Thinking about cover, then and now Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Thinking about cover, then and now - Assignment Example Conflicts between Coulton and Glee based on baaed on the arrangement of ‘Baby Got Back’. Both Glee and Coulton were not original song writer but it was a cover of a cover as Glee covering Jonathan Coulton covering Sir Mixalot. Sir Mixalot’s arrangement are different from Coulton covering and uniquely Colton’s. When Glee covered the song, it became obvious to Coulton and supported the origin of the arrangement as it was quite similar as Glee covering incorporated Colton’s line Johnny C’s in trouble’ while in Mixalot’s original song had, ‘Mix-A-Lot‘s in trouble and line was dropped by FOX in Glee performance. As the cover song was aired and sold in iTunes, it dealt Coulton a blow finically as Glee was given unethical and uncredited exposure by FOX as TV shows had stolen from Coulton. It is quite evident that legally Glee was right but ethically wrong by ripping from where he had not sowed. Even though, the work was not Coulton, he had to be credited when Glee took his arrangement based on ‘Baby Got Back† as he interpreted and created the song. Glee ought to have paid royalties as he earned from covering which would not be possible without the work of other artist. Another unethical covering is taking place in YouTube with over 40000 people having covered ‘Rolling in the Deep’, 6000 covering, ‘Somebody That I Used to Know and 11000 covering, ‘Pumped Up Kicks’ driven by non-commercial benefits being done out of love by fans of original songs hence no negative on market value of original but is a creativity criminalized as it done without synchronization license. Other examples of cover are those bought from Tom Waist’s Orphan Collection including such covers exposing his lounge as a singer from a different planet. ‘Sea of Love’ from Robert Plant’s Honey-drippers being covered by over billion people with Waist’s weird take but interesting. Alabama 3 album has also covered ‘Hotel

Mice and Men and Great Expectations Essay Example for Free

Mice and Men and Great Expectations Essay Of Mice and Men and Great Expectations, have many similarities. They both show the way certain characters are treated by society. These similarities may be strong but there are natural differences that come from the different times and places the stories are set in.-as well as the way the authors approach the topic.  Steinbeck begins Of Mice and Men by creating a tranquil scene where everything is seemingly at peace. Steinbeck creates with words images of paradise such as when he writes: A few miles south of Soledad, the Salinas River drops in close to the hill-side bank and runs deep and green. The water is warm too, for it has slipped twinkling over the yellow sands in the sunlight before reaching the narrow pool. A river, which is said to run deep, is calm and slow moving. Its water is clear too, twinkling over yellow sands, it has warm water too and seems perfect-almost too good to be true. Inevitably it is. Of Mice and men is set in the 1930s during Americas great depression. After the stock exchange crashed in New York, money and jobs became hard to find. There was poverty all over America and California, which affected everything. Like the American dream, paradise can only exist with money. Therefore only the wealthy can enjoy this and even then it is spoilt by the poverty surrounding it. The American Dream is a paradox, just like the paradise of Salinas River. They cannot exist because they contradict themselves. Paradise is bliss but how can this exist with so much poverty and suffering in the world? The Salinas River seems briefly to have escaped the paradox. There is no sign of poverty, just peace and tranquillity. Then human life enters the scene. Human life is introduced when a path is described; There is a path through the willows and among the sycamores, a path beaten hard by boys coming down from the highway. Its the point that the track has been beaten hard that really emphasises what effect humans have had on the river. Other animals leave tracks that are temporary and blend into the scene. Humans have left their path permanently, like a scar it proves that not even the Salinas River can reach paradise. But it is not the only scar, In front of the low horizontal limb of a giant sycamore there is an ash pile made by many fires; the limb is worn smooth by men who have sat on it. Two more scars. The introduction of humans into the scene sees the end of the animal life in the scene. As the humans approach all the wildlife is scared of and the area is completely deserted. For a moment the place was lifeless. The peace is broken and with it any chance of the Salinas River truly becoming paradise.  The story is set in California where few people owned land. They had either lost it due to the financial problems the depression caused or were just too poor to afford any in the first place. The people needed to find work; one of the most common jobs was to work on a farm. These people became known as migrant farmers. They would drift from one farm to the next, rarely settling for long. The two characters that enter the scene are migrant farmers and are looking for work. This is the first introduction of human life into the scene. Great Expectations is set in Victorian England, where just like in 1930s California, the rich thrived and the poor suffered terribly. Even more distressing perhaps was the disease that swept through towns and killed many children as well as adults. This led to an increase in orphans, who have the same feelings of being alone and poor. They have the same problems as many others and werent much better off than the criminals in jail. Criminals were treated like animals, as were the poor community as a whole. Just like during the dust bowl, if you werent rich then you were a social outcast. After introducing the character Pip, Dickens begins describing his surroundings. Dickens goes into great detail to set the scene. He describes the area as Marsh Country which stretches for twenty miles up to the coast. Pip is in a secluded graveyard overgrown and derelict. Beyond the graveyard is a dark flat wilderness, Intersected with dykes and mounds and gates, with scattered cattle feeding on it, was the marshes. It is a raw afternoon towards the evening. The setting is dark and there is a sense of evil and death about the place. It seems to be building upto something sinister, and does so when the criminal enters the scene. He is described as a fearful man, in all course grey with an iron on his leg. He almost represents death in this scene, an evil presence trying to seize Pip.

Promote Professional Development Essay Example for Free

Promote Professional Development Essay Principles * Professional development deepens and broadens knowledge of content. Knowledge of a common core of content—which we deï ¬ ne as including the â€Å"various ways of knowing† that are intrinsic to each discipline—allows us to communicate, to work together toward common ends, to function as a cohesive democratic society, and to ï ¬ nd shared ground on which to build tolerance for our differences. * Professional development provides a strong foundation in teaching. * Professional development develops an understanding of: 1. The most useful ways of representing ideas 2. The most powerful illustrations and analogies for representing a concept 3. It makes learning speciï ¬ c things in a content area easy or difï ¬ cult; 4. It bring kinds of questions that help to reveal and develop understanding 5. It is the most effective strategies to address the misconceptions that commonly arise with regard to particular content at particular developmental levels, given with speciï ¬ c background experiences and prior knowledge. see more:what are the components of a personal development plan * Professional development provides knowledge about the teaching and learning processes. 1. Creates and maintains appropriate, orderly teaching and learning environments 2. It brings any assessment issues and clears any misunderstanding. * Professional development contributes to measurable improvement in one’s achievement. * Professional development is intellectually engaging and addresses the complexity of one’s job role. * Professional development is job-embedded and site speciï ¬ c that helps in the day to day growth of one’s knowledge and skills. * Importance: It is a tool for self-management of your development. It can provide a framework to support your development in a number of different ways. Fundamentally, its a question of regularly setting yourself objectives for development and then charting your progress towards achieving them. Its about being clear where you are, where you want to be, how you plan to get there, and how this meets current and future business needs and it is about a continuing process of reflecting on your learning and your experience to maximise its value. There is an expectation that regulators will be life-long learners in order to keep their professional skills, knowledge and experience up to date in an ever changing legislative, social and economic environment, and to ensure positive development through the right experience, and by getting the most (in terms of learning) from that experience. As a professional, you have a responsibility to keep your skills and knowledge up to date. It helps many of us already to externally verify our accreditation. Reflective learning provides a positive opportunity to identify and achieve your own career objectives. Reflecting on past experience and planning for the future in this way makes your development more methodical, and helps you to assess, and get the most from your learning. Potential Barriers to professional development: * Time Time is a crucial factor in personal growth and development, and many individuals lack enough of it. Between work responsibilities, childcare issues and just trying to survive on a day-to-day basis, you may find yourself lacking the hours necessary to devote to your own goals. * Attitude A negative attitude is a major factor in this area. If you start out with the belief that positive development is unlikely to occur, then no matter how hard you work on it, your belief will sabotage any efforts you may make. * Family Family also can be a hindrance when it comes to personal growth. Often, individuals are entrenched with ideas from their families about how much someone can develop as a person, so they dont seek to move past these set levels. * Peers Peers also can complicate our efforts to improve ourselves. Peers often try to sabotage our goals, either consciously or unconsciously. They degrade our efforts toward growth because those efforts remind them of the growth they could be pursuing, but have chosen to forgo. * Motivation Lack of motivation can be an enormous barrier to personal development. Without motivation, you have little energy to accomplish tasks leading to growth. With the right amount of motivation, however, those tasks can seem easy, and even enjoyable, to accomplish. * Money Personal growth does not have to take a great deal of money to accomplish, but depending on your goals, a lack of it can stall your efforts. Materials to learn about new topics and ways of living often cost money, but they are an investment in you. * Failure to Plan Lack of proper planning and preparation can lead to haphazard attempts to fulfil goals a recipe for wasted energy and efforts. If you are trying to break a habit, start a new career or glean insights into your thought processes, be sure to have at least a rudimentary plan to reach these goals. * Distractions Distractions, whether in the form of minor demands or activities that offers immediate gratification, can be counted on to undermine your efforts toward personal growth. * Perseverance Finally, when trying to reach personal goals, we often forget that perseverance is a key. Dont expect to achieve your dreams overnight. Overcoming obstacles consistently is the only way to become the individual you want to be. Different sources and systems of support for professional development The following are the different sources and systems of support for professional development * Inductions given for new staff. These includes giving information regarding the policies and procedures, what the company expect from them, their rights, etc. (copy of 24 hour induction form attached) * Appraisals The Annual Staff Appraisal scheme is based on objective setting in all aspects of an individual’s job, based on the contributions that they make. The review period will cover the previous 12 calendar months * Development plans A Professional Development Plan (PDP) is a short planning document that examines an individual’s current CPD needs, looks at how these might be met and lists objectives for the future. It helps the individual to structure and focus one’s training needs and should address the following points: Where am I now? Where am I going? How am I going to get there? In producing a PDP, one should: Consider once current job and the skills they need to do it competently. What changes are likely to occur in the next few years? The individual should list both short and long-term ambitions. Be realistic about their ambitions and the time needed to achieve them. Think about the areas in which they will need to target the CPD to achieve their ambitions – be realistic and prioritise. A PDP is not a request for unlimited training. Their employer will be interested in the business case for their PDP. Look to the future; don’t restrict one’s self to thinking about current professional responsibilities. Should they strengthen existing skills or develop new ones? List their priorities for the next two years. These will form the basis for deciding what CPD opportunities to take up. It is important to remember that their priorities are not cast in stone; they may decide to change them in the future. They should review and update their PDP regularly to respond to changing needs, challenges and opportunities. * Shadowing – when an individual require more supervision to ensure the quality of their job and provide teaching how do we expect them to work. * in-house training – providing all the in house training will make an individual feel that they are valued and this help them to practice in a safe way. * Training organisations – using other training organisations helps build relationship outside and helps with building competence in dealing with other individual. * Mentoring is providing support and encouragement to individual to manage their own learning in order that they may maximise their potential, develop their skills, improve their performance and become the person they want to be. * Supervisions is one of the most important drivers in ensuring positive outcomes * Reflective Practice Reflective practice is a way of studying your own experiences to improve the way you work. It is very useful for health professionals who want to carry on learning throughout their lives. The act of reflection is a great way to increase confidence and become a more proactive and qualified professional. Engaging in reflective practice should help to improve the quality of care you give and close the gap between theory and practice. The following examples of reflective practice which will provide some idea of the various methods one can choose from. Gibbs reflective cycle Gibbs reflective cycle is a process involving six steps: * Description What happened? * Feelings What did you think and feel about it? * Evaluation What were the positives and negatives? * Analysis What sense can you make of it? * Conclusion What else could you have done? * Action Plan What will you do next time? It is a cycle because the action you take in the final stage will feed back into the first stage, beginning the process again. Johns model for structured reflection This is a series of questions to help one think through what has happened. They can read the questions here This can be used as a guide for analysing a critical incident or for general reflection on experiences. John’s model supports the need for the learner to work with a supervisor throughout the experience. He also recommends that the student use a structured diary. He suggests the student should ‘look in on the situation’, which would include focusing on yourself and paying attention to your thoughts and emotions. He then advises to ‘look out of the situation’ and write a description of the situation around your thoughts and feelings, what you are trying to achieve, why you responded in the way you did, how others were feeling, did you act in the best way, ethical concepts etc Rolfe’s framework for reflective practice Rolfe uses three simple questions to reflect on a situation: What? so what? and now what? He considers the final question as the one that can make the greatest contribution to practice. * What is the problem? was my role? happened? were the consequences? * So what was going through my mind? should I have done? do I know about what happened now? * Now what do I need to do? broader issues have been raised? might happen now? Factors to consider when selecting opportunities and activities for keeping knowledge and practice up to date * Relevance -It has to be relevant to the job role. * Time The length of the activity should be consider/ or how long will it take for you to finish the training or course. Sometimes you can get bored and loose the motivation because it is dragging to your job role or to your other responsibilities. * Benefits – It has to benefit the company, yourself, other staff and most especially people receiving your service. * Benefits for you: 1. enhanced reputation and job satisfaction 2. increased confidence and self esteem 3. improved career prospects and employability 4. improved professional status 5. Development is a transferable skill. * Benefits for your other staff: 1. better quality training 2. up-to-date advice and information 3. training that employs new approaches and methods 4. training that better meets needs 5. Greater confidence in the training provided for your organisation. * Benefits to the people who receives service: 1. enhanced reputation more likely to be seen as credible and reliable and to become a trusted organisation in care 2. more influence from the MDT’s 3. Family and friend of the people who uses services can be good ally and so as the service user 4. A more exciting learning environment and opportunities to learn from each other. (MDT’s) * Benefits to the organisation: 1. staff who can do the job 2. more likely to achieve evolving organisational goals 3. managers can be confident that staff skill levels are compliant and up-to-date with requirements 4. improved employee engagement 5. enhanced external reputation * Refresher course to be available – This help you update if there is a refresher course available for some of the trainings you take. * Cost – cost of the training usually is an issue especially if the training budget should be distributed amongst staff. Check for charity organisations who provide courses and take the opportunity to take it as long as it is related to your job role * Availability – it is difficult when the training you like to do is not available straight away and you will need to wait for it to be available. This can be frustrating at times and hinders the development plan. Beyond these factors it is good to get a balance of learning across: * Maintenance and development needs What you need to keep refreshed and up-to-date against what will be new areas of learning for you. * Specialist subjects and training skills/knowledge If you train in a particular subject area you will need to maintain you technical abilities and knowledge, as well as developing your skills and knowledge as a trainer. * Performance requirements and personal aspirations As well as the learning you have to undertake for your job and professional requirements, you may also have personal aspirations or long terms plan you want to prepare for. * Different learning methods Even if you have a preferred learning style it is important to involve yourself in a range of different approaches. Challenge your preferences sometimes – maybe opting for a highly participative learning activity, even though you would normally choose to learn through researching or reading – and develop your other styles in doing so. Continuing professional development (CPD) is the action we take to maintain, update and grow the knowledge and skills required for our professional role. As the name suggests, it is an on-going commitment, lasting for as long as we remain within our profession. There are many reasons why we are motivated to learn new things. The fact that we are in this profession suggests that we are already enthusiastic learners. CPD requires us to focus a part of our learning specifically on areas that are related to our profession. One of the key features of CPD is that it has to be: SMARTSpecific – be clear about what you want to achieve; what is the actual result or outcome that you want?Measurable – how will you know that you have achieved? What will you see, hear and feel that will tell you that you have achieved?Achievable – the objectives in your plan should be realistic and achievable steps to take you closer to your overall ambitions.Relevant – your objectives should be steps to larger career and personal aspirations, not just random pieces of learning.Time-bound – each outcome should have an achievable end-date – ideally within the timescale of your CPD planning period.|

A strategic analysis of Estee Lauder

A strategic analysis of Estee Lauder In the world of business today, where competition is one of the major challenges that every organisation is facing, the need for strategic planning and analysis arises. These are essential for the survival of an organisation as well as determining the direction in which an enterprise is going in relation to its environment in order to achieve a competitive advantage by formulating a competitive strategy. It is important that an organisation grabs every opportunity that is coming along its way, and responds to any risks and limitations presented by the external environment. In order for an organisation to make and take correct decisions, it requires an understanding and knowledge about the impact the environment can have on the organisation. This is strategic management. It is therefore important not only to look at what is best for the organisation, but also to take the needs of shareholders into consideration. For effective strategic management, it is important to have a strategic analysis. The reason for an analysis is because; the issues that are being analysed are often quite complex even if there may be enough information available Fleisher. C Bensoussan .B (2002). This study is organised as follows; Chapter two defines important terms which will help in the further understanding of this study. Chapter three introduces the company Estee Lauder. Chapter four evaluates the strategic analysis of Estee Lauder by looking at techniques, models and processes, and chapter five concludes. Chapter 2 Strategic Analysis This is where a strategy is formulated by carrying out a research on the organisation and the business environment in which the organisation operates (BNET Business Dictionary.) However, Professor Les Worrall defined it as,à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦a theoretically informed understanding of the environment in which an organisation is operating, together with an understanding of the organisations interaction with its environment in order to improve organisational efficiency and effectiveness by increasing the organisations capacity to deploy and redeploy its resources intelligently. 2.1 Strategic model Managers must take in to account three major factors when strategic decisions are made; The shareholders expectations and objectives it is important that organisations are clear about their long-term objectives. However, due to factors that an organisation does not have any control over may influence the organisation to change its objectives, thus conflicting with the shareholders. Therefore, management must know how to reconcile the shareholders expectations while setting the objectives of the organisation. Available resources for an organisation to achieve its objective Depending on the strengths and weaknesses of organisations resources, the firm can pursue its strategies. However, these may change with the prevailing environment. Total environment within which the organisation operates Forecasting what the future may bring is a difficulty that managers face, because the environment is uncertain. This factor also has an influence on what strategy can be pursued. Taking each of the above three factors into consideration is known as strategic analysis. 2.2 Aim of strategic analysis It understands an organisations strategic position. Strategic analysis forms a view of the key influences on the present and future well-being of the organisation and what opportunities are afforded by the environment and the competencies of the organisation Baily. P, Farmer. D, Jessop. D, Jones. D (2005). 2.3 Importance of strategic analysis. Strategic analysis is important in providing an organisation with meaningful insights and with a clear framework so as to prepare itself for change. Its importance lies in evaluating patterns and trends for the organisation. It is also important in the identification and assessment of the opportunities available to the organisation Fleisher. C Bensoussan .B (2002). It also helps the organisation understand its strategic position by providing information such as; what is happening in the business environment and industry, and what competencies should be developed so as to stay competitive. It gives the description of strategic goals and the firms business strategy. Strategic analysis also leads to goals that are clear and relevant, helps in the taking of decisions with better quality, and provides a secure future by preparing the organisation with what may happen in the future. Strategic management This is a process of making and implementing strategic decisions. The organisation must also analyse the competencies already present in the organisation. These competencies help in formulating strategies. The process should consist of the following elements; The analysis of a strategy- Understanding the changes going on in the environment in which the organisation exits, and how these affect the organisation, its activities, its strength of resources and the expectation of stake holders, also analysing competitor strategies through assumptions, focusing on weaknesses and threats. The choice of strategy- This is concerned with all the possible causes of action which may be taken. Eliminating out many other strategies chosen, and putting in order of importance. An evaluation of each of the causes identified- The selection of those which the organisation must attempt to follow, and therefore discuss at length the strategies short-listed. Implementation of selected planned strategy- This is turned into an effective caused action. Discuss on implementing, but not actual implementation. 2.4 Importance of strategic management It is a planned process that needs to be followed Its considers the future and anticipates what it could bring It increases organisational growth as it brings in opportunities It also looks at the threats the external environment may poses and works on how to get rid or manage these Helps companies remain stable by foreseeing what the future may bring. Chapter 3 3.1 An Organization is a consciously coordinated social entity, with a relatively identifiable boundary, that functions on a relatively conscious basis to achieve a common goal or set of goals. Richard, (2002) Estee Lauder was founded in 1946. It is a globally recognised company, whose headquarter is in New York, but is in over 140 countries. It manufactures and markets hair care products, fragrances, skin care and makeup. The company has 29 brands, some of which are; Estee Lauder, Clinique, M.A.C, Aramis, Bobbi Brown, Darphin and many more. Estee Lauder is technologically advanced and has a reputation for innovation, superior quality and sophistication. 3.2 Estee Lauders Strategy Koontz and ODonnell describes strategy as a decision about how to use available resources to secure a major objective in the face of possible obstructionsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.such as competitors, public opinion, legal status, taboos and similar forces. Their strategy is to build a diversified business base, which they believe will strongly boost up their growth globally. Their focus is to remain a distinguished leader in the global prestige cosmetics. Their three essential growth strategies are: Their geographic presence should be expanded and strengthened Their product categories should also be strengthened Their channels of distribution should also be strengthened and diversifiable. 3.3 Vision Mission A companys mission and vision is for its employees and customers. The Mission defines and reflects the company, its core purposes, its values and principles. The vision however, provides an image of the future. The Vision Statement of Estee Lauder: Bringing the best to everyone we touch. By The best, we mean the best products, the best people and the best ideas. These three pillars have been the hallmarks of our Company since it was founded by Mrs. Estee Lauder in 1946. They remain the foundation upon which we continue to build our success today. 3.4 Objectives They are energetic, innovative and first for customers Power endeavour to do our very best and enhance the companys leadership throughout the world Building strong global brands through innovative delivery of products and increase revenues Look after our people so they can look after our customers Understand customers better than anyone and Use our strengths to deliver unbeatable value to our customers Business relationships Through distribution channels, reaching the customers globally Trust and respect each other 3.5 Scope According to Mintzberg and Quinn there are five definitions of strategy: Strategy as a plan Strategy as a pattern Strategy as a position Strategy as a perspective Strategy as a ploy Estee Lauder adopted: Plan Estee Lauder has good planning and they strongly believe all their success is all because of its planning. Perspective Estee Lauders perspective was to increase its company growth globally by 2008. This was achieved mainly because of the international business, mainly from emerging markets such as China and India. Chapter 4 4 Estee Lauders External environment analysis 4.1 PESTEL Analysis for Estee Lauder: PESTEL analysis  is the external analysis of the different macro-environmental factors that a business must consider. Kotler (1998)The PEST analysis is a useful tool for understanding the position, potential and direction for a business as well as the market growth or decline. The radical and ongoing changes occurring in society create an uncertain environment and have an impact on the function of the whole organization Tsiakkiros, (2002). Hence the analysis of the macro-environment is very important to identify factors which could affect various variables and arrangements within the organisation. Macro-environmental analysis assist Estee Lauder management to increase its attentiveness of appropriate environmental changes thus improve strategic planning by enriching its industrial and market analysis. The PESTEL analysis in addition to Porters Five Force model and SWOT can be applied by an organization to review its strategic direction. These have been discussed below. Political factors The political environment within which an organisation exists has far reaching consequences. The political environment most obviously operates at National level, but may also be significant at local and international levels. Estee Lauder gives direction to countries through the way they exert control over the economy. Estee Lauder should not only be cognisant with the politics of a country, but also with the media, industry and labour leaders. The following political factors can affect the business environment: Level of government involvement in business Stability Liberalisation Taxation Co-operation and integration, e.g. EU Economical factors This is concerned with the nature and direction of the economy in which a firm operates. Estee Lauder looks at the interplay of market forces that dictate the state of the economy and implications on both commercial and non-commercial organisations. Prices vary from brand to brand and product to product, but these are usually in the higher ranges of an industry. The factors include: Exchange rates Interest rates Spending power Inflation and employment Socio, Cultural Factors The socio cultural influences on businesses vary internationally. These affect a societys basic values, perceptions, preferences and behaviours. It is vital that such factors are considered if an organization wants to achieve its proposed objectives. Factors include: The dominance of the religion Education and belief The impact of language upon the diffusion of products onto markets When do customers have time for shopping The roles of men and women within society and depending upon that the products should be launched Estee Lauder has received customer complaints regarding the fact that new products are being tested on animals first. They have to look into this matter as it can pose serious issues with the customers. Technological factors More and more businesses are affected by technology. Technological factors affect the operations of the firm since technological changes serve to avoid obsolesce and to promote innovation of relevant techniques in the industry. Estee Lauder has rapid technological changes in its products, and these products can be accessed online via the internet. Some technological factors are: IT rapid growth Innovation Government spending on research New discoveries and developments R D expenditure Product life cycle Environmental Factors These factors are also known as the Natural factors. These factors help Estee Lauder in showing strategic doubts and their worth in the predicting and planning processes using environmental aspects. There have been emissions of harmful gases and fluorocarbons, which Estee Lauder must take care of as it is and environmental threat. Its increases the significance of the following factors: Shortage of raw material Increased pollution Increased governmental intervention Legal Factors Estee Lauder functions within a structure of Government regulations and legislations. These laws and regulations should be considered when running businesses: Labour laws and industrial relations Municipal licenses Formation Taxation Competition Copyright and patent laws Minimum wages laws and Employment law Demographic Factors These factors may also exist under the macro-environmental factors. Following factors must are considered with regard to the key Demographic trends by Estee Lauder: World population growth Changing household Geographic population shifts Better-educated, more white-collar workforce Increasing Diversity Changing age structure Population consists of generational groups. Distinct segments typically exist within these generational groups. 4.2 Porters Five Force Model This model evaluates a companys competitive position. Any business works to develop an edge over its rival firms. This model helps in the understanding of the industry context in which Estee Lauder operates. Below is a diagrammatical representation of the model. http://www.maxi-pedia.com/Five+Forces+model+by+Michael+Porter Barriers to entry This is low in the case of Estee Lauder as it has made its position pretty strong and hence new entrants will not pose a threat to it as it will be difficult for these to enter into the market as the barriers are pretty high. They also have good access to their distribution channels and the correct knowledge of the segments they are operating in. Substitutes This is also low in the case of Estee Lauder. Customers have built a customer loyalty. Estee Lauder also provides the best quality products whose performance is to the mark as is the name, therefore threat of substitutes will be low. Bargaining power of suppliers The suppliers would have a low bargaining power as Estee Lauder is a huge brand and the volume of goods required from the suppliers around the world is also huge. There would be very many suppliers willing to supply such a company, hence it is important for the suppliers to provide the company with what they require and something that is unique from its competitors. Bargaining power of buyers This is high as buyers can easily switch to other big brands as the number of these brands present in the market segment is high. However, due to customer loyalty to the brand, it does not face much of this as it provides its buyers with what they want and how they want it. Competitive Rivalry This is high in the case of Estee Lauder. Its major competitors are; Avon, LOreal, PG, Max Factor, Revlon, etc. Estee Lauder therefore needs to have constant innovation of its products so as to stay ahead of competition. There are various brands under the company, therefore, it is important that the range of price is good and they can differentiate their products well without customers facing high switching costs. Estee Lauder created the line designed for men in 1976. It was called skin supplies for men (Estee Lauder 2003a). Avon, Max Factor and Revlon did not have men lines. 4.3 SWOT analysis for Estee Lauder A SWOT analysis is important as a clear basis is provided to examine the performance of a business. It is also very important for the products a company offer, as it is essential in the branding and marketing of the company products. This model helps in the understanding of the firm and its surroundings. Internal Strengths Weaknesses Strong brand name Research and development focus Strong distribution network Robust revenue and profit growth sales Weak liquidity position Customer concentration Weak performance in a few markets External Opportunities Threats Demographic trends in the United States Cosmetics markets in emerging nations Growing riches- Rich getting wealthier Counterfeit products Intense competition Increasing regulations Strengths The brand name, Estee Lauder itself is a strength. The name is linked to quality and luxury. The company is also a global licensee for other big brands like; Tommy Hilfiger, Donna Karen, etc. Estee Lauder leads in each market segment in the industry as it develops new products, redesigns existing ones and identifies and considers consumer preferences. It has a large network of retail. This therefore increases the market penetration opportunities and creates closeness to target customers. It has a strong management strategic perspective, and is also having a great growth. It also has various innovations such as; offering shopping via the internet (it was the first major cosmetic firm to have offered shopping via the internet.) Weaknesses The company bargaining power could be lowered by it concentrating on a single biggest client. They also have a poor cost structure in some areas, hence a decline in the performance of sales in certain regions. The company could be exposed to the debt market due to low liquidity levels, and this could thus affect the company growth. It is the Family members that have most of the power over the company. The companys organisational structure is not easily distinguished. In America, there are particularly lower sales in the fragrance category. Opportunities Estee Lauder targets aged people and therefore makes products to suit these people. Its revenues could be boosted by having a strong and great presence in its segments, thus also increasing growth. The cosmetics markets are doing good in emerging markets like India and China, as there are many beauty contests that take place. This cosmetics market is growing due to younger and middle aged women that are being more style conscious. Estee Lauder is also well positioned in these emerging markets. There is also a demand in the luxury goods. More money is spent on these goods. Therefore, the needs of these wealthy people are also taken into consideration, and products made to meet their needs and wants. Threats Many fake products are being sold, thus affecting Estee Lauders sales. This can lead to the company losing its exclusivity of the brand. This could thus harm the image of the company. Customers may also be dissatisfied with these products as the fake product may harm them, thus the company would lose out on customers. Many big brands such as; Revlon, LOreal, would increase competition in the market. The government may also impose certain rules and regulations on the products saying that the product has high levels of chemicals which are harmful to people. This may thus lead to an increase in the cost of developing the products and also in the launching of the products. Chapter 5 Conclusion Businesses are different in many ways; therefore every organisation needs to have a business plan, which needs to be reviewed in order to keep it up to date. The plan at Estee Lauder is articulated by corporate leaders, who give the organisation direction, so as to avoid a strategic drift. They create a vision of a possible future that allows both the managers and others to see clearly the direction to take, building upon the companys current capacity and strength. To gain competitive edge and analyze the external environment, Estee Lauder could further use the Value chain, BCG growth model and scenario analysis for its strategic analysis. Recommended strategies that Estee Lauder could use are; Forward, backward, horizontal integration, product and market development, market penetration and more diversification. Estee Lauder took the approach of providing great customer service, great quality and staff ownership, hence making it different from the rest. References Advanced Diploma in Business Administration Corporate strategy Syllabus. Baily. P, Farmer. D, Jessop. D, Jones. D (2005). Purchasing Principles and Management. Pearson Education. FT Prentice Hall. Fleisher. C Bensoussan .B (2002). Strategic and competitive analysis: Methods and techniques for analysing business competition (Prentice Hall, 2002) Johnson and Scholes . Exploring Corporate Strategy (Prentice Hall, 1999) Richard H.(2002) Organizations. 8th Edition. India: Prentice Hall India. p.189 GLL Brochure and Guide book Web references http://www.auburn.edu/~boultwr/html/strategic_analysis_model.htm (accessed on 21th November 2010). http://dictionary.bnet.com/definition/Strategic+Analysis.html (accessed on 21th November 2010). http://www.maxi-pedia.com/Five+Forces+model+by+Michael+Porter(accessed on 21th November 2010). http://www.fragrancewholesale.com/somhisbacofe.html (accessed on 23th November 2010). http://hubpages.com/hub/Importance-of-Strategic-Management (accessed on 23th Novenber 2010) http://www.toponereport.com/why-you-need-a-swot-analysis/ (accessed on 23th November 2010). http://www.is4profit.com/business-advice/business-/swot-analysis.html?gclid=CNWztveJvaUCFUUe4QodhWttXw (accessed on 24th November 2010). http://www.freeonlineresearchpapers.com/estee-lauder-executive-summary (accessed on 24th November 2010). http://www.fragrancewholesale.com/somhisbacofe.html (accessed on 24th November 2010). http://www.elcompanies.com/the_company/executive_messages.php(accessed on 25th November 2010). http://www.netmba.com/strategy/pest/(accessed on 25th November 2010). http://www.slideshare.net/guest78d8ca/sm-case-jisha-remya2 (accessed on 25th November 2010).

American Hegemony in the Twenty-First Century: Consensus and Legitimac

American Hegemony in the Twenty-First Century: Consensus and Legitimacy Abstract: Since the end of the Cold War, the United States has been the world’s only unquestioned superpower. How the United States evaluates its position as global hegemon has important consequences for American foreign policy, particularly with regards to the potential for future policy constraints. Thus, this paper seeks to consider the question: How durable is American hegemony? The paper first defines the state of American hegemony and then considers the primary challengers: Europe, Russia, China, Japan and imperial overstretch. It will conclude that in the long-term, East Asian geopolitical instability poses the greatest threat to American hegemony, but that in the short-term, the hegemony will prove to be quite durable as long as the United States can counteract the phenomenon of imperial overstretch. In order to diffuse both internal and international threats to hegemony, American leaders should work to pursue national interests within a framework of consensus an d legitimacy as much as possible. American Hegemony in the Twenty-First Century: Preserving the Status Quo by Fostering Consensus I. Introduction: Why Hegemony Matters The Soviet Union’s collapse at the end of the Cold War left the United States without its major global rival. Now alone at the top, the United States’ strategic imperatives have shifted remarkably. The shift has been significant enough to prompt fundamental questions about the international order and whether this new â€Å"unipolar moment† will last. Indeed, since 1989, political scientists have clamored to define the United States’ status relative to the rest of the world. Indispensable nation? Sole super... ...002. Mastanduno, Michael and Ethan B. Kaplan. â€Å"Realism and State Strategies after the Cold War.† Unipolar Politics: Realism and State Strategies after the Cold War. Eds. Ethan B. Kapstein and Michael Mastanduno. New York: Columbia University Press, 1999. 1-27. Nye, Jr., Joseph S. The Paradox of American Power: Why the World’s Only Superpower Can’t Go It Alone. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2002. Rielly, Dr. John. â€Å"The Future of American Hegemony,† Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, 29 November 2004. Sicherman, Harvey. â€Å"A Cautionary Tale: The U.S. and the Arab-Israeli Conflict.† In Eagle Rules? Foreign Policy and American Primacy in the Twenty-First Century. Ed. Robert J. Lieber. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 2002. 152-172. Wohlforth, William C. â€Å"The Stability of a Unipolar World.† International Security, 24.1 (Summer 1999), pp. 5-41.

Dracula Essay -- essays research papers

Bram Stoker’s Dracula Lords of the darkness, Darkling Dancers, Nosferatu, Vrikolakas. And the list goes on like this. The vampire concept is thought by the most to be a myth that has crept into almost every culture. It has influenced many writers to write novels on them and many directors to shoot films on. Vampire myths go back way into the times of first recorded history. Many different legends are known about them varying from the Chinese belief of the glowing red eyed monsters with green or pink hair to the Greek Lamia who has the upper body of a woman and the lower body of a winged serpent and the Japanese belief in the vampire foxes. The most commonly known legend which is widely used in filming is the blood drinking man who can transform into a bat or mist, wearing a black cape with a suit and with fangs in his mouth. This significant type is the one that is been explained widely in the eastern European myths. This vampire preys on human victims which are chosen at random by biting and sucking bloo d from the veins in the side of the neck at night time. The prey also becomes a vampire and joins the world of the undead. These specific vampires are the ones who cannot stand the sunlight which will burn them and they usually sleep in a coffin during the daytime. It is believed that these vampires are most active during full moon. They are immortal and they can only be killed if a wooden stake is run through the heart or when they are beheaded. In the year of 1879 an Irish writer, Bram Stoker, unheard with his previous novels and short stories gets inspired on this and writes the most famous books of all times. Here we are at the close of 1998, looking back and seeing the over two hundred theatrical performances and movies made on it. What’s more is that it is the second best seller book after The Bible in Western communities. This cult figure created by the crazy Irishman has effected us in our actions or emotions in some way. Crudely every single person on earth must have heard his name. But why? Looking onto the novel, there is a perfect gothic look presented to us with its every aspect. Infact every single concept covered comes deep from mythology. It talks about blood and fire, death and love, good and bad, fantasy and magic. And the Count; who sometimes happens to be an atrocital monster, a romantic lover†¦ No doubt, these make the novel even... ...e. These women are both Dracula’s lovers and daughters. And this is an example of Freud’s Odysseia Complex which is the base of Sophokles’s Odysseus tale. In Dracula’s character we also see signs of fascism. At the very beginning of the story when he and Jonathan are having dinner, he gets angry with Jonathan because what he speaks about disturbs his thoughts on his background and he pulls his sword out. In addition, he is always in a fascist approach to the Turks and the Gipsies. With these aspects of his, Dracula follows a political opinion and with his style and manner reminds us of the Nazis. Keeping all of these in mind we can see why the story of Dracula is so attractive to us. The Dracula character being a cult figure is because of the fact that his character carries the sins and the emotions of the 20th century: killing, rape, incest, fascism†¦ On the other hand, despite all these Dracula did not forget his true love. Maybe everyone of us finds his/her darkness in the Count and that’s why many people sympathise with him. Whatever it is, the truth is that in the end Count Dracula dies but in real world he has promoted to immortality as a heroic and charismatic character.

Nike’s CSR Challenge Case Study

In 2005 after reporting on its widespread abusive treatment in factory plans Nike’s came back to report on its social and environmental practices. Some of the Challenges that Nike and other apparel industries face in its supply chains around the World are many. Companies like Nike needs to consider people, planet and profit from now on. Nike understood as well as other competitors that seeking good societal relations should be seen as both good to society and good for profitability. The company understands now that the strategic shift for Nike’s Management can not only been seen as a close system. Its future depends on the reshaping the signals that are being sent to customers, suppliers, investors, so that the company can also operate in a sustainable way, which is also financially viable. Just changing rules and regulation at the factory’s plants is not enough, companies also have to engage in Leadership and by this I don’t mean the traditional Leadership which involved leading people towards goal of the employer. Employees should engage in transcending leadership and get in a dialogue, action to address systemic problems and resolved them, or engage people on collective goals. The only sad thing is that without changes to the financial markets, Nike may find its efforts in vain. The Statement by a Nike representative that â€Å"consumers are not rewarding us for investments in improved social performance in supply chain†. It meant that although Nike improved conditions and outcomes for its employees and sub contractor and that they slightly better working conditions to their third world employees and banned the hiring of children, they thought people in general would buy more stuff from them, just because Nike decided to be a bit nicer to employees and cost them money. Apparently Nike is saying it wasn’t worth investing money into being more humane because at the end it did not resulted in more shoe sales. A stakeholder must be distinguished from a stockholder. They own a share of the corporation. A stakeholder is any group or individual that has a vital interest in the doings of the corporation. There are several other stakeholders of the corporation. These may include employees, customers, suppliers, local community to name a few. Managers need to understand the open systems approach in order to construct support Systems. Examples of changes in practices of abroad factory plants like in this case Nike made some changes and are examples of the adaptation that organizations have to exercise to respond to the demands of the open system. This means that firms need to watch their customer needs, their employee’s needs, and the needs of the community. In international ventures, understanding the local culture and relying on the network of relationships created in that subsystem will be keys to increase their success. What they mean by â€Å"Leaders beyond borders†. All it is is people who can see across borders created by others, take action and address systemic problems within an organization in this case. The social and environmental challenges are known and numerous. But by rethinking they also represent some of the best opportunities for business. I don’t think there is a perfect science to achieve a compatibility of profits with people and planet, but I think it is the responsibility of all, as a business, as a consumer to try to meet a middle ground in which all three people, profit and planet gain a decent benefit from one another.