A strategic external analysis of a company and industry dynamics Essay

A strategic external analysis of a company and industry dynamics - Essay Example In just twenty-two years since inception, the UK based Vodafone Group PLC has grown to become the world’s largest mobile communications company. It is in the high growth frontline technology industry group with global perspective. Technologies commencing with voice communications over analog networks in the early eighties to paging, fax, data, SMS and other communications over digital networks, global systems for mobile telecommunications (GSM) with national and international roaming etc. and to today’s satellite mobile phone services are all in its portfolio. With a customer base of nearly 180 millions spread across five continents and dozens of countries, Vodafone is a giant in the industry. Consistent growth in business volumes and profitability are being achieved, year after year. It has built up its own brands or acquired other brands with unmatched zeal. Vodafone in Europe and Verizone Wireless, a partner, in the USA are well-recognised brands. Networking partnerships exist in several countries for promotion of global business under dual brand logos. Competing with rivals like AT&T and Cingular in the US market who use ‘time division This paper attempts to focus on dynamics of the industry to which Vodafone belongs and further to carryout a strategic external analysis of the company itself. However, before we get into these aspects, it is necessary to define the specific classification of the industry itself so that in the analysis that follows here, we are on the right track. For industry classification, one generally refers to the Standard Industrial Classification system (SIC) of Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) or its later replacement namely, the North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS). Here two entries viz., the telecommunication industry (SIC 6420) and the radiotelephone communications industry (SIC 4812) appear as appropriate to define Vodafone class. Difficulty arises to exactly

The Effects of Fast Food Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Effects of Fast Food - Research Paper Example Its aggressive popularity can be assessed from the fact that in the year 1970, the amount of money used for the purchase of fast food was 6 billion dollars but in the year 2000, greater than 110 billion dollars were spent by the Americans on fast food. It can hence be concluded that the citizens of the United States expend a higher sum for utilizing fast food in comparison to their expenditures which include education or purchase of automobiles or new technological gadgets (Schlosser 3). The boom of the fast food industry has brought with it many effects on the American society which are not only restricted to the health of an individual but also include economic, environmental as well as cultural effects. The fast paced lifestyle of the Americans has driven them to increase their consumption of fast food and this had led to increased intake of food with low nutritive value and comprising mainly of fats. Fast food consumers do not tend to have a balanced diet and the ratio of fats an d carbohydrates consumed is much higher than is needed. Furthermore, important food components like milk, fibers and fruits are skipped from the diet due to increased fast food eating. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States, 11.3 percent of the daily caloric intake of individuals in the United States was from fast food between the years 2007 till 2010. This excessive consumption of fast food is greatly linked with a rise in the weight of an individual as increased calories are consumed in comparison to the amount of calories that are burnt (Bowman et al 112; Fryar and Ervin 1,5). Thus, a sharp rise in the statistics of obesity has been identified in the United States. Numerous studies have also highlighted this fact that the easy availability of fast food along with a rise in the intake of fast food has promoted obesity. This has provided for a rise in the obese individuals as well as the diseases related to obesity (Jeffery & French 277,278 ; Edelstein & Sharlin 240). The negative effects incurred on the health of an individual are many and recent studies have been indicating the fact that these health effects are not only associated with obesity. According to one study, it was highlighted that fast food has a very bad impact on the integrity of the optimum functioning of the liver of an individual. The liver cells do not perform optimally and increased consumption could eventually lead to inflammation followed by liver failure (Daily Mail Reporter). Another study conducted by the Canadian Journal of Cardiology explained the fact that even a single fast food meal could affect the structure and functions of the blood vessels in the human body. This altered structure could then lead to the pathological condition known as atherosclerosis (Kirkpatrick). The health effects of fast food can best be demonstrated by researching upon the lifestyle of the individuals residing in the city of Loma Linda in California. The average life expectancy of the people residing in the city is above 80 years and this has been due to the vegan diet of the people residing there. This has also been linked with the absence of many fast food restaurants in the city. Thus, healthy eating habits are the main cause for the healthier lives of the people of Loma Linda (Medina). The fast food industry has also been linked with many negative effects on the environment. These include the pollution which results due to the disposal

To Kill a Mockingbird Evil Triumphs When Good Men Do Nothing Essay Example for Free

To Kill a Mockingbird Evil Triumphs When Good Men Do Nothing Essay In many battles between good and evil, the victory doesn’t always go to the side that has the biggest numbers. There are multiple examples in the Bible and in history where the side that was fighting for God’s way would win even though the odds were stacked against them. Many times the only reason evil wins is because good men are not willing to stand up and fight for what is right because when good men do nothing, nothing good gets done. Like if a person is in a jury of the court, and they don’t speak up. The convict goes free, and now out to commit more crimes. Or if a person is running away from something with another person, the other one falls and they don’t go back and get him/her and leave him/her behind, and something bad happens to the other person,(i. e. Death. Broken arm, leg, etc ) If a person is part of the defense of the court, and they don’t speak up, the convict goes free, and now out to commit more crimes, I could not think of any examples from the book besides if Tom got convicted not guilty and he went and raped another girl, but since Mayella was not really raped, but instead beaten by her father, so that was not true. So instead of a book example, since I could not think of one, I thought of a real life example. I thought of the Casey Anthony trial. Since no one spoke up about the crime. She was convicted not guilty. Someone had to have known something, either to prove her innocence or to prove her guilty. Or it could be k=like this, no one spoke up to prove tom’s innocence so evil triumphed and won by convicting tom If a person is running away from something with another person, the other one falls and they don’t go back and get him/her and leave him/her behind, and something bad happens to the other person. For this I thought of two examples, when Jem and scout are going through the Radley’s fence and Jem’s pants get hung on the fence. Luckily nothing too bad happened, as the pants were returned. Something could have gone wrong and Jem would have been severely hurt. The other example that I thought of was toward the end of the book when Jem and Scout are walking home from the play and Jem gets attacked by Mr. Ewell. Since scout falls and cannot get up (Life Alert!). Jem is attacked and thrown on the ground in result, breaking his arm. In conclusion, There are multiple examples in history where the side that was fighting for the right way would win even though the odds were stacked against them. Many times the only reason evil wins is because good men are not willing to stand up and fight for what is right because when good men do nothing, nothing good gets done -Robert Tucker.

Hurler Syndrome Disease

Hurler Syndrome Disease Hurlers Syndrome In a persons body every substance is important and should present the right amount of itself to function properly. In this case a very rare inherited disease of metabolism is when a person cannot break down long chains of sugar molecules called glycosaminoglycans. This disease is known as Hurlers Syndrome which is part of a larger group of diseases more commonly referred to as MPS. Other names for Hurlers Syndrome are alpha-L-iduronate, Mucopolysaccharidoss Type 1, and MPS1H. Other MPS diseases are Hurler Scheie Syndrome, which is a milder feature of Hurler Syndrome, Maroteaux-Lamy Syndrome, whose features are very similar to Hurler Syndrome and Sly Syndrome, whose phenotype is similar to that of Hurler Syndrome. Unfortunately, there are many more syndromes within the MPS disease category. Hurlers Syndrome is named after Gertrud Hurler, who was the doctor that described both a boy and a girl with the condition in 1919. Dr. Scheie was a consultant ophthalmologist and in 1962 he wrote about some of his patients who were less severely affected than those previously diagnosed by Dr. Hurler. Those patients who could not be clearly diagnosed as either the severe or milder end of the disease were said to have Hurler Scheie Syndrome. When you have Hurlers Syndrome, your body does not make a substance called lysosomal alpha-L-iduronidase. This means that a person without lysosomal alpha-L-iduronidase cannot break down long chains of sugar molecules which are used in the building of connective tissues in the body. The sugar molecules are usually found in mucus and in fluid around a persons joints. â€Å"There is a continuous process in the body of replacing used materials and breaking them down for disposal.† What does break down long chains of sugar molecules is a substance called alpha-L-iduronidase enzyme. â€Å"This is essential in cutting up the mucopolysaccharides called dermatan and heparin sulphate. The incompletely broken down mucopolysaccharides remain stored in cells in the body causing progressive damage.† A result of not having the alpha-L-iduronidase enzyme is that glycosaminoglycans will build up and damage a persons heart and organs. Symptoms of this disease can be mild or very severe. Hurlers Syndrome is a disease inherited from both parents which means that both parents have to pass the gene to their child in order for the child to have the disease and any child of any race can have it. When a child is born you cannot really tell that they have the disease because they appear healthy at birth. â€Å"Babies may show little sign of the disease, but as more and more cells become damaged, symptoms start to appear.† Most of the symptoms are thick coarse facial features with low nasal bridge, halted growth, progressive mental retardation, cloudy corneas, deafness, joint disease including stiffness, heart valve problems, abnormal bones in the spine, chronic runny nose, hernia, speech problems, hyper activity, depression, pain, and clawed hands. Most people do not notice the facial symptoms until the child is at the age of two. To tell if a person has Hurlers Syndrome, doctors usually do a simple urine test. The test would show extra mucopolysaccharides, but docto rs would not be able to tell what form of MPS that the person has. Thus, Hurlers Syndrome is not diagnosed until many other conditions have been looked into and after which more specific tests have been performed. This is usually done when the child is about six to twenty-four months of age. To treat Hurlers Syndrome, a person would have to have enzyme replacement surgery which helps the body make alpha-L-iduronidase or have a bone marrow transplant to prevent retardation and that only improves some of the symptoms and should be done at a very young age. Scientists state that it is better for a child with the disease to have this surgery at a young age because they will have a better chance of living longer. A person can also have a stem cell transplant surgery and if this surgery is successful many symptoms of the disease are stopped. Seventy-five percent of those whose transplants are from siblings or other close family members have a higher rate of survival than those whose donors are not as closely matched. Many children with a heart disease caused by Hurlers Syndrome cannot have these surgeries due to the fact that their heart is not strong enough to help recover after any surgery. Any other treatments that can treat Hurlers Syndrome depend on the organs which are a ll infected. â€Å"For those children whose diagnosis came too late in the progression of the disease to be eligible for transplant, there is still some hope in a newly approved enzyme replacement therapy.† Young children with Hurlers Syndrome usually end up with nervous system problems and will have the chance of dying at a young age. Experts say that couples with the history of Hurlers Syndrome in their family or any other disease should be tested before they think about having children of their own. Today there is no actual cure for Hurlers Syndrome, but the MPS society is working very hard to find a cure for it. â€Å"About 1 in 160 people are carriers, which result in about a 1 in 25,000 chance of two carriers meeting. Since this disease is so rare the chance of having a partner who is another carrier is very slight provided their partner is not a cousin or other close family member.† Since Hurlers Syndrome is a recessive gene there are only 1 in 4 chances that a child will suffer this disease if their parents are carriers. In this case 1 out of 100,000 children are affected with this rare disease. â€Å"The unaffected children have a 2 in 3 chance of being carriers like their parents, and a 1 in 3 chance of being a normal non-carrier.† The oldest survivor of Hurlers Syndrome is currently in his early twenties and is standing strong, however, most people affected with this disease do not live past the age of twelve.

My Last Duchess :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A dramatic monologue is defined as a poem in which a single character is speaking to a person or persons- usually about an important topic. The purpose of most dramatic monologues is to provide the reader with an overall or intimate view of the character’s personality. A great poet can use punctuation and rhythm to make the poem appear as if it were an actual conversation. Robert Browning, known as the father of the dramatic monologue, does this in his poem, â€Å"My Last Duchess.'; The Duke of Ferrara, the speaker in â€Å"My Last Duchess,'; is portrayed as a jealous, arrogant man who is very controlling over his wife.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Duke of Ferrara was made jealous by everything the duchess did, no matter how unimportant it was. He was especially jealous of Fra Pandolf, the man who painted the duchess in the poem. A woman should be pleased only by her husband, as was not the case with the duchess and Fra Pandolf. She was â€Å"too easily impressed'; by the painter (line 23). Fra Pandolf was not the only man that made the duke jealous. Everyone who passed the duchess received â€Å"much the same smile'; as the duke (line 44). The duke expected to be the only man to receive a smile from his wife.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Another aspect of the duke’s character addressed in the poem is his condescending attitude. Two times in the poem the duke needlessly told the names of the artists who created the masterpieces that he owned (lines 3 & 56). He felt superiority over the emissary he was speaking to by dropping these names. The duke addressed the emissary as a â€Å"never read stranger'; (line 6). Not only was it patronizing for the duke to call him a stranger, but he called him unintelligent too.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The third character trait of the duke is his controlling behavior. In lines nine and ten he told the emissary that no one â€Å"puts by the curtain'; that he had drawn for him but the duke himself. He felt the need to control who ever looked at the painting of the duchess. The main evidence of his dominating behavior is in line 46. The line reads, â€Å"†¦then all smiles stopped together.'; The line is ambiguous, but the most likely interpretation is that the duke had his wife killed. The poem can be interpreted in several different ways, but in all cases the duke is a very controlling man.

The Instability of Female Quixote Essay -- Don Quixote Essays

The Instability of Female Quixote  Ã‚  Ã‚        Ã‚  Ã‚   In â€Å"The Female Quixote,† the whimsical nature of fiction is not just a barrier to social acceptance, but an absurdity. Following popular notions of the time, fiction is presented as a diversion and an indulgence that cannot be reconciled with reality and threatens the reader’s perception of actual experience. The theme is common, as is evident through the basis of this novel, Cervantes’s â€Å"Don Quixote,† and other works such as â€Å"Northanger Abbey† by Jane Austen. The story is a series of examples of what not to do, acting as both a cautionary tale and conduct guide. But there is a fundamental instability in the work resulting from the opposition of the moral and the means in which it is presented. The intention of the work is to depict the error of confusing fiction for reality, yet does this through fiction. The reader is expected to believe in the validity of the story’s moral, which is not to believe in stories. A work that denies its own foundation cannot function, and this remains true for â€Å"The Female Quixote.†Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   But this contradiction can only exist if there is clearly an instructive message within it. In this novel, there is no question of the negative influence of romances, only how ridiculous it makes the main character, Arabella, seem. And just how irrational is she? For the vast majority of the plot, she believes she is living inside a classical romance novel rather than 18th century Britain. She mistakes the true intentions of almost every character she meets, transposing their equivalent in courtship stories such as Cassandra, Cleopatra, Artamenes, and Clelia onto their actual selves. Because she has no aesthetic distance from romance novels and sees the motivat... ...other level of â€Å"The Female Quixote,† contradict. When the purpose rejects the basis on which it is built, the entire structure must collapse. Therefore, as entertaining as the work may be, it essentially fails through denying its own existence.             Works Cited Lennox, Charlotte. Ed. Margaret Dalziel. â€Å"The Female Quixote or The Adventures of     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Arabella.† Oxford University Press: Oxford, 1989.   Merleau-Ponty, M. Trans. Colin Smith. â€Å"Phenomenology of Perception.† Routledge & Kegan     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Paul: London, 1962.   Sawicki, Marianne. The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. â€Å"Edmund Husserl (1859-1938).†Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   1996. Stewart, David and Algis Mickunas. â€Å"Exploring Phenomenology: A Guide to the Field and its     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Literature.† American Library Association: Chicago, 1974.   

Case Study Questions Essay

1. What are the inputs, process, and outputs of UPS’s package tracking system? 2. What technologies are used by UPS? How are these technologies related to UPS’s business strategy? 3. What strategic business objectives do UPS’s information systems address? 4. What would happen if UPS’s information systems were not available? Answer: 1. A. Inputs * Package Information * Customer Information * Destination * Current Location of the parcels B. Process * The data are transmitted to a central computer and stored for retrieval. Data are also organized so that they can be tracked by customer. C. Output * Smart Labels * Signatures of Receiver * Proof of delivery * Receipts 2. Technologies used by UPS * DIAD (Delivery Information Acquisition Device) * Barcode scanning systems * Smart Labels * Wired and Wireless Communication Network (GPRS, CDMA) * Desktop and Central Storage â€Å"Best Services and Lowest Rates† Because of the advance integration of UPS’s technology. It can provide services cheaper and more efficiently. That technology solves problems like logistics and supply chain management, freight forwarding, customs brokerage, mail services. 3. Strategic Business Objectives of UPS’s information systems address * Operational Excellence UPS manage to cut down costs and save M 28 Miles by their truck using advanced technology. * New Products, Services and Business Models The information systems of UPS created new way on how to offer delivery service. It has transformed the way the company gathers information, creating routes etc. * Competitive Advantage UPS had already its operational excellence and New Products, Services and Business Models which means the UPS already gain a competitive advantage. Having this kind of technologies that they use like DIAD made them do things better than their competitors. 4. If UPS’s Information Systems were not available: * Operational costs could be higher. * Millions of gallons of fuel could be burnt. * Millions of miles could be driven. * UPS’s would not be able to track their parcels and deliver them efficiently if these systems were not available. MIS in Action