Sniper Killings essays

Sniper Killings essays The month of October 2002 has been a very sad month; a Sniper (Jargon) has been on the loose killing innocent people for no apparent reason. He has already shot thirteen people, taking the lives (Euphemism) of eight and the rest were critically injured. Two suspects were arrested after being found asleep in their car at a Maryland rest stop, in the 3 a.m. hour on Thursday, October 24. The suspects were 42-year-old John Allen Mohammed, and 17-year-old juvenile, John Lee Malvo, who was "believed to be his stepson" (Vindicator). Not only are these suspects being arrested for questioning on the Sniper shootings but also for the liquor-store shooting in Montgomery, Alabama. "The law enforcement source told the AP that police found a piece of paper at the scene of the Alabama shooting that bore Malvo's fingerprints. Police then traced Malvo to the Tacoma home, were he had been living with Mohammed, the source told the AP" (Vindicator). In my opinion, if these two men are indeed the so-called Snipers, they should be executed in the worst possible way. One idea would be to properly punish the criminal to satisfy the citizen of the communities (Doublespeak). If the public saw how horrible their punishment was, there might be a less likely chance that anyone would try to do something like this again. People like this should not ever be able to go back on the streets again. Even if criminals get a lifetime in jail, they almost always get out early. I am hoping that the arrest of Mohammed and Malvo will stop the chain of killings in the Washington D.C. area. The police are not positive that all the shootings are related to the Sniper. For example, when the thirteenth person was shot on the bus, it was said that "We don't know if this is related but were treating this as if it is" (Nancy Demme)(Vindicator). Hopefully, Malvo and Mohammed are actually the Snipers, and are prosecuted, so that the ...

Fun Holiday Science Projects

Fun Holiday Science Projects Are you looking for another source of fun for the winter holidays? Why not add some educational science projects with a winter holiday theme? These seasonal activities and experiments will entertain you, plus you may learn something too. Christmas Tree Preservative - You can use a little chemical know-how to keep your holiday tree fresh and beautiful. All you need are some common household ingredients. Marbled Scented Gift Wrap - Use a surfactant to marble paper to make your own gift wrap. You can embed a fragrance in the paper, too, so that it can smell like candy canes or Christmas trees. Make Your Own Snow - If the temperature where you live dips below freezing, then dont settle for polymer snow. Make your own water snow! Magic Crystal Christmas Tree - Grow crystals on a paper or sponge Christmas tree with this fun and easy project. Poinsettia pH Paper - The colorful bracts of this traditional holiday decoration contain a pigment that you can harvest for use as a pH indicator. Kid-Friendly Snow Globe - This is an arts-and-crafts type of project that shows even very young kids how to make their own snow globe or water globe. Crystal Snow Globe - On the other hand, if you are more proficient with chemistry, try using benzoic acid in your snow globe. The benzoic acid precipitates into crystals that look very much like real snow. Make Colored Flame Pinecones - Toss one or more of these pinecones onto a holiday fire to produce colored flames. Make Fake Snow - Do you want a white Christmas, but know it wont snow? Make artificial snow! Make Peppermint Cream Wafers - This is a cooking recipe that is written more like a chemistry project procedure. You can eat the candy that you make. Copper Plate a Christmas Ornament - This is an electrochemistry project in which you plate a bright copper coating onto a holiday ornament. Its educational and produces a pretty decoration. Make Snow Ice Cream - You can learn about freezing point depression or just make a tasty treat. If you dont have snow, substitute shaved ice in these recipes. Grow a Crystal Snowflake - Crystal snowflakes make beautiful sparkly holiday ornaments. They grow overnight, so they dont take much time to make. Cheery Colored Fire - A holiday fire is always nice, but its even more festive if you add some color. These chemicals are readily available and safe enough for use in your home. Re-Use the Turkey Thermometer - You dont have to throw away the pop-up thermometer that comes with a holiday turkey. You can reset the thermometer to use for other turkeys or poultry. Glow in the Dark Crystal Snowflake - These snowflakes are cool because after you turn out the lights they continue to glow for a while. Baking Powder vs Baking Soda - If you run out of one or the other during your holiday baking, you can substitute the ingredients. You just need to understand the chemistry of baking powder and baking soda. Silver Crystal Christmas Tree - Grow pure silver crystals on a tree form to make a glittering silver Christmas tree. This is an easy chemistry project that makes a spectacular decoration. Holiday Gifts You Can Make Top Gifts Science Geeks Can Make - This is a collection of quick and easy gifts you can make using your chemistry know-how. Signature Scent Perfume - Crafting a signature scent is a classic chemistry project. Solid Perfume - You can also make a solid perfume, which is a convenient alternative to liquid perfume. Fizzy Bath Balls - Fizzy bath balls use sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) to produce their fizz. Scented Bath Salts - There are different types of salts. A good scientist knows which to use to make soothing bath salts. Festive Gel Air Fresheners - You can make your own air fresheners. You can layer festive colors and add holiday scents, too.

Global Marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 2

Global Marketing - Essay Example As the essay declares the Starbucks Coffee channels of distribution include department store and work place environment, airports and hotel chains, coffee shops and coffee bars, etc. According to the company’s statistical data, in 2002, there were â€Å"a total of 4,247 coffee shops in the United States and Canada†. In order to grow direct sales, Starbucks has created Online Caffe to reach the global market. This paper stresses that new market entry is aimed to increase the level of sales, and maintain the firm ground for word wide market penetration. Liberalization, foreign ownership and mergers will have a major impact upon the future of the coffee industry, but many regulatory and ownership barriers remain in force worldwide. Organizational 'type' has been dramatically influenced by the rise of globalization. Coffee trade is seeking to maximize its 'global reach', in the belief that those that offer a global service will be in the strongest competitive position. For these very reasons the Asian market has been chosen as the potential one. The Asian market shows the highest rate of economic growth around the world. As for the coffee consumption, its growth rates are approximately 20-30% a year, and that is why it is very attractive for Starbucks Coffee company promising potential growth for coffee industry, in comparison with the European market forecast. Singapore was chosen by Starbu cks as the main business canter in Asia.

Managing people and developing, leading team Essay

Managing people and developing, leading team - Essay Example I am a member of the Libyan students’ society in Leicester; I was involved in a social program that was working with young Libyan people. The organizations involved in coordinating the social program were Libyan Red Crescent and some civil society organizations. The main objective of working with the civil society was to carry out charity works and equip community members with assertive skills with respect to observance of civil rights. Working with young Libyan people was both fun and challenging at the same time because of the stubborn nature of young men when they grow up. This program offered a platform to sharpen my skills, as they will be needed during the next visit. It was crucial that we avoid past mistakes and use new techniques. I worked with young Libyan people in Libyan secondary school in Leicester and Taiba mosque near Libyan school. The project was organized based on the presumption that most young people need some motivations to navigate life and still lead he althy lives. The charity programs helped to reduce the desperation of the locals who were faced with a high rate of unemployment. I applied my aesthetic skills in helping restore the dignity of girls who have been victims of rape and other abuses. There were a lot of activities that indulged young Libyan people, for example, participating in lectures about first aid, playing football, visiting interesting places and others. In order to accomplish the project’s objectives, there was need to partition ourselves into various teams and use the teams as a means of getting to the end. We organized ourselves into strategic teams, which were headed by my fellow colleagues. There was a need to identify common values, goals, and objectives. This was crucial in the management of conflicting interests and desires. The boys were teenagers in their early and late teens, and had a lot of enthusiasm for fun games. Our aim was to use the principles

Information Flow in an Organization Essay Example for Free

Information Flow in an Organization Essay Depending upon the organization information is used and disseminated accordingly. Information flow plays a very important role, and is a critical component among businesses who seek to be more successful than their competition. Companies cannot operate without a proper and concise information flow which is accessible through the company’s different departments. The IT department and information systems are mainly responsible for providing ways for the various departments within the company to have access to applications and systems that assist employees in accomplishing their jobs with more ease. Businesses today rely heavily on information technology, and software applications to assist the different departments through helping them complete their daily tasks and functions in a faster and better manner. Software applications help the information systems run in a way that allow employees to perform more tasks in less time and help everything run smoothly together similar. As I examine my current employer I can see how important information flow is to the success of our company. Information is used to work together with every department; however it is easy to point out how it flows by examining each department such as Sales, Engineering, Programming and Production. As orders are placed, our sales department is the first step in information flow in my organization. Customers have specific requirements for each machine they purchase which generally always differ from previous versions we have made. Once the sales orders and specifications are in order they are sent from the sales department to our Engineering department to be designed. There are several different draftsmen and each has their own area of expertise. The Production Manager assigns the frames and machines to be designed to the draftsmen based on the specifications given by the customer. Also, while in Engineering, the machines are given job numbers that will follow them throughout the shop so that it may be tracked as well as allow employees to clock into the proper job. Having a specific job number tied to a specific machine also allows management to review every individual that has worked on these machines at any time. After the machines have designed and approved they are then sent to the programming department. The programming department is responsible for tearing the machines apart in a CAD system known as SolidWorks and separating the frame from the sheet metal. After this has been completed the next step is to individually program each piece of tubing in the frame and apply the proper programming required for optimum cutting time on the laser. The next thing that is programmed is all the sheet metal parts. In order to program sheet metal, the part which is drawn in solidworks, must be saved and transformed into a DXF file. These files are put into a software called SigmaNest and programmed fairly easy. Once all elements of the machine has been programmed, the programming department takes the programs, the job related to the machine, the machine drawings and specifications, and the sales order and hands it off to the Floor Manager for Production. After the Floor manager has all this information, he decides which machines to cut and in what order to cut them in based on shipping dates. He then takes the machine programs, jobs, and drawing and pass them out to the proper departments which will work on cutting, assembling, painting, and testing each one of our machines before they are sealed and shipped off to any of our customers throughout the world. Information flow is essential in any business in maintain functionality as well as productivity. Without some sort of order, without some sort of standard operating procedures our company could not be one of the leading manufacturer of agricultural machinery in the world.

Breaking Up :: essays research papers

Once in a person's lifetime, everyone finds this one perfect person whom they fall hopelessly in love with and live happily ever after. That is a mere fallacy, in the real world, this simply does not happen. Yes, people do have common interests and therefore develop romantic involvement, but it is basic common sense that these relationships have a life span and simply cannot last. Real life relationships are definitely more like "The Real World" rather than "Romeo and Juliet". Romanticism is wonderful in itself, and thus two people can live in heavenly bliss, but it all must come to an end somehow. It is a fact of life that couples do break up, and there are many reasons why. There are countless reasons, ranging from cheating to lack of sex to abuse, attributing to breakups.One reason why couples might break up is money or a lack thereof. If one partner in a relationship is always paying or keeping up all the bills, his/her partner just might grow tired of it and decide that it is a valid reason to separate. For example, a woman who is always lending her boyfriend money for his rent, car note, and social expenses will probably eventually grow tired of it and leave him.More reasons why couples separate, addictions often result in ugly breakups. Whether it is an addiction to drugs, sex, gambling, or whatever, hardly anyone would be willing to take that on an everyday basis. Most people would agree that it is not pretty to see someone throw their life away on addictions. It is simply not attractive and thus, not many people would want to be with someone with an extreme problem like that.An unfortunate reason for a breakup, physical disabilities, also occurs at times. This can range from a paralyzing accident to impotence and infertility. To some people, having children is the most important priority in their adult life. Having a partner whom is unable to have children can very much hinder a relationship. Thus, it will not last. Likewise, having a partner who has a paralyzing disability might be too much for someone to take. Being with a person, who becomes handicapped, though unfortunate, is a big burden to place on a person.Growing apart, an instance in which two people just do not feel attraction towards each other anymore is very commonplace, resulting in an end of a relationship.

Levi’s Swot Analysis

TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY—————————————————————- 2. CURRENT SITUATION—————————————————————— 2-1-Strategic Posture 2. 2. Current Performance 3. CORPORATE GOVERNANCE——————————————————– 3-1-Board of Directors 3-2-Top Management 4. EXTERNAL ENVIRONMENT ANALYSIS—————————————— 4-1-Societal Environment 4-2-Task Environment 5. INTERNAL ENVIRONMENT ANALYSIS————————————— — 5-1-Corporate Structure -2-Corporate Culture 5-3-Corporate Resources 6. ANALYSIS OF STRATEGIC FACTORS —————————————— 7. STRATEGIC ALTERNATIVES AND RECOMMENDED STRATEGY — 7-1-Review of Mission and Objective 7-2-Strategic Alternatives and Recommended Strategy 8. CONCLUSION—————————————————————————- BIBLIOGRAPHY————————————————————————- 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 2. CURRENT SITUATION Levi Strauss & Co. s a privately held American clothing company known worldwide for its Levi's brand of denim jeans. The core Levi's was founded in 1873 in San Fr ancisco, specializing in riveted denim jeans and different lines of casual and street fashion. Levi Strauss received a U. S. Patent to make the first riveted men's work pants out of denim: the first blue jeans. The company briefly experimented (in the 1970s) with a public stock listing, but remains owned and controlled by descendants and relatives of Levi Strauss' four nephews. Levi Strauss & Co. s a worldwide corporation organized into three geographic divisions: Levi Strauss Americas (LSA), based in the San Francisco headquarters; Levi Strauss Europe, Middle East and Africa, based in Brussels; and Asia Pacific Division, based in Singapore. The company employs a staff of approximately 11. 400 people worldwide. 2. 1 STRATEGIC POSTURE Vision and Core Values Levi’s believes that business can drive profits through principles, and that core values as a company and as individuals give the company a competitive advantage. Empathy — walking in other people’s shoes Empathy begins with paying close attention to the world around. Levi’s listens and responds to the needs of customers, employees and other stakeholders. Originality — being authentic and innovative The pioneering spirit that started in 1873 with the very first pair of blue jeans still permeates all aspects of the business. Through innovative products and practices, the company breaks the mold. Integrity — doing the right thing Integrity means doing right by the employees, brands, company and society as a whole. Ethical conduct and social responsibility characterize company’s way of doing business. Courage — standing up for believes It takes courage to be great. Courage is the willingness to tell the truth and to challenge hierarchy, accepted practice and conventional wisdom. It means standing by Levi’s convictions and acting on beliefs. Levi’s is the embodiment of the energy and events of time, inspiring people from all walks of life with a pioneering spirit. Generations have worn Levi’s jeans, turning them into a symbol of freedom and self-expression in he face of adversity, challenge and social change. Customers forged a new territory called the American West. They fought in wars for peace. They instigated counterculture revolutions. They tore down the Berlin Wall. Reverent, irreverent — they took a stand. 2. 2. CURRENT PERFORMANCE For its first 100 years, Levi Strauss & Company was a private company. Relatives of founder Levi Strauss owned nearly all the stock, and company employees owned most of the remaining shares. In 1971, the company went public to finance growth and diversification. However, in 1985, the company again went private, which it remains today. In September 2004, Levi Strauss announced plans to sell its Dockers casual-clothing brand to Vestar Capital Partners (a private equity fund) and an apparel industry executive for about $800 million. Selling the Dockers brand would have allowed the company to reduce its heavy debt and refocus attention on turning around the Levi brand. However, the company soon changed its mind and chose instead to reinvest in and revitalize the popular Dockers brand. Recently the company produces only for men under Dockers brand. Its products are sold in more than 110 countries worldwide through a combination of chain retailers, department stores, online sites, and franchised and company-owned stores. As of August 28, 2011, the company operated 499 stores within 31 countries. Levi Strauss & Co. ’s reported fiscal 2010 net revenues were $4. 4 billion. Regional net revenues for the quarter were as follows: The reported net revenues increase in Europe was due to currency; net revenues were down on a constant-currency basis. Gains from the expansion of the company-operated retail network and the continued success of the Levi’s Curve ID collection for women were more than offset by declines in the wholesale business. Revenue growth in Asia Pacific, primarily driven by the Levi’s brand and continued expansion of the company’s brand-dedicated retail network in China and India, offset the revenue decline in Japan. Cash Flow and Balance Sheet As of August 28, 2011, cash and cash equivalents were approximately $231 million, and $337 million was available under the company’s revolving credit facility. Cash provided by operating activities during the nine-month period in 2011 was $17 million, compared with $96 million for the same period in 2010; the decline reflected higher inventories, due primarily to the increased cost of cotton, increased selling, general and administration expenses and increased pension plan contributions. Net debt was $1. 75 billion as compared to $1. 6 billion at the end of 2010. 3. CORPORATE GOVERNANCE 3. 1Board of Directors Fernando Aguirre, a director since July 2010, is currently Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of Chiquita Brands International, Inc. a position he has held since 2004. From 2002 to 2004, Mr. Aguirre served as President, Special Projects for The Procter & Gamble Company (P&G), a manufacturer and distributor of consumer products. From 1980 to 2002, he served P&G in various capacities, including in an executive capacity with P&G's Global Snacks and U. S. Food Products business. Mr. Aguirre is also a director of C oca-Cola Enterprises, Inc. Chip Bergh, a director since September 2011, is the President and Chief Executive Officer. He joined the company in September 2011. Prior to joining Levi Strauss & Co. , Mr. Bergh was Group President, Global Male Grooming, for The Proctor & Gamble Company (P), a manufacturer and distributor of consumer products. During his 28-year career at P, he served in a number of leadership positions. Mr. Bergh previously served on the Board of Directors for VF Corporation and on the Economic Board, Singapore, and was a member or the US-ASEAN Business Council, Singapore. Vanessa J. Castagna, a director since 2007, led Mervyns LLC department stores as its executive chairwoman of the board from 2005 until early 2007. Prior to Mervyns LLC, Ms. Castagna served as chairman and hief executive officer of JC Penney Stores, Catalog and Internet from 2002 through 2004. She joined JC Penney in 1999 as chief operating officer, and was both president and Chief Operating Officer of JC Penney Stores, Catalog and Internet in 2001. Ms. Castagna is currently a director of SpeedFC and Carter’s Inc. Robert A. Eckert, a director since May 2010, is currently Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Mattel, Inc. , a position he has held since May 2000. He previously worked for Kraft Foods, Inc. for 23 years, most recently as President and Chief Executive Officer from October 1997 until May 2000. From 1995 to 1997, Mr. Eckert was Group Vice President of Kraft Foods, Inc. and from 1993 to 1995, Mr. Eckert was President of the Oscar Mayer foods division of Kraft Foods, Inc. Robert D. Haas, a director since 1980, was named Chairman Emeritus in February 2008. He served as Chairman of the Board from 1989 until February 2008. Mr. Haas joined Levi’s in 1973 and served in a variety of marketing, planning and operating positions including serving as our Chief Executive Officer from 1984 to 1999. Peter E. Haas Jr. , a director since 1985, is a director or trustee of each of the Levi Strauss Foundation, Red Tab Foundation, Joanne and Peter Haas Jr. Fund, Walter and Elise Haas Fund and the Novato Youth Center Honorary Board. Mr. Haas was one of the managers from 1972 to 1989. He was Director of Product Integrity of The Jeans Company, one of the former operating units, from 1984 to 1989. He served as Director of Materials Management for Levi Strauss USA in 1982 and Vice President and General Manager in the Menswear Division in 1980. Leon J. Level, a director since 2005, is a former Chief Financial Officer and director of Computer Sciences Corporation, a leading global information technology services company. Mr. Level held ascending and varied financial management and executive positions at Computer Sciences Corporation from 1989 to 2006 and previously at Unisys Corporation (Corporate Vice President, Treasurer and Chairman of Unisys Finance Corporation), Burroughs Corporation (Vice President, Treasurer), The Bendix Corporation (Executive Director and Assistant Corporate Controller) and Deloitte, Haskins & Sells (now Deloitte & Touche). Mr. Level is also currently a director of UTi Worldwide Inc. Stephen C. Neal, a director since 2007, became Chairman of the Board in September 2011. Mr. Neal is currently the chairman of the law firm Cooley LLP. He was also chief executive officer of the firm until January 1, 2008. In addition to his extensive experience as a trial lawyer on a broad range of corporate issues, Mr. Neal has represented and advised numerous boards of directors, special committees of boards and individual directors on corporate governance and other legal matters. Prior to joining Cooley LLP in 1995 and becoming CEO in 2001, Mr. Neal was a partner of the law firm Kirkland & Ellis. Patricia Salas Pineda, a director since 1991, is currently Group Vice President, National Philanthropy and the Toyota USA Foundation for Toyota Motor North America, Inc. an affiliate of one of the world’s largest automotive firms. Ms. Pineda joined Toyota Motor North America, Inc. in September 2004 as Group Vice President of Corporate Communications and General Counsel. Prior to that, Ms. Pineda was Vice President of Legal, Human Resources and Government Relations and Corporate Secretary of New United Motor Manufacturing, Inc. wi th which she was associated since 1984. She is currently a director of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute and a mem ber of the board of advisors of Catalyst. 3. 2 Top Management in Turkey Hakan Atalay is the general manager of Levi’s Turkey since 2008. He graduated from Textile Engineering Department from Istanbul Technical University and he also has a graduate degree from the Management Department of Marmara University. He has a 16 years of experience in retail, sales and product management in local and multinational companies like Mexx Turkey, Network and Unitim. Lately he was the country sales director of Nike Turkey. He is now responsible for the management of Levi’s and Dockers brand operations and for the development of strategic vision of those brands in Turkey. Kayhan Ongun is the sales director of Levi’s Turkey since 2010. He graduated from Management Engineering Department from Istanbul Technical University and he has a Management of Business Administration degree from Rowan University. He worked at various sales positions in Michelin and Nike Turkey. Lately he was Football Sales Manager in Nike Turkey. Korhan Oz is the finance manager of Levi’s Turkey. Korhan Oz is a graduate of Istanbul University Department of Economics. He has in particular substantial experience in finance. He worked as Country Financial Controller at Ernst Audit, Intergen and Nokia and then worked as Executive Vice President for Financial Affairs at Krea Group. Orhan Ors is the Information Technology Director of Levi’s Turkey. He has been working for Levi’s for 22 years. Ozan Duman is the Human Resources Director of Levi’s Turkey since 2011. Lately, he was HR Manager of Kimberly Clark Turkey. Ipek Bekiroglu is the Marketing Manager of Levi’s Turkey since 2006. Lately, she was working as a Brand Manager in Carslberg Turkey. 4. EXTERNAL ENVIRONMENT ANALYSIS: OPPORTUNITIES AND THREATS 4. SOCIETAL ENVIRONMENT Socio-cultural Turkey has the youngest population in Europe with 31M under 25 and the population growth rate is 1. 35%. Life style changes heavily affect trends in casual apparel design and market. Being thin and skinny creates a trend in the market where skinny and tight jeans dominate the market. Economic There is a shortage in cotton supply in the world combined with high cotton prices due to several important factors: First, global stocks of cotton were drawn down sharply as less cotton was grown and shipped through the global supply chain due to competition from other crops. Second, climate changes and bad weather undermined global cotton production. Thirdly, government actions further aggravated the situation where India, one of the world’s largest cotton producers, slapped export quotas on raw cotton. And finally, demand for textiles and apparel rose. Retail landscape is evolving with the opening of many new malls and locations. In addition street store rents are increasing, so brands are investing on shopping malls in primary and secondary cities. In line with this development, traditional outlet stores on the highway breakpoints have been converted to outlet malls. Extended seasonal sale months, attractive promotions are offered throughout the year. There is high investment cost on one hand; as the average shop size is growing, rents are getting higher. On the other hand however, shopping malls have made significant discounts in their rents or currency rates have been fixed due to global crisis. Technological E-commerce is getting more popular with private shopping concept. (Trend-Yol, Markafoni and Limango are the main players in Turkish Market. ) Social media has a narrow effect right now but it is increasingly becoming a part of ompanies’ marketing strategies. Political legal There is continuous financial instability in Turkey that strongly affects the spending power of Turkish people. Income difference between regions is dramatic in Turkey which affects the spending power. However, lower income classes’ and regions’ spending is increasing. Environmental standards and regulations against hazardous jeans production are in creasingly applied by many countries and companies (The blue dust that stems while sanding jeans is a heavy irritant to the lungs). In the European Union, the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulations enacted 1 June 2007 require clothing manufacturers and importers to identify and quantify the chemicals used in their products. These regulations may even require manufacturers to inform consumers about potentially hazardous chemicals that may be present in their products. Actual end products are governed by stipulations of the European Equipment and Product Safety Act, which regulates the use of heavy metals, carcinogenic dyes, and other toxics used in textile manufacture. Additional consumer protection is offered by the European Union’s Oko-Tex Standard 100, a testing and certification program established in 1992. The standard gives the textile and clothing industry uniform guidance for the potential harm of substances in raw materials as well as finished products, and every stage in between—these include regulated substances as well as substances that are believed to be harmful to health but are not yet regulated (such as pesticides). The standard also governs elements such as colorfastness and pH value. Along with these standards, Levi Strauss and Co. Turkey does not produce jeans with sanding. 4. 2TASK ENVIRONMENT Rivalry among existing firms There is a heavy weight of local players in Turkish casual apparel market. Local retailers like Mavi, LC Waikiki, Colin’s, LTB (Little Big) have their own denim production facilities so that they can sell with reasonable prices. This fact that the competitors have low entry prices makes â€Å"price† the main differentiator. International and local brands are investing in key cities and key locations. (Zara, Mango, Adidas, Nike, Mavi, Colin’s). In addition, local competition is investing on O stores which are bigger than 200 sqm. Mavi was acquired by Turkven (private equity fund) with 35% share in 2008. The company has aggressive revenue targets and invests heavily in ATL communication. The company is focusing on head to toe look and as a result of this approach, their women and tops share increased. Colin’s is re-vamping the brand identity launched a new logo. The company focuses on O (owner and operator) model. In accordance with this approach, they re-fit O stores in major shopping malls. Lee is losing ground, they have no presence in stand alone stores, and they focus on department stores. LTB is re-fitting their O stores in premium shopping malls. Diesel has not been aggressive in communication for a long period. Jack & Jones is entering department stores. Grey market is an important factor that has a huge impact in the competition. The high number of grey market producers impacts the competition between the existing firms as especially the local denim producers try to differentiate themselves by price. Threat of new entrance New brands entered the market (H- 5 stores in 5 months) whereas local brands have elevated their retail environment to attract the young consumer. A will be opening their first store in Turkey in 2012. EFAS TABLE External FactorsWeightRatingWeighted ScoreComment SROpportunities O1Turkey’s young population 0. 103. 00. 3 O2E-commerce and social media; new distribution channel0. 053. 00. 15 O3Malls; increasing number of shopping malls0. 105. 00. 5 O4Seasonal sale months extension, attractive promotions0. 04. 00. 4 O5Life style changes; new products0. 104. 00. 4 O6Environmental standards and regulations0. 052. 00. 1 Threats T1Financial instability0. 105. 00. 5 T2Grey market0. 103. 00. 3 T3High operational costs (O)0. 104. 00. 4 T4Marketing investments of the local brands0. 054. 00. 2 T5Increasing number of new competitors0. 053. 00. 15 T6Low cotton supply and high cotton prices0. 105. 00. 5 Total1. 003. 9 5. INTERNAL ENVIRONMENT ANALYSIS: STRENGTHS AND WEAKN ESSES 5. 1CORPORATE STRUCTURE The worldwide leadership team, which includes the CEO and ten executives, sets the company’s overall direction and is responsible for all major strategic, financial and operational decisions. Many of the senior-most leaders have risen through the company ranks over the past two or three decades. But to maintain the lead in the fast-changing fashion industry Levi’s leadership team also includes executives who bring leading-edge expertise and new ideas from other consumer companies and other industries. Levi Strauss Co. as a corporation has operations divided under three main regions: Asia Pacific, Europe and America. The company has headquarters in Singapore, Brussels and San Francisco. Every region is under the management of a Vice President. Country General Managers are directly reporting to their respective Regional Vice Presidents. In Turkey, human resources, information technology and finance departments are directly reporting to their respective region and they are indirectly reporting to Turkish General Manager. However, sales and marketing departments are directly reporting to Turkish General Manager and they are indirectly reporting to their respective region. Retail Operations and Sales Manager and Wholesale Sales Manager are directly reporting to Sales Director. Retail Operations and Sales Manager manages four District Managers and Wholesale Sales Manager manages three Account Managers in Turkey. 5. 2CORPORATE CULTURE Levi Strauss & Company as a multinational company embodies its vision that has four main values at the core: empathy – walking in other’s shoes; originality – being authentic and innovative; integrity – doing the right thing; and courage – standing up for what they believe. In addition to guiding the strategic decisions and actions, the company’s values also guide its social responsibility in various ways – through the grants provided by the Levi Strauss Foundation, through the support provided to communities in which it has a business presence, through its employee community-involvement program, and through its ethical code of conduct for its business partners. The company’s strategic move to outsourcing has presented its own challenges because of Levi Strauss’ strong commitment to socially responsible business practices. In 1991, Levi Strauss became the first multinational company to establish a comprehensive ethical code of conduct for its alliance partners in manufacturing and finishing. This code, titled the Global Sourcing and Operating Guidelines, establishes business practices such as fair employment, worker health and safety, and environmental standards. The company remains committed to ensuring compliance with its â€Å"Code of Conduct† at all facilities and works onsite with its contractors to develop responsible business practices and continuous improvement. Trained inspectors closely audit and monitor the contractors and if it is determined that a business partner is not complying with the terms, Levi Strauss requires that the partner implements a corrective action plan within a specified time period. If a contractor fails to take corrective actions, the business relationship is terminated. By nature, the company is externally focused and determined to stay that way. This means constantly scanning developments that affect the business, and acting on that information to surprise their customers. The above are part of Levi Strauss’ global corporate citizenship culture. To make these to also diffuse to Turkish Levis’ employees working environment, the top management team is making radical moves. 5. 3CORPORATE RESOURCES STRENGTHS Levi Strauss and Co. is a member of Better Cotton Initiative. Better Cotton is a different way to grow cotton that decreases the negative environmental impacts and has the potential to improve the livelihood of the 300 million people involved in cotton farming worldwide. At its heart, the Better Cotton Initiative aims to make all cotton grown around the world more sustainable by reducing water and chemical use (including pesticides and fertilizers), protecting the health of the soil and promoting important labor standards including bans on child labor. The Better Cotton Initiative also focuses on training and empowering farmers to improve their long term financial profitability. This is a conscious effort made by all partners of the Better Cotton Initiative to help prevent prices for Better Cotton from rising dramatically in the short term. This is an advantage on behalf of Levi? s Turkey as the competitors in Turkish market are not involved in this initiative. Levi’s always had been described as a fashion innovator, as the company created the jeans market. The company continues to recognize the importance of the right products to its future success. One of Levi Strauss’s critical strategic goals is to â€Å"innovate and lead from the core,† and it continues to introduce product innovations. For instance, since 2001, the Advanced Innovation Team for the Dockers line has introduced several groundbreaking product innovations. For instance, in 2004 and 2005, the team developed three new and exclusive product innovations. The first was the Never-Iron Cotton that dramatically minimizes wrinkling. Another was the Thermal Adapt Khaki pants that adjust to body temperature. And the third was Dockers Shirts with Perspiration Guard, a special finish that wicks away moisture from the body and eliminates the appearance of perspiration marks. This is a strength that differentiates Levi? s from its competitors. In addition to this, the company recently decided to make a tradeoff and it stopped producing for women under Dockers brand. This is another wise strategic move on behalf of the company. And furthermore- in line with the above tradeoff- Levi’s was one of the first companies to tap into the mass customization trend by offering made-to-order jeans. In 1999, the company announced that it would begin offering customized versions of its classic denims to fit every woman’s body type, but this move was not successful at that time. In 2011, the company re-launched the same project under the name of â€Å"Curve ID† for women and now it proved to be a great success to regenerate growth on women? s product line. This is another important advantage that makes the brand stronger than the other brands. Youth panel- as a method of consumer-driven brand innovation- is a qualitative consumer panel focused on the consumer typologies that the company believes exercise greatest influence on the dynamics of change within the casual apparel market. The panel has been built up in most fashion significant European cities and comprises between 50 and 100 of the most fashion-forward youth. It is convened twice a year to fit into the line development calendar. This tool is strength for Levi? as it provides the best indication the business has of how much momentum a particular trend has in it, and so serves to guide both general businesses forecasting as well as specific product life cycle management. Every second quarter the brand and design teams dedicate a day to working with the insights coming out of the panel. It helps set the strategic agenda and also enables some very effective and immediate trouble- shooting. WEAKNESSES One of the company’s most valuable assets is its Levi’s brand. However, that venerable Levi’s brand had lost much of its popularity. Although Levi Strauss has one of the best-known names in the world, its market power has declined. An annual ranking of global brands with the most impact showed Levi’s ranked at number 32 in 2001, number 34 in 2002, and number 56 in 2003, and rebounding to number 44 in 2004. The products that baby boomers in the 1960s defined as hip and anti-establishment were now perceived as non-trendy and dull. In the brutally competitive apparel market, that type of image, particularly with younger consumers, has proven to be a disadvantage. As a way to span the consumer market, the company launched several new brands in USA and several other countries. But the same product strategy is not applied in Turkey and the product range is not diversified to cover all customer segments as far as price competition is considered. The company chose to stick with low-tech, in-store posters and other promotions; rather than mass media coverage – television and print ads which the biggest competitors in Turkey extensively use. The company doesn’t invest on brand image and use localized advertisement. But the competitors are using constant brand communications strategy including celebrities, outdoor events. IFAS TABLE Internal FactorsWeightRatingWeighted ScoreComment SRStrengths S1High brand awareness 0. 155. 00. 75 S2Member of Better Cotton Initiative0. 053. 00. 15 S3Advance innovation competence0. 154. 00. 60 S4Profit growth0. 103. 00. 30 S5Product category fragmentation (Curve id-women; Dockers- men)0. 104. 00. 40 Weaknesses W1Inflexible pricing strategy 0. 155. 00. 75 W2Misuse of marketing communications budget0. 154. 00. 60 W3Brand image deterioration 0. 155. 00. 75 Total1. 004. 30 6. ANALYSIS of STRATEGIC FACTORS A. SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS SWOT- SFAS TABLE SRInternal FactorsWeightRatingWeighted ScoreComment S1High brand awareness (global reach and scale)0. 05. 00. 50 S3Advance innovation competence0. 105. 00. 50 S5Product category fragmentation (Curve id-women; Dockers- men)0. 053. 00. 15 S6Financial strength0. 054. 00. 20 W1Inflexible pricing strategy 0. 054. 00. 20 W2Misuse of marketing communications budget0. 053. 00. 15 W3Brand image deterioration 0. 105. 00. 50 O1Turkey’s young population 0. 055. 00. 25 O3Malls; increasing number o f shopping malls0. 104. 00. 40 O4Seasonal sale months extension, attractive promotions0. 054. 00. 20 O5Life style changes; new products0. 053. 00. 15 T2Financial instability0. 055. 00. 25 T3Grey market0. 053. 00. 5 T4High operational costs (O)0. 104. 00. 40 T5Marketing investments of the local brands0. 054. 00. 20 T6Increasing number of new competitors0. 053. 00. 15 Total1. 03. 70 7. STRATEGIC ALTERNATIVES and RECOMMENDED STRATEGY 7. 1 Review of Mission and Objective 7. 2 Strategic Alternatives and Recommended Strategy TOWS MATRIX Internal FactorsStrengths S1. High brand awareness (global reach and scale) S2. Member of Better Cotton Initiative S3. Advance innovation competence S4. Profit growth S6. Financial strengthWeaknesses W1. Inflexible pricing strategy W2. Misuse of marketing communications budget W3. Brand image deterioration External Factors Opportunities O2. E-commerce and social media; new distribution channel O3. Malls; increasing number of shopping malls O4. Seasonal sale months extension, attractive promotions O5. Life style changes; new products1. Levis can continue to growth with new openings in different malls 2. Through high brand awareness, easy to take place in social media and cooperate with e-commerce websites as new distribution channels 3. Levis can adapt its products for different preferences1. New online campaigns to improve the brand image Threats T2. Grey market T5. Increasing number of new competitors T6. Low cotton supply and high cotton prices1. Developing new production technologies in order to use the raw materials effectively 2. Support social responsibility initiatives worldwide 1. Assessment of local competitors in order to redesign the marketing campaigns Recommended Strategy Functional strategy, marketing strategy; positioning should be made according to the target audience. Through social media and online campaigns Levis can improve its brand image and can reach Turkey’s young population. After several researches, it has been found out that the potential age group for both men and women is 14-25 in Turkish casual apparel market. However, it must also be taken into consideration that it is the 18-35 age group that consumes more and that women are the ones who increase the overall sales in general. The private shopping companies are growing very fast in Turkey. Levis can use e-commerce websites as new distribution channels to improve the brand penetration among 24-35 years old, worker segment. Levis is using its global marketing communications campaigns in Turkey, as they are. The company does not try to assess its competitor’s strategies or to adapt the tone of the messages according to local needs and preferences. However the local competitors are really aggressive in communication. Levis has to redesign its communication campaigns and reallocate its marketing budget. 8. CONCLUSION BIBLIOGRAPHY 1)http://www. levistrauss. com/ 2)Company’s 2012 plan 3)Company’s distribution strategy 4)Inspiring the organization to act: a business in denial, International Journal of Market Research Vol. 44 Quarter 2, 2002, the Market Research Society 5)Denim Pazar? nda Marka Konumland? rmalar? n? n Karsilastirilmasi,

Prisoner Without a Name Book Review Essay

Prisoner without a Name, Cell without a number is a melancholy novel that expresses Argentina’s terrorist state. Jacob Timerman, a well respected man of Argentina, an editor of a well know Argentinian paper, La Opinion, tells the audience his story of the terrorist state of Argentina from 1967-1978. His gripping novel both describes his personal experience being kidnapped by terrorist, while he tells us about the condition of the terrorist state of Argentina. His book is important because it tells a first hand account of the fear, the distrust, and the mere insanity of conditions in the country of Argentina during its darkest time. In Timerman’s first chapter, he opens by describing how he lives (though being locked up in a cell is not living) while being locked away in an unknown location (p.g. 4). He first describes his own â€Å"cell†. He is extremely descriptive and the reader can feel as though they are in his small, narrow, cold, wet cell. He tells his audience of a little crack in the wall, his only ventilation and only source of light, in such little detail, yet the reader can understand his isolation from light, the outside world, and his family. Timerman describes the crack as a â€Å"faint glow, night and day, eliminating time† which represents his unwilling determination and hope for freedom. Timerman’s first chapter also gives the reader a sense that through all the events he has under gone, he still remains the same strong willed person (under the circumstances) he was as he is described in the rest of the book. In addition to he crack in the wall, Timerman describes an encounter with another prisoner when the eyehole of his cell accidentally left open by the guards. He describes his encounter with such passion and emotion, yet they do not say anything,, only stare at each other. Timerman describes how their movements, their eyes blinking, represented emotion and passionate communication between the two of them. For in these conditions seeing someone who is in the same situation and somehow communicating with them was extraordinary for Timerman. This encounter that he describes is an important aspect of his book, in that it represents an encounter with another person struggling through the same pain, and same tourture that he is experiencing. This can be looked at as a simile towards the conditions in the country of Argentina. After Timerman describes his torture and isolation while under imprisonment, his next chapter tells us about the chaos that has under gone in Argentina, and her government. He explains to the readers that there are two sides in this civil war between the two parties of government, and describes all of the violence that has occured as a by-product of this war. He tells us of his encounters with the hysteria before he was kidnapped, and the disarray that was upon Argentinians. Timerman uses a quote by Luis Borges that was very interesting and nsightful, claiming that â€Å"the Argentine is not a citizen but an inhabitant; that he lacks an idea of the nation where he resides , but views it as a territory†¦Ã¢â‚¬  which is an understandable view. The people of Argentina, as Timerman describes, are scared of their government and the terrorism that is upon them. Timerman describes Argentina is such a state that there is no government, and, that the government is corrupt and that there is no trust authorities. Timerman, throughout the book, tells about mothers, fathers, relatives, and friends coming to La Opinion asking to write a letter about their loved one going missing, yet he further explains in almost every instance, that he could not do anything about it because it could get him executed. Timerman, throughout the book, always described his reasoning and perspective, in that, he said he wanted to help those people that came looking for help, yet he was already pushing his luck writing articles that no other paper would dare to write. Timerman tells the read that during his position as editor at La Opinion he received many death threats and hostile remarks due to his articles in his paper being to left sided, or too right sided political view. Yet Timmerman tells the reader that his intensions where not to support either side, but to write about the truth about what was going on in Argentina. He also wanted to stop this terrorism and find a way to halt this insanity. Timermans book does an amazing job at telling two stories, his story of survival during imprisonment for multiple years, while also telling the reader about the irrationality and absurdity of Argentina’s â€Å"government†. Though the book takes place in Argentina, those who read it will understand the universal application. It could happen else where, and that is why it is an important book to read, understand and take in. Timerman, in his book, is a witness for the rest of us.

Science Versus Superstition in Dracula and Victoria England Essays

Science Versus Superstition in Dracula and Victoria England Essays Science Versus Superstition in Dracula and Victoria England Paper Science Versus Superstition in Dracula and Victoria England Paper Essay Topic: Dracula Literature During the Victorian Era in Britain, British citizens began to explore the east and became fascinated with it. There was a great interest in the orient and the objects and culture that came from it. Although the people were mystified by the superstitious nature of the orient learned from their eastern excursions, they were afraid of the east being able to travel to the west. Although the British consumed eastern culture, they were still afraid of too much infiltration by the east. They didnt want their pure British culture to be tainted. Because of this, they used science to explain, classify, and control the unknown superstitious nature of the orient. This push of science onto the eastern world is seen in several scenes throughout the novel Dracula, which was written by Bram Stoker during the Victorian Era in Britain. The proper British characters are constantly trying to overcome Dracula with science. British Imperialism and the British Empires attitude towards the east are shown through the relationship through science and superstition in Dracula. While traveling east, the British encountered a lot of new and previously unknown commodities, cultures, and people. These eastern cultures were seen as backwards to the British people. They had a sort of superstitious quality about them and were thought to be improper because of it. Britain didnt want their proper society contaminated by the superstitious cultures of the orient. There existed a fear that the east would begin to travel west and come back to Britain. The unknown societies and practices were so foreign to them. Britain feared the unknown and so took control by using science to try to understand and classify the cultures. By using proper science, the British were also showing their sense of superiority and elitism. It was believed that the Eastern notion of honor was skewed. It was driven by superstition, which resulted in easterners having flawed notions of what honorable behavior is1. This chaos and backwardness justified a need for a forced British order. Attempting to classify everything around them lead to the comfort that there was nothing they couldnt handle and that they had gained control over everything. There was nothing to be afraid of because the world was under proper Britain and their elitist science. This is similar to how proper Britain in the novel Dracula did not want to be tainted by the superstitious ways of Dracula from the east. From the very beginning of the novel, orientalism is prevalent in the comparisons made between the east and west. There is a sense of us versus them that Jonathan Harker has before he even arrives in Transylvania and meets Dracula. He speaks of leaving the west and entering the east. Steve Patterson describes how the British at the time represented progress, enlightenment, and modernity while the east represented chaos, superstition, and backwardness2. Jonathan is aware that the trains are getting later and later. He states, It seems to [him] that the further East you go the more unpunctual are the trains3. He associates lateness and chaos with the east, which was a common assumption at the time. The British thought the opposite of their proper order, was superstitious chaos. And since east is the opposite of west, the east must be chaotic and uncivilized. He goes on to describe the unfamiliar gar of the people he sees. He speaks of barbarian people wearing high boots and having heavy moustaches and long black hair. The mere comparison between himself and the Slavic people show Jonathans racist oriental views of the east. He is validating his clean cut British appearance by comparing it to barbaric people. Although the British were afraid of the orient and found the people to be backwards, they were also enthralled with it at the same time. When travelers came back form the east and came home to the west, they brought with them commodities and most importantly culture. British homes were filled with oriental rugs, vases, even hookahs. Teas, spices, and sugar became a part of everyday life. Even the most proper of gentlemen had their heirlooms and smoked their hookah pipes. Exotic animals were brought back along with exotic garb, plants, and customs. Oriental culture became intertwined with British culture. The two became inseparable. For a people who were so scared of letting eastern culture tarnish their proper ways, they sure welcomes the consumption of it with open arms. Although there was a large consumption of Eastern culture, the British still remained weary of their properness. They wanted their foreign treasures to be exotic, but still fit into the conservative structure of British society. There was a push and pull of oriental culture. The British were fascinated by the newness and wanted to immerse themselves, but still keep it distant enough to retain their Victorian pureness. In the same way that the British were interested in eastern culture, the characters in Dracula were unwillingly drawn to the mystery of the oriental Dracula. The power that Dracula had over the characters is reminiscent of the way that eastern culture had a powerful draw for the Victorian British. The characters are afraid of Dracula and his unknown superstitions, yet cannot shake their unexplained attraction to his eastern mysteriousness. When Jonathan is in the castle and encounters the three voluptuous women, he senses that they have an eastern animalistic evil about them, yet is drawn to them. He says there was something about them that made me uneasy, some longing and at the same time some deadly fear. 4 He is drawn to them even though he knows they are so completely opposite of proper Victorian Britain. There is an appeal to what is taboo in the strict Victorian society. Regardless that Dracula is Fiction, this speaks volumes about the Victorian British at the time and how they were so drawn to the superstitious culture of the east, even though they knew they should be upholding the conventional values that British society hold so highly. Just as the British in the Victorian era feared the east and tried to find comfort in science, the fictitious characters in Dracula attempted to defeat Eastern Dracula with science. Van Helsing explains that to save Lucy from Draculas induced illness he must perform several blood transfusions. He plans to use the blood from her initial three suitors to refill her body after Dracula has sucked most of it out. Van Helsing tries to use Victorian science and reason to overcome Draculas evil from the east. Even before Jonathan returns to England, he uses reason to overcome his fear in Draculas castle. While writing to Mina about he saw Dracula crawling down the side of the castle, he begins his entry by saying, Let me begin with facts-bare, meager facts, verified by books and figures, and of which there can be no doubt. While immersed in Draculas eastern castle surrounded by superstitions, the thing that comforts Jonathan and reminds him of his home in England, he uses the science and reason that England relies on so heavily to stay grounded while classifying the unknowns of the east. However, just as the British could not contain the superstitious east and stop it form penetrating their proper society, the characters in Dracula could not restrain Dracula with science alone. T he transfusions ultimately failed and Dracula continued to keep draining Lucy of her blood. When the transfusions fail and Van Helsing resorts to superstitious garlic. He is aware of the limitation of modern science6. The others in the group are confused by Van Helsings use of superstition. Dr. Seward exclaims to Van Helsing, Well Professor, I know you always have a reason for what you do, but this certainly puzzles me. 7 The others realize he is straying from science and moving on to superstition and are a bit uneasy about it, but they trust Van Helsing because they have faith in his scientific past. Just as the British peoples use of science and reason failed to keep the east out and they had to succumb to the permeation of eastern culture and accept it into their culture, the characters in Dracula have to accept the superstition into their lives and trust that it will be more beneficial than the previous use of science and reason. The oriental culture had made its way into British culture, seeped in, and shaken up proper Victorian society. Much like the failure to keep away Dracula, no matter how hard the British tried to keep oriental culture out, the ways of the east breached Englands shores. The order in British society was mimicked in the order of their science. Trying to solve eastern superstitions with science is similar to trying to impose order on the world to retain the comfortable, pure order of proper Britain. The characters in Stokers Dracula are constantly trying to control Dracula with science and constantly failing. They eventually have to resort to superstition. This mirrors the effect of eastern culture on British society. As much as Britain tried to contain the orient with science, the orient penetrated proper Britain and seeped into British culture, where it still remains today.

Jeb Bush Net Worth

Jeb Bush Net Worth Jeb Bushs net worth is at least $19 million and as much as $22 million, according to tax returns made public by his presidential campaign in 2015 and public remarks by his aides. The disclosures showed Jeb Bushs net worth grew dramatically in the eight years of private-sector work following his departure as governor of Florida in 2007. Sources of Net Worth in Financial Industry Bush has earned his money in the private sector from speaking and consulting work in the financial services industry, including private equity. Among the firms hes been associated with are  Lehman Brothers and Barclays. Bush was worth only $1.3 million when he left the Florida governors mansion in 2007. He  was paid more than $28 million since leaving office, according to a New York Times analysis in 2014. That included $3.2 million from serving on the boards of public companies and giving more than 100 speeches for which he was paid at least $50,000 each. His pursuit of wealth is well documented and will likely become a point of contention should he seek any public office in the future. Why a Large Net Worth Can Be Bad In Politics Bushs net worth became an issue for him in the 2016 presidential race. Thats because of his reported aggressive quest for wealth in the years since he left the governors mansion in Florida. Some political analysts said they believed Bush would face similar hurdles connecting to middle-class Americans as did 2012 Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney, one of the wealthiest candidates to seek the White House in modern history. â€Å"Running as the second coming of Mitt Romney is not a credential that’s going to play anywhere, with Republicans or Democrats. Not only would this be problematic on the campaign trail, I think it also signals someone who isn’t seriously looking at the presidency or he wouldn’t have gone down this path,†Ã‚  Republican consultant  John Brabender told Bloomberg Politics in 2014. Jeb Bush Takes Flack For Rush to Make Money Bush entered the Florida governors mansion in 1999 worth about $2 million, according to published reports detailing his personal finances. In his eight years as governor, Bush would tell reporters his family finances suffered because of his public service, according to the Tampa Bay Times. He left office with a net worth of $1.3 million. In their book about the 2012 presidential campaign, Double Down, journalists  Mark Halperin and John Heilemann describe Bushs quest for wealth as a driving factor behind his decision not to seek the Republican nomination that year. He said he wanted to pursue greater wealth instead. The former Florida governor was telling everyone the same thing hed told Romney: he planned to stay on the bench. It wasnt so much concerns about a Bush hangover that were keeping Jeb there. It was his bank account. You dont understand, Bush would say to the Republican poo-bahs begging him to run. I was in the real-estate development business in my state. There was a huge bubble, but I missed out because I was governor for eight years. So Im starting from scratch. If, God forbid, Im in an accident tomorrow- Im in a wheelchair drooling, saliva coming from my mouth- whos going to take care of me? What are my wife and kids going to do? Ive got to look after my family. This is my chance to do it.

Supply Chains Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Supply Chains - Essay Example Consumers are also inquiring about environmental strategies from the companies since they are aware of the global warming and the ecological matters. Companies will have to explain to the consumers how green their production processes are and how their waste materials are recycled. Supply Chains and networks Supply chains and networks plan is the act of finding and reducing services in the supply chain. In the plan, the mode of transportation, how to look for the market and the nature of the services are determined to provide the best service to the customer at the reduced cost possible. Two plants can produce a commodity and it can be supplied to three different chains before it gets to the customer. The plan offers the most convenient and efficient means to reduce such inconveniences. A good plan improves a company’s supply chain in the following areas Minimized costs Reduced account levels Low transport costs Good asset returns Good and reliable customer service A company e njoys competitive advantage when its goods and services are of better quality and prove to be acceptable by the consumer. A company’s competitive advantage can be determined by - Time- this is when a company can produce and process more goods quicker than the other processes. This advantage improves the profits and the product value. Cost- this is when a company spends less in the processing than the other. Cost advantage occurs where there is a better mechanized procedure and good mechanization which enhance competence. Quality Advantage- this is where a bigger company produces goods with less faults that the substandard ones. A company should ensure that all products of the same brand are of the same quality and result. The quality of the goods or commodities and their delivery is determined by the following factors:- Accessibility of resources When there are readily available raw materials, the cost of fetching for the materials is greatly reduced. Transport costs and the labour cost is greatly reduced. This also affects the quality of the goods supplied and how they are delivered to the consumer. Amount of purchases The amount of purchases a company produces greatly affects the quality and the distribution. A company delivers its products to the consumer depending on the necessity of the goods. Corporate responses Changes in climate have brought concern to business because it presents threats to companies (e.g. oil companies). In the 21st century, environmental dilapidation cost of materials and energy rise, in search of economic development have turned out to be clearer. Increased greenhouse emissions, destruction of the ozone layer and forests prove that there is a problem. Figures from the World Bank have shown that poverty has risen and many people live on fewer than 2 dollars each day (Wilsner 2011). This shows that issues of consumer options and control have been neglected. It is now the main challenge for humanity to find reasonable and susta inable behaviours to manufacture survive and consume. In 1992 a corporate, Rio Earth Summit assumed search of sustainability as its main aim. The challenge is to turn the goals into reality in the wake of hostile atmosphere and the global economy (Branch 2008). Social and ecological issues have been key hindrance to companies marketing their goods. The key issues in a supply chain management include- The planned