Remote Sensing Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Remote Sensing - Assignment Example The assignment "Remote Sensing" talks about the topography maps and what colours are used to describe different areas on this kind of maps. The bright color of the area A on a map shows an area on the earth surface without vegetative cover. Featured area A is possibly a snow-capped area in the landscape. Featured area A may also represent a well that has liquids such as natural gas or body of water. The feature A is visible around mountain areas in a streaming shape that shows the flow in the direction towards low altitude areas. Featured area A reflects light to produce a different color from the area B and C. Assuming Landsat scale resolution of 1800 by 1200, the length of the feature at A is 3 miles. The Bright dots beside B show areas of that do not have vegetation cover. Exposed areas appear brown in the satellite image compared to areas at B that have vegetation cover. Although the bright spots do not appear very similar to feature A, they depict relations. Bright dots are a small representation of feature A. The white color suggests C is an area at the mountaintop; the bright color is because of sunlight reflection. The area at the tip of the mountain has no vegetation. The region consists of bare rocks that reflect back sunlight. The topography of the area is mountainous the altitude rises towards C with region C suggestively mountain top with no vegetation characterized by the bright colors. Towards regions A and B, the altitude falls with regions B representing a flat base of the low altitude region.

The Underground Railroad Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

The Underground Railroad - Research Paper Example The growing activity of Underground Railroad gave a completely new meaning to the concept of slavery and freedom among American society. The activity did not accurately take place underground but it was carried out in clandestine, using masquerade or in the night. The term railroad subsequently came as an identity because the resting places were known as stations and those who helped the slaves to travel towards their freedom were conductors and the payments they collected were either called parcels or shipment. The whole network spread across through 14 northern states and the freedom land, which was either Canada or Mexico (Foner et al 1991). There are many stories explaining about the source of the title Underground Railway. One source narrates the story that in early 1831; Tice David found his way out from Kentucky somewhere near Sandusky in Northern Ohio. The person who was in charge of imprisoning Tice David started a search across the Ohio River in Ripley and stated the term Underground Railroad by saying, â€Å"The Nigger must have gone off on an underground railroad†. The second source claims the identity of the term Underground Railroad similar to the first one but they claim that it was coined in Pennsylvania by the slave hunters. Whereas the third allegation was in Washington DC in 1839, where a tortured slave stated that after his successful escape, he came north where he found the Underground Railroad that would led him to Boston.... No one really knows the true reason behind what gave the slave runaway an identity as The Underground Railroad (Blight 1986). Underground Railroad system helped many slaves to make their way from South to North to a safe place. The activity started in 1787, when an escaped prisoner named Isaac T. Hooper designed a way to help the enslaved people to escape, giving them a place to hide with food and shelter. People who opposed the system of slavery contributed to provide homes as a shelter for the slaves. The network of Underground Railroad was across in 14 Northern states and Canada and by 1850, more than 3000 people worked together to help the slaves to reach the Promised Land (Blight 1990). Before the Civil War, many slaves found their way to gain freedom from the slavery. According to some figures, it was estimated that more than 1000 slaves escaped per year. Most of the people who escaped wanted to end the slavery and some of them just wanted to reach to their friends and families . Some slaves settled in the southern region in different towns and cities using fake documents. It is believed that the majority of fugitives tried to find their way to North and many of the fugitives kept going towards Canada. Some of the escaped prisoners willingly came back to their masters and a large number of slaves got caught by slave hunters. For those who attempted to get to the North, support came from many Native Americans and Africans. This support become obvious as the years passed. When the year 1830 passed, the supporters showed high support in carrying out this activity. The black community played an important role and later on the support was named The Underground Railroad. African people after escaping played a very important role in routing people to

A Professional Development Plan

A Professional Development Plan In reflecting on my professional development, I consider that my skills and competencies have developed significantly and that my level of responsibility has developed to reflect this. Leading the production of the Neighbourhood Plan is a challenging task that has drawn on my skills across a very broad range of areas. It has also however been a very rewarding area of work and one that I feel has significantly developed my core spatial planning skills and will provide a robust basis to further my professional development. I also believe that my experience at RDA and (name removed) City Council has enabled me to start to develop the wider generic skill set required of built environment professionals, particularly in terms of multidisciplinary working, negotiation and mediation, and leadership. This will provide a strong basis from which to develop my future career within the sector and effectively respond to change. STRENGTHS Well developed analytical and research skills Strong report writing/policy skills Breadth of experience in spatial planning and regeneration through roles at Development Agency Council Strong interpersonal skills Wide range of professional contacts and networks through involvement in Regional Activities Committee and Young Planners Events WEAKNESSES Limited knowledge of development control and the mechanics of planning inquiries, compulsory purchase powers etc. No direct line-management experience Need to develop skills in terms of managing conflict/difficult situations OPPORTUNITIES Urban renaissance and current public policy commitment to building skills amongst built environment professionals e.g. Academy for Sustainable Communities, Regional Centres of Excellence, CABE Emergence of City Regions and development of associated organisations and bodies Widening range of public sector special delivery bodies and regeneration agencies e.g. URCs, UDCs, RDAs Missing generation of planners could provide opportunities for more rapid career progression THREATS Impact of Comprehensive Spending Review on regeneration spending and growth within the sector Impact of review of land use planning/potential change of political direction under new Labour leadership Competition from recent increase in number of high calibre graduates completing accelerated RTPI-accredited Masters degrees. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN Period: September 2006 à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Ëœ September 2008 Date of next review: March 2007 WHERE AM I NOW? Current job title and employer details Since 3 April 2006 I have been employed as Planning Officer (Planning Regeneration) at (name removed) City Council. Current job / role My key area of work is the project management of the production of a Neighbourhood Plan as a nonà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Ëœstatutory area planning document. The core tasks which the production of the Neighbourhood Plan involves are: Preparation and agreement of the scope and approach to the production of the Neighbourhood Plan; Preparation of a Baseline and Issues report; Commissioning and management of consultants to facilitate stakeholder and community engagement workshops; Coà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Ëœordination of both Officer Group and Advisory Group meetings; Principal point of contact for community and stakeholder enquiries; Preparation of the Neighbourhood Plan document and associated Sustainability Assessment and Consultation Statement; Liaison with Elected Members; and Preparation of formal reports to Planning Lead Member, Cabinet, and Council. Outside the project management of the production of the Neighbourhood Plan, my role also involves: preparing development briefs for key sites, and associated community and stakeholder engagement; providing policy advice in relevant preà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Ëœapplication discussions with developers relating to significant development sites; working with partners to secure the implementation of plans and urban regeneration schemes; preparing reports to Lead Member, Cabinet and Council to seek political endorsement where appropriate; and providing planning advice to colleagues and stakeholders across a range of disciplines including housing, property, neighbourhood management, education services, and landscape design. Current strengths Policy / report writing skills à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Ëœ these were significantly developed through my work at RDA and will provide a strong basis to inform my production of policy documents and development briefs. See log book entry, p.x Analytical and research skills à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Ëœ these were also significantly developed through my work at RDA and have been critical in supporting my preparation of a Baseline and Issues report for the Neighbourhood Plan area. See log book entry, p.y Project management and collaborative working à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Ëœ my project management of the Historic Towns and Cities study at RDA developed my project management skills in terms of managing the consultants and financial management. My skills in collaborative and multidisciplinary working were developed through liaising with the steering group and engaging key partners and stakeholders. See log book entry, p.z Current areas for developmentà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Ëœ Engaging and working with the local community à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Ëœ due to the nature of my role at RDA this is not an area in which I had experience prior to working at (current employer). It will be important that I continue to develop skills in this area in order to effectively carry out the duties of my role. Taking forward the Neighbourhood Plan process will be a key means of developing my skills in this area. See log book pages a, b and c. Knowledge of the development control / implementation side of planning à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Ëœ this relates to developing my detailed knowledge across a range of key areas which could be termed the mechanics of planning. These include planning applications, appeals and inquiries, callà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Ëœins, development control and enforcement, and compulsory purchase powers. These are not areas in which I previously had experience given the nature of my role at RDA. They will however be important areas for development given the more local l implementation based nature of my role at (location removed). Developing skills in understanding and mediating political situations à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Ëœdeveloping skills in political awareness and mediation will be important given the political nature of planning, and partnership working more generally. In terms of my role at (location removed), the areas which I will seek to strengthen include managing relationships with key partners and stakeholders, colleagues from other sections within the Council, and Elected Members. WHERE AM I GOING? Long term goals My long term goal is to develop my career in the public sector. There are a wide range of reasons which underpin this commitment. These include the range of opportunities available, the breadth of work and the ability to make a difference and see tangible results from your work, together with the supportive organisational culture and commitment to staff development and maintaining a positive workà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Ëœlife balance. My goal would be to work within planning/regeneration within a special delivery body as I believe this would offer the greatest potential for creativity and innovation. Within the existing organisational landscape, this could for example be within an Urban Regeneration Company. There are however likely to be other similar bodies emerging in the future as the organisational landscape changes. I believe that my experience to date within the RDA working on a strategic / policy based level, together with the more local level, implementationà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Ëœfocused experience I will get in my present role at (location removed) will put me in a good position to realise my goal by giving me a broad range of experience in planning and regeneration. Short term goals I will develop my skills in terms of working with the local community and securing effective engagement in the planà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Ëœmaking process. I will develop my knowledge of the mechanics of planning, including planning applications, appeals and inquiries, callà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Ëœins, development control and enforcement, and compulsory purchase powers. I will develop my skills of political awareness through managing relationships with key partners, stakeholders, colleagues from other sections within the Council and Elected Members. (continued on next page to allow for space for comments, right) HOW WILL I GET THERE? Objective 1: Develop skills of community working and engagement. How will I get there? Liaise with the Consultation and Commissioning group and other colleagues to develop a best practice approach to community engagement as part of the production of the Neighbourhood Plan. First meeting December 06. Learn best practice techniques of facilitation from specialist consultants commissioned to facilitate the Neighbourhood Plan workshops. Initial meeting set up for March 07. Continue to assist in the facilitation of relevant community engagement workshops and events at the Council. Workshops approaching in November and December 06. Continue to attend community facilitation workshops through my volunteer role with regional Planning Aid (see examples in log book, pages d, e and f). Workshop event July 07. Attend relevant training events on community engagement techniques organised by the RTPI, Planning Aid, or the (location removed) Planners Training Group. Specifically, event on Engaging with Young People in February 07. Objective 2: Develop detailed knowledge of the mechanics of planning. How will I get there? Involvement with development control colleagues at (development regeneration services consultancy) in pre- ­application discussions with developers for scheme proposals for key sites. Meeting scheduled for October 06. Developing my working knowledge of the key development control principles, through familiarisation with the GDPO and planning legislation, and familiarisation with the Councils relevant draft and adopted Supplementary Planning Documents, including the Planning Obligations SPD, Housing SPD, Greenspace SPD, Design and Crime SPD, and the Nature Conservation Biodiversity SPD. Have read and understood all documents by January 08. Relevant web-based research via Localaw and the DCLG and HMSO websites to develop my knowledge of relevant documents relating to the statutory procedures and legislative context. Involvement with colleagues from the Plans Group in relation to assisting in the preparation of case for appeals and call-ins. One-to-one arranged with (colleague) for November 06. Attendance at relevant planning inquiries to observe and learn from proceedings. Inquiry examining (details removed) due for January 07. Keep updated of amendments to the statutory procedures through reading relevant articles in Planning, the Planning Matters website, and attending Planning Law update events. Ongoing review amendments/learning outcomes in April 07. Objective 3: Develop skills in terms of political awareness and relationship management. How will I get there? Co-ordination of the Neighbourhood Plan Officer Group and Advisory Group, which will develop my skills in relationship building with officers from across the Councils Directorates, in addition to Elected Members and community representatives. Meeting scheduled December 06. Actively engage key external stakeholders in the production of the Neighbourhood Plan, including the (location removed) URC, the PCT and NHS Trust, (local area) Police, and key Registered Social Landlords. Continue to build my network of professional contacts through my role on the RTPI Regional Activities Committee and my involvement in the (regional) Young Planners Group and Planning Aid. Comments Summary Overall this is a clear and comprehensive Professional Development Plan. The candidate has thought deeply about where he sees his career progressing, so while his short term goals are focused on improvements relating to his current role, this is part of a wider vision for the future. There is clear ownership of the PDP on reading it you understand the candidates strengths and weaknesses through the same themes being picked up and addressed in the SWOT, the strengths/weaknesses of the PDP, and future objectives. So while the short term goals might not directly and explicitly work towards the long term goals, it is easy to see how these goals/objectives have been arrived at. Although the rest of the APC submission is not shown here, the PDP is also clearly identifiable as belonging to this candidate, and it is therefore clear that it is a very personal account. References are made to sections of the log book, which help with this. The actions that are identified are a little vague th e comments show how this has/could be improved by identifying more structured/specific activities, and by introducing target time frames. The candidate does not rely solely on general activities in the workplace, but identifies some firm CPD activities that will very likely have to take place outside of the day-to-day employment e.g. structured reading/research with particular topics/documents in mind. Candidates should avoid relying solely on activities that will take place during day-to-day work to meet objectives undertaking an activity at work doesnt necessarily mean you will learn from it, and opportunities to take on certain work activities are often outside of your control.

Tradition: Lost And Kept :: essays research papers

Tradition: Lost and Kept Each culture in the world follows its own customs and traditions. These traditions, however, are sometimes broken to allow a compromise in their society, or are still kept throughout the culture's existence. In the story The Rain Came, an African tribe faces a harsh and desolate time because their tribe is experiencing a severe drought and as a result the livestock is dying from dehydration, the crops are drying out, and the tribe's Chief is called upon to remedy the situation. Following their tribe's tradition on asking the gods for assistance, the Chief discovered the only way to eliminate the drought is by sacrificing his daughter in a traditional ritual. The events that follow will show how the tribe's customs will be kept and lost. Tradition is shown in many parts of the story. The first example of tradition is evident in the scene where the Chief speaks to the ancestors to change the sacrifice; he loves his only daughter dearly and does not wish her to die. Unfortunately, he could not abandon his position as Chief and let the people die from the drought either. In the tribe, it was customary for the Chief to have several wives and children. The Chief married five wives and the fifth one brought him a daughter. Another tradition that was shown in the story was the explanation of how Oganda (the chief's only daughter) received her name. Her name meant "beans" because her skin was smooth, very much like the skins of beans. A last example of tradition is the sacrificing of Oganda. She is scheduled to be sacrificed to a lake monster in order for the tribal villages to receive precipitation and water. In modern days, we would check the local satellite forecast for the area and determine when to conserve water during a drought. However, in this story, tradition must be followed to allow the people to live and thrive, or does it? Revealing the parts of the story where tradition is kept is important in order to compare with the part where tradition is lost and compromised. The Chief keeps tradition when he arranges a meeting with all the family members except Oganda to discuss her sacrifice to better the chances of survival for everyone else. Oganda believes that her family is discussing her marriage and her morale and hopes increase until her family informs her of the situation. To the villagers, it was a great honor to let a woman's daughter to die for her country. To the Chief, it was a great and sad loss for his only daughter would

A Single Tear

Paintings can have all sorts of meanings. Usually, painters use these pieces of art to express themselves on things they cannot normally do. Sometimes, it can also be a product of imagination. At times, they want to visualize a series of events into one artwork. These paintings turn out to be abstracts but along the lines and colors used, there is still a hidden meaning enclosed in them. This what makes paintings interesting and mysterious.The lithograph represents the typical Indian leader amidst struggles and tests of life. No matter how strong and determined a leader is, he still has his weak moments and the snow and wind symbolize the stumbling blocks. But no matter how difficult it may seem to be, the leader is always a leader and he must not let his fears bring him down.The Indian Chief showed his strength by leading his people in their exodus. Even if he is uncertain of what is about to come, he kept his people together and hand in hand, they are to face the challenges.Just by his name alone, I think Mr. Echohawk is an Indian himself. If not, he probably has strong affiliations with Native Americans. This Indian Chief which he portrayed intensely could be his ancestors. Maybe he learned of their story about the hard times undergone by the American Indians not so long ago.And since he was not there and could not be there, he imagined what might have taken place through this painting. Since it is difficult or impossible to describe through paintings the feelings of this Indian Chief, he used a single tear to speak for his emotions.The single tear that streamed from this warrior’s face signifies leadership. It does not mean that a good leader would not feel apprehensions anymore. Further, it does not mean it would make the Indian Chief less of a man if a tear drops from his face. Like a normal humanA Single Tear  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   2being and any other leader, he feels scared too. But this Indian Chief is driven by willpower and fortitude to deliver his people to safety. The leader also felt fear but his responsibility to his people vanquished these feelings of doubt and insecurity to what the future holds.The single tear reveals the imperfection of the human race regardless of our color and tribe. By imperfection, it means that each person despite of his stature and position becomes fragile sometimes. The Indian Chief in the painting is experiencing vulnerability but he must live up to his dignity and sense of worth.As to his case, what urged him not to give up is for the sake of his people who look up to him being the person in command. If he surrenders, then his people would lose hope. His courage marks the fate of the American Indians.The single tear also denotes faith and hope. Faith in that after the storm, the sun will shine for the Indian Chief and his people. Faith that the snow and wind is only temporary and it will end somehow. Hope is a positive outlook from which they get their strength to surpass all these trials and hardships. Hope that a brighter life is in store for the native community.History tells us that the Native Americans have a rich past which upholds both their ups and downs. They acknowledged their victories and defeats and learned from these experiences which made them a stronger community despite chauvinism and discrimination from the whites. What is important for them is their unity and pride as a race of principled people.  Finally, I really view this painting by Mr. Echohawk as an emotional one. It portrays a mixture of passion and sentiment. I wish my readers can see this painting for themselves. Rest assured that anybody can definitely empathize with me. Just like any struggling race, the American Indians are trying their best to save their bloodline in the midst of globalization and modernity. This trait is the one I truly appreciate.

Obesity and Pregnancy Essay

Have you ever leisurely walked down an isle at Target and noticed a pregnant women waddling from side to side and thought to yourself man she is fat? Well she really is. Obesity is a medical condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to the extent that it may have an adverse effect on health, leading to reduced life expectancy and increased health problems. Maternal obesity is a major risk factor in short term for both maternal and fetal complications, including maternal and fetal mortality, miscarriages, gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), pregnancy-induced hypertensive disorders, marcrosomia and caesarean sections. A baby could be affected by these tragic events up until the age of 18. This rise of the obesity rate has a devastating impact on implications for the nation’s health care system and the population’s future quality of life. The normal weight for women is (BMI 19. 8– 25. 9), (BMI 26– 29) for overweight women and a BMI over 30 is considered obese. BMI is known as Body Mass Index, which is a number calculated based on weight and height. Pregnant women gain excess weight due to the lack of exercise. The majority of women do not know that they can continue exercising at least three times per week during pregnancy. Women should be more informed about everything they should and should not do during their pregnancy. The most common type of exercise for pregnant women is walking. Gardening, aerobics, and usage of exercise machines are also means of exercising. Exercise also has many other beneficial health effects such as reduced incidence of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and certain cancers as well as improved quality of life and emotional status1. If you conceived the child then why not exercise instead of a chance at miscarrying it? A pregnant woman’s diet is an essential part of her pregnancy. times out of 10, a pregnant woman constantly hears from her peers that she needs to eat more since she is eating for two. We forget the fact that she could potentially become obese. From a doctor’s standpoint, he should take the initiative to urge the mother not to go overboard with eating. Both mother and baby need a balanced diet full of varied fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, unsaturated plant-based fats, fiber and calcium. Refined grains, most processed foods and foods high in sugar and saturated fats should be avoided. The development of the baby’s organs and bones depend on obtaining sufficient nutrients from the mother. Despite the fact that pregnant women do not need to become obese they also do not need to diet during pregnancy. Maternal obesity is associated with an overall higher rate of labor induction, which requires higher oxytocin and prostaglandin doses than for women of normal BMI. Oxytocin is responsible for stimulation of milk ejection (milk letdown) and for stimulation of uterine smooth muscle contraction at birth. Prostaglandins are important mediators of uterine activity. It is very common for an obese woman to have a cesarean section instead of a natural pregnancy. Obese women are two to three times more likely to have an emergency cesarean due to factors such as a large baby or failure to progress. Why would you want to go through the agony of getting cut open like a dissected pig when it isn’t necessary? Maternal overweight and diabetes (gestational and type 2) has repeatedly been associated with a number of delivery complications, which includes prolonged birth, birth asphyxia, shoulder dystocia, injuries to the baby and the mother, increased use of instrumental vaginal deliveries and cesarean sections, and postpartum hemorrhaging2. Some long-term effects are also associated with obesity in pregnancy such as an increased risk of having diabetes and cardiovascular disease later in life. During pregnancy, serum markers of inflammation are raised in overweight and obese women when compared with their normal BMI counterparts2. Other problems during pregnancy also link with chronic inflammation. Cord blood from babies born to obese mothers also has lower mean vitamin D concentrations when compared to those born of women with normal BMI. A fetus depends on maternal skin exposure for activation of vitamin D, but if the mother is obese then it is likely that she is vitamin D deficient. There is consequently significant scientific evidence to support the requirement for maternal vitamin D sufficiency in pregnancy for normal development of the fetal brain and skeleton. Folate deficiency is also common in obese pregnant women. Folate deficiency in the general pregnant population is associated with an increased risk for fetal neural tube defect, and this risk is reduced by the use of pre-conceptual folate2. Data from the National Maternal and Infant Health Survey showed that among the women who gained more than the recommended weight during pregnancy, greater than 30% retained an average of 2. 5 kgs at 10 to 18 months postpartum as opposed to retention of 1 kg among women who gained at the recommended level1. If women are encouraged to keep weight off during their pregnancy then they won’t have to face obesity postpartum. Researchers are still in the process of finding other ways to prevent obesity during pregnancy such as efficient ways to diet. Provision of weight management services to advise and educate regarding obesity-associated obstetric risk and weight optimization prior to conception is strongly recommended2. One thing that women would not normally categorize as such a big issue is regularly monitoring their blood pressure, which would be a start of becoming a healthy mother. Screening for gestational diabetes, using a 75 g OGTT, should be undertaken in all women with BMI 30 kg/m 2 between 24 and 28 weeks gestation2. No women should want to look and feel as fat as an elephant. Therefore, it is beneficial to continue physical activity after having a baby. The measurement of psychosocial attributes in the postpartum period has largely focused on postpartum depression and social support, with little attention to the role these and other psychosocial factors may play in health behaviors associated with weight retention and activity3. During pregnancy, some women are distressed about their weight and think they have a negative body image. Some say that they feel as if they are as big as a house. Postpartum depression has received much attention among clinicians because 10-16% of women meet diagnostic criteria for major depression. Women with excessive pregnancy weight gain (>20? kg) gain up to 10. Â ±2. 1? kg of adipose tissue4. If a woman plans on having another child after being obese during the first pregnancy then she will most likely be obese during her second pregnancy. One would not believe something so detrimental to your health, such as a smoker continuing to smoke during pregnancy would produce no weight gain. It is astounding that those who don’t smoke could gain more than those who do. The Stockholm Pregnancy and Weight Development Study on 1423 women concluded that, apart from pregnancy weight gain, only smoking cessation can be considered as a predictor for persistent weight gain after 1 year postpartum4. Lactation is known as something to facilitate weight loss after pregnancy. Production of milk is an energy-requiring process and has been calculated to increase energy requirements by ~ 500? kcal per day4. This is due to the fact that the net efficiency of milk synthesis in women is high. Weight changes after delivery are dependent on factors other than lactation status. Sarah Leigh, a 30-year-old obese pregnant mother, found out she had gestational diabetes. Sarah was very self-conscious about this situation and does not wish to report anything other than her name and age. She describes the daunting changes she had to make in her day-to-day lifestyle. Sarah Leigh had to check her blood sugar levels up to six times a day. The sugary sweets that Sarah Leigh usually enjoyed would now have to be cut out altogether. There would be no chocolate and fruit even had to be eaten in moderation. Even though Sarah Leigh made the changes to her diet, her blood levels were still high and she had to be put on medication to control the diabetes. Sarah Leigh explained how even though she felt deprived of all her favorite foods she feels healthier. Sarah enjoys her new lifestyle of eating a wide variety of foods. As long as she eats in moderation then her blood sugars remain balanced. Sarah talked about how there were times when she just wanted to taste a chocolate bar, but she knew that she and the baby were better off without it. Sarah would like to express to everyone that if they feel they have a slight chance of having gestational diabetes to go to your doctor immediately. The sooner it is treated then mother and the child are in better shape. Behavioral interventions, such as advising women of the recommended weight gain ranges, and promoting healthy dietary intake and regular exercise during the prenatal and postpartum periods may prove important in preventing obesity and the related health problems later in life. People should keep in mind that body weight tends to increase with age, irrespective of whether women have children or not. A pregnancy should be carefully planned. Two lives are at stake instead of one.

Apple Inc. Secrets Revealed

Apple Inc. Secrets Revealed Apple sparked the personal computer revolution in the 1970s by introducing Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 80s with the Macintosh. Apple Inc. is committed to bringing the best computing experience to creative professional, students, educators, and customers around the globe through innovative software, hardware, and Internet offerings APPLE INC. CASE STUDY Apple Inc. has survived in a competitive and dynamic market to become one of the leading companies in the electronics industry. This case study reflects on some aspects of the company including history, products, competitors, innovation strategy, business strategy, and strategic management. The study will then examine the key success factor of the company and conduct a SWOT analysis. History and Background Apple is an American company founded by Steve Wozniak, Ronald Wayne, and Steve Jobs in April 1976. Initially, the company was primarily involved in developing and selling personal computers. The company was then incorporated as Apple Computer, Inc. in January 1977 and renamed to Apple Inc. in January 2007. The current owners of Apple Inc. are the major shareholders such as Tim Cook, Arthur Levinson, Craig Federighi, Albert Gore Junior, Bruce Sewell, and institutional shareholders such as The Vanguard Group. Over the last six years, Apples income has been consistently on the rise. In the year 2015, the company made $53.4 billion annual profits, the highest in the companys history. It is not clear from Apple Companys Website what the mission statement of the company is. However, Steve Jobs mission statement for the company in the 1980s was: To make a contribution to the world by developing tools for the mind that bring progress to humankind. A relatively new mission statement for the company states: Apple sparked the personal computer revolution in the 1970s by introducing Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 80s with the Macintosh. Apple Inc. is committed to bringing the best computing experience to creative professional, students, educators, and customers around the globe through innovative software, hardware, and Internet offerings. For high-quality custom essay writing services, sign up and order paper online You could be asking yourself what exactly the company produces. Apple Inc. has come a long way and is now a world leader in the electronics industry. The business has developed several products and services and has over 375 retail shops worldwide. The company is popular for its hardware products such as the Mac line of computers, the iPhone Smartphone, the Apple iWatch, the iPad tablet computer, and the iPod media player among others. Apple Inc. is also known for its software products such as iOS and OS X operating systems. Apple Innovation Strategy To Apple Inc. innovation is more of a culture than a process. Apple has produced innovative products that have propelled it to the pinnacle of the information technology and electronics industries. However, the company does not just focus on developing beautiful and innovative products; they also have a very innovative business model. For instance, it is apparent that the success of iPod and iPhone can be attributed to the fact that these products were matched with iTunes and App Store respectively. It is also interesting to note that Apple Inc. has crossed many industry-defined boundaries to establish an innovation-friendly business ecosystem. The business deals with hardware, software, entertainment, and logistics, and has made significant impacts in these industries. For example, App Store is the largest collection of mobile applications which makes the Apple iPhone even better. Apple iTunes which is an innovative business model provides an interface that is easy to use on which people pay for music they like if they get it at their desired prices. Apple Company has demonstrated, through their terrific innovation management, that product design and user-friendliness are major determinants of success in the modern business environment. Apples Main Competitors Apple deals with many different products. As a result, the company has to compete in several different markets. Each of these markets has other big producers controlling significant market shares. For instance, Microsoft is the major competitor in the market for computer operating systems. Amazon and Microsoft have their own smart tablet and have carved out a significant market that used to be largely dominated by Apple. Samsung remains the biggest Apples competitor in the Smartphone market. Google challenges Apple in different market fronts such as cloud storage where Apple iCloud has to compete with Google Drive. Apples Success Factors Despite the nature of competition that Apple Company face, the company happens to be one of the most successful businesses in the United States and the world in general. So we seek to understand what factors fuel Apples success. Below is a rundown Apple Inc. success factors. 1. Innovative Activities: Apple Inc. is successful because it has been consistent on the issue of innovation. Innovation is one of the strongest cultures of the company. Over the past decade, Apple Inc. launched the following game-changing innovations: The Apple iPhone The Apple iPod The Apple iTunes The App Exchange The App Store Through innovation, Apple has managed to survive for 30 years in a market that is highly competitive and dynamic. 2. Retail Distribution Network: Generally, Apple distributes its products through direct sales, retail stores, online stores, and value added resellers. Apple opened its largest US retail store in Boston to increase its domestic sales. This comprehensive local and international market network is one of the factors that have significantly influenced the success of Apple Inc. 3. Well recognized brand: Apple is one of the most popular brands in the electronics industry. By focusing on customers and product quality, Apple has established itself as a reputable and respectable brand. As a result, it has millions of customers around the world who are loyal to the brand. To some extent, the brand sells the companys products. 4. Advertising Differentiation: Since the company was founded, Apple Inc. has been recognized for its creative approach to advertising. Its advertisements are unique in that they are planned in such a way that they imitate a setup of selling its products to creative people. The most noticeable advertisement campaign include the Super Bowl Commercial of the 1980s, Think Differently in 1990s, and The iPod People in 2000s. Apple Strategic Management At the core of Apples strategic management is the customer. To compete effectively, Apple seeks to understand what the customer wants and responds accordingly. Apple has remained competitive for three decades because it has always maintained an open mind and created designs that meet or exceed their customers expectations. Apple Inc. also embraces innovation and quality as important features of its strategic plan. A couple of years ago, the company reiterated that it would embark on a plan to compete on the basis of quality. Production of high quality and unique products has facilitated the establishment of a reliable brand which now has cult-like following around the world, and this has placed Apple at the top particularly in the Smartphone market. Apple  Business Strategy Apple Inc. relies on Generic Business Strategy (Porters Model) and Intensive Growth Strategy. These strategies directly influence the companys strategies when it comes to marketing and pricing among other areas of business. The Generic Model influences the features that differentiate Apple and its products from competitors. On the other hand, Apple Company uses innovation and product development as its core intensive growth strategy. SWOT Analysis SWOT analysis highlights the key strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats that Apple Inc. faces. 1. Strengths A strong brand image Financial strength Market leadership in several products High-profit margin Well-developed supply-chain infrastructure 2. Weaknesses High prices compared to competitors Technical issues to do with product functionality Narrow product range Incompatibility of Apple products with other companies products 3. Opportunities Product diversification Research and development Increasing product compatibility Establishment of strategic partnerships with other companies elsewhere in the world 4. Threats Intensified competition from China, South Korea, and India Loss of the companys innovative potential due to the demise of inspirational founder, Steve Jobs Increasing manufacturing cost How Apple Inc. Changed the World It is apparent that Apple is now one the most profitable companies in the world. However, the company had to make radical changes in the world to get there. For instance, the Macintosh was the first mass-market personal computer to use graphical user interface. This innovation has had a major impact on how the world knows and uses the computer today. For high quality and original essays, sign up and go to write my essay. You can also view our free essay sample. From the foregoing discussion, it is clear that innovation has been core to the success of Apple Inc. Strong brand, a well developed retail distribution infrastructure, and advertising differentiation have also been key success factors for the company. Although the company has a number of weaknesses and faces several threats, the company also has many areas of strength, and the opportunities for growth are numerous. Thus, there is a potential for further growth in the future.

Strategic Analysis (SWOT and PEST) of Elecdyne The WritePass Journal

Strategic Analysis (SWOT and PEST) of Elecdyne SECTION 1 Strategic Analysis (SWOT and PEST) of Elecdyne SECTION 1INTRODUCTIONSWOT ANALYSIS OF ELECDYNEPEST ANALYSISFinal Recommendations:SECTION 2METHODOLOGYINTERNATIONALIZATIONCHINAINDIABRAZILCOUNTRY OF INVESTMENTREFERENCESRelated SECTION 1 INTRODUCTION As it is written in the case study about Elecdyne that the company is actually facing problems and is unable to grow itself since the last 2 years. Elecdyne is a Japanese company based in Tokyo and was established in 1990. They initially started with 5 employs and now it has 100 employs producing a range of Elecdyne products such as televisions, VCRs, DVD players, MP3 players, hi-fi equipment etc using technology licensed from a number of   Japanese and European multinationals. It currently supplies only to the Japanese market. The problems that Elecdyne is facing is the general threats (and opportunities) that is been created by an increasingly globalized business environment like innovations in the products, rapid increase in the technology and changing in the nature of competition. Now the company needs to focus on how it will come out of this situation through an analysis and SWOT analysis will give a brief idea about the company’s internal and external factors. SWOT ANALYSIS OF ELECDYNE Before we do a swot analysis of Elecdyne first we should what actually swot analysis is? SWOT analysis is basically method to look at the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of any company. Usually we do swot analysis just to see at the internal and external environment of the country just to analyze the environment that whether the conditions are favorable or not. This technique   was created by   Albert Humphrey. PEST ANALYSIS Before doing pest analysis first we should know about pest analysis. PEST analysis has 4 things in it which are Political, Economic, Social and Technological. The reason of doing it is to know about the macro environment. â€Å"In analysing the macro-environment, it is important to identify the factors that might in turn affect a number of vital variables that are likely to influence the organization’s  supply and demand  levels and its costs† (Kotter and Schlesinger, 1991; Johnson and Scholes, 1993). â€Å"PEST analysis is a useful strategic tool for understanding market growth or decline, business position, potential and direction for operations.† (Kotler 1998) Final Recommendations: The above analysis shows the current situation of Elecdyne and it shows that the company is in a very bad position. To get out of such situation the company needs to make some strategies and these strategies are discussed below: As we know that Elecdyne is working in the Japanese market since the last 20 years and so they have a pretty good knowledge about Japanese market. Their experience can play a vital role in operating in that huge market. First of all they have to do some research and find out that what type of products do customer need and should focus on that. As Elecdyne is not very much advanced in the technology so of course they should also focus on the technology. For example now Blu-ray technology is getting very common in the world and Japan being a very advance country in technology so Elecdyne should focus on improving the technology in its products. Another problem that Elecdyne is facing that its losing its key employs and it should focus on retaining them. Elecdyne needs a cheap labour which is very difficult to find in Japan because in Japan the wage rate is very high so Elecdyne needs to relocate their location and look for some place where there is very cheap wage rate and they should also look for low price raw material so that the production cost can also reduce. Recently japan has been from the worst disaster of earthquake so Elecdyne can also focus on the CSR activity by which their name can also be known in the social activity in Japan. Elecdyne should also focus on technology for selling its products all around the world and the best way of doing that is the internet. If people from all around the world can get access to the rpoducts of Elecdyne so their sale can increase but as I have mentioned above that they should try to reduce the prices of their products because the biggest competitor Elecdyne has is Sony which is a huge name in world and of course if the products of Sony and Elecdyne will be of same price so people will definitely prefer Sony but if Elecdyne products will be cheaper so people might choose the products of Elecdyne. The main strategies that Elecdyne should focus on are as follows: Relocation of production where there is cheap labour and raw material. Should improve the technology. Make easy access of their products all around the world through the internet. SECTION 2 Elecdyne is a Japanese company which is operating in Tokyo and currently only selling their products to the local market. As the current situation of the company is below average and it has stopped growing since the last 2 year and due to that it has start losing its key employs to their competitors. Now the company is focusing on internationalization and looking to relocate the company and want to minimize its cost. They are looking for cheap labour rate and cheap raw material which is not possible in Japan because Japan labour rates are high. The employs of Elecdyne are well educated and most of them have done their higher education from USE, CANADA and UK which clearly means that when going internationally English landguage is not going be an issue for the emplos. As I have mentioned before that main reason of going to another country is to minizing the cost. METHODOLOGY The method that will be used is PEST analysis which actually focuses on the macro environment of the country. INTERNATIONALIZATION After having lots of discussions and meetings among the top management the three countries that they have decided to choose are, China India Brazil CHINA China is one of the biggest countries of the world having the area of (3,705,407 sq mi) (wikipedia.com) with the biggest population (1.3 billion) (google.com 2011). China currently has the GDP of $4.99 trillion (google.com) with a growth rate of 9% (tradingeconomics.com). China today is one of the biggest industries of producing goods because of its cheap labour and huge man power. The policies of Chinese government are relatively easy and most of the products are produced or assembled in China. When investing in China the companies 1st should look at the Marco environment of the country and for doing that pest analysis is the best way of doing that. INDIA India again is one of the biggest countries of the with the population of 1.17 billion (google.com) with the total land of 1,269,219 (sq mi)   which is 7th in world (Wikipedia.com). Since the last decade India’s economy has been boosting up doing to lots of foreign investments. The GDP of India is 1.31 trillion US dollars (google.com) with a growth rate of 8.3% and ranking 10th in the world as far as growth rate is concern. In India when companies want to invest so there are no complications when it comes to the government policies because the companies only need to report to RBI (Reserve Bank of India). The Indian government also support the FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) and the taxes on the business sector are not very high so this also gives a relief to the foreign investment. India has a very huge man power as they are 17.3% of the world population (Wikipedia.com) and due to this the labour rate in India is relatively cheaper than other countries of the world. To see t his in more details the pest analysis of India will give a much better idea of the Macro environment of the country.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Political   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Economic Government supports the FDI For industries taxes are very low. No precedning approval needed. The company only has to report to RBI(Reserve Bank of India) within 30 days of foreign investment Labour is relatively cheaper Has enough man power Boost in the GDP in last decade ($1.31 Trillion  US dollars)   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‚   Social   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Technological Can decrease the unemployment in the country. Has a rapid increase in the technology in the last decade. BRAZIL Brazil is another country whose economy is boosting up. We have talked about India and China but Brazil’s economy is also rapidly increasing and currently its GDP is $1.57 Trillion US dollars (google.com) and the rate from which it is increasing is with the rate of   0.7% (tradingeconomics.com) in the last year. The government of Brazil is inviting the international business which is resulting in less employment and increase in the economy. The trading policies are also not very strict and taxes for trading are relatively low. The only issue that Elecdyne can have is Brazil is very far away from Japan and the cost in the logistics will be high. The government of Brazil also supports the FDI To see that Brazil will be a good option for Elecdyne to invest here is the pest analysis of Brazil. COUNTRY OF INVESTMENT As we have done pest analysis of 3 countries to find out that in which we have to invest and by doing that what I will recommend is to invest in India. India is one of the biggest democratic country of the world. The very first reason of doing this is the tax rate of India on the business is very low and India government is still looking for foreign companies to invest in their country and the biggest reason of doing is to decrease the unemployment from the country. Being the 2nd biggest country in the world (as far as population is concern) the employment in India is still a problem with the people of India. The only problem that Elecdyne might have in India is there is some corruption in the government. If we see into this so this may not effect Elecdyne but still there might be a possibility that this might affect the company. Another factor that India has a very low labour rate and if we compare the currency of India and Japan so there is not a very huge difference but if we comp are the currencies of other countries that we have analysed so India will be the cheapest. When it comes to logistics so the distance between the two countries is not too much. The transportation that can be used are, rail, trucks, plane etc. India is a very advance country and they also have technology and if Elecdyne need some technology they can import it without worrying of high taxes. When investing in India Elecdyne is not require to wait for a long time all they have to to do id the report to the RBI( Reserve Bank of India) just before the 30 days of investment. Since the last 6 or 7 years now the stability in India is very good and companies who have invested in India have minimize their cost and due to a huge population in India the number of buyers have increased. The biggest competitor of Elecdyne is Sony and as we discussed above that Elecdyne have to minimize the price of its products so that people prefer their products because of low price there are people in India wh o are price oriented rather than quality so in my opinion India is the best country to invest. REFERENCES Albert Humphrey (1960s) Available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SWOT_analysis (Accessed on 26th march 2011) Kotter and Schlesinger (1991), Johnson and Scholes (1993) Available at: coursework4you.co.uk/essays-and-dissertations/pest-analysis.php ( Accessed on 26th march 2011) Earthquake-report.com (2011) Available at: http://earthquake-report.com/2011/03/16/catdat-estimated-direct-loss-after-japan-tsunami-100-billion-us/ (Accessed on 26th march 2011). Wkipedia.org(2011) Available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_and_outlying_territories_by_total_area (Accessed on 27th march 2011). Google.com(2011) Available at: google.com/publicdata?ds=wb-wdimet=ny_gdp_mktp_cdidim=country:CHNdl=enhl=enq=what+is+the+gdp+of+china (Accessed on 27th march 2011). Trading economics.com Available at: tradingeconomics.com/Economics/GDP-Growth.aspx?Symbol=CNY (Accessed on 27th march 2011) Google.com(2011) Available at: google.com/publicdata?ds=wb-wdimet=sp_pop_totlidim=country:INDdl=enhl=enq=what+is+the+population+of+india (Accessed on 27th march 2011). Google.com Available at: google.com/publicdata?ds=wb-wdimet=ny_gdp_mktp_cdidim=country:INDdl=enhl=enq=what+is+the+gdp+of+india (Accessed on 27th march 2011) Indexmudi.com Available at: indexmundi.com/india/gdp_real_growth_rate.html (Accessed on 27th march 2011) Wikipedia.com Available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_population (Access on 27th march 2011). Google.com Available at: google.com/publicdata?ds=wb-wdimet=ny_gdp_mktp_cdidim=country:BRAdl=enhl=enq=gdp+of+brazil (Accessed on 27th march 2011). tradingeconomics.com Available at: tradingeconomics.com/Economics/GDP-Growth.aspx?Symbol=BRL (Accessed on 27th march 2011)

Pension Plans in the United States After Retirement

Pension Plans in the United States After Retirement Pension plans are one of the key methods to successfully saving for retirement in the United States, and though the government does not require businesses to provide such plans to its employees, it does offer generous tax breaks to companies that establish and contribute to pensions for their employees. In recent years, defined contribution plans and Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) have become the norm in terms of small businesses, self-employed individuals, and freelance workers. These monthly set amounts, which may or may not be matched by the employer, are self-managed by the employees in their personal savings accounts. The primary method of regulating pension plans in the United States, though, comes from its Social Security program, which benefits anyone who retires after the age of 65, depending on how much one invests over the course of his or her life. Federal agencies ensure that these benefits are met by every employer in the U.S. Are Businesses Required to Offer Pension Plans? There are no laws that require businesses to offer their employees pension plans, however, pensions are regulated by several governing agencies in the United States, which largely helps define what benefits larger businesses must offer their employees - like health care coverage. The  Ã¢â‚¬â€¹Department of State  website details that the federal governments tax collection agency, the Internal Revenue Service, sets most rules governing pension plans, and a Labor Department agency regulates plans to prevent abuses. Another federal agency, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, ensures retiree benefits under traditional private pensions; a series of laws enacted in the 1980s and 1990s boosted premium payments for this insurance and stiffened requirements holding employers responsible for keeping their plans financially healthy. Still, the Social Security program is the greatest way in which the United States government requires businesses to offer their employees long-term pensions options - a just reward for working a full career before retirement. Federal Employee Benefits: Social Security Employees of the  federal government- including  members  of the military and civil service as well as disabled  war  veterans- are offered several types of pension plans, but the most important government-run program is Social Security, which is available after a person retires at or above the age of 65. Although run by the Social Security Administration, the funds for this program come from payroll taxes paid by both employees and employers. In recent years, however, it has come under scrutiny as the benefits received upon retirement  only cover a portion of the income needs of its recipient. Especially because of the retirement of many of the post-war  baby-boom generation early in the 21st century, politicians feared the government wouldnt be able to pay all its obligations without increasing taxes or decreasing benefits for retirees. Managing Defined Contribution Plans and IRAs In recent years, many companies have switched over to what is known as defined contribution plans wherein the employee is given a set amount as part of their salary and is thus tasked with managing their own personal retirement account. In this type of pension plan, the company is not required to contribute to the savings fund of its employee, but many choose to do so based on the result of the employees contract negotiation. In any case, the employee is responsible for managing his or her salary allotment intended for retirement savings. Although it is not difficult to set up a retirement fund with a bank in an Individual Retirement Account (IRA), it can be daunting for self-employed and freelance workers to actually manage their investments into a savings account. Unfortunately, the amount of money these individuals have available at retirement entirely depends on how they invest their own earnings.

Describe how Management By Objective (MBO) can provide better Essay

Describe how Management By Objective (MBO) can provide better efficiency in setting, planning and accomplishing organizational goals - Essay Example The management by objective is a technique that is applied which is based on set objectives that are achievable by the company, the divisions and the employees. These objectives then are considered as a measurable contribution of the individuals in the company to the success in the achievement and completion of the goals of the whole organization (Drucker 121-30). Due to the fact that MBO is based on the aim to be a measurable management technique, the activities and job assignments are then gauged in measurable and numerable quantities. The number of activities done constitutes an important role in the assessment of performance of the employees. For that matter, the quantity of work done can be incorporated to the type and quality of activity that is undertaken (Drucker 121-30). The application of MBO can be on the different levels of the organizational system, thus, covering different forms of activities. Included in such activities are human resources, maintenance services, research and development, sales, finance and most importantly production. The said management technique became widely known as the setting up of quotas in different types of jobs and organizational roles. When the said term is heard, the vision of numerable work values is perceived (Deming 24, 54; Drucker 121-30). The MBO is focused on the establishment of specified objectives that can be achieved through the course of operation. In addition, the quality of the work undertaken in the process of achievement of such goals is also given high regard. The acknowledgement of the division or individual employee with the most commendable performance is practiced for motivation in the said system (Garrison and Raynes 121). There are different of advantages that can be associated with the MBO, thus, it is considered as one of the management techniques commonly applied.

Marketing strategy of adidas Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Marketing strategy of adidas - Essay Example Adidas is guided by the three principles which were laid down by the founder, Adi Dassler – to aim for the production of the best possible foot wear to serve the requirement of sports, to aim for the protection of the athlete from any possible injury and produce a durable product (Step back in time, n.d.). They company operates out of Europe, Asia, Latin America and North America through a network comprising of more than 170 subsidiaries. The organisation is headquartered at Herzogenaurach, Germany, employing over 31,344 people worldwide (Adidas AG - Financial and Strategic Analysis Review, 2009). The journey for the company began in 1920, when Adi Dassler, with the aid of two shoemakers, produced homemade leather training shoes. A major milestone was achieved, resulting in superb promotion for the company, in 1932, when Arthur Jonath, a German athlete, won a bronze medal in the 1932 Olympics using shoes produced by the company. The company was on its upward spiral and soon the revenues of the company crossed 400,000 Reich mark in 1935. Sportsperson from 120nations used Adidas products in the Seoul Olympics in 1988. The company has seen many highs and undergone major structural changes in the way it has approached the market place. It has been quick to realize that marketing and customer orientation have become vital on the part of a modern company. The company has changed its entire outlook – which resulted in the creation of the three divisions - adidas Sport Performance, adidas Sport Heritage and adidas Sport Style from the existing Footwear and Clothing/Accessories . The company also decided to give its customers to option of customising the products they wanted to buy according to their own specifications – a business model which is now replicated all over the market space. The company went ahead with its aggressive marketing campaign and adopted a new tagline in 2003 -

Honest Communication And Regulation Of Global Business Essay

Honest Communication And Regulation Of Global Business - Essay Example By its very nature, communication within a global context involves a vast range of activities, which must add up to determine the success levels or nature of challenges to be encountered in the course of doing business (Adekola & Sergi, 2007). Communication entails a thorough knowledge of the competitors, the interests of the clientele, cultural dynamics, market forces and other issues that relate to the efficiency of the business. Communication promotes the adoption of flexible strategies that are responsive to the unique situations and realities to be encountered at the market place. It involves an awareness of the macro-economic and micro-economic factors that impact on the core objectives of the business. The success levels of communication are influenced by the ability of the company to make accurate assessments and predictions of conditions on the global market. Wrong assumptions can lead to the development of poor strategies, which could cause major losses in profits and stabi lity of the company. It is important for global companies to seek for sufficient insights and resourceful information about the markets in order for them to manipulate the complex and diverse connections of the factors that determine the success levels of global businesses. ... Some of the reasons attributed to the success of Walmart in Mexico include awareness an awareness of the shopping culture of the country. Generally, Mexicans have a peculiar shopping culture that small packages and fresh products. On the other hand, regulation of global business basically involves the development of the most appropriate strategies that are consistent with the goals and objectives of the global companies. The art and science of regulating a global business is complex in the sense that it involves a balance between the internal objectives of the company and the unpredictable operating environment of global commerce. Regulation must necessarily involve the awareness of the variations in the nature of controls, restrictions, policy matters, legal restrictions, and other variables that apply within a global context. Some landmark cases of failure of renowned companies on the global market have been associated with limitations in the judgment of the management with regard to the most appropriate approaches. Inward looking strategies often incur challenges of cultural mismatch as the strategies fail to apply appropriately to particular situations. On the other hand, some of the notable successes on the global markets have been related to the ability of the companies to develop strategies that are responsive to the unique and varying demands of the markets. Markets do not bear similar characteristics. The preferences and trends on the western markets may exhibit significant variations with those in Asia. Cultural factors and other aspects of social realities determine these differences. By implication the marketing strategies and the nature of products designed for the western markets may have to be redesigned in order to

The Bluest Eye and Cathedral Raymond Carver Essay

The Bluest Eye and Cathedral Raymond Carver - Essay Example The story revolved around the manner by which the girl, Pecola, desired to be white, with pale skin and the deepest blue eyes. On the other hand, The Cathedral narrated a story about a man's encounter with a blind man called Robert. The account for this brief interaction, with its varying phases of emotional experience and personal relationship was anchored on how the latter was able to teach the narrator a new perspective in seeing things, transforming him in the process. Thematic Similarities The similarities between Morrison and Carver's work rest fundamentally on the way they wrote their respective stories on families in addition to troubled and tragic protagonists. Pecola suffered physical and psychological abuse from her father and her surroundings whereas; the Robert in Carver's tale was blind and has recently lost his wife. Even the narrator of the story seems to be suffering from some form of inner turmoil and suffered from confusion and emotional catharsis among other thing s depicted in a number of nuances and details. Also, both of these stories revolve around the theme of bigotry. In Morrison's work the community is still typified with the discrimination against the black people. As a result, people that surrounded Pecola used the whites and their lifestyle as standards of perfection, wherein those that they have are things to be desired. Her parents called her ugly, so she aspired to be white with blue eyes. Carver concentrated the bigotry on his narrator. It was not racial but targeted towards someone with disability. There was prejudice in his attitude towards the blind man and when he met him, it was further tinged with a degree of condescension. About Standards The theme of beauty and aesthetics, which is at the core of The Bluest Eye, revolved around the idea that being white, is beautiful. This variable is crucial in explaining the female black identity in the story. Morrison described this as psychologically damaging to black girls in Americ a. By providing a racist and patriarchal social setting, Morrison was able to illustrate the manner by which black women and men were shaped by cultural influences. To demonstrate this, there is the case of Pecola's father. He was treated throughout most part of the book with a kind of repulsiveness because of his appearance. For some, his looks appeared to resemble that of an alcoholic, so even he was not, he became one. The social perception involved with being black was emphasized to be equated with ugliness and Morrison enumerated several adverse effects on the psyche and behavior of a people. Carver was more specific in his tale with his minimal use of characters. In the interaction between his bigoted narrator and blind Robert, the reader is provided a summary of the social perception on disabled people. When the narrator met Robert, he observed and observed and, in his thoughts, the readers would be able to identify preconceived notions, prejudices and antagonisms that many o f them would find familiar. Cultural versus Utilitarian The treatment of themes and the text content conveyed revealed two different concerns. As Morrison focused on racial and gender identity, and the role of the social norms in the rage and pain of a people with their privations and exclusions, her narrative became a cultural critique. On the other hand, through his

Water Fluoridation Issue in Kansas Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Water Fluoridation Issue in Kansas - Essay Example The Kansas area is a leading producer of cattle and agricultural produce such as soybeans and corn (Mortal et al 1). The area relies on rivers, wetlands, and underground rivers as the natural water sources and the water supply is both private and public. Kansas is ideal for agriculture because a significant percentage of its land can support agricultural activities with over sixty thousands running farms. Like many communities, Kansas undertook the water fluoridation concept that many perceive as the way to providing safe water for the population. The idea that supports the fluoridation aspect is that adding fluoride to water for consumption helps in preventing tooth cavity and other dental health concerns. With this, this essay will delve into the presence of fluoride in the water consumed in Kansas and why it is good for the this community. First, consumption of fluoridated is of benefit to the Kansas because it is the most cost effective way of minimizing the occurrence of cavitie s in both adults and children (K.H.I 2). Most of those that are adamant about using fluoridated water because they support the ferocious thinking that intense level of fluoride in water can cause fluorosis in children below the age of eight hence minimizing the level of contact with this water. This ambuscades sensible thinking as the arguments that they present lack substantive evidence to support their claims. However, this is nadir thinking as this only applies to the children of this age and not on those that are past this age hence making this argument to be baseless. The levels of fluoride in domestically consumed water should be at 1.5mg per liter and a plethora of this may cause fluorosis if the level goes up to 4mg per liter. The other available options for preventing cavities is by using toothpaste that contains fluoride as an extract, which is much more expensive. Therefore, water fluoridation has benefits to the Kansas community because it presents an affordable way of p revent cavities and cavity related diseases. Secondly, consumption of fluoridated is of benefit to the Kansas because it helps in minimizing the occurrence of diseases caused by poor oral health. In essence, the Wichita area has registered a great number of tooth decay cases as compared to any other region within this state. Ideally, Wichita does not fluoridate its water because it lacks the necessary policy mechanisms that would influence the adoption of the water fluoridation concept. The area has also registered a high number of oral health challenges that have the potential of influencing other disease apart form the dental health related diseases. However, a significant part of the medical professionals in Wichita have realized the importance of water fluoridation had have taken the initiative to improve the quality of life for those living ion the area. Subsequently, physicians agree that a community that does not consume fluoridated water cannot be as healthy as it should be because of the inane perception that they have about the disease causing organisms. Therefore, water fluoridation is of benefit to the Kansas population especially in the Wichita area because it minimizes the risk of acquiring tooth decay that can create poor oral health. Thirdly, consumption of fluoridated is of benefit to the Kansas because it helps in keeping students in school as it decreases absenteeism caused by seeking treatment. Ideally, studies have also established a relationship between the low grades in school going children and poor dental health that may arise from consuming water does not contain the required fluoride levels. According to the Kansas Dentist Association, a significant pa

Home bound geriatric patients Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Home bound geriatric patients - Essay Example Homebound geriatric patients often live in senior apartment housing or sometimes, in individual housing. Their homes are sometimes in substandard conditions even if they try very hard to keep their homes clean and livable. Most geriatric patients live alone and depend on visits from family and/or medical professionals for their survival. Their physical limitations also make it difficult for them to go out and buy food for themselves, or if they do have food, they are hampered by their physical or cognitive disabilities to prepare the food. They are vulnerable because of their physical limitations which put them in further danger of injury. Their physical limitations and dependence consequently makes them frustrated and depressed. Their doctors sometimes do not see them for years because they cannot leave their homes and physicians are not anymore in the practice of making house calls. Oftentimes, when medical help is made available to them, their medical condition has already progres sed to unmanageable stages. They are then again consigned to nursing homes or sent back home—back to the very conditions that brought about their worsening medical conditions. I chose this topic because like, the homebound elderly patients, this topic is not given enough attention by the medical community, by our government, and by our society. I chose this topic for its relevance. â€Å"World demographic changes show an increase in the elderly population worldwide† (Zini & Pietrokovsky, 2006). The increase in life span has also resulted to an increase in the number of elderly patients but still not enough medical attention and care given to them. This topic interests me because, unless attention is brought to it, this problem will worsen. The early 1990s alone presented alarming statistics for homebound elderly patients. â€Å"The growth in the number of elderly people in need of long-term care at home has been and is projected to be

Water Fluoridation Issue in Kansas Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Water Fluoridation Issue in Kansas - Essay Example The Kansas area is a leading producer of cattle and agricultural produce such as soybeans and corn (Mortal et al 1). The area relies on rivers, wetlands, and underground rivers as the natural water sources and the water supply is both private and public. Kansas is ideal for agriculture because a significant percentage of its land can support agricultural activities with over sixty thousands running farms. Like many communities, Kansas undertook the water fluoridation concept that many perceive as the way to providing safe water for the population. The idea that supports the fluoridation aspect is that adding fluoride to water for consumption helps in preventing tooth cavity and other dental health concerns. With this, this essay will delve into the presence of fluoride in the water consumed in Kansas and why it is good for the this community. First, consumption of fluoridated is of benefit to the Kansas because it is the most cost effective way of minimizing the occurrence of cavitie s in both adults and children (K.H.I 2). Most of those that are adamant about using fluoridated water because they support the ferocious thinking that intense level of fluoride in water can cause fluorosis in children below the age of eight hence minimizing the level of contact with this water. This ambuscades sensible thinking as the arguments that they present lack substantive evidence to support their claims. However, this is nadir thinking as this only applies to the children of this age and not on those that are past this age hence making this argument to be baseless. The levels of fluoride in domestically consumed water should be at 1.5mg per liter and a plethora of this may cause fluorosis if the level goes up to 4mg per liter. The other available options for preventing cavities is by using toothpaste that contains fluoride as an extract, which is much more expensive. Therefore, water fluoridation has benefits to the Kansas community because it presents an affordable way of p revent cavities and cavity related diseases. Secondly, consumption of fluoridated is of benefit to the Kansas because it helps in minimizing the occurrence of diseases caused by poor oral health. In essence, the Wichita area has registered a great number of tooth decay cases as compared to any other region within this state. Ideally, Wichita does not fluoridate its water because it lacks the necessary policy mechanisms that would influence the adoption of the water fluoridation concept. The area has also registered a high number of oral health challenges that have the potential of influencing other disease apart form the dental health related diseases. However, a significant part of the medical professionals in Wichita have realized the importance of water fluoridation had have taken the initiative to improve the quality of life for those living ion the area. Subsequently, physicians agree that a community that does not consume fluoridated water cannot be as healthy as it should be because of the inane perception that they have about the disease causing organisms. Therefore, water fluoridation is of benefit to the Kansas population especially in the Wichita area because it minimizes the risk of acquiring tooth decay that can create poor oral health. Thirdly, consumption of fluoridated is of benefit to the Kansas because it helps in keeping students in school as it decreases absenteeism caused by seeking treatment. Ideally, studies have also established a relationship between the low grades in school going children and poor dental health that may arise from consuming water does not contain the required fluoride levels. According to the Kansas Dentist Association, a significant pa

Biochemistry and Technology Essay Example for Free

Biochemistry and Technology Essay 1. For the lesson, I chose the topic of animal cloning for agricultural needs. 2. The sources I used are http://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/NewsEvents/FDAVeterinarianNewsletter/ucm106070.htm http://www.understandinganimalresearch.org.uk/how/areas-of-research/animal-cloning/ 3. Cloning has always been something of science fiction, the ability to make an exact copy of an organism. Recently though, this sci-fi idea is more of reality than ever. Many have heard of Dolly the sheep, a perfect clone, but cloning has been done many times throughout the world. Rabbits, horses, mice and others have been clone before. Since cloning only takes one parent cell, the offspring is an exact genetic replica of the first. Now, cloning for agriculture was one of the first marketing thoughts on the subject. If a farmer were to have just one healthy pig that could end up being 100 healthy pigs, it would get rid of the problem of genetic problems with farm animals. A 100% success rate would help the farming business greatly. 4. There are many positive aspects of cloning technology for the use of livestock trading. This technology would benefit all in the livestock circle. Imagine that every steak you came from the â€Å"near-perfect† cow. Each cow would have the genes of one â€Å"perfect† cow. This would give the consumer and producer less work of having to find the best of what they want. 5. Many fear that cloning could be used for the wrong purposes, the main being human testing. People fear that the testing of animals is just the first step to people. Another problem that people fear is that animals will start to less seem like animals and just soulless things. 6. So Dolly was not the first clone, and she looked like any other sheep, so why did she cause so much excitement and concern, since she was the first mammal to be cloned from an adult cell, rather than an embryo. This was a major scientific achievement, but also raised ethical concerns.

Evaluation of Vodafones Strategic Capabilities

Evaluation of Vodafones Strategic Capabilities Vodafone is a well-known mobile network operator headquartered in Newbury, England. It is recognized as the largest telecommunications network company all over the world on the basis of its turnover. Currently, the company has equity interests in twenty-five countries and Partner Networks in another forty-one countries (Vodafone 2011). It is the second largest mobile telecom group throughout globe after China Mobile. The firms success is due to its strategic capabilities and their link with significant external and internal factors. Nowadays for surviving in an intense competition, it is essential that firms must be innovative but it is also essential to identify what makes a firm innovative. As well, it is also vital to identify that what are the resources that make a substantial contribution in a firms innovation capabilities. In regard to business these innovation capabilities are also known as a firms strategic capabilities. The success of a firms strategic capabilities depends on its ability to link it with its internal and external factors that influence the setting of its business objectives and policies. In the light of resource based theory, the strategic capabilities of Vodafone can be assessed by identifying its current resources and capabilities as a successful player in telecommunication network industry (Ordanini Rubera 2008). Subsequently, the effects of its key resources on its strategic capabilities need to be identified in relation to its link with external and internal factors. Throughout company long history and success its resources are classified in two categories that are: Tangible resources: The company tangible resources can be classified into four categories that are financial, physical, organisational structure and technological resources. Intangible resources: Intangible resources can be classified into people-dependent and people-independent resources (Bakar Ahmad 2010). All these resources are not having same importance to company strategy as financial, structure, technological are highly important whereas physical resources is having ordinary importance to it. On the other hand, people dependent and people-independent resources like human and innovation resources and reputation and organisational culture all are having high importance to Vodafone strategy. In regard to these resources, the company is significantly able in developing several strategic capabilities that can be analyzed with the help of its value chain activities that are primary activities and support activities (Bakar Ahmad 2010). Activities or organisational functions direct its employees towards the development of capabilities so it is essential to identify capabilities in regard to companys primary and support activities. One of the substantial strategic capabilities developed by Vodafone in regard to its operations is providing telecommunication services at low cost with guaranteed quality. In regard to technological development, the company have become able to exploit technological opportunity and developing and applying technologies (Donaldson OToole 2007). For handling human resource management, it has developed its capabilities in concern of recruiting and training competent personnel for technological innovation and motivating compensating all employees for more and more technological innovation (Dodourova 2003). In regard to its infrastructure related activities, it has developed capabilities like recognizing and promoting the aspect of innovation, financing and planning for technological innovation, integrating all functional departments, evaluating technological innovation, legal support to it, and attaining essential government support to finance and protect its technological innovation (Dodourova 2003). The discussion of company strategic capabilities and resources depict that almost all its strategic capabilities are grounded on technological innovation that are highly supported by its innovation-friendly tangible and intangible resources. Due to this extreme association between resources and capabilities, the company have become able to handle its external and internal environment that can be understood with subsequent tools like PEST and SWOT analysis: PEST analysis Political factors: Several political factors related to regulations, infrastructure, and health issues affect Vodafone business objectives and policies but with its strategic capability of recognizing, financing, planning, integrating, assessing, and legal and government support it become able to effectively deal with these external issues and develop effective business strategy as per the industry trends and environment (Donaldson OToole 2007). Economic factors: Economic factors like high cost of licences, the bidding war for 3G and constant price wars between providers also critically affect company and its business plans but with its strategic capabilities of technological innovation Vodafone has become able to serve its customers with more surprising and advanced services (Dodourova 2003). Its technological development operations related capabilities are significantly assisting it in resolving economical issues from its external environment. Social-cultural factors: Socio-cultural factors like health issues, demographics and social trends also affects company operations that it critically handled with the help of technological innovation in regard to its human resources and technology development (Lynch 2006). Technologies offered by Vodafone are assured and approved that assist it in handling health related issues and its employees are highly dedicated and committed for technological innovation that assist in handling changing demographics and social trends. Technological factors: Technology related issues that affect company operations and business plans are excessive technological change in mobile phone industry, the introduction of 3G and several other advanced aspects (Dodourova 2003). All these external environment related issues are handled by Vodafone with its technological innovation capability that has been developed by exploiting technological opportunity and developing and applying technologies. SWOT analysis: Another contribution of Vodafone strategic capabilities is in concern to the management of its internal environment that is highly essential to link it up with external environment. With the help of its strategic capabilities, the company has become able to maximize its strength and existing opportunities like global experience, establish itself across several countries, exploring new technologies related to telecommunication and mobile, and increase its size of the market and as well as its market share (Bakar Ahmad 2010). As well, due to its technological innovation capability it has also become able to establish itself at a good global platform, standardized customer relationship management and attaining high operations margin (Dodourova 2003). In addition to this, the company has also become able to minimize its weaknesses and threats to external environment like high capital expenditure, huge RD and infrastructural costs, legal issues, selection of appropriate technologies, political and social regulations, and increasing competitors (McLoughlin Aaker 2010). It has all become possible due to its strategic capabilities developed throughout its different primary and support activities and continuous support from its tangible and intangible resources. All the above identified strategic capabilities assist firm in handling its external as well as internal factors that in turn assist it in the development of appropriate business objective and plans for present and future success of the company. Critical Appraisal of Vodafones Business Performance since 2008 Vodafone is one of the worlds largest mobile communications companies on the basis of revenue. From, its inception it is operating with a vision to become communication leader in a significantly connected world (Capon 2008). In its initial year, it confronted substantial difficulties throughout its business performance but in last some years it has attained immense success due to its several distinct strategic initiatives (Sandbach 2009). Since 2008, the company is doing quite well but still it confronted several failures related to intense competition, emergence of advances communication technologies, and continuous changes in customer preferences (Lynch 2006). For handling failures related to competition the company adopted three generic strategies for competitive advantage. For handling excessive competition and market pressure, the company made use of cost leadership strategy and differentiation in spite of focus strategy. In regard to its problem of competition, the company cost leadership strategy was highly helpful. One critical success attained by the company in this period was to become a firm with truly international customer base (Sandbach 2009). It become possible for Vodafone due to its appropriate strategies like differentiation and cost leadership strategy. In present also, this strategy is highly helpful for the company in dealing with the issues that may arise with number portability. Number portability means customers can switch to anyone who provides a reliable and cheapest service (Vodafone Annual Report 2010 2011). By competing on its cost leadership, Vodafone can direct itself towards higher unit profits that in turn will help it in attaining competitive advantage through decreasing costs. Another imperative success that company has attained in last 3 years is a good global platform which integrates its existing future network systems and heightens its ability to launch products with a concentration on both market speed and the ability to deliver it throughout all group network (Lynch 2006). It is done with a strategic initiative of differentiation. The differentiation along with marketing strategy and effective marketing mix helped Vodafone in serving its customers with added value through their wide range product features and quality that is significantly different from its competitors (Curwen Whalley 2010). The company strategic initiatives and their success and failures can also be understood effectively with the help of BCG matrix that depicts the companys market share and growth rate: Relative Market Share (Cash Generation) High Low Stars Multimedia messaging Question Marks 3G Vodafone Live Cash Cow SMS Dogs Analogue services High Market growth rate (Cash Usage) Low Vodafone BCG Matrix The BCG matrix depicts Vodafones portfolio that in turn demonstrates its products stand. Boston matrix represents the companys portfolio according to where the products and services stand in regard to market share and growth (Johnson 2008). This matrix shows that the company is operating by attaining a balance. Although, it has also confronted troubles in some last years in regard to 3G and Vodafone live that can also be depicted as a problem child or question marks. For effective future success in regard to the existing problems, the company should decrease its investments into its analogue services and in its place it should make use of money from cash cow SMS to reconstitute the problem child and maintain the star multimedia messaging in the high market share/high market growth area (Lynch 2006). In addition to these strategy models, the company performance since 2008 can also be understood with the help of different tools of financial analysis. By analysing subsequent financial ratios in terms of liquidity profitability, efficiency and return to investors it will become easy to identify that how well company managed its performance: Liquidity Ratios Current Ratio: The current ratio for Vodafone decreased from 5.40 to 5.00 in 2009 and 4.99 in 2010. It depicts that in terms of liquidity this period was not as good as throughout these years the company capability to pay its liabilities has decreased (Vodafone Annual Report 2010 2011). Quick Ratio: Vodafones quick ration fall from 5.38 in 2008 to 4.98 in 2009. This in turn also decreased slightly with 4.97 in 2010. This decrease shows that since 2008, the company ability to pay current liabilities without depending on the sale of inventory has also not attained any improvement (Luetjen Maatwk 2011). Profitability Ratios Gross Profit Margin: Vodafones gross profit margin over the three years has fallen slightly from 38.30% in 2008 to 37.00% in 2006 to a further 33.80%. It is the result of uninterrupted rise in the cost of sales. Although company margins are falling but its ratios are much better than its competitors that demonstrate that industry is at its matured stage and regularly the company is making use of new marketing strategies to bring down its cost. Operating Profit Margin: The company operating profit margin has fallen from 28.32% in 2008 to 14.28% in 2009 that in turn again rose to 21.32% in 2010. This was due to company approach towards market trends and existing competitors moves (Luetjen Maatwk 2011). Net Profit Margin: The company net profit margin has fallen initially from 19.4% in 2008 to 7.51% in 2009 and afterwards it improved to 19.38% in 2010 that was due to companys use of appropriate generic strategies and marketing strategy (Vodafone Annual Report 2010 2011). Return on Equity: The return to equity was also fallen from 8.83% in 2008 to 3.63% in 2009 but again with appropriate strategies it was increased to 9.49% in 2010. Efficiency Ratios Stock Turnover: The company stock turnover has increased continuously in the three years from 85.08 in 2008 to 99.56 in 2009 and 102.71 in 2010. This shows that throughout this three years period the company has effectively converted its stocks into revenue and as well it also made an effective use of its working capital that is critical for attaining success in present intense competitive environment (Luetjen Maatwk 2011). Debtor Turnover: The debtor turnover of the company has fallen slightly from 5.42 in 2008 to 5.35 in 2009 and 5.06 in 2010. It depicts that Vodafone is having high efficiency in regard to credit management. Asset Turnover: The asset turnover of the company is almost similar in three years as it was 0.28 in 2008, 0.27 in 2009 and again 0.28 in 2010. This ratio of company depicts its performance in generating sales from the assets at its disposition. Investment Ratios The Company earning per share has confronted both the increase and decrease from 2008 as in 2008 it was 12.56. In 2009 it reached at 5.84 and in 2010 it reached at 16.44. In addition to this, its price earning ration also confronted increase and decline. In 2008, it was 2.52 that increased to 3.14 in 2009 and again decreased to 1.35 in 2010 (Vodafone Annual Report 2010 2011). The companys use of appropriate strategies in comparison to its competitors assisted it in attaining this position. With the analysis of different financial ratios of the company, it can be said that the company performance since 2008 was a mix of success and failures. In this period the company did not confronted any severe failure in spite of just some minor business and competition related troubles (Wilson Gilligan 2005). Also, the company efforts made throughout this period were highly effective as due to this only it become able to make an effective use of its working capital. Development of a Potential Future Strategy for Vodafone With detailed discussion of company strategic capabilities and performance since 2008, it becomes apparent that company is doing very well but several times it is also troubled with intense competition and several other factors like increasing costs, emergence of advance communication technologies and changing preferences of customers (Dibb Simkin 2010). Till now, the company made use of cost leadership and competitive strategy that significantly helped it in attaining its specific business goals and objectives but it also need to be updated continuously. In regard to grow its position in international and global markets it is vital that the company operate with a potential future strategy that can be developed effectively with the help of Porters Diamond that in regard to Vodafone is as follows: Porters five forces Subsequent five forces make a direct effect on Vodafones strategic competitiveness that in turn will assist in determining a potential future strategy for the company: Competitive rivalry: In telecommunication market in which Vodafone operates competition is quite high and basically it comes from its competitors O2, Orange, T-Mobile and Virgin. In this market rivalry is high and there is no brand loyalty that exhibits that there exist little differentiation in spite of price (Dibb Simkin 2004). For handling this rivalry and growing in international markets the company should expand its operations in more and more developing nations. Buying power: In the market Vodafone is operating buying power is quite high and it could be understood with the measures of number of customers that disconnect throughout a year. This also depicts that rivalry in industry is high. Customers have several choices and new packages in regard to new tariffs and new phones (Hitt, Ireland Hoskisson 2009). For surviving in this kind of market it is vital to have continuous upgrade and expansion in developing countries for maintaining company position at global level. Power of suppliers: In addition to high buyer power, the telecommunication market also operates with strong suppliers power. In this regard, as Vodafone is a cost leader, it operates with margins higher than their competitors. This assist it to attract price increases from its suppliers more comfortably than its competitors (Dibb Simkin 2010). Being an extensive, leading competitors of the mobile telephone industry, Vodafone is able to hold its supplier cost down and attain profit but this situation would not remain in long-term if company is not able to main its position in global and international markets. For this it is vital to enter different developing countries. Threat of substitutes The company threat of product substitutes is low and it is due to its focussed cost leadership strategy. This strategy makes it difficult for others to produce similar products and services at a lower rate with same economies of scale (Fransman 2002). Threat of entry Although the threat of new entrants in industry is low but this situation need to be maintained by Vodafone by reducing its cost below of its competitors. This could be done by maintaining eminent level of efficiency and extending its place and position in different international and global markets (KÄÂ ±mÄÂ ±loÄÅ ¸lu, HNasÄÂ ±r NasÄÂ ±r 2010). With the help of this porters diamond analysis, it becomes evident that the most potential future strategy that can be adopted by Vodafone is expanding or concentrating more on developing countries. This analysis assists in identifying the suitability of selected potential future strategy. With this analysis it becomes evident that in present, Vodafone is able to maintain its position and attain significant competitive advantage with the help of focussed cost leadership strategy but the situation will not remain same in future. In future competition will get more intense and in that environment a firm that have strong international level presence will be able to operate. So, it is quite helpful for Vodafone to operate with a strategy of concentrating more on developing countries (KÄÂ ±mÄÂ ±loÄÅ ¸lu, HNasÄÂ ±r NasÄÂ ±r 2010). This strategy will also assist the company in increasing its profitability and cost-benefit that is related to the acceptability of a strategic option. Until or unless a strategic option s not acceptable it is not beneficial to use it. With this future strategy, the company will become able to reduce its costs and increase its benefits and shareholder value (Hitt, Ireland Hoskisson 2009). In addition to the suitability and acceptability of this future strategy, adoption of this strategy is also feasible. As in present also company is operating in several global locations so it is not so difficult for it to concentrate more on developing nations (Dibb Simkin 2004). It serves its customers with low prices that would also be beneficial for it to expand in developing nations. In this way, it can be concluded that concentrating more on developing markets is a quite effective potential future strategy for Vodafone and for its assured future success.