8 Classic Storm Poems

Poets love stormy weather. The powers of the natural world revealed in a tempest can be shocking, terrifying and destructive, but they are also awe-inspiring, exhilarating, and metaphorically rich—a perfect source of poetic inspiration. Here we’ve selected a few classic poems describing or inspired by storms. Attune yourself to the natural havoc outdoors by reading them while you’re safely sheltering inside from a storm, perhaps, or declaim them to the sky outside after the storm has passed. William Shakespeare, Storm speech on the heath from King Lear (1623)William Cullen Bryant, â€Å"The Hurricane† (1854)Walt Whitman, â€Å"Proud Music of the Storm† (from Leaves of Grass, 1900 edition)Algernon Charles Swinburne, â€Å"A Channel Passage† (1904)Amy Lowell, â€Å"Storm-Racked† (1914)Robert Frost, â€Å"A Line-Storm Song† (1915)Siegfried Sassoon, â€Å"Storm and Sunlight† (1918)Jean Toomer, â€Å"Storm Ending† (1922)

Human Resource Best Practices Essay Free Essays

string(63) " is more strong that the firms within an institutional sector\." The world of business today requires that companies place their performance on an operation aspect so that all channels may perform to their best and lead to productive interdependence within the organization. The human resource management portfolio is of great importance to each firm because it guides its decisions and how it functions within them. When the firm employs good Human Resource Manager, there are high chances of performance in productivity, costs and quality of products and overall efficiency. We will write a custom essay sample on Human Resource Best Practices Essay or any similar topic only for you Order Now Hence, a firm should adopt the quality HRM to enjoy its benefits as well as have an advantage in solving any risks that may have come up before. Its HRM pedagogies will eventually provide a platform, through which it attracts, retains and trains its existing assets with the highest value. On the other hand, without human contribution, there would be no appreciated management. In this precept, for good performance of any organization, it requires motivation, engagement, and satisfaction of the human aspect to operate efficiently and smoothly. Job satisfaction is consequently determined so that customer satisfaction may also be measured. This is because employee dissatisfaction in their job may lead to the provision of inadequate services, which may eventually lead to customer dissatisfaction as well. Hence, it is the responsibility of the human resource as a labor-intensive industry to sensitize on the delivery of excellent services to clients so that maximum customer satisfaction may be achieved as a result. When managing any project, a well stipulated project goals and objective must be outlined by the HRM. The manager should keenly look at how the objectives will be realized and outlining how the resources needed to achieve the goals. He plays a very important role is implementing good plans for the project alongside taking risks that ensures the project does well. A good manager identifies all the competing demands from various stakeholders and ensuring that a commonality of purpose is realized. He is an instrumental person in an organization because he schedules the entire plan, he encourages teamwork, maximizes available resources, manages change and good quality of output. He is also responsible for evaluating the progress and the performance of an organization. Therefore, the presence of human resource is very essential within any organization. A good manager brings high performance to an organization. Good performance is the ultimate measure of a well doing organization. The manager must be empowered to take appropriate decisions that contribute to the well being of the organization. He uses the authority and the power bestowed upon him to make decision on how to allocate available resources. He does the same on administration, communication, technological choices and any other matter that pertain the project that may need his attention. In so doing, there will be high performance in within the set up. High performance on the other hand makes the clients have the intrinsic drive to attain their services from the firm. Most of the client will bestow their trust on the services provided because of good leadership. It also makes the company have good relationship working relationship with other neighboring organizations and with the workers themselves. Because of the competition in today`s market, current organizations need good management without which they are subjected to failure. In this plinth, the purpose of this assignment is to securitize the appropriate pedagogical approaches that the resource manager can employ within the organization to improve on the organizational output. Good performance of the organization depend on various aspects like motivation, job security, compensation, good working environment, advancement in line of duties among many other factors. Definitions of Performance Management and High Performance Work According to Martha Lagace (2009), companies that record high performance are actually led by their original founder members or by their transformational. In this case, they are people who can be responsible of any crisis that occurs in the company and attend to it appropriately. They are able to achieve high standards of commitments from all the stakeholders within the organization. In so doing, the firms retains the clients for a very long period of time, the employees are care for well because they have good working environment, and investors are attracted to venture into the firm because of good production. This illustration is supported by Michael Beer, the Cahners-Rabb Professor in the School of Business Administration, Emertus by saying that such firms attain excellence for long period of time. Companies with good performance output have positive contribution to the customers the employees, investors and the community at large. They also grow by outlining their idiosyncratic capabilities in order to make them move into wider markets to attain products and services and geographical locations for their firms. According to Gong, Law, Chang and Xin (2009), high performance work system represents a detailed, incorporated and systematic approach where the human resource manager works tirelessly to ensure that all the set goals and objectives are met. He ensures that he utilizes the resources, manpower, and any other available material to meet the satisfaction of the firm. In this dictum, evaluation of high performance of work is extensively examined because it their outermost priority. According to the definition, the employees are very instrumental in realizing the set objective of the firm. They are treated with a lot of dignity and decorum because they solicit all ways possible to ensure that there is maximization of profit within the firm. Any institutional factor or environment as a context that may affect or influence high performance of the firm is looked into with a lot of keenness. The firms also provide good geographical location, which are at central places to be accessed by the clients most of the time. An example of a case study in Chinese gives empirical results that firm with HPWS connection is mediated by the adaptive aptitude. Also, the effect of high performance work system on firms with adaptive capability is more strong that the firms within an institutional sector. You read "Human Resource Best Practices Essay" in category "Essay examples" Therefore, the location of the firm matters a lot as far as high performance is concerned. A similar description is explained by The Management of Engineering and Technology (2002), a methodical approach used by organization to attain high production standards. Through the process, the company aims at achieving effective operational skills, innovation, and high quality results for their customers. They work tirelessly to ensure that the clients get the best goods and services and they are retrained most of the time. In this case, there are five organizational practices that are keenly looked into to ensure that the high performance is realized. The first one being good leadership, empowerment of the employees, pioneering in human resource management, good measuring of performance and ensuring employees have good knowledge in whatever thing they are doing. In this regard, the firm is assured of attaining high performance since the clients will be served with high quality of products and services all the time. Performance Management Conceptual Framework Most of the managers think that filling report is the most important aspect in attaining good performance. However much this might be necessary, attaining high performance entails a lot. All too often, performance management if not looked into, sometimes become the weakest link within the chain of management, therefore, the managers should put a lot of considerations into it. The figure below shows some of the important aspect that the managers of organizations should look into to ensure high performance is realized. From the framework, a lot of derivations can be made. Performance management system depend on the factors like evaluating performance standards, measuring performance of the employees, reporting the progress to the topmost leadership and improving the quality of the products. Goal Setting Theory Edwin Locke defines goal setting theory of motivation as the goal set by the organization to be directly proportional to performance. When the goals set are directly adhered to under proper management, the performance has to be positive by a great margin. In simple words, goals set enable the employer to give the appropriate directions to the employees. Employees on the other hand, are enticed to work extra hard to achieve the goals laid. The readiness to work towards attaining the set goals is the driving force in motivation. Goals set act as motivational factors to the employees and the employer; hence, they work in tandem to achieve them. High goals set are more motivating than easy, all-purpose and hazy goals because they are easily attained. Edwin and Gary, 2015, gives clarity that the goals set must be SMART; Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and can be achieved within a given Time-bound. Specific goals give best results and it is easier to measure and appreciate because it inspires one in achieving the set objectives. Nevertheless, the goal setting theory has its pros and cons. Some of the pro`s is that it provides a constructive way of evaluating workers performance and commitment. It also gives appropriate feedback on the progress made by the organization. Another advantage is point a clear ladder of coordination between the workers and gives proper channel of communication. In addition, it defines structured goals that help in the managers in realizing the objective of the organization. On the same plinth, the theory has it weakness. The conflict between the organizational skills may lead to disagreement between the stakeholders if the matter is not solved with care. The theory may not work well in institutions with low goals, where the goals are not well defined because the managers do aim higher. On the same not, it may demoralize the performance of the employees because they are not motivate to work extra hard. When the goals are not well defined and challenging, the employees work reluctantly because there is nothing to challenge them. There is no convincing evidence that goal setting theory satisfies the members. When the members are not satisfied with the job they do, there is high likelihood that they can run away from the job. Also, when the employer is not satisfied, there will be managerial problems which may eventually lead to the decline of the organization. Another point worth noting is that the theory does improve or provide room for the additional skills like competency to the employee. Proficiency is very pivotal for quality production to the organization. In this dictum, if the theory cannot provide that to the workers, then the goal setting theory can easily fail hence undermining the progress of the organization as far as performance is concerned. From the analysis made, it is eminent does not suit an organization that aims at attaining high performance work system. The theory records a lot of limitations than advantages, hence making it unsuitable for such a setup. In case the leader is one who is focused and goal oriented or he is one who aims at providing greater leeway for the organization and is after mobilizing what is to be done, then the theory is not appropriate. Goal setting is one of the most cognitive needs of any organization. A leader may or may not seek to have organizational goals, but provide for his self satisfaction, such a leader can best apply goals setting theory. When setting up the theories to use within an organization, one should be very speculative to use the theories that makes the organization prosper. Goals setting as an example of motivation to the employees, only appeals to someone who is irrefutable oriented. Because of this, one may be evoked to compare personality when choosing the theories to use. A non-interventionist may be more obsessed with this type of theory and may not lay out the goals that transform the organization. All in all, such details might involve professional and administrative aspects like recordkeeping, job hierarchies, evaluation of reports which a leader who uses goal setting theory might not be ready for. Process of Management In this case, a case study is done to evaluate the management of performance system in Malaysian government linked company. The purpose of the study was to examine the industrialization of the performance management system. It looked at some of the changes brought about by the government linked company program. The findings state that the activities of the company brought some changes in the way the business was operating. The finding states that the active became a routine appraising to the performance of the employees. In this case the employees became decoupled from all the activities taking place within the organization. In this precept, it did not change the ways in which members were carrying out their duties since no new ideas were brought in. this process is realized to be time consuming and costly in away and it is subject to confrontation. For any change to be effected in any government linked organization, a strong set up of management must be stipulated lest most of the things go a mess. Employees Skills and Training Needs The case study is carried out in from the Oil and Gas Industry in the UK. Fromm the study, workers need a lot for their satisfaction. Their skills need to be improved so that they give quality output. They also needs incentives whenever they do good, motivation makes them work aiming at achieving the set objectives. The company needs to organize for workshops and seminars to help improve in the skills of the employees since for them to produce quality products to merge the completive market. From the study, in as much as everyone in the industry may require training, it is realized that those having less experiences need to train more than any other worker. Training makes them work as opposed to before because there is acquisition of new skills. Also the management gets more clients since the level of production is increased and the quality of products also goes high. The specialists are involved in the training and by the end of the session; there is a lot of benefit inquired. An organization which aims at producing high performance work system must train her workers to and meet their needs. When the needs of the employees are met within appropriate time, they feel that they are catered for and respected. This makes them to work extra hard to achieve the set objectives. Training also increases the salary scale of the employees since additional experience is added to them. Crucial role of line Managers and HR in enabling and managing High Performance and Productivity Line managers and Human Resource are very instrumental in ensuring that there is high performance in productivity. Partnership of lime managers and human resource is increasingly becoming common in most of the organization. HR department is entirely responsible for all human resource management activities, and a line manager shares the same responsibilities. Line manager have the power to influence the behavior of the employee to improve on the productivity. They play crucial role in coordinating the resources allocated in the organization for it to achieve the set goals and objective. A case study carried out in UK to show the relationship between the role of line managers and human resource point out that the line managers and human resource are interdependent. They both assist in sharing knowledge that improves the output of the organization. In this plinth, the lone manager is very premeditated in all the aspects of Human Resource manager. The ultimate goal of their interaction is towards bringing raising the performance of the company. The research shows that for an organization to be fit in the current future challenges that face them, the two has to partner. They ensure that poor and low performing employees are taken through training so that they merge the standards of the organization. They two in partnership, help in developing and reviewing policies that contribute to the positive growth of the organization. They foresee any problem that might affect the organization and prevent it in time without necessarily affecting the workers. They also plan for both long and short term goals and state how they should be achieved. In case a plan fails, they come together and find alternative means that can be substituted immediately so that the organization does not get into problems. They solve the problems that may arise among workers and ensures there is peaceful co existence among them. By doing so, they act as role models to the employees hence enabling them work in peace, love and unity. Therefore, the line managers and the human resource are very pivotal in ensuring that the organization achieves high performance work system. Conclusions From the discussion, series of conclusions can be arrived at. First, in order to improve the performance of an organization, a lot should be put into considerations. There should be high performance from the employees. The human resource should ensure that appropriate approaches are put to meet the standards of the organization. Putting keen consideration on the welfare of the employees is very instrumental since it makes them work with motivation. From the discussion, the manager should apply appropriate theories that can bring good results to the development of the organization. Also, in order to attain good results, the employees who are undertrained should be taken through workshops and seminars to help in improving their experience. In so doing, the organization invests in them and quality of produce is realized. Lastly, line mangers and human resources managers are vey essential in the well being of an organization. Their presence makes the association firm because they help in laying out structures that improve the performance of the organization. How to cite Human Resource Best Practices Essay, Essays

ADCO Global Strategy and Competitiveness free essay sample

The Abu Dhabi Company for Onshore Oil Operations (ADCO) as the name suggests functions onshore and in the coastal waters of Abu Dhabi. An agreement was made with Petroleum Development Ltd in 1939 however; the geological work did not begin until the Second World War. The exploratory drilling in Abu Dhabi was initiated in 1950. Being renamed ADPC (Abu Dhabi Petroleum Company) in 1962 and then the government increasing its interest from twenty-five percent to sixty percent in 1970. The government interest is now held by ADNOC (National Oil Company) and ADCO was formed in 1978 under Law number 14 and been since then responsible for the operations in the area. Today ADCO produces from five oil fields: Asab, Bab, Bu Hasa, Sahil and Shah. These fields are linked by pipelines and the storage and shipping facilities are provided at Jebel Dhanna and also, the tankers load here with crude oil for many markets of the world. In 1998, exploration was limited to the evaluation of the hydrocarbon potential in the concerned areas and assessing the deep reservoirs. In 2001, major upgrading of the offices and infrastructure was done and by 2002, five projects were completed. The company continues to get industry’s high achievements till today. IMPORTANCE OF STRATEGIES IN TODAY’S BUSINESS WORLD One of the most dramatic elements of change today is the technology centered workplace. In this workplace, there is much importance given to ideas and creative thinking, information, networks and relationships. Most organizations today are inclined towards the learning organization in which there is continuous learning and change. The new trends such as e-business, enterprise resource planning (ERPs) and knowledge management require the organization to be updated and incorporating the latest technology as well as ideas into the business processes. Strategy is the plan of actions that the organization would pursue to achieve its long-term goals and a grand strategy can be of: growth, stability or retrenchment. Apart from the three, depending on the organization, the strategy can be a global one. This is done so as to achieve globalization, to pursue a multi-domestic strategy or a transnational one. The reasons for ADCO to develop strategies in regards to the business environment it is exposed to are many. Firstly, the strategy that is designed and implemented later is important for core competencies. ADCO excels in drilling and exploration of oil in the region and hence, development of a relevant strategy would allow it to be the best in what it does. Secondly, for ADCO the relevant strategy would lead to synergy. There would be smooth interaction between the different parts/departments of the organization such as: Finance, Marketing, Production, Exploration on field and Human Resource etc, as these all would know that the eventual goals for ADCO can be achieved through the strategy it implements. Moreover, synergy can also be promoted by developing good relations with the suppliers and this would all be covered in the company’s strategies. Lastly, for value generation, ADCO implements the strategies that it has devised. This is essential because in the end, the product that ADCO creates has to satisfy the buyers so they know they paid for something worthwhile. STRATEGY OF ADCO ADCO is currently created a vision that focuses not just on increasing its balance sheet, but by promising a sustainable future to Abu Dhabi by ensuring that the resources are explored and extracted in the best way possible and served for best purposes. To achieve this vision entitled â€Å"Vision 2020†, ADCO has devised five factors under the strategy: 1. To achieve the highest standards of HSE performance in the industry 2. To develop technical efficiency and leadership in competency so that the complexity of the business can be managed effectively 3. Continuous evaluation and execution of optimum development of the reservoir to maximize recovery and minimize the costs 4. Adopting the technology that allows most efficient field development 5. The integrity of the facilities has to be ensured on a cost effective basis so that system availability is optimum. DEPARTMENTAL STRATEGY The departmental strategy for the operations aims at the integration of the existing facilities on a cost effective basis to optimize system availability. Under this, ADCO has to ensure to stay in good books for HSE, develop asset integrity management system (AIMS), provide support which is knowledge based to all business units, adopt the best maintenance practices and continue to conduct researches and studies for the latest technology. This is all aligned with the organizational strategy to use the resources for ADCO efficiently so that it can be a leader with the best standards and utilize its operations best. STRATEGY SCHOOL USED BY ADCO ADCO is implementing strategies based on the â€Å"positioning and fit† school of thought. In a dynamic business environment, the long term profitability is ensured by the average profit potential of the industry and the competitive advantage. In this school of thought for strategy, Michael Porter has also proposed the five forces model. Under this model, five forces that affect an organization’s competitive advantage are shown: the rivals within the industry, the power exerted by suppliers, the influence of the buyers, the threat of substitute products and the entry of new potential. Therefore, as indicated by Porter, a firm can establish integral dominance over its rivals and other forces only if it shows a difference and continues to maintain it and hence it gives it a competitive advantage. Even though the company has effective returns and cuts costs with efficiency and has operational excellence, it cannot stand for long if it does not dare to differentiate. That is what we can also observe in ADCO’s Vision 2020 plan. It indicates an entire hierarchy of how to achieve the vision as well and what strategies can be employed to achieve the highest standards in HSE performance, make strategic choices and decisions (through organizational integration, smart field, portfolio management and improved information quality), implement the best technology to enhance fieldwork, achieve integrity in operations and conducting performance management at a continuous level so as to review the process at the same time. As we can see, these strategies show how ADCO can really obtain that single most point for differentiation and would actually be able to withhold it for long if it really implements it without flaws(Chung,63). SWOT ANALYSIS OF THE STRATEGY Strengths: ADCO has already achieved many milestones when it comes to drilling activities. It has always honored the oil industry guidelines and has also achieved the best environmental/safety tactics employed. This step is necessary for the strategy to acquire the best HSE standards and the work plans required to achieve these standards are already aligned with the National Oil Company’s objectives. The strategy to improve decision making involves the transformation of the functional model to asset model which is strength for the company, because the existing structure is flexible unlike rigid hierarchies. In the strategy of portfolio management that comes under making strategic choices, the current prioritization is within functional portfolios which a strong point as it focuses on the functions on the whole. Also under technology strategy, ADCO is individually optimizing portfolios and this would lead to improved efficiency and greater value. ADCO’s performance management program has been embedded since 2002 and it allows continuous improvement(Deegan 90). Weaknesses: While improving strategic decision making during organizational integration some functions would be maintained as centralized. And the organizational transition would be finalized after the plan. In operations integrity, risk based methodologies are to be studied and implemented which should be done prior to the implementation of other strategies (Campbell 85). Opportunities: Business Intelligence (BI) Environment solutions to monitor the operations cycle and there can be development and execution of change management programs. In the future there can be maximum usage of the existing facilities, infrastructure and wells which would lead to optimized portfolios. Once the identification of must-do technology solutions is done, they can be implemented. The establishment of Collaborative Working Environment (CWE) can lead to integration of workflows and technologies as well as real time data. Programs can be made for workers and contractors safety and health. Threats: The workers issue is a sensitive one and the operations can be easily affected by their issues if they’re not taken care of properly and with care. The technology for real time information must be developed fast because the competitors are already exploring this avenue. THE CHANGING INDUSTRY, COMPLEXITY OF CULTURE AND THE FUTURE In 2009, the commodity prices for oil became low and the demand for energy had a huge impact in the industry of oil exploration. But in the end, the prices increased and the benefits could only be reaped at the end. Moreover, many companies have engaged in mergers and acquisitions to increase the size and scope of the operations and these are not just financial but also strategic. Most production companies are the likely target for acquisitions. ADCO’s strategy to implement technology and business intelligence solutions seems like tools for overcoming such a crisis. Also with its focus on the workers and contractors, there is much chance for higher productivity. As for the culture in the international trade, ADCO facilitates the loading of oil tankers at one of its spot from all over the world. It is very much updated about the current trends about women’s liberation and involvement in the work fields and has implemented a lot of regulations to show support to them. With the big companies all aiming for acquisitions, the best option for ADCO is to dare to differentiate and develop its own operational excellence to use it as a competitive advantage. As for ADCO’s future, it apparently seems successful because of the strategies that it has outlined are bold and can be implemented. â€Å"Vision 2020† outlines where ADCO wants to be in the future and the strategies have all been planned with effective performance management reviews, plans and execution. Moreover, the strategies for different departments make it easier for them to relate to the organizational goals and vision on the whole. COMPETITIVE STRATEGY FOR THE FUTURE ADCO can pursue the strategy of stability rather than growth or retrenchment. This is because in this arena of huge companies all seeking out the weaker ones, it is better to be productive and ensure the comfort of the employees so they do their best. Also since ADCO is oil exploration and drilling company, it should focus more on research and analysis of the fields and reserves and also the technology it should use to have better performance than the competitors. This would also let it develop better relations with the suppliers and the buyers and meanwhile pursuing stability, ADCO can focus more on developing its network and image (Sheldon, Langdon, Connor, John, Chandler, Jellison,34). References: Campbell, Tracy, â€Å"Integrating EM sounding into workflows reduces pre-drill risk†, World Oil: July 2010 Chung, Laura Walker, Vault career guide to the energy industry, USA: Vault Inc, 2005 Deegan, James F. An econometric model of the gulf coast oil and exploration industry, USA Arno Press Inc, 1979 Sheldon, Langdon, Connor, John, Chandler, R. Brett Jellison, Michael J. â€Å"Benchmarking a new connection technology in the deep Gulf of Mexico†, World Oil: July 2010

Abercrombie and Fitch External Analysis and Internal Analysis Essay Example

Abercrombie and Fitch External Analysis and Internal Analysis Paper Abercrombie Fitch is an American fashion retailing company headed by president and CEO Michael Jeffries. Abercrombie Fitch brand focuses on offering apparel that reflected the youthful lifestyle for a target audience, which was college students, designed to encourage teamwork and creativity On February 2007, AF retailer operated 944 stores in 49 States, District of Columbia and Canada. Furthermore, AF currently operates four other brands, which are: AF, Abercrombie Kids, Hollister Company, and RUEHL. With the running of those four brands, the company is collectively targeting consumers of 7 through 35. David T. Abercrombie founded the company in 1892, AT managers promoted it as: †The Finest Sporting Goods Store in the world†. At its early beginnings, AF had been an outfitter of sporting goods and rugged apparel, but also a place where individuals could learn skills and get involved in the community. Since 1960, the company encountered continued financial losses until The Limited purchased it in 1988, when Michael Jeffries became president and chief executive of AT launching the trademark slogan â€Å"casual luxury†, new style of Abercrombie. This case highlights the strategy of Abercrombie and Fitch, an upscale sporting good retailer who has turn into a leader in trendy apparel. In order to find the key issues, both internal and external analyses will be drawn and the company business strategy will be described. CONTEXT IDENTIFICATION External analysis and Internal analysis SWOT †¢ Strengths: The AF company strengths stand, firstly, in its strong brand portfolio. The retailer managed four brands: AF, Abercrombie, Hollister Company and Ruehl, which make them able to target a population from 7 to 35 years old. We will write a custom essay sample on Abercrombie and Fitch External Analysis and Internal Analysis specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Abercrombie and Fitch External Analysis and Internal Analysis specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Abercrombie and Fitch External Analysis and Internal Analysis specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The company has also gained a strong brand image, because of its uniqueness as a â€Å"casual luxury† brand and thanks to its stores design, which are implemented through an exciting store format, in order to communicate a consistent message in each stores. Abercrombie Fitch achieved revenues of $2. 85 billion and its net income rose to $334 million. During the same year, the company opened 63 stores and hired 20,600 employees. From 2001 to 2005, the company Financial Performances has done nothing but increasing, in each sectors (see Exhibit 4). That it to say, AF achieved a strong financial performance. When looking at Exhibit 1, we can see that AF also has a strong balanced sheet. The company has no debt/capital ratio, no debt as % of net working capital since 2002 and its Annual high-low stock price is much better than it’s competitors’. †¢ Weaknesses: The company is faced with a low inventory turnover ratio, because they choose not to distribute its apparel and accessories through wholesale, license or franchise, unlike other businesses. AT is the only responsible for creating and managing its brands. The company is implemented only in London, Milan, Canada and Tokyo abroad; thus they needs to focus on their expansion because it represents a limited geographic reach. †¢ Opportunities: The fact the company is only implemented in London, Milan, Canada and Tokyo represents an opportunity to expand in new markets, by targeting other kinds of population. Making investment in infrastructures would also be an opportunity for Abercrombie to improve customer services as its staff in the stores, its merchandising and store design, in order to merger from the competitors. The company can work on developing new concepts, in order to anticipate competitor’s moves, now that their own concept of being a â€Å"casual luxury† brand is a success. AF are not really presented online and should it would be an opportunity for the company to increase online sales. †¢ Threats: The main threats the company is faced with stands in the fact that US rental rates are increasing while the US economy is slowing down. Furthermore, the competitors are numerous on this kind of market; that is way AF must be vigilant and anticipate the competitor’s moves. †¢ Macro-environment analysis Political/ Legal: As AF has always been a brand generating controversy, they have to pay attention at not being disrespectful toward the US laws. The company have generated a lot of scandals, like in April 2002, when they launched a line of T-shirts with matching ethnics slogans: â€Å"Wong Brothers Laundry Service Two Wongs Can Make It White†; â€Å"Wok-N-Bowl†; â€Å"Buddha Bash: Get your Buddha on the Floor† (Gamble and Thompson, 2009:414). Since, the US is a country of vigilance against discrimination, sexual crime and alcoholism, Abercrombie has to comply with the US laws, which are really strict, and stop engaging in risky practices in order to attract attention. The company also have to prevent counterfeiting, since the US is a big country and it a lot of company have been faced with this kind of problem. Economic: The retailer market sector is a huge market, which implies a lot of concurrence: American Eagles Outfitters (AEO), Gap (GPS), and J. Crew Group (JC) (Gamble and Thompson, 2009:406). In addition, the fashion retail market sector is a sensible one, which means that if trends or lifestyles change, the market will be affected. That is currently the case in the US due to the financial crisis occurring and it has had an impact on Abercrombie finances. Moreover, AF has always been on the top of the competition in its sector, but since the American economy has entered a recession, because of the financial crisis, the company has to strengthen its pricing strategy and try to maintain its status by paying careful attention to its competitors. Social: Abercrombie benefit from an enviable target market, the teenagers, given the fact that Ablan (2003:21, cited in Gamble and Thompson, 2009:413) stated teens spent approximately $170 billion on goods and services in 2002, with one-third of that amount going toward apparel. AF target market have, most of the time, responded positively to their provocative campaigns, because of their strategy, which consists in getting closer to the teenagers by providing products with whom they can identify. Technological: Continuous technological progress allowed company to sell via the Internet more easily as on the AF website. The progress in technology also enables to extend the company database and get more and more customers by mailing the products provided through an electronic catalogue. Additionally, AF have had the opportunity to start experimenting with radio frequency identification (RFID) technology, which permits to fight against counterfeited products. †¢ Industry Analysis Five Porter’s Forces Power of Suppliers: Abercrombie pertains to the fashion industry retail market, where consumers have a strong power because of the fact this market is sensitive to their needs and behaviour, which can change from a moment to another. That is the reason why, Abercrombie is supposed to have to hold little power on its suppliers. On the contrary, in this case suppliers hold little power because of the several existing factories in America and as a matter of fact, it enables Abercrombie to argue and negotiate with its suppliers in order to maintain a high price on merchandise. Power of Customers: Customers have always had a lot of influence over the retail industry due to their price sensitiveness. Given the fact that websites and direct mailing are increasing, it gives a stronger power to the customer since they have the opportunity to compare prices, quality and have a large panel of the same products purposed. That is to say, the existence of website purposing the same products, is a threat for fashion retailers because it can push the customer to competitors and gives a significant power to them. Customers loyalty can oblige Abercrombie to re-evaluate its prices, because if they don’t they will lose their customer’s loyalty. Power of Rivalry: The rivalry in this sector is intense and forces Abercrombie to continuously work on innovating and merger from the others, in order to maintain its status. The main competitors are: American Eagle Outfitters Inc. (AEOS), and Gap Inc, who are publicly held firms and J. Crew group, Inc (JC) who is a privately held firm (Gamble and Thompson, 2009:406). Those three competitors are operating on the same segment than Abercrombie and tried, by several unsuccessful strategies, to become leader, while AF stays number one. Gap is the largest AF’s competitor, but there are lots of other competitors on this market segment that haven’t been cited in the case. Thus, Abercrombie have to continuously work on its strategy and compare to the others, in order to stay competitive. Threat of new entrants: A large number of new entrants exist in the specialty apparel industry. For example, Metropark, is a West coast chain for 20- to 35-year-old shoppers, who sold True Religion and Joe’s Jeans casual apparels and plan to opened additional 50 stores by 2007. (Gamble and Thompson, 2009:418). The barriers to enter this market are low, because purchasing and producing garments costs are cheap. Threat of substitution: Even if consumers are ready to pay a premium price in order to have better quality and brand name produces, the threat of substitution is considered as high because of some existing companies who imitate brand name products and sell them at a lower price. For example, Gamble and Thompson, (2009:415) state that: â€Å"AF launched an anticounterfeiting program in an effort to protect its brand and prevent low-cost manufacturers in Asian factories from making imitations of its products†. Industry Life Cycle: Abercrombie Fitch, as well as the other apparel shops are situated in the maturity stage of the industry life cycle. Fashion apparel introduction on the market has been done a long time ago and because of the numerous competitors existing on this market, the industry can be considered as mature. †¢ Driving Forces: Three driving forces were found as having a significant impact on the industry: -The Power of rivalry, Threat of new entrants and threat of substitution will have a NEGATIVE impact on the industry competition. -Technological and Legal forces will enable to prevent from counterfeiting and given the new strategies launched by Abercrombie and American authorities, this will have a POSITIVE impact on the industry. -Power of Customers and Social aspects will have a POSITIVE impact on customer †¢ Competitive intelligence analysis: The three main competitors of the company are the following: American Eagle Outfitters (AEOS) who is based in Pennsylvania and sold lower-priced casual apparel and accessories to men an woman ages 15-25 (Gamble and Thompson, 2009). The company revenues and net incomes are increasing, and they are focusing on an new target market, between ages 24-40, by creating a new intimate apparel sub-brand. J. Crew (JC) operates 200 stores in the United States. They have a joint venture in Japan, with 45 stores. This company has suffered from a series of losses because of its inept strategy. J. Crew is the smallest competitor of AF’s. Gap Inc is the largest competitor of AF’s. Gap Inc, operating worldwide with 3,000 stores. Both revenues and net income are high; it is operating at high-quality level and low-priced level, which makes Gap a really strong competitor to look after. †¢ Strategic map Operating revenues in 2005 (Millions) 16,267 2,785 2,309 850 851 3000 Numbers of shops in the world (hundreds) When looking at the map, we can see that the main competitor of Abercrombie is Gap because of its positioning. Gap is clearly differentiated from the other company, because of its numerous stores worldwide and its operating revenues, which are very high levelled. †¢ Organizational structure and culture: Michael Jeffries runs Abercrombie Company since 1992; he is president and chief executive of AF. The company slogan is â€Å"trend transcends age† and as a matter of fact AF goal is to fits the need of a cool, attractive and fashion-conscious target audience (Gamble and Thompson, 2009). The structure of the company is built on the management of four brands at the same time, which are: AF, Abercrombie, Hollister Company and Ruehl. Analysis of the business-level strategy of the firm †¢ Business strategy of the firm PRIMARY ACTIVITIES Following Porter (1985) description, the primary activities of the company are presented as such: Inbound logistics AF purchase their merchandise from a large panel of factories and suppliers around the world. In effect, the company have never sourced more than 50% of its apparel from a single factory or supplier. They act this way in order to get merchandise at a reduced cost, in order to spend more money on its design services. AF has centralized its design services in a unique headquarter, in order to get a more efficient logistic process. Operations The distribution centre of the company is also situated in this unique headquarter. AF sells its products only in its stores and via its website. The company does not act like the other company, they do not want to use wholesaling, and licensing or franchising to distribute the product they offer. Outbound logistics All the products of the industry are assembles, inspected and designed in its Ohio headquarters. Then, the products are distributed to stores via contact carriers (Gamble and Thompson, 2009). This process permits to lower up the cost of the process. Marketing and sales AF core corporate values are â€Å"nature, friendships and having fun† (Gamble and Thompson, 2009). As a matter of fact, they invest a lot of money in design. One of their main marketing strategy remains on the design of their stores. AF stores are reflecting the values they want to attract the consumers with. It means that, each store is designed one precise model, each stores are unique and implemented in an â€Å"exciting format† (Gamble and Thompson, 2009). AF put emphasis on communicating their specific message around the world, by building â€Å"perfect† stores. Also the AF website has been created in away it matches the best possible with the feel and aura of its stores (Gamble and Thompson, 2009). AF try to launch at least two new items in its stores each week, in order to be competitive and develop customer loyalty to the brand, by demonstrating, they care about customer’s needs and are different from the other. SUPPORT ACTIVITIES Following Porter (1985) description, the support activities of the company are presented as such: Procurement Porte (1985) states: â€Å"An efficient procurement department should be able to obtain the highest quality goods at the lowest prices†. In effect, AF procurement department should be considered as an efficient one, as aid previously AF have centralized its design and development process in a unique headquarter, lowering work force coasts and improving efficiency. Human Resource Management â€Å"Human resources are increasingly becoming an important way of attaining sustainable competitive advantage† (Porter, 1985). AF busiest seasons are spring and fall, when they hire extra staff, keeping control over the situation. Human resources management at AT is attentively managed; everything is done to make the staff feeling comfortable and confident. AF brand representatives have to adhere to the Abercrombie dress code. Technology Development AF is developing a managing-in-training program for seniors and graduates (Gamble and Thompson, 2009). AF began experimenting with radio frequency identification technology (RFID), which is a really efficient development since it prevents from thief and counterfeiting. |Key success factor/ Strength|ABERCROMBIE |AEOS |GAP |J. CREW GROUP | |measure | | | | | | |Rating/ Score |Rating/Score |Rating/Score |Rating/Score | |Quality/Product performances| | | | | |Rating: 0,2 |8/1,6 |7/1,4 |9/1,8 |6/1,2 | |Image | 6/1,2 | 8/1,6 9/1,8 |7/1,4 | |Rating: 0,2 | | | | | |New product innovation | | | | | |capability |8/1,6 |6/1,8 |9/2,7 |4/1,2 | |Rating: 0,3 | | | | | |Manufacturing capabilities | | | | | |Rating: 0,2 |8/1,6 |5/1 |7/1,4 |5/1 | |Customer services | | | | | |capabilities: 0,1 |8/0,8 |6/0,6 |8/0,8 |6/0,6 | |OVERALL RATING/SCORE | | | | | | |38/6,8 |32/6,4 |42/8,5 |28/5,4 | The overall strongest competitor is: GAP The overall weakest competitor is: J. Crew Group †¢ Key elements and specific problem of the industry After a precise analysis of the AF case, it seems obvious that the three key elements of the company are: -To anticipate competitors moves In order to anticipate competitor moves, AF have to continuously compare its industry to the competitors, in order to define where and when the company m ust take decision and employ a new strategy. Acting this way, AF will be able to figure out what kind of strategy they have to adopt in order to undertake those of the competitors. To improve customer service: AF must go on training employees and make sure them feel confident in their company. Keeping the dress code outlined in Abercrombie Associate’s handbook is imperative because it permits to merger from the competitors, by showing the authenticity of the brand. This also enables to attract clients by being faced with effective and well-qualified employees. Furthermore, AF must invest more in RFID because it is an easy and simple way to generates more business advantage in their company, as it figures out what are the real needs of customers by making quick and simple inventories of the merchandise. -To maintain consumer loyalty AF have to make sure they comply with customer needs by putting links on the website or sending direct mails to its database customers. It will enable the company to get in touch with its customers, but also to gain information and get an accurate perception of customers needs. †¢ Recommendations First of all, AF must work on their marketing campaign and stop doing controversial campaign, because nowadays it hasn’t the same impact than it has at the AF early beginnings. Even if they have became famous acting this way, the period is not the same and Abercrombie is enough experimented to try another way of advertise its industry. Secondly, AF should continuously improve their website design, since it is the way to attract more and more clients. The actual website of the company is not enough exiting and fashion-conscious as the brand pretends to be. Thirdly, AF should work on its expanding abroad. They are not really present in the world and shall work on this point, because they could target more customers. Even if the brand reputation is strong, it would be an opportunity to open more stores in big capitals, as in Amsterdam or Paris, where there are lots of teenagers. Fourthly, organising featured events could help the company to obtain more customer loyalty, because young customers are attracted by some kinds of events as: concerts, parties and would be pleased to join AF events. It will permit to broaden the â€Å"existing† aspects Abercrombie wants to show to the client. Fifthly, AF should invest in FCID. This new system is the way to increase customer services and maintain consumers loyalty because it enables to fight against theft and counterfeits goods, which are too much present nowadays. To conclude, FCID would bring a very competitive advantage to AF if they choose to apply this system to the four brand owned. References: Porter, M. E. (1985), Competitive Advantage: Creating and Sustaining Superior Performance, New York: Free Press. Gamble, J. , Thompson A. , Jr. (2009) Essentials of Strategic Management: The Quest for Competitive Advantage, New York: Mac Graw-Hill Irwin GAP AF AEOS Abercrombie and Fitch External Analysis and Internal Analysis Essay Example Abercrombie and Fitch External Analysis and Internal Analysis Essay Abercrombie Fitch is an American fashion retailing company headed by president and CEO Michael Jeffries. Abercrombie Fitch brand focuses on offering apparel that reflected the youthful lifestyle for a target audience, which was college students, designed to encourage teamwork and creativity On February 2007, AF retailer operated 944 stores in 49 States, District of Columbia and Canada. Furthermore, AF currently operates four other brands, which are: AF, Abercrombie Kids, Hollister Company, and RUEHL. With the running of those four brands, the company is collectively targeting consumers of 7 through 35. David T. Abercrombie founded the company in 1892, AT managers promoted it as: †The Finest Sporting Goods Store in the world†. At its early beginnings, AF had been an outfitter of sporting goods and rugged apparel, but also a place where individuals could learn skills and get involved in the community. Since 1960, the company encountered continued financial losses until The Limited purchased it in 1988, when Michael Jeffries became president and chief executive of AT launching the trademark slogan â€Å"casual luxury†, new style of Abercrombie. This case highlights the strategy of Abercrombie and Fitch, an upscale sporting good retailer who has turn into a leader in trendy apparel. In order to find the key issues, both internal and external analyses will be drawn and the company business strategy will be described. CONTEXT IDENTIFICATION External analysis and Internal analysis SWOT †¢ Strengths: The AF company strengths stand, firstly, in its strong brand portfolio. The retailer managed four brands: AF, Abercrombie, Hollister Company and Ruehl, which make them able to target a population from 7 to 35 years old. We will write a custom essay sample on Abercrombie and Fitch External Analysis and Internal Analysis specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Abercrombie and Fitch External Analysis and Internal Analysis specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Abercrombie and Fitch External Analysis and Internal Analysis specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The company has also gained a strong brand image, because of its uniqueness as a â€Å"casual luxury† brand and thanks to its stores design, which are implemented through an exciting store format, in order to communicate a consistent message in each stores. Abercrombie Fitch achieved revenues of $2. 85 billion and its net income rose to $334 million. During the same year, the company opened 63 stores and hired 20,600 employees. From 2001 to 2005, the company Financial Performances has done nothing but increasing, in each sectors (see Exhibit 4). That it to say, AF achieved a strong financial performance. When looking at Exhibit 1, we can see that AF also has a strong balanced sheet. The company has no debt/capital ratio, no debt as % of net working capital since 2002 and its Annual high-low stock price is much better than it’s competitors’. †¢ Weaknesses: The company is faced with a low inventory turnover ratio, because they choose not to distribute its apparel and accessories through wholesale, license or franchise, unlike other businesses. AT is the only responsible for creating and managing its brands. The company is implemented only in London, Milan, Canada and Tokyo abroad; thus they needs to focus on their expansion because it represents a limited geographic reach. †¢ Opportunities: The fact the company is only implemented in London, Milan, Canada and Tokyo represents an opportunity to expand in new markets, by targeting other kinds of population. Making investment in infrastructures would also be an opportunity for Abercrombie to improve customer services as its staff in the stores, its merchandising and store design, in order to merger from the competitors. The company can work on developing new concepts, in order to anticipate competitor’s moves, now that their own concept of being a â€Å"casual luxury† brand is a success. AF are not really presented online and should it would be an opportunity for the company to increase online sales. †¢ Threats: The main threats the company is faced with stands in the fact that US rental rates are increasing while the US economy is slowing down. Furthermore, the competitors are numerous on this kind of market; that is way AF must be vigilant and anticipate the competitor’s moves. †¢ Macro-environment analysis Political/ Legal: As AF has always been a brand generating controversy, they have to pay attention at not being disrespectful toward the US laws. The company have generated a lot of scandals, like in April 2002, when they launched a line of T-shirts with matching ethnics slogans: â€Å"Wong Brothers Laundry Service Two Wongs Can Make It White†; â€Å"Wok-N-Bowl†; â€Å"Buddha Bash: Get your Buddha on the Floor† (Gamble and Thompson, 2009:414). Since, the US is a country of vigilance against discrimination, sexual crime and alcoholism, Abercrombie has to comply with the US laws, which are really strict, and stop engaging in risky practices in order to attract attention. The company also have to prevent counterfeiting, since the US is a big country and it a lot of company have been faced with this kind of problem. Economic: The retailer market sector is a huge market, which implies a lot of concurrence: American Eagles Outfitters (AEO), Gap (GPS), and J. Crew Group (JC) (Gamble and Thompson, 2009:406). In addition, the fashion retail market sector is a sensible one, which means that if trends or lifestyles change, the market will be affected. That is currently the case in the US due to the financial crisis occurring and it has had an impact on Abercrombie finances. Moreover, AF has always been on the top of the competition in its sector, but since the American economy has entered a recession, because of the financial crisis, the company has to strengthen its pricing strategy and try to maintain its status by paying careful attention to its competitors. Social: Abercrombie benefit from an enviable target market, the teenagers, given the fact that Ablan (2003:21, cited in Gamble and Thompson, 2009:413) stated teens spent approximately $170 billion on goods and services in 2002, with one-third of that amount going toward apparel. AF target market have, most of the time, responded positively to their provocative campaigns, because of their strategy, which consists in getting closer to the teenagers by providing products with whom they can identify. Technological: Continuous technological progress allowed company to sell via the Internet more easily as on the AF website. The progress in technology also enables to extend the company database and get more and more customers by mailing the products provided through an electronic catalogue. Additionally, AF have had the opportunity to start experimenting with radio frequency identification (RFID) technology, which permits to fight against counterfeited products. †¢ Industry Analysis Five Porter’s Forces Power of Suppliers: Abercrombie pertains to the fashion industry retail market, where consumers have a strong power because of the fact this market is sensitive to their needs and behaviour, which can change from a moment to another. That is the reason why, Abercrombie is supposed to have to hold little power on its suppliers. On the contrary, in this case suppliers hold little power because of the several existing factories in America and as a matter of fact, it enables Abercrombie to argue and negotiate with its suppliers in order to maintain a high price on merchandise. Power of Customers: Customers have always had a lot of influence over the retail industry due to their price sensitiveness. Given the fact that websites and direct mailing are increasing, it gives a stronger power to the customer since they have the opportunity to compare prices, quality and have a large panel of the same products purposed. That is to say, the existence of website purposing the same products, is a threat for fashion retailers because it can push the customer to competitors and gives a significant power to them. Customers loyalty can oblige Abercrombie to re-evaluate its prices, because if they don’t they will lose their customer’s loyalty. Power of Rivalry: The rivalry in this sector is intense and forces Abercrombie to continuously work on innovating and merger from the others, in order to maintain its status. The main competitors are: American Eagle Outfitters Inc. (AEOS), and Gap Inc, who are publicly held firms and J. Crew group, Inc (JC) who is a privately held firm (Gamble and Thompson, 2009:406). Those three competitors are operating on the same segment than Abercrombie and tried, by several unsuccessful strategies, to become leader, while AF stays number one. Gap is the largest AF’s competitor, but there are lots of other competitors on this market segment that haven’t been cited in the case. Thus, Abercrombie have to continuously work on its strategy and compare to the others, in order to stay competitive. Threat of new entrants: A large number of new entrants exist in the specialty apparel industry. For example, Metropark, is a West coast chain for 20- to 35-year-old shoppers, who sold True Religion and Joe’s Jeans casual apparels and plan to opened additional 50 stores by 2007. (Gamble and Thompson, 2009:418). The barriers to enter this market are low, because purchasing and producing garments costs are cheap. Threat of substitution: Even if consumers are ready to pay a premium price in order to have better quality and brand name produces, the threat of substitution is considered as high because of some existing companies who imitate brand name products and sell them at a lower price. For example, Gamble and Thompson, (2009:415) state that: â€Å"AF launched an anticounterfeiting program in an effort to protect its brand and prevent low-cost manufacturers in Asian factories from making imitations of its products†. Industry Life Cycle: Abercrombie Fitch, as well as the other apparel shops are situated in the maturity stage of the industry life cycle. Fashion apparel introduction on the market has been done a long time ago and because of the numerous competitors existing on this market, the industry can be considered as mature. †¢ Driving Forces: Three driving forces were found as having a significant impact on the industry: -The Power of rivalry, Threat of new entrants and threat of substitution will have a NEGATIVE impact on the industry competition. -Technological and Legal forces will enable to prevent from counterfeiting and given the new strategies launched by Abercrombie and American authorities, this will have a POSITIVE impact on the industry. -Power of Customers and Social aspects will have a POSITIVE impact on customer †¢ Competitive intelligence analysis: The three main competitors of the company are the following: American Eagle Outfitters (AEOS) who is based in Pennsylvania and sold lower-priced casual apparel and accessories to men an woman ages 15-25 (Gamble and Thompson, 2009). The company revenues and net incomes are increasing, and they are focusing on an new target market, between ages 24-40, by creating a new intimate apparel sub-brand. J. Crew (JC) operates 200 stores in the United States. They have a joint venture in Japan, with 45 stores. This company has suffered from a series of losses because of its inept strategy. J. Crew is the smallest competitor of AF’s. Gap Inc is the largest competitor of AF’s. Gap Inc, operating worldwide with 3,000 stores. Both revenues and net income are high; it is operating at high-quality level and low-priced level, which makes Gap a really strong competitor to look after. †¢ Strategic map Operating revenues in 2005 (Millions) 16,267 2,785 2,309 850 851 3000 Numbers of shops in the world (hundreds) When looking at the map, we can see that the main competitor of Abercrombie is Gap because of its positioning. Gap is clearly differentiated from the other company, because of its numerous stores worldwide and its operating revenues, which are very high levelled. †¢ Organizational structure and culture: Michael Jeffries runs Abercrombie Company since 1992; he is president and chief executive of AF. The company slogan is â€Å"trend transcends age† and as a matter of fact AF goal is to fits the need of a cool, attractive and fashion-conscious target audience (Gamble and Thompson, 2009). The structure of the company is built on the management of four brands at the same time, which are: AF, Abercrombie, Hollister Company and Ruehl. Analysis of the business-level strategy of the firm †¢ Business strategy of the firm PRIMARY ACTIVITIES Following Porter (1985) description, the primary activities of the company are presented as such: Inbound logistics AF purchase their merchandise from a large panel of factories and suppliers around the world. In effect, the company have never sourced more than 50% of its apparel from a single factory or supplier. They act this way in order to get merchandise at a reduced cost, in order to spend more money on its design services. AF has centralized its design services in a unique headquarter, in order to get a more efficient logistic process. Operations The distribution centre of the company is also situated in this unique headquarter. AF sells its products only in its stores and via its website. The company does not act like the other company, they do not want to use wholesaling, and licensing or franchising to distribute the product they offer. Outbound logistics All the products of the industry are assembles, inspected and designed in its Ohio headquarters. Then, the products are distributed to stores via contact carriers (Gamble and Thompson, 2009). This process permits to lower up the cost of the process. Marketing and sales AF core corporate values are â€Å"nature, friendships and having fun† (Gamble and Thompson, 2009). As a matter of fact, they invest a lot of money in design. One of their main marketing strategy remains on the design of their stores. AF stores are reflecting the values they want to attract the consumers with. It means that, each store is designed one precise model, each stores are unique and implemented in an â€Å"exciting format† (Gamble and Thompson, 2009). AF put emphasis on communicating their specific message around the world, by building â€Å"perfect† stores. Also the AF website has been created in away it matches the best possible with the feel and aura of its stores (Gamble and Thompson, 2009). AF try to launch at least two new items in its stores each week, in order to be competitive and develop customer loyalty to the brand, by demonstrating, they care about customer’s needs and are different from the other. SUPPORT ACTIVITIES Following Porter (1985) description, the support activities of the company are presented as such: Procurement Porte (1985) states: â€Å"An efficient procurement department should be able to obtain the highest quality goods at the lowest prices†. In effect, AF procurement department should be considered as an efficient one, as aid previously AF have centralized its design and development process in a unique headquarter, lowering work force coasts and improving efficiency. Human Resource Management â€Å"Human resources are increasingly becoming an important way of attaining sustainable competitive advantage† (Porter, 1985). AF busiest seasons are spring and fall, when they hire extra staff, keeping control over the situation. Human resources management at AT is attentively managed; everything is done to make the staff feeling comfortable and confident. AF brand representatives have to adhere to the Abercrombie dress code. Technology Development AF is developing a managing-in-training program for seniors and graduates (Gamble and Thompson, 2009). AF began experimenting with radio frequency identification technology (RFID), which is a really efficient development since it prevents from thief and counterfeiting. |Key success factor/ Strength|ABERCROMBIE |AEOS |GAP |J. CREW GROUP | |measure | | | | | | |Rating/ Score |Rating/Score |Rating/Score |Rating/Score | |Quality/Product performances| | | | | |Rating: 0,2 |8/1,6 |7/1,4 |9/1,8 |6/1,2 | |Image | 6/1,2 | 8/1,6 9/1,8 |7/1,4 | |Rating: 0,2 | | | | | |New product innovation | | | | | |capability |8/1,6 |6/1,8 |9/2,7 |4/1,2 | |Rating: 0,3 | | | | | |Manufacturing capabilities | | | | | |Rating: 0,2 |8/1,6 |5/1 |7/1,4 |5/1 | |Customer services | | | | | |capabilities: 0,1 |8/0,8 |6/0,6 |8/0,8 |6/0,6 | |OVERALL RATING/SCORE | | | | | | |38/6,8 |32/6,4 |42/8,5 |28/5,4 | The overall strongest competitor is: GAP The overall weakest competitor is: J. Crew Group †¢ Key elements and specific problem of the industry After a precise analysis of the AF case, it seems obvious that the three key elements of the company are: -To anticipate competitors moves In order to anticipate competitor moves, AF have to continuously compare its industry to the competitors, in order to define where and when the company m ust take decision and employ a new strategy. Acting this way, AF will be able to figure out what kind of strategy they have to adopt in order to undertake those of the competitors. To improve customer service: AF must go on training employees and make sure them feel confident in their company. Keeping the dress code outlined in Abercrombie Associate’s handbook is imperative because it permits to merger from the competitors, by showing the authenticity of the brand. This also enables to attract clients by being faced with effective and well-qualified employees. Furthermore, AF must invest more in RFID because it is an easy and simple way to generates more business advantage in their company, as it figures out what are the real needs of customers by making quick and simple inventories of the merchandise. -To maintain consumer loyalty AF have to make sure they comply with customer needs by putting links on the website or sending direct mails to its database customers. It will enable the company to get in touch with its customers, but also to gain information and get an accurate perception of customers needs. †¢ Recommendations First of all, AF must work on their marketing campaign and stop doing controversial campaign, because nowadays it hasn’t the same impact than it has at the AF early beginnings. Even if they have became famous acting this way, the period is not the same and Abercrombie is enough experimented to try another way of advertise its industry. Secondly, AF should continuously improve their website design, since it is the way to attract more and more clients. The actual website of the company is not enough exiting and fashion-conscious as the brand pretends to be. Thirdly, AF should work on its expanding abroad. They are not really present in the world and shall work on this point, because they could target more customers. Even if the brand reputation is strong, it would be an opportunity to open more stores in big capitals, as in Amsterdam or Paris, where there are lots of teenagers. Fourthly, organising featured events could help the company to obtain more customer loyalty, because young customers are attracted by some kinds of events as: concerts, parties and would be pleased to join AF events. It will permit to broaden the â€Å"existing† aspects Abercrombie wants to show to the client. Fifthly, AF should invest in FCID. This new system is the way to increase customer services and maintain consumers loyalty because it enables to fight against theft and counterfeits goods, which are too much present nowadays. To conclude, FCID would bring a very competitive advantage to AF if they choose to apply this system to the four brand owned. References: Porter, M. E. (1985), Competitive Advantage: Creating and Sustaining Superior Performance, New York: Free Press. Gamble, J. , Thompson A. , Jr. (2009) Essentials of Strategic Management: The Quest for Competitive Advantage, New York: Mac Graw-Hill Irwin GAP AF AEOS

Gun Control, what a bitch essays

Gun Control, what a bitch essays The leading debate over gun control laws is the need for self-protection. Because fear is prevalent people tend to always argue they need the guns for a sense of security. Their main focus is that there are not enough police to go around to fully protect them. Claims say they are less fearful in their neighborhoods and are not likely to be afraid in their homes at night. They say that with a gun in their home they are less likely to be attacked, burglarized or robbed then without one. 1. Despite all the claims guns do not make a home safer. In fact guns kept in the home for self-protection are more often used to kill somebody you know than to kill in self-defense. More family members die from guns kept in the home than criminal intruders. When someone is in the home, a gun is used for protection in less then two percent of criminal entry. Having a gun in the home during a burglary allows the burglar to have access to your gun and to the use of it. Once a bullet leaves a gun, who is to say that it will stop a criminal and not a family member? 5. The main reason guns can be so deadly in the home is because they are easily accessed. People who keep guns in the home put their family and household members at risk. The risk of homicide in the home is always greater when a household contains a gun. When a gun is present in the home, a marital or sibling dispute can quickly turn into a homicide. The risk of unintentional and accidental shooting also rises. Most of the time unintentional shootings occur when a gun is being improperly handled or in play. Because guns are preferred for troubled people, the rate of suicide increases. In fact in 1996, 18,166 people committed suicide using a gun they obtained from home. When people allow guns that are improperly secured in their homes they invite danger in with them. 5. The final accusation made by people who are against gun control is that parents do attempt to keep kid...

Depictions of Women in The Color of Purple Essay

Depictions of Women in The Color of Purple - Essay Example In this overview, she talks about the several political aspects of feminism that can be linked to theatre and other elements of feminist inquiry. Referring to Case's Feminism and Theatre and especially to Jill Dolan's The Feminist Spectator as Critic, Austin discusses the radical, cultural and materialist stages or divisions that fall within feminist analysis. Liberal feminism founded on universal values emphasizes women's equality with men; Cultural or radical feminism stresses the difference from and superiority to men and advocates the spirit of this within a 'female aesthetic'. While both 'radical' and 'cultural' have been used to explain this stage, Austin opts for the word 'radical' based on its political connotations. Materialist feminism contradicts the necessity and universalism of radical feminism by underscoring 'the function of class and experience in creating the oppression of women'. This latter approach maintains that women's experiences must be understood within their specific historical, economic and political context (Case 38). Just as, Austin invokes caution in 'making categories extremely powerful' when looking at the key work of feminist analysis, care is equally essential to these liberal, materialist or cultural divisions. This paper analyzes the author’s depiction of the female characters in the story using Gayle Rubin’s â€Å"exchange of women† theory, as expressed in Gayle Austin’s Feminist Theories for Dramatic Criticism. The Color Purple is a book by Alice Walker about racism, slavery, abuse and womanism. The story is based on the experiences of the author. Alice Walker’s description of a southern black woman in the story The Color Purple is extremely powerful. This is because Walker applies a variety of literary devices to the story, giving the story more impact. She uses symbolism, applies her tone as an author, and uses a certain dialect for her characters. The presence of symbolism in the book i s not as glaring to the eye of the reader as one may think (Walker 264). Gayle Rubin (2011) referred to marriage as the traffic or exchange of women where women are taken in battle, sent as tribute, given in marriage, exchanged for favors, traded, purchased, and sold. Throughout time, women have always been an essential aspect of literature. They have inspired several writers, whether novelists, dramatists, essayists or poets. Unfortunately, these often illustrated men as the superior gender, and women a passive object that could not thrive on its own and could do nothing for itself. In literature, women could only survive through the lives, minds and eyes of men but rarely for themselves. In Le deuxieme sexe, Simone de Beauvoir states that women are differentiated and defined in relation to man; the woman is the other and he is the subject. Beautiful and submissive, they could never think for themselves. They were obliged to take a secondary place in the men's world, not because of their capacity but rather because of imposed social and cultural forces. This false and biased representation denied women their identity and even worse their dignity. The history of patriarchy shows a variety of injustices suffered by women. They represented, in a way, the disadvantaged group that had often been subject to male authority through male egocentrism and had been prevented from full development as human beings. Sexism, under patriarchy,

What is the relationship between happiness and meaning Why Essay

What is the relationship between happiness and meaning Why - Essay Example In modern times, a parallel to this view becomes most apparent in the philosophical works of Victor Emil Frankl, MD. PhD. Dr.h.c.mult., the most renowned Austrian psychologist. Suffering was the force that strengthened his personality and enriched his character with such grit that he evolved as an individual who retained the ability to feel and express love towards mankind. The three years he spent in Auschwitz, Dachau and other concentration camps in the Nazi Regime, have inflamed his spirit instead of quelling it, thereby transforming him into a most resolute and positive human being. The conscience of most men would have got distorted by what he underwent; but Frankl resurrected from the grueling experience and emerged as a person who found meaning by surviving a terrible experience. He had rendered his services as a professor and director in many medical schools and universities including Harvard. He had also been bestowed with honorary doctorate degrees by 29 universities and has also won several awards. (Life and Work). Frankl had authored a number of books and articles, which were translated in 32 world languages, but the one that is most relevant t o the topic is Man’s Search for Meaning: An Introduction to Logotherapy, published in English in 1963. Frankl’s approach of existentialism is based on three philosophical and psychological concepts: Freedom of Will, Will to Meaning and Meaning in Life. (What is Logotherapy and Existential Analysis?). He promotes the idea that humans can exercise free will to mold their lives, and a person who possesses wisdom that comes from spirituality has full control over how his life shapes up. This ability further equips humans to identify their purposes and to achieve the goal. Those who do not apply their wisdom in understanding the objectives of their life feel that their basic existence is meaningless because searching and finding the meaning of ‘being’ is the