Darden Consulting Case Book - 25163 Words

DARDEN CONSULTING CASE BOOK 2012-2013 EDITION TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. The Consulting Case Interview 1. Structure of the Case Interview 2. Frameworks 3. The Math 2. Company Overviews Interview Processes 3. Practice Cases 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Bike DVD Rental Service in NYC Dry Wall Competitive Threat Organ Donation Case Central Power Chemicals, Inc. Hospital Profitability Contact Lens Manufacturer Growth TABLE OF CONTENTS (CONT’D) 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. E-commerce in the Airline Industry Big Green Biofuels New Rubber Plant Investment Asian Mobile Service Provider Radiator Lens for Defense Aircraft Capital Investment for Utility Electric Car Manufacturer Growth Miner’s Dilemma Big Truck Company Auto†¦show more content†¦Feel free to again ask for a minute to gather your thoughts, and it’s a good idea to write out a recommendation slide consisting of your actual recommendation (be direct and to the point!) some risks, and then next steps. When presenting your recommendation, immediately start with what you think the client should do (there is no need to rehash the analysis of the case first), with a few supporting arguments from your analysis. Then present your risks and next steps. Your verbal presentation of this recommendation should take no more than 30 secs – 1 minute. Be concise! FRAMEWORKS Frameworks The most important thing to remember about frameworks is that there is no one-size-fits-all framework. That being said, the profit framework applies to a large number of cases. For a good overview of how various parts of a framework fits together in one monster diagram, refer to the Tim Darling book. Marc Cosentino also presents good overviews in Case In Point of the most common frameworks, but do not memorize them. Instead, you should be able to use your intuitive business judgment to determine the most relevant issues to examine. When constructing your framework, remember to be MECE, a McKinsey-coined term that stands for Mutual Exclusive, Collectively Exhaustive. What this means is that you should cover all the relevant issues to the problem through several buckets (that have drilldowns into importantShow MoreRelatedDarden Mba Resumes16768 Words   |  68 PagesFirst Year Resume Book 2009-2010 ABHINAV AGRAWAL 105 Ivy Drive Apt 09 ï‚ · Charlottesville, VA 22903 ï‚ · (434) 249-7645 ï‚ · AgrawalA11@darden.virginia.edu EDUCATION Darden Graduate School of Business Administration University of Virginia Candidate for Master of Business Administration, May 2011 ï‚ · Awarded Batten Innovation Scholarship (merit-based full tuition scholarship); ï‚ · GMAT: 730; AWA: 5.5 ï‚ · Member of Finance Club, Energy Club and Darden Capital Management Club Charlottesville, VA NanyangRead MoreBusiness and Management3272 Words   |  14 Pagesviolation. Rev. Apr. 7, 2014 DARDEN BUSINESS PUBLISHING GETS LEAN (A) Darden Business Publishing (DBP) prepared business case studies for use in the Darden classroom and, simultaneously, for publication and sales worldwide through both its own website and those of partner distributors. The case collection was a key manifestation of Darden’s intellectual capital and value proposition; new cases kept the MBA curriculum relevant and imparted thought leadership by Darden faculty and researchers. ButRead MoreInvestment Decision and Cash Flows6639 Words   |  27 Pagesmay be important, but not to the decision at hand. This case was prepared by Professor Robert Harris, Darden Graduate Business School. The author acknowledges the contribution of Professor John Pringle, coauthor of textbooks on corporate finance. It was written as a basis for class discussion rather than to illustrate effective or ineffective handling of an administrative situation. Copyright  © 1989 by the University of Virginia Darden School Foundation, Charlottesville, VA. All rights reservedRead MoreDetective Solution3123 Words   |  13 Pagesdescriptions. Also, try to explain the differences in financial results across industries. while a consulting firm would not. A steel This case was prepared by sean carr, under the direction of Robert F. Bruner. It was written as a basis for class discussion rather than to illustrate effective or ineffective handling of an administrative situation. copyright @ 2005 by the university ofvirginia Darden School Foundation, charlottesville, vA. All rights reserved Tb order copies, send an e-mail toRead MoreUps Case Study4350 Words   |  18 Pagesintercity package deliverer. This case was prepared by Edward D. Hess, Professor and Batten Executive-in-Residence. It was written as a basis for class discussion rather than to illustrate effective or ineffective handling of an administrative situation. It was adapted from Professor Hess’s chapter on UPS in The Search for Organic Growth, ed. Hess and Kazanjian (New York: Cambridge University Press, 2006). Copyright  © 2007 by the University of Virginia Darden School Foundation, Charlottesville,Read MoreUps Ipo Essay11073 Words   |  45 Pages$31.272 Billion Proj. LT EPS Growth Rate: 14% ROE 2002: 26.10% Earnings Per Share and Projections FY Ending Full Year 12/01A 2.13 12/02A 2.84 12/03E 2.29 12/04E 2.67 12/05E 2.94 Fundamentals P/E (12/02): 20.2 P/E (12/03E): 26.46 Book Value/Share: $11.09 Price/Book Value: 5.167 Dividend Yield: 1.46% Consensus Est. Avg=2.33 (yahoo) Avg=2.67 (yahoo) N/A 2 of 34 Executive Summary We are recommending the purchase of 350 shares of UPS, currently trading on the NYSE at $57.30. United ParcelRead MorePalamon case study6470 Words   |  26 Pagesand largest dollar value of capital invested as of 1999. This case was prepared by Chad Rynbrandt from interviews, under the direction of Robert F. Bruner, with the assistance of Sean D. Carr. Some details have been simplified for expositional clarity. The cooperation of Palamon Capital Partners is gratefully acknowledged, as is the financial support of the Batten Institute. Copyright ïÆ' £ 2001 by the University of Virginia Darden School Foundation, Charlottesville, VA. All rights reserved. ToRead MoreCOMM292 Case Studies23202 Words   |  93 Pagesanalyst on Wall Street for a few different firms. He spent time at the London School of Economics, but had not traveled outside the country much over the past few years. With plans to target investment banking firms for his summer internship and post-Darden career path, Griffin had been spending a lot of nights networking with banking alumni and recruiters. Sandeep Prasad was from Bangalore, India. He received a degree in technology and worked for Intel in Bangalore for six years before coming to graduateRead MoreChrysler - Case Study10414 Words   |  42 Pageswill have a pre-eminent strategic position in the global marketplace for the benefit of our customers. We will be able to exploit new markets, and we will improve return and value for our shareholders. 1 Schrempp recounted, I just presented the case, and I was out again. The meeting lasted about 17 minutes. / don t want to create the impression that he was surprised. When the meeting was over, / said; If you thin I m naive, this is nonsense I m talking, just tell me. He smiled and saidRead MoreMerger and Acquisition Case18720 Words   |  75 Pageswill have a preeminent strategic position in the global marketplace for the benefit of our customers. We will be able to exploit new markets, and we will improve return and value for our shareholders.1 Schrempp recounted later: I just presented the case, and I was out again. The meeting lasted about 17 minutes. I don’t want to create the impression that he was surprised. When the meeting was over, I said, â€Å"If you think I’m naà ¯ve, this is nonsense I’m talking, just tell me.† He smiled and said, â€Å"Just

Psychoanalytic Concepts Of Dylan Thomas Poetry - 1386 Words

Psychoanalytic Concepts in Dylan Thomas’ Poetry A man â€Å"who [held] a beast, an angel and a madman in [him].† This accurately describes Wales-born Dylan Thomas, world renowned poet and writer. A developmental wordsmith of his time, Thomas presented the people with evolutionary compositions originated from his own personal experiences and conceptions. Although Thomas’ poetry portrays several messages involving loss of innocence and youth, his more prominent style bases itself around the Freudian concepts of psychoanalytic criticism. Observed through his opaque style and endless fascination of death, it can be concluded that the psychoanalytic impressions in Thomas’ stream of consciousness declare death to be inferior. This is made even†¦show more content†¦Immediately, the question of who this person may be comes to mind. As the second stanza begins it is clear the the point of view has switched to third person and Thomas’ goes on to describe how good, wise, wild and grave men have â€Å"[ra ged] against the dying of the light† (7). The entirety of the fifth stanza is a declarative sentence- a call to arms against the war on death. This is an apparatus to ignite passion amongst those who hear his words. But the sixth stanza comes full circle back to second person creating a more intimate effect. This illuminates the overwhelming distress and devastation he felt at the time because it is here that Thomas’ own father is revealed to be the subject of the poem. â€Å"Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay, Rage, rage against the dying of the light. And you, my father, there on the sad height, Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray. Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light.† (13-19) The powerful metaphors employed in this work compare the â€Å"good night† with the crushing blow of death and theâ€Å"wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight† to heroism and achievement. Dylan uses oxymorons and similes to emphasize the desperation he felt to highlight the conflicts of man. The â€Å"blinding sight†, the â€Å"fierce tears† and the â€Å"blind eyes [that] could blaze like meteors and be gay,† serveShow MoreRelatedANALIZ TEXT INTERPRETATION AND ANALYSIS28843 Words   |  116 Pagesoriginal of those wild regions of obscurity which are vaguely felt to be compassing us about in midnight dreams of flight and disaster, and are never thought of after the dream till revived by scenes like this. From â€Å"The Return of the Native†, Thomas Hardy (1878) Egdon Heath, as Hardy makes clear, is no mere neutral background to action, but a sinister, almost human (or even superhuman) force, intimately connected with the lives of its inhabitants. Hardy speaks of the â€Å"influences† of the Heath

Taylor Swift and Feminism Free Essays

Correct me if I’m wrong but isn’t the goal of feminism to be empowered to do whatever you want? To establish equal opportunities for women in education and employment? To control your own life and make it into a success in a male dominated society? Taylor Swift Isn’t hurting feminism, the only thing being detrimental to fearfulness Is your own backwards ass Interpretation of feminism. I’d you hadn’t notice I have miserable luck with relationships. Actually luck isn’t Even a factor, thieve all been miserable failures. We will write a custom essay sample on Taylor Swift and Feminism or any similar topic only for you Order Now So what’s got me in a huff now? See I met this girl at a friends birthday party and we hit it off beautifully. Others thought we were really cut together and we Just clicked. For probably the first time I actually experienced someone who was legitimately interested in me even if It was Just a tiny sliver of interest. So she asked my friend about me and suddenly she has no interest In me. Why? Because I’m only 22. What the tuck. That has to be the stupidest reason I’ve encountered. What the bloody hell does my age have to do with anything? There is absolutely no reason age should make any difference unless its something dramatic like I was still in high school. Age is of no importance or an indication of anything, anyone can grow old all you have to do is live long enough. I was born at a very early age are you going to hold that against me? Jokes aside, its backward ass thinking like this that makes me shake my head in confusion at people. This excuse has been used twice before and I had to laugh at one use of It. One girl put forward that I was to old for her, which is funny because he still lives at home with her mom, her room basically resembles a 10 year olds with a bunch of Sailor Moon crap and she has no education or ambitions. I on the other hand have an education, am self-supportive (mostly) and have a job that gives Age isn’t a factor anyone can control if you like a person you like a person end of story. It’d be like me refusing to date any girls who’s name is Amy. My reasoning is backwards and stupid and its a factor that the other party can’t control. It’s not like one of us is underage or there’s like a fifty year age difference. Yet when I told some of my friends they defended this girl saying she was right. â€Å"Sorry but she’s right, it’s weird for a girl to be the older person in a relationship. † Oh that’s logical, way to stand up for your gender. I have no use for pathetic outdated thinking, and anyone that subscribes to this limited world view needs to rethink what it means to have freedom of choice. Makes me cringe that I have a better grasp of this than most, or that I’m the one who doesn’t get things because I don’t see rules in he same narrow world view that is considered the norm. You can’t date someone younger than you? Or some stupid preconceived notion prevents your brain from choosing on your own. Hopefully someday more people will be able to unlock their mind forgo manacles and think for themselves but until then I have to wonder why anyone thinks this is something. Maybe I am being ostracize and demanding a bit but I stand by this. If you meet someone and hit it off shouldn’t that be what you look for in a relationship? Or some sort of statistic. How to cite Taylor Swift and Feminism, Papers

Ikea Paper free essay sample

The company is known for its modern architectural designs on various types of appliances and furniture, often associated with a simplified eco-friendly interior design. In addition, the firm is known for the attention it gives to cost control, operational details and continuous product development, allowing it to lower its prices by an average of two to three percent over the decade to 2010, while continuing its global expansion. As of October 2011, IKEA has 332 stores in 38 countries. Most of these stores are directly owned but some are managed under franchise by owners outside the company. By doing this, IKEA faces a higher chance of success than in a sole proprietorship. In fiscal year 2010, it sold $23. 1 billion worth of goods, a 7. 7 percent increase over 2009. In recent years, IKEA purchases from developing countries have grown from 32% in 1998 to 48% in 2003; 29% of its output comes from Asia, 67% from Europe and 4% from the USA (Arrigo, 2005). For a long time, Poland was the second supplier of raw materials after Sweden, but there was recently a giddy increase in China which, in 2004, accounted for 14% of total output, followed by Poland with 12%, Sweden with 8%, Italy with 7%, and Germany with 6% (IKEA. com). To achieve its goal of boosting efficiency while cutting costs and prices to the end consumer, IKEA is constantly looking for convenient new locations. This paper will focus on strategic investments decisions with regard to innovation and advertising and strategic product feature decisions. IKEA Supply IKEAs vision is â€Å"To create a better everyday life for the many people. † To meet its vision IKEA provides many well-designed, functional products for the home. It prices its products low so that as many people as possible can afford to buy them. However, in creating low prices IKEA is not willing to sacrifice its principles. Low price but not at any price† is what IKEA says. This means it wants its business to be sustainable. IKEA supplies goods and services to individuals in a way that has an overall beneficial effect on people and the environment. Customers all over the world have responded positively to IKEAs approach. This is evident in its increasing sales. Supp ly chain IKEA has an extremely efficient supply chain and its management was the key source in IKEA in cost management which gave it a cutting edge among its competitors as it products where charged 30% lower than the cost of its rivals. With regard to the supply chain, the flow of production and processes go through three industrial sectors before the end product reaches the customer. Firstly, it starts with the primary sector concerning raw materials. Natural resources such as timber are extracted and developed. IKEA buys products from more than 1,300 suppliers in 50 countries (The Times 100). It uses a number of trading service offices across the world. They negotiate prices with suppliers, check the quality of materials and analyze the environmental impacts that occur through the supply chain. IKEA aims that all the products and materials it takes from the primary sector do not harm the environment. They also keep an eye on social and working conditions at suppliers. The second step is manufacturing where primary materials are used to build, manufactured and developed to finished goods. A key part of IKEAs success is due to its communications with materials suppliers and manufacturers. During manufacturing IKEA specifies to its producers that waste should be avoided. Where waste does occur the firm encourages suppliers to try to use it in the manufacture of other products. IKEA has a code of conduct called the IKEA Way of Purchasing Home Furnishing Products, the IWAY (The Times 100). This contains minimum rules and guidelines that help manufacturers to reduce the impact of their activities on the environment. IKEA aims that all there products are manufactured in a responsible way. The tertiary sector provides services needed to meet the needs of the end users such as retailing, distribution, insurance, and customer services. IKEAs retail stores add value to manufactured goods by providing a form of shopping different to the usual high-street experience. They meet the needs of the consumers in a number of different ways. Each IKEA store is large and holds more than 9,500 products giving lots of choice. Within each store, there are a number of realistic room settings that enable customers to see what the products would look like in their own homes. In addition, the IKEA store is built on a concept of â€Å"you do half, we do half; together we save money†. This refers to, for example, the customer assembling furniture at home. Customers handpick products themselves using trolleys. Also, IKEA provides catalogues and home delivery to save customers’ time. IKEA stores also have restaurants that provide Swedish dishes alongside local food choices. IKEA Competition To define the relevant market, IKEA operates in a perfectly competitive market. IKEA is a furniture store and there are many other furniture stores owned by various different entities (so there are many suppliers in this market). Normally the firms in a perfectly competitive market would be price takers. However, IKEA has a lot of market power as it is able to raise its prices above the perfectly competitive level without losing many consumers. Therefore it can be stated that IKEA is a price setter. There are off course competitors, however it seems that IKEA does not really take competitor’s decisions into account as they are not really relevant to their own decisions. IKEA sets its prices very low because they face low production costs as a result of strong relationships with its suppliers. Competitors are predictable but even if they were unpredictable, IKEA would not be affected by their decisions as the firm is already at the bottom end of the market. IKEA makes use of their concept in a global strategy that designed furniture for a lower price than other competitors offer that can be sold everywhere for the targeted market segment. Sometimes regional differences appear that arise form national habits, lifestyles and culture. What gives IKEA a huge advantage in selling its products at a lower price springs from their â€Å"young† concept is that the customers have to bring home the products and assemble it themselves. No other firm manufactures as much furniture as IKEA. The firm can and will eliminate any local competition by using their global position. It is a fact that they have no competitors on the global market. IKEA’s success was recognized to its vast experience in the furniture retail market, its product differentiation and cost leadership. Across markets where it presently has a presence, products are sold at prices that are 30 to 50 percent lower than competing products. This penetration pricing enables IKEA to gain significant market share. Low prices are a result of large-quantity purchasing, low-cost logistics, and store location in housing areas. In addition, IKEA also benefits from economies of scale and healthy supplier-firm relationships. IKEA enters into long-term contracts, provides leased equipment and technical support in exchange for exclusive, low-cost manufacturing from suppliers. For new markets, IKEA should retain its price-image to maintain the brand’s positioning. IKEA strives for cost leadership, and for this reason it negotiates the most cheap conditions with a very large number of suppliers, a large part of whom live in eastern Europe and Asia, where the cost of raw materials, manpower and warehouse rentals is lower than elsewhere. IKEA always tries to acquire raw materials at the best price, choosing the suppliers with the cheapest price but it is equally focused on maintaining good relationships with them to avoid late deliveries or poor workmanship. IKEA’s low cost policy is based on several factors. Firstly, and previously already mentioned, it is based on economies of scale where large volumes reduce the unit cost of production. Secondly, the low cost policy is based on economies of transport where large orders of products permit to IKEA to transfer transport costs to suppliers. Low running costs inside the stores is also a factor. For example, the group uses buildings that are easy to build and inexpensive to manage, and it also has a ‘dressdown policy’, with all employees wearing the same uniforms, which are very simple and ractical. A last factor with regard to low cost policy is the purchases of unassembled products from suppliers with a consequent reduction of costs (taxes are lower for components than for finished products). IKEA Demand With regard to the number of buyers, this market faces a great number of buyers as IKEA wishes to reach everyone who needs a new piece of furniture or accessory. IKEA provides its products to end consumers as it only supplies their final products. These consumers can be households, other companies, or governments for example. On the demand side, the active participation of its customers, who are seen as genuine partners, is a source of economic saving for IKEA. Most of its products are packed in flat packs and the customer has to take them home and assemble them, paying the cost of transport and assembly, and thus reducing storage costs for IKEA. Wherever consumers go to IKEA stores, products are always the same. Consumers therefore know what they can expect and for what price. This is a very strong characteristic of IKEA because familiarity with a brand makes consumers come back. The 9,500 products that IKEA supplies is available in all IKEA stores and customers can order much of the range online through IKEA’s website. By doing this, IKEA makes products easier accessible, reducing the distance a consumers has to travel when choosing to purchase IKEA products, and bundles its good together with home deliveries of the orders. An IKEA market strategy in terms of service providence to their customers is always a unique one. The stores and services of IKEA are very much different from the other furniture vendors. The stores are very much spacious and divided into cheerful model rooms. This provides wide range of services to its customers to choose the furniture according to the measurements of their house along with the prices and variety of designs that are showed in kiosks. In addition, IKEA also provides childcare centers and include restaurants and cafes serving typical Swedish food. They also have small food shops selling Swedish groceries, everything from the famous meatballs to jam. Stores are located worldwide. It welcomed a total of 565 million visitors to the stores during the year 2008 and a further 450 million visits were made to the IKEA website. Low prices are one of the cornerstones of the IKEA concept and help to make customers want to buy from IKEA. IKEAs products cater for every lifestyle and life stage of its customers, who come from all age groups and types of households. This is vital in times when the retail sector is depressed, as it increases IKEAs potential market. The wide range of products that IKEA offers are of most value for consumers. Consumers prefer to have a lot of choice for good quality and low prices. IKEA’s product based market strategy drew many customers to their store and kept it the top position in the global market of the furniture companies. As previously mentioned, IKEA issued variant catalogs of their products in different native languages so as to reach all sections of their customers. IKEA also adopted some of the experimental marketing strategies for the publicity of their products. In earlier years it has taken decision to decorate a chain hotel with their furniture that has become a beneficial market strategy for both the parties. Its main aim is to target the customers of that hotel and market their products. Even the chain hotel gets benefit to decorate their hotels with lavishing furniture at low cost. Furthermore, the most important strategy of IKEA is not providing the exit for the customers who had entered in to their stores without having seen all the furniture in store. In this phenomenon there is scope that the customers may go for the more furniture that is not actually needed (Kotelnikov, 2005). Since it was founded IKEA has always had concern for people and the environment. The IKEA vision â€Å"to create a better everyday life for the many people† puts this concern at the heart of the business. IKEA has responded to the publics rising concern for sustainability in its choice of product range, suppliers, stores and communication. It has also spotted business potential in providing sustainable solutions. IKEAs concern for people and the environment encourages it to make better use of both raw materials and energy. This keeps costs down and helps the company to reach its green targets and have an overall positive impact on the environment. IKEA aims to be a responsible organization and believes that a strong environmental stance is good business practice, as it also has shown as the current trend of more â€Å"green† and environmental friendly preferences of consumers when choosing their products. Demand Supply Function Demand Function There are a couple of variables that are relevant to the quantity (Qd) of IKEA goods and services that consumers are willing and able to purchase, in other words demand. First of all the price of the goods (P) IKEA sets affects the demand. Next to P, prices of related goods and services (PR) are also important as those are goods from which inputs are derived to be used in the production of the primary good. The prices of related goods and services are therefore taken into account when IKEA sets its price (P). The expected future price of products (Pe) might also influence demand because if a consumer believes that the price of the good will be higher in the future, he or she is more likely to purchase the good now. In addition, prices of all other companies’ products (P1†¦Pn-1) have an influence on the demand function of IKEA. If their prices are much lower than IKEA prices, consumers will buy from other firms. However, as already mentioned, this is not the case for IKEA as they offer products for low prices. Also, if the consumer expects that his income will be higher in the future, the consumer may buy the good now. Therefore, expected future income (Ye) also affects demand. Thirdly, the incomes of consumers (Y) are also relevant to demand because this influences the ability to purchase the IKEA goods. Demand is also affected by the number of consumers in the market (N), the more consumers in the market, the higher the demand for the IKEA products. Moreover, advertising expenditure (A) affects demand as well. The more advertising, the more consumers are informed or persuaded to come and buy at IKEA. IKEA shows to be very efficient at this with providing their catalogs. Lastly, consumer tastes and preferences (T) also affect demand. It seems that consumers prefer IKEA products over other products because of its low prices and quality of the products. However, consumers incur transportation costs (t) that have an effect on preferring to buy from IKEA (which is often located just outside the city center) or to buy from a shop closer to their homes. Consumers know that IKEA provides very high quality products no matter in which shop they will buy the products and consumers could therefore prefer IKEA products over other. The general demand function for IKEA would therefore be: Qd = f (P, PR, Pe, Y, Ye, N, A, T(t)) or, Qd = a + bP + cPR + dPe + e(P1†¦Pn-1) + fM + gYe + hN + iA + jT(t) Where b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, and j are slope parameters that measure the effect on Qd of changing one of the variables while holding the others constant. We assume that, all in the short run, there is no change in taste and preference, that the income of the consumer is constant, that there is no change in customs, habit and quality of goods, no change in substitute products, related products and the price of the product, and finally, that there are no complementary goods. Supply Function There are a couple of factors that affect supply, the amount of products IKEA is willing and able to sell at a given price all other factors being held constant. Firstly, the price of IKEA’s products (P) influences the supply function. Ikea can be seen as a leader in this market and therefore it might be the case that the firm cuts its price, possibly as an attempt to keep the number of entrants low. Secondly, the price of related goods (PR) influences the supply function. If the PR increases, the cost of production will increase and therefore supply would decrease. Thirdly, technology (T) with regard to production affects supply in a way that whenever there is a technological advancement or technology used making production very efficient, the supply increases as production costs decrease. In addition, the price of inputs (PI) such as labor, energy, raw materials, influence supply. When PI increases, sellers are likely to raise P for each unit of output. For IKEA it is known that they have access to relatively cheap raw materials and an increase in PI would not quickly lead to an increase in P because IKEA aims to keep its prices low. Moreover, the number of suppliers (N) in this market might have a small effect on the supply function of IKEA. There are already many suppliers in this market and an increase in N would not lead to a significant decrease in P of IKEA. As stated previously, in creating low prices IKEA is not willing to sacrifice its principles (â€Å"low price but not at any price†). Expectations (Em) concerning the future market condition can directly affect IKEA’s supply in that whenever IKEA believes that the demand for its product will increase in the foreseeable future, IKEA will immediately increase production in anticipation of this increasing demand and therefore future price increases. Lastly, government policies (G) and regulations can have a significant effect on IKEA’s supply. For example environmental regulations could influence decisions IKEA has to take in consideration when switching to a new supplier of raw materials. The general supply function for IKEA would therefore be: Qs = f (P, PR, T, PI, N, Em, G) Assuming that all consumers know all things, about all products, at all times (including knowing the probabilistic outcome of all future events), and therefore always make the best decision regarding purchase. In addition, assuming that Ikea is the leader in a market with a large and endogenous number of firms. Decisions As IKEA is already at the bottom end of the market and operating very efficiently and profitably, the only decisions that they will face would be concerning future investments, advertising, and product features. One of the things that IKEA is now able to do is expanding more to new markets. So far, IKEA has limited its store locations to some of the most heavily populated markets in the countries in which it competes. To continue its growth trends, IKEA may have to begin investigating other (smaller) communities. IKEA has to consider how it will respond if and when a lower priced competitor enters its market. Also, IKEA may want to consider that its product assortment and promotions may not appeal to all cultures. However, for new markets, IKEA should retain its price-image to maintain the brand’s positioning. New cultures mean also that branding has to adapt to popularity in those particular new countries.

What is an Expository Essay

An expository essay is a type of academic writing where you investigate the topic by evaluating the evidence and expounding the idea to describe, explain, and provide the information to a reader.source: UnsplashSo, it happens again: a teacher assigns an expository essay to you.Nothing special, right? After all, who doesnt know anything about expository writing?*sarcasm here* Types of essays are so many, and the differences between them are so tiny, that its less than simple for a student to get lost in those writing jungles. Thats why craft the detailed guides for you to find a way out: persuasive essays, narrative essays, SAT essays – they arent that terrible if you follow the right path of writing them.Today, the time is for how to write an expository essay. Take a cup of coffee or tea, sit back, and learn about what is an expository essay and its aspects.Table of Contents:What is an expository essay?Expository essay topicsTypes of expository essaysExpository essay structur eHow to write an expository essayThe purpose of expository essay Expository essay outline (+ POET method)How to start an expository essayHow to end an expository essayBenefits of expository writingThe process of expository writingPrewritingDraftingRevisingEditingWriting tips to followExpository essay examplesAdditional resources to checkWhat is an Expository Essay?When asked to define expository essay, its significant to understand the characteristics of this essay type and its difference from argumentative and reflective papers.Here goes a standard expository essay definition:An expository essay is a type of paper where an author chooses a topic, investigates it by evaluating the evidence, and expound it to inform readers about it.So, as you see, the expository definition is not that tricky to remember. The characteristics of your expository essay are as follows:You write it to teach readers about the topic.You describe and explain facts on the topic to inform readers.You provide t he exhaustive information on the topic.You write it in the 3rd person, with a formal language, and in a precise, logical manner.To write an A-worthy expository essay, youll need to do deep research to provide readers with insights on the topic. As an author, you cant take any side or develop any arguments here: your goal is to inform and explain.Expository Essay TopicsExpository essay topics can come from different spheres. As a rule, teachers assign a definite topic and give further requirements on writing about it; but if not, students are free to choose from topics of their interest.You can write about education, health, law, movies, science, politics, social media, wars, history, etc. Just make sure you choose something you know about (its easier to research) and can explain it to readers.Think of topics that might attract your audience and meet the requirements of your teacher. Avoid too general topics; narrow your research sphere, be specific, and make your expository essay cl ear and concise.Here go some topic ideas for your inspiration. Feel free to choose any of them if they fit your assignment or ask writers to assist you.ElementaryExpository Essay Topics for BeginnersMy favorite music is rock: heres why.Lets give better protection to endangered species.This is my favorite country on Earth, and you should visit it.These are the benefits of going to the gym.Why a family is so important to have.If I could be another person for a day, youd choose Einstein.How science helps us live more.This one thing is what Id change about my school.Its better to live in a city than in the countryside.Why I want to have a dog, not a cat.Intermediate Expository Essay Topics for IntermediatesWhat I would do if became immortal.Do people need to be independent?The #1 secret of every successful person.Some practical advice to tackle bullying in schools.The science behind love: how we need to understand this feeling.Why weight-loss diets dont work as often as we want.The ban king system is killing economic growth.The book that has changed my worldview.How social media help students pass exams.Emotions help people overcome difficulties.Advanced Expository Essay Topics for IntermediatesWhat makes a great leader and why not everyone can be the one.Where to invest money after college, and why.The effect of privacy laws on Internet users.Minimizing the negative influence of media on our lives.The reasons of terrorism in modern times.The best alternative source of energy in the world of climate changes.Why its not dangerous to play video games for hours.Why do women stay in abusive relationships?How I cured my depression, and why it can back any time.Dropping out of college: a choice or a mistake?Types of Expository EssaysYes, its about types of essays within an expository essay. They are five:Definition (descriptive) essays: they give information by explaining the meaning of a word or a concept. Here you tell readers about places, situations, or experience c oncerning the concept.Classification essays: they break down a broad topic into categories. Here you start an expository essay with the general subject and then define and give examples of each subgroup within it.Cause/effect essays: they explain the cause of something and how things affect each other within the concept. Here you identify the relations between two subjects, focus on what happened between them, and tell about the effect of that interaction.Compare/contrast essays: they describe the similarities and differences between two or more concepts, places, people, etc.Process essays: they explain a step-by-step process of something, its procedure, or how to do it. Your goal here is to give instructions to readers. Sometimes, this type of expository essays is called a problem/solution essay: you describe a problem and then tell readers how to solve it.So, you can describe, explain, compare, tell about the process, or solve a problem in your essay. But before you choose, make s ure you understand what is expository writing and what differs it from persuasive (argumentative) essays.For many students, these essay types are the same. But its not so: while argumentative essays convince readers of your position or point of view, expository essays just tell about the issue and share the facts and evidence about it.Lets compare:The difference between persuasive and expository essaysPersuasiveExpositoryChoose a position/point of view about a topicExplore a topic in a neutral wayPresent your argument in a thesis statementPresent your topic in a thesis statementWrite in the 1st personWrite in the 3d personBe subjectiveBe objectiveExpository Essay StructureOnce youve decided on the topic and type, its time to think of expository essay structure.As well as all common types of essays, expository ones consist of an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Usually, there are three paragraphs in an essay body, but you are welcome to change this number according to your topic and teacher requirements.An expository essay structure includes:A clear thesis statement in the first paragraph.Logical transitions between all paragraphs.Factual and logical evidence in body paragraphs.A conclusion that restates a thesis and readdresses it in the list of provided evidence.A pinch of creativity to impress readers.Expository Essay StructureSo, what to write in each part of your expository essay:Introduction: start it with a general statement about the topic, but do your best to hook the audience so they would like to continue reading; provide the context for the audience to understand your topic; and state a thesis for the audience to understand what you are going to expose in the essay.Body paragraphs: start with the main idea of the paragraph; include the evidence (facts, statistics, quotes, interviews, etc.) to support the idea; analyze the evidence: explain why you choose this particular information to support your thesis; complete each paragraph with a logical transition to the next one.Conclusion: overview the ideas you discussed in your essay and highlight the progression of your thoughts on it; restate your thesis and leave readers with food for thought.How to Write an Expository EssayAn expository essay is about research and informing a reader about an issue, a point of view, or a fact. To get the idea on how to write an expository essay, you need to understand its purpose and follow the steps of academic writing. The Purpose of Expository EssayWhat is the purpose of expository essay?In plain English, an expository essay explains a topic. You are just stating facts, no matter if you write a how-to paper or tell about the history of China or the cost of essays for students.Such essays are not about what you think about a topic. You inform readers, explaining it through investigation and argumentation in a logical manner.Use the POET method to organize your expository essay like a poss:Expository Essay OutlineBefore you sit a nd start an expository essay, write its plan. Its a kinda map that allows you to specify core elements of your essay and make sure you dont miss any fact or evidence while writing.Just write a sentence for each element of your essay to save time and ease the writing process. Feel free to use this expository essay outline template from :[Download this template]Fill it in – and you are ready to start writing your expository essay! How to Start an Expository EssayIts the most common question among students. Frankly speaking, it can lead to a writers block and procrastination: you sit, staring at a blank page, and cant find any words to start a sentence. It frustrates. It upsets. And it disappoints: you give up, postpone, and lose interest in writingWe wrote about how to start a persuasive essay already. As for how to start an expository essay, the elements of introduction will be the same but with the only difference: you wont argue about anything. Instead, youll be objective ab out the topic.And now, for the structure of your introductory paragraph. It consists of:An attention-grabbing hook: one sentence.Information about your topic, to give the context to your readers: 2-3 sentences.A thesis statement: one sentence about what you are going to write about.Expository Essay StructureTIP: Try writing an introduction after youve finished the draft of the essay body. Thus youll have all the points and evidence fresh in your mind, and youll be able to extract the thesis and decide on the best hook to start an expository essay. How to End an Expository EssayTogether with an introduction, a strong conclusion is critical for expository essays to have. It ties up the entire essay, wrapping up its thesis for readers and leaving them with thoughts on its topic.source: GiphyThink about a minimum of three sentences to write in your conclusion. And remember that you shouldnt simply restate your thesis here: dont repeat your thesis statement from the introduction but expl ain how the information from the essay body helped to come up to this conclusion.Your essay conclusion is the answer to what you discussed in the essay body. Dont introduce any new points to readers, and end your expository essay on a positive: give the audience something to remember your essay, and leave them with something to think about.Points to remember when writing an essay conclusion:Stay clear.Conclude the thoughts, not present new ideas.Restate the thesis and explain how your essay exposes it.Be objective, use straightforward language.Make sure it consists of three sentences minimum: sum up (1), answer the questions from your thesis (1-3), give readers the food for thought (1).Benefits of Expository WritingThats all well and good, butWhy the heck you need to spend time and energy on expository writing?Nope, its not because teachers hate you and want you to get buried in tons of homework. Its because expository essays help you develop some valuable skills youll need in the y ears since school is over. Below are the benefits you gain:Research and evaluating the information: In the Internet era, when tons of information is online, and its hard to understand whats true or false, this skill is more than crucial to have. Expository essays are about research, so the more you do it, the more skillful you become. You learn to evaluate the information, check if its relevant and trustful, and understand whats fake online.Critical thinking: In expository essays, you often need to evaluate the issue and approach to it from different angles. It develops your critical thinking, a must-have skill for each representative of Gen Z to have today.Ability to express your thoughts briefly and clearly: You need to gather tons of information for your expository essay but stay coherent when describing it. Thus you learn to express yourself and share your thoughts with others.Time management and organizational skills: Expository writing teaches you to organize thoughts and expr ess them logically. Its all about organizational skills we all need to develop and improve in adult life. Practice makes perfect, so youll learn how to manage time and organize your tasks. Not bad, huh?The Process of Expository WritingWhen writing an expository essay, youll follow at least four steps: prewriting (brainstorming, research, outlining), drafting (writing an introduction, a body, and a conclusion of your essay), revising (checking all factual and grammar/spelling mistakes), and editing.Yes, the process seems energy-sapping. But nothing is as bad as it looks.Here it goes, the process of your expository writing: Step 1 – PrewritingThis phase is when you brainstorm a topic (if a teacher didnt assign it beforehand), state a thesis, and do research to outline an expository essay before writing it.How to choose the best topic for your expository essay?Think of niches you already know something about. Make a list of topics that might be interesting for you, and you feel you might tell about to readers. Then, narrow it down to one that would be easiest for you to find research.When choosing, answer these questions:Is it interesting to you?Do you have any previous knowledge about this topic?Is it easy to find credible references for it?Can you explain this topic (issue) to the reader?Once the topic is ready, its time for research. Dont skip this step, even if you think you know a lot about the topic of your expository essay: youll need references anyway; plus, youll learn more details and discover new things about your topic to include to your writing.You need research to find examples for your essay, know what you will write in every paragraph, and state a thesis.Whats a thesis?Its the heart of your essay, and no teacher will grade your paper high if it doesnt have any thesis statement inside. In short, its a sentence in the introduction of your essay that identifies the main idea or a central purpose of your text.For most students, a thesis is the most challenging part of an essay to write. Thats why so many free essay generators are online now, and thats why thesis statement generators are so popular. Feel free to try ours:source: GiphyNB! A thesis is not a mere fact or statement. Its a claim, an idea, or an interpretation one can dispute. Your job as an essay writer is to give readers something they could think about. Example:Bad thesis: British indifference caused the American Revolution.Good thesis: By treating their U.S. colonies as little more than a source of revenue and limiting colonists political rights, British indifference contributed to the start of the American Revolution. (Source)Write down a thesis statement to the outline, with the researched info and examples. Now you are ready to start drafting. Step 2 – DraftingWhen the thesis and outline are ready, start writing your essay. Drafting each paragraph, refer to the thesis statement so you wouldnt miss any points. Use transition words in every paragraph to reinforce the message, support facts, and make it easier for readers to follow your train of thoughts.Start each body paragraph with a topic sentence to introduce what it will be about. Develop the idea and present the evidence in every paragraphTips for writing body paragraphs of your expository essay:Provide facts that will help readers get to the point.Avoid biased information, use straightforward language: short and clear words, active verbs, and appropriate adverbs.Choose evidence that would be the most telling example for your thesis.Step 3 – RevisingThis is a phase when you review your draft and reorganize, if necessary, for it to look and sound better.What to check when revising your expository essay:Revising Your Expository Essay: Questions to Answer Does it give an unbiased analysis of facts and examples? Do you communicate the information logically and clearly? Are there any unnecessary details you could omit for the essay to sound more focused? Are all sen tences clear? Is the word choice precise? Do you use logical transitions between sentences and paragraphs for readers to understand the information better? Do you restate the thesis and supporting ideas in the concluding paragraph of your essay?Step 4 – EditingThe final step of writing an expository essay is its editing. Read it once again to check for grammar and spelling mistakes, improve its style and clarity, and make sure its engaging for readers to check.You can ask a friend to read your essay and share advice on its editing.You can read the essay out loud: this trick helps to identify phrases and grammar constructions that sound weird.You can try some online tools to check the grammar and spelling of your expository essay: Hemingway App, Grammarly, After the Deadline, Ginger, and others.You can ask a professional editor to check your essay and give feedback on what to improve there.And only after you are 100% sure the essay looks great, submit it for a teachers revi ew and wait for your A+. Writing Tips to FollowFor expository essays, you need to investigate a topic inside out and report the facts, regardless of what you think about them. Follow these expository essay tips – and your paper will rock!Think about an eye-catching headline for your essay, but make sure it has something to do with your thesis statement.Research your topic, even if you think you know it well.Use reputable resources for evidence and references: studies, academic journals, educational resources, official figures, etc.Inform, share facts, but avoid writing about what you think about the topic.Use clear and concise language, avoid biased information.Organize facts logically, so it would be easier for readers to follow the information.Write in the 3rd person. If describing a process or an activity, the 2nd person is okay to use too.Avoid vague language, prioritize quality over quantity: introduce top facts and evidence only.Write sentences of different length for b etter rhythm.Use transition words to move between paragraphs.Write your first draft a few days before the deadline, and wait a day or two before revising and editing it. Thus youll have a chance to look at your writing from a fresh perspective.Read your expository essay out loud to notice its weak points or strange grammar constructions to revise.Ask a friend to read your essay and tell if you need to edit something.And last but not least:Remember about the difference between argumentative and expository essays. Dont persuade readers of your opinion. Tell about the topic, share facts and evidence, and let readers be the judge of that.Expository Essay ExamplesAre there any examples of what a great expository essay looks? Samples are many, and youll have no difficulty to find them in Google.But remember:All those expository essay examples are for assistance purposes only. You cant take and copy them to use in own papers. After all, you know what happens to students who plagiarize in a cademia and infringe copyrights, dont you?source: GiphyAdditional Resources to CheckDevelop Expository Writing SkillsExpository Essay, Step by Step100 Expository Essay Topic IdeasHow to Plan Write an Expository Essay (Video)Expository Essays: Types, Characteristics Examples

Importance of Discipline in the Leadership Process

Importance of Discipline in the Leadership Process Free Online Research Papers â€Å"Is discipline as important as reward to the leader in influencing followers? If so, what is the best method of implementing?† Discipline is as critical to good leadership. In order to motivate and manipulate followers to do things they are not inclined to do on their own, a leader will have to prove and show their authority. This statement is conditional in regards to the following factors: 1 – Consistent treatment of all followers 2 – The manner the discipline is administered is respectful 3 – There is a clear understanding by the followers and they perceive the disciplinary action(s) is (are) necessary â€Å"Workplace discipline means regulating the employees, making them abide by the rules and policies of the company and follow guidelines.† (Williams and Kings, 2009) In order to administer fair discipline a leader must gather as much information, as time allows, as they can. Once they have gathered the information the must make a detailed analysis of where the wrongs have been made and to whom the blame falls. The leader must look at the situation from the angle of the direct problem and employee action as well as from the perspective of what could lead an employee to think/act in this manner. Because disciplining subordinates is an unpopular leader responsibility, especially with charismatic leaders, far too many do not take this time and therefore administer discipline poorly. In order to be successful the leader must be perceived to be â€Å"fair†. Gene Levine believes â€Å"the fairest work policies are the ones that allow employees to discipline themselves when they have demonstrated undesirable behavior which extends even to the point of terminating themselves. I also hasten to add that there are not and cannot be fair policies on anything, to everyone, all the time. No matter how good the policy, someone, some day, will claim that it is unfair. (Levine, G, 1998) One of the biggest factors affecting hostility in the workplace is inequity and selective discipline. Employees frequently site favoritism and unfairness as their reasons for discomfort and intimidation at work. (Vokoun, n.d.) This is due to leaders improperly yielding their authority. This is a problem when leaders use their authority for self enabling or enhancing reasons or any other reason that to improve the out put of the team. Mastering the administration of discipline will allow a leader to reach a deeper level of trust and kinship with the followers. The leaders’ example is critical in developing and solidifying this. When a leader disciplines themselves for the good of the team, it is easier for followers to accept the disciplinary measures. There is no best method for discipline. We have learned that situations and followers have a large impact on the leadership process. They, as well, will dictate how a leader should discipline a follower. The team and follower might be best served by the leader disciplining the individual in a private setting such as a CEO might discipline a senior executive on their team. Dependent upon the situation, it might be better to admonish the individual in front of the entire team as a football coach might yell at a star lineman for making a mistake to get the entire line to focus on its importance. After factoring in the individuals personality, the team make up and current stage of building, the leader should reach into their toolbox and apply the necessary effort and action to resolve the matter quickly. References: Levine, Gene, 1998. â€Å"Firm-but-fair approach key in workplace discipline† accessed at: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3638/is_n5_v39/ai_20298340/ On 14 November 2009 at 7:25pm GMT+3 Williams and Kings, 2009. â€Å"Maintaining Office Discipline at Your Workplace.† Business Article accessed at: articleblast.com/Business_and_Management/General/Maintaining_Office_discipline_at_your_workplace/ on 14 November 2009 at 4:45pm GMT+3 Vokoun, Mellissa, n.d. â€Å"Avoiding a Hostile Workplace – Fairness in Employee Discipline†. Ezine Articles, Accessed at: http://ezinearticles.com/?id=555351 on 14 November 2009 at 5:30pm GMT+3 Research Papers on Importance of Discipline in the Leadership ProcessBringing Democracy to AfricaDefinition of Export QuotasMoral and Ethical Issues in Hiring New EmployeesResearch Process Part OneThe Project Managment Office SystemAnalysis of Ebay Expanding into AsiaTrailblazing by Eric AndersonPETSTEL analysis of IndiaStandardized TestingBook Review on The Autobiography of Malcolm X

Community & Economic Development Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Community & Economic Development - Essay Example For the purpose of understanding the issue, the city of Orlando can be used as a case example. It is of the essence to note that different locations are endowed differently when it comes to the endowment of business opportunities. This is something, which ranges from one location to another. There are a few things, which a person who wants to engage in the business ought to consider. The individual in question ought to ask himself or herself whether it feels right or whether the decision that is made makes sense at all. This is bearing in mind the financial implications, which come into perspective. There are certain things, which make Orlando a good and attractive business spot in the country. For starters, there are several industries, which are located in the city. These are significant pointers of how businesses and the private sector can be influential in the creation of jobs to individuals in the population. The presence of many of these industries in the city makes it possible for people to seek employment and get it in the long run. At the same time, these businesses may come up with incentives, which may serve to attract even more individuals from the local population. In most cases, the incentives in this scenario are always better in comparison to those from the government. As a result, a significant number of individuals in the population will opt to go into the businesses as opposed to seeing employment that is initiated by the government or the local authorities. The role, which the business sector plays when it comes to the city of Orlando, is a fact, which cannot be overlooked. The local authorities have also recognized this and as such, the policies, which they develop in relation to business activities, are those, which are favorable to the individuals who have the desire to engage in business activities. The authorities have also realized that through their partnerships with business entities and