Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Comparison of Accounting Standards of FASB and IASB Research Paper

Comparison of Accounting Standards of FASB and IASB - Research Paper Example The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) is an independent body in the private sector. It develops and approves International Accounting and Financial Reporting Standards. The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) functions under the International Financial Reporting Foundation oversight. It was formed in 2001 in replacement of the International Accounting Standards Committee. International Accounting Standards Board (IASB), under the constitution of International Financial Reporting Foundation, has a full responsibility for all technical issues of the financial reporting standards such as: preparation and issuing the interpretations of exposure drafts and International Financial Reporting Standards, full discretion in pursuing and developing technical agenda dependent on requirements of consultation with the public and trustees, the issuing and approval of interpretations by the International Financial Reporting Standards Interpretations Committee.

Monday, October 28, 2019

Literary genres Essay Example for Free

Literary genres Essay lit ·er ·a ·ture (ltrchr, -chr) noun. 1. The body of written works of a language, period, or culture. 2. Imaginative or creative writing, especially of recognized artistic value:Literature must be an analysis of experience and a synthesis of the findings into a unity (Rebecca West). 3. The art or occupation of a literary writer. 4. The body of written work produced by scholars or researchers in a given field:medical literature. 5. Printed material: collected all the available literature on the subject. 6. Music All the compositions of a certain kind or for a specific instrument or ensemble: the symphonic literature. 1.  written material such as poetry, novels, essays, etc. , esp works of imagination characterized by excellence of style and expression and by themes of general or enduring interest 2. the body of written work of a particular culture or people Scandinavian literature 3. written or printed matter of a particular type or on a particular subject scientific literature the literature of the violin 4. printed material giving a particular type of information sales literature 5. the art or profession of a writer 6. Obsolete learning 1. writing in prose or verse regarded as having permanent worth through its intrinsic excellence. 2. the entire body of writings of a specific language, period, people, etc. 3. the writings dealing with a particular subject. 4. the profession of a writer or author. 5. literary work or production. 6. any kind of printed material, as circulars, leaflets, or handbills. 7. Archaic. literary culture; appreciation of letters and books. | literature the humanistic study of a body of literature; he took a course in Russian lit. literary study the humanistic study of literatureliterature creative writing of recognized artistic value| | | literature published writings in a particular style on a particular subject; the technical literature; one aspect of Waterloo has not yet been treated in the literaturepiece of writing, written material, writing the work of a writer; anything expressed in letters of the alphabet (especially when considered from the point of view of style and effect); the writing in her novels is excellent; that editorial was a fine piece of writingliterature creative writing of recognized artistic valuehistoriography a body of historical literature| | | literature the profession or art of a writer; her place in literature is secureprofession an occupation requiring special education (especially in the liberal arts or sciences)literature creative writing of recognized artistic valueTypes of Literature: Fictional Literature Drama: Drama is the theatrical dialog performed on stage, it consists of 5 acts. Tragedy, comedy and melodrama are the sub types of drama. e. g William Shakespeare, an Elizabethan dramatist composed the plays Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, King Lear that are famous because of its combination of tragedy and comedy. Problem play, farce, fantasy, monologue and comedy of manners are some kinds of drama. Tragedy: It is a story of the major character who faces bad luck. Tragedy, elements of horrors and struggle usually concludes with the death of a person. The Illiad and The Odyssey by Homer are the two famous Greek tragedies. Comedy: The lead character overcomes the conflicts and overall look of the comedy is full of laughter and the issues are handled very lightly. The elements used in the comedy are romanticism, exaggeration, surprises and a comic view of life. Melodrama: Melodrama is a blend of two nouns melody and drama. It is a musical play most popular by 1840. Uncle Toms Cabin is one of the most popular plays describing cruelty of labor life. It has happy ending like comedy. Tragicomedy: The play that begins with serious mode but has a happy ending is tragicomedy. Prose Literature History, journalism, philosophy, fiction and fantasy writings, scientific writings, childrens literature authors and writers are included in Prose Literature. Myth Myths are the fairy tales with lots of adventure, magic and it lacks scientific proof. Nursery rhymes, songs and lullabies are forms of myths that strike the interest of children. Creative and nature myth are stories of the stars and moon. Magic tales are wonderful tales of quests and fantasy. Hero myths are ideal heroes of adventure. Short story  The small commercial fiction, true or imaginary, smaller than a novel is known as short story. Short stories are well-grouped that followed the sequence of easy and no complexity in beginning, concrete theme, some dialogs and ends with resolution. They are oral and short-lived which have gossip, joke, fable, myth, parable, hearsay and legend. Novel Novel can be based on comic, crime, detective, adventurous, romantic or political story divided into many parts. The major kinds of novels are: Allegory: The symbolic story revolves around two meanings. What the writer says directly is totally different from the conveyed meanings at the end. Political and Historical allegory are two forms of Allegory. Comedy: Satire is very common form in comedy novels and tries to focus on the facts of the society and their desires. Epistolary: The collection of letters or mails is the epistolary novels. Samuel Richardsons Pamela and Henry Fieldings Joseph Andrew are the few examples of Epistolary novels. Feminist: These types of novels are written by women writers around the world to describe the place of women in a male dominated society. E. g Virginia Woolfs A Room of ones Own. Gothic: Gothic fiction is the combination of both horror and romance. Melodrama and parody were grouped in the Gothic literature in its early stages. Ironic: Ironic novels are known for excessive use of narrative technique. It is satire on the contemporary society about cultural, social and political issues. Realism: The realistic novels are based on the truths of ordinary society and their problems. It focuses on the plot, structure and the characters of the novel. Romance: Love and relationship topics are handled optimistically in the romantic novels. It originated in western countries; basically the story revolves around love affairs of main characters. Some popular sub categories of romantic novels are paranormal, erotic, suspense, multicultural and inspirational romance. Narration: In narrative style, writer becomes the third person who narrates whole story around the characters. Naturalism: Naturalism is based on the theory of Darwin. Picaresque: It is opposite to romance novels as it involves ideals, themes and principles that refuse the so-called prejudices of the society. Psychological: Its the psychological prospective of mind with a resolution. Satire: Satirical novels criticize the contemporary society. The most famous novels are Jonathan Swifts Gullivers Travels (1726), Kingsley Amiss Lucky Jim (1954), George Orwells Animal Farm and Randell Jarrells Pictures from an Institution (1954). Stream of Consciousness: James Joyces stream of consciousness is all about the thought coming up in the minds of the readers. A novel also constitutes categories on social and political aspects like proletarian, psychological, protest novel, government, didactic, materialist novel, allegorical novel, novel of engagement, naturalistic novel, Marxist novel, radical novel, revolutionary novel, anti-war novel, utopian novel, futuristic novel, anarchist novel, problem novel, social philosophy novel, novel of ideas, problem play and speculative novel. Folk Tale Folk Tales are traditional stories that have been creating interest since ancient times. The children and old persons like religious story, magic and superstition as well. Fable, tall tales, cumulative, trickster and proverbs are the sub categories of folk tales. Mythology or legend is the ancient religious stories of origin and human civilization such as story of Robin Hood. Types of poetry Poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings recollected in the tranquility. Greek poetry is found in free verse and we have rhymes in the Persian poem. Are you wondering how to write a poem, here are the followings forms of poem? Sonnet: Sonnet is the short poem of 14 lines grouped into Shakespearean and Italian sonnets. Ballad: The poems that are on the subject matter of love and sung by the poet or group of singers as telling readers a story. Elegy: This type of poem is the lamenting of the death of a person or his near one. Elegy Written in Country Churchyard by Thomas Gray is one of the famous poems marked as sad poems of the ages. Ode: Ode is the formal and long poem serious in nature. Allegory: Allegory is the famous form of poetry and is loved by the readers because of its two symbolic meanings. One is the literal meaning and another is the deep meaning. Epic and Mock epic: Epics are the narrative poems that convey moral and culture of that period. The Odyssey and Iliad are one of the largest philosophical epics written by Samuel Butler. Rape of the Lock is the great mock epic focusing on the minor incident of cutting of a curl. Lyric: It has Greek origin that gives a melody of imagery. It is the direct appeal of a poet to the readers about any incident or historical events. Lyrics are most of the time similar to ode or sonnets in the form. Nonfiction Literature: Nonfiction Literature is opposite to fiction as it is informative and comprises the interesting facts with analysis and illustrations. Main types of Non- fiction literature Autobiography and Biography An autobiography is the story of the authors own life. Family Life at the White House by Bill Clinton is focused on his life and achievements. Wings of fire by Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, Mein kampf of Adolph Hitler are the autobiography books on real life. Essay Generally the authors point of view about any particular topic in a detailed way is an essay. Essay has simple way of narrating the main subject; therefore they are descriptive, lengthy, subject oriented and comparative. Different types of essay: Personal essay, expository essay type, response essay, process essay, persuasive essay, argumentative essay, critical essay type, interview essay, reflective essay type, evaluation, observation essay, comparison type of essay, application essay, compare and contrast essay and narrative essay type. Literary criticism It is the critical study of a piece of literature. Here critics apply different theories, evaluation, discussion and explanation to the text or an essay to give total judgments. Plato, Aristotle, T. S. Eliot, Saussure and Frye are some of the famous critics. Travel literature It is the narration of any tour or foreign journey with the description of the events, dates, places, sights and authors views. Francis Bacons natural philosophies in the middle of Seventeenth century is one famous example of travel literature. Diary Diaries are the incidents recorded by the author without any means of publishing them. It is the rough work of ones daily routine, happenings, memorable days or events in their life. E. g. Anne Franks Diary of a Young Girl was published by her father in 1940s; its a story of a girl trapped during German invade Amsterdam. Diaries consists of business letters, newsletters, weather listing. In todays world of Internet, writers write in blogs, forums, polls and social networking sites to convey their thoughts. This also is a form of diary writing. Some profound forms of diaries are online diary, travel, sleep, tagebuch, fictional, dream and death diaries. Journal Journal is one of types of diaries that records infinite information. They are of following types: Personal: It is for personal analysis. In this journal one can write his goal, daily thoughts, events and situations. Academic: It is for students who do research or dissertation on particular subjects. Creative journals: Creative journals are the imaginative writing of a story, poem or narrative. Trade: Trade journals are used by industrial purposes where they dictate practical information. Dialectical: This journal is use by students to write on double column notebook. They can write facts, experiments, and observation on the left side and right side can be a series of thoughts and response with an end. Newspaper It is a collection of daily or weekly news of politics, sports, leisure, fashion, movies and business. Magazine Magazines can be the current affairs or opinions well collected covering various content. Frame Narrative The psychoanalysis of human mind is present in a frame narrative. Here we find another story within the main story. Some of the popular narratives are Pegasus, Wuthering Heights, The Flying Horse, The Three Pigs, A Time to keep and the Tasha Tudor Book of Holidays. Outdoor literature Outdoor literature is the literature of adventure that gives whole exploration of an event. Exciting moments of life such as horse riding, fishing, trekking can be a part of literature. Some outdoor books are The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain, Treasure Island by Robert Louis, Voyages by Richard Hakluyt and A Short Walk in the Hindu Kush by Eric Newby. Narrative form of Literature Today we find movies, audio and video CDs and Cassettes that present current literature in use. Digital poetry is an upcoming trend too. Comic books, cartoons, eBook and Internet games are the learning methods for children. Literature includes centuries, human nature, cultures and souls. Isnt it? Read more at Buzzle: http://www. buzzle. com/articles/types-of-literature. html|

Saturday, October 26, 2019

Use of Patriarchy and Religion to Oppress Women Essay -- Islamic Women

Evil, sinful, lover of Satan are just a few adjectives used to describe women throughout history. Nevertheless, women were not always portrayed as so. Women once held a strong and dominated figure within the society. In the ancient Egyptian society, women were equal to men in status and prestige. Within the XVIIIth Dynasty, women such as Nephertiti and Hatchipsoot reign the country "In that period, Pharaonic women labored in textile and carpet manufactory, traded in markets and shared in hunting side by side with her husband (El Saadawi. 1980, p, 108-1)." Furthermore, women played sports, drank, held positions of government, worked, etc. However, as time past and countries began to flourish, there was a shift in the socio-economic status in women. Women began reducing in standing. What Happened? Nawal El Saadawi, author of The Hidden Face of Eve, strongly believes that circumcision is the cause of women's oppression and feeling of powerlessness. However, many within the society believe that conditioned oppression is supported due to religion, landowership and the patriarchal system and they are utilized as in instrument of fear, oppression and exploitation. Circumcision is still practiced in many Arab countries because a woman's virginity and hymen is extremely important. "Behind circumcision lies the belief that, by removing parts of girls' external genital organs, sexual desire is minimized (El Saadawi. 1980, p. 33)." This procedure is not performed by a doctor but someone similar to a midwife. It is believe that deep incisions must be done in order to remove all the remains of the genital. Consequently, this may result in infection and even death. Furthermore, "sexual frigidity is one ... ... patriarchal and class societies prevalent at the time. Nawal El Saadawi focuses on the patriarchal system as a major condition for the oppression of women. The shift between man and woman began when men realized the importance of land owership. Man recognized the association between land and having wealth and power. Landownership places them in a higher social, economic and political arena. In acquiring land, man must have someone to cultivate it since it demean their status within the society to do. The oppression of a slave and women became apparent. "Wives were a source of wealth since they shouldered many heavy tasks in both field and home without expecting any payment in return apart from their keep. Their lot was that of unpaid laborers no better off than slaves (El Saadawi. 1980, p. 111)." Work Cited Nawal El Saadawi, "The Hidden Face of Eve"

Thursday, October 24, 2019

The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman Essay -- essays research papers

The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman begins with a note from the editor, who is a local schoolteacher near the plantation where Jane Pittman lives. He has long been trying to hear her story, and, beginning in the summer of 1962, she finally tells it to him. When her memory lapses, her acquaintances help fill in the spaces. The recorded tale, with editing, then becomes The Autobiography of Miss Jane. Jane Pittman is born into slavery on a plantation somewhere in Louisiana. Jane is called "Ticey" during her days as a slave and has no parents; her mother died as a result of a beating when Jane was a child, and Jane did not know her father. Until she is around nine, Jane works in the Big House caring for the white children. One day toward the end of the war, some fleeing confederate soldiers arrive, followed soon after by some union soldiers. While being served water by Jane, one Union soldier named Corporal Brown tells Jane that she will soon be free and can then visit him in Ohio. He tells her to change her name and offers her that of his daughter, Jane Brown. After the soldiers leave, Jane refuses to answer when her mistress calls her "Ticey." The mistress later beats Jane until she bleeds, but Jane insists that her name is now Jane Brown. Because of her obstinacy, Jane is sent to work in the fields. On the day of the Emancipation Proclamation, Jane's master frees them all. On the same day, Jane leaves the plantation with a group of ex-slaves. They have no idea where they are going, but a woman named Big Laura leads the way. Jane wants to go to Ohio to find Corporal Brown. The first morning away, a group of "Patrollers," local white trash who used to hunt slaves, comes upon them and kills everyone but Jane and a very young boy Ned, whom they did not find. Jane and Ned then continue on their own, still headed for Ohio. They meet many characters on their trip, all of whom tell Jane that Ohio is too far and that she should go back to her plantation. Jane's obstinacy persists for a few weeks until she and Ned are completely exhausted from walking. Finally they catch a ride with a poor white man named Job who lets them sleep at his house and takes them the next day to a plantation run by Mr. Bone. Mr. Bone offers Jane a job, but only pays her the reduced rate of six dollars a month (minus fifty cents for Ned's schooling) because sh... ...but one night he goes to her house and asks her to marry him anyhow. After she tells him that he is not thinking straight, he returns home and commits suicide. Tee Bob's stepfather intervenes after the suicide so that Mary Agnes is not imprisoned or killed in revenge for Tee Bob's death. In a conversation with Jane, he describes that they all killed Tee Bob because of their adherence to racial regulations beyond which Tee Bob could see. In the final chapter of the book, Jane describes a boy named Jimmy Aaron, whom the whole plantation hopes will become the "one" who will save them all. Eventually, Jimmy gets involved in the civil rights movement. After several years away from the plantation, he returns home and plans an act of civil disobedience followed by a protest at the courthouse. First a young girl is arrested for drinking from a white water fountain. On the day that they all are to march to the courthouse in protest, however, Jimmy is shot dead. The crowd who was planning to march had already gathered when they hear the news. With the assistance of one young black man, Jane bravely encourages the people to march and takes the lead even though Jimmy is already dead

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Is there a god? Essay

The justification for the belief in the existence of God has historically evaded the scope of empirical verification. However, extraordinary historic events and profound cultural and political evolutions have taken place due to the influence of religious beliefs. Additionally, religious belief has impacted matters of social justice, economic parity, and moral and ethical beliefs all around the world. Whether or not the existence of a God (or Gods) can be established by modern scientific investigation seems irrelevant to the course of human events, many of which are propelled by religious convictions. Despite the native reluctance and technical inability of contemporary scientists to corroborate the existence of God, philosophical arguments based on psuedo-scientific criteria are numerous; most of these empirical arguments are based in one form or another around the idea-structure of Swinburne’s famous treatise â€Å"Is There a God?,† which purports to prove by rational hypothesis and logic that God exists. Foremost among Swinburne’s arguments is that the natural order of the universe demonstrates intelligent design: â€Å"†It is extraordinary that there should exist anything at all[†¦ ] And so many things. Maybe chance could have thrown up the odd electron. BUT so many particles! [†¦ ] If we can explain the many bits of the universe by one simple being which keeps them in existence, we should do so–even if inevitably we cannot explain the existence of that simple being. † (Swinburne, 1996, p. 48-49) Swinburne’s argument is steeped in formal logic and rhetoric, yet the underlying principles are relatively simple. The idea that the existence of a complex universe which is well-suited to human experience postulates an intelligent creator for both things: the universe and humanity, is based less in rationality than in the emotion of astonished wonder. In other words, because Swinburne finds the universe to be a marvel of curiosities and interestingly designed elements and phenomena does not indicate that the universe is experienced this away by a majority of human beings or in any way that the experience Swinburne records indicates the existence of a God. Basically, the argument for intelligent design is based on analogy: the universe is well-designed as a human made artifact might be well-designed, therefore, the universe must have an intelligent designer. Nonetheless, this â€Å"teleological argument† which is normally â€Å"construed as an argument from analogy: Since the universe is analogous to some human artifact that one knows to be designed, probably the universe itself is designed† breaks down when examined closely. Although Hume and others have described the universe as a â€Å"watch† and argued that † just as we can infer that a watch found on a heath has a designer, so we can infer that the universe has a designer† (Martin, 1990, p. 125) the analogy is specious when taken to its logical conclusions. For example, if the analogy were carried to its logical extreme, one would end up with conclusions not acceptable to the theist. Because â€Å"machines are usually made by many intelligent beings; [†¦ ] some form of polytheism rather than monotheism would be warranted by the argument† as well as the fact that â€Å"the beings who create machines have bodies, so God must have a body. If machines have imperfections, we have grounds for supposing that the creators are not perfect. So since the universe has imperfections, one should conclude that God is not perfect. † (Martin, 1990, p. 127) These analogous conclusion run contrary to demonstrating the existence of God insofar as Swinburne intended his analogy to function. In fact, the deeper one takes the analogy, the closer one comes to the opposite conclusion: that no monotheistic God at all exists. Another of the assertions made by religious pragmatists is that not only the existence of a universe, but the existence of an orderly universe with a complex (and generally hierarchical) system of phenomena, demonstrates the existence of God. Again, because an orderly world is both functional and to some degree pleasurable (according to Swinburne) there must be an intelligence behind the design of the universe. And merely an intelligent designer but an omnipotent creator, who â€Å"is able to produce a world orderly in these respects. And he has good reason to choose to do so: a world containing human persons is a good thing. Persons have experiences, and thoughts, and can make choices, and their choices can make big differences to themselves, to others, and to the inanimate world. God, being perfectly good, is generous He wants to share. † (Swinburne, 1996, p. 52) This latter postulation seems completely out of order in a rational and â€Å"scientific† discussion, but as this discussion will later show, the emotionality of belief is an aspect of religious conviction which enters into not only the so-called logical argument on behalf of their faith, but as the primary emotional and psychological connection with the God or Gods which are believed in by religious devotees. Again, like Swinburne’s assertion that the mere existence of the universe indicates a designer, his likewise analogy that the universe, being â€Å"well-ordered† indicates intelligent design, is easily refuted simply by examining Swinburne’s analogy itself closely. If the universe is wonderfully complex and apparently designed to fulfill humanity’s needs and expectations, modern science accepts the possibility of multi-universes, most of which cannot be meaningfully detected by mankind: â€Å"Although it may be true that the universe is unique, there is no reason to suppose, in the light of our present evidence, that this is relevant in judging whether it is created or not. We have no reason to suppose it cannot be judged by the same criteria we use to judge whether planets, rocks, and gismos are created[†¦] it may be urged that as our technology advances, we may be able to create objects that resemble more and more the natural objects we find in the universe. † (Martin, 1990, p. 332) Obviously, the projected future of science could be extend logically to include the technology which could create geological elements, in fact planets themselves, which would demonstrate not the intelligent design of a God but the intelligent design of mankind, which is among the animal orders. That last assertion is something that Swinburne objects to with great fervor: â€Å"At some time in evolutionary history bodies of complex animals become connected to souls, and this, I shall be arguing, is something utterly beyond the power of science to â€Å"explain. But theism can explain this–for God has the power and reason to join souls to bodies. † (Swinburne, 1996, p. 69-70) Of course, science has no power to â€Å"explain† mystical or supernatural phenomena. The lack of scientific inquiry into these ares comprises another, more dramatically contemporary, argument for the existence of Gid. This argument posits the idea that since science and scientists are reluctant to investigate mystical and supernatural phenomena, proof of the existence of God has evaded science because the proof for God’s existence resides in the supernatural sphere. Those who argue along these lines contend that â€Å"Scientific practice is often contrasted with religious belief in that the former is supposed to be open-minded whereas the latter is said to be close-minded and hence closer to ideology† and these same observers resent being categorized as â€Å"close-minded† instead positing that science is, in fact,narrow-minded for not taking into account the supernatural. (Van Heerden, 2004) Investigation of the supernatural does, in fact, seem to be outside of the preferred scope of scientific investigation, although some noteworthy efforts have been made. In 1882 â€Å"a group of eminent scholars from the humanities and the sciences[†¦ ]founded the Society for Psychical Research, with the stated purpose of investigating so-called ‘paranormal’ phenomena in a scientific manner† but this gesture seems to have been more or less forgotten in contemporary science. The prevailing â€Å"disdain amongst certain scientific atheists regarding religious belief, and their rejection of religion is based not on sound physical/material evidence but on existing prejudices. There is no existing evidence that disproves the existence of a supernatural agent or agents; or which proves conclusively that other mechanisms/agencies are not at work alongside (or working through) ones already identified and canonized in orthodox science† (Van Heerden, 2004) Van Heerden’s argument is one of the most compelling arguments that theists have at their disposal. It must be remembered, though, that this contention is one of distinguishing a lack of evidence which would prove the existence of God; it is not a conformation that such evidence is there to be collected, merely a positing of an area which has not been thoroughly exhausted in the search for possible evidence. Such arguments are, in fact, the province of mysticism rather than science and seem to be an acknowledgment that science cannot â€Å"fulfil this purpose because it extends alienation in the world by driving subject and object ever further apart in its reductive thinking. Mysticism, at the other end of the spectrum, claims the complete elimination of alienation; ; but again this contention has nothing whatsoever to do with establishing evidence for the existence of God; rather it is an emotional appeal, based in human psychology rather than in empirical, objective evidence. (Van Heerden, 2004) In fact, the psychological and hence subjective connection to the idea of a God or Gods is what drives the conviction many believers profess to having in the existence of God. A survey of theists revealed a personal, subjective, rather than empirically phenomenal, vision of God among respondents. Such a distinction from empirical evidence is important because it indicates that even among strong believers, God is viewed more as an internal psychological component rather than an external force which exudes omnipotent power over the created universe: â€Å"God is valued as an end in Himself rather than as a means to other ends. Most people want God for the same reason for which they want friends, and His relation to them is exactly that of a very dear and very lovable and very sympathizing friend. † (Pratt, 1907, p. 264). Theists, as we have seen through our preceding discussion, typically move from an empirical or scientific mode of argument to an emotional mode of argument to a mystical mode of argument and finally to a moral or ethical mode of argument. This final mode is usually articulated, fundamentally, as ana indictment of human moral and ethical character. Without a God, it is posited, the moral and ethical systems of human society would crumble. Or conversely, since humanity is so innately sinful, elaborate ethical and moral systems as handed down from God must be used to restrain our worst tendencies. However, another vision fo a â€Å"Godless† world acn be equally demonstrated, due the lack of any evidence as God as an active force in the universe and not merely as a psychological quantity â€Å"the religious consciousness values God chiefly as a companion. The need of Him is a social need. Religious people would miss Him if they should lose their faith, just as they miss a dead friend† however, society would surely endure. (Pratt, 1907, p. 268) In fact, atheists envision a world which, would in some ways,. be superior to the theistically driven worlds which have inspired wars and intellectual conservatism. Should atheism become the dominant world-view, it is posited, then â€Å"one would anticipate vast changes in many areas. For example, there would probably be fewer wars and less violence than there is now[†¦ ]. The birth rate would also drop in many countries, since religious objections to contraception would no longer prevail[†¦ ]. Church and state would probably become separate in countries in which they have traditionally been interwoven[†¦] This in turn would bring about profound political changes. † But such changes are unlikely to happen in the near future because, despite the lack of any credible scientific or empirical evidence to demonstrate the existence of God, the psychological component of these belief-systems are so endemic and so influential in world-affairs that their functional repudiation, despite the ease with which it can be made from a scientific or philosophical angel, seems destined for a distant future. (Martin, 1990, p. 459) References Martin, M. (1990). Atheism: A Philosophical Justification. Philadelphia: Temple University Press. Pratt, J. B. (1907). The Psychology of Religious Belief. New York: Macmillan. Swinburne, R. (1996). Is There a God?. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Van Heerden, A. (2004, June). Why Atheism Is Unscientific. Contemporary Review, 284, 351+.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Electronics The WritePass Journal

Electronics Introduction Electronics IntroductionTASK 1: THE 555 TIMER IC.MODES: ASTABLE MODE:MONOSTABLE MODE:BISTABLE MODE:OPERATION:TASK 2:  INTRODUCTION OF FET TRANSISTOR:CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF FETDEPLETION MODE:THE ENHANCEMENT MODE MOSFET:COMAPRISON BETWEEN MOSFET AND BJT:ADVANTAGE OF MOSFET DEVICE:DISADVANTAGE OF MOSFET DEVICE:   USES OF MOSFETs:REFERENCES:Related Introduction In this assignment I would try my level best to fulfill all the condition of the given tasks. I would concern figure of things while attempting the assignment. Firstly, the referencing and the bibliography should be updated timely because it will help me keep in mind where I have got the materials from. Secondly I would try to complete my assignment under the chosen time limit which is very vital. Thirdly all the given tasks should be completed with appropriate information and try to stay within the word count. Lastly, I would try to present my work with clarity and rationality so my hard work should be understood in best possible manner TASK 1: THE 555 TIMER IC. 1a) Before 555 timer came to the market there were large distinct circuits used to carry out the operation of a timer but the compatibility and numerous other advantages of a 555 timer lead the breakthrough .The 555 timer is an integrated circuit designed by Hans R. Camenzind and commercialized by that times leading semiconductors manufacturer signetics. It’s mainly used in variety for timing purposes, producing perfect timing periods through a vast range of time and as a multi vibrator and due to the versatility of the IC it has made conspicuous place in the history of electronics. Never thought by its maker to be so flexible the 555 package consists of numerous transistors, diodes and resistors (depending on the purposes) imbedded on a silicon chip and connected to an 8-pin dual in line package. (D C Green, Electronics 4, third edition, 1995, Longman Scientific and technical) The single 555 timer chip in its basic form is a 8 pin chip consisting of 20 transistors, 2 diodes, 15 resistors. (electronics-tutorials.ws/waveforms/555_timer.html )feb 10, 2011 Above shown fig shows 8 pins which are labeled to show there function. Below is the more detailed function of these pins. Pin no. 1: It is connected to GROUND which connects the 555 timer to the negative 0v supply rail. Pin no. 2: It is the trigger pin. A negative pulse on this pin â€Å"sets† internal flip-flop and start up a timing cycle. Pin no. 3: is an output pin of the 555 timer, it can be connected directly to the inputs of other digital IC’S with the required voltage. Pin no. 4: is the RESET pin which is used to reset the internal flip-flop controlling the output. In other words to terminate the timing cycle. Pin no. 5: is a control voltage pin which can be used to alter the timing aspect of the 555 IC in applications such as frequency modulation. Pin no. 6: is the threshold pin which donates the duration of the timer to ‘output voltage in each of the on/off cycle’ this time phase end when voltage at threshold becomes higher than control voltage pin. Pin no. 7: is a discharge pin which is connected directly to the internal transistor which is used to discharge the timing capacitor to ground. Pin no. 8: is connected to the power supply and the range of voltage depends on the appliance need. MODES: After discussing above the different functions of 555 timers, let’s now discuss about its modes, its usage in different modes. 555 timers IC’s can be used as a multivibrator in three different forms they are as follow: Astable mode Monostable mode Bistable mode ASTABLE MODE: Astable means without a stable state. It has two unstable state means 0 and 1, in other words it continually switch it states to high and low creating a rectangular wave form on its output. There are numerous advantages of this circuit few of them in which it is used are flash lights, LED’S, and security alarm. FIG 2 (kpsec.freeuk.com/images/flashlcd.gif   FEB 10, 2011) FIG 3 (antonineeducation.co.uk/Electronics_AS/Electronics_Module_1/topic_11/topic_11__555_timer_circuit.htm   FEB 10, 2011) For the waveform above we can see how it changed from 0 to 1. For this circuit to become operational we need to consider some of the formulas ‘’The mark time [t(H] is the time at which the output is a 1. t(H)= 0.7(RA + RB)C The space time [t (L)] is the time at which the output is a 0. t(L) = 0.7 RBC The mark to space ratio = mark time à · space time. The astable period T is the time taken for one complete cycle, the mark and the space times added together.   T = mark + space = t(L) + t(H). The frequency = 1 à · period. f =  ____1.4_____ (R1 + 2R2)C The time t (H) will be longer than t (L), unless R1 is very small compared to R2.   If this is the case, then t (H) will be approximately equal to t (L), but not quite equal.   We can say to a first approximation that the mark to space ratio is 1.   This will result in a square wave output’’ ( antonine-education.co.uk/Electronics_AS/Electronics_Module_ 1/topic_11/topic_11__555_timer_circuit.htm FEB 10, 2011 MONOSTABLE MODE: Monostable means circuit which has only one stable state, normally it has two states means stable and unstable. When the voltage is not applied it remains in stable state but as the â€Å"trigger† is pressed it creates electric pulse and switches from stable state to unstable state and remains there for a limited time period which is set and after that it comes back to stable state. This type of circuit is ideal for â€Å"push to operate† system for a model displayed at exhibitions. A visitor push the button to start mechanism of choice and it automatically switch off after a set time. FIG 4 (antonineeducation.co.uk/Electronics_AS/Electronics_Module_1/topic_11/topic_11__555_timer_circuit.htm  Ã‚   FEB 11, 2011) The above diagram shows the circuit of monostable 555 timer. This circuit operates when the switch is closed and released, the voltage at Pin 2 goes up to down and then up. Due to this Pin 7 is discharged from zero and the voltage increases at output. When the voltage across the capacitor (C) gets two third then the output stop and it comes to stable state. The output of this circuit is shown in the FIG below. FIG 5 (antonineeducation.co.uk/Electronics_AS/Electronics_Module_1/topic_11/topic_11__555_timer_circuit.htm   FEB 11, 2011) BISTABLE MODE: Bistable has two stable states, in this mode 555 timer acts as a flip-flop. In this the trigger (which is Pin 2) and reset (which is Pin 4) both are at high state because of the resistors, while the threshold (which is Pin 6) is simply grounded. By taking the trigger LOW it switches to SET position and the output state changes to HIGH and by taking the RESET Pin LOW it switches to reset position and the output will remain LOW. TASK 1(B): A 555 timer is basically used in our daily life as a day/light alarm which can be useful for waking us up from our sleep. Fig 6 free-circuits.com/diagrams/n/14qwe.gif   (March 20, 2011) The components which are used in the above diagram are as follows: 1 Light Dependant Resistor (LDR) 1 transistor 2 set of capacitors both value of 0.01 ÃŽ ¼F 1 555 timer 1 diode 15v/1 µF 3 set of resistor range of 10k, 56k and 3.3 k respectively 1 100k variable resistor 1 speaker 8ohm, 0.5W OPERATION: This above circuit exclusively depends on the light for it to function. A 555 timer is used above and it works on a principle of astable mode with frequency of 1Khz. The transistor is set high because of the changeable resistor when light doesn’t fall on the LDR therefore causing the 555’s reset pin low. Just because of this the timer is reset. It resistance decrease when the light falls on LDR which in turn causes a decrease in base resistance of the transistor alloying current to flow. This will cause the reset pin on the 555 timer to increase and allows the timer to ‘oscillate’ and the speaker starts working by creating sound. TASK 2:  INTRODUCTION OF FET TRANSISTOR: The field effect transistor is a semiconductor device; it depends on its operation to control current by an electric field. FET’s are available in two basic forms and they are: Junction gate field effect transistor (JFET) Insulated gate field effect transistor (IGFET) But the most commonly used transistor is Metal-Oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET). It is commonly used because it can be connected as resistor and capacitor, it is cheaper than Bipolar junction transistor (BJT) , it is much smaller in size and there power consumption is much smaller. CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF FET Metal-Oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) is a type of semiconductor which uses three connections which are GATE, SOURCE and DRAIN. The effective width of the channel is controlled by a charge which is placed on gate electrode. The shape of a transistor is like a bar with P-type silicon and two strips which are doped to make N-type material when the metal is deposited to make two terminals DRAIN and SOURCE, then the surface is covered with silicon-oxide which is non-conductor. Then again metal is deposited to form one more terminal called gate which is shown in fig 1. interfacebus.com/JFET-N-Channel-symbol.png (March 20, 2011) After it is completed then the potential of (0V) is applied between the source and drain because of P-N junction there is no current flowing. The P-type material which is source terminal is at 0V, and the gate is already made positive so that it will repel the holes from P-type and turn it temporary N-type. This creates a channel joining two N-type strip so that current flow from drain. If the potential against gain terminal is greater, than the channel will become wider which ends with large current. So to conduct this type, positive voltage is applied to gate. circuitstoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/n-channel-de-mosfet-structure.jpg (March 20, 2011) Metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) is operated in two modes they are: Depletion mode Enhancement mode DEPLETION MODE: Regardless of weather a MOSFET is N-type or P-type material but there are still fundamental difference between depletion mode and enhancement mode. To form a thin layer of silicon-oxide along one side of the channel is easy, and then leave the metal gate region down over the insulator. The gate channel will act as a semiconductor resistance as there Is not current applied to it, P-N junction is not formed nor the depletion layer because the whole conduction of current depends upon the voltage applied between source and drain. If we apply sufficient voltage across source and drain the current will flow through the channel. When negative voltage is applied through the gate terminal it will repel electron charge away from the gate terminal. But as N-type contain majority electron charge carriers by repelling then away from gate the applied negative voltage will create a depletion region. So the process is called Depletion Mode Metal-Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor. THE ENHANCEMENT MODE MOSFET: Enhancement mode contains two N-type channel and one P-type channel which is sandwiched between both N-type as shown in fig 2. Applying the positive voltage to the drain terminal with respect to source terminal and applying positive terminal to gate terminal. As a result it will attract all the free electrons towards the gate. As the positive voltage is increased the electric field will also become wider and more electrons are attracted. There are free electrons in P-type, source junction is forward biased, so the positive gate voltage can attract electrons towards the gate. The electrons which are attracted towards the gate will enhance the channel within the P-type region as shown in fig 3. This will bridge the gap between source and the drain and it will start FIG 2  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   FIG 3 COMAPRISON BETWEEN MOSFET AND BJT: Metal Oxide Semiconductor Transistor (MOSFET) It is semiconductor device having three active electrodes known as Gate, Source and Drain. Conduction takes place due to either holes or electrons. Hence it is a unipolar Transistor. It is voltage controlled device. Its operation depends upon the flow of majority carriers only. It has high input impedance. It is less noisy than tube or bipolar transistor. There are two type of FETs N-channel P-channel.   It is simpler to fabricate and occupies less space.   It has thermal stability. It can be used as voltage variable resistor. It has very fast switching time. Bipolar Junction Transistor (BJT) It is a semiconductor device consisting of three electrodes known as Base, Emitter and Collector. Conduction takes place due to holes and electrons. Hence it is a bipolar device. BJT is a current controlled device. It operation depend upon the flow of both majority and minority carriers. BJT has low input impedance. BJT device is noisy. There are two type of BJTs NPN and PNP. BJT is difficult to construct and occupies more space. BJT does not have thermal stability. BJT cannot be used as voltage variable resistor. ADVANTAGE OF MOSFET DEVICE: When compared to MOSFET, its switching time is slow Its switching time is 10 times greater than a bipolar junction It has very much switching current. It is less affected by temperature. DISADVANTAGE OF MOSFET DEVICE: It has very high resistance as compared to bipolar transistor. It can be destroyed by high voltage, especially static electricity.    USES OF MOSFETs: MOSFETs can also be used as voltage variable resistor. It is also used as an amplifier. It is also used to prevent power losses. It is used as a switch. It is used as a voltage control device. REFERENCES: Books: Owen Bishop (1995), Understand Electronics, Great Britain, Athenaeum Press Ltd. (electronics-tutorials.ws/waveforms/555_timer.html )feb 10, 2011 (kpsec.freeuk.com/images/flashlcd.gif   FEB 10, 2011) (antonineeducation.co.uk/Electronics_AS/Electronics_Module_1/topic_11/topic_11__555_timer_circuit.htm   FEB 10, 2011) ( antonine-education.co.uk/Electronics_AS/Electronics_Module_ 1/topic_11/topic_11__555_timer_circuit.htm FEB 10, 2011 (antonineeducation.co.uk/Electronics_AS/Electronics_Module_1/topic_11/topic_11__555_timer_circuit.htm  Ã‚   FEB 11, 2011) (antonineeducation.co.uk/Electronics_AS/Electronics_Module_1/topic_11/topic_11__555_timer_circuit.htm   FEB 11, 2011) free-circuits.com/diagrams/n/14qwe.gif   (March 20, 2011) interfacebus.com/JFET-N-Channel-symbol.png (March 20, 2011) circuitstoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/n-channel-de-mosfet-structure.jpg (March 20, 2011)

Monday, October 21, 2019

buy custom Ameribus International essay

buy custom Ameribus International essay This is paper which gives specific answers to a set of four questions which are mainly touching on the business organizations depending on each other and how such dependence is implemented through joint activities or alliances. The first question touch a multinational company Ameribus and the question seeks to clarify which strategy can be used in countering the stiff competition from similar competing companies. The other four questions touch on the other companies with similar objective of enlarging the market that they sell their goods in. In the case of Ameribus International it is clear that there is an urgent need for the company to change its marketing tactics in order to be relevant and command some presence in the market among its rivals who seem to be taking two steps at a time ahead of the company. When a company is in such a position, the leaders ought to make a very carefully analysis of both the market and the rival companies. The strategy that Ameribus will take will depend more on which steps the rival companies have taken and also the market situation. It should be noted that in our case the leadership of Ameribus will play a great role in navigating the company on a path to commanding a good market presence. Given the two options of either transforming into a global or a transnational organization, the role of leadership will play a great part in determining the strategy which Ameribus takes. The leaders role in the short term future is impacted by the present information revolution. This affects the process of leadership by speeding up the inputs, requiring faster and more personal transformation of the product, all in a business climate that builds competition through response time to customer demands. This section is going to look at what should be done for Ameribus to become a global organization. Arguing from the point that already there are other companies in the market which can be said to firm on their market shar then Ameribus will need to adopt the GEMS {(Global Economic Management System) check the chart at the appendices} model which brings together historical, institutional, and regulatory factors. This model contains a multiple of factors which if well implemented will ass ist Ameribus in effectively going global and ensuring that it secures a good portion of the market which seems to be already dominated by its competitors (Porter, n.d.). The model is structured into soft and hard factors. The hard factors are listed as anchor effect, government policy, the agglomeration effects and historical factors. The soft factors in this model include the business climate, innovation and entrepreneurship, element of chance and industry networks. The consideration of all these factors will enable Ameribus to compete effectively. Some of the significant factors which Ameribus should look out for in the course of going global include factors conditions which include the infrastructure, capital and labor availability. The demand conditions like wise ought to be taken into consideration whereby factors such size, growth and proximity of the market is taken into consideration. Other significant factors to be given serious considerations include the supporting industries, public policy, socio-political climate, inter-firm linkages and element of chance (Porter, n.d.). The company leaders should be sensitive to the market dynamics especially where the rival companies command some presence. By going global and being sensitive, it will be make it possible for the company to reach out to the customers amidst the presence of the rival companies. First the managers of Ameribus should be able to scan the global environments, identify relevant opportunities and threats, and design responses that will satisfy customers in ways that competitors cant easily imitate and make sure that these plans are implemented, even as they compete across a variety of geographies. They must be able to accuratelyy sense changes in their competitive environment, including potential shifts in technology, competition, customers, and regulation, and must act on these opportunities and threats; to be able to seize them by reconfiguring them to meet new challenges (Kuglin and Hook 2002). It must capitalize on human resource management in all the continents to maximize on the potential of workers in the profitable bottom line of the organization. This should be done through training programs to give employees necessary information to do their jobs better. For Ameribus to globalize it must also employ what is called acquisition strategy. This helps in deregulation of multiple industries in many different economies, this increases market power, overcomes entry barriers to new markets or regions, avoids the cost of developing new products and increases the speed of new market entries, it reduces the risk of entering a new business. It will also help them diversify and reshape their competitive scope. According to Michael, Duane and Robert (2008), it is very significant for a business to employ enterprise systems to enable it value creation. In summary form, what ought to be done in order to enable a company to carry out the process of globalization successfully: First if globalization should be an option for the company to take. The leadership should then have the destination of the company in mind. It is recommended that with the globalization process, the reaching out of foreign countries should be carried out on a one by one basis. Another step to be undertaken is to research on the targeted market so as to come up with a proper marketing which best suits the area in question. Others which ought to be taken into consideration include visiting the market, writing a plan, forming strong allianceand making consultation from experts. A point to strongly put across is that when a company is being globalized it ought to be culturally very sensitive to the new region where anticipates to make its functions (Kuglin and Hook 2002). Buy custom Ameribus International essay

Sunday, October 20, 2019

Cherokee Indains essays

Cherokee Indains essays It is Cherokee belief that at first there was only a brother and a sister. The brother hit the sister with a fish, and told her to multiply, so she did. In seven days she gave birth to her first kid. The seven days later she did it again, and again, and again. There were too many children to keep track of them, so they decided to be able to only have one kid a year. The Cherokee first settled in the southeastern portion of the United States in about 1300 A.D. The center of the Cherokee nation was Kituhwa, near Bryson City, NC, so the Cherokee Indians were often referred to as Ani-Kituhwagi, which meant the people of Kituhwa. The Cherokee Indains are a branch of the Iroquois nation. In 1838 the U.S Army made the Cherokee Indians leave their homeland and marched them to "Indian Territory" in what is today Oklahoma. This is now known as the 'Trail of Tears". It is customary for Cherokee Indains to wake up and thank the Creator, to the four directions, to Mother Earth, to Father Sky, and to all of our relations, for the life within you and for all life around you. Thats a part of The Way of the Circle. Kinship and membership in seven clans were decided through the mother, even though women were never considered important. Agriculture relied primarily on corn, beans, and squash and by hunting and gathering wild plants.Cherokee villages were usually independent in daily activities, with the whole tribe only coming together for ceremonies or times of war. Leadership was divided according the circumstances which were : "red" chiefs during war and "white" chiefs in times of peace. Cherokee chanting comes from the slaying of Stone Coat (Nayvnvwi). They speak Atali, Chickamauga, Etali, Onnontiogg, and Qualia. ...

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Journal learning Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Journal learning - Essay Example Resistance to change, though expected in management scope, has been the most challenging because of involved moral and legal implications. Some of the people with whom I have been working are older and I often feel a moral obligation to respect their opinions and values. Introducing a change, contrary to practices that the people have been accustomed to have generated conflict, sometimes with strong resistance from old people. Explanations on need for such changes and helping employees to adapt to change have helped in managing resistance, but there have been isolated cases when some employees have accused me of undermining their competence and experience and dictating on them. I conducted literature review with the aim of understanding change management skill and measures for evaluating competence in the skills. Being goal oriented and ability to motivate people towards desired goals are some of the competencies of an effective change manager (Silva 2013, p. 63). Possible short-term benefits are some of the motivational factors and effective change management should incorporate plans for the gains, communicate the plans, and implement the plans. Effective change management, according to Shalini (2009, p. 201, 202, 226- 229), also require communication skills and cultural competence. Ability to learn, to make decisions and solve problems, to manage self, to manage people, and to manage projects are also necessary competencies for effective project management (Pugh 2012, p. 203). Technical skills on the desired change and knowledge of the organization in which change is to be implemented are also necessary for effective change management (Vukotich 2011, p. 36). Self-assessment results identify my competence in setting realistic but challenging goals and my ability to motivate people towards the goals, through empowerment and rewards. My score in verbal communication is commendable but I

Friday, October 18, 2019

Commercial law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 1

Commercial law - Essay Example â€Å"What is needed for ascertainment is that the buyer should be able to say, Those are my goods This requirement is satisfied if he can say, All those are my goods. There is no need to be able to say that any particular goods came from any particular source.† Once the goods have been ascertained, thereby releasing the inhibition of sect. 16, the moment at which the parties intended title to pass may be inferred relying on the prima facie presumption created by rule 5(1) of sect. 18, i.e. that title passed when the unascertained goods sold by description and being in a â€Å"deliverable state†5 were unconditionally appropriated by one party with the assent of the other. Delivery of the goods by the seller to a carrier or other bailee for the purpose of transmission to the buyer is said by rule 5(2) of sect. 18 to constitute an act of unconditional appropriation.6 Where, for example, the seller still has the obligation under the contract to actually deliver the goods to the buyer, title may already have passed to the buyer upon some prior act of appropriation.7 Possession will only be transferred upon actual delivery.8 Unconditional appropriation is the irrevocable earmarking of the goods as the contract goods, after which act the seller gives up his right to change his mind and substitute other goods of the same kind.124 Unconditional appropriation was held, in Carlos Federspiel & Co., S.A. v. Charles Twigg & Co. Ltd.,9 to mean that the seller must have the intention to irrevocably attach the goods to the contract of sale, holding out that those goods and not others are the subject of the sale. When Ken Mortors selected six Ford Ka motors intending four to go to WAH, the goods going to WAH at that moment was sufficiently ascertained and earmarked because necessary documentation including the car’s identification would have to be prepared for delivery to WAH along with the specific cars. Therefore, title to the Ford Motors was passed to WAH at that

Internal Analysis on Mr Empanada Restaurant Research Paper

Internal Analysis on Mr Empanada Restaurant - Research Paper Example Its vision as a restaurant is to exceed all the expectations of its clients while also giving back to the company that has supported it. According to its vision, Mr. Empanada will soon make its special delicacies as well known by the American public as hamburgers and pizza (Mr. Empanada). Product/services Identification The main food products created by the Mr. Empanada restaurant are empanadas. Empanadas are actually fried or baked stuffed pastries. They are a Spanish delicacy that has been adopted in many nations due to their delicious taste. It is believed that the Empanada recipe was originally developed in the Middle East but was carried to Spanish Europe by tourists and travelers. Today, Empanadas can be found in almost all nations of the world; with each culture using its preferred stuffing or altering the recipe to suit local tastes. Customer Identification One of the reasons why Mr. Empanada is so successful is because it puts such a high premium on providing the very best f or its customers (Yang and Fu 117). For example, Mr. Empanada often tries to implement the advice that is given in customer reviews when seeking to improve its services. It views customer feedback as a way through which to gauge the popularity of its products and service with its best customers. VALUE CHAIN OF MR. EMPANADA’S RESTAURANT Inbound Logistics Mr. ... Most of its raw vegetables are procured from fixed suppliers. Mr. Empanada also favors the practice of backward integration to ensure that all unnecessary costs are reduced, and also to make sure that it only uses the best quality of products to produce its foodstuffs. It is necessary for the outfit at Armenia Avenue to have distribution networks that can carry food stuffs ready for preparation to each of Mr. Empanada’s six restaurants based in Florida (Mr. Empanada). The restaurant has enormous warehouses from which food supplies are shipped by truck to the different restaurants around Florida. Every franchise of Mr. Empanada is part of a centralized chain management process; with only the Russian branch which handles its own distribution and warehousing operations. In the past, operations at the Mr. Empanada restaurant were tracked. The restaurants managers would keep an inventory on food objects and utensils, among other things. Everything that was needed for the restaurant to operate on various shifts would be ordered for on the day before from the distribution center. However, changes were made which made it easier to follow the business operations. With the introduction of automation, the various requirements of different franchises are noted and recorded by a computer. The normal routine today is that the distribution center at Armenia Avenue ships the needed items to various franchises by following a regular schedule. This has allowed the restaurant to be able to serve more customers faster and more efficiently. It has also allowed the business to benefit from cost cutting through discounts that it gets from regular supplies when it regularly purchases whole sale products (Partridge). Outbound

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Japan Foreign Direct Investment Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Japan Foreign Direct Investment - Research Paper Example The behavior of exchange rates on the international capital market has a significant bearing on the quantity of capital resources that can be marshaled by multinational corporations to enable them carry out investments in the host countries. A country's currency is said to have undergone depreciation if there is a general fall in the value of the country's currency relative to the main value of another country's currency. Within the context of this essay, the Japanese Yen can undergo a depreciation against one of the leading currencies such as the US Dollar or the Euro if its value falls in relative terms to any of them. Suffice to cite a hypothetical illustration to buttress the foregoing point. Should the Japanese Yen fall against the United States Dollar by say 25 percentage points then the most likely impact is that cost of production by another hypothetical corporation will be significantly lower by 25%. The resulting low cost of the Yen can serve as an incentive for investment because a would be corporation will have to pay low cost for wages in addition to the prevailing low cost of production relative to what it will be in the United States. This phenomenon of attractiveness due to exchange rate differences amon g countries is known as the relative wage concept (Froot & Stein, 1991). However, this latter assertion ought... llel between the significant changes in the relative costs of production across both the United States and Japan and above all this should not in any way be altered by any overt or covert changes in either the cost of production or the wages in Japan where this investment will be taken place. In addition, the overall relevance of the relative wage factor will become negligible in the event of an advent of an anticipated movement in exchange rate. This has to do with either a direct or indirect rise in the cost of carrying out an investment in the host nation in this case which is Japan. The point that should be noted here is that in the most conventional form the factors that fulfill the interest rate parity are consistent with risk-adjusted rates of return in both the United States and Japan. Any shift in any of the above mentioned factors can change the entire course of a foreign direct investment stream. In a deeper sense the effects of changes on the foreign exchange market on investments are more profound on multinational corporations. Citing again the instance of a decline in the value of the currency of the host country relative to the investing source country, it is worth stating that should this situation of depreciation in the value of the host country's currency then the potential impact can be a significant rise in the wealth of the multinational corporation in relation to the host country. By this leverage the investing multinational corporation is better placed to engage in robust bidding for assets in the home country in view of the fact that it has relatively stronger capital base to engage in these activities. Of course saying this is an extension of illustrations presented in the preceding chapter with regards to wages and cost of production and how

Foundations of Marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Foundations of Marketing - Essay Example Price - Product packaging plays an important role in per unit price of a chocolate brand. The availability of bite-sized, large-sized and a bag of chocolates packaging for world-known brands enables price flexibility and affordability. Using this packaging strategy, consumers can easily avail of the product depending on their consumption capacity and budget. Place - Chocolate and confectionery shops are the foremost selling venue of chocolates. World-known brands are available in retail shops, like supermarkets and convenience stores, for easy and mass consumption using the distribution channels in efficiently delivering their products to the end consumers. Customised chocolates are sold in chocolate shops. E-commerce also provides a virtual venue in chocolate shopping. While world-class chocolate manufacturers, because of its mass production and distribution method transact in business-to-business setup, majority of local chocolate shops conduct business to individual transaction on the web. Promotion - Global chocolate producers use the push strategy in promoting their products. It is by advertising via the mass media that they are able to promote their product. Local chocolate producers utilise more personalised approach, using promotional offers and the Internet. 2. Positioning Map With this position map, we can see how the each chocolate firm can effectively execute its marketing efforts. Upon knowing their current position in the business environment they are in, they can create ways to maximize their promotion to this defined segment and act efficiently to this. Let us take the above position map to expound on the benefits of positioning a company. Based on the map above both Cadbury and M&Ms should heavily rely on advertisement... Foundations of Marketing Let us take the above position map to expound on the benefits of positioning a company. Based on the map above both Cadbury and M&Ms should heavily rely on advertisement and other mass promotional schemes to market diversified products that will cater to the different segments in the global market. Their globally known brand names and extensive production capacity brought about by its global chocolate market dominance, they have the edge in doing business on a large scale. In spite of several advantages of marketing segmentation, there are still visible disadvantages of marketing segmentation. One of these is the possibility of inflexibility with regards to the variations in the market. Even a minimal shift in the number of population or preferences of customers can create marketing problems, which if not addressed immediately can immensely affect the company’s marketing campaign. Another problem of concentrating marketing activities in a single market segment is its difficulty in market expansion. There is a tendency for the firm to be stuck in a single consumer base, which can entail vulnerability to profit loss, especially in the currently dynamic business environment. In short, mass marketing minimises a company’s susceptibility to inflexibility to the ever-changing market. However, the present marketing campaigns of multinationals which are likely to perform this method because of its capitalization on the benefits of economies of sc ale, involve the localisation and segmentation of their marketing campaign in a particular country.

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Japan Foreign Direct Investment Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Japan Foreign Direct Investment - Research Paper Example The behavior of exchange rates on the international capital market has a significant bearing on the quantity of capital resources that can be marshaled by multinational corporations to enable them carry out investments in the host countries. A country's currency is said to have undergone depreciation if there is a general fall in the value of the country's currency relative to the main value of another country's currency. Within the context of this essay, the Japanese Yen can undergo a depreciation against one of the leading currencies such as the US Dollar or the Euro if its value falls in relative terms to any of them. Suffice to cite a hypothetical illustration to buttress the foregoing point. Should the Japanese Yen fall against the United States Dollar by say 25 percentage points then the most likely impact is that cost of production by another hypothetical corporation will be significantly lower by 25%. The resulting low cost of the Yen can serve as an incentive for investment because a would be corporation will have to pay low cost for wages in addition to the prevailing low cost of production relative to what it will be in the United States. This phenomenon of attractiveness due to exchange rate differences amon g countries is known as the relative wage concept (Froot & Stein, 1991). However, this latter assertion ought... llel between the significant changes in the relative costs of production across both the United States and Japan and above all this should not in any way be altered by any overt or covert changes in either the cost of production or the wages in Japan where this investment will be taken place. In addition, the overall relevance of the relative wage factor will become negligible in the event of an advent of an anticipated movement in exchange rate. This has to do with either a direct or indirect rise in the cost of carrying out an investment in the host nation in this case which is Japan. The point that should be noted here is that in the most conventional form the factors that fulfill the interest rate parity are consistent with risk-adjusted rates of return in both the United States and Japan. Any shift in any of the above mentioned factors can change the entire course of a foreign direct investment stream. In a deeper sense the effects of changes on the foreign exchange market on investments are more profound on multinational corporations. Citing again the instance of a decline in the value of the currency of the host country relative to the investing source country, it is worth stating that should this situation of depreciation in the value of the host country's currency then the potential impact can be a significant rise in the wealth of the multinational corporation in relation to the host country. By this leverage the investing multinational corporation is better placed to engage in robust bidding for assets in the home country in view of the fact that it has relatively stronger capital base to engage in these activities. Of course saying this is an extension of illustrations presented in the preceding chapter with regards to wages and cost of production and how

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Othello Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 5

Othello - Essay Example Othello totally believes in the concept of love with full commitment and nobility. He believes in the absolutes. lago subscribes to no particular thought and believes least in human beings. The book’s popularity can also be traced to its modern nature. At the core of intrigue is the very realisation that the play is matter of a private life affair than the other great tragedies. This impression is supported in a number of ways. Othello is a depiction of modern life as the drama depicts contemporary life. The characters appear very close to the readers than in Hamlet or Lear. Many people will realise that Othello employs a sense of beauty that is not available in most plays of the time. Of Shakespeare’s plays, Othello stands out in one important respect: beauty. The play employs much steady rhythm, peculiar phrase and a sense of serious imagination which blend together to create a lucid and clear feeling in the mind of the reader. Indeed, this beauty is only evidenced in two other plays i.e. Romeo and Juliet and Antony and Cleopatra. However, Othello has another form of beauty. Except for the brief trivial section of the clown, everything is much attached to the central issue and nothing requires any solid justification. At best, the drama has a dense of intellectual beauty which fulfils the aspiration for order and harmony between the different parts and the whole. At the same time, the book glows with much moral beauty. We see the figure of Desdemona in a love situation which is not affected even in the worst of events. A sense of incompleteness in the play gives way to innumerable cases of men at odds with one another. Several ‘parts’ exist in the play which create the wholeness albeit with some incompleteness. lago appears universal, because he represents many things at a single instance. His style and temper make him become the villain of the melodrama. He

Psychology and Association Test Essay Example for Free

Psychology and Association Test Essay Experimental psychology is an area of psychology that utilizes scientific methods to research the mind and behavior. While students are often required to take experimental psychology courses during undergraduate and graduate school, you should really think of this subject as a methodology rather than a singular area within psychology. Many of these techniques are also used by other subfields of psychology to conduct research on everything from childhood development to social issues. Experimental psychologists work in a wide variety of settings including colleges, universities, research centers, government and private businesses. Some of these professionals may focus on teaching experimental to students, while others conduct research on cognitive processes, animal behavior, neuroscience, personality and many other subject areas. Those who work in academic settings often teach psychology courses in addition to performing research and publishing their findings in professional journals. Other experimental psychologists work with businesses to discover ways to make employees more productive or to create a safer workplace, a specialty area known as human factors psychology. Do you enjoy researching human behavior? If you have a passion for solving problems or exploring theoretical questions, you might also have a strong interest in a career as an experimental psychologist. Experimental psychologists study a huge range of topics within psychology, including both human and animal behavior. If youve ever wanted to learn more about what experimental psychologists do, this career profile can answers some of your basic questions and help you decide if you want to explore this specialty area in greater depth. An experimental psychologist is a type of psychologist who uses scientific methods to collect data and perform research. Experimental psychologists explore an immense range of psychological phenomena, ranging from learning to personality to cognitive processes. The exact type of research an experimental psychologist performs may depend on a number of factors including his or her educational background, interests and area of employment. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics:â€Å"Experimental or research psychologists work in university and private research centers and in business, nonprofit, and governmental organizations. They study the behavior of both human beings and animals, such as rats, monkeys, and pigeons. Prominent areas of study in experimental research include motivation, thought, attention, learning and memory, sensory and perceptual processes, effects of substance abuse, and genetic and neurological factors affecting behavior. Experimental psychologists work in a wide variety of settings including colleges, universities, research centers, government and private businesses. Some of these professionals may focus on teaching experimental methods to students, while others conduct research on cognitive processes, animal behavior, neuroscience, personality and many other subject areas. Those who work in academic settings often teach psychology courses in addition to performing research and publishing their findings in professional journals. Other experimental psychologists may work with businesses to discover ways to make employees more productive or to create a safer workplace, a specialty area known as human factors psychology. Experimental psychology is an approach to psychology that treats it as one of the natural sciences, and therefore assumes that it is susceptible to the experimental method. Many experimental psychologists have gone further, and have assumed that all methods of investigation other than experimentation are suspect. In particular, experimental psychologists have been inclined to discount the case study and interview methods as they have been used in clinical and developmental psychology. Since it is a methodological rather than a substantive category, experimental psychology embraces a disparate collection of areas of study. It is usually taken to include the study of perception, cognitive psychology, comparative psychology, the experimental analysis of behavior, and some aspects of physiological psychology. Wilhelm Wundt (1832-1920) was a German physician, psychologist, physiologist and philosopher, known today as the â€Å"Father of Experimental Psychology† Some Famous Experimental Psychologists: Wilhelm Wundt later wrote the Principles of Physiological Psychology (1874), which helped establish experimental procedures in psychological research. After taking a position at the University of Liepzig, Wundt founded the first of only two experimental psychology labs in existence at that time. (Although a third lab already existed William James established a lab at Harvard, which was focused on offering teaching demonstrations rather than experimentation. G. Stanley Hall founded the first American experimental psychology lab at John Hopkins University). Wundt was associated with the theoretical perspective known as structuralism, which involves describing the structures that compose the mind. He believed that psychology was the science of conscious experience and that trained observers could accurately describe thoughts, feelings, and emotions through a process known as introspection. Psychologist Hermann Ebbinghaus was one of the first to scientifically study forgetting. In experiments where is used himself as the subject, Ebbinghaus tested his memory using three-letter nonsense syllables. He relied on such nonsense words because relying on previously known words would have made use of his existing knowledge and associations in his memory. In order to test for new information, Ebbinghaus tested his memory for periods of time ranging from 20 minutes to 31 days. He then published his findings in 1885 in Memory: A Contribution to Experimental Psychology. His results, plotted in what is known as the Ebbinghaus forgetting curve, revealed a relationship between forgetting and time. Initially, information is often lost very quickly after it is learned. Factors such as how the information was learned and how frequently it was rehearsed play a role in how quickly these memories are lost. The forgetting curve also showed that forgetting does not continue to decline until all of the information is lost. At a certain point, the amount of forgetting levels off. What exactly does this mean? It indicates that information stored in long-term memory is surprisingly stable. In the realm of mental phenomena, experiment and measurement have hitherto been chiefly limited in application to sense perception and to the time relations of mental processes. By means of the following investigations we have tried to go a step farther into the workings of the mind and to submit to an experimental and quantitative treatment the manifestations of memory. The term, memory, is to be taken here in its broadest sense, including Learning, Retention, Association and Reproduction. The principal objections which, as a matter of course, rise against the possibility of such a treatment are discussed in detail in the text and in part have been made objects of investigations. I may therefore ask those who are not already convinced a priori of the impossibility of such an attempt to postpone their decision about its practicability. Gustav Fechner did not call himself a psychologist, some important historians of psychology like Edwin G. Boring consider the experimental rising of this science in Fechner’s work (1979, p. 297). More specifically, it was Fechner’s famous intuition of October 22, 1850 that, according to Boring (quoted by Saul Rosenzweig, 1987), gave opportunity to his work as a psychophysicist (Rosenzweig also remembers that this date that serves as reference to this event, is curiously close to Boring? birthday, October 23rd). In a more concise way, if we think Fechner’s psychophysics work as the junction of a philosophical doctrine (that correlates spirit and matter as aspects of the same being), an experimental methodology (correlating the variations of stimulus and sensations perceived) and an assemblage of mathematical laws (the famous Weber-Fechner law); in addition, the last two aspects are considered especially relevant to the rising of psychology. Nevertheless, to think that the rising of a science is restricted to the establishment of experimental procedure and to a mathematical formalization, is to forget a whole field of questioning in which the instruments created by Fechner could, in the middle of the 19thcentury, overcome some obstacles and answer some questions, notably the ones made by the critic philosophy of Immanuel Kant. Ernst Weber was a German physiologist and Psychologist. He was regarded as a predecessor of experimental psychology and one of the founders of Psychophysics, the branch of psychology that studies the relations between physical stimuli and mental states. He is known chiefly for his work on investigation of subjective sensory response (sensations) to the impact of external physical stimuli: weight, temperature, and pressure. Weber experimentally determined the accuracy of tactile sensations, namely, the distance between two points on the skin, in which a person can perceive two separate touches. He discovered the two-point threshold the distance on the skin separating two pointed stimulators that is required to experience two rather than one point of stimulation.

Monday, October 14, 2019

Wal Mart: An Example Of Operating Efficiency

Wal Mart: An Example Of Operating Efficiency Marketing experts ascribe Walmarts remarkable success to its strategy of local dominance. It is also argued, amongst other competing explanations, that Walmarts superior returns are due to its size and its purchasing power (Greenwald Kahn, 2005). The company is also regarded to be an example of operating efficiency, even as detractors allege that its operational success stems from an exploitation of its labour force (Greenwald Kahn, 2005). 1. Application of Porters Generic Strategy Model to Walmarts Growth Story Porters Generic Strategy Model, first advanced in 1985, states that a firms relative intra-industry position is driven by its choice of strategy for achievement of competitive advantage in terms of (a) cost leadership versus differentiation, and (b) competitive scope. Competitive scope differentiates between firms that target broad industry segments and those that concentrate on narrow segments. Generic strategies are valuable since they exemplify strategic positions at the broadest and simplest levels. Table 1 below represents the different alternatives available to firms for choice generic strategy (Stanford, 2010). Table 1: (Stanford, 2010). Porters Generic Strategies (source: Porter, 1985, p.12) Whilst all important participants in the retail sector offered the same range of extensive merchandise offerings, unexciting clean stores and welcoming sales personnel, Walmart differentiated itself with its ground-breaking approach to stores layouts and formats and its exceptionally efficient distribution system. The companys revolutionary distribution system facilitated the development and implementation of its Everyday Low Price (EDLP) stratagem and helped in raising its market share in the US from 9 % in 1987 to 31% in 2000 (Akella, Manvika Roberts, 2003). Walmarts ELDP process has remained its core company value since the launch of its first store in 1962 and has been the key driving force behind Walmarts sustained growth (MarketWatch, 2010). With value-for- money being an important determinant of consumer behaviour worldwide, the companys continued focus on prices and quality through the optimisation of its supply chain and strict control over administrative and workforce costs have been instrumental in its growth. The companys rigid attitude towards its workforce has, however, hurt its penetration in foreign markets like Germany. More attention to its labour policies could have possibly helped the company in strengthening its service without sacrificing costs and improved its efficiencies as well as its image. 2. Alternative Strategies Globally, and even within the US warehouse stores format, Walmarts operating strengths are commonplace where other retailers enjoy similar operating advantages of advertising, distribution and store supervision. Sam Waltons brilliance lay in recognising these realities, first by establishing control over a core region, followed by assailing weaker rivals on the territorial fringes, wherein his core advantages could be layered with comparative ease (Greenwald Kahn, 2005). Walmarts operating advantages have had limited impact in its overseas markets (Greenwald Kahn, 2005). Walmarts overseas returns, on invested capital or on sales, are less than half its domestic margins. Despite Wal-Marts more efficient and competitive operations, such advantages are diluted in overseas markets, even where they are controlled by domestic companies with less advanced technologies and operations (Greenwald Kahn, 2005). Alternative successful strategies could have involved a greater focus on domestic urban markets in the earlier years. The overseas market expansion should have been done only after better appreciation of the cultures of overseas target markets. It is acknowledged that Walmarts market supremacy lies in its distinctive logistics capabilities, which render the company its competitive advantage. Its cross-docking inventory coordination system ensures that merchandise movement between two loading docks occurs in less than two days (Fahy, 1996). Walmart has gained from this, not only in terms of reduced cost of sales, (by 2-3%), but also in curtailing inventories (Fahy, 1996), interest outlays, and working capital cycles. The system helps in value generation and augments competitive advantage (Fahy, 1996). It is extremely complex to replicate such advanced communication and synchronisation amongst the suppliers, distribution centres, sales outlets and depots. It is this ability to erect high barriers to replication that confers Walmart with its competitive advantage (Fahy, 1996). 3. Use of Generic Strategy Model for analysis of competitor activity and charting of future growth Market experts state that Walmarts success does not come about just because of its lower prices (Cowgill, 2005). Comparisons of various product category prices reveal that 80 to 85% of Wal-Marts merchandise is more expensively priced than at its competitors (Cowgill, 2005)With many of its competitors selling at lower prices, the companys extraordinary success is felt to be due to its expertise in manipulating perceptions regarding its cost leadership (Cowgill, 2005). It is this lack of understanding of Wal-Marts strategies and its organisational efficiency that has prevented competition from overtaking it (Cowgill, 2005). The majority of successful retailers focus on raising market share and turnover to improve financial results. Their focus now and in the past has been on increasing asset utilisation/turnover (Willard, 2006). Walmarts Inventory Reload and Remix schemes emphasise its different focus. Deload refers to the broad-based endeavour to shrink inventory levels (the biggest asset on most retailer balance sheets) at both stores and distribution centres (Willard, 2006). Project Remix centres on the velocity of individual SKU (semi-knocked-down unit) sales (Willard, 2006). The end goal at Walmarts is to boost inventory holding power and simultaneously move the goods from the backroom onto the rack swiftly and efficiently (Willard, 2006). Walmart has however not paid enough attention to the serious repercussions of its overzealous cost leadership. It has relentlessly pursued cost-cutting at the cost of its workforce. It has ruthlessly eliminated its neighbourhood competition and has extracted unbearable price reductions from its suppliers and service providers. Its biggest worry now is a larger stakeholder and public opinion. With local activists halting planned new stores, former employee groups initiating class-action discrimination legal suits, the media condemning the companys miserly benefits and voters in Europe calling for legislation for the protection of small retailers, adverse public opinion has turned cost leadership into the single largest threat to the future profitability and growth of Walmart. Company executives have conceded that its recent stock price weakness is linked to its deteriorating image (Carr, 2006). Wal-Marts strategy for damage control in this respect is criticality for its future growth. 4. Use of Porters Five Forces and SWOT analysis to understand Wal-Marts current position and recommendations for future strategy The Porters Five Forces Model (1980) for analysis of competitiveness encompasses the five forces of New Entrants, Substitutes, Supplier or Buyer Power and Existing Competitors (Lever, 2008). Walmart manages its intensely competitive environment well. It deploys its clout and negotiates the lowest possible prices, stretching suppliers beyond their limits (Bysani, 2003). The negotiating power of buyers and suppliers is low since Wal-Mart has established dominance in its domestic marketplace and its overseas market share is also growing (Bysani, 2003). The prospects for new entries are limited because of considerable setup costs and regulatory restrictions. The threat from substitute retail formats appears to be low (Bysani, 2003). Internecine competitive rivalry among industry participants is, however, high (Bysani, 2003). Whilst Porters 5 forces technique is simple, its weakness is its external focus (Lever, 2008). It is based purely on microeconomics (Recklies, 2001). The last few years have seen the emergence and growing dominance of deregulation, globalisation and digitalization, developments that are outside the realm of the Five Forces Model (Recklies, 2001). It is thus inadvisable to develop an analytical strategy based solely on Porters model (Recklies, 2001). SWOT, an analysis of internal and external environment, is a popular strategic tool that encompasses 4 key organisational dimensions, namely strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (Lever, 2008). Walmart is the largest global retailer. This bestows the company with worldwide intra-industry status and recognition (Bysani, 2003). Its logistics capabilities, distribution centres and supplier relationships are key strengths that add value to its entire system (Bysani, 2003). Apart from Walmarts domestic urban marketplace opportunities, the growing middle class in emerging markets like India and China offers Wal-Mart a remarkable expansionary opportunity. E-commerce provides the organisation with another growth opportunity (Bysani, 2003). Walmart demonstrates less adaptability to overseas markets and cultures. Weaknesses also exist in its anti-trade and exploitative labour policies (Bysani, 2003). Threats to the company encompass anti-globalisation factions, resistance from customers in new markets, recent wars and outbursts, increased competition in mature European markets, zoning regulations and rising trade blocks (Bysani, 2003). Strengths and weaknesses identify and are identified by opportunities and threats (Valentin, 2005). Strengths help in thwarting impending threats and in recognising visible opportunities, whereas weaknesses leave a business defenceless or work against the generation of value to its stakeholders (Valentin, 2005). The SWOT framework, however, does not accept tradeoffs (Valentin, 2005). SWOT guidelines are limited further because they not only mix accomplishments with strengths but also lack norms for prioritising SWOTs (Valentin, 2005). Wal-Marts future strategy has to fundamentally sustain competitive advantages in addressing its trade practices in adopting best-in-class supply chain, customer relationships and environmental management. The company should also focus on non-exploitative and fair practices towards all its stakeholders, especially its workforce. Section B: Dominos Pizza in India Pavan Bhatia took over as the CEO of Dominos Pizza India Ltd. in November 1999 and led the company till May 2001.The operations of the company under his leadership is a better-known case study of fast food retail chains in developing economies. Dominos outlets, during this aggressive phase, were opened swiftly across the country and multiplied by four times to 100 from March 2000 to January 2001. Such expansion of outlets at Dominos had not until then been witnessed in any of the 63 countries in which it operated. The companys growth rate increased from an average 4 stores per year in its initial 4 years of operations to over 100 outlets across 30 cities during these 10 months (Icmrindia, 2001). Bhatias expansion initiative, whilst accepted by Dominos officials, did not find favour with the Board and led to the companys reorganisation. Jubilant Food Works Limited (JFL) now operates the Dominos pizza chain within the Indian domestic market. Its master franchise agreement with Dominos is valid till 2024. JFL is Indias first quick-service restaurant (QSR) chain to be publicly listed (Chelluri, 2010). Bhatias main objective for Dominos India Bhatia was extremely ambitious for Dominos India and his main objective was to make it the largest fast-food chain in the country (Icmrindia, 2001). In early 2001 Dominos India announced plans to invest Rs. 500 million during 2001and add a hundred outlets each year (Icmrindia, 2001). Bhatia tied up with Jet Airways in India in 2000 in order to introduce their ultimate deep dish and sweetie pie food products on all Jet flights (Icmrindia, 2001). He announced that For Dominos, the sky is the limit. We like to deliver hot, fresh pizzas everywhere, anytime. This tie-up with Jet Airways takes our commitment to customers on the move even a step further. Dominos also signed an agreement with Indian Oil Corporation (IOL) to offer food products from IOLs 7,500 outlets across India (Icmrindia, 2001). The situation became complicated, post the March 2001 board meeting, wherein Dominos top management decided that Pavan Bhatias performance had not been satisfactory during his tenure of 18 months (Icmrindia, 2001). The board opined that Bhatias expansion strategy was reckless and not properly thought out. Not many analysts, however, agreed with the boards decision and believed that the board was disregarding the probable long-term advantages of his strategy (Icmrindia, 2001). Whilst Dominos officials felt that there was nothing wrong with the pace of opening outlets, Hari Bhartia, a rival Board Member, felt the expensive organisational infrastructure, including the distribution centres set up in 1999, needed to be better utilised (Icmrindia, 2001). Dominos, contrary to other fast-food chains, which operated either on the franchise or self-owned outlets models, or both, operated through company-owned premises. This entailed huge investments in back-end infrastructure and analysts felt that the companys business model could not support such overheads and yet implement the proposed marketing plan (Icmrindia, 2001). 2. Application of STEP and Porters 5 Forces to Dominos Adopted Strategy The STEP model is a variation of the popular PEST analytical business measurement tool (Businessballs.com, 2010).The PEST model is useful for understanding environmental factors, more specifically the Political, Economic, Social and Technological factors, which are important for the activities of specific business firms (Businessballs.com, 2010). The Indian food and food-processing industry are burdened with scores of legislations. Dominos India realised that too many resources, effort and time was being diverted to unproductive and burdensome work, whether it related to acquiring scores of permits for every store in every city or whether it concerned issues like licensing, city laws, realty brokers, infrastructure, title, lease agreements, water, power, signage, markets and dealing with contending restaurants (Icmrindia, 2001). India also had a significantly low per capita income (of less than 30 USD per month in the early 2000s. Bhatia, despite such environmental indicators, launched Dominos outlets in numerous cities and small towns between March 2000 and January 2001. Pizza consumption in many of such places was extremely low. Analysts also felt that many Pizza consumers felt Dominos prices to be high and unaffordable (Icmrindia, 2001). The uncertain viability of certain outlets led to their closure, not just in small cities but also in prosperous Delhi and Ludhiana. Michael Porters 5 Forces theory argues that the competitiveness of an industry depends upon five dimensions, namely (a) existing competitive rivalry between suppliers (b) threat of new market entrants (c) bargaining power of buyers (d) power of suppliers and (e) threat of alternate products (counting technology change) (Businessballs, 2009). Dominos future in India is fraught with competition, despite having the first-mover advantage over competitors like Pizza Hut (Chelluri, 2010). The negotiating power of buyers and suppliers is not very high as Dominos has established some control over the marketplace. The threat of new entrants is high and is expected to arise from local quick service restaurants. Dominos competitors, apart from stand-alone pizza outlets and domestic and global pizza chains include casual dining and other food service establishments. The threat from substitute goods is high as new cuisines continue to be introduced across Indian markets. Customers can choose to consume food and food add-ons at highly competitive price points from diverse local and non-local food establishments. The array of offerings varies from simplistic takeaway fare to the major dine-in alternatives of wider range and better quality. Competitive rivalry in the food sector is intense and numerous food establishments open and close every year. The use of STEP and Five Forces analytical tools corroborates that the expansion strategy adopted by Pavan Bhatia was hasty and inappropriate to prevalent circumstances. Expansion strategy has to be customised to the needs of particular markets and should take account of the different concerns that emerge from STEP and Five Forces analysis. 3. Application of Force Field Analysis to facilitate Stakeholder Analysis Force Field Analysis, propounded by Kurt Lewin in 1951, is extensively utilised for decision-making, especially in organisational planning and executing change management programmes (ODI, 2009). It is a potent method for obtaining a comprehensive synopsis of the various forces impacting a potential policy issue, and for evaluating their source and strength (ODI, 2009). Force Field Analysis naturally follows the Problem Tree Analysis, which is used for identification of policy changes. The stakeholder Analysis is a constructive continuation of Force Field Analysis and involves the recognition of particular stakeholders, who are in favour of or against change, along with their influence and interests (ODI, 2009). Stakeholder analysis aims to categorise the stakeholders (external or internal) that are impacted by the outcomes of specific performance improvement project (Alvord, 2010). Such an analysis helps in the determination of all perspectives and allows them to be represented in the performance project design process. No particular perspective is permitted to dominate a process in such circumstances (Alvord, 2010). Stakeholders depict individuals or enterprises that stand to benefit or lose from the achievement or failures of performance improvement effort. Their interests, in terms of needs and expectations in such matters, can be professional, monetary, cultural, personal, or can even arise from a horde of other motivations (Alvord, 2010). Stakeholders characteristically have positive or negative perspectives regarding a particular project, and frequently disagree amongst themselves, making it difficult to resolve diverse viewpoints (Alvord, 2010). Influence signifies a stakeholders comparative power and control over and in a project. Influence is described as the degree to which a stakeholder can influence project operations and hence shape project outcomes (Alvord, 2010). Management need to strategise and implement satisfactory decisions for the benefit of all or most stakeholders. They must otherwise make efforts to ensure that influential and genuine stakeholders are not too dissatisfied (Alvord, 2010). The most vital stakeholders, as inferred from a Stakeholder Analysis are the shareholders, franchisees, technology partners, and customers, the first three due to their ownership, project funding, franchising and technological capabilities, and the last for their purchasing power and income generating capability. The primary facilitator in the entire project performance is the workforce, (including the management), which is administered and self-managed by the senior management of the company. The management is accountable to the Board of Directors and it is the relative influence of constituents of the Board that decides the formulation and implementation of the organisational strategies and policies. The Board is ultimately accountable to the shareholders. The suppliers and service providers are next in relevance due to their lesser influence on the operations. Section C: IBM 1. Application of Porters Generic Strategy Model to explain IBMs Competitive Advantage before the 1980s Porters Generic Strategy Model avers that the position of an enterprise relative to its industry is led by its selection of a strategy for attaining competitive advantage, with relation to choosing between cost leadership and differentiation, and its competitive scope. Generic strategies represent strategic positions at the simplest and broadest levels (Stanford, 2010). Competitive advantage comes about when a companys product or service generates more value (symbolic, as well as in its features) for the customer than a contending product or service. To illustrate, IBMs introduction of the Selectric typewriter offered both kinds of value for users and buyers (Heide, 1992). There are two approaches, (which are not mutually exclusive), of deploying IT to gain competitive advantage, firstly, as an important product or service seller or service provider in the market to external customers, and secondly, as an organisational support system, which is transparent to the customer, for a product or service (Heide, 1992) IBM dominated the computer markets during the 1960s and the 1970s. Its superior service, during this period, was the source of its competitive advantage. The adage No data processing manager was ever fired for ordering IBM implied the unmatched commitment to service. Improved broad-based computer reliability in contemporary times, along with the technology led shift towards workstations and personal computers, has however made competition in the industry more difficult, counteracting IBMs distinct competency as a basis of sustainable advantage (Werther Kerr, 1995). It is difficult to sustain a specific competitive advantage in IT-based products and services in the contemporary era as competitors replicate successful moves swiftly (Heide, 1992). The product life cycle in several high-tech sectors like semiconductors and personal computers is normally as low as three to five years (Heide, 1992). Companies in such industries launch upgraded or radically novel products with short development cycles, much before the competition or the subsequent generation of products eats into their profits (Heide, 1992). Companies deploying such differentiation strategies (Porter, 1980) gain competitive advantage through the unique design, quality, creativity, customer support, and inherent research of their products or services (Heide, 1992). Other companies, intra-industry, often follow with lower-cost substitutes (Porter, 1980) (Heide, 1992). 2. Application of Porters Generic Strategy and Ansoff Models to Illustrate the Regaining by IBM of its Differentiated Position Michael Porters Generic Strategies model postulates that companies have three fundamental strategic alternatives for garnering competitive advantage, namely (a) Cost Leadership (b) Differentiation and (c) Focus (Stanford, 2010). The Ansoff matrix, on the other hand, helps organisations in deciding their growth strategies. It provides strategic alternatives on the products or services an organisation should offer and on the marketplaces that are crucial its growth and success (Verbera, 2009). The Ansoff matrix provides four feasible product/market permutations, namely market penetration, market development, product development and diversification (Ansoff 1957, 1989) (Verbera, 2009). Diversification is a popular strategic option for companies in the current competitive business environment. IBM owes much of its gains in recent years to its policy of carefully thought out and consistent diversification (Verbera, 2009). The company previously pursued a vertical integration stratagem, involving its entry into new industries to reinforce its core business, model. It benefited from backwards vertical integration with the disk-drive sector and forward vertical integration with the computer software and consulting services industries (Hill et al, 2007). IBMs vertical integration policy was previously an important source of competitive advantage (Verbera, 2009). IBMs subsequent policy of diversification, entailing the acquisition of over 400 businesses, was felt to be high risk by market observers. Its significant success is now however attributed to the companys business foresight and effective control mechanisms. The use of the Ansoff Matrix helps in analysing IBMs strategic choices for regaining its position of differentiation from other market participants and leads to the conclusion that organisations need to modify their strategic alternatives in accordance with the changing competitive scenario (Verbera, 2009). The emergence of the desktop computer in the 1980s changed the fundamentals of IBMs markets. The company during this period tried to reposition itself quite a few times. It sometimes appeared that different groups favoured different strategies and by 1992, the company was contemplating a break-up strategy. Louis Gerstner, CEO of IBM from 1993 to 2002 is credited with bringing about strategic changes that changed organisational fortunes and reinstated the companys erstwhile important position in the computer industry (Kelly, 2004). Gerstner did not veer IBM on a new course. He was, in fact, instrumental in taking it back to its roots. IBM had for decades stayed with its strategy of offering one-stop shopping to large companies for their information services, (IS); a strategy termed as singleness. It strayed from the strategy during the 1980s, alienated its clients, and under Gerstners leadership reverted back to it. The company went back to being a full-service provider for its clients and administering their technological integration. This singleness strategy has been formulated for the current IS environment (Mills, 1996). Gerstner kept the company together, refocused on the IT services sector, and embraced the Internet. His efforts resulted in one of the most extraordinary revivals in business history. 3. Application of the Boston Consulting Group Matrix to Analyse and Justify IBMs Products and Service positions The BCG Matrix provides a useful method for portfolio planning, through the evaluation of the health of different players within a portfolio of businesses or product lines (Mixner, 2006). Developed by Bruce Henderson at the Boston Consulting Group during the early 1970s, Â  the BCG growth-share matrix evaluates businesses or products as high or low performers, based on their comparative market growth rate with regard to the market share of the next best competitor (Docstoc, 2010). Different businesses or products, in the BCH Matrix, are categorised as Cash Cows, Stars, Question Marks, or Dogs on the basis of their performance (Docstoc, 2010). The BCG concept calls upon organisations to appreciate that Stars represent the best place for an investment of limited funds, because of their potential to achieve high market share within a high market growth segment, for the production of optimal profits (Mixner, 2006). There are difficulties with this analysis. The various problems with such an approach include the high expected expenditure associated with the growth of market share, difficulties of increasing profitability in challenging marketplaces and the possibly incorrect supposition of confirmed market growth (Mixner, 2006). IBM, based on the BCG Matrix portfolio analysis, appears to have a number of star businesses in the Systems and Technology Group. These have lead positions in their market segments and continue to maintain the high overall business growth rate in spite of emerging competitors. The Consulting and IT ITES services segments can be considered as Cash Cows, because of their strong market share and their potential to sustained profits and cash flows. The hardware segment within computer technology has seen commoditization over the last several years due to plummeting prices (Korzeniowski, 2003). This would require it to be placed, either in the Question Mark or Dogs category, because of inadequate profitability and steep competition. These businesses can be divested at appropriate valuations. 4. Strategic Recommendations for IBM with the Application of Porters Generic Strategy and BCG Matrix models The use of Porters Generic Strategy and BCG matrix models and a study of IBMs current and envisioned product lines reveals that IBM has a few enormously exciting models that should sustain and thrust its future growth. The company should focus on cloud computing, BPTS (Business-Performance-Transformation services) and grid computing. Inorganic investments in related enterprises, emerging or otherwise, will facilitate sustained star performance and maintain its eminent position in the overall IT ITES space. IBM CEO Sam Palmisano states that BPTS, involving a combination of IT and business-process outsourcing (BPO) with intelligent software and consulting services, has a potential $500 billion market. Consultants from IBM Business Consulting Group assist customers in deploying BPTS services for streamlining and re-engineering self-styled SGA (selling, general and administrative) processes like finance, accounting, and HR management ( McDougall, 2005). IBM has also recently announced its suite of cloud computing solutions, IBM Smart Business cloud services portfolio and IBM CloudBurst systems, which essentially comprise of pre-integrated software, hardware and services offerings that offer customers novel delivery models for IT ITES capabilities (MacSweeney, 2009). The IBM Mass Lab is generating software to manage some of the worlds most complicated process and infrastructure projects in areas like railroads, food traceability, water management and healthcare modernisation. Much of software demand is being generated by the requirement to modernise and automate nearly every system, for example, energy management, et al through smart grids (Ebizq, 2010). The IBM Mass Lab is generating software to cater to the new era of enterprise mobile computing for more efficient convergence and integration to support an exponentially increasingly mobile workforce (Ebizq, 2010). Grid computing has regained favour and is helping IBM in retaining its position of a chief industry vendor (Korzeniowski, 2003). Both the Porters and BCG models necessitate the recommendation that IBM focus and deploy all its assets (physical, information and intangible) in achieving differentiation for each of its product and service segments to remain in the star quadrant of the BCG Matrix. The company should however seriously think of exiting its slow-moving hardware business. Bharti Airtel Ltd: An Analysis Bharti Airtel Ltd: An Analysis This assignment has mainly been done to provide a discussion as to the application of Strategic Business Management and planning within current global business environment. For this study I have used a case study on Bharti Airtel Ltd that is an Indian mobile telephone company. Accordingly, this assignment basically covers followings objectives. Understanding the role of strategic business planning in Bharti Airtel Ltd Understanding of the strategies Bharti Airtel Ltd use to achieve competitive advantage Understanding of the impact of internal and external factors on Bharti Airtel Ltd Understanding of the environmental factors that have an effect on strategic business management and planning About Bharti Airtel Ltd Bharti Airtel Ltd is a one of the leading global telecommunication companies that operates in 19 countries across Africa and Asia having 200 million customers. It is a one of the six best performing technology companies in world that has been ranked by business week. Bharti Airtel Ltd mainly offers following services to its customers: Mobile voice and data services Fixed telephone line High speed broadband services IPTV, DTH Turnkey telecom solutions for enterprises National international long distance services to carriers (Source: About Bharti Airtel Ltd, available from: http://www.airtel.in/wps/wcm/connect/about+bharti+airtel/Bharti+Airtel/About+bharti+airtel/?WCM_Page.ResetAll=TRUECACHE=NONECONTENTCACHE=NONECONNECTORCACHE=NONESRV=Page (Accessed on 10th March 2012) 1.1 Identify and critically evaluate Bharti Airtels goals, objectives and values It is said that global business environment is changing structurally and, in all probability (Kourdi 2003). Hence, any type of business organization should have strong, transference goals, objectives and values in order to succeed the business. They enable the managers of the organization to formulate and manage appropriate strategies within the business. Accordingly, in this section I will identify and evaluate goals, objectives and core values of Bharti Airtel Ltd. Goals and Objectives of Airtel Undertaking of transformational projects which has a positive impact on the society while contributing to build the nation Diversification into new businesses in sectors such as financial services, agriculture and retail business with world class partners To lay the foundation for creating a conglomerate of future Core Values of Airtel Being Flexible for the adaptation of the environment changes and evolving customers needs Openness and transparency Give power to People to do their best Creating Positive Impact on the society by creating a meaningful difference Making it happen through the innovation of new ideas with entrepreneurial spirit If we look at the above goals and objectives of Airtel, we can identify that they have been achieving them to a certain extent. If we consider the objective of diversification into new business, Airtel has been accessing to such business sectors. For example, now they have been engaging financial services in India through telephony services. Acquisitions of Airtel throughout the world convince us that Airtel has created a foundation for conglomerate of future. Above mentioned core values of Airtel which are the beliefs of owners have been the keys to its success. 1.2 Suggest ways in which Bharti Airtel can replicate its success in India in foreign markets It is a big challenge for any business to have or replicate its success in globe due to higher completion. For this purpose, business organizations must formulate and implement business strategies that suits global market conditions. Bharti Airtel has been succeeding mainly due to its values and management. In this section, I am going to suggest ways to Bharti Airtel that may assist in replicating its success in India and foreign market. Further acquisitions and mergers with other telephony service companies in India and foreign markets: Since Airtel has a healthy financial strength, it can focus on the acquisition of telephony service companies such as Reliance Comm. This will increase the customer base of Airtel. Access and expansion of Airtels business operations in to other countries such as United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Qatar Widening 4G network coverage within the areas in which Airtel operates: Airtel can widen its 4G network coverage through rural areas in India. Doing they can increase its market while supporting the nation building process in India. Introducing and promoting new innovative services that match with telephony service industry such new advance technologies such as ATM recharge Launching low price promotions to attract mass customers as much as possible Differentiation of the brand through emotional perspectives 1.3 Using your knowledge of different strategy development models analyse Bharti Airtels development of its strategy and identify the model(s) applicable to them. Bharati Airtel Ltd has been market leader in India since its business models and strategies attracted many industry experts admiration. So they have been innovative in formulating and implementing business strategies through strategy development models. Now let us analyse development of strategy in Bharti Airtel by using strategy development models applicable to them. 1.3.1 Porters Five Forces Model Threat of New Entrants Due to increase demand for telephony services in worldwide, there are possibilities for new investors to start their business in this field. Accordingly, Bharti Airtel may encounter threats from entrants in to its market in India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Africa. The number of players in telecommunication industry in India has increased and it has caused Bharti Airtel to change its strategic approaches that they followed. Furthermore the inclusion of technologies such as 3G has into the industry has brought many entries in to the telecommunication industry. Hence, we can see an increasing threat from the new entrance into the telecommunication market. Bargaining Power of Suppliers We can see uniqueness in telecommunication equipment suppliers in the global market. There is not a perfect market for telecom related equipments and materials such as fibre optic cables, broadband switching equipment and software etc in the globe. Thus it can be seen that there is a bargaining power over Bharti Airtel. Whereas we can see an increasing trend towards the arrival suppliers in relations to the telecommunication related equipment. This have reduced Bargaining Power of Suppliers that may be encountered Bharti Airtel. Bargaining Power of Buyers In the telecom industry, the biggest is held by the customers. If customers are not satisfied, they may shift to other telephony service companies. Customers can be retained if quality services are provided for affordable prices. Accordingly, Bharti Airtel has been following cost leadership strategy to cope up Bargaining Power of its customers. Availability of Substitutes Presently, internet services have been the domain of mobile services. Hence internet sector and telephone services have come under one sector. With the arrival of broadband, WiFi internet services and new technological mobile devices, people have been able to have the role of telephone such as phone calls and SMS done through internet calls and chat services such as SKYPE, Yahoo messenger. These threats from such substitute products have becoming a significant issue for Bharti Airtel. Nevertheless Bharti Airtel has been developing and implementing many strategies to cope up such threats by expanding its internet services and introducing new products like IPTV, DTH services for its sustainable growth. Competitive Rivalry In Asia and Africa there is a high competition among telephony service providers. For examples, in India Bharti Airtels main competitors are Vodafone Essar and Reliance Comm. In the same manner it has many competitors in Sri Lanka such as Etisalat, Dialog, Mobitel and Hutch. Therefore we can see that there is a huge competition in the telephony services industry in Asia and Africa. So Bharti Airtel is implementing strategies such as cost leadership, differentiation in order to get competitive advantages. 2.1 Analyse the acquisition of Zain Africa by Bharti Airtel. If you were their consultant, would you have advised them to go ahead with the deal? In this chapter, I am going to analyse the acquisition of Zain Africa made by Bharti Airtel through the PESTEL and SWOT analysis. Afterwards I will evaluate the benefits that Bharti Airtel can have from the acquisition and potential problems that Bharti Airtel may have on its operation. 2.1.1 SWOT Analysis The SWOT analysis is a useful tool for decision making process and understanding all kind of situation which can arise in a business organization (Pearce, Robinson Mital, 2008). Accordingly, the word SWOT stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats of an organization. Now let us analyse Bharti Airtel acquisition of Zain Africa by using SWOT analysis. Table 1 provides the SWOT analysis as to the acquisition of Zain Africa. Strengths New market power over 17 African countries and 5 middle east countries Addition of 42 million subscribers to Airtels subscriber base Acquisition of more skilled employees Increase reputation of Bharti Airtel brand Entrance in to the league of worlds top five mobile network operators Weaknesses Financial difficulties may arise because money amounting to $7.87 Billion have been invested on the acquisition Amount spent on the acquisition seems to be expensive Most of the African countries like Uganda, Ghana and Madagascar have a very lower ARPU compared to others African countries Morale and commitment of existing employees may reduce due to new employees Difficulties may arise when Bharti Airtel coping up with organizational cultural changes in Africa Opportunities Bharti Airtel can dominate many telephony service market with its economies of scale Opportunity to build new kind of telephone services over subscribers in Africa. Opportunity for expanding of Airtels telecommunications operations further Africa the opportunity for restructuring of Bharti Airtels business operations Threats Falling of Airtels stock price by 9.22% during announcement of the acquisition Possible counter attack from other telephony services companies in Africa Management of Bharti Airtel may be excessively focused on the acquisition rather than focuses on the operations Table 1: SWOT Analysis for Bharti Airtel acquisition of Zain Africa 2.1.2 Benefits of the acquisition of Zain Africa With the the acquisition of Zain Africa, Bharti Airtel have been able to enter top five mobile network operators in the world. Bharti Airtel and Zain Africa fit well together because both companies have valuable skills and experience to deliver quality telephony services to the customers. As a result, there is an opportunity for Bharti Airtel to be the market leader in Africa. Global reputation of Bharti Airtel increases due to this acquisition. Increase in global customers of Bharti Airtel by an amount of 42 million This acquisition has led Bharti Airtel to boost its achievements in telecommunication sector in world wide. Finally this acquisition of Zain Africa as a growth strategy enables Bharti Airtel to expand its business operations to a greater extent. 2.1.3 Potential problems of the acquisition of Zain Africa Amount spent on Bharti Airtels acquisition of Zain Africa seems to be little bit expensive There may be complexities when such expanded business operations are going to be managed by Bharti Airtel Bharti Airtel may encounter some financial problems when a significant investment is again required to operate the business. Existing employees moral may decrease with new acquisition of Zain Africas employees. There may be some complexities when cultural changes which occur as result of this acquisition are going to be managed. According to the above evaluation of Bharti Airtels acquisition of Zain Africa, we can recommend this deal since it brings many advantages to Bharti Airtel Ltd for the current period as well as future periods. 2.2 Analysis of Bharti Airtels strategy for remaining competitive and increasing market share and subscriber base Due to the higher population in India, presently there is an emerging of more competitors such as local competitors as well as international competitors such as Vodafone and DoCoMo into Indian telephony service market. This has been a min threat for Bharti Airtel to cope up. Accordingly, Bharti Airtel should formulate and manage strategies so as to have competitive advantages over it competitors while increasing its market share. In this section, I will analyse strategy that Bharti Airtel is following to have competitive advantages. According to the case study Bharti Airtel Ltd, we can notice that they are following cost leadership strategy as its competitive strategy to remain competitive in the market. Due to the competition in telecommunication industry in India, Average Revenue per User (ARPU) in India which is one of lower ARPU in the world was declined. Bharti Airtel has Rs. 438 ARPU in 2005 and that was declined to around Rs 350 in middle of 2008. Part of this reduction can be attributed to low price life time recharge promotion sheme that Bharti Airtel introduced in 2007. Finally ARPU of Bharti Airtel has declined to Rs 230 by the end of 2009. Figure 1: Average Revenue per User (ARPU) of Bharti Airtel in its Indian Market According to the above figure 1, we can see that ARPU of Bharti Airtel is gradually decreasing due to its main cost leadership strategy. Although its ARPU is decreasing, Bharti Airtel has been able to remain competitive in the business because its application of cost leadership strategy has been increasing its market share as well subscriber base. 2.3 Critically assess the risks faced by Bharti Airtel in Africa and how they can overcome the risks There is probability to have a lower ARPU form African customers since Zains ARPU is less than 1$ and lower revenue in 2009 compared to 2008. This is mainly due to the fact that many African countries consumers have very little purchasing power. Thus, Bharati Airtel should decrease its prices and increase number of subscribers in African countries as to its sustainability growth. Since Zains African market had been struggling, there is a possibility not to deliver values to its shareholders. Zain was market leader only in ten of the fifteen African countries it may difficult for Airtel to dominate such markets. Thus, it has to adopt cost leadership and focus strategis for the growth of the business by which core values can be created. Bharati Airtels debt to equity ratio may increase to 1:1 due to long term borrowings from banks. This will lead solvency problems in future. Thus, it should try to raise fund through retained earnings, ordinary shares while making net profits in future. Cost of base stations in Africa is high since its cost is 3 times compared with Europe. This indicates that Bharati Airtel have to incure relatively high capital expenditure. With a higher capital investment and lower ARPU, it may generate lower Return on Investment for Bharati Airtel Ltd. Cultural, language and regulatory differences in the 15 African countries is a big challenge for Bharati Airtel. If they do not adopt such differences quickly, it may lead to an interruption for it operations in African market. Accordingly, Bharati Airtel should be dealing with 15 countries, 15 governments and 15 regulatory regimes effectively and efficiently to overcome possible operational interruptions. There are high fluctuations in local currencies of African countries. This may bring foreign currency risk for Bharati Airtel. Thus, Bharati Airtel should arrange hedging contracts with parties so as to reduce such risks. 3.1 Critically analyse Bharti Airtels, mission, vision and Strategic intent Before Strategic intent of Bharti Airtel is analysed, I will analyse vision and mission of Bharti Airtel because vision and mission of Bharti Airtel express its Strategic intent in broad terms and in specific terms. Vision Statement of Bharti Airtel Ltd To be globally admired for telecom services that delight customers Accordingly we can see that Bharti Airtels vision reflect what it does and the future status of the organization that it expect to be. This presents the detailed picture of Bharti Airtel while providing the major reason to do its business. This provides the company to go head successfully as it provides long term direction to employees. Mission Statement of Bharti Airtel Ltd We will meet global standards for telecom services that delight customers through customer service focus, empowered employees, innovative services and cost efficiency Accordingly we can see that mission statement of Bharti Airtel consists of following 3 essential components: Key market : Global telecom market Contribution: Telecom services Distinction : customer service focus, innovative services and cost efficiency Strategic intent of Bharti Airtel Bharti Airtels dtrategic intent express that it tries to give a telecom service that admired globally to its customer in a manner that they will be delightful. This indicates Bharti Airtel is prepared flexibility when several situations occur in global business environment. Accordingly this provides a direction, discovery and destiny for Bharti Airtels operations. 3.2 In the process of developing their strategy, do you think that Bharti Airtel used incremental change or transformational change? Analyse your answers There should be a transformational change in the internal environment of Bharati Airtel when they develop strategies. That is organization structure and culture of Bharti Airtel may have to be changed due to its new strategies being developed. Strategies are mainly prepared to cope up both internal and external environmental changes. Thus, when strategies are developed, they have to developed and implemented so as to adopt for such changes. As a result, Bharti Airtel should used transformational changes within its business operations. For example, acquisition strategy of Bharti Airtel led them to change its organizational structure and culture as they expanded its operation into Africa. Hence, they cannot do its operations in Africa with its previous organizational structures and cultures when they do business in Africa. Accordingly Bharti Airtel must adopt and use transformational changes such as adoption to African culture and regulations etc so as to develop and implement strategies in order achieve a sustainable growth. Analyse the potential impact of global issues in telecommunication industry and its effect of Bharti Airtel Political Unsuitability in countries Many of African countries have unstable government which directly affect the operations of Airtel in African countries. When government changes policies, laws and regulations of such countries may be changed. Hence, it may affect the smooth operation of Bharti Airtel. So they have to change its strategies so as to adopt such governmental changes. Issues in global economic conditions Global financial crisis, brewing for a while, demonstrate its effects in 2007 and 2008. As a result, stock market s around the world fell down and large financial institutions collapsed. Source: Global Financial Crisis-Global Issues, Available from: http://www.globalissues.org/article/768/global-financial-crisis (Accessed on 10th March 2012) Accordingly, there is possibility of global economy to unstable. If such thing happend, it would have seriously affect the operations of Airtel. There was high rate of corruption in African countries With the high rate of corruptions of people in Africa, Bharti Airtel will have an issue with regard to recovery of post paid bills from such people. Issues in bringing technologies to African countries The cost for establishment of base station in some African countries is 3 times compared with Europe. The cost of a base station in African countries is about $180,000 to $200,000. In Europe country the base station would cost about $50,000 to $60,000. Therefore, Airtel will have to invest more money on base stations. Threat of Internet for traditional role of telephone services such as phone calls and SMS In the world today, we can see that the internet has become the future of connectivity. With the arrival of free services such as Skype, Yahoo Messanger etc, there is a threat for telephony service companies. There is trend that people are becoming used to such free services. Accordingly demand for phone call services and Short Message Services in Airtel may decrease. Identify and critically analyse the impact of different stakeholders in Bharti Airtel Stakeholders are the outside entities and people that have an interest in an business organization (Verzuh 2003). Stakeholders of Bharti Airtel can be identified as follows. Customers Business and Individual customers like to experience the quality and prices of services provided by Bharti Airtel. If quality of its service is low, customers may shift to other service providers. Competitors Competitors such as Vodafone Essar, Reliance Comm, MTN and Vodacom are interested to know strategies of Airtel so as to give a counter attack toward airtel. Share holders of Bharti Airtel Shareholders of Bharti Airtel interested in the financial performance of the company. If the company is not performing well, shareholder may change the director board or dispose their shares. Government bodies Government bodies in each geographical area such as India, Sri Lanka and African countries have major impact on Bharti Airtel since they may change laws and regulations regarding telecommunication industry. Suppliers Supplies of telecommunication related equipments and Material know the financial positions and operations of Airtel so as to convince that they can continue the relation with Bharti Airtel. Employees of Bharti Airtel Employees are interested to their job safety and rewards. Employees may resign from the company if they were not treated well. Propose and argue ways in which Bharti Airtel can respond to the environmental factors affecting its Africa operations Political environment Many of African countries have unstability in their political positions. Airtel can cope up with these governmental changes by developing strategies that suits with such changes and keeping connections with such governments. Poor economic conditions in African countries Bharti Airtel can do its operations in African countries with such economic conditions by introducing low price scheme and increasing subscriber base. This will allow the company to give a higher competition towards other telephony service providers. Higher currency fluctuations in many African countries I suggest Airtel to have hedging contracts with banks so as to reduce such foreign currency risks. But this may take away the opportunities of having foreign currency gains. Low level of urbanization in African countries populations To cope up this environmental factor, Bharti Airtel should install additional towers and radios in such areas. This require substantial amount of capital to be invested. Conclusion The acquisition of Zain Africa has led Bharti Airtel Ltd to expand its operations globally and it can be considered as a prominent growth strategy of Airtel. Objectives of Airtel such as undertaking transformational projects and diversification into new businesses such as financial services have been achieved to some extent. Development of strategies of Airtel have enabled them to achive such objectives while having core values such as quick adaptation for the environment changes and customers needs, openness and transparency etc. The main competitive strategy that Bharti Airtel uses is low cost leadership. The acquisition of Zain Africa have brought benifits to Airtel such as New market power over 17 African countries while having 42 million subscribers to its subscriber base. But operations in such countries has been challenge for Airtel due to political instability, poor economic conditions and higher cost on base station. Therefore, Bharti Airtel must develop and apply appropriat e strategies in African countries in order to have sustainability growth.