Jetblue Strategic Analysis Essay Example

Jetblue Strategic Analysis Essay Example Jetblue Strategic Analysis Paper Jetblue Strategic Analysis Paper Strategic Analysis Of JetBlue Airways Executive Summary This report on JetBlue identifies how they have become an innovator in the airline industry by targeting customers who value a low-cost, customer conscious airline. They have formulated strategies that have enabled them to operate in a highly efficient and effective manner while realizing the importance of aligning their strategies with their environment. The report thoroughly discusses the strengths and weaknesses that the company possesses in their internal environment, followed by an in-depth analysis of the threats and opportunities of existing within their external environment. The strategy of the company is analyzed in comparison with both their internal and external environment in order to formulate possible strategic recommendations. Proper implementation strategies of the recommendations are also given to identify how the company can be better aligned with its environment and continue to grow as a highly successful company in the airline industry. Strategic Analysis of JetBlue Airways This report is an extensive analysis of JetBlue’s overall corporate strategies and how well they are aligned with their internal and external environments. It will focus on the company’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats that exist as well as identify possible ways in which they can improve the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the organization. As a relatively new airline JetBlue has redefined the industry by utilizing a combination of low-cost and differentiation as their core strategy. Since the company’s inception in 1999 they have become an innovator of new ideas and have led other airlines to follow some of their own practices due to the overall success of the company. JetBlue has succeeded as an airline that targets travelers who want a low-fare, high-value, customer service oriented flight to and from specific locations in popular metropolitan areas. To comprehend the success of the company, there are key factors that must be analyzed thoroughly in order to understand what allows them to be a competitive, profitable, and successful organization. To begin to understand JetBlue’s success as a newcomer to the industry you have to analyze their internal and external environments in comparison to their overall strategy. Strengths JetBlue’s strategy is focused on keeping costs low, while also utilizing new technology and guaranteeing customer satisfaction. The company’s strengths are what set them apart from other airlines. JetBlue’s long list of strengths begins with their pricing strategies. The customer value that is created by the company has proven to be a huge part of their success. In order to be a cost leader they started by purchasing only one model of aircraft which allows for easier and less expensive repairs and maintenance costs. Their low cost strategy also stems from the idea of eliminating any unnecessary operating costs, such as having paperless cockpits and not offering meals during flight. Differentiation has also allowed them to gain a notable advantage over the competition by realizing that customers are the most important part of the company. Customer satisfaction is a top priority within the company and all employees are instructed to make sure that all of their customers are happy at all times. The ways in which they have distinguished themselves include assigning seats with more legroom and satellite TV for all seats, offering complementary snacks and beverages, and also promoting online ticket sales and flight check-in. The organizational culture within the company is one that exhibits values, integrity, and empowerment which is a strength that most of the competition does not possess. Employees are hired based on their competencies and motivation to work in a customer-oriented environment. The company is also committed to their employees’ satisfaction and rewards are given to those who show initiative on the job. Another highly important strength is the executive level of management, which is comprised of experienced, knowledgeable people who have great leadership skills and are focused on their growth strategy and the sustainability of the company. JetBlue’s strengths are easily recognizable and they all integrate well with their corporate strategy. Weaknesses Although JetBlue is considered successful this is not to say that they do not have weaknesses that exist within the company. The small size of the company in comparison to other airlines is a major weakness that they have. Because JetBlue is relatively small they have to focus more on differentiating themselves in the industry, which could effectively lead to less popularity as the competition increases. Due to the fact that they are such a small company they also have a limited number of locations throughout the nation. Following their functional strategy of providing cheaper costs at underserved airports, they have effectively limited their potential to target customers in return. This leaves a question to be asked, if they are successful at their current locations that may not be heavy traffic areas, why could they not be just as, if not more successful in larger, higher traffic locations? Although they have expanded their hubs in a few regions since inception they have done so at a slow pace. Another weakness that should be recognized is the lack of marketing and promotion. JetBlue does use some marketing strategies within the markets that they operate in, yet very few media or publication advertisements are seen outside of those markets. Opportunities The weaknesses of JetBlue could also be considered opportunities to the company. The opportunities that exist are all great ways to improve profitability and brand image, which would be consistent with their own operational strategy. Expansion into other locations including international regions is perhaps their biggest opportunity for growth. Due to the deregulation of international air travel, it would be easier to implement the same low-cost strategy for operating outside of the United States. Another idea would be to create a joint venture with another international airline in order to take advantage of the international market, which would lower risks and investment capital. Technology and the Internet can both be beneficial to their strategy. Airplane technology continues to improve in design, safety, and maintenance. These improvements allow for less fuel consumption, lower repair costs, and fewer mechanical failures. These advancements in technology would be an excellent opportunity to lessen the operating costs associated with using older models. The Internet also offers a great way to market them as being a low-cost, high-value industry leader who actually values their customers’ satisfaction. The Internet has proven to be the cheapest, most profitable form of advertisement that reaches more people than any other form. By promoting the use of the Internet for automated sales and utilizing the available technology, they can lower labor costs and increase value even further for customers. Threats Altogether the airline industry has seen increased threats from the external environment in recent years, by not formulating and implementing strategies to effectively handle the threats that JetBlue is faced with currently and in the future, they will most likely have a negative impact on the company’s sustainability. A major threat that should be of concern is the fierce competition in the industry, and the possibility of other low-cost strategies being implemented by much larger companies. The imitability of both their differentiation and cost strategies are rather high and practically any competitor can easily implement both, forcing JetBlue to sustain a competitive advantage. Due to their small size and little brand recognition they must be effective in preventing the competition from overtaking their target market. Along with the substantial threat of entry into the low cost arena, there is the rising costs of fuel and high bargaining price of suppliers in the industry. The increased inflation rates of products, as well as the economic downturn are subsequently huge threats that should be considered when implementing their future financial strategy. Security threats and increased government regulations throughout the industry create a new threat to all airlines. This has increased costs and lowered the profit margin for JetBlue and limits their ability to maintain the low cost structure as well. These threats can all have a critical impact on the company, but if they are properly planned for there is a much greater chance to succeed in the future. Strategic Recommendations After analyzing JetBlue’s internal and external environment and contrasting them with their corporate strategy, this report concludes that overall they are an efficient company that needs little improvement. Aside from the recommendations discussed above there are a few more that might slightly improve their future sustainability. Their core competencies easily distinguish them from most of the competition and those strengths are what gives them the competitive advantage to become more successful. JetBlue’s low prices are what define them and it is necessary to keep their prices low and keep the customers happy as the company grows. The first recommendation would be that in-depth appraisals in all areas of the organization should be performed non-stop. The information gained should immediately impact any area that is falling behind, and the necessary changes should be made. As mentioned before, expanding to other markets is a strategy that should be implemented quickly, but considering the needs of business travelers would also be an opportunity to attract a larger market. Maybe they could include power outlets, unlimited wi-fi access, and noise cancelling headphones all of which would appeal to both business and regular customers. A marketing strategy that emphasizes their luxurious amenities offered compared to the low-cost flights, would be an extremely effective campaign especially once the target market is expanded. Another idea might be to consider venturing into a partnership that might include a website similar to Travelocity. com allowing consumers to find hotels, restaurants, and flights from other airlines and comparing their prices to JetBlue’s. Growth is limited to the resources available, so in effect they should ensure that all their resources are utilized to the upmost efficiency. Consideration of implementing the above recommendations and continuing the practices currently in place should allow JetBlue to continue to be an innovator and a successful company in the future. They have great management, an excellent workforce, and are highly concerned about their customers’ satisfaction, all of which are aligned with the vision, mission, and strategy of the organization.

The Geography of Russias 21 Republics

The Geography of Russia's 21 Republics Russia, officially called the Russian Federation, is located in Eastern Europe and stretches from its borders with Finland, Estonia, Belarus, and Ukraine through the Asian continent where it meets Mongolia, China and the Sea of Okhotsk. At approximately 6,592,850 square miles, Russia is the worlds largest country based on area. Russia is so large that it covers 11 time zones. Because of its large size, Russia is divided into 83 federal subjects (members of the Russian Federation) for local administration throughout the country. Twenty-one of those federal subjects are considered republics. A republic in Russia is an area that is comprised of people who are not of Russian ethnicity. Russias republics are thus able to set their official languages and establish their constitutions. The following is a list of Russias republics ordered alphabetically. The republics continental location, area, and official languages have been included for reference. Adygea Continent: EuropeArea: 2,934 square miles (7,600 sq km)Official Languages: Russian and Adyghe Altai Continent: AsiaArea: 35,753 square miles (92,600 sq km)Official Languages: Russian and Altay Bashkortostan Continent: EuropeArea: 55,444 square miles (143,600 sq km)Official Languages: Russian and Bashkir Buryatia Continent: AsiaArea: 135,638 square miles (351,300 sq km)Official Languages: Russian and Buryat Dagestan Continent: EuropeArea: 19,420 square miles (50,300 sq km)Official Languages: Russian, Aghul, Avar, Azeri, Chechen, Dargwa, Kumyk, Lak, Lezgian, Nogai, Rutul, Tabasaran, Tat and Tsakhur Chechnya Continent: EuropeArea: 6,680 square miles (17,300 sq km)Official Languages: Russian and Chechen Ingushetia Continent: EuropeArea: 1,351 square miles (3,500 sq km)Official Languages: Russian and Ingush Kabardino-Balkaria Continent: EuropeArea: 4,826 square miles (12,500 sq km)Official Languages: Russian, Kabardian and Balkar Kalmykia Continent: EuropeArea: 29,382 square miles (76,100 sq km)Official Languages: Russian and Kalmyk Karachay-Cherkessia Continent: EuropeArea: 5,444 square miles (14,100 sq km)Official Languages: Russian, Abaza, Cherkess, Karachay and Nogai Karelia Continent: EuropeArea: 66,564 square miles (172,400 sq km)Official Language: Russian Komi Continent: EuropeArea: 160,580 square miles (415,900 sq km)Official Languages: Russian and Komi Mari El Continent: EuropeArea: 8,957 square miles (23,200 sq km)Official Languages: Russian and Mari Mordovia Continent: EuropeArea: 10,115 square miles (26,200 sq km)Official Languages: Russian and Mordvin Sakha Continent: AsiaArea: 1,198,152 square miles (3,103,200 sq km)Official Languages: Russian and Sakha North Ossetia-Alania Continent: EuropeArea: 3,088 square miles (8,000 sq km)Official Languages: Russian and Ossetic Tatarstan Continent: EuropeArea: 26,255 square miles (68,000 sq km)Official Languages: Russian and Tatar Tuva Continent: AsiaArea: 65,830 square miles (170,500 sq km)Official Languages: Russian and Tuvan Udmurtia Continent: EuropeArea: 16,255 square miles (42,100 sq km)Official Languages: Russian and Udmurt Khakassia Continent: AsiaArea: 23,900 square miles (61,900 sq km)Official Languages: Russian and Khakass Chuvashia Continent: EuropeArea: 7,065 square miles (18,300 sq km)Official Languages: Russian and Chuvash

How can a city government grow without increasing taxes on its Essay

How can a city government grow without increasing taxes on its citizens - Essay Example amous for their employment opportunities, relatively inexpensive and affordable housing, top quality system of public education, and many places for recreation and entertainment that people of different ages, occupations and cultural and religious backgrounds find attractive. I think these factors are very important in helping cities grow without increasing taxes on their citizens at the same time. The determining factor, in my opinion, is employment opportunities. The local governments of cities north of Dallas have done a great job developing partnerships, and attracting many businesses into the area. They provided opportunities and benefits to big corporations to open their corporate offices north of Dallas. This have brought increased revenue to the cities and attracted increased numbers of people searching for jobs into the area. With new jobs came new places of entertainment, such as restaurants, bars, clubs, and shopping centers, providing additional income to the city. People started moving into those cities. For example, the population of Frisco has tripled in 1990s, and continues to grow drastically in the 21st century. The city of Frisco has invested money in developing infrastructure to make the life comfortable. In the next three years, it is planned that the city will spend 61.2 million dollars into tollways, highways, and roads within the city limits. Top quality public education has served as one of the advantageous factors attracting thousands of people into the area. People who could not afford private education, but were looking for quality education for their children, found that in Frisco. Overall, I think it is a combination of factors, plus a good city leadership can take any city to another level of development. The leadership that plans ahead, and sets a vision not only for today, but also for generations to come, has a higher change of creating a place that is attractive and keeps

Characteristics that a student displays that make him deserving of a Essay

Characteristics that a student displays that make him deserving of a scholarship from the University - Essay Example Hardworking may be a cliche but it still stands true to this day that a student should indeed be diligent, persevering to attain his objectives in life despite the many hindrances there may be. Despite this, the deserving student is also expected to display a positive attitude that will not only be a positive influence to her self but also to those around him. Such individual should be a team player, able to communicate himself clearly to avoid misunderstandings and able to tackle difficult situations in a group. He should be able to manifest organizational skills, able to put his schedules in check and making his time and energy productive. In addition, one should be loyal as this will affect greatly how he acts in places and circumstances that there are no people looking at him. He should then be trust worthy. Respect is another characteristic a good student should possess because this is one of the inner beauties needed by many people and makes the holder of such value loved and r espected in return. This and all of the aforementioned attitudes are all equally important for a student to own and in addition must display good grooming as outer appearance follows inner values.

Bsp Term Paper Essay Example for Free

Bsp Term Paper Essay It came up with the rudiments of a bill for the establishment of a central bank for the country after a careful study of the economic provisions of the Hare-Hawes Cutting bill, the Philippine independence bill approved by the US Congress. During the Commonwealth period (1935-1941), the discussion about a Philippine central bank that would promote price stability and economic growth continued. The country’s monetary system then was administered by the Department of Finance and the National Treasury. The Philippines was on the exchange standard using the US dollar—which was backed by 100 percent gold reserve—as the standard currency. In 1939, as required by the Tydings-McDuffie Act, the Philippine legislature passed a law establishing a central bank. As it was a monetary law, it required the approval of the United States president. However, President Franklin D. Roosevelt disapproved it due to strong opposition from vested interests. A second law was passed in 1944 during the Japanese occupation, but the arrival of the American liberalization forces aborted its implementation. Shortly after President Manuel Roxas assumed office in 1946, he instructed then Finance Secretary Miguel Cuaderno, Sr. to draw up a charter for a central bank. The establishment of a monetary authority became imperative a year later as a result of the findings of the Joint Philippine-American Finance Commission chaired by Mr. Cuaderno. The Commission, which studied Philippine financial, monetary and fiscal problems in 1947, recommended a shift from the dollar exchange standard to a managed currency system. A central bank was necessary to implement the proposed shift to the new system. Immediately, the Central Bank Council, which was created by President Manuel Roxas to prepare the charter of a proposed monetary authority, produced a draft. It was submitted to Congress in February1948. By June of the same year, the newly-proclaimed President Elpidio Quirino, who succeeded President Roxas, affixed his signature on Republic Act No. 265, the Central Bank Act of 1948. The establishment of the Central Bank of the Philippines was a definite step toward national sovereignty. Over the years, changes were introduced to make the charter more responsive to the needs of the economy. On 29 November 1972, Presidential Decree No. 72 adopted the recommendations of the Joint IMF-CB Banking Survey Commission which made a study of the Philippine banking system. The Commission proposed a program designed to ensure the system’s soundness and healthy growth. Its most important recommendations were related to the objectives of the Central Bank, its policy-making structures, scope of its authority and procedures for dealing with problem financial institutions. Subsequent changes sought to enhance the capability of the Central Bank, in the light of a developing economy, to enforce banking laws and regulations and to respond to emerging central banking issues. Thus, in the 1973 Constitution, the National Assembly was mandated to establish an independent central monetary authority. Later, PD 1801 designated the Central Bank of the Philippines as the central monetary authority (CMA). Years later, the 1987 Constitution adopted the provisions on the CMA from the 1973 Constitution that were aimed essentially at establishing an independent monetary authority through increased capitalization and greater private sector representation in the Monetary Board. The administration that followed the transition government of President Corazon C. Aquino saw the turning of another chapter in Philippine central banking. In accordance with a provision in the 1987 Constitution, President Fidel V. Ramos signed into law Republic Act No. 7653, the New Central Bank Act, on 14 June 1993. The law provides for the establishment of an independent monetary authority to be known as the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, with the maintenance of price stability explicitly stated as its primary objective. This objective was only implied in the old Central Bank charter. The law also gives the Bangko Sentral fiscal and administrative autonomy which the old Central Bank did not have. On 3 July 1993, the New Central Bank Act took effect. The BSP’s Organizational Structure The Monetary Board, which exercises the power and functions of the BSP, such as the conduct of monetary policy and supervision of the financial system. The Monetary Stability Sector, which takes   charge of the formulation and implementation of the BSP’s monetary policy, including serving the banking needs of all banks through accepting deposits, servicing withdrawals and extending credit through the rediscounting facility, The Supervision and Examination Sector, which enforces and monitors compliance to banking laws to promote a sound and healthy banking system, and The Resource Management Sector, which serves the human, financial and physical resource needs of the BSP. The powers and function of Bangko Sentral are exercised by its Monetary Board, whose seven members are appointed by the President of the Philippines. As provided for by the New Central Bank Act, one of the government sector members of the Monetary Board must also be a member of the Presidents Cabinet. Members of the Monetary Board are prohibited from holding certain positions in other government agencies and private institutions that may give rise to conflicts of interest. The members have fixed, overlapping, terms, except for the cabinet secretary representing the incumbent administration and it was the expansionary. The current members of the Monetary Board are: * Amando M. Tetangco, Jr. , Chairman * Cesar Purisima * Peter Favila * Ignacio Bunye * Juanita D. Amatong * Alfredo C. Antonio * Nelly F. Villafuerte The BSP’s primary objective is to maintain price stability conducive to a balanced and sustainable economic growth. The BSP also aims to promote and preserve monetary stability and the convertibility of the national currency. The BSP provides policy directions in the areas of money, banking and credit. It supervises operations of banks and exercises regulatory powers over non-bank financial institutions with quasi-banking functions. Under the New Central Bank Act, the BSP performs the following functions, all of which relate to its status as the Republic’s central monetary authority. * Liquidity Management. The BSP formulates and implements monetary policy aimed at influencing money supply consistent with its primary objective to maintain price stability. * Currency issue. The BSP has the exclusive power to issue the national currency. All notes and coins issued by the BSP are fully guaranteed by the Government and are considered legal tender for all private and public debts. Lender of last resort. The BSP extends discounts, loans and advances to banking institutions for liquidity purposes. * Financial Supervision. The BSP supervises banks and exercises regulatory powers over non-bank institutions performing quasi-banking functions. * Management of foreign currency reserves. The BSP seeks to maintain sufficient international reserves to meet any foreseeable net demands for foreign currencies in order to p reserve the international stability and convertibility of the Philippine peso. Determination of exchange rate policy. The BSP determines the exchange rate policy of the Philippines. Currently, the BSP adheres to a market-oriented foreign exchange rate policy such that the role of Bangko Sentral is principally to ensure orderly conditions in the market. * Other activities. The BSP functions as the banker, financial advisor and official depository of the Government, its political subdivisions and instrumentalities and government-owned and -controlled corporations. A payments system comprises the cultural, political, legal, economic and business practices and arrangements that is used within a market economy to determine, store and exchange value or ownership of goods and services. Properly functioning payments systems enhance the stability of the financial system, reduce transaction costs in the economy, promote the efficient use of financial resources, improve financial market liquidity and facilitate the conduct of monetary policy. Central banks have a strong interest in promoting safety and improving efficiency in payments systems as part of their overall concern with financial stability. Central banks play a key role in the domestic payments system because it is their liquid liabilities—more particularly their reserve balances—that are the instruments in which the bulk of domestic payment obligations are legally finally settled. This pivotal role reflects, in part, the central bank’s statutory legal tender monopoly. Payment is a transfer of value. At its basic level, a payments system is a mechanism agreed upon by buyers and sellers in transferring value between them in order to consummate a particular transaction. A payments system facilitates the exchange of goods or services in an economy. A payment instrument is always required for each payment transaction to supply the term and conditions for the transaction, which should meet physical, legal and regulatory standards. Transfer of goods or services Goods flow Value flow Transfer of value through a payments system Seller Payee Flow of Payments System Buyers and Sellers, Payors and Payees Buyer Payor There are two general classifications of payment instruments, namely: cash or non-cash payment instruments. Cash is generally paper-based while the non-cash instruments are either paper-based or electronic-based. Non-cash payment instruments can be classified further into cheque payments, direct electronic funds transfers and card payments. Under the general structure of the payments system, the payments system consists of the set of arrangements for discharging obligations assumed by economic actors whenever they acquire real or financial resources, including the institutions providing payment services, the various instruments used to convey payment instructions, the means of transferring those instructions (including communications channels), and the contractual relationship among the parties concerned. One of my subject had affected was my major subject and that is Cost Accounting. Based on my own observation Cost Accounting had been affected throughout the Educational Tour of BAS. It affected me a lot because in terms of the hours that we pay on that subject it ruined and besides in terms in the subject we missed the lesson that should be took up on us on that day. But, Unfortunately, I’m not totally affected on that day, I learned a lot because our getaway tour is not all about fun. It is just like you are still studying but outside the campus.

Impact of Climate Change on Sri Lanka Essay -- Global Warming Essays

Climate change is an inevitable phenomenon that is being experienced globally in various forms such as temperature rise. Sea level rise, droughts, floods, hurricanes, landslides, etc. According to the forth assessment report of the IPCC project even with immediate implementation of mitigation strategies global climate change will continue for decades. Climate change is inflicting serious consequences on human wellbeing and will continue to inflict damages in the future. It is estimated that mean global temperature will rise by 1.8 Â ºC - 4.0 Â ºC by end of the 21st century (Izaurraade, 2009). A new global climate model predicts that in the coming decade the surface air temperature is likely to exceed existing records (Smith et al., 2007). Growing season temperatures in the tropics and subtropics by end of the 21st century will exceed the most extreme temperature recorded in the history (Battistic and Rosamond, 2009). Agriculture is considered to be one of the most vulnerable sectors to climate change. Although at present, the overall impact of climate change on global scale agricultural productivity is not reliably estimated (Gornall et al., 2010). Many studies show serious implications on agricultural productivity for instance IFPRI(2009) projects that in South Asia by 2050 climate change will reduce production of rice, wheat and maize by 14%, 44% to 49% and 9%-19% respectively relative to no climate change situation. Historical temperature yield relationship indicates that at the global scale warming from 1981-2002 very likely offset some of the yield gains from technology advances, rising CO2 and other non climatic factors (Lobell and Field, 2007). Developing countries are said to be more vulnerable than developed countri... ...local agriculture and food security, this paper attempts to give an overview of observed and projected climate change in Sri Lanka, its impact on the agriculture sector and climate change adaptation strategies through reviewing recent literature on climate change. To develop appropriate strategies and institutional responses to climate change targeting smallholder farmers it is necessary to have a good understanding about the local farming environment in terms of farmer perception about climate change, key issues faced by farmers in overcoming climate adversities, local knowledge and strengths on climate change adaptation. There is a dearth of such research studies undertaken in Sri Lanka therefore; this paper presents a case study undertaken on a farming community in the intermediate zone to demonstrate how farmers perceive and respond to climate adversities.

Career Goals Paper Essay

Understanding family behavior and the dynamics of the working relationship would be keys in this field. Also, helping the less fortunate and guiding them through tough times would make a huge impact in today’s society. Plus, making the world better for children, and making sure children are fed and educated would be wonderful. Figure 1. 1 Key factors in my scores (refer to figure 1. ) to multiple pathways of learning include the following that will prove helpful in my studies at University of Phoenix: 1. Bodily Kinesthetic: I scored a 20 on this scale. Being able to use my hands when learning will be most beneficial for me throughout my studies. For instance, writing down key terms and walking around when reading my textbook would be my ideal study situation. Moving fingers under words while reading will assist me in comprehending the material. Also, learning by doing would also be preferable in this type of intelligence. Applying the concepts learned to real life situations would make learning more enjoyable for me. 2. Verbal-Linguistic: Scoring a 19 on this scale references my ability to learn through communication through language (listening, reading, writing, and speaking). Reading text and limiting highlighting would create an active learning environment when studying. Rewriting notes will help me remember what is being learned throughout the course. Also, being able to remember terms easily will help me gain a larger vocabulary of psychological terms. Discussing topics that interest me, such as abnormal psychology, will also play a huge part in my learning the discipline. 3. Intrapersonal: This was the highest scoring intelligence being a 21. Having a quiet place to study and think with no interruptions is a beneficial learning environment for me. This tells me that I prefer to think about issues before discussing them. Being interested in self improvement is a factor in this scale; improving me is my number one goal. 4. Interpersonal: My score for this intelligence was a 19. Knowing when enough is enough, and to step away from the situation is essential. * Attitude: Keeping a positive attitude never hurts anyone. Being confident in my ability to earn this degree will keep me on track. * Staying Motivated: Never lose sight of my main motivators. Knowing that a good career is possible after obtaining my degree keeps me focused. * Prioritizing: Never wait till the last minute to finish a project/assignment. Keeping on track with my assignments is essential for my success. Working on projects a little bit each day reduces stress. Procrastination is the enemy! Going back to school later in life is a huge challenge; however, I feel that the dividends will pay off in the long run. My ultimate goal is to be a lifelong learner. When your brain rests; it rusts. Learning does not have to stop after obtaining a degree; learning goes on throughout your entire life span. Becoming a college professor is my ultimate goal; giving back the gift of knowledge and making an influence is my dream. Actually, this paper taught me a very important lesson: You get out of education what you put into it. Never take a good education for granted and never stop learning.

Discuss the extent to which Consumer Law achieves its objectives Essay

The most efficient way for consumers to get what they want is through the ‘market’, not the government, but businesses have more power than their customers. Some businesses can and will use abuse this power and cheat and steal from consumers to make money. Because of this, the government regulates the behaviour of businesses to have a market economy that functions properly. These laws mainly protect consumers against; misleading/deceptive representations, unconscionable conduct, unfair contracts, and unsafe goods and/or services. To protect consumers, different legal and non-legal approaches have been taken. Statutory protections by the government, like the Australian Consumer Law (ACL) and the National Credit Code (NCC), and by the state, like the Fair Trading Act 1987 (NSW) and the Contracts Review Act 1980 (NSW), help regulate businesses and protect consumers. Under section 29 of the ACL, businesses are prohibited from making false claims about their products and/or services. In the ACCC v. Harvey Norman 2012 case, 4 Harvey Norman stores were found guilty of making false or misleading representation regarding consumer guarantee rights. The misrepresentations were made orally by sales people in the store. The Court recognised the issues and penalised the stores, issuing fines and ordering them to display in-store signs displaying corrective notices and implement a consumer law compliance program. Out of the four stores, two of them ceased trading in May 2013. This demonstrated how effective the consumer law achieves its objectives. Independent governmental statutory agencies also help in enforcing the ACL and help to bring attention to businesses that are not complying with the law and help to fix the problem. An independent statutory body called the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) aims to make markets work for consumers, now and in the future. The ACCC helps to keep the market safe and fair for consumers. A major business brought to the attention of the ACCC was found to be making misleading claims. Coles claims and advertises that its bread is ‘baked today, sold today’ and ‘freshly baked in-store’. It was found that the bread was not, in fact, baked in Australia,  but partially baked months earlier in overseas factories. Coles accepted a guilty verdict and claimed that new packaging was already being produced. Coles could face fines of up to $1.1 million per breach. This demonstrates how effective the ACCC is in enforcing the ACL but penalties may not be harsh er enough. For a large business, like Coles, $1.1 million is not that much of a penalty compared to the profits it makes. Non-statutory protections to help the ACL in achieving its objectives can be just as effective as statutory protections. One protection is the media. The media is a very powerful tool and can wreak havoc on the profitability of a business. To stay out of the harsh spotlight that is the media, businesses tend to ‘straighten out’ really quickly if found to be in breach of a section of the ACL. This helps to protect consumers to the degree that it makes businesses comply with the law quickly but it doesn’t stop them from doing it to stat with until they get caught. Another non-statutory measure in protecting consumers is through External Dispute Resolution Schemes (EDR). An example of an EDR is the Financial Ombudsmen Service (FOS) which helps to protect consumers in matters regarding credit loans. The FOS is a cheaper, faster way of reaching a solution to a conflict between a consumer and a business. These solutions have been unbiased, 50% benefiting the consumer and 50% benefiting the business. Rather than taking a business to court, a consumer can go to a FOS where a solution can be reached quicker and cheaper but this decision is final, regardless of which party it benefits. This non-statutory body is very effective in protecting consumers from businesses to the extent that it reaches an unbiased solution but an issue has already occurred. There are statutory and non-statutory measures taken to protect consumers and the market economy. Statutory measures like the ACL (Cth), NCC (Cth), Fair Trading Act 1987 (NSW), and the Contracts Review Act 1980 (NSW) create laws and regulate businesses. Different non-statutory bodies, like the media and EDR schemes (e.g. FOS), help to enforce the laws made by the state and government.. Together, they help to achieve the objectives of consumer law in protecting consumers against misleading/deceptive representations,  unconscionable conduct, unfair contracts, and unsafe goods and/or services.

Implementing New Procurement Policies in the Public Sector Essays

Implementing New Procurement Policies in the Public Sector Essays Implementing New Procurement Policies in the Public Sector Essay Implementing New Procurement Policies in the Public Sector Essay The West Coast City is known for beautiful nature scenery and award-winning urban planning. Unfortunately, same as other urban cities, the City also is experiencing social problems also. Recently public Council approved new implementation of a sustainable and ethical purchasing policy. Sustainable and ethical purchasing considers the health and social impacts of the goods and services being purchased, ethical (e. G. No sweat shop, fair trade), socially responsible (e. G. Human rights, health and safety in workplace) procurement and fostering economic development (e. G. Preferable to local supplier under read agreements). City manager has expressed great concern of no other benchmark available, financial impact to the Citys budget and the Supply Management teams limited working knowledge. Because the support from key internal stakeholders is critical to success of the policy, the implementing project will concentrate its efforts on engaging them. To answer these concerns propose to hire 3rd party consulting firm, cooperate current supplier and potential new qualified supplier to assess financial impact and develop tools and process that would not increase administrative and financial burdens on the City and suppliers. This report will discuss this in more detail. implementing New Procurement Policies in the Public Sector Case Report page 2 Issue Identification Immediate Issue The city has to find qualified staff, develop the policy and minimize cost impact. Systemic Issues Problem 1: Limited working knowledge and lacking of staffs with expertise -? The City doesnt have proper staffing resources with expertise and hasnt done any benchmarking. Problem 2: The fear of cost increase Often purchasing in an ethical way may incur additional costs to a business when compared with others who may not do in a same way. Problem 3: Implementation timeline has been set up prior to full assessment Of scope. 6 month to approve policy, 1 year to implement the first phase of cloths procurement from ethical source and 2 years to expand it to City-wide. Page 3 Environmental Root Cause Analysis Qualitative Analysis The City Manager of the Supply Management team has little experience of ethical purchasing. Lack of staffing resources with expertise in the area of sustainability. Need cost impact analysis of staff budget. The new proposed policy would require purchasing FT coffee which will increase the cost between 15 and 20 percent of $150,000. Page 4 Options There are several strategic options that need to be considered in order to fully address the issues. Option 1 Increase staffing budget and hire the sustainable and ethical purchasing experts. Pros: Secure permanent subject experts. Procurement processes time stays close to current due to increase of staff. Could cause additional stress to the current staffing budget. May need to steal staffing budget from other City departments to create a fund to support new staffs. Cons: Option 2 Hire 3rd party consulting firm and organize co-pop program with suppliers. Pros: Learn and implement the best practice quickly. Supplier can share their resources to lower administrative overhead. Early supplier involvement would give them time to prepare for the new changes. It would allow supplier to find alternate sources that are ethnically responsible. Owe initial cost because the City doesnt have to hire new staffs. Still need to find a fund to hire consulting firm. Suppliers could influence the implementation negatively. Recommendation recommend the second option. The City has little experience of new purchase policy so it is critical to involve industry experts to develop implementation plan. Assistant buyer and supervise from City Inventory Distribution branch would become a qualified staff without high new staffing cost. They are familiar with existing with purchase process. It would provide insight of City process and new purchasing policy to new sustainability specialists. Supplier Implementing New procurement policies in the public Sector Case Report page 5 participation in early stage of implementation is very critical. Suppliers have sourcing network already that could be utilized to find ethical manufactures. Finding new suppliers isnt always easy and building up new relationship requires efforts and time. It would create another overhead burden to the reject. Sustainable and ethical purchasing has to maximize the benefits for themselves, partners and peoples in City. To prevent negative influence from suppliers, Supply chain manager has to review suppliers inputs carefully and direct them. Page 6 Recommendation Implementation Plan Implementation would . Element Description Responsibility Timeline Search and hire 3rd party consulting Task force team 1-?2 month Establish new purchase policy 1-2 months Present new purchase policy to Supply chain manager 1 month supplier City Manager Hold hearing and get approval from Create co-pop team with suppliers 3 months Find ethical manufactures and 6 months negotiate prices Co-pop team Roll out phase 1 cloth Roll Out phase 2 24 months firms public Council City manager page 7 Monitor and Control The new purchasing policy implementation progress should be checked timely. Suggest every 2. 5 weeks. Some of tasks have to be done in a month, this mid-point check is critical to handle any delays or changes. There are three aspects to the monitor and control. The first one is budget overhead, the second one is implementation progress and the third one is Supply availability and affordability. If budget overhead is below 5% 4 million, it

9 Simple Tips to Improve Your Job Search

9 Simple Tips to Improve Your Job Search Keeping up with the things you need to do by maintaining a to-do list is a good idea for those who are job searching. It not only helps keep you on track, it reminds you of those things you need to do to make your search for a job a success. Diligence is the key to finding that perfect job.   1. Check for Jobs Each MorningFirst thing each morning, check the job listings. There are other people out there who would like to have the same jobs you apply for, and being among the first to apply can put you in a better position to get just the job you want.  2. Don’t Put Things OffWhen you see a job that interests you, send your resume and cover letter without putting it off. It is surprisingly easy to tell yourself that you will do it later and then forget about it. By the time you get around to applying, possibly days later, the job may be filled.  3. Follow Up on ApplicationsIf you haven’t heard back on job applications you have submitted, it is a good idea to wait a week and follow up. Sometimes, expressing further interest in a job can get you pushed up in the application process. If you receive a definitive no, you can remove that job from your list.  4. Use Technology to Stay OrganizedUtilize technology by using your cell phone or computer to stay organized with your job search. Making up a spreadsheet with dates and the ability to check off tasks when completed ensures that you are following up on schedule. In addition, it is easier to add on other job hunting tasks as they come up.  5. Learn New SkillsLearning something new is always useful. Factor in a few hours a week to take a class, learn a new skill that relates to your dream job or catch up to date. The time spent doing this will be worthwhile as it shows employers that you take your skills seriously.  6. Research Your Job NicheNew jobs pop up in industries that offer you the ability to apply your skills in new areas. Do research in your field to find new positions that you can enter. If taking a few courses helps you fit the job requirements, take night courses or online courses to expand your employability.  7. Work on Personal PaperworkOnce a week, work on one of the documents you use to apply for a job. You can use this time to recheck your resume, cover letter or personal plan to market yourself. See where you can make improvements. Remember to personalize your applications by studying the company where you are applying, and use your assets and strengths to show how you would be a good match for the company team.  8. Customizing Job ApplicationsOne mistake job seekers sometimes make is sending out a general resume for every job application. Aiming your resume toward particular jobs helps because the hiring manager will know right away whether you are a good fit for the job. Instead of just listing your qualifications, also list what you did that was a benefit to the company. Working as a salesperson, for instance, list how you won a company award for the number of sales you made.  9. Do Volunteer WorkVolunteer work looks good on a resume, whether it is coaching a group of children in soccer or volunteering at a local charity. Add this to your to-do list, and make time for it. It not only lets you make new contacts and help others but shows your potential employer that you have outside interests.  Keeping on top of job applications with a job search site can help you find that perfect job more quickly. TheJobNetwork helps by letting you enter your qualifications and does the search for you. Sign up for our job match alert, and searches are done round the clock, sending you job notifications as soon as they pop up. By receiving job alerts that match your qualifications and job interests, you won’t miss any jobs for which you are qualified. In addition, it gives you the ability to search job sites yourself to be proactive.

Case Analysis on Hornell Brewing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Case Analysis on Hornell Brewing - Essay Example Canadian competitors Financial, Market 15. Academe Social, Reputation 6. Native Americans Financial, Legal, Reputation 16. The Local Community Financial, Market Stability 7. Lawyers of Chinese investors Financial, Legal 17. The Global Community Financial, Market Stability 8. Chinese investing public Financial 18. Future Generations Financial, Market Stability, Social 9. Canadian entrepreneurs Financial 19. American competitors Financial, Market Stability, Social 10. American Entrepreneurs Financial 20. Legal, Social a.) Please identify two pairs of stakeholders with opposing interests/stakes and describe briefly how they conflict. The Chinese investors want them to be represented by Chinese nationals as they do business in Canadian and American soil. This, in turn, will have a conflicting interest with Canadian and American representatives because this would mean taking away jobs from them. Also, one aspect of the business is that Chinese investors are looking for start-up businesses that involve natural resources project and take them over. This presents conflict to Canadian and American interests because Chinese are not known to be respectful of the environment when they conduct evident with the disregard of their industrial plants to environment back in China. What makes the issue worrisome is that these Chinese investors are looking for Chinese nationals who might connived with them comparing to Canadian and American representatives who have genuine regard for the Canadian and American environment because it is their environment. b.) Please identify two pairs of stakeholders with shared interests/stakes and describe briefly how they might benefit from coordinating their interests. The Chinese investors and their representatives have a common interest of making money in the projects that they will be involved in. The investors return for their investments and the representatives, stability of employment and there could even be bonuses. Using information from the case, propose recommendations for possible business activities that promote LONG-TERM enrichment for each of the following stakeholders: customers Chinese investors must ensure that they follow all the government regulations about using the natural resources in their projects. News about abuse in the environment can make Canadian and American customers jittery and they are not that tolerant to environment abuse compared to Chinese. shareholders Chinese investors must make sure that their business practices are ethical and legal to make their fellow shareholders feel confident about their business in foreign soil (Canada and America). If the investors get involved in any form of environmental abuse, investors will divert their investors to other business. the natural environment It is highly suggested that Chinese investors be represented by local Canadians and Americans for the general public become more confident about their operations that involve the environment. Also, their operations will have a greater probability that it is in accordance with Canadian and American laws because of the representatives’ familiarity not only with the local law but also on the local perspective on how to treat the environment. Chinese are not known for being sensitive about the environment. the local community Chinese investors must be transparent in their operations to have the confidence of local community. If the local community protests their presence and operation, it would make their business very difficult. It may even

Economic Theories and the Music Industry Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Economic Theories and the Music Industry - Essay Example Musicians have made a living out of selling their music formats and thus the identification of the importance of the industry. However, of contemporary times, the sales of music formats have fallen continuously. It is the fear of many that there will lack and industry in this sector after some years and this can gain attribution to several economic theories. One of the standing economic theories in the identification of this is Market Anomaly. The key aspects of this theory are that there is inefficiency in the sales of a particular product in a given economic sector may depreciate and go against efficient market hypothesis (Fabozzi, 2011, 71). There are two main reasons that lead to market anomaly and they are ranges in two spectrums, the structural factors and the behavioral aspects. Focusing on the structural factors, one of the key components is unfair competition. The music industry is one that has undergone numerous changes over the years and thus the need to keep up with the c hanges. The changes have been caused by the development of Information Technology and thus the necessity to keep up with current trends in the creation of music formats. This necessity has led to different people in the various music sectors to develop a competition culture bases on the goal of most market sales. However, this unfair competition has led to their loss of customers rather than an increase and this is based from the fact that they focus more on the quantity of music produced to outdo each other rather than the quantity (Fabozzi, 2011, 125). The customers do not care about the quantity of music formats produced but rather on the quality. When customers find the quality not appealing to their needs, they decrease their focus on the particular music and spend the money in another manner. Unfair competition also comes up based on other entertainment industries rather than music. A major competitor in entertainment is the movies. The movie industry also started a long time ago and the amount of developments that the sector has witnessed over the past decade goes nothing short of overwhelming. Many movie directors have invented a lot of technology that has drawn more attention to entertainment fans. An example of this is the introduction of 3D films that give the viewer a livelier experience while watching a movie. Upon the introduction of the aspect, the music industry is in a fast search to develop a new concept in terms of music formats that will outdo the theatre developments (Robert, 2012, 153). This form of competition is healthy but of contemporary reports, it has led to various rivalries developing between music producers and movie directors and this has not had a positive impact on music formats. Another factor in the theory that affects the sale of music formats negatively is market transparency. In this case, not many people recognize the various genres of music formats that society is willing to offer due to less publicity made by the respo nsible promoters (Nilsson, 2010, 63). Less promotion by advertisement is one conflict that has hit markets in the 21st century and the credit for this goes to the high amount of inflation that the current global market is facing. The less the promotion made the more anonymous music formats are in society. This is one contribution to the poor music market figures in the 21st century. Moreover, regulatory actions for various music formats by authorities have led to a decrease in the number of sales over the past few years.