Information System Strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Information System Strategy - Essay Example Wal-Mart, today has more than 9,600 retail stores in over 30 countries, employing some 2 million employees with 1.3 million in the US alone and annual revenues of approximately $430.349 billion as of 2012. Wal-Mart is an unavoidable and irresistible retail force that, as of the present, has not met any immovable objects. Larger than Tesco, AG, Metro, and Carrefour combined, Wal-Mart is the world’s top retail store (Roberts & Berg, 2012: p26). It ranked first in the Fortune 500 list of the largest organizations by revenues. Its main competitors were Carrefour in Europe that has annual revenues of approximately $121.27 billion, Target Corporations with annual revenues of $68.44 billion, Costco Corporations that has annual revenues of approximately $88.92 billion, as well as variety and discount stores, which have annual revenues of approximately $6.24 billion (Roberts & Berg, 2012: p28). An organizational structure refers to the typically hierarchical framework through which organizations arrange their communication and authority lines, as well as allocate duties and rights, determining the extent and manner to which the roles, responsibilities, and power are coordinated, delegated, and controlled and how the information moves between the various management levels. The structure of an organization is dependent entirely on the strategy and objectives that the organization chooses. In centralized structures, the power of decision-making is concentrated within the management’s top layer and tight control they exercise over divisions and departments that are evident in Wal-Mart’s organizational structure. Since all paths of decision making at Wal-Mart begin from the CEO to the executive and on to the branches, Wal-Mart uses a centralized structure (Roberts & Berg, 2012: p34). The top of their structure is Mike Dune, the CEO, who oversees the executive comm ittee that includes the CFO, CIO, and Executive Vice Presidents. The Board of Directors puts in place the

How to Learn Meditation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

How to Learn Meditation - Essay Example There are different types of meditation depending on school and country, but it is possible to learn the basic skills which are common. Like any technique, meditation requires knowledge of theory and regular practice. So first it is necessary to choose a comfortable place for meditation. It has to be friendly and familiar location; there is no need to go outside if you are planning to meditate for the first time. Through meditation on the beach seems like a wonderful idea, it is better to do it later being more adept. Your own room where everything is familiar and where you won`t be bothered is a perfect place. It is possible to sit on the floor or on a special carpet or on the chair.  The second step is choosing a right posture. Two main conditions of a good posture and effective meditation are straight spine and comfort. If you feel relaxed sitting on a floor with your legs crossed then it`s a perfect posture. It `s also possible to take a cushion as it will make sitting less dif ficult. Someone will rather sit on a chair. Your spine must resemble a straight line from the top of the head down to the floor. Yet the posture must not be too comfortable to the point that it will make you fall asleep and you must be able to hold your body weight yourself. Step number four is finding the right music. It is much more comfortable to meditate with appropriate audio when you are doing it for the first time. Calm Indian melodies, binaural rhythms, mantras are those tested sounds which are easy to find on the Internet now. These sounds help to reduce any mental chatter that is going on in your head. Choose the audio that will last for about 10-15 minutes and will not end abruptly. Focusing on your breath is a next and one of the most important steps on your way to becoming a master of meditation. Breathing is the key to concentration and relaxation so you need to be attentive and not neglect to learn to breathe however awkward it may sound.

Reintroduction of Wolves Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Reintroduction of Wolves - Research Paper Example While there are some demerits in reintroducing the wolves, the merits far outweigh them. For decades, the native species of North America had been adjusting to the changes in the environment by self sustaining balance of prey, predator and supporting habitat. This ecosystem flourished for many ages without any interference or intervention on the part of humans (Busch, 2007). Yellowstone national park was build with the aim of preserving the wildlife and wilderness in North America. It was discovered by the State of Montana that wolves and other predators were destroying the ecosystem by killing too many game animals such as elk and Moose. There was plan to eliminate them from the area. Due to this, wolves were hunted and killed by wildlife personnel in 1914. The idea of eliminating wolves made them become endangered species which led to the plan to protect and reintroduce them in North America especially in Yellowstone National Park which had favorable habitat for their survival. The controversial reintroduction program has been successful in the sense that wolves are now back in Yellowstone National Park after an absence of more than 50 years. ... es in the Yellowstone National Park started in the year 1995 when wolves were regarded as ‘non-essential, experimental’ population according to article 10(j) of the Endangered Species Act. In addition, this clarification authorized government officials to deal with the problems that wolves posed to the society and it was regarded as series of consensus or compromises of wolf reintroduction pioneers made with the local ranchers and livestock farmers (9news.com). Environmental groups and local industries battled for many years over the Idaho and Yellowstone program of wolf reintroduction efforts. It is important to note that the concept of wolf reintroduction was first presented in the congress in 1966 by a group of biologists who were weary of the high population of elk in Idaho and Yellowstone areas. It can be said that in1926, it was the last year that wolves were officially killed in Yellowstone area and over the succeeding years, the elk population and other prey anim als had tremendously increased thus, posing a threat to new growth vegetation (Philips et al, 1996). This was as a result of removal of key predators in the area. The wolves were on top of the food pyramid but their absence gave the elk population a fertile ground to boom out of control. In the coming year’s species of riparian and aspen cottonwood crashed because of overgrazing. This in turn, affected habitat of other species. Despite the dangers posed to the ecosystem by the absence of wolves, livestock farmers and ranchers were still opposed to the reintroduction of wolves in the area citing problems that wolves will bring to their livestock. Yellowstone National Park is the national park in the U.S where many people visit every year. Conservationists, biologists and local business owners

Interco Case Essay Example for Free

Interco Case Essay Interco On August 8, 1988, Interco’s board of directors met to discuss, among other matters, a merger proposal from City Capital Associates Limited Partnership. City Capital had offered $64 per common share of Interco on July 28, 1988, and had raised that offer to $70 per share on the morning of August 8. At this board meeting Interco’s financial advisors, Wasserstein, Perella Co., established a valuation range of $68-$80 per common share of Interco and presented their evaluation of the offer. Given their valuation, Wasserstein Perella advised the Interco board (see Exhibit 1) that the $70 per share offer was inadequate and not in the best interests of the company and its shareholders. The board of directors voted to reject the City Capital offer. The Company Founded in December 1911, the International Shoe Company was established as a footwear manufacturing concern and remained so until the early 1960s. In 1966, the company was renamed Interco to reflect the changing character of its business. It had grown, into a major manufacturer and retailer of a wide variety of consumer products and services. Among the most well-known of the brands Interco made were Converse and Florsheim shoes, Ethan Allen furniture, and London Fog rain gear. Interco’s various operations were substantially autonomous and were supported by a corporate management staff in St. Louis, Missouri. The company’s philosophy had historically been to acquire companies in related fields and to provide their existing management teams with the incentives to expand their businesses while relieving them of such routine support functions as financial and legal requirements. Nearly half of Interco’s growth had come through acquisition. The company continually sought entities that would complement the existing Interco companies. Additional criteria used in  screening and selecting acquisition candidates included the presence of highly skilled managers and products that had established leadership positions in their respective markets. Equity analysts viewed Interco as a conservative company that was financially â€Å"overcapitalized.† With a current ratio of 3.6 to 1 and a debt-to-capitalization ratio, including capitalized leases, of 19.3% on February 29, 1988, Interco had ample financial flexibility. This flexibility had allowed the company to repurchase its common shares and make acquisitions as opportunities arose. Research Associate Susan L. Roth prepared this case under the supervision of Professor Scott P. Mason as the basis for class discussion rather than to illustrate either effective or ineffective handling of an administrative situation. Copyright  © 1991 by the President and Fellows of Harvard College. To order copies or request permission to reproduce materials, call 1-800-545-7685 or write Harvard Business School Publishing, Boston, MA 02163. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, used in a spreadsheet, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise—without the permission of Harvard Business School. Within these four operating divisions were numerous independent companies as listed in Exhibit 2. Apparel Manufacturing This group consisted of 11 apparel companies that designed, manufactured, and distributed a full range of branded and private-label sportswear, casual apparel, outer garments, and headwear for men and women. Apparel brands included Le Tigre, Sergio Valente, and Abe Schrader. Distribution was national in scope to department stores, specialty shops, and other retail units, including discount chains. General Retail Merchandising This group operated 201 retail locations in 15 states. General retailing included large do-it-yourself home improvement centers, general merchandise discount stores, men’s specialty apparel shops, and specialty department stores. Over the prior few years, general retail had been greatly scaled back and was now dominated largely by Central Hardware, a do-it-yourself home improvement chain that emphasized customer service and a broad selection of products. Footwear Manufacturing and Retailing This division designed, manufactured, and distributed men’s and women’s footwear principally in the United States, Australia, Canada, and Mexico. The group operated 778 retail shoe stores and leased shoe departments in 42 states and in Australia. Interco’s two major footwear operations, Converse Inc. and the Florsheim Shoe Co., commanded leading positions in their respective markets: athletic shoes and men’s traditional footwear. Furniture and Home Furnishings This group manufactured, distributed, and retailed quality wood and upholstered furniture and home furnishings. Furniture brands included Broyhill, Lane, Ethan Allen, and Hickory Chair. In recent years, furniture had expanded through acquisitions and increasing profitability to dominate Interco’s net income. At the end of fiscal year 1988, Interco was the largest furniture manufacturer in the world. Strategic Repositioning Program Interco’s goals included long-term sales and earnings growth, increased  return on corporate assets, and most important, improved return on shareholders’ equity. To achieve these goals, Interco took a four-pronged approach that included improving the profitability of existing operations and divesting underperforming assets, making acquisitions that had the potential for better than average returns and growth, and employing opportunistic financial strategies such as share repurchases and the prudent use of borrowing capacity. With these goals established, Interco, in 1984, began a strategic repositioning program aimed at improving overall corporate performance. As part of this initiative, Interco accelerated its efforts to divest underperforming assets and reposition itself in markets offering superior growth opportunities and profitability. The program resulted in a substantial change in Interco’s mix of sales as shown in Table A below. In fiscal 1988 the furniture and footwear groups together accounted for 60% of corporate sales, with apparel and general retail accounting for the rest. This was a reversal of the sales distribution in fiscal 1984.

Salvation Essay example -- Langston Hughes Religion Essays

Salvation   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In Langston Hughes’ essay â€Å"Salvation,† Langston talks about the first time he is going to be saved from sin. Langston is a young boy around the age of thirteen. He is going to church to see Jesus for the first time. In which case, he truly experiences religion for the first time in his life. Throughout this essay Langston uses many narrative techniques such as, imagery, metaphors, and irony to explain his interpretation of that one night when he did not see Jesus.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  It was the night of the big revival, and Langston, a young boy going on the age of thirteen, was brought to his Aunt Reed’s church to see Jesus and be saved from sin. His aunt told him, â€Å"when you were saved from sin you saw a light, and something happened to you inside† (219). He believed her. When he was brought to church, his aunt directed him to the front row, where he sat calmly and patiently in the heat, waiting for the preacher to begin the service. The Preacher welcomed the â€Å"young lambs† (219) and started his sermon. Towards the end of his speech he invited the young children to the altar to be saved. At this point, Langston was confused because he was not seeing Jesus before him. All the young boys and girls sprang to their feet except Langston and another boy named Westley. They were the only two left on, what the parishioners of the church called, the â€Å"mourners’ bench† (218). Finally, Westley became very restless and decided that he was not going to sit on this bench anymore. Langston was left there all alone until his aunt ran over to him and asked him why he was not going to Jesus. She knelt there and prayed for him. Langston sat there waiting for something to happen, but nothing! He truly wanted to see Jesus but he did not. Finally, he thought to himself and saw that nothing had happened to Westley for lying about not seeing Jesus. Langston then decides that he, too, will go to the altar and lie, hoping that nothing will happen to him for lying to God. Suddenly, loud cries of rejoice were heard throughout the church and everyone was pleased to see that â€Å"all the new young lambs were blessed in the name of God† (220). That night Langston cried because he did not understand why he did not see Jesus. His aunt had heard him and explained to his uncle, â€Å"the Holy Ghost had come into my life† (220). From that point on he did not believe there was a Jesus, since he d... ...fighting his feelings about not seeing Jesus. He feels that he is lying to God and himself by getting up and being saved even though he cannot see Jesus. Even though the reader knows that he truly is being saved from sin. He is doing something good for himself. Therefore, we can see that he truly does not understand the meaning of God. He is a child on the verge of adulthood. He has every right to be confused and misinterpret religion because he is learning. Religion is metaphorical and imaginative; it is what you believe it to be.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Langston Hughes found himself in a world of misunderstanding. His confusion leads him to believe that there is no Jesus. This is part of the growing process. Learning from your own experience is the most important part of life. Conflict and struggle are also important aspects of life. They define each and every part of a human’s living day. Therefore, the narrative techniques used throughout this essay truly help the reader visualize what the author sees, feels, and hears. Work Citied Hughes, Langston. â€Å"Salvation.† Subjects and Strategies.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ed. Paul Eschholz and Alfred Rosa.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  8th ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 1999. 218-22.

Different Topics Writings

The following sentence is an example of Engfish: â€Å"The Nixon years are perhaps the most well remembered and least forgotten in the eyes of the American people. † I chose this example because it was a sentence that I actually wrote for a history paper. After learning what Engfish was, I was a bit surprised to find this type of writing in my OWN papers! Not only did I state that the Nixon years were the â€Å"most† well remembered, I went on to further expound on the fact that they were also the â€Å"least† forgotten.Of course, it goes without saying that if something is the most remembered, it is also the least forgotten, but without my own voice yet discovered, and not knowing what my teacher â€Å"wanted† or â€Å"was looking for†, I wrote like this – to fill space and sound a bit more formal. Looking at it now, it seems funny. I could have simply written, â€Å"no one will ever forget the Nixon years†. Let’s not forget â €Å"in the eyes of the American people†.First of all, people don’t remember things in their eyes, and more than the American people will remember the Nixon years. If I wanted to restrict the subject, I could have written, â€Å"America will never forget the Nixon years. † Fabulous Reality: The fenced-in school yard echoed of bouncing basketballs, jump rope chants, creaky swing chains and the clanging of eager children pushing and pulling on the fence. At the front of the one story building was a sign that said â€Å"Parent Teacher Conferences Oct. 27-29 and Fall Festival October 30†.On the west side of the drab brick building that faced the stone and asphalt playground, there were some cracked windows taped with duct tape on the outside, while children’s art work and colorful curtains decorated the interior. The bricks of the medium sized building were decorated with black scribbles from spray paint cans. Teens – alumnus of the building â₠¬â€œ stating that they had been there, whom they loved, and what teachers they hated. Amid the scribbles arose a large yellow smiley face, perfectly round with oval eyes and a broad black smile. There was a bloody bullet hole in its head.Metaphor/simile 1: My significant other is better than the finest waiter at the finest restaurant. He treats my feelings as if they were the most valuable porcelain dishes, with soft gloves, and quick and light attention. He lingers in my neck to catch my scent as would a wine lover with a bottle of newly opened wine. He has an artist’s eye for my eyes, staring at them and studying them to find what lies beneath. I feel like a million bucks and he is the millionaire, keeping close tabs on me, but letting me grow and work into something more as he both flaunts and protects me.Metaphor/simile 2: The child’s coos are sweeter than the sweetest song ever composed or heard. Her eyes are more beautiful than the reflection off of the deep blue water when it catches the sun on its brightest days. Her smile is as sincere as her parent’s love for her. Her cries are only reflections of need, not sadness. When others are around her, her joy is spread as easily as warm butter on warm bread. Her beauty is as evident as is her existence. This tiny little baby girl brings more warmth and joy than a Christmas day fire, yet she does not even know it.

Feasibility Report Essay

The company will sell custom-made cakes, cupcakes and coffee. The revenues from the business will come from the sale of decorated cakes and cupcakes, as well as coffee for customers who visit the shop. The business will raise revenue from service: cake decoration and creation of the centerpieces of many of the most remarkable occasions of the lives of clients. Service revenue will come from different customized cake designs, decoration and bake creations. The business will use many different designs as discussed by Graham (2007) and Wilson (2011). The major revenue source during the initial year will be service revenue, including drink, cakes, and cupcakes sales. The business includes walk-in service. It will have two ordering delivery channels; phone orders and via online ordering. In addition, parking bays will be provided at a fee. The projected revenue from parking bays will be $75000 per year. The revenue from the sale of cupcakes, cakes and drinks is projected to be $100000 yea rly. The revenue from custom-making service will be $50000 annually. Therefore, the total projected revenue will be $225000. Cost Drivers The business will consider the costs in order to stay in business (Marron, 2014); (Kidder, 2012 ). a) Upfront Costs Since the business is new, there will be several starting costs before  official opening. Upfront costs consist of the purchase of furniture and fittings (table, chairs, coffee machines, installation of EFTPOS (electronic funds transfer at point of sale) and computers, cutlery, and front decoration (Ilasco and Seto, 2012 ); (Spencer, 2010). Advertising expenses will consist of the advertising campaign in the initial year. The advertising drive will be geared towards increasing sales to cater for the other costs (Marquis, Demand Media, 2014). Materials for shop decoration will be used to attract new customers. The total cost will include the cost of employing an interior designer. In addition, the business will consider the bond for the rent. This is because the expense must be paid prior before the business is opened. There will be other upfront costs that will include the certificates and legislations required for the business opening (Department of Health, 2014). b) Fixed Costs Owing to the scenic area of Melbourne, the high cost of rent must be taken into account. Utilities like lighting, heating, telephone lines, internet router and air conditioning have to be considered before the official opening. The business will choose a cheap electricity supplier. There are many to choose from (Smart Utilities, 2014). For an attractive design of the display in the shop, an interior designer with experience will be sought once per year. The cost associated with this will be recorded as ‘expenses for design.’ Besides, the parking bays’ rental will be a yearly fixed cost paid to Melbourne City Council (Hamer, Currie and Young , 2011). The parking bays will be provided to increase revenue. The business will take legislations into consideration, because set annual fees will have to be paid to the relevant bodies to ensure business continuation. c) Variable Costs These are the expenses that will change with the output of the business. The main variable cost in the cake and cupcake shop is raw materials used in the production of cupcakes, coffee and cakes such as lollies, vegetables, fruits, flour, milk, coffee beans and chocolate (Leach and Melicher, 2014). The cost of vegetables and fruits will change depending on seasonal and weather changes. There will be other variable costs like package expenses: boxes, bags, staff wages and utilities. The workers in the shop will include 1 baker 1 decorator Junior casual staff Wages will be paid fortnightly. Additionally, the business will offer staff uniforms and training opportunities. There will be allowance of discount expenses owing to the high-inventory turnover and the need to supply fresh products. On special occasions, the business may have deals or offers that will reduce the unit profit. There will be other expenses like machinery maintenance, new fittings and insurance. These will be required as the business grows. Resource Requirements/Mapping Human Resource It will be very easy to get the key employees as it will only involve placing adverts on the street notice boards. There will be an added cost of interviews, as well as paying the Melbourne City Council (City of Melbourne, 2014). Physical Resource Property for lease is available in the area identified. Due to the scenery of the area, the cost of lease is high. However, the expected returns are high. The business premises will be gotten under a one-year lease. This will save the cost that may be incurred in paying monthly costs. Similarly, it will avoid the costs associated with monthly rent increases. Financial Resource The total startup cost is $130000. The business will raise $30000 and $100000 will be obtained from the bank as loan. Costs for maintenance will be catered for by the revenue from the business. Investment Size The business plans to raise $130000 to meet its startup cost. The funds will be used for: Developing the company’s cupcake and cakes store location Financing for the first year of operation Capital to buy baking equipment and ovens The company will contribute $30000 to the venture. The remaining $100000 will be financed by the bank as loan. Projected Startup Costs Initial Lease Payments and Deposits $20000 Working Capital $60000 Security Deposits $20000 Opening Supplies $10000 Company Vehicle and Lease Deposits $2000 Marketing Budget $10000 Miscellaneous and Unforeseen Costs $8000 Total Startup Costs $130000 References Aaron Marquis, Demand Media , 2014. The Average Profit Margin for a Cake Bakery. [Online] Available at: http://smallbusiness.chron.com/average-profit-margin-cake-bakery-14214.html [Accessed 11 05 2014]. Department of Health, V. A., 2014. Starting a food business. [Online] Available at: http://www.health.vic.gov.au/foodsafety/bus/foodbus.htm [Accessed 11 05 2014].  Graham, J., 2007. The Crabapple Bakery Cupcake Cookbook. Print ed. London: Penguin Group (USA) Incorporated. J. Leach, Ronald Melicher, 2014 . Entrepreneurial Finance. 5 ed. Stamford: Cengage Learning. Kidder, D., 2012 . The Startup Playbook: Secrets of the Fastest-Growing Startups from Their Founding Entrepreneurs. Illustrated ed. San Francisco : Chronicle Books. Marron, D., 2014. Cupcake Economics. [Online] Available at: http://dmarron.com/2009/11/28/cupcake-economics/ [Accessed 11 05 2014]. Meg Mateo Ilasco, Catherine Seto, 2012 . Mom, Inc.: The Essential Guide to Running a Successful Business Close to Home. Illustrated ed. San Francisco: Chronicle Books. Melbourne, C. o., 2014. Rates and valuations. [Online] Available at: https://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/buildingandplanning/ratesandvaluations/Pages/RatesandValuations.aspx [Accessed 11 05 2014]. Paul Hamer, Graham Currie, William Young , 2011. Parking Price Policies – A review of the Melbourne congestion levy. Australasian Transport Research Forum 2011 Proceedings , 1(1), pp. 1-16. Spencer, P., 2010 . Start a Cupcake Business Today. London: InformationTree Press. StartupBizHub, 2014. Starting a Cake Business. [Online] Available at: http://www.startupbizhub.com/starting-a-cake-business.htm [Accessed 11 05 2014]. Utilities, S., 2014. Compare Electricity Rates in Victoria. [Online] Available at: http://www.smartutilities.com.au/electricity-comparison-victoria/ [Accessed 11 05 2014]. Wilson, D., 2011 . Baker’s Field Guide to Cupcakes. Unabridged, reprint ed. New York City: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.