10 Tips on How to Write a Professional Email

10 Tips on How to Write a Professional Email Despite the popularity of texting and social media, email remains the most common form of written communication in the business world- and the most commonly abused.  Too often, email messages snap, growl, and bark- as if being concise meant that you had to sound bossy. Not so. Consider this email message recently sent to all staff members on a large university campus: It is time to renew your faculty/staff parking decals. New decals are required by Nov. 1. Parking Rules and Regulations require that all vehicles driven on campus must display the current decal. Slapping a Hi! in front of this message doesnt solve the problem. It only adds a false air of chumminess. Instead, consider how much nicer and shorter- and probably more effective- the email would be if we simply added a please and addressed the reader directly: Please renew your faculty/staff parking decals by November 1. Of course, if the author of the email had truly kept readers in mind, they might have included another useful tidbit: a clue as to how and where to renew the decals. Using the email about the parking decals as an example, try incorporating these tips into your own writing for better, clearer, more effective emails: Always fill in the subject line with a topic that means something to your reader. Not Decals or Important! but Deadline for New Parking Decals.Put your main point in the opening sentence. Most readers wont stick around for a surprise ending.Never begin a message with a vague This- as in This needs to be done by 5:00. Always specify what youre writing about.Dont use ALL CAPITALS (no shouting!), or all lowercase letters either (unless youre the poet E. E. Cummings).As a general rule, PLZ avoid textspeak (abbreviations and acronyms): You may be ROFLOL (rolling on the floor laughing out loud), but your reader may be left wondering WUWT (whats up with that).Be brief and polite. If your message runs longer than two or three short paragraphs, consider (a) reducing the message or (b) providing an attachment. But in any case, dont snap, growl, or bark.Remember to say please and thank you. And mean it. For example, Thank you for understanding why afternoon breaks have been eliminated is prissy and petty. Its not polite. Add a signature block with appropriate contact information (in most cases, your name, business address, and phone number, along with a legal disclaimer if required by your company). Do you need to clutter the signature block with a clever quotation and artwork? Probably not.Edit and proofread before hitting send. You may think youre too busy to sweat the small stuff, but unfortunately, your reader may think youre a careless dolt.Finally, reply promptly to serious messages. If you need more than 24 hours to collect information or make a decision, send a brief response explaining the delay.

Jesse Ventura I Aint Got Time To Bleed Essays - WWE Hall Of Fame

Jesse Ventura I Aint Got Time To Bleed Essays - WWE Hall Of Fame Jesse Ventura I Aint Got Time To Bleed I Aint Got Time to Bleed By Jesse Ventura Jesse Venturas I Aint Got Time To Bleed is an autobiography about who he is, where he stands, and where he comes from. Ventura decided to run for governor and was elected in the state of Minnesota November 3rd 1998. He ran against Skip Humprhrey and Norm Coleman. He is the first member of the Reformist party to win an election for Governor in the history of the United States of America. He funded his campaign not by collecting money from special interest groups, but by accepting small donations from Minnesota citizens and repaying them using the Minnesota Political Campaign Refund Program. He knew in order for his campaign to work, everyone had to know that Jesse Ventura was running for governor. Since everybody doesnt listen to the radio or read the paper, he decided to focus his campaign on Television ads. Whenever he engaged in a debate he took only himself, no notes. His opponents were wearing suits and ties, he wore a Minnesota Timberwolves jacket and a pair of jeans. He dressed like the common man because he is the common man. On November third 1998 he won the election. James George Janise was born July 15, 1951, his name was not Jesse Ventura. Not until 25 years later when he changed his name to become Jesse The Body Ventura. He grew up around local Minneapolis during the 50s and 60s and Graduated in 1969 from Roosevelt High. A few months after he graduated, his brother talked him into coming with to a navy recruiting office. They both walked out with Navy ID cards. The whole reason he joined the Navy was for one thing-the SEALs. Their chance finally came about five weeks into boot camp. After swimming 600 meters, doing as many pushups and sit-ups as they could in two minutes, then running a mile, he passed the screening test. For several more months they were trained as one of the elite. For the next two years he served in the military. In 1973, he finished serving in the Navy and joined a biker club called The Mongols. After riding around with them for two years, he began to want more out of life, so he enrolled in a community college and hoped to play pro football. He worked out three nights a week with an ex-pro wrestler named Eddie Sharkey, who led him to an agent, and he began training to become a pro wrestler. After he was done training to become a pro-wrestler, he got a call from a Promoter asking him if he wanted to sign a contract- he did. He was then known as Jesse The Body Ventura for the rest of his wrestling career. In wrestling he was always the bad guy and it was usually his job to loose. He played until his last match in 1986 against Tony Atlas. During his time as a professional wrestler he was assaulted several times, once by a 70-year-old lady, and then by a crazed fan with a hunting knife. He then received an offer to try out for a role in the newest Schwarznegger movie called Hunter. He got the role and flew down to Mexico the next day to begin filming it. The name of the film was later changed to Predator. During the filming of the movie, he became good friends with Arnold Schwarznegger and still is today. Ventura later went on to do the Running Man another film with Arnold Schwarznegger. Ventura got involved in politics while he lived in Brooklyn Park Minnesota. The city council was being run by a good old boy system and he was fed up. They were only concerned about re-election, and not the needs of the citizens of Brooklyn Park. So he ran for the election for mayor and won and took down the good old boy network. Thats how he got involved with politics, and the victory at Brooklyn Park motivated him to run for Governor of Minnesota later on. But before his election for governor, he had his own radio show at KTSP. Two years later he was fired shortly after signing a contract.

Fundamental of marketing Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Fundamental of marketing - Assignment Example This makes it the most outstanding paste in the New Zealand markets. With these features, XSensor will be a product for use by all family members across New Zealand given that it calls for the most simplified applications ever. In regard to customers demand it will have a special pouch for provision of other services like tooth picks to be used alongside the brushing technique this will give potential customers a better satisfaction that is worth the value of their money. To ensure that customers are satisfied, our product will offer the best service owing to the fact that its battery will have a prolonged life span this will ensure increased efficiency and effectiveness. This will also ensure that this product lives up to the expectation of the consumer. It is maintenance cost is going to be low because of less contamination by hands. In fact, XSensor does not call for touching like other manual dispensers. You only place your tooth brush at the point of dispensation and tooth paste of the right quantity comes into place. Secondly, this product will benefit customers through proper product positioning which will include: Conducting interviews with our target customers in their niche so as to gain relevant insight and to ensure that they get hands on experience of the product. Developing thorough understanding of the customer’s needs this will include guidelines on how to use the device and facilitate any modifications that customers may deem fit in their brilliance. Capacity The product is in large scale and customers will not at any one time miss it out in the market so as to cope with the success of services offered. The buying criteria will be simple as this product comes in one piece and will not require assembly once delivered. This is holistically backed by the following characteristics and benefits: It will be fast to use because its dispensing speed is fast, it will have a long life span, and no hand contact. Pricing methods will be friendly to consumers to ensure the product is affordable to all the people in New Zealand. Discounts will be offered to customers who purchase in large quantities. This may include traders or even domestic users willing to buy for their other family members. Cumulative quantity discount will also be given to resellers who purchase large quantity over time but who may not have the capacity to buy in bulk at once. Seasonal discount will be offered based on the period of time or season that the purchase is made to reduce variations of seasons in sales. Then there will be cash discount offered to domestic users who buy promptly on cash basis. Finally there will be promotional discount once in a while to stimulate customers during low seasons (Feinschreiber, 2004). Also it is evident that customers will require products that are of better quality .These are products whose worth is not compromised by the cost offered. Performance must also be put into consideration because XSensor will fall under el ectronic goods. All these are applicable qualities to go by. Additionally, the following pricing objectives must be put into consideration for the survival of the organization. Current Profit Maximization The product on offer is new and will require generating profit in order to sustain customers and employees. It is important that new consideration is given to negative long impacts to

Qualative Analysis Lab Report Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Qualative Analysis - Lab Report Example At the end of the practical it was possible to establish the cations present in our unknown sample #19. Qualitative analysis is a method in analytical chemistry which involves the identifying of unknowns in a given solution. It is important in chemistry especially when one is dealing with unknown mixtures to be able to establish the solution properties and the methods of separation if you need to separate. In the general Laboratory set up, qualitative analysis is aimed at getting a deeper understanding of the cations and also learns how to handle them and detect them effectively when in any solution. The main hypothetical question in qualitative analysis is whether a certain cation is present in a given solution. To prove that hypothesis null, then a series of chemical reactions are conducted and the color changes are mainly used to establish their presence. It should be noted that many cations will have similar color changes and so a series of subsequent reactions are used in the detection of a certain cation (Page & Foster 11). In this lab we divided the cations to be characterized into two sub groups, this was done by selective precipitation. The precipitate was then separated physically be centrifuging as it settles out and the supernatant liquid decanted. This was the first step where the large group was separated into smaller groups so that a definitive test can be performed to verify the presence or absence of a specific cation. The cations were classified into two groups according to their ability to dissolve. Group A had ( Bi+3, Fe+3 and Mn+2) while group B had (Al+3, Cr+3 and Sn+4) which were to be used in the two labs. The ions were in a combined unknown solution and they were to be analyzed to establish the cations present. To be sure where any of the cations was present in the solution it was important to run a number of procedures that are described below. In test 1, Mn+2 ions were confirmed present. In the addition of NaBiO3 the color of

Childhood obesity Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Childhood obesity - Research Paper Example Obesity is issue that has cropped up and is on the increase if prevention mechanisms are not put in place. It has become epidemic in many developed nations and especially in the United States. Statistics shows that about 58 million people are overweight and 40 million have been proved to be suffering from obese. This represents nearly one third of the Americas population. Related to the wellbeing of children, childhood obesity is one of main issues these days in almost every part of the world. This medical condition adversely affects the mental and physical health of children, as well as their level of self-confidence. On academic level, it puts an unpleasant impact on the mind and confidence of obese children because of which they usually do not show good academic performances (Sabia, 2007, p. 871). In developed countries, childhood obesity has become a serious health concern. Obese children usually do not perform well in their studies because they feel inferiority complex when their peers make fun of them. Their level of confidence and self-esteem go down as the result, which makes them unable to talk to their teachers and peers in a confident way. It is obvious that at school level, children are not as mentally mature as they get when they grow up. So they do not have any idea whether they are doing a good act by laughing at a comparatively fat fellow or not. They laugh at him/her, make fun, and call him/her by improper names because of which the confidence level of the targeted fellow goes down and he/she becomes unable to cope with the situation. This results in making the child self-conscious and less focused towards studies. Moreover, obese children feel low due to such situations because of which they participate neither in extra-curricular activities nor in classroom ac tivities. In extra-curricular activities, the participation of obese students is almost

Behaviour Changes towards Conservation Projects

Behaviour Changes towards Conservation Projects Conservation scientists should be interested in social-psychological approaches, such as human behaviour changes that could influence natural-resource management, according to St John et al (2010). In my perspective, some conservation projects must consider population behaviour changes in order to shift management techniques and even policy making, and before expecting behaviour and attitudes to change, education of society has to be considered has a priority. According to Masud et al (2015) societies with higher levels of education are predisposed to positive environmental behaviour, as they are more responsible and competent with knowledge, values, and skills to improve environmental solutions. A great example how education changed community behaviour, is the environmental education projects in the islands of S.Tomà © and Principe regarding turtles conservation. When it started in 2012, turtles were still commercialized and consumed by local community, however after several projects of environmental education, focusing not only children but elders too, nowadays can be considered a success case, considering that during reproduction season, local communities help to protect new-born turtles on their way to the ocean. Taking into account the socio-economic status of communities, education itself might not be enough to change behaviours, since a lower income community will not accept changes that can decrease their welfare. Consequently, education must be linked with gaining of knowledge, so communities could benefit in improving their skills and techniques (Nilsson et al, 2016). It is the case of communities dependent of agriculture, where using fertilizers is almost mandatory, however, lack of knowledge sometimes might result in overuse and consequently pollution of watersheds. Education actions in these communities aiming the technological improvement, regarding the right amount of fertilizers per species, would benefit the environment/water quality as well as the farmers since it would reduce their investment in fertilizers. Nevertheless, to use education as a factor to change behaviours, cultural assessment of communities must be acknowledged so the ways of teaching and presenting knowledge can be adapted to achieve better results. Presenting arguments in a developed country, with educated people is not the same as presenting the same arguments to people without education in a developing country, as their understanding might be limited by lack of background knowledge. I believe cultural and socio-economic factors should be studied in advance, thus the teacher can establish a connection with the audience so they can relate to what is being said. For example, coal prices decreased recently in India, due to increased extraction, being more affordable to poor people, that until now have been using cow dung has combustible. Because coal emits more CO2 than cow dung combustion, environmental institutions are concerned about climate change effects, considering that India has around 1.3 billion of people. Approaching these communities trying to relate them to global warming and potential extreme climates changes in the future, will not be successful considering they struggle to survive comparing to western countries with vast polluting industries that have been causing the problem. In conclusion, my point of view is human behaviour should always be considered in conservation/environmental projects since human communities are inevitably connected with ecosystems. Also, because human behaviour is driven by demographic and socio-economic factors, to have behaviour adjustment, education must be considered. References Masud, M.M., Kari, F.B., (2015), Community attitudes towards environmental conservation behaviour: An empirical investigation within MPAs, Malaysia, Marine Policy 52, 138-144 Nilsson, D., Baxter, G., Butler, J.R.A., McAlpine, C.A., (2016) How do community-based conservation programs in developing countries change human behaviour? A realist synthesis, Biological Conservation 200, 93-103 St John, F.A.V., Edward-Jones, G., Jones, J.P.G., (2010), Conservation and human behaviour: lessons from social psychology, Wildlife Research 37, 658-667

Edvard Grieg’s Morning Mood and In the Hall of the Mountain King :: Art

Edvard Grieg’s Morning Mood and In the Hall of the Mountain King When one thinks of the Romantic composers, the names Beethoven, Wagner, Chopin, or Liszt come to mind. Looking even further into the period one sees the names of nationalist composers like Glinka, Tchaikovsky, and Smetana. Unfortunately, there are still many composers of the Romantic era whose music is known, but for some reason there names have grown apart from there music. Edvard Grieg, a Norwegian nationalist composer, is one of these men. Many people would know Grieg’s work â€Å"In the Hall of the Mountain King† if they heard it, but would be unable to tell you who had written it or where the work originates from. Despite his lack of fame in today’s world, his music still is a prime example of the Romantic period and tendencies. Two works in particular are â€Å"Morning Mood† and â€Å"In the Hall of the Mountain King†, both from his Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, despite their very conflicting styles. Edvard Grieg is thought of in the music field as a symbol of Norway. He was born in Bergen, Norway on June 15th, 1843 the fourth of five children. Music interested Grieg from a young age and at the age of six he began piano lessons with his mother. His mother, Gescine Hagerup, was known as the best piano teacher in Bergen and led him firmly, but lovingly into the music field. At the age of fifteen in October of 1858, Grieg left to attend the Leipzig Music Conservatory. He did not have an easy time at the conservatory. During his time there, Grieg suffered an attack of pleurisy that caused permanent damage to one of his lungs. He also had problems with the institutional nature of the school. However, despite the hardships he faced, he graduated from Leipzig at Easter in 1862 with high marks. After graduation, Grieg moved to Copenhagen to broaden his musical scope. While in Copenhagen he met people that would become life long friends and idols. One of Grieg’s first idols, which he met in Copenhagen, was Niels W. Gade, the first great Scandinavian composer. Another of Grieg’s idols was Rikard Nordaak, a fellow Norwegian, whose enthusiasm for all things Norwegian was transferred to Grieg. One of the most important people he met in Copenhagen was his cousin Nina Hagerup. They were secretly engaged in 1864 and married by 1867.

Jane Austen’s View on Men: The Contrasts of the Gentlemen Essay

What Brabourne has astutely perceived is not only Austen’s ability to tell extraordinary stories about ordinary people, but also her penchant of revealing, through her works, the various aspects of the nature and behaviour of men and women. Jane Austen is regarded as one of the leading novelists of her era. Some of her most notable works include Pride and Prejudice, Emma and Sense and Sensibility. A common element that the reader will find in all these novels is the author’s attempt to explore the many facets of the human temperament. It is widely accepted that Austen’s novels delve into the consciousness of the female mind and the factors that govern their behaviour. Through her complex female characters, she expressed her own views and outlooks and displayed subtle hints of feminism. But what many readers fail to discern is her tendency to analyse the qualities of her male counterparts. The word â€Å"gentleman† has lost some of its profundity in the world as it exists today. But a gentleman in the pre-Victorian era was considered to be a man of principles and values. Not only did he conduct himself in a manner most chivalrous and civil but also possessed a polite and sophisticated demeanour, and more often than not, the luxury of wealth. One might have been a gentleman by birth, which would include a man born in a noble and respectable family, enjoying a higher status in society as compared to the commoners. Therefore, one might say that social position and family were major attributes considered while terming someone a gentleman. Such men seldom indulged in work or manual labour and lived mainly off of the property and wealth that was bequeathed to them. A man could also acquire the title of a gentleman by exhibiting the traits required to be possessed by one. Such men worked their way up the social ladder by attaining wealth and status, mingling with people of noble upbringing and developing a courteous and refined disposition. In order to fully comprehend as well as appreciate the implication and significance of Jane Austen’s works, it is highly imperative to consider her novels in the light of how they reflected upon her views regarding â€Å"gentlemen†, as well as men in general. Without analysing the role that men play in the novels of Jane Austen, it would not be feasible for the reader to recognise the complete magnitude of her works. By inspecting Austen’s point of view regarding men, the reader can gain an insight into the diverse qualities that men exhibit, in addition to the relationships and experiences in Austen’s own life that govern her characters. Further it also allows us to relate to the men in our own lives. The reader will find numerous instances wherein Austen has endeavoured to explicate upon her notions regarding men. She has examined many characters of diverse natures in order to establish the different types of gentlemen that existed in the society of her times. Austen frequently used comparison and contrast as a means of expressing her views lucidly. She brought into the picture two gentlemen of varying natures, and by weighing one against the other, ascertained the distinctive characteristics displayed by them. Jane Austen’s scrutiny of men is limited not only to their physical appearance, but extends to their emotional and mental conditions. She has examined and judged men based on their intelligence, their sense of morality, their aptitude and their financial situation. Conclusion: The society that existed during Jane Austen’s life and times was primarily a patriarchal one. Men wore the pants and controlled all the major affairs. Through her works, Austen has attempted to deconstruct this society and give her readers a glimpse into the circumstances of the time. Her works have also permitted us to identify with her own thoughts and notions regarding society, the role of women and also her views on men. She has employed characters of varying dispositions, in each of her works, to attain the said objective. Her works including Pride and Prejudice, Emma and Sense and Sensibility are all examples of such works. In Pride and Prejudice, the reader will find that the two focal characters that Austen has used to illustrate her approach are Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy and George Wickham. The two men are largely represented through the eyes of Ms. Elizabeth Bennet, the protagonist of the novel. While Mr. Darcy is at first portrayed as a prejudiced, condescending and supercilious individual, the latter is depicted as being more congenial and gracious. Both however, had grown up under the same roof. The disparity shown in the two gentlemen’s natures suggests that even though two persons may be brought up to imbibe the same sets of values and traditions, it is quite possible that they may turn out quite different from one another. The rearing of a person often has a less considerable impact upon him than his own innate character. But ultimately, what Elizabeth and the readers discover is that a man cannot be judged simply by his appearance. Wickham, who appears to be polite and quite the gentleman is revealed to be a treacherous and perfidious person on account of his deceitful actions. On the other hand, we realize that Mr. Darcy is the true gentleman, a man of honour, fidelity and sincerity. By contrasting the characters of Darcy and Wickham, time and again, Austen has shrewdly imparted knowledge as to the attributes of an honest man and a true gentleman. Emma is another one of Jane Austen’s works that provides us with an insight into the diverse natures displayed by men. Here the distinguishing factor lies in the way in which a man puts his mental and intellectual qualities to use. Further, it also elucidates the importance that a gentleman would ascribe to his social and moral responsibilities. While George Knightley uses his intellect for the purpose of doing good Frank Churchill uses his mental capabilities for selfish and unethical reasons. The former is driven by his sense of responsibility towards society as well as the cause of morality; the latter is driven by corrupt intentions that would benefit no one but himself. In Sense and Sensibility, Austen employs the characters of Colonel Brandon and John Willoughby to demonstrate the essence of gentlemanly behaviour. The conduct of a man, particularly towards women is a crucial feature in determining his potential for being called a gentleman. Willoughby, although suave, handsome and an epitome of the young, charming men that women covet, is far from being a gentleman. Brandon is the gentleman, having comported himself in that manner. They are both in love with the same woman and yet it is their behaviour towards her that causes to differentiate between them. An element of emotion has been brought into play here by the author, wherein she establishes the disparate nature of the two men by depicting one as kind and thoughtful, and the other as unsympathetic and callous. The above mentioned works reveal different facets of a man’s nature that would endow him with the privilege of being referred to as a gentleman. In Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen has proved that it is the conduct and behaviour of the men that distinguish them from one another. In Emma, she reveals her belief that it is the aspect of how one uses his mental faculties that brings out the true gentleman. Understanding one’s moral duties and ensuring that one is faithful to them is a sign of an absolute gentleman. And lastly, in Sense and Sensibility, emotional and behavioural traits define a gentleman. Austen here discloses her standpoint about the significance of a man’s conduct and the virtues of being considerate and sympathetic in establishing his being a gentleman. At the end of all three novels, it is the true gentleman that succeeds in winning over his love, confirming that Jane Austen was of the opinion that it is always the noble, well-mannered, kind and moral man that is ultimately victorious.

A Short History of the Nazi Party

A Short History of the Nazi Party The Nazi Party was a political party in Germany, led by Adolf Hitler from 1921 to 1945, whose central tenets included the supremacy of the Aryan people and blaming Jews and others for the problems within Germany. These extreme beliefs eventually led to World War II and the Holocaust. At the end of World War II, the Nazi Party was declared illegal by the occupying Allied Powers and officially ceased to exist in May 1945. (The name â€Å"Nazi† is actually a shortened version of the party’s full name: Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei or NSDAP, which translates to â€Å"National Socialist German Workers’ Party.†) Party Beginnings In the immediate post-World War I period, Germany was the scene of widespread political infighting between groups representing the far left and far right. The Weimar Republic (the name of the German government from the end of WWI to 1933) was struggling as a result of its tarnished birth accompanied by the Treaty of Versailles and the fringe groups seeking to take advantage of this political unrest. It was in this environment that a locksmith, Anton Drexler, joined together with his journalist friend, Karl Harrer, and two other individuals (journalist Dietrich Eckhart and German economist Gottfried Feder) to create a right-wing political party, the German Workers’ Party, on January 5, 1919. The party’s founders had strong anti-Semitic and nationalist underpinnings and sought to promote a paramilitary Friekorps culture that would target the scourge of communism. Adolf Hitler Joins the Party After his service in the German Army (Reichswehr) during World War I, Adolf Hitler had difficulty reintegrating into civilian society. He eagerly accepted a job serving the Army as a civilian spy and informant, a task that required him to attend meetings of German political parties identified as subversive by the newly formed Weimar government. This job appealed to Hitler, particularly because it allowed him to feel that was still serving a purpose to the military for which he would have eagerly given his life. On September 12, 1919, this position took him to a meeting of the German Worker’s Party (DAP). Hitler’s superiors had previously instructed him to remain quiet and simply attend these meetings as a non-descript observer, a role he was able to accomplish with success until this meeting. Following a discussion on Feder’s views against capitalism, an audience member questioned Feder and Hitler quickly rose to his defense. No longer anonymous, Hitler was approached after the meeting by Drexler who asked Hitler to join the party. Hitler accepted, resigned from his position with the Reichswehr and became member #555 of the German Worker’s Party. (In reality, Hitler was the 55th member, Drexler added the 5 prefix to the early membership cards to make the party appear larger than it was in those years.) Hitler Becomes Party Leader Hitler quickly became a force to be reckoned within the party. He was appointed to be a member of the party’s central committee and in January 1920, he was appointed by Drexler to be the party’s Chief of Propaganda. A month later, Hitler organized a party rally in Munich that was attended by over 2000 people. Hitler made a famous speech at this event outlining the newly created, 25-point platform of the party. This platform was drawn up by Drexler, Hitler, and Feder. (Harrer, feeling increasingly left out, resigned from the party in February 1920.) The new platform emphasized the party’s volkisch nature of promoting a unified national community of pure Aryan Germans. It placed blame for the nation’s struggles on immigrants (mainly Jews and Eastern Europeans) and stressed excluding these groups from the benefits of a unified community that thrived under nationalized, profit-sharing enterprises instead of capitalism. The platform also called for over-turning the tenants of the Treaty of Versailles and reinstating the power of the German military that Versailles had severely restricted. With Harrer now out and the platform defined, the group decided to add in the word â€Å"Socialist† into their name, becoming the National Socialist German Workers’ Party (Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei or NSDAP) in 1920. Membership in party rose rapidly, reaching over 2,000 registered members by the end of 1920. Hitler’s powerful speeches were credited with attracting many of these new members. It was because of his impact that party members were deeply troubled by his resignation from the party in July 1921 following a movement within the group to merge with the German Socialist Party (a rival party who had some overlapping ideals with the DAP). When the dispute was resolved, Hitler rejoined the party at the end of July and was elected party leader two days later on July 28, 1921. Beer Hall Putsch Hitler’s influence on the Nazi Party continued to draw members. As the party grew, Hitler also began to shift his focus more strongly towards antisemitic views and German expansionism. Germany’s economy continued to decline and this helped increase party membership. By the fall of 1923, over 20,000 people were members of the Nazi Party. Despite Hitler’s success, other politicians within Germany did not respect him. Soon, Hitler would take action that they could not ignore. In the fall of 1923, Hitler decided to take the government by force through a putsch (coup). The plan was to first take over the Bavarian government and then the German federal government. On November 8, 1923, Hitler and his men attacked a beer hall where Bavarian-government leaders were meeting. Despite the element of surprise and machine guns, the plan was soon foiled. Hitler and his men then decided to march down the streets but were soon shot at by the German military. The group quickly disbanded, with a few dead and a number injured. Hitler was later caught, arrested, tried, and sentenced to five years at Landsberg Prison. Hitler, however, only served eight months, during which time he wrote Mein Kampf. As a result of the Beer Hall Putsch, the Nazi Party was also banned in Germany. The Party Begins Again Although the party was banned, members continued to operate under the mantle of the â€Å"German Party† between 1924 and 1925, with the ban officially ending on February 27, 1925. On that day, Hitler, who had been released from prison in December 1924, re-founded the Nazi Party. With this fresh start, Hitler redirected the party’s emphasis toward strengthening their power via the political arena rather than the paramilitary route. The party also now had a structured hierarchy with a section for â€Å"general† members and a more elite group known as the â€Å"Leadership Corps.† Admission into the latter group was through a special invitation from Hitler. The party re-structuring also created a new position of Gauleiter, which was regional leaders that were tasked with building party support in their specified areas of Germany. A second paramilitary group was also created, the Schutzstaffel (SS), which served as the special protection unit for Hitler and his inner circle. Collectively, the party sought success via the state and federal parliamentary elections, but this success was slow to come to fruition. National Depression Fuels Nazi Rise The burgeoning Great Depression in the United States soon spread throughout the world. Germany was one of the countries to be most affected by this economic domino effect and the Nazis benefitted from the rise in both inflation and unemployment in the Weimar Republic. These problems led Hitler and his followers to begin a broader campaign for public support of their economic and political strategies, blaming both the Jews and communists for their country’s backward slide. By 1930, with Joseph Goebbels working as the party’s chief of propaganda, the German populace was really starting to listen to Hitler and the Nazis. In September 1930, the Nazi Party captured 18.3% of the vote for the Reichstag (German parliament). This made the party the second-most influential political party in Germany, with only the Social Democratic Party holding more seats in the Reichstag. Over the course of the next year and a half, the Nazi Party’s influence continued to grow and in March 1932, Hitler ran a surprisingly successful presidential campaign against aged World War I hero, Paul Von Hindenburg. Although Hitler lost the election, he captured an impressive 30% of the vote in the first round of the elections, forcing a run-off election during which he captured 36.8%. Hitler Becomes Chancellor The Nazi Party’s strength within the Reichstag continued to grow following Hitler’s presidential run. In July 1932, an election was held following a coup on the Prussian state government. The Nazis captured their highest number of votes yet, winning 37.4% of the seats in the Reichstag. The party now held the majority of the seats in the parliament. The second-largest party, the German Communist Party (KPD), held only 14% of the seats. This made it difficult for the government to operate without the support of a majority coalition. From this point forward, the Weimar Republic began a rapid decline. In an attempt to rectify the difficult political situation, Chancellor Fritz von Papen dissolved the Reichstag in November 1932 and called for a new election. He hoped that support for both of these parties would drop below 50% total and that the government would then be able to form a majority coalition to strengthen itself. Although the support for the Nazis did decline to 33.1%, the NDSAP and KDP still retained over 50% of the seats in the Reichstag, much to Papen’s chagrin. This event also fueled the Nazis’ desire to seize power once and for all and set in motion the events that would lead to Hitler’s appointment as chancellor. A weakened and desperate Papen decided that his best strategy was to elevate the Nazi leader to the position of chancellor so that he, himself, could maintain a role in the disintegrating government. With the support of media magnate Alfred Hugenberg, and new chancellor Kurt von Schleicher, Papen convinced President Hindenburg that placing Hitler into the role of chancellor would be the best way to contain him. The group believed that if Hitler were given this position then they, as members of his cabinet, could keep his right-wing policies in check. Hindenburg reluctantly agreed to the political maneuvering and on January 30, 1933, officially appointed Adolf Hitler as the chancellor of Germany. The Dictatorship Begins On February 27, 1933, less than a month after Hitler’s appointment as Chancellor, a mysterious fire destroyed the Reichstag building. The government, under the influence of Hitler, was quick to label the fire arson and place the blame on the communists. Ultimately, five members of the Communist Party were put on trial for the fire and one, Marinus van der Lubbe, was executed in January 1934 for the crime. Today, many historians believe that the Nazis set the fire themselves so that Hitler would have a pretense for the events that followed the fire. On February 28, at the urging of Hitler, President Hindenburg passed the Decree for the Protection of the People and the State. This emergency legislation extended the Decree for the Protection of the German People, passed on February 4. It largely suspended the civil liberties of the German people claiming that this sacrifice was necessary for personal and state safety. Once this â€Å"Reichstag Fire Decree† was passed, Hitler used it as an excuse to raid the offices of the KPD and arrest their officials, rendering them nearly useless despite the results of the next election. The last â€Å"free† election in Germany took place on March 5, 1933. In that election, members of the SA flanked the entrances of polling stations, creating an atmosphere of intimidation that led to the Nazi Party capturing their highest vote total to-date, 43.9% of the votes. The Nazis were followed in the polls by the Social Democratic Party with 18.25% of the vote and the KPD, which received 12.32% of the vote. It was not surprising that the election, which occurred as a result of Hitler’s urging to dissolve and reorganize the Reichstag, garnered these results. This election was also significant because the Catholic Centre Party captured 11.9% and the German National People’s Party (DNVP), led by Alfred Hugenberg, won 8.3% of the vote. These parties joined together with Hitler and the Bavarian People’s Party, which held 2.7% of the seats in the Reichstag, to create the two-thirds majority that Hitler needed to pass the Enabling Act. Enacted on March 23, 1933, the Enabling Act was one of the final steps on Hitler’s path to becoming a dictator; it amended the Weimar constitution to allow Hitler and his cabinet to pass laws without Reichstag approval. From this point forward, the German government functioned without input from the other parties and the Reichstag, which now met in the Kroll Opera House, was rendered useless. Hitler was now fully in control of Germany. World War II and the Holocaust Conditions for minority political and ethnic groups continued to deteriorate in Germany. The situation worsened after President Hindenburg’s death in August 1934, which allowed Hitler to combine the positions of president and chancellor into the supreme position of Fà ¼hrer. With the official creation of the Third Reich, Germany was now on a path to war and attempted racial domination. On September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland and World War II began. As the war spread throughout Europe, Hitler and his followers also increased their campaign against European Jewry and others that they had deemed undesirable. Occupation brought a large number of Jews under German control and as a result, the Final Solution was created and implemented; leading to the death of over six million Jews and five million others during an event known as the Holocaust. Although the events of the war initially went in Germany’s favor with the use of their powerful Blitzkrieg strategy, the tide changed in the winter of early 1943 when the Russians stopped their Eastern progress at the Battle of Stalingrad. Over 14 months later, German prowess in Western Europe ended with the Allied invasion at Normandy during D-Day. In May 1945, just eleven months after D-day, the war in Europe officially ended with the defeat of Nazi Germany and the death of its leader, Adolf Hitler. Conclusion At the end of World War II, the Allied Powers officially banned the Nazi Party in May 1945. Although many high-ranking Nazi officials were put on trial during a series of post-war trials in the years following the conflict, the vast majority of rank and file party members were never prosecuted for their beliefs. Today, the Nazi party remains illegal in Germany and several other European countries, but underground Neo-Nazi units have grown in number. In America, the Neo-Nazi movement is frowned upon but not illegal and it continues to attract members.

Strategic Management Case Study on Swiss-based Nestle Essays

Strategic Management Case Study on Swiss-based Nestle Essays Strategic Management Case Study on Swiss-based Nestle Paper Strategic Management Case Study on Swiss-based Nestle Paper Strategic Management Case Study on Swiss- based Nestle BY crnp7104 Executive Summary This paper provides a case analysis and case solution to a Harvard Business School strategic management case study on Swiss-based Nestle, the worlds largest food and beverage company with 2007 sales exceeding CHFIOO billion or about US $112 billion(Bell Shelman, 2009, p. 1). While extensive background information dating to Nestles 1867 founding is provided, the primary time setting for the case is April 2008, shortly after 29-year Nestle veteran Paul Bulcke advances to the position f CEO, replacing Brabeck, who retired after a highly successful 12 year reign as CEO. The case focuses on Bulckes efforts to formulate plans for advancing his strategic vision at Nestle. Nestle is a huge, highly successful, cash-rich global corporation with hundreds of billionaire brands, a strong culture, and a history of producing innovative products and customizing products and services to meet local tastes. Looking around at Nestle, scanning the environment, and appraising the future, new CEO Bulcke sees little room for alarm. Looking towards the future, Bulckes only worry is that we become omplacent (Bell Shelman, 2009, p. 1). Bulckes predecessor, Brabeck, had set Nestle on the path of achieving worldwide sustainable competitiveness through four strategic pillars: 1) low-cost, highly efficient operations; 2) renovation and innovation of the Nestle product line; 3) universal availability; and 4) improved communication with consumers through better branding (Bell Shelman, 2009, p. ). Brabeck believed and indeed was proven that adherence to these four strategic pillars would allow achievement of the Nestle Model, a term which referred to Nestles long term objectives of organic rowth between 4% and 6% each year; continued year-after-hear improvements in earnings before interest and tax EBIT margin; and improved capital management (Bell Shelman, 2009, p. 3). Brabeck launched a number of important initiatives during his twelve year tenure, including restructuring of the RD department to be more responsive to consumers, drive renovation and innovation and support organic growth; launching a 60/40 preference rating system for products; and developing GLOBE (Global Business Excellence), a comprehensive information system designed to tie all of Nestles usinesses together under a common technology infrastructure. Brabeck, who saw sales grow 78% and EBIT grow 142% during his tenure, also made several critical acquisitions in bottled water, pet food, coffee, and ice cream; championed Nestles culture as the critical glue of the corporation; and pioneering the way for the beginning of Nestles shift from being a technology and processing-driven food and beverage company toward a broader vision of nutrition, health, and wellness (Bell Shelman, 2009, p. 4). Bulcke succeeded Brabeck as Nestles CEO in April of 2008, following two years of careful succession planning. Bulcke appears to share Brabecks basic philosophy of leadership (which emphasizes empowerment) as well as his views on the importance of culture in Nestles long term performance. Bulcke has also reaffirmed Brabecks commitment to GLOBE (which Bulcke sees as an important vehicle for continuous improvement (Bell Shelman, 2009, p. 10). Despite these basic commonalities, Bulcke has made it clear that his vision for Nestle is not identical to that of his predecessors. Bulcke wants all of Nestles future growth to come as a result of internal growth, not acquisition. Bulcke strongly supports a rapid transition to the ealth, nutrition and wellness strategy and indeed, envisions this strategy as one leg of four complementary platforms which Bulcke believes could double the companys sales over the next ten years. Besides health, nutrition and wellness, the three other platforms are emerging markets; out of home consumption and premiumization of existing products (developing exclusive, high-quality versions of existing products and appealing to higher income customers (Bell Shelman, 2009, p. 0). Problem Statement Nestle must formulate and implement the optimal strategy which will allow it to eet the growth and performance goals related to the Nestle Model while at the same time achieving a sustainable competitive advantage within the global food giants broader vision of transitioning to a health, nutrition and wellness company, and responding to threats and opportunities in the external environment. Problem Analysis An analysis of the problem and an appraisal of Nestle is provided below with the assistance of three analytical tools: a pest analysis, a Porters Five Forces analysis, and a S. W. O. T. (strengths-weaknesses-opportunities-threats) analysis. P. E. S. T. Political. Globalization is unquestionably one of the most important political factors in the food and beverage industry. Nestle is clearly a global business, and in recent years as globalization has become a reality, it has learned that globalization means a lot more than Just access to emerging markets. As Jose Lopez, Nestles Vice President of operations observed, the impact of globalization has been different than we thought it would be. For those of us in the West, globalization meant developing countries opening their markets for us to sell to. Yet thats not how it turned out instead of being globalized we are learning to react to global arkets (Bell Shelman, 2009, p. 10). Nestles status as a global corporation makes it a target for anti-globalists (Conlin, 2008). Regulatory issues are an important issue in the global food and beverage industry. Nestle, for example, operates in many highly regulated sectors, with multiple tiers of regulation affecting its products in many cases (related to food and beverage safety, production regulations, environmental regulations, cross-border trade, etc. ) (Nestles environmental impact, 2008). Economic. Demand for basic food supplies persists even in times of economic downturn. However, the patterns of eating and drinking changes, with full meals more likely to be prepared and consumed at home. With operations around the globe, Nestle had to make adjustments for variations in demand fluctuations and price sensitivities in different countries and geographic regions. Although Nestle was based in Switzerland and most of its key leaders were from the United States and the European continent, one third of 2007 sales came from the developing world and analysts projected that by 2010, 90% of the worlds population would live in developing and emerging countries. Social. As a food and beverage company operating with the global food industry, Nestle was well aware of the fact that patterns of food and beverage consumption tend to be culturally-bound or at least culturally linked. Technological. Throughout the industry, technologies are vital to defining recipes, producing food and beverages, locating and purifying water (Nestle is one of the worlds biggest bottled water companies). As the companys own GLOBE initiative demonstrates, internal technologies are vital to coordinating operations. Five Forces Threat of New Entrants (Low-Medium). Even though food and beverage is in many ays analogous to a commodity business, barriers to entry as a result of supply-side economies of scale, demand side benefits of scale, capital requirements, incumbency advantages and unequal access to distribution channels keep the threat of new entrants relatively low (Porter, 2008). Power of Suppliers (Medium) Porter (2008) notes that powerful suppliers capture more of the value for themselves by charging higher prices, limiting quality or services, or shifting costs to industry participants (p. 6). For most major firms in the food and beverage industry, the power of suppliers is medium to medium high. For Nestle, the power of suppliers is quite low as a result of extensive vertical integration by Nestle. Power of buyers (low). For Nestle and most other buyers in the industry, the power of suppliers has been kept quite low because of the fact that buyers are numerous and cannot credibly threaten to integrate forward and assume their business. Threat of Substitute Products (High). It would be difficult to name or think ofa food or beverage product which did not have a near or identical substitute. Rivalry of existing competitors (Medium High to High). Porter (2008) notes that the ntensity of rivalry is greatest when competitors are numerous or roughly equal in size and power, industry growth is slow; exit barriers are high and firms cannot read each others signals very well (p. 9). Many of these conditions have been met, thus the intensity of rivalry would be assessed as fairly intense. S. W. O. T. Analysis Strengths 1 . Financial strengths a decade-plus of strong financial results; available cash for launching new operations and/or making acquisitions. 2. Strong corporate culture. 3. History of strong, capable leadership. 4. Effective R Department 5. Strong portfolio of products . Stable of blockbuster brands 7. Huge physical infrastructure with locations around the world 8. Well-developed supply chain 9. Integrated management 10. Good relations with suppliers and farmers 1 1 . Ability to customize and localize products Weaknesses 1. History of product recalls 2. History of questionable reputation and shady deal-making (Datamonitor, 2008). 3. Allegations of unethical conduct. 4. Product concentration in many areas which might be viewed as unhealthy. 5. Few to no organic profiles in its portfolio. Opportunities 1 . Growth in emerging and developing markets 2. Changing tastes worldwide . Opportunity to make positive contributions to peoples health and nutrition 4. Opportunity to develop new products 5. Opportunity to further expand into new markets (geographic and product) 6. Opportunity to acquire complementary firms and/or firms to mitigate weaknesses Threats 1 . Threat of competition from major global food rivals 2. Threat of competition from smaller, local companies who are more in touch with the needs of the local market. 3. Threat of competition from large discounters such as Wal-Mart, Sams Club and Costco. 4. Threat of backlash based on political opposition 5. Threat of regulation . Threat of changing consumer tastes 7. Threat of environmental degradation Alternatives Any potential alternative strategies must aim at achieving the Nestle Model and its associated long-term objectives (of 5-6% annual organic growth, continued year-to- year improvement in EBIT margin, and improved capital management) as well as be consistent with CEO Bulckes stated mandates of stressing internal growth as the primary source of future growth, using GLOBE as a vehicle for continuous improvement, and making the health, nutrition and wellness strategy the mainstream of Nestles business. With these caveats in mind, the following alternative strategic variations have been identified. 1. Adhere rigidly to Bulckes basic outline with the 4 Complementary Platforms for growth. This alternative would follow CEO Buckles rationale that Nestles top strength is its product and brand portfolio, that growth should be generated internally, and that strategy should focus on Bulckes four identified platforms for growth: 1) health, nutrition and wellness (to be the centerpiece), 2) emerging markets; 4) out of home consumption; and 4) premiumization of existing products. An obvious advantage of this alternative is that t will have the full support of Nestles CEO who will no doubt work hard to ensure support for the program from Nestles board, its management, and its rank-and-file employees. Another advantage of this alternative is that it provides a moderate degree of consistency with the previous strategy under CEO Brabeck (particularly in terms of its embrace of the Nestle Model and its desire to continue moving Nestle beyond food to nutrition, health and wellness. A third advantage is that it clearly builds on some of Nestles major strengths, including its broad product and brand portfolio and its strong international presence. At the same time, there are a number of disadvantages with this strategy. First of all, by restricting growth to internal growth, this alternative forgoes possible benefits accrued through Judicious acquisition. Nestle has some weaknesses in areas where it intends to growth (e. g. health and nutrition) and acquisitions might be able to counteract those weaknesses more quickly than internal growth. Secondly, Bulckes insistence on giving the health, nutrition, and wellness strategy priority above all else and working to quickly make it the mainstream of Nestles business may not reflect a realistic goal. Nestle will face many challenges as it tries to make health, nutrition and wellness a mainstream characteristic of key divisions like confectionary, powdered and liquid beverages, ice cream, and many of the prepared foods. Another potential disadvantage to Bulckes planned strategy is that the selected four complementary growth platforms are not yet proven to be complementary and at face value, seem to be on some levels contradictory (e. g. , it may be difficult to reconcile efforts to premiumize existing productions with efforts to build a portfolio of popularly positioned products in emerging markets. In addition, it may be difficult to maintain growth and EBIT goals across these new, as yet untested platforms. Another consideration is that over the next few years, it may become apparent that one or more of these 4 platforms has more growth and profit potential than the others; if so, it would be disadvantages to continue a more or less equal emphasis on all three. 2. Build greater flexibility into the model, allowing for a slower transition to the company-wide health, nutrition and wellness model, and allowing for the possibility of modification and/or elimination of one or more of the other three rowth platforms (as well as the possible addition of a different growth platform). Also maintain a flexible approach with regard to acquisitions versus internal growth. This alternative would have the advantage of increasing the potential of meeting growth and profitability goals. Another advantage in a flexible approach is that it would allow for the possibility of discovering another potential growth platform. Yet another advantage would be the possibility of speeding growth and/or progress towards the goal of transitioning to the health and nutrition model via Judicious acquisitions as opposed to a sole reliance on internal growth. A major disadvantage of this strategy is that CEO Buckle may be disinclined to give it his full support because it is not fully consistent with his plan. Another disadvantage is that this flexible approach may delay Nestles progress towards the health and nutrition model. Another potential disadvantage is that in encouraging flexibility, Nestle may inadvertently foster inconsistencies in its business strategies and objectives and create confusion, conflicts and/or contradictions between product areas/business units. Yet another disadvantage is that it provides Nestle with an opportunity to back way from its health and nutrition strategy if it should prove difficult to execute. 3. Add a program of acquisition and divestiture to Bulckes basic model. Rather than relying solely on internal growth, this alternative would allow for the use of Judicious (yet frequent and widespread if deemed necessary) acquisitions, particularly in areas targeted for growth where Nestle is weak (e. . organic foods). Coupled with the acquisition strategy would be a targeted divestiture strategy, aimed at gradually exiting those businesses and dropping those products which are fundamentally at dds with Nestles commitment to health, nutrition and wellness. For example, this may require Nestle to exit most of its confectionary business. Likewise, the company would want to review whether or not food products loaded with salt, sugar, and artificial preservatives and flavorings really belong in the portfolio of a company which has pledged to transform itself into a unified health, wellness and nutrition company. The acquisition portion of this modification to the strategy has the advantages of allowing for the addition of new resources, including new resources nd businesses which may complement existing businesses and lead to synergies. The divestiture strategy has the advantage of allowing Nestle to exit those business which simply do not meet its overall guidelines and strategic objectives and to do so in a way which is likely to contribute favorably to both its financial objectives and its objective of building an integrated health, wellness and nutrition company. As with alternative #2, this alternative carries the risk of failing to attract support from core employees as well as the risk that the CEO will oppose it. Recommendations Implementation It is strongly recommended that Nestle combine the above suggested alternatives #2 and #3, building flexibility into the strategy overall, slowing the planned transition time for moving to a unified health, wellness and nutrition company, and allowing the firm to focus on its core resources and business opportunities by using the tools of acquisition (adding strength in selected areas and/or counteracting weaknesses in some areas) and divestiture (shedding unprofitable businesses and products, getting rid of businesses which do not fit into the profile of a unified health, wellness and utrition company. Such a combination, flexible approach will be best suited to tailoring to the specific resources and capabilities of Nestle and the opportunities and threats in the external environment. Moreover, it is more likely that Nestle will meet its performance and financial goals through this flexible approach than through Bulckes more rigid approach. To begin implementation of this option, it is recommended that Nestle top leadership and management planners use the resource-based view of the firm (Barney, 1991) and in particular, Grants (1991) practical framework of a resource- ased approach to strategy analysis as a guide to strategy formulation and implementation. This will involve the following five-step process (Grant, 1991, p. 115): 1 . Identifying and classifying Nestles resources within the three primary categories of physical capital, human capital, and organizational capital. Both tangible and intangible resources should be identified. After resources are identified and classified, Nestle management should appraise the firms strengths and weaknesses, relative to key competitors Unilever, Kraft, Group Danone and General Mills. The next omponent of this step is to identify opportunities for better utilization of resources. 2. Identify Nestles capabilities what can Nestle do more effectively than its key rivals? Once capabilities have been identified, it is necessary to identify the resource inputs to each capability, as well as the complexity (e. g. , does it involve several resources? ) 3. The strategy team should then appraise the rent-generating potential of resources and capacities in terms of: a) their potential for sustainable competitive advantage [in order to have this potential, a resource/capacity must be valuable, rare, mperfectly imitable, and non-substitutable] (Barney, 1991, p. 106); and b) the appropriability of their returns. 4. Based on the preceding work, the Nestle strategy team should then select a strategy or collection of strategies which best exploits the firms resources and capabilities relative to external opportunities. . Finally, Nestle strategy managers should identify resource gaps which need to be filled, as well as invest in replenishing, augmenting and upgrading the firms resource base. It recommended that Nestle managers complete this initial strategic analysis within six months. Once this initial assessment/strategy formulation is completed, the strategy team should: 1 . Survey and assess the identified resources and capabilities in ter ms of their level of fit with Nestles goal of transitioning from a food company to a health, nutrition and wellness company. . Target non-producing or inappropriate (those which dont fit with the rest of the portfolio or the strategic objects) for divestiture and develop a timetable and plan for such divestiture. 3. Examine the identified resource gap areas and determine if these gaps can be filled through internal development (e. g. R, internal growth) and/or strategic acquisition. If acquisition, begin scanning the environment for likely acquisition targets. References Barney, J. (1991). Firm Resources and Sustained Competitive Advantage. Journal of Management, 17(1), 99-120 Bell, D. E. Shelman, M. (2009). Nestl? © in 2008. Harvard Business School Case Study, 9-509-001 (Rev. October 28, 2009). Boston: Harvard Business School Publishing. Colin, M. (2008, April 14). A town torn apart by Nestle. Business Week, Retrieved September 30, 2012 from businessweek. com/stories/2008-04-1 5/a-town- torn-apart-by-nestl Datamonitor (2011,June). Company Profile: Nestle. Swat Analysis, pp. 27-32. Grant, R. M. (1991). The Resource-Based Theory of Competitive Advantage: Implications for Strategy Formulation. California Management Review, 33(3), 114-135. Nestl? © professionals name change, restructuring reflect customer focus (2008, April 7). Nations Restaurant News, p. 40. Nestles environmental impact (2008, April). Diary Industries International, p. 10. Porter, M. E. (2008, January). The five competitive forces that shape strategy. Harvard Business Review, pp. 1-18. articlesbase. com/management-articles/strategic-management-at- nestle-5907881 . html

Brown v. Board of Education Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Brown v. Board of Education - Research Paper Example The complainants were thirteen Topeka parents on behalf of their twenty children† (Patterson, 2001). They wanted the school segregation – separate schools for white and black pupils as it was recommended (but not required) by the 1879 Kansas law - to be abolished in Topeka. The named complainant was Oliver Brown, whose friend convinced him to join the suit. His third-grade daughter Linda had to attend the school for black children far away that situated far from her house, while the one for white children was close. The District Court ruled in favor of the Board of Education grounding its decision by the decision of U.S. Supreme Court set in Plessy v. Ferguson case (1896), according to which the schools had to be â€Å"separated but equal† (means equal in facilities). In 1954 the case was reargued in the Supreme Court. The question was not whether the educational establishments for children with different color of skin offered "equal" opportunities, but whether th e policy of separate schools for black and white children answered to the Constitution. The justices answered with a strong "no": â€Å"Segregation with the sanction of law, therefore, has a tendency to [retard] the educational and mental development of negro children and to deprive them of some of the benefits they would receive in a racial[ly] integrated school system... We conclude that, in the field of public education, the doctrine of "separate but equal" has no place† (Patterson, 2001). The decision publicized on May 17, 1954 appeared for be the victory for black people. The government stated that the white and black children will be able to attend the same schools by 1963. Ralph Ellison wrote: â€Å"What a wonderful world of possibilities is unfolded for the children† (cited in Rosenberg 1991). From the first sight it seems that Brown is one of the decisive moments in American history. However, the more one investigates the issue, the more doubts arise. The ques tion is has Brown case been really so important in achieving those wonderful things Ellison wrote about? I would like to focus on only two key legacies of the case: its influence on the struggle of black people for their rights and its influence on desegregation of educational establishments for black and white pupils and the quality of education in these establishments. From the first sight it seems that Brown case impact on the civil rights movement is very clear as it served as the stimulus for the well-known Montgomery school bus boycott. Another milestone was the Little Rock case happened in 1957. The Supreme Court decision made President Dwight Eisenhower involve the troops to enforce it, which was a token of desegregation. But even this token would never take place if not Brown case. At the seventh anniversary of Brown, on May 17, 1961 in New Orleans the Freedom Rides were scheduled to come. His timing is another evidence of symbolic value of Brown case decision. Unfortunatel y they did not reach New Orleans in time due to strong opposition. Well-known black students’ sit-ins in Greensboro were inspired by desegregation of the schools in the South between 1954 and 1960. So, as we can see there was a chain of causations. However, some historians and among them Gerald Rosenberg, think that Brown case has not made such a considerable impact on the escalation of the struggle for civil rights in late 1950s or 1960s. He indicates that the press gave too little attention to Brown case in general

Is there too much localism or not enough in our metropolitan areas Essay

Is there too much localism or not enough in our metropolitan areas today - Essay Example Particularly, the government as representative of the people ought to offer solutions to the problems that are facing its people. As such, the question as to the necessary policy concerning localism and implementation of the same will be featured in this paper. It is hard for some people to make out the difference between Localism and which concepts are involved in the metropolitan area governance. Localism is the belief on the existing system of a greater number of fairly small governments, wielding authority over such serious issues as land use guideline, local levying, and the financial support of the municipal services that ought to be preserved. Regionalism, on the other hand, seems to connote centralization and against the decentralization represented by the localism. America is dominated by metropolitan areas. Regionalism does not only oppose regionalism, but it is localism regional extension. Localism may also be based on the set of row as to the function of the local governments in endorsing the governmental efficiency, democracy and the public (Tam et al., 2002). In the modern metropolitan areas, economic, social and ecological local areas are regularly prevalent. The concerns on the efficiency, democracy and the community should lead to a shift in power from the existing localities and delegate it to the new processes, structures or organization that can support the decision making on behalf of the area. It can, therefore, be concluded that regionalism is the localism of the metropolitan regions. A localism is also a means of protecting the interests of the people who get benefits from the existing government structures (Gregg, 2003). Localism involves the shift of the power from the government to the local governments. The transformation is not only economic, but also social in nature. Localism makes people appreciate and identify with their new neighborhood and their