The Concrete Era of Boston City Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The Concrete Era of Boston City - Research Paper Example He started it with tax reforms and initialized various measures like the Freedom Trail Project to improve the relationship with locals. But, many challenges still remained as Boston was one of the oldest municipalities in the United States. Real reforms started to take place during the period of John F. Collins who followed Hynes. Several big architects like Le Corbusier and Charles Luckman started to work on various projects in the city. The Prudential Center was the first building to be build during the Hynes, Collins period using glass and steel mainly. Everybody expected the other buildings to follow the same pattern. But surprisingly, concrete considered as an ugly material by many took over the architecture of the city completely. The Government Center and the Boston City Hall built in 1968 was described as "one of the handsomest buildings of the time" by New York Times. I. M. Pei who constructed it designed it in such a way it had room for all administrative offices under one roof. The design for the City hall was selected though an open competition. The design of the Hall was so modern that it evoked many protests from the local architects as well as various other people who felt it did not suit the city's historical importance. The winner Gerhard Kallmann, Noel McKinnell, and Edward Knowles used concrete to create an authenticity for the building. The City Hall was simply described as "Mycenaean or Aztec overtones" by Walter Muir Whitehill. Most of the City Halls major designs like the concrete structures which doubled as sunscreens and top huge overhanging were Le Corbusier's idea (S. Southworth & M. Southworth, 2008). This concrete structure re-defined the Boston's face in the... This "The Concrete Era of Boston City" essay describes how the city and its "Concert Chapter" has changed with the times. The Prudential Center was the first building to be build during the Hynes, Collins period using glass and steel mainly. Everybody expected the other buildings to follow the same pattern. But surprisingly, concrete considered as an ugly material by many took over the architecture of the city completely. The Government Center and the Boston City Hall built in 1968 was described as "one of the handsomest buildings of the time" by New York Times. I. M. Pei who constructed it designed it in such a way it had room for all administrative offices under one roof. The design for the City hall was selected though an open competition. The design of the Hall was so modern that it evoked many protests from the local architects as well as various other people who felt it did not suit the city's historical importance. The winner Gerhard Kallmann, Noel McKinnell, and Edward Knowle s used concrete to create an authenticity for the building. The City Hall was simply described as "Mycenaean or Aztec overtones" by Walter Muir Whitehill. Most of the City Halls major designs like the concrete structures which doubled as sunscreens and top huge overhanging were Le Corbusier's idea (S. Southworth & M. Southworth, 2008). This concrete structure re-defined the Boston's face in the architectural world. Several new buildings started to appear using concrete. Nearly one hundred and fifty-four mega structures were erected in between 1950 to 1970.

Leadership of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Leadership of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk - Term Paper Example A real leader is capable of doing different tasks guided by his vision and reason coming from the historical experience. To make it plain, â€Å"leadership is the result of a complex set of interactions among the leader, the followers and the situation† (Cited in Byrne 20). Thus, a leader follows the most optimal way to succeed paying much tribute to his environment and the focal goals in mind. There are no leadership perspectives without goal-setting and planning elaborated by a leader. On the other hand, it is vital to touch upon the types of leadership and the notion of an effective military leadership. The question is that the efficiency in the way a military leader follows comprises a global perspective along with the national ideals. There should be a detailed understanding of what the nation longs for and why such a problem stays unsolved. Byrne identifies effective military leadership as â€Å"the ability to inspire others to willingly participate in the achievement o f a shared vision set out by the leader and to assist them throughout that transformational journey† (25). Hence, these solitary traits seem to be apparent in Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. First of all, he was a leader able to make a significant change against the Muslim perspective. By establishing the National Assembly in Turkey, he gained support of the Turkish majority in turning Turkey into a secular nation-state (Polelle 44). It was one of the first steps toward modernization throughout Turkey. Second, Ataturk broke the ice of the misconception in a larger Turkish society. He was successful in his leadership skills due to the fact that he possessed all types of transformational leadership evident in his â€Å"vision, courage, rhetorical skills, determination and integrity† (Byrne 25). This is why every single step he did toward progress in providing reforms was more than just a breakthrough. It gave grounds for further modernization and constructive development of Turkey . Secularization and improvement in education were the two main goals of Ataturk’s mission. The thing is that the reforms were aimed at the following prospects, namely: secular governance, the replacement of Arabic script with Roman characters, monogamy, creating an industrial infrastructure, opening three western-mode state universities, establishment of a civil code in accordance with the European norms and standards (Reisman 7). These reforms were hard to implement without keeping a strict eye on their execution. Today, there is hardly a national leader to complete all these reforms within a short span of time. To say more, Ataturk believed that a republican idealism would become a new civic religion for Turks (Hanioglu 182). His intellectual capacity made him believe in that Turkey may reach the new heights in its overall development once the religious views on governance came in place. The moral side of the question was at stake. Mustafa Kemal was aware of that and could wait for some time to make Turks share the idea of republican idealism versus solely religious construct. Here, his rhetoric and courage complement his vision at the outset and ability to integrate toward new dimensions of national development of Turks. This is why he managed to create a new nation of Turkey based on the most progressive principles of civilian life. The authority of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk is too significant for every Turk, as he dared to transform â€Å"

Urban Area in Hong Kong Essay Example for Free

Urban Area in Hong Kong Essay An Infant becomes elderly as time flies, buildings also do. According to the annual report of the Urban Renewal Authority, there’re 18,000 of buildings over more than 30 years in Hong Kong. All 3600 buildings are in poor conditions. To reverse the urban decay is race against time, redevelopment work is then necessary to carried out in Hong Kong by replacing old buildings with new. In recent years, the Urban Renewal Authority has adopted the concept of sustainable development in order to balance social, economic and environmental impacts on the redevelopment process in Hong Kong. How does it overcome the difficulties in these aspects? We’ll mainly describe them in the following paragraphs with evidences. Environmental The Urban Renewal Authority has been implementing an environmental- friendly and sustainable development in enhancing the built ambiance in urban areas. Vision City and Mount Davis 33 are the typical examples, whose vertical greening developments have been well adopted. The two projects have rewarded the platinum standard certificates by the HK-BEAM Society in recognition of the environmental features in 2006 and 2007 respectively. After the redevelopment of the Vision City, about 8,000 square feet of such vertical greening will be formed by the 40,000 plants. In addition, appropriate and sustainable environmental provisions are made into the construction of joint venture developments of the Urban Renewal Authority. After the application of the green features such as High Thermal Performance Structural Fabric, Renewal Energy Lighting System, and Grey Water Recycling System, Lee Tung Street’s carbon dioxide emission has reduced 23%. Mr. Cheung, the URA Chairman stated that â€Å"this reduction in the projects carbon footprint is equivalent to about 170,000 trees. Why it can reduce such a large amount of carbon dioxide? Let’s take a look of E-glass, an example of High Thermal Performance Structural Fabric, which can reduce the overall cooling load and heat island effect by reflecting 48% of solar energy outwards indoors. For another example which is the Renewal Energy Lighting system, it uses the mixture of street lamps and electronic sunlight collectors to let the street look shinier. Also, there will be less changing the light bulbs daily and for the lighting system; it is use of sun sensor and optical fiber to make the lighting system more environmentally friendly. For the example on Low lighting power for common areas such as the front of the house, when no one is in that particular area, the lights will be switched off automatically. On the other hand, when people entered a room, the lights will be turn on because of the light sensor. Therefore, the Urban Renewal Authority has been developing a green, modern and environmentally-friendly showcase for the renewal areas. Conclusion In conclusion, the urban redevelopment has improving residents’ living standards, promoting a sound economy, and also creating an environmentally-sustainable urban environment in Hong Kong through the redevelopment. One-day success is not a victory. To maintain sustainable redevelopment for Hong Kong cannot only rely on the Urban Renewal Authority, but also government support and everyone’s participation.

Analysis Of The Industry: Porters Five Forces

Analysis Of The Industry: Porters Five Forces After the three decades of the war ended the political situation in the country is stable and the current government enjoys 2/3 of the majority of the parliament and president remains the most popular person in the country. But the political turmoil surrounding the Middle East and Iran affecting the local export market since most of the tea products were export to the Middle East market. Also, the economic sanctions impose by the United States and the European Union on Iran affecting the local export market. 2.2 Economic Environment The fluctuating exchange rates are affecting the local producers since most of them import the raw material from China and India and produce their main products. The world economic downturn affects the local economy. The opening of the new port and expansion of Colombo port will bring more vessels to the Colombo port. This will definitely increase container volumes to the country. 2.3 Legal Environment The government has introduced a system to regulate the shipping and freight forwarding industry in the country. All shipping and freight forwarding agents must register with Merchant Shipping department. Where they will categorise to two separate groups and issue licences. This is renewable yearly. 2.4 Technological Environment The Sri Lanka customs department has introduced the new EDI (electronic data interchange) system to update shipping manifest through the entering in to customs department website , which will benefit the industry where cost and time of the forwarders will be saved .previously the manifest were submitted by manually and separate person should allocate to do the job. Also this will help the accuracy and duplication of work. 3 ANALYSIS OF THE INDUSTRY THOUGH PORTERS FIVE FORCES 3.1 The Threat of new entry In the Sri Lankan freight forwarding industry the threats of new entry is rather high because there are no legal requirements other than registration as a company with register of companies. Any one or any party can enter in to the industry with only requirements are recognition in the industry, business contact and Agent network with minimum capital can easily enter in to the industry . The new entry enters in to the market will be burden for the existing freight forwarders in the market. The industry is already overcrowded with so many players completing for slow growing market and everyone have to share the existing customer base with new entry. The entry barriers to the market can be arisen due to economies of scale when the new entrant does not have the volume advantage at the start of the business. Another barrier is the new regulation by the government which comes under the Merchant Shipping Department. The forwarders must have the licence to carry out the business with in the local Market. 3.2 The Treats of Substitutes The substitutes service can be provided by the carriers and air lines by way of value additions or part of the supply chain to the customers. Ware these carriers can provide additional services like warehousing, transportation, inventory control etc. The Maersk the world leading carrier has started their own arm to provide the additional value added services to the customers by in the name of DAMCO international .this will surely make the adverse effect on the current forwarding market in the country. 3.3 The Bargaining Power of the Buyers In the Sri Lankan freight forwarding market the bargaining power of the buyers are very high. when compared to other markets in the world county have very small import and export market in year 2011 countrys export containers were around 260047 and imports containers were around 487901.other than forwarders the main carriers are also competing to get the business direct from the customers. The freight forwarder has to convince the buyers and must offer more value for the money. Due to high completion and small market the buyer power high within the industry. 3.4 The Bargaining Power of Suppliers The suppliers for the freight forwarders either shipping lines, airlines, ware house provider or Logistics Companys provide services to the freight forwarders. In Sri Lanka the shipping lines and air lines are dominating the market .if other than the freight forwarder has large volumes they can bargain with the shipping lines and air lines other than that the bargain power of the suppliers are very high. 3.5Competitive Rivalry among Existing Firms As per the merchant shipping department there are 296 freight forwarding companies operating in the local market and there is also other freight forwarders operating in the market without licences. There is high competition among the forwarders since the export market is only expand around 6% in year 2011and import market did expand by 17% when compared to 2010as mentioned by the Sri Lanka Freight Forwarders Association (SLFFA).in the industry there are lot of equal size competitors in the market competing for the same market share will resulting intense competition within the market .and there are few major size competitors competing in different sectors of the market .most of these competitors complete in the appeal and tea sector since those are the most exported commodities in the country. CONCLUSION When analysing the five force frame work in the freight forwarding industry in Sri Lanka there is little information about the individual performance of the rival organisation. And there is no ranking system to identify who the best company is providing the forwarding services in the industry. And there is lack of understanding among competitors within the industry about the growth and there is no growth forecast within the industry. When analysing the above finding there are lot of competition in the market for sea freight export since the market is very small compared to the countries. Most of the freight forwarders concern about the full container cargo (FCL Containers) in market and less about the loose cargo load (LCL) and multi country consolidation (MCC). 4. VALUE CHAIN ANALYSIS 4.1 Primary Activities 4.1.1 Inbound Logistics When comes to the export of goods organisation provide transport from shippers place of production to the organisations ware house. Fumigation, obtaining relevant certificates for the export purposes is other value added services. In the import sea freight communication with relevant shippers in the various destinations, picking up the relevant goods, storing in the ware houses in the relevant destinations till it ships to relevant destination. 4.1.2 Operations In sea fright exports the operation is stuffing the relevant cargo inside the container according to the stuffing plan. In this case the Cargo must be stuffed to the container without any damages and relevant cargo must be send to the relevant containers accordingly. And should send to the relevant ships accordingly. In Import Sea cargo must be DE stuffed accordingly. 4.1.3 Outbound Logistics When is come to the import shipments after receiving the goods to the Colombo port the organisation must issue the relevant documents to the relevant consignees to clear the goods from the relevant ware houses operated by the Sri Lanka ports authority. Also tracking down the cargo from the various ware houses. 4.1.4 Marketing and Sales Promoting sea freight business with relevant rate to the direct and cooperate customers, overseas agents and shippers with value added services are the part of the sales and marketing 4.1.5 Services Tracking the customers cargo till its deliver to relevant parties, issuing Delivery orders, Bill of ladings, surveying for the damage cargo and issuing relevant letters to obtain the insurance claims and sending arrival notices some of the additional services provided by the company. 4.2 support activities 4.2.1 Technology Development The firm provide tracking system to all their customers to track their cargo through new innovative system .using this system customers can see where their cargo are currently lying on or which vessel the shipments are on and time this shipments will be delivered to the destinations. 4.2.2 Firm Infrastructure and Human Resources Management The firm has a good reputation among the customers. The organisation poses a good customer centric culture. The MIS support the innovation and responsiveness to the customer needs. 5. THE SOURCE OF COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE THROUGH ONION MODEL THE GOOD ONION MODEL 5.1.1 The Agent Network The organisation poses a worldwide agent network .the organisations has 40 associate offices in 13 countries and cargo ships to over 120 countries reaching more than 1200 destinations worldwide which unmatched by the local competitors . 5.1.2 Superior Rate Structure Cost Leadership in LCL Market The organisation offers the most competitive rate in the LCL cargo sector in the market and most of the other freight forwarders in the market co-load their shipments with company since they do not have the capabilities match the rate offered by the firm. 5.1.3 Leading Multi Country Consolidator The organisation is the innovator of the large scale of operations of the multi country consolidation among the competitors. Firm is the leading MCC to Indian sub-continent. 5.1.4 Innovative Cargo Tracking System The customers can track their cargo through the system only the have to do is enter the bill of leading numbers to the system and will able to get the full details about their cargo 5.1.5 Customer Centric Culture The organisation is fully focused on customers needs and requirements. Organisation have separate department focusing the customer care and even has customer complaint line which is first for the Sri Lankan freight forwarding industry. 6.THE BAD ONION MODEL 6.1.1 Parochial Top Management Mind Set Even though the organisation very centric towards the customers and customer need they are not much focused on the developing business to the next level or stepping up for the next level. They poses very narrow set of business vision for the company and does not want step outside the comfort zone their currently in and change the current business dynamics. 6.1.2 Employee Engagement The organisation lacks the motivation to achieve its goals .where employer wants employees to do their best work and drive the organisation towards its goals. To do that employer must engage with the employees and find the ways to get more from the employees other than the primary work set they have been assigned to do . 7 THE SWOT ANALYSIS 7.1 Strengths of the Organisation 7.1.1 Agent Network As mentioned earlier organisation has good agency network around the world. Using this network firm can import and export any cargo according to the customer requirements. 7.1.2 Rate Structure Since the firm operates most parts of the world with various agents organisation can offer the cheapest LCL rate in the market. Most of the agents the firm work are the market leaders in those destinations and they have the lowest tariff with in that particular destination .with the collaboration with them organisation can offer the best rate in the market. 7.1.3 Transhipment Cargo Volume The Colombo port is a strategic transhipment point in the world. So most of the cargo to Europe from Indian sub-continent tranships through the Colombo port and most of the European Cargo to Indian sub-continent tranship through Colombo port. Large numbers of agents send their transhipment cargo to consolidate in Colombo and deliver to the various destinations. 7.2 Weaknesses Of the Organisation 7.2.1 Working Capital Inadequacy The firm always works with the thin profit margins with credit to the customers sometimes with low volumes will create a loss situation where it will affect the working capital requirements of the company. The other scenarios is there more imports to firm than exports and the firm has to pay to the agents and should provide credit to the customers this will also create working capital inadequacy. 7.2.2 Human Resource Management The firm not very keen in developing good human resources management process .this will lead to the less employee engagement and will hinder the achievement of organisations goals through performance. 7.3 External Opportunities 7.3.1 Development of Colombo and Hambantota Port The development of Colombo port efficiency and increase of the handling of the containers will affect the industry also opening of the new port in Hambantota will increase the vessel calling specially the car carriers are promoted in the new port. Expansion of the Colombo port to will attract more vessel to the port and will benefit the local industry by more volumes and less cost 7.3.2 Stable political Environment The ending three decades of the war and stable political environment will attract more investors to the country. The more investment comes and starts new business will create more imports and exports from the country. 7.4 External Threats 7.4.1 Weak Economic Development of United States and European Union The European Union and United States economic crisis were affected to the local garment and tea and other sectors badly and this crisis has been effected to the freight forwarding industry also the export market were grown only by 6% in last year. 7.4.2 Turmoil in Middle East and Sanctions to Iran One of the best export market for the country is middle East and Iran .the current turmoil in Syria, Egypt ,Libya has halted the export to those countries also the sanction by the US and EU to Iran also effected the industry . 8. THE VISION, MISSIONS, CORE VALUES OFTHE COMPANY The Colombo office uses the same vision statement as head office in Singapore. This is a border group with different SBUs and freight forwarding is a one SBU among other business units. Colombo office should have a different vision for its objectives. Modified vision statement for the firm would be TO BE A ONE OF LEADING FREIGHT FORWARDING COMPANY IN SRI LANKA WITH GLOBAL FREIGHT FORWARDING CAPABILITIES. The mission statement by the head office will be the mission to the company since to become the leading freight forwarding company in Sri Lanka the firm must move to the other sectors of the logistics to provide best value to the customer. 8.1 Core Values 8.1.1 Service Reliability Provide the best service to customers and to improve the service levels and consistently upgrade the service levels 8.1.2 Competitiveness To provide competitive freight rates in the market and pass any reductions possible to valued customers so they can keep their cost down to the minimum levels. 8.1.3 Customer Focus To understand the customers requirements and utilise the knowledge of the organisation to deliver quality, committed service to the customer 8.1.4 Teamwork As a reputed organisation it values the strength of an individual and combined together to deliver the objective of the firm 8.1.5 Quality The firm to ensure customers receive a standard of service which provides quality and assurance that can deliver time and time again. After analysing the firm performance trends for the year 2008/2009/2010/2011/2012the growth target was set. The average profit for the previous years is about 11% for the export and imports therefore the target was set as 13% of profit increase for two sectors. The target was set as 13% due to increase volumes and profit margins for the current year and previous year and expansion of Colombo port and operations in the new port will increase the volumes for next few years. Also political stability in the country and increase of forgin direct investment to the country will improve the economical growth. The target could not raise tan 13% due to the economic turmoil in the Middle East, US, EU these markets are still recovering and it will take more than three years improve the current crisis. 10. STRATEGY OPTIONS TO ACHIEVE THE GROWTH 1. The Ansoff Approach 10.1.1 Market Penetration Increasing the sales volume through new marketing recruitments, providing sales discounts to encouraging the customers to purchase more services, offering the best possible rates to competitors to attract their cargo to the company 10.1.2 Market Development Firm can enter in to the new market segments like Garment and telecommunication through supply chain management .Also can enter in to the alliance with Maldivian hotel trade to exclusively suppler of from various destinations. 10.1.3 Product Development Firm can combine their import and export business together and provide services such as imports goods from one country and export the same goods to an another country .bundling the products together and offering as a one product (freight, transport, packing ,entry passing together as one product ) 1.4 Diversification Firm can move in to a commodity markets where they can buy and sell commodities using freight services as base. 10.2. The Porters Approach 10.2.1 Cost Leadership Currently the firm provides the lowest cost in the market. Where firm cut the costs to the minimum and pass the savings to the customer with lower price .this help to attract more volumes to the organisation. 10.2.2 Differentiation The firm can differentiate their product and services more attractive than the competitor .this can be create through customer service, image of the organisation, faster services to one destination to another. 11. STRATEGY FOR THE GROWTH The firm to use hybrid strategy for the growth .the organisation need to penetrate in to the market using cost leadership and use the strengths to pursue opportunities. The firm currently have superior agency network and best rate structure using these strengths firm can pursue more penetration in the market to achieve the growth target set. Through market development using differentiation as a tool firm can enter in to the new local and overseas markets. Currently the group does not operate in Maldives and therefore firm can represent the group by opening up a branch office in Maldives. Currently Maldives have one shipping line and one freight forwarding company and the whole group has not promote the Maldivian cargo especially there is lot of cargo moving in to the hotel sector from Europe and china. Currently firm only offers few services such as freight, transport, packing and entry passing. This will limit the growth opportunities. Firm can enter into a new market segment using supply chain management. This will help the firm to tap in to the appeal industry which is one of the largest import and export market in the country. The growth target growth for the next 3 years is 13% increase of profit and volume. Through new product development firm can attract more customers and volumes to achieve the set target. Combining few product and services as new product and offering to the customers services like imports from one destination to other destination without importing the goods to Colombo will be a new product development to the firm Sri Lanka is world famous for its tea, rubber, coconut, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and pepper. The firm can concentrate on those commodities with advantage of knowledge on logistics can enter in to the commodity market as a diversification strategy Attracting more customers will increase the volume and with improved volumes firm can reduce the barging power of the suppliers and reduce the direct cost of the freight, transport and warehouse to improve the firms profit margins. 12. THE RESOURCE IMPLICATION To achieve the target growth organisation must control the administration, marketing, finance and cost of sales expense wisely. 12.1Human Resource Management Implications The growth target is only to be increased by 3% so the organisation will use the same work force to achieve the target except the marketing department. Marketing really need to hire few personals to enter in to the new markets and promote products. 12.2Capital Implications The organisation need to provide credit to the customers and will have to work on thin margins therefore there should be an initial capital injection required to ease working capital requirements. 12.3 System and IT Implications The organisations have to modify the current system since its runs with full capacity. Therefore adjustments should be made to the current system to accommodate more data inputs with different modules. Also need to develop modules for supply chain management and branch office monitoring and improved MIS. 12.4 Finance Department Implications The finance should gear up with knowledge of accounting and audit standards required for the new business units and should able handle the large debtor and creditors list and should able to manage efficient cash and bank balances to support the growth 12.5Ware House and Transport Implications The current ware house space has to increase to accommodate more cargo. Therefore the firm has to find more space or efficiently handle the cargo movement without adding more space. Also the transport providers will have to increase or transporters with large vehicles to hire. 13 HOW CHANGE WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED 13.1. Developing Momentum To achieve the target firm must develop a momentum inside the organisation. Then should communicate the aspirations and growth targets to the staff and align them behind the change required. Top management should come out from their shell and should lead the way. Management should engage with employees to get maximum out from them to achieve the set target. 2. Planing the Change Firm to break down the growth plan in to twelve months set milestones in to each month. What should achieve in the first month and should establish measures for success. Identifying key talent of the organisation and allocating and delegating responsibilities for planning and implementation to them. After every month the results to be reviewed extensively to find the results were achieved accordingly. If not preparing the contingency plan to fill the identified gap. 3. Top Management Leading the Implementation Top management must inspire other for the change required. Also they must communicate with the staff, stake holders, and customers about the change. Seeking early success will improve the momentum for the growth and motivate staff. Every step of the change must monitor, control, and review. Also they must prepare to deal with the unexpected turns in PESTEL factors and should plan for the continuous improvement till the target is achieved

Marketing and market entry strategy in india

Marketing and market entry strategy in india A market entry strategy maps out how to sell, deliver and distribute HMs products in another country such as India. When products and services are exported to another country, the strategy will define ways of obtaining contracts and delivering them in that country. If HM has decided to conquer the international market in India, it is opened to many choices. These options may include the cost, risk and the degree of control that the company will encounter in the country. In entering an international business, it is important that the management of the HM should be able to choose marketing entry strategies and carefully choose the product that the company will market in India. Exporting, is the simplest form of marketing entry strategy which includes direct or indirect method such as using an agent, in the case of direct method and counter trade if the company opted to implement an indirect method. Due to technological advances, direct marketing is staging a comeback, leading to a relationship orientation. Moreover, since HM wants to be known globally, there are many other ways the company can choose from like joint venture or export processing zone. The management of HM may decide to choose the export strategy and include in their operation the specific channels to market their product. Relationship marketing has revolutionized the traditional marketing and has become the biggest paradigmatic shift in marketing practice in recent decades.It has not only changed customers to advocate by replacing customer satisfaction by customer delight but has also increased quality service offers that exceeds expectations. Similarly, it will open new horizons for HM. It will trigger the HM to introduce new products and services. According to Berry and Parasuraman (1991: 25) relationship marketing concerns attracting, developing and retaining customer relationships. Relationship marketing will provide HM with necessary selling approach to cope with various challenges, set by the modern market in India. Relationship marketing transforms single usage to multiple service usage and will strengthen HM by providing them the wherewithal with which they can carry out effective customer services in India. Nowadays, competition in fashion industry and demands of customers are increasing constantly. They demand for global fashion company like HM where there are provisions for an incentive to the customer. So, strong commitment to customer care, attraction and maintenance at all levels are the top priority of HM, while dealing with the customers. Relationship marketing will help HM to overcome these problems and make the sales procedures much simpler. Palmer (2001) enumerated the components of relationship marketing as being: a focus on customer loyalty and retention; long term orientation; tracing identifiable buyers; distinguishing different levels of relationship between the buyer and the seller; high levels of customer dedication; and service quality as being the responsibility of every employee. Relationship marketing will transform indifferent customers into loyal clientele and emphasizes on their retention. Customer retention is the means to delivering long-term profitability in H M. Customer relationships management focuses on customer retention, and customer retention is believed to be more profitable than customer acquisition. Dawkins and Reichheld (1990) found that higher retention rate leads to higher net present value of customers. The longer customers can be retained by HM, the more and more tangible benefits will accrue from a sustained income stream. The end goal of relationship marketing is profit for HM. Saren and Tzokas (2000) raised the usefulness of relationship marketing in creating unique, difficult to imitate knowledge through the processes of interaction and dialogue with the customer. Knowledge about customers can only be enhanced if HM is able to maintain lasting relationships with their customers. The determinants of store choice, customer loyalty, patronage behaviour, customer retention and relationship marketing have been widely studied around the globe. Therefore, a considerable volume of literature exists, especially regarding fashion industry. However, there is still considerable scope for research in this field as the environment of fashion industry is in a constant state of flux and the emergence of new store formats in India has led to dramatic changes in consumer behaviour. New and existing fashion industry tend to provide a completely new experience for their consumers by offering sophisticated customer service, a wide and assorted variety of goods, breakfast ambience, quality imported and branded products. Since, fashion has invading people style of living and HMs the product that has been chosen to go international market. Hence, this research will suggest a marketing entry strategy for HM using Porters Five Forces model (Porter, 1980) and SWOT analysis of other HM companies in other countries. The company is a new entrant to the Indian Market, thus, this paper will provide a marketing entry strategy analysis for the company as it invade the market in India. Competitors Analysis Competitors analysis is very important since HM is a new entrant within the market place. It is essential so that the HM will be able to know their competitors and the possible strategy that they may use to level up such competitors and know the needs of the target market. Thus, this means that HM will enter the India as a beginning industry considering many competitors within the market place. Marketing Entry Analysis Utilizing Marketing Mix Marketing is considered as one of the most important element underpinning successful business creation and because of its complex applications, marketing is defined in a variety of ways (Sheth, Gardner, and Garrett 1988). According to Elliot (1990), the marketing concept was first promulgated in the late 1950s. The importance of marketing concept incorporates oft-repeated elements such as: customer orientation; integrated marketing efforts; and resultant profitability (Elliot, 1990). The marketing mix principles can be adjusted on a frequent basis to meet the changing needs of the target market and other dynamics of marketing environment (McCarthy, 2004). In relation to marketing plan, marketing mix includes both short term and long term strategies makes for a more profitable marketing mix. Long term strategies build brand/company awareness and give sales revenue a permanent, gradual boost. Short term strategies create a temporary, immediate revenue boost by giving buyers an incentive to purchase. By implementing both long and short term strategies, you can attend to immediate sales goals while building your business reputation and goodwill (Kyle, 2004). 1.1. Product HM AB (originally known as Hennes Mauritz) is a Swedish clothing company, known for retail of low-cost designer clothings. It was established in Và ¤sterà ¥s in Sweden in 1947 by Erling Persson, though at the time it only sold womens clothing and was called Hennes, which means hers in Swedish. Persson acquired the premises and inventory of a Stockholm hunting equipment store named Mauritz Widforss in 1968. Persson expanded into menswear and renamed the store to Hennes Mauritz, later abbreviated to HM (www.hm.com). H M is the worlds favourite and preferred designer of apparels and clothing for man and women. In addition, H M is also known not only for their fashion cosmetic but because of the quality of the clothes designed durability and the funkiness of its clothes. Through the online stores, HM provides the regional, continental and European Market an exclusive clothing designs. The main goal of HM is to provide innovative designs of apparels and clothes for different types of people in different countries all over the world. The company is known because of its strategy of providing clothing designs exclusively for each countrys preferences and needs. 1.2. Pricing H M is believed to have advantages when it comes to its pricing tactic. In order to be known into the market place and as a new entrant, the company will provide its target market with an affordable cost while providing them a high quality products and services. The company will be given the customer and client a price that is lesser than its competitors so that the consumer will be enhanced to buy and patronize the H M clothes and cosmetics. 1.3. Placement/Distribution The HMs products will be distributed directly to its clients and consumers in order to be known in the market place. HM products can utilize joint venture strategies with distinguished distributor of apparels, clothes and cosmetics, providing them with great offers, so as to market the product of the H M internationally. In 2003, HM announced its entry into the traditionally exclusive Milan fashion scene. It remains to be seen if HM and other low-end retailers will be able to find a market there. In February 2004, The Gap, another prominent international retailer, sold off all of its German outlets to its competitor, HM. HM launched its first American outlet on March 31, 2000 on New Yorks famous Fifth Avenue. Following the success its stores, additional outlets were opened in the SoHo, Gramercy, and Herald Square areas of Manhattan, followed by outlets in Upstate New York in Syracuse, Utica, and West Nyack. The brand then expanded to other regions of the country, including Chicago and its outlying suburbs. The first two HM stores to appear on the West Coast of the US opened in San Francisco, California on November 19th, 2005. HM opened its first Canadian store in Fairview Mall in Toronto and soon after, its store in Torontos Eaton Centre was opened in March 2004. Following great financial success, HM opened ten other stores within the Greater Toronto Area. Stores were also opened in Montreal in Spring 2006. HM continued its expansion in the Canadian market and doubled the number of stores in 2006. It planned new markets include Barrie, Hamilton, London, Kitchener/Cambridge/Waterloo, St. Catharines and Windsor and Ontario market, Fairview (Pointe Claire) shopping centre, Rockland Centre, the Galeries dAnjou and the Carrefour Laval. (www.hm.com) 1.4. Promotion/Communication HM can use video advertisements, print advertisements and the concept of e-marketing to promote its products. These promotion and communication strategy will tend to meet the consumers form different places everywhere, especially those target markets or the consumers in the working place. Moreover, since the trend in the market place today is the usage of e-marketing, the company will provide a website that any client can access. The use of the Internet is changing technologically advanced marketing overnight while different industries have been trying to use it as part of their marketing strategy. It does not only reconfigured the way different firms do business and the way the consumers buy goods and services but it also become instrumental in transforming the value chain from manufacturers to retailers to consumers, creating a new retail distribution channel (Donthu and Garcia, 1999). E-marketing is a powerful tool used that can be used by HM. E-marketing is defined as the process of achieving marketing objectives through the use of electronic communications technology (ICT). Smith and Chaffey (2001) have provided a 5Ss learning devices on how the internet can be applied by all business firms for different e-marketing tactics. These 5Ss are useful for HM and are se lling, serve, speak, save and sizzle. E-marketing or online marketing strategy can be used by HM to market its products. Thus, the HM has created its own website (www.hm.com). HM will use the e-marketing strategy is to keep in touch to different internet users and to be able to attract more clients and consumers. HM will use e-marketing to accelerate its business portfolio whether the user of the website is a customer, employee, stockholders, vendors, retailers or end customers. 1.5. Market Segmentation Marketing segmentation is defined as an aggregating process clustering people with similar needs into a market segment (Perreault McCarthy, 2002: 74). According to Ravesteyn (2005), customer segmentation is critical for an effective relationship marketing strategy. HM will provide its target consumers for its product by using market segmentation strategy. The segmentation of the market is a critical aspect of relationship marketing and the segmentation of business customers by HM must be in line with the different levels of relationship offered by the company. They need to make use of relationship marketing and management at segment or market level to identify the target market they intend pursuing (Stewart, 1995). Primarily, the context of the market segmentation for this company will be the Psychographics. Strydom, Cant Jooste (2000) identify the following four types of segmentation: demographic, geographic, psychographic and behavioural segmentation. Psychographics includes soc ial class, lifestyle, and personality variables (Chiagouris and Kahle, 2000). The end result of using these variables is a psychological profile of each market segment. Issues also examined the customers loyalties, habits and self-concept. Social class describes how individuals want their office automation will meet their comfort and satisfaction, what they consider important about their immediate surroundings, their opinions on various issues, and their interests. As lifestyle studies concentrates on what the consumer requires, using these study results as marketing strategies eventually became a marketing concept. The marketing concept is a basic philosophy that maintains that HM should endeavour to satisfy the needs and wants of customers through a coordinated set of activities that also allows the HM to achieve its goals at a profit. The HM must be able to consider its consumer, especially the demands of the consumer so as to let the business have an opportunity of having an expansion of its business portfolio as required by the consumers. The focus of this overview is on the behavioural segmentation process, which refers to the segmentation of buyers or customers into groups on the basis of their knowledge of, attitude towards, use of or response to a product or service of a HM. The behavioural variables identified by Kotler (2000) include: Occasions occasional buyers develop needs, purchase, or use products. Benefits refer to the benefits that buyers seek. User status includes potential users, regular users, non-users, first-time users or ex-users. Usage rate will include light, medium or heavy users. Loyalty status are classified as hard-core loyals, split loyals, shifting loyals and switchers. Buyers-readiness stages where the customers are either aware or unaware of the product or service, informed, interested, have a desire for the product or service and have intent to buy. Attitude enthusiastic, positive, indifferent, negative and hostile. Research Objectives: Relationship marketing will contribute significantly to the development of HM in India. Therefore, it becomes essential to study its applications in a fashion company in India. This study fulfils this need. The study addresses the different pros and cons of relationship marketing in a fashion company in India. Thus, the general purpose of this research investigation is to identify, describe and analyse factors that have an impact on relationship marketing, customer retention and customer acquisition in Indian fashion context. The main objectives of this study are given below, To identify, describe and analyse factors that will have an impact on relationship marketing, customer retention and customer acquisition in a fashion company and at HM in India. To appraise the views of customers of HM in India, how they feel about the companys relationship with them. To gain insight on how HM in India build customer relationship marketing tactics. To understand and determine the mediating role of customer behavior between relationship marketing and customer retention and acquisition. To indentify the market entry strategies for HM in India. Research Questions: What is the relationship marketing tactics practiced by the HM in India? What is the market entry strategy practiced by the HM in India? Deliverables: As it has been described in the objectives of the research project that the main purpose of this study is to examine the market entry strategies and relationship marketing by HM in India and customer relationships in Fashion Company and to find out how fashion company relationships with customers promotes its entry in India. The final product of this research project will be a report, containing the HMs relationship strategy and market entry strategy in India, what are their advantages and disadvantages. The report will contain the perceptions of employee and customers. Finally, the report will highlight some relationship marketing problems of HM and a fashion company and suggest some guidelines to remove these problems and improve its customers base in India. Research Methodology: Interested customer and would be customers of HM in India will be approached to collect the data. There are two kinds of data. Primary data Secondary data Primary data includes the information about relationship marketing and market entry strategy available from customers of HM in India. This also includes responses by the different employee of HM on the shop-floor. Secondary data will tell about the impact of relationship marketing in the retailers and the data has been available in their system. To collect the data, retailers employees, posted at different positions, will be contacted. Similarly, to assess the changes in retail services, caused by the relationship marketing, customers views will also be found out. The tools to collect this data will be the surveys. For this, employees and customers will be interviewed, where as to know the views of customers, different questionnaires will be prepared to ask them different questions. To analyze the collected data, different statistical techniques will be used. Qualitative research can be referred to as the opposite of quantitative research method. Any research method has its advantages and it disadvantages. Qualitative research is a study done that produces its results and findings that do not result from statistical means or other method of quantification. This method of inquiry requires a high level of intelligence and experience from the researcher to arrive at a more realistic and targeted data from the respondent. Quantitative research is referred to as a measurement of how people feel, think or act in a particular way and that this survey tend to include large samples from fifty to any number of interviews, structured questionnaires containing mostly closed questions that require questions along with set responds. This involves the clear statement of variables i.e. specifying the dependent and the independent variable. Resources: The most important thing to carry out any research project is to know the background, research objectives, and research methodology of the research project. For this literature is searched out. The University Library will be the primary source to review the literature. Books in hard and soft form will be obtained from the library. Similarly, different research journals and articles in the library will be valuable assets to prepare a comprehensive research report. To prepare the questionnaires, surveys done by Fashion Company to know the relationship marketing and market entry strategy will be used. Similarly new questionnaires, depending on the situation, will also be prepared. Project Plan: The project is divided into three stages. Literature review Interviews of employees of HM and their customers Report writing Literature Review: To carry out any research project, a research must be able to review the literature. This makes researcher aware of work, done by other people in the respective field. The main source of literature is the journals, in which different researchers publish their findings of problems. Interviews of retail employees and customers: In order to collect information on the impact of market entry strategy and know impact on relationship marketing in the Indian fashion company, the employees of HM will be interviewed. They will be asked about the positive and negative points of relationship marketing utilization in their stores. Similarly, customer views will be taken through the interviews. Considering all these views, suggestion to improve the customer services will be advised. Report writing: The final product of the research project will be a written report. The structure of my report will be divided in following categories, Introduction: In the introduction, the market entry strategy and history of relationship marketing use in fashion sector will be discussed and how different relationship marketing systems will be used to address the issues of HM, with the passage of time. Aims and objectives: In this part of report, purpose of the research project will be stated very clearly; what are the aims of the study and what are the problems, which will be discussed in the report. Research methodology: This is the core part of the report. After stating the problem, different research methodologies will be explained to gather the data. The primary source will be the interviews of the employees and customers. From these interviews, impact of relationship marketing and market entry strategy of HM will be assessed. The questions asked to employees and customers will be provided in the appendix of report. Conclusions: After describing the problems and research methods, suggestion will be advised to eliminate the highlighted problems. Risk: In order to carry out any research project, it is very important to study all the aspects of the project. One of the main aspects regarding any project is the risks involved. There are also some risks involved, regarding the research project under consideration. One risk can be privacy. HM employees can be duty-bound and show reluctance to give information about their working procedures and on relationship marketing operations, used in the fashion company. Impact and Beneficiaries of Research: The main objective of this research activity is to investigate the market entry strategies and relationship marketing by HM in India and customer relationships in Fashion Company and to find out how fashion company relationships with customers promotes its entry in India. This research can be very helpful for the fashion sector. For instance, it will analyze the effectiveness of relationship marketing and its market entry strategies in India. It will determine the views of HM employees about the introduction of relationship marketing in their working environment. From this, both positive and negative points about the role of relationship marketing in the fashion sector, put forward by the HM employees, can be known. Similarly, the customers views about the insertion of relationship marketing and the effect of HMs market entry strategy can be found out. Customers level of satisfaction about the HMs customer services can be assessed. This report will also show the comparison of differe nt strategies among different HMs companies worldwide and how they use relationship marketing to achieve the same target. By knowing the views of customers through this study, their difficulties while dealing with HM, can also be discovered. This report will also address these issues and suggest solutions to eradicate these problems. So, the major beneficiaries of this report are the management of HM and by considering the suggestions of the report, they can improve their market entry strategies, customer services and hence the customer relationship from HM will be invigorated.

Edgar Allan Poe: Life and Works Essay -- essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Edgar Allan Poe was a literary genius of his time. His works may seem eccentric but beneath the words and stories lies a solemn, alone boy whose only way of comfort and relief was through his pen. Of the critical reviews I have studied pertaining to Poe, never has such a varied difference of opinions been presented or suggested towards a writer. It is thought that his life had a major influence on his writing and by reading many of his pieces I agree with that statement. Edgar Poe was born in Boston on January 19, 1809 to actors Elisabeth Arnold Poe and David Poe Junior. Edgar had a brother Henry, who was a year older than him, and a younger sister, Rosalie. His mother and father separated a couple months after Rosalie’s birth. When Edgar was two his mother passed away and a few weeks later his father died as well. As a result, Edgar and his siblings became separated. John Allan took in Edgar where he was christened as Edgar Allan Poe. Three years later the Allan’s moved to England where he attended Manor House School for three years. Even though Edgar performed very well in school, he only seemed to remember his school days in London as lonely and unhappy. After three years, they returned to Virginia but Poe felt abandoned constantly. Mr. Allan was always busy with work and his wife was in a constant state of illness. The Allans never legally adopted Poe; resulting in many cards and greetings sent to the family that would fail to mention Edgar.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When Edgar was a teenager the Allans moved around frequently. In 1822, the family finally settled in Richmond, in a house rented from William Galt. Edgar continued with his education, and by the age of fourteen, he was attending the Academy of Joseph H. Clarke. He did very well academically and the academy not only encouraged his studies but nourished his gift for language. Poe excelled in Latin and French, and at age sixteen he wrote the poem â€Å"Oh Tempora! Oh Mores!† While at school Poe excelled at writing by authoring countless numbers of poems. My research indicates that Poe had the potential to publish a book of poetry. For reasons unknown the Academy of Joseph H. Clark was not receptive to this venture and persuaded Poe’s stepfather not to entertain such notions. The school also brought out the athlete in Poe. He was a good runner, leaper, boxer, and sw... ...urity and anger towards John Allan often kept him from succeeding and doing well in life. He was in a constant uphill and downhill race. He didn’t want success enough for himself and let John Allan ruin his chances of becoming wealthy and happy with himself. One would think though, is it better he was treated that way? For this treatment created one of the world’s most renowned, controversial and heavily debated writers ever. In my opinion, Poe’s purpose was to let everyone know how he felt and what he felt, and with his intelligence and proper English and grammatical skills he was allowed to do so with writing. It is often said writing is a form of calming relief, whether the content be brutal or serene, those who write seem to explore and take in more from life then those who sit by and not use their imaginations. Poe may have gone deep into his and composed papers of mystery and confusion but he also reminded us about the side many people shut off in fear of harming others or being harmed themselves. Death is not a fun topic to discuss and with the way Poe would word his writings he made death itself become a light musical of phrases and poems that will be forever in our minds.

The Invasion of Normandy :: World War II History

The Invasion of Normandy The battle plan, code-named Operation Overlord, called for the largest amphibious assault ever to start the liberation of occupied Europe from Nazi Germany. It began in the early morning hours of June 6, 1944, now known as D-Day. Thousands of American, British, Canadian, and French soldiers-backed by paratroopers, bombers, and warships-stormed a 50-mile stretch of French beach called Normandy. This "invasion of Normandy" was the greatest event to occur between the years of 1919 and 1945. D-day was the beginning of the end of the war. The invasion of Normandy allowed the Allied forces to get their soldiers back on the European mainland and to start defeating German opposition and Nazi tyranny. It was the major turning point of World War II and perhaps one of the greatest strategic military operations that ever executed. As the tide of World War II began to turn in favor of the Allies, U.S. General Dwight D. Eisenhower had the task of forming the largest invasion fleet in history, in order for an amphibious landing on the northern coast of France to be effective. If it was executed as planned and labeled a success, the landing would be the starting point for the massive attack. The attack would move eastward through France and into Nazi Germany. In May, while millions of troops and equipment poured into the staging area of southern Britain, the Allies created a decoy. False radio transmissions and rows of inflated rubber tanks and landing craft located away from the true staging area kept the Germans confused about the operation's size and target. The invasion of northern France from England was not launched in May, as its planners had initially prescribed, but on June 6, the famous D-Day of World War II. A huge fighting force had been assembled, including 1,200 fighting ships, 10,000 planes, 4,126 landing craft, 804 transport ships, and hundreds of amphibious and other special purpose tanks. During the operation, 156,000 troops, of which 73,000 were American, were landed in Normandy, airborne and seaborne. As the day of the invasion approached, the weather in the English Channel became stormy. Heavy winds, a five-foot swell at sea, and lowering skies compelled Eisenhower to postpone the assault from the fifth to the sixth of June. Conditions remained poor, but when weathermen predicted that the winds would abate and the cloud cover rise enough on the scheduled day of the attack to permit a go-ahead, Eisenhower reluctantly gave the command.