Corruption and Power in Macbeth Essay - 754 Words

nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Personal power has the ability to be essential to greatness, and at the same time is able to destroy a person’s nature. In the drama Macbeth by William Shakespeare, the main character, Macbeth, becomes corrupt through power that he gains. The play shows that even someone who starts out like Macbeth and does not crave power, will do terrible things to gain authority and power. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The play begins with the characters King Duncan and Malcolm talking about a â€Å"good and hardy soldier† (Act I: ii: 4). This man they are talking about is the stories protagonist, Macbeth. Macbeth is a good soldier who is devoted to his king. Then, Macbeth and his friend come across three witches who prophecy†¦show more content†¦Lady Macbeth, however, prevails and Macbeth kills Duncan. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Macbeth does not become totally corrupted at first after killing Duncan. Actually, Macbeth stays very skeptical and weary of the crime he has committed so much that he refuses to go back into Duncan’s room and finish the job (Act II: ii: 48). While Macbeth seems very sting on the outside, one sees how weak his is mentally. Macbeth craves being able to be completely powerful, and after the murder of King Duncan, Macbeth becomes much more involved in the thought of becoming all-powerful. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;After Duncan’s murder, Macbeth realizes that the witches’ prophecy about him becoming king has come true, and he feels that it is his destiny to be the king of Scotland. Macbeth begins to believe in everything the witches say. Macbeth, however, does not want to risk giving up his crown to the son of Banquo like the prophecy said. Thus, Macbeth hires three murderers to kill both Banquo and his son. He tells the hired murderers to quot;leave no rubs nor botches in the work . quot; (Act III: ii: 133). By having both men killed, no one will be in line to take the crown from Macbeth, and he will secure his position has king. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Macbeth learns that Banquo’s son, Fleance, has escaped the murderers and fled into a safe county, so he turns to the final opposition to his reign asShow MoreRelatedCorruption of Power - Macbeth1801 Words   |  8 PagesShakespeare’s bloody and tragic play Macbeth, written in the seventeenth century, portrays blind ambition, appearances can be deceiving and corruption of power. It follows the reasons behind Macbeth’s downfall. The play analyzes how other outside forces can easily change the path of ones desires and decisions. The witches’ intrusion, Lady Macbeth’s manipulation and Macbeth’s dark desires all interfere and manipulate Macbeth’s decisions. He goes from being praised as a noble soldier to a traitor andRead MoreComparison Of Power And Corruption In Macbeth1105 Words   |  5 Pagesabout how power and corruption and how they correspond. Power is authority, respect, dominance, and most of all, power is control. Corruption is evil, profane, impious, impure, and most of all, corruption are wicked. In the novel â€Å"Lord of the Flies† there are two major characters that gain power, but only one becomes corrupt. The novel is about a group of kids that are stranded on an island. The boys try to form a society on their own and fail to do so. The boys start to fight for power, and one outRead MoreCorruption and Power in Macbeth Essay775 Words   |  4 PagesPersonal power has the ability to be essential to greatness, and at the same time is able to destroy a persons nature. In the drama Macbeth by William Shakespeare, the main character, Macbeth, becomes corrupt through power that he gains. The play shows that even someone who starts out like Macbeth and does not crave power, will do terrible things to gain authority and power. The play begins with the characters King Duncan and Malcolm talking about a good and hardy soldier (Act I: ii: 4). Read MoreMacbeth Power And Corruption Essay786 Words   |  4 PagesIn the play ‘Macbeth’ by William Shakespeare we see how easily power and ambition can corrupt as Macbeth learns of his ‘fate’ to be the next king and, in an effort to speed up the wait commits regicide and murders the king. Macbeth’s turn in the play works well with the Lord Acton quote â€Å"Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.† In the beginning of the play we see that Macbeth is the Thane of Glamis and so has power but is also humble, but when the witches tell him he willRead More powmac Power and Corruption in Macbeth Essay examples1905 Words   |  8 PagesPower and Corruption in Macbeth      Ã‚  Ã‚   Authority poisons everybody who takes authority upon himself (Vladimir Ilyich Lenin). This could easily be a comment on the story of Macbeth where an apparently respected Scottish couple have the opportunity to seize the highest authority, take it, and in doing so, poison themselves and their country. In Macbeth, the plays theme is the strife created by the wrongful seizure of power and the corruption of morals of those who acquire power by evilRead MoreEssay Power and Corruption in Macbeth by William Shakespeare3354 Words   |  14 Pagesgive him power†(Abraham Lincoln). Power is the ultimate force in the universe. Power by definition is control, controlling everything would make everything go the way that person wants it to so power is sought. Power is desired by most normal people, people who aspire to be more than themselves, to rise above the common man and do as they please. Power appeals to human nature. There are many different types of power, but th e main two are necessary and unnecessary power. Necessary power is that ofRead MoreEssay On Corruption In Macbeth1109 Words   |  5 PagesWith Power Comes Corruption â€Å"All power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.† is a quote from Lord John Dalberg-Acton, explaining that any amount of power can corrupt the mind, but absolute power will take over. This is represented throughout history: in politics, monarchies and times like the french revolution. Many writers have used this theme in their works. One work that includes this theme is William Shakespeares Macbeth. The play Macbeth follows Macbeth, a brave warriorRead MoreThe Tragic Downfall of Lady Macbeth by William Shakespeare Essay1202 Words   |  5 PagesThe Tragic Downfall of Lady Macbeth William Shakespeare’s play entitled Macbeth is a bloody tragedy about ambition, evil, guilt and moral corruption. The story emphasizes a lot on the consequences or aftermath of the bad deeds that Macbeth and his wife Lady Macbeth do and the growing impact it has on them in turn. Lady Macbeth a woman driven by her assertiveness, boldness, strength and ambition for her husband could not escape the guilt that eventually caught up to her and destroyed her.Read MoreSymbolism that Represents the Theme of Corruption in Shakespeares MacBeth1043 Words   |  5 PagesSymbolism in MacBeth Symbolism plays an important role to emphasize the theme of corruption of power in William Shakespeares Macbeth. Throughout the play there are several main symbols repeatedly used to emphasize this theme. The contrast of light and dark representing good and evil, blood representing guilt, murder, and pain, and the archetypal pattern of purification by using water represents removal of guilt, cleansing and peace. Symbolism is used repeatedly to emphasize the theme of corruption of powerRead More Symbolism In Macbeth1097 Words   |  5 PagesWilliam Shakespeares Macbeth, symbolism plays a prominent role to emphasize the theme of corruption of power. Throughout the play there are several main symbols repeatedly used to emphasize this theme. The contrast of light and dark representing good and evil, blood representing guilt, murder, and pain, and the archetypal pattern of purification by using water represents removal of guilt, cleansing and peace. Symbolism is used repeatedly to emphas ize the theme of corruption of power. The image of

Thank My Heavenly Father For His Guidance And Protection

Acknowledgements Firstly, I would like to thank my Heavenly Father for his guidance and protection. I am especially for the strength and confidence that He has given me to pursue my Master’s degree. I would also like to thank all of my professors at Concordia Irvine for their patience and superb motivation in gearing me in the right path and always making time for my questions. I would like to thank the following professors - Reardon, Davis, Brown, Burch, Ramirez, Glover, Hannah, Mailhiot, and lastly Professor Cowen who served as my portfolio advisor and instructor for my last course MCAA 595. Thank you for your dedication and commitment in sharing your pearl of wisdom in the field of Coaching and Administration. I would like to†¦show more content†¦In developing a successful volleyball program, it is like nurturing a new born baby. It takes time and effort and with lots of patience. Most successful programs do not happen overnight, they develop over time and with the right to ols, they tend to be successful in the end. It is important that every member involved in the program must feel important and valued. No one wants to be treated unfairly or with cruelty. Coaches are the head of their program and they must make every effort in seeing that their program is successful. Every program is different and have their own ways of success. In my program, I have learned from coaches that have been in successful volleyball programs in the college, high school and club level. I have spent a lot of time looking at what everybody else is doing that makes their programs successful and have used their strategies in building my program. By using many of the ideas of the best coaches and creating my own package, it has helped me excel in my program. I did not excel in everything that I tried or learned because I needed to find what type of personality I was dealing with and what type of athlete’s I was working with at the time. I learned that in order t o be successful, I needed to find my own type of coaching style and philosophy that would work for my athletes. A coach facilitates in finding the qualities of personal responsibility, discipline and teamwork to my team. AsShow MoreRelatedMy Reflection On My Spiritual Experience2096 Words   |  9 PagesMy Spiritual Experience After my sixteen week in the class of foundations biblical spirituality during the fall semester, I feel that my relationship with God is going to the next level. Today, I can say like apostle Paul: â€Å"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.† (Galatians 2:20). I surrender myself completely to him and lets him works through me accordingRead MoreThe Story of Worship Essay6487 Words   |  26 Pagesnot worshiping God, we are worshiping something else. God desires our worship for Himself. This desire is plain to see from Genesis to Revelation in the Bible. In the Garden of Eden, God showed His desire for a relationship with man. Even after man’s fall into sin and death, God continued to demonstrate His desire to dwell with man through stories of the patriarchs. He gave us lessons in worship through three kings: Saul, David an d Solomon. In Psalms and Proverbs, God provided us with songs and wisdomRead MoreSda Manual Essay101191 Words   |  405 Pagesmaterial. The main content of each chapter is of worldwide value and applicable to every church. Recognizing the need for some variations, additional material which is explanatory in nature appears as Notes at the end of some chapters and is given as guidance. The Notes have subheadings which correspond to chapter subheadings and correlate to specific page numbers. Procedure for Changes in the Church Manual Realizing increasingly how important it is that everything â€Å"be done decently and in order† in ourRead MoreFreedom of Speech, Comparing Freedom of Expression in the Statutory Law and the Sharia Law19992 Words   |  80 Pagesfirst semester of my Masters gave me a sense of the importance of law in general because it consists of acts and articles which organise most issues in the human’s life in a way that protects ethics and morals. Reg ardless of the hypocrisy and double-standards of the countries which raise high the slogan of Human Rights, I liked the Human Rights Conventions that were laid down by these countries. Therefore, I decided to research some points in these conventions that are related to my study in order toRead MoreIgbo Dictionary129408 Words   |  518 Pagessuch as the names of fishes, which were not in the first edition. 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Morrow’s contribution here, as in his recent research and scholarship as a 6 †¢ INTRODUCTION whole, treats the two wars and their prehistory and aftermaths as genuinely global phenomena, not as conflicts among the great powers of Europe, the United States, and Japan, which has been the obsessive focus of most of the vast literature on this subject that defined much of twentieth-century history. As Carl Guarneri argues cogently in his contribution to the collection, which provides

Microsoft strategic alliance with Nokia Free Essays

Abstract Nokia is a very big telecommunications company that has experienced serious brand and financial issues in the recent years, and lately forged an alliance with Microsoft to try and save the situation. This paper is going to examine the strategic alliance between the two giant companies by evaluating their external and internal environments. It will also examine three different growth strategies and then select the most appropriate one. We will write a custom essay sample on Microsoft strategic alliance with Nokia or any similar topic only for you Order Now From the evaluation of the growth strategies in the paper, product development has been selected and it is the only way that the company can attempt to come closer to its competitors or even beat them in the market. Introduction and Company Background Nokia, which is a Finish Company that manufactures mobile phones, has been in existence since the creation of the earliest mobile devices, and the corporation has managed to take the world by storm by domination of the mobile industry (Roy, 2011, p. 23). The company has a large market and has been producing the best mobile phones over the years. However, things have not been smooth for the company in the North American market where penetration has been an uphill task. This is particularly bad news for the company because it is a region where smartphones have become a necessary commodity for every individual, regardless of their standards of living. The smartphones market went up by as much as 50 percent in the year 2011 and Google has been in the lead in the industry with their Android, a young operating system. The company is well aware of their problem all over the world, and the United States of America in particular. This forced them to hire Stephen Elop, who became the first person from outside Finland to head the company. This new chief executive officer joined the company from a high-ranking position at the Microsoft Corporation in the year 2010. He had a primary task of increasing company’s market share cap on the Asian and North American markets. Being the first person from outside Finland to head the company, he became under a lot of pressure to ensure that the share losses of the market of the company are reversed. Nokia found it difficult to perform in the market for smartphones and that is why they decided to have an alliance with the Microsoft Corporation to try to save the situation (Saylor, 2012, p39). This was the first major step that the new CEO took. The unexpected cooperation with the Microsoft Corporation elicited several debates regarding Nokia as well as about the general smartphones market (Schwarzinger, 2012, p.53). The IDC (International Data Corporation), which is a company for market analysis, and monitors the smartphones market, predicted that the Windows Phones would become the second largest provider of software for smartphones globally (Grant, R 2010, p. 31). The analysis and prediction is based on the strategic alliance between Nokia and Microsoft Corporation. Combined with the projected growth in the sales of smartphones and the predictions given by the ICD, then why is it that there was negative action by the financial market when he news of the two giant companies collaborating came outThis is one of the questions that many financial analysts have been asking themselves. This paper examines the strategic alliance between the two giant companies by evaluating their external and internal environments. It will also examine three different growth strategies and then select the most appropriate one. External Analysis The Five Forces Framework of Nokia The present competition that Nokia is facing in the phone industry has greatly affected its market share. However, it still holds a considerable share of the market in the industry that is ever changing. The microenvironment is the internal factors that affect the customers, staff, competitors and the shareholders (Henry, 2008, p.24). The five forces model is the most appropriate for the evaluation of the microenvironment of Nokia as it takes into consideration the clients, suppliers, competitors as well as the new entrants. The power of suppliers: moderate Although the company relies on its suppliers to provide equipment, there are numerous large manufacturers of equipment that they can turn to (Baron, 2008, p53). Currently, Microsoft is the supplier of software for the company and they have a high bargaining power together. In addition, the company is in a good position to bargain as well as negotiate with any mobile phone hardware producer because there are a large number of the suppliers of equipment, which are readily and easily accessible should their current suppliers attempt to ask for more money with them. Moreover, the alliance with the Microsoft Corporation is regarded as a coup for Nokia and not Microsoft. The Microsoft Corporation may have more power in the negotiation of price along with the share as the pact is of more significance to Nokia that the Microsoft Corporation. The power of buyers: high The customers have an increasing power because of increasing variety of alternatives available in the sector of mobile telecommunication. Majority of Nokia’s competitors also offer the same packages and the sector is very sensitive to matters like the prices with clients seeking the best value for their money. Majority of the customers are also tied into the long-lasting contracts and thus having to change from one mobile phone to another is hard and costly for consumers. The sector has a very competitive market that has a variety of choices, which makes the customers to have much power as they can choose to go to the various competitors of Nokia if they are not contented with what the company is providing. The threat of new entrants: low The market of mobile phone is well-established and a lucrative one, and there is a relatively low threat of new entrants, as the technology that is needed to rival the devices that are already existing is very advanced. This is something that cannot be achieved easily by any company. The barriers to entry into the market are very high, as any potential new entrants need a lot of investment in marketing and technology so that they can be in a position of challenging the companied that are already established (Hill, et al, 2009, p.53). The threat of any potential new entrants is not probable as the initial cost that is required to enter the industry is very high and requires a lot of investment in time to be in a position of competing against the organizations that are already established. Currently, Nokia has a 29 percent of the entire global mobile telecommunications market and for any new entrant to get a little bit of their market needs a long-term scheming or even products that are highly innovative as compared to any other seen in the market (McGuigan, et al 2010, p. 41). For this to be possible, the new competitor needs very high investment for marketing and RD, in order to get positive result. The threat of substitutes: Very low It is beyond reasonable doubt that mobile phones are an everyday essential in human being’s lives presently and they would not find it easy to replace, as consumers will not be in a position of having constant contact when they are not near their houses, family members or even friends (Baron, 2008, p.53). Nonetheless, the consumers may make contacts with individuals through other forms of media like email address, home telephones and social networks. However, it will not be easy for people to keep in contact in their daily lives, as the forms of communication are not convenient. Contrary, smart phones come with several functions and specifications, meaning there are many substitutes offered that focus on just a single function. Presently, mobile phones are an everyday requirement in the lives of human beings because of the fundamental functions they are capable of performing and can all be found in a single handset. Only smart phones have the ability to make phone calls, send messages, and browse the internet in a single device. Another thing that makes them an extremely critical device to human beings is the fact that it enables them to communicate constantly and at any place. Thus, the threat of alternatives is very low because a mobile phone is not only for making calls or for sending messages but many some other functions. Without the mobile phones, people will find it very difficult to have a replacement, since it can provide a lot to them all in one device. People also rely on the mobile phones greatly and might not easily find an alternative that has the whole functions of a mobile handset. Competitive rivalry: low The competitors of Nokia turned to smartphones and androids early enough while Nokia delayed in releasing their first smart phones, and hence lagging behind competitors like Apple and HTC (Hahn, and Kibora, 2008, p. 12). Their strategic alliance with Microsoft, though offers some lifeline, still needs some time before catching up with the rest. There is high competition from big corporations like Blackberry, LG and Sony Erickson. The industry of mobile phone has very high rivalry and needs huge amounts of investment in marketing and the RB to be able to compete with the established companies (Stonehouse, et al, 2007, p.43). Nokia had a slow shift into the market of smartphone, and this has left them trailing their competitors. Therefore, there is extremely high competitive rivalry and the company needs to be alert of their rivals’ threat on their business especially with the Apple iPhone and RIM Blackberry’s rising popularity. Competitive rivalry in the industry is the principal threat to the Nokia Company because they are seriously behind in the market of Smartphone and it really needs a lot of efforts to raise their market share. Internal Analysis SWOT Analysis SWOT analysis is the most appropriate tool for the strategic planning analysis by companies’ management. It is a critical tool to the improvement of business because it embraced or followed the concept that success in the digital economy is the deployment of an incorporated value chain that extends beyond and across the business Saylor (McGuigan, et al 2010, p. 17). Nokia is a leading company in the mobile phones industry and its strategic alliance with Microsoft is expected to be a game changer. It is therefore important to look at the company’s internal environment. Strengths Grant (2010, p.55) says that Nokia currently enjoying more that 32 percent market share in the mobile phone industry, and this is expected to even increase following the new pact with Microsoft as they will be provided with operating system affordably and sufficiently. Both Nokia and Microsoft are well respected and trusted brands as they have been there since the start of the mobile phones and have been able to retain the trust of customers. Now in their association with Microsoft, they have regained strength in the market of smartphone, as it is a pact that has brought together two giants in their respective sectors. Having a strong brand name is an advantage since it enhances consistency; however, it is no secret that their brand name has had some wavering and now considered promotion of brand (Grant, 2010, p.43). The alliance between the two companies also means that Nokia has a secure and steady supplier market in Microsoft, where there will be enough time to concentrate on inno vation, production and marketing. The company has a strong internal R+D. Nokia became one of the first companies to the market despite not dominating the market of Smartphone, the company became one of the because of their exceptional R+D program. The new chief executive officer has brought some new ideas to the organization and influenced its entire image. Weaknesses Nokia has had its market share drop from the end of the last year in the industry of Smartphone. They have not been able to realize that Smartphones are a way of life amongst the users currently, with support software for the mobile phones that are very low. These are in the forms of applications, contrary to Blackberry and Apple that both have their individual App World. Nokia has an insight of only building phones that are brick shaped, which gives them lack of prestige in the present market of (Smartphonen, 2011, p.35). There are weak subdivisions in the company; they own as well as manage the Symbian but have abandoned it and instead gone for the windows 7, meaning than Symbian is now making losses (Saylor, 2012, p.54). Opportunities The corporation has the chance of developing their own version of the App store OVI, since their new mobile phones are being launched and hopefully accepted in the market. The company also has an opportunity of developing more products with the Microsoft Corporation and explores more opportunities that might come up from the deal. Diverse self-sufficient and valuable portfolio; Microsoft could also do diversification of their immense portfolio and dispose parts of it that is not profitable in the probable future. Threats If further loss of the share of market for Nokia continues being lost to the other big producers of Smartphones, they would actually consider withdrawal from the industry of Smartphones. The industry of mobile phones is not different from that of fashion with a quite quick turnaround. Nokia are investing lots of funds in trying to have a successful penetration into the market. By the time they succeed in doing so, the market could possibly have again shifted and had another serious breakthrough into another kind of mobile phone (Saylor, 2012, p.57). With the mobile phones software in the present day industry being as critical as the hardware, it is important that the Microsoft Corporation do not have excessive power as if the novel devices are a great success. It would not be good for the Nokia Company if Microsoft chose to raise their price on the pact or even walk out of it all together. Issues and challenges facing the company The challenges for Microsoft and Nokia alliance are overwhelming. Microsoft has still not been able to rise above the minuscule share of the market in the United States or even globally, even despite joining forces with Nokia. The Blackberry’s implosion was actually the best chance for Microsoft to get hold of its market share, but that did not happen. The company has to put in a lot of effort to carve out its niche in a world that has been dominated by the Android and iOS (Saylor, 2012, p.59). Missing apps The Windows Phone still has the same old problem despite now being with more Nokia; that is the lack of a sufficient app ecosystem (Donner, and Steenson, 2008, p.35). Microsoft is not getting anything from Nokia in terms of software that was not already in the Windows Phone. This is because the strongest mobile software asset of Nokia, which is its maps business, was not part of the agreement. After more than three years into the deal, Windows Phone still does not have table stakes apps as such like the native customers of Instgram and YouTube. The stance in the tablets is excessively bleaker. The Windows RT, which is the version designed for tablets specifically, is a very big flop and the Window 8 applied on tablets has not done any better in the market. The iPhone has successfully turned mobile phones, together with business mobile phones into a wholly consumer business (Saylor, 2012, p.70). This has an implication that the acquisition of Nokia has dragged the Microsoft Corporatio n into a sector that it should have avoided as much as possible. In other words, Microsoft is not a good consumer organization. Still it is not easy to see what the new CEO who has a good record of accomplishment in the companies he worked before has brought into the Nokia Company. The Xbox Problem The Xbox is a one consumer bright spot of Microsoft. Even without taking into account, the Xbox’s sunk cost and the fumbled Xbox One’s release, the segment of Devices and Entertainment is too small, particularly in the profit share that cannot make any significant difference (Goggin, 2011, p.23). With very little expectation for immense growth in the game console and set top box industry, the Xbox is going to make no difference for the company. Reinforce success Every business requires reinforcement and mobile phone industry is no exception. Another area of power or strength is the web services, especially those serving business and not the ones that are consumer-facing. Although Microsoft is behind Google in several aspects, it is much ahead of Apple, which usually appears as having very little idea about the web services as it is much into the devices (Saylor, 2012, p.73). This is something the two companies have not taken advantage of, and they might realize it a little bit late if the other companies have realized their shortcomings and countered them accordingly. Brand image For any business to be successful in the market, brand image must be at its best because it is what consumers will be looking for. This is because everyone wants to consume a product they are well familiar with. For the Nokia Company, its brand image has dwindles constantly to a great deal such that people are no longer comfortable buying and using its products. This is something that might make it difficult for them to regain their initial status as the leading mobile phone maker, despite alliance with Microsoft (Saylor, 2012, p.79). They might pump in a lot of money in an attempt to save the situation but may as well flop if proper marketing and investment in technology is not done to win back its customers. If things do not work out for the company as expected, then it will be a big loss for Microsoft as it entered into a partnership with a company that was already going down. Generation of Strategic growth options Every section of an organization is affected by a marketing strategy. It is all about the use of everything at the business’ disposal in creation of value for others. Customers are also included in this but workers as well as shareholders benefit. The marketing strategy’s major purpose is setting out the means by which the marketing objectives that are agreed are to be accomplished. One of the most appropriate ways to analyze the different strategies that can be used by an organization in growing the business is with the ANSOFF Matrix (Schwarzinger, 2012, p. 42). The model takes into account the opportunities of providing available and new products and services within the present and new markets together with the levels of risk that come with them. Below are possible three strategic options that can be employed by the company: Market penetration The aim of this strategy is selling products to a market that already exists. This has been proposed because Nokia has an already existing market even though it seems to be losing it at a higher rate. Market development This strategy refers to the completion of market development successfully (Hahn and Kibora, 2008). The method has been proposed because the Nokia Company appears to have lost touch with the huge client base that it enjoyed when it was performing still well. 5.3. Product development This section of the Ansoff matrix aims at being updated as regards the latest technology in the industry. The strategy has been proposed because the company appears to be lagging behind in terms of innovation, and this is where their competitors have fully taken advantage of to win the game (Kovvali, 2011, p.73). Evaluation of strategic growth options Market penetration The aim of this strategy is selling products to a market that already exists. Nokia has an already existing market even though it seems to be losing it at a higher rate. For the company to be able to achieve this, there are several things that needs to be done such as: changing the pricing plan; this should be done in a manner such that it is competitor or penetration based. Changing the pricing plan means that they will be reducing prices of their products in an attempt to attract more customers or even maintaining the existing ones. However, in doing so, the quality of the products must also be high as consumers do not only go for the price but they want to enjoy the value for their money. For the prices to be reduced as much as possible and to ensure sustainability, a lot of resources needs to be pumped in, which the company may also not be having, considering the financial crisis that it faced (Kovvali, 2011, p.63). Introduce discounting; the company can also introduce discountin g services whereby customers pay certain amount of money in buying a particular product or quantity. Starting up a different promotion campaign or considering changes on the present one; shifting from one campaign strategy to another or improving on the available one may also help the company in getting the message home, thus attracting more customers. 6.2. Market development This strategy refers to the completion of market development successfully. Nokia Company appears to have lost touch with the huge client base that it enjoyed when it was performing still well. The company has an option of penetrating or developing new markets that its products has not reached. This can be done through targeting a completely new client base and carrying out vigorous product promotions in order to attract them. Some other means through which this can be achieved is researching and selling the products to a different market segment in instances of poor market share and saturation (Kovvali, 2011, p.79). They can also change the periods that adverts are run on television and change the places in which the display of print adverts happen. This is the best way of ensuring that the products appeal to a completely new market. The company can also reduce the present prices of its products to help in attracting a wider range of clients. 6.3. Product development This section of the Ansoff matrix aims at being updated as regards the latest technology in the industry (Bull, 2007). The company appears to be lagging behind in terms of innovation, and this is where their competitors have fully taken advantage of to win the game. The mobile phone industry is just like fashion where trends come up each day and players in the market try to beat each other by being creative and innovation in an attempt to win the customers as much as possible. Companies like Samsung have rose to great heights due to their technological inventions and they are really doing well in the Smartphone market. They have been coming up with new applications that have been appealing to customers and that are why they are really selling (Kovvali, 2011, p. 34) Nokia should pump in a lot of cash and invest heavily in technology because it is the only way to succeed in the business. Description of selected strategy Product development The selected strategy for at Nokia is product development. Nearly everyone knows that this has been the biggest undoing of the company as they have not been able to keep up with the pace at which technology is growing. Just as said earlier, the mobile phone industry is just like fashion where trends come up each day and players in the market try to beat each other by being creative and innovation in an attempt to win the customers as much as possible. Therefore, the company has no option but to invest in technology if at all they are serious about regaining the lost market share. They should produce some high-tech products with a lot of features that fit specific market segment. With the strategic alliance with Microsoft, the company stands a good chance of recovering as this is an opportunity to get a source of finances that they require to keep up with the new technological development (Saylor, 2012, p.89). Microsoft is also known for its creativity and this alliance puts Nokia in a good position because they will be able to get the best operation systems that are updated to meet the current market requirements. Moreover, the alliance will enable the company to have a pool of new ideas as together two giants that have been leaders in their respective industries for several years. Conclusion It is no doubt that the alliance between Nokia and Microsoft is the best decision ever made by the management because it is a chance of recovering from the fall to try to catch up with the current industry leaders. Pundits see it as a major coup for Nokia, but Microsoft also stands to gain from the pact. Nokia should use this opportunity to venture fully into the Smartphone market by doing product development. They should invest heavily in technology and even employ more staff that can bring meaningful changes. The company has been doing well in the other growth strategies such as market penetration and market development, but has not been doing product development. From the evaluation of the growth strategies above, product development is the only one that has remained and it is the only way that the company can attempt so as to come closer to its competitors or even beat them in the market. The Smartphones market is still growing and there are several opportunities that are yet to be exploited and with Microsoft on board, it only needs proper strategies to conquer the market. However, if proper measures and strategies are not in place then the highly hyped alliance might as well be a waste of time and resources as other companies will continue steadily while Nokia continue to fall steadily. References Baron, N 2008, ‘Adjusting the Volume: Technology and Multitasking in Discourse Control’, in Katz, J. (Ed.) Handbook of Mobile Communication Studies, MIT Press, Cambridge, Mass, pp.177-94 Baron, N 2008, Always on: Language in an Online and Mobile World, Oxford University Press, New York. Batson-Savage, T 2007, ‘†Hol Awn Mek a Answer Mi Cellular†: Sex, Sexuality and the Cellular Phone in Urban Jamaica’, Continuum: Journal of Media and Cultural Studies, Vol.21, No.2, June, pp.239-52. Bull, M 2007, Sound Moves: Ipod Culture and Urban Experience, Routledge, London. Donner, J, and Steenson, M 2008, â€Å"Beyond the Personal and Private: Modes of Mobile Phone Sharing in Urban India.† In The Reconstruction of Space and Time: Mobile Communication Practices, edited by Scott Campbell and Rich Ling, 231–250. Piscataway, NJ: Transaction Publishers. Goggin, G 2011, Global Mobile Media, New York: Routledge. Grant, R 2010, Contemporary Strategy Analysis: Text Only. John Wiley and Sons. Hahn, H and Kibora, L 2008, â€Å"The Domestication of the Mobile Phone: Oral Society and New ICT in Burkina Faso†. Journal of Modern African Studes 46. Henry, A 2008, Understanding Strategic Management. Oxford University Press. Hill C. et al 2009, Strategic Management Theory: An Integrated Approach. Cengage Learning. Kovvali, G 2011, â€Å"Cell phones are as carcinogenic as coffee†. Journal of Carcinogenesis 10 (1): 18. McGuigan, J. et al 2010, Managerial Economics. Cengage Learning. Roy, D, 2011, Strategic Foresight and Porter’s Five Forces: Towards a Synthesis. GRIN Verlag. Saylor, M 2012, The Mobile Wave: How Mobile Intelligence Will Change Everything. Perseus Books/Vanguard Press. Schwarzinger, A 2012, Porter’s Five Forces Framework – An Analysis of the Swiss TV-Broadcasting Industry. GRIN Verlag. Stonehouse, G. et al 2007, Global and Transnational Business: Strategy and Management. John Wiley and Sons. How to cite Microsoft strategic alliance with Nokia, Essay examples

Creating an Entrepreneurial Spirit Through Culture free essay sample

This paper focuses on managing entrepreneurship, and entrepreneurship in the family business context. Through strategic leadership, a strong vision, mission and culture, we will study how Qian Hu Corporation Limited has transited itself from a modest family run business into a successful ornamental fish business employing 700 personnel. We will examine business management variables such as ownership, business organisation and the decision making process, and how the leadership of Kenny Yap and his management team developed a small family business into one of the world’s largest suppliers of ornamental fish. This study is based on information obtained from articles, company annual reports and existing academic journals. MGMT 104 Group Case Study – Qian Hu Corporation Ltd Content 1. Company Profile 1. 1Vision 1. 2Mission Statement 2. Company Culture 2. 1Core Values 2. 2Strategic Thrusts 2. 3Culture 3. Operations 3. 1Business Model 3. 2Human Resources and Talent Management 3. 3Corporate Social Responsibility 4. Kenny Yap – The Entrepreneur 4. 1 Profile and Background 4. 2 Instilling a mindset of change 4. 3 Going Public 4. 4 Embracing Technology and Change 4. Creating an entrepreneurial culture 4. 6 Learning from mistakes 4. 7 The Business Challenges 5. Management 5. 1 Decision Making Process 6. Family Run Business 6. 1 Problems 6. 2 Solutions from Qian Hu’s Perspective 7. References and Appendices 1 MGMT 104 Group Case Study – Qian Hu Corporation Ltd 1. Company Profile Qian Hu Corporation Ltd is a leading exporter of ornamental fish, contributing about 14% to Singapore’s total ornamental fish export. Together with other local farms, Singapore supplies more than 30% of the world’s aquarium fish. They have export links to more than 75 countries worldwide and the company ships about half a million fish per month from a variety of over 1,000 ornamental fish species. The company employs about 700 employees. 1. 1 Vision Qian Hu has adopted 4 vision objectives. 1. To be a world number one ornamental fish exporter, supplying 60% to 70% of world market. 2. To own the largest number of pet chain store in Asia by 2008. 3. To be the top 3 manufacturers of aquarium accessories in China by 2008. 4. To be the most profitable Dragon Fish Breeder in the region. 1. Mission Statement â€Å"To be the world biggest Ornamental Fish and Aquarium and Pet Accessories provider through innovative and Quality Products and Services. † 2. Company Culture Qian Hu is a company that is highly customer centric, and they will export its products and services to any place in the world as long as there is appropriate flight access and distribution infrastructure. The company does not distinguish between individual or retailer/wholesaler customers and they strive to maintain long-term distribution relationships, however large or minute the dealings. In all of their business dealings, Qian Hu aims for quality, timeliness, varieties, value for money and competent product knowledge. The company acknowledges that their competitive success has been due to their customer centric business and strong design capabilities, good quality, workmanship and competitive pricing. Innovative and continual improvements to their product design, breeding better arowana species and sourcing new fish species has been critical to sustaining their competitive advantage. Lastly, they recognise that leveraging on innovation and technology will improve their efficiency on procedures and services. 2 MGMT 104 Group Case Study – Qian Hu Corporation Ltd 2. 1 Core Values The company core values are Integrity, Value Creation, Entrepreneurship and Teamwork. 2. 2 Strategic Thrusts The strategic thrusts that the company has identified to keep them ahead of their competitors are: ? ? ? ? Customer Focus People Experience Quality Excellence Financial Strength 2. 3 Culture The company culture has been highly influenced by its chairman nd Managing Director, Mr Kenny Yap. Entrepreneurial leadership, incorporating the best in both management and knowledge governance practices are values he brings to the company. The essential components of Qian Hu’s business culture are belief in values such as hard work, employee welfare, family cohesion and skilful change leadership. The organisational culture at Qian Hu has evolved from a â€Å"family values† c entric one to one which encompasses more professional practices by instituting best employer practices. Appropriate measures are adopted to encourage value creation, entrepreneurship, organisational culture and the training and development of its employees. However the company recognises that for effective change management to take place, it is imperative to retain some elements of the family culture. The company also differentiates itself form its competitors through a high quality service culture and the use of technology. Qian Hu places high importance on product knowledge and training, and ensures that each of their sales staff is competent in their product knowledge. QIan Hu is differentiated from the rest of the competition in terms of tis integrated services, brand, distribution network, manufacturing capabilities, and most importantly, its quality, innovation and service culture throughout the Group. † – Qian Hu’s total value chain 3 MGMT 104 Group Case Study – Qian Hu Corporation Ltd 3. Operations Qian Hu Corporation Limited has offices and subsidiar ies in 4 countries, including Singapore, Malaysia, China and Thailand. Together, they are involved in 4 types of businesses: Ornamental Fish, Arowanas, Aquarium and Pet Accessories and Plastic Bags. The organization has a proportionately diversified workforce with 49% below the age of 30, and a third of its employees are from Malaysia. Qian Hu joined the Employee Alliance (EA) 1 in 2006 and the company regularly participates in workshops, knowledge-exchanges and industry related events. The EA also provides a network of CEO-advocates that provides peer-to-peer outreach. As an EA member, Qian Hu has embarked and actively encouraged other organizations to understand the importance of integrating Work-Life initiatives into their people management. Its chairman and managing director, Kenny Yap, believes that building Work-Life values into the corporate culture is crucial. Major benefits of a Work-Life harmony for Qian 1 EA is a local association established to spearhead the adoption of Work-Life practices and make organizations aware of the business benefits in implementing Work-Life strategies 5 MGMT 104 Group Case Study – Qian Hu Corporation Ltd Hu include low staff turnover. Staff turnover is lower than the national average and the industry trends, and Yap recognizes that the key to managing turnover is employee recognition and appreciation. Some of Qian Hu‘s Work-Life initiatives include allowing employees to work parttime during crucial periods such as when employees need to prepare their children for major exams such as the Primary School Leaving Examinations (PSLE) or Singapore-Cambridge GCE ‘O’ and ‘A’ Level Examinations, providing Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) for their salespeople to help them better manage their time, and enabling senior employees to work beyond the statutory retirement age. â€Å"Being an SME is an advantage because you can easily and quickly build a Work-Life culture. The small size allows us to be close-knit, informal and flexible. In Qian Hu, we treat each employee as a family member with love and mutual respect. I believe Work-Life strategy helps us create that conducive environment where employees can feel at ease and perform at their best. † – Kenny Yap, Chairman and Managing Director, Qian Hu Corporation Ltd Senior management is highly involved in communicating Qian Hu’s vision, missions and values and this is achieved through the flat hierarchical structure. Senior management regularly holds informal tea meetings with their staff, walk-abouts, and creating employee focus groups for feedback. The organization has developed and established human resource strategies derived from the environment, labor laws and practices, needs of the workforce, and business sector and management inputs. The objectives of such strategies are aimed at being a competitive employer, having a proactive learning and thinking workforce, and to nurture a family culture environment. Human resource practices at Qian Hu aim to fulfill five criteria; Manpower Planning and Staffing, Employee Involvement and Commitment, Training and Development, Employee Health and Satisfaction, and Performance Management and Recognition. Implementation of plans and subsequent reviews are done through meetings with line managers and senior management. The organization intensively studies best practices of other leading people-centric organizations in order to adopt relevant strategies for value creation, 6 MGMT 104 Group Case Study – Qian Hu Corporation Ltd entrepreneurship, organizational culture, people development and compensation. Organization models that they try to emulate include Robinsons, Development Bank of Singapore (DBS), and Philips Singapore, all of which have managed to generate high value creation and business performance through their human resource practices. Qian Hu’s senior managers also attend bi-monthly information sharing sessions and best practices seminars to understand more about people development trends. Qian Hu’s performance management system integrates organizational values and functions to reinforce positive behaviors and practices. Variables include on the job performance indicators, participation and contribution towards innovation, quality and team activities and expression of the Qian Hu culture. The appraisal would then affect the salary increment and annual bonus. The flexible bonus system is tied in to profit performance, while flexible wage issues are constantly being improved. In order to ensure that the performance and recognition systems are effective, Qian Hu’s senior management, HR team and line managers review the performance and recognition systems in the company regularly. A variety of formal mechanisms such as management review sessions, employee opinion surveys (EOS), 360 degree feedback, performance achievement, third party feedback, and turnover statistics are used which enhances job satisfaction, performance and employee involvement. Target set for EOS satisfaction level is a minimum level of 90%. The organization’s Total Learning Plan is reviewed based on training effectiveness, system relevancy and the impact on business results. Training Needs Analysis (TNA) is conducted based on inputs from departmental supervisors, annual performance appraisal and Qian Hu’s internally designed executives and non-executive competency matrix. While overall average training per staff has been on a constant gradual increase, staff turnover has fallen with the execution of Qian Hu’s various HR strategies. The Employee Involvement Framework also involves the establishment of a Staff Participation Committee which is placed in-charge of leadership involvement, rewards and recognition, communication and training and development. The initiative resulted in the implementation of numerous creative ideas organizationalwide which played a significant role in driving overall business performance. The HR department plays a crucial role in championing a majority of the initiatives that helped engaged and involve employees. Examples include a Staff Suggestion 7 MGMT 104 Group Case Study – Qian Hu Corporation Ltd Scheme to encourage ideas for improvement from individual employees, Community Projects comprising of home visits and donations to help promote compassion and obligations of being good corporate citizens, and Staff Dialogue Sessions to promote two-way communications and bonding within employees, as well as between the management and non-management staff. Finally, to ensure that Qian Hu’s people management strategy supports business objectives, Kenny implemented a performance reward system together with his brother Andy, who was the previous HR director. In 2003, Andy handed the HR function to their HR manager, Raymond Yip. Staff performance is appraised on a 20criterion scale whereby staff receives points whenever they achieve the criteria. 3. 3 Corporate Social Responsibility Qian Hu has always believed that â€Å"all lives should be cherished and treasured† and has in place processes and initiatives to â€Å"walk the talk†. The company adopts a 3pronged approach to contribute; the environment, the community, and the business community. Environmental preservation Qian Hu currently uses an ISO-14001 certified environment management system where rainwater is recycled to be used to irrigate all of its farms. In addition, any waste produced by their fish is treated first before being released. Qian Hu personnel are trained to reuse and recycle any reusable items, from small items like rubber bands, cups and plastic bags, to larger industrial equipment like Styrofoam containers and packaging boxes. Giving back to the community Qian Hu believes in giving back to the underprivileged, and has an annual fund raising event for the elderly. The company matches dollar for dollar at these events to show and pledge their sincerity. Also Qian Hu conducts free tours of its facilities for underprivileged students, as well as sponsoring overseas internships for a few talented students. Additionally, Qian Hu is strong supporter in the Speak Mandarin Campaign. 8 MGMT 104 Group Case Study – Qian Hu Corporation Ltd The Business Community Qian Hu is committed to increasing the knowledge of ornamental fish breeders on techniques in fish breeding and care. The company organises talks on the subject regularly, and many can pick up a trick or two by visiting their facilities. In addition, Qian Hu is committed to developing young entrepreneurs and its CEO, Mr. Kenny Yap, is constantly open to talks and interviews. He is a regular speaker at SMU’s Lee Kong Chian Scholar’s Program dialogues, and often shares his success story. 4. Kenny Yap – The Entrepreneur 4. 1 Profile and Background When Kenny was seven, he bought a gold fish that cost 50 cents. Some of his brothers laughed at him when he brought the fish home because the gold fish had a broken tail. But to Kenny, his brothers’ opinions were immaterial as he thought it was a good fish. The recipient of the 2003 Ernst Youngs Services Entrepreneur of The Year Award now realizes how important such a trait is for an entrepreneur – to not be easily swayed by the opinions of others. His belief is that â€Å"as long as we can live up to our own conscience, we need not seek approval from others. Being the youngest of seven sons in the family, Kenny had the privilege of going abroad to study in Ohio State University, and obtained a first class honours in Business Administration. His elder brothers, on the contrary, had to help out at the guppy farm then. In 1989, a thunderstorm wiped out the farm’s entire stock of guppies and the Yap family had to start over. After returning from the United States, Kenny was appointed by his family to head the business in 1994. Having a degree was not equivalent to hands-on experience in the family business, and Kenny had to work his way through to gain credibility among his siblings. Together with his four brothers and two cousins, they teamed up to turn around the business and renamed the company â€Å"Qian Hu†, which means â€Å"a thousand lakes† in mandarin. Today, Kenny Yap is Executive Chairman Group Managing Director of Qian Hu Corporation Ltd, Singapore’s first integrated ornamental fish service provider as a breeder, distributor, manufacturer and retailer, Qian Hu has come a long way from being a medium sized enterprise to becoming a public-listed company with export links to more than 75 countries globally. 9 MGMT 104 Group Case Study – Qian Hu Corporation Ltd 4. 2 Instilling a mindset of Change Kenny’s education in business administration at a American university led him to have different perspectives in running a business and he went on to explore new management concepts such as customer relationship management and ISO quality certification. Several organizational reforms have taken place under Kenny’s leadership such as the Strategic Business Planning exercise in 1997, Corporate Restructuring in 1998 and the National Cost of Quality Program in 1999. The objectives of these programs were to work towards business excellence and diversify both products and export markets. Kenny also initiated other change measures such as implementing technological processes, modifying the organizational structure and human resources management, to support the firm’s strategic direction. These concepts and programs were rather new to managers of small and medium-sized enterprises, but Kenny capitalized on the first-mover advantage and successfully led Qian Hu through this transition process. 4. Going Public Yap’s entrepreneurial spirit wanted to prove to the world that the ornamental fish breeding business could be a thriving and profitable industry. In November 2000, Qian Hu launched its IPO and was listed on the Singapore Exchange. In preparing for the IPO, Kenny’s greatest challenge was in persuading his family members to change their mentality from that of a private limited company to a public listed company, a corporate st ructure in which management was separate from the owners. Previously, he also had to change their mindset that they were going to be a private limited company nd no longer a family partnership entity. Yap said that one of the main reasons for his push for the IPO was to keep his siblings’ children from taking over the company, as well as forcing Qian Hu to adhere to transparent business practices. One of the biggest changes of becoming a listed corporation was that the business had an additional group of stakeholders to manage – the shareholders. Voting rights had become more diluted, and decision-making could prove to be a difficult process as both the shareholders’ interests and the company’s business had to be considered. . 4 Embracing Technology and Change The first step after taking over the business was to convey the message that the company was a separate entity from the family members. This was crucial so as to 10 MGMT 104 Group Case Study – Qian Hu Corporation Ltd develop a management structure that supports the execution of company strategies. Everyone had to be responsible for the performance and welfare of others, if they wanted to bring relatives in to work for the organization. Kenny capitalized on advanced technological processes to build the fish farm’s infrastructure. Qian Hu adopted high-tech farming methods, such as a temperature controlled packinghouse, computerized system of trading records and a laboratory for fish examination and water analysis. Specialized equipment helped to increase operational efficiency, and a mobile distribution management system (DMS) helped streamline sales processes and enhance the time spent with customers. Qian Hu also began leveraging on mobile IT system in 2003 to manage its customer accounts and distribution. Over time, Qian Hu realized that the system was not able to manage the increasingly complicated business and customer expectations. Sales orders for stock code that were previously not captured in the mobile system had to be filled out by hand, resulting in billing delays and manual re-entering of data into the accounting system. There was an established discount structure, but the system was unable to compute customer discounts accordingly and the van-sales representatives had to constantly refer back to a printed price list, which defeated the purpose of the technology. With the new MEVO Mobile DMS, the van-sales team was able to meet customer needs in real time and no longer be immersed in paperwork rone to human error. Qian Hu’s investments in research and development have aggressively propelled its success in manufacturing plastic bags, which are used to pack ornamental fish for sale. Qian Hu spent more than S$200,000 and developed the world’s first automated packaging machine for ornamental fish. The machine increased output as much as 80% and reduced the amount of labour by 66%. Kenny embrace d the Western corporate structure by delineating roles and responsibilities for each family member. This caused tension among his siblings, since Chinese family enterprises seldom trust outsiders (see Family Run Business – Problems). But Kenny made a bold step to hire managers that were non-relatives. Through changing the familial mindsets of his family members, Kenny was able to transform Qian Hu from a traditionally run family business, into a world class player in the regional aquarium fish market. 11 MGMT 104 Group Case Study – Qian Hu Corporation Ltd Qian Hu, like any other business, also faces the challenge of attracting, developing and retaining talent. The lack of financial resources means that Qian Hu can only differentiate itself by its organizational culture and HR practices, so that employees can be motivated to provide good quality products and services. While the compensation may not be as attractive, Qian Hu can be an employer of choice by having a transparent and equitable corporate culture, a compassionate working environment, and open communication channels for everyone to have direct interaction. A strong management team serves more than just a differentiating factor for Qian Hu, but also ensure that the organization is responsive to a changing environment. . 5 Creating an Entrepreneurial Culture Yap is a prominent entrepreneur in Singapore and was recently appointed by National Youth Council as the Chairman of the Youth Award (Entrepreneurship) Committee. Business Week also voted him as one of the 50 Stars of Asia in 2001. Qian Hus role in establishing Singapore as the ornamental fish capital of the world has distinguis hed Yap to be a remarkable business leader in the Chinese market. He feels that leadership stems from being able to trust one’s employees and being able to delegate. Yap also cautions that delegation comes with responsibility. Far from being the typical authoritarian leader whose power revolves around a patriarchal founder, Yap strongly encourages his employees to make suggestions. This is done through employee opinion surveys (EOS), third party feedback, and employee involvement. Be it during their monthly meetings, informal gatherings, recreational activities or formal employee opinion surveys, he likes to ask his employees to think about new ways of doing things. He aspires for Qian Hu to be a thinking organization, like General Electric and Citibank, one that sustains growth and is able to keep pace with changes. Yap hopes that both the young and old can learn from each other. While youths have novel ideas and can create new trends, the veterans possess a wealth of wisdom and experience. Old ideas can be new again, and new ideas should contain old truths. All employees who work for the company must be interested in tropical fish, because they need to understand the company’s products in order to manage operations well. As for top management, Qian Hu offers more than just a career, but also a vision of what they managers want to achieve in their own lives. Kenny 12 MGMT 104 Group Case Study – Qian Hu Corporation Ltd places significant attention on a strong company culture and a good management system, because employees will stay on with the company if they perceive themselves to be treated fairly and share a common vision with the company. Kenny developed a performance reward system so that the highest achievers can rewarded accordingly, symbolically as well as financially. Entrepreneurship is one of the four core values of integrity in Qian Hu. This comes about from creating a unique organizational culture and is expressed in the HR handbook, which includes the corporate vision, mission, values and strategy. What Kenny has done in Qian Hu was to put a human face to the corporate culture and transmit and instil it in the organisation. 4. 6 Learning from Mistakes The road to success was not without failures. In 1989, after the flood washout, the Yap family tried to rear high-fin loaches. This breed of fish was a popular fish during that time, but competence in that breed of fish was inadequate. Vibrations from the power tools used to install new fish tanks killed 4,000 four-inch high fin loaches, worth a total of $270,000. The company learnt that they needed to know their products well and the importance of risk diversification. This lesson proved to be so valuable that the high-fin loach is now the mascot of Qian Hu. 4. 7 The Business Challenge When a customer spends $1 on fish, he typically spends another $5 on accessories. Qian Hu has identified the accessories business to be a potential driver of the business growth strategy. They established a joint-venture in Guangzhou, set up a new subsidiary in Thailand and a new fish division in Malaysia. Despite setting up these manufacturing bases to gain access to low cost and human capital resources, low barriers to entry in the fish accessories industry has seen new entrants fighting for market share, causing Qian Hu’s profit margin to fall 8. 9% in 2003. 5. Management The primary figures who make up Qian Hu’s Management team are Kenny Yap Kim Lee, the Executive Chairman and Managing Director, Alvin Yap Ah Seng, Deputy Managing Director, Andy Yap Ah Siong, Deputy Managing Director and Teo Boon Hock, the General Manager. The Management’s key responsibilities revolve around the day-to-day running of the Group as a whole, and providing the Board of 13 MGMT 104 Group Case Study – Qian Hu Corporation Ltd Directors with a continual flow of relevant information on a timely basis so that it may effectively discharge its duties. On a monthly basis, Management furnishes the Board with up-to-date financial reports and other information on the Group’s performance for effective monitoring and decision-making. Qian Hu Corporation’s Management also works closely with the Audit Committee (â€Å"AC†) in evaluating the adequacy of internal control systems of the company and holds discussions with the AC concerning the significant internal audit observations, together with the management’s responses and actions to correct any deficiencies. The Group’s Executive Chairman and Managing Director, Mr.Kenny Yap, plays a vital role in the development of the Group’s business and provides the group with strong leadership and vision. In addition to the day-to-day running of the Qian Hu Corporation, he also serves to ensure that all members of the Board of Directors and Management work well together with integrity and competency so as to achieve the greatest amount of success for the Group. His responsibilities include setting guidelines on quality, quantity, accurateness and timeliness of information flow between the Board, Management and shareholders of the company.

Predicting Premature Termination from Counseling Using the Butcher Treatment Planning Inventory

Hardware Replacement Project Essays

Hardware Replacement Project Essays Hardware Replacement Project Essay Hardware Replacement Project Essay The scope is intended to make sure that a project follows the original plan and does not expand beyond what was finalized. Time is very important for this scenario because this is the amount of time required to complete the project. Since the IT department needs to upgrade the hardware so the new CRM system will work properly, the time of the project must be completed in the projects determined time. Time and cost work hand-in-hand in a project like this. Cost is based on the time to complete a project multiplied by the daily cost of human resources required to complete the project. This would include the cost of hardware, software, and work space. This Is Important In this scenario because the new CRM system Is In need of need hardware. This should follow the scope of the project by determining the budget. Quality Is Important In this scenario because If the new hardware doesnt function properly with the new CRM system the whole project is a waste of time and money. The quality tells the management how well the end result of a project and if it satisfies the objectives specified. The new hardware needs to have improved organizational performance and decision making. This would also include the accuracy and timeliness of information produced by the new system and ease of use. Risk refers to the potential problems that would threaten the success of the project. This works hand-in-hand with time and cost. If there is a problem that rises in this scenario the time of the project could increase as well as the cost. This can also have a direct negative effect on the quality of the project. If a potential problem occurs It can cause the quality of the project to decrease. : Probably one of the top considerations that should be applied when selecting projects would be selecting projects that promise the greatest benefit to the business. If the project doesnt increase a companys profit, technology, or efficiency, then it is useless to start a project. These considerations would include determining project costs and benefits. In this scenario you would need to look at the tangible benefits and the intangible benefits. Tangible benefits can be quantified and assigned a monetary value. Intangible benefits, such as more efficient customer service or enhanced decision making, cannot be immediately quantified. Here are some implementation costs, operational costs, tangible benefits and the intangible benefits that could happen In a scenario Like this one. Hardware, software, and personnel (or human resources) would have an Implementation cost. Computer processing time, maintenance, operating staff, user time, and ongoing training costs would be the operational costs. Tangible benefits would Include: Increased productivity, lower operational costs, reduced workforce (in some cases), lower computer expenses in the future, a reduced rate AT growth In expenses, Ana Increase sales. Intangible Dentists would Include: improved asset utilization, improved resource control, improved organizational planning, more timely information, more information, increased Job satisfaction, improved operations, higher client satisfaction, and a better corporate image. The five variables to this scenario should be able to show the internal rate of return (AIR) and the rate of return on investment (ROI). If the IT department doesnt have a ROI for the improved CRM, the company could lose more profit than what is gained and could fall to bankruptcy. With a project like this the IT department would need to have an information systems plan that shows how specific information systems fit into their companies overall business plan and business strategy. This plan should notation a statement of corporate goals and specify how information technology, such as the new CRM system will help the business attain these goals. This plan should describe organization changes, including management and employee training requirements; changes in business processes; and changes in authority, structure, or management practices. The IT department would then show how the proposed CRM system would fit into this plan. Once the overall direction from the information systems plan is achieved the next step is the portfolio analysis. This will help the company evaluate alternative system projects. Since each of the information systems project carries its own set of risks and benefits, the IT department will need to weigh the risk and return from their systems investment. Once these steps have been taken the next step for the IT department would be implementation and change management. Implementation simply refers to all the organizational activities working toward the adoption and management of an innovation, such as a new information system (CRM). Project risk is influenced by project size, project structure, and the level of technical expertise to the information systems staff and project team. An information systems Project like CRM and the entire implementation process should be managed as planned organizational change using an organizational impact analysis. Management support and control of the implementation process are essential, as are mechanisms for dealing with the level of risk in each new systems project. Formal planning and control tools (including Gaunt and PERT charts) track the resource allocations and specific project activities. Users can be encouraged to take active roles in systems development and become involved in installation and training. Global information systems projects should involve local units in the aeration of the design without giving up control of the project to parochial interests. There is also project management software; this is a tool that is available to automate the creation of Gaunt and Pert charts and to facilitate the project management process. This software typically features capabilities for defining and ordering tasks, assigning resources to tasks, establishing starting and ending dates for tasks, tracking progress, and facilitating modifications to tasks and resources. An example of this software would be [emailprotected] Project, which is the most widely used. Jensen

Cinema Manager Induction Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Cinema Manager Induction - Essay Example Also ensuring the workers and management practices conform to a variety of regulations. Other behavior comprises managing the approach to employee benefits and recompense, employee records and personnel policies. These policies are frequently in the form employee manuals, which all employees ought to have (Clark, 2002). HRM can also be helpful because managing people well may pressure so lots of outcomes in an organisation, such as productivity, output, employee participation and investor return, these are all significant to the stakeholders, organisation itself, employees, stockholders, customers and society. Star Cinema Ltd has over 16 theater sites in the U.K. and has more than 1500 employees. The company is looking to expand its business from January 2005 when it acquires more building sites. This will mean employing additional labour in the region of 120 to 130 people. An induction suggestion has been shaped for Entertainment Media Ltd. An induction is an tremendously significant part of the process as it assist to raise issues on health and safety. Statistically additional accidents occur with new employees and this joint with the dangers inside the building industry means it is areas which have to be completely addressed (Fitz-enz, J., 2004). Each novel staff member has dissimilar, and occasionally unique, induction needs. This may be due to individual factors or preceding experience factors. It is so significant that every new staff member's induction programmed be tailored to get together their person needs. It also means that it is not possible to expect or lodge each require, so individuals have to recognise that they have liability for their own induction programmes (Fitz-enz, J., 2000). Study of Cinema The reading of cinema at the university level has turn out to be ever more central in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australasia, located in a number of disciplines such as the history of art, languages and literatures, communications, and up-and-coming work on the histories of accumulation technologies (film among them). At the same time, approaches to film studies which have taken their cue from fictional analyses (formalism, semiotics, auteur, and type theory) have lately seen the challenge of latest intellectual work in the form of "cultural studies," an umbrella word for a crowd of imbricate dangerous projects such as feminism, surprising theory, race studies, post structuralisms, and materialist analyses. This come across, of film studies and cultural studies, is the theme of this collection of essays concerning cinema, by the questions of cultural studies at the forefront (Robbins, S.P.; 2004). This impression demonstrates the wide variety of optimistic impacts local cinemas have on their communities. The sites foster a sense of place and give a center for the local community, whilst ornamental local educational life from side to side the provision of mainstream and/or

An Age of Cross-Cultural Interaction Research Paper

An Age of Cross-Cultural Interaction - Research Paper Example History experts refer to this particular epoch as the age of cross-cultural communication because of the establishment trans-regional nomadic empires (Nystrom 569). According to them, the cross-cultural interactions were significantly different in dynamics from those of the earlier post-classical era. Historical records show that Nomadic people established empires that occupied vast coverage of the Eurasian land, thus sponsoring the direct interactions of distant peoples. In the 11th century, the Saljuq Turks established an empire extending from Anatolia and Southwest Asia into Central Asia. At around the same period, the Khitan people built a huge empire in the West and North steppe lands of China. The twelfth century saw the conquest of the Khitan people by the Jurchen, a semi nomadic group that came from Manchuria. Consequently, the Jurchen incorporated the entire north china into their empire (GMU). The most important development of the period occurred in the 13th century, when t he Mongols with the help of their allies conquered most of the Eurasia, thus establishing the largest empire in the history of humans. The new empire stretched from Manchuria, China, and Korean on the eastern side to the Danube and Russia in the west. Despite the collapse of their Chinese Yuan dynasty, the Mongols still played an integral part in Central Asia. The period between the fourteenth and sixteenth century, the Timurid conquerors established a vast empire in India, Anatolia, Southwest Asia, and Central Asia (Bentley and Ziegler 565). These conquests, empire building efforts, and migrations of nomadic people facilitated the cross-cultural interactions to occur in a systematic and intensive fashion than earlier eras. In the case of the Mongols foe instance, the establishment of an enormous, trans-regional empire ensured the direct interaction of people from distant lands as Europe and China (Crossley 120). It was important for the majority of nomad communities to have their e mpires in Central Asia, as the region played an integral part in the overland trade between points west and China. The establishment of nomad empires and their strong interest in trade ensured that the trade transaction in the terrestrial silk roads became safer than in previous history, thus rising in volume (Adas 20). At the same time, the trade over the sea-lane also increased, driving the Indian Ocean basin towards economic integration. In summary, the age on nomadic empires sustained a systematic and well-articulated nature of long distance trade. The imperial expansion, long distance trade, and mass migration were very important in sustaining the cross-cultural interactions between 1000 and 1500 C.E than in earlier eras. The main difference was that by the fourteenth century, the interactions had become intense, regular, systematic, and frequent than in past eras. Missionaries and ambassadors traveled through the trade routes along merchants and soldiers. At the same period, t here were widespread establishment of religious missions and diplomatic contacts over long distances not travelled before. Islamic merchants were very essential in the establishment of a strong foundation of their faith at the eastern hemisphere extreme ends, West Africa, and Southeast Asia. At about the same time, the conquerors managed to establish Islamic communities in Anatolia and northern India (Bentley 764). The most significant cross-cultural in

Coaching ethical behavior Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Coaching ethical behavior - Assignment Example A leader in any organization is regarded as the face of the organization and how the organization members conduct themselves affect the image of the organization (Passmore, 2010). Leaders can coach their members on how to enhance their ethical behavior. Coaching is defined as a process that facilitate maximization one’s potential. The following are ways in which can coach ethical behavior: ï‚ ·Setting guidelines and refreshing team members-As a leader, the team member should know what is expected of them. Even if they know, how they are supposed to conduct themselves, a refresher on ethical conduct is essential. ï‚ ·Through motivation- The leader can encourage the team members that they can enhance their ethical behavior regardless of the situation they are facing at any particular moment. Emphasis on teamwork motivates each one of them. ï‚ ·Monitoring and evaluation- Just like a coach of a given sport he observes the performance of the team member. The leader should monitor how the team members conduct themselves and evaluate on the progress. A deviation will be recognized, and corrective measures be implemented before it goes overboard (Passmore, 2010). ï‚ ·Exploring interactive moment- A leader should allow the team members to discuss among themselves and identify possible problems and solutions with regards to moral behavior. This is in line with the diversity among the universe population and has to be appreciated. ï‚ ·

Oligopoly Market Conditions

Oligopoly Market Conditions Oligopoly is such a market situation wherein the number of sellers is few and the numbers of buyer are many. That is unlike the monopolistic competition the seller are not one but at least two and could range up to ten. This is because of the following reasons. Heavy input costs of producing the product making it difficult for every firm to make investments. Entry barriers made by the bigger firms in the form of government regulations, price competition, brand setting and other pressure tactics. The method of production requires specialization which is not available with other firms. Product enjoys monopoly in the market. Thus the above mentioned few reasons can become the cause of set up of an oligopoly market. Number of sellers and buyers in oligopoly: Now Oligopoly, as mentioned above can have from two to tens suppliers, rather than one in the case of monopoly market. Thus they together become the price setters instead of price takers. Any rise in price will benefit the rise in sales of other company products that may be similar or differentiated. Reason being the other companies wont follow in rising their product prices as they would be expecting an increase in sales. On the other side, any fall in price will not help gain many customers, as the other companies will respond in a similar pattern and the result will be price war. Thus declining the price level would not help gain as many customers as expected. Price Equilibrium in Oligopoly: An equilibrium condition is when the prices remain unstable and the supply remains same. To increase the demand of the products and meet the competition of other products in the market, these firms indulge in heavy advertising campaigns. Through advertisements they teach the customers about the new feature that is added in their product and various other benefits of using their product. This sometimes results in putting stains on the other companys product in indirect words. Examples of Oligopoly: A number of examples of Oligopoly market situation can be figured out around us. These are explained as follows. PepsiCo and Coca Cola Co. are the two market leader and sellers of soft drinks around the world. Thus two numbers of firms selling to large number of buyers makes it an Oligopoly market. Furthermore these companies are always making heavy investments on advertisements around the globe. Some of the advertisements may be meant to harm the brand image of other. The result in another advertisement in response. Sometimes these matters are even taken to courts for settlement. Boeing and Airbus are another two large companies that makes planes to foster the need of various countries. Again these are two companies, which are the sign of Oligopoly market conditions. These companies although do not make much advertisements, but offers latest techniques at competitive prices by making product differentiation and attracting customers around the globe. OPEC includes a few numbers of sellers of petroleum product throughout the world. As the number of seller is not two but not many either. The numbers of buyers are large, including countries in Asia, Africa, Europe etc. Diagrammatic representation of Oligopoly: As we know that in the Oligopoly is a market where in the number of seller are more than two but not higher in number, whereas the buyers are many. Moreover the price rise results in benefitting the other companys product sales. And on the other hand the price fall results in attracting only a few customers. This type of market conditions can be displayed as follows. From the above diagram its clear that this diagram is very similar to monopoly market situation. But the difference is this type of condition remains for a definite price period. That is if any firm try to raise its prices from Pc to Po the result would be benefit to other firms. Whereas if a firm try to reduce its product prices than that would not foster him more customers than expected. The result would be affecting the profit margins. Thus a Cooperative Oligopoly price level is administered where in all the companies agree to follow a minimum price levels to earn good profits. Any displacement from the agreed price would affect the changer or so called the Cheater, either by fall in demand or fall in profits. Thus a Nash Equilibrium point can be accepted by all the companies in the Oligopoly where in all the companies earn good profits at the present output and price levels. Features of Oligopoly: Now we can conclude the features of the Oligopoly market conditions. These are as follows. Few producers or sellers and high numbers of buyers. Product differentiation is up to some level or no product differentiation. The firms enjoy normal profits in normal market conditions. The firms depend on advertisements, quality rivalry and generally accepted by the group of firms. Economies of scale will exist, as heavy investment and improved technology is needed to get similar quality output at the competitive costs. New firms cannot enter the market, as the old firms create a barrier through government restrictions, heavy investments, pressure techniques like takeover of the uprising company. Swift action is taken on the change in price level and defaming advertising campaign by according price change and responsive advertisements. Conclusion: In the nutshell we can say that the Oligopoly market situation is very similar to Monopoly market situation but with more than one number of seller up to limit extent. The pricing is done by proper agreement between the firms. The product differentiation may or may not present. The firms spend heavy on the advertising campaign and keep a close look at the advertising of other companies and response accordingly. The firms earn normal profits but input barriers on the new entrants.

Free Essays on Kafkas Metamorphosis: Metamorphosis of Gregor Samsa :: Metamorphosis essays

   â€Å"When he lifted his head a little, he saw his vaulted brown belly, sectioned by arch-shaped ribs, to whose dome the cover, about to slide off completely, could barely cling. His many legs, pitifully thin compared with the size of the rest of him, were waving helplessly before his eyes.† Gregor Samsa has gone through a metamorphosis. This change has turned Gregor into a â€Å"monstrous vermin†. The anxieties, inner terrors, and cynicism, which fill Gregor’s life, are expressed by Kafka throughout the novel, metamorphosis. Franz Kafka uses these feelings as an element of Expressionism to convey Gregor’s attitudes towards his life and society. Examples depicting this element of Expressionism used in the novel are Gregor’s feelings towards his job, the effect his job has on his family, and the cruelty that his family displays. The novel opens with Gregor in his monstrous state, late for work. He infers that his job as a traveling salesman is very consequential, yet he is growing tired and frustrated, â€Å"The upset of doing business is much worse than the actual business in the home office, and, besides, I’ve got the torture of traveling, worrying about changing trains, eating miserable food at all hours, constantly seeing new faces, no relationships that last or get more intimate. To the devil with it all!† Gregor has a great amount of fury towards his job, which eventually led to his anger towards society as a whole. The fact that his office manager showed up at Gregor†™s house plays an immense role in creating trepidation and anxieties in Gregor’s mind. Gregor feels strangled by his job and is too weak to tolerate the pressure. In addition to the pressure created by his office manager and society, the Samsa’s, especially Gregor’s father, take advantage of him. Gregor earns the basic income to support his family. â€Å"But of course he actually could have paid off more of his father’s debt to the boss with this extra money, and the clay on which he could have gotten rid of his job would have been much closer, but now things were undoubtedly better, the way his father had arranged them.† The superficiality of the Samsa’s has put Gregor in a difficult position, which is a component causing Gregor’s metamorphosis. Gregor’s family in general, had given him the attitude he has on life. They took advantage of him to the point where he was the means of the family’s survival.