A Child of Sorrow Essay

It is such an extremely superb romantic tale that stimulates your bones and reveals to you that it is a pleasant inclination to be infatuated. However, its title recommends its grievous consummation, yet at the same time I on my part like the basic yet exquisite story created in this novel by Zoilo Galang. Considering the way this is the main Filipino epic written in English, it goes with the same pattern that it needs complexity. The portrayal, plot and setting of the said novel are straightforward. Be that as it may, behind this effortlessness, it is as yet a decent attempt and a pleasant beginning for the fate of books being the most youthful abstract kind in the Philippines. The story is all around sequenced. It abstains the utilization of flashbacks as conceivable so as to abstain from puzzling the brains of the perusers. In this way, some place in the piece of the novel, we could by one way or another deduce and anticipate the progression of occasions, which is run of the mill to a Filipino creator. Every section has its own topic created and joined in one idea. With respect to portrayal, Galang made it by having critical characters as Rosa and Julio. They are customary characters however their romantic tale is one of a kind. I could by one way or another recognize myself with Julio. Like him, I am living in dream with perusing an excessive number of books. In some cases I segregated from reality as I attempt to envision things which are very fiction in nature. The account of the novel spins around adoration as its topic. Love is such an incredible inclination, that couldn't be forestalled by whatever else. In any case, see that adoration is an inclination, it likewise requests penance. Genuine affection is tried by preliminaries that tag along seeing someone. It might come as a third part, gossipy tidbits and so forth. Our esteemed darlings in the novel likewise experienced such things. It is likewise focused on that motivation brings change. At the point when we are enlivened realized by being infatuated, we could have the pizzazz to improve and could change for as well as can be expected be. Disappointments in life must not be viewed as condemnations. Disappointments are now and then surprisingly positive developments. On the off chance that we just have the correct demeanor towards life, therefore tallying the preliminaries that tag along our way as another test for us to develop, at that point life merits living. The tale shows us a ton of things. It shows us the truth in life that we become hopelessly enamored even in an unforeseen time. Love buds all over the place and nobody is absolved to experience passionate feelings for. For whatever length of time that we live, it is unavoidable for us to experience passionate feelings for.

Bentley Motors free essay sample

What is worldwide market division? What difficulties does it posture to Bentley?International showcase division is a promoting technique which incorporates a wide objective market. On the off chance that we start a business, advertise division is significant. On the off chance that our organization is global organization, we have to comprehend about the worldwide market division. As indicated by clients need and need, area, culture and religion, we should target showcase. It is worldwide market division. Worldwide market division comprises four components; (1) Geographic area ,(2) Economic factor (3) Political and lawful variables and (4) Cultural elements. The customary markets of Bentley Motors are the United States, the United Kingdom and Europe. Notwithstanding, deals in its customary markets drooped in 2008 because of the worldwide monetary emergency. A few requests for its vehicles were dropped promptly and deals dropped by 24% that year contrasted with 2009. This powers Bentley began to scan for new markets to build deals. Bentley utilize various types of market division to fragment their global market. We will compose a custom article test on Bentley Motors or then again any comparative point explicitly for you Don't WasteYour Time Recruit WRITER Just 13.90/page Bentley understood that the utilization of the more customary market division factors, for example, age, sexual orientation, training, and level of financial advancement doesn't appear to mirror the genuine part of market conduct. Particularly the prospering buying intensity of the wealthy in the enormous developing markets, for example, Brazil, Russia, India and China. The consequence of search was advertise division dependent on new monetary elements like number of deals in that market.Q.2 Using the full range of division factors, portray how Bentley fragments and focuses on the global extravagance vehicle market.The full range of division factors are way of life, feeling affiliation, taught and so forth. It focused on high-salary bunches who need to get tied up with the imagery and history of the Bentley brand. It focused on again bunches in the rising economies who are commonly more established or resigned guys, profoundly instructed and high workers. In examination, Bentleys target shoppers in developing markets are regularly the youthful, less taught, business visionaries who share various significant shared traits. They have a solid craving for Western-marked extravagance products. Perceiving the distinctions and the chance to be had from separating its focusing on endeavors. Furthermore, its additionally focus on the conventional market with its unique incentive of extravagance, execution, and exclusivity.Q. 3 Has Bentley separated and situated its image viably? Explain.Bentley has separate and situated its image adequately. High-contact separation and situating program customized to the painstakingly characterized wealthy gatherings in every one of its business sectors. Bentley offers a select assortment of constrained non-motoring items created under permit from its balance restrictive accomplices. For instance, Zai a Swiss creator of extravagance ski hardware known for its art and selectiveness. Bentley offer him hardware for the Bentley Styling Studio in England. And afterward they made the golf occasions, these occasions unite golf players from various substance with a normal intrigue. China has now supplanted the United States as Bentleys biggest market. In Russia, Bentleys deals expanded by 45% in 2011.Q.4 Given the monetary downturn in created economies and the stoppage in developing economies, for example, China, will Bentley keep on developing? Why or Why not?Bentley will proceed with development among monetary market. Since Bentley brand around the universal is creating and making one of the world a most attractive items. Bentley has succeeded separating its situation in the worldwide extravagance vehicle advertise through a market-driven system dependent on responsive cross-showcase division. The utilization of the more conventional market division factors such age, sexual orientation, training, and level of monetary advancement doesnt appear to mirror the genuine part of market conduct, particularly the expanding buying intensity of the wealthy in the enormous developing business sector as like Brazil, Russia, India and China. Bentley as yet going to improve particularly in the current developing economies just as those really taking shape ,, for example, Vietnam, Cambodia , Kazakhstan, and the Philippines, where the nouveaurich have recently begun to valued the quintessentially British custom and legacy that is weaved in Bentley. Along these lines, fortify relationship with significant clients is the most significant point for business to pushing ahead with success.Q.5 What suggestions would you make to help guarantee Bentleys future growth?First, Bentley need to change their methodology for the new market. In the present market they use advertise entrance and item improvement. In the new market, they use showcase improvement and expansion. Particularly, business people like the China advertise, they need to incorporate their vehicles to execution and mechanical perspectives Bluetooth, Wi-Fi associations, contact screen framework to draw in the China clients. They can that approach to draw in the China clients as well as Asia clients. Next Product advancement ought to be acceptable as well. Bentley could do confinement, show up and styles for vehicles in various markets. Confine the support administration, keep the brand through various channels. That is the suggestions to help guarantee Bentleys future development.

How to Buy College Essays

How to Buy College EssaysWhether you are selling college essays for the first time or you have been a college essay writer for many years, you have to keep in mind that some people may be turned off by the idea of buying essays. You might be able to get better responses from different people if you explain that you are writing your own essays, but you can also explain that your professor can review your work and possibly give you feedback on your writing.You will want to make sure that you don't give out your email address if you plan to write your own college essays. Doing so will not only lead to harassment by other students, but it may also affect your grades. Keep your information private.When it's time to send the essays to your professor, it's time to offer up a little more information. Tell them you are currently completing your thesis as an independent student and would like to submit your essay as a way to earn credit toward it.Tell them about any major projects you are work ing on. If you have a website, mention it as well. Explain why you feel you are qualified to write about your topic.If you are already enrolled at the college you are writing about, tell them about your other activities and good solid reasons why you believe your work is right for the class. Keep in mind that some professors only accept papers on their topic, so you want to make sure you are working with someone who has already accepted your paper. Use keywords and put in your information about your subject.Discuss with your teacher if they have specific essay submission guidelines, or ask if they might allow your essay to be used as a model and then give you instructions about how to conduct your own writing process. One of the most important aspects of essay writing is that you need to know what to do and when to do it. Your instructor will want to see your plans for writing, including whether you are working on a thesis or you are just going to use your paper to earn some credit towards another class.Buy college essays, but make sure you don't get too caught up in the idea of the material itself. Be sure to provide a little bit of information about yourself and the way you think about certain topics. While the ideas will be there, the quality of your work depends on the manner in which you go about presenting it.In the end, you want to remember that you are writing your own essay to earn credit, not to sell college essays to future sales reps. By using the basics of how to write an essay, you can take the concepts and themes of different subjects and provide examples from your life to help people better understand the material they are about to read.

Rise and Fall of the Romanov Dynasty - 2238 Words

The Romanov Dynasty held the Russian Empire as one of the most powerful European states for over three centuries. In 1917, during Nicholas II’s contradictory reign, a revolution began that transformed the empire into the first ever communist nation, replacing the infamous autocratic rule and introducing the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. The Russian people were ruled by an autocratic government since 1613 when the Romanov Dynasty began. The government was run by the Tsar who had unlimited power over the rest of Russia. The Tsar set up a system of government involving an imperial council, a small cabinet of ministers and a senate; all of which were implemented as personal advisers and delegates. The Tsar had control over who was†¦show more content†¦By 1916, dissatisfaction within Russian monarch had reached boiling point. Rasputin was murdered by the Tsar’s own cousins and the majority of the parliament and upper classes ‘were no longer willing to meet expectations of loyalty, respect and patriotism. Even though the Russian Revolution transpired quite suddenly, the foundations of it may have started centuries earlier. Since the 1700s, the ideas of European regime had begun to influence the minds of Russian citizens. Lower classes began to believe in democratic rights and equality, newspapers and books spread concepts about universal rights and many believed in a future with a just ruler and a more cultured society. From the 1800s, the Russian monarchy gradually became weaker and increasingly fragile. After the death of Alexander I in 1825, a group of Decembrists made up of thousands of soldiers seized advantage of a succession issue and demanded reforms plus a written constitution. This displayed a hint of light and prompted many to rethink the government system and their place within the hierarchy. Then after the death of Nicholas I in 1855, Alexander II rose to power and was referred to as the ‘great liberator’ after emancipating the Russian serfs in 1861. While the act earned Alexander public affection and respect, it angered landowners, created an economic crisis and alsoShow MoreRelatedThe Role of the Bolsheviks for the Decline and Fall of the Romanov Dynasty.2091 Words   |  9 PagesResearch Essay: The Russian Revolution (Task 1) Assess the role of the Bolsheviks for the decline and fall of the Romanov dynasty. The beginning of the 20th century brought radical changes to the social and political structure of autocratic Russia. It was a period of regression, reform, revolution and eradication. Eradication of a blood line that had remained in rule for over 300 years; the Romanov Dynasty. The central figure of this eradication was Tsar Nicholas II, often described as an incompetentRead MoreRasputin Essay2217 Words   |  9 Pages Throughout the 20th century many books have been written about the fall of the Romanov Empire in Russia. It was a dynasty that had been in power for over three hundred year and ends with the last Romanov family being murdered. Tsar Nicholas and his family have been made famous through the many movies and books that tell of their tragedy. Over the past 80 years the Romanov story has become legend, like a fairy tale; but in this fairy tale one man stands out. This man, Rasputin, although he wasRead MorePersonal Influence of Grigori Rasputin1932 Words   |  8 Pageswith the ruling Romanovs and leading ministers due to his mystical ability to treat the hemophilia of the sole heir to the throne, Tsarevich Alexei. The topic of this investigation is to analyze to what extent did the personal influence of Grigori Rasputin lead to the fall of the Russian Empire. The analysis will investigate the relationship of Rasputin to those in positions of power, starting from the time when Rasputin first treated Alexei to the last days of the Romanov Dynasty. Statements fromRead MorePhilip II And Peter The Great Of Russia1402 Words   |  6 Pagesenables his or her country to rise above times of hardship and distress. Peter the Great exemplifies this very concept. Prior to his ruling, Russia was in a complete state of disarray, known as the Time of Troubles. The previous monarch Ivan IV, or Ivan the terrible, had died without a designated monarch, causing an Interregnum of disorder between the old Rurik Dynasty of Ivan the Terrible, and the new Romanov dynasty. Even with the new dynasty starting with Michael Romanov, the streltsy, who were guardsRead Morejulius caesar comparation Essay examples1516 Wor ds   |  7 Pagesinvolving both the Roman legions and tribes in Gaul who were often competing among themselves. Julius Caesar was a Roman general and statesman whose dictatorship was pivotal in Romes transition from republic to empire. Nikolai Aleksandrovich Romanov was born near St. Petersburg on May 18, 1868 son of Czar Alexander III. Nicholas II, the last Czar of Russia, ascended to the throne following the death of his father in 1894. Unprepared for such a role, Nicholas II has been characterized as a weakRead MoreSino-Russian Relations1181 Words   |  5 Pagescentury between the Romanov Empire and the Qing Dynasty when they signed the Treaty of Nerchinsk, on September 6, 1689 (Harkins, 2010). China and Russia have had several skirmishes along the borders but have maintained a somewhat peaceful relationship along the borders. They have a sensitive views on each other and are rivals in many ways because of their past together. The Russians have often felt superior to the Chinese which dates back to tsarist Russia and the Qing Dynasty. During China’s â€Å"CenturyRead MoreLeon Trotsky1373 Words   |  6 PagesThe rise of Trotsky’s political power starts during his first jail sentencing in 1898 w here he had joined the ‘Russian Social Democratic Labour Party’ (RSDLP). This was the initial development of Leon Trotsky and his road to important political positions. It was these significant political roles that strongly impacted the, not only Russian, but International history as we know it today. Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov (Lenin) was the current leader after the fall and collapse of the Romanov Dynasty, andRead MoreThe Communist Manifesto Karl Marx2006 Words   |  9 Pagesof class struggles†¦ the proletarians have nothing to lose but their chains. They have a world to win.† In Russia, the proletariat class did in fact win; the year 1917 marked the beginning of a new era that for centuries has been ruled by the Romanov dynasty, a period during which the country produced some of the greatest poets, writers, painters and philosophers of all times. This great empire was radically transformed from tsarist autocracy to communism in the span of only a couple of months. TheRead MoreFebruary Revolution: Causes1326 Words   |  6 PagesRevolution of 1917 was first of the two revolutions in Russia in 1917, the revolution which began the transformation of the country. As an immediate result of this revolution, Tsar Nicholas II decided to abdicate, which lead to the end of t he Romanov dynasty. The Tsar was immediately replaced by the provisional government and at the same time the Petrograd Soviet, which ruled alongside the Provisional Government.The revolution broke out very swiftly, but it did change Russia from its autocratic regimeRead MoreEssay about The Glorious Revolutions1977 Words   |  8 Pagescontrast the nature of two Russian Revolutions in 1917. The first Russian Revolution to be investigated will be the February Revolution wherein the poor living conditions and the dissent among the people of Russia led to the collapse of the Romanov dynasty and the rise of the Provisional Government. The second Russian Revolution to be investigated will be the Bolshevik Revolution which occurred after the failure of the provisional government to improve the living conditions in Russia and led to the Bolsheviks

The Internet How Private is Your Privacy - 1146 Words

The Internet: How Private is Your Privacy? Would you go up to a random stranger and hand them all of your personal information: home address, social security number, credit card number, etc†¦? This is exactly what people do every single day when they are on the internet signing up for online banking, social networks, and even online shopping. According to Internet World Stats, approximately 239,893,600 people in the United States alone account as internet users by 2010 (United States). Consequently, the Internet has infiltrated the lives of so many and has become the main source of dependency to get things accomplished. But as time goes on, and technology becomes more advanced, people are starting to see that their private information may†¦show more content†¦Even if there are encryptions and copyrights on certain things, with technological advances, someone can find a way around those. This study provides a list of things students should be aware of: (1) What are the c osts and benefits of posting the information? This involves evaluating the content of the post and determining whether it can be considered inappropriate or offensive. The costs may include the questioning of the individuals’ character and professional capabilities. The benefits may include posts that enhance the individual’s public identity as moral and hard-working. (2) Is there a high probability that classmates, faculty members, or clients will be significantly and negatively affected? During the evaluation process of the post, it is extremely important for the individual to determine whether or not the post may offend someone as stated before, or even jeopardize someone else’s future. This could include posting nudes, videos, or even hate comments spilling all of their secrets. (3) How will the disclosure affect my relationship with my classmates, advisor, and clients? The study provided three cases in which private information on the Internet could affect the individual relationships. Posting unbecoming content on social networking websites could compromise the validity of the identity portrayed by the individual when they are around. This compromise could lead to distrust. This same result of compromising identity is also involved inShow MoreRelated Privacy On The Internet Essay1588 Words   |  7 Pages Privacy on the Internet nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Ever feel like you are being watched? How about having the feeling like some one is following you home from school? Well that is what it will be like if users do not have the privacy on the Internet they deserve. EPIC (Electronic Privacy Information Center), a advocacy group that has been fighting the Clinton Administration for tougher online consumer protection laws, and other privacy protection agencies have formed to protect the rights andRead MoreEssay on Internet Privacy1325 Words   |  6 PagesInternet Privacy It has become a sad and upsetting fact that in today’s society the truth is that the right to one’s privacy in the I.T (information technological) world has become, simply a joke. In an electronic media article â€Å"No place to hide†, written by James Norman, two interesting and debatable questions were raised: ‘Are we witnessing the erosion of the demarcation of public and private spaces brought on by the networked economy and new technology?’ Also, ‘What roles do government, industryRead MoreInternet Privacy1375 Words   |  6 PagesA Right to Privacy? What a Joke! It has become a sad and upsetting fact that in todays society the truth is that the right to ones privacy in the I.T (information technological) world has become, simply a joke. In an electronic media article No place to hide, written by James Norman, two interesting and debatable questions were raised: ‘Are we witnessing the erosion of the demarcation of public and private spaces brought on by the networked economy and new technology? Also, ‘What rolesRead MorePrivacy on the Internet1616 Words   |  7 PagesPrivacy on the Internet Ever feel like you are being watched? How about having the feeling like some one is following you home from school? Well that is what it will be like if users do not have the privacy on the Internet they deserve. EPIC (Electronic Privacy Information Center), a advocacy group that has been fighting the Clinton Administration for tougher online consumer protection laws, and other privacy protection agencies have formed to protect the rights and privileges of the InternetRead MorePrivacy on Internet Essay1587 Words   |  7 PagesIII April 1st, 2012 Internet Privacy Essay With the internet gaining such popularity, privacy has become a thing of the past. People have come to accept that strangers can view personal information about them on social networks such as facebook, and companies and the government are constantly viewing peoples’ activity online for a variety of reasons. The government has attempted to help the consumer regain their privacy online by passing the Consumer Internet Privacy Protection Act of 1997Read MoreThe Issue Around Internet Privacy1334 Words   |  6 Pages In more recent years, the issue around Internet privacy is something that has been brought to everyone s attention. In today s society everything is based around social media and online shopping. By doing this people are making their information easily accessible for people to use. People document their whole lives on social media making it much easier for people to find information, that some may consider private, about them. When people post a picture with a loca tion attached to it they thinkRead MoreThe Lack of Privacy over the Internet1375 Words   |  5 PagesIt is apparent, that privacy is becoming less of a factor to people now days and technology contributes to it. Technology is a big part of the problem in many ways. Camera are installed almost everywhere, that make it almost impossible to not have your every movement accounted for with the use of CCTV (Closed Circuit Television). Social media also contributes to the lack of privacy one may have, by ones choice to post about their private lives including their family and friends. With so manyRead MorePrivacy in the Online World Essay1221 Words   |  5 PagesPrivacy is something we don’t really think about. Privacy is the last thing that comes up in our minds. The Internet is easily accessed by many people and can be hacked to find out important private information about anyone. People all over the world access the Internet, and when private information is posted online one person is going to be able to view that information no matter the privacy setting a person may use. The first article that I will use is â€Å"Who Is This Man, and Why Is He ScreamingRead More‘Privacy and a Digital Bill of Rights?’1098 Words   |  5 PagesThe world as we know is moving towards a more digital life style, where nearly everything that we own has some sort of electronic component built in it and is able to connect to the Internet. Users are able to browse the web, shop online for their favourite items from stores around the world and post a status update from any of their devices anywhere any time twenty-four hours, seven days a week. On an estimate in just 60 seconds we transmit nearly 640 terabytes of IP data. A major contributor toRead MoreEssay On Internet Privacy1658 Words   |  7 PagesInternet Privacy: An introduction (Mike Campbell) A famous and often misunderstood quote from Benjamin Franklin says that those who would give up an essential liberty to purchase a small, temporary safety, deserve neither the liberty nor the safety (Wittes, 2015) . This quote is usually used in the opposite of its original intent, according to historical context (Wittes, 2015) but it’s easy to see why it may be misused. The sentiment we likely draw from it is that sacrificing privacy for safety

The Cherry Orchard and A Doll’s House. - 1208 Words

People bring their downfalls upon themselves. Do certain habitually practice leave them wondering what wrong they did? Torvald from Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House and Madame Ranevsky from Anton Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard are left to start afresh at the end of the plays after they neglected a key element in their lives. Torvald toys with Nora, his wife, fulfilling only his wants and only his needs and abases her; never considering her his equal. The fallacious choice Madame Ranevsky makes concerning her home and family leads them to destitution and separation. Ibsen shows Torvald as being an egotistical man who decides to mend his ways after his neglected wife leaves him while Chekhov shows Madame Ranevsky neglect as never effecting†¦show more content†¦Chekhov shows Grisha’s death as the first root of Madame Ranevsky’s neglect towards her family. â€Å"It’s just six years since...a month afterwards poor Grisha was drowned...too mu ch for my mamma; she ran away, ran away without looking back† says Anya on page 6. Ranevsky’s poor nurturing habits led to Grisha’s death because she wasn’t watching him like a mother should. His death was the excuse that Ranevsky used to leave for Paris for the next five years. Leaving the orchard to accumulate a large debt that she must pay off when she returns, or lose the orchard. Madame Ranevsky neglects that she is poor and gives out money, which increases her debt. She was born an aristocrat and doesn’t understand the meaning of how money was earned. Her brother, on page 13, describes it as â€Å"scattering the money .† But yet he makes no attempt to stop her spending. Anya says, â€Å"Shes already sold her villa near Mentone; shes nothing left...mothers got a footman now, Yasha; weve brought him here.†(Chekhov 5). This quote gives us insight on how malicious her spending habits are. She hires unnecessary help that she can’t afford. She herself says, â€Å"I had a lot of money yesterday...I go squandering aimlessly. [Drops the purse, scattering gold coins] There, I’ve dropped it all!† (Chekhov 19). The scattering of the coins is an actual visual of how she neglects money since she lets them fall to the ground, showing noShow MoreRelated A Doll’s House and The Cherry Orchard1520 Words   |  7 PagesHenrik Ib sen’s A Doll’s House and Anton Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard were famous for the way in which they depicted the changing of cultures. Both plays act as a sort of social commentary during times of widespread liberation, and use the contortive nature of these seemingly stereotypical characters’ actions to speak about groups of people as a whole. Throughout the course of both plays, this subversion of how different groups of people were typically perceived created a distinct contrast which oftenRead MoreThe Cherry Orchard: Reality, Illusion, and Foolish Pride1748 Words   |  7 PagesThe Cherry Orchard: Reality, Illusion, and Foolish Pride Chandler Friedman English 231 Dr. Clark Lemons In the plays The Cherry Orchard by Anton Chekhov, A Dolls House by Henrik Ibsen, and Galileo by Bertolt Brecht, the protagonists mental beliefs combine reality and illusion that both shape the plot of each respective story. The ability of the characters to reject or accept an illusion, along with the foolish pride that motivated their decision, leads to their personalRead More A Doll’s House - Nora Essay1498 Words   |  6 PagesNora is the central character in the book A Doll’s House and it is through her that Ibsen develops many of his themes To what extent is loyalty shown by the lead female characters characters? What are the consequences of this? Within these two books loyalty is a minor theme and one that is easily missed, indeed it is narrow. However, it is still one which weaves a thread through both of the books encompassing major and minor characters, the material and the abstract. In commencing this Read MoreTaking a Look at Realism2663 Words   |  11 Pagesdelved into the world of realism. After living in a bankrupt family, tutoring for money, and living on his own since he was fifteen, Ibsen had a unique perspective on life, and his work reflected this (â€Å"Henrik Ibsen†). His later plays such as A Doll’s House, Hedda Gabler, and Ghosts dripped with realism. They contained many controversial topics that challenged the beliefs of the time period. In Ghosts, Ibsen wrote about illegitimate children, sexually transmitted diseases, and incest. These wereRead MoreEssay Prompts4057 Words   |  17 Pageson the Floss The Awakening Moby-Dick Billy Budd Mrs. Dalloway Bleak House Native Son Bless Me,Ultima One Hundred Years of Solitude Catch-22 Othello Crime and Punishment The Scarlet Letter The Crucible Slaughterhouse-Five A Farewell to Arms Song of Solomon Ghosts The Stone Angel The Great Gatsby The Stranger Heart of Darkness A Tale of Two Cities The House of Mirth Their Eyes Were Watching God Jude the Obscure 2003 (Form A): According

Porters Diamond Model analysis of Mobile - MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about thePorters Diamond Model analysis of Mobile. Answer: Demand Conditions The demand conditions of the company are more in the composition of the growth and market size of the industry. According the industry lifecycle, they are still in introduction and growth stage (Holtbrgge Friedmann, 2016). The mobile industry with its rapid growth in technology and innovation factors makes it fluctuate in the customers preference zone. The rapid growth has been seen in the telecom sector. The total 91 companies competed among themselves for licensing in from the two telecoms giants in the country. By mid 2015, 30 million SIM cards were sold (Hydrant.co.uk, 2018). This shows an growth of 518% increase since 2018. The 5.4 million customers active mobile phone users are there, which is approximately 10% of the population. The main service provider in the country is Norways Telenor, Qatar based Ooredoo, Myanmar Post, Telecommunications, and MecTel. Therefore, it can be said that the local industry does not dominates the mobile marketing. The industry has 31% of the total foreign direct investment (Hydrant.co.uk, 2018). This sector of the company is currently in a fully-fledged growth stage with respect Internet and Communication technologies. The Chinese brands have captured the market. Market leader being Huwai of more than 3% share and Samsung with 20% share. Therefore, it can be said that existing market is not a ma ture industry. Therefore, as per this analysis prediction the demand is quite high in Myanmar. The country presents good opportunities for investments in mobile industry. Chance Myanmar is very efficiently moving out of the infancy stage of growth to mature. There is ample number of operators in the country, local as well as international. Moreover, 17 proposals have been submitted to the ministry in 2016. There are 17 NTL applicants. The market is more crowded with the national players as reported by the Myanmar Information and Communication Technology Development Corporation. Operator MPT has tested the 4G long-term evolution technology and bands are increasing (Wilson, 2016). However, 3G is on demand in the market they are also planning to move to the 4g realm (www.hydrant.co.uk, 2018). Construction of mobile towers is also flourishing and is implemented. The country in overall has 17,300 towers. Telenor has also submitted a proposal of constructing 4000 more towers in Myanmar by 2020. Simultaneously, the NTL and other operators also contracted to build more towers in the country. The main criteria for this mobile infrastructure are the land and power. Government Funding of the companies is restricted among government policy. The lack of infrastructure development hinders the progress of network expansion. Many expansion strategies of truck and transport strategy, where equipments are expensive, government have lesser coverage (Riasi 2015). This increase the operations cost of the network operator countries. Progress is hindered in the monsoon. As the global trend is moving towards the digital economy, they are also moving towards the mobile money outlook. The fundamental lies in the infrastructure of the Myanmar economy, which needs to be uplifted with the help of the government. Reference Holtbrgge, D., Friedmann, C. B. (2016). Does location choice affect foreign subsidiary success in India? An empirical study based on Porter's diamond model.International Journal of Business and Emerging Markets,8(1), 3-29. https://Hydrant.co.uk, S. (2018).Myanmar witnesses increased demand for mobile communications.Oxford Business Group. Retrieved 11 January 2018, from https://oxfordbusinessgroup.com/overview/powering-ahead-myanmar-witnessing-massive-increase-demand-mobile-communications Riasi, A. (2015). Competitive advantages of shadow banking industry: An analysis using Porter diamond model.Business Management and Strategy,6(2), 15-27. Wilson, P. (2016, May). The Impact of Culture on Cluster Competitiveness: a Revised Diamond Model. InClusters as a Driving Power of the European Economy(pp. 162-175). Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft mbH Co. KG.

A Payment By Results system Essay Example

A Payment By Results system Essay Example A Payment By Results system Essay A Payment By Results system Essay One basic way of regarding todays competing organizations is to view them as a system. Doing so, there are multiple factors that need to be assessed in order for companies to achieve their objectives. Reward management is a crucial element for the present and future of a companys survival. The reward system that we will cover at the moment is Payment By Results. The perspectives from which we can evaluate the quality of this system are motivation, commitment and flexibility. We must bear in mind that each company has a specific strategy in a long-term basis; therefore all the decision-making should be compatible to the latter. Apart from that, limitations, in terms of environment have to be considered. Employees want to earn higher or extra pay. Managers must believe that the financial motive for work is extremely important, more so than non financial motives and the most effective way of harnessing this motive is by the use of Payment By Results system not simply by paying higher wages(Behrend, 1959). Using this system, with examples including piece rate and commission, employees earn one third more than colleagues on a time rate system (Cowling James, 1994). It goes without saying that every reward system can have benefits as well as drawbacks for every organization. These depend on a number of factors. Advantages As mentioned previously, companies have found it imperative to motivate their employees in order to engender their performance at work. According to this reward system, the extent of the additional income of the employees will be closely related to the quality of their work. Needless to say, this is an effective way of giving the right incentives to a companys workforce to encourage them to excel and perform to the optimum. Apart from that, the creativity and imagination of each employee will be enhanced, so the company will be able to strive in their field. Cost-effectiveness is vital when a company requires goals that will create beneficial results. PBR can reduce a companys supervision costs. Since they already understand that due to the policy of the company they will be paid according to their own results, it gives them an incentive to perform as if they were supervised. So, it is all about finding the right way to harness an advantage. And PBR can offer a very effective solution for a company, because it is easily transformed efforts into high earnings achievements (there is no cap in earnings to an individual; the skys the limit). In addition, the emphasis reinforces the psychological contract between employer and employee and implies that the company wishes to share with their workforce. By showing interest in offering the conscientious employees additional income, organisations can, in a discrete way, enforce their employees commitment and, moreover, make them believe that the company will provide them its full support. This entirely beneficial outcome is possible by being as objective as possible when assessing the individuals output. Taking into account the Proctor and Gamble (PG) case study, Bob Wehling, PGs Global Marketing Officer asserts that their main objective was to increase top-line sales growth. The tool they used to achieve this was PBR. Putting aside the commission-based agency remuneration, PBR was the system they fostered to pay their advertising agencies a percentage of the sales and increase their flexibility. So the advertisement business world found an ally for a more optimistic future development. The creation of a stable workforce is also a rather favourable goal, especially when occurs for the long-term. Making use of the PBR reward system companies can acknowledge the value of each employee and offer them benefits accordingly. Therefore, it is rational to believe that by doing so the employees will be highly satisfied by the behaviour and the recognition of their company. Disadvantages However beneficial can this reward system be, it relies heavily on sensitive criteria because the quality of individuals work is not the easiest thing to assess in many jobs. So, this can bring about many drawbacks. Someone might argue that it is in the companys hands to take such difficult situations in their stride by setting appropriate criteria for evaluation. Yet, problems regarding this do occur. Some companies do measure their employees outcome by sales (like the Procter Gamble case study) and others by the increased number of clients. However, what is vital for a company is that they should be aware of their employees average abilities and make effort in guaranteeing that the final quality of the products or services they provide is always more important than the quantity. Problems may also arise when it is difficult for internal or external reasons to install PBR or when the trade unions might feel upset or unwilling to accept the way by which they are evaluated. In addition, PBR is likely to bring about a friction between employees when it comes to team-work, due to the fact that on the one hand all will try to perform their best, but on the other hand the will try to improve themselves at expense of their colleagues. Again, it is the obligation of the organization to settle specific rules and roles in order to avoid a negative potential situation like that. Payment By Results system is expensive to install and maintain. Output cannot be easily measured data can be manipulated and falsely recorded. One important condition that should not occur is that increase in production or output must not be at the expense of quality. Money is not the only Motivator. Recommendations One could reasonably wonder whether PBR is a reward system that is worth installing and maintaining. Although there is no certain answer to a question like that, it is recommended that any company interested in using this system should take some things into consideration. For instance, the organisation must have clear and well-planned standards not only of the goals of a company, but in the regard to the procedures that an employee s outcome is measured. Apart from that, a healthy interaction is more than necessary, in order to bring about a balanced rapport between company, managers and simple employees. We note that all of these are mere recommendations and that each company, according to their culture, strategy, structure and power, can have a distinct way of installing a Payment By Results system.

Critical Study of the Development of a Vertical Axis Wind Turbine at Cliff Searle The WritePass Journal

Critical Study of the Development of a Vertical Axis Wind Turbine at Cliff Searle Abstract Critical Study of the Development of a Vertical Axis Wind Turbine at Cliff Searle AbstractProject IntroductionTypes of Wind TurbineWind Turbine Theory  Betz LimitCyclic LoadingReynolds NumberSolidityTip Speed ratioProject DefinitionProject AimsProject DeliverablesBackgroundLiterature ReviewDesign Concept GenerationAssessmentDesign ConceptDetailed DesignBlade DesignMaterial Selection and ManufactureCAD DesignManufactureBladesAssemblyTestingTheory  Procedure ResultsAnalysisEvaluation and DiscussionConclusionRecommendationsReferencesRelated Abstract The completion of this project would not have been possible without the help and assistance of my supervisor Prof. Paul Wagstaff and Kingston University lab technicians Dean Wells and Cliff Searle. Tremendous thanks must be given for all of their time and efforts in aiding with this investigation. It served as a good insight to the nature of an engineering project and the considerations which must be taken in order to stick to given deadlines. Project Introduction Types of Wind Turbine The type of turbine is defined by its method of creating rotation; lift or drag based. An example of a drag based turbine is the Savonius Wind Turbine design, Fig 1. Whereas a drag powered turbine uses the pressure difference on either side of the turbines axis to force rotation, a lift powered turbine utilises pressure differences around the surface of the blade itself. All modern turbines are lift based machines as even though drag based designs have improved significantly, the limitations involved are much greater than those of lift based turbines. According to Gipe, (1995, p171) â€Å"When examining the portion of the frontal area covered by the wind turbines blades, lift devices easily produce at least 50 times more power per unit blade area than drag devices.† Lift devices are then further defined by the orientation of their rotating axis or prop shaft; either vertical or horizontal axis. The two solutions each have their own relative advantages and disadvantages and therefore are suited for different applications. Horizontal axis wind turbines face the wind and use the lift produced to rotate the blades perpendicular to the wind direction. The gearbox and generator are usually located in the ‘hub’ at the top of the tower. Horizontal axis systems operate at a lower RPM but higher torque and can be more efficient than equivalently sized vertical axis systems. As they can be manufactured on a much larger scale they can produce much higher maximum power ratings also. Modern turbines incorporate a pitching device to allow the blades to reduce the lift they provide in high winds in order to prevent damage to the system without completely shutting down. The size of the large horizontal turbines however means they require larger average wind speeds to overcome the very large inertial forces to self start. It also then makes them very expensive to produce, transport, install and maintain. This is not helped by the fact the machinery is located at the top of the high towers. Horizontal systems must also face the wind in order to extract its energy so requires a yaw mechanism so it can reorient itself when the wind changes direction. This occurs electronically via internal motors with the larger turbines although simpler devices such a tailfin can be incorporated into smaller designs. This extra mechanical requirement only adds to the cost of installing and maintaining a large horizontal axis turbine. Figure 2 Vestas V164 7.0MW HAWT c/o vestas.com Horizontal axis wind turbines therefore, such as the Vestas V164, Fig 2, are usually deployed where the wind is relatively high, constant and predictable, usually either offshore or in sparsely populated areas to minimise visual impact for local residents. Vertical axis wind turbines operate at a higher RPM but lower torque than equivalent horizontal turbines. They can also accept wind from any direction so require no yaw mechanisms for when the wind changes direction. As they are generally smaller they create less visual objection and rotate with less noise. The fact the gearbox and mechanisms do not need to be as high as horizontal axis wind turbines means they are cheaper to install and maintain. If the wind speed does exceed the maximum, unlike the horizontal, the vertical axis turbine cannot pitch down its blades and must shut down to prevent the system being damaged. It is for these reasons that vertical turbines are suited to urban areas where wind direction can be lower and more unpredictable, as well as having less impact on the people living in the area. A common vertical axis wind turbine being installed is the Quiet Revolution QR5, Fig 3. Wind Turbine Theory   In order to complete the project successfully a solid understanding of the wind turbine principles that will affect its performance must be grasped so that they are considered during the design process. The aim of the turbine is to convert the energy in the wind into a useful form of energy, namely electrical energy. It does the by capturing the wind and rotating to drive a generator which converts the kinetic energy into stored electrical energy. The turbine blades of lift based devices are airfoil profile shapes which utilise the lift produced to convert it to a rotational force, i.e. Torque. The lift acts perpendicular to mean chord on a symmetrical airfoil profile. Because of this a vertical axis turbine can only utilise a certain component of this lift force due to the nature of its rotation. Figure 4 VAWT Blade Vector Diagram c/o traviscarrigan.com An optimum angle of attack must be achieved so that the profile is generating enough lift although with vertical axis wind turbines, if the angle of attack is too high the drag increases to the point where the resultant torque output is reduced. Horizontal axis turbines can operate at much higher angles of attack so that more of the lift is converted to rotational torque. Betz Limit The energy transfer between kinetic energy in the wind and the turbine cannot be 100% efficient. The limit of the maximum fraction of power any turbine can extract from the wind can be shown mathematically to be 16/27 – or 59.3%. This occurs when the velocity reduction ratio (b) is 1/3, Swift-Hook (2011). The velocity reduction ratio is the ratio between the relative speeds of the incoming wind to the wind leaving the turbine. The turbine system will also inevitably not be 100% mechanically efficient so the Betz limit of 59.3% is an ideal that can never be achieved. The most efficient modern turbines operate at 35-40% efficiency. Cyclic Loading As it is only when the blades are travelling into the wind they create lift, and therefore rotational force, the torque output of the turbine operates cyclically. Some turbine designs, such as the Quiet Revolution QR5 vertical axis wind turbine, Fig 3, have blades which occupy a range of angular locations and create lift along its complete length. This reduces, if not eliminates, the cyclic loading effects. Reynolds Number The Reynolds number is a dimensionless value which represents a ratio between the inertial and viscous forces of an object moving through a fluid. As it travels through the molecules of the gas they effectively attach to the surface of the object, creating what in known as a ‘boundary layer’. This boundary layer effects the aerodynamic properties of the object as molecules outside of it react with it as they would the object itself. This boundary layer is very complex to calculate and predict. The Reynolds number serves to provide a numerical, more objective description of the surface conditions so that the behaviour of the object can be better predicted and compared in experimental conditions. The Reynolds number is calculated as follows: Where:  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Ï  = density of the fluid ÃŽ ¼ = dynamic viscosity of the fluid ÃŽ ½ = kinematic viscosity V = relative velocity of the object to the fluid L = the length the fluid travels The higher the Re number, the better the attached flow over the object. Wortman (1983, p76) notes however that ‘small scale model tests are of questionable value because aerodynamic performance of the blades deteriorates at low Reynolds numbers.’ Solidity The parameter ‘solidity’ is a ratio of the combined blade area to the total swept area of the turbine. It is a critical factor for designers of wind turbines. To determine the solidity the following equation can be used, Paraschivoiu (2002, p57): Where:  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   n = number of blades C = chord length of the blades S = total swept area of the turbine L = the length the blades Tip Speed ratio A crucial factor in ensuring the turbine operates at maximum output is determining the optimum tip speed ratio, ÃŽ ». This is the ratio of tip speed compared with the speed of the wind which powers it. If the turbine rotates at a ÃŽ » which is too small most of the wind will pass undisturbed through the structure, meaning it is not extracting as much energy as possible. On the other hand if the blades travel at a ÃŽ » which is too high, the blades will be travelling through disturbed air from the previous one, lowering the aerodynamic efficiency, or even effectively acting as a wall blocking the wind from passing altogether (Manwell et al). Solidity of the blades will also have an effect on its output. Solidity is defined as the blade area divided by the total swept area of the turbine blades and the result is effectively a ratio. Project Definition The objective of this project is to redesign the existing vertical axis wind turbine and construct a functional model to test in the Kingston University wind tunnel. The project utilises previous investigations, most notably for the existing model components. Previous experiments have operated the turbine with a negative angle of attack meaning direct numerical comparisons will be limited. Recommendations on the design of the turbines construction will be taken on during the design phase in order to maximise the probability of a successful outcome. The parameters of the turbine will be defined based on basic wind turbine principles so that their effects can be observed on testing. Recommendations for further investigations or development of the current design will also be made. Project Aims The primary aim of the project is to gather experimental data to analyse in order to validate the design changes. During the design phase specific focus will be given to reducing the start up speed of the turbine as this will give the design a distinct advantage for real world applications. The method for achieving this will be to reduce the moment of inertia of the turbine by manufacturing a lighter blade design. The testing will also be based around investigating the effect of the augmenter on turbine output. Another parameter under investigation is the maximum achievable power of the turbine. This will be deduced by applying various loads under various wind velocities. Project Deliverables The deliverables associated with achieving the aims of the investigation are as follows: A Project Planning Report New blade concept design Detailed blade design CAD model Engineering Drawings Blade manufacture Complete turbine assembly Wind tunnel analysis Seminar presentation and Poster Final Report Background The turbine consists of an internal rotating structure surrounded by a metal augmenter which aims to direct the airflow onto the blades in a more controlled manner. The blades are a NACA 0018 symmetrical airfoil profile and are constructed out of fibreglass with a rapid prototype core mesh. The complete turbine can be seen in Fig 5. Figure 5 Previous Turbine Design The mechanism employed to allow a range of pitch angles (+5o to -10o) in the previous model can be seen below in Fig 6. The angle of attack was altered by rotating it about a pivot using a bracket with an extended slot. This was then secured in place by a small nut. It appears this was not strong enough as a shaft extending from the central spindle to the blade was also added to give extra strength to the trailing edge. Figure 6 Previous Pitch Fixing Mechanism There are 2 bearings mounted into two steel crosspieces to support the turbine, which in turn is supported by a large lattice framework. Below the turbine is a torque box hub concentric with the shaft. The augmenter consists of eight folded steel surfaces around the circumference to direct the airflow onto the incoming blades, simultaneously increasing its lift while decreasing the drag of the system as a whole by directing it away from the blades travelling out of the wind. The turbine is omni-directional meaning it should produce the same results regardless of wind direction. The upper and lower surfaces connecting the vertical surfaces are tapered toward the turbine to direct more of the available wind onto the blades. The previous model had been completed yet was not constructed to the optimum configuration that has been described. Also the maximum wind speed had been exceeded when it was placed in the wind tunnel which led to a catastrophic failure of the model as the RPM was too high and an imbalance in the rotor mass led to vibration, causing a collision between the turbine and augmenter. The augmenter was also distorted. Literature Review Ben Davis (2009) Ben Davis investigated various blade vertical lean angles to assess the optimum configuration. The conclusion was that 0o, i.e. no lean, gave the best power output results. The absolute data and results will not be comparable for this investigation though as the blades were pitched at a negative angle of 10o. David Camacho – Kingston University David Camacho identified that the ratio of the blades height (h) and the diameter of their rotation (d) plays a vital role in the overall efficiency and power output of a vertical axis wind turbine. This was determined to be at its optimum at h/d = 0.625 and has been shown that any deviation from this has a detrimental effect on the results so it is this attribute which took priority during the design process. David also investigated various vertical lean angles of the blades by using CAD and CFD to derive as above that 0o is indeed the optimum position. Max McDougall (2010) Max McDougall’s investigation is the latest and much of the previous structure has been salvaged in order to save time where manufacturing new components would be unnecessary. The data however is of very limited use for comparison as Max pitched the blades at -10o (with the leading edge closer to the axis of rotation than the trailing edge) – despite him quoting it to be +10o. For this reason the real data produced is redundant for the current investigation. The start up speed for the turbine was found to be reduced from 9m/s to 4m/s when the augmenter was included although without it required a manual start by hand. The upper limit of the wind speed in this investigation was over 20m/s – the current investigation would not expect to expose the wind turbine to such high speeds. It was also noted that the investigation should be restricted to operating the turbine at below 200rpm as deflections in the blades and prop shaft were visible at these speeds. This also is expected to be exceeded. Design Concept Generation Assessment Once an understanding of the task was gathered, work began on appraising the existing structure and assessing which remaining parts could be salvaged for the rebuild. The triangular pieces which fix the blades to the central spindle would have to be recycled regardless as they were costly and complex to manufacture. This was a driving factor with regard to optimising the height to diameter ratio. As mentioned previously the structure had failed catastrophically so deconstruction of certain elements was not as straightforward as possible. Once the frame was removed the cruciform pieces fixing the centre spindle to the supports were easily removed. The augmenter could then be removed leaving the skeleton of the turbine itself. Members that had been added to secure the blade angles had snapped leaving the remains of its shaft in the central nut securing main shaft. This subsequently had to be sawn off as the thread of the main spindle had been ruined. After cutting the thread again the remaining nut was removed and the model reduced to its component parts. Design Concept The decision was taken to reduce the height of the turbine blades to meet the h/d requirements for sake of time and ease of manufacture. The height of the blades was determined by the existing diameter which currently was 0.42m, hence: To reduce the weight as far as possible it was decided to manufacture them as a hollow structure from a lightweight composite material. This led to a concept which involves producing the complete blade as two separate halves and bonding them together. Detailed Design Blade Design As mentioned the blade concept is to have them as light as possible and achieving this with a hollow composite structure. The final design is shown below in Fig 7. The outermost shell is 265mm long at its outer edge. The end caps are thicker than the aerodynamic surface to aid its strength and allow for tapping threaded holes for assembly. This is the same on the inner shell so that the end caps have three times the thickness of the aerodynamic surface once assembled. Figure 7 Blade Concept Design The internal profile of the end caps for the inner shell must be altered from the basic NACA 0018 to allow for mating. This profile is shown in Fig 8. Figure 8 Internal Blade Profile Material Selection and Manufacture The blades were manufactured using ‘Depression Moulding’, Gay Hoa (2007, p19). One mould and blade half was made initially so that the thickness and finish could be assessed. Producing them in this way meant the exact length required for the opposite halve could be achieved and incorporated into the opposite mould. The material used for the blades is Kingston University stock composite of bi-dimensional woven prepreg Carbon Fibre with E650-02 42% Resin. As the material was hand laid and with prepreg the only consideration was the angular direction when defining the construction. Having a symmetrical layup is very important as unsymmetrical laminae cause a warped final product as a result of the curing and cooling cycle. A bending-extension coupling, Bij ≠  0, occurs where a force is exerted in the x and y direction of the lamina, Barbero (2011, p182). The definition of a balanced laminate is that ‘for every +ÃŽ ¸ there is another at –Î ¸Ã¢â‚¬ ¦; and for each 0o lamina there is a complimentary 90o lamina with the same thickness and material’ Barbero (2011, p184) although as mentioned the material and thickness considerations is negated by the use of prepreg. The laminar orientation is symmetrical and balanced at [0/90/0/90]. CAD Design A CAD model was produced for the entire assembly using the SolidWorks package, in order to assess its physical parameters at the design stage, Fig XXX. Figure 9 Complete Turbine Model The final turbine design has the following physical parameters: Blade Height (m) 0.265 Turbine Diameter (m) 0.424 h/D 0.625 Swept Area (m^2) 0.112 Blade Chord (m) 0.078 Blade Area (m^2) 0.02067 Number of Blades 3 Solidity 5.519 Manufacture Blades To manufacture the moulds a SolidWorks CAD model was made in order to be converted to an STL file which was loaded into the CNC milling machine, Fig 10, at Kingston University. The material chosen was high density foam readily available from university stock. Figure 10 Moulds in CNC Milling Machine Once the moulds were completed they had to be finished by hand. This included filing down the sharp edges around the outside of the billet in order to prevent any damage to the bag in which it was to be cured. More importantly, the inner surface of the mould needed to be smoothed to an appropriate surface finish as any roughness would be shown on the aerodynamic surface of the blade as the Carbon Fibre was cured in a vacuum. This would be detrimental to the efficiency of the blade so a rough sand paper was used, followed by a fine grade. Also in the corners the milling machine left a small radius form the tool. These were removed by hand to ensure a clean corner for mating of the two halves. Once the finish was satisfactory, heat proof tape was laid onto the mould surface, Fig 11, to improve its smoothness and also to allow easier removal of the piece once it was cured. Special attention was given to minimise the overlapping or gaps down the span of the blade as these also would be visible on the blade surface. The method of layup was to place the aerodynamic surface and end caps separately but with an overlap to form one solid piece. The Carbon Fibre was removed from the freezer where it stored and allowed to defrost in its protective bag. The profiles for the surfaces and end caps were marked out at the appropriate angles to the composite orientation and labelled for order of insertion, Fig 12. The initial surface pieces were laid at the correct 265mm length, and then increased consecutively by 1mm to allow for the required overlap at the seams. The surface and end caps were laid in alternate order, also alternating orientation on each respectively for strength. On the aerodynamic surface, four layers of Carbon Fibre were used but on each end six were applied. This then means that when the two halves are mated, each end is twelve layers thick three times that of thickness along the blade span. This extra thickness allows depth for holes to be tapped to secure it to the turbine structure and also gives strength to allow the loads being applied to be transferred over a greater area, reducing the risk of failure. After laying in each piece a roller was used to squeeze out any potential air pockets and while working the area was kept clean of dust or any small pieces of debris which may be added to the piece. The use of prepreg is useful for this as the resin content is higher than desired for the final part and the removal of this resin during curing helps to eliminate these. If any of these flaws in the material occurred they would create an impurity and potential weakness in the blade as it would act as a stress concentration point. Each 1% of these trapped in the laminate leads to a 7% reduction in intralaminar shear strength and any defects of 2% and above leads to a ‘significant reduction in compressive strength’, Barbero (2011, p74). The theory of imbalanced laminae was proven as a [0, 30, 90, -30, 0] lay up was attempted initially. The piece was removed from the mould and was indeed warped, Fig 13, which was most likely caused by inaccurate application of the 30o and -30o lamina. The completed layup was then wrapped in a breathable fabric. This will prevent any air pockets being caught in the bag under vacuum, Fig 15. Figure 14 Moulds Wrapped in Breathe Figure 15 3 Moulds in Oven for Curing Once the blades were laid in the mould the bag in which they were to be cured was prepared. The bag itself was cut to size and another sheet of the breather material inserted across the base for not only the mould to rest on but also for the nozzle. If this was not added the bag itself could be pulled onto itself, disabling the ability to remove all the air from the entire bag, rendering it useles. The bag was then sealed with a double sided rubber tape, taking extra caution to lay the bag material down with no folds or creases which may allow the entrance of air during the curing process. The functionality of the bag was tested by applying the nozzle before it entered the oven for curing, Fig 14. The entire apparatus was then placed in the oven for 1 hour at a temperature of 100oC. Once one section was produced the locations with four layers were 0.8mm thick once cured and cooled, and the locations with 6 layers were 1.2mm thick. This meant the second mould could be made and had a length of 262.6mm, with an altered profile of the end caps to incorporate the 0.8mmm reduction on the top half of the airfoil. Once the two halves were removed from their moulds, excess material was removed by filing it down. The excess material refers to small flanges which were created from the sheets being laid slightly over the side of the mould and also the radii on the internal corners of the longer half which may prevent the blade mating as intended when the shorter half was inserted into place. This process had to occur above an extractor fan whilst wearing a face mask as the airborne fibres created can cause severe damage to the lungs if inhaled. To bond the pieces to form a complete aerofoil araldite was applied to where the end surfaces meet as well as along the leading and trailing edges and the whole thing clamped together while the adhesive set, Fig 1 As the leading and trailing edges had a thickness of approximately 0.8mm and therefore a very small contact area for the adhesive to bond, a few small gaps still were visible. These would have a negative impact on the aerodynamic properties of the blades so a hardening filler was used roughly and filed down once set. Assembly Once all the components were ready the turbine was assembled in the machine workshop. One new auxiliary part was made from the previous assembly and that is shown in Fig 17. A piece of 5mm Aluminium was fabricated and folded, and threaded holes located to support the struts which fix the trailing edge. The previous design had inserted these struts into the nut on the central spindle. This however made disassembly difficult and the solution shown should resolve this. It also means there is more length of strut locked into not only the Aluminium but a further nut is added to increase its strength, following the recommendation of McDougall (2010, p38). It is important that all three blades are identical in weight in order to minimise the imbalance which may occur when the turbine is rotating. As the turbine will operate at high RPMs any imbalance will have a great effect. Two of the blades weighed in at 52g and one was 53g. By re-bonding the metal end caps to the blades increased their weight slightly but meant it was possible to balance them perfectly. Once the correct configuration of blades and caps was found all three blades weighed 68g. The central shaft also had to be turned down and threaded to allow assembly for the reduce turbine height. Testing Theory   The goal of the test is to measure the power output of the turbine at certain wind speeds. To do this, under a known load, the RPM of the turbine was measured so a value for the power produced could be calculated using: Where:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   P = Power (W) T = Torque (Nm) ÃŽ ± = Angular Velocity (rad/s) The conversion of RPM to angular velocity is: Knowing the amount of power produced by the turbine enables us to calculate a value for the coefficient of power under those conditions using, Paraschivoiu (2002, p320): Where:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Ï  = Air Density (kg/m3) V0 = Wind Speed (m/s) S = Blade Area (m2) The pitch angle of the blades will be set at +5o as this is the angle for best L/D, Airfoil Investigation Databse www.worldofkrauss.com. Procedure Two phases of testing took place in order to compare data to that of the previous design. Initially the turbine was exposed to the wind without any load and the wind velocity increased to the point where the turbine self started. This was then repeated with the augmenter added so that the effect on start up speed could be observed. Then by applying various loads to the turbine at constant wind speeds, the maximum power for that wind speed can be found by plotting a graph of Power vs. ÃŽ ±. By repeating this at increasing wind speeds a curve of Maximum Cp vs. Wind Speed should identify a trend and possible suggestion of at what wind speed the absolute maximum power may be achieved. When taking measurements of turbine RPM care must be taken to ensure the blades are not accelerating or decelerating. To ensure this the value on the Tachometer must remain constant for 20 revolutions or 30 seconds, whichever is greater. To apply the load the test rig was assembled with a rope wrapped around the shaft of the turbine. On one end was a mass hanger, supported by a pulley and the other end was fixed to the supporting framework. By the end with masses a torque is applied to the shaft by way of friction from the rope. Using the following equations the torque being applied, and therefore the working torque of the turbine, can be calculated. Where:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   T1 = Resultant resistance (N) T2 = Tension (N) ÃŽ ¼ = Coefficient of friction ÃŽ ² = Angle of contact on shaft (rad) The angle of contact on the shaft was set at 180o, which is ensured by maintaining the two lengths of tether were exactly parallel to each other, Fig 18. The coefficient of friction, ÃŽ ¼, was found by experiment to be 0.917. The resistance being applied to the shaft, found by resolving T1, can then be converted to an effective applied torque using the equation: Where:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   T = Torque (Nm) F = Force applied (N) d = Shaft radius (m) The power of the turbine under each condition can then be calculated using the equation below: Where:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   P = Power (W) T = Torque (Nm) ÃŽ ± = Angular Velocity (rad/s) The graph of Torque vs. ÃŽ ± should be a linear function due to this equation. From this data a graph of Power vs. ÃŽ ± should be a polynomial curve with a maximum value occurring between maximum torque and maximum angular velocity. The lattice framework was stiffened to minimise vibration and flutter effects when it was in operation. To do this it was first raised off from the relatively loose metal beams running parallel to the tunnel and rested on large masses. It was also weighed down by heavy objects from the wind tunnel lab, Fig 19. Figure 19 Lattice Framework Stiffening The upper framework still felt unstable so it was G-clamped on both sides to the wind tunnel opening using surplus beams from the wind tunnel lab, Fig 20. These measures ensured there was minimal vibration caused by the framework itself being deflected in the wind. Figure 20 Lattice Framework Supports The procedure was then repeated with the augmenter in place. The top section of the framework was removed as a whole, Fig 21 and the augmenter lifted over the top of the turbine. This allowed the turbine to remain in position and minimise any variables that might be affected. To secure the augmenter, an M10 thread was made in the lattice members so a long bolt could be screwed in. On the other side of the bracket a nut and washer were secured, Fig 22, to ensure no slippage of the augmenter which may lead to collision with the blades. This was identical at 4 locations on both top and bottom of the augmenter. Results The start up speed of the turbine without the augmenter was 4.8m/s and with the addition of the augmenter it was reduced to 1.1m/s. Initially the turbine was run with no loading. When the turbine was rotating at low wind speeds without the augmenter it did not acquire true lift and remained at a low RPM. It was not until the wind speed was raised to around 5m/s that the turbine would accelerate to a significant RPM. When the augmenter was added the turbine RPM at lower speeds was proportional to those at higher wind speeds. The results of increasing the wind velocity on RPM of the turbine are shown in Fig 23. Figure 23 Graph of Wind Speed vs. RPM The wind speed at which the turbine would accelerate into lift appears to be correlated to the start up speed. When no load was applied and the turbine was in lift the relative RPMs with and without the augmenter are almost identical. It was also observed that the turbine acceleration would sharply increase once it had reached 150-165RPM. The addition of the augmenter therefore also had a significant effect on maintaining a constant tip speed ratio at lower wind speeds because of this – displayed in Fig 24 Figure 24 Graph of Wind Speed vs. Tip Speed Ratio Loads were then applied at a wind speed where the turbine was in lift. The torque applied was proportional to the reduction in RPM for both cases, which was expected Figure 25 Graph of Torque vs. RPM without Augmenter Figure 26 Graph of Torque vs. RPM with Augmenter The gradient of the trend lines serve as a good indication of the reliability of the results. All are relatively parallel, in both cases, except for at 8m/s with no augmenter. The trend line gradient exceeds that of the data at 9m/s which suggests the values found are too high. This would have been caused by anomalies or errors in the execution of the experiment. Looking at the trend line gradients for all speeds without the augmenter suggests the behaviour of the turbine is less predictable than when the augmenter is added. Higher loads were applied than the data points shown although the turbine decelerated to zero in these cases and so has been omitted for the purpose of analysis. The complete data set can be found in Appendix 1. Analysis From the raw data displayed in the previous graphs, the power of the turbine could be calculated. The graph of turbine power is shown below for each case with (Fig 28) and without (Fig 27) the augmenter. Figure 27 – Graph of Power vs. ÃŽ ± without Augmenter Figure 28 Graph of Power vs. ÃŽ ± with Augmenter Polynomial trend lines have been added to predict the entire curve based on the data found. The peak of these curves indicates the optimum power and corresponding angular velocity for the investigated wind speeds. These figures were read off the graphs and then plotted as a series to compare the augmenter effect on maximum power at different wind speeds, see Fig 29. Figure 29 – Graph of Max Power vs. Wind Speed The augmenter appears to increase the power of the turbine at all wind speeds. The data from testing the turbine without the augmenter at 8m/s has been shown to be higher than is realistic. If this were to be repeated the maximum power at 8m/s could be expected to be around 0.8W in this configuration. Evaluation and Discussion There are several elements of the turbine assembly which can be improved to increase the efficiency and therefore the power output of the design. Blades The blades were a novel design and as a result were subject to imperfections because they are essentially the first article. The surface of the blades after they had been cured had a very slightly rough texture. This will increase the skin friction drag when the turbine is in motion. Also there was remains of the adhesive from the tape which acted as a barrier between the piece and the mould. It was not possible to remove this although several methods were used. Thinners, ethanol and a heat gun were all used to no effect. The process of filling the gaps post-bonding of the two halves also could have been improved as the trailing edge was not as thin as possible. This will induce extra drag as the air struggles to reform in the stream as the airfoil travels. There was also audible rattling of auxiliary structure in the region of 550-600rpm. After examination this was found to be due to the screws inserted into the threaded holes on the blade ends. It was found that on one of the blades, the screw attaching the bracket closest to the leading edge was not locking when screwed up fully. This meant it was slightly loose and the bracket itself was vibrating. The turbine was run up to 800rpm in this state so there was no fear of failure yet it is not a desirable situation. The cause is down to the weak nature of the thread inside the composite. For future designs, a rawl plug or socket to support the screw. Another source of inefficiency was the drag caused by strut members securing the blade pitch angle. If possible a design should be developed to secure the blades at the correct angle without these members. Yet more inefficiency would have been caused by the spindle arm pieces which connect the blades to the shaft. From a previous experiment where the turbine failed and general wear and tear from others have left these pieces scuffed. At the extreme ends of these there are extension pieces to increase the turbine diameter. The mating of the two has left gaps which will trap air when it is rotating. Both of these factors will also increase the drag unnecessarily. The augmenter was not altered in order to complete the project on time. The preferred option would be to shorten it down to leave approximately 10% of the blade height distance between the edge of the blade and the upper and lower cowling. Also the upper and lower rim itself would be at best effect at 30o to the incoming wind; it presently sits at around 10o. This would be a useful update for future investigations. The testing procedure is open to scrutiny. The absolute value for power output is dependent on the coefficient of friction used between the tether and the shaft. The method for deducing this was to fix the turbine blades and place a mass hanger on two pulleys at either end of the tether. Imbalanced masses were added to the hangers and the rate of acceleration that the heavier one fell was calculated. Knowing the acceleration, a difference between that figure and 9.81m/s 2 of gravity was assumed to be caused by the friction applied at the shaft. This resistive force was converted to a friction coefficient for the materials. The timing of the falling masses was repeated 10 times and all values were in a range of 0.2 seconds. The value of 0.917 however seems high and errors may have occurred in either the timing or the height at which the masses were dropped. This doesn’t mean the results are worthless though. As long as the same materials and hence coefficient of friction is used, which it was, then the varying results for different conditions are still valid if only as a comparison and therefore the aim of finding optimum conditions is still achieved. A further alteration which would of much improvement to the investigation is the material used for this tether. At high applied loads then the tether ‘burned out’ as the turbine was at high RPMs also. This meant applying a new tether very often and possible discrepancies in the results. A better material or even better method, with greater accuracy would enable the absolute results to be much more reliable. Conclusion The addition of the augmenter not only greatly reduces the start up speed of the turbine but improves performance, especially at low wind speeds. When there is no loading and the turbine is in lift the augmenter does not affect the RPM however with no load the turbine is not useful. It is only when a load is applied that power can be extracted. The augmenter does have a significant effect on this and allows the turbine to not only operate with a higher power output but also appears to give greater predictability as a result of directing the airflow. Recommendations The following recommendations are made to improve the investigation in the future: References Gipe, Paul (1995) Wind Energy Comes of Age, John Wiley Sons Inc, Canada Davis, Ben (2009) Vertical Axis Wind Turbine Blades for Urban Environments, Unpublished MEng Dissertation, Kingston University, London Perera, Kapuruge (2009) Analysis and Development of a Vertical Axis Wind Turbine, Unpublished Final Year Individual Project Report, Kingston University, London Bhatt, Hardik (2009) Vertical Axis Wind Turbine, Unpublished Final Year Individual Project Report, Kingston University, London McDougall, Max (2010) Vertical Axis Wind Turbine Project, Unpublished Final Year Individual Project Report, Kingston University, London Pathmanathan, A.V (2008) Analysis on a Vertical Axis Wind Turbine, Unpublished Final Year Individual Project Report, Kingston University, London Gay, D Hoa, Suong. V (2007) Composite Materials Design and Applications – 2nd Edition, Taylor Francis Group, USA Barbero, E.J (2011) Introduction to Composite Materials Design – 2nd Edition, Taylor Francis Group, USA Wortman, W. J (1983) Introduction to Wind Turbine Engineering, Butterworth Publishers, USA Paraschivoiu, I (2002) Wind Turbine Design, Ecole Polytechnique de Montreal, Canada Airfoil Investigation Database, Available at worldofkrauss.com, accessed on 8/3/2011.

Amazon Operational Management Strategies Term Paper

Amazon Operational Management Strategies - Term Paper Example Operations management is not confined to manufacturing alone but also encompasses services. Hence, operations management can be best defined as effective and efficient management of all operations of the organization that contribute to improving the systems that are aimed at creating and delivering quality products and services to the customers (Young, 2009). It involves designing, redesigning, overseeing, implementing, executing of the various business operations. Operations management has a twofold effect on the profit of an organization and hence it is vital for the overall success of an organization. Organization is benefitted from the improved effectiveness due to operations management and the created products and services are such that they meet the requirements and needs of the customers. In simple words, increased efficiency will result in increased revenue which results in a more competitive organization and increased efficiency will also reduce costs (Galloway, 1993). Follo wing are the 10 operational management strategies that an organization can apply: Product/ Service Design, Quality Management, Capacity Management, Location, Layout Design, Human Resources, Supply Chain Management, Inventory Management, Scheduling and Maintenance. This paper is aimed at analysing how Amazon.com has applied operational management strategies to succeed and gain competitive advantage in the market. Amazon.com Amazon.com is a multinational customer-centric American company. Headquartered in Seattle, Washington Amazon.com is an electronic commerce company and the largest online retailer in the world. It was founded by Jeffrey Bezos and incorporated in 1994. Even though it was incorporated in 1994, it went live in 1995. Started as an online book store, Amzon.com today has diversified and expanded its product and service line (Reuters, 2011). Today, Amzon.com sells numerous products from different categories. It not online sells books online but also sells computer softwar e, CDs, DVDs, food, furniture, video games, toys, electronic apparels, MP3 downloads, etc (Google Finance, 2011). Consumers, sellers and enterprises are three primary customer sets that the company serves. Apart from selling products online, the company also generates revenue from various other sources such as co-branded credit card agreements, third party selling, reselling and online advertising (Google Finance, 2011). For the following countries Amzon.com has separate websites: United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Italy, France, Germany, Spain, China and Japan (Amazon.com, 2011). Amazon has numerous software development centres, fulfilment and warehousing centres across the globe to meet the growing demands (Reuters, 2011). Amazon’s Product Categories: Books, DVDs, videotapes, music CDs, musical instruments, toys & games, software, consumer electronics, sporting goods, lawn and garden items, apparel, clothing, kitchen items, gourmet food, tools, baby products, beauty pro ducts, watches, jewellery, industrial & scientific supplies, groceries and health and personal-care items (Amazon.com, 2011). Amazon’s Services: Amazon Web Services, Amazon Publishing, Amazon Prime, AmazonBasics, Amazon.com exclusives, Amapedia, Subscribe & Save, AmazonLocal, Amazon Wireless, askville, Amazon Marketplace, Amazon Fresh, etc (Amazon.com, 2011

Land law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Land law - Essay Example In the current case, Stone Construction Limited is not bound by any covenant that Steve undertook with Joan. Moreover, a covenant can only take effect and be respected if the benefit of the covenant comes to the party bearing the burden of the covenant. Under Austerberry v Oldham Corporation2, any agreement between the covenantor and the covenantee only holds between the original parties and not between successors unless: such stipulations are mentioned in the covenant; such stipulations are passed onto successors with their full knowledge and acceptance. Hence, the burden of a covenant does not pass to the successor through title at common law. The burden can only be passed under equity if: the covenant is negative in effect; covenant benefits the covenantee’s land; the burden of the covenant was designed by the original parties to run with the land3; the succeeding party was provided notice of the covenant at purchase. Given the ruling under Tulk v Moxhay4, it is clear that Hans cannot be provided benefit under equity either since the covenant was not designed to run with the land and the successor, Stone Construction Limited, had not notice of the covenant. However, the burden of a restrictive covenant passes to the successor in title only under equity but not under law. In the current situation, Hans tends to be affected more by equity based rules rather than contract based rules. Under common law, Hans cannot be provided benefit of the covenant since he was not a party to the original contract. Acting in Hans’ favour using a contract law position would signal a disregard for common law so Hans cannot be given advantage. Alternatively, Hans could have been provided some benefit under Section 56(1) of the Land and Property Act (LPA)5 if he were named and described under the original covenant. However, this is not the case since Joan, the covenantee, had failed to describe or name Hans with the original covenantor Steve. On another note, Hans ma y receive some relief under Section 1 of the Contract (Rights of Third Parties) Act6 since Hans stands to benefit from the covenant along with other future land owners. In order to analyse the burden and the benefit of the covenant, it is pertinent to consider equitable rules. The benefit of the covenant could only pass in equity if: benefit of the covenant was attached to Joan’s land; benefit of the covenant was moved through express declaration of Joan to the successor in title Hans; the concerned land was part of a development scheme7. Alternatively, under the decision for P&A Swift Investments v Combined English Stores Group PLC8, it was provided that a covenant may pass at common law in case that the covenant concerns the dominant land so as to benefit any successors and the covenantee personally. However, under the judgement provided under Smith and Snipes Hall Farm Ltd v River Douglas Catchment Board9 using Section 78 of the LPA, it would be necessary to provide or pro ve that Hans’ land is damaged by the actions of Stone Constructio

Swot Analysis and Weaknesses Essay Example for Free

Swot Analysis and Weaknesses Essay SWOT Analysis is an effective way of identifying your Strengths and Weaknesses, and of examining the Opportunities and Threats you face. How to use tool: To carry out a SWOT Analysis, write down answers to the following questions. Where appropriate, use similar questions: Strengths: * What advantages do you have? * What do you do well? * What relevant resources do you have access to? * What do other people see as your strengths? Consider this from your own point of view and from the point of view of the people you deal with. Dont be modest. Be realistic. If you are having any difficulty with this, try writing down a list of your characteristics. Some of these will hopefully be strengths! In looking at your strengths, think about them in relation to your competitors for example, if all your competitors provide high quality products, then a high quality production process is not strength in the market, it is a necessity. Weaknesses: * What could you improve? * What do you do badly? * What should you avoid? Again, consider this from an internal and external basis: Do other people seem to perceive weaknesses that you do not see? Are your competitors doing any better than you? It is best to be realistic now, and face any unpleasant truths as soon as possible. Opportunities: * Where are the good opportunities facing you? * What are the interesting trends you are aware of? Useful opportunities can come from such things as: * Changes in technology and markets on both a broad and narrow scale * Changes in government policy related to your field * Changes in social patterns, population profiles, lifestyle changes, etc. * Local Events A useful approach to looking at opportunities is to look at your strengths and ask yourself whether these open up any opportunities. Alternatively, look at your weaknesses and ask yourself whether you could open up opportunities by eliminating them. Threats: * What obstacles do you face? * What is your competition doing? * Are the required specifications for your job, products or services changing? * Is changing technology threatening your position? * Do you have bad debt or cash-flow problems? * Could any of your weaknesses seriously threaten your business? Carrying out this analysis will often be illuminating both in terms of pointing out what needs to be done, and in putting problems into perspective. You can also apply SWOT analysis to your competitors. This may produce some interesting insights! Example: A start-up small consultancy business might carry out the following SWOT analysis: Strengths: * We are able to respond very quickly as we have no red tape, no need for higher management approval, etc. * We are able to give really good customer care, as the current small amount of work means we have plenty of time to devote to customers * Our lead consultant has strong reputation within the market * We can change direction quickly if we find that our marketing is not working * We have little overhead, so can offer good value to customers Weaknesses: * Our company has no market presence or reputation * We have a small staff with a shallow skills base in many areas * We are vulnerable to vital staff being sick, leaving, etc. * Our cash flow will be unreliable in the early stages Opportunities: * Our business sector is expanding, with many future opportunities for success * Our local council wants to encourage local businesses with work where possible * Our competitors may be slow to adopt new technologies Threats: * Will developments in technology change this market beyond our ability to adapt? * A small change in focus of a large competitor might wipe out any market position we achieve The consultancy might therefore decide to specialize in rapid response, good value services to local businesses. Marketing would be in selected local publications, to get the greatest possible market presence for a set advertising budget. The consultancy should keep up-to-date with changes in technology where possible. Key points: SWOT analysis is a framework for analyzing your strengths and weaknesses, and the opportunities and threats you face. Â  This will help you to focus on your strengths, minimize weaknesses, and take the greatest possible advantage of opportunities available. SWOT analysis becomes a USELESS exercise if it is not extended TOWS where * the strengths are used to capitalize on opportunities and to counter threats, * the weaknesses are minimized using opportunities and both weaknesses and threats are avioided Carrying out a personal SWOT Analysis is an important step in finding life and career direction. Case Study-SWOT Analysis Wal-Mart Strengths * Wal-Mart is a powerful retail brand. It has a reputation for value for money, convenience and a wide range of products all in one store. * Wal-Mart has grown substantially over recent years, and has experienced global expansion (for example its purchase of the United Kingdom based retailer ASDA). * The company has a core competence involving its use of information technology to support its international logistics system. For example, it can see how individual products are performing country-wide, store-by-store at a glance. IT also supports Wal-Marts efficient procurement. * A focused strategy is in place for human resource management and development. People are key to Wal-Marts business and it invests time and money in training people, and retaining a developing them. Weaknesses * Wal-Mart is the Worlds largest grocery retailer and control of its empire, despite its IT advantages, could leave it weak in some areas due to the huge span of control. * Since Wal-Mart sell products across many sectors (such as clothing, food, or stationary), it may not have the flexibility of some of its more focused competitors. * The company is global, but has has a presence in relatively few countries Worldwide. Opportunities * To take over, merge with, or form strategic alliances with other global retailers, focusing on specific markets such as Europe or the Greater China Region. * The stores are currently only trade in a relatively small number of countries. Therefore there are tremendous opportunities for future business in expanding consumer markets, such as China and India. * New locations and store types offer Wal-Mart opportunities to exploit market development. They diversified from large super centers, to local and mall-based sites. * Opportunities exist for Wal-Mart to continue with its current strategy of large, super centers. Threats * Being number one means that you are the target of competition, locally and globally. * Being a global retailer means that you are exposed to political problems in the countries that you operate in. * The cost of producing many consumer products tends to have fallen because of lower manufacturing costs. Manufacturing cost has fallen due to outsourcing to low-cost regions of the World. This has lead to price competition, resulting in price deflation in some ranges. Intense price competition is a threat. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. is the worlds largest retailer, with $256.3 billion in sales in the fiscal year ending Jan. 31, 2004. The company employs 1.6 million associates worldwide through more than 3,600 facilities in the United States and more than 1,570 units . . . Case Study-SWOT Analysis Starbucks Strengths * Starbucks Corporation is a very profitable organization, earning in excess of $600 million in 2004.The company generated revenue of more than $5000 million in the same year. * It is a global coffee brand built upon a reputation for fine products and services. It has almost 9000 cafes in almost 40 countries. * Starbucks was one of the Fortune Top 100 Companies to Work For in 2005. The company is a respected employer that values its workforce. * The organization has strong ethical values and an ethical mission statement as follows, Starbucks is committed to a role of environmental leadership in all facets of our business. Weaknesses * Starbucks has a reputation for new product development and creativity. However, they remain vulnerable to the possibility that their innovation may falter over time. * The organization has a strong presence in the United States of America with more than three quarters of their cafes located in the home market. It is often argued that they need to look for a portfolio of countries, in order to spread business risk. * The organization is dependant on a main competitive advantage, the retail of coffee. This could make them slow to diversify into other sectors should the need arise. Opportunities * Starbucks are very good at taking advantage of opportunities. * In 2004 the company created a CD-burning service in their Santa Monica (California USA) cafe with Hewlett Packard, where customers create their own music CD. * New products and services that can be retailed in their cafes, such as Fair Trade products. * The company has the opportunity to expand its global operations. New markets for coffee such as India and the Pacific Rim nations are beginning to emerge. * Co-branding with other manufacturers of food and drink, and brand franchising to manufacturers of other goods and services both have potential. Threats * Who knows if the market for coffee will grow and stay in favor with customers, or whether another type of beverage or leisure activity will replace coffee in the future? * Starbucks are exposed to rises in the cost of coffee and dairy products. * Since its conception in Pine Place Park, Seattle in 1971, Starbucks success has lead to the market entry of many competitors and copy cat brands that pose potential threats. Starbucks mission statement is Establish Starbucks as the premier purveyor of the finest coffee in the world while maintaining our uncompromising principles while we grow. Understanding TOWS Matrix Why use the tool? TOWS Analysis is an effective way of combining a) internal strengths with external opportunities and threats, and b) internal weaknesses with external opportunities and threats to develop a strategy. How to use tool: To carry out a TOWS Analysis, consider the following combinations: Strengths/Opportunities: Consider all strengths one by one listed in the SWOT Analysis with each opportunity to determine how each internal strength can help you capitalize on each external opportunity. Strength/Threats: Consider all strengths one by one listed in the SWOT Analysis with each threat to determine how each internal strength can help you avoid every external threat. Weaknesses/Opportunities: Consider all weaknesses one by one listed in the SWOT Analysis with each opportunity to determine how each internal weakness can be eliminated by using each external opportunity. Weaknesses/Threats: Consider all weaknesses one by one listed in the SWOT Analysis with each threat to determine both can be avoided. Case Study- Application of the TOWS Matrix to Volkswagen Volkswagen (VW) was chosen because it demonstrates how a successful company experienced great difficulties in the early 1970s, but then developed a strategy that resulted in an excellent market position in the late 1970s. The TOWS Matrix shown in Figure 1 will focus on the crucial period from late 1973 to early 1975. The external threats and opportunities pertain mostly to the situation VW faced in the United States, but a similar situation prevailed in Europe at that time. Weaknesses and Threats (WT) A company with great weaknesses often has to resort to a survival strategy. VW could have seriously considered the option of a joint operation with Chrysler or American Motors. Another alternative would have been to withdraw from the American market altogether. Although in difficulties VW did not have to resort to a survival strategy because the company still had much strength. Consequently, a more appropriate strategy was to attempt to overcome the weaknesses and develop them into strengths. In other words, the direction was toward the strength-opportunity position (SO) in the matrix shown as Figure 1. Specifically, the strategy was to reduce the competitive threat by developing a more flexible new product line that would accommodate the needs and desires of the car-buying public. Weaknesses and Opportunities (WO) The growing affluence of customers has resulted in trading up to more luxurious cars. Yet, VW had essentially followed a one-model policy which presented a problem when the design of the Beetle became obsolete A new model line had to be introduced to reach a wider spectrum of buyers. In order to minimize the additional costs of a multi product line, the building block principle was employed in the design of the new cars. This allowed using the same parts for different models that ranged from the relatively low-priced Rabbit to the higher priced Audi line. Another weakness at VW was the rising costs in Germany. For example, in 1973 wages and salaries rose 19 per cent over the previous year. Similarly, increased fuel costs made the shipping of cars to the United States more costly. This situation favored setting up an assembly plant in the United States. However, this also created some problems for VW because it had no experience in dealing with American organized labor. To overcome this weakness, VWs tactic was to recruit managers from Detroit who were capable of establishing good union relations. Strengths and Threats (ST) One of the greatest threats to VW was the continuing appreciation of the Deutsche Mark against the dollar. For example, from October 1972 to November 1973 the mark appreciated 35 percent. This meant higher prices for the buyer. The result, of course, was a less competitive posture. Japanese and American automakers obtained an increasingly larger share of the small-car market. To reduce the threats of competition and the effects of the unfavorable exchange rate, VW was forced to build an assembly plant in the United States. Another strategy for meeting competitive pressures was to build on VWs strengths by developing a car based on advanced-design technology. The result of this effort was the Rabbit, a model with features later adopted by many other car manufacturers. The oil crisis in 1973-1974 not only caused a fuel shortage, but also price rises, a trend that has continued. To meet this threat, VW used its technological capabilities not only to improve its engines (through the use of fuel injection, for examples), but also to develop the very fuel-efficient Diesel engine. This tactic, which was congruent with its general strategy, helped improve the firm’s market position. Strengths and Opportunities (SO) In general, successful firms build on their strengths to take advantage of opportunities. VW is no exception. Throughout this discussion VWs strengths in research, development, engineering, and its experience m production technology became evident. These strengths, under the leadership of Rudolf Leiding, enabled the company to develop a product line that met market demands for an economical car (the Rabbit, successor to the Beetle), as well as the tastes for more luxurious cars with many available options (Scirocco and the Audi line). Eventually the same companys strengths enabled VW to plan and build the assembly facility in New Stanton, Pennsylvania. Thus, YW could benefit from substantial concessions granted by the state government to attract VW which, in turn, provided many employment opportunities. In another tactical move, VW manufactured and sold small engines to Chrysler and American Motors. These companies urgently needed small engines for installation in their own cars and revenues from these sales improved the financial position of VW.