Brooklyn Museum Student Apprentice Program free essay sample

I have been in the Brooklyn Museum Student Apprentice Program for two years now. I started out as a Junior Apprentice and became a Senior Apprentice in September of 2006. As I moved along in the program, I encountered many challenges, which were due to both certain changes in the program and myself as an individual. Due to the experiences that I faced over this past year I was tested in the sense that I was forced to think outside of the box, and really express my individuality. I became a stronger person because I gained more independence, and freedom about how I wanted to express myself. The other Senior Apprentices and I had to deal with the fact that we were going to have a new boss, and that the program wasn’t going to be the same as in previous years. So my challenge was not only to prepare myself to adapt to the new changes, but also trying to improve myself in the process. We will write a custom essay sample on Brooklyn Museum Student Apprentice Program or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page I had to improve myself as a person because I never had a situation where I had to adapt to change in the workplace. I needed some type of experience to help me deal with this problem in future situations. I went about this task of adapting to changes in the program by not only to accepting the changes, but to help my new boss understand how the program was previously run in order to help my new boss maybe incorporate some of the old methods into the new plans. I could have approached this situation by simply stepping back and letting the new policies be implemented. But I tackled the circumstances by explaining and showing my new boss how things were done previously because I feel that in order to make improvements for the future the one must examine the past so that the same mistakes aren’t made. Another problem that I faced during this past year was helping to find new apprentices for the program. As a Senior Apprentice that was a new added responsibility. The difficulty with this was I had to make a decision that would not only affect me, but reflect the program, and the museum as a whole, because the museum apprentices are a reflection of the museum, and the principles that the museum stands for. So the main challenge was finding students that fit the programs standards of showing a strong commitment and dedication to teaching in a museum environment and showing the motivation to want to improve children’s lives my giving them knowledge and helping children to appreciate different forms of art. So I confronted this challenge by working long hours with my fellow Senior Apprentices to interview and evaluate candidates for the program. Another example is when my boss had asked who would like to teach the game of Senet to museum visitors I decided to step up to the task. I had never played Senet before, and I knew that it would take a long time for me to become skilled enough at the game in order to teach it to museum visitors. So I approached this challenge with an open mind, and used strong will power to push myself to continue practicing the game until I had a firm grasp on how the game was played so that I could teach it to people. But through my challenges of learning how to play the game, I realized that no one is perfect,including me and lifes challenges just make you stronger. Also when it came down to planning the actual tours I was presented with the problems that came with the numerous aspects of making decisions about how to present the tour. This was a major problem because different age groups approach a question with different levels of understanding, therefore grasping different knowledge of the sub ject matter. So my partner and I modified the questions on the tour and did research in order to approach this challenge that we were presented with. I also discussed with my partner about what I did last year on my tour when this type of situation arouse concerning the different age groups. The Brooklyn Museum Student Apprentice Program has had a strong impact on my life. Since I have been in the program I have learned to better work with my peers as part of a team. Along with working as part of a team I have gained the reward of being able to communicate with people better. I also gained the passion to want to pursue teaching in my future. This was due to the fact that as an Apprentice I saw how I helped teach children something that they could keep with them, and hopefully pass along their newly gained knowledge to others.

Biography of Robert McNamara, Vietnam War Architect

Biography of Robert McNamara, Vietnam War Architect Robert S. McNamara (June 9, 1916–July 6, 2009) was a secretary of the U.S. Department of Defense in the 1960s and the chief architect and most vocal defender of the Vietnam War. He spent his later years as an elder statesman, apologizing for an escalation of the conflict that became known as McNamaras War. He strove to redeem himself by helping the worlds poorest nations. Before his death in 2009, McNamara wrote about the failures that would became his legacy: Looking back, I clearly erred by not forcing - then or later, in Saigon or Washington - a knock-down, drag-out debate over the loose assumptions, unasked questions and thin analyses underlying our military strategy in Vietnam. Fast Facts: Robert McNamara Known For: U.S. Secretary of Defense during the Vietnam WarBorn: June 9, 1916 in San Francisco, CaliforniaDied: July 6, 2009 in Washington, D.C.Parents Names: Robert and Clara Nell McNamaraEducation: University of California at Berkeley, Harvard Business SchoolSpouses Names: Margaret Craig (m. 1940–1981), Diana Masieri Byfield (m. 2004)Childrens Names: Robert, Margaret, Kathleen Early Years and Education Robert Strange McNamara was born on June 9, 1916 to Robert, the son of Irish immigrants, and Clara Nell McNamara. His father managed a shoe company in their hometown of San Francisco. The young McNamara was raised during the Great Depression, an experience that helped shape his liberal political philosophy. Later, he honed this philosophy at the University of California at Berkeley, where he studied economics. Next, he studied business administration at Harvard University, then went on to work for Ford Motor Company. He served as Fords president for a month until being tapped by President John F. Kennedys administration in 1960 to lead the Pentagon. Defending the Vietnam War McNamara was vilified by opponents of the Vietnam War for his seemingly unflinching support of the conflict in public, distorting the reality of the war and misleading the president. He used the statistical analysis techniques he learned at Harvard to try to measure success on the battlefield. According to the Vietnam Center and Archive at Texas Tech University, McNamara switched to using enemy body counts instead of territory or land based objectives to measure the American’s success in the war...[which] led to a war of attrition, a policy of inflicting massive casualties on the enemy. In private, McNamaras doubts about the mission grew along with the body count, and he questioned whether the war was actually winnable. Eventually, he raised such concerns with President Lyndon B. Johnson, with no success. McNamara resigned as secretary of Defense in 1968 following his failed attempt to both negotiate a settlement in the Vietnam War and convince Johnson to freeze troop levels and stop bombings. Clark Clifford, an adviser to Johnson, succeeded McNamara. McNamara went on to become president of the World Bank. Famous Quotes I deeply regret that I did not force a probing debate about whether it would ever be possible to forge a winning military effort on a foundation of political quicksand. It became clear then, and I believe it is clear today, that military force - especially when wielded by an outside power - cannot bring order in a country that cannot govern itself. We burned to death 100,000 Japanese civilians in Tokyo - men, women and children. LeMay recognized that what he was doing would be thought immoral if his side had lost. But what makes it immoral if you lose and not immoral if you win? We of the Kennedy and Johnson administrations acted according to what we thought were the principles and traditions of our country. But we were wrong. We were terribly wrong. You dont ... correct a wrong by apologizing. You can correct a wrong only if you understand how it occurred and you take steps to ensure it wont happen again. Later Career McNamara served as the World Bank president for 12 years. He tripled its loans to developing countries and changed its emphasis from grandiose industrial projects to rural development.After retiring in 1981, McNamara championed the causes of nuclear disarmament and aid for the worlds poorest nations. He fought what he described as the â€Å"absolute poverty - utter degradation† in  Africa, Asia and Latin America. Legacy McNamara died on July 6, 2009, in Washington, D.C. His legacy will forever be intertwined with the Vietnam War and tainted by his loyalty to the presidents he served rather than the American people. The New York Times condemned McNamara in a devastating editorial, writing: â€Å"Mr. McNamara must not escape the lasting moral condemnation of his countrymen. Surely he must in every quiet and prosperous moment hear the ceaseless whispers of those poor boys in the infantry, dying in the tall grass, platoon by platoon, for no purpose. What he took from them cannot be repaid by prime-time apology and stale tears, three decades late.†

Teamwork - Collaboration vs. Competition in Business is similiar in Essay

Teamwork - Collaboration vs. Competition in Business is similiar in sports - Essay Example Sports is leisure, a mode of entertainment, it can be for entertainment or hobby while business for most of us is for living. Varieties are available in both the activities. Business can be of varying size following different industrial rules and sports are also from individual entrepreneur to large organizations. If a sport where team performance is involved is compared with an organization or a unit of organization some very important features are as follows: The common goal of winning is important for the collaborative efforts. Certain level of competition will be always there within an organization or team among the players to prove one better than the other. It becomes the responsibility of the leader or the head to direct them according to vision and goals and take out best from them. Team work is a collaborative effort of the members of team towards a well defined goal. Maxwell has given The 17 Indisputable Laws of Teamwork. These laws are very significant and cover almost all the activity or action of any team. This law explains the need of collaborative efforts to achieve any goal. In a business where various departments and people from diverse fields and areas are recruited to achieve goals of profits, not single operations or marketing department will be achieve goals of profit alone. Marketing people make promises for what to be delivered and the operations people deliver these promises. This is a broad example of business. To achieve greatness the strength will come from being together. In this condition the significance of a single member is in the team not alone. Within a team with collaborative efforts the individual may contribute achieving the same goal which he would have never been achieved alone. When an individual works in a team he looks at the bigger picture of the performance. This picture is presented to him by the team leader of the team. The most important thing for the members becomes Goal

International Criminal Justice Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

International Criminal Justice - Essay Example The question then goes on to ask if there is a difference in the national and international repercussions for a state embarking upon the use of armed force or the divide is merely an arbitrary one .After definitions and analysis the essay then discusses the application or rejection of these laws in the light of recent and historical events. From the perspective of international law the sovereignty of the states confers upon them a right to conduct their affairs free from the interference from other states.This is also known as the doctrine of non-intervention in the sovereign affairs of the other states. In Nicaragua v United States1( The existence in the opinio juris of states of the practice of non-intervention is backed by established practice.It has moreover been presented as a corollary of the principle of the sovereign equality of the states. "dictatorial interference by a state in the affairs of another state for the purpose of maintaining or altering the actual condition of things .Intervention can take place in the external as well as the internal affairs of a state.But it must be emphasised that intervention proper is always dictatorial interference not interference pure and simple" 2 In the modern international scenario, the mention of intervention has become synonymous with armed conflict. In the Corfu Channel Case(Merits)1949 ICJ Rep 4 it was said by the court that, "the court can only regard the alleged right of intervention as the manifestation of a policy of force such as has in the past given rise to most serious abuses and such as cannot whatever be the present defects in international organisationfind a place in international law ." It should also be noted that before the First World War there was not much of an international effort to regulate and prevent armed conflict involving war crimes and aggression. This has been noted by an eminent academic as follows, "International law has no alternative but to accept war independently of the justice of its origins as a relation which the parties to it may set up if they choose and to busy itself in regulating the effects of the relation"3 However the Post World War II era has seen a heightened concern by various international organisations to prevent armed conflict. In the recent decades the principle of non interference has been reinforced by the General Assembly Resolution 2131 (XX) of December 14 1960, The Declaration on the Inadmissibility of Intervention in the Domestic affairs of States, General Assembly Declaration On the Principles of International Law Concerning Friendly Relations and Co-operation among the States In Accordance with The Charter of the United Nations,GA,Resolution,"2625(XXV) of 24 October 1970.4 The legality of Aggression Of particular importance is the way the International Law treats War of Aggression.Customary international law makes it an international offence to wage a war of

The Politics in Itself Can be a Major Force in Determining Growth and Essay

The Politics in Itself Can be a Major Force in Determining Growth and Development of a ountry - Essay Example On the other hand poor lack of political stability leads to the poor performance of the economy and may act as a significant variable in the collapse of the governmental structures and its functioning (Alesina et al, 1992, p.1). The paper centers on the discussion of the political environment with several policies as well as their implications with respect to two underdeveloped countries namely Vietnam and Bangladesh. An in depth analysis will be guiding the ways in the realization of the theme of the paper. The fundamental notion of the interdependence of politics and economic growth Theoretical underpinnings regarding the correlation of the politics and economic growth is highly based upon the uncertainty effects and that of the productive economic ideas and decisions, investments as well as that of production and labor supply. A high propensity of a change in the government is vehemently attached with the domain of uncertainty about the new policies of a new government with the ri sk adverse economic agents hesitating for adapting productive economic initiatives and finding good ventures in the abroad. Again for the foreign investments to infiltrate within the economy, the foreign political governments usually prefer economies with political stability which directs towards less uncertainty with the policies and property rights dynamics. There is presence of several literatures on the so called association. As for example, Alesina and Tabellini (1990), Tabellini and Alesina (1990), Cukierman, Edwards and Tabellini (1992), 6zler and Tabellini (1991) has developed several models where a government striving with uncertainty engages them in policies which yields sub optimal levels leading to the worsening of the economic condition of the state. These models all state share a common idea which states that outcome of the political instability generates economic inefficiencies. Within the vast domain of the stated model development, mainly within the works of Alesina and Tabellini (1989) examines the fact that effect of the political uncertainty is immensely adverse on the investment and capital injections within the economy. The probability of a governmental collapse with that of the development of a new government are highly prone towards the tax capital and productive activities signifying a substitution procedure of productive domestic investments in favor of consumption and capital flight, which in turn leads to a reduction of domestic production. There are several literatures developed on similar topic but the most relevant part in accordance with that of the elaboration in the subsequent segments has been discussed. Now the paper will plunge into the development of the hardcore mechanics which will reflect the theme of the paper with respect to Vietnam and Bangladesh. The following segment will be focusing on the case study of Vietnam and after that the case of Bangladesh will be considered (Alesina et al, 1992, pp. 3-4). Vietnam-Politic s and economic growth Background & reshuffling the power structure The country of Vietnam has gone through almost three decades of war. In the year 1945, the country declared independence from France which the French government did not recognize. As a consequence, a war broke out between Vietnam and France where France was defeated in the North Vietnam with the outbreak of a civil war. Now with the communal tensions being one of the predominant phenomenons at that time the Americans involved themselves in war with Vietnam, the

A business analysis project for Amazon.com

A business analysis project for Amazon.com INTRODUCTION Business analysis, a process of finding the needs and problems in business and generating solutions to cater to those problems. These Solutions should focus to achieve improvements in the process, incorporation of organisational change, planning and development to set a system of operation that is result oriented and effective. There are numerous tools and techniques used depending on the situation and requirement; few are PESTEL, PORTERs model, SWOT analysis, HEPTALYSIS, MOST, CATWOE, DeBonos six thinking hats, MoSCoW, five whys, VPEC-T and more; however only few of the above tools are used, very frequently in critical analysis at the initial stages. ABSTRACT In this case we analyze as how Amazon.com has been performing off late, using the tools mentioned above. The advantages and disadvantages Amazon.com has over their competitors, where they have been lagging, their financial performance and strategic approach. Critical analysis will be done on their business environment and strategic approach to highlight any possible shortfalls and to provide with appropriate recommendations for improvements. Internal and external analysis will be undertaken to determine their marketing strategy, their response to global e-retailing industry. COMPANY PROFILE Amazon.com based in Washington and found by Jeff Bezos in 1994 is global leader in e-commerce and it was the first company to introduce the concept of selling goods on the Internet. Initially Amazon.com started as an online bookstore and its success led Amazon to diversify into other products such as gifts, music, electronics, groceries, toys and many more. Probably today there is no product that Amazon.com doesnt sell. Amazon.com has developed different internet portal sites for different countries such as Canada, UK, Germany, France, China and Japan. Amazon.com was named after worlds largest river Amazon and was assigned with a logo of an arrow starting from A to Z representing the customer satisfaction as the highest priority and fill their store houses with every product in the alphabet. Amazon.com was open for trading under NASDAQ with a symbol AMZN for the first time on 15 may, 1997 by issuing initial public offering at a price of US $ 18/share. Amazon.com in its early stages was not very successful and did not produce any profits, which made investors rethink about their portfolio, major business and process restructuring was required; they had to cut down their costs to increase the profits and were tied up from diversifying into more products, however Amazon.com survived the dot com bubble in 2000 which was the core reason for many e- businesses to close down and this was the turning point for Amazon.com after which they finally in the fourth quarter, 2001 they made their first profit which generated revenues of more than a billion$ and $ 5million profits in just 1 quarter. This led Amazon.com to prove to the world that their business model was profitable and also they popularized online shopping which was recognized by time magazine and awarded Jeff as the business person of the year. 1.3. MISSION VISION STATEMENTS Amazon.com vision: Our vision is to be earths most customer centric company; to build a place where people can come to find and discover anything they might want to buy online. (Amazon.com, 2010) Above statement reflects that amazon.com wants to be global leader in e-retailing business by providing the quality products at affordable price using latest technology to build the customer database and gain their loyalty towards the brand; thereby catering to the stakeholders interests and generating profits to the company. Expand themselves all over and build a virtual market place where customers can shop comfortably from at home. ANALYSIS 2.1. EXERNAL ANALYSIS The external environment also referred to as the macro-environment, plays a very important role in the operations of any business. Key environmental factors such as political, economical, social, technological, legal, etc. affect the organisations at various levels. It has become the need of the hour to consider the potential impact of the external factors on the individual organisations. (Johnson et al, 2006). 2.1.1 PESTEL analysis PESTEL analysis is conducted to determine current and future trends in political, economical, social, legal, environmental and technological environments, might influence the performance of business and what measures to be taken to avoid any shortfalls. PESTEL Factors Key Points Relevance to Amazon.com Political Government policies incorporate competition and promotion by liberalizing telecom and e-commerce legislation Increase in affordability and internet usage. Investing in national ICT infrastructures by government (Euro monitor) Reliable, faster and better internet usage for the national users. Relaxation of competition policies in industry as compared to heavy industries in EU and North American regions Expansion of markets at greater a pace by mergers and acquisitions. Economic To control inflation, interest rates varied which slows down the consumer spending in UK. Off late spending has seen a downfall in US and rise in Asian markets due to economic growth; main reason being the credit crunch and tightening the housing loan (The Times online, 2008) Opens the gates to other global markets to such as India and china. Between 2006 and 2011 e-retailing grows tremendously by rising sales over 100%. This growth is backed by increase in the number of internet users in US, which has increased approximately by 85% after 2000. (Euromonitor International from national statistics) Increase in potential customers for Amazon.com The annual disposable income exceeds US$5,000. by 2011 covering around 620 million households; of these majority will be in Asia- Pacific next to western Europe. (Euro monitor International from national statistics) Increase in potential customers for Amazon.com leading to the concept of globalization. Social Popularity and increased use of online social networking. Added advantage to market the product and the website Interface available for users to shop and the increase in number of products lead to drop in online shopping. Has to come up with a solution to reduce the security and financial risks to users. Growth of internet from 2002 to 2011 is 288.7%. 28.9% of world population use the internet (Internet World Stats, 2009) Huge market available to exploit and establish. Technological Innovation of latest technologies increased broadcasting, internet access at cheaper cost. Increase in number of users of technical devices such as mobile, iPods, TV, led for increase in internet access for online shopping. Innovations and development of high-speed internet services (broadband) has increased usage rich media applications. Rich media applications are easily available to shoppers on internet. Environmental Awareness about pollution and global warming. Reduced travel and more shopping online. Corporate social responsibility and global pressure to go green. Can incorporate concept of green within postage and packaging, methods. Legal No standard regulations governing e-retailing covering entire globe. Eg. Federal trade commission in USA and data protection act in UK. Should be well aware of both domestic and international legal laws. European E-retailing directive Could impact the cross continental growth of e-retailing considering strict regulations (Jacobson, 2008 as cited in Zugelder et al, 1999). The invention of electronic signatures Law. Removes traditional legal methodologies and instate more secure and transparent legal environment. Summary of PESTEL PESTEL factors indicate attractive global market to be exploited by Amazon.com. Asian markets have reflected tremendous growth opportunities in recent past. Advancement and usage of internet for social networking has led to new opportunities to be exploited. Amazon.com should support environment friendly actions as increased importance is been given to environment these days, also to be a true global company Amazon.com has to incorporate single global strategy which involves legalities common to all of the globe. 2.1.2 Industry competitor analysis (PORTERs Model) For any organisation the industry and competitor analysis is important as it comes handy for businesses to understand the competitive forces, market status, factors influencing, competitive strategic implementations. Porters Five Forces analysis is used to assess the attractiveness of different industries, and therefore, it can help in illustrating the sources of competition in a particular industry (Johnson et al, 2006). Porters five forces High Low Power of suppliers Suppliers retain the control as few brands and special products increase the cost down the network. For example Harry Potter books are exclusive from publisher which is an advantage for Amazon.com E- Retailing sets a stage and makes it much easier for businesses to sell products directly to consumers without any third party in-between. Power of suppliers rise if the control of certain type of products rests with one supplier than fragmented. Products available easily pose low power to suppliers and they have to act to a mower margin. Wider the market, wider is the scope for suppliers thereby increasing number of suppliers. Power of buyer Increased market competition has increased the power of buyers. Increase in number of online stores and comparison sites makes e-retailing business even more difficult. Threat of new entrants Initial capital required for such a business is very low as it doesnt involve any inventory and storage costs and will only need to implement technology Strong brand image incorporates good customer relations and trust. Since the competition is very tight the suppliers who emphasize on economies of scale and consider business turnover over profits make more business and profits in the long run Leaders in the online retail industry hold the advantage of customer loyalty and database while giving edge over the cost. Threat of Substitutes Latest marketing factors such as feel, touch, hear physical stores; makes an effect. One of the major threats to Amazon.com is online rentals instead of purchase as posed by texbookflix.com, bookrenter.com which reduces cost and pile of trash to a major extent. Internet is a global marketplace where consumers can get information and products which are much better in quality and from overseas online for no or very little cost. E-libraries, $ and pound shops mark greater threat nowadays. Mail orders, network marketing, catalogues although not very popular and effective yet pose threat to online buying Competitive Rivalry Search engine plays a major role at the consumer end for it acts as interface between seller and buyer which generates opportunities and PR to other e-retailers. Due to low initial investment costs there are a numerous affiliate online stores which are smaller still increase the competition. Summary of key findings from Porters Five Forces The competition in e-retailing industry is intense. There are number of small organizations adding frequently making the situation even worse. Main competitors to Amazon.com are BN and E-bay. The threat posed by small players and new entrants who can equally compete directly with Amazon.com is very low. When consumers consider prices of goods they also consider brand image and if they are reliable, most of customers expect quality service than just quantity and lower priced service. 2.1.3 Competitor analysis / Benchmarking Amazon.com has a wide product range and equally wide number of websites that compete with Amazon.com. Most of the e-retailers concentrate on introducing variety of products in the current available market or entering the new markets across the globe or both in order to maintain economies of scale which helps catch up with the pace of e-commerce industry. If we consider how diversified the product line is and the geographical markets catered, eBay poses direct competition to Amazon.com. However Amazon.com is the market leader in current trend and they have immediate urgency to expand both their product line and geographical reach to remain as leaders. As we can notice in the above graph, in 2006 Amazon.coms growth rate as compared to that of walmart was very low because walmart was a strong brand by then and had advantages of cross channel synergies and in-store pick up. In 2007 we observe the amazon getting closer to walmarts growth rateas they diversified into products such as music, cds, dvds, mp3 players and more; due to increased competition from these players walmart has been losing its market share continuously and however once can see that by 2008 Amazon.com is almost overtaken the walmart by providing with various offers such as free delivery and customer reviews. (Source: Data monitor) The above table shows position of Amazon.com but they are more diversified into the product line and geographically well spread. Companies like apple, hp, and dell do online retailing only for focussed group of products. However store based companies grew very strongly in 2008, but due to economical, hit not too many companies was able to survive. Amazon.com did by lowering delivery charges and provided with best offers. They also introduced ad-free TV and own download service and film streaming service in 2008 to outplay all of their competitors. Through competitor analysis it can be concluded that BN.com is the leading competitor to Amazon in lifestyle goods and books. However, Amazon has a diversified product range. Wal-Mart.com has almost similar prices as compared to Amazon but they have better product range such as pharmacy, photo printing and etc. Ebay.com also has a wider product range and better geographical reach but their concept is different to Amazon.com More competitive threat posed by Tesco, Wal-Mart as they have physical stores and eBay has better geographical reach, but however Amazon.com has option to develop the strategic alliances as they did in Japan with Lawson to capture the market. Amazon.com has to design its strategies to address these competitive threats. 2.1.4 Global internet trends Internet Usage: china, US, Germany, India, Brazil, Japan are amongst the top 5 countries where internet is used the most; Amazon.com has made its impact in all the above countries except for India. This implies and directs Amazon.com to exploit hidden opportunity in Asian market and huge business potential for future. Graph below shows the popularity of internet in the 21st century, which indicates the future of e-commerce as trends keep changing. C:UsersWELCOMEDesktoptop202010.jpeg (Source: Worldinternetstats.com) The graph below shows the dominance of Amazon.com sector wise. The balloon shows of all the business done by amazon.com majority has been in internet retailing; direct selling, vending and home shopping is almost void. This reflects the influence of internet on the business of Amazon.com. It is also seen below emerging markets and present markets where currently Amazon.com has its presence. Of all the retail sales value Amazon.com holds a very small share but then future trends look brighter as the CAGR expected is highest in India by 2011. This lays a pathway to Amazon.com as to establish themselves without any delay in India. (Source: Data monitor) (Source: Data monitor) 2.2. INTERNAL ANALYSIS Internal analysis can be conducted to determine relationship between the organizations available resources and its application to generate value proposition to the customer, it can also be used to determine the limitations, advantages and disadvantages within the organizations. 2.2.1 The Value Chain The value chain analysis helps determining the effectiveness of actions that makes organizations standout from their competitors and take a lead; i.e. activities that are difficult to duplicate. Applying the framework laid by Amit and Zott (2001) analytical objective of value chain is attaining of transaction cost economies value creation. Amazon.com focuses on reducing the costs in creating unique value to its customers. Support Activities Value creation Firm Infrastructure All of the business units are provided with central customer data warehouse; and planning functions from headquarters. Human Resource Management Amazon.com employees enjoy benefits such as stock grants, relocation allowances, paid Time off medical. Such an approach invites warehouses to be in cheaper locations yet attract skilled labour. Technology Development Amazon.com implements latest technology to leverage opportunities in digital sales such as videos, music, eBooks (The Economist, August 2006) Being able to digitize media for online download or for Search inside the book service. Usage of hardware systems to reduce cost of maintenance and compatibility Procurement Using the SBU-Book bank to maintain inventory of digital copies of books so as to make it available readily for customers on-demand and reduce time of delivery (The Economist, August 2008). Usage of recyclable cardboards for packaging. Primary Activities Inbound logistics Robust forecasting technology ensures no or very returns of goods to suppliers. Collection of customer feedback and experiences to defragment inventory and delivery controls. Operations Secure and fast online payment systems. Employ 24/7 warehouse services to meet consumer demands. Outbound logistics Built in close proximity of a robust transport system e.g. Bedfordshire fulfillment centre located next to M1. Ability to collate orders from around same locations. Marketing Sales Live customer interaction to offer suitable products at discounted prices and product mix, leaving customer feel more valued. Robust shipping price calculation and shipping all the products for the price of one. Service Free consumer friendly returns policy within 30 days on unsatisfaction, inviting consumers to try more new products. Provision to select between old and new products with price comparison 2.2.2 Financial analysis In Q4 2009, Amazon reported 42%, $9.52b rise in sales as compared to worldwide sales of previous year which was $24.51b, a mere 28% rise under the economic pressure; they also benefitted from the investments into customer services in Q3; however rise in their revenues all over the world doesnt imply high profit margins. As compared to the consistent rise in sales, the profits have been fluctuating, however their margins are very low as compared to the turnover, reason being the economies of scale and competition. (Source: GMID) Amazon.com did see a drastic rise in number of active customers in latter half of 2009, in the final quarter the average revenue/ customer rise more than $90, a mere 63% hike as compared to previous quarters. However rise in sales and number of active customers also rise their expenses significantly except for technology costs. $274m, 84% more as compared to previous quarter was spent on marketing activities. They invested money on paid search engine marketing, search engine optimization and content development. Also they entered into price war with their competitors to tie-up consumers by reducing their prices of electronic goods persuading consumers to buy from them which raised the revenues and number of customers. Amazon Global Revenue and Active Customers 2009 (www.365daysofretail.com) Amazon 2009 Expenses: Fulfillment, Technology, and Marketing (www.365daysofretail.com) Below shows a summary of balance sheet and income statements for 10 years, as we can observe amazon.com has been adding value to its stakeholders year on year where EPS has rised to 2.04 from 1.49 previous year. Amazon.com has been very consistent ear on tear however between 2005-2006 their EBIT dropped because they had high budget on marketing and investment in systems which allowed them to stay ahead of competitors. C:UsersWELCOMEDesktop11.bmp C:UsersWELCOMEDesktop12.bmp (www.msnfinance.com) Debt, Capital and gearing ratio indicates the ratio of debt to capital invested. 82% of the finance was from borrowing in 2005 which reduced to 68% in 2006 and has further reduced dramatically. Debts lead to the interest payments decreasing the profit margin, however if the cost of debt is less than capital cost then one can opt for debt, but Amazon has been continuously reducing their debt cost year o year and is just $109m in 2009. New projects has to be financed which emphasizes amazon.com to borrow, this can be justified by the data where interest cover has increased regularly concluding amazon.com ability to pay interest by 33.1 times is profitable. Amazon has huge financial reserves and can used for innovative research and development programs and technological implementations where they can incorporate single global strategy and also penetrate more geographic markets to create value to the stakeholders and customers. 2.3 SUMMARY OF ANALYSIS 2.3.1 SWOT analysis From a detailed Internal and external analysis we can conclude and summarize the Amazon.com strengths, weakness, threats and opportunities from the following SWOT analysis. Strengths Globally recognised brand Research and development programmes Geographical presence Customer focussed vision Diversified product line Incorporation of latest technology Amazon.com affiliate and merchant Program Highly skilled employee base Best inventory and logistics. Huge economies of scale Weaknesses No physical stores Lower profit margin due to high competition Low cash flows Lower market share in countries like India and china. Opportunities Tremendous growth in digital downloads Popularity of social networking Increase of online shoppers in Asian markets Open options for expansion via MA. Increase in e sales and growth of e-retailing Advancement of digital technology Rise in consumer spending across the globe Threats Vastly dependent on vendors Huge competition as it requires low capital Applicable Patent regulations. Piracy Concentrated business vision. CONCLUSION RECOMMENDATIONS 3.1 CONCLUSIONS Analysis tool Key point Strategic essence PESTEL Rise in number of internet users. High priority to environmental issues Various government policies aiding now than before. Rise in internet usage opens new markets like china and India. Environmental issues can be utilized to advantage by incorporating proper CSR. Legal and government policies usually are havoc. Porters 5 forces Rise in competition levels taking into consideration the porters five forces. Amazon.com has the competitive advantage and the value proposition. Competition Competition from new entrants and stores are growing at a very high pace and geographically. Amazon.com strategy and diversified business focus leading to innovation should be implemented. Future internet trends USA, China, Japan, Germany, Brazil and India are the top internet users between 2006-2011. Amazon.com has a presence in all these countries except in India. The value chain Amazon.com is equipped with global IT, high investments in technology and systematic logistics with a centralized management. This stands out Amazon.com from other players in the market hence they should hold the competitive advantage of brand image. Resource Based View Biggest asset of Amazon.com is customer base, web personalization and value proposition they offer to their customer. Utilize the available resources, technology and global strategic reach to outplay competitors. Financial Analysis Rise in revenue every year and %CAGR growth has not led to high profits. Manage costs, resources and economies of scale more effectively to generate more profits 3.2 RECOMMENDATIONS Long-term focus Internet retailing presents a challenge to traditional retailing to see increased investments from store based retailers such as wal-mart making it more crucial for amazon.com to maintain a long term vision and invest in innovation, customer experience, diversified product range in spite of profit maximization expectations. Exploit New Markets Amazon.com should consider entering into more new markets especially Asian where the buying power, standard of living and the demand has rised dramatically over past few years as global economic changes take place. Downloads Expansion Amazons core business in future will be digital downloads, although they were latecomer in the field of film, music, TV downloads they have to cater to the demand in a highly competitive market along with their diversified product line. Also they have to concentrate on eBooks media division. Sensitivity to changing variables It is very important for amazon.com to be sensitive to the minor particulars such as changing trends, tastes, preferences of consumers from time to time as the purchasing power and changing lifestyles generate more demand leaving companies like Amazon.com to respond hence such a market research and imagination will be an advantage. Build selling opportunities Amazon.com should seek ways to sell products to customers with less havoc, instantly and securely as they did in text message selling without internet. In order to achieve this they need to have high end technical skills. Recently released kindle can also be used as a tool to increase the download sales.

Stricter DUI Penalties Needed! Essay -- drunk driving, argument, alcoh

Alcohol is the main beverage for parties and special occasions in the United States. Many people decide to drink alcohol because it helps them relax, ease tension and socializing. Even most non-drinkers are forced to drink alcohol because of peer pressure. Hebert Moskowitz, the president of the Southern California Research Institute in Los Angeles, concedes that â€Å"alcohol has been so popular these days; it seems as though alcohol is a requirement for parties† (Moskowitz, 13). Unfortunately, most UNM students do not know their limits for alcohol consumption. By the time a party is over, they fail to realize that they had one too many drinks and they decide to drink and drive. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety and Administration (NHTSA), in 2009 there were approximately 10,839 reported student drunk driving fatalities. Even though the number of alcohol-related crashes decreases every year, driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol should not be underestimat ed. Approximately every twenty-two minutes, one in every fifty American drunk drivers crashes due to alcohol (NHTSA, 2009). Many UNM students under the influence of alcohol do not understand the consequences as they get into their car. It is our duty as students to take action against student drunk drivers, in order to make our campus and roads safer. The solution is simple. As students, we need to be re-educate UNM students about DUI and petition to ask the Government of New Mexico for harsher penalties against drunk drivers. There have been many awareness campaigns, such as the current, â€Å"You Drink, You Drive, You Lose Campaign.† Many campaigns have tried to let UNM students understand the dangers of drinking while driving. However, many students still conti... ...ws, Sports, Entertainment, Jobs, Classifieds And Advertising. 21 Feb. 2011. Web. 04 Apr. 2011. . Moskowitz, Hebert, and Marcelline Burns. "Effects of Alcohol on Driving Performance." Alcohol Health & Research World 17.4 (1993): 12-15. NHTSA. "Traffic Safety Facts 2009." National Center for Statistics and Analysis: 13-143. Web. 8 Apr. 2011. . Pacheco, Angela. "Transportation Safety Law Center." Transportation Safety Law Center Home Page. Web. 08 Apr. 2011. . Sen, Anindya. "WILL STRICTER PENALTIES DETER DRUNK DRIVING?" Policy Options (1999): 54-60. Print. Think Quest. "1.4 Underage Drinking - ThinkQuest." Oracle Think Quest Education Foundation. Web. 8 Apr. 2011.