Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Edi Essays - E-commerce

Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Edi Introduction First of all what is EDI? Well EDI, or Electronic Data Interchange, is the transfer of business documents such as sales invoices, purchase orders, price quotations, etc. using a pre-established format in a paperless electronic environment. Usually this transfer occurs over VANs, Value Added Networks, but it is becoming increasingly popular over the Internet because of cost savings and ease of use. EDI has been around for approximately 30 years. The true genesis of EDI occurred in the mid-1960s, as an early attempt at implementing the fictional paperless office by companies in transportation, grocery and retail industry segments. Although EDI never eliminated paper documents, it decreased the number of times such documents were handled by people. Reduced handling resulted in fewer errors and faster transfers (Millman, 83). EDI technology is rapidly changing the way business is conducted throughout the world. Firms that use EDI are more efficient and responsive to the needs of customers and partners and in many cases have jumped out ahead of the competition. Many businesses are already using EDI with suppliers and customers, and if your firm wants to do business with companies involved in Government Dealings EDI must be part of your business no later than January 1, 1999. In May of this year, the major industrial groups in charge of standards setting for EDI, have united behind a set of standards that will allow for seamless web-based forms using extensible markup language, similar to HTML, thereby increasing the accessibility of EDI for small businesses on the Internet (Campbell, 28). An example of an application for EDI is filing tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service. The IRS offers several options for filing your tax return, one of which is filing electronically and receiving your refund by electronic funds transfer or direct deposit. The forms used are available in tax preparation software, which can be downloaded off the Internet or purchased by retail. The forms are filled out directly on a PC then transmitted to another computer, which acts as a midpoint to the IRS. The IRS receives your forms and can issue a refund without ever having to reprocess the data. By using this method you save yourself and the IRS time and money (Campbell, 28). How EDI Works Table came from Information Technology for Management by Turban, McLean and Wetherbe page 244. Information, such as purchase orders for medical supplies, flows from the hospital's information system into an EDI station, which consist of a PC, an EDI translator and a modem. From there, the information moves to a VAN (Value Added Network). The Van transfers the formatted information to the vendor, where the vendor side EDI translator converts it to a desired format (Turban, 244). An EDI translator does the conversion of data into standard format. An example of such formatting is shown below. Table came from Information Technology for Management by Turban, McLean and Wetherbe page 243. An average hospital generates about 15,000 purchase orders each year at a processing cost of about $70 per order. The health Industry Business Communication Council estimates that EDI can reduce this cost to $4 per order, potential yearly savings of $840,000 per hospital. The required investment ranges between $8,000 and $15,000. This includes the purchase of a PC with an EDI translator, a modem, and a link to the mainframe-based information system. The hospital can have two or three ordering points. These are connected to a value-added network (VAN), which connects the hospitals to its suppliers. (See figure on previous page) The system can also connect to other hospitals, or to centralized joint purchasing agencies. (Turban, 244). Benefits of EDI There are numerous benefits associated with the adoption of EDI. Probably the most important and largest benefit is efficiency. By utilizing EDI businesses are able to streamline their whole supply chain process. Whether it is upstream to suppliers or downstream to customers, EDI eliminates repetitive tasks such as entering data multiple times and cuts costs of printing hard copies and transportation costs. EDI also allows you to send and receive large amounts of data quickly to or from anywhere in the world. Anywhere that there is access to the Internet there is access to EDI. For example a

Advance vs. Advanced

Advance vs. Advanced Advance vs. Advanced Advance vs. Advanced By Maeve Maddox A reader has asked for a post on the incorrect use of advanced in the sense of advance. Both words are used with an assortment of meanings. This post will focus on only two: advance (adjective): provided or carried out in advance; prior. advanced (adjective): far on or ahead. The adjective advance is properly used in the following expressions: advance booking advance ticket sales advance publicity advance notice advance warning The adjective advanced is properly used in the following contexts: The king, who was advanced in years, busied himself with works of charity. (The king was old.) By the mid-5th century, it had become more common for  advanced thinkers  to reject traditional explanations of the world of nature. (The thinking of these people was more like that of thinkers farther on in history than that of 5th century contemporaries.) George is taking advanced classes in English and history this year. (The classes are more challenging [i.e., farther ahead] than regular classes in those subjects.) Junior’s vocabulary is more advanced than that of other six-year-olds. (Junior knows more words than most other children his age.) Here are some typical examples of the way in which advanced is used incorrectly in place of advance: ‘Divergent’ Heats up With Advanced Ticket Sales–headline, Variety. Correct: â€Å"Advance Ticket Sales† Advanced Ticket Sales for Seth Rogen’s ‘Neighbors’ Soar –headline, Hollywood Reporter. Correct: â€Å"Advance Ticket Sales† Hardy Considering Advanced Warning Flooding System –KAIT television station. Correct: â€Å"Advance Warning Flooding System.† Note: in the story that follows the headline, the system is referred to as â€Å"an early warning flooding system.† Clapper had advanced warning of data collection question –Daily Kos Correct: â€Å"advance warning† Most reservations are then confirmed with a 50% advanced deposit. – A vacation resort. Correct: â€Å"advance deposit† Give us at least 2 months advanced notice, full refund, less a $40 administrative fee. –A vacation resort. Correct: â€Å"advance notice† If you’re not sure if the word should be advance or advanced, test the meaning by substituting prior. If prior makes sense, advance is probably the word that fits the context. On the other hand, you can just use prior. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Misused Words category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Fly, Flew, (has) FlownFlied?Homonyms, Homophones, Homographs and Heteronyms7 Proofreading Steps

Corporate Development Strategies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words

Corporate Development Strategies - Essay Example This paper focuses on one of the chains, particularly the Four Seasons Hotel in Hong Kong. It also gave a view of how the Hong Kong branch carries on with its business and gave out its services. An analysis of its corporate strategies was also made to show what the company does to attain success, or failure, for that matter. It will also make recommendations as to the corporate development strategies that could best enhance the business status and improve the weaknesses found that would only hinder the Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong’s growth and further success. This is done with the use of various tools for analysis such as SWOT, PEST and 7Ps. Table of Contents CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1: Introduction & Background†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..4 1.2: Purpose of Study†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦...5 1.3: Corporate Strategy †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦5 CHAPTER 2 INTERNAL ANALYSIS 2.1: Current Strategic Marketing Decisions (7P) †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦6 2.2: Strengths †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..10 2.3: Weaknesses †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..11 CHAPTER 3 EXTERNAL ANALYSIS 3.1: PEST Analysis – Hospitality Industry Environment †¦...12 3.2: Competitive Environment and S&W ..†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.†¦17 3.3: Opportunities †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦18 3.4: Threats †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.†¦.20 CHAPTER 4 FOCUS AREAS 4.1: Effect of U S Dollar Drop and RMB Rise†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦21 4.2: Effect of inflation †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦22 CHAPTER 5 RECOMMENDATIONS 5.1: Recommended Decisions †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦22 CHAPTER 6 CONCLUSION †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..25 CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1: Four Seasons Hotel, Hong Kong: Introduction & Background Isadore Sharp, better known as â€Å"Issy† is the founder of Four Seasons Hotel

Islamic Center Proposal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Islamic Center Proposal - Essay Example These assertions are false and truly unfair to the religion since the true followers rebuke and are strongly against such acts that plague the society. The people that orchestrate these acts are uninformed and misled people that believe that they are doing the work of God while they are doing exactly the opposite. It is therefore important to spread the teachings and information of the religion to other places all over the world to ensure that people associate the Islamic religion with the principles and teachings that they have instead of drawing from the false information that is asserted by the radical groups looking to destabilize the world. The Twin Cities is one of the major urban areas in America and is home to many people that have come from different parts of the world. America is accommodating and therefore the number of Muslims in the region are many thereby a Muslim Center is necessary. This is to ensure that the children and also the Muslims have a place for prayer and there is proper development of the children in the proper Islamic teachings. This will ensure that the number of people that have access to the Mosque and the Islamic teachings has increased significantly in the State. A Muslim Center is a place of worship and development and therefore the Center will be accessible to all people that are willing to learn and develop as well as for prayers. Islamic religion does not shut the doors to the Mosque or the praying hall since the people can pray at any time during the day or night. It will therefore be open to all people and the people around where the mosque is located will be encouraged to go to the m osque and engage with others in the Center. This will create an environment where people will have grown a culture where they know each other and therefore the fear of people for being Muslim will be eradicated. The Center will be built with an aim of developing different talents and enhancing community

The NGO Activism via Official Website, a Case Study of WWF, Save the Dissertation

The NGO Activism via Official Website, a Case Study of WWF, Save the Children, and Greenpeace - Dissertation Example Greenpeace†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.48 4.4. Use of Web Technology by WWF, Save the Children, and Greenpeace: A Comparative Study†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.51 4.5. Brief Overview on Other NGOs using the Internet Technology†¦...53 4.6. An Overall Analytical View†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..56 5. Conclusion†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.60 6. References†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.63 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I am thankful to all m y faculty members, colleagues and institution for giving me an opportunity to study the use of the web technology and the significance of the official websites of the three selected NGOs- WWF, Save the Children, and Greenpeace. I am also especially thankful to my supervisor, _______ ________ for the timely advice, feedbacks and tips which aided me in improving upon my work and remain punctual in the agreed scheduled deliveries of dissertation chapters. ABSTRACT The use of web technology has overcome serious difficulties in the modern business world and the manner in which organizations tend to market their products or services. The present study focuses on the use of the official websites by the non-governmental organizations in reaching out to common masses of people, marketing their activities and trying to get them involved in their activities. The focus is primarily on three NGOs- World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Save the Children, and Greenpeace. A detailed study and analysis on the contents of the official websites of these three NGOs have clearly revealed the importance of the web technology in the enhanced performances of the... The modern times can be called the age of the Internet. More and more uses of the internet can now be found to influence the activities of different organizations and their marketing processes in the business world. This includes the activities of the NGOs as well. In the present times, NGOs are involved in virtual activism, where the digital media of the NGO websites are given credentials for helping and training people. Moreover, any positive change which results in the betterment of society is embraced by the population of the world as a whole. The goal is reached only â€Å"Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection† (Tagore, 1996, p. 27). When this proactive approach is adopted via the website of any NGO; people of the society respond to it positively, and support the causes. The vital consideration is whether the NGOs are using the Internet facility with ingenuity to augment their success. The use of websites can be realized to be in use since a long time. However, the use has been made effective in the recent times when the users of the web technology have realized that with internet they could enhance their activities and gain more profits and success. Thus in the recent times, every business organization might be observed having their own website. This is primarily because the world has now become more competitive and every organization tends to focus on factors that might put them into a higher position among the population of the world.

Stryker Corporation Business Analysis

Stryker Corporation Business Analysis Introduction The purpose of this project is to analyze an established company. The report will provide brief background of the company and its culture, critical analysis of a venture and its key people, core business model and business opportunities. The reader will be able to see the analysis of the most recent entrepreneurial thing that company did and major issues within the organization. In conclusion there will be a methodical critic from an entrepreneurial prospective provided that leads to the possible solutions for future. Company Description Stryker Corporation is a medical technology business that develops and manufactures medical implants, surgical technologies, emergency medical and patient handling equipment as well as execution beds of the death penalized people. They make their best effort by cooperating with their customers to run effective healthcare method and bring healthy lives back to the patients. They do not just make a product, but they also provide service to help people. Stryker is broadly based all round the world and is divided into numerous decentralized operational units, each performing as a detached entity: Stryker Biotech, Stryker Canada, Stryker Communications, Stryker Craniomaxillofacial, Stryker Development, Stryker Endoscopy, Stryker Imaging, Stryker Japan, Stryker Latin America, Stryker MedSurg, Stryker Orthopaedics and Stryker Spine. Venture is built on sustainability, creating a long-term contribution in responsible manner to patients, suppliers and buyers, communities, corporate governance and stakeholders. Its products, locations and service contributions are diverse; hence there are different types of motions within medical business that fully outline their social responsible behavior. Stryker was founded by Dr. Homer Stryker in 1941, an orthopedic doctor that investigated and designed new mechanisms. His inventions led Stryker to slowly integrate into the business and starting to gain capital Stryker was at the level of a small but well-built company. One invention after another and Stryker capitalized more assets that gave a lift to expansion and in 1964 the name of the company was changed to Stryker Corporation. Characteristics of the business opportunities In the middle of 19th century it was relatively easy to enter medical industry due to minimal amount of competition, thus nowadays analyzing Five Forces Approach it is barely impossible to do so, regarding the fact that rivalry among existing firms is too high. Company started operating in 1940s, before the beginning of World War 2, in their pre-mature stage of development Stryker has had a big boom in their demand. Dr. Homer Stryker was in the right place, at the right time. Concerning ventures clearly defined opportunity, it can be stated that Stryker was never eager to gain a pot, he was interested in improving peoples lives, thus taking risks. It can be clearly seen from a quote made by Ronda Stryker, Dr.Homers granddaughter: My grandpa was innovative and took risks. He was always trying to improve what he had and cared more about helping people than he cared about the money he made (Stryker, 2009). In the last century it was a great opportunity to start medical business that was weakly developed and unexamined, taking into consideration the fact that you would be willing to spend a lot of your capital on Research and development to progress. Core business model Next part describes Strykers core business model by using the business model canvas which clearly states the main points which should be included in a Business Model. Key Partners: The main partners of Stryker Corp. are mainly the employees since they are the ones selling the products. The company attaches a major importance to the close relationship between employees and clients. The main objectives for the employees is to understand the clients needs and to provide them with what they want, but also since the employee is so closely related to the guest he is also the one being innovative by suggesting new ideas in order to totally fulfill clients demand. The clients represent key partners as well. They are mainly independent hospitals and surgery centers. Stryker Corp. works with these healthcare centers in order for them to help patients in the most efficient way. Competitors are also among the key partners. There are major and smaller competitors. Of course Stryker Corp. has an advantage since it was one of the first movers in this industry and it is always focusing on improving quality, service and innovation. Stryker Corp. has very strong established network with its suppliers. Company pays a lot of attention on maintaining these relationships in order to ensure smooth running of business. Key Activities: The main activity of Stryker Corp. is sales of medical equipment such as hospital beds, operating room devices and medical devices. The company has a very strong sales force since their employees work on commission, which highly motivates them to perform better. Stryker Corp. states that their sales approach is focusing on personal relationships with individual decision makers. The company also attaches an importance on marketing and Research and development activities, since the main aim of the business is to always be innovative and to come up with new products and communicate those products effectively to their customers. In order to do so, Stryker has participated in advertisement campaigns over the past few years. Company also provides its customers with a very detailed website. Another key activity is maintaining close relationship between the employee and the customer that helps them retain most of these customers and make sure that the world of healthcare is aware of what Stryker Corp. is providing. Key resources: Here, once again, the main resource of the company is its employees. For Stryker Corp. it is important to hire people who share the same vision as to improve patients lives as well as clinical efficiency and effectiveness. The company makes sure to provide them with a safe working environment, strong benefits, services compensation and personal growth opportunities. Stryker has received the Gallup workplace Award which ranks them at the top working places on the world (Stryker, 2009). Another key resource for the company is its knowledge and innovation. Over the past year Stryker Corp. has spent a considerable amount into research and development in order to always come up with the latest technology and the most performing products. Other key resources are assets of the company, its technology, products and capital resources. One of the most important resources is the brand of the venture. All of the resources are required to deliver the value proposition to the target group. Value Proposition: Stryker Corp. focuses on having the highest quality standards in order to offer the best products to its customers. The following are the factors that Stryker relies on: product quality, performance criteria and price. Company wants to offer the top products in the and also the service that goes with it. In order to do so, employees receive special training programs that help them understand clients needs and demands and how to be able to fulfill them is the most efficient way. The design of products has to be made to reduce risks, enhance health and safety, but also to able the doctors to work faster and be more efficient. As mentioned above for Stryker Corp. value of its product is one of the main factors they focus on. Customer Relationship: Compared to other companies, Stryker Corp. has a very close relationship with their customers. This is done to understand them better and to be able to offer them what they are looking for. By having such a close relation clients feel special and they become loyal to the company. As the CEO, Mr. Macmillan mentioned, We dont just make products, we make products and we provide services that help people (Stryker, 2009). In this industry the relation between customers and business is of a high importance, since together they can create more advanced products which will contribute in healthy lives of millions of people worldwide. Customer Segments: Stryker Corp.s target market is known to be the medical professionals and healthcare providers that represent a very high scale demand. That is why the company is operating all around the world to stay the number one provider of medical and healthcare devices. Channels: Stryker operates through twelve manufacturing and distributions divisions with over 15,000 employees in 120 countries. Stryker has a decentralized system, with its headquarters in the U.S. and several offices around the world, which allows the company to make faster decisions about products and strategies. There is a direct communication between the company, suppliers and customers to make sure to provide them with fast and efficient services. Revenue Streams: Stryker Corp.s main revenues are from its sales of medical devices. As mentioned before, the company is divided into several departments the one with the highest revenue being orthopedics. The company itself had sales of 6.7 billion dollars in 2008, with an annual sales growth of 21%. Stryker is traded on the NYSE, it is one of the fortune 400 companies in the world and top 50 Company in the Business Week. Cost Structure: The main costs of Stryker Corp. are mainly allocated in the Research and development segment. Company decided to invest mainly in this segment since it always wants to be the leading healthcare provider and it is highly important to keep up with the technology and to always try to improve the healthcare system. Innovation, risk-taking and pro-activity of the venture and its key people Stryker Corp. is committed to the product quality and highly values innovation. Innovation is the essence of companys dedication to their clients. Research and development teams are working closely with the customers in order to understand their needs better and improve the products. The important part of innovation process is the feedback from people that is conducted periodically. The Stryker Global Technology Center is a core division that is working to boost the innovation to reduce costs while increasing quality. The key person in this area is Ray Umber, Ph.D., business development manager at Stryker. He came up with several innovative ideas that led Stryker to the top place in certain industry segments and now he giving others an opportunity to learn from his experience through training and practice (Stryker , 2009). From the time when the company was established it is obvious that risk-taking is a big part of all operations. Initial risks are connected directly to the risky nature of the industry. One of the most recent examples of risk-taking was the decision to change the vision of the company after many years of operating. There are also risks associated with decisions of expanding the business through acquisitions, joint ventures and partnerships. Over the time line of Stryker Corp. it is evident how pro-active the venture is. Acquisitions play a big role in companys expansion. Stryker Corp. strategically grows into related industries to increase its products offering and get access to new resources and technologies. Over last year company acquired numerous ventures that are important investments for future success. This is also a high risk, since acquisitions require big amount of capital expenditures. Based on the financial situation in the world due to the 2008 crisis, such decisions can be seen as risky. However, Stryker orients on long-term strategy where these acquisitions are important. Proactive programs are also taking place on the smaller level inside the company. Last year, Stryker Corp. presented the program Proactive Distributor Selling that gives managers the opportunity and capacity to better develop, manage, and coach distributor relationships to maximize sales training results (n.a., 2009). Proactive approach is seen throughout all divisions of the company, from supply chains, manufacturing to sales. Company is adapting changes all the time with a goal of improving operations and value of the business. The present CEO of Stryker Corp., Stephen MacMillan is a perfect example of a proactive leader. He leads the company through a change time, explains the reasons and future moves, motivates people to adapt and react to these changes. Traits and characteristics associated of the companys key people There are three key people throughout the history of Stryker Corp.: three CEOs who led the company to the success and who had different traits and characteristics, which makes them successful entrepreneurs. First person who deserves an acknowledgement is the first CEO, Dr. Homer Stryker. He was the one who started the company being driven by his passion and interest in improving patients care. He was a very innovative person, many of his ideas became standards in the industry of medical equipment nowadays. During his work as a surgeon he encountered few problems and difficulties that he saw as opportunities for improvement. One of the main reasons of his success and success of his product was the fact that he was doing what he liked, what he was passionate about. He believed that his inventions will change the medical practice in a better way. He knew how to look at his business from customers perspective, therefore his products were always a match of their needs. Due to his achievements Stryker Corp. grew and became an international producer of medical equipment and surgical products. Second remarkable person is John Brown. His time as the CEO of a company was notable by quite different achievements than his predecessor. John Brown was a risk-taker, he made decisions to decentralize the company after many years being centralized. He saw big future for Stryker Corp. and this step was necessary at the time. He was a good planner who knew how to motivate people by giving them empowerment and responsibilities. Under his management members of the sales team got possibilities to get involved into creation of innovative products due to their good knowledge of customers. His 20% forever rule led the company to the new heights. John Brown built up the competitive advantage for Stryker Corp. that still serves the company. He had an ability to foresee, to manage company wisely, he kept the company going towards success. One of the key people in the company today and the example of successful entrepreneur is Stephen MacMillan, the present CEO of Stryker Corp. He wants to move the company further and expand its operating field. He is passionate about raising the level and often exceeds his own ambitious goals. As well as John Brown he took a risky decision of changing the vision of the company. This is a fundamental change that takes a lot of hard work to ensure success. For Stephen MacMillan, its all about coaching his team to stay ahead of the pack (Much, 2006). He has a great ability to motivate people, to manage companys resources wisely, plan everything one step ahead. He creates a positive image for Stryker Corp., gets involved in companys affairs and builds solid reputation for himself and company as a whole. Companys culture, values, vision and mission Stryker Corp. is the global leader in medical technology industry with the long history of success and strongly established culture. Success of the venture lays in discipline, stamina, ability to recognize the opportunities in the market, move quickly and adapt to current changes. Furthermore, culture differs from company to company and it is usually established naturally. Every time when people come together with the shared purpose culture is created. Stryker Corp.s culture was changing throughout the past, different set of values and incentives were created for employees, with aim to increase the overall financial performance of the company and bring back the benefits to patients, shareholders, community and its employees. Today they are focused on innovation, improving the quality of the products in order to build up trust and integrity. According to their mission statement: What matters most to us and to our customers is quality innovation and cost. Those are three areas how we are delivering for today and investing in future (Stryker, 2009). Companys strong financial and leadership position put the expectation for its products even higher and according to that company has to find the way to exceed customer expectations. Moreover, one of the core values and components in the Stryker Corp.s culture is sustainability. Organization believes in making differences by partnering with their customers and providing them effective healthcare system in order to improve health of their patients. It has built up strong believes and attitudes with their employees that present the essence for their future expansion. According to Striker Corp. they do not just make products our technologies, solutions and services are focused on improving the peoples life (Stryker, 2009). They strive to develop and manufacture products that could sustain the environment and its resou rces. With being sustainable in such a demanding and vigilant industry where the space to make mistake is highly minimized, companys sustainable commitment and responsibility is placed on the highest level. One of the key values is being Social Responsible Corporation in everything what business does. Venture acts as corporate citizen with strong commitment to the patient care by producing the safe products, high quality instrumentation and implants, seeking to minimize the negative effect on the environment, supporting the humanitarian missions and improving quality of life for patients. Building up the trust with customers and patients is everything what social responsibility is. Moreover, vision statement that presents the power tool to retain people with constant shared values was changing in the past with Stryker Corp. as well. Today Stryker Corp. emphasizes on ethics and their vision is: producing products which improve the lives of patients, providing employees with a challenging and rewarding work environment, supporting the communities in which we operate, and generating exceptional returns for our shareholders (Stryker , 2009). Stryker Corp. is not just profit oriented as it used to be before. Now the essential part of its success is the fact that company became more efficient and sociable responsible. Stryker is everything what entrepreneurship is. It was found by Dr. Homer Stryker and his innovative idea that enabled Stryker to be become what it is today, the leader in medical technology. Stryker Corp. involves sense of innovation and constant risk taking that is associated on the daily basis since it is operating in a very sensible environment. Evaluation of failures Stryker Corp. is a strong believer in ethics and bringing the special spirit within its people to compete, make changes and win over the long term. Because of their strong reputation in such sensitive industry, where one mistake or product defect could leave undesired consequences on their image and brand, failures are not tolerated. Taking the case of Surgical Navigation System, where there was a reasonable probability that a product could cause health problems or even create consequences leading to death, Stryker Corp. recalled the product and stopped its usage. This gave the company bad publicity, but it responded fast by pulling out all products from the market and arranging repair for all of them. Very important fact is that in this case Stryker Corp. assumed its responsibility and closely cooperated with public, special control agencies and auditors. After this company became even more cautious and increased safety and security measurements in order to minimize the risks and pr event negative impacts that can decrease their performance in a demanding and competitive market. Recent entrepreneurial thing Apart from the fundamental change of the companys vision that was discussed earlier, one of the main changes, which happened within Stryker Corp. in 2009, was that the Stryker legend, John W. Brown, retired from the board of directors. As mentioned previously he was one of the biggest influences towards the growth of the company. With his retirement the company decided to hire two more directors to replace his position in the board. One of the new members, Mr. Howard Lance is a former chairman, President and CEO of Harris Corporation, which based its operations mainly on telecommunications. The reason for this recruitment was to use his experience and knowledge within the Hong Kong market, where he has lived and worked since Strykers 2010 goal was to expand in the Chinese market. The second gentleman, Mr. Srikant Datar is a former professor of Harvard Business School, who already brings new perspectives towards the team, especially towards the emerging markets. However, mainly his responsibility will lie in bringing new entrepreneurial ideas towards the bio-tech field of the company. The reason this recruitment is the most entrepreneurial thing the company did in the past year is because it will bring a new perspective and help the company grow stronger in the years ahead. Since the company is currently facing consequences of the economic crisis something entrepreneurial had to be organized in order for the company to differentiate from the competition and persuade to their goal of being number one in the medical industry. Idea of hiring a former telecommunication CEO might not seem much related to the medical industry, but from an entrepreneurial side of view it brings new ideas and risks, which will lead the company towards growth. Major problem in the venture The major problem area not for Stryker Corp. only, but also for majority of organizations around the world, is the crisis. Looking at previous years, Stryker has always had a significant growth rate, even in 2007 and 2008. In 2009, however, it changed. Stryker only managed a growth rate of 0.1% in sales and 4% in earnings per share. As Mr. MacMillan states in the 2009 annual report, Clearly, this is not the kind of revenue and earnings growth our shareholders have historically expected from us, and we will never be satisfied with delivering results like these (Stryker, 2009), indicating that these numbers are not up to the satisfaction level in order to meet their goals. On the other hand he also states that 2009 felt more like a boxing match. We went toe-to-toe with a volatile global economy, rolled with some marketplace punches, moved quickly and battled back (Stryker, 2009). Here he is describing how tough the year was for the company in terms of keeping it up to the level expecte d by the shareholders. The crisis itself is the major problem. But within the crisis, sub-problems are found such as the fact that it leaves the market place in an unstable condition, where customers are afraid to buy products. The most common solution is to produce more effectively and lower the costs. Stryker Corp. did just that. The problem was that the quality decreased. The FDA (Food Drug Administration) has through the years become stricter in regulating the medical industry and this affected Stryker Corp. by receiving three warning letters upon their quality on products. The complaints mainly address their biotech and hip implant sector. Company was also accused for falsified hospital documentation, which is not just a quality problem, but becomes a PR problem. Competition is also a major indicator in the problem of reducing your costs. The medical industry is highly competitive industry, especially when it comes to innovations that increase quality and safety. Innovations, on the other hand, requi re big capital expenditures. To stay competitive Stryker Corp. had to further invest in this sector. The last problem in the year 2009 is that Stryker Corp. has some elements of a decentralized company (recent organization is hybrid between centralized and decentralized structure), which makes it difficult to carry out the same plan towards fighting the crisis in all operating countries. Possible solution and evaluation The next step in the problem analysis is to identify possible solutions towards the problem in order to achieve better results in 2010. The suggestions are listed below: Keep the operations as they are, since the market will grow by itself in 2010. Increase expenses on improving the quality Decrease production costs in order to decrease price Fully centralize the company Invest more in innovations to improve competitive advantage Hire a consultant, who can ensure the quality of the products being produced Increase PR spending to increase the companys image In order to find best-match solution, all of them need to be evaluated. The first point can be good, if their market analyst is correct. On the other hand, the market is unpredictable in most cases, therefore, the company would undertake a risk by following this statement of growth. Thus, first option is not a valid solution to the problem. Second possible solution based on the fact that quality was the major sub-problem that arose from the crisis and it is vital to ensure both PR and customer loyalty. Therefore, this option should be considered. Next alternative outlines a theory that is a must do to any companys future success. Decreasing production cost should always be a big part in order to achieve economies of scale, but decreasing that should not be a reason for decreasing the price, because once the recession will come to an end, the company will benefit more from not having changed the price. Solution number 4 is an absolute no-go solution. A major change such a centralizing the company in the times of crisis will just bring more trouble and confusion then there is already. In addition, if the communication is strong, the decision making towards changes in the market will be perceived much faster in a decentralized company or hybrid. Alternative number 5 is probably not the best solution in this case. In the times of crisis there is no need to further increase spending on innovations and most likely that competitors will not do it either since every company is trying to manage their expenses wisely. However, it does not mean that innovation segment must be neglected since it is one of the key elements in this industry. The most reasonable solution is number 6 in terms of sustaining the quality of the products produced and redistributed. It is always helpful to have someone from outside the company to give opinions upon the products and basic operations. Last alternative would also not contribute towards the major challenge of fighting the crisis, since it would mean more expenditure, which indirectly contributes to growth. To finalize upon the options analyzed above, the recommendation for Stryker Corp. would be to hire a consultant and continuously try to decrease costs. The consultant would ensure higher quality and ultimately increase in companys image since fewer customers would have complaints upon the products. In addition, with consultants help, reduced number or no warning letters from the FDA can be achieved. In order to come back to the growth expected by shareholders, our recommendation is to continuously decrease costs and thereby achieve economies of scale. Conclusion Stryker Corp. is a major company in the worlds medical device industry and not an individual business anymore, as it is seen from entrepreneurial perspective. However, its key people and their activities are remarkable from this point of view. This venture has an organized structure, clear goals and objectives that drive company towards continuous growth. Based on evaluation of core business model and major problems that Stryker Corp. has today, there are still many business opportunities that can be undertaken and recommendations provided will contribute in the future success.

Yeats’ Second Coming and Cummings’ what if a much of a which of a wind

The End of the World in Yeats’ Second Coming and Cummings’ what if a much of a which of a wind Hellfire and brimstone, a massive environmental disaster, a third World War; how will the world end? This issue can stop conversations, or start hour long arguments; it can start a religion, or cause people to renounce their faith. The answer to the ubiquitous question of how the world will eventually end is a paradox; to know the answer means that the final hour has come. Both E.E. Cummings and William Butler Yeats express their premonitions about when and why this awesome event may occur. Both prophetize about the horrific destruction of the world in their poems, "what if a much of a which of a wind" and "The Second Coming"; however, Cummings and Yeats disagree on the final cause of this destruction. While both utilize graphic imagery, stark contrast, and unique syntax to warn their readers about the evils of mankind, Cummings predicts society's irresponsible use of technology will engender the world's end, while Yeats believes that men themselves, the "worst full of passionate int ensity," will ultimately cause the downfall of civilization. Cummings' use of intense and somewhat disturbing imagery in his poem "what if a much of a which of a wind" urges readers to realize the extent of the devastation caused by catastrophic, preventable, destruction. The first stanza of the poem, describing images such as the sun "bloodying the leaves", evokes terror in the reader. The thought of the sun, usually associated with warmth and love, destroying something that it has helped to develop, directly parallels technology's current role in society. Technology, usually thought of as beneficial to mankind, slowly destroys the society that it ... ...thinkers since the beginning of time. E.E. Cummings and William Butler Yeats felt compelled to express their thoughts as to the imminent destruction of mankind. However, what they were unaware of at the the time that they wrote their prophetic poems, was how frighteningly true their predictions almost came. Yeats commentary regarding the leaders of the world and their "passionate intensity" prophetized the Holocaust of World War II and the autocracies created by Hitler and Stalin, while the masses "lacking all conviction" sat and watched with passive indifference. E.E. Cummings' description of man's misuse of technology, was exemplified by the dropping of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. These poets sounded an alarm that was ignored; hopefully we are now prepared to heed their warnings so that their dire predictions will not prove to be ultimately true.

Communication in Nursing Essay

Since the dawn of time man has been evolving in the ways we think and interact with each other. What was appropriate a generation ago might not be appropriate today. As nurses we know very intimate details of our patients’ lives, those details can blur the line between a friendly relationship and a professional relationship. Even though you feel you know the patient like you know your best friend you still have to treat them with the utmost respect, and dignity. Social communication is something we do on a daily basis whether it is with a patient or acquaintance, we refer to it as small talk. In contrast Therapeutic communication skills are very specific and goal oriented, they aren’t skills one is born with, these skills take time to perfect and build on. What is communication? The Townsend text defines it as â€Å"an interactive process of transmitting information between two or more entities†. In any communication there are â€Å"preexisting conditions† that affect the intended message and the way it is received, some examples include values, attitudes, beliefs, social status and environment in which the communication takes places (Townsend, 2010). A large part of communication is nonverbal communication, how you present yourself and your body language goes a long way in getting your point across. 70-90 percent of all effective communication is nonverbal (Townsend, 2010). A nurse-patient relationship can have multiple types of communication including non-therapeutic, social, and therapeutic. If a nurse errs and uses non-therapeutic communication such as rejecting, giving reassurance, or probing, negative outcomes occur. Non-therapeutic techniques discourage further expression of feelings and ideas and provoke negative responses or behaviors in others (Potter, Perry, Stockert & Hall, 2009) On the other hand therapeutic communication techniques such as; using silence, accepting and offering self, encourage feelings and ideas and convey acceptance and respect (Potter, Perry, Stockert & Hall, 2009). Social communication can be used as small talk on a limited basis. To understand social communication and therapeutic communication we must first define both. social communication can be defined as everyday communication that occurs as the nurse greets the patient and passes the time of day with what is referred to as small talk (Shives, 2008) saying things like â€Å"how is your day? † or â€Å"how are you pets? † are basic statements that aren’t goal specific. Social communication can elicit a negative response from the patient, if that occurs the nurse would â€Å"shift gears† and start a conversation using therapeutic communication techniques. An example would be: Nurse: â€Å"Hey how are you doing? The weather outside is beautiful today† Patient: â€Å"I don’t care about the weather, I hate it here, I don’t belong here, and I want to go home now! † To remedy this, the next sentence the nurse could use is: Nurse: â€Å"Oh, I see, what would u like to talk about today? † That statement gives the patient a broad opening which â€Å"allows the patient to take initiative in introducing the topic and it emphasizes the importance of the client’s role in the interaction† (Townsend, 2010) Therapeutic communication on the other hand is defined as a process in which the nurse consciously influences a patient or helps the patient to a better understanding through verbal or nonverbal communication. Therapeutic communication involves the use of specific strategies that encourage the patient to express feelings and ideas and that convey acceptance and respect (Mosby 2009). In the text Basic concepts of psychiatric-mental health nursing the author uses a very helpful table to compare and contrast therapeutic and social communication, some examples given are: * In social communication a personal or intimate relationship occurs and the identification of needs may not occur. Whereas in therapeutic communication a personal but not intimate relationship occurs. Needs are identified by the patient with the help of the nurse if necessary. * Personal goals may or may not be discussed and constructive or destructive dependencies may occur, in contrast to therapeutic communication where personal goals are set by the patient and constructive dependency, interdependency, and independence are promoted. * In social communication a variety of resources may be used during socialization, but in therapeutic communication specialized professional skills are used while employing nursing interventions. In conclusion we see that communication in nursing is being developed as an entirely separate skill, as profession nurses we have the responsibility to ourselves and our patients to understand what is being said and to get the point across in a precise and efficient manner. By comparing and contrasting the two communication styles we see they are vastly different. When using social communication the nurse wouldn’t be unprofessional, but it is up to the nurse to determine the correct time, place, and situation for which each style is appropriate.

High Luxury Fashion Management Essay

High Luxury Fashion Management Essay High Luxury Fashion Management Essay High Luxury Fashion Management Essay This paper compares two high-end fashion stores based on various aspects. The fashion stores chosen are Saks Fifth Avenue and Bergdorf Goodman. For better comparison, a shoe brand and a handbag brand have to be chosen and compared respectively. The shoe brand chosen is Valentino sneakers. Both Saks and Bergdorf offer Valentino sneakers in their stores. However, Bergdorf offers more floor space to the shoe brand compared to Saks. For the type of counter space employed, both stores are the same. Each store uses the shoe-in-glass design of counter space. Given the higher amount of floor space given to Valentino sneakers by Bergdorf, the store offers more types of the sneakers than Saks. In fact, Bergdorf offers all the available types of Valentino sneakers . The materials and fabrications used in both stores more or less depend on the brand of shoes. The standard materials used include soft leather, synthetic leather, and canvas. There are more types of shoes in Bergdorf than Saks. To be specific, Bergdorf offers all types of low-top sneakers as opposed to Saks. Saks mostly offers rockrunner sneakers. While Saks favors bright colors of sneakers such as white and gray, Bergdorf offers sneakers of all colors in equal amounts. The prices of the shoes are similar in both stores. However, each store seems to have a different price structure depending on demand for a specific type of shoes. The low-top sneakers are the most favored given that they are light and comfortable to wear in the city. In summary, Saks and Bergdorf are direct competitors as far as sneakers are concerned. They offer similar products to the same group of people. However, Valentino sneakers are more demanded in Bergdorf as evidenced by the bigger space provided to the bra nd. As for the handbags, Bottega Veneta handbags were chosen for comparison purposes. Bottega Veneta is a premium brand offering a wide range of fashion items. When comparing the two stores, it was found that Bergdorf Goodman offers 142 types of handbags compared to only 50 by Saks Fifth Avenue. Bergdorf, therefore, gives more space to the handbag brands. Like in the case with the shoes, Bottega Veneta handbags in both stores are put behind clear glass to be easily viewed by customers. Bergdorf presented all the major product presentation styles including giving of offers on certain handbags. The only type of offer given in Saks was that of buying three bags at the price of two. The bags found in Bergdorf are made of faux fur, leather and suede, linen, polyester fabrics and their blends, rayon, silk, tapestry, velvet, and velveteen. Saks did not have bags made of rayon and velvet. Bergdorf offered, among many other styles, A-shaped woven tote bags and small pillow woven cross body bags. Saks focused more on hobo bags. Both stores, however, focused on the major feminine colors such as pink, beige, blue and black in their various versions. The color emphasis did not make a big difference between the stores. The price structure was based more on the manufacturer (or designer) than on a particular store. However, given that both stores offered products to the upper class, the prices were relatively higher than bags of other brands offered in other stores. Both Saks and Bergdorf offer high-quality products and customer services. They also ship goods to locations outside the United States. They both record high levels of customer demand given that New York has the highest concentration of high-class people. Besides the differences in the amount of floor space given to each premium brand, both stores have almost similar methods of presentation of their products. Having visited the two stores, it was concluded that Bergdorf had a bigger selection of both Bottega Veneta Handbags and Valentino sneaker shoes as compared to Saks. However, Saks had better customer service. First of all, Bergdorf Goodman has a bigger store in general in New York. Thus, it can afford to give more space to both Bottega Veneta Handbags and Valentino sneaker shoes. Besides, the two brands are among the most sought after in the luxury fashion realm. Though not based on facts, Bergdorf can be said to be making more from its sales of Bottega Handbags and Valentino sneakers. Of the two items selected, the most demanded items in both stores are Bottega Veneta handbags. The handbags are favored for their high quality and unique design. In both stores there were more loyal and return customers in regard to handbags as com pared to Valentino sneakers The presentation of the two products, as stated above, is almost similar. Bottega Veneta handbags and Valentino sneakers are placed in glass stands. An interested customer can ask to touch the products as a way of deciding whether he/she wants to buy them or not. Besides, some highly-priced handbags had offers attached to them to encourage customers to buy them. During a conversation, a department manager stated that Valentino low-top sneakers were highly favored for various reasons. First of all, they were fairly priced. Secondly, they were light as city life requires brisk walking. Thirdly, they lasted long and could be used for various purposes such as jogging and days out with families. The reason why Saks is considered to have better customer service was that while at the store, a sales associate approached the author asking if she could be of any help. The author took that opportunity to gauge the real quality of customer service in the store. First of all, there were no signs of discrimination against customers in the store as far as their appearance was concerned. In some other luxury stores, prejudgment is made based on the customers` appearance; if a customer is poorly dressed, it could be assumed that he/she is not be able to afford items being sold. Saks (as well as Bergdorf) had none of that. The sales associate in Saks asked questions and answered mine in the politest manner possible. The author endeavored to ask about the types of celebrities who frequented the store regularly. The sales associate stated that they served some famous people including hip hop musicians like Jay-Z and J Cole. They also serve movie actors and actresses the most recent of whic h were Idris Elba and Kate Beckinsale starring at the Pacific Rim and Underworld respectively. Given the chance to improve the two stores, the author would majorly increase the campaign advertisements to have a bigger customer base. However, these advertisements should be made cautiously given that premium fashion brands are cheapened whenever they are advertised too much. Besides, it is advisable that the two stores expand their international reach given that rich people have no problem spending a lot of money as long as the product is of high quality. Saks should also endeavor in offering more products either by replacing the poorly-performing brands or opening more stores to offer all the products available. In conclusion, both Bergdorf Goodman and Saks Fifth Avenue are among the best fashion stores around the world. Valentino Garavani was born on May, 11th 1932 in Voghera, Italy. Fashion design was his passion from a young age. He studied it until he started his personal line of clothes in 1959 in Rome. A few years later, thanks to his distinctive talent he became one of the most recognized cloth designers in the world. He became the most favorite designer of many women around the world. One of his most famous customers was Jacqueline Kennedy, the wife of the 35th president of the United States (John Fitzgerald Kennedy). Others include Elizabeth Taylor, Marie-Helene de Rothschild, Queen Paola of Belgium, Begum Aga Khan, and Audrey Hepburn. One of Valentino’s early influencers was his aunt Rosa under whom he worked. Besides her, Valentino worked under several other local designers before his formal training in Paris (Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne and Ecole des Beaux-Arts). His had an apprenticeship with Guy Laroche and Jean Desses before he embarked on a personal career. Howev er, Valentino`s first choice for an apprenticeship was Jacques Fath and then Balenciaga. He attested to have learned a lot from his masters as observed from his borrowing of a few ideas from his teachers. Valentino is famous for a distinctive shade of red color known as â€Å"Valentino Red†. Valentino left Jean Desses under controversial circumstances and endeavored to make a name for himself in 1959 in Rome. A part of his success is attributed to his first partner Giancarlo Giammetti. Giametti was an architecture student who helped Valentino build his brand and distinctive â€Å"Valentino Red†. Valentino gained popularity after having participated in a show in Florence in the Pitti Palace. The show made him famous among the rich and the famous. He quickly became the summit of Italian fashion design. When Valentino moved to New York in the 1970s, he had effectively expanded into the American market following his high profile clients in America. Before his retirement, Valentino had various names under his original house. They included Valentino R.E.D., Valentino Roma, Valentino and Valentino Garavani. All names represent a part of his line of wares serving a specific mark et. Currently, Valentino is interested in shoes, bags and belts. As a result, Valentino is a household name. Valentino’s life is very interesting. Now aged 82, Valentino met his wife in 1950 but separated from her in 1972. However, they remained close and maintain homes in various countries including France, Spain and Switzerland. Valentino and Giammetti have filed their homes with art given that it is their ultimate passion. In 1998, Giammetti and Valentino announced their retirement from the fashion industry. They did this by selling off their company for around $300to HdP, an Italian conglomerate. Four years later, HdP sold the company to Marzotto Apparel. The changes in ownership were overseen by Valentino himself since his advice is considered invaluable. As a special way to say goodbye to the fashion industry, Valentino organized a final haute couture in Paris at the Musee Rodin in January 2007. It featured such household names as Eva Herzigova, Claudia Schiffer, and Naomi Campbell. All in all, Valentino’s lines of clothes and shoes have become a household name among the rich and the famous all around the world. Italy is famous for luxury. To make a name in such a market in the same way as Valentino did requires talent and dedication.

Cincinnati Flood of 1997 essays

Cincinnati Flood of 1997 essays Within two days between March 1 and 3, 1997, a killer storm developed from the Gulf of Mexico from Mississippi all the way to West Virginia and carrying with it a deluge of rain as the worst flood in 33 years (Mazzola 1997). Right on day 1, it was an unusually moist type of weather with a terrifying potential for torrential downpours. It turned violent, bringing thunderstorms and tornadoes across a 250-mile spread of destruction. In five hours, Arkansas experienced 14 tornadoes, which killed at least 24. It lashed nearby states, killing one person a day in Mississippi and Tennessee and its high winds, claiming two lives in Texas. Rains continued on day 2 through Kentucky and Southern Ohio, as swollen streams and creeks poured into the Ohio River (Mazzola). Their levels rose to a foot a day until day 3. Licking River rose to 52 feet, or 12 feet above flood stage. All through day and night 3, 12" rainfall crashed through 40,000 homes and businesses in Louisville. Leaving the place desolate, it drove east to Clermont, Brevin, Adams, Scioto, Lawrence and Gallia counties, before heading for West Virginia, where it eased a bit. By then, 16 West Virginia counties had been declared to be in a state of emergency, as Ohio and Kanawha Rivers filled their banks. Not quite out, it proceeded east-northeast on day 4, but was broken up by a cold front until dissipating in the Great Lakes area. Floods had gone in and out of the Ohio Valley, but past floods could not compare with the wrath of March 1997. The weather freak produced a variety of floods, from flash flooding in hilly terrain and poorly drained areas, to small stream flooding in rural and urban areas. These were followed by very serious flooding along the Ohio River and many of its tributaries (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 1998). It poured into the rivers in northern Kentucky, including the Rolling...

Protagonist Analysis Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Protagonist Analysis Paper - Essay Example In fact, Jackie’s hatred extends to influence Anne into hating Isabella who later became a truly loving stepmother. Anne depicts strong attachment to Jackie and is unready to accept anything from Isabella. Anne considers Isabella as one responsible for the separation of Jackie and Luke that broke the family. Ben on the other hand seems to love Isabella and mostly accepts directives and help from her, but also depicts strong attachment to Jackie. Luke enjoys strong attachment to the children and rarely wants them to stay with Jackie. Even though separated, Luke confesses his love and friendliness to Jackie and cites children as the central reasons for the feelings. He tries hard to create understanding between Jackie and Isabella so that the former can entrust her children under the care of the latter. Isabella commits and spends most of her social time trying to familiarize with the children. Ben is responding well to Isabella’s struggles but Anne distances even more, a nd creating pursuer-distancer scenario (Nichols, 2013). In the movie, the family including the entrant Isabella involve in different forms of attachments. To begin with, the attachment between Ben and Jackie is healthy. This is evident through the fact that Ben is ready to separate from the mother and survive with a stranger, who in this case is Isabella. The healthy attachment that Ben has with the mother enables him to live a normal and happy life and even integrate well with Isabella (Nichols, 2013). At some point, Ben enjoys Isabella reading him a storybook. When Isabella persuades Ben to sleep, the boy refuses and compels the future stepmother to read him the book. Isabella feels soothed and sleeps when she asks Ben to read her the same book until the boy runs to the sister’s room claiming to have killed Isabella. The attachment between the children and Luke is also healthy considering that the children are

International law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

International law - Essay Example The most disputed and highly controversial examples are the Kosovo crisis, Afghanistan invasion, and the Iraq invasion. The Kosovo and Afghan Crisis The first incident that gave the idea of certain nations’ deviating from the international norms came during the Kosovo crisis. On the insistence of America, NATO undertook a bombing campaign against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY). The action was undertaken for the claimed purpose of implementing the UN Security Council resolution but without the Security Council’s authorisation. It was claimed to be an attempt to stop human rights violations in Yugoslavia/Serbia. The unrest in Yugoslavia was the result of the Kosovars’ effort to gain independence. However, Serbia has strong emotional attachment with Kosovo as the place of the 14th century defeat by Turks. As a result, there arose reports of mass human rights violations in Kosovo as FRY president forced ethnic Albanians to leave Kosovo. Soon, there was a ne gotiation between FRY and Kosovo Liberation Army. However, the negotiation failed to reach a solution. As a result, the US forced the NATO to start air strike on FRY. Thus, the ‘Operation Allied Force’ by NATO started attack on FRY on 24 March, 1999. Up to this point everything seemed normal. However, the attack was begun without taking the matter to the United Nations Security Council as stipulated under Chapter VII of the UN Chapter (Charter of the United Nations). The strike continued for two and a half months. In the attack, as Charlesworth (2002) reports, 500 civilians were killed, including both Serbians and Kosovars; in addition, there were 6000 casualties. Later on, the attack ended with the agreement reached between FRY, Serbia, and NATO. Thus, the UN Interim Administrative Mission took charge of Kosovo (ibid). However, this aroused significant levels of controversy in the international sphere as there was blatant violation of the norms of the UN Security Counc il stipulation that any regional action only be undertaken with the permission and authorisation of the Security Council. However, this was not the only issue that arose along with the attack. Another question that came up was if it is justifiable to violate UN charter in pursuit of human rights. Also, if the violation is justified, the question arises as to what is the limit of force that can be used. Another considerable doubt casted on the sincerity of US and NATO was that if the intention of NATO was to reinstate human rights in Kosovo instantly, air strike from a height of 20,000 feet was the worst method to adopt as it naturally leads to less accuracy and more civilian deaths. In addition, the campaign could not replace President Milosevic, nor could it control the mass departure of Kosovars. Whatever the reasons of the attack may be, it helped unravel the weaknesses of international law and the institutions that are meant to impose them. One can see innumerous number of works on the Kosovo issue, and the opinions of scholars vary greatly. According to one class of thought, as cited by Charlesworth (2002), the incident calls for a principle of humanitarian intervention. This was the opinion expressed by US President Bill Clinton