Analytical Project Southwest Airlines Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Analytical Project Southwest Airlines - Essay Example The industry facilitates world trade, tourism, international investment, economic growth. It is also a centre of the globalization that is taking place in many of the industries. In the past decades, worldwide, travelling has been taken place for both leisure and business. Therefore, per year air travel has grown by 7%. Approximately, about 1.5 billion people are travelling through airlines worldwide (The Airline Industry, 2000). Type of business: The airline is considered to be the tertiary industry that offers its services to all the people, directly or indirectly. When tourism is promoted in the country, it is the airlines that improves the economy and in turn affect every member of the society (Southwest, 2011). Form the airlines industry, the paper discusses Southwest airlines in detail. Size: The total number of employees in the southwest airline is about 3500. In the year 2010, their net income was $ 459 million. Moreover, excluding the special items, their net income turns ou t as $550 million. Throughout the year on the airline, a total of 88 million people have travelled. The statistics report of 2010 shows that their operating revenue of the year 2010 was $12.1 billion (Southwest, 2011). Service provided: Southwest airline is considered as the United States’ most successful high frequency, low fare, and point to point carrier. Every day they offer more than 34000 flights coast to coast. This makes it one of the largest domestic passenger airlines of the states (Southwest, 2011). Market served: Southwest airline is the domestic airline; it flies to 37 states; 72 cities. They serve these cities by using 548 Boeing and 737 jets (Southwest, 2011). Summary of SWA’s Strategy Mission: The mission of Southwest Airline is â€Å"dedication to the highest quality of Customer Service delivered with a sense of warmth, friendliness, individual pride, and Company Spirit.† The mission of the company is to provide their customer with the best qual ity that will force them to return to them more than once (Southwest Airlines, 2011). Organizational objectives: The objectives of the company are to efficiently deliver the basic services (Southwest Airlines, 2011). To achieve this goal they have divided this objective into a number of fundamental objectives. They want to provide their customers with safe, low price transportation with maximum convenience. Overall HR strategy: The HR strategy of the company is â€Å"recognizing that our people are the competitive advantage, we deliver the resources and services to prepare our people to be winners, to support the growth and profitability of the company, while preserving the values and special culture of Southwest Airlines† (Buller, 2006). Being a great place to work, the airlines is selective in hiring and looks out for the best employees that can satisfy the needs and wants of the company as well as the customers. Key strategies: The key strategy of the company includes bein g cost effective, so that they can capture greater number of customers. They are also specialized in short-haul flights to their customers. They tend to give their customers the best services in return of the price they pay. This strategy is considered to be their core strategy (Southwest

An Australian Airline (Qantas) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

An Australian Airline (Qantas) - Essay Example Center of discussion in this paper is Qantas, an Australian Airline that had so far been enjoying premium brand equity but lately ash been experiencing declining sales and market share. Turnaround strategy should involve extension and expansion of the geographical region. Qantas plans to extend its services with an Asian hub and serve the underserved Asian markets. SWOT analysis had revealed that opportunities in this region are immense but they should focus on being a premium corporate airline. Earlier the recommendation was to focus on new product development, look for newer destination with fewer carriers and attract new customer base. Thus the first alternative to continue with Qantas brand and extend service in international sectors is not feasible and has inherent risks. Therefore, the airline should start its new carrier as a premium corporate airline with focused leadership having string corporate vision. They should be able to provide all on-board facilities based on an eval uation of customer needs and convenience. This strategy is in alignment with its corporate vision which is to operate the world’s best premium airline. This strategy would require 3-4 years to become effective as fresh agreements, landing rights, and delivery of new aircrafts would have to be obtained. This also requires training and development of the staff, better employee relationships and focus on profit maximization. This is an achievable strategy as the airline has abundance of experience in being a legacy carrier. They also have experience of dealing with the Asian clients because of Jetstar, their LCC. It is expected that this strategy would be able to provide the expected synergies. 2. Alternative recommendations Qantas Airlines, proposing to start a premium carrier with as Asian hub is subject to regulations imposed by the Australian government as they face charges against layoffs. It has been recommended that the new premium carrier should focus on Singapore as the hub and the strategy that has been recommended was to focus on product development and new market development. This strategy would disturb its agreement with Oneworld partners and especially Cathay Pacific. This paper analyzes the proposed recommendations and provides alternative strategy identification and discussion. 2.1 Alternative strategy 1 As of now the strategy is to start a new premium brand with a minority stake which would help them obtain landing rights in Asia and also feed the base hub with international traffic. However, this strategy could lead to fragmentation and dilution of its core brand as it already runs a low cost Jetstar subsidiary which operates in Asia. They should hence focus on the base brand and develop it. 2.1.1 Gap Analysis The airlines vision is to be the first 'next generation' premium carrier (Qantas, 2009). Brand Qantas is well established in the minds of the people and continuing with the existing brand instead of a new carrier would be a strategi c fit with their corporate visions, mission and goals. They have the necessary resources in terms of human capital such as trained pilots and operations staff. This strategy would eliminate the existing pilot agitation in Australia and they could save face against government opposition. 2.1.2 Changes in the current marketing strategy With this new strategy Qantas would not have to focus on new product development. However, their target segment, market positioning and the distribution channels would remain the same. They could continue to offer new destinations to the new segments through innovative strategy. To differentiate itself from other products, 2.1.3 Expected results This strategy would help in better allocation of resources and utilization of unutilized resources. At the same time, financially there would be cost savings as the new brand need not be promoted separately. Marketing efforts too would be

Research PaperCultural Intersections Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Research PaperCultural Intersections - Essay Example Since the process if bettering oneself is just that - a choice, when the black sub group chooses to pursue another cultural path within the American culture, white America often shows little tolerance or understanding. For black America, the melting pot and land of opportunity images have never been allowed to become the cultural icons with which white American's co closely identify. The black experience of American culture did not begin with voluntary immigration in the pursuit of a better life. Black American's were forcibly taken from their homes and brought to America as slaves. Black American's, while no longer living as slaves, and living in a free country, still struggle to establish a distinctly American and successful identity. Their path was forced, not voluntary. Their emigration was from freedom to bondage, while white Americans, to a great extent, left religious and social bondage to establish freedom. From these two different paradigms, two different American cultures have emerged. At the seam where these cultures meet, friction and misunderstanding are the norm. As a result, a homogeneous America currently does not exist for either group, and both sub-cultures tend to carry a chip o n their shoulder, blaming the other as the source of the discord. For both of these cultures, the idea of choice should be taken into consideration so that the individuals can begin to move past their individual ideas of how America 'should' look. White Americans and black Americans each have made choices on how to perceive their country and culture. Each has come to an individual understanding based on their choices and personal experiences. Unfortunately, at the intersection of these two paradigms, the individuals often try to justify their perceptions as something bigger than choice. White America lifts up their own experience as 'how and what America is.' America is the melting pot, the land of opportunity, and any individual or people group that does not perceive it similarly is understood as attacking America. Black America similarly can understand the country as an oppressive culture, bent on taking from them their individuality and uniqueness as it tries to squeeze them into the white cultural mold. Working under this perception, black Ame ricans can easily turn aggressively hostile to the white paradigm, which leads to conflict, and disunity. Reike and Sillars, in their work on critical decision making (1993) address this phenomenon by accurately identifying it as the product of choice. They say that our individual belief systems are made up of two components, beliefs and values. Individuals settle on core values as both an individual and as a larger group. Often these values within a culture are similar, even though they are worked out in different ways. Americans as a group tend to hold the value of independence as a universal value. Individuality is also a shared cultural value. According to Reike and Sillars, built around these core values are individual belief systems which shape and affect our understandings of our values. Belief systems are most often learned behaviors. Belief systems are based on what is important to us, our values, but they also reflect our personal experiences, and our belief systems also shape our actions. We will rarely make decisions or choose a course of action which is in violation to our belief system, even if the belief system inaccurately reflects

An Australian Airline (Qantas) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

An Australian Airline (Qantas) - Essay Example Center of discussion in this paper is Qantas, an Australian Airline that had so far been enjoying premium brand equity but lately ash been experiencing declining sales and market share. Turnaround strategy should involve extension and expansion of the geographical region. Qantas plans to extend its services with an Asian hub and serve the underserved Asian markets. SWOT analysis had revealed that opportunities in this region are immense but they should focus on being a premium corporate airline. Earlier the recommendation was to focus on new product development, look for newer destination with fewer carriers and attract new customer base. Thus the first alternative to continue with Qantas brand and extend service in international sectors is not feasible and has inherent risks. Therefore, the airline should start its new carrier as a premium corporate airline with focused leadership having string corporate vision. They should be able to provide all on-board facilities based on an eval uation of customer needs and convenience. This strategy is in alignment with its corporate vision which is to operate the world’s best premium airline. This strategy would require 3-4 years to become effective as fresh agreements, landing rights, and delivery of new aircrafts would have to be obtained. This also requires training and development of the staff, better employee relationships and focus on profit maximization. This is an achievable strategy as the airline has abundance of experience in being a legacy carrier. They also have experience of dealing with the Asian clients because of Jetstar, their LCC. It is expected that this strategy would be able to provide the expected synergies. 2. Alternative recommendations Qantas Airlines, proposing to start a premium carrier with as Asian hub is subject to regulations imposed by the Australian government as they face charges against layoffs. It has been recommended that the new premium carrier should focus on Singapore as the hub and the strategy that has been recommended was to focus on product development and new market development. This strategy would disturb its agreement with Oneworld partners and especially Cathay Pacific. This paper analyzes the proposed recommendations and provides alternative strategy identification and discussion. 2.1 Alternative strategy 1 As of now the strategy is to start a new premium brand with a minority stake which would help them obtain landing rights in Asia and also feed the base hub with international traffic. However, this strategy could lead to fragmentation and dilution of its core brand as it already runs a low cost Jetstar subsidiary which operates in Asia. They should hence focus on the base brand and develop it. 2.1.1 Gap Analysis The airlines vision is to be the first 'next generation' premium carrier (Qantas, 2009). Brand Qantas is well established in the minds of the people and continuing with the existing brand instead of a new carrier would be a strategi c fit with their corporate visions, mission and goals. They have the necessary resources in terms of human capital such as trained pilots and operations staff. This strategy would eliminate the existing pilot agitation in Australia and they could save face against government opposition. 2.1.2 Changes in the current marketing strategy With this new strategy Qantas would not have to focus on new product development. However, their target segment, market positioning and the distribution channels would remain the same. They could continue to offer new destinations to the new segments through innovative strategy. To differentiate itself from other products, 2.1.3 Expected results This strategy would help in better allocation of resources and utilization of unutilized resources. At the same time, financially there would be cost savings as the new brand need not be promoted separately. Marketing efforts too would be

The EU legislation and Labour movement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

The EU legislation and Labour movement - Essay Example Moreover, while there has been progress in the study of managerial leadership behaviour in various countries of the globe (Den Hartog, House, & Hanges, 1999; Kuchinke, 1999; Maczynski & Koopman, 2000), world wide research in leadership styles of entrepreneurs is minimal (Ardichvili, Cardozo, & Gasparishvili, 1998). Lastly, while there have been several studies that have been undertaken on psychological and behavioural distinctions between entrepreneurs and managers within a Western setting (i.e. the UK) (e.g., Brockhaus, 1982; Brockhaus & Nord, 1979; March & Sharipo, 1987), there is a dearth of literature on the comparison of leadership styles of Western and non-western entrepreneurs and managers. While there is a wealth of literature discussing leadership styles across countries, there is a dearth of research specifically tackling the topic of entrepreneurial leadership. The fact that legislation is a catalyst for economic growth and development is well known. Differing economic, cultural and political circumstances abroad also suggest the need for a better understanding of employees with a broad context is important. Fortunately, the ability to study the implications of policies on economic growth abroad is expanding rapidly as a result of the emergence of global private equity markets and micro finance. International entrepreneur ship spans cultural boundaries and involves a variety of stakeholders, including the entrepreneur, investors and policy makers (Asel, 2003). "Social considerations must be given the same status as economic, financial and environmental concerns in a holistic approach. It is time for global thinking and local action. The implementation of the Core Labour Standards and the laws and regulations that give effect to them at national levels can be significantly enhanced if the capacities of national labour inspectorates are buil t up and strengthened. Labour inspectors have a crucial role to play because they are the only ones with the authority to directly access and impose changes in the workplace."(Albracht, 2005) The European union was expanded in May 2004 having 25 members. The aim of the creation of the union was to create the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy in the world, capable of substantial economic growth with more, and better, jobs and greater social cohesion (Elizabeth Hunt Recruitment). All the member states of the EU have to follow common trade and employment laws, which on the one hand provided them with the ease of free trade and larger availability of work force and a vast product market on the other. Working Time in Europe: "According to the EU Working Time Directive (93/104/EC), implemented on 23rd November 1993 and laid down the following: - There should be a minimum rest period of 11 consecutive hours for every 24-hour period. - There should be a rest break if the working day is longer than six hours. - There should be a minimum rest period of one day per seven-day period. - There should be a minimum of four weeks' paid annual leave. - There should be an average of no more than eight hours work per night in a 24-hour period. Although there are significant variations relating to paid holiday leave across the member countries; in all cases the average paid annual

Strategic Adaptability Essay Example for Free

Strategic Adaptability Essay Strategic adaptability is the ability of an organization to make changes in the way they conduct business and look at the various situations which arise. It is imperative that companies remain flexible enough to make adjustments that will beneficial to the well being of the company. There are many different aspects of the business world which can be benefited by the company remaining open to new ideas and options thereby being able to adapt their strategic plan to the current situation. In the case of Queen’s Hotel, changes in the hospitality industry create the need to stay current and flexible in order to maintain a competitive edge. By adapting to the changes in the hospitality industry, Queen’s Hotel will be able to attract customers by offering better customer service. SendOutCards is a company which conducts business solely online. With the growing popularity and convenience of the Internet, more and more companies are seeing a dramatic increase in the electronic side of their business. Because of the wider competition base, it is necessary for SendOutCards to find ways to set themselves apart from the other companies out there. By offering additional services, such as gift baskets, gift cards and e-cards, SendOutCards will be able to increase their sales and customer base by offering more options which will appeal to more people. 3M is a company which manufactures a wide variety of products and has a bigger opportunity to find ways to be adaptable. They can use the example of other companies which are in similar circumstances and learn lessons without the need to experience the event. By adapting in this manner, 3M will be proactive in making sure they are current with the trends and forces which may impact them. Odwalla is in the food and beverage industry and must look to the consumer for the trends which will affect their business. By staying on top of what people are looking for in their snack bars and beverages, Odwalla can provide products which will not only be natural and healthy, but they will satisfy the ever changing preferences of the health conscience consumer. The forces and trends which affect each of these businesses are many and constantly changing. We will address a few of these trends and discuss how these companies can adapt and improve their business by making strategic changes which will turn what could be a potentially difficult situation into a chance to grow and improve. Trends in the Hospitality Industry Every industry has trends and they play a big role in our society. The bell-bottom trend in clothing, the DVD player in an SUV in the car industry, the flat screen T. V. in your living room, but the most important trend is in the travel industry. What is a trend? According to dictionary. om, a trend is the general course or prevailing tendency; drift. If this is a direct quote it needs to be in parenthesis and not italicized! In marketing, it is the direction the market is heading . In economics, it is the behavior of the society. In this synopsis, three trends will be identified, their relevance in the hospitality industry explained, and how Queen’s Hotel has used the trends to strategically plan ahead. The tren ds-Travel, Internet, Casino hotels Travel: According to Plunkett, the travel business is now emerging as a more streamlined, efficient and focused industry. Many of the biggest, most successful firms are becoming extremely global in nature Is this another direct quote? (Plunkett, 2008). Many people are finding ways to travel, either for vacationing, business, or personal reasons. Internet: The information technology highway has found a way to help the consumer plan all their needs with the click of a mouse. The internet provides a simple way for consumers to shop in the privacy of their home. Casino hotels: Many hotels are now casino ready in most parts of the developed world. Casinos have become a trend that people have come to gamble with. Casinos have become part of the entertainment industry and provide a way for clients to book hotel with such amenity. Relevance of the trends in the hospitality industry Because the hospitality industry has become a way of life, many managers face unlimited opportunities to grow their businesses through the rapidly changing demands of their clients. Many hotels are partnering with travel agents to provide package deals for their clients. The travel agents are able to book hotels, tours, and attractions included with the plane ticket. Customers are able to use the internet to find deals. Not everyone prefers travel agents as they also come with a fee, therefore, many people are using the internet to package their travel needs. The internet has become a way to reward people for doing it themselves with online discounts, etc. According to a web article, 15 million people are addicted to gambling, casinos gross more than $30 billion dollars annually, 49% of 15 year olds, 63% of 16 year-olds, and 76% of 18 year-olds gamble (http://www. overcominggambling. com/facts. html Not correct citing) and this statistic is only in the U. S. Many people are attracted to casino hotels as it’s a form of entertainment. Queen’s Hotel Strategic Plan to the trends Queen’s Hotel realizes that travel, the internet and casinos are popular trends in the hospitality industry. The hotel has a website that allows customers to book online. If they do, they are given a 10% discount. The hotel has partnered with many online travel agents to provide package deals to customers. The hotel is looking to undergo a renovation to add a casino. Adding a casino in a third world hotel will give it an edge. Carlos Gift Basket Giving This trend of giving gift baskets has grown extensively in the 21st century. Gift baskets are easily available for purchase online and even more personalized than other items that you can give someone, such as flowers or candy. They allow the buyer to be more creative in their gift choice and they are a little more exciting for clients to receive. â€Å"They are beautiful and brimming with unique gifts and tasty treats. They are a more personalized gift than balloons, and more practical than sending flowers† (James). This trend has given corporate America other alternatives to market to clients, show appreciation or just to increase customer loyalty. It gives them the ability of giving something to their clients, or potential clients, which doesn’t come across as too over the top or too cheap. Relevance The reason why the trend of giving gift baskets has developed so quickly and has gained lots of popularity is that people feel they have more of a personal touch; and with the ease of ordering your gift basket over the internet, the convenience has made it easier for people to choose their options, on their own time frame, without having to go shopping at different stores or even package it nicely for the intended person. Since SendOutCards does all of their business online and offers a wide range of cards for different occasions at prices which are cheaper than those found at your local stores, the option to offer a service to clients other than cards just makes sense. Adaptability SendOutCards has decided to take the time to take advantage of this part of online business as well. Not only is their business based on the same concept of internet ease and options, they are now giving the option to send out a gift along with your card, in the form of candy, books, gift cards, gift baskets and other items. The gift basket, or gift giving industry, is a simple and convenient way to promote more business and to take advantage of a growing need for online purchasing of gifts. As Jennifer James states in her article on Fabjob. com, â€Å"Not only is the work fun and creative, but you can also start a gift basket business easily from home, by setting up a small space where you design and build your gift baskets† (James). Gift Cards The giving of gift cards has become an automatic option for business owners to give to their clients, or even as gifts. It has become so popular that people tend to give them to their family and friends for holidays and birthdays instead of taking the chance of purchasing something that may not be wanted or appreciated. Gift cards have become increasingly popular and can be found in almost any retail business. They are even found in grocery stores. It is almost to the point that people expect to find a gift card at their local retail store. Relevance According to an article in USA today by Rhonda Abrams in 2004; Two recent studies (by the National Retail Federation and by the accounting firm Deloitte and Touche) show the explosive size of the gift card market: †¢ 74. 3% of consumers will buy a gift card this holiday season †¢ 81% of consumers received a gift card last year †¢ 50. 2% of consumers would like to receive a gift card †¢ 12% of shoppers bought gift cards for their own use †¢ 11. 5% of the average consumers holiday budget will be spent on gift cards. (http://www. usatoday. om/money/smallbusiness/columnist/abrams/2004-12-10-cards_x. htm) This is not listed in References and is not correct citing! As we can see, there is a demand for gift cards and corporations are taking advantage of them. Not only do the companies use the gift cards as a selling point for people to buy gifts, they will have the opportunity to get new business from people using the cards and spending more money than what is actua lly on the card because they cannot cash out the card. According to Abrams article, â€Å"Customers buy more. 1% of gift card users spent more than the face value of the card. The average face value of a gift card in 2003 was $47. 20; those who spent more averaged a whopping $90† (Abrams, 2004). Adaptability This is an area that SendOutCards has tried to take advantage of. They do offer gift cards, but only from other businesses. They have not made the move to offer their own gift cards for their own products. It probably is not as feasible for them to do so as it may be more costly for them to pay for the cards and not have people use them since people could only use it for their products. Since most people don’t send themselves a gift or a greeting card, it would be like giving them a gift card so that they can give a gift to someone else, which defeats the purpose of giving a gift. SendOutCards has taken advantage of offering gift cards from other companies because they know there is a demand for them. They have negotiated a deal with these companies and buy them at a discounted price and have created a win-win situation for both them and the retailers who will see the extra revenue. E-Cards E-cards have developed ever since the internet has taken off. You can find about any card and in almost every language on the internet. According to an article by Keith Regan in the E-Commerce times in 2005, â€Å"According to Branch Internet Services, the first e-mail Christmas greeting cards were sent 10 years ago this season, when Dominos Farms Christmas Light Display worked with Branch to offer Web users the chance to e-mail photos of the holiday display. Fewer than 15,000 cards were sent that year, according to Branch† (Regan, 2005). Free E-Cards are offered all over the internet, but the businesses are not making much money. They were relying heavily on advertisement payments through banners and popup on their websites. Sally Babcock, of the e-card giant American Greetings Interactive said, â€Å"Since its inception, AGI, the online unit of the cards giant, has gone from a paid model to a free, ad-supported approach and has returned to a blended, mostly paid model once again† (Regan 2005). Many customers are seeing them as a real alternative to sending out a card in the mail and are even willing to pay the fees for the services. Relevance Ecards are still very popular amongst many internet users. The problem is that they still don’t have the personal touch that a physical card has. According to Babcock, â€Å"Even those who sell them for a living acknowledge that the day may never come when electronic greeting cards replace paper cards. But eCards are already far more than just a time-wasting diversion or a low-cost alternative to the real thing† (Regan, 2005). Some backers like the ecard approach because of the environmental friendly aspect of it. Adaptability The way SendOutCards has adapted to this industry is to offer a service that the online E-cards have not offered to this point. They offer to actually send out a physical card to a client, family, friend or acquaintance directly to the persons’ home. They have even offered the option for their users to send the card in their own handwriting, which personalizes the card that much more. They know that the e-card business is good for their target market, but the market which SendOutCards wants to target is those who want to make a bigger impression. AGI has tried this in the past but has not been successful in its attempts. Babcock admits, â€Å"Also gaining traction are online options to have cards personalized, printed and in some cases even mailed. In those cases, the customer is paying for convenience, said Babcock. â€Å"AGI also offers a print-at-home line of cards, she noted† (Regan, 2005). SendOutCards wants to be able to make a difference in people’s lives. They have the idea that it is more meaningful for people to go to the mail box, open it up and have the physical experience of reading the personalized card. SendOutCards has made it more affordable to be able to send out a card from your computer than it would cost you to go to the store, pick one out, stamp it and physically mail it out. They will do it for you, which takes about 60 seconds to do it all (Eliason, 2008). This is their niche that the industry has not caught up to as of yet. Being able to adapt to the economy and your competition is what will set you apart from others. SendOutCards has the difficult task to stay on top of its competitors by being able to offer a service that other businesses don’t have. They have taken the example of the gift basket industry and implemented what they could to be competitive in the gift giving industry. They know that they can gain clients who want more than just a greeting card. With this knowledge, they have implemented the procedure of offering other options besides just the greeting cards. SendOutCards also applied the example of the demand for the convenience of a gift card. This is an option which they developed in partnership with various retailers. They receive a discounted price for the gift cards in exchange for offering clients the option to purchase them thus allowing both to make money from the proceeds of the card. This also gives clients a larger variety of options. SendOutCards has an advantage over the E-Card industry by offering not only to package and send an actual card, but to do so in the handwriting of the client. They have developed a system which allows people to send the card without leaving their home to shop for the card and the hassle of finding a stamp to send it. They are trying to appeal to the people who still feel it more personal to send a card by traditional mail rather than by e-mail. Johnson and Johnson, Inc. Johnson and Johnson, Inc. s an example of an organization that has had to adapt with strategy to forces or trends that have surrounded the corporation. Johnson and Johnson recently fell into a safety predicament which required immediate action by the company to salvage its image. Johnson and Johnson found themselves losing customers and sales due to the danger of one of their products. Following the death by overdose of several individuals, including youth and child ren, Johnson and Johnson was forced to recall thousands of unsafe bottles of Tylenol (Macdonald, 2007). The primary changes that the company made were in relation to the bottle the Tylenol came in and the removal of a potentially deadly ingredient in the Tylenol. Immediately Johnson and Johnson recalled the entire defective product line and removed all existing product from the shelves. This act alone cost the company millions of dollars and substantial time in revamping the new bottle and new Tylenol formula. Despite this great challenge, Johnson and Johnson was able to seize the opportunity to remarket their product as a newly revamped and safer product. After recalling and removing the defective product, Johnson and Johnson set out a new marketing campaign to reestablish their public image as a safer and more consumer conscience product. The ad campaign worked. Tylenol is now viewed as one of the safest products on the market. 3M could benefit from such a marketing campaign. 3M is a company much like Johnson and Johnson. They both manufacture and distribute millions of different products used all across the globe. Because of the expanse of the market that 3M is targeting, the potential for safety concerns and problems is dramatically increased. M must constantly keep a watchful eye to be apprised of any issues that should arise. An environmental scan will also keep 3M apprised of any safety concerns which arise within the market that could affect their company. Strategic planners with 3M can learn from those at Johnson and Johnson because of the accuracy and timeliness which they responded to the challenge, thus turning it into an o pportunity. In the future, 3M is sure to encounter environmental factors that will place their products in the path of new regulations or circumstances that could threaten the success of the organization. M must act as Johnson and Johnson did by using accurate environmental scanning and acting in a timely manner to save the company. Southwest Airlines Another paramount example of environmental scanning used by strategic planners to help an organization thrive is Southwest Airlines’ use of fuel hedging. â€Å"Using some simple and some complex investment strategies, Southwest has for a decade locked in the prices it pays for large amounts of jet fuel months and even years ahead of time. Its success at that has protected it from run-ups in crude oil prices and dramatically cut its fuel expenses† (Reed, 2008). One area of grave concern in the U. S. economy is the cost of fuel. People all across the country are looking for alternative fuel and cheaper transportation as a means of saving money. The airline industry, on the other hand, has no other resource available. There is no hybrid airplane neither is there one which can run on alternative fuel. Therefore, airlines are forced to look elsewhere to save money. Southwest Airlines has used environmental scanning to conclude that fuel prices are constantly on the rise and can be locked in a contract to be purchased in mass quantities for a cheaper price. By allocating additional funds to pre purchase fuel at a lower cost, Southwest Airlines is placing themselves in a win-win scenario. The oil company would be glad to secure an agreement for guaranteed sales and the Airline Company will jump at the opportunity to save money on fuel that they are certainly going to use. Fuel hedging has proven effective for Southwest Airlines and a similar approach can be an effective money saving technique for 3M as well. 3M constantly manufactures millions of products. The company is constantly receiving supplies of materials from distributors. M must always be on the lookout for trends in the environment that could affect the prices of the products they use in manufacturing. If the company can accurately predict which products will rise in cost due to extenuating circumstances, they can either look for an alternative product or seek some sort of pre purchase order price for said product similar to Southwest Airlines’ use of fuel hedging. Toyo ta Toyota Motor Corporation is a classic example of an organization that is constantly scanning the environment for forces or trends that can affect their business. This strategy has enabled Toyota to become the number one automobile maker in the world (Liker, 2004). When a customer purchases a Toyota they are getting a quality product. Toyota has been successful in environmental scanning in several areas, but in particular they have excelled in a market that is increasingly concerned with fuel economy. Toyota has constantly been at the forefront of knowing what the customer wants and when they want it. Amid the crisis we are facing with the economy, and especially the rising fuel costs, Toyota is able to provide customers with a fuel efficient car. The difference between Toyota’s fuel efficient cars and those of the competition is timeliness. Toyota had anticipated the need for a fuel efficient car long before it became a priority for the competition. Now while the competition scrambles to make a vehicle similar to a fuel efficient Toyota, Toyota is focusing on bettering their product and placing themselves even further ahead of the competition. This is an example of how Toyota has done accurate scanning of the remote environment. The remote environment includes: economic factors, social factors, political factors, technological factors, and ecological factors. Managers must consider the availability of credit, level of disposable income, and the propensity of people to spend when considering economic factors. Other things to consider are the prime interest rates and the gross national product (Robinson, 2004). Toyota has taken into consideration these factors. They have accurately looked at the environment and what the consumer is dealing with and they have catered to the customer accordingly. 3M would do well to follow suit. Much like Toyota, 3M manufactures products for their customers and is not immune to environmental factors. Because of these facts, 3M must adopt an environmental scanning strategy that will enable them to adapt to forces in the environment and come out triumphant. ODWALLA Functional Beverages â€Å"Functional beverages are drinks that have been enhanced with added ingredients to provide specific health benefits beyond general nutrition†¦Consumers are seeking specific health benefits in their foods and beverages and these functional drinks fit neatly into the ‘healthiness-on-the-go’ market† (Sharon Palmer, 2008). Functional beverages are gaining popularity over soft drinks as more and more people are looking for healthier alternatives. These drinks have added ingredients which help to promote a healthy image. Some of these functional beverages have FDA approved claims while others have only minimal amounts of vitamins and minerals and do not provide any real health benefit (Sharon Palmer, 2008). Many companies are beginning to offer a wider variety of functional beverages. Even companies in the children’s beverage market are capitalizing on the turn towards better for you foods and beverages. ‘[A]s more parents seek healthier beverage options for kids, I foresee the continued trend toward more products being all natural, organic, lower in calories, lower in sugar, or having more specific fortifications within their formulations,’ predicts Phan† (Goldschmidt, 2008) senior brand manager at Hansen’s. With this trend gaining popularity among consumers of all ages, it is more than just a passing phase; it is the new way of thinking. Relevance Because functional drinks are quickly becoming an industry staple, Odwalla Inc. is constantly gaining new competitors. With the increase in the number of competitors, Odwalla must always be innovative in its product development. While Odwalla’s products are all natural and retain as much of the natural vitamins and minerals found in the ingredients used, there is a more pressing need for Odwalla to make these benefits known to consumers as the options available are becoming greater. Strategic Adaptability As Odwalla analyzes the growing competition, they will need to remain innovative with their marketing and advertising. They will want to make sure that consumers are aware of the many health benefits already available in their products. They will want to emphasize the fact that their products have always been all natural and fresh with the least amount of processing possible in order to maintain the inherent nutritional value of the ingredients which go into each and every product made. By highlighting these strong points, consumers will be able to see why paying a little more for a much better product really is a better value. Probiotics â€Å"Probiotics are a host of healthful bacteria that help break down and assimilate food† (Kane, 2008) and can be found in a wide variety of foods. Yogurt contains probiotics and many food manufacturers are adding probiotics to their products because of the great health benefit. â€Å"WITH BENEFICIAL LIVE BACTERIA CALLED PROBIOTICS. yogurt bolsters the bodys ability to fend off certain infections and helps keep the intestines healthy, allowing them to absorb more nutrientsand energy-from food† (Boone, 2008). Relevance Odwalla prides itself on providing its customers with fresh, healthy beverages and snack bars and they are always looking for new ways to make their products the best they can be. Probiotics are both healthy and natural and fit right in line with the goals of Odwalla. Since more and more companies are incorporating these bacteria into their products, probiotic additives are going to become better known by consumers and thus sought out because of their natural benefits. Strategic Adaptability Odwalla has the ability to develop a new product which would incorporate probiotics. This would enhance the benefits already afforded by consuming the all natural products of Odwalla. With more people being educated on the benefits of probiotic bacteria, there will be a demand for products which incorporate this. By adding probiotics, Odwalla would help to fulfill its mission of â€Å"soil to soul† (Odwalla President Discusses Strategy with GreenMoney Journal, 2004) because it would allow more of the natural goodness contained within each bottle of juice to reach the soul of the consumer. Specialty drinks in a declining economy The world’s economy has been stagnant and is now in a state of decline. In spite of a tough economy, consumer products manufacturers have continued to experience growth (CPG Industry: Sales Growth in Challenging Economy, 2008). The economy is not showing signs of improvement and things are only going to be getting tougher. With commodities’ prices continuing to rise, consumer products manufactures will need to adopt successful practices in strategic areas in order to continue to grow (CPG Industry: Sales Growth in Challenging Economy, 2004). Relevance The cost of commodities greatly affects the profit margin of Odwalla. They rely on having fresh products available at all times and can be crippled by shortages due to natural disasters as well as price hikes caused by the increasing cost of doing business. These things take a toll on the bottom line and can lead to financial struggle within the company as well as strained relationships with suppliers. Strategic Adaptability There are different options available to Odwalla to help them through the period of economic hardship. As they contract with suppliers, they can negotiate pricing which will benefit both parties. They have the option of purchasing farms which would produce the produce needed for their products, thereby eliminating the need for a middle-man supplier. Also, plans to produce new products can be put on hold until the economy recovers. By holding off the added expense of developing and marketing a new product, Odwalla would be able to focus on their better sellers and allow them to carry the company through the difficult times. Conclusion The world of business can be challenging and exciting. By staying on top of current forces and trends, managers are able to help their businesses thrive in an ever changing market. Change is not limited to one area or aspect of a corporation and by following the examples of other companies, change can provide a new opportunity for growth and development. Retaining the ability to adapt the strategic goals of the corporation can mean the difference in being an industry leader, or a company which has already had its day and is on its way out.

A Rose for Emily By William Faulkner :: essays research papers

The story’s opening lines announce the funeral of Miss Emily, to be held in her home—not in a church—and the reasons for the entire town’s attending-the men out of respect for a Southern lady, the women to snoop inside her house. Her death symbolizes the passing of a genteel way of life, which is replaced by a new generation’s crass way of doing things. The narrator’s description of the Grierson house reinforces the disparity between the past and the present: Once a place of splendor, now modern encroachments—gas pumps and cotton wagons—obliterate most of the neighborhood and leave untouched only Miss Emily’s house, with its â€Å"stubborn and coquettish decay.† This clash between the past and the present is evidenced by the different approaches that each generation takes concerning Miss Emily’s taxes. In the past, Colonel Sartoris had remitted them for her, believing it uncivilized to remind a Southern woman to pay taxes, which Miss Emily does not do after her father dies. But the next generation, with its more modern ideas, holds her responsible for them. Miss Emily, however, returns the tax notice that the new aldermen send to her; when the young men call upon her, she vanquishes them, saying, â€Å"I have no taxes in Jefferson† and â€Å"See Colonel Sartoris,† who has been dead for at least ten years. One of the most striking contrasts presented in this first section entails the narrator’s portrayal of Miss Emily’s physical appearance and her house. Descriptive phrases include terms that add to the gothic quality of the story: She is dressed in black and leans on a cane; her â€Å"skeleton† is small; and she looks â€Å"bloated,† with a â€Å"pallid hue.† But Faulkner doesn’t say outright that she looks much like a dead person, for it is only in retrospect that we realize that the dead-looking Miss Emily has been sleeping with the very dead Homer Barron. Miss Emily’s decaying appearance matches not only the rotting exterior of the house, but the interior as well. For example, the crayon, pastel, picture mentioned prior to the narrator’s description of Miss Emily is supported by a â€Å"tarnished† stand, and Miss Emily supports herself by leaning on the â€Å"tarnished† handle of her cane.