Taking Coco cola Inc, as an example of corporation, it has acquired growth through acquisition strategy. This has been one of the major plans by the corporation to achieve competitive advantage. Mintzeberg (1987) suggested that explicit and systematic procedures if followed may surface strategy making process. This may be achievable through formulating a plan. The organization needs to position itself by ensuring its strategy making is driven by being ahead of the competitors. This is in other words is known as positioning strategically. Regarding perspective, strategy making is guided by the meanings that come along with particular practices and behavior in an organization. Boyd and Reuning (1998) attempted to come up with planning operationalization and with regard to this tested empirically some indicators of a consistent plan such as statement showing the mission of an organization, trend analysis, ad organization’s competitors’ analysis, the long term and short term goals, and evaluation of ongoing operations of an organization. This planning model has been tested and proved to be valid and reliable. It thus clearly shows Mintzberg’s view as incomplete. In order to strategically, reach a better quality of outputs, managers are guided by appropriate methodologies and analytical tools. According to Zahra and Dess (2001), these analytical tools take the form of SWOT analysis. These abbreviations stand

Banning the Use of Cellular Telephone Devices while Driving Essay

Banning the Use of Cellular Telephone Devices while Driving - Essay Example In line with this matter, a study shows that there is a strong correlation between the use of cellural phone devices and risk of collusion while driving. (Redelmeier & Tibshirani, 1997) Since the use of mobile devices while driving could significantly distract the attention and clear vision of the drivers, the number of individuals who experience death and serious physical injuries from car accident remains high each year. Use of Cell Phones can cause Distraction while Driving The use of cell phones could significantly cause distraction on drivers while driving. In line with this matter, the research study that was conducted by Utah Psychologists reveal that individuals who have formed the habit of using their mobile phones while driving is similar to 0.08 percent of alcohol intoxication in blood which could impair the drivers’ ability to drive. (The University of Utah, 2006) For this reason, either the use of hands-free or handheld cell phones has been equally considered a major cause of distraction on the driving performance of each driver. Based on the actual experiment that was conducted by Strayer, Drews, & Johnston (2003) with regards to the use of hands-free cellural phone and driving, mobile conversation could impair the drivers’ reaction to vehicles in-front of them because of inattention blindness. Given the fact that cell phone conversation could also impair the explicit recognition memory of the driver for road signs and billboards(Strayer, Drews, & Johnston, 2003).

Homework Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 3

Homework - Research Paper Example The company manager must ensure that the best qualified marketers and sales people are in the company to ensure that the company’s assets meet the requirements of the customers. If the particular assets are not in the company, they should ensure that they refer the customers to the right company’s partners who are in the same sphere. When selling the services outside the company’s environment, Better Sms must have qualified sales people and marketers in the field who have an excellent working experience in the same technology field. The team must relate very well with the technical department in that they will be able to advertise the messaging services very clearly and avoid technical mistakes when marketing the services. On the same note, the company should have a determined customer care department to be ready to educate the customers more about the services. Better Sms Ltd has a twenty four seven online customers care that will be communicating with the customers in case of any problem by using the interactive video response method. There are numerous sales methods to be used by the sales person but Better Sms will use the best methods that will fit the company’s services by prospecting the right target for the text messaging and the issuing of the bulky messages. Understanding and getting the right customers for the business is quite a hard task that has a lot of valleys and experiences because it needs patience and tolerance. There is a lot of frustrations in the marketing field of the sales because majorly it is a new service that is being broadcasted in the information and technology world. Just few companies like Better Sms that will educate the sales people on how to prospect the services very effectively. Better Sms will look forward to prospect the services by use of networking while interacting with the

Television talent shows Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Television talent shows - Essay Example Discussion Television shows like X-factor add value to the British music industry Modern artists’ debate on the role of televisions shows like X factor talent television in British music industry. Some argue that such television shows add value to the industry and others oppose the claim and suggest that these shows only damage the face of the music industry in recent and future years, (Davis and Hall, 2008, p.87). These in favor of talent television show assert that television shows such as X factor have enormous advantages to the British music industry. The reality of the shoes provides winners and stats with an opportunity to be plucked from mundane, obscure lives and put them into a cauldron of media, until voted out of the show – by the public – in a dramatic way. The hope of a guaranteed recording prize of contract with marketing advantage is increasingly successful as a motivation to engage willing artists at a reduced cost. For instance, X factor provides successful competitors a critical gate pass into the industry of music and gives them an opportunity for recognition. TV synchronizes acts as a crucial opportunity, for instance, beyond the literal advantage in terms of branding artist opportunities and extra income, in one spin of a prominent show, emerging artists and music that may not have had a greater exposure and popularity is faster thrust on many audience, (Cowlin, 2010, p.52). Similarly, through the talent television shows artists have a chance to gain popularity, attain significant growth, and increase their fan base. For instance, X-factor talent shows has assisted in putting live music forward towards the front of the mass consciousness, through making television content from selection of talents. The show has also provided chances for squeezed record labels to propel losing finalists work to markets with reduced costs and risks. This is because of television shows exposure such artists have received and the fan base c reated. This brings a crucial and incredible growth of British music industry in terms of popularity and artists branding. Experts agree that the X-factor alumni bankability plays a crucial role in the industry’s commercial allure, and various other British music industries have began to realize the importance of enrolling their artists in television shows because talent show mentors and performers may have an extensive effect on music industry sales. Television shows such as X-factor add value or are crucial to British music industry because in a highly fragmented media world, the talent show is among the few mass-market strategies for exposing artists to the wider public. For instance, with the prominent Pops and other public media markets demise, the X-factor remains as the only strategy for pop and rock artists mainstream to expose artists and their music to the mass music markets and other public audience, (Holmes, 200, p.56). Talent television shows have over 15 million viewers at a time and it is crucial for various artists to get on these shows as a way of linking to family viewers that are increasingly crucial to music selling and expansion. X-factor show and other shows serves as ‘water cooler’ framework as featured artist enormously benefit from massive press coverage, therefore, the benefit of series appearance can be an extensive advantage, (Davis and Hall, 2008, p.87). Similarly, the shows engage people with the music and make youths enthusiastic about

Zipcar Company Case Analysis Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Zipcar Company Analysis - Case Study Example The case study "Zipcar Company Case Analysis" talks about the lessons a marketer can learn from the largest car share company in the world in terms of marketing strategies. Zipcar Company established itself as a major company in the market through diversifying its services from just offering car hire services but ventured in other services direly needed by the customers. They choose a densely populated geographic segment to offer its services and they went on to be successful. From their operation, there are two important marketing concepts identified in the case, segmentation and CSR. These are used by the company for winning the best market for its services. The future of the firm looks way ahead of the competitors where there is a plan to expand to other populated market segments and win the developments in the market. This case, therefore, brings two lessons; in a course or work like marketing, customer loyalty and market segmentation brings about high-level success to the company. Its main work is to rent out cars on daily basis and has grown and positioned itself to become well-endowed in the market that commands a high level of car rental companies. The company is also a car rental company that has its own services modified to fit other specialities in which case the whole issue is not just about cars but more than that. Its main services are to people living in densely populated regions where it is very cumbersome, costly and ineffective (actually irresponsible) to own a car.

Incident Response Policy Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Incident Response Policy - Coursework Example The InfoSec’s policy is created to provide security within the computerized devices in a company. Among these companies services is the provision of the Bluetooth operating system covers all Bluetooth enabled devices within the company. The policy prevents imitation through setting up any Bluetooth device on any company equipment that does not fit their specific model without the permission of the company’s InfoSec Manager. The system is secured by passwords to any connectivity. Operators are expected to enter a certain security password that is kept a secret to the company staff members. The system secures the company’s internet use and ensures that not anybody can be connected to the company internet without the permission from the associated staff (Hassell, 2005). Internet supply is supplied within a limited area and is mostly concentrated within the perimeter of the company. It is installed to computers, laptops, and other wifi enabled mobile phones devises. When pairing the Bluetooth internet connections to the Bluetooth enabled device, the user is expected to insert the required pin or password to ensure connections. In case the device denies connection after feeding it with the correct pin/password, operators are expected to report to the InfoSec through the company help desk. For the accountability and performance determination, the InfoSec performs audits to ensure that members comply with the policy. The Bluetooth users must only access the company internet after an approval of their Bluetooth device hardware and software connections. Any member of staff found to violate the policy is subject to a disciplinary action and may lead to termination of employment (Administrators guide to Windows server 2003,

Deliberate Stereotyping Through Language of Various Groups Research Paper

Deliberate Stereotyping Through Language of Various Groups - Research Paper Example The average American lady works instead of just lazily sleeping all day (Leszczak 163). The two girls do not represent a small group of American ladies who prefer to wait for their handsome prince to sweep them off their feet into a world of house chores. Some girls prefer to wait for a rich suitor to marry them. After marriage, the ladies prefer to stay at home and care for the family. Caring for the family includes taking care of the children’s physical and emotional needs. Taking care of the children includes taking care of the love, care, and emotional needs of the busy working husband (Leszczak 163). Additionally, the cartoon television series The Simpsons show how the typical family life in America. The television show often shows common family issues that crop up in the average American family’s life. The television show also shows how the typical family resolves issues of misunderstanding among the family members. The same cartoon series shows how the average Fa mily resolves conflicts with the average American neighbor. Similarly, the same Simpson show indicates how the typical American family honors special holidays like Christmas day, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and Thanksgiving Day (Gray 41). African American Stereotyping American television stereotyping does not spare the African Americans from being one of the popular topics. In the 1915 Griffith film, Birth of a Nation, the film depicted the average African Americans as Toms, Coons, brutal bucks, tragic mulattoes or Mammies. The African American stereotype was infused into the 1974 Good Times television series. The same African American stereo was included in the creation of the 1993 South Central comedy television series. The African American audiences loved... This paper approves that all the above television series are not notoriety deserved. The concepts on the above works do not use offensive language. Some of the conversations of the above television series can be taking as curtailed irony. Consequently, we should not take all the stereotyping issues at face value. Rather, the stereotypes should be regarded as a small portion of the entire culture or outcome. Some television series deliberately stereotype children as eager learning individuals. The children’s television series cater to the cartoon television story needs of the children television audiences. The children would be happy to watch children’s television series. This report makes a conclusion that there are some lessons we can learn from the offensive language. First, we should censor the offensive language. Censorship means changing the language to milder or more tactful ones. The above television series are considered entertainment that adds lessons, morals, or values to the television audiences. The above television series clearly shows restraint in the use of offensive language. The offensive language rarely occurs in the entire television series. Based on the above discussion, deliberate stereotyping happens by focusing on the use of language of different groups (especially white people) in mainstream television shows. Some television series portray Asians and African Americans differently from White Americans. Other television shows portray women differently from men. Evidently, the research shows that most television series show a wrong image or stereotype of certain groups deliberately.

HIV AIDS IN AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN 40-70 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

HIV AIDS IN AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN 40-70 - Essay Example y is designed to illustrate statistics on this often-underlooked population demographic to determine whether the 40-70 female maintains high prevalence of HIV and AIDS. It further looks to identify whether any social programs exist which impact this particular group and discusses the potential toll HIV and AIDS can take on their lives. AIDS is cited as the third largest cause of death in African American women between the ages of 35 and 44, with the disease being the fourth leading cause of death in the 45-54 year old African American female group (CDC, 2008). Combined, this is a significant cause for alarm. In the pursuit of identifying appropriate research for older African American women ages 55 and beyond, no statistical diagrams or charts which highlighted studies could be located. The aforementioned clearly illustrates that more research into the 40-70 African American population should be identified. For instance, contemporary research studies tend to show a pattern of behaviors which, when charted, can be predicted which give insight into what drives the behaviors socially. Once you have painted a construct of how people interact in these different, segregated social groups, it makes the process of identifying methods to assist these women more difficult as it provides no personality, socio-cultural template by which to relate to the struggling women. As 64 percent of all people in the United States who have HIV and AIDS are African Americans, understanding how infection rates occur and the overall sexual practices of the 40-70 group could provide the necessary tools to break down social barriers in terms of treatment options. Sadly, however, it does not appear that there are adequate social programs in place to assist women of this age group who might be battling with HIV and/or AIDS. However, there are several which are designed to offer clinical research information and a sense of community. One of which is the San Francisco AIDS Foundation (SFAF)

Trends in Healthcare Essay Example for Free

Trends in Healthcare Essay In the history of the United States there have been an overall transformation of the way the public experiences health care. Paul Starr eloquently explains trends that have affected the health care system in his books The Social Transformation of American Medicine and Remedy and Reaction. An in depth overview of the history of medicine gives a greater understanding of the trends that shape the system we experience today. The first major trend that shaped medicine is the delivery of medicine to the public from the 1800s to present. In the early 1800s individuals received medical care by individuals that were not properly trained and did not have proper knowledge of sanitary care for patients. In the 1850s the invention of the stethoscope, ophthalmoscope, laryngoscope, microscope x-ray, and EKG provided a transforming medical community that began relying on technology of care to provide better diagnoses and care. With the invention of these medical devices, patients moved from caring for individuals in their homes to the hospital facilities and contributed to a higher survival rate. With the development of more hospitals to care for the sick, we also began to see the formation of multiple hospitals to tailor to multiple religious denominations. The next major trend discussed in the trend in the way we finance health care. Financing for health care in the private sector began to change in 1929 when Blue Cross was formed at Baylor University for school teachers in Dallas, TX. There was a dual purpose for this program. It provided coverage for individuals so that there would not be financial consequences as a result of hospital care. In essence it was a safety net to also ensure hospitals received payment for services rendered. The insurance company assumed the risk, based on the profitability of a claim. In 1939 another program was developed called Blue Shield. Blue Shield was designed by a group of physicians as a way of reimbursing physicians services and medical and surgical services. The coverage did not include coverage for pharmaceuticals. Monetary payment was made to an insured which could be assigned to a provider. We also saw the development of the Federal  Government third party payers such as Medicaid or Medicare. Especially today we are seeing the move toward more regulation and the possibility of requiring health coverage for all with a penalty if the coverage is not purchased. The third trend we see in health care is the utilization of health care. In the early 1800s care was primarily provided to patients who were likely facing a detrimental condition for which there was no care. Methods were not in place to provide surgeries that were sanitary and technology had yet to provide equipment to diagnosis conditions. In the 21st century we see a trend to move toward preventative care. More and more health insurance companies are offering incentives on deductibles as a way to encourage annual visits so as to possibly lower health care costs for major illnesses that could arise and could possibly be prevented in identified earlier. Health care is a field that is forever changing, and it could not be truer than when we turn on the news to see the latest headlines regarding Obamacare. There has long been a struggle on how to best provide coverage availability to Americans without infringing on their freedom of choice. Health care continues to be one of the most costly challenges we face, and as we have seen in the past decades, it is a topic that is ever transforming.

The Founding Of The Vanity Fair Brand

The Founding Of The Vanity Fair Brand Founded in 1899, Vanity Fair (VF), the worlds largest publicly owned apparel company, offers various products such as jeans, bags, sportswear, footwear and outerwear. It operates mainly in the US and Europe, but also in developing countries like India, Russia and China. In the last decade, VF made some acquisitions including The North Face, Napapijri, Nautica and Vans. Five major coalitions consist of multiple brands a total of 700 brand stores in 2009 leading the Growth Plan strategy. The company recorded, in 2008, $7,561,621 of revenues. VF brands are attempting to establish close relationships with its suppliers to reduce production costs, respond to changes in other cost factors, and shorten the lead time that occurs with the traditional suppliers. Also, Fraser, the President of the Supply Chain International for VF brands, is concerned that the companys current supply chain strategies will not satisfy the future demand that will occur in the Asia-Pacific areas. In this paper, we will analyze four alternatives that VF brands can execute for its global expansion into the Asian markets. Those 4 alternatives are as follow; (1) To abandon the Third Way; (2) To continue with the current supply chain strategies; (3) To pick the best method for each coalition and products categories; and (4) Gradually switching to Third Way altogether in the end. Based on our analyses of the 4 alternatives and the apparel industry, we will suggest the best solution that will satisfy the new demand and help the other areas to become more e fficient and effective in the future. SWOT ANALYSIS Strengths Since the company was established more than a century ago, it was able to develop certain competencies in various areas and a good reputation. One of them is the strong performance in its internal plants, and the know-how and expertise involved. All these led to VFs own sustainable competitive advantages. In addition, the company built a technical know-how and engineering capabilities, which are very difficult to imitate. The rapid production at the internal plants and its supply chain are very valuable. Moreover, a large number of suppliers and the experience gained accumulated over time give VF a considerable and reliable network. Also, during the various acquisitions, VF preserved the unique organizational cultures and brand identities to keep the design groups intact. Every brand has then a strong personality that can be managed and developed individually, giving more diversity. Besides, the financial situation of VF is strong with a low level of debts and a high cash position th at can help them in case of tough economic situations and give them more flexibility to respond accordingly. Weaknesses When operating such a big and diversified company, some difficulties may occur. The first one is the lack of coordination and trust among suppliers and the company. A bullwhip effect may be observed due to the lack of inventories. Also, the supply chain is often illogical and highly fragmented due to various outsourcing locations. Certain dependence may be caused by some suppliers, making it very costly (ex: Nicaragua). Thus, building a reliable supplier network is very expensive. VF has a sheer complexity of its product line, leading to different needs and priorities among its numerous brands. The diversity of ideas between coalitions and directors causes some problems in the decision-making as well. Low costs pressuring for outsourcing can lead to quality matters and lack of control. Additionally, not much differentiation can be made in terms of supplying and transportation. Opportunities As the apparel industry is changing at a very rapid rate, innovative companies can see various opportunities. The supply chain management is a very first change in the companys structural changes; then the Third Way is described as an opportunity to gain another competitive advantage, going forward. Partnerships can be developed in a long term vision. Moreover, the expansion of sales in developing countries represents a huge growth opportunity. Asian markets seem like a favourable location for new stores. Also, the development of new line products at a broad range of price can be designed at any time to satisfy a new market segment. Fashion is seen differently around the world, thus, various strategies are used to fulfill each need. Future acquisitions can also contribute to the growth of VF. Threats Apparel industry is very much affected by economic situations. In times of crisis, too much dependence on some suppliers might be fatal; especially that competition is very hard and intense with brands competing directly. Continuous investment must be made, essentially in marketing to maintain margins. Plus, the growing bargaining power of mass retailing chains put pressure to lower the price at all time. Also, the frequent changes in tariffs and quotas make outsourcing unsure sometimes, making the research for suppliers challenging. Agile supply chain and vf brands The third way seems to be a new way to deal with suppliers and with a supply chain in general. However, third way could be seen as an agile supply chain in many aspects. In the next section, we will discuss what are an agile supply chain, the differences between lean supply chain and hybrid supply chain, and the link with VF Brands third Way. This part will give basic information that will be useful for our recommendations. VF BRANDS and THE AGILE SUPPLY CHAIN In a turbulent and volatile world, the only thing that does not change is change by itself . Basically, companies compete at several competitive dimensions like cost, delivery time, quality and flexibility. However, todays intensely competitive market is more and more defined by an instability and unpredictability of demand that represent the new challenges organizations face. For many reasons, the product and technology life cycles are shortening, forcing more frequent product changes in addition to new competitive pressure. Now, companies look beyond cost and quality advantages. Speed to market, speed to delivery and flexibility are being emphasized as a way to be more reactive to the needs of customers. However, more than speed, companies require a high level of maneuverability, or in other words, a high level of agility. What is an Agile Organization? Agility is a business-wide capability that embraces an organizational structure, information and systems, logistics processes, and in particular, mindsets. The key to success of an agile business is speed and flexibility. Agile organizations are market-driven, with more product research, and short development and introduction cycles. An agile organization can be defined as an organization capable to cope with unexpected challenges, to survive unprecedented threats of business environment and to take advantage of changes as opportunities. This kind of organization must be a fast moving, adaptable, robust business able to achieve a competitive advantage in a very instable environment. The basic way to define agility is the ability to quickly match supply, however, it is important to explain that agile is not a synonymous of leanness. Indeed, lean can be seen as doing more with less by implementing a lean manufacturing (Porsche Consulting) with zero inventory or Minimum Reasonable Inventory (MRI) and just in time approach. However, lean manufacturing system does not often mean flexible manufacturing system. A lean manufacturing system can result on less waste and high efficiency, but sometimes with important inventory. Finally, a company with a lean chain of supply can make their consumers wait a longer time to receive their products. We can illustrate that with the automotive industry and more specifically with the Toyota Production System. Indeed Toyota production system can be seen as lean, but that does not mean that consumers do not have to wait, often during months, to have the car of their choice. Therefore, Lean approach works best in high volume, low varie ty, and predictable environment. Whereas, Agility is needed in less predictable environment where demand is volatile and the requirement for variety is high. The Agile Supply Chains and Characteristics All organizations have supply chains of varying degrees, depending upon the size of the organization, the depth and scope of international outsourcing, the type of product manufactured, and the international production network. A supply chain describes the series of linked activities creating a process that changes supplies and components into finished products that will be distributed to customers. The agility of a Supply Chain is a measure of how well the relationship involved in the process enhances four pivotal objectives of agile manufacturing: Customer sensitivity, Virtual integration, Process Integration, and Network integration. First, all the agile supply must have the capacity to understand and respond to real demand quickly, in other words, the supply chain must be customer sensitive. The organization must be able to make forecast based upon past sales or shipment demand and convert these forecasts into inventory. For instance, the main challenge for companies is to be able to hear the voices of the market by receiving Efficient Response from customer (ECR) using information and technology to capture data on demand directly from point-of-sale and point of use. The organization must use information and technology to share data between buyers and suppliers creating a supply chain based on information rather than inventory, basically, create a Virtual Supply Chain. Sharing information using information and system (for example EDI) with our partner will create a collaborative work environment (process integration) that can be illustrated by joint product development and process improvement between buyer and s uppliers. Integrated your process offer the potential for major performance gain. This form of co-operation in supply chain is more and more important as many companies focus on their core competencies and outsource all other activities. Partnerships between buyer and supplier are inevitable to achieve an agile supply chain. To this extent, integration can mean the combination of sell through data, exchange of inventory status information, order coordination, open-book accounting, buyer supplier team, share information about the future products, and change in manufacturing process need to be changed as well as simplified pricing schemes . Figure 1 Dimension of Supply Chain Agility Supply chain agility can be discussed in terms of two dimensions of reach and range of activities covered by networking amongst companies (13;8). The figure shows this two-dimensional framework. On the vertical axis, there is the reach from Personal Division to Global. When, in the horizontal axis, there is the Range of activities from the basic way to send a message (EMAIL for instance) to Internet integration. This figure shows three steps from Bill of Material through Purchasing efficiency with electronic commerce, Supplier coaching, and Relational Database to the top level of planning, and control with Demand Planning, and Capacity Planning, and so on. To achieve agility on the Supply Chain, an organization must go through these steps and access the highest level with planning and control. In fact, the company must achieve the highest level on Reach (Global) and on Range (Integration). Indeed, on the last step, internal operations will be transparent to suppliers and customers. T his transparency allows cross companys team to work. Local teams are able to think globally and discuss the process and requirement without restriction without major problems of communication. Any change, modification, and new project can be implemented quickly, efficiently, and easily without creating high cost, or affecting quality of the output. (Figure 2) Another study, by Vankatranan and Handerson, implemented these three steps in addition with three inter-dependent dimensions of the supply chain (customer interaction, asset configuration, Knowledge Leverage). In fact, these three stages can be implemented to evaluate progress on each dimension of the supply chain and see how well integrated and agile it is. (Figure 3) Hybrid Strategy, another Solution Lean and agile supply chain are two concepts focusing on two different issues. Lean initiative is said to focus on cost and quality and impacts on flexibility and times based technology leadership objective (e.g. TPS), whereas, agile supply chain influence costs and time based technology leadership. However, companies often need to keep in mind cost quality as well as flexibility and technology leadership at the same time. A combination of the two approaches could be appropriate to create a hybrid strategy. Hybrid Supply Chain focuses on the fact that characteristics of demand must be taken into consideration when designing the supply chain. Within a mixed portfolio of product and markets, there could be some products with stable demand and some other with unpredictable demand that is why a supply does not have to be totally agile of lean. For instance, the Supply Chain of the fashion apparel, Zara, could be shown as a agile supply chain with some lean characteristic in order to have the most effective quick-response system in its industry. Indeed Zara is able to quickly understand trends, producing some items with low flexible demand in low cost country (low cost, long time delivery, and so on), but at the same time they are able to be produced quickly in response in Spanish high-automated and very efficient factories that allow quick production, shorter time to delivery in point of sale, lower risk, and more flexibility. We can discuss another case, IKEA. IKEA deals with many suppliers mostly in European Union (more than 50%) and 20% in China. Two ideas must be underlined; Ikea usually implement long-term relationship with strong partnership with its suppliers, however, these partners must respect very strict norms created by IKEA itself. IKEA can help is suppliers (by financings machines, increasing the efficiency of the supply chain, and on) that make these supplier very efficient and very dependent to the buyer. To this point of view, IKEA supply chain can be seen as an agile Supply Chain, however, Ikea produce many products in Asia (China), but these products have a more stable demand trend. VF BRAND and The Third Way: Implementation of an Agile Supply Chain? Vanity Fair brands were used to deal with their own very efficient factories located closed to the companys main market, the US. However, the group decided to extend globally by buying other brands where the policies were sometimes to totally outsource the production. VF brands needed to deal with a very complicated supply chain, very decentralized design, and so on; a kind of mix between traditional sourcing and outsourcing, for some aspect similar to ZARA. However, just chasing low cost and building its own factories are not seen as a long-term solution for Chris Fraser, President Supply Chain international for VF Brand. At the same time, some of the inefficiency was due to lack of coordination and lack of trust between apparel companies and suppliers. A new solution was adopted, the third way. Third way means that VF should focus on supplier network. Suppliers and VF brand would work together. Suppliers would own their factories, but VF brand will help them for free using their ow n resources in engineering and management forces as well as with their purchasing power to procure fabric and other raw materials -resources previously used in their own factories. This solution looks like IKEAs solution, however, Ikea focused on a network of suppliers geographically near its location which is not the case for VF Brand that have to deal with low cost countries regulation and particularities and many brands in order to achieve its agile supply chain. The results are not very good for the moment: difficulties to convince shareholders that sharing resources with outsourced suppliers is a good solution, and as well as difficulty linking with the country where products are supplied; which probably is the reasons why. As a conclusion, results from studies like shows that only a few companies have adopted agile supply chain practices. However, most companies have created long term collaboration with suppliers as well as customers; it can be seen as lean Supply chain or hybrid strategy. Indeed study suggests that lean supply chain has a higher level of impact on competitive objectives in contrast to agile supply chain. Nevertheless, this result would probably be discussed within a few years as it will take some time before current companies investments and research effort on agile supply chain lead to more concrete and enjoyable results on competitive outcome compared to lean supply chain. Lets see what VF Brand can achieve if it pursue this third way. ALTERNATIVES Alternative 1 Abandon the Third Way go back to the old way The Third Way could potentially cause many difficulties for VF, hence abandoning this way before investing too much money is a possible alternative. Firstly, you maintain the flexibility to change volumes or to change to a supplier who is offering a lower price. You are also independent from the suppliers problems, for instance if you are not satisfied with the quality of the product, you can simply switch to a different supplier. Following the old way, you do not need to spend money and time until the problem is fixed. Secondly, it is tough to find suppliers willing to form a partnership with the given conditions. To agree to not supply the same category of products to competitors anytime in the future is a huge barrier for a supplier and drags him into dependence on VF. Since the price paid is vague at the establishment of the relationship, the supplier faces the risk to be exploited. The fact that one of the test Third Way suppliers could not manage to survive financially is a hint that the relationship might not work out for suppliers. In Addition, VFs existing suppliers were carefully selected and since they were not interested in a closer relationship. Thus, VF needs to establish the Third Way with unknown companies, a great risk if you are concerning the trust needed. Thirdly, there is still the possibility that VFs knowledge leaks out to competitors. The technology you provide your supplier is not necessarily limited to a specific category of product, but you relationship might be. In this case, the technology could be used by competitors if they buy products of a different kind from that supplier. Since VF is not the owner of the supplier, it is also harder to control the knowledge leaking. For example, an employee may change to a competitors supplier. Fraser and Green called VFs technical capabilities a trump card, therefore it should be highly protected and not being risked. Another point is that the problem of switching costs is also an issue. To establish a Third-Way-relationship VF has to invest money to transfer their knowledge to the supplier. Since the latter is not losing any money in case of termination of the contract, the chance for dropping out is higher. Regardless whether the supplier drops out or is closing down for some reasons, it takes a long time until a new relationship is established, so VF might face severe supply difficulties. Lastly, in a study there was no significant relation between strategic sourcing and gaining competitive advantage. Therefore, the effort spent on the Third Way might not return the expected results. On the other hand, the same study showed that strategic sourcing (and therefore the Third Way) has a positive influence on business performance. A close relationship is also speeding up goods entry. Also keep in mind that the total costs for a five pocket jeans were the lowest of all three ways. Alternative 2 Continue the current supply chain strategies Another alternative strategy for the situation which Vanity Fair brands are facing could be to keep working on the current strategy. As explained in the article and supported by its strong financial performance compared to its competitors, the company has maintain its competitive position in the apparel industry. VF brands have been well established through a series of successful mergers and acquisitions of different brands, products, and styles. In the course of these acquisitions, the company was able to gain huge competitive advantages from operating its own manufacturing plants and traditional outsourcing, simultaneously. This combined strategy allowed the company to juggle between based on the geographic markets, demands, different products and coalitions. Frasers Third Way strategy seems very attractive for VF going forward. Many of the challenges the company faces are due to production inefficiency and supplier relationship based on little or no trust. Fraser and VF brands are at a crucial stage to decide which means to carry on international expansion goals in the future. Despite many benefits of the Third Way, the company must examine if this supply chain strategy is a strong fit for Asian markets. As mentioned previously, there is no doubt that a combination of full integration and traditional sourcing is a VF brands strength. Internal manufacturing sites are able to produce high quality products more efficiently and reliably compared to not only its competitors but also its outsourcing suppliers. The significantly reduced production time is a great strength with respect to the products that experiences a high inventory turnover rate. Another advantage arises in unexpected crisis such as the global economic downturn in 2008-2009. If the company operated solely based on outsourcing, it would have been very difficult to survive due to the shutdown of small shops and short notice of their discontinuation. On the other hand, outsourcing for certain coalitions or products due to the nature of its operations is inevitable. Cut and make (CM) contracts allowed the company to oversee cost drivers at each stage, mostly for heritage lines supplied in Central American and Caribbean. Full package sourcing was mainly used for the lifestyle brands in Asia, Europe, and Northern Africa. Outsourcing strategy provides VF brands with more flexibility when dealing with different suppliers across different geographic regions, especially with regards to tariffs and quotas. While the Third Way has many benefits going forward, this strategy also involves a high risk and costs associated, more so if executed without thorough research and examinations. Besides the concerns from different areas of the company itself, the Third Way should be carefully selected and applied to the most suitable product lines. For example, the strategy is most suitable for products that require the steady and regular supply of its inventory with the staffs of a certain level of education. Also these potential suppliers should be willing to build the strategic partnership for a long term. As mentioned before, switching costs are another hindrance. Since it is much easier to persuade new suppliers than existing suppliers, the company needs to thoroughly examine the qualifications of potential suppliers and there is always a risk that the supplier might not meet the standards later on. Rather than expanding globally extensively through the Third Way, Fraser and the company must fi rst identify the strategic fit for certain geographic regions for certain products/coalitions, and then pursue this strategy. A product line which makes up a small volume or not much techniques or skills should rather be outsourced. Alternative 3: Hybrid Supply Chain VF Corporation world headquarters is located in Greesboro, North Carolina where the senior management team is based, along with the corporate strategy, Finance, Global Business Technology, Law, Human resources and finally, Global Supply Chain. VF Brand Business model focuses on supporting the individuality of lifestyle of each VF Brand and has to deal with each headquarter. Indeed, each Brand has its own headquarter and focuses on its own consumers and customers.(1) However, VF Brands had divided the globe into 4 areas: US Region, Americas, EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Africa), Asia-Pacific. VF Corporation has a specific strategy for each region even some brands are in different regions and are often global. Each brand has specific suppliers that can deliver globally and deal with the headquarter of this specific brand (not with VF Corporation). However, different brands in different regions might need the same supplier for almost the same product. For instance, two brands may need the cheapest supplier as possible for a specific type of product that can accept a long lead time whereas some other products may need a short lead time as the demand trend could fluctuate a lot. The next recommendation could be for VF Brand to have a more original and customized production and purchasing strategy. The basic idea is to create more coherence between where suppliers are based and where products are distributed. Lets take backpacks for example. Backpacks are needed for many companies inside the group, however the demand for backpacks is not fluctuating a lot and the demand is often lower for a backpacks than for jeans or a shirts or t-shirt. This implies that these backpacks could be produced in Asia with lower prices and longer lead time with classic suppliers. However, Jeans for the US market could be manufactured in Mexico in highly automated factories owned by VF Brand, and shipped quickly to the US. Manufacturing these Jeans in Mexico allowed shorter lead times and flexibility depending on fashion trend and thus, demand. The idea is to base suppliers where it is more significant for distribution. If goods are produced in Eastern Europe or Asia, these produc ts should be shipped directly from suppliers to a distribution center that will be located near where products will be sold. Indeed, nowadays, many products are produced in Asia and shipped to the US to finally be sold in Asia. This new approach will significantly reduce lead times and cost. Previously, we only talked about regular suppliers and factory owned by VF. However, VF Brands do not own their own factories for instance in the European and Asian markets. The key idea is to implement the third way in this case. Indeed, some products in the Asian or European market could have a very fluctuating demand trend; for these specific products some brand may need suppliers as efficient as VF Brands factories. Choosing specific suppliers and implementing the third way with them could be a good solution. These third way suppliers could produce for different brands of the VF Corp when they want to produce common products for a specific period of time or deal with specific products for different brands of the group. These third way suppliers could act like VF Brands factories; but in this case, close to EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) region or Asia-Pacific region markets. To avoid sending products to other part of the world and then send them back to the original region , regional centers could be created. These centers will received product from normal suppliers (common for all VF Corp Brands) and then send these product to other regional centers, reducing lead time and cost. At the same time, Third Way suppliers will only focus on production for their actual area of the world. VF Brands must act local and think global. However as I will show, VF Brands do not have to think global just with its supply chain. Indeed, as we previously said, some products -like backpacks- are not often a trendy product. These not-so-specific products could have a common base -platform- share between the brands that will allow mass production with the same suppliers-reducing cost by dealing with more significant volumes-. In other words, some products could probably be designed by and for a different brand of the group but with the possibility of customization to differentiate these products. Exhibit 1 shows you an example for 3 areas, (EMEA, USA, ASIA) 1- VF Corporation Website http://www.vfc.com/about/global-presence VF CORP, how to think Globally Alternative 4: Gradually switch to Third Way altogether in the end Another alternative is that VF could gradually change their strategy to Third Way altogether in the end. As mentioned in the given case, VF can achieve more efficiency and long term stability through the Third Way. In our previous alternatives, we mentioned our concerns about the Third Way that it would not succeed. According to this point of view, the Third Way will bring loss of flexibility, leakage of VFs technology to outside and many other losses that will not benefit the company. However, to survive in apparel market of today, it is crucial for a company to satisfy various needs of consumers while supplying products as quickly as possible, which can be achieved by the Third Way. In order to quickly respond to market changes, it is important for VF to have a simplified, efficient production process so that it can immediately act when necessary. By achieving the Third Way, VF can gain two advantages. First, it can bring efficiency to its supply process. Second, it will result in a long term and sustainable supplier relationship. First, by implementing the Third Way, VF can make its supply process more efficient. By providing high technology engineering resources of VF, suppliers of VF can improve its production processes. This will result in cost benefits for VF as it will shorten lead time, and decrease production and inventory cost. Not only that, improving production process and shortening lead time mean VF can act more quickly. It is important for an apparel company to react quickly to changes to satisfy ever changing needs of the fashion market. Second, VF can create a long term and sustainable supplier relationship with its suppliers by following Third Way. As previously mentioned, contract of Third Way includes long term contract with its supplier in producing goods. By having a long term relationship, VF can decrease cost of finding new supplier for every new season. Also, by providing VFs engineering resources to improve the production process for suppliers, VF can gain trust from its suppliers. By building trust with suppliers, VF can minimize the cost of excess inventory and long lead time. Those against the Third Way argue that it will result in low flexibility, technology leakage. However, recent experiments in countries like Bangladesh showed the Third Way suppliers were able to greatly shorten lead time, allowing VF to respond to market more quickly than compared to traditional ways. Also, no leakages of VFs technology were reported. Those against the Third Way argue that the Third Way has many holes and also it is unable to persuade existing suppliers to change into the Third Way and therefore risky and ineffective strategy. However, this is a myopic view of the issue. Such problems are transitional errors that can be dealt with in the long term. Holes that might appear through the Third Way can be revised when such problems are found. Also, the supplier persuasion issue can be dealt by gradually replacing existing suppliers with the Third Way suppliers while continually trying to convert existing suppliers into the Third Way. It is essential for VF in order to sur vive in apparel market to build a supplier relationship that is sustainable and interactive; hence, the Third Way is the answer. RECOMMENDATION The company is currently in a no-return process. It needs to find the best way to satisfy the growing demand all around the world but parti

Culture in South Korea

Culture in South Korea Have you ever thought about how many different cultures there are around the globe? No two cultures will ever be the same, they are all very unique in their own ways. One of these global countries is South Korea. The United States has a great relationship with South Korea. After World War II and the Korean War, the United States is currently at peace with South Korea. The relationship with the United States is just one of the many things that South Korea can offer from its country. From the amazing physical features, exciting holidays and traditions, and also to the government and economy, this is just one of the beautiful countries to look into. The country we are researching is South Korea. It is located on the continent Asia, below North Korea, and it is near Japan and China. South Korea is 38,691 miles squared while the U.S is 3,797,000 miles squared. That is about 20% of the size of California! Even though South Korea is that small, it has a population of about 55.22 million people. South Korea consists of mostly mountains in the east, and has many coastlines and beaches in the south. Unfortunately, many of the mountains and coastlines are taken up by buildings, and apartments, but still many of them exist allowing one to travel these natural formations. Even though with many of the natural formations still around, South Korea is starting to lose many of their natural resources due to theÂÂ   resources being over harvested. Some of the natural resources are still around and grown, like food, but most of it are brought in from other countries because Korea had either gotten rid of these natural materials by building many factories and housing over them, or over harvested them. Going through the list of South Koreas physical features, South Korea has very different climates all throughout the 4 seasons. The spring and fall are very short with temperatures that are between summer and winter. On the other hand, summer is very humid and hot while winter is long, cold, and dry. South Korea has the fourth largest economy in the world. South Korea made about 1.679 trillion ppp dollars in their gross national product in 2013, and their per capita income for 2013 was 33,440 ppp dollars. Most of the economy of South Korea comes from the companies and business that the people make. Many people in South Korea work in some form of business rather than agriculture. Usually people in the countryside work with the agriculture and livestock. Typically the farmers grow barley, wheat, rice, soybeans, and root vegetables, and they have livestock such as cows, pigs, and chickens. Koreas form of government is a Parliamentary Democracy. This means that that the country has a president and a prime minister. Currently the president in South Korea is Park Geun-hye and the prime minister is Hwang Kyo-ahn. Their Judicial system consists of the Supreme court of South Korea. The constitutional court of South Korea, six high courts, 13 district courts, family court, and a Administrative court. Their military headquarters are in Seoul, South Korea, and their minister of defense is Han-Min Goo. Also, Koreas crime rate is considered low. Now the tour heading towards the South Koreans culture, money holidays, etc. The currency for South Korea is called won. The country was created in around the 1950s after the war between North and South Korea. The main language for Korea is Korean, but other languages are starting to come in, for example English. Korean or Hangul was created by King Sejong in 1443 to help the common people to speak and write, before that a writing style called Hanja was used. The Capital of South Korea is Seoul. Like the capital Seoul, many other cities are urban cities, but that doesnt mean that there is not rural areas. Most of the rural areas are inhabited by much older people, while the urban consists of many younger people. South Koreans eat many different types of foods. Two biggest foods that they eat is Kimchi and Rice. Koreans even eat rice for breakfast, so they dont really eat the traditional things like cereal, pancakes, eggs and bacon. They also eat all sorts of seafood, and eats some th ings that people will call disgusting. One of the greatest thing about Korea, is that they deliver many different types of food to peoples homes, and they also have many places where they sell street foods. There are many different holidays and events in Korea. The Two big holidays in Korea are Chuseok, Koreas version of Thanksgiving and Seollal or Korean Lunar New Year. Both years are celebrated by seeing family and eating many different types of food. In Seollal, a tradition food called Tteokguk (rice cake soup) is eaten. Also, people play yutnori as a fun games. In Chuseok a food called Songpyeon, a Korean traditional rice cake which usually contains sesame seeds and honey as stuffing, but other ingredients such as black beans, mung beans, cinnamon, pine nut, walnut, chestnut, and jujube are used, is eaten and trade with neighbors. In both holidays, Koreans give respect to their elders and their ancestors, and wear traditional Korean clothes called Hanbok, hanbok is also wore during weddings by the bride and groom. Both holidays dont have an exact date and change each year depending on the Lunar calendar. Besides these holidays, Koreans have many special events. For example on Novemb er 11th, it is Pepero Day. This day is really meaningless, but it is a fun day where Pepero is on special discounts and sales. It is on November 11th because 11/11 is like the Pepero sticks. There are also many other meaningless, but fun holidays like Pepero Day. Other holidays, for example, are like Childrens Day. However, even with these fun holidays, education still plays a big important role to the people of Korea, and the holidays shouldnt take away the students focus of their work. In South Korea the literacy rate is 99.2% for males and for female its 96.6%. If you think school is hard here in America, well you are wrong. Most high school students in Korea attend school from 9am to 5pm, and they also take additional night schools and after school. However, students only take high school for three years because a year in a grade is usually longer than America. Even by a young grade like first grade, children start going to after school and are given a lot of work. Many of these students end up taking up the business career because that is what most of the Koreas economy is made out of. South Korea is unique from the U.S because of many reasons. One of these reasons is that in South Korea people eat seaweed soup, miyeokguk, during their birthdays. This is unique because in the U.S we eat cake. Another reason is that originally it was illegal to marry someone with the same surname. This is because the same surname makes someone distantly related, so you are technically marrying someone you are related too. Another thing is Koreans are actually very strict about a lot of things. For example, if a famous person makes a tiny mistake of driving after drinking, they could lose all their fame and may never even be able to come back in television. These are some unique things that South Korea has. South Korea is a very interesting and fun country. It is not just a country about K-Pop, (Korean pop), it is more than that. In our tour we experienced government, economy, holidays, and education. If you are a traveler or want to go to somewhere for a short vacation trip, South Korea is a place for you.

Invisible Man Essay: Invisible Mans Emergence -- Invisible Man Essays

Invisible Man's Emergence    During the epilogue of Invisible Man, the narrator's invisibility "placed [him] in a hole" (Ellison 572). This leads the reader to ask questions. Why did the narrator descend underground? Will he ever emerge?   By examining his reasons for going underground, comparing and contrasting his emergence versus his staying below, why he would want to emerge, and the importance of social responsibility, one will see that Invisible Man will clearly emerge (Parker ). Before one can determine whether or not the narrator will emerge from his proverbial hole, he must asses Invisible Man's reasons for going underground (Parker ). The literal reason for his initial descent was to escape two white men chasing after him. It is at this point that he says, "I felt myself plunge down, down; a long drop that ended upon a load of coal... and I lay in the black dark upon the black coal no longer running" (Ellison 565). If the reader then thinks back to the prologue, where Invisible Man introduces his living quarters, he sees some irony. During the prologue Invisible Man says, I doubt if there is a brighter spot in all New York...In my hole in the basement there are exactly 1,369 lights, I've wired the entire ceiling, every inch of it (Ellison 6-7). This extreme lighting contrasts with the darkness and blackness that is shown in the hole that he falls into. According to one critic, the brightness connotes an optimistic viewpoint that is new to Invisible Man (Parker ). He believed that "[his invisibility] placed [him] in a hole- or showed [him] the the [he] was in" (Ellison 572). He remained in the cellar to get away from "it all" (Ellison 573), and to contemplate his life and his grandfather's words- to po... ...ng] the foul air out" (Ellison 581). It is here that he wants to put his past behind him and move forward. He says: I'm shaking off the old skin and and I'll leave it here in the hole. I'm coming out, no less invisible without it, but coming out nevertheless. And i suppose it's damn well time (Ellison 581). Works Cited and Consulted Bellow, Saul. "Man Underground" Review of Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man. Commentary. June 1952. 1st December 2001 Available: http://www.english.upeen.edu/~afilreis /50s/bellow-on-ellison.html Ellison, Ralph. Invisible Man. New York: The Modern Library, 1994. O'Meally, Robert, ed. New Essays on Invisible Man. Cambridge; New York: Cambridge University Press, 1988. Parker, Robert Dale "Black Identity and the Marketplace of Masculinity" 30 January 2002 Available: http://www.english.cmu.edu/~ Parker/50s/ellison.htm Invisible Man Essay: Invisible Man's Emergence -- Invisible Man Essays Invisible Man's Emergence    During the epilogue of Invisible Man, the narrator's invisibility "placed [him] in a hole" (Ellison 572). This leads the reader to ask questions. Why did the narrator descend underground? Will he ever emerge?   By examining his reasons for going underground, comparing and contrasting his emergence versus his staying below, why he would want to emerge, and the importance of social responsibility, one will see that Invisible Man will clearly emerge (Parker ). Before one can determine whether or not the narrator will emerge from his proverbial hole, he must asses Invisible Man's reasons for going underground (Parker ). The literal reason for his initial descent was to escape two white men chasing after him. It is at this point that he says, "I felt myself plunge down, down; a long drop that ended upon a load of coal... and I lay in the black dark upon the black coal no longer running" (Ellison 565). If the reader then thinks back to the prologue, where Invisible Man introduces his living quarters, he sees some irony. During the prologue Invisible Man says, I doubt if there is a brighter spot in all New York...In my hole in the basement there are exactly 1,369 lights, I've wired the entire ceiling, every inch of it (Ellison 6-7). This extreme lighting contrasts with the darkness and blackness that is shown in the hole that he falls into. According to one critic, the brightness connotes an optimistic viewpoint that is new to Invisible Man (Parker ). He believed that "[his invisibility] placed [him] in a hole- or showed [him] the the [he] was in" (Ellison 572). He remained in the cellar to get away from "it all" (Ellison 573), and to contemplate his life and his grandfather's words- to po... ...ng] the foul air out" (Ellison 581). It is here that he wants to put his past behind him and move forward. He says: I'm shaking off the old skin and and I'll leave it here in the hole. I'm coming out, no less invisible without it, but coming out nevertheless. And i suppose it's damn well time (Ellison 581). Works Cited and Consulted Bellow, Saul. "Man Underground" Review of Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man. Commentary. June 1952. 1st December 2001 Available: http://www.english.upeen.edu/~afilreis /50s/bellow-on-ellison.html Ellison, Ralph. Invisible Man. New York: The Modern Library, 1994. O'Meally, Robert, ed. New Essays on Invisible Man. Cambridge; New York: Cambridge University Press, 1988. Parker, Robert Dale "Black Identity and the Marketplace of Masculinity" 30 January 2002 Available: http://www.english.cmu.edu/~ Parker/50s/ellison.htm

Hunger :: essays research papers

Do You Think the Boy’s Mother Made the Proper Choice in Dealing with Her Son?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In Richard Wright’s â€Å"Hunger†, a mother is forced with a difficult decision. Should she â€Å"baby† her child and prevent him from fighting, or should she encourage him to fight and â€Å"stand up like a man†? Unfortunately, the mother’s decision is a clear one. The mother tells the boy to stand up for himself and fight back.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The story â€Å"Hunger† is a story with a very clear message. The message of this story is that a person at any age, instead of hiding from his problems, must face his or her problems. In â€Å"Hunger†, the reader understands how to make a living and support himself or herself. After the father of the boy leaves him, the boy and his mother had to become the householders. Wright, very clearly, describes the situation of the boy’s family situation. The main characters are the mother and her son.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The author of this story describes how the mother sends her son to the grocery store. On his way to the grocery store, the boy is attacked by a couple of neighborhood boys. When the boy comes home and tells his mother what happens, the mother tells the boy that he must stand up for himself by sending him to the store to face the boys. Every time the boy goes to the store, the neighborhood boys would beat him up. Finally, the boy got tired of getting beaten and defends himself: he beats the boys with a stick The boy finally wins â€Å"the right to the streets of Memphis† meaning that that night, he won the right of being safe on the streets of where he lived, Memphis.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The mother plays a very important part in this story. The mother from the beginning of the story is dealt with a difficult decision of how to feed her 2 boys after her husband leaves her. Since the husband worked, he brought food into the house, but when he left, there was no one who worked. The mother had to get a job, which made her tired. When the mother came home from work tired, she would send the boy to the store. When the mother found out that the neighborhood boys were beating up her son, she repeatedly sent him to the store, so he faces the boys and learns to stand up for himself.

Zara: Fast Fashion Case

Create a diagram that illustrates the linkages among Sara's competitive choices. Firstly, everything is connected through centralized hubs. Ezra has its main operations in Spain, but with each expansion into a new country, that country has its own centralized Ezra facility. This allows for local factors to be considered in each market, but gives Ezra an excellent line of communication and ultimate control of all operations. The in-house designs are sourced this way, through representatives in each country bringing forth new fashion concepts for the upcoming season.These incepts are then whittled down by cost, feasibility, and market trends. Then the designs are prototyped and manufactured. The manufacturing is also mostly owned by Sara's parent company, helping reduce costs and lead times. From manufacturing, products are then packaged and labeled back at headquarters for shipping. Most of the shipping is via trucks. Overseas shipping is by air, which meaner the prices are adjusted s o that overseas customers bear this cost. The retail storefronts are setup so that products aren't on the shelves for more than 3 weeks. This along with careful inventory control create the illusion of scarcity.The marketing is also related in that Ezra only places ads twice a year, around the sales seasons. This helps to prevent over-exposure, so that the fashion-forward customers feel trendy. The scarcity factor also helps reduce loss. If a product bombs in one store, it's pulled immediately, to either be sold in another location or discounted to local partners. This meaner that if a product isn't doing well, it doesn't sit forever in the store wasting space that could be used to display a profitable product. 2. How do the distinctive features of Sara's business model affect its operational structure?The interconnectedness of these systems in Sara's operations gives it a hive-like structure. Every employee in every store works together to support the â€Å"queen† central hu b in Spain. Keeping most operations internal allows for very fast response times in each system. The speed meaner mistakes are learned from quickly and corrected. Owning the meaner of production is more cost-effective for Ezra, which allows the firm to maintain reasonable prices for its target market. Ezra also takes care of its employees and is socially responsible, which draws forth enthusiastic loyalty in all interactions. Why might Sahara â€Å"fail†? How sustainable is its competitive advantage? Sara's capable of failing Just like anyone else. I believe if the company loses its cohesion, makes major fashion blunders, raises its prices, begins to make customers or employees feel cheated, missteps in a Joint venture, loses its quick turnaround, or enters a market that is not suited to its business model, it could easily have unrecoverable loss. It's wise for the decision makers at Inedited to maintain the other companies, and not Just focus on Ezra. Ezra: Fast Fashion Case By knish_sass