International Human Resource Management CZ18 Essay

International Human Resource Management CZ18 - Essay Example There is a very close relationship between national culture and the human resource management as the document analyzes. The essay analyzes the impact of national cultural on the human resource management. The national culture framework by Hofstede attributes national culture to aspects such as collectiveness versus individualism, power distance, uncertainty avoidance as well as femininity versus masculinity. The national culture of various countries will handle these aspects from different points of view. These aspects entail the feelings of people and human thinking which tends to create basic problems in every society that every society is expected solve. These problems, however, manifest in varying dimensions from one country to the other. Selection, as well as recruitment, is a chief function of the human resource management. Before an organization starts the process of recruiting and selecting, it is essential for the human resource professional to carry out an analysis of that country’s national culture (Davila & Elvira 2008). If the national culture of that nation is individualistic in nature, the human resource management professionals have to develop strategies that are in line with the national culture of that country. In a nation that uses individualism, the HR professionals will have an assurance that the employees they acquire are transferable to any part of that nation as well as outside that nation. This is because these people are concentrating on their individual career only and are not expected to take care of their immediate family. However, if the cultural dimension of a particular nation is collective in nature, the HR professionals have to come up with strategies bearing in mind that the people they will attain are family conscious. This clearly shows that for the business will acquire the employees as per the culture of the respective nature. Moreover, the

5 great leadership qualities Essay Example for Free

5 great leadership qualities Essay Leaders are often portrayed as heroes and role models, but there is also a darker side to being a leader. Adolph Hitler was one of the greatest leaders in the last 100 years, if not the greatest leader of all time. One man had the ability to lead a country, with a population of 20 million people, against the whole world in a vision he saw fit. One man leading Germany out of economic depression after previously being through World War I was an incredible feat. This is indeed what all leaders strive to be. Hitler is one of the best models for inspiring leaders. He exhibited some of the greatest qualities of being a leader, which included the following: vision, eloquence, charisma, strong will, and tyranny. Vision is a manner in which someone conceives something. All leaders must be goal oriented, and Hitler had one of the greatest objectives of all time. He wanted to purge this world of all the Jews, Gypsies, Homosexuals, and anyone else that didnt fit in his definition of the perfect race. His perfect race the Arian race consisted of blonde-haired, blue-eyed Caucasians. Although he was not able to complete his vision, he still fought for it until the end of his life. One of the most outstanding leadership qualities of Hitler was his eloquence. Being eloquent is to be fluent and persuasive in speech. Hitler would stir up the masses with his fervent speeches. This was one of Hitlers greatest assets. He was able to get his audience so passionate and zealous over his goals, that they would follow him regardless of what he said. Imagine in what manner someone must talk with 20 million people in order to persuade them to eradicate a race without moral regret. When he would speak, he would sweat and get so fanatical about his speech that women would cry when he spoke. Another important quality of Adolph Hitler was his charisma. Charisma is a quality attributed to those with an exceptional ability to secure the devotion of a large number of people. Without charisma, a leader can not function successfully. Hitler attained devotion from almost anyone that he spoke to. The German people were ready to fight the rest of the world to achieve the world that Adolph Hitler saw fit. Men were willing to give their  lives to satisfy a single man. Hitler had one of the strongest wills of any man that this world had seen. He refused to allow anyone get in his way. This is what led to World War II. He would even betray the Russians, his one time allies, for not also agreeing with his ideas. His will also helped Germany out of depression. It is said that Germany had the greatest economy it has ever had in the rule of Adolph Hitler. He did this by political maneuvering and strategic planning. His will helped make Germany one of the most powerful countries in the world in its time. In fact, some historians devote the end of the depression due to Adolph Hitler. This is because many governments got out of their economic depression by actually fighting in World War II. This stimulated many countries and helped the world all over. The last of his important qualities was tyranny. A tyrannical government is one in which there is a ruler with absolute power. Tyranny enhanced all of his other traits. This is because if someone did not follow him willingly, they were forced to follow him under his government. A leader demanding absolute power is not a bad thing at all times. It does not allow for confusion within a group and may also lead to more efficiency and cooperation. Hitlers tyranny united Germany under one person and allowed it to challenge anyone that stood in their path. Adolph Hitler may not have been a great person, but he was a great leader. Under his rule, Germany pulled out of an economic depression that was plaguing the rest of the world. Also, Germany stood up once again after a First World War and challenged the world once more. Many people might disagree about him being a great leader because he led Germany to another loss, but this was inevitable because one man cannot stand against the world and hope to win. Nevertheless, Hitler was one of the greatest leaders of all time and should be a template for future leaders.

The Health Benefits of Exercise Essay -- Healthy Lifestyle Essay

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Everyone in America these days seems to be concerned with their physical fitness, and everyone’s talking about getting in shape, but the numbers don’t lie. In 1980, 25 percent of adults in this country were overweight; a staggering amount, but the numbers have increased to 34 percent today (Shape 1). Most people attribute this fact to America also being the richest country in the world with very few people actually going hungry. However, the overweight problem in America is not only a product of eating too much, but this goes hand in hand with not getting enough exercise to burn off those unwanted pounds. Talk about getting in shape is all over books, magazines, TV shows, newspaper articles and celebrity videos that are all centered around fitness and exercise. I think everyone would agree that exercise and physical fitness are a very important part of our lives, â€Å"...but the truth is most adult Americans do not exercise on a regula r basis. And yet, to feel good, look our best and live longer, fuller lives, regular exercise is a must† (Exercise Your Way 1). â€Å"Many people start the new year with new health club memberships, new exercise equipment and a lot of enthusiasm about losing weight, toning muscles, and improving aerobic endurance. But most of these people will be back to their old habits by Valentine’s Day. The new exercise equipment will be used as a clothes rack, the health club membership will have lapsed and the new running shoes will be used only for running to the store† (Stick 1). The problem is that people have too many excuses not to exercise, and not enough reasons to want to exercise. The solution to this problem is simple. We must, as a society, get ourselves informed of the benefits of exercise, and then... ...tor. 17 April, 1997. Go To (March 1997). Jackson, Jeanne M.. The Relationship Between Physical Fitness Levels and Self Concept in College Males/Females. Health, Physical education and Recreation: Microcard Publications. 1980, Northeastern Missouri State University: FICHE #3766. Making a Commitment. Netscape Navigator. 16 April 1997. Go To (April 1997). Norton, Cindy. Student Purposes for Engaging in Fitness Activities. University of Oregon: Microform Publications. 1995, College of Human Development: FICHE # 5124. Shape Up America: General Information. Netscape Navigator. 17 April, 1997. Go To (March 1997). Stick to Your Fitness Program. Netscape Navigator. 16 April, 1997. Go To (April 9, 1997). Stress Management. Netscape Navigator. 16 April, 1997. Go To (April 1997). Walking is Good. Netscape Navigator. 16 April, 1997. Go To (April 9, 1997).

On the Beach: Sexism and Tourism Essay

Since the 1800’s, tourism has played a major role in the world economy. It has helped improve suffering economies that are unable to rely solely on their exports, and provided poorer nations with foreign currency and foreign investment, which can help to improve the economy of the poorer nation. Tourism has also encouraged development of modern skills as well as new technologies. (Enloe 233) In conclusion, tourism has become one of the most valued sources of income for many countries around the world. However, while tourism has played an important role in the economic standing of underdeveloped nations, it has also encouraged many gender stereotypes, and as not provided to be an equal or a non-discriminatory industry. Two of the major areas in the tourism industry where there are obvious gender differences are in advertisement and employment. When it comes to the issue of tourism and advertisement, the way men and women are depicted in tourist advertisements are based upon peo ple’s presumptions about masculinity and femininity. Because of history depiction of males as the one’s whore are more likely to travel, and women who travel as being improper, (Enloe 208) the majority of tourist advertisements are directed at men. This is apparent through the use of sex appeal. An example of an advertisement that uses this device is the advertisement for Singapore Airlines, which is mentioned in the text On the Beach: Sexism and Tourism. In this advertisement, there is nothing more but a ethnic woman holding a lily while standing in a misty setting. No information about the airline and its rates are given. (Enloe 222) This clearly demonstrates how women are used for there femininity is tourism advertisements. This obvious use of sex appeal is used to entice men to use Singapore Airlines. When deciding what airline to use, they’re more likely to remember the one that had the attractive woman in its advertisement. Furthermore, it is possible for them to hold a subconscious belief that they will meet a woma n similar to the one depicted in the advertisement if they use that airline. Even in the advertisements that do show males, the differences between masculinity and femininity are apparent. The men will often be shown in police or military uniforms to give an image of safeness and security. On the other hand, women are usually depicted in colorful peasant dress, to give the illusion of them being welcoming and, more importantly to the male viewers, available. (Enloe 222) The way the most ethnic women are depicted in these advertisements  gives the illusion that they are wilder and easily attainable, much more so than women back home. Men seeing these women depicted in the advertisements as they are, are more inclined to view them as something to experience and enjoy. (Enloe 216) The gender stereotypes in tourist industries are reinforced by the choice of employees, as the majority of them are women. For example, in the Caribbean, during the 1980’s over 75 per cent of tourist employees were women. The reason for this high percentage is due to the fact that most of the jobs that relate to tourist industries are viewed as women’s work. The most common tourist industry jobs involve cleaning, washing, cooking, and serving. On of the reasons the female employment rate for the tourist industry is so high is because in society a man who took part in women’s work was seen as losing is masculinity, whereas these jobs were not seen reducing femininity for women. As well, studies have shown that women tourists prefer, and feel more comfortable when other women wait them on. (Enloe 223) Furthermore, because women are usually passed a lower salary than men, by hiring more women employees, tourist companies are able to cut cost by paying the women employees far less than they would the males. (Enloe 224) The use of gender stereotypes in the tourist industry, as outlined in the text On the Beach: Sexism and Tourism are predominantly used for improving sales, and cutting financial costs. Tourist companies are aware that the depiction of women as exotic and welcoming will appeal to males, and hiring more women employees that men is financially beneficial. As a result, it is likely that these gender stereotypes will remain unless they become the cause of a decrease in profits.

Six Popular Brands of Cola Are to Be Used in a Blind Taste Study

Macroeconomics Homework 2 Chapter 3: 5. a. England has the absolute advantage in scones & Scotland has the absolute advantage in sweaters. England has the comparative advantage in producing scones and Scotland has the comparative advantage in producing sweaters. b. Scotland would produce sweaters and trade them for scones to England because they will be getting a good at a lower opportunity cost if they produced it in their own country. c. Yes, both countries would still gain from trade because England would still have a higher opportunity cost for producers sweaters than Scotland.Chapter 4: 5. Technology advances have affected the market for computers by increasing the supply causing a shift to the right, which has also increased the demand for computer software, also lowering the price. As for typewriters it has decreased the demand because computers are becoming more affordable because they are cheaper to make. 10. a. Submitting graph in class. Equilibrium price is $6. 00 and quan tity is 81 pizzas. b. There would be a surplus so the producers would have to cut the price to get rid of surplus inventory. . There would be a shortage and the producers would raise the price until the shortage is reduced. Additional homework problems: 1. 1)Opportunity cost of 1 parasol for Huang is 1/3 of a plate. 2)Opportunity cost of 1 parasol for Min ? of plate. 3)Opportunity cost of 1 plate for Huang is 3 parasols. 4)Opportunity cost of 1 plate for Min is 2 parasols. 5)Neither because it takes them both the same amount of labor hours to produce the same amount of parasols. 6)Min because she has lower input of producing plates. )Huang has the comparative advantage of producing parasols because his opportunity cost is lower. 8)Min has the comparative advantage of producing plates because the opportunity cost of producing one plate is only 2 parasols. 9) A. 2. 1)Equilibrium price= 25 Equilibrium quantity= 400 2)400 units would be supplied and demanded. 3)Surplus of 200 units. 4)$ 35 5)Shortage of 200 units 6)$15 3. 1)It would cause a decrease in demand and a shift in the demand curve to the left. )It would cause a decrease in demand and a shift in the demand curve to the left. 3)It would cause an increase in the current demand and a shift in the demand curve to the right. 4)It would cause an increase in the current demand and a shift in the demand curve to the right, because buyers would purchase more before the price goes up. 5)It would cause an increase in demand and a shift in the demand curve to the right. 6)Quantity goes down and prices go up so it would cause a movement in the demand curve to the left.

Factors That Affect Travel And Tourism Tourism Essay Essay Example

Factors That Affect Travel And Tourism Tourism Essay Essay Example Factors That Affect Travel And Tourism Tourism Essay Essay Factors That Affect Travel And Tourism Tourism Essay Essay the usage of computing machines in travel bureaus and sophisticated databases for selling intents are now ordinary. Increase in competition within the industry will coerce organisations to utilize new engineering to the full. New developments in transit make extended usage of new engineering, for illustration the Channel Tunnel, the progresss in aircraft design and opening up new long-hall finishs. Then more develop coach is ace VIP coach. This is dwelling of all the service to the riders. So the riders can bask the traveling period. Furthermore, another factor is, the engineering develops until the riders or the clients can acquire the information of the travel and touristry industry in cyberspace. The peculiar bureau will update all the information in web so the clients can look into easy all the information about their circuit and can easy reach to the peculiar bureau. This makes the bureau celebrated among the people because all over the universe can entree their information and can see to the peculiar bureau. At the same clip besides help the clients to acquire all their information in item and faster excessively. Cultural and environmental factors besides affect the travel and touristry industry. In the 1980s saw the outgrowth in Britain of a greater environmental consciousness and a society that was get downing to take its wellness and fittingness earnestly. These factors are likely to stay of import influences on travel and touristry developments in the hereafter with alleged green issues high on the docket. The political facet besides affects this industry. The security concerns over travel have had a serious impact on the travel and touristry industry. Which are taking to increased concern failures in certain state of affairs if the authorities neer invent in this industry. The authorities must provides all the services to assist the industry such as prepare a good route for travel and railroad paths for the tracks travel so the travel and touristry industry can easy can safely go. Then the pick of finish besides affects this industry. Most of the client likes to go for a celebrated and gratifying topographic point. So they must convey out the travel and touristry to a celebrated popular topographic point, which got a high demand among the people. Then choose of topographic point should be harmonizing to the age group. If want to transport on a travel and touristry, must be a topographic point where got a tonss of merriment and amusement but if want to transport on for veterans agencies topographic point should be suited for them. So they can bask the travel with fullest and the affect besides will be the positive type. Other than age group class at that place got other group class besides, such as leisure clients, concern clients, independent travellers, bundle tourists. So the travel and touristry must be transporting on harmonizing to deferent types clients. Besides that, the regulation and ordinance besides will impact the travel and touristry industry. The travel that s traveling to transport should be following the all the regulations and ordinances that the authorities stated and the peculiar topographic point stated. So it will neer impact the clients of them. For illustration, if the touristry topographic point stated that can non convey camera or picture indoors means they should state earlier to their client so they may follow the regulations and will non impact the bureau besides. If non the bureau may impact because did non follow the regulations and ordinance. While the clients besides wont regard to the bureau. At the terminal the clients wo nt back up for the peculiar industry. The travel and touristry that traveling to transport on besides should be suited for the season. Because the clients are ever like to go to different finish in a different season. So should transport on the right travel and touristry event at the correct season. If non it will impact alt the industry. The client may non will back up the bureau because they are non giving what they want and they wo nt fulfill with them at all. At last the nutrient and drink besides will impact the industry, even is non a large issue and of import in a travel and touristry industry. The nutrients that they provide to the clients should be good nutrients which is non expired or spoiled. If non the client may acquire choler with their service and will acquire letdown with their service. So if a travel and touristry industry wants to be success agencies, they should see all the component of the travel and touristry. And must fix earlier for everything with full of good service for their client s satisfact ion. Decision hypertext transfer protocol: //t3.gstatic.com/images? q=tbn: ANd9GcSbpXEn1MNc3WlR1eNL_Y7lEYmix5zdVH5pPapH0B3n3gHJT1lhAs the decision, we have learnt about the significance of cordial reception and the phases of cordial reception industry development from traditional to advanced phase and learnt that cordial reception direction means how to provide for people in a friendly and cheerful mode to enable the guest appreciate in services. Besides that, we have learnt about the significance and the importance of housekeeping Department in hotel, motel, guest how we have learn about the interdepartmental co-operations among assorted sections of the hotel and the importance of hotel industry in our society. Furthermore, we besides learnt the significance and types of non-commercial cordial reception direction and the type of organisation that is available. Last we have learnt and understood the significance of the layout in cordial reception industry and the necessary and of import factors to see when program to set up this industry. A A Bibliography Website reference Anon. , 2011. Hospitality industry Profs from the American. [ Online ] Available at: lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //lists.nextmark.com/market ; jsessionid=BB3F819354646B9A37718ECCB0E2526C? page=order/online/datacard A ; id=260943 gt ; [ Accessed on 25 February 2011 ] Fareeha. , nd. Disadvantage of hotel industry. [ Online ] Available at: lt ; .http: //www.maybenow.com/disadvantage-of-hotel-industry-q23973921 gt ; [ Accessed on 17 February 2011 ] Johnston, A. , 2010. Definition of cordial reception industry. [ Online ] Available at: lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //ezinemark.com/a/definition-of-hospitality-industry/ # ixzz1H2u8jXGa gt ; [ Accessed on 13 March 2011 ] Anon. , nd. The travel and touristry industry. [ Online ] Available at: lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //www.pearsonschoolsandfecolleges.co.uk/FEAndVocational/TravelAndTourism/ALevel/ASGCETravelAndTourism/Samples/Sampleunit/ASTTDoubleEdexcelUnit1.pdf gt ; [ Accessed on 15 March 2011 Shlotta. , 2009. Factors impacting travel and touristry industry. [ Online ] Available at: lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //www.antiessays.com/free-essays/39975. hypertext markup language gt ; [ Accessed on 25 February 2011 ]

Essential Amino Acids and Their Role in Good Health

Essential Amino Acids and Their Role in Good Health An essential amino acid may also be called an indispensable amino acid. This is an amino acid that the body cannot synthesize on its own, so it must be obtained from the diet. Because each organism has its own physiology, the list of essential amino acids is different for humans than it is for other organisms. The Role of Amino Acids for Human Beings Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins, which are essential to  forming our  muscles, tissues, organs, and glands. They also support human metabolism, protect the heart, and make it possible for our bodies to heal wounds and repair tissues. Amino acids are also essential for breaking down foods and removing waste from our bodies. Tryptophan and tyrosine are amino acids that produce neurotransmitters. Tryptophan produces the mood-regulating chemical serotonin and can make you sleepy. Tyrosine is essential for the production of norepinephrine and adrenaline and makes you feel more energetic.The amino acid arginine is essential to the production of nitric oxide which lowers blood pressure and helps to protect the heart.Histidine makes the enzymes needed to produce red blood cells and healthy nerves. ]Tyrosine is used in the production of thyroid hormones.Methionine makes a chemical called SAMe which is essential for the metabolism of DNA and neurotransmitters. Nutrition and Essential Amino Acids Because they cannot be produced by the body, essential amino acids must be part of everyones diet. It isnt critical that every essential amino acid be included in every meal, but over the course of a single day, its a good idea to eat foods that include  histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine,   tryptophan,   and valine. The best way to ensure that you are eating a sufficient quantity of foods with amino acids is to complete proteins. These include animal products including eggs, buckwheat, soybeans, and quinoa. Even if you dont specifically consume complete proteins, you can eat a variety of proteins throughout the day to ensure that you have enough essential amino acids. The recommended dietary allowance of protein is 46 grams daily for women and 56 grams for men.   Essential Versus Conditionally Essential Amino Acids The essential amino acids for all people are histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan and valine. Several other amino acids are conditionally essential amino acids, meaning they are required at some stages of growth or by some people who cannot synthesize them, either because of genetics or a medical condition. In addition to the essential amino acids, babies and growing children also need arginine, cysteine, and tyrosine. Individuals with phenylketonuria (PKU) need tyrosine and also must limit their intake of phenylalanine. Certain populations need arginine, cysteine, glycine, glutamine, histidine, proline, serine and tyrosine because they either cannot synthesize them at all or else are unable to make enough to meet the needs of their metabolism. List of Essential Amino Acids Essential Amino Acids Non-Essential Amino Acids histidine alanine isoleucine arginine* leucine aspartic acid lysine cysteine* methionine glutamic acid phenylalanine glutamine* threonine glycine* tryptophan proline* valine serine* tyrosine* asparagine* selenocysteine *conditionally essential

The Archaeology of Ancient Peru and Central Andes

The Archaeology of Ancient Peru and Central Andes Ancient Peru traditionally corresponds to the South American area of the Central Andes, one of the archaeological macro-areas of South America archaeology. Beyond encompassing all Peru, the Central Andes reach toward the  north, the border with Ecuador, westward the lake Titicaca basin in Bolivia, and south the border with Chile. The amazing ruins of the Moche, Inca, Chimà º, along with Tiwanaku in Bolivia, and the early sites of Caral and Paracas, among many others, make the Central Andes probably the most studied area of all South America. For a long time, this interest in Peruvian archaeology has been at the expense of other South American regions, affecting not only our knowledge about the rest of the continent but also the connections of the Central Andes with other areas. Fortunately, this trend is now reversing, with archaeological projects focusing on all South American regions and their reciprocal relations. Central Andes Archaeological Regions The Andes obviously represent the most dramatic and important landmark of this sector of South America. In ancient times, and to some extent, in the present, this chain shaped the climate, the economy, the communication system, the ideology and religion of its inhabitants. For this reason, archaeologists have subdivided this region into different zones from north to south, each separated into coast and highland. Central Andes Culture Areas Northern Highlands: it includes the valley of the Maraà ±on river, the Cajamarca valley, Callejon de Huaylas (where the important site of Chavin de Huantar is located, and home of the Recuay culture) and Huanuco valley; North Coast: Moche, Viru, Santa and Lambayeque valleys. This subarea was the heart of the Moche culture and the Chimu kingdom.Central Highlands: Mantaro, Ayacucho (where the site of Huari is located) valleys; Central Coast: Chancay, Chillon, Supe, and Rimac valleys. This subarea  was strongly influenced by the Chavin culture and has important Preceramic and Initial period sites.Southern Highlands: Apurimac and Urubamba valley (site of Cuzco), the heartland of the Inca empire during the Late Horizon period; Southern Coast: Paracas peninsula, Ica, Nazca valleys. The South coast was the center of the Paracas culture, famous for its multicolor textiles and pottery, of the Ica pottery style, as well as the Nazca culture with its polychrome pottery and enigmatic geoglyph s.Titicaca Basin: Highland region at the border between Peru and Bolivia, around the lake Titicaca. An important site of Pucara, as well as the famous Tiwanaku (also spelled as Tiahuanaco). Far South: This includes the area at the  border between Peru and Chile and the region of Arequipa and Arica, with the important burial site of Chinchorro in northern Chile. The Central Andean population were densely settled into villages, large towns, and cities on the coast as well as in the highlands. People were divided into distinct social classes since very early times. Important to all ancient Peruvian societies was ancestor worship, often manifested through ceremonies involving mummy bundles. Central Andes Interrelated Environments Some archaeologists use for ancient Peru culture history the term â€Å"vertical archipelago† to emphasize how important was for people living in this region the combination of highland and coastal products. This archipelago of different natural zones, moving from the coast (west) to the inland regions and the mountains (east), provided abundant and different resources. This mutual dependence on different environmental zones that make up the Central Andean region is also visible in the local iconography, which since very early times featured animals, like felines, fish, serpents, birds coming from different areas such as the desert, the ocean, and the jungle. Central Andes and Peruvian Subsistence Basic to the Peruvian subsistence, but available only through exchange between different zones, were products such as maize, potatoes, lima beans, common beans, squashes, quinoa, sweet potatoes, peanuts, manioc, chili peppers, avocados, along with cotton (probably the first domesticated plant in South America), gourds, tobacco and coca. Important animals were camelids such as domesticated llamas and wild vicuà ±a, alpaca and guanaco, and guinea pigs. Important Sites Chan Chan, Chavin de Huantar, Cusco, Kotosh, Huari, La Florida, Garagay, Cerro Sechà ­n, Sechà ­n Alto, Guitarrero Cave, Pukara, Chiripa, Cupisnique, Chinchorro, La Paloma, Ollantaytambo, Macchu Pichu, Pisaq, Recuay, Gallinazo, Pachacamac, Tiwanaku, Cerro Baul, Cerro Mejia, Sipan, Caral, Tampu Machay, Caballo Muerto Complex, Cerro Blanco, Paà ±amarca, El Brujo, Cerro Galindo, Huancaco, Pampa Grande, Las Haldas, Huanuco Pampa, Lauricocha, La Cumbre, Huaca Prieta, Piedra Parada, Aspero, El Paraiso, La Galgada, Cardal, Cajamarca, Cahuachi, Marcahuamachuco, Pikillaqta, Sillustani, Chiribaya, Cinto, Chotuna, Batan Grande, Tucume. Sources Isbell William H. and Helaine Silverman, 2006, Andean Archaeology III. North and South. Springer Moseley, Michael E., 2001, The Inca and their Ancestor. The Archaeology of Peru. Revised Edition, Thames and Hudson

Transport planning policy article critique Essay

Transport planning policy article critique - Essay Example â€Å"Peak everything† is a phrase that Heinberg and other ecological advocates use to indicate that most finite resources are reaching or will reach exploitation limits and will thereafter only give less and less of the resource at higher and higher cost, but peak oil has achieved special attention. Since every element of the economy needs petrochemicals in production (and not just in factories but also in high-intensity Green Revolution agriculture), consumption, transportation and distribution, peak oil means the end of growth, since every element of the society becomes perpetually more expensive. The connection with transportation is obvious: Transportation must be sustainable if it is to be relevant. Hank Dittmar's Transport and Neighbourhoods (2008), and his earlier collaboration with Ditland (2004), emphasizes sustainability in its approach. Dittmar argues that sustainability will have to be part of a ground-up approach to design. It's meaningless, for example, to make it easier to navigate an inner city without a car if the people who work at the inner city commute from a suburb that is designed for urban sprawl. Dittmar argues for sustainable cities. These cities are characterized by a number of factors: 1. Sustainable transportation and sustainable city design being interlinked 2. ... calls â€Å"the five minute pint†, or the five minute trip to a local pub; this means that it's not just walkability for access to essential institutions like groceries and schools, but also walkability to reasonable centers of entertainment and social interaction 5. Accessible public transportation: A subway is meaningless if it takes a car to get there 6. Market-based strategies 7. Scale of problem demands immediate and technological solutions Dittmar's position as a Prince Foundation urban design analyst does provide his claims with authority and plausibility, but I fear as I look at his analysis that perhaps there is the classic problem of an expert analyzing his own issue. First: Experts tend to reduce everything to their core issue. Second: Experts often can only see things within the theoretical blinders of their own profession. Urban planning and transportation are obviously connected, but it seems naive to think that it's just urban planning and its inaccessibility to non-commuting approaches causes driving issues. There are obviously numerous other factors. Gas and oil subsidies in the West, particularly in America, make it artificially easy to drive cars (Geiger and Hamburger, 2010). In general, public investment into research provides corporations with the means to produce antisocial institutions: Research in general should focus on other factors. There's also a culture of car ownership. Cars are signs of independence, prosperity and masculinity: The purr of a Lamborghini still has great pull even in this increasingly green age. It's possible to design a city where no one needs to drive a car, and people will still prefer to. And the problem is that mass transportation not being sexy means that less people ride, which reduces the number of stops the system

Sentence Supervision Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Sentence Supervision - Essay Example On the surface these measures seem adequate to deter future and repeat offenders, ensure the safety of the public and to allay the fears of the populace. However a deeper study of the issue reveals there is little scientific evidence to support the perceived effectiveness of these measures. In fact harsher sentences and more stringent parole requirements tend to defeat the very purposes they are supposed to serve. Thus a critical evaluation of sentencing and post - sentence supervision as measures to control dangerous offenders helps provide a comprehensive analysis of their use and the detrimental effects they are likely to have in the criminological process. Initially the acute need for sentencing and post - sentence supervision was felt following the occurrence of certain horrific crimes like the James Bulger, Sarah Payne cases and similar killings. These terrible crimes sent shockwaves rippling through the nation and led to a huge outcry from the impassioned populace. The media played its part in fuelling public outrage and there was a clamour for severe punishments to be handed out to the perpetrators of such heinous crimes. In the aftermath of these killings, the political climate favoured the inclusion of legal provisions to control dangerous offenders by the use of longer sentences and supervision. Such steps served as an opiate to public passions. Unfortunately these measures have not been implemented on the basis of sound scientific study, rather as Tonry points out they reflect a "reduced tolerance of risks in 'late modern society', punitive public attitudes and the cynicism of a political class that chooses to pander to public fears and primitive passions".2 Another reason for the employment of stricter sentencing and supervision was the belief that it would carry out some of the aims of the criminal justice system. For instance it was believed that sentencing and supervision by means of parole officers would serve as a method of crime prevention. It would serve a dual purpose of dealing harshly with dangerous offenders while reducing the risk of reoffending. Theoretically this premise appears to be sound, unfortunately as Ashworth puts it, " it does not follow from any of this that increases in sentence levels will bring about increases in general crime prevention". 3 Dangerous Offenders and the Law Measures for controlling dangerous offenders are outlined under the Criminal Justice Act 2003. When convicted of a 'serious offence', the offender may be condemned to life imprisonment, imprisonment for public protection or extended sentences. Serious offences refer to specified crimes (mentioned under this law) that are usually violent or sexual in nature. Life sentences are imposed on murderers and offenders who have already been convicted for a serious offence. In the words of Hungerford - Welch, "Under s 225(2), if the offence is punishable with life imprisonment and the court considers that the seriousness of the offence (or of the offence and one or more offences associated with it) is such as to justify the imposition of a sentence of imprisonment for life, then the court must impose a life sentence". 4 If the gravity of the crime is

Applying Microeconomics to Business Research Paper

Applying Microeconomics to Business - Research Paper Example on, Tisdell and Hartley (2001) states that businesses managers could take advantage of knowledge of government microeconomic policy as well as its economic impacts in a number of ways. For instance Tisdell and Hartley (2001) explains that they apply it to project how the economic situation of their businesses or the industry may change as a consequence of a change in the microeconomic policy, for example with removal or cuts in tariffs or subsidies previous enacted to protect the industry. Secondly, a lot of countries have regulation prohibiting certain trade practices. In particular situations, governments may prohibit mergers of firms or acquisitions of companies supposing they could reduce competition within an industry to considerable levels, or lead to monopoly. Thus, it is essential for business managers to be aware of these laws and regulations and this requires that they understand microeconomic concepts (Tisdell and Hartley, 2001). It is also beneficial for business managers to understand economic arguments and concepts that might be used as a counter argument for a business merger or acquisition if the government opposes it. Certainly, there are several other areas of government economic policy that require business managers to have a good understanding of microeconomics. These areas include economic concept of science and technology, specifically the economics of intellectual property laws. As Kahneman and Tversky (2000) explains intellectual property rights entail patents, copyrights and plant variety rights and trade marks. Mumbo adds that public policies to control and exploitation of environment and natural resources have recently become more widespread ad these normally have an economic justification. Microeconomic effects of industrial relations policies, international business, investment polices and public finance aspects usually have a critical consequence for the economic performance of a business. Managers can as well use

Diversity Management, a New Organizational Paradigm for Equality Essay - 2

Diversity Management, a New Organizational Paradigm for Equality Policy-Making - Essay Example The researcher states that the different diversity can be categorized into two, the social allied and the individual allied. In the social diversity, it is further subdivided into what is referred to as the six strands of diversity, which includes; ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender, age, and religion. In the individual differences, they can be classified into the following castes; personality, lifestyle, appearance, work style and education. The equal opportunity tends to downplay the aspect of discrimination based on the diversity factor. It is hinged on the emphasis of equal treatment of the individuals regardless of their social groups. The equal opportunity aspect is anti-discrimination program intended to provide relative social justice in the process of individual selection. Most of the human resource managers in the organization today appreciates the need to embrace diversity in the human resource and they have realized that if taken positively, the diversity a spect can make an organization realize its goals in the most efficient and predictable way. The tolerance for counterparts in the workplace is highly encouraged and any discrimination unfairly advanced to anybody be it on a social or individual level is taken seriously sometimes to the legal redress. The realization of the dangers of discrimination based on diversity led to the consideration of what is referred to as Equal Opportunity. In the equal opportunity aspect, politics have gotten into it and there are several schools of thoughts, other arguing that it is like a basket of fruits -this it to mean that even though there are equal treatment and opportunity for all, individual differences can still be recognized and be used in their reference. The other school of thought is that equal opportunity is like a melting pot, it assumes that under equal opportunity there is no recognizable difference among those to be considered.

The Franchise As A Form Of Business Organization Essay

The Franchise As A Form Of Business Organization - Essay Example The franchising concept allows people the ability to purchase a business concept from the franchise. There are lots of benefits associated with franchising. The first benefit is that the franchisee obtains the brand value of a company without having to invest years of marketing efforts to make the company popular. The franchisor is responsible for the marketing budget of the company. Big name franchises such as Burger King, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell spend millions of dollars each year in advertising to attract customers to the establishments of its franchise owners. When a person purchases a franchise they receive full training on how to operate the business from the franchisor. McDonald’s provides training to its franchisees by sending them to Hamburger University. The franchisor also helps the franchise find a good location for its establishment. The person that buys a franchise gets access to the privileged intellectual property, special formulas, and trade secrets that the company holds. As part of the contract, the franchisee must be purchased the raw materials for its product from the franchisor. Since many franchises have thousands of establishments the matrix company is able to obtain economies of scale that are passed on to the franchise owners. This enables franchisees to have lower material costs than similar businesses competing in an industry. Buying a franchise lowers the overall business risk of starting a company. The person buying a franchise does not have to start a business from scratch. From the first day, the franchise opens the company has an established clientele base that desires the products and services that the franchise offers. Franchises have higher customer retention rates than independent stores. The franchisees receive managerial and administrative support from the corporate headquarters during the lifetime of the business.

Working in Teams Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Working in Teams - Research Paper Example This paper describes the work in team and compares it with individual work. Teamwork has lately become one of the most essential ways in which work is being organized as organizations are increasingly delegating work responsibilities to work groups rather than individuals. Structural changes at the workplace such as the implementation of teams are more likely to increase efficiency while encouraging workers to work harder and smarter. Working in teams does yield better results over the efforts of any one individual because when a group of people works together actively, all their skills are harnessed effectively, thereby leading to the achievement of a common purpose. Individuals in the group are more confident about their abilities and are more willing to contribute their ideas because they will be enriched through the team member’s input. Unlike teams, individuals working on their own are often under pressure to perform that they may end up making simple mistakes that could easily avoided when working in teams. The team players can tolerate twice as much pressure as individuals working independently in rowing games. This analogy can as well be extended in a general team context, to explain that the pain threshold of individuals working in teams is much higher than that of independent workers, and this enables them to overcome challenges that come with work. In that respect, working in teams increases individuals’ competence to handle tasks as the members often build each other’s capacity with the sole purpose of enhancing the overall group performance.

The Franchise As A Form Of Business Organization Essay

The Franchise As A Form Of Business Organization - Essay Example The franchising concept allows people the ability to purchase a business concept from the franchise. There are lots of benefits associated with franchising. The first benefit is that the franchisee obtains the brand value of a company without having to invest years of marketing efforts to make the company popular. The franchisor is responsible for the marketing budget of the company. Big name franchises such as Burger King, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell spend millions of dollars each year in advertising to attract customers to the establishments of its franchise owners. When a person purchases a franchise they receive full training on how to operate the business from the franchisor. McDonald’s provides training to its franchisees by sending them to Hamburger University. The franchisor also helps the franchise find a good location for its establishment. The person that buys a franchise gets access to the privileged intellectual property, special formulas, and trade secrets that the company holds. As part of the contract, the franchisee must be purchased the raw materials for its product from the franchisor. Since many franchises have thousands of establishments the matrix company is able to obtain economies of scale that are passed on to the franchise owners. This enables franchisees to have lower material costs than similar businesses competing in an industry. Buying a franchise lowers the overall business risk of starting a company. The person buying a franchise does not have to start a business from scratch. From the first day, the franchise opens the company has an established clientele base that desires the products and services that the franchise offers. Franchises have higher customer retention rates than independent stores. The franchisees receive managerial and administrative support from the corporate headquarters during the lifetime of the business.

Cybersecurity Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Cybersecurity - Coursework Example The N-gram list of Caesar encryption of the document itself would be the most effective for a cryptanalyst to use to decipher a text encrypted with the Caesar cipher as it shows the frequency of each character used in the document. As E is the most commonly used letter of the alphabet, seeing that the highest frequency letter is H with 148 different instances of the letter would indicate that H is the substitute for the letter E. With this known, it can be seen that there is a shift of 3 present in this particular cipher. Once that has been determined, it would be a simple enough task to pair up all the other letters with their associated substitutions, and then translate the document back to its original text. Q2. What do you notice about the histogram results when text is encrypted with the Vigenere cipher in comparison to the results of the Caesar cipher? Why is this the case? The histogram results of the Vigenere cipher show an increase in the frequency of the letters that were u sed in the code word â€Å"applesauce† that encrypted the document. The Caesar cipher does not show this kind of across the board increase in particular letters due to the fact that it does not work off of an encryption key of this nature, but works instead off of an alphabet shift. Q3. There is an error in the following cipher text representation of this quote; what is it? What should the correct cipher text be? SDAHFOWGRABSSRERIVBYBSCIMQTFNIVETGHBSNQCNCSDTDHBSNQCD ECNICIFCTIC The error in the following cypher text occurs in the fourth to last letter of the text. The second to last C that is listed in the above cipher text should be an O instead. The cipher text for the quote, â€Å"The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits† should read: SD AH FO WG RA BS SR ER IV BY BS CI MQ TF NI VE TG HB SN QC NC SD TD HB SN QC DE CN IC IF OT IC. Q4. Of the three ciphers discussed (Caesar, Vigenere, Playfair), what are their relative degrees of secur ity and why? Of the three ciphers discussed, the Caesar is the easiest cipher to break. This particular cipher may be found and used by anyone of any age; I can remember using it back in elementary school in order to pass notes in class. The Vigenere cipher is a bit stronger, requiring a more complex method of analysis in order to determine the proper code needed in order to unlock the â€Å"secret message.† It is the Playfair cipher, however, which shows itself to be the most secure of the three ciphers, as it removes all spacing, or generates its own spacing after every second character, making it impossible to guess the word without the need to â€Å"crack the code† first. Lab 2: Advanced Cryptography Functions Q5. For each of the following, state whether ECB or CBC would be most appropriate and give a brief explanation as to why. a. An online bank statement b. An encrypted VoIP session

Lacan, Foucault, Sedgwick, Binary Essay Example for Free

Lacan, Foucault, Sedgwick, Binary Essay The world consists of a collection of dual concepts. Things either are or they are not, especially at the level of conception. One is either alive or dead; there are no in-betweens with this notion. In the essay, The Mirror Stage as Formative of the Function of the I as revealed in Psychoanalytical Experience, Jacques Lacan describes a certain binary that takes place, and interacts, within a child as soon as they learn to recognize their own image. Lacans recognition of this initial dualism that takes place in an infant, leads to the recognition of several other dualisms. Michel Foucault speaks of a binary when speaking of sex and sexuality in chapter one of The History of Sexuality, Volume 1, an Introduction. In the second Axiom from Epistemology of the Closet, Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick discusses the heterosexual and homosexual dichotomy. Lacan believes that after eighteen months, a child discovers its libidinal dynamism (1286). Libidinal means psychic and emotional energy associated with instinctual biological drives. Dynamism means active and interactive movement. Through action and interaction with its psychic and emotional energy, instinctual biological drives in a childs mind. It is through this dual and cooperative interaction between the physical and metaphysical, in the mirror, that a child begins to form identification with itself and its reflection. Via this reflection, the child will see its body as Gesalt, a collection of parts of the whole (Lacan 1286). The child views the sum of its biological, physical, and psychological bodies as an entire unit; being made up of several different parts, and at the same time just a singular object. The child recognizes and views its reflection in relation to its surroundings, i. e. urniture, itself, its mother, yet this realization that unites the childs parts to form a singular I. This mental permanence, meaning the child will permanently see itself as I, is what will alienate others due its large singular view of itself, and not a view as part of a whole. With the childs actualization of its image and that it can be seen and interpreted, it shall then recognize a binary of physical reality and dream reality. The dream realm is a reality of sorts, in the sense that it is real because it is experienced. That dream realm is then filled with not nly the childs own image, but the image of the physical world it inhabits while awake. This I image is thus residing in the spectrums of this binary where its realities exist both in the physical world and in the mental world. The mirror stage itself is an entire dualistic concept. On one hand, it marks the initial conception of self-actualization, while on the other, maps the libidinal normalization process. Foucault outlines the history of sex in terms of children, how they communicate it, who discusses it, and where it resides in the binary. Children have for many years had a freedom of language with their mentors in relation to sex (Foucault 1654). This is to say that there was less shame in the attitude towards sex. It was a very openly discussed topic outside the realm of perversion and deviance. It was not until the seventeenth century that the French bourgeoisie placed a censorship on all speech that was of sexual manner. Children, across all social classes, gradually became more silent in regards to their sexuality (Foucault 1654). This notion of silence is where duality comes into to play, or lack thereof. Foucault defines silence as the things one declines to say, or is forbidden to name, the discretion that is required between different speakers, (1654). Foucault views silence as a non-passive action, even if it may appear to be doing nothing. One can convey a message just as effectively, and arguably more, by remaining silent than actually speaking. Silence is something that functions alongside speech in such a way that it becomes difficult to differentiate the two in terms of the outcomes they produce. Foucault acknowledges this lack of binary by stating that there is no division to be made between what one says and what one does not say (1654). In terms of the government enforced censorship on sexuality and speech during the 1600s, this silence surrounding sexuality spoke volumes more than explicit dialogue about it. During this time another binary became prevalent, the public and the private. While the people remained relatively silent in public, they were conversing greatly privately. In the 1700s this silence multiplied the forms of discourse on the subject of sex (Foucault 1655). The topic of children sex exploded with many participants partaking in the discussion. There was a great market for this discourse on sex that included the realms of medicine and politics, often interweaving the two. The topic of sex was forced out of the private realm into the public. Foucault says that sex has become something society cannot speak enough about, that [society] convinced [itself] that [they] have never said enough on the subject, throwing society onto a perpetual search for answers (1657). The sexual realm does not reside in the binary of public and private, of being secret or outspoken, yet resides in both. It is because of this need for secrecy that sex has taken such a firm place outside of being a secret. Foucault says society teeters on the middle of the binary system of public and private, that society has consigned sex to a shadow existence, but that they dedicated themselves to speaking of it ad infinitum, while exploiting it as the secret (1658). The history of sex is a prime example of a concept being able to reside in the realms of the public and private binaries, and at the same time residing in neither. Sedgwick claims that sexuality lies in a realm separate than that of gender. She defines chromosomal sex as that of biology that follows the strict XX and XY chromosome pattern of distinction among Homo Sapiens (Sedgwick 2439). She defines gender as an elaborate and rigid social production that strictly serves the binary of only male and female (Sedgwick 2439). She then defines sexuality as an array of acts, expectations, narratives, pleasures, identity-formations, and knowledge, in both women and men that focus on genital sensations, but not adequately defined by them (Sedgwick 2440). She states that gender is only one dimension of sexual choice and that sexuality strictly deals with how the individual feels and has no relation to, or effect on, procreation. Whereas chromosomal sex is strictly based on procreative purposes since it lies in the realm of biology, where a sexed male and a sexed female are the only sexes that can reproduce with each other. This notion thus makes sexuality the polar opposite of chromosomal sex, rather than gender being its opposite, in the binaries. She states that both gender and sexuality are concepts to be chosen. The differences between them are that gender serves the binary of male and female, while sexuality, contingent on the individual, are not limited by such a simple binary. This binaries construction was only to serve the male identity. Sedgwick says that any system with gender at its focus will have an inherent heterosexist bias, meaning that the female gender is constructed as a supplement to the male identity (2442). That the binary by which gender is trapped only exists because it required being a binary, the female gender only exists because the male gender required a counterpart. The binary of heterosexual and homosexual fits a deconstructive template more so than the binary of male and female, thus rendering sexual orientation and gender different. All people at birth are publicly assigned to one of two genders and because of this are forever unalterable. Sexual orientation, on the other hand, is often times rearrangeable, ambiguous, and has a doubleness quality to it that allows for easy alterations (Sedgwick 2444). Sedgwick does not find the gender binary to be one of complexity, but of a rather simple and unchallengeable one. She states the essentialism of sexual orientation is less easy to maintain, incoherent, stressed and challenged (Sedgwick 2444). There is a contradictoriness to Sedgwicks claim that sexual orientation is easy to alter and rearrangeable, yet at the same time less easy to maintain. It is, however, this seemingly contradictoriness that makes sexual orientation different from the gender binary. It is this complexity and fluidity that gives sexual orientation its ability to make leaps and bounds across its multinary systems. The most important aspect of the difference between gender and sexual orientation is the fact that one can choose their sexuality, but not their gender. Lacan, Foucault, and Sedgwick all deal with historical values. That is to say, they deal with issues and topics that occur at the early stages of young life, thus making these dealings at the conception level of thought. Lacans mirror stage describes a childs actualization of self. Foucault deals with the history of sex and the history of childrens conception of sex. Sedgwick discusses the differences of sex, sexuality, and gender. The uniqueness of Sedgwicks notion is that gender is assigned at birth and can never be altered. This ties into Lacans mirror stage where once a child realizes its image, and the placement of that image in the world it lives in, it can never un-see that image, and moreover, can never remove that image from its surroundings. Foucault greatly discusses children in his chapter, however he does not delve deeper as to what about children relate to their sex. Sedgwick supplies contextual substance to Foucaults article that deals mainly with the history of sex and not the sex itself. Lacans concept of self-actualization of the I, can be coupled with Sedgwicks gender assignment at birth, that the I is gendered, and will effect, and often dictate, the childs asymptomatic journey to reach it. Lacans concept of the binary of physical and metaphysical realization of self-image, is the basis for a binary discussion, something either is or is not physically here. Foucault discusses the history of sex and how a binary of speaking about sex or remaining silent does not exist. Sedgwick deals with the gender binary. This theory of dualism, binaries, dichotomy, lays foundation for these authors, and philosophers, and their works.

Market and Company Analysis of Nestle

Market and Company Analysis of Nestle Nestlà ©, the worlds leading food company, produces nutritious food and is conscious of the importance of informing the consumer about the link between nutrition and health. A healthy diet contributes significantly to the overall quality of a good life. 2.2 Nestle Ghana LTD **Note: Please REPHRASE and COMBINE this section; its taken WORD BY WORD from the available source. Source 1: Marketing Information and Research Task 1and 3.pdf Source 2: Nestle Pure Life Drinkng Water.pdf Nestle Ghana limited is a private company operating in Ghana. Its activities include condensed and evaporated dairy products, beverages, coffee, tea, and chocolate and confectionary. The company employs four hundred and seventy two work forces. Nestle started business in Ghana in 1957 under the trading name of Nestle products Ghana limited with the importation of nestle products such as milk and chocolate. In 1968, it was incorporated as Food Specialties (Ghana) limited to manufacture and market locally well known Nestle brands. The company became nestle Ghana limited in 1987. In 1971 the production of two products, Ideal Milk and milo started at the factory in Tema, the port city. The factory has since been further developed and now also produces carnation milk, Chocomilo, Chocolim, Cerelac, Cerevita and Nescafe 3 in 1. These products are not only produced for Ghana but also exported across West Africa. In 2003, Nestle Ghana limited invested in a new warehouse named the Central Dist ribution Centre, located next to the factory in Tema. The company runs sales offices with warehouse in Kumasi, Takoradi, Koforidua and tamale, all in Ghana. The business activity of Nestle Ghana limited is a direct contribution to the economy of Ghana. For all these and other endeavours, nestle Ghana limited has been recognized by the Government of Ghana and other bodies as a responsible corporate citizen. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Nestlà © Ghana Limited started business in Ghana in 1957, with the importation of Nestlà © products such as milk and chocolates. The company built its factory at Tema in 1971 and started the production of IDEAL Milk and MILO. In 1987 Food Specialties Ghana Limited became Nestlà © Ghana Limited. Since then, the product portfolio has increased with the additional production of CARNATION, CARNATION TEA CREAMER, CHOCOLIM, CHOCOMILO, CERELAC (Maize, Wheat, Wheat Bean, 3 Fruits, Honey, Rice and Banana), NESCAFÄ’ Crem 3 in 1 and NESQUIK, which is produced for import. Other products like NESCAFÄ’ and MAGGI are imported from Cà ´te dIviore. Nestlà © Ghana Limited continues to thrive in business because great importance is placed on value creation for our stakeholders and customers. Ensuring long term profitable growth and sustainability has been achieved by building on the companys strengths and balancing the portfolio on three (3) sound pillars: milk, cocoa beverag e, and culinary. As a member of the Central and West Africa region (CWAR), Nestlà © Ghana aims to be an efficient and competitive inter-company supplier: using and contributing to CWAR synergies by becoming a sound manufacturing base for Ghanaian exports like cocoa beverage; aiming to increase Nestlà © Ghana exports from ten percent (10%) to thirty percent (30%) of annual turnover. To achieve this, Nestlà © Ghana is diligently improving processes through capacity usage and working capital optimization, such as the introduction of environmentally friendly equipment, and upgrading information systems, with the introduction of GLOBE (SAP). The advent of these changes enhances and enforces Nestlà © Ghanas determination develop Nestlà © employees. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= In 2003, Nestlà © Ghana Ltd invested in a new warehouse, the Central Distribution centre, located next to the factory in Tema. The company also runs sales offices with warehouses in Kumasi, Takoradi, Koforidua and Tamale. The business activity of Nestlà © Ghana Ltd is a direct contribution to the Ghanaian economy. For all these and other endeavours, Nestlà © Ghana Ltd has been recognized by Government and other bodies as a responsible citizen. Since its establishment, Nestle Ghana limited has significantly stimulated the Ghanaian economy with a dynamic, well trained dedicated work force, manufacturing and marketing well-known brands such as: Ideal Full Cream Evaporated Milk, Carnation Filled Milk, Carnation Tea Creamer, Milo, Chocolim, Chocomilo Cerevita porridge, Cerelac Maize Milk And Cereal Wheat / Milk. Nestle Ghana also imports and distributes brands such as: NIDO milk powder, lactogen infant formula, NAN infant formula, Nescafe soluble Coffee, and Maggi Bouillons and cold sauces. Nestle Ghana Ltd. is now seeking to capitalize on the goodwill enjoyed by it brand chocolim, by introducing chocoless, a brand extension, aimed at generating growth for the company. ANALYSIS Industry Analysis Industry of Cocoa in Ghana Cocoa beans were first introduced to Ghana in 1878 by Tettah Quarshie. Thereafter, the cultivation of cocoa increased steadily until Ghana became the worlds largest cocoa producer, supplying more than one-third of world production by the mid-1960s. By the early 1980s, production was less than half that of two decades before; market conditions were aggravated by a drop of nearly 75% in world cocoa prices between 1977 and 1982. In 1983/84, cocoa production totaled 158,000 tons, the lowest since independence; by 1999, production had rebounded to about 409,000 tons (second highest after Cà ´te dIvoire). The Ghana Cocoa Marketing Board purchases and (at least in theory) exports the entire cocoa crop, as well as coffee and shea nuts. Cocoa smuggling was made punishable by death in 1982. [http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Africa/Ghana-AGRICULTURE.html#ixzz1DlAhbER2] Since the introduction of democracy in Ghana in 1992, the cocoa beverage industry has shown considerable growth. Total number of players is estimated around five. Difficulties in discovering this number arise due to increasing of imported product by unauthorized company. The advent of a democratic government has led to a more business friendly environment and privatization policies have led to an increase in the size of the private sector in the country. Leading Businesses in the Industry Cocoa beverage industry in Ghana is highly fragmented, with the presence of multinationals, domestic and foreign companies. Except in categories where domestic players are protected by legislation, multinationals usually dominate. Notable players include Cadbury (Ghana), Cocoa Processing Company (CPC) and NABB Brothers. It is common for large international companies to form alliances with Ghanaian companies, to repackage and/or market their products in Ghana. This lowers the risk of market entry, as well as enabling the international company to benefit from the existing marketing and distribution capabilities of the Ghanaian company. Factors That Affect Growth Economically, Ghana was in the lower tier of developing countries and classified as a least developed country (LCD) by international development agencies because its per capita annual income was US$400 [textbook]. A positive outlook is forecast for consumer goods in Ghana. One of the main contributory factors will be the countrys political and economic stability. Higher disposable incomes and increasing company advertising are expected to boost value growth. The average Ghanaian will spend more on packaged food, especially on items previously regarded as luxuries. Value growth will also benefit from the increasing sophistication of Ghanaian consumers and improving product quality. Food items that are fast and convenient, such as pasta and noodles, will continue to post dynamic value growth. The sector faces many challenges caused by the environment in Ghana such as poor infrastructure, poor standards of education, and high levels of corruption and a generally low level of disposable income of the population. There is little manufacturing for export, but a significant activity exists in the manufacture of fast moving consumer goods aimed at the domestic market. In recent years, multinational corporations have increased their investment in physical plants, information technology and staff training with a view to improving their operational performance. The consumer goods sector is a major part of the manufacturing sector in Ghana. And like all other manufacturers, the consumer goods industry is characterized by low valued added production. What we see are processors who process imported raw materials into finished products, with very little value added. Multinational companies operating in this industry hardly add value because they import concentrates from their parent companies, which they convert into finished products with minimal value added. The industry is dominated by wholesalers and distributors. In fact, distributors and wholesalers account for over 50% of total sales within the industry. Their dominance is as a result of fragmentation nature at the retail end of the market. The retail end lacked adequate supermarket and glossary stores. They mainly comprise of roadside kiosks, stores, and small sized restaurants, whose sales volumes are generally low. Distribution to the retail market is hampered by huge investments required for delivery trucks general bad road network. Marketing Strategy -What types of marketing strategies are prevalent within the industry? -Determine current operational/management trend within the industry? Neslte Creating Shared Value (Source: Nestlà © Creating SharedValue Report 2009.pdf) care about the people water treatment Water treatment Because good water quality in the areas surrounding our plants has direct benefits for our business, society and the environment all our water is treated in wastewater treatment plants. Our preference is to use municipal wastewater plants to ensure we return only cleaned water back into the environment, but where these are insufficient, we invest in our own on-site facilities (approximately 292 to date, including our latest in Tema, Ghana). We remove 97% of the organic load of the water leaving our factories before it is returned to the environment. In 2009, we discharged 91.34 million m3 of water, a decrease of more than 5% on 2008, with an average level of organic load of 91 mg COD/l (Chemical Oxygen Demand per litre). During 2009, we have reviewed this KPI and have determined that figures for previous years were underreported. Competitor Analysis Nestle Ghana was facing a direct competition and indirect competition. Their direct competitors are Cadburry Schweppes Ghana Ltd, NABB Brothers, Cocoa Processing Company, Allied Cocoa Products Ltd and Kings Cocoa Processing Company Ltd (KCPCL). All those competitors are manufactured and marketed cocoa products. Cadburry and NABB Brothers are multinational companies which have wide experience in international marketing. The rest are local companies which plant cocoa and manufactured cocoa products for Ghanaian. Multinational companies which enter Ghana earlier than Nestle is Cadburry Schweppes Ghana Ltd entered Ghana on 1910 for its own benefit. It was 100% owned by Cadburry Schweppes (UK) with 120 employees. NABB brothers is imported cocoa products to Ghana, there are the leading distributor of supermarket products. The earliest local company which produced cocoas product is Cocoa Processing Company Limited established in 1965 and situated in the picturesque port city of Tema in Ghana. The company comprises three factories (2 Cocoa Factories and a Confectionery Factory). Kings Cocoa Processing Company Limited is a limited liability company incorporated in Ghana on November 30, 1981. The shares of the company are publicly traded on the Ghana Stock Exchange. Allied Cocoa Products Ltd was serving Ghana since 1998. Kings Cocoa Processing Company Limited is a private limited liability company which was incorporated in 2000 to take over the cocoa processing business of the parent company, Luki Investments Limited, which has been trading since 1992. Furthermore, Nestle Ghana was facing indirect competition as well. In Ghana, Milo and Chocolim were marketed for cocoa products by Nestle. They have to compete with other products which are not cocoa products because Ghana also planted tea, coffee and else and can be manufactured into variety products. Cocoa might be chosen by children and teenagers but not elders. Competition by Product Cocoa is the largest cash crops in Ghana since 19th century. However, the earliest local company serving cocoa products for citizen is Cocoa Processing Products in 1965. Cadburry Schweppes entered Ghana on 1910 while Nestle started in Ghana on 1957. This time frame show us that even though Ghana have plant cocoas for a long time but they only manage to produce it on 1965 because they are classified as a least developing country (LDC). Their products are chocolate drink and Golden Tree chocolate bars. The Cocoa beverage market is divided into three categories based on the product: The Premium Segment, Mass Market and Institutional Market. Nestle had a strong market in Premium and Mass Market segment. The Institutional Market is for products that contain basic unsweetened cocoa powder supplied to school, hospitals, the armed forces, and so on. Nestle pulverized cocoa drink consisted of  Milo and Chocolim. The major brand Nestle which manufactured Milo was the leader in the premium category, while state owned Cocoa Processing Company manufactured Golden Tree Vitaco was the strongest in the Institutional Company. As we can se here, all of the companies were marketed cocoas products. Bournvita and Richoco which manufactured by Cadburry Schweppes Ghana Ltd, imported Ovaltine which marketed by NABB Brothers, Golden Tree Vitaco Instant Drinking Chocolate which made by Cocoa Processing Company, Broma which made by Allied Cocoa Products Ltd and Kings Cocoa Processing Company Ltd (KCPCL). All those competitors are manufactured and marketed cocoa products. Competition by Price Ghana has a long history of government-controlled prices for consumer goods and people were quiet sensitive to price changes and were said to have long-term negative perceptions of companies that were perceived to engage in price gouging. These happened because Ghana was in the lower tier of developing countries and classified as a least developed country (LDC) by international development agencies because its per capita annual income was US$400. Nestle (Ghana) needs to develop products that are affordable to the common people because they are dealing with a developing country which has a   low per capita income of US$400. Nestle perceived better quality products were sold at premium of 5% to 10% over competitors. The products were becoming less affordable with waning real incomes. There was also increasing price pressure from imports that were flooding the market as a result of import liberalization. People in developing countries look for affordable products and do not pay attention to the eminence of the products thereby Nestle (Ghana) should not have its products above the average price of  similar products in the market. Thus, Nestle (Ghana) should make its products more affordable to the common people. The disadvantage for Nestle (Ghana) is the external economic environment was increasingly hostile and risky with the rapid increases in inflations; high interest rates and the high level of currency instability were leading them to increase the prices. Competition by Promotion Nestle also operated its own sales outlet and largely distributed through supermarkets and departments. Nestle had 100 regular distributors nationwide and the biggest distributor was Unilever s G.B. Ollivant subsidiary. Nestle used an amalgamation of media advertising and sales promotions targeted at the youth for Milo. The company sponsored highly popular youth soccer leagues, sponsored tennis tournaments and marathon race for all ages. Sales promotion technique of wet sampling (free drinks) was intended at promoting the sales. Media advertising promoted the themes of good health, growing up, and success as closely related and linked to drinking Milo. Nestle s strategy in Ghana was to ensure high awareness of its brands, widespread distribution and quality of its products which helped trounce its competitors in the cocoa beverage market. The statistics shows that only 35.8% of the population of Ghana lives in urban areas, the rest 64.2% of the population lives in rural areas where there are low levels of consumer durable ownership such as telephone, television, house, radio and low circulation of print media. Such setbacks in rural areas mean that mass promotion was viable primarily in the urban areas. The main drawback is that companies have to use large investment in promotion of product into the rural areas to exploit 64.2% of the population. As an alternative of spending 150 million cedis (about US$150,800) on sales promotions in urban areas on non media promotion of 60% and 40% covered media expenditure, Nestle can utilize the investment to aggressively promote the product in rural areas. It will help Nestle (Ghana) to venture into the majority of the population and take control of the market from both sides. Competition by Market share Nestle pulverized cocoa drink consisted of Milo and Chocolim. The two products were quite similar with sixty percent of the company s powdered sales from Milo and forty percent from Chocolim. Chocolim was aimed at rural areas and low-end urban market while Milo was the premier brand and was targeted to the high-end of the market. Nestle brands were sold at premiums of 5% to 10% over competitors because if its perceived better quality in the market. The Cocoa beverage market was divided into three segments: Premium Segment, Mass Market and Institutional Market. Nestle managers estimated their share of 80% in the cocoa beverage market; other observers believed Nestle share was closer to 55%. Major competitors for Nestle were Bournvita and Richoco, manufactured by Cadbury (Ghana) with an estimated 20% to 40% market share. Cadbury (Ghana) was 100% owned by Cadbury Schweppes (U.K) and had 120 employees. Another entrant, though on a much smaller scale, was state-owned Cocoa Processing Company (CPC) which made Golden Tree Vitaco Instant Drinking Chocolate. In the institutional market CPC was the strongest market. An additional category of competition came from imports, the most prominent of which was Ovaltine, marketed by NABB Brothers, a leading distributor of supermarket products. Milo was the leader in the premium category, while Golden Tree was the strongest in the Institutional Market. Richoco was believed to lead Chocolim by about 5% to 10% market share in the mass market. http://www.goldentreeghana.com/thecompany.html http://www.alibaba.com/member/lumor/aboutus.html http://www.scn.org/rdi/kw-coc.htm http://business.everythinghana.com/index.php?option=com_mtreetask=viewlinklink_id=48Itemid=26 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_bean-to-bar_chocolate_manufacturers http://alliedcocoa.com/index.asp Definition of Population growth rate: The average annual percent change in the population, resulting from a surplus (or deficit) of births over deaths and the balance of migrants entering and leaving a country. The rate may be positive or negative. The growth rate is a factor in determining how great a burden would be imposed on a country by the changing needs of its people for infrastructure (e.g., schools, hospitals, housing, roads), resources (e.g., food, water, electricity), and jobs. Rapid population growth can be seen as threatening by neighboring countries. SWOT Analysis Strengths Global food producer, located in over 100 countries. Consistently one of the worlds largest producers of food products, Global sales in 2008 topped $101 billion. Nestlà © provides quality brands and products and line extensions that are well-known, top-selling brands. Successful due in part to their unquestionable ability to keep major brands consistently in the forefront of consumers minds (and in their shopping carts) by renovating existing product lines, keeping major brands from slipping into saturation/decline and having superior access to distribution channels. Weaknesses Growth in their organic food sales division was flat in 2008, even though the industry grew 8.9%. Nestle Ghana lack of rural market promotion Products are not affordable by common people Opportunities In todays health conscious societies, they can introduce more health-based products, and because they are a market leader, they would likely be more successful. Provide allergen free food items, such as gluten free and peanut free. They launched a new premium line of higher cocoa content chocolates dubbed Nestlà © Treasures Gold, in order to cash in on the recession economy in which consumers cut back on luxury goods, but regularly indulge in candy and chocolate. Opened Nestlà © Cafà ©s in major cities to feature Nestlà © products. Nestle strategy in Ghana was to ensure high awareness of its brands, widespread distribution and quality of its products which helps trounce its competitors in the cocoa beverage market with its theme of good health, growing up and success as closely related to its products. Expand to Institutional Market Nestle (Ghana) needs to develop products that are affordable to the common people because they are dealing with a developing country which has a low per capita income of US$400. Threats Any contamination of the food supply, especially e-coli. Raw chocolate ingredient prices are soaring; dairy costs alone rose 50% in 2008, this cuts heavily into their profit margins and often gets passed on to consumers, by shrinking the packaging in a way that is almost unnoticeable-therefore the consumer is paying the same prices for less product. They have major competitors, like Cadburry Schweppes Ghana Ltd, NABB Brothers, Cocoa Processing Company, Allied Cocoa Products Ltd and Kings Cocoa Processing Company Ltd (KCPCL) The external economic environment was increasingly hostile and risky with the rapid increases in inflations; high interest rates and the high level of currency instability were leading them to increase the prices. RECOMMENDATIONS We would suggest Nestlà © (Ghana) should make products affordable to the common people. By developing Nestlà © (Ghana) products that are affordable to the common they can reach majority of the population because they are dealing with a developing country which has a low per capita income of US$400. Nestlà ©s perceived better quality products can help it market in rural areas if the product is affordable. It will help Nestlà © (Ghana) also exploit 64.2% of the rural population and take control of market from both the sides. It will also help Nestlà © expand into new market segments like the Institutional Marketing. People in developing countries look for affordable products and dont pay attention to the eminence of the products thereby Nestlà © (Ghana) should not have its products above the average price of similar products in the market. Nestlà © (Ghana) can make maximum profits from a developing country like Ghana and exploit to every side of the population, urban and rural.

Income and Population Age Structure Essay -- Economics Income GNP Essa

Income and Population Age Structure A) Relationship between per capita GNP and population growth GNP is the value of all final goods and services produced in an economy over a period of one year. Thus per capita GNP is the division of value of goods and services available to each person in a country, i.e. it is the per head income in a country. And population growth is the rate, by which population grows in an economy. From the above drawn diagrams it can be said that the higher the population growth rate the lower the per capita GNP and vice versa. This is due to the fact that if the population increases at a faster rate the GNP will spread over a large number of people thus reducing the value of the Gross National Product per head. Similarly if the population grows at a slower rate the GNP is spread over fewer numbers of people thus increasing the value of the Gross National Product per head. To further illustrate this we can take into consideration countries like Jordan which has a relatively high population growth rate of a 4.9 and a per capita GNP of onl... Income and Population Age Structure Essay -- Economics Income GNP Essa Income and Population Age Structure A) Relationship between per capita GNP and population growth GNP is the value of all final goods and services produced in an economy over a period of one year. Thus per capita GNP is the division of value of goods and services available to each person in a country, i.e. it is the per head income in a country. And population growth is the rate, by which population grows in an economy. From the above drawn diagrams it can be said that the higher the population growth rate the lower the per capita GNP and vice versa. This is due to the fact that if the population increases at a faster rate the GNP will spread over a large number of people thus reducing the value of the Gross National Product per head. Similarly if the population grows at a slower rate the GNP is spread over fewer numbers of people thus increasing the value of the Gross National Product per head. To further illustrate this we can take into consideration countries like Jordan which has a relatively high population growth rate of a 4.9 and a per capita GNP of onl...

Final Exam Essay

INTRODUCTION 1.1 Title of the project Access Control Proposal Project 1.2 Project schedule summary The project will be a multi-year phased approach to have all sites (except JV and SA) on the same hardware and software platforms. 1.3 Project deliverables †¢ Solutions to the issues that the specifies location of IDI is facing †¢ Plans to implement corporate-wide information access methods to ensure confidentiality, integrity, and availability †¢ Assessment of strengths and weaknesses in current IDI systems †¢ Address remote user and Web site user’s secure access requirements †¢ Proposed budget for the project—Hardware only †¢ Prepare detailed network and configuration diagrams outlining the proposed change †¢ Prepare a 5 to 10 minute PowerPoint assisted presentation on important access control infrastructure, and management aspects from each location. 1.4 Project Guides Course Project Access Control Proposal Guide Juniper Networks Campus LAN Reference Architecture 1.5 Project Members Members of the Technology Staff: Phil Kurutz, IT Architect and IT Security Specialist Nathan Gleed, Chief Information Officer (CIO) 1.6 Purpose This project is done as a part of fulfillment of the course IS404 (Access Control, Authentication, and Public Key Infrastructure). It is a proposal for improving IDI’s computer network infrastructure. This project is intended to be used by IDI’s information security team to developing a plan to improve IDI’s computer network infrastructure at multiple locations. 1.7 Goals and Objectives †¢ 1st Objective To assess the aging infrastructure and then develop a multi-year phased approach to have all sites (except for JV and SA) on the same hardware and software platforms. †¢ 2nd Objective The core infrastructure (switches, routers, firewalls, servers and etc.) must capable of withstanding 10 – 15% growth every year for the next seven years with a three-to-four year phased technology refresh cycle. †¢ 3rd Objective Solutions to the issues that the specifies location of IDI is facing †¢ 4th Objective Assessment of strengths and weaknesses in current IDI systems †¢ 5th Objective Address remote user and Web site user’s secure access requirements †¢ 6th Objective Prepare detailed network and configuration diagrams outlining the proposed change †¢ 7th Objective Prepare a 5 to 10 minute PowerPoint assisted presentation on important access control infrastructure, and management aspects from each location. †¢ 8th Objective A comprehensive network design that will incorporate all submitted requirements and allow for projected growth. †¢ 9th Objective: Final testing of all installed hardware, software, and network connectivity. †¢ 10th (Final) Objective: Initialization of the entire network and any last minute configuration adjustments to have the network up and operating within all specified ranges. 2 Risks and Vulnerabilities 2.1 Overall: There is a hodgepodge of servers, switches, routers, and internal hardware firewalls. Each of the organization’s locations is operating with different information technologies and infrastructure—IT systems, applications, and databases. Various levels of IT security and access management have been implemented and embedded within their respective locations. The information technology infrastructure is aging and many locations are running on outdated hardware and software. Also, the infrastructure is woefully out-of-dated in terms of patches and upgrades which greatly increase the risk to the network in terms of confidentiality, integrity, and availability. 2.2 Billings, Montana:   Logisuite 4.2.2 has not been upgraded in almost 10 years. Also, over 350 modifications have been made to the core engine and the license agreement has expired. Progressive upgrading to the current version will be required. As a result, renewing this product will be extremely cost and time-prohibitive. RouteSim is a destination delivery program used to simulate routes, costs, and profits. It is not integrated into Logisuite or Oracle financials to take advantage of the databases for real-time currency valuation and profit or loss projections.   IDI’s office automation hardware and software has not been standardized. Managers have too much liberty to buy what they want according to personal preferences. Other software problems include early versions of MS Office 5, WordPerfect  7.0, and PC-Write that are not compatible. Telecommunications has not been since the company moved its current headquarters 15 years ago. This has left many  of the new features for telecommunic ations lacking and not integrated with the customer service database to improve call management efficiency. The generic system was acquired from a service provider who is now out of business.   Policies for personal devices are being ignored by many of the executives who have local administrators install the clients on their unsupported, non-standard personal laptop computers and workstations that interface with the internet. These devices   The original WAN was designed by in the early 2000’s and has not been upgraded. During peak periods, usually between September and March, the capacity is insufficient for the organization resulting in lost internet customers which further reduces growth and revenue.   Telecommunications works through a limited Mitel SX-2000 private automatic branch exchange (PABX) that only provides voice mail and call forwarding. 2.3 Warsaw, Poland This is the largest office based on number of employees, strategically located to assist IDI for major growth in the Middle East and Asia, and the home portal for expansion and geographical client development, yet there is insufficient computing power to stay afloat on a day-to-day basis.   The primary freight forwarding application is almost 10 years old and does not interface with the McCormack dodge accounting and finance system   There are 6 Web servers (4 are primary and 2 fail during clustered load balancing) The cafeteria sponsors a public wireless network running WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access) with no password protection.   Telecommunications is an 8 year old Siemens Saturn series PBX, some of whose features have become faulty. The desktop phones have not been replaced or upgraded during this time. There is a lack of separation of duties between the network operations and the accounts receivable department and there is evidence of nepotism and embezzlement. 3 Proposed Budget 4 IDI Proposed Solutions 4.1 Billings, Montana Consolidate 14 Hewitt-Packard (HP) UNIX servers to 1 UNIX server Upgrade 75 Microsoft (MS) Windows servers to Windows server 2008 R2 Upgrade MS exchange e-mail to latest version Find another software vendor to replace Oracle financials for accounting  and financial systems, Logisuite 4.2.2, RouteSim Hire developers to standardize the office automation hardware and software. Convert telecommunications system to a VOIP system Design and implement a new Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) Upgrade WAN to a T1 MPLS to increase bandwidth 4.2 Warsaw, Poland Find a new proxy server to replace the IBM Infinity hardened served Hire a new in-house application developer Convert the Siemens Saturn series PBX telecommunications system with desktop phones to a VOIP system Enforce the current Acceptable Use Policy (AUP)

Clothing Retailer Hennes & Mauritz Essay

A key ingredient in retailing success is the strength of a company’s distribution channels. Kerry Capell’s (2002) Business Week article looks at Sweden-based Hennes & Mauritz’s (H&M) sourcing and inventory management strategies and their reliance on distribution channel partners. H&M has developed a unique distribution channel strategy to compete with better entrenched retailers including Gap, Old Navy, Zara and FCUK. H&M Product Strategy Understanding H&M’s distribution strategy requires a clear understanding of their product philosophy and strategy. Like Gap and other clothing retailers, H&M markets to a particular segment of the fashion consumer market. H&M’s philosophy is â€Å"Fashion and quality at the best price† (H&M, 2004). H&M keeps up with its competitors by providing a variety of styles from â€Å"updated classics and fashion basics† to cutting-edge fashion trends (H&M, 2004). Kotler defines the product as a combination of goods and services (Kotler et al, 2001). H&M seeks a product edge by providing affordable fashion lines similar to its competitors, but with a â€Å"fast turnaround† from design to production to sales floor (Capell, 2002). Capell focused on this integrated distribution channel in his article. Distribution Channel Outline Marketers often refer to the fourth P, place, as placement, logistics or distribution. Marketers must create a place or a way for logistics and physical delivery to get a product to market and into the hands of target consumers (McColl-Kennedy and Kiel, 2003). A distribution channel refers to the type of intermediary or linkage between producers and consumers. A one-channel distribution network involves only the retailer between producer and consumer. Direct distribution occurs when the producer directly supplies the product to the buyer. The choice of distribution channel depends on a  variety of factors, including the type of product. While not all clothing retailers use direct distribution models, H&M and its competitors in the low- and mid-range clothing market use this model to maintain low costs and a fast time to market (Capell, 2002). Unlike many industries, time-to-market is critical to retail clothiers, as trends and fashions can change quickly. To minimize time-to-market, H&M employs a team of in-house designers in 21 production offices worldwide that work to forecast trends and find inspiration for clothing designs â€Å"in everything from street trends, to films, to flea markets† (H&M, 2004). From its headquarters in Stockholm, the company directs a rapid-response manufacturing process to capitalize on design trends immediately (H&M, 2004). H&M moves designs through production and into its retail sales channel with a three week to six month lead time. With low-wage, high-volume production in China and Turkey, the company can maintain low input costs and often outfit its stores with the latest trends within a month of the initial design (Capell, 2002). H&M constantly redefines its distribution strategies in response to changing retail market conditions and production conditions in its worldwide manufacturing centers (Capell, 2002). This adaptation ensures that the company can to improve the efficiency of its production flow. This model has direct application in H&M’s retail stores where it sells its products to consumers. H&M’s corporate buyers in Sweden actively manage its inventory, researching itemized sales reports by country, store, and, most importantly, type of merchandise daily (Capell, 2002). The buyers use this information to reallocate production or shipments, reducing potential overstock problems. The itemized reports also allow buyers to maintain a high level of turnover, keeping apparel on the sales floor up to date. Enhancing the company’s competitive advantage in this area, the integrated direct distribution channel ensures that H&M stores receive new shipments daily, giving the company further control over responses to supply and demand shifts (Capell, 2002). The company estimates that each store receives between 500 and 1,000 new items daily, with total sales of over 550 million  items annually company-wide. For example, if a particular fashion proves exceptionally popular to men in the U.S., but not in Europe, the company can shift inventory in that product from European stores to meet demand in the U.S. The channel also enables H&M to respond to market segment changes. When its $39 pants line proved too upscale for inner city malls, H&M used its integrated channel to shift that inventory to suburban locations and rotate new inventory into the mall stores (Hjelt, 2004). As with virtually every industry, H&M’s continued success and prosperity depends on efficient distribution channels. H&M has effectively incorporated its supply chain and retail distribution channels into its business strategy. As the company expands more heavily into the U.S. market, its unique streamlined distribution channel will be a critical component of its success. Works Cited Capell, Kerry. (2002, November 11). Hip H&M: The Swedish retailer is reinventing the business of affordable fashion. Business Week. 106-109. Hjelt, Paola. (2004). Will $39 Pants = Profits? H&M was too trendy for many mall shoppers. Fortune.com. Retrieved August 23, 2004 from the World Wide Web at: http://www.fortune.com/fortune/subs/article/0,15114,395434,00.html H&M. (2004). About H&M. HM.com. Retrieved August 23, 2004 from the World Wide Web at: http://www.hm.com/us/hm/facts_history/srt.jsp Kotler, P., Armstrong, G., Brown, L. and Adam, S. (1998). Marketing. Sydney: Prentice Hall. McColl-Kennedy, J.R. and Kiel, G. (2003). Services Marketing. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley and Sons.