Brand Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Brand Analysis - Essay Example Nike was begun in the mid 1960s when Phillip Knight, the Chief Executive Officer and William Bowerman, collaborated to build up a coach’s thought of assembling items that would assist with improving the consumers’ execution, who were competitors, on the track (Coucha, 2011). Nike wandered into it with the guarantee to make conceivable â€Å"authentic, athletic performance† with their shoes (Schmidt and Chris, 2002). That turned into their image guarantee. The brand picture that Nike at first propelled was simply an American token, related with superior, forceful and inventive top male competitors. These competitors were viewed as achievers, in accordance with what Nike expected to present to the purchasers (Coucha, 2011). In conveying their item related guarantee, Nike joined the developing heart stimulating exercise field which was affecting the structure of shoes towards being progressively trendy, but less strong. Albeit different producers were utilizing arti cles of clothing to make shoes for the high impact exercise showcase, Nike adhered to cowhide, which was all the more enduring however viewed as less in vogue (Kunde, 2002). As a component of expanding their non unmistakable guarantee, Nike took to the corporate scene by grasping the worldwide social obligation. At first, it was a response to open resistances identifying with their work rehearses in Asia. To rescue their picture, they changed their corporate work methodology, battling to be the business chief in laborer relations. They restored their manufacturing plants and improved the working conditions on their premises in Asia. Remuneration bundles for work were raised and new worldwide principles applied. They made a Corporate Responsibility Division to mirror their goal to think about the ‘World group of Nike† (Schmidt and Chris, 2002). A brand’s discernment and acknowledgment are extensively affected by its visual introduction. For powerful visual brand ch aracter to be accomplished, the utilization of specific and steady visual components is basic (Schmidt and Chris, 2002). To make a qualification, a logo, hues, text styles, and realistic components are utilized. As far as visual character, Nike’s logo of the â€Å"swoosh† is exceptional and simple to recall by customers. Internationally, there is a 97% acknowledgment and mindfulness for the Nike logo and brand (Coucha, 2011). This is additionally moved by partner themselves with athletic famous people with comparative characters as the Nike brand. Models incorporate Michael Jordan the b-ball saint and Michael Johnson the runner. To build their importance in the European market, Nike started connecting themselves with celebrated European games characters while keeping up their standards of choosing names that coordinated the Nike character of super achievers. Such names included Eric Cantona and Roberto Mandeni. They additionally supported nearby, European groups like B orussia Dortmund and Paris holy person Germain. This had an intrigue that made them an easily recognized name in Europe (Holt, 2004). Publicizing methodologies were redone to mirror the similitudes of European nations with the United States as a methods for managing the assorted culture contrasts. When contrasted with Adidas, the German mammoths, Nike depicts an increasingly self expressive and passionate character in its image picture. This gives for a difficult, dedicated and winning attitude with an emphasis on

Understand Partnership Working in Services for Children and Young People L 2

Working in association with others is significant for youngsters and youngsters; it will assist them with having reliable schedules, which is extremely fundamental it furnishes them with a feeling that all is well with the world and structure to their day. All grown-ups who work with kids and youngsters have an obligation to jump on very well with one another to exhibit an inspirational mentality at work setting and to grow great expert connections and furthermore be a decent good example to the kids and youngsters they are thinking about, this will help decide the sort of care the kid needs; personality, likes, disdains, wellbeing, intrigue and conduct. Effective connections between associates will permit them to arrange to make a warm, neighborly inviting climate and keep up a protected domain for the youngsters and youngsters and furthermore to assemble an arrangement fix for singular this will assist with staying away from any pointless clashes or misjudging between them. Guardians/carers should consistently be engaged with their children’s every day learning advancement and ready to work with the youngster care laborers as a feature of the group, so great relationship and great relational abilities between the two gatherings will hugy affect the child’s improvement, and it will make it simpler for both to move toward each other for any input and worries for the kid which is critical to have this data and know about any unexpected change in the kid to act quick, to determine any issues he/she may have, after all guardians/carers and practioners are generally focusing on a similar objective, that is the wellbeing and prosperity of the kids and youngsters and to ensure that they have the chances to take advantage of life. Criticisms between the two happens either up close and personal when the guardians/carers drop off their kids or at the get time, however some of the time through casual gatherings to talk about their child’s progress and needs, and recommend manners by which guardians/carers can animate their child’s learning and improvement at home. The significance of these gatherings is to have an away from and full comprehension of the youngster notwithstanding arrange exercises that will empower the child’s physical, enthusiastic, scholarly, and social development. It is the practioners obligation to assist youngsters with investigating singular premiums, manufacture confidence, create abilities and freedom and figure out how to coexist with others. Now and again sadly are not straight forward, where outside expert offices may engage in the child’s life where there might be issues like for xample, discourse troubles, for this situation the kid will be alluded to lang uage training where he/she be seen by a master who will give meetings on balanced premise, to assist the kid with improving their discourse. For kids who are influenced by conduct or passionate challenges, therapist will be engaged with their learning advancement. Social administrations might be included as well if there are any worries or indication of youngster misuse, it is their obligation to explore any supposed occurrence and to evaluate the hazard to the kid and their requirement for security. Social specialists will regularly work intimately with the youngster and the family to give them underpins, yet on the off chance that the kid is exceptionally in danger of misuse, at that point the police will be reached and included as well. Other outside offices who might be included are physio, they give activities to help kids who having issues with their strong or breathing issues. SENCO is answerable for supporting kids with a specialized curriculum needs to lessen the underachievement hole and empower all youngsters to arrive at their maximum capacity. Kids who are confronting issues with visual or hearing impedance are alluded to tactile weakness group who will offer the best counsel to the guardians/carers on the best way to support the kid and furthermore how to utilize gear adequately. The powerful organization cooperating is to share data about the kid, their inclinations, schedules and attempting to determine issues such conduct, rest routine etc†¦ That is the reason it is essential to have great working association with guardians/carers or gatekeepers, they appear to realize their youngster better than any other individual with regards to the child’s interests, needs and qualities. Numerous guardians/carers are exceptionally strong and have a generally excellent information on the most proficient method to support their kid, particularly where the kid has clinical or physical incapacity. When there is poor or absence of correspondence between the two gatherings, parcel of pointless clashes and misconstruing will show up making boundaries association which may have a solid consequences for the child’s learning improvement. Now and then there are different purposes behind boundaries to association working; one of them could be basically language hindrance, culture, mentality and social conservative foundation. There are additionally numerous reasons can cause boundaries among practioners and the youngster, it tends to be whatever keeps the kid from taking an interest completely in light of the fact that he/she was not allowed to attempt certain exercises, which cause him to feel prohibited from the gathering. A few grown-ups have a conviction that crippled kids are inadequate, or to be felt sorry for or dreaded. Obstructions can be natural too where the premises are blocked off because of steps or poor lighting or different troubles that happen inside the earth, for example, the utilization of complex language; or it could be an absence of unfair strategies or methods. So as to advance incorporation, practioners must know about highlights that may make an obstruction cooperation. Great correspondence between accomplices is fundamental to working with youngsters and youngsters and guardians/carers; it helps assemble trusts and understanding the point of view of others. It likewise urges them to look for counsel and uses administrations; it is critical to building up and looking after connections. It is significant for practioners to utilize clear language to speak with all kids, youngsters, and guardians/carers and all accomplices including individuals who discover correspondence hard to defeat any contentions and mistaken assumptions, it is ideal to sum up circumstances in the suitable manner for the individual, considering elements, for example, foundation, age and character. Having an unmistakable correspondence between accomplices will make it simpler to gather and addition data on the kids and comprehend their requirements which will help giving the correct exercises to individual and keep up a protected learning condition for the youngsters and youngsters whom they are working with, and again it turns out to be a lot simpler to convey about issues and resolve issues that unavoidably emerge. Listening is the core of clear correspondence, when individuals feel tuned in to and have their emotions acknowledged, they feel help and proceed onward to critical thinking yet when they don't feel comprehended or they feel judged or are intruded on, their disturbance or upset increments. Approaches shift contingent upon kind of work and the business, however there are many arrangements that each work spot ought to have like A Code of Conduct sets gauges of moral lead and work place conduct. Approaches in working environment is an announcement of guideline and work on managing continuous administration and organization of the association, they go about as a directing casing of reference for how the association manages everything from its everyday operational issues or how to react to necessities to conform to enactment, guideline and codes of training. Arrangements disclose how to perform undertakings and obligations, it is a methodology indicating who in the association is liable for specific assignments and exercises, or how they ought to be complete their obligations, these ought to be sensible and unmistakably comprehended. Classification is something that is remembered for youngster care arrangement, it is extremely crucial to be kept hidden except if something else. This classified data is private and individual; it incorporates: *Address *Contact number *Birth date *Emergency contact data *Records of any clinical history including immunisations *Contact data of the following kinfolk *Details of the child’s GP and dental specialist *Nutritional limitations *progress reports that has been accumulated by perception *Referrals subtleties *slips/types of any injury happening at the program *family changes All these data must be dealt with secret in all youngster care programs and should not be shared outside the projects among loved ones of practioners; it is against the classification approach and can have genuine outcomes. It can agitate parcel of individuals. Trust might be lost making harm working connections and furthermore prompts disciplinary activity by predominant, also the terrible effect on the consideration worker’s proficient notoriety. Touchy data should made accessible to experts just on a need-to-know premise. That implies that various professionals in a similar setting won't really approach a similar data. Thusly ought not talk about classified issues with partners except if it is fitting and should be possible secretly. Some of the time classified data should be talked about with guardians/carers, this ought to be done secretly too. This classified data must be put away safely and gave with care. Never leave touchy desk work or records where individuals who don't have to realize will approach them. On the off chance that an establishing stores precedents on PC, they should be enrolled on the Data Protection Register. There are governs about what data can be recorded and how data ought to be kept. Referrals happen for various reasons, for example, having worries about the security, government assistance or potentially prosperity of kids etc†¦ Referrals of youngsters in need should at whatever point conceivable, be joined by an announcement of assent from the kid or youngster and guardians/carers. Youngsters and youngsters who are enduring huge mischief will have social administrations included

On Mens et Manus

On Mens et Manus Name the first thing that comes to mind when you think “MIT” and “hands-on”. Before I got here I wouldve listed, off the top of my head: FIRST Robotics (or any sort of robotic shenanigans, really). Rocket-building. Taking apart and reconstructing various household appliances. Screwing around with computers, and circuits, and microchips (oh my!). Yeah, I’d totally rock an MIT-themed Family Feud episode. What do all of those have in common? Well, first, they’re all what people traditionally take “mens et manus” to refer toâ€"and second, I never did any of them. Nor was I ever particularly interested in doing so, with the exception of my fleeting fifth-grade dreams of being a mechanical engineer. When I was being interviewed by my Educational Counselor, he asked me if I liked to do things with my hands. I knew MIT’s motto, and the sort of activity he meant, but for the life of me I couldn’t remember a time when that had been my thing. So I took a moment, thought, and told him the first of my pursuits that came to mind and seemed to fit. Cooking, I said. Gardening. “Do those count?” I asked, a little sheepishly. He laughed and assured me that they did, and so I recounted my experiences learning how to cook and bake, and gardening as a child, and why I loved both and how they’d shaped me. And so that’s my first pointâ€"that you can get into MIT without being an inventor par excellence complete with multiple patents or whatnot. I did, and I was about as far removed from that sort of thing as possible. With that in mind, credit for the revelation that I maybe was that sort of person, when it suited me, goes to the intensely frustrating physics class I was at the cusp of finishing, and my much-more-mechanically-inclined boyfriend, Daniel M. ’14. For us, physics was always a collaborative experienceâ€"sometimes one of us would need an extra pair of hands or a fresh brain that hadn’t been pickled by an especially-awful problem set yet. And since my mad biology skills weren’t quite up to engineering a couple of spare parts for myself, helping each other out seemed like the next best option. So it makes sense that my excursion into self-discovery territory would involve him. It went a little like this: We were kneeling on the dried straw covering his backyard, tinkering with the vertical slingshot he’d built for our AP Physics final. Burrs and sharp-edged seed pods clung to our pants and shoelaces as we finished measuring off the rubber tubing connecting the three upright wooden supports to the plastic launching cup to ensure all of the pieces were of equal length. I looked up to see Daniel prepping the rubber duck I’d christened Walden for his flight into the dusky afternoon sky, and was hit suddenly and thoroughly by a surreal thought. “My god,” I uttered, bewilderedly and lustily. “I want to build a treehouse.” Or, in normal-person-speak: hey, I kind of like this. Let’s build more stuff. That drive-by epiphany couldn’t have come at a better time. Four days from the start of final presentations, I hadn’t even begun constructing my own project, partially because I had a sort of hilarious, passive-aggressive antipathy towards the class, and partially because I function in a perpetual state of procrastination. “But Natanya,” those who’ve never experienced my approach to school before might say, “Surely you properly assessed your limits and time constraints and chose a reasonable, easily-planned final project that wouldn’t conflict too much with your other finals and graduation prep.” To them I say: ahahahaha. Hah. I appreciate the credit, but no. The list of recommended final projects was handed out in the middle of AP testing, so by the time the list hit my desk (with me actually sitting in it), the only options left were a) lame, and/or b) magnetism-based and thus out of the question. (I loathe, loathe, loathe magnetism, fiercely and with the force of a wayward asteroid impact.) That day, I looked at the list. I looked at my teacher. I looked back at the list. “Screw it,” I declared, turning toward a mildly incredulous Daniel, who occupied the seat next to me and who’d already decided on his own project. “I’m building a raft.” He raised an eyebrow. “You’re not serious.” I slapped my hand down on my busted physics textbook and stared him squarely in the eye. “Heck yes I am. It’ll be like Mythbusters. There’ll be a yacht party gone tragically wrong, and the guests will have to build something out of party wreckage to avoid being eaten by sharks. It’ll be epic.” The introduction to my final presentation. And it was, because I am exactly the right combination of flighty and stubborn to stick to something like that. I ended up using concepts from the fluid mechanics unit we’d briefly covered to design a raft that would support my (cough) human test-subject and keep him fully above-water (and comfy). And you can bet your sweet self it worked. So, my second point is this: even if you don’t think you’re into the traditional “mens et manus”-y activities, go ahead, try them out. Spoiler alert: you might even like em.

Personal Statement My Life - 998 Words

Personal Statement ï » ¿ I was born in the historical city of Patiala, town in northern part of India. All my ancestors right until my father have been businessmen. Due to early demise of my Grandfather my father had to take over his clothing business in his early 20 s. He could not complete his studies due to responsibilities he had to fulfill towards family. He never wanted me to continue his business and always encouraged me to study. He would always talk about how he envisioned me becoming a doctor when I grew up. ï » ¿ After graduation from high school, the decision seemed to have been made for me by my father s wish and the thought of a career other than medicine never even register in my mind. Today, I have been in the medical field for over eight years and I know there is nowhere else I would rather be than here. My school grades were good enough to help me obtain admission in one of the most prestigious and oldest medical schools in India, Government Medical College And Hospital, Patiala. It was founded in 1953. The attached 1000 bed hospital and 161 bed TB hospital is one of the largest and highest ranking institutions in the region. In medical school I had the fortune of learning from highly capable and motivated teachers. We were taught to think of medicine not as a profession but as an opportunity toShow MoreRelatedPersonal Statement : My Life Essay1217 Words   |  5 Pagesreplaying in my mine, â€Å"Promise me you won’t tell anyone,† and I did that; without hesitation, I promised. Overwhelmed with emotions that are churning through by body, I’ve realized that I’ve just made a statement that consequently, I would grow to regret. Feeling bemused and as though I can barely breathe, and knowing that I will betray her, the decision is made. Every part of my be ing knows that I must find him; at her expense. Childhood was a joyous time. Having had amazing parents who were my roleRead MorePersonal Statement : My Life848 Words   |  4 PagesOne day I was going through my Facebook profile, and I recognized I was friends with five hundred and eighty people. I was dumbfounded by the great number of individuals I am associated with through my profile. I went through the list to identify several people who I have never met in real life. Most of them were schoolmates, college mates and individuals I had mutual friends with. I was Facebook friends with a majority of them, just because we were part of the same organization. I went to the sameRead MorePersonal Statement On My Life876 Words   |  4 PagesTo me, my life stories are my adventures. However, to some; they are just life. I believe that certain events in my life have not only shaped who I am, but have helped construct my values, and me as a person. My life started off differently that what most people would consider the normal. In t he beginning on my life, my dad was not there for me virtually at all. However, over time he came around and regained his position as the father figure in my life. I lived in Protection, Kansas for theRead MorePersonal Statement : My Life1734 Words   |  7 PagesIn my past I was constantly striving for achievements, whether it was school, music, or good deeds in general, I wanted to be the best and stand out. This was not because those things gave me a sense of personal satisfaction, but rather it was because I wanted to finally be good enough for my dad to be proud of me or for my mom to take an actual personal interest in who I was and not what I could provide for her. By the time I had moved across the country to go to college and to, frankly, begin writingRead MorePersonal Statement : My Life975 Words   |  4 PagesMy life in America started with a couple of unfortunate events that changed me profoundly. In the first six months in this country, I learned to be resilient, innovated and decisive. Thanks to those experiences I was prepared to achieve my American Dream. Before I moved to this country, I was a studious girl, that owned a small cloth shop in a town in the middle of the jungle. I could only dream of having a successful career. It was very unlikely that a girl from the Choco, the poorest and leastRead MoreMy Personal Statement On My Life869 Words   |  4 Pagescrazy how a minute detail can change the entire outcome a situation. Life has many hardships, I for one believe that it is these hardships that shapes us into what we are today. I was about ten years old but had the mentality of a four year old boy. Mostly cried when I was denied a toy or grounded for being mischievous. Like every other week I would grind my way into emotionally blackmailing my parents to allow me to go to my friends place and then go the extra mile to stay as long as possible.Read MoreMy Personal Statement On My Life878 Words   |  4 PagesOne day when I came home from school, I wanted to say hello to my step dad but he was in the shower. Therefore, I went straight to my room without saying hello to him. After a few minute s I heard the shower turn off in the bathroom. When he opened the bathroom door I heard him yelling my name, so I quickly ran to him to see if he was ok.When I saw him he told me he did not feel good and could not walk. I told him to stop playing around because he always joked about his health. But he told me he wasRead MoreMy Personal Statement On My Life918 Words   |  4 Pagesreceiving my associate’s degree in applied science. My journey to obtain my associates has not been easy. Nevertheless, I am accomplishing my goal and over the moon to be doing so. I did not plan to get my associates, I had originally planned just to bypass it completely and move on to get a bachelor in biology, however my health had other plans in mind. My health complications forced me to change my perspective on my life and to reconstruct how I prioritized everything in my life. My dream is toRead MoreMy Personal Statement On My Life945 Words   |  4 Pagestennis practice, I saw my parents talking to each other in the same room; which was unusual, considering they have not spoken with each other since their divorce, and typically begin to argue when they communicate. They told me to have a seat on the pew of my piano because they had something important to address. My father had opened the conversation with one question: Do you know what you re going to do when we re no longer here to support you? I sat there contemplating what my answer will be, butRead MoreMy Personal Statement On My Life1110 Words   |  5 Pagesthrough the plethora of papers sitting on my desk, hoping to find the career pamphlet that tells me who I am and what I am supposed to be doing with my life, I realize that no one other than myself can answer â€Å"Who am I? Who am I in the process of becoming?† As I begin to map out my future in accordance with my interests and career g oals, I realize how lending a helping hand and acting as role models for others have been an essential part of my daily life. I aspire to impact the lives of others, as

The Causes Of Lysosomal Diseases - 719 Words

More dysregulated metabolites were identified in the liver (n=177) than that in the brain (n=122). Notably, there are more amino acid, amino acid derivatives and dipeptides identified in livers (mostly upregulated). These results are expected because the liver is the primary site of metabolism. In terms of pathways enriched, significant involvement of neurotransmission and chemical synaptic transmission were observed in the brain. Meanwhile, there are several pathways only enriched in livers, including gamma glutamyl cycle, leukotriene biosynthesis, Phase II conjugation and glutathione synthesis, which are mainly associated with oxidative stress and inflammation. The energy imbalance in SD leads to increased respiratory chain activity in†¦show more content†¦The oxidative stress can cause cell damage, resulting in inflammation, which has also been found to be a major contributor to disease progression of GM2 gangliosidosis [17]. In this study, we identified elevation in glut athione pathways, which plays a pivotal role in responses to oxidative stress. Another evidence of inflammation is reduced levels of arachidonic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid, in brain samples of SD mice. Oxidation of arachidonic acid can generate leukotrienes, a family of eicosanoid inflammatory mediators produced in leukocytes, and thus promote inflammation. The increased energy requirements can also activate autophagy and protein catabolism, which have been found in MPS I and MPS VII mice [13]. In this study, we found increased levels of amino acids, amino acid derivatives and dipeptides, indicating increased protein catabolism. Increased requirements of energy and raw materials can also activate lipid metabolism and carbohydrate metabolism, manifested by decreased adiposity, a common observation in many lysosomal diseases [18-20]. In addition, the enlarged lysosome and distended cells due to abnormal accumulation requires increased membrane synthesis, which can also affect lipid m etabolism. Our previous proteomic analysis [21] also identified abnormality in the cytoskeleton system, which can be partially attributed to altered cellular architecture due to storage accumulation. Collectively, we show here that the energy imbalance caused by the lack ofShow MoreRelatedGaucher Disease Types I, II, IIi869 Words   |  4 PagesGaucher Disease Types I, II, III Gaucher Disease is a type of lysosomal storage disorder. The importance is that they are meant to keep everything in order. Lysosomes are microscopic organelles that have a primary function to serve as digestion compartments. According to Davidson, (1) â€Å"lysosomes help break down many different materials such as fats, proteins, waste products, and more to transfer those compounds to become new cell building materials†. Consequentially, making lysosomes an importantRead MoreUse of Energy by the Human Body782 Words   |  3 Pagesessentially the only fuel source used by the brain. The primary function of muscle glycogen is to supply fuel for the contraction of the muscles during exercise. However, insufficient amount of glycogen in the liver and muscles can lead to numerous diseases, diseases like Glycogen Storage Disorders (GSD). Glycogen synthesis and breakdown occur by distinctive pathways that are catalyzed by different enzymes. Glycogen phosphorylation involves three steps: the first is the release of glucose 1-phosphate fromRead MoreTaking a Look in Tay-Sachs Disease952 Words   |  4 Pagesfunctioning to full potential, serious if not fatal consequences can be faced. A shining example of the effects of a malfunctioning organelle occurs in Tay-Sachs disease. Tay- Sachs disease is a lysosomal disorder that is caused by a faulty lysosome.1 Recent studies and research have been investigating the causes and pathways Tay-Sachs disease with great success, which is amazing news for the scientific community. Lysosomes are membranous sacs of enzymes that are typically are involved in the digestionRead MoreTaking a Look at Niemann-Pick Disease1294 Words   |  5 PagesNiemann-Pick disease an inherited condition involving lipid metabolism, which is the breakdown, transport, and use of fats and cholesterol in the body is the condition in which abnormal lipid metabolism causes harmful amounts of lipid to accumulate in parts of the body. There are 3 forms of this disease: Type A, B, and C. The general focus of this paper will be Type C. Niemann-Pick’s disease Type C (NPC) is disease in which unesterified cholesterol and other lipids accumulate in late endosomes/lysosomesRead MoreThe Batten Disease And Its Effects On The Nervous System1697 Words   |  7 PagesExtra Credit Paper Batten Disease The Batten disease is characterized as an autosomal recessive, fatal disorder that consists of detrimental effects on the nervous system. Although the disease typically presents during childhood, there are many forms that show signs at various ages. Batten disease, also known as Spielmeyer-Vogt-Sjà ¶gren-Batten disease, is named after the British pediatrician who first correlated its symptoms with the disease progression in 1903. This disease is the most common typeRead MoreEvolving Concepts of Pathogenesis, Transmission, Diagnosis, Treatment and Antibiotic Resistance of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis1010 Words   |  4 Pagestuberculosis. It is the reason of virtually millions of deaths all over the world every year. This ratio is more than the deaths caused by any other pathogen. From the start of the twentieth century, tuberculosis has become a relatively uncommon disease instead of the most common reason of deaths worldwide [1-3]. The incidence of tuberculosis has waned in the d eveloped countries. The World Health Organization reports that more than ten million cases and two to three million deaths occur annuallyRead MoreGlucocerebrosidase Enzyme Essay986 Words   |  4 Pagesimpairment and psychosis of PD and DLB. The lost function of GBA has been found in postmortem brain of individuals that were diagnosed had a global defect in lysosomal enzymes with those with PD. The GBA gene within the brain increases the risk of individuals of having PD due to the mutation of the gene. These genes will reflect the low activity of lysosomal hydrolase ÃŽ ²-glucocerebrosidase (GCase) where the accumulation of ÃŽ ±-synuclein occurs in the anterior cingulate and occipital cortex [10]. GBA mutationsRead MoreThe Complex And Major Organ Of Our Body Perform Essay1598 Words   |  7 Pagesbalance secretion, metabolism, and excretion of hormones and gluconeogenesis.Each kidney in the human contains about 800,000 to 1,000,000 nephrons, each capable of forming urine. The kidn ey cannot regenerate new nephrons. Therefore, with renal injury, disease, or normal aging, there is a gradual decrease in nephron number (Guyton 2011). Although, there is a substantial capacity within the kidney for repair but there are also several circumstances where damage may be irreversible. In general, the proximalRead MoreProteomics Essay754 Words   |  4 PagesPPI is fundamental to define the molecular networks that contribute to homeostasis of living organisms. Disruptions in protein interaction networks have been shown to cause diseases in both human and animals. For instance, PPI disturbances have been shown to be involved in cancer caused by p53 mutations [47], neurodegenerative diseases resulting from protein aggregates accumulation [48], and virus-host interactions [49]. Therefore, the monitoring and study of PPIs can provide innovative options forRead MoreTRMPL1 : The Role Of TRPML11291 Words   |  6 Pages Role of TRPML1 As mentioned before, TRPML1 is the transient receptor protein affected by the mutation that causes MLIV. The TRP gene family are not yet well characterized, but are known to localize in late endosomes and have associations with lysosomes. It is required for proper and efficient fusion of late endosomes and autophagosomes with lysosomes (6). There were debates regarding what sort of channel TRMPL1 was, with some stating that it was a proton channel rather than an ion channel (2)

Shorefast Case Study B March 2013 Free Essays

string(36) " farmers have great grow potential\." Table of Contents Introduction†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 1 Financial Analysis†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. We will write a custom essay sample on Shorefast Case Study B March 2013 or any similar topic only for you Order Now †¦.. †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 1 Strategy Diamond Model†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦7 Internal Analysis†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 8 Value Chain Analysis†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. 8 VRINE Analysis†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦12 External Analysis†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦13 Porter’s five forces†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â ‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦13 PESTEL†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. †¦.. 14 Alternative Evaluations†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. †¦15 Fit analysis†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 18 Conclusion†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 19 Recommendations†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦19 Introduction Plant Nutrients Inc. (PNI) is an international company that supplied fertilizer ingredients used by its subsidiaries in 6 geographic area which are Northeastern United States, Eastern Canada, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and South America. The general manager of PNI is Brian Dunwoodie and the marketing manager is Dave Claussen. Mr. Dunwoodie and Mr. Claussen are the main decision makers within the organization. They were meeting with each other to determine the main issues of the company, which how to improve company’s performance next year (1999). They came up with three potential alternatives, which are strengthening the existing business, adding a seed business and adding precision agricultural services to better PNI’s performance next year. For choosing the best alternatives, this paper will use different frameworks and models to analyze each alternative, for example financial analysis, strategy diamond model, internal analysis (Value Chain and VRINE), external analysis (Porter’s 5 forces and PESTEL). After analyzing all these parts, the fit between internal and external environment will be analyzed as well. Financial Analysis 1. Operating income statement (Exhibit 1) As Exihit 1 in the case shows that the main product PNI had sold was Fertilizer, the total sales of PNI in 1998 is $4,621,097, which consist of the sales of Fertilizer( $3,339,097), the sales of pesticides ($1,058,000) and the sale of services ($224,000). The sales of fertilizer accounted for 72. 3% ($3,339,097/ $4,621,097) of total sales, the sales of pesticides accounted 22. 9% in the total sales, and the service only accounted for 4. 8% in the total sales, so fertilizer product generate more sales than pesticides and services and this also means the sales of pesticide and services may have huge growth potential in the future. Hence, PNI should focus more on the sales of pesticide and service in the future. In addition, the gross margin of fertilizer was 20. 07%, and the gross margin of pesticides was 18%. Among these products, fertilizer was the major contributor of PNI’s profit. In terms of the sales of each product, the analyst will use the following tables to identify what the major markets and customers of these products. 2. Fertilizer sales No. 1 The percentage of PNI’s customers accounted in the Fertilizer Market. (Formula: Number of Customers in PNI / Number of Customers in the whole market) Market AreaPNI Farm SizeSalesCustomersSalesCustomersMarket Share Small$1,128,000527$986,00040476. 7% Medium$10,635,0001578$1,259,00017110. 8% Large$3,631,00095$319,00099. 5% Total$15,394,0002200$2,564,00058426. 5% No. 2 The percentage of the fertilizer sales for the market and for PNI over the total sales by customer segment, 1998 Market AreaPNI Farm sizeSalesSales Small7. 33%38. 5% Medium69. 1%49. 1% Large23. 6%12. 44% Total100%100% Market AreaPNI Farm sizeSalesSales Small100%87. 41% Medium100%11. 84% Large100%8. 79% Total100%16. 7% No. The percentage of PNI’s fertilizer sales contribute to the market sales by customer segment, 1998 3. Pesticide Sales No. 4 The percentage of PNI’s customers accounted in the Market. Market AreaPNI Farm SizeSalesCustomersSalesCustomersMarket Share Small$797000527$35600020939. 6% Medium$63120001578$4580001066. 7% Large$3,300,00095$244,00077. 4% Total$10,409,0002200$2,564,00032214. 6% No. 5 The percentage of pesticide sales for the market and for PNI over the total sale by customer segment, 1998 Market AreaPNI Farm sizeSalesSales Small7. 66%33. 6% Medium60. 64%43. 3% Large31. %21. 2% Total100%100% No. 6 The percentage of PNI’s pesticide sales contribute to the market sales by customer segment, 1998 Market AreaPNI Farm sizeSalesSales Small100%44. 67% Medium100%7. 26% Large100%6. 79% Total100%10. 16% Interpretation of tables 1. Table No. 1 and No. 4 For both fertilizer products and pesticide Products, PNI’s major customers are the small farm owner (Fertilizer: 76. 7%, Pesticide: 39. 6%), so the future trend for PNI is to take more medium and large farm size customers (Medium: Fertilizer: 10. 8%, Pesticide: 6. 7%; Large: Fertilizer: 9. 5%, Pesticide: 7. %). 2. Table No. 2 and No. 5 in the market area, the sales of fertilizers, the medium farm account the largest portion of sales (69. 1%). For the sales of pesticides, the medium farm still accounts the largest portion of sales (60. 64%). In the PNI’s area, both the sales of fertilizers and pesticides to the medium farm customers have the highest percentage (Fertilizer: 49. 1%, Pesticide 43. 3%); therefore, PNI should focus on the sales of fertilizer and pesticide to the medium farms’ customers because it accounts the largest part of PNI’s total sales. 3. Table No. 3 and No. The sales of PNI’s fertilizers and pesticides to the small farms’ customers have already gained the largest sales in the whole market (Fertilizer: 87. 41%, Pesticide: 44. 67%). However, for the sales of PNI’s fertilizers and pesticides to the medium and large farms customers account a very small portion of the total sales in the whole market (Medium: Fertilizer: 11. 84%, Pesticide: 7. 26%; Large: Fertilizer: 8. 79%, Pesticide: 6. 79%). Hence, PNI should also pay more attention to increase the sales to the medium and large farms’ customers due to its huge growth potential. . According to the Exhibit 5 in the case, the large farm size prefer Materials and Regular fertilizers and it contributes almost 54. 3% of the material sales to total sales. Therefore, PNI should focus on selling Materials to large farm size customers. However, the sales percentage of the premium and regular fertilizers, which in the medium farm size contributes the most to the total sales of the market, and the sale percentages are 53. 1% and 59. 7% respectively, and the Exhibit 4 showed that the Premium fertilizers and Regular fertilizers of PNI have the highest ($89. 5) and second highest gross margin ($66. 11); hence, PNI should focus on selling premium and regular fertilizers to small and medium farm size customers. In addition, it is unnecessary for PNI to focus on the sales to dealers because PNI cannot stop the trend that the sales volume to dealers is decreasing year after year. Observation: 1. Medium and large farmers have great grow potential. You read "Shorefast Case Study B March 2013" in category "Free Case study samples" 2. Small and Medium farms prefer Premium blends fertilizers, which is the most profitable fertilizer product in PNI (gross margin: $ 89. 95/ ton) Strategy Diamond Model The strategy diamond, which includes arenas, vehicles, differentiators, staging and pacing, and economic logic, shows how well a company do its business in a strategic level. Arenas: PNI’s current product and service lines consisted of fertilizers, pesticides, custom application services and oil testing. The PNI in Lancaster is one of the subsidiaries in the 6 geographical regions, which are Northeastern United States, Eastern Canada, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and South America. In terms of distribution channel, the company outsource a trucking company to cut down on their distribution costs. Moreover, the company have modern equipment to produce products and have the best trained operators to provide services in the region. Vehicles: There is no information about vehicle in the current situation. However, if PNI select the second alternative, which is adding a seed business in the near future, the company may alliance with Larson Seed, a regional seed producer, to provide expertise and sales training for PNI sales consultants. Differentiators: PNI bundles their prices so that when a farmer buys their product the services are also included in the price. The services provided are also customizable to the farmer’s needs. They have the most qualified operators in the region, and because of this, they are able to provide the highest quality services. They have a strong long lasting relationship with their customers as they have been in the business for 20 years. Furthermore, PNI is the only fertilizer supplier in the area with proprietary, premium fertilizers, had invested heavily over the years to develop and test their products. Each customer needs different services that depend on that customer’s situation by creating value bundle. Staging and Pacing: There is urgency for PNI to do internal development because the company wanted to perform better in the next year (1999). So, the top management had come up with three alternatives to either adding new businesses or strengthening the current business. Economic logic: There is a great potential for PNI to generate more profits when the company minimize its cost. The case mentioned that PNI didn’t achieve its maximum capacity. For example, the capacity of PNI blending plant is 14,000 tons/ year; however, it just blended approximately 10,000 tons in 1998. By achieving the maximum capacity, the company can utilize the economies of scale to assign the fixed costs of the production into each process, so that the company can make more profit. Observations: Overall, PNI didn’t perform very well in 1998 because the operations within the organization don’t function well. The major reason of it is that the production level didn’t meet the maximum capacity, which increases the cost of each product. When costs go up, the revenue will decrease (assume the volume sold is the same). Internal Analysis-Value Chain analysis The Value Chain is a tool to analyze the internal environment of a company and determine where the business concentrates their efforts. Inbound logistics: PNI’s warehouse met the latest U. S. environment standards for fertilizer and pesticide storage; however, its storage is able to handle a substantially larger volume than currently required. This means the company have high variable cost per item because it didn’t fully utilize its storage. Operations: The capacity of PNI blending plant is 14,000 tons/ year; however, it just blended approximately 10,000 tons in 1998. This means PNI were not achieving the maximum capacity. The company has two types of application equipment, which are modern and in good working order. The first type is fertilizer equipment, which consist 25 bulk, full-typed spreaders. The cost of the equipment is incorporated in the price of fertilizer, so it is free for customers. However, customers just used bulk spreaders on about 80, 000 acres in 1998, which is about 32000 acres per spreaders, which is less than a spreader’s capacity of about 4000 acres. So, the company can reduce the number of spreader it gave to customers to reduce costs. Air spreader is more attractive to large and medium farmers. The capacity is 8000 acres per year under ideal condition, however, only 4000 acres in 1998, which is only half of the actual capacity. Consumers can choose to pay for it by bundling price of equipment to fertilizers or separate the price for spray equipment and fertilizers. The other type of application equipment is pesticide application equipment. There are two self-propelled applicators under pesticide application equipment, which are small unit applicator and larger unit applicator. The capacity is 8,000 acres per year for smaller unit and 10,000 acres per year for larger unit. In the last two years, these two units are fully utilized, which sprays a total of 18, 000 acres of land each year. The problem is two application units were fully booked, whether lack of application capacity might be constraining pesticide sales. The soil testing lab can handle 14000 samples per year; however, it only handled 6000 samples in 1998. Outbound logistics: PNI deliver raw materials by using an excellent rail service and a local trucking firm handled all shipment to customers. Dunwoodie said that the outsourcing of PNI’s trucking had reduced costs and investments substantially. Marketing and sales: PNI is the only fertilizer supplier in the area with proprietary, premium fertilizers, had invested heavily over the years to develop and test their products, which are urea and ammonium, regular N-P-K, and premium N-P-K. The last product was a proprietary product that carried the Nutri-Plus brand, which provides significant economic benefits to farmers and the sales of it accounted for half of sales in 1988 and an increasing percent percentage of PNI’s total sales over time. Most of customers didn’t ask about price, so they are less price sensitive. Dunwoodie estimated that to be about 40% of the total acres treated with chemicals sold by PNI. The market segments are depending on the size of farm, which are sorted by small, medium and large. There are up to 100 acres of crops in small farms, 100-500 acres of crops in medium farms and over 500 acres of crops in large farms. PNI charge on the basis of the customer’s ability and willingness to pay and are sharing in the benefits it create for the customers, which result in higher margin, premium products. However, PNI lost profit on the higher prices of these products due to high cost of service. The company had about $25,000 in its budget for marketing. PNI spent most of them on PNI-sponsored events where 25-50 local farmers were treated to a meal, some entertainment, and an information program. PNI also advertised in local newspaper and gave away hats, pens, and other premiums to customers and prospects. Moreover, $5000 was spent on a corporate brochure in 1998. Service: extensive agronomic services: soil analysis, crop scouting, nutrient consulting, micronutrients analysis, and pesticide and fertilizer application. Sales representative do delivery, application, consultation, consultation, and billing to customers. Also, they kept latest product knowledge and attempted to build strong personal relationships with each customer result in low customer turnover rate. Procurement: Supplied by its mother company. Technology development: PNI use modern equipment to produce products and advanced information system to provide more accurate data and feedbacks to the company. Also, if it decides to enter into the precision agricultural business, it needs to use GPS system and other AgriTechs, such as Yield Mapping and Remote Sensing Mapping. Human resources management: Brian Dunwoodie has 11 staffs reporting to him that includes sales, marketing, accounting, production, administrative functions. Staffs are flexible and empowered, so that they could do what needed to be done. Dave Claussen is responsible for developing PNI’s marketing program. There are two services managers who work with sales consultant to determine the types of products and application rates for individual farmer clients. PNI is possible to use high-level technical support because it use full time and better trained employees than competitors. Other company use part-time employees with little expertise with the equipment or procedures involved for applying fertilizers and pesticides. There are 4 sales consultants who is selling PNI products and services, working with existing customers, explaining soil test results, helping develop an annual fertilizer and pesticide program, providing general technical advice and attracting new customers. Average 30 days each year to sales and product training, compared to other competitors less than 15 days on training. Each consultant had a designated sales territory, which has approximately 140 customers. Observations: 1. PNI have extra capacity of warehouse and machinery. 2. Outsourcing trucking service reduce the company’s cost. 3. Staffs are well-trained and be able to provide superior services to customers. VRINE analysis VRINE is a tool to analyze the internal resources and capabilities to determine if a company has a competitive advantage over competitors. Value: There is no unique resource within the organization because the technology and resources the company use to produce the products is easy to access by other competitors. However, the company provide customized services and products to customers, which provide benefits to farmers. Also, PNI has the best operators within the organization to serve its customers, which helps the company to build a good relationship with customers. It also used the â€Å"win-win† philosophy and dispatched sales representatives to keep a good long-term relationship with its customers Rarity: The resources the company use are not rare, because it can be access by competitors too. Inimitability: The technology the company use to produce products is easy to imitate by competitors. Non-substitutability: The chemical fertilizer product can be substituted by Biofertilizers, which is made from microorganisms. Pesticide can be substituted if farmers buy pest-resistant seed to remove the need to by pesticides. Exploitability: PNI didn’t manage its resources well because they have wasted a lot of resources in the process of operations. For example, the capacity of PNI blending plant is 14,000 tons/ year; however, it just blended approximately 10,000 tons in 1998. Air spreader is more attractive to large and medium farmers. The capacity is 8000 acres per year under ideal condition, however, only 4000 acres in 1998, which is only half of the actual capacity. Observation: 1. PNI has a non-sustainable competitive advantage. 2. The exploit of resource within the organization is poor. External analysis -Porter’s five forces Michael Porter’s five forces model, which determined industry profitability, included degree of rivalry, threat of new entrants, supplier power, buyer power and threat of substitutes. Rivalry (High) There were five companies sell fertilizers and chemicals to farmers around Lancaster. PNI’s largest competitor is Lancaster County Co-op. It supplied both crop and livestock inputs and purchased grain through a separate division. It also offered application services-farmers were dissatisfied with the quality of these services and co-op didn’t provide many value-added services, such as precision agriculture. Another competitor is Smith Farm Supply, which is an independent dealer. It only sold chemicals and fertilizers and provide custom application services using less expensive, poorly trained, part-time operators. Smith Farm Supply offered the best prices in the area. The other three competitors are Archibald Farm Supply, Henderson Farm Supply, Wilmington Crop Services; they all focus on supplying chemicals rather than fertilizer. Threat of new entrant (Low) Since the competition is so fierce, there is less chance that new entrant want to enter into the market. Supplier power (Low) PNI can directly get supplied from its mother company. Plant Nutrients International supplied fertilizer ingredients to its subsidiaries. And their sales would not be influenced by the suppliers. Buyer power (High) The switching cost for customers is very low, so no matter which company offer good service and lower price customers could switch forth and back. Threat of Substitutes (medium-high) Fertilizer’s potential substitute: Customers may switch to biofertilizer, which is made from organism is applied either by coating seeds with the fungus, because people’s awareness of body health. Pesticide’s potential substitute: farmers may buy pest-resistant seed to remove the need to by pesticides Observation: Overall, the profitability of the market is not attractive because the competition is fierce, buyer power is high and there is some product can substitute the products the company currently sell. PESTEL Analysis PESTEL analysis is used to analyze the external environment of a company; it stands for Political, Sociocultural, Environmental, Economic, Technological and Legal. Political: PNI’s warehouse met the latest U. S. environment standards for fertilizer and pesticide storage. Sociocultural: Many of the small and some of the medium farms in Lancaster were owned by Amish farmers, they were hard-working farmers whose religious beliefs called stewardship of the land. Most of them are willing to adopt technology that supported stewardship of the land. Environmental: The chemical fertilizers and pesticides PNI sell have a potential to pollute land, so the company should be careful about the environmental costs regarding ecological or environmental issues. Economic: Asian financial crisis happened in 1997-1998, so it is not a timing to enter market into Asia. However, the financial crisis has limited influence to the United States’ economic environment. Technological: The company use advanced Information System to provide more accurate and detailed data on customers. Moreover, PNI is possible to use high-level technical support because it use full time and better trained employees than competitors. Legal: Several federal regulations cover fertilizer manufacturing and transportation safety and limit their potential impact on the environment and security. Observation: Overall, there are many factors outside of the company have the power to influence a company’s decision and strategic plan. Alternatives Evaluation 1. Working the existing business harder Dunwoodie says that if they were to make no changes and just work their existing business harder they would be able to meet their objectives. They are lagging in the large farm segment and if they were to add 20 farms from that segment they would be able to meet their objectives. They could use their excess capacity to spread out their fixed costs. Advantages: a. It has a great potential to increase the number of customers from medium and large farmers. b. It can help the company to achieve its maximum capacity, which will reduce the cost of each product because it assigns the total fixed cost into more numbers of products. (Economies of Scale) c. Could meet the financial obligation within one year by attracting more medium farmers (the most profitable market segment) Disadvantages: a. It is hard to attract larger farmers because they prefer low-priced products. If PNI wants to attract larger customers, it should reduce product price, which means the profit will decrease as well. b. They should hire and train more sales consultant to meet the increasing number of customers, which increase PNI’s cost too. 2. Adding Seed Business Dunwoodie thought that adding a seed business to PNI would add value to the company. With the new genetic seed technology chemical sales would decline in the future thus creating more opportunities for seeds. Companies like Larson Seeds were already successful seed suppliers. Larson was looking for a distributer in Lancaster, but Dunwoodie was worried about the already existing competition in the seed market, the new staff they would need to hire, and the training for the employees and the company alike to get into this business. Advantages: a. Its new genetic technology might increase seed sales. b. It can help PNI complete the product line. Disadvantages: a. he new genetic technology can also decrease chemical sales in future, which conflict with PNI’s current product line. b. Another challenge for PNI to access to the seed business was that it needed to partner with a good seed producer, so whether PNI can cooperating with a regional producer would became an important question for Dunwoodie to consider if he wanted to enter the seed business. c. This altern ative is hard to meet the company’s one year financial obligation because it is a new business to add a seed business, PNI should take times to discover the right strategy to sell seeds. . the competitive market is fierce, for example, Monsanto is a giant in the seed business. It is hard to steal market share from it. 3. Adding a Precision Agriculture Services If PNI was to adapt the precision agriculture they would be the first ones to market with this service, thus creating a huge competitive advantage. There would be a huge start-up cost to start such a venture, expenses like; new staff, equipment, trucks, and training. With is new technology they would be able to better serve their customers allowing them to put together superior agronomic packages. A lot of farmers were skeptical of the new technology but after reading the survey, I find that not many of the farmers are educated in the benefits of the new technology. It would be the sales force’s job to educate the customer on the benefits to be able to make the sale. Advantages: a. Many farmers were aware of precision agriculture and precision agriculture was a coming trend, so adding precision agriculture would improve the customer service and increase total sales. b. It can complete the company’s services by providing more precise and accurate method to application service. . It will be a competitive advantage for the company, because no competitor enters into this service. Disadvantages: a. High cost: it would cost $10,000 to set up one pull-type spreader and $225,000 to purchase the truck with six separate tanks. Moreover, PNI still needed people, computers, software, and monitors and so on; the investment would be extremely large. b. The survey found that ma ny farmers had skepticism regarding the real benefits of the precision agriculture. c. It cannot meet the company’s financial obligation in one year. FIT Analysis Internal: Internally PNI hires the best operators and most experienced sales consultants so that they are able to provide the best services and knowledgeable employees. By meet the company’s goal, which is better financial performance in the next year, PNI should hire more sales consultant to meet the increasing number of customers. Moreover, the company should try to achieve its maximum capacity in the next year, because it will significantly reduce the COGS. External: PNI has 5 competitors in Lancaster, which created a fierce competitive environment. However, PNI has its competitive advantage over other competitors, which is the customized and superior service it provided and also the relationship it built with customers are both the assets of the company Moreover, there are many factors externally have the power to influence a company’s decision and strategic plan. Observation: Overall there is a good fit between PNI’s internal and external environment. It recruited full-time and well trained staff to provide superior services to customers, which is a competitive advantage of the company. Externally, customers and even competitors perceived PNI as superior services providers with knowledgeable sales reps in the region. Conclusion In conclusion we think that PNI has the resource and capability to either entering new business or strengthening the current business, because they haven’t achieve the maximum capacity of machinery and warehouse. Moreover, medium and large farmers have great growth potential and they prefer premium blends fertilizers, which is the most profitable fertilizer product in PNI. In addition, outsourcing trucking service reduces the company’s cost. Furthermore, PNI staffs are well-trained and be able to provide superior services to customers. PNI has a non-sustainable competitive advantage, which means its competitive advantage can be imitate by competitors. In addition, there are many factors outside of the company have the power to influence a company’s decision and strategic plan, such as government’s regulation and sociocultural factors. Recommendation After analyzing the organization’s internal and external environment, and all three alternatives, we recommend PNI choose the first alternative, which is working on the existing business harder. We also suggest that PNI focus on targeting medium farmer because of the following reasons: 1. PNI have a competitive advantage over their competitors because of their superior quality and customer relations. At the same time, medium farmers value good services when buying products, which is what PNI good at to do. 2. They are less price sensitive than larger customers, which can help PNI increase sales. 3. Medium farmers prefer premium blending fertilizer, which is the most profitable products in PNI. 4. There are only 6. 7% of medium farmers buy fertilizers of PNI and 10. 6% medium farmers purchase PNI pesticides. This means there is a great potential for PNI to get more customers from medium farmer segment because the customer base is big. 5. It has a greater potential than other alternatives to help PNI achieve its one year financial goal. Other two alternatives need longer term than the alternative 1 to breakeven, because PNI needs cost more money to implementing the seed business and precision business. However, it costs the company less to implement the first strategy, because the company already have all capabilities and resources to implement the first alternative. However, it is not to say PNI should only target on medium customers. Instead, PNI should keep targeting small and large customers, because it is good to diversify the risk of targeting only one market segment. However, the medium farmers should be the priority of PNI. How to cite Shorefast Case Study B March 2013, Free Case study samples

When the Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloomed free essay sample

An examination of the rationale behind Walt Whitmans writing of this poem. This paper presents three reasons that the poet wrote the poem. Firstly, he used the writing of the poem as a way to work through his grief and sadness over Lincolns death. Second, Whitman wrote the poem as a way to pay tribute to the life of the great American president, Lincoln. Third, Whitman wrote the poem to reach out to Americans who had lost their president, and to attempt to help to ease their pain at this loss. Each of these reasons are examined as they relate to the poem. One of his finest works, the poem is a tribute to the life and death of Abraham Lincoln. The poem appeared in Whitmans 1881 edition of Leaves of Grass. Of the many poems that were written about the assassination of President Lincoln, Whitmans When the Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloomed may be the most famous. We will write a custom essay sample on When the Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloomed or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page It is more abstract, and much longer than the well known O, Captain! My Captain!. However, the poem has a resounding emotional impact that the more conventional and accessible poem O, Captain! My Captain!.

Respone to Say Anything essays

Respone to Say Anything essays Say Anything is a film that seems not to have enough meaningful content at the first glance. To the contrary, the film is full of meaningful insights; and disillusionment is one of the most obvious themes that are illustrated clearly by the director in parts of the film. Dianes father, Jim Court, has always been pushing her daughter to even higher academic achievements all her life; he would do whatever it took to provide his daughter with the best things. Diane trusted her dad and had a very intimate relationship with him. Like most children, Diane had the image of her dad being a hero all her life; she could not imagine her dad being a criminal. Unfortunately, nobodys perfect, including Jim Court. One night, two investigators knocked on the door of Dianes house and informed Jim Court that he was illegally using money of seniors who died in senior homes. Diane was standing right beside her father when the two investigators talked, but she did not take the conversation seriously because she has always trusted her dad. Several days later, Diane started to recall what the investigators have said about her dads criminal records; she decided to find out the truth by herself. One afternoon, Diane was at home alone; so she started her search for evidence of her fathers crime. To her surprise, Diane saw four stacks of money neatly put in a wooden box. She could not believe her eyes! Most people believe what they have been told or how they have felt. They seldom think questions in multi-ways. Say Anything deliberately shows us the disillusionment between Diane and her father through one simple event. (however, dont stop admiring your father after watching the film...at least, not until when you see the investigators!!) ...

Old and New Architecture in Vienna, Austria

Old and New Architecture in Vienna, Austria Vienna, Austria, by the Danube River, has a mixture of architecture representing many periods and styles, ranging from elaborate Baroque-era monuments to a 20th century rejection of high ornamentation.  The history of Vienna, or  Wien as its called, is as rich and complicated as the architecture that portrays it. The city doors are open to celebrate architecture - and anytime is a great time to visit. Being centrally located in Europe, the area was settled early on by both the Celts and then the Romans. It has been the capital of the Holy Roman Empire and the  Austro-Hungarian Empire. Vienna has been invaded both by marauding armies and medieval plagues. During the Second World War, it ceased to exist completely as it was enveloped by Nazi Germany. Yet today we still think of Vienna as the home of the Strauss waltz and the Freudian dream. The influence of Wiener Moderne or Vienna Modern architecture on the rest of the world was as profound as any other movement in history. Visiting Vienna Perhaps the most iconic structure in all of Vienna is the Gothic St. Stephans Cathedral. First begun as a Romanesque cathedral, its construction throughout the ages displays the influences of the day, from Gothic to Baroque all the way up to its patterned tile roof. Wealthy aristocratic families like the Liechtensteins may have first brought the ornate Baroque style of architecture (1600-1830) to Vienna. Their private summer home, the Garden Palais Liechtenstein from 1709, combines Italian villa-like details on the outside with ornate Baroque interiors. It is open to the public as an art museum. The Belvedere is another Baroque palace complex from this time period, the early 1700s. Designed by Italian-born architect Johann Lukas von Hildebrandt (1668-1745), Belvedere Palace and Gardens is popular eye-candy for the Danube River cruise-taker. Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor from 1711 to 1740, is perhaps responsible for bringing Baroque architecture to the ruling class of Vienna. At the height of the Black Plague pandemic, he vowed to build a church to St. Charles Borromeo if the plague would leave his city. It did, and the magnificent Karlskirche (1737) was first designed by Baroque master architect Johann Bernard Fischer von Erlach.  Baroque architecture reigned during the time of Charles daughter, Empress Maria Theresa (1740-80), and her son Joseph II (1780-90). Architect Fischer von Erlach also designed and rebuilt a country hunting cottage into a summer royal getaway, the Baroque Schà ¶nbrunn Palace. Viennas Imperial Winter Palace remained The Hofburg. By the mid-1800s, the former city walls and military enforcements that protected the city center were demolished. In their place, Emperor Franz Joseph I launched a massive urban renewal, creating what has been called the most beautiful boulevard in the world, the Ringstrasse. Ring Boulevard is lined with over three miles of monumental, historically-inspired neo-Gothic and neo-Baroque buildings. The term Ringstrassenstil is sometimes used to describe this mix of styles. The Museum of Fine Arts and the Renaissance Revival Vienna Opera House (Wiener Staatsoper) were constructed during this time.  Burgtheater, Europes second-oldest theater, was first housed in Hofburg Palace before this new theater was built in 1888. Modern Vienna The Viennese Secession movement at the turn of the 20th century launched a revolutionary spirit in architecture. Architect Otto Wagner (1841-1918) combined traditional styles and Art Nouveau influences. Later, architect Adolf Loos (1870-1933) established the stark, minimalist style we see at The Goldman and Salatsch Building. Eyebrows raised when Loos built this modern structure across from the Imperial Palace in Vienna. The year was 1909, and the Looshaus marked an important transition in the world of architecture. Yet, the buildings of Otto Wagner may have influenced this modernist movement. Some have called Otto Koloman Wagner the Father of Modern Architecture. For certain, this influential Austrian helped move Vienna from Jugendstil (Art Nouveau) into 20th-century architectural practicality. Wagners influence on the architecture of Vienna is felt everywhere in that city, as noted by Adolf Loos himself, who in 1911 is said to have called Wagner the greatest architect in the world. Born on July 13, 1841 in Penzig near Vienna, Otto Wagner was educated at the Polytechnic Institute in Vienna and Kà ¶nigliche Bauakademie in Berlin, Germany. He then went back to Vienna in 1860 to study at the Akademie der bildenden Kà ¼nste (Academy of Fine Arts), graduating in 1863. He was trained in the Neoclassical fine art style that was ultimately rejected by the Secessionists. Otto Wagners architecture in Vienna is stunning. The distinctive tiled facade of the Majolika Haus makes this 1899 apartment building desired property even today. The Karlsplatz Stadtbahn rail station that once  inked urban Vienna with its growing suburbs in 1900 is so revered an example of beautiful  Art Nouveau architecture that it was moved piece by piece to a safer venue when the railroad upgraded. Wagner ushered in modernism with the Austrian Postal Savings Bank (1903-1912) - the Banking Hall of the Ãâ€"sterreichische Postsparkasse also brought the modern banking function of paper transactions to Vienna. The architect returned to Art Nouveau with the 1907 Kirche am Steinhof or Church of St. Leopold at Steinhof Asylum, a beautiful church designed especially for the mentally ill. Wagners own villas in  Hà ¼tteldorf, Vienna best express his transformation from his neoclassical training to Jugendstil. Why is Otto Wagner Important? Art Nouveau in Vienna, a new art known as Jugendstil.Vienna Secession, founded in 1897 by a union of Austrian artists, Wagner was not a founder but is associated with the movement. The Secession was based on the belief that art and architecture should be of its own time and not a revival or imitation of historic forms such as Classical, Gothic, or Renaissance. On the Secession exhibition hall in Vienna are these German words: der zeit ihre kunst (to every age its art) and der kunst ihre freiheit (to art its freedom).Vienna Moderne, a transitional time in European architecture. The Industrial Revolution was offering new construction materials and processes, and, like architects of the Chicago School, a group of artists and architects in Vienna were finding their way to what we consider Modernity. Architecture critic Ada Louise Huxtable has described it as a time full of genius and contradiction, characterized by a kind of bipolar architecture of simple, geometric designs adorned with fanciful Jugendstil ornamentation. Moderne Architektur, Wagners 1896 book on modern architecture continues to be studied.Urban Planning and Iconic Architecture in Vienna:   The Steinhof Church and the Majolikahaus are even pictured on coffee mugs available to purchase as souvenirs. Otto Wagner, Creating Iconic Architecture for Vienna The same year Louis Sullivan was suggesting a form follows function in American skyscraper design, Otto Wagner was describing aspects of modern architecture in Vienna in his translated declaration that something impractical cannot be beautiful. His most important writing is perhaps the 1896 Moderne Architektur, in which he asserts the case for Modern Architecture: A certain practical element with which man is imbued today simply cannot be ignored, and ultimately every artist will have to agree with the following proposition: Something impractical cannot be beautiful. - Composition, p. 82 All modern creations must correspond to the new materials and demands of the present if they are to suit modern man. - Style, p. 78 Things that have their source in modern views correspond perfectly to our appearance....things copied and imitated from old models never do....A man in a modern traveling suit, for example, fits in very well with the waiting room of a train station, with sleeping cars, with all our vehicles; yet would we not stare if we were to see someone dressed in clothing from the Louis XV period using such things? - Style, p. 77 The room that we inhabit should be as simple as our clothing....Sufficient light, a pleasant temperature, and clean air in rooms are very just demands of man....If architecture is not rooted in life, in the needs of contemporary man...it will just cease to be an art. - The Practice of Art, pp. 118, 119, 122 Composition also entails artistic economy. By this I mean a moderation in the use and treatment of forms handed down to us or newly created that corresponds to modern ideas and extends to everything possible. This is especially true for those forms that are considered high expressions of artistic feeling and monumental exaltation, such as domes, towers, quadrigae, columns, etc. Such forms, in any case, should be used only with absolute justification and sparingly, since their overuse always produces the opposite effect. If the work being created is to be a true reflection of our time, the simple, the practical, the - one might almost say - military approach must be fully and completely expressed, and for this reason alone everything extravagant must be avoided. - Composition, p. 84 Todays Vienna Todays Vienna is a showplace of architectural innovation. Twentieth-century buildings include  Hundertwasser-Haus, a brilliantly colored, unusually shaped building by Friedensreich Hundertwasser, and a controversial glass and steel structure, the 1990 Haas Haus by Pritzker Laureate Hans Hollein. Another Pritzker architect took the lead converting the century-old and historically protected industrial buildings of Vienna into what today is known as  Jean Nouvel Buildings Gasometers Vienna  - a massive urban complex with offices and shops that became adaptive reuse on a grand scale. In addition to the Gasometer project, Pritzker Laureate Jean Nouvel has designed housing units in Vienna, as have the Pritzker winners Herzog and de Meuron on Pilotengasse.  And that apartment house on the Spittelauer Lnde? Another Pritzker Laureate, Zaha Hadid. Vienna continues to make architecture in a big way, and they want you to know that Vienna’s architecture scene is thriving. Sources The Dictionary of Art Vol. 32, Grove, Oxford University Press, 1996, pp. 760-763Vienna Moderne (November 26, 1978), Architecture, Anyone? by Ada Louise Huxtable, University of California Press, 1986, p. 100Modern Architecture by Otto Wagner, A Guidebook for His Students to This Field of Art, edited and translated by Harry Francis Mallgrave, The Getty Center for the History of Art and the Humanities, 1988 (translated from the 1902 third edition)

Reflaction paper for public health class (pbhl2000) Essay

Reflaction paper for public health class (pbhl2000) - Essay Example ver, hospitalization and morbidity statistics are too alarming that it remains a question whether our government is serious about its concern on public health. Published in 2004 in The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Zaher’s article titled, â€Å"Smoking-Related Diseases: The Importance of COPD† presents the glaring reality regarding our present public health status, that is, the government’s efforts to reduce smoking and promote public health are ineffective. Zaher et al.’s article article is very informative as it presents data about smoking-related diseases, especially COPD. It is also very implicative as it analyzes different cases of smoking-related diseases, and suggests more concern on COPD cases. Moreover, it is predictive as it provides the smoking disability adjusted life years (DALYs) till year 2020. The article presents valuable information about smoking-related diseases. First, smoking is still rampant, given the number of smoking cases and smoking-related diseases. According to the article, there is continuous increase in the cases of smoking-related diseases from 1999 and the number is still expected to increase in the future. In particular, deaths related to smoking are expected to increase from 53,238 in 1999 to 76,390 in 2020 (Zaher et al. 1425). Cases of COPD are expected to rise even more than other reasons by the year 2020 (Zaher et al. 1425). Furthermore, the cost of public health on smoking-related diseases alone is yet to rise with the continuous increase in the number of cases. Among which, lung cancer cost will remain the highest as it has proven in the year 2000 survey. Zaher et al.’s article is also implicative as it carefully analyzes different cases of smoking-related diseases. According to the research, limited attention is given to COPD, considering the higher cases of lung cancer and chronic heart disease (CHD). Nevertheless, the authors emphasize that more attention should be given to COPD

Rites of Passage Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Rites of Passage - Research Paper Example This gives him the energy and spirit to enter the next stage with valor and delight. The theme behind is that such rites help us stay connected to our natural events of life or life cycle. A person is able to go through a happy flashback of his life when he thinks in old age how cheerfully he entered each stage and coped with the hardships that come with every phase. This paper intends to compare and contrast the rites of passage in modern American and Indian cultures. Modern American society celebrates many rites of passage, like baby showers, bar mitzvahs, quinceaneras, and school graduations. There are very few definite events that mark a person’s shift from adolescence into adulthood. We see an absence of clearly defined rites of passage in the contemporary culture, which have prevailed in olden times in America. Indian culture also does not have very clearly defined rites of passage except some important ones like birth, marriage and funeral. However, there are some simil arities that both cultures share, for example grief is symbolized with color. American society relates black with grief and Indians link white with sadness. For example, on funerals, Americans wear black and Indians wear white. There are more differences in the carrying out of the rites of passage than similarities, in the two cultures. ... The expectant mother is dressed in a heavy dress with a lot of garlands. Elderly ladies shower blessings on her, and women share tips and tricks of mothering a child. The home deity is worshipped. The mother is given the gifts which are meant for her and not the baby. American culture celebrates adolescence ceremonies both for boys and girls, to honor their stepping into puberty. The most prominent adolescent rite of passage celebrated in America is the quincearena. Quinceanera celebrates a girl’s fifteenth birthday thus commemorating her past fifteen years into a get-together where people related to her make merry and congratulate her for her coming adulthood (Alvarez). Her journey from childhood to adulthood is recollected and she transforms from a naughty little kid into a delicate, pretty lady. The invited families are encouraged to select the customs that have special meaning to them and to add to the customs as they wish. That is what makes the celebration unique and ver y special. In contrast, in Indian culture, there is no such ceremony that celebrates the passing of fifteen years or steeping of a girl or boy into the sixteenth year of life. American practices have more or less become dependent on the economical and psychological aspects of life. For example, funeral practices in America depict true picture of capitalism and materialism. Corpse is displayed in the public for last viewing. This is a general acceptance of the fact that death is expected of all human beings and none of us resist to it. Corpses, nowadays, are prepared with makeup and expensive clothes before burial. Memorial services and cremations are also in practice. Hence, American funeral is an organized and

Sydney Opera House Construction Project

Sydney Opera House Construction Project The purpose of this assignment is to research the Sydney Opera House construction project and to prepare a report under the following headings: Jump to Project overview/Background Project team/Stakeholders Construction Project costs Executive summary/Conclusion Project Overview/Background The Sydney Opera House is one of the worlds iconic buildings and is recognized by most people universally. It is has become a global symbol of Australia. Planning for the Sydney Opera House began in the late 1940s, when Eugene Goossens, the Director of the New South Wales (NSW) State Conservatorium of Music, lobbied for a suitable venue for large theatrical productions. The normal venue for these productions, the Sydney Town Hall, was not considered large enough. By 1954, Goossens had gained the support of NSW Premier (Prime Minister) Joseph Cahill, who called for designs for a dedicated opera house. It was also Goossens who insisted that Bennelong Point be the site for the Opera House. Joseph Cahill had originally wanted it to be on or near Wynyard Railway Station in the northwest of the CBD. In 1956 Joseph Cahill, announced an international competition for the design of an opera house for Sydney. The competition called for a structure that contained two theatres a large hall for opera, ballet, and large scale symphony concerts capable of seating 3,000-3,500 people, and a smaller hall for drama, chamber music and recitals, capable of seating approx 1,200 people. A total of 233 designs were submitted for the competition. In January 1957, Jorn Utzon was announced the winner after his design had originally been rejected by three of the four judges. His design was based on the sails of a ship and gull wings using architectural concepts borrowed from the ancient Chinese. He won AUS $15000 for his design. One of Utzons Original Sketches The Fort Macquarie Tram Depot, occupying the site at this time, was demolished in 1958. Originally the project was scheduled for four years with a budget of AUS $7 million. The goal was to have the project completed by the end of 1962 and have the grand opening at the start of 1963. The construction of the Opera House did not begin until March 1959. The project ended up taking 14 years to complete and cost AUS $102 million. Project Team/Stakeholders The project team consisted of the designer and architect Jorn Utzon as well as Ove Arup, who was in charge of the structure and the engineering. There were various other subcontractors who made up the remainder of the team. The team was in charge of mechanics, electrics, heating and ventilating, lighting and acoustics, basically all of the design and construction. There was no project manager appointed to the job, and it was assumed that Utzon was to take the managerial role for all decisions regarding any design, construction or development. In actuality, it was Arup who was in charge of construction and development, even though Utzon usually had the final decision. So while the responsibilities should have been evenly shared between Utzon and Arup, Utzon strived for more control than he had. In addition, since Utzon was unquestionably the leading professional in the team, the other members expected that he would control the program and produce the drawings for construction. Stakeholders are persons or organisations who will affect or be affected by the project. There were two main stakeholders at the beginning of the Sydney Opera House construction, Jorn Utzon and the state of New South Wales which encompassed the Australian Government who launched the competition for the project, especially the Labour Premier Joseph Cahill. Jorn Utzon When a more conservative Liberal Party won the elections in 1965 and a new government was created, Davis Hughes was appointed Minister for Public Works and became a main stakeholder as he had control over the funding for the project. Some other stakeholders were Ove Arup and his firm as well as the other external companies and consulting firms. The construction of the project required the use of new techniques (computer-based three dimensional site positioning devices, geothermal pumpsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦) and it was outsourced to new consulting bodies such as Unisearch. Finally, the public was an indirect stakeholder because they were concerned with the projects success. And while only some citizens would be customers of the Opera House, it would also prove to be an integral part of Sydney and the countrys history. The public also contributed to the funding of the Opera through a lottery set up by the Government. Construction The project was built in three stages. Stage I (1959-1963) consisted of building the upper podium. Stage II (1963-1967) saw the construction of the outer shells. Stage III (1967-1973) consisted of the interior design and construction. Stage 1 Stage 1 commenced on 2 March 1959 by the construction firm Civil HYPERLINK http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil__CivicHYPERLINK http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil__Civic Civic, monitored by the Ove Arups engineering firm. The government had pushed for work to begin early, fearing that funding, or public opinion, might turn against them. However, Utzon had still not completed the final designs. There were still some major structural issues that were yet to be resolved. By 23 January 1961, work was running 47 weeks behind schedule, mainly because of unexpected difficulties (inclement weather, unexpected difficulty diverting stormwater, construction beginning before proper construction drawings had been prepared, changes of original contract documents). Work on the podium was finally completed in February 1963. Construction of the podium 1962 The forced early start led to significant later problems, one of the biggest problems being the fact that the podium columns were not strong enough to support the roof structure, and had to be re-built Stage 2 The shells of the competition entry were originally of undefined geometry. Ove Arup and his engineering firm struggled to find an acceptable solution to constructing them. The formwork for using in-situ concrete would have been prohibitively expensive, but, because there was no repetition in any of the roof forms, the construction of precast concrete for each individual section would possibly have been even more expensive. From 1957 to 1963, the design team went through at least twelve variations of the form of the shells trying to find an economically acceptable form before a realistic solution was agreed upon. The design work on the shells involved one of the earliest uses of computers in structural analysis, in order to understand some of forces to which the shells would be subjected. In mid-1961, the design team found a solution to the problem: the shells all being created as sections from a sphere. The shells were constructed by Hornibrook Group Pty Ltd, who were also responsible for construction in Stage 3. Hornibrook manufactured the 2400 precast ribs and 4000 roof panels in an on-site factory and also developed the construction processes. The achievement of this solution avoided the need for expensive formwork construction by allowing the use of precast units (it also allowed the roof tiles to be prefabricated in sheets on the ground, instead of being stuck on individually at height). Ove Arup and Partners site engineer supervised the construction of the shells, which used an innovative adjustable steel-trussed erection arch to support the different roofs before completion. On 6 April 1962, it was estimated that the Opera House would be completed between August 1964 and March 1965. Construction of the shells 1963 Stage 3 By Stage 3, the interiors, the project was taking up so much of his time that Utzon moved his entire office to Sydney in February 1963. However, there was a change of government in 1965, and the new Robert Askin government declared the project under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Public Works and put massive pressure on Utzon to finish the project. This ultimately led to his resignation in 1966. His position was taken over by Peter Hall who was mostly responsible for the interior design. At this point, the government asked for the number of seats to be increased from 2000 to 3000. The acoustic advisor, Lothar Cremer, was full of criticism of Utzons original design. He said this would not be possible and would be detrimental to the acoustics. Utzons design was coming under a significant amount of criticism at this point. Even the stage designer, Peter Jones, criticised the overall interior design. During all the criticism, work was still carried out with significant changes to Ut zons design. The final stage was eventually completed in 1973. Sydney Opera House Interior Project Costs The Sydney Opera House could probably be seen as one of the most financially disastrous construction projects in history. The winning design from the competition was originally supposed to have a budget of AUS$7 million. Initially the cost of the Opera House was estimated at AUS$3.6 million from the design entry. When Utzon submitted his refined designs the Red Book, the estimates were then calculated by a quantity surveyor at AUS$4,781,200. The NSW Government decided not to invest any money into the Opera House and decided to donate no more than AUS$100,000. They then set up the Opera House Lottery for the public, which ran through the course of the construction and generated enough funds to keep the construction going. The Opera House was formally completed in 1973, having cost $102 million. The following approximations were provided by the Hornibrook director in charge of the project Stage 1: Podium Civil and Civic $5.5 million Stage 2: Roof Shells $12.5 million Stage 3 : Stage equipment, stage lighting and organ $9 million Fees and other costs $16.5 million. 1974, the minister for public works announced the final bill for the project was $102 million, a total of $95 million over budget. Executive Summary/Conclusion The Sydney Opera House project was an unmitigated failure from a construction and project management point of view. The three major factors for a project to be successful are cost, time and quality. The project came in at a total of almost 1400% over budget and took ten years longer than expected. There were a number of factors in the failure of the project. At the beginning of any project, goals and objectives have to be clearly defined by the client to provide a guideline for what the project must contain. The project wasnt defined properly and the plans were changed constantly. The Australian Governments impatience and decision to start the construction before all the designs and drawings had been completed was a major factor in the project failures. This in turn made it extremely difficult for the design and construction teams as well as increasing the costs of the project. Jorn Utzon, being the designer and architect should have attempted to minimise changes to the plans unless absolutely necessary by simply rejecting unnecessary alterations. The lack of a project manager played a big role in the failure of the project. A project manager is absolutely essential for most construction projects and certainly a project of this size. In general, the project manager is responsible for the overall success of the project. The lack of leadership and guidance seemed to be a significant problem during the building of the Opera House. Without a project manager there was no clear leader or boss and therefore nobody for the contractors to liaise with in the event of uncertainties or concerns about any aspect of the construction except for Utzon who seemed to have his hands full with the constant design changes and updates. Although the construction of the project is generally seen as an absolute failure, it is impossible to argue that the Sydney Opera House is anything other than an outstanding success for Sydney and for Australia as a country. It is one of the most recognisable buildings in the world and attracts millions of visitors annually.

Importance of Non Conventional Energy by Shanavaz Khan

Research has shown that fuels such as oil, gas and even nuclear have a remaining life span of 70 years. As the industrialized modern world consumes increasing amounts of energy, finding non-conventional energy sources becomes essential to sustain worldwide energy demands. There is considerable debate about the efficiency of non-conventional energy and its ability to supply the world. The contribution of renewable sources of energy remains small however it’s a growing sector with expanding levels of investment. Non-Conventional energy sources can be defined in following types * Water Energy – Hydro-electric power plants are effective in utilizing potential energy stored in water. Ocean contains energy in form of temperature gradients, waves and tides and can be harnessed. * Wind Energy – Wind has kinetic energy that can turn turbines and can be converted to usable power. However the amount of energy that can be derived depends on the speed of the wind. Wind power is one of the most cost-efficient forms of non-conventional energy. Solar Energy – The Solar Photo Voltaic (SPV) technology which enables the direct conversion of sun light into electricity can be used to run pumps, lights, refrigerators, TV sets, etc and it has several distinct advantages since it does not have moving parts, produces no noise or pollution, requires very little maintenance and can be installed anywhere. * Other sources – Geo-Thermal energy, Biomass energy and Bio fuels are other sources of non-conventional energy. All over the developed world importance of these types of non-conventional energy sources has been recognized with international targets set for a massive increase in renewable generation, for example European Union has set 30 percent energy output by 2020. Nevertheless there is need of more thrust to the research and development of non-conventional energy sources not only to mitigate greenhouse effect but also to lessen dependence on fossil fuels. Last but not the least, it is for citizens also to believe in power of renewable energy sources and understand its necessity and importance.